Transition time

With all the recent drama in my life maybe I needed a little transition time, a chance to decompress, relieve the stress, and get back to work. The Oregon Writers conference here outside of Portland Oregon is just the thing. I came in on Sunday, spent time with other faculty, went to bed early and took a nice walk this morning before breakfast. I love this leisurely start for faculty. We have a faculty meeting at eleven, then the conference starts this afternoon.

I think it is just what I needed. The setting with all of these huge trees and campground type campus is just beautiful. I was here once before a couple of years ago and I know it will get hot before the day is over but it is just great.

I'm going to be teaching "Survive your way to publication" as a seven hour continuing education course with a lot of hands on work. I'm looking forward to it. I love to teach and really get into it. I went through an exercise many years ago about how to use my spiritual gifts and one of the gifts the exercise identified was the gift of encouragement.

I do look for good clients at a conference but my primary goal is to interface with and encourage writers, particularly Christian writers, and teaching is a part of my wanting to use that gift. I do look forward to the week and to getting back in the flow of things.