Susan Thogerson Maas's Blog

As I get older, I look back on my life and wonder what it would have been like if I’d made different decisions along the way. What if I’d done that volunteer job after college instead of letting my mother scare me out of it? What if I’d gotten a fulltime teaching job? Taken my writing career more seriously from the start? Travelled to distant lands when I was young? How would that have changed my life?

 But the question that really concerns me is “Have I made a difference?” Has my life had any impact on the world around me? When I was young, I thought I could change the world—or at least my part of it. But then I got caught up in raising a family, homeschooling my boys, earning money so those boys could go to college. I taught Sunday school and did a little volunteer work. I wrote some articles, devotions, and children’s stories that I hoped would encourage others. All ways I tried to do my part, to serve God and the community. But did I succeed?

 Then it hits me. I’m asking the wrong question. Did I succeed? Because it isn’t about me—even though my ego makes it that way. The better question: Have I allowed God to mold me and use me as He sees fit?

My life is one little puzzle piece in a beautiful jigsaw puzzle. How my piece fits in can’t be seen until the entire puzzle comes together. And that won’t happen even in my lifetime. Maybe my piece is not about writing or teaching Sunday school. Perhaps the sons I’ve raised will make a difference. Perhaps a few words of encouragement will help someone else to complete their puzzle piece. Or maybe actions I’ve entirely forgotten are really more important than anything I have written.

 Have I made a difference? Am I opening my heart to God and letting Him use me to help those around me? Perhaps someday in heaven we will be allowed to look back and see our lives from God’s perspective. Then we will learn how our lives fit into His plan. We will finally see our puzzle piece as part of a beautiful picture. I have a feeling the most important moments in our lives will not be our big accomplishments, but everyday gestures of love and encouragement.

Puzzle from Out West Photography: https://www.facebook.com/Benjie.J.King (the completed puzzle shown in pieces above)

The post Have I Made a Difference? first appeared on Susan Maas.

The post Have I Made a Difference? appeared first on Susan Maas.

Children’s authors, Carole Marie Shelton and Susan Thogerson Maas

Beverly Cleary, one of the most beloved writers of children’s books, was born in our own lovely state of Oregon and spent much of her childhood in tiny Yamhill, Oregon. On May 13, Yamhill held a special celebration to remember Cleary. Appropriately, it was a quiet, family-friendly event. The more athletic took part in a 5K run. The scientifically-minded could look through a solar telescope. Kids flocked to a bounce house to use up their extra energy.

The popular bounce house

Local businesses took part in Beverly Cleary Day, offering free hot dogs and birthday cake. Madeline’s Library, founded and run by a local girl, collected donated books and gave away copies of a Beverly Cleary title. Amy Lamae Brewer ran a writing contest for children.

Fellow children’s author Carole Marie Shelton and I brought our books to sell, as well as offering free coloring pages, puzzles, and, more popular, cookies and candy. Although few books were sold, we had a fun time watching the event from our booth. Next year Amy hopes to have more authors present. I’m looking forward to it!

Beverly Cleary’s childhood home in Yamhill

The post Beverly Cleary Day in Little Yamhill, Oregon first appeared on Susan Maas.

The post Beverly Cleary Day in Little Yamhill, Oregon appeared first on Susan Maas.

Rain has returned to Oregon—a sure sign, along with those bright leaves, that autumn has arrived. Summer was hot and dry, lasting well past its official end date. I welcome the rain, washing the dust from the air, dousing the forest fires, soaking into the thirsty earth. We need both the sunshine and the rain for life to flourish. It’s all part of God’s good plan.

Long ago, when most people were farmers, their lives were ruled by the seasons. For most of us that has changed. Still, maybe we can use the seasons in a different way. What changes can we make as autumn takes hold? For me, it means thinking ahead to the holiday. Who will we invite for Thanksgiving this year? What Christmas gifts can I make now so that I have time to mail them to faraway family members?  It may mean decluttering so the home is more welcoming for indoor time. If you have kids at home, perhaps it is a time to replenish art supplies or set up a study area for homework. (Or, if homeschooling, evaluate how your space could be more effectively used.)

As we head toward the holidays, it is also a good time to consider priorities. What is most important to us in the season ahead? How can we add a stronger spiritual emphasis to our days and weeks?

Perhaps we could make an Advent Calendar (with the kids’ help) or find a new Advent devotional for December. Or keep a family thankfulness journal through November. Be sure to include younger family members, who could dictate messages or draw pictures of what they are grateful for, if they are not able to write. Kids might compose poems of praise, perhaps using a Psalm for a pattern. (Adults can, too!) Press colorful autumn leaves and use them to add decorations to the poems. Or take photographs and make a thankfulness collage—either on cardboard or virtually.

Autumn is a beautiful season. Make the most of it!

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August 8, 2022

Meteors streak across the sky and then they’re gone. The brightest ones leave a streak that fades within seconds. Our lives seem like that sometimes. Although the years may pass slowly when we are young, as we get older, they seem to fly by. One day spring flowers are blooming, and the next day we are decorating for Christmas. Or so it seems.

We realize that someday in the not-so-distant future, our mortal life will blaze out, and we will graduate into eternity. For Christians, that is something to look forward to. However, sometimes I think about what I will leave behind. Speaking of physical objects, that thought motivates me to declutter and get rid of things I no longer need. I don’t want my kids complaining about the mess I left for them to clean up! And I hope to leave a little financial gift for them when I am gone, as well.

More important, however, is the spiritual legacy I want to leave. Some of this can be shared now through my books and devotionals. (a motivation to keep writing) Most of it will depend upon the kind of life I lead. How will family, friends, and church members remember me when I am gone? As someone who followed the rules, but kept to herself, or even worse, was quick to judge others? Or as a person who was quick to listen, forgiving of mistakes, and always willing to lend a hand?

Will we leave any brightness behind, or will our memory vanish like a minor meteor? What can we do now so that our memory inspires others and perhaps even leads them to the God we love and serve? I think it helps to remember what Jesus said: to love God and to love others. A very simple command, but sometimes not so easy to follow. However, as we do our best—and ask the Holy Spirit to help us—our words and actions can reflect, however imperfectly, the beautiful light of God. Then as our lives fade, the brightness of His love shown through us will still remain.

Interested in ways to leave a legacy of love behind? My friend, Melody Miller, has a site called Heritage of Hope that can help you.  https://finishlifewell.org/

The post Shooting Stars, or Leaving a Legacy appeared first on Susan Maas.

The Cascade Christian Writers Conference was a great time to get reacquainted with old writing friends and make new ones, as well as receive instruction in writing and marketing. Christy Award-winning author James Rubart had our class do an interesting exercise to figure out our life theme. Want to try it? First, pick your 3-5 favorite movies of all time, ones you like to watch over and over. Then look for the common thread in those movies. You may have to dig a bit, but it can be fun to figure out.

My Theme

It took me three days to come up with mine. My favorite movies: Lord of the Rings, Sound of Music, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Shawshank Redemption. A bit of variety in there! One a fantasy, one a musical, one about a lawyer and prejudice, and the last about prison. Can you see an underlying theme in them? What I came up with was: individuals fighting against powers of darkness using weapons of light. Frodo and Sam defeat the evil Sauron through sacrifice, not firepower. The Von Trapp family takes a stand against the Nazis through music. Atticus Finch has the courage to fight legally for an innocent black man, despite the hate arrayed against him. And Andy Dufresne is motivated by love to help his fellow prisoners and bring down the cruel prison warden.
That theme does run through at least some of my writing. In Abbie’s Woods, Abbie finds that revenge does not work, and she has to reach out with forgiveness and understanding before her problem can be solved.

What is Your Theme?

What about you? Want to give it a try with your own favorite movies? If anyone tries it and comes up with a theme that you think fits, I’d love to hear it. But I won’t try to figure it out for you—because only you (and God) know your heart. It may or may not work with kids, but it could be fun to try it with older children.

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When we visited our grandchildren recently, we gave each a Lego set, because little boys love Legos—or at least, ours do. The seven-year-old built his set, then immediately took it apart and built it again. And again. To him, building was the best part. Later he was showing his younger brother how to put it together. He held up a small red Lego piece. “The whole car begins with this one little piece,” he explained. From there he followed the 50+ steps in the instructions until the race car was again complete.

What wisdom, I thought. So often, when faced with a new project, I become overwhelmed by the number of details and the amount of effort it entails. How can I possibly complete such a task? Sometimes I give up before even starting. But every construction, business plan, or personal project begins with one little piece, one small action. By breaking the task down into a series of small steps—and bathing each one in prayer—what seems impossible at first becomes doable.

Are you facing something today that seems overwhelming? Can you find one small action that you can do—and then build on that?

The post One Little Piece: The Wisdom of a 7-year-old Lego Master appeared first on Susan Maas.

Early the other morning it snowed, depositing a white layer over the newly sprouted daffodils and hyacinths. It’s the time of year when spring is trying to break through, but winter isn’t ready to let go. One of those in-between times.

It seems much of life is lived in-between. The teenage years are the epitome of this—no longer a child, but not yet an adult. Trying to prove themselves mature, but not really ready for full maturity. Yet many other times are similarly confusing. Like waiting for a child to be born and not quite a parent. Or planning a long move—getting ready to go and perhaps already mentally on the road, but still with tons of details to finish before the move can take place. Switching careers or planning for retirement. Living safely between the height of Covid and its eradication. In-between times are a frequent part of life.

Come to think of it, this entire life is lived in-between. We live between birth and death, between the temporal and the eternal. Martin Luther said, “This life is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness; not health, but healing, not being, but becoming; … we are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it…”

So how do we live in this sometimes beautiful, sometimes tragic, often confusing in-between? That’s something I am still trying to figure it out myself. I know it has a lot to do with trusting God and learning patience—something that is never fun to learn. It may mean focusing on the big picture, instead of the details. Or admitting that we don’t have all the answers. However, one thing I do know. To quote the wise old man in Abbie’s Woods: Defending the Nest, “…the answer always has something to do with love.”

Two people I love a whole lot!

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Abbie’s Woods: Defending the Nest is going on tour—blog tour, that is. And you have a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card! My book will be featured on a different blog each day from January 19-February 1. By commenting on a blog featuring my book, you can receive extra chances to win that $50 Amazon gift card card—and an autographed copy of my book. Here is the site that lists all the blogs that will feature Abbie’s Woods.  (Scroll down to see it. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page for your first entry.) Visit as many blogs as you like and leave your comments. And good luck!

http://www.celebratelit.com/abbies-woods-defending-the-nest-celebration-tour/ 

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When my third grade teacher sparked my interest in birds, the first book I got was A Field Guide to Western Birds by Roger Tory Peterson. It became my constant companion on birdwatching walks. Recently I learned how Peterson himself became intrigued by birds.

Peterson told of an experience at age 11. He saw what looked like a clump of feathers low in a tree. Peterson said, “I poked it with my finger; instantly, this inert thing jerked its head around, looked at me wildly, then took off in a flash of gold.” It was a northern flicker, apparently tired from its migration journey. Peterson continued, “It was like resurrection. What had seemed dead was very much alive. Ever since then, birds have seemed to me the most vivid expression of life.”

Birds are amazing creations. Think of the variety—from the tiniest hummingbird that hovers before a flower to the huge albatross cruising the ocean breezes. From little gray bushtits to brightly colored tropical birds. Have you ever wished you could fly like the eagle or sing like the nightingale? Birds inspire us to seek and create beauty, to fly above our circumstances, and to be all that God made us to be.

As I watch the towhee scratching in the leaves for food or hear the melodic voice of the nondescript song sparrow, I appreciate the small things in life more. In Abbie’s Woods, a robin family captures Abbie’s heart—another common bird with a beautiful song. God has placed beauty in so many places, if we just keep our eyes open.

And birds as a reminder of resurrection? I do like that idea!

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I can’t wait to share the cover of my upcoming middle grade novel. My thanks to Roseanna White of White Fire Publishing—writer, editor, publisher, and all-around wonderful person—who came up with this cover. (I helped a bit with ideas, but the work was all hers.) And thank you to Carol Wilson, who thought up the title!

So here it is—with a tentative publication date of December, 2021—Abbie’s Woods: Defending the Nest!

Cover of Abbie’s Woods: Defending the Nest

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