Forgive me, friends, for it’s been over 9 years since I’ve posted here. Is that even possible? Is anyone else still around? Do you all have new emails now, and this will get bounced back to me as undeliverable?

You may have noticed I’ve cleaned things up around here slightly. Over the past 9 years I’ve been focused almost exclusively on my family, job, and work over at Be Still Be Free. And since I’ve had my hands full with all that other stuff, writing has taken a backseat.

(My daughter is now almost 21 years old and a junior in college. My son is 15, has his learner’s permit and IS AS TALL AS I AM and still growing. #whatislife)

But in the past year or so, the desire to pick writing back up has intensified. So much so, that I signed up for a weekly writing class that I’ve been going to for the past month. It’s the kind of class where you walk in, are given a prompt, write for 20 minutes or so, then share your writing (if you want to). Then rinse and repeat with another prompt.

I know what you’re thinking–“But Monica, you’re a massive introvert who hates public speaking, there’s no way you share.”

You would be right. And wrong. I AM a massive introvert and hate public speaking. But I. DID. IT. That first night I wrote (it wasn’t very good) and then I shared (it was terrible). I was terrified and spoke with a splotchy face and neck and shaky voice. But I did it.

And in the weeks since, it’s like something has unlocked inside my soul and I think in writing all the time now. I can’t wait for class, and even turned down a fun dinner to go last week. (I know.)It’s been great discipline to have two hours blocked off to focus on something I love, something I want to grow in, something that I *think* God is leading me into more this year.

So.

Welcome back to Elevate Ideas. I am going to make more of a habit of showing up here, and maybe from time to time share some of the things that are born out of the writing class. I’m still thrilled about what’s happening at Be Still Be Free, so make sure to follow along over there, too.

But if you are still with me, thank you. I hope you continue to stick around.

Let’s look up and think on these things together.