This blog has been silent for the last few weeks. I think about writing often, but the desire is swept away in the chaos of life. You see, our family is in one of those seasons we all hope to avoid. We’ve gained a new appreciation for spiritual warfare and I’m pleased to report that we’ve all grown closer in the battle. It’s far from over, but we’ll make it…eventually.

Have you ever been in a particularly difficult time and felt like the trials just kept mounting?

On top of the darkness we’ve had a leak in the bathroom (both from the ceiling and the toilet), a flood, a lamb die, and a son with a concussion.  That’s just in the last couple weeks. Actually, most of this has been in the last couple days.When it rains it pours, and in Oregon, we REALLY mean that!

Life’s not all bad.

My marriage is awesome, and my kids are amazing.

I’ve seen my children support each other and offer encouragement to one another.

I have, and I don’t say this lightly, the very best friends in the world!

I can see the protections that were set in place years ago.

The sun is shining today and the birds are singing.

And God is still good!

I hope you’re all blessed today,

Christina

As a mom and a writer, sometimes I have to leave the house to really get solid writing done. At home the laundry, dishes, and all sort of other chores call me away from focusing on my story.

But I can’t just go anywhere. I’ve learned this the hard way. Certain establishments spell productivity, while other produce only distraction.

For me there are many factors. I need the temperature to be warm enough. Some places are plain chilly. I also need the music to be the right type and volume. And there’s the seating arrangement. I can’t write dialogue when the table next to me is having a conversation over my character.

Oh, and one last point. There needs to be yummy coffee or tea.

I use to write at the coffee shop in Borders. The proximity of hundreds of books didn’t hurt that location at all. There was also a great little coffee shop in the town where my older kids attend high school. Both of these places have closed.

Recently a not for profit coffee shop, Imagine Coffee, opened. It’s perfect. And now we have Panera too! I’m looking forward to many productive afternoons at my new writing locations.

So, what makes a good writing (or other type of work) place for you?

For years I’ve listened to the writer’s chatter about Panera. This place comes up so often, a writer like me could get the impression that without Panera one’s career in publishing will lack some sparkle. Well, I love sparkle, so I felt left out.

The 2010 ACFW conference took place in Indianapolis. An added bonus to the awesome conference was my chance to see what a Panera actually was. And Yum! I went with my lovely critique partners, Kimberly Buckner, Jodie Bailey, and Donna Moore, for a final meal together before we left for our separate corners of the country.

I’m afraid I didn’t get the full benefit. You see my vanity was kicking me in the head that day. I’d chosen to forgo my glasses the night before. I’m not sure what I was thinking. I guess the glitz of the banquet and the fact that I was up for two awards…Okay, I was VAIN! The migraine that accompanied me for the entire trip home wiped up that little problem. There’s nothing pretty about me with a migraine!

Okay, back to my point. Today, not far from where I live, Panera opens its doors. Now I can be a REAL writer. Look for my tweets about writing at Panera. I’ve joined the club.

Here’s the rest of my 40 things I’ve learned in 40 years. To see the first ten, click here.

11. Revenge only causes more hurt.

12. There IS such a thing as too much technology.

13. Okay, I really don’t want to admit to this, but I love the guinea pig we’re watching for three years. Yes, I said three years.

14. Books are still better than movies.

15. It doesn’t matter how much gravel we put on our driveway, as soon as it rains, the rock runs for cover somewhere in the center of the earth.

16. Feeling loved is more important than having a spotless house. My kids aren’t going to remember if the windows had smudges.

17. Eating healthy makes me feel healthy. Okay, I know this, but I don’t always apply this one.

18. Along with number 17, exercise actually gives me more energy. Yep, I need to apply that one more too.

19. Sheep food is very dangerous to horses. See my guest blog on Nicole M. Miller’s site for details.

20. Being forty is better than any age so far.

21. I can convince myself of all sort of silliness through positive thinking. (see #20)

22. The enemy wouldn’t bother to attack if I weren’t headed for something amazing!

23. Investing in a child is never a mistake.

24. I will miss my grandmother every day of my life, especially on the particularly hard days and the particularly joyful days.

25. Learning to read opens up the world.

26. It’s okay that my taste in music is seriously eclectic.

27. When a child climbs into your lap with a book, there is nothing important enough to skip that moment.

28. Rejections move me forward and teach me more than any pat on the back. That’s not to mean I would turn my nose up at more contracts. Seriously…Anyone want to buy a manuscript?

29. Great Danes make awesome pets.

30. It’s not the people who don’t love you, it’s the people who DO that count.

31. Other writers are weird just like me.

32. I love spending time with other writers.

33. Prayerfully choose your top priorities and make decisions for your time based on these.

34. Spinach is actually very yummy when it doesn’t come out of a can.

35. Liver is not to be eaten.

36. Family has little to do with biology and more to do with the love and choices.

37. Women are their most beautiful at forty. Seriously…I read that somewhere.

38. Marriage is hard work, and worth every ounce of effort.

39. One sure way to cure a bout of sadness is to serve someone else.

40. And finally…I’ve learned that, although I’ve gained a bit of wisdom in the last forty years, I still know very little. Maybe by the time I reach eighty I’ll be wise.