Hey there! I’m glad you found me here at my new blog, “Sips of Sunshine.” I’m thrilled that I can continue sharing some sunshine with you at my new digs. It is amazing for me to think that this blog all started with a simple conversation with God.
Back in early 2011, I said, “Hey God, it’s me, Heather. Well, you already know that, since I knock on your door quite often…so let’s get down to the important stuff. God, I really love to write. I love words. I love how words can stir something within or even be life-changing. I feel a strong desire to write. Use me as an instrument. I want to write for You.”
Shortly after that, I was contacted by my friend, Dorian Speed, who was starting up a local family-friendly website and asked if I wanted to contribute a short story here and there. “Oh, is THIS what you want me to do, Lord? Okay. I’m on it!”
Then, my husband and I worked together to come up with a catchy little title for my column on her site. I told him I envisioned the title to be fun, inviting, warm and positive. My hope was that I could add just a little ray of sunshine to someone’s day through my words. So, we bounced ideas back and forth and “Sips of Sunshine” came to be.
My column appeared on Dorian’s cool website up until she moved out of the area at the end of 2011. My desire to write continued, however, and I wondered where I should go from there. “Hey God, I’m still here and eager to write,” I prayed one day, hoping He would drop some other writing opportunity in my lap. (If only my countless other prayers could be answered so quickly…)
So, God was indeed listening. My mom e-mailed me that next day about a “Choose Life” poetry contest sponsored by The Manhattan Declaration http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/. So, I wrote my poem, “A Baby Book,” and I’m excited to announce that it was chosen as the winner in the Free Style poetry category!
Thank you again to all who supported me and voted for me during the contest. If you’d like to read my poem, please see the comments section below. Re-energized by the wonderful response and feedback about my poem, I felt moved to get going on my own blog.
So, here I am. I have added my 2011 articles and they all appear in the month of February ~ 2012, if you missed them the first go around. I will be adding some fresh new stories and poems soon. And, while I don’t ALWAYS feel “sunshiney,” I do love Gretchen Rubin’s advice of, “Act the way you WANT to feel.” I promise you that I’ll give it my best effort at making us all want to be the best version of ourselves. My hope is that my words might be a beam of sunshine or provide a glow of inspiration to my readers.
Looking forward to sippin’ some sunshine with you here on my blog! You can follow along by e-mail or by RSS feed - just sign-up in the right-hand column. My plan is to create a "Sips of Sunshine" facebook page real soon as well. I hope you "like" it! (And, a thank you goes out to the very best brother a girl could ask for ~ you’re my very FIRST “follower” ~ Love ya!)
Heather, you are such an inspiration to me and I am sure to many others. I love reading your stories, they touch my heart in so many ways. God has definitely given you a precious gift of writing. Thanks for sharing these inspirational stories. By the way, I love your title! Jacki
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jacki! I look forward to this new venture - thanks for joining me and for your sweet compliments ;-)
DeleteWish you the best of luck with this blog..........
ReplyDeleteyou write about the wonderful aspects of life, love, happiness and the unexpected, but delightful happenings in daily living........all of it faith-based inspired.
Thank you for your support...as always! ;-) Lots of love to a very special aunt!
DeleteHere is my contest poem, as mentioned above:
ReplyDeleteA BABY BOOK
As I slowly turn the pages of my baby book,
I feel a tear slide down my cheek – I take a closer look.
I see a mommy full of love, a daddy…so, so proud,
An echo of my baby heartbeat – strong and very loud.
I close my eyes just to feel their tender warm embrace,
As they gently trace the tiny features of my baby face.
I read about my “firsts” – first food, first step, first smile,
I see a clipping of my hair and pause for just awhile.
Recalling many memories, birthday parties and the fun,
I almost feel the warmth of my own childhood sun.
And neatly tucked there in the book…a Mother’s Day note,
One that I remember just exactly what I wrote:
I love you Mom, I love you Mom, so very, very much,
I love you more than rainbows, purple unicorns and such.
I thank you for listening to all I have to say,
For caring for and loving me every single day.
Thank you for the life that you gave to me,
For shaping me, for making me, allowing me to be.
So, on this Mother’s Day, and all the other days, too,
I’m oh so very thankful God has chosen me for you!
I put the note back in the book and close my misty eyes,
The tears are there because I think of every child that dies.
The tiny little innocents who never have the chance,
To breathe, to live, to dream, to walk, or even just to dance.
I say a little prayer for all the moms in need,
When in that moment in the dark, they let the good Lord lead.
I pray that moms will all choose life - their angel deep inside,
That when in doubt, they will look up, to find their Holy Guide.
I sit in silence breathing in the air - the life around me,
From “rock-a-bye” to rocking chairs – the gift of life is key.
My heart is aching for a life today some mommy took,
I won’t cease prayer ‘til every unborn has a baby book.