Minnesota Monday: Baby It's Cold Outside!

Today is my first day back on the blog in quite a while! And the occasion is being marked by historically low temperatures across the state of Minnesota. The National Weather Service is predicting the wind chill to reach -60 degrees! The coldest it's been in Minnesota since 1996. It's so cold, Governor Dayton has cancelled all public schools for Monday. He's the second governor of Minnesota to cancel schools across the state. One of our previous governors, Arne Carlson, cancelled school three times during his terms in office (Jan. 18, 1994, Feb. 2, 1996, and Jan. 16, 1997).

As I write this on Sunday night, the temperature has already begun to fall and we have all our heating devises roaring. The furnace has been running almost non-stop, the gas fireplace is blazing next to me, our wood fireplace is burning in the basement, and our electric space heater is blowing in the living room. Thankfully our house holds heat very well--but it's still a bit chilly in here.

Our family won't be leaving the house tomorrow. We've already stocked up on groceries and planned a day of playing games, watching movies, and folding laundry. Our oldest daughter is homeschooled, so a cancelled school day doesn't mean much to her. Although, since we follow the school calendar, and our second daughter will be home from school, we've decided to cancel our schoolwork tomorrow, as well.

In other news, I've started plotting my next story!! This will be my third story and I'm amazed at how different it feels to be plotting this time around. I've learned a great deal about writing over the past two years and I'm starting to feel much more confident as I walk into book three. My characters are taking shape right before my eyes, and my plot elements are falling into place. I know it will change a great deal as I actually start to write, but that's what makes it so much fun.

For me, writing is such an intimate journey. It's just me and God as we tell a story. Someday I hope thousands of others will read it, but for now, it's just the two of us.

As my characters start "talking" to me, I realize there are bits and pieces of me in each one of them. I'm always awed when God prompts me to put a bit of my heart and soul into my hero and heroine. It's a beautiful time of communion and worship with my Lord. God meets me on the page and teaches me more about Him...and myself.

I'll be sharing more about my story on Way Back When-sday's Blog Post! It's set in 1927, an era I'm not as familiar with, but one I'm learning to appreciate for all it's drama and gaiety.

Your Turn: What is the weather like where you live (this is not a question for Lindsay Harrel to answer...)? If you're a writer, where are you at in your WIP? If you're a reader, what book are you enjoying on this cold Winter day?