Skip to main content

CWO – Girly girls

Captain’s Log, Stardate 09.12.2006

Blog book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is A FAMILY FOREVER by Brenda Coulter.
My Monday book giveaway is JADE by Marilynn Griffith.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for A FAMILY FOREVER and post the title for another book I'm giving away.



Check out Christian Women Online (click on the button above) to see what other women are blogging about this quote.

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one!'"

~ C.S. Lewis ~


I am NOT a girly-girl. I prefer jeans and pants over skirts (a remnant of having my skirt lifted in middle school—traumatic, I tell you). I rarely wear makeup. I prefer sports bras over the lacy ones, or the underwire ones, or even the “boost your bust a cup size” wonder ones.

I was also never a jock in school (think pudgy and slow).

I was a brainiac, with all the geeky baggage that went with it. But even the true brainiacs were a little strange, so I never fit in there, either.

Friendships were transient in school, even when I started working. I got along with whoever I happened to be with. Yes, I actually had an accommodating personality back then.

Then something in me snapped. Well, besides my sanity.

I don’t know how it happened, but I started actually finding my personality. And it wasn’t accommodating and pleasant as a good Japanese girl should be.

I stopped stressing so much over my lack of a sense of tact. I stopped being embarrassed by the fact that I’d actually like to be a fiction writer. I stopped being restrained if something struck me as funny, or sad, or unfair.

I stopped trying not to care about how I looked, because darn it, if I want to be skinnier for my own peace of mind, I’m not going to be ashamed of it! Why did I have to be a good Christian girl and be fully content with my body shape? I want to look like Jessica Alba and Jennifer Garner, and I won’t be ashamed to admit it!

I thought I’d chase away all the friends I had around me at the time. But God has a sense of humor, that way.

He actually sent MORE people into my life. As if He was telling me, Finally! It took you long enough to figure out who you are. Now I can pair you up with people who’ll like the new you.

I found people both locally and online who have become strong friends. They are my sisters in Christ and my prayer warriors. The funny thing is, they like me for who I am.

And do you know what the dumb thing is? Here I went through my entire life feeling alone, feeling like I was the only one. And as soon as I stopped trying to fit in, I met people who are just like me—who always felt alone, who felt like they were the only one.

It really did start within me—God had to mold me into who He wanted me to be. Then He sent the friends to bond with me. And now I realize I’ve never been alone.

P.S.--> Fellow CWO blogger Amydeanne has a FABULOUS graphic of the quote on her blog!

TMI:

Writing: Rachelle Gardner (my editor) said the nicest things about me on her blog! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

I’m working on my Marketing Info sheet for Z. My only problem is that I’m still trying to figure out a stronger connection between the hero and the villain.

Diet: I’m not quite back on track. I only did 30 minutes of exercise this morning. I ate lots of veggies for lunch, but I’m eating leftovers—Chinese food and the fries and pastrami from this weekend. I’m doing okay on portion control and stopping when I’m full, though. I think I’m only at 1500 calories today.

Comments

Anonymous said…
God does love when His children realize that they don't have to be someone else. I too noticed that He waited for me to realize that He designed me the way I am to send others my way. I love that His image of who I am is not who I was or who I am now, or even my future, but me as a whole. Knowing that I can be comfortable where I am and reach out to other women who are strying to get comfortable with who God madde made them to be.

Thank you for sharing this. We never realize how much we have in common with others until we show who we really are.
Amydeanne said…
I can so relate to what you're saying! I struggled so long to be a "yes girl" and always felt alone. It's only now after I decided to be me, that I'm realizing how many wonderful people there are around me!
Kaye Dacus said…
Oh, Camy, how I identify with what you've written! I was in my mid-20s before I started allowing myself to just be myself--and it took moving to a city where I knew NO ONE and had to rely solely on God for support, companionship, and counsel. For too long, I had allowed myself to be led by others when it came to choosing what to do for fun and relaxation--which I didn't usually find all that fun or all that relaxing. By spending so much time with God those first few months in Nashville, I finally allowed myself to say "no" to the things that just weren't me. And He blessed me wtih more friends that I ever had when I tried to be agreeable and "fit in."
Anonymous said…
Camy, I still struggle with finding myself and especially with being myself in front of new people. Thanks for sharing!

Oh, and watch out with that marketing info! I hear the people at Zondervan are harsh! Very mean. :)

Sarah
CJ said…
I think when we are happy with who we are, that resonates with other people and they are drawn to us...regardless of the "flaws" we have. Great post!!
Darlene Schacht said…
Camy, you are such a gem. I like the "new" you too.
Miriam Pauline said…
I relate. I spent a lot of years being what others said I was supposed to be before I started being who God created me to be. So much more fun to be myself--and to have friends who love the real me.
Anonymous said…
I thought you wanted to BE Jennifer Garner? : )
Ruth said…
Read Rachelle's blog - that is so kewl! :) And awesome post based on the quote - so much wisdom in what you're saying here!
Heather Smith said…
Great post! I'm so glad that I have friends that like me for ME, not because I fit into some cookie cutter mold they want me to be!
Ive read before that we have to like ourselves before anyone else will. Sounds like thats what you discovered too. Once we settle into our skin and get comfortable its alot easier to be with us. My three dearest friends could not be more different, but we're all just ourselves around each other. We laugh at the quirks we have. That keeps it interesting. I couldnt stand to have all my friends be like me. They'd wear me out!
Anonymous said…
Great post, Camy! It's wonderful when you get to move into the real me friendships. :)
Chaos-Jamie said…
Man, you had to post this today, didn't you? Just when it feels like I'm losing friends right and left because I'm being myself.

Well, we can't all keep perfect house and I'm just not a quiet person. Even if I feel like I should go back and try to be. Who needs that kind of pressure anyway?
Anonymous said…
This was a great post! I could relate to a lot of stuff about finding your personality after high school. I'm sure you're one of the coolest chicks around.

I tried my hand at the quote, too.
Loved this post! From one jeans-loving geek to another - I've found the same thing to be true. Learning to just be myself - the woman God made me - led me to finding some of the best friends ever.
Gina Conroy said…
Definitely can relate to this post in many ways. I'm the loud mouth, sometimes tactless NY Italian living in the conservative, midwest Bible belt.

I came here to college and stuck out like a sore thumb,(talk about culture shock) but that's when I learned that people liked me for me and I stopped being a wall flower.

So go braless if you like :) Well, okay, maybe not! But we love you just the way you are!

Popular Posts

Michael’s Scarf knitting pattern

Michael’s Gray and Brown Scarf I had just written a scene in Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 5: Prisoner where my character Michael gives the heroine a very significant scarf. When looking for a stitch pattern, I found the one used in “#31 Comfort either for a Lady or Gentleman” in The Lady's Assistant , volume 2 , published in 1842 by Mrs. Jane Gaugain, pages 125-126 (click on the link to view and/or download the free PDF of the digitally scanned book). When I did test swatches, it turned out to be a pretty eyelet pattern that looks like branches or vines winding upward. I tried the pattern as a parallelogram scarf and discovered that the pattern has a changeable orientation, looking vertical or diagonal depending on how you looked at it. So I decided to use this pattern, knitted as a parallelogram, as Michael’s scarf. I decided to use a smaller needle and add a slip stitch in the pattern to make the eyelets a bit more close and less lacy. When paired with a brown an

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci

The Wedding Kimono in the Clean Romance Books promo

My book The Wedding Kimono (writing as Camy Tang) is in this Clean Romance books Bookfunnel promo. Every book in the promo is FREE when you sign up for the author’s email newsletter. Check out the promo and all the great FREE clean romance ebooks! You might find a new favorite author! Clean Romance Books Bookfunnel promo

Lady Wynwood’s Spies book 1 in Amazon Prime Free Reads

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer in Amazon Prime Free Reads My book was chosen to be included in Amazon Prime Free Reads. If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll be able to borrow my book for free. Now’s the chance to read Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer if you haven’t yet! Read Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer free on Amazon

The Gentleman Thief in Free Historical Fiction Bookfunnel promo

My book The Gentlemen Thief (writing as Camille Elliot) is in this Free Historical Fiction promo. Every book in the promo is FREE when you sign up for the author’s email newsletter. Check out the promo and all the great FREE historical fiction ebooks! You might find a new favorite author! Free Historical Fiction promo

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th

Marketing Information Form, part two

Captain’s Log, Stardate 05.26.2006 Blog book giveaway: My Monday book giveaway is A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by Kristin Billerbeck . My Thursday book giveaway is LIFE INTERRUPTED by Tricia Goyer . You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. Continued from Marketing Information Form, part one : More stuff they want to know about my book: Other covers: What styles, fonts, colors? This is one area I didn’t really think about, but I listed the few covers that I thought conveyed the sort of atmosphere I wanted for my book: WHAT A GIRL WANTS by Kristin Billerbeck . The cartoon design is fresh, cute, clean. SASSY CINDERELLA AND THE VALIANT VIGILANTE by Sharon Dunn . This book, more than the other Ruby Taylor books, conveyed Ruby’s character—her vibrant red hair, bohemian dress, sassy post-modern attitude. THE TROUBLE WITH LACY B

Hosea 14:2

Lord Jesus, Thank You that we can freely come directly to You and pray to You. Thank You that You died for our sins on the cross and we can be forgiven. “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.” We praise and thank You, Lord, for how wonderful You are. We lift our hearts to You in praise today. Amen 主イエスよ、私たちが自由にあなたに直接近づき、あなたに祈ることができることを感謝します。あなたが十字架で私たちの罪のために死んでくださり、私たちが赦されることを感謝します。「私たちのすべての罪を赦し、私たちを慈しみ深く受け入れてください。」主よ、あなたがどんなに素晴らしい方であるかを賛美し、感謝します。私たちは今日、賛美のうちにあなたに心を捧げます。 アーメン

Keriah's Narrow Crescent Scarf

In my series Lady Wynwood’s Spies, my character Keriah is more emotional than her friend Phoebe, and so when writing about her in Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 6: Martyr , naturally I described her scarf as having more lively colors than the greens and blues that Phoebe favors. I didn’t really have a particular yarn colorway in mind when I wrote the scene, but when looking through my stash to knit her scarf, I found the Carnival colorway in Knit Picks Chroma Twist Fingering, and it was absolutely perfect for her. Chroma Twist Fingering is discontinued, but you could knit this in Chroma Fingering or any other color-transitional yarn. In the Regency era, a tri-color 3-ply yarn like Chroma Twist Fingering would probably not have been sold in shops, but it also may not have been completely unheard of. It is made by simply dying the wool rather than the finished yarn, and then the dyed wool would be split into 3 parts and each part spun into a single ply, before all three plies