The world tells us to want everything pristine and ship-shape and perfect. We go to great lengths in order to keep things whole. But what if it is in the… Read more where the story leads {for the Two Writing Teachers Community} →
Welcome! I’m glad you stopped by today. You can follow me on my brand new Facebook page: Discover. Play. Build. and (of course) on Twitter: @ruth_ayres. I’m also really loving… Read more favorite bits →
Go I have a collection of red shoes. Growing up my dad would moan about red shoes — I wasn’t “allowed” to have them. There were various reasons for this very nonsensical rule. In a passive move of rebellion I chose a red dress for junior prom. Naturally I would also need red shoes. Mom bought them for me. My dad was not impressed. (Today, my daughters clomp around in those old red prom shoes and love them as much as I did.) It was the first step on a… Read more {red}: five minute friday →
I am blessed by comments. They have kept me blogging since I wrote my first blog post in March 2006. Little did I know seven and a half years ago how much I would be impacted by people across the globe. There is an internal struggle I have with comments, though. I’m not sure whether I should respond back. Sometimes I’m afraid if I respond to a list of comments I”ll come off as a big faker. I want to be genuine. Other times I’m concerned if I comment back… Read more comment love →
“You’re a left winger! You’re a left winger!” The coach runs along the sideline of the scrimmage. “You’re not trees — move! You need to protect the goal. Move up! Attack!” His feedback is constant. “You’re a left winger! Over here, this is your territory! Be ready for the pass. You’re a left winger!” He directs according to position. “You’re a goalkeeper! That’s how you protect the goal!” He knows soccer. He talks soccer. There are no worksheets on the positions.There are no lectures about what each player does.There isn’t… Read more don’t let establishing routines sacrifice readers and writers →
I’m writing. Sam is next to me watching a video about how planes fly. Hannah is on the other end of the couch reading, “The best book I’ve ever read in my entire life.” The others are at sports’ practices. “Oh no! I have an emergency! I don’t know what I’m going to do!” Hannah’s panic breaks everyone’s concentration. “What’s the matter?” I ask. “I don’t want to stop reading, but I have to go to the bathroom soooo bad. Like really bad! But I can’t put this book down.”… Read more hannah’s emergency (soLs) →
I wanted a perfect ending. Now, I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity. Gilda Radner I first latched on to this quote in February 2008. At the time I added it to a post called “A Hiatus” on my first blog, Inspiring Readers and Writers. The post was titled “A… Read more finding space in my writing life →
Gretchen is the lucky recipient of SEA MONSTER AND THE BOSSY FISH. Please send me your mailing address and I’ll pass it along to Chronicle Books. Meanwhile, if you haven’t checked… Read more the giveaway goes to… →
Go I’m learning that in order to really shine, then my life — minute to minute — must be about worship. Worship is a lifeline to the Lord. Worship is about loving more and counting gratitudes and living for something beyond the comfort of earth. Worship is a response to the love of a great big God. This response comes in many different forms. Sometimes it’s staying up late to read scripture and sometimes it’s going to bed early to be rested. Worship is speaking out and staying silent. Worship… Read more {worship}: five minute friday →
Ruth Ayres Writes 