Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

Sorry you haven't heard from me in a while. M and I returned from Cannon Beach inspired and motivated; just as well as life has been busy these first two weeks of September.

I must tell you that we did get out to bike a couple of times in the forest: ten kilometres of hard pedalling out and ten kilometres back (see Bike Hard August 2010). Our breathing is better and the saddle soreness a lot less. Funny how it is - I don't enjoy biking this trail for a Saturday afternoon recreation ride but knowing I'm doing it for a good work out makes me more game. We hope to get out a couple more times, schedules and weather permitting! I ain't doing this in the rain.

My first writing assignment was due September 15th and I made the deadline. I had hoped to make a head start on it while we were in Cannon Beach but that was a no go. So with just a week to go before its due date, M and I got up an hour earlier every morning so I could write. The first part of the assignment wasn't difficult, just time consuming: write an introductory letter of two to three pages. What do you say about yourself to someone who doesn't know you? What do you include, what do you leave out and what is the most informative stuff to say now? I worked through that and got it done.

The second part of the assignment was to write a character description in 500 words. And this was the part I wasn't looking forward to. In fact, I dreaded it. But this past Sunday afternoon free time opened up like a break in the clouds of busyness to let the sun shine through. I sat down with my course binder, started through the steps, sketched my character in words on a page and then moved to the computer to start the dreaded deed. It flowed better than I anticipated. I got the bare bones on the computer and liked it. The word count was 170 words short. So Sunday evening, while M was at a meeting, I added more detail and liked the outcome even more. I couldn't believe that before bed it was all done. Yahoo!

Today it is scheduled writing time for my monthly newspaper article. I usually find that to be a bit of slog, so with a cup of tea for company this Saturday morning, I thought I'd first drop you a quick line to say I'm still here, dear diary. There is so much still to tell you.

Last Sunday morning I baptised a woman I have started to mentor. It is so exciting to see how God redeems our broken lives if we let Him! Baptising Mel is undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life, but more about my 'Brenda the Baptist' (coined by Morrie or was it Em?) experience later.

I must go, the washing machine has already buzzed. It is time to hang the laundry and then knock the next deadline off my list. Thanks for listening, I'll write again soon!