If You Met a Purple Monster...

Welcome to our first ever Progressive Interview. What is a progressive interview? Well, instead of food at ever stop, we serve up one interview question, answered by many people. These questions were asked on our Take Flight Facebook group and we'd love to have you join us there for blog post idea starters as well as informal blog...help...fun...something. It's a group designed to help bloggers blog and is an extension of the Take Flight challenges and ideas I post here.

The question I asked the group was one of my favorite silly questions that helps me get to know authors more...

If you were to find a purple polka-dotted monster in your kitchen one morning, how would you respond?

And here's their answers...

Sharon Clements Srock Purple is my favorite color, my kitchen is my favorite room, so I'm two markers in the plus category. I'd fix him some coffee.

Yvonne Blake Hopefully, he isn't too dangerous. If he's spotted, it probably means he isn't feeling well and couldn't go to school that day. I'd give him a cookie and a glass of milk and ask him if he wants to sit on the couch with me and watch "Winnie the Pooh."

Diana Lesire Brandmeyer First I would take my temperature and finding it normal decide I need caffeine. If he's still there I'd say, "Come into my office and let's find out what your story is."

Valerie Comer I would look closer, realize the polka dots were actually rounded hearts, then recongnize my granddaughter's jammies. I'm pretty sure she's not dangerous, though at two years old, she can RAWR mightily. I think I would tickle her until she giggles and make her some breakfast. Maybe with blueberries, so we could have more polka dots.

Sherri Wilson Johnson I'd hand him a mop!

Joanne Sher The first thing I'd do is clean off my glasses - just to be sure it wasn't smudges. When I was certain it WAS the monster, I'd ask it (very politely) if it wouldn't mind cleaning my house. One can always hope, right? And, of course, if it said yes, I'd offer it a couple Cadbury Creme Eggs and a cup of something hot from the Keurig.

Linda McQuinn Carlblom I'd get my camera and take a few pictures just for proof. If it turned out to be friendly, I'd ask him to stay while I called my grandkids to come over to play with him!

Donna Winters "Hey, there. Know how to cook eggs? Better not let the dogs catch you here. You could be toast!"

Sharon Hoover After changing my pants (that I've pee-ed) and pulling my exhuberant terrier away from the dotted monster, I would to pretend that he's just another guest and offer a cup of English Breakfast tea. In reality, though, I would scream and jump out the back window!

Janet Sketchley How big is he, Patty? A little one would get "aww, he's cute!" In any case, once I got over the "am I really seeing this?" if there was no apparent danger I'd be looking to see which of my sons was pranking me.

Kristi Peifer Hey pal, I'll have a stack of chocolate chip pancakes with a side of scrambled eggs.

Christina Rich If I were to find a purple polka-dotted monster in my kitchen I'd probably go back to bed. Obviously, I haven't been sleeping enough.

And how would I respond to finding a purple polka-dotted monster in my kitchen one morning?
Relief. You see, this particular monster went undercover as a child of mine and I've been just waiting for her true colors to come out. I knew they would eventually and I've been sneaking around trying to catch her for months. I should've guessed she'd show up in the kitchen! (I'll hafta check her pockets for cookies--I bet she about cleaned out my stash.) She must've stayed up too late and didn't make it back into hiding under the bed before the sun came up. Silly ol' monster.

So tell me,

How would YOU respond to a purple polka-dotted monster in your kitchen one morning?

~*~*~*~*~

Be sure to check out the other progressive interview participants for more great questions! (Their links are with their answers above as well as below.)

Tweet

Take Flight: Progressive Interview

This week's Take Flight challenge is a little different but one I think will be fun.

You know how I'm always saying that misery loves company, right? And you know that the a2z meme grew out of the misery of a dry spell, and Take Flight grew out of the infamous question "But what do I blog about??"

Well, this week's challenge grew out of a question Christina asked me about author interviews... As I thought about her question, I thought it would be fun to interview each other, and even more fun to see what we can learn with just one question (micro interview, anyone?). But it's soooo much more fun when friends are included so...

 This week's challenge is a social networking and blogging idea...

A Progressive Interview.

Think a progressive dinner but rather than serving food at each stop we’ll have interview questions. On Thursday, April 19th, each blogger will post their one interview question and the responses they’ve received to that question. You can post your question on the Take Flight FB group. To participate in this challenge, join us there.

So a blog post might look like this:

Q: What’s a verse that means a lot to you currently and why?

Patty Wysong: I Chronicles 28:20 “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismatyed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work of the Lord is finished.” Why? I struggle with fear constantly. Fear has often locked me down and made it so I’m unable to do anything, but I have God’s promise that He will NOT fail me nor forsake me...

Joanne Sher: Luke 2:20 because....

The answers will include the answers of whoever answered on the FB group page.

The goal of this progressive interview:
As bloggers: to introduce our blog readers to others in the hopes the reader will find an answer interesting and click on a link to get to know the responder better.

As readers: to meet someone interesting, learn something new, laugh, enjoy the answers. Some questions will be off-the-wall, some might be serious.

One question per participant, unless we decide to throw out two. LOL. 

If interested in participating in this progressive interview, join us at the Take Flight Facebook group where questions are waiting for you and we're looking forward to your question.

Have a question for us? Leave it in the comments and we'll see about answering it. ;-)

The Take Flight Facebook group is a gathering place for bloggers looking for post ideas and blog help. It's a great networking place where we can link together, work together and multiply the fruit of our efforts. We'd love to have you join us!

Tweet

Come for Easter

Each year our church does a big Easter musical.

Starting with the Triumphal Entry, we work our way through several scenes of Jesus' life, giving the children's choir a chance to participate--always a favorite part...

Miracles of Jesus
are acted out,
the music stays with you,
filling your head
and your heart.
Bringing you to worship.




Then we come to the cross.
And it's powerful.
Moving.
Heart rending.

But thank goodness, the account doesn't end there, because Jesus' life did NOT end on the cross.

He arose!!

We'd love to have you visit us.



So tell me, what does your church do for Easter?

*Pictures courtesy of Meridith, Holly and Jayma. Thank you, ladies.



~*~*~*~*~

Joining us for the Easter Take Flight Challenge? Be sure to link up with us!



Take Flight now has a Facebook group! Join us there to keep up with the fun and blog post idea starters and challenges.

Tweet

Take Flight Easter Challenge

With all that's been going on, it's been awhile since we've had a Take Flight challenge. Sooo...

Since Easter is right around the corner,

• tell us what your church is doing for Easter. 
• Write an advertisement inviting people to attend. 
• You can post pictures of past years' activities,
• write a testimony of what a past year's Easter presentation meant to you, 
• or even the significance of an Easter service or an Easter memory.

The objective: To encourage your circle of friends to attend an Easter church service or presentation.

Next Thursday, April 5th, I'll post mine and have a linky tool up in case you'd like to join us and link up--but you can post any time.

See you then!

Tweet

Why I Blog

One of the things I'm often asked is why I blog, and rather than just answer that myself, I invited my Take Flight friends to join me and tell us why they blog too because I know we all have reasons. (If you're joining us for the Take Flight Challenge, be sure to link up with us at the end of this post.)

People want to know the benefits of blogging and I don't blame them. So, I'm going to do a "Blog at Work for You" mini-series on blogging, starting today and posting about once a week until it's done.

Blog at Work For You will cover:

• Why I blog (today) -- simply why I started blogging and my journey.
• Benefits of blogging
• How to make blogs work for you
• Blog niche vs. blog purpose
• Know who you are
• Know who you're talking to

And any other posts that come to mind. *wink*

Why I started blogging and am still blogging...

When I finally quit running from God’s call on my life, I joined Faithwriters and immersed myself in learning how to write. January of 2008 found me chewing my nails but determined to take the next step I felt God leading me to: blogging. I had no illusions of grandeur and I had no idea what I was doing. I felt like that first step into the blogging world was the equivalent of stepping off a cliff into thin air. But I was convinced it was what I was supposed to do, so I stepped in faith. It didn’t matter to me if people found me up there or not. My blog was all about obedience. Me obeying God.

But people did find me. As I stepped out of the comfort zone of Faithwriters and visited other sites, I found new friends. I also wondered how they got the cool looking blogs they had! My sister taught me how to change the colors on my basic Minima layout, and that helped, but when Kristen Schiffman stepped in, I was over the moon. She gave me a blog make-over and I gave her some spending money for something-or-other. She didn’t just stop there, though. As I studied the layout she used for my blog, she answered my questions and I learned to tweak my blog. It became a challenge that relaxed me, much like doing a jigsaw puzzle.

When I started blogging in February of 2008, it opened up a whole new world to me. A world I’d heard was out there but that I didn’t know how to tap into. I thought I was simply starting a blog to obey God and to practice my writing, but what I found was a huge opportunity for service and ministry. I honed my skill of devotional writing, found women’s sites that post devotionals and submitted to them. I became an occasional guest blogger with a short byline and a link back to my blog. I got the thrill of seeing my name somewhere other than at my site but far more importantly, I was able to minister to people—to give back to God a little of what He had given me.

Was I paid? No. I look at it as the first fruits principle. God is giving me so much and blessing me tremendously in many ways, writing for some ministry sites is a way that I can give back to Him.

Since then, the sites I was a guest poster on have become normal hang outs for me, and you'll see me posting there monthly (like TODAY I'm at the Internet Cafe with a devotional --they were the first place to accept a guest post from me and they're near and dear to my heart. Love it there!!) Most of last year I was a monthly contributor on four group blogs that were anywhere from start ups to large sites, all because of starting this blog four years ago. Can you say "Suhweet"?

My site has grown and changed with me over the years and as hard as I try, I don't understand it. Now I blog because I love it. I love the people it connects me with and the outlet and opportunities it presents. I love it because of the fun stuff I get to do--like sharing blog tips and the Take Flight challenges and the a 2 z memes.
I love it because blogging is still all about obedience for me. =)

So tell me, why do you blog?

Joining us for the Take Flight challenge? Be sure to link up with us and tell us why you blog...

Tweet

Take Flight: Why do you blog?

Last minute Take Flight challenge, but it's an easy one...

Tell us why you blog.

See, I told you it was easy! =)

I'll see you on Monday with why I blog and the linky for you to join us.
Remember, it's never too late to join the fun and link up with us.

Tweet

Only You

This week's Take Flight challenge was inspired by a graphic I spotted on Facebook in the past couple weeks. It was one of those timely posts that made me stop and think and say ouch.

It's one I needed to keep in mind this last week...

So, this week's Take Flight Challenge is to zero in on ONE area where you are stopping yourself and clobber it back.

Last week the area I chose to focus on and clobber back was the manuscript I've been wrestling with for months, in one shape or another. Back in November I had a week, maybe two week's of work to do to fix up the manuscript so my agent, Linda Glaz, could do something with it. For one reason or another, that work clobbered me.

I was stopping myself.

But last week I pressed on and finished the thing. On Friday I sent the completed, edited, and revised manuscript to Linda. Talk about relief!

Now I find I'm facing the very same struggle again, with a different manuscript. When will I learn? Will I ever learn?

God is so very loving and faithful. He knows my struggle and when I poured out my heart to Him about needing direction and words, He gave me the missing pieces to the story concept so now I know what direction this new novel is going. I'm not just writing in the dark, discovering everything as I go.

It's time for me to quit stopping myself. It's time to press on in obedience and faith. I'm so very glad I'm not walking alone!

So tell me, how are you stopping yourself?

If you're joining us for this episode of Take Flight, link up with us!!

Tweet

Determined Diligence

Welcome to this week's a 2 z: Take 2

and the letter D.

I survived last week. Barely. It was a humdinger of a week, and not in a good way. But hey, it's over and we're moving on. Things are looking up. Way up. =) And I'm Determined to look UP.

February starts...tomorrow. Are you ready for it? I just might use Determination and Diligence as my words for February.

This week I'm determined to finish editing my current manuscript and get it to my wonderful agent, Linda Glaz. In February I'll be diligently knocking out weekly amounts of words so I can arrive at my desired destination.

If you're joining us for the a2z: Take 2 meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter D, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

Tweet

Take Flight: Only You

It's time 

for another

Take Flight Challenge!! 

Are you ready?

This week it's relatively easy--compared to some things I have up my sleeves, and it's one all of us can do, even if we choose not to post on it. ;-)

I saw this on Facebook this weekend and it was like being clobbered with a 2x4.

So, this week's Take Flight Challenge is to zero in on ONE area where you are stopping yourself and clobber it back.

Then, let's meet back here next Monday, 'fess up and tell how we tackled that dirty dog and how it went. Let's cheer each other on!

I know what I'll be working on and I'll let you know how it goes on Monday.

Now, don't be thinking all the Take Flight Challenges will be this easy or this vague. I'm just softening you up for a biggie that's in the pipeline. ;-)

See you next Monday with the linkie for this Take Flight Challenge...

Tweet

Along the Way

Welcome to a Take Flight idea challenge! This week's idea jump starter was to Stop, Look, and Listen.

Stop and take a picture (or 10) of something interesting or curious and blog about it.

We take several back roads on our way to church and there's a few interesting places, and one I've wanted to stop at. So, I went to "the cat house" and took some pictures...

Oops. Okay, so that picture is at the four way just before the Cat House, but still a shot I've wanted to take for years. LoL An empty barn or garage. The house is long gone.

Here's across the road from the Cat House...

A home with an old attached garage with the pick up still there. The door is ajar and it'd be so cool to tiptoe through the house. But I won't. Not only is it not our land but it's posted, No Trespassing. Bummer. I'll just have to use my imagination. hehe.

But this car is what I *really* set out to get a picture of. It just makes me smile.

Can you imagine the stories this car can tell? I want to know why it was parked at the edge of the yard and left. And when. And what was its last trip? So many stories, just sitting there...

In case you're wondering why I call it the Cat House--it's where all stray cats are welcome. This only shows three cats, but we suspect two dozen are in residence. The home owner is no longer there, but people faithfully come and feed the cats and make sure there's a cat house or two somewhere close by. There used to be a pair of peacocks, but I've not seen them for a couple years. They were gorgeous, but always startled me with their screech when I drove past.  They would perch on the peak of the small barn between the house and the car. Now it's just the cats and the car. This little place, off the beaten path, is a reminder to me that God takes care of His creatures, just like it says in Matthew 6:26... Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you lnot worth much more than they?

God takes care of all these cats, even after the home owner is no longer in residence. He will take care of His children!!

So tell me about a curious or interesting place near you...

If you're joining us for this episode of Take Flight, link up with us!!

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Tweet

Stop, Look and Listen

Now, for the first Take Flight challenge, or second if you vlogged...

Stop and take a picture (or 10) of something interesting or curious and blog about it.

• Something interesting you pass on a regular basis.
• Something you've always wanted to stop and look at but never take the time to.
• Something that makes you smile.
• Anything that catches your attention.

All too often we're in a hurry getting from point A to point B and we don't slow down and savor what is around us.  I know it's winter out there, but bundle up and be brave. (And if it's warm where you are, bottle some warmth and send it to those up North. *wink)

This week, find something to savor, snap some pictures of it and tell us about it. 

• Why did it capture your attention? 
• Do you see it all the time? 
• Why does it make you smile?
• What did you do to get the picture?
• Or let the picture talk for itself.

Let's meet back here next Monday, January 16th, and link up.

Remember, you can post ANYtime, even a long time from now, I'll just post the linky and my post on the 16th.

Tweet

Take Flight

My sister and favorite photographer, Cheryl, told one of her friends that I "help bloggers blog" and it stopped me in my tracks. She summed me up in three words. Helping bloggers blog really is something I LOVE doing. So when that idea collided with Michael Hyatt's post on strengths, the dots were connected and the ideas flew.

Naturally, I consulted with the other half of my brain, Joanne, and I even gave the Jewels of Encouragement group a heads up to be on the watch for another one of my wacky ideas, so they're braced for something along the lines of the vlogs we did last week (which was termed wacky by a few *wink*). And they're right. Take Flight is along those lines...

Take Flight is simply officializing something I've been doing for months now... posting the wild, wacky, hare-brained ideas and challenges I have for blog posts and inviting others to join me. We all know what it's like to be at a loss for what to blog about--hopefully this will help jump start a few posts.

The purpose of Take Flight...

• jump start blog posts
• provide connection
• introduce people to others
• HAVE FUN
• stretch beyond our comfort zones sometimes so we don't stagnate in the comfy little boxes we've created for ourselves
• try new things (it's only by trying them that you can see if you like them)

Here's the details:

• Take Flight will be a semi-regular feature here--semi-regular because I will simply post the ideas as they come, most likely on Mondays. Why? Because I'm too free-spirited to add one more scheduled blog post day to my calendar. I've learned I need wiggle room in my routine or I feel locked in a straight jacket and that eventually drives me to my cave. 
• A week later I'll put up my personal post of the challenge/post jump starter and put up the linky. I won't ask you to do it unless I'm willing to do it myself.
  Fine print: If something arises and prevents me from doing the post, I will simply post my apology and the linky tool for others to link up. Life happens to all of us sometimes.
• Anyone is welcome to post and link up. Don't blog (yet)? Now's a great time to start! Or, post on your Facebook wall, grab the direct link to that particular post and post it here. Or even just use the comment section to participate!
• You are welcome to post anytime and link with us--even if it's long after the post has gone up.
• Everyone is invited to participate at any time. It's never too late!
• Pick and choose the ideas you want to use. This is to serve you, not you serve it!
• Feel free to ROFL at me, throw rotten tomatoes (cyber ones, please! LoL), remind me I'm crazy, whatever. ;-)

For the fun of it, you can earn your wings. *eye roll* --kind of like a certificate of achievement or scout badge or ...whatever you want to call it.

• For every four ideas/challenges you post, I'll send you a badge for your blog and if you don't want to use them, that's fine!!
• Vlog participants already have one post! Woot! (Didn't vlog? You still can! *grin*)
• a2z: Take 2 does not count as posts for the award badges, but of course you're welcome to grab one of those buttons and add to your badge collection! *wink*

Here are the first three badges, in case you're curious...



Feel free to grab the button for Take Flight and join us occasionally...or all the time...as we take flight.

Button code for the square 125px image:<center><a href="http://www.pattywysong.com/2012/01/take-flight.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Take Flight. Patty Wysong Helping bloggers blog." border="0" src="http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/impeej/Backgrounds/TakeFlightSqButton.jpg" /></a></center><br />
Button code for the 325px wide image:<center><a href="http://www.pattywysong.com/2012/01/take-flight.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Take Flight. Patty Wysong Helping bloggers blog." border="0" src="http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/impeej/Backgrounds/TakeFlightButton.jpg" /></a></center><br />

Tweet with us! Use the hashtag #TakeFlt  (yes, I'm on Twitter and I may even tweet. LoL)

Take Flight will be easily accessible on my blog through the tabs and sidebar. Invite a friend along.

Tomorrow the first post idea/challenge will go up.
Hope to see you then!
Click here to see all the Take Flight ideas.  You can also find them in the sidebar and in the tab on Series and Topics above. ;-)

New to Patterings? Won't you subscribe by email?

Tweet

Me in Terrifying Technicolor

It's vlog day--the day some of us (Me!!) have been dreading for awhile. I'm happy to say that I didn't chicken out--probably only because of all the others involved in this scheme. Talk about being stretched and shoved out of my comfort zone! Man-alivin'.

But, I survived. Now I only hope you do too! LoL.

Okay, gang. Here it is. My first vlog, video clip, whatever this thing is, ever... And it's just for you guys, explaining WHY I wanted to do these vlogs...



Now, here's a real one...



Now it's your turn!! Post your vlogs and link up on the below.
This is NOT just for those who have participated in the memes! This is for anyone and everyone who wants to post a vlog. I cannot wait to see and hear you guys!! =] (And remember, I'll pick a winner(s) and post it next week when we start a2z:Take 2.)

Also, Thursday I'll tell you about 12 in '12. An idea I think could be fun...
Hope to see you then!

Tweet

It's Vlog Time

One thing about online friendships--you don't get to see what people look like and hear their voices, and that's something that I really miss. One of my a 2 z meme friends, Marji, posted a Christmas vlog and it was so much fun seeing and hearing her and that led to this idea... (and if you don't like the idea, it's Marji's fault. hehe.)

For next week's Tuesday post (1/3/12), we're posting vlogs to introduce ourselves.

The vlog does not have to be long. In fact, just 30 seconds to 2 minutes is plenty with as busy as people are these days. What's a vlog? It's a video blog--a movie clip posted to youtube and then posted on our blogs.

Don't have a web cam on your computer? Not a problem. Neither do I. You can use a video camera or even your digital camera. Many have a video clip option. And if you don't know about all that, ask your kids, or grandkids, or neighbor kids. They know and can give you a quick run down--it's pretty easy.

Please, please join us and post an introduction to yourself!! Participation in a past meme isn't necessary at all. We'd love to meet you! ANYONE and everyone can do this! Invite your friends to vlog with us!

Many of us are... okay, truth be told, we're scared silly. Our knees have been knocking for almost two weeks over this idea. I've heard tell we might have a Lucy/Goldie version, people in hat/huge sunglasses disguise, and a few other... devices or costumes to hide behind. And that's fine!! *grin* Just have fun and let us hear you. And just so you know, I've never done this before so it's all new to me and yes, I've been clinging to the chandelier for dear life. But it's time for some stretching soooo...

hmmmm. Maybe I'll offer a (small) prize because we all know a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...

Yeah, I will. Post your vlog, link up with us and I'll pick one (or more) winner. No rules, just be you... or Lucy or whomever, LoL.

Hope to see--yes, really see and hear you--on Tuesday!


Lights.
Camera.
Action!

Go here to link with us.

Tweet