Addendum

An Addendum to yesterday's musings...

Those of you who suggested I do something creative/artistic--you are spot on! You must know me well, or else have great intuition. That is exactly what I've been mulling over. I am currently pondering a seedling of an idea, but am far from a concrete business plan (if anyone has a good one, shoot it my way!). The trouble I find, however, is that I have way too many interests and it's hard to narrow down in which direction to specialize. Not that I have to do only one thing--it's perfectly possible to have your hand in many pots, but in order to do it well enough for my own personal standard I need to at least choose a direction.

And, along the way, I'm continuing to fine-tune my discovery of who God has created me to be...

(And yes, I am fully aware that God's plan for all of us is to glorify Him; as John Piper expounds the catechism, "The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever." I'm speaking specifically of discovering my own unique purpose, because, as I mentioned yesterday, we all are purposed for something. From God's own mouth, via Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" I am talking about seeking God in effort to claim that hope and future. I am talking about finding my God-given passions and talents, and investing them and expressing them in a way that would both glorify God and maximize my personal joy...since I think those things go hand in hand, even if they're not mutually exclusive.)

Just for fun, I wanted to write a list of my conglomerate of interests (in no particular order)...This list is by no means exhaustive, and fyi, it includes things that I want to do as well as those that I already have my hand in:

1. writing (particularly some sort of children's books, maybe?)
2. editing
3. linguistics and translation
4. archaeology, historical geography, and ancient languages
5. sewing/crafting/creating (includes knitting & all associated crafts)
6. designing things to sew/craft/create
7. re-purposing old/useless things into new/useful things
8. cooking and baking (always wanted to go to culinary school)
9. cake decorating (also would love to go to pastry school!)
10. gardening & preserving
11. painting (as in, creating art)
12. photography
13. music (piano, mostly)
14. woodworking/furniture making
15. construction & handyman skills
16. auto mechanics
17. accounting
18. hairdressing: cutting & styling
19. massage therapy
20. midwifery
21. traveling

Have you noticed that the things that excite me most deal directly with motherhood and caring for a family? It's fitting, and makes me happy. I love how God gives us the talents and passions for doing what He calls us to do.

I think I had a breakthrough yesterday while reading my usual blogroll, and realizing that every time I read these certain blogs I am filled with some indescribable burning passion and feel positively bubbling over with excitement, creative ideas, hope, inspiration, an unbearable itch...it's so hard to describe, but it's a very good thing. These ladies are living my hopes and dreams, some of which I had realized and some of which I hadn't, but there they are. And seeing someone live it successfully fills me with burning excitement and anticipation to get my own self on that path.

And that path demands a sewing machine. I must acquire a sewing machine ASAP. My research is done, and I've already got one picked out. To me it's more than a machine: it's a symbol of--for once--being able to clasp in my hands those lifelong hopes and dreams that have become so elusive; and in a sense, it is a symbol of freedom. It embodies the amazing fulfillment of being able to create something beautiful from nothing (we are, after all, made in the image of Someone else who loves to do that).  My wonderful, supportive husband assures me we'll find a way...which I interpret as 3+ years of saving every penny from birthdays and Christmas...In the meantime, I'm just going to believe him: we'll find a way.

P.S. If anyone is interested, following is a list of some of those afore-mentioned blogs that inspire me to speechlessness. These ladies are sweet, modern, fun, and stylish (well, as far as I can tell from their blogs!), and they make beautiful things. I'm not even sure how I happened across most of them, but...Without further ado, here they are:

• First, my old childhood friend, who inspired me (whether she knows it or not) to check out this whole blogging thing and sold me on its usefulness by her own amazing blog: Twinkling Along
• Made
• luvinthemommyhood 
• No Big Dill
• Sew Much Ado
• Noodle Head
• The Splendid Table
• Nourishing Meals
• and really, so many more, but you get the idea!