Writing is rarely a matter of waiting for the muse. It’s mostly a matter of writing until the muse shows up.–> Click to tweet.
On Fridays hundreds of writers gather here to write the muse into being. You’re welcome to join from your blog, your pen and paper, your thoughts left in the comments. As long as you write. From anywhere – your desk, your car in the car pool line, your rocking chair with the baby in your arm and you typing on your phone.
I love how we are able to make art in the middle of our every day ordinary. Did you ever see this video we made with photos sent in from blog readers of the spots where they write? It’s a beauty, worth clicking here if you don’t see it below.
How to Join:
Want to know how Five Minute Friday got started and how to participate? All the details are here.
Featured Five Minute Friday:
And every week I’ll pick a post that caught my eye and share it down there in my side bar – see where it says “Featured Five Minute Friday”? Yea -that could be you! Hop on over and visit some folk who make fireworks in just five minutes. They inspire me.
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on the word:::
Rhythm…
GO
All four of them come to meet me at the airport. Zoe is wearing Giraffee patterened pants and her faces is a riot of ketchup and paint. She can’t stop shrieking in excitement, “We come get you at the ‘port, mama.” The boys are asking about the coloring books I got for them and the sun is setting across I-395. The car is its usual riot of wrappers and pretzel sticks and someone’s crocs and someone else’s rugby ball. Everyone is talking at once and I lean over to hold onto Pete’s arm as he steers.
We come through the front door and there are a few dishes out, the shower curtain pulled back and the potty has clearly been put to good use. Shoes and pool bag and coloring books and life everywhere. So very ordinary and so very good and this is my home and my people and they teach me how to take every day and turn it into a rich rhythm of catch up and school news and summer events and that left over bratwurst. It comes naturally now. It didn’t for a long time. But now? Now I rock and sway with the wonder of it’s ordinary glory.
Kids out on their bikes and scooters and Zoe chasing down the side walk after them in only her socks and when did I grow up and discover that it’s the evening ritual and the rites of homecoming that make a life great. Not the degrees or titles or travel. But the small moments of re-filling the pink water bottle and listening to my two year old say, “tank you, mama.”
We know the steps by heart and when one of us trips or trods on someone else we know how to pull apart and come back together and sometimes that requires letting the boys build tent forts at ten o’clock at night.
Later I will load the dishwasher and wipe down the counters and leave the crayons out for tomorrow.
And the music will whisper over us while we sleep and the beat keeps thumping through it all.
::
STOP
{Subscribers, you can just click here to come over and play along}
I know you must hear if often. And you probably push it aside and say it’s not true. But you are amazing. Thanks for writing and encouraging us to write. Encouraging us to be moms. And not just moms, but moms that love our children. Moms that love the life we’ve been given. Moms that embrace the moment and welcome the messy toilets and life’s left overs. Blessings to you :)
I second this. Thank you for the challenge, the accountability. This is a special community.
Yep, you are amazing. And I am just thrilled that your boys are into rugby ;-)
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for this community, for the opportunity to connect with these women, to mutually bless each other in our faith and our writing. Discovering this group of women has changed my life a million times over. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
I am thrilled to have found your blog, this opportunity to be challenged to write, and to to be a part of this community. I’ve been feeling frustrated/down specifically out in blogland, and I’ve realized it’s because of the lack of involvement in faith-filled community. Feeling drained from the negativity I have witnessed instead. Just today I have been blessed to have found a couple avenues to be encouraged and also encourage others. He knows just what we need. Thanks for this!
Oh, this was so chaotically comforting! Perhaps because my days are quite similar?? My post this week went a similar direction…only not. Just thinking about the rhythms of my days as something more than just…just.
What beautiful music you create with the rhythm of your family:)
What a great prompt Lisa-jo! It is my first time linking up, and it is so encouraging to be part of this community! Thank you for this. And for your words. So beautiful!
My word for 2013 is Satisfied, and this post? It is everything I aspire to be as a wife and mother. Satisfied abundantly with my day to day. Thank you for this, Lisa-Jo. You teach me so much through your words, even though I am many years ahead of you in the mothering department:)
Prompt was difficult. I have always had trouble spelling the word rhythm. It was hard not to go back in an attempt to proof. I don’t know if I spelled the word right throughout the post.
Hi, looks like a great hop. I added it to my list. Going to be interesting to see how I combine with other hops, but I think it is doable for next week. Really enjoyed reading your blog post too.
Just a wonderful post and I cannot believe how you manage to write such beauty in the midst of airports and children and everything else! I don’t know how you think straight enough! Thank you for always providing a space for FMF to happen, I look forward to it every week :-)
What beauty in the “rocking and swaying to the wonder of it’s ordinary glory.” I ate that line right up, Lisa-Jo That’s the mindset I have to get into on those days where the riots aren’t of color or beautiful mess, but of tantrums and strewn clothes. Such a gorgeous perspective you have!
That photo is pure sweetness–melts my heart this morning.
Finding a rhythm in our ordinariness is so important. Love that you chose this word. Changed the perspective on my day!
I have always read these incredible posts every Friday, and finally joined in today. Thank you for the weekly encouragement and inspiration!
Isn’t it nice to be back home in the midst of the normal rhythms of life? Thanks for this week’s prompt and for encouraging us all to write!
GO:
It’s sad, really, how often I think of my life’s music as a cacophony of noise instead of something beautiful. I was pondering the thought that when I am forever distracted by the chaos and the urgent that I lose sight of the rhythms — the hearts of my children.
How many times do their voices, emotions and needs fight to be heard over the voices, emotions and needs of another and in the end the only thing that comes out of it is frustration and no one’s needs being met.
I am sad that I’ve missed moments, seasons, dare I say it,…years…of my children’s hearts — too distracted by the noise and chaos to truly see and hear them.
Today, I think, I think I’ll do something different. I’ll stop, if even for moment, place my hand on their heart and look and listen. I imagine that the response will be nothing like I envision — warm fuzzies and, “Gee, I love you, mom.” The reality may look more like “MOM, can I go play now? ” Nonetheless, it will be my moment, and eventually, if I keep it up, they’ll get it and it will become our moment.
I look forward to that day.
STOP
Thanks for hosting this great hop! I found a new use for FMF today! As we sat waiting for our food in a restaurant, I had my husband find out what the word was and we pulled out paper for the kids to spend five QUIET minutes writing! By the time we had ourselves organized and they wrote, our food came. It was a beautiful, beautiful thing! You can see their restaurant contributions at http://desperatehomeschoolers.com/2013/06/21/our-thoughts-about-the-word-rhythm-five-minute-friday-kids-edition/
Have a great weekend!
glorious ordinary indeed…
simply beautiful.
life is so sweet if we savor it slowly…and oh mylanta, I have no idea how you’ll discipline that beauty of a girl! I’m melting at the thought! ;)
Well, here’s my first attempt in Five Minute Friday. The link to my post is this: http://goomfh.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/five-minute-friday-rhythm/
I hope you make sense! :)
Just beautiful, thank you.
Thank you for the reminder how important all this is.
I wanted to echo the spirit of these comments … that this “meet up” has been a particular blessing to my heart. I not only enjoy reading what you and others write each week, I enjoy the time I get to express myself via the weekly posts. They have been a way for me to put myself out there, and through this venue, I have only been encouraged by others. Thank you Lisa Jo. (And this pic of your daughter is SO sweet! She is such a beauty!)
:) Thank you for giving me a place to find a new niche, to move away from the sarcastic mommy blogs into a community where humor is appreciated, but kindly used, and inspiration is the norm. This is a blessing. I love your description of your “ordinary” days, with the mess and the chaos and casual touches… it makes my heart smile. :)
Thanks so much!
Lisa-Jo, I didn’t write in five minutes, but for the first time in months — many, many months — I wrote. Because of you. Because of your prompt — Rhythm. Something about that word tugged at my heart and pulled at the words stuck in my throat and they spilled onto the page in rhythm and line. And I wrote. And it felt good. Very, very good. Thank you! Your Five Minute Friday was such a gift today. <3 Blessings to you!
Lisa-Jo, that was so beautiful! I watched your kids dance around chattering and saw a typically lived in home that is filled with love. I’m so glad you have the rhythm that makes love the anchoring of your soul.
Blessings,
Janis
I wanted to let you know, Lisa, that your blog is so encouraging for me. Being a mum has been tough for me lately, I sometimes feel like a huge failure and reading you is helping me to focus on what´s essential and stopping this stupid wish that I can “have it altogether” perfectly. In short : Thank you Lisa Jo.
There are but a few minutes of the day that I get to choose something for myself – but I always make time to read your Friday posts. They touch my heart every time, reminding me to slow down and pay more attention to the details so that I can enjoy my family to its fullest. Thank you.
Hi Lisa Jo, I was made to visit your corner in the net, I know not by accident … and I am grateful that I found your site. I am looking forward to joining your writing challenge and I know it will bless me more because I have been reading the entries and the encouragement from the community have filled my heart with so much joy. I am looking forward to your Friday prompt as I was late for your previous one which was very inspiring. Thank you for the moment you spend to encourage us, I praise God for you — (Bob’s wife) April
Awesome idea:)! Thanks for sharing!!
Here is mine. Rhythm
http://bellesbazaar-heather.blogspot.com/2013/10/rhythm-five-minute-prompt.html