Cha Cha Cha Changes............................. Big Changes to Come!

Flickr photo by granth, creative commons
Careful where you step, my friends!
After much thought and way too many cups of coffee, I've decided to make some big changes here. Though I've thoroughly enjoyed my last two years, one month, and eleven days of blogging [399 posts (!)--which means 399 times to hear from you funny, smart, beautiful people (!)] my interests have changed, and so my blog must change as well.

But you've heard that line from me before, right?
When I first started dipping my toes into the blogging world, I was fresh off the book tour with French By Heart, chatting up the wonders of such things as Le Café, Moss, (La Mousse) and not the Kate Kind, and Crèpes.
Then, a year and a few months later, my inner wonder woman switched gears to a more personal blog, in which I blogged about such weighty topics as No, These Aren't My Gallstones, All the Weird Things My Dog Has Eaten, and The Joys of Freezing My Bahonka Off at Baseball Practice.
I have no idea how you'll survive without posts of such monumental importance, but you're going to have to, because I'm-a-movin' on up. To the east side. To a deluxe apartment in the sky...
Well, sort of.

I'm finally going back to where my heart has always been. Where I expect it will always be.

Way back in the dark ages, when Sam wasn't even a tickle in my womb and Ben and Sarah would still let me pick out their clothes, back when I was a high school chemistry teacher secretly jotting down poetry about the precipitates I made in lab when I should have been grading papers, I used to spend my summers writing devotions for The Upper Room and other similar mags. I got a real kick out of finding the fingerprints of God in my crazy life and writing about how I experienced God in the people I came across and in the things I read or saw or heard.

In the past year or so, I've been returning to that sort of spiritual writing in my work life, and you may have noticed that I've already shared a little bit of it here as well. Writing about experiencing God in the ordinary-ness of life is the most fun, meaningful thing I can imagine doing, and I'm excited to look toward devoting my blog to this theme as well. And lucky for me, Wonders Never Cease still fits!

So if spiritual topics are of interest to you, I sure hope that you'll stick around. I'm going to use my blog as sort of a devotional time for me, but don't expect sermons or anything stuffy. I'm sure kids and dogs and coffee and general wackiness will find their way into my posts. That's where God spends a lot of time, after all. Oh, and you'll probably also see a few bits of France from time to time, since our years there sort of turned my spiritual life upside down.

I'm planning to continue blogging Monday - Wednesday - Friday, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections as I explore my own. Goodness knows, I don't think I've got it all figured out. I'm counting on y'all to join in the mystery with me, to offer your perspectives and experiences and thoughts.
I hope to see you Friday!

Much love to each of you,
Becky

PS. I'll also be tweeting away like a little blue jay, (the nice kind, not the mean ones that keep dive bombing our goofy Tanner dog) so if you're into that, feel free to find me there!

Brilliant Thought and Eyebrow Plucking

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reighleblanc/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

I have to say it. My weekend was glorious. Not only was the weather absolutely perfect, but I experienced something rare. The heavens opened, the birds sang, and I got A Great Idea.

At least I think it was a great idea: a book project that would be so fun to write. And guess what else. No sooner had I thought of it but my husband and my youngest child took off on a road trip, allowing me the luxury of retreating into my head for the rest of the weekend, to come out only when my teenage cave-boy beat his club on my door, foraging for food. The more I thought of my idea, the more excited I became. This is brilliant, I thought. Why hasn't anyone else thought of this?

And then Brian Doyle's essay smacked me on the head and I had to laugh at myself. Have you read it, Notes From a Writer's Mind? My friend Jimmy sent it to me ages ago, but my little brain filed it away for just the right moment, which I guess was Saturday. You can read the entire essay here, but I'll share a few favorite paragraphs. You don't have to be a writer to appreciate the nuttiness.

"(At the beginning of any piece of writing) This is the greatest idea

ever! I am a genius! No one ever had this idea before! What a great

first line! Being a writer is better than a stick in the eye! This is so

exciting! Those words were never in that order in the whole history of

the English language! That's incredible! That's astounding! Now what?"

"(In the middle of any piece of writing) O my gawd this is drivel.

This is the worst muddle ever inflicted on an unsuspecting populace. I

should crumple this and go into insurance. I should cease to write

forevermore. I should be a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the

floors of silent seas. I should eat. Maybe I should take another shower.

Who will ever pay for this muck? This is worse than anything Jerzy Kosinski

ever wrote, and what could be worse than that? My gallbladder hurts.

Just one more cookie. Is that the mailman? How do you spell labyrinthine?

Should I do the laundry?"

(Becky, here. If Brian asked me, which he didn't, I would add: My eyebrows need plucking. How long has it been since I cleaned out the fridge? I wonder if they'd hire me at the dry cleaners. My feet are cold.)
Now back to Brian...

"(At a reading) How many people are here? Will they buy my book? Does

the microphone work? Do I need the microphone if only four people show

up? Is everyone here related to me? What if everyone leaves during the

reading? What if no one wants me to sign a book? What if all these

people are here to return my book? What if they throw books at me? Is

the microphone big enough to hide behind? Is my fly zipped?"

(Me again. And I would add: oh my Lord, my lips are sticking to my teeth. What if I faint right here and knock this podium over? What if I fall in an unladylike position or my tongue hangs out and I drool? Is that...? It is! My roommate from my senior year. Oh MY LORD IN HEAVEN, what is that girl's name?)

You know, the next time I go to a book signing, I think I'll be extra friendly and supportive. And I might just wear a name tag. But until then, I better get busy with my new idea. I might be a genius now, but I have no doubt that within a day or two my eyebrows will be calling.

Have a great Monday, y'all!
Love, Becky

PS. This video has nothing to do with the insecurities of the writer's mind, but enjoy it anyway.
You just never know what people or dogs are really thinking.

My Dog Should Have Been a Writer.

Don't be fooled by his cuteness. Tanner the Slobber Dog is a conniving, 90 pound Beelzebub.
But he would have made a great writer!
I decided that yesterday while I was supposed to be listening to someone's spiel about PTA. I was thinking about my favorite pair of shoes (which Tanner ate,) and then I started enumerating all the other crazy things he's ingested over the years. And because I'm hopelessly in love with the rascal, I did what all guilty parents do.
I rationalized his evil nature.
He's just too smart to behave like other dogs.
Or maybe not.
But stick with me here. Tanner may not have published anything (yet,) but he has all the qualities a good writer needs. He just uses them to fill his goat stomach .

Allow me to explain, s'il vous plaît, with a list of his most admirable/dangerous qualities.
Ready?
1. Imagination

Who else would see the jewelry box that my daddy gave me when I was little and decide that it looks delicious? Yes, Tanner ate it. Crunched the tin and the red velvet lining into little metal-y bits and swallowed it all down, leaving behind only a splinter of a leg and a few fibers of velvet.

2. A Talent for Observation

For weeks Tanner would watch us take out the margarine at breakfast, make our toast, then put the tub back in the fridge.
He noticed the impatience of my middle child, how Ben would stand in front of the toaster, waiting for it to finish. A crafty dog could help himself to some tasty spread while Ben's back was turned. Tanner licked the tub clean.
Then he helped himself to this container of goodness.

Yes, it's the spackling paste we'd left on top of the washing machine.
This snack required a call to Poison Control. They wrote down my name and address.

3. Stamina

It takes enough energy to pluck off the eyes of two stuffed animals, but to finish off the eyes of an entire basket of beanie babies, plus those of Buddy Bear, the mascot of Mrs. Hanson's second grade class? That takes stamina.


Aw! There's Puppy Tanner, right before his disemboweled his first stuffed reindeer!

4. Discipline

Snatching the occasional hot dog off of somebody's plate at lunch is for amateurs. It takes real discipline to make oneself run to the kitchen EVERY SINGLE TIME anyone gets a snack, even when it's something unusual like hummus, which might not even be that good.
Apparently he liked it.

5. Curiosity

Photo by carbonated
Tanner sees the ordinary, and the little wheels in his brain start spinning.
"I wonder how those tassels would fee going down?" "What does shoe leather taste like?"

We see a Christmas tree...

He sees a smorgasbord.

6. Persistence

It took Tanner a whole day hiding out behind the grapevines, but he finally managed to unscrew that lid. It's a narrow container. Thank goodness for long doggy tongues.

So you've seen the evidence. What do you think?
If only these paws could hold a pencil.

Have a great weekend, y'all!
Love, Becky

Inspiring Writers

Today's Wonder of the World is...Writers Who Inspire!

Like Bailey White, my very own personal Patron Saint of Writing!
Hi Bailey! You don't mind me calling you Bailey, do you?
I feel I must, on account of the fact that we're sisters in my mind. Did you not know that? It's true!

Fear not, Bloglanders! No need to call the funny farm. I am not delusional. It's just that after yesterday's post on saints and the folks who inspire me in my faith, I started thinking about people who inspire me in other ways. Like in my writing life.

So I thought I'd share my writing heroes with you. We could have a little party. I've made some punch and appetizers and I've cleaned up the house. They're all here, waiting to meet you.
I'm a little nervous. I hope everyone gets along! Behave yourself. They may not be used to bright light.

Now before I take you around the living room, know that I am going to be honest here. I could give you a list of writers that would make my former English teachers swell with pride, but then my nose might start growing. I'm not trying to impress anyone here with famous names. (Not that my writing heroes shouldn't be famous. They should! Check out their books and you might be smitten too!) I've whittled down my list to share only my very favorite storytellers. My chief qualification for the list? That I've read their books so many times that the stories have become my friends. And yes, I do realize that sounds pitiful. Don't worry! I have life size friends too! And they're not even inflatable!

Ready to meet my favorites?

Okay! Who's first on my list? My sis, of course!

When I first heard Bailey White's stories on NPR, they mesmerized me. I sped to the bookstore that very day and read Mama Makes Up Her Mind in one long sitting. One long sitting in which my children went unbathed, everything we ate came out of cans, and the kids watched way too much Barney on the VCR.

While I was writing French By Heart, I bet I read Bailey White's books at least fifty times! One of the biggest highlights of my publishing journey was when Bailey White agreed to write a blurb for me for French by Heart. I am still ecstatic about it. She read my book! And she liked it! Whenever I get frustrated with my work, I take out her typewritten letter and just stare at it. It always cheers me up! (I even kept the envelope. Bailey, if you're reading this, I'm not a stalker. I JUST LOVE YOU!)
Please go read Mama Makes Up her Mind. And if you're not going to, just don't tell me. I don't want to know!

Now, have a glass of punch and a cheesestraw, and come over here and meet Clyde!

Clyde Edgerton, meet my friends! People, if you want to read the best book ever about the first year of a southern marriage, you must read Raney. After I read it, I had to wonder if he'd been following me around, taking notes! (Not about me, of course! But I do know those characters!) Also, check out Walking Across Egypt. It's another favorite. (It has nothing to do with Egypt, in case you're wondering.)

Have you met Tommy yet?

This is Tommy Hays, and I'm in love with his book The Pleasure Was Mine. Greenville, South Carolina chose it as our city-wide reading project, and we all loved it! (And yes. I'm speaking for the entire city. These people won't mind.) Whether or not you know anyone who has suffered with Alzheimer's, you'll want to read this love story. It's beautiful. And funny. I can't recommend it enough.

Here's the latest star at the party. Meet Sue Monk Kidd.

Oh Sue, how I'd love to be your friend. We could talk about our fascination with saints and bees. And how we both live in South Carolina and think the peach water tower in Gaffney looks like somebody's backside! Won't you come live with me a while and inspire me up close? I'd even give you my bed! (Don't worry. My husband would sleep with me on the pullout sofa.)
The Secret Life of Bees is one of my favorites. I haven't seen the movie because I'm scared that it won't be as good.
Anyone see it yet?

Here, have a sausage ball, and come meet Kaye.

This is Kaye Gibbons. Every time I read her work, I have the urge to go hide in a dark room and mourn the fact that I will never be able to write as well as she can. But I never do that because it's impossible to read in a dark room and thinking about her makes me want to read Ellen Foster all over again. Or maybe Charms for The Easy Life. Or any of the others. I've read them all. She's amazing.

And I'm sure you know that lovely lady on the sofa.

That's Harper Lee. I'd introduce you, but I'm too shy. To Kill a Mockingbird will always be my favorite book of all time.

Now, for the Queen of Dialogue. Meet Fannie Flagg.

Oh Fannie, how I adore you. What a master storyteller you are. I've bought Welcome to the World Baby Girl at least four times, because I keep dropping it in the mud or the sink or leaving it at the soccer field. So, so good.

And last, but certainly not least, my buddy Anne Lamott.

Oh Anne. How I love your honesty. Your encouragement. Your words on faith and on writing.
People, do you know Bird By Bird? It's a MUST HAVE for writers, but it'd be helpful for any creative work.

Okay, enough meet and greet. You're practically family here. Slip off your shoes and have a seat on the couch. Tell me, who are your favorites and why? I love discovering new reasons to put off the laundry!

Have a wonder-full Tuesday, y'all!
Love, Becky

Life in France Is A Oui Bit Different

The debut of French By Heart, as covered by my hometown paper, The Greenville News...
(Click on the photos for a readable view.)

French By Heart in The Greenville News!

Hey! I know that girl!
(I knew I should have straightened that bookshelf!)

Click on the photo for a readable image.