Reawakening
Embracing the Movement of Summer
Goooooood morning/afternoon/midnight, mate! I said I'd do more of these, didn't I? (Knowing that these posts tend to get more activity, therefore gaining a little more ground against the algorithm. :D)
There's a LOT I want to cover today, so let's get started!
Writing
I FINALLY finished editing that manuscript in May -
-- so now I'm working on finding an editor who will help me polish the big-picture stuff. (And maybe some smaller things I might have missed...)
I know, this is kind of backwards, but hear me out: line-edits, grammar, and spelling are all things I can do pretty much on my own with the help of my alpha and beta readers. But I really struggle to step back and take an objective look at the overall story and pacing and such without second-guessing everything I've done.
And I mean everything.
I know I love this story, but this is the part of the process where I get anxious: Is this going to intrigue the professionals enough to sell? And is anyone else going to love it half as much as I do?
I feel like this is something I just have to push through while taking one step at a time. I know there's lots of rejection ahead, it's kind of an occupational hazard, and it's nothing new for me. My biggest challenge will be remembering that while writing is a massive part of who I am, it's not where my identity lies, and it's not the ultimate symbol of my worth.
All that to say, I've finished my own big edits, I'll probably read it two or three more times before I get to send it off to an editor, and while I wait on that, I'll probably work on editing and drafting the sequels. Keep a weather eye out for more on that!
Theatre Business
The spring recital with my mini dancers was a success! They came such a long way in such a short time, and I can't express how proud I am of them all. The fall semester is still TBD, but I'm hopeful that I'll continue to have the capacity to teach, and that the dance program will continue to grow!
My plans for a Christmas performance are still rather fuzzy... I may pull something together at my church, or I may return to the world of Crack the Nut (a Nutcracker production) with a studio that I simply adore. Part of it depends on how teaching in Sterling turns out, and the rest is just me being wary of biting off more than I can chew. (I've done it before. I almost went on a chair-throwing spree. Not a pretty picture.)
Blogging
I have to admit... I've hit a bit of a slump. I haven't run out of post ideas, not by a long shot, but a lot of the time when I come in to write... the words just don't go.
I want so desperately to provide interesting, quality content for you, but lately a lot of my brain power has been diverted or drained by other things. The last couple of posts have been pretty short and sparse, I know. I'm just not a super energetic media person anyway, and my capacity for holding up that presence is pretty low right now.
I'm not giving up, but I do think it's important to keep you in the loop. When things stretch a little thin around here, I want you to know why. I'm so grateful for your presence here, and if you haven't subscribed already, I'd love for you to join me! (Subscribing means you're notified about new posts, and maybe some other news here and there. I'll never use your information for anything else.)
Farm Life
As of right now we have a llama and two horses in our pasture and the water pump needs fixed, so... Yeah, I think that still qualifies as farm life.
Our property is still a work in progress, but even with our list of projects, this place is also our haven. I would love to live off-grid, not a soul in sight, completely self-sufficient - but for now, this is home, and I'm content to stay here. We get some of the best views of the river valley and the sunset in the county, and while we're not what you'd call wealthy, we have everything we truly need.
Summer is here, and while I'm not looking forward to the heat of July and August, I'm finally ready to embrace the restlessness that comes with warmer weather. I love being able to run barefoot (almost) everywhere; sprinkler season is a massive nostalgia hit for me; and I have lots of plans to camp out in the backyard as much as possible this year.
I've spent a good amount of time learning about the natural flora around us - did you know you can get cord-quality fibers from yucca plants?? - and pursuing whatever I find interesting. Now that I'm well out of high school, I feel free to just learn. No testing, no memorizing, just learning because I want to.
Now for the highlight of my week: after being out here for ten (or so) years, and casting longing looks at the stacked materials...
Our yard is finally home...
To a beautiful outdoor fire pit!
Just look at it! I love it so much!
This means s'mores and late fireside evenings outside at our house for the first time in a long time. (Don't worry, it's nowhere close to our pasture, and we never burn when the wind is blowing.)
I love the outdoors - at least, I love the idea of doing everything outdoors.
My allergies have different plans.
Dust, animal dander, and anything that pollinates will send me into a spiral of congestion and hives. June isn't as bad as August, but I still have to be mindful. No running around in the weeds unless I absolutely have to.
But if I didn't have such severe allergies? I'd probably basically live outside right now.
See, the human body is designed to be in sync with the rhythms of the natural world. Naturally, we want to be active when the sun is up, and we start to slow down when the sun goes down. Naturally, we drink more water and look for ways to spend cool evenings outside in summer, but when winter comes, we feel a greater need for rest and sleep.
And how else would you explain young children's eternal fascination with sticks and mud castles?
We were designed for an existence where meeting our physical needs meant finding a good place with water, food, and shelter - not chasing after status and money.
I'm not saying wilderness survival would be any easier than modern life, because we live on an imperfect planet tainted by sin. Survival is really hard and really dangerous, even in good conditions. But I think returning to more basic functions is so fulfilling for so many, because it gives our bodies and minds a taste of what we long for: The vibrant harmony of Eden.
I see people my age - along with many others - looking for ways to withdraw from the modern system. We're trying hard to escape from the noise and confusion and emptiness that this world advertises, but there's still a long way to go. And we'll never reach perfection on this earth.
But the distant memory of what our existence was meant to be - exploring the garden, close to God - is enough to spark the hope that it will be that way again, when Christ returns and everything is made new and whole.
Until that time comes, I'm going to preserve and learn as much as I can of my little corner of planet Earth. It's time to take back this wonderful existence. I want to do everything in my power to enjoy - no. To graft back into the magnificent world that God gave us as a home.
I want to explore the garden with Him.
Our habitat is not meant to be waterproof and climate-controlled. We were meant to be part of creation, not separate.
I understand that not everyone can go camping regularly, or even spend much time outside. I know there are people whose limitations are much greater than mine. Thank God, that when He redeems creation, He'll restore those parts of us too.
For now, pass the bug spray and the tissues...
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Until next time, my friend.
Onward!
- Lydia
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