November Write away contest due wen

Over at "Scribbit"

November's Write-Away Contest

We don't have snow yet but 2007 is nearly gone, something about coming to the close of a year and looking back at what I've accomplished, how I've changed or how I've stayed the same makes me feel the pull of gratitude. Not surprisingly, this month's writing theme will be on thankfulness but I'm going to be a bit more specific than that, the topic is: "My life is different because of . . ."

This doesn't mean this must be your title or that you have to start your post out with those words, it's more to get you thinking about something that made a difference in your life. It could be a person, an event, an opportunity, a lesson learned, but I'd like to hear about something that changed you or your surroundings in always-to-be-remembered way.

If you'd like to participate here are the rules:

1. Write a post or find one in your archives on the topic, "My life is different because of . . ." and email your post's permalink to me at: scribbit at gmail.com any time through Wednesday November 21st. If you fail to meet the November 21st deadline I will still happily publish the link to your post and include it in the list of entries but it will not be judged. I reserve the right to reject submissions if they fail to meet the topic or if they contain objectionable content.

I always respond to each submission once I have received it, just to let you know I've got it but I've had terrible trouble lately with gmail throwing legitimate mail into my spam box. I'm sifting through it daily (and let me tell you how pleasant that is) to make sure I don't miss anything, but just to be sure please look for my responding email to know that I have received your entry.

2. Publish a link to the contest page here at Scribbit in either your entry post or in a separate post.

3. Check back here on Friday November 23rd when I will post a complete list of the entries along with the Write-Away Winner and any honorable mentions our judge sees fit to award.

Our guest judge this month is Lucy from An Ordinary Mom who is one of my best blogging friends and will judge the entries based on the quality of writing, the applicability to the topic and the overall ability to engage the reader--for which I'm eternally grateful.

The prize you're writing for is a genuine, custom-made handbag. This seemed to be popular before and as I can't seem to give these things away that's exactly what I'm going to do. The picture and details are posted at my Etsy shop here.

But besides this the winner and all runners-up or honorable mentions (I leave that up to the judge to award them) will also get to take home this attractive Write-Away Winner button which he or she may display in their sidebar if they wish.

Good luck, I look forward to reading your entries.



"My life is different because of . . .

The path I have walked.

This is my story of a road less traveled.
The stones in my shoes.
Childhood kept me bare footed.
Stepping out into scattered glass that tour at my soles,
at my soul.
Deeply gouged with lacerated vintages of history retold.
Miles, Oh! the miles I have known.
I have traveled more than most in this lifetime.
More than many who have known my same road.
For I found it out of the vastness, a simpler dust to tread.
This dust under foot softened the blows
of all that was thunder from underneath my toes.
Childhood shod with anguish.

Adolescence bore not much better except then I could wrap my meat in some torn garment with hands made ready able for my own needs.
Wherry wounded tried sour feet.
Made to greet all those unsavory folk
who don't care what stones that may scatter.
Torn from my bandaged mind
the strips that would twine around these tired feet.
Survival of the fittest,
feet sore to numbness.
The road a drift in the thorns
scattered before and around me.
I pressed.
Tugging and pulling thorns along the road.
Depositing carefully those weapons .
With all hopes to guard others toes.

Womanhood youth young warrior bride.
The dust now softness in every stride.
Walking baron for years without end. I learned to pretend.
A great lavish closet full of every design gave bold colors to foot ware
and powerful strides over time.
Toes adorned with tenderness touch divine.
His hand in mine no lonely path now.
Yet often misunderstood. Rejected by religion a devils blind eye.
How people were absent from the roads that I traveled at times.
Yet always with me in the reflection of His sky.
He had given me eye for the frontier of restoration.

So many the mile, with a loving husband at my side.
Days when he carried me became years overtime.
Now beside him sure footed I stride.
Uniquely the road I have traveled the life I have known.
This life is mine only; to give or to hold.
I have given it over to the invisible guide.
Sheltered and nurtured all along my life's long road.
It is HE who holds my heart as his own.
My feet are beautifully empowered, stable and strong.
Delicately lovely to tread through the rest of this awesome lifetime.