Hop To It

My friend Gay Idle (Captive Heart), invited me to be a part of the fun "blog hop" going around my greater circle of blogging friends these past several months. I've actually already recently done this hop (I think of it sort of like a "chain letter" for bloggers, but rather than exchanging dish towels or post cards, we are exchanging blog introductions, new friendships) once over on my stroke blog but had so much fun I'm doing it again, updated answers, new friends to introduce. :) Gay and I met through (in)Courage (OK, technically, we still haven't "met" yet as in face-to-face) and become friends through Facebook. She is a sweet pastor's wife (interestingly, of a church launch project we helped sponsor several years ago!) who only lives about half an hour away from me. Her son is a stroke survivor.

So the 4 brief questions I've been asked to answer (and that I'm now asking my friends to answer within the next week, if possible are:
1) What am I writing or working on?
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
3) Why do I write what I do?
4) How does my writing process look?

1) What am I writing or working on?
I believe most visitors here already know that my one "claim to fame" is the book Hannah's Hope: Seeking  God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage and Adoption Loss (book published by NavPress, 2005, ISBN-10: 1576836541; ISBN-13: 978-1576836545) . Hannah's Hope blog and Pintrest pages on infertility, miscarriage / loss, adoption. Facbook athttps://www.facebook.com/HannahsHopeBook

What you may not know is that I'm the registered owner of over 30 blogs, but some I don't keep current anymore, some I per-registered for names of probable future book projects, some are titles I know people to search for me by and just redirect to other active blogs, etc

You have already found your way here to InfertilityMom where I sporadically blog about daily life, motherhood after infertility and loss. My motherhood pin board probably best fits this audience. Homemaking too. :)

My current book project, closest to being ready to submit for publication, is a harvest-themed devotional study on the fruit of the Holy Spirit, especially in the face of trying times, working title Harvesting Hope from Heartache and the accompanyingHarvesting Hope blog and Harvesting Hope, fruit of the Spirit , gardening, roses, and spiritual warfarePintrest pages. Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HarvestingHope

Stroke Of Grace, my unfolding stroke recovery journey blog, is my primary writing project these days. I hope to write an accompanying book if future years, next in the cue after Harvesting Hope. On Pintrest, there are several specifically related pages: stroke-related pictures and thoughts, why I'm homesick for Heaven, therapy and exercise, my struggle to find purpose, thoughts on grace and glory and a great collection of brain images. Facbook athttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Stroke-of-Grace-by-Jennifer-Saake/339888582731687

A future book project, currently titled Given Me a Thorn,a study on the life of the Apostle Paul as comfort, encouragement and resources for living with chronic pain and/or illness, was originally the "next book" I had planned to work on after Hannah's Hope, but God has backburrner this project for several years, slipping more books into more urgent priority in my heart. I actually already have several large chunks of this mauscript already researched and written, so I st Pintrest pages at Natural Health and Chronic Illness, Gluten Free, Latex Free, and Given Me a Thorn. Facbook athttps://www.facebook.com/GivenMeaThorn

A page I have let fall fallow since the strokes, I hope to revive again, InnerBeautyGirlz, tips and tricks (and even some give-aways) for outward beauty, but with an intentioaln focus on the heart and soul.  I have, however, really been building my Pintest page on this beauty this year, a reflection of my own struggles both physically and emotionally/mentally, to accept God's perspective on me in my brokenness. Facbook at https://www.facebook.com/innerbeautygirlz

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
My manuscript for Hannah's Hope was due to the publisher 10 years ago today! I had no idea then that I would even write another book at all, and once I realized that was God's call, never dreamed I would not have a second manuscript to a publisher yet. God's timing...

When I think of my current (pre-stroke) manuscripts in terms of the writing profession, it is taking SO LONG and I get really sad and discouraged. When I think of all I have accomplished in the past 2 1/2 years from the perspective of a brain stem stroke survivor who should not even be alive and what I do type is through very slow thought processing and single-handed typing, I'm honestly rather blown away by what God is working through me THIS FAST!

3) Why do I write what I do?

These are the issues, lessons, survival tools God has put in my own life. The circumstances could be totally different, but the God is faithful and unchanging. I "write what I know" but whatever the topic, the goal is to offer comfort and encouragement to others living through hard seasons of life, pointing them to the hope and help Christ has offered me!

4) How does my writing process look?
You will usually find me writing with a cup of tea (warm if it is chilly, otherwise, iced, no sugar, yes lemon) on the side table next to me. Here are several pictures from around my home to mentally picture the process.

Please allow me to introduce you to some friends now!

I have know Ruth J Leamy the longest. We have only met in person once (thanks to God allowing her car to break down near my hometown, so we had opportunity to meet for dinner), but have known each other online for well over ten years. My oldest is 14 1/2 and I actually think maybe we met before I ever got pregnant with him, but I know for sure it was at least by the time our 11 1/2 year old was a baby! She's a huge life and especially writing encouragement buddy and I'm so blessed God put this woman, who writes beautiful Bible studies every year, into my life. Please check her out at Read, Hear, See, Feel.

Amanda Francis Holland has only come into my life within the past few months through a precious sisterhood on Facebook, and already is such a blessing! When I asked her if she was interested in being featured for this blog hop, I learned she was about to post her own answers to these same four questions over at Grace In Our Moments and was still looking for her own third introduction, so we both decided to introduce each other this week. :) How fun. How perfect!

Looking for other bloggers interested in participating (this hop has been going for a while and most of my friends have already participated), I just was delighted to meet Debbie Templin Williams this week and discover her beautiful blog over at Blogger Loves The King, When I asked her to tell me about tell me a bit about herself, she shared, " I am retired from the government after 43 years and 11 months. I started online Bible studies with Proverbs 31 shortly after retirement and am a team leader for small groups. I will celebrate my 45th wedding anniversary this Saturday to my high-school sweetheart. I have two grown children and one grandson with another grandchild on the way. Our grandson turned one this week. He was born last August with a horrible disease called EB, but is doing well thanks to prayers all over the world and seems to have a lighter case. His mom and dad carry a gene so can't have more children and our daughter was experiencing infertility so we had given up hope of more grandchildren - God did a mighty work and that grandbaby is due in January 2015."

These are my three "official" blog hoppers that will be sharing their own writing thoughts with you soon, but just like my first time around, I have a few "honorable mentions" that I would like to share with you! Joesette Morris Huffman will delight you with her posts at both S.A.H.M. I Am! and Learning Curve. And two strokie friends who have no idea they will even be mentioned here (and are free to join the hop, or not, whatever they find least stressful) are Joanne Heim of The Simple Wife and Denise of The Lighthouse of Prayer and Just Me, Being Me. These ladies have no idea how much I love them!