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Savannah Scott Romcom Author

Making peace with your right-now life

January 16, 2019 By Patty 4 Comments

16 Jan

I started blogging over eight years ago, innocently enough. A group of women I admired posted about writing for five minutes every Friday on a one-word topic. Having loved writing all my life, I thought, I’ll start a blog so I can join them. My early blog looked like a 1980s kitchen, themed in calico florals and very homemade. The farthest thing from my mind was “growing an audience,” gaining fans, or making sure my SEO rank got Google’s attention.

I simply wanted to write and to bless others with my words. 

The Pressure to Be Something

Over the first year, I joined some small blogging groups online. As I shared my posts, I found myself yearning for people to like what I wrote. I started looking at my stats – you might say it bordered on obsessive. What had started as a sweet hobby to cultivate my love of writing, quickly careened into some form of self-validation. Before you know it, I was taking courses, building a “brand,” and trying to add people to my subscriber list. I sacrificed joy and peace, trading them for striving and discontentment. 

we can lose our peace over the pressure of keeping up

photo courtesy of ivorymix

I want to assure you I’m not against anyone building an online business, writing for profit, or being strategic about reaching people. In my case, my priorities flipped and I lost my original sense of purpose. Another thing also began to happen. I started to focus more on what I could gain than on what I could give. This shift came subtly, but soon took root in my thinking and approach to almost all my time spent online. 

The Expectations of Motherhood

Now, you might not be a blogger or writer. In that case, you haven’t experienced the immense cultural pressure that springs on us when we begin to write online. I would guess, though, that you have faced this sort of pull elsewhere in life. Motherhood is a fertile ground for discontentment.

Expectations in motherhood can rob us of our peace

photo courtesy of han-myo-htwe

We step out of a birthing center at the hospital holding our first child along with an invisible pack of expectations. We have hopes and dreams for ourselves, our husband, and this small human entrusted to our care. Not only do we have a laundry list of thoughts about what mom life will entail, but we also find others have some strong opinions too. Some people even foist their beliefs on us while we sit sleep-deprived and overwhelmed, just hoping for a shower. 

Those Extra Ten Pounds

Another source of highway robbery of your joy and peace might have been with your post-baby body. I mean, face it, we carried a child for nine months, had our hormones go through a blender, gave birth, and then, most of us did this repeatedly. Yet, we look at our stretch marks, pot bellies, or cellulite with disdain.

worrying about our weight robs us of peace

photo courtesy of jennifer burke

We spend our days teaching, loving, disciplining, driving, and cleaning up after our little people. By evening, our minds can be filled with remorse, longing, or sheer exhaustion. Still, we critique ourselves for not maintaining our high-school prom figure. We are so hard on ourselves, saying things in the quiet recesses of our minds that we wouldn’t think of saying to an enemy, let alone a friend. 

God’s Sweet Lines

Sometime this summer God brought this verse to my attention. I don’t remember when, and if I knew how powerful it would become to me, I would have marked it down in my journal. Psalm 16:6 says, “He has drawn my lines in pleasant places. Surely my inheritance is rich.” Have you ever had a verse brought to mind, and then over time it becomes woven into your heart? As I traveled to Texas to share my book, speak to groups of women, and teach a writing class this past November, God really made that verse a source of deep peace for me. 

God's lines bring us peace when we live within them

photo courtesy of randy fath

You see, we all often want what’s outside the lines God draws. For some reason, as I pondered Psalm 16:6, God brought Eve to my mind. She lived in the most perfect environment, with intimacy and freedom abounding. God drew one line. He said, “Don’t eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Satan whispered in Eve’s ear, and when he did, he kindled the doubt that lay dormant in her heart: God is holding out on me. The goodness I long for is elsewhere. When I get that, I’ll be happy and fulfilled.

Since that time, we have fallen for the sin of Eve. We all have thought, “When I lose those ten pounds …” or “When I get one thousand followers …” or “If my husband were more …” and “If my kids were less …” We believe that goodness will come elsewhere rather than within the lines God has drawn right here, right now. Yet, this sweet verse says He has drawn my lines – your lines – in pleasant places. 

Even Through the Storms

Take my word for it, I deeply know that what goes on inside our lines is not always pleasant. Sometimes extremely hurtful and damaging experiences come our way. We have to walk through grief, rejection, and loss. In hindsight, I can assure you, the lines around those experiences remain pleasant. 

What happens in God's lines for us doesn't always feel like peace

photo courtesy of danielle macinne

God knows our deeper needs. He touches on the internal and eternal, while we want the temporary and external. He aims to make us more like Him, with hearts fixed on our real home, not swayed by the values patterned in the world. When He allows a trial or tragedy, He sees beyond it. He walks with us through the hardship, providing His presence, care, and provision as we endure. God doesn’t waste a drop of our suffering. He makes a beautiful mosaic from the broken pieces of our lives. 

Right-Here, Right-Now

We can surely strive for goals – I love doing that, and it’s not sinful at all. We might work out, eat well, and even ask people to subscribe to our blog. What we must resist is the urge to believe that any good we lack somehow lies around the bend. God constantly gives goodness in lavish amounts right here, right now. His abundant life, His peace, and His joy are possible today, right where you are. 


Did you resonate with this post? If my words blessed you, I don’t want to “collect” you as a subscriber. I want to continue to pour into your life. Will you allow me to do that? If you would like access to the vault of freebies I’ve created for you, and a twice-monthly email of encouragement for your motherhood, feel free to join me. I’d love to have you.  

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    Filed Under: Parenting, Spiritual Growth, Time Management Tagged With: Contentment, Simplifying, Suffering, trusting God

    About Patty

    I write to encourage your heart, feed your soul, and give you wisdom for your life. Motherhood is my passion. I've been married to my surfer/skater husband for over 20 years.  We have two boys and a home full of neighbor kids most days.

    « Saying “No” to the Good to Make Room for the Best
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    Comments

    1. loretta gjeltema says

      January 17, 2019 at 11:30 AM

      “He has drawn my lines in pleasant places.“. I love this. You are so right about both the pressure to do and be more and the places God would have us go. Thanks for sharing your words.

      Reply
      • Patty says

        January 17, 2019 at 12:54 PM

        Thank you, Loretta! I’m so glad you came by. Come back anytime. I am still pondering your words from this week. Very poignant.

        Reply
    2. Sarah Butterfield says

      January 22, 2019 at 6:15 PM

      These were wonderful words on contentment! And thank you for acknowledging the storms and tempests that knock us off our feet. Yes, even there, God is with us.

      Reply
      • Patty says

        January 22, 2019 at 6:42 PM

        Thank you, Sarah! I’m so glad this blessed you.

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Savannah …

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    Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥 The banter is so f Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥
The banter is so fun!

Chris and Ella Mae start out getting on one another’s nerves … then, due to completely unexpected circumstances, they end up fake dating … and then they drive one another crazy in a whole different sense of the phrase 😉🥰

Ripped & Shipped comes out early May. I’m about 🤏 close to finishing it and sending it to my editor.

ARC Team sign ups will be coming for ebooks on Saturday (Apr 1). Paperback team is already selected and will be getting a welcome email by this weekend. 

We are going to have so much fun launching this book! I can’t even tell you the feelings I have … wrapping up this first Bordeaux series, writing this story that’s full of heart, and laughs, and kisses that make you grab a glass of ice water and fan yourself. 🔥😘🧊💦🫠

I’m so grateful you’re along for the ride. There aren’t words for the sweetness of sharing the Getting Shipped series with you. 💕

(And I’ve been loosely plotting the next series and getting excited as I start writing the Love Trippin’ books.) 💕

Do you love enemies to lovers?
Fake dating? 
Let me know … 

#wipwednesday #workinprogress #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio #bordeauxohioforever #newrelease #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #lovestories #rippedandshipped #chellamaebae #rippedandshippedbook #bookstagrammers #bookstagram #romcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt #shippers #Imashipper #Smalltownromance #ohiolove #smalltownromancebooks
    Okay. So. Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Okay. So. 
Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Shipped to come out and be in your happy little hands on May 1st. 

But, authors are always (usually) a book ahead of the readers. 

And, this time, I’m a whole series ahead. 

I’m thinking about “Are We There Yet?” It’s the first book in the Love Trippin’ series. 

Four people from Bordeaux (yes!!) are traveling to California where the next series takes place. 

This first book takes place over a road trip (after a few chapters in Bordeaux, and before the later chapters in Cali).

So, I want to plan this road trip!
Im a road-tripper, and I grew up spending summers traveling from state to state with my family. 

I know my road trip stories. 
I want to hear YOURS! 
Leave it in the comments or DM me. 🚗🌳🚧🏔️

I’m not going to use your exact story, of course. But, if your story inspires something in the book, I’ll send you a free sticker and bookmark when “Are We There Yet” releases this summer. 

I’m so excited to share this new series with you!

#lovetrippin #lovetrippinseries #savannahscottauthor #savannahscott #romcombooks #sweetromcom #sweetromance #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom #romcombooksaremyweakness #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #roadtrippin #roadtripromance #roadtrippin #arewethereyet #arewethereyetbook
    Writing retreat A few days on the central coast. Writing retreat 

A few days on the central coast. 

Views. 
Good food. 
Sweet conversation 
Getting so close to finishing Ripped & Shipped. 

Dreaming about the next series. 
Thinking about how to bless moms and women 

#writingretreat #amwriting #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #cambriacalifornia #centralcoast #slocounty #moonstonebeach
    Would the Rob & Laura fans raise your hands? 🙋🏼‍♀️

My husband and I are listening to the audiobook of Battleshipped together right now. It takes us forever because: life. But, it’s been fun to revisit their story. 

If you love a slightly geeky leading man, a strong female lead with a loyal heart and a persevering spirit, Battleshipped is for you. 

If you love second chance romcom with a dash of enemies to more, Battleshipped has all the “working hard to win her heart back” vibes. 

If you love laughing out loud until people look at you funny while you read. Yeah. There are those scenes. 

If you love a found-family friend group, and a quirky small town that will win your heart, come to Bordeaux. 

QOTD: Do you love when a brainy male lead becomes your book boyfriend? Which brainy male characters have stolen your heart? 

#battleshipped #battleshippedbook #bookexcerpt #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #smalltownromancebooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #secondchanceromance #goatsgoatsgoats #bordeauxohio #bookboyfriend #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #ohiolove #bookstagram #bookstagrammers
    Is it Wednesday? Um no. No it is not. But, do y Is it Wednesday? 
Um no. No it is not. 

But, do you still want this #WIPWednesday teaser from Ripped & Shipped? Why yes, yes you do. 

I’ll tell y’all. This book is coming along. And it is scrum-diddly-umptious. 

We’re talking banterrrrrr!
And all the swoony enemy vibes. 

And then they start faking! 
What? yasssss. They fake. The enemies start to fake a romance. 

Then … a completely unexpected and sweeeet friendship develops. 

But, ruh-roh. One of them catches feelings (just quoting Duke here). 

And it gets so HOT ( in a very closed-door way) and so HEARTFELT. 

This story is special. It’s the last in Bordeaux. So I’m pouring it all out into this book. 

You’ve got Memaw, Esther, and Mabel. 
The Bordeaux friend group. 
Lulabelle 
Ella Mae
Cooter
And so much more. 

I’m not kidding when I say this may be my fave in series. 

And you know what it means when I say I’m about 3/4 done writing? Yep. I just might release this story in May … ARC Team wannabes, lace up your running shoes. I’ll be posting opportunities to join the few open spots the first week of April. ❤️

Wait til you see the cover, too. Gah. I love it!! 

#rippedandshipped #workinprogress #amwriting
#amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromance #sweetromcom
#closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio
#bordeauxohioforever #bookcoverdesign #newrelease
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    Heyyyyy ARC Team! If you were on the ARC team fo Heyyyyy ARC Team! 

If you were on the ARC team for Cruiseshipped, our exclusive ARC Team only book chat is coming!

Tomorrow (Thursday March 23) at 5p PT we’ll be gathering on zoom to talk about Cruiseshipped. 

I’m so grateful to each one of you for reading, sharing, and reviewing Cruiseshipped. ❤️ 

So … mark your calendars and set your alarms (and a countdown is in my stories!) and let’s talk all things Brooks + Gabby ❤️🚢💃🏻

#cruiseshipped #cruiseshippedbook #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #arcteamperks #bookchat #buddyread #ilovemyreaders #authorchat
    Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this one is featuring one of my favorite movies EVER: The Princess Bride!

Which slide do you like best? 

And … aside from posting here today, I’m writing! Ripped & Shipped (Chris’ story) is halfway done! 

I’m on a roll now, and my family is going to an amusement park for the day (without me), so I’m alone with Bella and my laptop. 

Then, this weekend, I’ve got a writing retreat. The final book in the Getting Shipped series is going to be written! 

Not saying we won’t have some novellas down the road … mayyyybe we could. (Who would you want to see in a Getting Shipped novella?)

I hope your Monday is GREAT!!

#bookmemes #bookishmemes #princessbride #asyouwish #amwriting #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #rippedandshipped #gettingshippedseries
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