I met a couple today whom I would never had met had I not been working where I do. I would never had sought them out, since we probably would have never run in the same circles in life. In fact, I feel guilty for having pre-judged them.  They seemed like they might have been stuck in the sixties, and those of you who know me, know that I am just a wee bit hesitant about anything sounding or looking like the sixties. God, forgive me.

These two people, however, I realized after speaking with them for a brief period of time, were kindred spirits, and I am sure that their words will remain in my thoughts for years to come. In a way they will haunt me. You see, he was a sculptor and I found the fact that he was the creative type intriguing.  So I asked if he ever got in a slump - thinking of my own "slumpy-conundrum." Instead of answering, he asked me a question. "What do you do?" I told him that I wrote, but I have been having trouble putting something down on paper.

He handed me his card which read, "Don't become famous for something you don't like." I think I wept inwardly for several things: the wasted hours not writing, the wasted hours writing for a faceless audience, for the stories in my head that have waited so long to be told, and for the the stories that I had wanted to tell but didn't and so now they have vanished.  What a revelation.  I smiled and explained that I think I had been so concerned about what everyone thought of my work and it frightened me to the point where I didn't do what I truly wanted. 

His wife interjected for a brief moment and explained that her husband was a writer AND a sculptor and that he actually sculpted what he wrote.  He beamed as he explained that he loved what he did and he never allowed people to dictate to him what he should either write or sculpt.  He challenged me to not be concerned with validation from everyone. That there would eventually be someone who liked what I did. 

Now all of this said, neither of them told me something that I didn't already know. I just needed to be reminded, yet again, that my unique voice can stay just that - unique.  And I don't need to constantly seek approval,  guidance, or even validation for my work.  I can be myself and even incorporate everything I love into what I do and make a difference - even if it is just within my own soul. So, thank you, my new hippie friends who I will likely never see again.  What a blessing you are and what a difference you have made in my life. (Hmmmm....sounds like a song I once heard...) Who knows, maybe there is enough of that hippie attitude buried in me to get me to break free of the inhibitions that are keeping those words from being written.

Dear Family and Friends,

Another year has passed us by and don’t we all wonder where it went? I think the better question I think we all dread, deep down, is “did we make every moment count of this last year or did I waste it away?” I will be honest, I probably didn’t use the most of every moment. I wasted some opportunities, but other times I grabbed life with both hands and screamed “Let’s go!” It’s been a bit of a roller coaster this year in certain areas. Mainly my work.



Work: I left Lifeway after a beautiful experience. It was difficult to say good-bye, but I wasn’t able to keep my head above water. I was drowning in bills that I had no way of paying. But they were gracious in keeping me in their prayers and I found a full-time job. Even though it ended very abruptly, I know there was a reason the Lord had me there. I may never know the reason. But the Lord was gracious, as always and gave me enough time to grieve and take care of some things before He opened up the door for me to be where I am now. I work as a desk clerk at Super 8 Motel - the same company I worked for 27 years ago (my first full time job). I love what I do and I love being a joyful presence for people when they pull in from everywhere in the nation and just need a respite. I thoroughly enjoy what I do!



Personal: I have a sweet man who has been a part of my life for over a 18 months now. He is my best friend and we are in hopes to settle down sometime next year. If things go according to planned, next year I will be signing off on a Christmas letter with a whole new signature. Gerald has been a rock for me and has been a source of growth, both spiritually and emotionally. I love him with my whole heart and feel totally blessed that he “smiled” at me in May of 2012.

Passions: After taking a little hiatus from writing, I am back in full swing. I don’t write as much in my blog, but I do have random thoughts I enjoy sharing, even if nobody reads them. I write that blog for my own sanity, hoping that in the process someone is helped or encouraged by it. Check it out sometime: petramcmahan12.blogspot.com. The crux of my current concentration is on my fiction writing right now. I am plugging away at a story that is something I must get on paper. I have given myself a deadline on next summer to have something down so that I can start the publishing/marketing process. I will try and keep everyone posted on the progress and MAY even give sneak previews! Please pray that my resolve will stay strong and that the Lord will bless my efforts. Along with my writing, I am trying to narrow my focus of crafting. I have pretty much given up the stamps, which some of you will understand was difficult for me. I have done some crocheting this year and hope to continue to make projects that will continue to put smiles on a few faces.



 Family: My sweet man has a passion for all things genealogical and has caused me to swing into action as well. I have been compiling all of the research that has been done by several members of my extended family. It is a time-consuming process by very rewarding as well. I found an ancestor with whom I share a birthday. SWEET! I have been working with a cousin to attempt a family reunion in 2014. It will fall on what would have been my Grandfather’s 99th birthday. It will be a special time. Some of us cousins haven’t seen each other in over 30 years. Should be a blast - from the past, even!

(Frank and Ella Mae Todd)


Spiritual: I had started going to another denomination of church for a while this year, and even though I liked the people, I felt the Lord calling me on. I am blessed with a man who allows me to search for where I can thrive in, not only church, but in my daily walk with the Lord. We are still trying to find the church that suits us both, but until then we are enjoying visiting several until we find “it.” And for those of you who are raising the eyebrow or even furrowing your brow, I do know that church isn’t the same thing as my daily walk. My daily walk is fair. I have room for improvement, but I believe I am better than where I was a year ago! May the Lord be with all of you this next year and may you see His grace in every aspect of your lives. He is good, not by our standards, but His and His alone! Just for fun: I have a pear tree off of my back deck and the landscape is the view from my trailer. Beautiful, right? Very pastoral.

 

Matthew 1:20-25 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

My prayer for each of you this season is that you will be able to more fully appreciate Immanuel, knowing that now, as believers, we have “God IN us.” as well as God WITH us. And let us thank the Lord for His gift of salvation, not just a baby in a manger. For that baby didn’t stay an infant, PTL!!! He grew to redeem us. I am thankful that my “God with us” died, was buried, and then was resurrected so He could be my God IN us!

In His grace and mercy,
Petra