For the past few months, the song Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield has been going through my mind, over and over again. I've been thinking a lot about the choices I've made over the past fifteen years - choices that have led me to where I am today.
If you're not familiar with this song, here are the lyrics:
Unwritten
by Natasha Bedingfield
I am unwritten
can't read my mind
I'm undefined
I'm just beginning
the pen's in my hand
ending unplanned
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, No one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
I break tradition
sometimes my tries
are outside the lines
We've been conditioned
to not make mistakes
but I can't live that way
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The writer in me loves the analogy of my future as an unwritten book. It's up to me to chose how to write the words that will be in each of the chapters that will make up my Book of Life.
And just like writing a book where the characters "take over" and make choices the author wasn't expecting, my life has turned in directions I would never have expected.
As an idealistic teenager, I never would have pictured finding myself in an abusive marriage and divorced before even turning twenty years old. I wouldn't have written my Mom's graduation to Heaven when I was the tender age of nineteen. I never thought of motherhood as filled with IEP's, speech therapy, and behavior interventions.
But with each "wouldn't have", I've grown and received tremendous blessings.
My bruised soul couldn't have imagined that less than a year after my divorce I would find an honorable, incredible man who has treated me like a valuable and loved queen - even after ten years of marriage.
There are no words that accurately express the love I still feel from my mom, and the tenderness I feel knowing she and I will be together again for eternity after this life. Families are forever.
Thanks to my incredible son, I have been blessed to be immersed in a world full of people with all different abilities, each of whom have touched my life in a special way. I have been blessed to learn that motherhood isn't just having a child grow under your care, but rather it's a journey full of discovery, acceptance, and love.
Through this short journey of fifteen years, I have not only grown - but have been uplifted by incredible people along the way.
My sister had the courage to chase after her dream of graduating from the state police academy.
Natalie put her career as an incredible artist on hold to bring her beautiful daughter into the world and be a stay-at-home mom.
After her dear husband passed away, Helen found joy and purpose in helping others by volunteering at her local hospital and organizing a neighborhood ladies group for other widows. They each enjoy having a "family night" every Monday, going to plays, celebrating their birthdays, and supporting each other.
Karen didn't just raise her children with autism, instead she advocated for young children throughout her county by working with other parents to raise money for an autism preschool and served as president of the Autism Society in her area for many, many years. Today, she is attending college to get a Masters degree as she continues her journey to help educate children with autism.
Pam and Kevin have adopted seven children into their loving family.
Many years ago, Sue, with her husband, created the Olathe Special Olympics team and has continued supporting and organizing activities ever since.
Dana calls her friends just to ask how their day is going and to let them know she's thinking of them.
Some things we do are "big". Other things seem small, possibly even inconsequential. But both have big impact on those around us. We've each had many, many experiences that have taken us through our own personal refiner's fire. And we've had many blessings along the way as well.
What I love about Unwritten is that it reminds me the journey is not over. No matter where we are in our lives today, our tomorrow is unwritten.
If you're in the middle of a chapter, you get to choose what to write on the next page. And if you find yourself at the beginning of a new chapter, you get to explore and discover what that chapter will hold.
I'm sure you're thinking this is an odd way to introduce a contest. You're right. And that's because this contest is unusual in itself.
To enter the contest, leave a comment on this post and tell me two things:
1) What do you want written on your page tomorrow?
and
2) Share a story of someone who was a blessing to you as you've been writing the "novel" of your life.
Be sure to post your entry before noon on November 15th. I will post name of the winner that afternoon. Each of the stories submitted will be compiled for a "Count Your Blessings" blog before Thanksgiving. Submissions can be humorous, uplifting, etc. But they should all be sincere!
The winner will receive an autographed copy of Red Dragon Codex by R.D. Henham (a.k.a Rebecca Shelley). If you have a Dragonlance fan on your Christmas list, this is THE perfect gift!From Amazon:
For fans of The New York Times best-selling A Practical Guide to Dragons, a new series of fantasy fiction focusing on the power of dragonkind.
The Dragon Codices chronicle adventures with each of ten dragons of Krynn. From the fiery, evil red dragon to the playful copper, each dragon's tale is unique. Sindri Suncatcher, narrator of A Practical Guide to Dragons, shared these tales from his travels with library scribe R.D. Henham.
Mudd lives a peaceful life in his small town, tinkering with the mill and any mechanical devices that he can find. But his peaceful life soon changes when, out of nowhere, a red dragon attacks, burning the town and kidnapping Shemnara, the village seer. Only one clue is left behind--a cryptic note telling Mudd, "Seek the silver dragon."
About the Author
R.D. Henham is a scribe in the great library of Palanthas. In the course of transcribing stories of legendary dragons, the author felt a gap existed in the story of the everydragon: ordinary dragons who end up doing extraordinary things. With the help of fellow scribes, R.D. had filled that gap with the Dragon Codices.
“Red Dragon Codex is fun tale of wonder, adventure, and dragons aplenty. R.D. Henham is a fine new storyteller, off to a very promising start.”
—David Farland, New York Times best-selling author
