If Monday Sets the Tone for the Week...Let's Get Creative

This weekend was busy, yet relaxed. While there wasn't a lot of idle time, there was a lot of creative time. My husband worked the weekend, our daughter worked and had a performance, and my list got shorter. You see, this weekend I travel to Lockport, New York for the day. I have the opportunity to share a little hope, encouragement, and inspiration with the ladies at Lockport Alliance Church. Their theme is "Tell Me a Story", so I can't wait. I plan on telling them a story, sharing a story, and hopefully encourage them to start writing their story. 

May is a busy month. In addition to this event, I have the pleasure to travel to the Cato-Meridian direction to be the key note speaker at their annual, National Day of Prayer service, on Thursday, May 7th for 7 p.m. I'm honored and excited, I've blogged about the significance of this day and attended events but this will be the first time I'm the people are listening too. It's a community event so there are others participating and sharing in this hour long service, as we join together to pray in Meridian, thousands are doing the same across the country. Click here to learn more, National Day of Prayer. 

A week from this coming Saturday, on May 9th, I was invited to have my books at the New Haven Congregational Church's Craft Show and Chicken Barbecue from 10 - 4.  Some authors don't enjoy craft shows because they are often slower and books are items most aren't looking to purchase. BUT, I enjoy sitting at the craft shows with a book table because of the people I meet. I might not sell a book in six hours yet the conversations, fellowship, and relationships are benefits one can't measure. 

Then later in the month we'll join our Ride for Missing Children Family in the Mohawk Valley for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Annual Ride for Missing Children.  In addition to this tradition, The Ride of Hope, will also leave New Hartford for Washington that Saturday. A total of over 600 miles in a week, on bicycle. Each cycle of the pedals and tires are to raise awareness and hope for our missing and exploited children  and their families across the country. I'm humbled to have five minutes to share a few words of thanks and encouragement with the teams of cyclist before they begin this physical, mental, and emotional journey on behalf of children...such a blessing.

I also scheduled a Sunday morning for a church in the fall, to be their guest speaker. I remember the first time a church invited me to do this. My nerves were on high alert so that I wouldn't disappoint God or let Him down as I stood at the pulpit. Then a friend reminded me, each time I speak, regardless of the venue, is an opportunity to share and just as important as a Sunday morning. This alleviated the pressure and put it in perspective. I still think Sunday morning is different yet each opportunity to share my testimony or gift to speak with others, I pray for God's message to be given and received. 

As if this isn't exciting enough, I also accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker at a women's retreat in June of 2016. It is penciled in for them and me, until the school calendar arrives later this summer, just in case there is a "Senior" event we need to be at. 

If someone would of told me in 2011 after I shared my testimony and spoke that first time of how God would use me when I'm faithful, I would not have believed them. Actually, there a couple friends who will probably say "I told you so" if they read this blog. My hope and desire is to write, speak, and live for God and be the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and relative I can be. I look forward to the people I'll meet at each of these events and the memories we'll make as a family in the process.

My Gram said, "So goes Monday, so goes the week."...set the tone for a creative week. 

What are you inspired to create this week? Will you share this with others?