Joanne Heim

So much scope for the imagination, as Anne* would say!

Part of our Language Arts curriculum for this year includes keeping an artist's sketchbook--not for drawings, but for words. A place to record thoughts or ideas that grab our imaginations so we can have a place to go for inspiration when a writing assignment is given.

I naturally do this in my journal, jotting down words or phrases or ideas that tickle my fancy.

Things from books like Island of the Blue Dolphins. What would my secret name be? What would it be like to be all alone on an island? What would I do? How would I survive? How would I keep hope alive?

Things from places we've been, like Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons. What would it have been like to be one of the 50 carpenters who spent the winter at Yellowstone building the Old Faithful Inn? What would it have been like to live on Mormon Row in the Tetons, to have this barn be my barn? What would summers be like? Winters?

 

Or this barn?

 

Houses always inspire me. If this were my cabin, what would I want in it? How would I decorate it? Who would I invite for the weekend? Rag rugs and rocking chairs, for sure, not to mention lots and lots of puzzles!

 

Things from places we pass on the road. Who lives here in the middle of nowhere? What does she do all day? Is she lonely? What would my life be like if I lived here?

 

Treasures in antique stores--Whose was it? Who made it? What's the story behind it?

Old photographs--Who are they? What did they love? What did they fear? What were their dreams?

The bunnies in the yard--How would  I write their stories? What are their adventures?

People from the stories of Scripture--What happened to the woman at the well five years later? What about the rest of Tamar's life?

What kinds of things spark your imagination?

*That's Anne (with an "e")--of Green Gables, of course. If you're not friends with her, you need to be. Talk about imagination!

Even happy endings make me a little bit sad

I taught the last week's study for Psalm 23 at church last night, and just as soon as I say hello to you here, I'm off to get showered and ready to teach the last week's study for the Thursday morning gals at church. I can hardly believe this is week 6.

As I was sharing with the gals last night, I am not the same person I was six weeks ago. Journeying through Psalm 23 for the past six weeks--both in study and in real life as God has taught me each lesson in preparation to teach it--has changed me. And isn't that what Bible study should do? Change us so we are not the same as we were before?

It's been a journey of incredibly hard work, of coming face to face with my own insecurity and learning to put it off, of sacrifice, of obedience, of learning some hard things about myself, of rejecting self-sufficiency once and for all, of embracing dependence, of restoration, of hearing God speak each and every day.

I have long believed that God speaks to me. But these past six weeks, we've had a nonstop conversation. Some of those conversations have been fun, some have been encouraging, some have been eye-opening, and some have been God saying things that have been hard to hear. 

I love that he speaks and I love that he's allowed me to speak on his behalf. I don't for a minute forget what a privilege and responsibility that is. 

I'm anxious to see what this next season brings. I have some hints of where we're going and I'm excited for the journey to continue in a new stage. Toben and I have some things to work on together. I'm seeking balance. I'm realizing that I am more comfortable talking about rest than actually resting. I'm wondering about pressing into Sabbath once more.

And so I'm looking forward. Thankful for what is just about past. Ready to follow where my Shepherd leads next. 

I absolutely must go get in the shower without delay or I'm going to be late or have a bad hair day at the very least

But I wanted to say hello to you! So I'll type as fast as I possibly can while eating the last few bites of my cottage cheese and berries. (I'm in a new breakfast rut. No more Cheerios and strawberry yogurt, these days it's cottage cheese and frozen blueberries.)

I think the comments are fixed. Note to self, double check the spam folder later today!

I'm off to have coffee with a BFF in an hour, then to church to spend the day writing. I'm feeling a little scattered--I'm doing my week 3 homework along with everyone else, preparing to teach for week 4, and writing the homework for week 5. It's a wonder I ever know where I am. Somewhere between paths of righteousness, the valley of the shadow of death, and learning what it means to be anointed. But I love it.

I love it. Even when God tells me to teach a lesson that's got my name all over it on self-sufficiency and dependency that requires me to share some ugly things about myself up front and in person. Wednesday night was HARD. Yesterday morning was better after having done it once and receiving some encouragement, but both days still felt like getting on stage and stripping off my clothes as I admitted my pride, my love affair with self-sufficiency, my total obsession with my self. Lord, have mercy and change me, I pray.

But here's the thing. We need each other. We need to hear each other's stories of victory because of God's work in our lives. But we also need to hear each other's stories of struggle and failure. We need to know we're not the only ones.

It's so appealing to pretend that we have it all together. And even in the midst of trying to live authentically and with transparency, sometimes others still get the idea that we have it all together when it's the farthest thing from the truth.

No, we don't need to go around with a sign on our foreheads declaring "I'm a mess!", but when God prompts us to share the hard truth about ourselves, we need to. He has a reason for it. Someone needs to hear it.

Does someone need to hear a not so pretty part of your story today?

Alright. Time for the shower now. Gonna go with yesterday's "yesterday hair" and hope for the best, but my legs definitely need to be shaved so I gotta run. I love you dearly.

It's all HIM

Just stopping by to say hi and thanks to all of you who so faithfully pray for me and this Bible study I'm writing and teaching. Last night was the first one, and I got up this morning and headed back to church to teach this morning too.

I'm somewhere between being totally exhilarated and and totally exhausted. (As evidenced by how long it took me to figure out how to spell "exhilarated." Sheesh. There IS an 'h' in there.)

After last night, the last thing I wanted to do was get up this morning and do it again. Here's why: I finished teaching and thought, What the heck was that?! I felt sad and discouraged and let down. I figured people only said nice things to be nice. I felt like I failed and let everyone down. It was awful. And a little ridiculous. Basically, I was a total mess.

Insecurity hit me square between the eyes. And knocked me flat. (There's a new book I might should pick up, ya think?!)

But this morning? Amazing.

And here's what I have to say about that to you.

Sometimes when you're doing something God has clearly called you to do, it doesn't feel like you expected it to. It doesn't always feel like flying. But that doesn't mean that God didn't show up. That doesn't mean that you're doing the wrong thing. That doesn't mean you have to question your calling.

I felt like God said to my heart as I lay awake (again not sleeping last night), Will you keep doing it anyway--no matter what it feels like? Will you trust me? Will you trust that I know what I'm doing, trust that I know what's best, trust that I will not let you fall? Will you listen to MY voice?

So when those times come (and you can bet they will), obey anyway. Do what God has called you to do despite how you're feeling about it. Because joy will come as you walk forward in obedience. And when it comes? Wow.

I said mostly the same things this morning as I did last night. Used the same notes. Taught the same stuff. Even wore the same outfit and yesterday's hair. But chose to believe that his mercies were new for this morning. Chose to listen to HIS voice, rather than the voice (well, voices, let's be real!) of insecurity. 

We get to choose what we listen to. And how we choose makes a difference. Let's choose wisely.

But now, this is what the LORD says--

he who created you, O Joanne (or whatever your name happens to be),

he who formed you, O Joanne (yep, your name again!):

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; 

you are mine...

"...you are precious and honored in my sight...

I love you..."

from Isaiah 43

Today's gonna be a good day!

(Why isn't that song on my iPod? Think I need to fix that pronto.)

I did just about everything on the list yesterday. With the exception of dinner (went to P.F. Chang's for happy hour appetizers instead), movie with the girls (read a couple of chapters of our read aloud book for school--Cheaper by the Dozen instead), and the bubble bath (would've fallen asleep and drowned so went to sleep instead).

The girls' rooms are mostly done--I'll take pictures later today when the light is such that you can actually tell what you're looking at. :)

I loved reading your lists! 

I'm off to breakfast in a bit with my Bible study gals, and then racing off to meet Rachel for lunch and shopping or lunch and hanging out by the pool. I'm sorta hoping for the pool and a nice long conversation. (Note to self, pack suit!)

In the little bit before I need to jump in the shower, I'm working on Bible study, which feels never-ending. I suppose that's the nature of it--there's always more to learn, more to discover, more to find in Scripture. That leaves me trying to figure out when to say "that's enough for now." Much easier said than done!

We're going to be talking about contentment for this first week. And confronting our discontentment. Because that's what God told me to teach. Because if we're going to choose to be content, we're going to have to deal with our discontentment. Nice, easy, light topic, huh?

Want to tell me about your discontentment?
 About how you choose contentment in the face of it?

Today's list

Hit the pavement...run 5K, rock out to Crowder

Shower and wash hair (if it's not on the list, it might not happen!)

Get dressed

Eat breakfast (Cheerios, strawberry yogurt, and frozen blueberries--every day!)

Read to the girls

Have a morning meeting with Toben when he gets home from AA

Pack up books, Bible, post-its, journals, computer, computer cord, water, snacks

Head to church to write in the new den (so lovely!)

Finish the packet for Psalm 23--week 2

Make notes for Wednesday's teaching (thus the post-its*)

Work on week 3

Come home

Make sure the girls did their science experiments and note cards for their research papers

Help them organize what was Emma's room and what will be our classroom (pictures to come!)

Get really excited for tomorrow when I get to have breakfast with my Bible study group and then hang out with Rachel

Make and eat dinner (tonight's menu: posole)

Maybe watch a movie with the girls--Old Yeller came from Netflix

And I'd dearly love a bubble bath

I think that's enough. What're you up to this Friday?

*I am a post-it teacher. I have an outline and then stick post-its all through my Bible to remind me of what I want to say when. It often means finding post-its stuck here, there, and everywhere later, but it's the method that works best for me. I've tried writing a script, but then I get distracted if I forget something. Much better to have notes and then just talk off the top of my head! And one of the girls in my Bible study group works for 3M--she LOADED me up with post-its of all sizes and colors!

I'm starting to see a pattern here

I've been up well before the alarm the past two mornings. Like 4 a.m. before the alarm. Early. Dark.

And quiet.

After laying awake and checking email and such on my iPhone from under the covers yesterday morning, I got up about 4:30. So when my eyes popped open at 4:30 this morning, I went ahead and got up.

I've been feeling pushed for time. I don't feel busy--I just feel like there's something to be done every waking moment. I don't feel frantic--I just feel like there's lots to be done. I don't feel like things are sliding, just that they're all scheduled and need to be done when they need to be done.

This season of life is full. Not stuffed and bursting at the seams like too much turkey and pumpkin pie, just full.

So when I got up yesterday and found unexpected time to pray and work on writing Bible study, it felt like a gift. And so I wasn't too surprised when I rolled over to see the clock this morning.

(Okay, I'll admit that my first thought was "Really? 4:30? Again?" I got to worrying about not getting enough sleep, about running myself down, about not being rested. But then I thought "I'm awake. I feel awake. I don't feel sleepy. I'm ready to get up." So I did.)

And it's been another gift. An unexpected gift of time. Which is exactly what I was saying I'd like just the other day. 

God made time, and I figure he can stretch it, shrink it, or stop it as he sees fit. And if waking me up early to give me an extra hour or so each day is the way he's going to do it, I'm not going to complain. Cause complaining people stop getting gifts.

I'll let you know what time I wake up tomorrow...

Update, thanks, and such

Ever think about doing something, but don't do it, but somehow think you did? And then you check and realize you only thought about doing it and you'd better get with the program?

You too?

So here I thought I'd thanked you for the Bible study writing prayers last Friday--AND I TOTALLY DIDN'T. I just thought about it. And as I tell the girls, other people can't read our thoughts, we have to TELL them thank you, we have to SAY ALOUD the compliment we're thinking.

So...THANK YOU!

It was one of those days I couldn't type fast enough. Incredible. Amazing. Awe-some. 

Yet there were moments when I'd suddenly feel completely overwhelmed and inadequate and terrified, but I put my hands in my lap, told God, "I'm overwhelmed and I need YOU to do this thing, because this is your Bible study and it needs to say what YOU want it to say." And I'd sit expectantly and pretty soon the typing would flow again.

It was so cool.

And from time to time your comments or emails would pop up, and they were like little jolts of caffeine to my system, giving me a thrill and a push to keep going.

Thank you.

And now I have to confess that I'm already doubting it. Silly, huh? I have moments--just moments, mind you, but moments nonetheless--where I suddenly think, Maybe it's not that good. Maybe that's not what you're supposed to say. You are no Beth, no Priscilla. What if you let all these women down?

Isn't it so crazy and yet so completely predictable that when we hear God's voice SO CLEARLY, SO SPECIFICALLY, SO SURELY that it doesn't take much time for Satan to come slinking along and make us question what we heard and if in fact we actually heard anything at all?! 

Can I just say I hate that? In fact, I'll just go ahead and say I hate him. Makes me angry at him and all the more determined to stand strong. To stand firm. To resist him. To stick out my tongue at him and to tell him to GET LOST.

I'm guessing there are some of you who have heard God's voice and you knew that you knew that you knew it was him, and yet you're suddenly plagued with doubt. I want to encourage you this morning to stand firm in his Word, to trust that he speaks, to trust that he doesn't just speak to others, but that he speaks TO YOU.

I love you. Thanks for being my friend.

Say a little prayer for me...

(Yes, we've been listening to the Glee soundtrack, so that's the first thing that popped into my head when I thought to ask you to pray today. If you've not heard the music from Glee, well, it's amazing. How I wish I could sing like that!)

Anyway.

We rocked and rolled through our school this week with the goal of getting our work done in four days. Looking ahead to the end of March, I'll be teaching Bible study at church on Wednesday nights and Thursday mornings. Thursdays just aren't going to be school days for us when that starts.

And until then, Fridays aren't going to be school days for us. Between now and March 24, I'm going to use Fridays to have uninterrupted writing/preparing time. The church has a space that's empty on Fridays for me to use, and so I'm headed there after my weekly Friday morning coffee date. (Hi Christy! See you in a bit!)

I'm excited for today. I've been writing in the dark at night as thoughts pop into my head as I'm falling asleep and I grab the notebook by the bed and scribble madly to capture it. I haven't looked at those scribbles in the light, so I'm hoping they'll be legible and still make sense!

I do write bits and pieces here and there each day, but I'm looking forward to a big chunk of time to really focus. That's how I write best.

I'm learning just how much I love to teach. Homeschooling as just affirmed that in many ways. And while I of course want to teach my children well when we study things like writing and reading and history and science and math, I feel an added weight when I teach the Bible.

Would you pray for me today as I write and prepare to teach what I write?

God has been so clear and so specific about the session I'm working on. I love that! And I want to capture it in a way that accurately reflects all he's revealed.

I want to handle God's Word with care.

Talking on the radio

We're taking a lunch break during our school day and I've already finished my sandwich, so I thought I'd pop by to say hello while the girls finish eating and rocking out the Hannah Montana Movie soundtrack. (BTW, I love that Butterfly song!)

Today's been a good day so far--much better than yesterday. Don't know what was up, but I felt off all day. Mostly I was frustrated with myself. I had expectations for starting the week and didn't live up to my expectations of myself.

And I didn't get showered and dressed and put together until sometime around 3. Silly, but true: If I don't get myself together, I have a hard time feeling ready for the day. Yes, there are pajama/sweats/workout clothes days. Days when I'm cleaning or bumming. And somehow that's okay. But a normal day when I feel the need to be productive? It helps if I get up and get myself ready before the day starts.

All that to say I got up when the alarm when off this morning, had a nice, long quiet time, worked out, got showered, dressed, and made-up before we started school around 9.

My big plans today? I have a radio interview at 3:00 with American Family Living. We're talking about Misplacing God. It'll be taped and then broken down into a series of programs. 

I love doing interviews and think they are a lot of fun. The thing I'm not so good at? Promoting my books myself. It's my least favorite part of writing books. Yes, I love to talk about my books--but only when asked. I'm uncomfortable saying "Hey you! I wrote books! Buy my books!"

And yet I worked hard on them, I poured myself into them, and I don't want to see them just sit on a shelf. Books are meant to be read!

It's not about making money. Because unless you're Nora Roberts or Clive Cussler or someone like that, you're not making enough to live on. Enough to go out to dinner? Yes. Enough to put a little away for a rainy day? Yes.

But a vacation home or a new car or a trip around the world? Not so much.

Publicity and promotion--even promoting my books myself--is necessary. And we've already covered the fact that I struggle with that.

And there's the rub. Because if no one buys them, they don't sell, and I'm a lot less likely to get the opportunity to write another one.

Not that I'm working on anything specific right now--homeschooling has my focus right now. But there are always ideas rolling around for what's next.

I know a bunch of you took me up on my offer for a free book in exchange for a book review on your blog. If you've not done it yet, please do. (There! I must be making progress!) And if I've forgotten to put your post's link on this page, let me know (because I know I've missed a bunch). Send me the review link and I'll get it up as fast as I can.

(Oh, and you can always leave a review or a link to a review in the comments on that page too. And a review on Amazon. There--look at me--asking away!)

And if you have brilliant publicity ideas/opportunities for me, I sure wouldn't mind hearing them. :)

Wanna help?

Anyone wanna go write a *nice* review of Misplacing God on Amazon? Here's the link! 

Thank you!

Misplacing God reviews

I woke up to an email from Bobbi with a link to the review she wrote of Misplacing God here. She said such nice things that I feel all warm and happy inside despite my cold toes and the snow outside the window.

But the thing that made me happiest is that she got up this morning and had her quiet time--and she was excited to do it! And that's what the book is all about.

I don't know if I ever say it in so many words in the book, but here's the thing. Quiet time is not something we HAVE TO do. It's not something we SHOULD do. It's not something we MUST do to make God love us. 

(Which is what I thought for so many years and was constantly defeated and frustrated when I couldn't seem to make it stick. I felt like something was wrong with me and that somehow I wasn't a very good Christian.)

Quiet time--time alone with the Father, with the one and only God of the entire universe!--is something we GET to do. Something we are INVITED to do. Something we are BLESSED to do. In short, it can be something we WANT to do. And that makes all the difference.

The outward practice may look the same between someone doing it out of OBLIGATION and someone doing it out of DESIRE, but I guarantee what's going on internally is different. And I can almost certainly guarantee that one will keep at it and the other won't.

So many of you have let me know that your review copy arrived too. Please let me know when you write a review--or if you have a specific question after reading that I can answer as part of your review. And you could leave a link to your review here too. That way everyone can see it!

Want to review "Misplacing God" on your blog? You do? Great!

Thanks everyone! I sent the list off to my publicist and asked her to let me know when they ship. I'll be sure to let you know when they're on the way.

Here's what I need. Send an email to me at thesimplewife [at] aol [dot] com. 

Include the following:

• Your name
• Your mailing address
• Your blog name
• Your blog url
• Your email address

I'll compile a list and send it off to my publicist and you'll receive a review copy in the mail. 

Then write a review and maybe give your copy away to one lucky reader. That's it!

When you do your review, if you have specific questions, email me and I'll do my best to answer them. We could even do an interview/Q & A format.

Also, if you are involved in any other media (radio, television, magazine, etc.) let me know. Or if you have any other great publicity ideas for me, send them along too!

Please be sure to send all that contact information in an email rather than a comment on this post.

Thanks!

Questions? Leave those as a comment and I'll get back to you.

It's here! It's here!

I peeked out the door last night just before bed and found a box on the doorstep. I wrestled the thing inside while trying to hold open the door just enough to get in, but not enough to let the heat out. It took several tries and I kept slamming my foot in the door. All the while shivering in my pjs--it was something like 0 degrees outside!

Anyway, here's what I found when I opened it up...

Hooray, hooray, hooray!!!

I'm not quite prepared for many trips to the post office this week, so if you want one, you can get one from my shop at Amazon here. If I start selling them directly from my blog I'll be sure to let you know. (And though Amazon says it'll ship in 1-2 months, I don't think that's true since it's now available.)

I have a call into my publicist about blog review copies. I'd love for ya'll to help me promote it by writing a review, giving away a copy, or doing a blog interview. As soon as I hear from her, I'll give you the skinny!

Just to give you a peek to what it's about, here's what the back cover says:

Does making a place for God keep sliding to the bottom of your to-do list?

Do you have God wedged between work, school activities, appointments, and everything else crowding your schedule. By the end of the day, have you missed spending quality time with your heavenly Father? Do you want more of God?

Joanne Heim understands this struggle. She's been there, too. After her own experience of misplacing God, she discovered how making Him a priority can bring the peace we so desperately need. Now she invites you on a journey to find a purpose, place, practice, prayer, perseverance, and passion for the One who makes our lives complete.

Inspirational and uplifting, Misplacing God (and finding Him again) will show how you, too, can rediscover God in the midst of your busy life--and how your life will get better when you do!

Checking in after checking out

Well, I sure didn't mean to check out for so long after Monday's post. Life just sorta got a little bit busy.

reeeee e333E

(That's from Pumpkin. She just jumped up into my lap and then onto the keyboard. She is a Mac kitty and loves to walk all over the keys and type. Or lay down and go to sleep. Silly girl.)

First, thanks for all the great response to Memory Monday. I've got my verses printed up on a pretty card that is quickly getting pretty bent and beat up as I carry it here and there. I also wrote the first verse up on the blackboard in the kitchen so I see it when I walk by. 

I'm reading it whenever I see it, which is a good way to start memorizing for me. The Sunday school teacher Toben and I just had said this (again and again!): Repetition is the key to long-term memory. I think he's right.

If you want to participate and don't have a blog, you can type your verse out each Monday in the comments of my post and pick your new one there too. Let's not forget to pray for each other as we learn. That God would write his law on our hearts and that the Holy Spirit would remind us of what we have learned--both things God has promised us in his Word. 

That doesn't mean--unfortunately--that it will be easy all the time. But it does mean that he works with us as we memorize.

Second, thanks for all your prayers for Tuesday morning. It was a small Mommy and Me group (I think there were six of us) plus the cutest twins in pink fuzzy jammies who came along. Made me want another baby! Sort of. But not really.

We talked about bearing fruit since their theme for the year is the fruit of the Spirit. We looked at Psalm 92 and talked about how where we're planted and what we're proclaiming affects the fruit we bear.

Yesterday I got my official acceptance letter from Denver Seminary. I start school January 5! I've been assuming I'd be accepted and telling everyone that I'm going to seminary; it's nice that's it's really official!

And I've been proofing the typeset version of Misplacing God which comes out after Christmas. I just realized that it needs to be back at the publisher by tomorrow, which means I need to Fedex it today, which means I need to go finish proofing the two or three chapters I have left to go.

Making a book is a long process. It's strange to me that I wrote it a year ago and it's just now at this stage. Patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to publishing!

As I've read it, I'm so thankful--again!--for all of you and the responses you gave when I asked for help and insight into your own quiet times with the Lord. Thanks again!

Okay, I'm off for another cup of coffee and my handy-dandy red pen! Ya'll have a great day. I love you!

Quick favor

I've received so many lovely comments from many of you about Living Simply recently. If you have a second, would you head on over to Amazon here and leave a review for others to see? Thanks!

Giveaway time!

Look what the UPS man brought last night:

I was asked to contribute to this devotional and I did and now it's here! Isn't it pretty? These are the gals of Moody's Midday Connection, a great radio show and a wonderful bunch of women. I've been on their program in the past, and the hour always flies by because it's so much fun.

This hardback daily devotional is filled with contributions from some amazing women--Carol Kent, Jill Briscoe, Shaunti Feldhahn, Lynne Hybels, Leslie Parrott, just to name a few. If you'd like to win a copy, leave a comment. I'll choose a winner next Friday, October 31.

If you want to buy one--or two--or five (Christmas IS coming and a devotional that begins January 1 would make a great gift) click on my Amazon bookshop over there ---> and you can order direct from Amazon.

Finally...

One of the biggest vacation challenges for me is having my quiet time. Somehow time away from my usual routine doesn't equal extended quiet time, more reading with the girls, or any of the other things I pack with great hopes.

Is it the same for you?

I did pretty well while we were in Fairbanks. We rented a house with room enough for everyone to have their own bedroom and bathroom, and a living room to share. Because I got up early, I made the coffee and found a spot on the couch to spread out and read and pray each morning. But as soon as we ended up in a hotel room in Alyeska, it just didn't happen.

And it showed.

I've often said that about a day or two is all I can handle without my morning time with God, and it's so true. By day two, the wheels came off and it was ugly. Yes, there were some parenting issues that came up and needed to be dealt with--but nothing really out of the ordinary. What was out of the ordinary was that I was running on empty--so everything felt blown way out of proportion and like the world was falling apart.

One of the verses I love is this one (in fact, it's on the back of my business cards):

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14

I need my time in the morning with God--because without it, I'm dissatisfied and joy is awfully hard to come by. I need God to fill me so that I have something to offer my family and those around me. Without it, I feel needy, like I have to grab satisfaction from others--who may or may not have something to give me. 

We got home Wednesday morning and I went right back to bed. Yesterday I overslept and rushed out the door to get to our appointments on time. This morning, I got up and grabbed some coffee, sat in my favorite chair, and soaked in the satisfaction that God had waiting for me. 

Everyone's still asleep--and I've been able to catch up on some email, be still and quiet, and just rest. Finally...

When women ask me about my quiet time, this is what I usually talk about. Satisfaction. Rest. Peace. Quiet. Having my quiet time every morning isn't about getting up early and checking it off my list. It's not something I do because I think I should or because I feel guilty if I don't. I need this time. Desperately. Each and every day. 

More than anything else, quiet time in the morning--reading the Bible, praying, studying, and journaling--is what God has used to teach me, to reveal himself, to give me hunger for him, and to satisfy that hunger with his presence.

Some of you have asked, and this is what my new book is about. It's coming out in the fall from Kregel. Here's the working cover and title--which may change, but I really like it:

Download misplacing_god_cover.pdf

I can't get the picture to show up in the post, but you can see it if you click on it--it shows up huge, not sure why. Anyway, what do you think?

Toben needs your help, part 2

You guys (well, gals!) have totally come through for Toben--he's blown away by your responses. So,thank you!

He'd love some "guy comments" too...would you consider asking your husband/boyfriend/fiance/guy friend to answer too?

Thanks in advance!

Toben needs your help!

Hey all!

Toben (my sweet husband for any of you who are new) is working on a book and needs your help. Would you please leave a comment here for him?

In a sentence or two, what are one or two things you wish you'd known before you got engaged? For example, Toben says he wishes he'd known how different our families are--despite the fact that they seemed so similar on the surface.

If you're single, he'd love to talk to you even more. So go ahead and leave a comment saying you're single and what you want to know about a person or relationship before getting engaged. And expect him to send you an email!

Please leave your first name and location.

I know there are a ton of you out there, so now's another opportunity to de-lurk and leave a comment!

Thanks so much!

Joanne

I think I just might be done

After two days and a couple of hours this morning, I think my book might be finished!

I'm going to back up the file (wouldn't that be terrible?!) and take a break from it. Then I'll read it one more time sometime next week and send it off.

::happy dancing all over the place::

Phew!

Book help!

Hey all you wonderful women...

Do any of you keep a quiet time journal? How long have you done this? What kinds of things do you write in it? Do you go back through them? How often? Why?

Any help would be appreciated! Leave a comment, or send me an email directly at joanneheim [at] aol [dot] com.

Thanks!

Checking in...

So, no movie after all. Audrey came down with the stomach flu at about 10 o'clock last night and was up every hour throwing up. Poor kid. But she's been feeling better (and rotting her brain with an all-TV-all-day-long kind of a day) for the past few hours. She's even kept some ginger ale down.

Thanks to those of you praying for her. It's made her feel better to know that there are people all over saying prayers for her sick tummy.

Despite the change in plans and needing to wash sheets and spray the entire house with Lysol and wash my hands every five minutes (they are SO dry and starting to crack from it all!), I've been working away and am making progress. Still in my jammies, watching the snow swirl down, and typing away. In fact, I think I may need a break because my hands are feeling a little arthritic, stiff, and achy.

Think I'll ask Toben to build me a roaring fire...

P.S. Today is our sixteenth anniversary--in sickness and in health!

**LATER**

The fire is delightful, I'm more than halfway done, and I'm ready to go crawl in bed with a book. I thought Audrey was feeling better--she ate a piece of toast for dinner--but now she's moaning and groaning again. Maybe the toast wasn't such a good idea after all.

Tomorrow's plan

...is to work on my book and make some last changes and really get it done. My due date is January 7 and I need to get this finished. I'm speaking at a MOPS group the very next day and need to get prepared for that too.

Toben's taking the girls to see Alvin and the Chipmunks in the morning so the house will be quiet for at least a couple of hours.

So I'm telling you this so that I'll be accountable and if I blog about anything other than getting some serious work done over the next few days you can totally kick my little (well, I've been eating way too many peanut butter blossoms, so my not-so-little) tush.

A writing kind of day

Thank you for your prayers...it was a great writing day. The chapter totally took off in its own direction and turned out to be something other than what I'd planned--something much better, I hope.

In case you were wondering...

...writing is hard work. And I need to put some hard work into the book I'm currently writing. So I've cancelled my plans for tomorrow and am going to stay home and be productive. I'm hoping to finish the rough draft of the last chapter in the morning and then start looking at the book as a whole in the afternoon.

I could use your prayers--for focus, for creativity, for inspiration, for guard against distraction. But most of all, for whatever I write to be what God wants me to write. Because it's not about me at all.

At Bible study yesterday, Beth told this story about Corrie Ten Boom and what she thought of receiving so much applause wherever she went. Her response was something along these lines: "Do you really think the donkey thought all the shouting was for him when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday?"

So I pray that Jesus is glorified in whatever ends up on the page. Because I am just a donkey!

Broadcast update

The radio interview I did for Homeword earlier this summer in California is going to air in two parts this week--part one on Friday and part two on Monday.

Here's the link for broadcast information. In the column on the left, you can click on station information to find a radio station in your area, or you can listen online afterward here.

Interview link

Here's the link for my interview yesterday if you missed it and want to listen. It's Living Simply (1/31).

Interviews

My interview today went really well. Anita is a great host, and it felt like we were having a conversation rather than straight question and answer.

Even though I've done a ton of interviews, I still get nervous--especially doing interviews on my own. When Toben and I do interviews for our books together it's a lot easier; I know that if my mind goes blank he'll fill the silence!

Since I've started doing interviews on my own for Living Simply, I've really sensed the importance of having Toben pray for me beforehand. The first time I asked him to he looked at me like I might be joking, but he did it anyway. And today he prayed such a wonderful prayer over me that I felt totally blessed.

I shut myself in my room, sat on the floor by the fireplace, and spread out everything I might need:

*my Bible
*a copy of my book, marked up and with pages turned down
*cheat sheets with key points for different topics
*a sheet of quotes and Scripture verses I might need
*a list of interview questions with a word or two to remind me of what I'd like to say in response
*a pen
*a confirmation sheet for the interview with program information

Think that's about it. I get as prepared as I can get, get down on my knees, and ask God to give me words to speak, to help me think clearly, and to rely on him rather than myself.

Then I sit there feeling a little sick to my stomach, with my hands literally shaking, and wait for the phone to ring!

Sounds like fun, huh?

But once we get going, I feel peaceful and calm and actually have fun! The time flies and I'm surprised when we're done.

In the past, I've often hung up and thought, I should have said this or I wasn't very clear about that. But totally giving it to God first makes a huge difference. Of course, there's always more I could have said, but I have to trust that he's going to answer--after all, it's all about him, not me.

When it comes right down to it, the reason why I think living simply is so important is because I want women to find the "wide open, spacious life" that Paul talks about in Corinthians, the "more and better life than you've ever dreamed of" that Jesus talks about in John.

When we cut back, when we choose less, when we take time to rest, when we eliminate the clutter in our homes, cars, schedules, and minds, we find time and energy to pursue a relationship with God--something I think so many of us want but are too tired to figure out. That's what living simply is about, I think. Having what we need--time, energy, rest--to love God with our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Tune in!

I'm the guest on Moody Broadcasting's "Midday Connection" tomorrow (Wednesday). We'll be talking about Living Simply. Click here for more information and station listings and times. The program airs all across the country.

If it doesn't air in your area, you can listen live on the internet. "Midday Connection" comes on at 11 a.m. (Mountain Time).

It's a live radio program, lasts an hour, and listeners can call in.

I feel like I know a lot of you from this blog; it would be fun to hear your voice if you wanted to tune in and call in to the program!

I need your help!

Hey all,

Would you do me a favor? If you've read Living Simply (and liked it!) would you write a review of it on Amazon? You can click on the book cover to the left and then it'll show you how.

Thanks so much!

Joanne

Leave a comment, get a book!

I love it when people leave comments on my blog.

If you'd like a copy of my book, Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More, be one of the first three people to leave me a comment telling me you want one and I'll be happy to drop a signed one in the mail to you!

(I'll send you an email to get your mailing address--that way you don't have to leave it for all the world to see!)

I would like to be profound...

...every time I sit down to write--a blog, a letter, an inscription on a book. But it just doesn't happen that way.

Especially when I'm cold. It's 18 degrees outside and starting to snow (again, I'm sorry, Laura, we're really not trying to steal your snow--you're welcome to it!). It makes me even colder to think that it's warmer now than it will be for the next few days. Brrrr...shiver...brrrr...

I am starting to warm up though because I bought an electric fireplace for our bedroom last night. My mother-in-law had the idea when they were here for Sunday dinner, and when I went to Home Depot yesterday they were all half price! This one is mahogany and granite, and has a remote so I can turn it on and off while I lay in bed. How cool is that?!

Toben says it's like a really big (and really heavy--ugh, getting it up the stairs nearly killed us last night!) space heater with fancy lights in it. True, but much more romantic in person. He's been after me all day to get the thing decorated, but instead I did laundry (my washing machine is fixed--hallelujah!) and took down Christmas from the girls' rooms. I'm excited to make the fireplace even more beautiful than it is all alone, and will post some pictures when I get it done this weekend!

The Harvest Show

Toben and I just got back to the hotel after doing a live broadcast on The Harvest Show this morning. It airs again tonight at 10 p.m. EST. (I'm pretty sure this link will help find the station in your area if you want to take a peek.) Can't believe I forgot to take some pictures after I told myself to remember!

It took me forever to get ready this morning...I'm normally not too high-maintenance, but there's something about being on television that makes me nitpick every little detail and make sure every hair is in place. Luckily I only had two outfits to go back and forth between instead of my whole closet, or I'd still be getting ready. And despite the hotel hair dryer overheating and shutting off every five minutes or so, I got it all dry and ended up with a pretty good hair day!

I think radio interviews are easier. I can sit in Toben's office in my jammies with my hair pulled back in a ponytail and not wear any makeup, and no one's the wiser!

We're off to the airport and hoping for flights that don't get cancelled.

December 7

***

Let's just say that a private jet would be nice. Very nice. Just showing up and leaving as soon as you sit down, instead of waiting around, waiting some more, having your flight delayed, showing up in Chicago only to discover your next flight has been cancelled, and that there's only one seat available on the last flight for the day.

Toben did some wheeling and dealing and we managed to find one of the last cars available at O'Hare. So we had a lovely drive from Chicago to South Bend--mostly in the dark.

My one thought before bed--it's cold here.

December 5

I love this little Joseph. Something tells me the real Joseph didn't have such a big grin on his face when he found out Mary was pregnant. And any grin he might have had when the angel showed up to tell him it was all going to be okay and that he should go ahead and marry Mary must have looked a little more nervous than this one. It stands to figure that he must have been afraid, or the angel wouldn't have told him not to be.

***

One of the things that struck me from this weekend away was that I need to be writing every day. And so the past couple of mornings, I've sat down in the living room with my computer as soon as Toben's left to take the girls to school. I've spent an hour writing before heading upstairs to take a shower or into the kitchen to clean up the breakfast dishes or down to the basement to start the laundry.

I'm working on a short magazine article that's due next week, and also writing a chapter for my next book proposal. In a spurt of confidence, I promised my agent I'd send him a chapter next week. And though I'm nervous about getting it done, I think I can do it.

Toben and I are headed to South Bend later this week to do a television show for Happily Ever After. We have long layovers in Chicago and time on the plane, so I'll take my computer and make some progress.

I've found that it helps to think of writing a book in terms of writing a series of related essays to make up a chapter, then chapters to make up a book. And to take it just one sentence at a time!

Interviews and reviews

Toben and I started the day by doing a radio interview with a station in New York for our book, Happily Ever After. It's been a while since we'd done an interview, but it all came back--just like riding a bike. We sit in the same room and face each other while we talk on the phone with the interviewer, pointing at each other to indicate who should answer the question. Except for the other person sounding really loud in your ear from being on the same line, it went great.

And I received an email from my publicist letting me know that I got a great review of Living Simply on this website. How nice is that?

We have another radio interview on Thursday afternoon for Happily Ever After--along with a half day of school for the girls, two parent teacher conferences, and Toben flying home from San Diego--all of which happens in about a two-and-a-half hour window. Of course!

Post #200

Toben opened the front door this afternoon and nearly tripped over a stack of boxes. Look what was inside!

My book! The first copy was all wrapped up from my publisher--the rest packed in boxes. Even though I've written other books, this is the first book I did all on my own and I'm so excited. I'm feeling a huge sense of accomplishment tonight, holding the finished product in hand.

I've been a little bit lazy about starting my next book; having this one actually in print reminds me of how much I enjoy this process. I need to get busy and get writing again!

~~

On a completely other note...

In the spirit of seizing the moment, I sat down this afternoon and arranged all of my granny squares so I can begin putting them together for my skirt. It took a while to make sure each row had only one of each colored border and that each column didn't have repeated colors too.

I finally came up with this:

And I got the rows sewn together. I now have six long strips, which I'll put together next and then sew up the seam and add the border. I need to decide what color underskirt to make...just something simple to protect my modesty through all those holes!

I can't wait to get this done and wear it. I just love all the bright colors. (You know, I never used to wear colors. Before we moved to California, my wardrobe was black, brown, white, gray, and taupe. Now I wear all kinds of colors. I must be in a happier space...)

On the radio

Okay, time for a little shameless self-promotion. Tomorrow and Friday (September 14 and 15), Toben and I will be featured on the Focus on the Family broadcast. They are re-airing an interview we did for our book, Happily Ever After, several years ago.

From time to time, I write books. Happily Ever After was the second book Toben and I wrote together. My newest book, Living Simply will release next month. So I've got to get unpacked and settled before it's time to do publicity for it!

We get a truck tomorrow, and will start moving boxes and furniture...