Contributing

In October, Dennis and I will celebrate our 5-year wedding anniversary. In the four and a half years that we've been married, I haven't contributed much to our financial situation. Granted, I was working on my MDiv and writing an occasional article, but for the most part, I was better at draining our resources than replenishing them. When I graduated, I thought that I'd finally be able to contribute financially, but it turns out that it's really difficult to make much money as a freelance writer in a collapsed economy. At least, it was difficult for me. The only assignments I got came from contacts I already had, and most of my queries merited no response at all. It hasn't been much fun.

I know that it takes time to build a reputation as a writer, but it's disheartening when it takes longer than expected. That said, I'm not sure I could handle lots of writing assignments right now. Micah takes up a great deal of my time and attention day in and day out, and until she gets out of the baby stage, I'm sure that it will continue to be difficult to set time aside to write.

I'm not giving up on writing. When I'm offered assignments from myMISSIONfulfilled, ec, and Clarity Publishers, I take them, and I'm grateful for them. But I'm also not actively seeking new assignments these days. I've finally learned that I have limits.

When I decided to let writing take a backseat, I was disappointed that I still wouldn't be able to contribute to our financial situation. Then I started considering other ways I may bring money into the household without ever leaving the house. I've always enjoyed design, and I have a fetish for pretty paper, so I began designing notecards and invitations in my free moments. Before long, I'd built up a pretty good catalog of designs, and I'd even sold some cards to friends around town. I'm lucky to have a good friend who offered to carry my cards in her store, and I took the plunge to open a store on etsy called Senojal Designs.  In the past month, I've made 17 sales on etsy and brought in several hundred dollars.  I'm surprised and excited all at the same time.

If people continue to buy my stationery at this rate, I will be able to pay off my student loans from Beeson in less than two years.  It's thrilling to finally be able to contribute financially: it gives my days a sense of purpose and helps me feel like I have a life outside of mommyhood.

All of this to say, this probably won't be the last time you hear me talk about Senojal Designs.  The name is simply LA Jones spelled backwards, and my tagline is "simply designed custom stationery."  I've loved working within the etsy community, and the custom projects I've worked on have allowed me to stretch my creative muscles and design some really pretty paper.  If you're a paper freak like me, stop by my store and check it out.  If you're really serious about pretty paper, you can follow Senojal Designs on facebook.  Then come back here and let me know which designs are your favorite.  I'd love some feedback.  I wouldn't complain if you decided to purchase some cards either :).

Hope you're all doing well out there.  Thursday marks the beginning of my month-long write 1,000 words a day challenge.  Are you excited?  I am.

Until next time, grace and peace.

Blowing Off the Dust

What a crazy time it's been. Such is our life, I suppose. We've spent the past week with family, and it has been wonderful, but let's admit it, everyone likes to get back into the routine of everyday normal life. Am I the only one who needs a vacation from vacation when we return home? Anyway, my parents left a few hours ago, and life is back to normal here in Iuka. Micah's napping, and I'm poking around on the internet for a little while. I should take a shower. Or figure out what's for supper. Or take more pictures of my notecards to post on my etsy site. But I'm not. Maybe later.

Last night I was flipping through a copy of Southern Living. I'm not sure what month. Maybe it's January's issue? Anyway, the magazine had a "Best of the South" section, and in it, it listed Rowan Oak, home of William Faulkner, as the best literary stop in Mississippi. I haven't read Faulkner since my freshman year in college, and I admittedly didn't have much of an appreciation for his style. Maybe it'd be different now. Perhaps I'll revisit some of his stories. But I digress. I was intrigued by Faulkner's hesitancy to leave home. Only at home was he able to write. In fact, the article said that when President Kennedy invited him to dinner at the White House, Faulkner actually turned down the invitation because he thought DC was an awfully long way to go just to eat supper. Crazy. But I understand. As a writer (who writes less often than she should these days), not only can I not write unless I'm in my own space, but I also cannot write unless my space is ordered. Right now there are magazines, notebooks, an empty ramekin, and a package of batteries on my desk. There are bills in the inbox. Baby food coupons tucked in front of an insurance statement. No writing will get done until those things are taken care of. Not that I have any assignments at the moment. But that's beside the point.

I feel like I'm finally getting to a place in this new life of mine where I can return to being me. In an article I wrote for myMISSIONfulfilled about the first weeks of motherhood, I said that I never wanted to lose my identity after having children. So many women I know forget who they are. They leave behind their entire life to become known as their child's mother. I was so afraid that I would become "Micah's Mommy" and quit being myself. Don't kid yourself. The danger is real. I never wanted to quit being me just because I had also become a mother. The past four and a half months have been a struggle because it's a fight to maintain my sense of self when I spend all day every day taking care of my infant. It would be so easy for my life to be all about her. But it's not. Being Micah's Mommy is just one part of my life. It's just one facet of who I am. And it's just one task that God has called me to complete. He has also called me to write. And to speak. And to teach. And I'm finally in a place where I am able to do those things again. Thank goodness.

Another famous Mississippi writer, Eudora Welty, said that living, not reading, made her want to write. I have been living for the past several months. Now it's time to write again. I'm itching to stretch my literary muscles. It's time to blow the dust off my portfolio and start sending it out. Don't choke on the cloud of dust!