This Page

has been moved to new address

It’s Just a Pipe Dream

Sorry for inconvenience...

Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service
body { background:#aba; margin:0; padding:20px 10px; text-align:center; font:x-small/1.5em "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; color:#333; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; } /* Page Structure ----------------------------------------------- */ /* The images which help create rounded corners depend on the following widths and measurements. If you want to change these measurements, the images will also need to change. */ @media all { #content { width:740px; margin:0 auto; text-align:left; } #main { width:485px; float:left; background:#fff url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_main_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; margin:15px 0 0; padding:0 0 10px; color:#000; font-size:97%; line-height:1.5em; } #main2 { float:left; width:100%; background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_main_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:10px 0 0; } #main3 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/rails_main.gif") repeat-y; padding:0; } #sidebar { width:240px; float:right; margin:15px 0 0; font-size:97%; line-height:1.5em; } } @media handheld { #content { width:90%; } #main { width:100%; float:none; background:#fff; } #main2 { float:none; background:none; } #main3 { background:none; padding:0; } #sidebar { width:100%; float:none; } } /* Links ----------------------------------------------- */ a:link { color:#258; } a:visited { color:#666; } a:hover { color:#c63; } a img { border-width:0; } /* Blog Header ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #header { background:#456 url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_top.gif") no-repeat left top; margin:0 0 0; padding:8px 0 0; color:#fff; } #header div { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 15px 8px; } } @media handheld { #header { background:#456; } #header div { background:none; } } #blog-title { margin:0; padding:10px 30px 5px; font-size:200%; line-height:1.2em; } #blog-title a { text-decoration:none; color:#fff; } #description { margin:0; padding:5px 30px 10px; font-size:94%; line-height:1.5em; } /* Posts ----------------------------------------------- */ .date-header { margin:0 28px 0 43px; font-size:85%; line-height:2em; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#357; } .post { margin:.3em 0 25px; padding:0 13px; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:1px 0; } .post-title { margin:0; font-size:135%; line-height:1.5em; background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_arrow.gif") no-repeat 10px .5em; display:block; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:0 1px 1px; padding:2px 14px 2px 29px; color:#333; } a.title-link, .post-title strong { text-decoration:none; display:block; } a.title-link:hover { background-color:#ded; color:#000; } .post-body { border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:0 1px 1px; border-bottom-color:#fff; padding:10px 14px 1px 29px; } html>body .post-body { border-bottom-width:0; } .post p { margin:0 0 .75em; } p.post-footer { background:#ded; margin:0; padding:2px 14px 2px 29px; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:1px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; font-size:100%; line-height:1.5em; color:#666; text-align:right; } html>body p.post-footer { border-bottom-color:transparent; } p.post-footer em { display:block; float:left; text-align:left; font-style:normal; } a.comment-link { /* IE5.0/Win doesn't apply padding to inline elements, so we hide these two declarations from it */ background/* */:/**/url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 0 45%; padding-left:14px; } html>body a.comment-link { /* Respecified, for IE5/Mac's benefit */ background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 0 45%; padding-left:14px; } .post img { margin:0 0 5px 0; padding:4px; border:1px solid #ccc; } blockquote { margin:.75em 0; border:1px dotted #ccc; border-width:1px 0; padding:5px 15px; color:#666; } .post blockquote p { margin:.5em 0; } /* Comments ----------------------------------------------- */ #comments { margin:-25px 13px 0; border:1px dotted #ccc; border-width:0 1px 1px; padding:20px 0 15px 0; } #comments h4 { margin:0 0 10px; padding:0 14px 2px 29px; border-bottom:1px dotted #ccc; font-size:120%; line-height:1.4em; color:#333; } #comments-block { margin:0 15px 0 9px; } .comment-data { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 2px .3em; margin:.5em 0; padding:0 0 0 20px; color:#666; } .comment-poster { font-weight:bold; } .comment-body { margin:0 0 1.25em; padding:0 0 0 20px; } .comment-body p { margin:0 0 .5em; } .comment-timestamp { margin:0 0 .5em; padding:0 0 .75em 20px; color:#666; } .comment-timestamp a:link { color:#666; } .deleted-comment { font-style:italic; color:gray; } .paging-control-container { float: right; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; font-size: 80%; } .unneeded-paging-control { visibility: hidden; } /* Profile ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #profile-container { background:#cdc url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_prof_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; margin:0 0 15px; padding:0 0 10px; color:#345; } #profile-container h2 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_prof_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:10px 15px .2em; margin:0; border-width:0; font-size:115%; line-height:1.5em; color:#234; } } @media handheld { #profile-container { background:#cdc; } #profile-container h2 { background:none; } } .profile-datablock { margin:0 15px .5em; border-top:1px dotted #aba; padding-top:8px; } .profile-img {display:inline;} .profile-img img { float:left; margin:0 10px 5px 0; border:4px solid #fff; } .profile-data strong { display:block; } #profile-container p { margin:0 15px .5em; } #profile-container .profile-textblock { clear:left; } #profile-container a { color:#258; } .profile-link a { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_profile.gif") no-repeat 0 .1em; padding-left:15px; font-weight:bold; } ul.profile-datablock { list-style-type:none; } /* Sidebar Boxes ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { .box { background:#fff url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_side_top.gif") no-repeat left top; margin:0 0 15px; padding:10px 0 0; color:#666; } .box2 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_side_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 13px 8px; } } @media handheld { .box { background:#fff; } .box2 { background:none; } } .sidebar-title { margin:0; padding:0 0 .2em; border-bottom:1px dotted #9b9; font-size:115%; line-height:1.5em; color:#333; } .box ul { margin:.5em 0 1.25em; padding:0 0px; list-style:none; } .box ul li { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_arrow_sm.gif") no-repeat 2px .25em; margin:0; padding:0 0 3px 16px; margin-bottom:3px; border-bottom:1px dotted #eee; line-height:1.4em; } .box p { margin:0 0 .6em; } /* Footer ----------------------------------------------- */ #footer { clear:both; margin:0; padding:15px 0 0; } @media all { #footer div { background:#456 url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:8px 0 0; color:#fff; } #footer div div { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 15px 8px; } } @media handheld { #footer div { background:#456; } #footer div div { background:none; } } #footer hr {display:none;} #footer p {margin:0;} #footer a {color:#fff;} /* Feeds ----------------------------------------------- */ #blogfeeds { } #postfeeds { padding:0 15px 0; }

Friday, September 23, 2011

It’s Just a Pipe Dream

I’m going to a writing conference.  BlogHer is partnering with Penguin Publishing and they are sponsoring this writer’s workshop.  I’m thrilled.  I’m petrified.  I’m both…. 

I want to be a teacher.  I want to write.  I want to do both….

I want… wow – I can’t remember when I have so vehemently wanted something so badly.

I want someone to say, “You can do it.”  And… although my friends and supporters cheer me on … I really want to know if a professional thinks I have any shot.

Confession… I have never done anything that I wasn’t good at.  If it was something that I wasn’t going to be able to do well – I just wouldn’t do it. 
I wasn’t going to go.  I was going to dream about going, make some excuse about leaving the kids and Ray, yada yada yada… and not go.  The real reason I wasn’t going to go was – what if they don’t like me?

Then a good friend asked me, “How many signs do you need that you should pursue this dream?”
Five minutes later, another good friend said, “I really think you should take those Letters to your students and write a book…. and my wife loves your blog.”
And finally… 10 minutes before school let out, a few students were reading my latest “letter” and said, “I think you should write a book.”

Huh? Really?

I came home. Talked to Ray before I could talk myself out of it. And paid the registration fee. I’m going.

I feel like the girl who goes to the party alone…. Please let them like me. (Oh wait – I am going alone.)

Maybe it will be amazing. Maybe they will tell me that I have a story people would like to read.  Maybe they will give me a signing bonus and tell me to write.  It is those maybe’s that I am excited for.

Maybe all the spelling, grammar, and writing errors will be pointed out.  Maybe they will tell me I have to commit more time to this blog.  Maybe they will tell me to come back when I’m a little more polished.  It is those maybe’s that I am scared I will hear.

I’m going to draw inspiration from my children.  They are amazing.  They never complain.  They are fearless.
IMG00025-20110222-1034IMG-20110724-00063IMG-20110731-00096
Once again… my babies have inspired me to stretch, go, try.  My blessings overflow.

Labels: , ,

posted by Kristen @ 9:02 PM   6 Comments

6 Comments:

At September 23, 2011 at 9:15 PM , Blogger Eric, Erin, Elsie and Emmy said...

Don't let the negative maybes keep you away! I am so glad that you are going. And if you want an editor to talk to, let me know. One of Eric's best friends is a Christian editor and I am sure would be at least a great resource for you!!! Again, I am SO glad you are going!

 
At September 23, 2011 at 9:55 PM , Blogger justin and marsi said...

I'm sure it will be an amazing time! When is it? Can't wait to hear all about it after the fact. I'm sure you will be so glad you went out on this limb! You are amazing!

 
At September 23, 2011 at 10:21 PM , Blogger Meredith said...

Those maybe's that you are afraid of... they aren't NO's!
They are STEPPING stones.

Do you EVER tell your students that feedback is a bad thing?

Probably not....

Kristen--
You HAVE a story.
You portray that story BEAUTIFULLY.
And you are going to step out in faith, and see what happens.

Remember... the Journey IS the lesson.
:)

(and focus on that whole FAITH thing.)

 
At September 24, 2011 at 3:13 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

You go for it Sista you're an amazing woman!

 
At September 24, 2011 at 3:32 PM , Blogger championm2000 said...

Go for it!

I love your writing already!

 
At September 25, 2011 at 3:05 PM , Blogger Hilary said...

The fact that you recognize the negative maybes and you can admit you are worried about them is what makes you an incredible teacher. You can relate to your students. The fear of rejection, both socially and academically, that students face everyday are still around in adulthood. I think some teachers forget how it feels to be a student and have those worries.

You are a wonderful teacher and an amazing writer! They will love you and your writing!

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home