Writers in the House by Loretta Bouillon

I can see the value in belonging to a writer’s group.  Unfortunately, we don’t have such a group in our little town of a thousand people.  I suppose I could start one but I’m not really at that place in my life to do so. I am, however, very blessed to live with another writer.

My 18 year old daughter is a true born, through-and-through writer.  She has been journaling and writing stories since she was five. Throughout the day she spends time in her head with the characters of her various stories; and to relax she spends time on her bed with large story boards propped up around her.  The other night she came home from a five hour bus ride excited to write because she had been developing her story in her mind all that time. I wish I was that kind of writer but I am not. I joke and tell her that I want to be just like her when I grow up! J

I tend to write about reality: a memoir, devotions, short magazine articles, and blog about life with my teens. However, we are both writers and God calls us to exercise our gift in different ways. When life is going relatively smoothly for me I write a lot; for all to see. When life throws some curve balls, I become a solitary writer for God’s eyes only. Sometimes I think I am writing to build my testimony. One day, I might share it to help other’s that are walking in the same place.  But for now, I just write my feelings, my experiences, my joy and my prayers.

It’s handy living with another writer. She proof-reads all my writing and critiques it honestly. She encourages me and inspires me. Next September I lose my built in editor as she ventures off to university… Maybe then, it will be time to start a writer’s group in this little town.

Surrender by Loretta Bouillon

I’ve made a personal decision. I have surrendered my writing to God. The past couple of years I’ve set goals, tried to establish schedules, entered contests, submitted pieces here and there and sporadically worked  on my novel.  I’ve had some of my writing published and it’s been exciting, enlightening, challenging, satisfying and stretching all rolled up into one big experience.

While reflecting on this past year of trials and change, I realized that I added to my own stress by trying to do everything. Even though my intent was to write for God, to write His words, according to His timing and for His glory, I easily slipped into my own agenda. Writing became a stress added to an already stressful year and the joy of writing slowly faded. And….it was exhausting. Surrender--there is so much freedom in it isn’t there? Why is it so difficult for me to do?

So here’s my new revelation: I am going to relax. Here's an honest admission: I don’t feel called to write for a career. It’s not my livelihood (although that would be really nice J) and it’s not a race. I realize that we are all at different places in our writing journeys but this is the place I’m at, and I’m okay with it.

So here I am, God. I will write to commune with you. I will write to hear you better. I will write to bless others when you ask me to. I offer up my words, my pen and my laptop. I thank you for the gift of writing.

Amen!

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

A Repressed Writing Memory by Loretta Bouillon

This month’s prompt was to write about a memory connected to your writing journey. I contemplated for a while, trying to remember when I first started writing. In previous posts, I have talked about keeping a diary when I was a young girl and writing stories in my grandma’s kitchen. Then I remembered something I have not thought about for many years.

I entered a story-writing contest in school. I don’t remember what grade I was in, or what the story was even about, but I remember writing a story to enter into a contest (city wide or country wide, I really don’t know). I remember going to the Kitchener Public Library to write the story to feel more like a “real” writer. Not really sure where “real” writers did their writing, I suppose I felt it was the best place to be inspired.

Once it was written, I needed to have the piece typed. At that time in my life I could not type. I decided to ask my Aunt Lee if she would type it for me (on a manual typewriter!) She was the secretary for our school library and I saw her typing stuff all the time. I am not sure what she really thought but she very kindly agreed to type up my story.

Weeks must have passed and I never heard back from the contest. When I think back on the experience now, I think I must have felt a certain level of rejection. I remember taking the bus several times across the city, to the library and pouring my heart and soul into the project.

It was years…..many….before I seriously wrote again. I kept journals all my life and I wrote what I needed to for school, but I never entered another contest until much later in life. It’s interesting that it took this prompt to remember this experience.

Over the years, I have been learning to accept rejection and criticism when it comes to my writing. If I gave up after every rejection then I most certainly would not be writing anymore. Logically, I see it as a valuable tool if there is feedback attached to the rejection letter. It can help me grow as a writer if I don’t take it personally. Also, not everyone is going to like what I write… and that’s okay.

The really neat thing about this post, is that it prompted me to contact my aunt who painstakingly typed up my story. Forty years later I finally thanked her properly! 

Change by Loretta Bouillon

Today I feel grateful. Sitting on my porch, looking out over the expanse of my yard, my flower pots are still in bloom, but the fall colours are in the background. The view signifies change.

I love the change of seasons here, in Northern British Columbia. Sometimes, I fantasize about living in a warm climate where there are only two seasons: sunny/hot and warm/rainy. But really, as I look out at my flowers against the background of the golden trees, there is something inside of me that feels excited about the fall. On the horizon awaits a youth conference with my teens, a little trip to see my son at university and of course Christmas will be right around the corner.

At the same time, I fight some sadness and a bit of fear as a season of my life comes to an end.  My sixteen year homeschool career is coming to a close. I struggle to let go. I struggle to re-establish my identity which used to be “homeschooling mom”. My youngest is in grade 11 at our local school, and my daughter who has just graduated has gone back for one semester to do two extra courses. So now what?

I have been hired as a “teacher on call” at the school. Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself teaching at a school especially after “retirement”!  However, I was asked if I would be interested and after praying about it I felt to give it a try. If I think about it, I am a bit terrified. But if I don’t think about it (and relax in the peace that God brought the position to me) then I’m okay. It’s really the perfect job for me as being “on call” will allow me time to write.

I also plan to get serious about my writing. To write every day, to take my personal blog in a new direction and to write according to a schedule (for those of you who know me, you would know that is my biggest challenge!). I recently attended the Inscribe Writer’s conference.  I am grateful for Melanie Fischer and Tracy Krauss who did workshops on blogging. Both of them inspired me to look at my blog with a fresh perspective. I also bought Melanie’s Fischer’s book called Ya…But How? It is for building your online platform for the “very very beginner” and I plan to make good use of it!

, b

I had a wonderful “blue pencil” review with Pam Mytroen. She reviewed my children’s picture book that I wrote twelve years ago about educating the young child on alcoholism and sobriety. I have tried to submit it a couple of times with the same comment received: “although we find merit in the content of this manuscript, the target audience would be too small to risk taking you on.”  I have been advised to self-publish but that means paying an illustrator and the cost is too great. Pam was so encouraging, saying that this book needs to be published. After taking her suggestions, I polished  the piece and sent it to the Canscaip (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers) annual writing for children competition.  The ten top submissions will be sent to three major children’s publishers for consideration.  I will leave it in God’s hands now.

Change... It can be a good thing. Without God it can be scary and overwhelming but right now it’s time to smile at the memories, to let the flock fly and step into the next chapter of my life. Therefore I will look to Him for guidance each day with a thankful heart, and trust that He also wants the very best for me. 

Writer's Block by Loretta Bouillon

Even though the spirit is willing, the mind comes to a halt. When I am in a good flow with my writing, life around me feels very positive.  Or is it when my life feels positive that my writing flows? Perhaps it is a bit of both? However, life deals us challenging circumstances from time to time. For me, the challenges have been a constant factor for almost a year. How do I keep writing through that? To be honest, I have been suffering from writer’s block for many months. It is this dark cloud hanging over me because I really want to be writing more. When you experience a road block to the area of your life that you write about, it can be discouraging. I plead, “But God, I thought you asked me to write on this subject! Now what am I supposed to do?”  

The other day the answer came through my son, and a couple of days later it was confirmed again through a friend. They suggested that maybe God was using this time to build my testimony and down the road I will write about the experience. He will use my challenges, and victories over them, to help others. Right now the story is being written in my heart. After pondering this, it dawned on me that my daily journaling will be part of the research material for that book.  

In the meantime, I have decided to quit whining and  take some practical steps to help nourish my creative side and encourage me in the craft of writing.

·         I am taking a trip to Ontario with my family. My daughter and I will be going to Stratford to see the Shakespeare play, Hamlet. I figure it is an “artist’s date” and it will feed my creative side. (Also, this has forced me to read the play!)

·         I have committed myself to join a book club this fall. Our town is very small (1000 people) and I desire to belong to a writer’s group but I don’t really have the confidence to start one myself.  For now, I thought I would broaden my mind with books that I don’t usually read. I think it will only help me as a writer.

·         I am going to the InScribe Writer’s Fall Conference in Edmonton in September. The anticipation of meeting many of my fellow writers (that I have been only acquainted with online) combined with the inspiration that I expect to receive by osmosis will be just the recipe I need!

Sometimes I question whether I was really called to be a writer. When I make a crazy decision that I am laying it all down, I can have dramatic thoughts such as deleting my Facebook writer’s page, dropping out of my online writers group, deleting my personal blog and backing out of my monthly writing commitments. (Does anyone else have thoughts like that or is it only me?) It is then that my amazing creative God always uses something or someone to shake me out of that mindset. For that I am very grateful!  

https://lorettabouillon.wordpress.com/

Summer Writing - by Loretta Bouillon

Summer is not my best writing season for producing possible publishable material. I’m okay with that. Periods of the summer are crazy busy, like the grad season we just experienced for my daughter. A memorable time full of family, friends and celebrations consumed our month of June. Having three teens, two years apart, graduations happen every other summer for six years. 

My kids are lifeguards at our outdoor pool and my vehicle is a constant shuttle bus. The garden, outdoor aquafit, the  Ontario family trip, moving my son to university in the late summer combined with just trying to find time to slow down and enjoy the lovely weather.....adds up to very little time on my laptop. I suppose I could make it a priority, and I can see that happening someday, but for now I am happy to give myself permission to put the “serious” writing on hold. If I am inspired to work on my projects, I do, however I am certainly not as disciplined as the other seasons of the year.

I will make time every morning on my porch with my bible and my journal. This indispensable hour contributes to pages and pages of talking to God through my pen. I will take my journal on my travels, and if I feel inspired, I may write a poem, jot down ideas for my novel or just write about what is going on around me. I will keep up the Inscribe blog as well as my own blog.

Summer is when I actually find writing most enjoyable because I have no agenda. Life is not any busier at this time, but there is something about summer that gives me permission to relax a little. Perhaps that is the key to creativity? We’ll see!

Feeling God’s Pleasure When We Write by Loretta Bouillon

The theme of this month’s blog post is to encourage someone who is discouraged and needs to feel God’s pleasure through the written word. For me, with my writing, I find it difficult to write anything in times of discouragement other than lamenting and crying out to God in my journal. When life is tough and I am struggling, often it is hard to find joy in writing, period.

“This too shall pass”….where does that saying come from? Hmnnnn, let me google it---"This too shall pass" , is an adage indicating that all material conditions, positive or negative, are temporary. The phrase seems to have originated in the writings of the medieval Persian Sufi poets, and is often attached to a fable of a great king who is humbled by the simple words. Some versions of the fable, beginning with that of Attar of Nishapur, add the detail that the phrase is inscribed on a ring, which has the ability to make the happy man sad and the sad man happy. The adage and associated fable were popular in the first half of the 19th century, appearing in a collection of tales by the English poet Edward Fitzgerald and being employed in a speech by Abraham Lincoln before he became president.” (Wikipedia)

So, in a nutshell, positive or negative conditions are temporary. Circumstances and human emotions (which are often dependent on circumstances) are always in flux. As Christians, we know this: God is constant, He is there and He wants us to lean on Him. By leaning on Him, He will raise us above our circumstances.

Communing with God brings Him pleasure which in turn brings us pleasure. In difficult times when I force myself to write and I put  unrealistic deadlines on myself, my pleasure in the craft dissipates. The spark fizzles out and there is no joy in it. So what I am learning is this: I give myself a break and just talk to God through my pen. Through this written conversation with God, it breaks through the fog of disillusionment, it brings clarity, it brings pleasure to my heart.  His pleasure.  His peace.

https://lorettabouillon.wordpress.com/

Writing with the Breathings of Our Heart by Loretta Bouillon

This months theme is based on William Wordsworth’s quote instructing writers to “fill your paper with the breathings of the heart” This is something that comes very natural to me. My first “journal” was given to me when I was nine years old. We called it a “diary” back then. It was a little hard-covered book that allowed five lines per day to write your thoughts. I had its own lock and key. I remember it well. It was shiny and beige. It was my treasure.

Since that time, I have filled many journals over the years. I have a box of them in my closet from the last twenty years of raising my family. The earlier volumes are really more just rantings and lamenting about difficult pregnancies, sleepless nights and longing for a moment to myself. Over the years, my daily journal has evolved into an ongoing conversation with God. These pages are still filled with lamenting and crying out to Him, but there are also many documented happy times, revelations and praises to the Lord as well.

As my relationship with the God has matured, so has my journal writing. I think there must be a balance between prayer requests and a thankful heart.  I do write with the underlying thought: “Do I want my children reading this and remembering their mother this way when I am gone?” I don’t like to journal with an “editor” in my head, however, instead, I ask God for discernment as I am writing my most personal thoughts.

When I share my experiences to encourage or inspire others, in a more public medium, I want to make sure that I do not dishonor my husband or children in any way. I often like to write about day to day life with my family so if I mention any of them, I let them read what I have written before publishing. If I share thoughts about my faith, I usually ask God what I should do with it. Is this for my own blog or other blogs that I contribute to? Could this be a submission for a magazine? Perhaps it is just a short facebook post that I feel the Lord will use to touch someone that day.

I guess when it comes right down to it, my desire is to be prayerful about everything I write, just like it is to be prayerful about everything I speak. When I write the “breathings of my heart”, I want to glorify my God always.

Spring - by Loretta Bouillon

Spring is time for new beginnings and is an opportunity to start fresh. That all sounds good in theory, however, how can I apply this to my writing?

Let me be very honest with you. For lack of a better term, I have been experiencing a type of writer’s block. Normally, I tend to write about what’s happening around me with my family. If I do actually sit down to work on my novel (which is forever in process), life must be running relatively smoothly so I can focus. For the past few months, there have been some challenges in my life.  Other than  journaling, I am not motivated or inspired to write about those things. This is partly because it is too personal and partly because I think, “who wants to read about my struggles?”  Through this season, I have been learning that it’s okay to lay down the “important” writing projects with the perspective that writing is sometimes just between me and God. For my eyes only, and for His. I journal the process as a sort of therapy and prayer.

Although I will continue doing this, I have made a decision. I am going to try a new kind of therapy. I am still going to write about the world around me but I am also going to try something new. I have made a list of things I am going to write about “just because” and for no particular reason. Happy things. Intentional things. Meaningful to me things. My list goes something like this:

• My garden
• My greenhouse
• My most favourite places on my property to enjoy my afternoon coffee
• Outdoor aquafit
• My dogs
• My horses
• A new recipe
• A road trip alone
• Sitting by the river
• A walk through a meadow

I might blog about these things, write them as a devotion to God or maybe even try my hand at poetry; but I have a list! A random list of seasonal topics that I will just have fun with. I am actually getting excited thinking about the challenge as I type this post J.  Hmmn….it  might even be an idea to do this at the beginning of every season?

https://lorettabouillon.wordpress.com/

My Re-awakening by Loretta Bouillon

It all began late, last winter when my husband was cleaning out the shop and found a floppy disk with a title of a children’s picture book that I wrote 15 years ago. He asked if I still wanted it. At the time I wrote this book, I had young children and was in about my 6th year of sobriety. Searching for a simple children’s picture book explaining alcoholism and sobriety to a young child, I found no such book, so I wrote one. It is titled, “Mommy, Why Don’t You Drink Beer?” At the time, I had a good friend, who was a screenplay writer in Toronto, who offered to read it. I sent her the pages and she willingly read them and gave her suggestions. When I received her pages back, they were marked up in red with comments like, “make this more fun” and “be more creative”. Not receiving the criticism well, or just not having the energy to pursue the revision (having 3 little ones 5 and under) I just let it go. When it resurfaced years later, I re-read it and realized I still liked it. I did a google search to see if such a book had been written and I could not find one. On a trip to Vancouver, I checked out many bookstores asking for such a book. There was not one to be found targeting that age group. After a few revisions, I am now on a quest to find a publisher.

This book was the catalyst to my writer’s self-reawakening. I’ve always journalled, every day, all the time, for my whole life. My journals have changed over the years. They have become more of a God journal; a prayer journal actually. I have filled two boxes full of journals since I began chronicling my married-with-children years. It is the way I talk with God.

Sometime later, I joined a writing group and started writing for various contests, blogs and magazines. I am also working on a novel. As my children are older, I find I have more pockets of writing time in my week. I am enjoying the process but realize that really, this is a gift from God to me as a way to commune with Him. If He wants to use it for anything else, I trust He will lead me day by day.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

The Artist's Date - Loretta Bouillon

The Artist’s Date -  by Loretta Bouillon

It is an interesting concept; the “Artist’s Date”. I have been reading Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way and she suggests a weekly date, about two hours a week, to stimulate our senses and feed the artist in us. My initial thought was this….how can I do this in a town of 1000 people, without a theatre, coffee shop, or in a nutshell, anything that I could possible use for an artist’s date? It is good in theory but not very easy to do in this town. This, combined with the fact that it is winter and we live in the north, has been my excuse.

I have come up with more excuses than possibilities for “dates”. Besides having nowhere to go, I have no time. What busy mom has two hours of time a week to spend on something so unnecessary? Or is it necessary?

As I write this, I have taken an unexpected trip to Vancouver. I am happily overloading on hours of artist dates for a week. Can it work that way? Artistic gluttony! I am artistically and culturally starving and it feels fabulous to fuel up. Walking around Vancouver alone is feeding my muse. I am typing on my laptop as I write in a lovely coffee shop, sipping an Americano. Beside me is another writer furiously typing away on her laptop. The two men beside me are discussing a theatre production they are directing.

So far this week, I have wandered through small art galleries, handcrafted jewelry shops, a specialty handmade broom store, a glass blowing shop, a pottery shop, and the Vancouver Art Gallery. I have taken walks with my laptop in tow and sat writing on the seawall, on a ferry, and at a couple of markets listening to buskers. It’s so easy here. I love it and thrive on this energy. But, I don’t live in it. Maybe I should l look at this as an artistic retreat?

 As challenging as it is, after brainstorming, I have made a list of creative artist’s dates that I could have in my little town.

o   Attending any plays or musical nights that come through our town (once in awhile this happens)

o   Visit our little museum (for the twentieth time but take my time and go through it slowly)

o   Take a winter walk and look at the nature around me through artist eyes and appreciate God’s creation

o   Plan my garden with a drawing (even though I don’t draw)

o   Plant something exotic in my greenhouse/garden this Spring

o   Paint something abstract with watercolours (I say abstract because I don’t draw!)

o   Paint something abstract with acrylic

o   Draw something from my kids’ beginner drawing books (I seriously don’t draw!)

o   Watch those artist’s videos that I made my kids watch for our art course years ago

o   Watch some Jane Austen movies

o   Read a Shakespeare play

o   Read a biography about a writer or poet

So as I write this, I realize that the possibilities are endless. I just need to be creative about being creative! Here I go! 

Reflecting back / Looking ahead by Loretta Bouillon

In the spring of 2014, I joined Inscribe Christian Writer’s Fellowship. This group opened up a whole new level of writing for me as well as many exciting opportunities. I have tried my hand at contests, devotions, magazine articles, query letters, guest blogging as well as being asked to be a regular contributor to this blog.  I have also learned so much being a part of the chat group with Inscribe. I do not always participate in all the conversations but I read them and glean. The group has been wonderful answering any questions that I have had so far. I have met new writer friends (although not face to face…but I am hoping to next fall conference!) If you are a writer, published or not, I would highly recommend joining this group.

I attended Surrey International Writer’s Conference with my daughter (article featured on my own blog as well as in the February issue of Fellowscript magazine).  The networking experience as well as the information that we took away from the conference was invaluable.

2014 was a year of input overload and a very fast learning curve. Now that I have a little more understanding of the writing and publishing industry, I feel God slowing me down and realigning my focus. I don’t have to enter every contest that comes my way! Write that novel. Work on one project at a time. Develop my writing skills. Read that book and apply it to my daily life. Polish my skills. Practice, practice, practice. So this is what I will do.

Two resources that have come my way are ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron and  ‘The Writer’s Book of Days’ by Judy Reeves. I have begun reading both of them and this is what I am applying so far:

Morning Pages – You write three pages about anything you like. It is not to be edited (unless you want to later). Basically, you write to unclutter your mind so you clear the brain drain, to unblock and recover the artist in you. The pages are to be written longhand and not to be an artisitic attempt or written about anything in particular. Get all your worries and mind clutter onto the page. I realize that what I do with my journaling is much like this, only now I write without a “censor”; the critical part in me that is afraid someone might read it someday. I am quite enjoying the freedom of this process.

Artist’s Date – This is a two hour date with myself per week for twelve weeks to do something artistic/creative to develop my creative side. I have to say that I am not as successful with this task quite yet. I am working on it, though, and will save this experience for a future blogpost.

As I move forward into the New Year, I am doing so with a commitment to grow in my writing technically as well as really trying to hear God’s direction as to where it will take me. One day at a time. Like anything in my life, it is about trusting God. My “wake up prayer” every morning is this: “God, I give you my day. Please guide me and help me to be the best I can be at all You are asking me to do. Amen.”

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)

https://lorettabouillon.wordpress.com/

Family Traditions by Loretta Bouillon

“Lorie, don’t forget your cello!” Mom called out from her room as she was prettying herself up for Christmas Eve mass, a tradition which would be followed by the annual Christmas Eve family get-together.  Our family enjoyed the folk mass on Christmas Eve instead of the traditional service on Christmas Day. Growing up in the ‘70’s, folk mass was led by this hippy-like teacher from my school who played the guitar and sang upbeat songs. 

After mass we would move on to our yearly Christmas Eve festivities. My family, along with my dad’s two brothers, would take turns hosting the celebration. Coming from a German background, Christmas Eve was as important as, or even more important, than Christmas day. We would dress up in our best dresses and all the family and extended family would come for an evening of music and tasty German treats.

Our family has always been musical. As a child I played the cello. My sister played the violin. My younger brother sang. My mother sang professionally and had a beautifully trained singing voice (and still does!). My cousin was on the flute, another cousin on the piano, an uncle or two on the accordion and grandpa on the banjo.  A few guitars were added over the years. We always had sheet music to sing along with. This portion of the evening would always end with my Aunt CarolAnne’s yodel song! 

Twenty years ago, I stopped attending this Christmas Eve function for the simple reason that I moved to the other side of the country and had my own little family. I actually remember being depressed for the first several Christmases, not being able to attend the much cherished celebration. Over the years, we lived in small Northern towns where everyone else had their own families. It felt a little lonely until one Christmas I decided that I needed to stop moping and wishing I were in Ontario with my family. I was with my family; my husband and my three little ones. I dressed us all up in our best clothes, and found a Christmas Eve caroling service. Afterward, we drove around town to look at the beautiful Christmas lights. When we got home, I had purposefully  bought some special food, treats that I would never buy any other time of year, and we would eat them while playing a board game. After our treats and games we would be allowed to open the gifts that the kids bought or made for each other.

These Christmas Eve traditions have become cherished over the years. Our children are young adults and our special food has now evolved into a fondue night, still dressed in our best clothes with a new board game every year. We have lots of chocolate and Perrier and non-alcoholic wine sparkling juice. We enjoy being together as a family with our undivided attention on each other. The best part of that evening (for me) is when the kids open their gifts to each other. They have put a lot of thought into what to buy or make for each other, and there is really more excitement about the giving than the receiving.

So as I reflect on my family in Ontario, who are still having the traditional musical Christmas Eve celebration, I am no longer sad. My heart is full and satisfied being with my own little family. Every year we are grateful for our health, for each other, and ultimately for Jesus, being the reason for the season.

Loretta blogs at https://lorettabouillon.wordpress.com

Remembering the Good Things

Some days are hard. Today happens to be one of them. What I do know is this: counting my blessings diffuses the hard stuff every time. As I await a surgery date that could happen any day, I was taking a mental inventory of all the things on my to do list that needed attention. I remembered this blog post that needed to be written. I checked the topic for this month and knowing God has a sense of humor, and knowing that He knows exactly what I need, it was called “Remember the Good Things.” A most therapeutic exercise for me today!

The prompt went on to suggest writing a memorial building account of something that I would want to pass on to my children and grandchildren. When I really thought about it, I realized that what I really would want them to know is how fortunate I feel that I was able to be a stay at home mom, right to the end of their high school years. When my husband and I met, I had a full-time job that I enjoyed. When I found out that I was expecting with my oldest son, now 19, we were living in a one bedroom apartment, downtown Vancouver. Nineteen years ago, our rent was $1100/month.  The price of day care for a baby was $900/month. When I went at a daycare that was close to where I worked, my heart broke. There were nine babies cared for by two workers who seemed stressed and overworked, in a small cement structure. My friends were able to afford nannies but we could not.

My husband was offered a job in Vanderhoof, a small town in Northern  BC, when my son was nine months old. I was still on maternity leave. We flew to Vanderhoof and had a look around. Now, you must understand that eight years previously, I had moved from Toronto to Vancouver thinking I as moving to a small town. Vanderhoof was a town of 4000 people and the only coffee shop at the time was A&W! When we went there, however, I immediately saw my future. A house with a backyard, and I could stay home with my baby.

As a new Christian, I immediately sought out a church and was blessed with an instant support system. We had muffins and pie arrive at our door as welcome gifts. This was completely foreign to me.  I met many women who stayed at home with their children and quickly realized that this was the norm in this small town. I had married in my 30’s so most of the women my age had older children. The moms who did have younger children were several years younger them me. From all of them I learnt how to successfully parent little ones, cook from scratch and take pride in my role as a stay at home mother and wife.  I threw myself into my role and it became my life calling. Surprisingly to me it was the best job I have ever had, however the most challenging. 

Two job transfers later for my husband, I am still at home. My oldest is in university and I still homeschool my younger two, ages 17 and 15. This city girl has raised country kids, with two dogs, a cat, a bunny and two horses.

The Younger Years

For our family, having mom stay at home was a good thing. I know I am the heartbeat of this home. Certainly, there are days where the grass feels greener on the other side, but ultimately I know this was God’s plan for us. I lived a lot of life before God brought me my family. I consider it a great privilege and blessing to be happy and content to serve Him in this way. 

Loretta Bouillon

https://lorettabouillon.wordpress.com/

Facing Down Our Fears - Loretta Bouillon

Pixabay

What an appropriate topic for me this month! Being relatively new in the writing industry, I have had to face a few fears this year.

Starting a blog, joining a writer’s group, making a Facebook page; even CALLING myself a writer was a big one for me! One of my giants is still awaiting me in October, at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference. I am thrilled to be able to go. I am even more thrilled to be going with my seventeen year old daughter,Carlee. She is also a writer and very gifted one--says her English teacher. Her Christian online school has agreed to pay her registration fee for this conference, so the bonus is being able to do this together! We will fly there, stay in a hotel, and enjoy eating our meals at the banquets that are included with the price. It will be girl time!

Carlee and I

Back in the Spring of this year, I had to make a decision between, taking a couple of online university writing courses through UBC, the cost of self-publishing a book OR choosing to go to this conference. I chose the conference as I thought it would serve as a crash course in writing, publishing and everything that goes with it. Some of the workshops include topics such as Writing Picture Books, How to Spot Rookie Mistakes, Self-Publishing, Online Promotion and Social Media, Tools for Great Dialogue, and Finding Your Voice.

Anyway, back to the giant. With this conference, there is an opportunity to have a 10 minute “pitch” with an editor or agent. I have chosen to “pitch” my children’s picture book. To be completely honest, I AM TERRIFIED! However, I am a fairly good actor when I want to be. I am still terrified. The fear of the unknown. The fear of rejection. Being completely inexperienced, I expect rejection and I think I am okay with it. I tell myself that the experience will be invaluable; a great learning tool. It will be good for me.

What sold this conference to me was the sweet conference co-coordinator, who I met online while I was checking out the possibility of attending. She commented, “When I attended this conference for the first time, I felt like I had come home. I am very excited for you!” Although never having attended a writer’s conference, I still could relate to that statement.  I have been to several homeschooling conferences and Christian women’s conferences and there is something wonderfully uplifting about being together with hundreds of like-minded people in the same venue. It is a recharge, it is networking and it is feeling understood.

Attending this conference, I will definitely be walking through and overcoming some fears, however I see the opportunity as an incredible blessing. What a wonderful chance to learn and grow in this craft with my daughter. This is a gift in which I accept gratefully.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Back to School - by Loretta Bouillon

I love the summer. It can be busy—or should I say just a different kind of busy? With our family vacation, all three kids working at the pool, aquafit, friends visiting, school prep and trying to chip away slowly (very slowly!) at various writing projects - the summer has just flown by. Physical, mental and emotional energy has been poured into preparing our oldest son for leaving for university, along with several of his friends who make up our youth group. Many changes, exciting for those leaving, but harder for those left behind.

Our family has recently taken Maxx, our 18 year old son, to University of Northern British Columbia at the end of August. I know that it is inevitable that all my children will leave, but the day has arrived where the first is actually leaving the nest. As hard as it is, these are a few of the things I am certain of:

1) I will miss Maxx terribly. The sound of his guitar through the walls, his steadfast quiet spirit, his voice of reason when I feel a little bit crazy, and his willingness to pray for me when I need it.

2) He will be okay. He is a capable, responsible, amazing young man who loves God and will seek his guidance continually. He is on the meal plan in residence. He will eat.

3) I will be okay. I will go into withdrawal at first, maybe cry in his room for a bit, but then come to appreciate his room as MY extra space where I can retreat to do my writing, reading or watch a movie that no one else wants to watch. He also has a pretty awesome ensuite powder room off his room which will also become MINE!

4) We will adjust. God will see us through the changes. We will all miss Maxx terribly; dinner for four instead of five just does not sound right, however we will look forward to when he comes home: Thanksgiving, Christmas and reading week.

Life will go on! I am still homeschooling two other wonderful kids that bring me great joy. Back-to-school has begun and I am hoping to fall into a schedule for my writing as the kids do their studies. In October, I am looking forward to attending the Surrey International Writer’s conference with my seventeen year old daughter (who I believe is a better writer than I am!). It will be our first writer’s conference and a mother/daughter get-a-way. I signed up for this conference before I found the InScribe group so unfortunately, as much as I would LOVE to do both conferences, it is not possible. However, the Inscribe conference is on the agenda for next year!

I am new to the writing industry. It has been less than a year where I have actually called myself a writer (although I have always written). My work in progress includes a couple of children’s picture books, magazine articles, devotions and the hope to write a series of devotions and a parenting book for parents with teens.

In this season, I am passionate about writing about my life with my teens and hope to encourage other parents in this stage of the parenting journey. Over the years, when people ask me about my children, they sometimes seem perplexed as to how my kids can appear happy and accomplished, yet they do not party or date (casually). They also actually enjoy being with their family. This has inspired me to write a book about parenting teens. I ask God that the message would be humble and bring Him glory as not to portray myself as some super-mom. My journey has been completely reliant on Him.

As my life revolves around the school year, so does my writing. My prayer is that that I will find the balance between teaching, parenting, supporting my husband and writing. When God calls us to particular ministries, He will equip us. That is my prayer for all of you, my fellow writers, that you will be carried by our wonderful God as you pursue all God has called you to be in the months ahead.

A Writer's Fantasy by Loretta Bouillon

 

 

We are pleased to welcome InScribe member Loretta Bouillon as our Guest Blogger today.

  

 

What if I had a whole year free to completely focus on my writing with an unlimited budget for resources? What would that look like?

This is a fantasy that has replayed in my mind often; however, in this fantasy, I seem to be a tiny bit older living the life of an empty nester. My hats, as I wear them now, would be changed. No longer would I be a homeschooling mother/teacher, a manager of social engagements, a manager of personal development courses, a chauffeur, a cook for many, a laundress and a youth group coordinator (I may be missing a few!).

Waking up to my morning brew and turning on my praise music would begin my day with the Lord. I would also study my bible, read my devotion book, write to God a bit in my journal and ask direction for my day. I would take care of any practical tasks that needed to be done in order to make me feel organized enough to sit down for a while. It has been a strong belief of mine – prodded by my past many years of craving a moment of silence – that an inspirational writers’ nook would be ideal. For example… a place that I could actually leave all my writing-related belongings and know that it would remain untouched until the next time I sat down to write! Beginning there with a daily entry in my blog, I would then move onto another writing piece in progress. This would be the routine of a typical day.

Having my own laptop (not shared with one of my children), would be fantastic. Perhaps even owning my own iPad, so I could read every email with Inscribe and other resources, would result in myself being more connected into a network of writers.

Let me indulge me fantasy a little more here. Not having to be concerned about time or financial resources would allow me to travel to the exact locations of different scenes in my novel. This way I could accurately write with ease and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of each setting. I would visit the most interesting coffee shops in each venue, as that is where I find the most inspiration with my writing.

I would look forward to the luxury of long uninterrupted chunks of time to complete some piece of writing to fruition. In my present life, I have bits and pieces of many writing projects divided between a couple of children’s laptops, some on my pink USB stick and still other bits of writing in journals (yet to be transcribed into type).

Not having to choose between the two, I would attend both Inscribe Writer’s Conference and the Surrey International Writer’s Conference. Perhaps I could even take more than one writing course at a time, and maybe even live in a city where I could have the option of taking a course in a classroom with other writers and not online.

Even though this is a picture of my perfect writing year, here are my realities: I love my life right now. My children are growing into young adults. I already have one leaving in the fall for university and in five years they will all be gone. Most of my writing is inspired by life with my teens and all their wonderful friends. I am truly blessed to have the luxury of time to be able to homeschool them, assist them in developing their God-given gifts, shepherd their hearts, getting to know and love their friends as well as becoming their friend as well as parent. I do not want these years to end and although I know life is moving in that direction, and I do look forward to my fantasy writing life, I cherish my life just as it is now!


Loretta Bouillon has homeschooled her children for the past 18 years. Her works in progress include two children's picture books, a parenting book, and a novel. Find her blog at http://lorettabouillon.wordpress.com/