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Writing Fodder

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Holding my husband’s hand before he went back for surgery….

Saying “see you when you wake up” and kissing him goodbye…

Waiting in the waiting room….

Eavesdropping on a family of sisters, who passed the time engaging in a lively discussion about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes….

The emotion I felt when we heard the surgeon was putting Ryan’s kidney into his younger brother’s body….

The emotion we all felt when we heard that kidney started working immediately….

My husband lying in the hospital bed after everything was finished….

Brett’s smile the next morning, when for the first time since September, he didn’t have to go to dialysis….

Watching people roam the halls, wheeling IVs with glassy eyes and the occasional grimace….

I experienced all of it like a regular person.

But I had one ear open. Ever the observer. Because everything, when you’re a writer, is fodder for a potential story.

Let’s Talk: Do you ever feel like you’re half experiencing something, half cataloging it away for future use?

It took me long enough, but I’m officially addicted to Pinterest. If you’d like to check out my boards, including a Wildflowers from Winter and Wishing on Willows (releasing March, 2013) board,  here’s my Pinterest home page. I’d love to connect with you there!

3 C’s – It’s Friday!

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Cares:
On Thursday, July 5th, my husband will be donating his kidney to his younger brother. 

Four of my old fifth grade students (who are now going into seventh grade) came over this week for a mini-writing camp. These girls are not only enthusiastic writers (and hilariously fun), but super talented. Way more talented than I was at that age! I’ve loved sharing advanced writing techniques with them.   

Concerns:
Colorado and the fires. My publishing house, my agent, and some writing friends live in Colorado Springs. Praying for their safety and for all the heroic firefighters. 

We are the proud new owners of a Beta fish named Tipsy. Or Sally. Brogan hasn’t made up his mind yet. Last night, I caught him feeding her goldfish crackers and markers.

Celebrations:
All the planning, all the time, all the energy was completely worth it. We raised one third of our adoption expenses at our fundraiser last weekend. So incredibly grateful to everyone who helped and participated!

Wildflowers from Winter was nominated for “Great Christian Fiction May Releases” on Clash of the Titles. If you enjoyed my debut novel and you have a minute, I’d love your vote!

My husband is nearly a perfect match and Brett gets a new kidney! So excited to see him healthy and freed from dialysis. I keep telling Brogan that his daddy is a hero.

Let’s Talk: What are your cares, concerns, and celebrations this week? I love it when you share!

In celebration of Independence Day, and because we’ll be in the hospital, I won’t be blogging next week. Hope you have a happy Fourth of July!

Honest to God

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Guest Post from Jeanette Levellie

We caught our daughter, Esther her in her first lie at the venerable age of three. When I confronted her with “Is that the truth?” she replied, “It’s my truth!”

Honesty is a character quality we all applaud. According to one survey, honesty is the foremost quality people expect in a close relationship. Yet when it comes to our relationship with God, we usually are anything but honest.

How often do we come in prayer or worship and say the things we think He wants to hear, rather than what is really on our minds?

  • We say: “It’s okay that I have not gotten a job yet, Lord, even though I’ve been unemployed for sixteen months. I know you have a plan, and I will trust You to the end.”  We think: “What is up with this, Lord? Are You punishing me for some past sin? I don’t understand why this is taking so long!”
  • We say:  “There is a reason for everything that happens. You are in control, God.”  We feel: “Lord, this is not fair! I have been serving you with my whole heart, and people are criticizing me right and left! Can’t you do something to vindicate me, and shut their mouths?”
  • We say: “I know it’s a sin to worry, so I trust You with my children’s lives, Lord. I cast the care of them on You.” We want to say, “Oh God, this should not be happening. Do something before they destroy themselves and me along with them! I don’t know how much more of this I can take!”

God isn’t shocked by anything we say, do or think. We can’t take Him by surprise or ruin His day by our frankness. He wants us to be completely open with Him, so He can heal us where we hurt and fix what is broken in our lives. It’s essential to our own well being that we tell it like it is with God. There’s no other way to achieve the intimate relationship with Him that we need and want.

All the people in the Bible that walked close to God were also brutally frank with Him. Abraham argued with Him over destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses told Him to find someone else to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. David accused Him of not keeping His word.  Even Jesus cried, “Why have You forsaken me?” when He hung on the cross.

And God never rebuked one of these for their raw, human attitudes.

We cheat ourselves out of some precious times of fellowship and life -changing insights when we sugar coat our prayers and only tell God what we think He wants to hear.  God wants to be your best friend. But He can’t give you the answers you need if you are hiding behind false feelings and worthless words. You have to be real to be healed. You have to be honest to God.

Let’s Talk: Do you have a hard time being honest with God when you pray?

The above is an excerpt from the book, Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top by Jeanette Levellie, available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and CBD. Jeanette is giving away one FREE copy of her book to a random commenter on today’s blog!

She has a fun contest on her website right now! Enter to win a $100 gift card!