Shine!

Last night was the Senior Celebration at our church. This year, our son, Nathan, was honored, along with five other young men and women.

What a blast!

For one thing, it was such a treat to not be on the organizing committee. The parents of juniors do all the planning and hosting of the event. Let me tell ya, they did an awesome job of it this year.

The theme was Shine in '09. "Let your light shine....." was the theme verse. Candles and lots of pretty lights made for a dramatic decor. Each black draped and red-topped table had a triangle of photos of the seniors printed on translucent paper with LED lights inside the triangle.

The seniors spend all afternoon with their youth minister, Matt. Together, they ride in a limo to a cool area of town for a photo session by one of our former members. Then the limo takes them to an elder's home for a fancy dinner. One last ride in the limo brings them to the church building where a red carpet and a crowd awaits.


As they enter the building, the crowd treats them like rock stars...begging for autographs, snapping photos. It's a laughing good time.



Everyone has dessert at the beautifully decorated tables. Chocolate fountains with assorted dipping items were on the menu this year.

Every student had a personal memorabilia table. Nathan's was strewn with baseball photos and gear, some Nathan's favorite curriculum (our Trisms guidebooks, Lightning Lit Shakespeare, Rosetta Stone Dutch....) and photos from his travels.



There are projected photo programs...you know the ones that show the cute baby pics, and a video presentation of thoughts from the youth minister. Then, each set of parents got up on stage and shared some thoughts, both funny and sweet. After that, each senior expressed their thanks. Our senior had also presented part of the morning sermon. I'm impressed at his public speaking abilities.



It was a lovely evening filled with laughter, good food, and a tear or two.

Good memories.

I hope you can find something and someone to celebrate today. It doesn't have to be a fancy event, just offering encouragement and blessing can make someone's day.

The Coffee Club

Every Monday morning, I hang out with a creative group of people at a local Starbucks. The focus of our discussion is someone else's work for which we offer encouragement, advice, critique, and opposing points of view. We also share stories, ideas, and lots of laughter and, in doing so, have gotten to know each other well.

Because of the holidays, we'd missed a couple of sessions. This morning, I braved potentially icy roads to be there because I needed what ever it is that we breathe and sip during those minutes. And I'm not talking about coffee.

Creativity. Acceptance. Encouragement. Ideas.

A potent brew.

I love hanging out with creative souls. They make my life richer.

Encouragement

Fumes.

Only echoes in the gas tank.

I was running on empty. The energy tank on my current work in progress was dry. Ideas for the story are here in my head, but there was no power to find the words to express them.

So I took one short scene to read to my writer's group last night. Wow, what a boost. The critique pointed out what worked in the scene and what didn't. My new character was well received. And people got how my main character is feeling. Always valuable information. Even knowing what doesn't work within the piece is refreshing. I mean, I knew it in my gut. Now I really know it. And I have specific things to fix and polish.

More than that was the chance to rub elbows with like minded folks. A conversation with a friend whose writing is going well, words flowing out of her like a river. The chance to hear of a newly published author's book signing adventures. The chance to hear fiction in progress from others with the opportunity to flex my own creative critique muscles to aid them as they've have helped me.

A recent article in U.S. News and World Report revealed that we are more creative in groups. Especially groups where ideas can flow without censor. The best thing about my writer's group is that whatever I bring to read is taken seriously. Whether it is fiction, fanfiction, poetry, a magazine article, or an opinionated essay, the words are treated with respect. Everyone tries to offer advice that improves the work. Effort is applauded. Our mutual goal is creating writing that sells.

One thing is for sure, going to those meetings, hanging out with other writers, and bouncing words and ideas off them certainly fills up my creative gas tank.