You may remember my guest today from my ramblings about Blissdom. If not, just know that this girl from Oklahoma is the real thing, a true, genuine friend. I could have talked to her for hours in Nashville, on top of the hours I did spend talking to her.
Y’all, I love her even though she’s, like, four feet taller than me.
Welcome, Aimee, to Great Expectations!
My husband’s familyname being Jones, and my Christian name Aimee, my adult tongue can make of bothnames nothing longer or more explicit than Aimee Jones.
A mocking of the first line of the novel Great Expectations seemed like anappropriate way to introduce myself. I am a new writer. My current worksinclude a newspaper column titled the Plain Wife, an online romantic comedy serial called Sorry Love, the occasional blog rambling, a young adult speculative fiction novel in process, Facebook posts, and intermittent tweets. However, it might surprise you that in October2011 I didn’t even have Word on my laptop.
I’ve heard people talk about pivotal moments in their lives;events or circumstances that changed the course of their existence. Sometimes these are tragedies or rock bottommoments. In my case it was a rare andbrief unveiling of God’s guiding and protective hand in my life.
I am the product of an unplanned pregnancy, born to ateenage girl that was incapable of caring for me at the time. Given up for adoption, I spent the first 34years of my life not really thinking about how or why I am where I am. Last year I located my biological parents andthe story of me began to unravel. Circumstances that I’d always taken forgranted or summed up as fate and coincidence became evidence of a carefullyplanned design.
Sitting in my den late one night; the thought hit me. If God has gone to such great lengths togive me the life I have, He must be expecting and hoping that I do somethingwith it. That night I got out mylaptop, downloaded a copy of Word, started a blog, and got to work. Six months later, I stand amazed. The PlainWife column has gone from one small town paper to six and growing, my fictionpieces have a devoted following, and new ideas are birthed on the keyboarddaily. For the first time in my life I feela purpose beyond my role as a wife and mother.
The incredible thing you and I have in common is that aslong as we are living and breathing, I am not the only life God has reachedthrough time and space to leave His divine fingerprints on. I believe our Creator has gone to great lengthsto design the potential for an amazing and impactful existence in each one ofus.
Dear reader, life is short, you are unique, and time iswasting. Paint a picture, write a book, start a blog, sing a song, organize acharity, feed the hungry, brighten someone’s day, throw a party, teach a child,or reach out to the lonely. Share yourgifts, dazzle with your talents, or make the world better by doing what onlyyou are able. Remembering that God continues to meddle in life’s events; orchestratingcircumstance, and allowing us the opportunity to discover and attain our truepurpose. All the while waiting and watchingHis beloved creation, with much anticipation, and great expectation.
Isn’t she amazing?
If you love to read fiction and romance, and especially in short bursts (because if you’re a mom, come on….who doesn’t read in short bursts?), check out her serial. If you love those newspaper advice columns, she’s your girl, too. Or, if you just love to chat with nice, caring people, find her on her blog, facebook, or twitter.
Thank you so much, Aimee, for stopping by!
