Author: jennygracespoetryandcreativewritingtechniques

I am a published poet and short story writer. I have been published in SNHU's the penmen review. https://penmenreview.com/author/jenny-andrews is the link where you can find my poetry and a short story. Currently, I am writing a collection of short stories, and a collection of poetry. I am trying my hand at writing a novel. Well, not a novel, actually. Make that two novels. My passion is writing. My inspiration is Franz Krafka because he managed to see the absurdity of life. Life is all about perspective and who is telling the story. We all see this life through the lens of our experiences. Literature should inspire us to think, to analyze, and to get lost in unfamiliar worlds in which we learn something new about this human existence. It is my hope that my writing challenges the reader to think, and to see a different perspective, as well as be entertained. My faith in Jesus strengthens me and gives me the courage to survive the twists and turns of this life. My faith influences a lot of my writing in that goodness always triumphs over evil, in that love conquers all. I hope you enjoy reading my blog.

Art for Fun: Mountains

I love mountains, especially the way the early morning sunlight paints the ridges in soft hues of sienna, sepia, and copper, awash in golden shadows.

The skies are ever changing in shades of lavender, pearl, and rose.

Looking into the mountains, the magnificence of earth and sky is breathtaking.

I cannot imagine a place that is more peaceful.

The mountains hold a certain sacredness. The face of eternity is reflected in every mountain ridge. Tranquility is a mountain. High above the earth. Just peace, the nearness of the sky, and the face of eternity.

Mountains are ancient, sacred spaces.

Just for fun, I’ve drawn what I see when I see mountains.

I see beauty and peace.

Favorite Quote: Dreams

“BUILD YOUR OWN DREAMS, OR SOMEONE WILL HIRE YOU TO BUILD THEIRS“- Farrah Gray

Dreams. We all have them. Those things we can only dream about, such as retiring on an island in paradise or getting that book published, et cetera and so forth.

Dreams are defined differently by each individual.

Regardless of your dreams, they will never come true if you do not take that first step and establish actionable steps to achieve them.

Fear is what holds most of us back, unfortunately. Fear of failure. Fear of criticism.

But.

Our individual lives are on a limited timeline. We only have a little time in this big, beautiful world when you look at things from the wide scope of the centuries that have come and gone on either side of 2020.

Why let fear rob you of your dreams?

As Farrah Gray said in the above quote, if you do not build your own dreams, someone else will hire you to build theirs.

In other words, we have to focus on our own dreams and consider how we can implement those dreams. We have to be in control of our own lives rather than giving our power over to others who have their own agenda.

I actually prefer the word “goals” rather than dreams.

To me a dream is something you eventually wake up from and it fades away.

Goals are something concrete that you can identify and work towards achieving.

“Dreams” sounds more poetical. I get that.

But, it doesn’t matter whether you call them dreams or goals.

What matters most is that you identify what it is that you yearn to achieve in the depths of your soul. Then, identify actionable steps to achieve that dream/goal.

2021 is just a matter of weeks away.

What is it that you want to have accomplished by this time next year?

How are you going to achieve it?

Don’t waste one second of this precious, fleeting life worrying about other people’s opinions or giving into any other fears you might have.

Reach for your dreams/goals.

One hundred years from now, what will be remembered of this day, of this hour?

All we have is this very second.

Set your goals/dreams and work towards achieving each one of them.

Don’t let fear stop you.

Step out on faith and change your life.

Build your own dreams/goals.

Happy 2021!

Get started on a better tomorrow!

Beauty of an Evening

I took this photo in spring 2017 while I strolled along my town’s riverfront. I remember the songbirds high in the branches of the oak trees behind me. The beauty of their songs filled that late evening moment just before nightfall.

Beauty of a moment.

Peacefulness.

Looking back at this photo, I feel happiness deep in my soul.

I would rather spend my time strolling along the riverfront, listening to birdsongs, and marveling at the beauty of this life than waste my life’s precious moments glued to a computer screen and worrying about what else could possibly go wrong in this world.

Sure, social media has its advantages in that it does connect people and it does give us the opportunity be more aware of the world around us.

But.

But, I never want to take for granted and miss the beauty of an evening stroll along the riverfront.

Lately, I have seen an increased in people staring into the screens of their I-phones while walking along without any concern about the beauty of nature around them.

Lately, I have seen people in groups, not talking, but staring into the screens of their I-phones while sitting together.

What is this about?

I say put the I-phones away for at least a few hours and actually look at the beauty of nature that surrounds you.

I say actually talk to those around you, rather than stare into a computer screen.

Stop and look at the beauty of a sunset.

And be thankful that you have been blessed with this beautiful, beautiful world.

Happiness is a Sugar Cookie

I love hot tea. I love sugar cookies.

To me, food heaven would be a cup of hot tea that tastes like a sugar cookie.

Well, the Celestial Seasonings Tea Company has actually made my dream of food heaven a reality.

This afternoon, I was grocery shopping and to my surprise there it was, my dream come true- “Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride” tea.

I blinked several times. This, after all, has not been a very good year, so I considered that my imagination might have been running wild on me since I was wearing my mask snugly (maybe my oxygen level had dropped).

I carefully snatched up a box and examined it, read the ingredients, zoned in on the “natural sugar cookie flavor” and immediately put two boxes in my cart.

At home, I brewed up a cup and, yes, it does indeed taste like a warm sugar cookie!

Joy! Happiness! Peace!

While sipping my sugar cookie tea, I read the little note on the side of the box that gave the history of sugar cookies.

Apparently, sugar cookies were introduced to North America by a group of 18th century German immigrants who settled near Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Also, noted on the box was a Norwegian Proverb: Cookies are made with butter and love.

I absolutely agree with this Norwegian Proverb.

Nothing says love better than a cookie, especially a cookie that is as buttery as a warm sugar cookie.

There is a cup of hot tea that tastes like sugar cookies at the end of this dark tunnel known as 2020.

In this Christmas season, I plan to daily enjoy a cup of hot sugar cookie sleigh ride tea and give thanks for the small things that can give incredible joy in the midst of this difficult year.

I feel better already!

Blessings to everyone. Merry Christmas!

Favorite Quote to Encourage

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength- Charles Spurgeon

In these anxious times, it is so essential for our mental health to remember that worrying and obsessing about what could possibly go wrong will only rob us of our strength.

It is best to focus on the here and now and on those things we can control for rather than imagining worst case scenarios.

Staying in the moment by slowing down to enjoy a sunrise and a cup of hot tea, staying in the moment by playing with a beloved pet, or staying in the moment by actually talking in person with a friend can be mentally healthy strategies for warding off apocalyptical thinking. Stay in the moment; refocus your fear into actionable tasks, such as talking and sharing your feelings with loved ones or enjoying an activity, such as walking or watching a comedy show.

Truth is that we can only do so much in this life. We cannot control for everything. Control those things that are within your power. The rest give to God and rest in his assurance of peace and comfort.

We are quickly approaching a new year and with it will come new challenges.

Rather than give into fear of the unknown, commit to trusting in God’s power to give you strength to face those challenges which may impact you.

In those weak places, God gives us strength.

Don’t give into anxiety. Just as Spurgeon said, anxiety robs you of your strength.

Be strong. Be courageous. Trust in God for all things. Be still in this moment and know that you are safe and God is in control.

Blessings to all.

It Was Never about the Turkey

This Thanksgiving Day instead of remembering the past I focused on the future.

In the back of my mind, memories from Thanksgiving Day’s past quietly paraded by. Mama standing in the kitchen with that perfectly browned turkey in the middle of the kitchen table, her pretty dark eyes turning towards me, will always be present in the fabric of this day. Her passing still stings me; the memory of her on Thanksgiving morning all busy and focused makes me laugh. Joy. Mama was joy to me.

My first Thanksgiving as a young wife, in-laws who could never be satisfied, a husband who tried to encourage me in my imagined failings, at once makes me laugh and makes me cry.

Time can be cruel in its passing and its sweeping away from us those whom we loved the most. Holidays have a way of slapping us squarely in the face with regrets at what we may have failed to say and/or do.

Love. That is what I remember most about Thanksgiving. Love. Looking across the table at those whom I loved most. My husband didn’t seem to mind that I had overcooked the turkey (if he did notice, he didn’t mention it).

Love. Remembering Mama. My perfect Mama.

Love. Remembering that husband from so long ago.

Thanksgiving is about love, about gathering to thank God for another year to share the table with those whom we love the most.

Time is cruel in its taking from us those whom we have loved the most.

In this holiday season, I have been reminded of the rapid, cruel passage of time.

But, rather than be sad, rather than give into the darkness of depression, rather than giving into the despair, I ask God to give me the courage to just simply be thankful for the love that I had been blessed with those many years ago.

Thankful for love.

Thankful for those November memories.

Thankful for those memories I will always cherish regardless of the pain of loss they sometimes bring.

Giving Thanks Daily

This year hasn’t been easy for any of us.

2020 has been a year of shocking ugliness and profound fear.

We can only pray that 2021 will be an extreme improvement.

Still, I give thanks daily for so many personal blessings.

God is still in control. God is still faithful. God is still with us. No matter how dark the road or how heavy the burden, God will never abandon his children.

I am God’s child and I firmly believe that he will never forsake me nor abandon me. This is his promise. God always keeps his promises.

Thanksgiving day is on this Thursday. Please make a concerted effort to reach out to a person who might be suffering alone due to this Covid-19 isolation. Pick up the phone and actually talk rather than text. Make that human connection.

We all yearn for that human connection. We are hardwired for human connection.

Community is absolutely essential for mental, spiritual and emotional health. Pick up that phone and call someone you know that might be depressed, lonely or frustrated.

If you are depressed, lonely or just having a difficult time, reach out. Reach out to God. Know that he loves you; know that you are never alone.

Pray for healing. Pray for tomorrow to be better than today.

There is always tomorrow to try again.

Thank God daily for the gift of life. Thank God daily for the chance to try again.

May God bless each of you this Thanksgiving.

These Things That I Now know

Unclenching is easier than I ever thought it would be.

Letting go is not the end.

Standing alone is never lonely when God is holding my hand.

I now know that it is okay to say good-bye if it means saving myself.

Happy Friday (or Saturday)!

Happiness. Joy. Beauty. Peace.

These are qualities which are largely ignored in a world which dwells obsessively on sadness, ugliness, and chaos.

Truth is that there is more beauty than ugliness. There is more joy than sadness. There is more peace than chaos.

It all depends on choices. What do you choose to spend your time listening to, talking about, reading?

Do you wake up in the morning and complain about the long commute ahead of you or do you wake up and look out the window at the beauty of the sun’s golden rays gloriously shining between the trees?

Do you look at your children and snap at them for not having their book bags ready or do you take a moment to hug each of them and thank God that they are in your life (remember they grow up and move on to their own lives sooner than you can even imagine)?

Do you complain that your spouse forgot to take the trash out or do you stop and remember back to your wedding day and that precious love you entered into so many years ago?

Choices.

We all have them. We can decide which actions we want to take.

We can either choose to be unhappy or we can choose to look out the window at the early morning sun and be happy that God has blessed us with another chance to try to better ourselves.

We can choose to hug our children and tell them that they are special, that they are precious to us.

We can choose to extend grace, love, and understanding to our spouse when he or she seemingly falls short of our own arbitrary expectations.

We can choose to look inward and evaluate our choices.

Joy, beauty, and peace can only be found when we choose to actively look for each of them.

The question asked often is whether the glass is half empty or half full.

I say it is half full.

It is a choice.

Happy Friday (or Saturday).

I choose to be happy. I choose to push through the negativity and smile as I watch the glorious sun rising above the tops of the pine trees each morning.

These days are blessings.

And I am thankful for these blessings.

Regaining My Equilibrium

Today, I did something I haven’t done in quite a few months. I took my notebook and went to a coffee shop, ordered a cup of coffee and wrote ideas for a new writing project. In the previous months I have been quite unsettled by hysterical fear-mongering, pre-apocalyptical doom and gloom and end-of -the-world as we know it predictions. Even as I write this, the media is still shoveling their sewage of exaggerations of death, disease, destruction, and pestilence. I hear tell that Europe is going back into lockdown. Lockdown is also an option being considered in certain areas of the United States. Bizarrely, houses of worship (of all faiths) are being targeted as “super spreaders.” What? What about big box stores? Don’t people in big box stores stand close to each other? What about the ever-open liquor stores? What’s the difference? Oh right, in houses of worship people share their lives, encourage each other, pray, sing, and praise God together. It is community. Community. In a community, people share ideas. It’s as if this is being deliberately discouraged.

Well, I want to share my ideas as long as I can. My passion is writing. I have ideas that I believe strongly in. I believe in God. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe strongly in every human souls’ right to worship God as he or she feels compelled to do. I believe in freedom of conscience and freedom of speech. Each soul is sacred with a right to freely speak its truth.

At this time in history, I feel as if our rights are being corroded and stolen out from under us. Fear is more powerful than death; it can immobilize and paralyze and trap the living in a breathing shell, a shell that eventually crushes the very life force out of its prisoner. How frightening!

As I said, I did something I haven’t done in months. I went to a coffee shop with my notebook and (although I had to wear a mask to enter) I sat down and enjoyed a hot cup of coffee and wrote. I felt free-freer than I have in months. I yearn for that freedom. I cannot bear the threat of an impending lockdown. It is mentally damning to even conceive of being prohibited from enjoying a cup of coffee in a coffee shop surrounded by other living, breathing human beings. Mentally damning.

It’s similar to de facto house arrest (for those who haven’t actually been found guilty of anything). How’s that even legal, let alone not a violation of our basic human rights as free people?

Meanwhile, as always, I turn my heart and my soul towards the only answer to any questions that I have ever had.

My Lord Jesus Christ who has instructed us: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27, KJV).

Paul, the Apostle to the Romans, clearly states in Chapter 8:24-28: For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for (24)? But if we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it (25). Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (26). And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (27). And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose (28). (Romans 8:24-28, KJV).

I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. I believe that he has a purpose for my life. I feel that purpose is to write and to share my faith. I feel my purpose is to love and to encourage.

And I cannot give into fear. God loves me and I truly believe that good will come from all of this. My faith has actually been strengthened over the past few months. I have completed several of my writing projects and put them on Amazon.

While a time may come in which my freedom of speech will be limited, my freedom in Christ will never be limited.

At the end of days, Christ is the answer to any and all question, after all.

I pray that Our Lord will bless you and keep you and shine his face upon you, lift you up and give you peace.

Amen.