You Know You’re a Sister When . . .

Welcome to Life from my Laptop, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. You can also sign up to receive my posts via email. Thanks for visiting!

You know you’re a sister when . . . you can finish each others sentences.

You know you’re a sister when . . . your heart hurts when she’s hurting.

You know you’re a sister when . . . you discover this incredible, life-changing connection with a woman who is miles away from you, and though you have never met face to face, you love her, admire her and long to share a cup of coffee or a slice of cheesecake with her face to face.

You know you’re a sister when . . . you walk into a room and she knows your name even though you’ve never seen her (in person) before in your life.

You know you’re a sister when . . . you feel sheer joy for her at the blessings God is placing upon her.

You know you’re a sister when . . . you find that other person who you identify with so very much and who really understands what it means to be a work at home mom.

I am the oldest girl of two children.  I do not have any blood sisters.  However, God has blessed me with God-sisters here in my own community, and with blog sisters across the country, through the avenue of blogging.

I could never say that my “blogging” sisters are any “LESS” of a friend to me than my “in real life” sisters and friends.  That is furthest from the truth.  The connections we share are genuine, real, inspiring and truly ones I lean on on a daily basis.  I have many times been disappointed when I logged on to my computer ready to talk to an “online” sister and her not be online.  I have also many times felt the need to connect with one of the because they “understand” the issue more than my “in real life friends” because it has to do with the “work at home” lifestyle I choose to lead.

This post is dedicated to my “blogging sisters”.  @DrMommy, @EricaMueller, @PPDiva, @KellyMcCausey, @CarrieLee, @CasualEveryday, @RealLifeSarah,@CourtneyChowning, @hbixler, @thequeenmommy, @ResourcefulMommy, @onemomsworld and @Trica (I’m certain I am leaving someone out and I don’t mean to.)  Some of you I have had the privelege of meeting in real life while others I long to meet.

This post is also my entry into the “I Blog with the Sisterhood” (The Sister Project) contest where the 1st prize is an all expense paid trip to the Type-A-Mom conference! Official Entry information here!

The above photo is of me and my “blogging sister” @CarrieLee.

Too Many Projects?

Can you have too many projects?  It is something I should probably think about have thought about BEFORE I started what has become my many projects these days.  I thrive on “projects” ask my friends and family who would say, “you wouldn’t be Alyssa without a project”.  Projects truly do keep me going.  Every morning I pray for my projects and I pray for God’s guidance so that I can focus on what he would have me to focus on, and that he’d help me to prioritize.  It works.

So, are you curious about what the many projects I currently have going on are?  Well, here’s a run down.  My current projects include:

FaithLeaps.com - Developing the materials for the membership site which will officially launch on Thursday of this week.  Find details about that over at my ministry blog.

Vacation Bible School -  I am the director of the VBS at my church this year. I know summer is months away but I like to get started early, back when this was part of my job as Youth & Children’s director I always started in January.  So far I have chosen a curriculum, met w/ my co-director and made a list of possible workers, I’ve also confirmed positions with a few workers already.  VBS is set for June 15-19.

Taking Seminary classes online. – This is another project, and will be ongoing for the rest of this year.  This is the hardest thing for me to make time for because it requires me to focus and not get interrupted which is difficult w/ three small children.

Planning my 10 Year HS Reunion. – This is my newest project and one I am excited about.  10 years has flown by, I loved HS, I had great friendships and I am ready to “reconnect” with those I haven’t seen in a long time.  Even just catching up via Facebook and a couple phone calls has been fun!  The reunion is set for Sat. June 27.

In addition to these “projects” I have 5 clients that I write for weekly.  I have a good schedule worked out for them though so I get all “client work” done Monday – Wednesday.

What about you are you a “project” person? Do you think you can have too many projects?  I’d love to know your thoughts.

How I Came to Be a Writer

I discovered that I enjoyed writing when I was in high school, however unfortunately my teachers were not encouraging and as a result I felt that it wasn’t my strong suit.   Fast forward to college, I began taking extra English and writing classes, which further revealed my gift for writing.  My college professors unlike my high school teachers were encouraging and impressed by my ability to write.

Therefore, I finished college with a minor in English and a love for writing.  At this point nothing becomes of this new found love, but still it was a stepping stone. I have kept a “journal” for many years, which is also another reason that I began to realize I had a “writing bug“.  My husband saw my talent and constantly encouraged me to do something with it.  He always told me “You should write a book.”

So, two years ago when I felt God calling me to take a step of faith and pursue full time ministry outside the walls of the church through a speaking and writing ministry it all began to make sense, but I was still terrified as I still am today of the rejections that come with pursuing publishing, whether in a print magazine or for a book.

Nevertheless, a little over a year ago I began writing a monthly column for a local Christian magazine, North Mississippi Christian Family and to this day I still have a monthly column in it. So, my dreams to be published in a larger magazine and to publish a book still remain.  Finally, I am pursuing that with a little more gusto.

As I told Kathy Willis, the editor and publicist I am now working with, I am published all over the web.  I have written more articles than I can count, many are in article directories, published on Christian websites and I maintain 2 blogs of my own, as well as contributing regularly to others.

As the country singer, Brad Paisley’s song says, “I’m so much cooler online.” Thank God for the internet, or I may have never believed in my writing abilities. It is a result of some connections I made online and a phone call I received from an online friend that I now own a freelance writing business.  My “money making” job these past approximately 15 months has been writing for others as both a ghostwriter and freelance writer.

Writing has become my life, most definitely, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Photo Credit: dabawenya

Next Page »