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Writing

Well, my midlife crisis came to a head a few weeks ago. I had so many things planned differently this fall--teaching fourth grade. But instead I find myself here at home. Every option and plan fell through. I have struggled with finding my purpose--doing something more than the boring and mundane tasks of home. I felt chastened as I talked with my friend, Nadine at the bus stop while sending a daughter off to school. Nadine works full time while raising three very rambunctious children. While I was feeling sorry for myself to be "at home" Nadine expressed how she would give anything to be home right now raising her kids rather than going through the exhausting juggling of kids and career. I walked home feeling grateful for the opportunity to be home, but perplexed at what to do during the looming days and months ahead. I retreated to the indulgent vice of the internet. I sat on the couch. I surfed Facebook. I cleaned a few bathrooms and made a meal from time to time. I was descending into the oblivion.

Then, a lightening bolt struck last week. Actually, it was a small idea that has been gaining a lot of momentum in my mind. "Melanie, I thought, "you live so much in your mind. You sped your days thinking and researching. Why not take all of your musings and thoughts and force those babies out into words and capture them onto paper? You are living a writer's dream life--uninterrupted quiet time to think, research and write. Writers would kill to have this opportunity!" And that was that. The idea felt like inspiration. It felt right. My excitement has been growing in anticipation for today--the day I become an official writer!

And so I embark on the disciple of writing. I am not sure just what I will write about, how I will make money off of this endeavor or how to really begin, but I keep feeling that if I begin I will eventually be led to what I need to create. Something will come. Ultimately my  desire for writing is to glorify my Father in Heaven and to make my family and posterity proud.  (And no more sitting on the couch getting fat! Take that!)

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