Finding a voice

I've started working on my next book. It's hard. Not hard to come up with the idea, characters and plot, it's hard to come up with a voice.
I can see my heroine but I can't hear her yet. She still sounds like my last heroine to me. So how am I planning to fix this problem?
Tennessee. Yep, I'm traveling again. I'll be keeping my ears open for a unique voice one that captures my character. I love this part of writing, eavesdropping in dressing rooms--okay I like shopping too! Then there are restaurants that are unfamiliar to me, but to the locals they're home so they talk about anything and everything. And of course I'll be listening at the local Wal Mart store. I find great voices there, so many people carry on detailed conversations on their cell phones in that store. So wish me the best. I know that voice is out there somewhere just waiting to meet my character.

Deal or No Deal

I'll admit it. I've become addicted to the show. It's a fascinating look into what people are willing to risk on uncertainty.

Last night, a woman could have kissed a frog and doubled her offer, more money than she would probably make in twenty years (guessing from her comments) and yet she turned it down. It is easy to judge from the safety of my couch. I of course would have kissed the frog. He didn't look that bad.

What really amazes me though is the help the contestants bring with them. These 3 people, relatives and best friends encourage them to take huge risks, just two more case, just one more, are the shouts from the sidelines.

We all know about peer pressure. We've experienced it as teenagers at its worst. So why when it comes to a game where a huge amount of money is possible if you just take the deal do these contestants listen to those they love? Is it because they feel they are being offered good advice? Do they not want to disappoint their loved ones? Or is it fear of having to listen to "I told you so," for the rest of their lives.

I'm thinking it's all the above. I don't' think it matters how old you are, peer pressure comes into play often in our daily lives. So what to do about it?

Keep your eyes on God. Read your bible, listen to your heart. Good idea right? So why isn't it easier to do that? I struggle with it every day, choosing to listen to the those who are louder. Maybe that's my answer. I need to let God's voice have more volume, let Him drown out the others shouting at me.

Thanks for letting me ramble today.

A New Month

February is here, it came like this! Almost 8 inches of snow and higher in drifts. This is the first year in a long time I've had winter boots. I had forgotten how much fun it is to stomp around in the snow.

I miss my boys at times like these I wish I could snap my fingers and make them small again. I wish for those days of red noses, wet mittens and damp 'boy' hair smells, hot chocolate and getting warm by the fire. Those days went by so fast! And if I remember right I whined about them. How sad for me. I didn't enjoy them to their full potential. I was more concerned with how often I would have mop up puddles and dry mittens than the fun the boys have.

Brings me to my knees. Most of my days are spent this way. Are yours? Are you living with joy and purpose every day that God gives you? I'm not. I'm going to start trying.