The Welcome Mat

Summer is a tough time to blog. The desire is there but the sunshine and the outside activities seem to pull like a magnet. The smell of cut grass, blooming flowers and the musty smell of cool water against the warm pavement are hypnotic. The glowing lights of the monitor have no chance against the evening sun setting in the sky and the sounds of the kids playing "Sardines" in the street.

But the draw to blog is there also. In between trips to the pool, watering plants, having garage sales, cleaning said garage after the sale and all the other fun activities, I have been keeping up on my favorites and adding some new ones. At the beginning and ends of my day I often find myself stealing a few minutes to check on my favorites and make sure I'm not missing out on your pearls of wisdom or gems of humor.

In honor of some of my friends who have recently started blogs (Cheryl & Paula) and some recently discovered new favorites, I'm dusting off the welcome mat. If you have a chance, stop by their blogs and encourage them with a "welcome to blogging" comment. I know that meant so much to me in my early blogging days. You can look at my Blogrolling links to the left to see some of my friends and my favorites. If you haven't visted them yet, check out Michelle at Full Soul Ahead and Jenny at Roughly Speaking. Their efforts to move forward in their blooming writing careers have motivated and inspired me.

And if you're not participating in Sunday Scribblings yet, well, why not? It's a fun and encouraging way to practice your writing skills with a creative and often eye-opening prompt. I'd encourage you to check out the very talented writers that particpate each week. It's been a great way to connect with bloggers from all parts of the world and read some very amazing stories.

My bloggie-friend Amber continues to amaze me with her raw and honest writing about the struggles of her life and how she has overcome them. She has an absolutely heart-wrenching post up today that is worth the read for anyone who feels lost and is struggling to understand the trials they are in. I am so grateful for her insight and how she uses the lessons learned from her own pain to encourage others through theirs.

Pimping my Honey: Not to brag or anything, but go to my friend Dean's blog to read about a really cool project my hubby was involved in this summer. (Read the two entries about the roof.)

Lastly, I've been grazing through a stack of books this summer working on my creativity in respect to writing. This morning I read this in Julia Cameron's, The Artist's Way and it made me think of all my blogging friends.

"Artists love other artists. Shadow artists are gravitating to their rightful tribe but cannot yet claim their birthright. Very often audacity, not talent, makes one person an artist and another a shadow artist - hiding in the shadows, afraid to step out and expose the dream to the light, fearful that it will disintegrate to the touch."

I think one of the reasons I love blogging so much is because I'm in that shaddow spot and working up the courage to step into the light. I think I've got maybe a foot out so far, but slowly and surely, I'm drawing enough wisdom, encouragement and power from those who are living their dreams that someday I'll emerge with words and stories and characters to share with anyone who will read them. So thanks to all of you, and you're welcome at my door, physical or virtual, anytime!