Where's the Blogger?

"Francie, you need to blog more often," a woman said to me at a recent ladies' conference.

Takeoffs at NYC La Guardia airport

"I can't."

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because I'm here..."

...And there, and everywhere lately! My conference calendar was overweight this year, and while we've tried to slim it down for 2014, it hasn't been an entirely successful attempt. The 2014 calendar is trimmer, but still a bit over the ideal range.

So, blogging has become a luxury, but the blog will continue with monthly posts. The EMagazine has gobbled up the blogging time, coupled with flying from coast to coast. Here's the scary-busy itinerary for 2013 so far:

February: Connecticut and California
March: Michigan ("Only one?" Ha. Don't get me started...)
April: California, Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee (and by now, airport security was complimenting my outfits as I went through the check point each week)
May: California and Mexico
June: Michigan ("Only one again?" Tried for zero, but failed...)
July: North Carolina (National Sword Conference = five days = like two conferences in one)
August: Virginia (This wasn't a conference. We helped our daughter Hillary move to U-VA for law school, and you know that moving out of state is not for whiners or wimps...)

And here's what's scheduled, Lord allowing, for the rest of the year:

September: South Carolina and Oregon (Harry & David Outlet Store, here I come!)
October: Ladies' Extravaganza-Minnesota (no flight required!), Maryland, Florida
November: New York and North Carolina

I think I need an apartment in California and North Carolina.

And while doing all this flying around, I was opening and closing my Netbook in the airplane, writing as fast as my trained fingers would type. It got to the point where I could tell when the familiar "ding ding" was going to sound at 10,000 feet, where it is "now safe to use approved portable electronic devices." I would be poised with my computer in lap, ready to peel out as soon as I heard the dings.

The view from seat 5F

On the flip side, I could also tell when we would be running out of time (or airspace), as I could feel the beginning descent of the airplane and would think, "Write faster, Francie! Hurry!"

Ding ding: "Ladies' and gentleman, we have now reached an altitude where all portable electronics must be turned off and stowed until landing."

"Nooooooo!" my mind would howl as I tried to put the punctuation in before shutting down. Writing in an airplane seat is as common and normal to me as writing at my desk in the home office. The only difference is there is no "ding ding" in the office to make me stop, unless I set a timer for a stretch break. And it's not disobeying federal regulations if I keep typing right past the timer at home!

Pray for us at Keep the Heart as we labor to produce beneficial materials for Christian women. I'm sure that we would all agree: we all need more prayer.

On the ground (today), from my heart to yours.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)