You Are Not Nothing

You Are Not Nothing

by Patricia A Pitterle

I am nothing, and I know it,

In this dark place, I'm alone.

The walls close themselves around me

And the light I knew is gone.

I can't see how I came here.

I can't find the pathway out.

Darkness is all I know now,

I breathe it in and breathe it out.

In my mind I see more clearly,

And I recognize my sins

I turn my thoughts toward Jesus

And my heart invites Him in.

Into my soul that's aching,

Into my troubled mind,

Into the past that holds me

Into chains that tightly bind.

The past that holds me captive

To the person I have been

And whispers I'm not good enough

To return, once more, to Him.

A light pierces the darkness

It chases night away from me,

Reminds me I'm a child of God

A light that sets me free.  

His grace is there before me

And His redeeming love,

He pulls me from the darkness

His spirit like a dove.

He reminds me I am holy.

He reminds me I have worth.

He reminds me He has died for sin

So when I leave this earth,

I will see His glory.

I will see His face.

I will walk beside Him,

As He leads me from this place.

The past is now behind me.

I have repented of my sins.

I've changed my life for Jesus.

Opened my heart and let Him in.

He cast out all the darkness.

He changed my night to day.

His path is one of mercy, 

As I follow in His ways.

Now, I look up in times of trial,

My eyes searching for His light.

I know He removes the darkness

And restores eternal sight.

When the darkness falls too quickly

And you don't know what to do,

Invite Him right into your heart

And He will make you new.

New in faith and understanding,

New in hope and strength from above,

New in His tender mercies,

New in His eternal love. 

So, now you know, you are not nothing

You are a child of royal birth.

He welcomes you into His arms

And reminds you of your worth.  

Answered Prayer

By Stacy Johnson

Several years ago I was a blogger right here. I loved blogging and it was the right time in my life. I was driving up to Mesa from Queen Creek to the Skyline Scribblers daytime group of which I had been a member for many years. But with my baby growing too big to remain in her car seat for the entire meeting, I was faced with the challenge of deciding wether or not ANWA was a part of my season of life right then. I needed an evening group closer to my home but there was nothing that would work. I know I had mentioned it to my Father in Heaven during several prayers.

About that time, a new sister moved into our ward. I had introduced myself when I found out she was a mother of a large family as well. We struck up a friendship and were soon after called to be visiting teaching companions. There was something about her name that struck me as familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. One day when I was working on my blog post for that week, I was reading the previous posts and I realized that shw was my blogger friend and ANWA sister from Kearney, AZ, the one and only Kristine John!!

I remember saying to her the first time we went out together to do our visiting teaching, "I know something about you." I told her that she and I belonged to the same writing group and blogged together and didn't even know it. Since she had been a newsletter only member due to the lack of interest in her area, she was thrilled to find out she lived just a few houses down from me. (Or at least I think she was thrilled, ha ha).  I'm sure she had no idea what would transpire from our friendship.

Kristine and I decided to spread the word about ANWA and start our own group out here. It didn't take long to get enough interest and the Queen Creek Creators were brought to life. Not only that but Kristine and I have remained best of friends and it has been a joy to celebrate our writing successes with one another. Our group started with just a few of us in the living room of my home and has grown quickly.

I like to think that Kristine and I are another great example of how ANWA blesses so many women on so many levels. I sure am glad to be back blogging with all of you.

ANWA Writers Retreat 2013

by Cindy R. Williams

I was blessed to attend the ANWA Writers Retreat 2013 - Southwest Area. And I really do mean blessed. These Retreats are always wonderful and this one was wonderful, no doubt about it. Hugs and warm fuzzies abound the first day as you meet dear friends once again, and by the time you leave everyone there pretty much becomes a family.

It is incredibly restorative to rub shoulders with incredibly talented, patient, supportive and kind women for three days and nights. There is nothing else like it on the planet.

Melinda Sanchez, our Southwest Region Representative, chaired the Retreat. She spent oodles of time collecting Hogwort's items including the sorting hat, costumes for all the main Harry Potter characters and life size posters and cut outs. Girls camp . . . move over! The food committee, consisting of Nikki Wilson and Heather Ramito, kept us all eating like Queens. The traditional Retreat sharing of all things chocolate and such was there with a poster above it that said, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good". It didn't disappoint with Mischa's and Becky's homemade Honeydukes chocolates and the Hagrid's Hash was delectable. The counter where it all sat nearly groaned at the weight of the goodies.  Now we Retreaters groan as we exercise it all off. Was it worth it, "Yes." Do it again? "Yes!"

The two classes taught by our very own ANWA President, Janette Rallison, and past ANWA President, Kari Pike, were great. Amazing ladies doesn't even begin to cover their gifts and talents. Thank you for preparing and sharing with us.

A very unusual field trip occurred on Wednesday. We car pooled to Tayler, AZ to Coppervale Studios owned by James A. Owen. The building's first life was as an LDS Church, now transformed into a whimsical studio for artists. James took us on a tour and spent several hours inspiring us. His brother, Jeremy Owen, also stepped in. James invited us back in 2014 in the evening to enjoy a starlight tour when the magic abounds and the trees are light up like a fairyland. Plan on it ladies!

By the way, we did write and write and write. We wore name tags with our names on one side and the other side was bright pink and said, "I'm in my writing zone. Leave me alone." If your bright pink sign faced out, obviously no one was to talk to you. It worked . . . most of the time anyway.

In fact, I personally finished an edit I had been working on since February's conference and pushed the "send" button at 11:35 PM Thursday evening. Retreat gives you that much needed time and space to write and lets your muse roam in the pine trees.

The theme for June 2014 is "Wizard of Oz" from the original Frank Baum called "The Wonderful Wizard of OZ"  and the Judy Garland movie made in 1930. Talk about possibilities. Retreat goers will be welcomed to the land of ANWA.

Back view of the cabin on FIVE ACRES

Dining room/Sun room

Hagrid's Hut

Welcome to Hogword's by Harriot Plotter

The ever wonderful Faith St. Clair - Photo Bombing my picture

The spiral staircase

In Deepen Dance

 

By Beckie Carlson

I've always liked the fourth of July. I like the colors, the shapes, the barbeques, and the freedom we celebrate. The more I learn about the world, the more grateful I am to live in this free country. Sure, we may have a....'person I didn't vote for' in charge these days, but over all, it is a pretty spectacular country.
We spent today, after day camp, at my sister's swimming, eating, laughing, inhaling huge amounts of firework smoke, and eating some more. The kids swam in the murky pool....I wasn't quite brave enough. (Although, in retrospect...the water might have hidden my large, pale thighs....)
It is always fun to get together with family. I love that my kids have cousins their ages. That is something I never had.
I was thinking about freedom and independence today and all the different ways those words can be applied in my life. I am a single, capable, strong woman that can do what I want. But, I am also a mom to six children that rely on me to take care of them. Am I still free? I can work where I want, go to school, sit at home and watch tv or become a gym rat. But I am inside a body that requires knowledge, food, entertainment, and exercise in order to be happy. Am I still free? I live in a beautiful home that I can paint, decorate, rearrange, or sell if I so desire. But I live in an HOA that won't let me paint my house pink or put foil on my windows. Am I still free?
What exactly is freedom? Is it really a worldly, physical thing? Or is it more of a mental, spiritual thing?
I'm exhausted, worn out, stressed out, worried, frustrated, and lonely. That list is enough to make a person feel they are not free in their life. That list sometimes makes me want to climb in a nice hot bubble bath and sink to the bottom. I can cry and moan and complain and shake my hands at the heavens all the day long and it makes no difference.
Or, I can look beyond my list and see that I am free to feel and react how I want to these things. I can throw a fit, but I can also look at them as opportunities for growth. I can look at them as different paths or choices I GET to make. I can also look at some of the things in my life as opportunities for others to learn or grow. Sometimes it isn't even about me that causes me to feel in bondage. Sometimes I need to take a deep breath, take a step back, and let someone else do their thing. Stressing out about someone elses choice is a choice to stress myself out.
Independence. It is what we make it to be. Cause I said so.

Photo credit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/03/american-flags-china_n_3540287.html