tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7208254698530363812024-02-08T12:51:56.170-06:00Books by Tonia M. ChristlePoetry about faith, grief, overcoming obstacles and celebrating life and the people in it.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-17103471757463008412012-10-02T14:33:00.000-05:002012-10-02T14:33:10.496-05:00Behind the Poem: THE RICHNESS OF POVERTYThe poem, THE RICHNESS OF POVERTY, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 115) was written November 27, 2005. I wrote it after thinking about Black Friday and excess in general.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-72606114320425984142012-10-01T13:22:00.001-05:002012-10-01T13:22:27.124-05:00Behind the Poem: THE RETURNThe poem, THE RETURN, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 114) was written on February 17, 2007. This was around the time Bible study was starting, I was feeling very out of sync with everyone.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-11664836717158039212012-09-30T07:28:00.001-05:002012-09-30T07:28:50.008-05:00Behind the Poem: THE PRAYERThe poem, THE PRAYER, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 113) was written on May 1, 2002. This poem is really special to me because it is the first and only one that my mom asked me to write. One of her coworkers had just lost a child, and my mom asked if I could write a poem for her. When I think about it, I think about the pain of losing a child, but also of my mom's confidence in me.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-12175105721255932162012-09-29T19:38:00.003-05:002012-09-29T19:38:52.486-05:00Behind the Poem: THE ILLUSION OF PERFECTIONThe poem, THE ILLUSION OF PERFECTION, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 112) was written on June 16, 2003. This is my favorite poem in the entire book. It's the first that was ever inspired by Mattie JT Stepanek's poetry. (Look him up, you won't be sorry.) I wrote it at a Bible study and meeting with missionaries who had worked in India. I was distracted the entire time, because I had just bought an album called<em> Music Through Heartsongs</em>, which was a collaborative project - a CD of music based on Mattie's poems - performed by Billy Gilman with occassional voiceovers by Mattie. I was particularly taken by a song called I Am/Shades of Life. The lyrics just worked their way inside me and I had to write something inspired by this amazing 12-year-old, as Mattie was at the time. Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-71450894274545670652012-09-28T16:30:00.000-05:002012-09-28T16:30:04.815-05:00Behind the Poem: THE ADVANTAGES OF STAYING BUSYThe poem, THE ADVANTAGES OF STAYING BUSY, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 111) was written on November 28, 2005. This was two days before the end of National Novel Writing Month. I was wishing it would have extended longer due to my wintertime anxiety. I enjoyed having something else to focus on for a month, and was nervous about it coming to an end, because it meant I would have to face the emotions I had been hiding.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-52278288585467739082012-09-28T16:21:00.001-05:002012-09-28T16:21:21.252-05:00Behind the Poem: TAKE A STEP BACKThe poem, TAKE A STEP BACK, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 110) was written on November 20, 2005. I believe I wrote this at church on a Sunday morning, while listening to the worship team practice. At that particular time in my life, there was nothing more soothing or pleasent for me than to listening to that. Except, perhaps, singing myself.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-79378782400491036482012-09-28T16:16:00.000-05:002012-09-28T16:16:25.025-05:00Behind the Poem: SWEET INDULGENCEThe poem, SWEET INDULGENCE, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 109) was written on December 3, 2005, on a weekend, hanging out with just my sister. All these simple things just spoke to me with their inherent loveliness, and I was struck by the fact that there was no harm in indulging in these simple things.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-41384387413107784312012-09-28T16:09:00.001-05:002012-09-28T16:09:09.237-05:00Behind the Poem: SWALLOWED UPThe poem, SWALLOWED UP, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 108) was written December 27, 2005. I wrote this about the perspective I'd gained after finding a different outlet for my negative feelings.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-50265223007615869722012-09-28T16:03:00.002-05:002012-09-28T16:03:23.070-05:00Behind the Poem: SUMMER COSTUMEThe poem, SUMMER COSTUME, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 107) was written January 10, 2006. I clearly remember writing this one, on a beautifully sunny midwinter day. It seriously felt like summer, and was so fantastic, I had to write about it.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-54305755676597342482012-09-28T15:46:00.000-05:002012-09-28T15:46:25.163-05:00Behind the Poem: STORMThe poem, STORM, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 106) was written May 29, 2006. This was originally titled LIFESTORM, but I changed it the same night I wrote it. This one was a way to express my anxiety about circumstances in my life at the time.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-60866774235210429102012-09-27T16:46:00.000-05:002012-09-27T16:46:00.870-05:00Behind the Poem: STILL BLEEDINGThe poem, STILL BLEEDING, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 105) was written in February of 2001. I wrote this at church, following the realization of Jesus' love for me. Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-88834667924217462772012-09-27T16:35:00.001-05:002012-09-27T16:35:04.436-05:00Behind the Poem: SPAREDThe poem, SPARED, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 104) was written April 22, 2007. Just written exploring the positives and negatives about the idea of being spared.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-90728758924452549012012-09-20T17:06:00.002-05:002012-09-20T17:06:56.413-05:00Behind the Poem: SHARING PIECESThe poem, SHARING PIECES, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 103) was written on January 4, 2006. This one was written right after I moved. I was thinking deeply about friendships and the amount of information we share with one another. Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-53581762876697151212012-09-19T11:32:00.000-05:002012-09-19T11:32:21.537-05:00Behind the Poem: SHADOWSThe poem, SHADOWS, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 102) was written on October 22, 2005. Memories of a past experience were everywhere in the cold months - even in movies like <em>A Mother's Fight for Justice</em> - which I was watching when I wrote this.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-65429068313539120462012-09-18T09:33:00.002-05:002012-09-18T09:33:56.489-05:00Behind the Poem: SHADOWLANDThe poem, SHADOWLAND, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 101) was written on October 10, 2006. This one gives a real inside look at the anxiety and the stress I felt during the fall and winter months. The fact that it was this prevalent even nine years after the precipitating event is jarring. But perspective is a great thing, and looking back allows me to see just how far I have come.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-52225796560927350392012-09-18T09:19:00.002-05:002012-09-18T09:19:32.236-05:00Behind the Poem: SEEKINGThe poem, SEEKING, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 100) was written on December 8, 2005. I believe this must have been returning to church after a break.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-64729684101063561992012-09-18T09:06:00.001-05:002012-09-18T09:06:37.723-05:00Behind the Poem: SAVE ITThe poem, SAVE IT, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 99) was written on December 25, 2005. The "you" referenced in the poem, is me, I'm pretty sure... In a way, SAVE IT, was my peptalk to myself before enjoying Christmas with my family.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-61112989953947819372012-09-18T08:52:00.002-05:002012-09-18T08:52:53.504-05:00Behind the Poem: SANCTUARYThe poem, SANCTUARY, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 98) was written on October 25, 2005. I was really enjoying the idea of having a notebook solely dedicated to poetry. Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-31225747730107003852012-09-18T08:25:00.000-05:002012-09-18T08:25:25.488-05:00Behind the Poem: SACRIFICEThe poem, SACRIFICE, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 97) was written November 29, 2001. I remember vividly sitting down to write this one in the computer lab while I was away in college. I wrote it as the final part of a Christmas gift to my mom. It was the last poem in a collection of poems I typed, printed, and put in a three-ring binder for her. She is so special and I am so grateful for her!Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-90412468758413116502012-09-18T08:14:00.001-05:002012-09-18T08:14:41.667-05:00Behind the Poem: RISING FROM THE ASHESThe poem, RISING FROM THE ASHES, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 96) was written on October 23, 2005. This was inspired by musician, AJ McLean.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-63323884684190423062012-09-18T08:07:00.001-05:002012-09-18T08:07:25.024-05:00Behind the Poem: RIGHT BESIDE METhe poem, RIGHT BESIDE ME (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 95) was written on June 11, 2002. Some difficult things happened later on in this month, so it seems fitting that I wrote this when I did. Definitely just reflecting upon feeling alone, but not actually <em>being </em>alone.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-55065033803214115852012-09-11T16:16:00.000-05:002012-09-11T16:16:33.378-05:00Behind the Poem: REGRETThe poem, REGRET, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 94) was written on November 24, 2005. This was written after a simple moment of being short-tempered with my sister on Thanksgiving.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-19344344717020413632012-09-11T16:11:00.001-05:002012-09-11T16:11:50.032-05:00Behind the Poem: REFORMATIONThe poem, REFORMATION, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 93) was written on February 22, 2006. I wrote this the day after a loved one passed away. About mourning and moving on.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-13979440081689975202012-09-11T16:04:00.000-05:002012-09-11T16:04:34.326-05:00Behind the Poem: REFINING PERSPECTIVEThe poem, REFINING PERSPECTIVE, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 92) was written on October 24, 2006. Just thinking about life and what I was putting my focus on at the time,Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720825469853036381.post-59623708255686276852012-09-11T15:54:00.001-05:002012-09-11T15:54:48.506-05:00Behind the Poem: PROGRESSIONThe poem, PROGRESSION, (<u>Beauty for Ashes</u>, pg 91) was written February 26, 2006. I was in the midst of my thinking about leaving the church when they were persuing a study I didnt want to participate in. I felt caught in the middle. I didn't want my friends to move on without me, but at the same time, I didn't want to go forward with a study I was opposed to.Tonia Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406280143637741965noreply@blogger.com0