Holly Michael's Writing Straight

~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life's Crooked Lines by Author Holly Michael

Holly Michael's Writing Straight

Tag Archives: goals

Are You a “Real” Writer? Is This Even the Correct Question?

20 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Family, Football, Jake Byrne, Writing

≈ 2 Comments

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Betsy Byrne, Blog, career, family, goals, Houston Texans, Jake Byrne, Kristen Lamb, NFL, Nick Byrne, Real Writer, success, www.writingstraight.com

Thanks for this article below, Kristen Lamb.

Are You a “Real” Writer? Is This Even the Correct Question?.

Now, because I am a “real writer” and have a real writer’s conference I’m preparing to attend, I’m retreating into Novel Land where I’m going to attempt to finish my third novel (only on chapter 7) in a little more than three weeks.

See you some time in September, unless I have some really big news to announce before then.

In the meantime, please keep my son Jake, #89 Houston Texans Rookie in your prayers during the upcoming pre-season games. He’s a “real NFL player.” Go Jake! In these crucial days to come, hoping both of continue toward successful careers. SO to daughter Betsy too, to the left of Jake. She’s having a birthday next week! She’s a “real cutie!” And proud of son, Nick too…in camp with the Ragin Cajuns down at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Go fam!

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Success: Are We There Yet?

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Writing

≈ 9 Comments

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Betsy Byrne, Bishop Leo Michael, Blog, football, goals, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Houston Texans, Jake Byrne, Kristin Lamb, Nick Byrne, success, University of Louisiana-Lafeyette, Writing, www.writingstraight.com

With two books with an agent and plugging along on the third novel, I feel like I’ve been climbing a mountain and have reached an outcrop that overlooks a crystal clear pond. (Thanks for the photo, Betsy–stole from daughter’s Facebook)

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I’ve done a lot of climbing and am so ready to splash around in the refreshing waters of success. 24269_10200148677109895_694869205_n

Daughter Betsy, above, is enjoying a little down time this summer after work and before getting ready for her last semester of college.

Son Nick is at the University of Louisiana, beginning football camp.

untitled (9)Hubby, Bishop Leo Michael, as usual, is working hard for the Kingdom of God.

We’re all pushing toward our goals…some big, some small.

But, I think son Jake, a rookie in NFL camp with the Houston Texans #89 (on the left with the black cap), must feel a lot like I feel right now…

temp_BB18867--nfl_mezz_1280_1024…we’ve worked hard and have reached some wonderful heights, but we’re ready to bathe in the waters of success. He’s hoping to make the final cut on the team. I’m hoping for a publishing contract.

So for now, we keep working and pushing ahead toward our goals.

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So, what does it take to successfully reach goals? Maybe, never giving up. There’s lots of good advice out there. Each morning, I look for inspiring quotes to text to my kids, especially the boys who are really challenged in football camp.

Here’s a few success quotes:

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And considering success and pruning….check out Kristen Lamb’s blog today. She inspired me to write this post…Have a wonderful time on your path to success, whatever your goals may be.

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Throwing Mountains into the Sea

22 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Diabetes, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Writing

≈ 91 Comments

Tags

#82, Blog, Christianity, diabetes, Faith, FFH, future, goals, Holly Michael, Hope, Jake Byrne, Jesus, Lord, mountains, Move or Move Me, Moving Mountains, New Orleans Saints, NFL, plans, Type One Diabetes, Writing, www.writingstraight.com

I often text encouraging Bible quotes to my kids. Yesterday, Jake said, “Keep them coming. I like them.” This morning, I found the above Scripture quote and texted it to Jake. It seemed appropriate for a type one diabetic and rookie in the NFL nearing the end of pre-season games (when players face potential cuts due to the league’s 53-man roster limit.)

One reporter, grading the rookies said this about Jake, “His time with the team is about up unless he pulls a miracle out of his hat.”

I wanted to tell that guy that our God is a God of miracles and my son is awesome, but I remembered that Jake is an adult and well, it’d be weird if I texted Bible quotes to reporters or yelled at them. To my kids relief, I swore I wouldn’t call their coaches or interfere in their sports business as soon as they grew bigger than me. (Age eleven for Jake.)

So, in spite of the reporter’s comment and the mountains in his way, Jake assured me he isn’t worried and that he’s entrusted his future to God. After a few more minutes of my preaching, Jake gently suggested I call Betsy or Nick and give them a pep talk. I got the “message” and told him maybe I needed the pep talk myself.

I don’t think anyone has ever thrown a mountain into the sea. It’s one of those Bible quotes that’s really hard to accept because you can’t take it literally. Who can throw a mountain into the sea? But God’s power can move mountains. God’s power can make the impossible become the possible. And prayers matter. And I guess if God wants that mountain to be in the sea, and it needs to be there, He can do it. But the mountain becoming a seafaring vessel and dissapearing on the horizon because of my faith? Hmm…

…though I pray and have peace about my son’s future, I’m flailing in my own troubled sea of uncertainty, wondering if I should continue fiction writing. Can I make it as a novelist? Why am I so uncertain about my future, my life, at my age? Am I such a late bloomer? Why can’t I get it together?

My angst might have something to do with my agent sharing rejection letters from publishers. They are like that reporter not appreciating Jake’s ability.

I understand that Stephen King and many other well-known authors received hundreds of rejections before getting their novels published. Yet, I question myself when I get a rejection, even those my agent calls “thoughtful” ones.

Yes, I have mountains in my way. I question if God really wants me to continue this path. I’ve worked as a journalist and freelance writer and have had some success in nonfiction in the past. Seriously, perhaps I should consider a different path.

It’s not defeatism, I tell myself, but rather contemplating on whether this path is the right one. Maybe it’s a “when a door closes, God opens a window” thing sometimes. Perhaps I should quit beating on this door and look out the window at other options and opportunities. Really, how do we know the difference? Are these mountains meant to be climbed over or throw into the sea or are they blocks God has placed in our way to divert us to where we really need to be?

Jake expressed peace about God’s plan for his life. I know he’s working really hard right now, often exhausted by the physical strength it takes to do what he does, and most likely even more tired of everyone (including me), giving him pep talks.

I am encouraged by his faith, endurance, confidence and willingness to embrace the “now” and the open possibilites of his future. And so, before I turn away from the mountains in my path, I’m going to pray for both of us, considering these lyrics to this wonderful song:

Chorus: Lord move in the way, that I’ve never seen before

Cause there’s a mountain in the way and a lock on the door

I’m drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore

So Lord move (move), or move me.

Please pray for Jake during this critical time in his life and for my intentions. And if you have a mountain in your way, let me know, comment below, and I’ll pray for you, too. The road toward our goal is often rocky. Dark mountains throw shadows onto our paths and loom mightily before us. It’s scary stuff. We need each other and God to get us through it all. With God, prayer, and support from each other, we can throw mountains into the sea…or at least climb them and reach new heights…and then…perhaps the sun will be shining on the other side. Anything is possible with faith.

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Candy, Barbie Dolls & Football: Does God Care?

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Crooked Lines, Diabetes, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne

≈ 41 Comments

Tags

#82, Barbie Dolls, Betsy Byrne, Blog, candy, diabetes, Faith, football, goals, God, Holly Michael, Jake Byrne, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Nick Byrne, Prayer, prayers, type 1 diabetes, Writingstraight.com

An interesting quote from my son Jake is: “Some days, it’d be nice to go back to the days when all I had to worry about was how much candy I was going to get that day. Meaningful words coming from a type 1 diabetic and a rookie with the New Orleans Saints. (Nick on left, Jake on right)

When my daughter Betsy (below) is overwhelmed, she whines, “I want to play Barbies with Jake and Nick.” (In defense of Nick and Jake, though Betsy calls them Barbies, the boys had G.I. Joe figures. Right guys?!)

I’m still keeping Nick’s toys in a tote container in the corner of a room in the basement, though the days are gone when he’d pull out the army dudes and Hotwheels and stretch out on the race car rug.

I miss the days when I was in charge of candy, and a trip to Wal-Mart always meant buying a Barbie outfit and two .77 cent cars. (If the kids were good, which they always were).

Now, Nick is preparing to make a college decision and maybe graduate early.

Betsy is making her final preparations to fly off to London to study for a semester.

And Jake…well…

An NFL player?

Still trying to wrap my mind around all of this. How can I let these babies go off and do big people stuff? I want to give them candy and set them on the race car rug where they belong. But no, they’re playing big people games (like professional football), taking off to new places, and avoiding sugar to stay fit and healthy.

After Jake’s few weeks break between rookie camp and regular season camp, he had to pass a timed fitness test. Not passing meant being cut from the team. I’d really been praying for Jake and was delighted when his text came in that he’d passed.

Later, while at my small neighborhood market, a store employee asked, “How’s the fam?” I reported the good news from Jake. I explained how we’d been praying and how Jake said he felt God was running with him.

The man asked, “Do you think God really cares about this stuff? Like football?” It was not a challenge question, but an inquisitive thought.

My answer: “Sure He does.”

God is within us and beside us on our journey on this earth, and He does care about all that happens in our lives. He’s a loving Father who cares. He’s our Savior who shed blood and died for us. He’s the Holy Spirit that speaks and guides us. He is our Creator, who has a plan and purpose for each of us.

Specifically, does God care about football? Well, although I hope God is a Saints fan, for sure, he’s a Jake, Betsy, Nick and you and me fan. Perhaps He cares more about what Jake does with football. Through playing football, Jake hopes to inspire and encourage young people with diabetes. That’s a worthy cause. I think God cares about that. Type one diabetes is a challenging disease for kids as well as their parents.

God cares about all of us-our dreams and plans-and there’s Grace available to help achieve our God-ordained and God-blessed goals. Hard work and prayers help.

It’s going to be a tough road ahead for Jake as a rookie in the NFL, for Betsy flying off to a foreign country, and for Nick leaving high school and entering college. I’m sure they will each have moments of wishing all they had to worry about was candy and what Barbie (ahem…G.I. Joe) was going to wear. Being an adult is tough, It means heard work, pressing on no matter what. But don’t worry, God is with us, running beside us, through it all.

As a Mom, I just need to let go…and remember my kids are big enough and so is their God. More than candy and toys, now they mostly need their mom’s prayers.

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Pursuit!

17 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Diabetes, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Writing

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Betsy Byrne, Bishop Leo Michael, Blog, diabetes, Dreams, goals, God, HCCAR, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Jesus, New Orleans Saints, Nick Byrne, pursuit, talent, The Holy Spirit, type 1 diabetes, Writing, www.writingstraight.com

Recently, I became a member of ChristianWriters.com. The group has a gaggle of writers whom, each month, blog about a group-decided topic. The topic this month: Pursuit. The topics are meant to tie in with our struggles and blessings as writers.

Pursuit. Here’s what pursuit means to me, my family, and my writing career:

Oldest son Jake is in pursuit of his goals, fully and wholeheartedly. He just signed with the New Orleans Saints. One of the Saint’s coaches told the rookie group, “each of you are one out of the three million kids that started playing football. There are 2,800 left. That means you are in the top 0.01 %.”

While talking with Jake, I added, “and figure into that, that you have type-one diabetes. How many rookie NFL players are in that category? How does that change the percentage?”

Jake paused, then solemnly answered, “I might be the only one.”

Jake’s twitter profile is: New Orleans Saints TE, Former Wisconsin TE, Type 1 Diabetic. Passion for helping youth with diabetes, feel free to ask me questions and advice.

WTG, Jake. I’m happy my son is using his gifts and talents as well as his illness to live a life in full pursuit of his dreams.

Daughter Betsy is a college student in pursuit of a dream to study abroad in London next semester. Betsy strived to reach and maintain the necessary GPA and requirements to make this goal happen. London is a long way from home and getting to this point has been a challenge. But in pursuit of her dreams, she understands that the challenges as well as advantages of the journey will be beneficial to her future career. WTG, Betsy. She’s a solid, well-grounded girl who knows what she wants and pursues her dreams with prayer and determination.

Youngest son Nick is in pursuit of his goals, which are similar to his brother Jake’s. Football. Look at Nick’s catch below. Jake drove from New Orleans to Alabama to watch Nick play a seven-on-seven game last week. Jake bragged that Nick did great, probably the best player. I love Nick’s heart. He’s conscientious, level-headed, and faithfully pursuing God along with his dreams.

I’m pleased that my children are pursuing their goals with a mindset that all goodness and gifts come from God, their Father in Heaven.

And, I admire my husband because he lives his life in pursuit of God. Always. Period. He loves and fears God with all of his heart, mind, and soul. And as a bishop and pastor he speaks the truth in love, ministering to his flock and wholeheartedly loving those entrusted to his spiritual care. Today, on Father’s Day, I thank God for the loving father he is to his congregation and others and for the kind and loving step-father he’s been to the kids.

And me? I pursue God because without Him, I am nothing. I have nothing. My gifts and talents are tiny, miniscule, droplets of water in the sea of creativity. Perhaps God, The Father, sprinkled me with a few droplets from that water when He created me. It’s up to me to pray, work hard, and develop those little talents into a gift I can offer back to Him and to humanity. And because God loves us and wants us in pursuit of Him, as he multiplied the loaves and fishes, if we ask, I believe He will also multiply and bless our talents. Then, like Jake, with God’s help, we can be that 0.01 %. Surely, we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. It’s all about pursuit.

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Holly Michael

Done this: Regular freelance ghostwriter and online editor for Guideposts for Teens/Sweet 16 Magazine, creator/editor of a magazine for Wal-Mart Corp., journalist, newspaper features writer, published in a variety of national magazines and local newspapers, script writing/editing for corporations. Doing this now: author of fiction and nonfiction, blogger, and editor of Koinonia Magazine. I’m the wife of Rt. Rev. Leo Michael, an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite. Mom to three great kids: Nick (#81 Rajin Cajuns), Betsy (Super cute professor) and Jake (T1D & NFL player) Also, enjoy my travels extensively across the United States and internationally.

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