Why I’m Writing This Blog:
From Country Chick to Country Chic
Hello and Welcome to my neck of the woods. Here’s somethings you should know about me. I absolutely love making things. As a kid, Martha Stewart’s crafts in her magazine were thrilling to look at and recreate. (The pre Kevin Sharkey era was iconic.) My mom, sister and I would pour over them and decorate our house with the crafts like wreaths (tons of wreaths), crape paper decor and Christmas party table centerpieces and name tags. Sometimes, we would just use the images as inspiration. I love being inspired. It’s like optimism for the soul waiting to be poured out through your fingertips.
Now, here’s something else I love. I absolutely love a good transformation. Growing up, I watched “What Not To Wear” (the British and American versions) and borrowed my mom’s book of the same title countless times. I also enjoyed shows like “Trading Spaces” and I even had a subscription to the magazine, “This Old House”. Transformations are like art. There’s something beautiful to see that the artist knew was there all along.
Another tidbit about me. Oh, oui, I was a bit of a francophone in my youth and even got to travel to France in high school with my French class. Even without traveling there, one could agree that there’s an undeniable classiness about the French culture. It’s so chic. I’d love to be chic. But here’s the thing, I don’t think my hopes of being chic have come to fruition in my appearance or my surroundings. Perhaps I’d say some things of mine are chic, some of the time. The truth is, I think being chic is a journey where little pieces of the puzzle are picked up along the way.
And all of that is (in part) what brings you to this greater understanding of why I wrote this blog. And I’d love for you to join me on my journey of transforming from “country chick to country chic”. But not just that, I have a great hope that this blog will be a helpful and beautiful creation. One where we can relate to one another but really one where you can be inspired. Inspired to create, improve and yes, be transformed.
A Little About My Life on the Farm:
The farm is a part of me-Erich Wehrenburg
Ever since I can remember, I lived on a farm. I have been blessed immensely in this area. The God given beauty of a farm shines harmonically along with his majestic mountains, serene beaches and lush tropics. I currently reside in Northern Indiana and raise a few chickens and sheep. We have some farm land and a back woods. If you’ve never lived on a dirt road, I recommend it. Sure, it’s dusty but it keeps our little slice of heaven even more peaceful without the buzz of lines of cars driving by.
The Poetry Connection:
Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought, and the thought has found words. – Robert Frost
I haven’t always thought about writing. The idea of writing was flirted with in college where I was able to squeeze in a creative writing class among all my agriculture classes. I loved it, it turned my preconceived notions about writing on it’s head, but that’s what made me like it all the more. After college, the reading started. I realize the irony of finally becoming a good reader after all my schooling. If you’re a late bloomer, as they say, don’t worry, just read what you like and remove distractions. Soon, you may get the reading bug, too.
After I came to know Jesus as a young mother, I was introduced to bible journaling. That was the next step in how I started to love writing. I would practice it everyday as I journaled and God blessed me. I learned how to listen to Him and His direction for my life. That direction lead me to start to write a self help book. When I was working on that, a great distraction came upon my path. A local newspaper asked to write some article on Pilates (did I mention, I used to teach Pilates?). Once my boss at the gym found out, I was able to write a little bit for their business newsletter as well. I loved writing articles. And I so wish newspapers were still a “thing” like they used to be.
As the years stretched on I stopped my self help book and began writing a fictional novel. But I felt God calling me to writing something else. And that’s when poetry (mostly about country living) poured out of my fingertips and onto my notebook. I felt him asking me to share it and to share what I’ve written in my first meager “draft” of my self help book. Wouldn’t you know, they both shared the country living theme.
God knows what He’s doing, it’s simply my job to do as he asks. I need to obey His will for my life, even when I don’t see how this “writing thing” is of any great importance. But I know I can glorify God when I love him and do what he asks me to do. So, why do I write? I believe God has gifted me with writing and to deny such a gift would be an awful thing to do. This blog is my “poetic license to country living” and my gift of inspiration and encouragement to all that come across these lines. Allons-y!
