Five Minute Friday: Focus

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

The word of the week is focus and I just can’t seem to. Not after the last hour and a half. It’s just crazy to me.

A casual comment to a new bloggy friend one night about a Five Minute Friday “date” as we wait for the prompt. So we tweet and catch up on our weeks as we wait and a few other friends join us as the weeks go by.

Then my new friend sends in our story to Lisa Jo and invites others to join us on our date night. I jokingly tell her that we will need a hashtag for our new party.

So we started three weeks ago meeting with fellow writers for our weekly date night using #fmfparty to link us all together.

We trended on Twitter tonight y’all. That is a lot of tweets. They were just flying by on the screen. I totally couldn’t keep my focus, but I couldn’t walk away either.

The Lord never ceases to amaze me. How faithful he is to use something as silly as Twitter and a hashtag to bring so many people together for encouragement and fellowship. Again, He turns my focus to Him in praise.

This post is linked with thanks to:

Company Girl Coffee
Favorite Things Friday
Weekend Whatever
Faith Filled Friday
Just for Fun Friday
Homemaking Link-Up

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http://twitter.com/lisajobaker Lisa-Jo Baker

I never get tired of this story You all are the best hosts ever!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Thank you for providing the place the brought us all together!
http://sixinthehickorysticks.blogspot.com/ Nacole Simmons

Hi Mary Beth! What a cool story. So, so neat to hear of how this started. I had no clue what everyone was talking about–I know now! You really started something. Nice to drop by here and meet you. Warm (((hugs))).
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Nikki gets the credit for starting it!!
  
  Mary Beth
  newlifesteward.com
  @newlifesteward
http://twitter.com/lifesurrendered Michele-Lyn

It’s a beautiful time… Such a God party Perfect end to the week to welcome in Friday. It helps all the rest of the heaviness just melt off my shoulders. Beautiful post… my new friend
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  It really does help the stress of the week just melt away! I love it!
http://www.newequus.wordpress.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

Ha! You got that right! So much fun and good stuff and you can’t keep up with all of it. So glad that I found the hashtag…and all the lovely women that are attached to it!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Glad to count you among those lovely women! It was definitely a good time last night!
http://twitter.com/JenniMullinix Jenni Mullinix

What time do you usually meet? I would love to join you!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  People kind of trickle in whenever as they finish up evening stuff. I usually check in about 9:30 Central.
Wendy Douglas

Praising Him tonight with you friend. What a blessing our gathering is. It was a balm to my tender heart tonight and I am so thankful for you all. Blessings!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Thank YOU! That list really helps!
http://myfreshlybrewedlife.com/ Barbie

I snuck in tonight with about 30 minutes to spare. And then I totally lost my focus as I realized I don’t know how to tweet properly. I must learn so that I can continue to join the party! So fun!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Maybe we need to have a tutoring session! Lots of folks were asking questions. I’ll try to work up a post on that!
http://www.dianadenis.com/ Diana Denis

not focused but you were still able to pull this off? Mary Beth you are talented! So grateful for this community. You all encourage me to keep going as a writer while you encourage my soul. Brie and French bread aside, this has to be one of the greatest marriages ever.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  haha…good virtual food always helps! LOL!
http://www.pruningprincesses.blogspot.com/ Laura @ Pruning Princesses

Oh it sounds like such fun.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  IT IS! You should join us!! Be sure to tweet @ me (@newlifesteward) so I know you’re there!
http://crystalstine.blogspot.com/ Crystal

Ok that’s it…I’m joining the party next week! I might not be able to function the next day but I just can’t miss this
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  WOOT!!! Maybe catch a nap after Maddie goes down and get up to join us?!
http://dailyrefined.blogspot.com/ Leigh Kay

That suggestion to a dear friend of yours, opened the door to fellowship and community that no one else could have imagined. I am indelibly affected. Thank you for inviting others in to play catch-up and support. It truly means so much to so many.
I for one, this lone Texas girl, am grateful. Loved talking with y’all last night. It was my week 2 to do so, and I can’t imagine missing out on that time.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  It really is wonderful in it! I find it the perfect end to my week and kick-off to my weekend!
keltrinswife

It is fun to see how God is using social media to bring people together—to encourage others. I am like you, can’t walk away. Be blessed:)
http://simplystriving.wordpress.com/ Nikki

Girl, I get the bumps of goose just thinking about it…and well, you know what I do when I read about it…CAN NOT believe what our date nights turned into and yet I can. He’s just that good. No credit to me, friend. To Him be all glory and if anyone asks me, YOU started it!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  No, I’ll go with your answer–to HIM be the glory! He did it through us. It’s mind boggling really. I say that too much…but seriously. I hope we get to have a party together in person one day!
StefanieYoungBrown

So glad to know the story behind the story:)) I haven’t been able to join in yet, but will.
Thank you for taking the initiative and giving this community another means by which to communicate.
Have a wonderful day!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  We look forward to having you join us! It’s a wild crazy party! haha
  - StefanieYoungBrown
    
    Well, then… I’ll fit right in:))
http://www.triplebraidedlife.com/ Brenda @TripleBraided

I want to join!! I’m on the east coast (I don’t know where Lisa-Jo is, I think the east coast) but every Thursday I wish I had the prompt before I went to bed so that my post could be ready for the next day. When is it posted usually? This is a great idea! I will join next week!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  The prompt is posted at Midnight Eastern, so we just hang out and chat on Twitter until then. Some folks just come and chat and then got to bed. Others stay up and write. Some just want to see the prompt and sleep on it. It’s just whatever works for you! We’d love to have you!
Paula Barnett

So that’s the story!!! Am I ever glad that I “listened” and began to join in the fun. Where He leads, I will follow. With joy!!!
http://www.ramblingspiderwebs.wordpress.com/ RaZella

That is just awesome!
http://www.tanyamarlow.com/ Tanya Marlow

How cool – I didn’t reallly know what the FMF party thing was all about or that you and Nikki started it all! I’d love to join in, but it’s probably at the wrong time for me, isn’t it? How does it work?
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Lisa-Jo posts the prompt at midnight Eastern time. So we just gather on Twitter beforehand and chat using the hashtag #fmfparty. I’m not sure what time zone you are in, so I don’t know what time that would be for you! It may be early in the morning! People usually start chatting about 1.5 hours before.
  - http://www.tanyamarlow.com/ Tanya Marlow
    
    Rats – I think I’m five hours ahead, so that would be the middle of the night for me! Ah well – if i’m ever suffering from insomnia at 4am, I know what to do!
    - http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
      
      haha definitely! It will wear you out trying to keep up!
http://www.karisslynch.com Kariss Lynch

That’s awesome! I do that every Friday, so I will need to join in the Twitter party next week. Love how something so small can refocus us!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Oh definitely join us!! It’s crazy but so much fun!!
http://aproverbs31wife.com/ A Proverbs 31 Wife

I saw the #fmf hashtag and was wondering what it was
I love how God uses the simplest things for his Glory!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Isn’t it fun! You should join us!
http://twitter.com/FosteringJoy Fostering Joy

I love the way that the Lord gives us friends – just people with a commonality, really. Moms, bloggers, tweeters, wives, Jesus-girls, and BFFs, He wants us to know that we are all in this together, I think. And, wonder of wonders, He is my Friend, too! Glad to meet ya’ll as I begin my FMF today. =)
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Glad you are joining us! It’s so much fun!
Lori

That’s awesome! HE’s Awesome! I soooo wish I could join your party, but I just can’t stay up that late. It’s a real bummer! Have a great weekend!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  You may try checking in before you go to bed. Some ladies are on earlier!
http://twitter.com/JourneyLifeRach ThisJourneyOurLife

So awesome and what a blessing! =) Gonna try to join in earlier next week…what time do you usually start the fmfparty?
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  I usually check in about 9:30 Central and there are always people already there! haha. Be sure to tweet at me so I see you! It gets crazy!
http://www.amylearns.com/ Amy Tilson

You know I’m in total love with this group. One of these nights I’m gonna make myself a cup of coffe about 9:30 and then I’ll have to stay up the whole time. I didn’t play today, just don’t have words after this past week and morning, but I’m enjoying yours. I see you reclaimed #1 as your own.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  haha of course I had to get my spot back! haha. Seriously this week, I thought I wasn’t gonna get it because I took time to put some links in my post.
Denise Oldham

Good post.
soulstops

It is great what God can do through two sisters getting together…spreading His love…thanks, Mary Beth
Richelle Wright

sounds like a lot of fun!
Libby

Agreed! So this is how it got going! Cool! It was so fun (if a little confusing and hard to keep up) to connect on twitter with you all. Hoping to get better at it, but I’ve loved seeing everyone’s tweets and kind words to each other since then. This community is drawing me in.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  It is hard to keep up! I’m trying to embrace to crazy and realize I’m gonna miss some stuff! So glad you are joining us! Be sure to tweet at me, so I make the connection!