Melissa Kiefer's Page

Latest Activity

Melissa Kiefer posted a status
"http://www.lafamily.com Life After College section. read "Imperfectly Grand." leave me comments? btw, editor's looking for guest writers! :)"
May 24
0 Comments
Judith van Praag left a comment for Melissa Kiefer
"Melissa, Congrats with publication!"
May 8
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'Essay Writing'
"This is only my second essay that has ever been published in a amagazine, and I ran around the house dancing like a crazy woman this morning. I am so thankful to have a community here at SheWrites to share with and celebrate. I need…"
May 5
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'Spiritual and Inspirational Writing'
"Freshly published in LA Family magazine! I wrote about how life after college is not what I expected, but it is Imperfectly Grand. Please check it out and leave me some love on the LA Family site. The support from this spiritual and…"
May 5
Melissa Kiefer posted a status
"Freshly published! check out the lafamily.com Life After College section. My article: "Imperfectly Grand.""
May 5
0 Comments
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'TEACHER WRITERS'
"C is for Classroom http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com"
Apr 9
Judith van Praag left a comment for Melissa Kiefer
"Melissa, Thanks for sharing the link to your blog "Bruised Knees" at the Writing That Mends group site. Your blog is a place I want to linger, to browse and lose (or find) myself in your thoughts. You share thoughts that strike cords. Your…"
Apr 2
Carol Hand left a comment for Melissa Kiefer
"I love your blog post, "Kind. Smart. Important." My son beats himself up verbally when he makes a mistake. I've been telling him, "It's okay, we all make mistakes." Then one day I made a mistake within earshot of my…"
Mar 31
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'Spiritual and Inspirational Writing'
"Kind. Smart. Important. http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com  "
Mar 26
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'Essay Writing'
"Traveling Mercies http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com"
Mar 21
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'Blogs to Books'
"Traveling Mercies http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com"
Mar 21
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'TEACHER WRITERS'
"What it feels like to go from being teacher to substitute: http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com"
Mar 21
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'Spiritual and Inspirational Writing'
"Traveling Mercies http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com"
Mar 21
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'Spiritual and Inspirational Writing'
"keeping the faith in a new place. http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com"
Mar 1
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'TEACHER WRITERS'
"my letter to my sixteehttp://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.comn-year-old self reminded me why i became a teacher."
Feb 21
Melissa Kiefer commented on the group 'Spiritual and Inspirational Writing'
"a letter to my sixteen-year-old self. i know other women have written these. who else wants to share? :)http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com"
Feb 21

Profile Information

Who I am:
My loves: my Savior, my husband, my black lab, writing, reading, teaching, walking, creativity, words, coffee&tea, art
Connect with me online! My site, blog, or Twitter handle are:
http://www.on-bruised-knees.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/melissakiefer11
My writing is:
Memoir, Blog Posts
I found out about She Writes from:
another blog

Melissa Kiefer's Blog

The Weekend Wife

Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:44am 0 Comments

     Love is patient. I thought I knew the meaning of this verse in 1 Corinthians 13, especially since I’ve had the whole chapter memorized since junior high Bible Bowl and even recited the chapter at my cousin’s wedding. I thought I knew what the verse meant because when I was in high school, Josh was in college world. I waited desperately on my porch for Thursday after his night class just to get a long kiss that simultaneously meant hello and goodnight. I waited for others to accept our…
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Worth It

Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:41am 0 Comments

 

     I lost myself in teaching just as I lost myself in the miles of Highway 64 and Highway 41. At one point I could not differentiate between Illinois and Indiana, between sanity and insanity. I’d pull into my driveway and stop, confused. What am I if not in constant motion? Who am I if not Mrs. Kiefer, teacher? What good am I doing if I’m not in a classroom from seven until at least seven? Why…
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Listen

Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:38am 0 Comments

                A doctor once told me I should not be a teacher. My condition would hinder me tremendously. I won’t always be able to hear my students. I could have a vertigo attack in the middle of the lesson. I might go completely deaf. I might fall over. The sheer stress of all the simple teaching tasks would leave no room to make the deep connections I long to make. I want to show this doctor Elle, my student who is also hearing impaired, who writes me a post-it note of encouragement…
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Rock the Boat on the Lemonade Sea

Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:36am 0 Comments

     She was determined to get the real, the grit, the rawness out of me. She wanted me to rip off the bandage and see the crusty wound underneath. “Stop wrapping up your writing in a cutesy little bow,” I imagined her saying. “Give me less sweet lemonade and more vodka; let your stories pour,” she was always pushing me. She taught life. She shared the real stuff of her life: her dog, the books she loved, her dying mother. Her teaching was up close and personal, a hand on a shoulder to…
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Comment Wall (7 comments)

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At 6:29am on May 8, 2012, Judith van Praag said…

Melissa, Congrats with publication!

At 10:00pm on April 2, 2012, Judith van Praag said…

Melissa,

Thanks for sharing the link to your blog "Bruised Knees" at the Writing That Mends group site. Your blog is a place I want to linger, to browse and lose (or find) myself in your thoughts. You share thoughts that strike cords. Your writing is personal and inspirational/ inspiring. I hope to visit again, for a longer time.

Perhaps some posts could be split apart, I like to savor little bits at a time. Or perhaps it's time for a book :-)

At 9:56am on March 31, 2012, Carol Hand said…

I love your blog post, "Kind. Smart. Important." My son beats himself up verbally when he makes a mistake. I've been telling him, "It's okay, we all make mistakes." Then one day I made a mistake within earshot of my son. I was mad at my ex-husband and told him to shut up. I felt bad because it was rude, and even though he wasn't talking very nice, I didn't have to stoop to that level.I did apologize later to him, which didn't faze him, but made me feel better for getting it off my chest.

Of course the very next time my kids were at my house, my son asked, "Mom, why did you tell Dad to shut up?" I couldn't justify my bad behavior because of his Dad's and go into an immature fit of 'he said, she said.' I simply said, "I made a mistake. I shouldn't have said that." He said, "But why did you say it mom?" I replied, "You know how sometimes you have bad days, and make mistakes? Well, mommy is no different. I make mistakes too. It's a matter of learning from them and not making the same mistake again."

Kids have a way with teaching adults big life lessons.

At 8:44pm on December 31, 2011, Jill Starishevsky said…

Welcome to SheWrites. Feel free to reach out if you need anything.  I hope you have a happy new year!

 

Jill Starishevsky

Prosecutor, Child Abuse/Sex Crimes

Author, My Body Belongs to Me - A Child Sexual Abuse Prevention book

http://www.MyBodyBelongstoMe.com

LinkedIn Group: Child Safety Network - Come Join Us!

At 4:14pm on December 27, 2011, Meg Waite Clayton said…

Melissa, Welcome to She Writes. Lovely to have you join us in Blogging about Books and Writing!

Meg Waite Clayton
Moderator, BBW, Publishing Industry News, and Novelist Group
Bestselling Author of The Four Ms. Bradwells, The Wednesday Sisters (a writing group novel), and The Language of Light (all Random House/Ballantine)

At 4:27pm on December 24, 2011, Fran Lee said…

Welcome to She Writes Romance!

At 9:12am on December 24, 2011, Amber Medina West said…

Hello,

 

Welcome to She Writes!  We're excited to have you here.


You can check out the Getting Started section to help you find your way around, or a great way to jump in is to get involved with our Groups and Live Chats.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

 

All the best,

 

Amber Medina West

Volunteer Coordinator

 

http://wosushi.wordpress.com

Twitter: @amberwest

 
 
 

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