Cheaper By The Half Dozen

There's Time

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week I got an email that sent me into a tizzy about a deadline I thought I had. I ran around in a panic for a day, thinking to myself "There's just not time! There's just not time!"

The next day I got an email that reassured me. I'd misunderstood the expectation and discovered that there was, indeed, enough time to do what I needed to do. Panic wasn't necessary. And I'd wasted time on my tizzy. See the irony? I did.

As I processed all of this, I wondered why I never seem to trust that there will be enough time to get things done. Why I stress and worry and lament about my to-do list. As I processed things, this simple phrase echoed in my mind: There's time.

There's time to do the things we're supposed to do. Whether our calendar magically opens up to allow for extra time, or a friend takes our kids unexpectedly, or the deadline gets extended, or the work just simply goes faster than we thought it would, things get done. There's time. Yet I tend to live like there's no time, like I can't trust God to provide exactly the time I need-- Him who lives outside our time, who is unaffected by my crazed scrambling and hand wringing.

"Don't you trust Me by now?" He asks.

So today instead of saying "There's no time!" I'm going to listen to that quiet echo within reassuring me that, yes, there is. I can trust Him to provide my needs.

There's time.

There's money.

There's answers.

There's resources.

There's words.

I just have to ask, and trust, and wait in expectation.

The One Where I Talk About Transparency

2012-01-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

First, I read this verse

2 Corinthians 12:6b The Message (MSG)

"I don't want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you'd encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk."

On the same day, I read this quote from an interview with Debbie Macomber (from her new book One Perfect Word)

"Q. One Perfect Word examines your spiritual development and growth from a deeply personal perspective. In many cases you share excerpts from your journals. In the course of writing this book, how did you feel about sharing such intimate details with your readers?

A. I don't have a problem with sharing my humanness. I am flawed. I want my readers to understand that I am genuine and sincere and far from perfect. When I share my struggles, my weaknesses, with my readers, it helps them know my heart. If they know my heart, then they will recognize my faith and hopefully that will show them the path to God and His love."

I think that's the key-- being real, being transparent, talking about the ugliness that is our humanity sometimes. I'm trying to do more of that here on the blog. Showing who I really am, sharing the stuff that might be easiest to just hide away. Even going so far as to include my own personal journal excerpts here like Debbie did in her book. It feels raw and exposed and weird at times. But it also feels good-- to not hide behind these perfect posts, to not dress up my ugliness and put lipstick on the pig, so to speak. To just say, here's who I am and here's what I'm thinking or struggling with or wondering about-- and not always even arrive at a solution. To just say I'm feeling this, in case you're feeling it too.

Based on what Paul and Debbie had to say, none of us are alone. Maybe like me, that brings you a strange sort of comfort.

The One Where I Find An Old Verse Anew

2012-01-26T10:07:00.002-05:00

What's your handicap? Let's face it, we all have one. Or more. Today I was lamenting in my journal about one particular handicap, and the words "My grace is sufficient" came to my mind. So I thought to myself, "Hey, I haven't read that verse in a really long time. Why don't I look it up?" So I did. And then of course I had to write the whole passage in my journal because it was so so so fitting for what I was journaling about.

I love it when that happens. When a verse that's so familiar that you don't even really pay attention to it anymore becomes new and exciting again, speaking to you in a fresh and insightful way as only the Bible can.

Here's the thing. I love the Bible. I love Jesus. I love God. I love that I have the Holy Spirit in me, directing me, speaking to me. I've struggled recently with God's people and some of the things I see around me. But at the end of the day I absolutely don't change on those absolutes in my life. The Word is still my lifeline, my support. Everything may change around me. People may betray me, disappoint me, shock me. I might want to get far far away from their brand of religion. I might feel the sting of rejection, the shame of not measuring up, the pain of just not fitting in. But I always have His comfort as close as that old red leather Bible-- His certainty, His promises-- a personal message that speaks to my heart, cutting through all the junk that vies to crowd it out.

Today the words below were a comfort to me. I needed to be reminded that the very thing I try to rid myself of can be seen as a gift with just a shift in perspective. I needed to remember that God is always, always, always keeping me humble... and dependent. I needed to take those words "My grace is enough, it's all you need" with me throughout the coming day-- replacing the words my flesh wants to say with that truth as many times as it takes.

Read on, and maybe you'll find comfort too.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
The Message (MSG)

7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

The One Where I Share An Old Fave

2012-01-24T12:11:00.003-05:00

This was one of my favorite books when I was little. I would spend hours staring at the pictures, making up stories to go with them. In retrospect, this was a sign of things to come-- but of course I didn't know it at the time. Back then it was just fun. With words.

The other day I got out my old copy for my six year old, who also likes to have fun with words. This afternoon I'm going to show her how I used to make up stories in my head to go with the pictures on each page. I've given her a fabric covered blank book and she takes her writing very seriously. Last night we were going to dinner and she wanted to bring her blank book with her in case she had time while we were waiting for our food. I totally get it. It's always nice to take advantage of unexpected time to write.

Thinking about this book, I wonder how many of us had indicators in early childhood of who we would someday be-- this nurse, this teacher, this decorator, this fashionista. This writer. Taking it a step further, I wonder if we pay attention to those indicators in our children's lives of who this child might someday be. I wonder if we sow into it-- providing them with more of what they love, more of what feeds their soul. It's a serious job-- this launching of people. It takes a lot of paying attention, a lot of listening. I started having fun with words as a little girl. I'm so glad the people in my life made sure I was always surrounded by them.

The One Where I Recap My Weekend

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

Friday was my 4th child (and second daughter's) birthday. She turned 12. In the car on the way to school that morning I said, "This is your last year before you're officially a teenager."

To which she replied, "Then I wish I could skip it so I could be a teenager now!"

Umm, I think she missed the point. But isn't that how we always are? Wanting to skip over things to get to the next phase instead of savoring where we are, what we have? I'm trying not to be that way-- to stop saying to myself "When I get X done and get to Y, then I'll be happier."

On Friday Curt had to be out of town which was a bummer that he wasn't there for her birthday but I tried to salvage the day by hiring a sitter and going out just the two of us. We had a nice dinner at Panera (at 12 that's fine dining) and then shopped for shoes and a dress for her semi-formal Valentine's dance that's coming up at her school. Can I just say I love Ross? We found a dress AND shoes there for cheap. And she looks adorable. Because it was so inexpensive she also talked me into a package of fuzzy socks and a pair of real Converse low-top tennis shoes (not the Target knock-offs she had before). She was thrilled and that's what birthdays are all about.

Saturday I got brave and took my youngest three out in the rain to get haircuts and run errands. We stopped and had lunch at Burger King. I have to say I haven't been inside a Burger King in years. It hasn't changed. We all had kids meals and I tried to tell myself that it was okay to indulge in the awfulness that is fast food if I only had a kids meal. If I'm wrong, please don't comment and tell me different.

My youngest got her long hair cut into a chin length bob. Now she walks around saying all the time "I love my hair! I look so cute!" Ah, to preserve that self-confidence, that self-esteem. I hate that that's ever going to change. But she has two older sisters so I know it will. Life and lies will conspire to erode that self-confidence and self-esteem. And I'll be there fighting tooth and nail to hold back the tides.

Saturday night Curt got home and we took the birthday girl out for her official birthday dinner. This year we changed up our birthday tradition. I used to make a nice meal of that child's choice for the whole family. But this year I hit upon the fact that it would cost about the same for the two of us to take just that child out to the restaurant of their choice (within reason) and spend some one on one time with that child. So this year we've been doing that and they've all really liked it.

She chose Carrabbas and drank her weight in Shirley Temples. She also tied the stem of the cherry into a knot with her tongue, which is a rite of passage in our family. Afterwards we stopped at Sweet Frog, a local frozen yogurt place, because that's what she asked for and this was her night. Curt and I weren't going to have anything until we walked in and saw that THEY HAD THIN MINT FROZEN YOGURT. We were goners. It was good stuff. When we got home she got her presents-- a curling iron (of her own-- very important in a house with multiple females), a Cake Pop baking set, and a new pair of pajamas. She spent the rest of the night curling her hair and experimenting with looks for her upcoming dance. It hit me that she's officially not a little girl any more. Sniff.

Sunday we didn't go to church because Curt was sick (he forced himself to go out for her dinner since he missed her actual day) and no one wanted to sit beside him in church with his hacking, coughing self. I could've taken the kids to church alone but after being alone with them during the week I just didn't have it in me. He barricaded himself upstairs in our bonus roomwhere his hacking could be heard throughout the house in spite of the closed door. I read, wrote, organized my recipes and piddled. A nice day all in all. Sometimes it's nice to just spend a Sunday that way. I will admit publicly here that I still made a to-do list. On a Sunday. I realize I have issues and I'm working on them.

Today the kids have off from school and the birthday girl has her party with friends. (A word on friend parties-- we only do them every other year. A wise friend gave me that suggestion years ago and I am SO GLAD I started it. I think I would stress right out the door if I had to throw six birthday parties every single year, especially considering that four of our six are in July/August/September.) Anyway, this is her year to have a party. We won a limo package in a raffle at her school so we are using that. The limo is picking her and 9 of her friends up at our house and taking them to a local restaurant for a nice dinner, cake, ice cream and presents. Then the limo will drive them all home. Should be fun. She's excited about it... and that's what counts. And mom? She's excited for all the birthday hoopla to be behind us. See? There I go, doing it again.

If I get my ducks in a row I will post some photos from the party this week. Hope you have a great Monday and a wonderful week!

Sunday Supper

2012-01-22T11:28:00.003-05:00

Baked Chicken and Rice (doesn't that just sound like a Sunday supper? Comfort food at its best.)

3/4 cup of rice
1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups water

Preheat oven to 350. Put rice in ungreased 9X13 baking dish. Place chicken breasts on top of rice. Mix soup and water and pour over top of chicken. Sprinkle with onion soup mix. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour, or until chicken is done.

I serve this with baby peas.

The One Where I Ease Up On Myself... Or Try To

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Recently I read this interview on a writing blog and the author's answer grabbed me. Read it below and then I'll tell you why:

What time of day do you love best?

I’m a morning person. Not one of those productive morning people who write pages and pages before dawn, or who are out running before it’s fully light. But I love getting up early and taking my dog to the park across the street, just wandering around before the rest of the world gets busy. It’s probably the only time of day where my mind has a chance to remain quiet, and there’s no better way to wake up.

(Quoted from this interview.)

When I read the question "What time of day do you love best?" I thought I knew the way she was going to answer-- the kind of answer she was going to give. I thought that, because she is a published writer she would give the answer I was used to getting-- one that exuded her own capability and key to productivity. No matter whether she was a morning or night person-- or somewhere in the middle-- she would talk about how productive she was at those times. So I read her answer with expectation of the same old response. Perhaps I would learn something to apply in my own life!

But as you read, that wasn't what she said. While she is a morning person, she didn't wax eloquent about how she gets so much done in her best time of day. She didn't talk about her coffee routine, her proclivity towards writing a certain amount by a certain time, her schedule for answering emails or tackling social media. Instead she talked about wandering around in the park with her dog, waking up slowly and letting her creativity awaken as well.

I didn't know that was allowed.

And then I asked myself a question: Why do I need permission to wander? Why are my expectations of myself so high that I set schedules and goals and live by to-do lists and calendars, checkmarks and bullet points and long lines of black ink crossing off words? Why isn't it okay to use my best time of day to do... nothing?

I'm not sure I have any answers just yet. It's more something I'm thinking about. Sometimes I have to remember to be kind to myself. Sometimes I just need permission to wander. It's occurred to me that no one is going to come along and give it to me except me. And God, who is rich in mercy and is not up there keeping a stopwatch, shutting it off in disgust when I don't "make time." Whatever that is. I think that He rather likes this thought pattern of mine-- this idea that it's okay to wander, to wake up slowly, to take time to savor, to use my best time of day to do nothing more than to walk around and marvel at life itself, giving myself time to feel His love and soak it right up. I think He eased up on me a long time ago. He's just been waiting on me to ease up on myself. He wrote me a permission slip to wander with no date scrawled across the top. It's redeemable whenever I choose. I think I'm going to choose now.

The One Where I Give You Recipes To Make Desserts You Shouldn't Eat

2012-01-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

I love to make desserts for my family-- and they love it when I do. Yes, it is a test of my willpower. But then I remember those nights when we would finish dinner and my mom would reveal that there was dessert. No more magical words have ever been spoken. "I love you" are three powerful words to a child, but "there is dessert" are a close, close second.

So I try to make dessert at least once a week. And I thought you all might want to see the ones I've flagged as "to be tried." Soon.

Butterfinger Blondies (These not only involve Butterfingers, they also involve an amazing substance called "Butterfinger Buttercream." Oh, the deliciousness!)

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sugar Cookie Bars (These are wonderful because they include the icing that goes on top of a sugar cookie, yet don't involve the standing and cutting out cookies process that makes one crazy.)

The One Where I Give You A Week's Worth Of Meal Links

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

I am a big believer in making a menu plan, making a grocery list, getting all the shopping done, and then just knowing what your meals are going to be for the week. The whole "think once and write it down" thing really works in this case. I think once and then I don't have to think about what's for dinner again for the rest of the week! Voila! (Does anyone else get a kick out of when people put "Viola" instead of "Voila"? Anyone? Ok, it's just me...)

Back to the meals. I've been looking at making these meals this week so I thought I'd share them with you, in case you wanted to print them out, or write them down if you're a printer ink cheapskate like me, or just bookmark them on your fancy pants ipad or whatever way would serve you best. The point is to scan through the list of ingredients, write down what you need, then go to the grocery store and buy whatever it is. Once all the groceries are in the house and the meals are all listed, all you have left to do is cook it. (And these recipes are easy so the "just cook it" part should not cause your heart to palpitate.) Your work is nearly done! It really is a good feeling. That organized-perfect-for-just-a-moment-this-house-really-is-my-domain feeling.

Savor it. Because it lasts all of 2.5 seconds.

Ok, so here's the links to five meals. That's a whole week of hot and hearty meals that your family can gather around the table and eat together, just like in the commercials on tv.

Pizza Casserole

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Soup (Scroll down to get to the soup recipe. This post also features their salad and breadstick recipes if you are feeling especially ambitious. I almost never am.)

Crock Pot Chicken And Dumplings (Already made this. The reviews were mixed. The ones who loved it, LOVED it. The ones who didn't... aren't fans of dumplings.)

Baked Fried Chicken Breasts (Already made this. My family raved. Raved, I tell you.)

Are you inspired to make a menu plan? I hope so! Let me know how it turns out!

The One Where I Reveal How I Keep Up With Blogs I Love

2012-01-16T12:30:00.002-05:00

I subscribe to them.

I realize this is not rocket science. However, this has been kind of a big deal for me. Long about December (anyone else hearing the Counting Crows song in their head right now? I love that Courteney Cox is in that video. But I digress...)

Will try this again. Long about December, I started thinking about all the blog posts I miss by my fave writers because I don't remember to go check their blogs. And I felt like there had to be a way to fix that. Because mostly in life there is a way to fix something that's bothering you, if you look for it.

And that's when I started subscribing to blogs I love via the feature that sends the post right to your email. And I realize you all have lots of ways that you follow blogs and this is probably old info for most of you. Know this: I am usually hopelessly behind the times. So getting blog posts sent to email probably sounds antiquated to you Google Reader Feeblitz uber cool app techie types. But for me, it was the perfect way to get the latest from the people I want to hear the latest from. And so I went through the novelists I love, the book bloggers I love, the lifestyle bloggers I love, etc. and I signed up for their blogs to come to my emails. And yes I now get more emails than I used to. But there's always the delete button if that particular post doesn't grab me.

And so in this new year I'm feeling just a little more informed, just a little more up to speed with the things I care about. It's not politics. It's not celebs. It's not fashion. (Sorry Shari Braendel). It's not current events. Though it might be for you. For me it's the craft of writing, the pursuit of the perfect meal, the heartbeat of what it means to find faith in the midst of the craziness. These things cast light on the path I am on.

I'm glad I'm not missing these folks' words of wisdom anymore. It's made my life just a little bit richer. And who can't use that?

The One Where I Give Away A Copy Of Small Space Organizing

2012-01-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

I think that no matter how big your house is, your ears probably perked up when you saw the title of the book: Small Space Organizing. It reminds me of the old George Carlin routine about our stuff taking up so much space that we need more space for our stuff.

So, if you have small space issues and you want to be more organized. (New Year's Resolutions, any one?) This book is worth checking out. Here's a video you can watch!

And the good news is, I am giving one away! Just leave a comment here and tell me what small space you'd like to organize for a chance to win.

COMMENTS FOR THIS POST ARE NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER IS ANDRESA. ANDRESA, PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR ADDRESS SO I CAN GET THE BOOK SENT OUT TO YOU!! CONGRATS!!

The One Where I Quote Therese Walsh

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

I’m going to sound like a NIKE commercial: Just do it. Write. Because really, what is the option? To stop? If you stop, you’ll feel depressed; it’s what writers do best. If you continue to write, you may still feel uninspired and even depressed, but because you’re working there’s at least a hope for that light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. For writers, hope is everything, isn’t it? We hope we can finish the book. We hope that what we have to say is worth saying, worth hearing. And we hope—hope, hope, hope—to find an audience that appreciates the work. Not writing risks all that hope. I sometimes have to remind myself of that.

(This is from an interview with Therese Walsh, creator of the site Writer Unboxed, and author of The Last Will of Moira Leahy. To see the interview in its entirety, visit Womens Fiction Writers.)

The One Where I Quote Tamar Cohen

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

This quote was from this post:

Don't worry about who could possibly be interested in what you have to say. People read looking for some insight on what it is to be human. You’re human, therefore you have as much right to write it as anyone else.

The One Where I Say More About The Blog's New Direction

2012-01-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

This quote further talks about what I think I need to do with my blog from here on out:

…here’s the secret I wish someone had told me back when I would get apologetic
for being a “web diarist” or an “online journaller” or a “crazy person who
writes about herself on the internet”: when you’re really liking what you’re
writing, and you’re having fun doing it? That’s probably because you’ve found
your voice. You’ve found your connection with the words and the stories. There’s
an audience out there hungry for someone who knows how to use her voice. Don’t
stifle it because you think you’re supposed to be… what?

(quote came from this post)

I want to like what I'm writing. I want to have fun with it. I want my voice to come through again-- not some voice that sounds like I think I'm supposed to sound because it's what I somehow became convinced I was supposed to sound like. I don't want my blog to be safe, and I am afeared that that's what it's been for quite some time now. Safe. Don't rock the boat. Don't offend anyone. Don't say what I'm really thinking because someone might not buy my books any more. Just write my little banal, milquetoast posts within these banal milquetoast parameters that will contribute continuous content (ah, alliteration I do love you so) without ruffling feathers.

So this is me, stopping all that. I might post three times in one day if three amazing things pop into my brain and I've got that kind of time. And I might go silent for a bit if nothing remarkable presents itself. Or I get real busy. Cause that happens more than I like.

And yes, I do plan to continue these Friends-style titles. Because I like 'em. They make me smile. And I hope they will make you smile and not eventually bore you to tears. Because once I thought that my clever little categories for each day was GENIUS. So clearly, things change.

Oh, and I will make you one more promise. I will try to make each post short. Brief quotes. Links to good stuff. Things like that. I will refrain from pontificating unless it's just absolutely necessary. Because none of us have that kind of time or inclination. We have shorter attention spans now, haven't you heard? But know this, if I post it, it's because it matters to me. And I hope it matters to you.

The One Where I Admit That I Dislike My Blog

2012-01-09T06:00:00.002-05:00

I was seriously about to break up with my blog. Put up a last post and say "It's been real. See ya on the flip side."

You see, me and the blog took a break from each other over Christmas and it turned out that I liked the break. I liked it a little too much. I liked not thinking about whether the blog was getting comments I needed to respond to. Or whether the blog needed updating. Or whether the blog had a broken link. Or whether I'd written this post for this certain day and-- oh my-- would the world stop turning if my Thursday Thought wasn't there by 6am?? Or whether the blog was in some other state of need that ate up my time and left me grumpy and unfulfilled.

But I'd promised the blog that I would come back after the break. And because I always try to keep my word, I came back. And you all read the posts I dutifully put up last week when I came back. You even read my clever idea about going through a book that was very New-Yearsy in subject matter. You might've even bought said book and eagerly anticipated going through it here each week.

Somehow along the way my blog went from passion to production. I wasn't getting on here because I couldn't wait to share something with you (the way I started). I was getting on here because I said I would. And because I'm a writer and we writers are expected to develop "an audience." But somehow, in trying to develop my audience like a good little writer, I started boring myself-- and probably you guys-- to tears.

But not any more. I hereby declare there will be no more themed days. There will be no more perfunctory posts. (I do love me some alliteration.) There will be no more me writing what I think you want to hear or what I think someone "out there" expects me to say. Instead I'm taking back my blog and making it my own-- less expectation and more passion.

So, my apologies but I won't be discussing that book here after all. I changed my mind because I'm a woman and that's what we do. (Although I do love that book so, truly, you should read it and be inspired.) I just don't love the idea of robotically showing up week after week to discuss it, making something I love become something I'm working on. Again with the boredom.

Instead I will be talking about my life and my friends and what I think about food and writing and reading great books and how my faith impacts all the different little tributaries of my life. And I'll be talking about marriage and kids and family and how most of the time I feel like a great big failure at all of it. But I try. I get up every day and I try. Mostly I just bake them stuff because that seems to make them happy. So I'll share the recipes and you can try the same tactic.

I'll be talking about all of that. And probably more. But I can't promise it'll be Monday through Friday. And I can't promise you'll always like what I have to say, or the way I say it. But instead of this manufactured, mass-produced product, what I share here will be one-of-a-kind: handmade, with love.

Those are the things I like best anyway. I hope you do, too.

Fiction Friday: Theme

2012-01-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

This post is from a newsletter article by Holly Lisle, who made me think about theme in a different way by challenging me to make it personal-- what themes have I dealt with in my own life that can be reflected in my fiction? Read on...

It goes without saying that every story is about something, doesn't
it?

Well, you'd think so, but in fact, NOTHING goes without saying.
All information is new to someone once, and if you haven't heard
this before (and maybe even if you have but you sort of forgot why
it mattered), let me say this now:

In order to matter to your reader, your story has to be ABOUT
something that matters to your reader...

...Want your readers to love your characters and your stories and come
back for more, not because you said a whole lot of nothing in a
very pretty fashion, but because you hooked them and showed them
someone they loved in a situation that mattered doing things they
cared about?...

...You must tell a story that shows people and
life not as the are, but as they could be, and as they should be.

To do that, first YOU have to care.

And for you to care, you have to be telling a story about something
that matters to you.

What matters to you?

That justice can overcome corruption?

That love is the most powerful force in the world?

That best friends can survive any hardship together?

That fear is what turns men into animals?

Sit down right now, give a good hard look at your own life, and
establish a few themes that sum you up. That make sense of the
life you have lived to this point.

Consider whether those themes are what you want to hold up as
examples, or whether they're what you want to show a hero
overcoming.

With a theme as your anchor, you can then plot a story that will
matter to you when you write it...and that will matter to your reader
when he reads it.

Thursday Thought: Unsent Letters

2012-01-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

When you get mad what do you do? Call your mom and vent to her? Wait til your husband gets home and tell him all about it? Tell your best friend? Hash it out internally, practicing all your best put-downs as you imagine the conversation you would have with the offending party?
One thing I've recently hit on is writing the person an email you never intend to send. Open up your compose screen and start writing. Say it all. Get it out. Tell them just what you think, how you feel, and your version of what happened. Vent.

But for goodness sake, do not put their name in the recipient's box. Don't want that puppy getting accidentally sent out, do you? Of course not. The letter, you see, isn't really meant for them. It's meant for you. Your feelings are valid. Your emotions need to work their way out. Repressing and ignoring them isn't going to help. This gives you a safe place to work through it all. You can be as ugly as you need to be, this isn't the time for censoring yourself. You can even cuss if you want to.
After you've written your letter, hit "save draft" and let it stew in your inbox for a few days. Then go back and read it, and be glad that you didn't send that email. Because in a few days you've calmed down. You've had a chance to maybe see the other side of things. You've processed it and a cooler head has prevailed. Most likely you'll just delete the dumb thing, shaking your head at what a difference a day or two can make.

We all get angry, we all get wronged, we all struggle to put things in perspective at times. And when we do it's nice to have something to do with all those feelings. Next time you're struggling with something, try the unsent letter option. You might find it gives you a place to work out all that hurt, without hurting anyone else.

The holidays are notoriously a time for hurt feelings. The increased exposure to family, the party invites and spending stress, the busy schedules can all bring things to the surface. If you've got a bone to pick with someone, try this method. It just might help you not say something you ordinarily would. It might just save a relationship and your reputation.

Say it. Just don't say it directly to them.

Psalms For Moms

2012-01-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Psalm 25:9, "He gives the rejects His hand, and leads them step by step." (MSG)

Over Christmas several of my friends and I joked that we belonged on the Island of Misfit Toys. Ever feel like a misfit? I do. All the time. I don't fit with the uber-Christians and I don't fit with the heathens. I don't fit with the fashionistas and I don't fit with the slobs. I don't fit with the secular writers and I don't fit with the Christian writers. Whenever I take one of those personality tests, I never fit in one particular category. I took one online and discovered I scored in a category that is 1% of the population. The test said it's the most rare personality type. Consequently, I've never been able to proudly proclaim "I'm a Golden Retriever! I'm an Otter! I'm a Phlegmatic! I'm a Choleric!" Instead I've spent a lot of time trying to figure myself out. The lines, they do keep blurring.

And yet, I'm okay with that. I've embraced my one-size-does-not-fit-all life. I like my uniqueness. Sure it would be simpler to pick out a label and proudly wear it affixed to my chest so that everyone knows what they're dealing with. But that's not going to happen. So that's why I picked out today's verse. It spoke to me, as a misfit. The fact that God made me just as I am. That He takes delight in my misfit ways. Even more, He gives me His hand and leads me step-by-step.

Perhaps you needed to remember that He's there for you today. You might feel rejected-- like you don't fit. But you fit: your small hand in His large, capable one, picking your way out along the jagged, rocky path of life. Maybe you've got a child who needs to hear this verse today-- a reminder that when we feel like rejects, He is there with His hand outstretched. There is a place for misfits, and that place is by His side, sticking close, letting Him show us the way.

Two For Tuesday (A Fail and a Win)

2012-01-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

This year I did one thing right when it came to my reading habit. I started keeping a reading log for the first time ever. This log turned out to be quite informative and fun-- I'd recommend it to anyone who reads a lot and desires to remember all that you've read. Through writing down the books I read I was able to 1) see how many books I read per month on average (5) and 2) remember what I read, and what I thought of each book. In years' past I couldn't tell you any of that info-- it was all a blur. As I flipped back through my log, I was like "Oh, I forgot I read that!" And I was able to see what I thought of the books, as I wrote my own personal review for each book after I read it. I don't intend to publish any of that info here-- it was just something I did for myself, for my own recordkeeping.

So that was my win.

What was my fail?

At the end of 2010 I made a TBR list (To Be Read) for 2011, which I will admit was a bit grandiose. I was dreaming big, clearly. One of the goals I most looked forward to was reading all of Anne Tyler's works over the course of 2011, starting with Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant.

I am confessing here, publicly, that I read NONE of Anne Tyler's novels. Not one. Nada.

Am I including her stuff on my TBR list for 2012? No. Not because I don't still want to read them, but because I want to leave room on my TBR list this year for those serendipitous books out there that I don't know I want to read yet. I want my list to have room to grow. Right now that list is at a doable 25 books (I read around 60 last year.) That gives me much room to grow and change-- because that's what a new year is all about, setting goals, while leaving room for an uncertain future full of growth and change, and the grace to do both.

Speaking of reading, remember you're invited to join me in going through Write It Down, Make It Happen... We'll discuss the first chapter on Thursday, January 12th.

And... We're Back

2012-01-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hope your holidays were happy! We were busy and crazed and sick and cooped up and... so, so happy. I loved the break that we were all able to have. And yet, there is something equally nice about getting back to routine and a sense of normality. (I say a sense because really there is no normal.)

I briefly announced over Christmas that I'm going to be going through the book Write It Down, Make It Happen as we begin the new year, and I invite you to join me. This book is about something I very much believe-- that setting goals in many areas of your life, and writing them down, is paramount to accomplishing them. I have seen this over and over in my life.

So get yourself a copy and join me in going through it. I will be posting about the book on Thursdays, going through a chapter a week. A perfect thing to do in this new year! This coming Thursday I will just write an introduction to what we're doing and then we'll start with the introduction (because I believe in reading introductions) on January 12th, hopefully giving those of you who want to order it (or download it on your new e-reader!) time to get it and read that first chapter.

I hope that you'll decide to go through the book with me and we will write down our goals-- and see them happen-- together!

Banana Bars

2012-01-01T16:16:00.003-05:00

Ever have rapidly darkening bananas and not know what to do with them other than make yet another loaf of banana bread? Well, here's another, tasty, solution. My family loved these! One of my sons even said he wants these for his next birthday instead of cake!

Banana Bars

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup mashed ripe banana (2 bananas)

1 egg

2 cups chocolate chips

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in bananas and eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread into greased 15X10 inch jelly roll pan.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Makes 6 dozen.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

I'm spending time with my family as my husband has some time off work and my kids have some time off school. I will be back January 2nd to start a new year with you!

I'd like to wish all my regular blog readers (and those who drop by) a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for spending time with me each day via this blog. You bless me with each visit.

Remember that starting January 2nd I am going to be beginning a study of Write It Down, Make It Happen by Harriette Klausner. You can buy it from most any online or retail store and I was even able to find some used copies available. We will be going through a chapter a week. I hope that many of you will leave a comment at this post and let me know you're going to be participating.

I'm excited to come alongside you guys in 2012 as we write down our goals together-- then support each other in making them happen! Until then, eat, drink and be merry... and so, so thankful.

Bonus: Review of War Horse

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

I got a chance to see War Horse a few weeks ago, but I promised I wouldn't talk about it until today. I wanted to share my thoughts with those of you who may be considering going to see it.

1. The movie is beautiful-- exactly what you would expect from Spielberg.

2. The horse is the star. If you love horses, you'll probably love this movie.

3. The movie is extremely graphic. Spielberg doesn't gloss over the horrors of the battlefield. But there are beautiful moments exemplifying the human spirit even in the face of darkness interspersed throughout-- enough to keep the viewer engaged with the story. As I said to my husband after the movie, "I was surprised there was no love story." He responded, "Well there was a love story-- it was between the boy and his horse."

4. After seeing it, I know why it garnered a PG-13 rating. I will not be taking my children younger than that age to see it. As I said, the horrors of war are presented unflinchingly. Some of the images and themes I feel are a bit much for a young child's emotional state. I'd recommend if you have a teen who loves history, war, battles, and/or horses, send them. There's no sex and hardly any bad language. But there is violence-- not gratuitous, just enough to make the aspects of war very real. If you and your spouse like historical movies, go. As my husband said, it's a good date night movie.

5. Because it's a historical movie, it can be a bit slow. I felt like the dialogue and even the pace of the movie was accurate for the time period the movie takes place in, if that makes sense. Life moved at a slower pace, things were simpler. To truly appreciate the film, I think you need to get in the spirit of that time period and not expect a blockbuster, blow-em-up movie like you see today. It definitely has that epic feel to it. And I can see why there's already Oscar buzz surrounding it.

Below is a summary of the movie. I hope my review helped some of you out there in your decision about whether to see it-- and whether to take your kids.

DreamWorks Pictures’ “War Horse,” director Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war— a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is currently on Broadway. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

And if you'd like to see an interview with Spielberg talking about the movie, you can go here: http://youtu.be/kKld9pcOowc (It's quite the interesting interview.)

Fiction Friday: A Writer's Review

2011-12-16T06:00:00.003-05:00

This is my last post for December. I am going to take some time to enjoy my family since my husband has time off work and my kids have time off school. I'll be back in the new year to share some new stuff! (And I might be in and out with the occasional missive between now and then.)

And now... on to today's Fiction Friday post!

This post really inspired me. So I thought I'd share it with those of you who would also like to use these last few days of this year to summarize and dissect their writing year. I am posting the questions she asks herself below. Pull out your journal and take some time to conduct your review, then set some new goals as we turn the page on another year. (Can you believe it?!)

What have you written this year?

How have you pushed yourself as a writer? What risks have you taken?

What have you done in terms of professional development this year?

How have you networked with other writers and other industry professionals?

How have you supported other writers? When did you ask for support?

What have you done to prevent burnout? How have you celebrated your accomplishements?

What have you done to nurture your creativity?

How did you promote your work?

What did you do to build your online presence this year?

Did you make any tough choices or do anything truly scary to further your career this year?

If you wrote for free, was that writing supporting another part of your career?

Where did you go to support your career? Conferences, retreats?

What is your biggest accomplishment of the year?

Where did you fall short of your expectations this year?

How much money did you earn? Is that up or down from the year before? How much would you like to earn next year?

What are your goals for your writing career for the coming year?

What’s one thing you can do today towards accomplishing one of those goals?

Thursday Thought: Be So Good They Can't Ignore You

2011-12-15T06:00:00.004-05:00

I love Steve Martin. When I say I loved his memoir Born Standing Up, I am not gushing randomly... I truly loved it. It's one of those books that still makes me smile when I run across it. It was a reading experience. Bonus: I listened to it on audio, and he read it, so it was even better hearing it from him.

So I was delighted to run across this post referring to the book, dissecting one of the points Steve (I call him Steve) made ("Be so good they can't ignore you"), and showing all of us how we can apply this principle in our lives. I thought I'd direct you to the post in case you'd like to read it.

This got me thinking further about what it means to be the best in your field-- whatever your field may be. And it solidified something I've been thinking about doing in the month of December. (And maybe January depending on how December goes.)

I've taken this month to devote intentional time to getting better at writing. That means actually reading the books I've bought on writing. It means taking an online class I've signed up for on food writing, as I've got an idea that would involve history and food and I need help to make that idea a reality. It means evaluating where I'm at in my writing and setting some goals for where I want to go. I'm at a good point to do that as I've just turned in the edits on my next novel and don't have to start the next one right this minute. (Though you can bet I'm still jotting down notes and allowing the elements of this story to emerge. This is my favorite part of writing a novel so I'm savoring it.)

As the year wraps up and another one begins, it's a perfect opportunity to set aside intentional time to get better at what you're doing, whatever that may be. If it's being a homemaker, maybe it's time that you'll read some books on cleaning, organizing, cooking, etc. If it's being a mom, maybe it's time to read that parenting book you bought but never got around to reading, or time to plan crafts or purchase board games or whatever it is that's been nagging at you to do with your kids. If it's being a better steward with your money, maybe it means finally creating that budget, learning to use coupons to save money, finding websites that teach you how to save/shop/menu plan. If it's being a better follower of Christ, maybe it's time to finally create that prayer journal, read that spiritual growth book, ask that person to hold you accountable, etc. Whatever you do, the point is to set aside the distractions that keep you from making the effort to become better.

I liked what Michael Hyatt had to say about this idea in this post.

Psalms For Moms

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

Psalm 101:8
"Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land..."

Every morning. (Before I start my day-- before I let all the voices start talking inside and outside of my head)

I will. (I have to make the effort.)

Put to silence. (Stop the noise.)

All the wicked. (Now this might be a stretch because when you think "wicked" you might think evil or bad or... whatever connotation that word means to you. But bear with me. There's some wicked stuff going on inside our heads. Stuff we tell ourselves. Words we replay in our heads that other people have said to us. Bad things that have happened to us or people we love.)

In the land. (Within my sphere of influence, my community, my workplace, my home. Everybody's land looks different.)

King David may have meant something different when he wrote this verse. He may have meant that he was going to arrest or kill the wicked in Israel. But I think this verse can still apply to those of us who are not kings. Every morning we can put to silence all the wicked in the land-- we can make the effort to seek truth and to live by it, to silence all the lies we tell ourselves, and the lies we've been told by others. It takes effort. It takes intention. It takes awareness. It takes faith. It takes creating silence, and then letting God fill that silence with His voice.

Two For Tuesday: 2 Goodies To Make!

2011-12-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas is make a variety of treats, package them, and take them to neighbors and friends. It's a nice, reasonably inexpensive way to say "I'm thinking of you at Christmas."

This year I am planning to make these:

No Bake Oreo Truffles (I did make these for a cookie exchange-- they're pictured above-- I added my own twist by sprinkling them with peppermint chips! Pretty!)

Pecan Pie Bars

Perhaps you'd like to, too!

Making Christmas Sweeter

2011-12-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

I've got Christmas goodies on the brain this week-- will be sharing two links tomorrow for easy goodies you can make. This week I am hoping to get into Christmas baking after clearing off my to-do list enough to do so. I want to make some old faves and new ones, too. On the list will be peanut butter bars and M&M cookies and peppermint bark. And I think I might have to make the Vanilla Peppermint cake pictured above, inspired by Southern Lady magazine. The peppermint glaze recipe is listed below but I am going to do a different, easier vanilla cake, probably from the pages of my Cake Mix Doctor cookbook.

But seriously, isn't that so pretty? I think pulling this out for dessert after dinner one night would make Christmastime even sweeter. Does anyone else just love this time of year??

Here's the glaze:

PEPPERMINT GLAZE
Makes approximately 1 1/2 cups

1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1. In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, milk, and peppermint extract until smooth. Use immediately.

PS. I made the cake last night-- I made chocolate chocolate chip cake and topped it with the peppermint glaze and crushed peppermint chips. I served it with a scoop of Edy's Peppermint ice cream on the side. I ate my slice while watching one of my favorite Christmas movies-- ahhh.

Fiction Friday: Pick Yourself! A Guest Post

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

A few Fridays ago, we heard from Mary DeMuth about dreams that might look dead but are just nesting. Well this Friday, she's back with more wisdom! This time the wisdom she's sharing is about no longer being a wallflower at a junior high dance. Who among us has good, positive memories of junior high dances? Anyone? Anyone? I do not. Ok, except for the music which was uh-mazing. But we're not here to talk about my love of 80's music.

I remember reading a blog post by Seth Godin that talked about picking yourself instead of waiting to be picked. He was referring to the world of ebooks and self publishing. As I read Mary's post, I thought of how both of them are essentially saying the same thing. Maybe your answer is not ebooks or self publishing. Maybe your answer is to get off the wall and join the dance at all-- write that first scene, tell that trusted friend that you're going to finally write that novel and ask him or her to hold you accountable. The point isn't what your next step is-- because that looks different for everyone. The point is to simply join the dance. Read on...

I remember the buzz in my stomach, that insistence that everything inside of me screamed nerves. I entered the cafeteria feeling the weight of my loneliness. I scanned the streamered room, searching for a friendly face, hoping I'd spy a friend. I did.

We stood together, alone with our thoughts, as the music blared from a DJ. We talked in nervous jitters. I scanned the room, wondering. Would I be asked to dance?

The answer would come two awkward hours later.

No.

I don't know about you, but I think hell is like junior high dances for wallflowers. Isolating. Humiliating. Awkward.

Problem is, I've carried the experience with me into adulthood. How often I feel like I'm lining the wall of life, waiting for someone or some opportunity to find me, grab my hand, and pull me out into life's limelight.

It's only been recently that I realized that life is not meant to be a junior high dance. We aren't suppose to live sidelined, afraid, insecure. We are encouraged to live uncaged, to soar, to engage in life. To do so means risk.

In high school, I abandoned the silly rules of dances. I took a risk. Instead of waiting, my friends and I chose to venture to the middle of the dance floor and dance like crazy people. The contrast between the junior high dance and the high school dance is the contrast to the life God's wants us to live today. To be unafraid. To be innovative and spunky and fun and alive. To grab the hands of our friends, shun the so-called rules, and engage in life to the fullest.

That's what I want for me.

That's what I want for you.

I want you to dance.

You can find more of Mary's wisdom at http://www.marydemuth.com/

Thursday Thought: Jumping Fences

2011-12-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

"I don't understand why Maverick does that," my 11yo daughter exclaimed as we watched our dog jump our fence and run into the neighbor's yard. "He's got the best yard of any yard around here, yet he always goes to the other yards. Why can't he just be happy where he is?"

A spiritual lesson if I've ever heard one.

That day in the kitchen, on the heels of her question, so many images came to my mind:

The person who has it all yet strays into another relationship.

The person who has a beautiful home yet longs for another one.

The person who has enough yet goes into debt to get more.

The person who has accomplished so much but still wants more.

The person who has the ability to walk and good health, but is still dissatisfied with their body.

Me.

You.

We have the most beautiful yard but we fight this urge to jump into the other ones. Maybe we don't leap over the fence. We might just stand safely behind it and just stare longingly, telling ourselves that's ok. We want and we want and we want. And we forget to notice where we are. The beautiful children. The husband or wife we chose. The job that pays. The roof over our heads. So much beauty around us and we look right past it.

This is a season of want. A season of shopping trips and wish lists. A season of looking into other yards. And in the midst of that season I think it's important to remember-- as hard as it may be in your situation-- that we are where we are for a purpose, by God's design (the One who makes me who I am-- see below). God put you in your yard, beautiful as it is. The best yard around for you. The trick is to stay inside our fence and look towards making our little corner of the world as beautiful and blessed as possible for as long as we're there. To follow Paul's words below...

"I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Phillipians 4: 11-13 (MSG)

Psalms For Moms

2011-12-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

"I'm doing the very best I can, and I'm doing it at home, where it counts." Psalm 101:2b (MSG)

This verse jumped out at me when I read it in the Message version. (FYI: the NIV version is "I will walk in my house with blameless heart." I always like to hold up the NIV against the Message, as sometimes the two can be quite different. But in this case, it's close enough. And I love the way the Message communicates this truth.)

For the last several weeks I've had to be out of my house a lot as the deadline for my next book edits approached. And this absence only proved something I already knew. My home-- my family-- needs me. Not a sitter. Not the older kids holding down the fort. Not even the daddy of the family handling things. My family needs ME. (Curt does a great job when I have to be gone but he'd be the first to tell you he can't-- and wouldn't want to-- do my job.)

As today's Psalm says, what I do at home counts. It counts when I sit and listen to my kids' stories about their day. It counts when I make a meal that we can all sit down to. It counts when I remember to buy their favorite cereal or cookie or brand of chips. It counts when I make sure there's toilet paper. It counts when I fold the laundry (though I do make them put it away). It counts when I fill out the forms for school and check up on the projects that are due. It counts when I take them to the library. It counts when I show up at their school events. It counts when I stop and put a bandaid on a booboo. It counts when I am... there.

Sure writing books is fun. Going to author events is fun. I'm living my childhood dream and I am so blessed to be able to do so. But one thing I can't forget in living that out is that I had another childhood dream... and that was to be married, to have children, to create a home. I can't give up on one dream in the name of pursuing another. And to be sure, if I had to lay down one in the name of the other, I would choose home every time. Because while living the writing dream is great-- it can't touch living the wife/mom one.

Maybe today you're feeling like all the little things you do go unnoticed. Like what you do within the walls of your home don't count. But they do. They're essential. They're valuable. You-- the mom-- are valuable. You do things no one else can do. It's no one thing you do. It's everything you do.

Do the very best you can, at home, where it counts. Because oh boy, does it count.

Two For Tuesday: Hot Drinks For The Holidays!

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

I plan to serve these the first chance I get! (Recipes are linked to the original sites I saw them on in case you want to bookmark them for yourself!)

Hot Caramel Apple Cider

½ gallon apple cider (64 ounces or 8 cups)
½ cup orange juice, fresh-squeezed or good quality
1 orange
8 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks (fresh ones)
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
1/3 cup caramel sauce (or more to your own taste)

Optional: caramel-flavored syrup and sweetened whipped cream (or substitute maple syrup for caramel)

Pour 8 cups of apple cider into a large stock pot on the stove pot. Set heat to medium-high. Add orange juice, cinnamon sticks and allspice. Thoroughly wash your orange and then gently stab the whole cloves into it. If you find it hard to do that without destroying the cloves, use a toothpick to poke a little hole first, then insert the cloves. (If you are doubling the recipe, you can still just use one orange. Just double the number of cloves you poke into it.)

Gently drop the whole orange into the pot.

Bring cider to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Simmer on low for 60 minutes or longer if you wish. If you’re keeping the pot on the stove for an extended period, keep an eye on the orange. If at any time it splits open, remove it from the pot. If the white pith is exposed it will add a bitter taste to your cider. If you’re going to have the pot warming for hours on end, take out the orange. After you’ve simmered for an hour, add caramel sauce and stir to combine and dissolve. Add more caramel to taste if needed.

When ready to serve, ladle into mugs, top with whipped cream, and give it a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Peppermint-Mocha Coffee

6 cups freshly brewed MAXWELL HOUSE Coffee
4 squares (1 oz. each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1-1/2 cups hot milk
1 tsp. peppermint extract
8 peppermint sticks

POUR coffee into large saucepan. Add chocolate; cook on low heat 5 min. or until chocolate is melted, stirring occasionally.

ADD milk and extract; stir until well blended. Garnish each serving with a peppermint stick.

Easy Holiday Dessert Idea

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

We had a crazy weekend that involved a lot of running around. And in the middle of that, I had to pull together my husband's birthday celebration. So I thought I'd share what I made for dessert, in case anyone else out there needs a quick and easy and delicious solution for a Christmas party.

Buy an Oreo Crust.

Spoon softened peppermint ice cream into it.

Refreeze.

Serve with hot fudge to pour over each serving.

Sprinkle with peppermint chips or crushed candy canes if you're feeling really adventurous.

Voila! A pretty and festive dessert with NO BAKING INVOLVED.

Saturday Bonus: The Muppets

2011-12-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

I blogged about seeing the new Muppets movie and enjoying it-- perhaps some of you have now seen it. For those of you who have, I thought you might enjoy reading these fun facts about the movie. Share them with your kids!

FUN FACTS

BY THE NUMBERS
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN -- Disney’s “The Muppets” is the 7th feature film featuring the Muppets.

MANY MUPPETS -- More than 120 Muppets appear in the film.

STEPPIN’ OUT – The film tapped 60 dancers to perform with Jason Segel and Amy Adams for the “Everything’s Great” opening musical performance.
• Hollywood Blvd. was shut down for two evenings to record the finale dance scene of the reprise of “Everything’s Great,” featuring 100 dancers.

PRETTY PIG -- A total of 12 different costumes were made for Miss Piggy—more costume changes than any other actor in the film.

SO BIG -- The largest Muppet, Thog, stands over 9.5 feet tall and is 4 feet wide.

TOP TEACHER – Amy Adam’s character Mary is a teacher with 16 students. Thus, no less than 16 perfect apples sit on the edge of the stellar teacher’s desk.

FILMMAKER FRENZY
AT THE HELM -- Director James Bobin makes his film directorial debut. Bobin co-created HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” which he wrote, directed and executive produced.

CUE THE MUSIC -- Bret McKenzie of “Flight of the Conchords” wrote and produced three original songs and served as music supervisor for the film.
• McKenzie fills some big shoes: “The Muppet Movie” was nominated for two Oscars®: Best Music, Original Song (“Rainbow Connection”) and Best Music, Original Sound Score.

ALL IN THE FAMILY -- Choreographer Michael Rooney is the son of Mickey Rooney, who appears in the film in a cameo role. This is the first time the two have ever worked together on a film.

MINI ME -- Muppet versions of Gary/Jason Segel and director James Bobin were created.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ACCESSORIES
HIGH FASHION -- Miss Piggy had shoes made for her by Christian Louboutin and a dress by Zac Posen, which she wears in the finale scene.

FANCY DUDS -- Kermit had a suit made for him by Brooks Brothers for the scene where he walks through the streets of Paris with Miss Piggy.

TIME WILL TELL -- Walter wears a Kermit watch in the film.

TICKLING THE IVORIES -- Rowlf’s original piano is back—incorporated into the Muppet Show orchestra.

STRUMMING THE SAME STRINGS -- Kermit uses the banjo from 1979’s “The Muppet Movie” during the “Rainbow Connection” performance in Disney’s “The Muppets.”
• The staging of the scene features Kermit on a replica of the log where he was first found strumming his banjo in the very first Muppet movie. Miss Piggy shows up in a rowboat very much like the one the late Dom DeLuise used when he joined Kermit in their sweet duet.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
SEEING GREEN – Disney’s “The Muppets” was a green set (in more ways than one) with an environmental steward who made sure the proper recycling receptacles were utilized on set. All of paper products were made from recycled materials and were compostable. The production also provided each crew member with aluminum refillable water bottles to cut down on the use of plastic bottles and paper cups. Water was readily available on set for cast and crew to fill their personal water bottles.

NICE PAD -- Kermit’s mansion was filmed at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills.

OUI, OUI -- Miss Piggy’s Vogue Paris office was filmed at the Pink Palace mansion in Bel Air.

GO BIG -- Tex Richman's 51st Floor office was shot in the old ARCO headquarters on Figueroa Street in downtown LA.

MAKING MUPPET STUDIOS -- The Muppet Theater, built on Stage 28 on the Universal Studios Lot, incorporated parts of the old “Phantom of the Opera” set into its audience section.
• The Jim Henson Company gate was turned into the Muppet Studios entrance. A sign showcased a series of tour attractions, along with their sad fates:
 Fozzie's Joke Room: Closed
 Gonzo's Cannonade: Closed for Repair
 Rowlf's Music Parlor: Under Renovation
 Dr. Honeydew's Laboratory of Fun: Out of Order

TRICKY TOUR -- Walter's tour through Muppet Studios actually went through The Jim Henson Company on La Brea, Crossroads of the World on Sunset Blvd., the outside of Stage 3 on the Disney Lot in Burbank, two soundstage sets on the Universal Lot (Kermit's Office and the Muppet Theater interior).

SIGNATURE ARCHES -- A set design replicating the arches from the opening title sequence of “The Muppet Show” was recreated and used in the Muppet telethon.

THEY’VE GOT CHARACTER
RIBET – Kermit the Frog first appeared on “Afternoon, Footlight Theater” and “Sam and Friends” in 1955.
• A balloon of Kermit appears annually in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
• Kermit has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Kermit celebrated his 50th Anniversary in Kermit, Texas, in 2005 and received a key to the city.

PROMINENT PIG – Miss Piggy first appeared in the chorus on “The Herb Alpert Special” in 1974.
• She appeared as 1st Sow in the “Return to the Planet of The Pigs” bit on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975 (which was, in effect, the pilot for “The Muppet Show”).
• She was also a chorus pig in the first season of “The Muppet Show.” Her break-out performance was in a number called “Temptation” on the Juliet Prowse episode.
• The confident character was called Miss Piggy for the first time on “The Muppet Show” in 1976.

MAKING HIS DEBUT -- Walter was a character conceptualized by Jason Segel specifically for Disney’s “The Muppets.”

THE GREAT – Gonzo first appeared in “The Great Santa Claus Switch” as the Cigar Box Frackle in 1970.
• He appeared on “The Herb Alpert Special” in 1974.
• Gonzo as he’s now known debuted on “The Muppet Show” in 1976.

WOCKA WOCKA – Fozzie first appeared on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975.

TOP DAWG – Rowlf first appeared on for a Purina Dog Chow commercial in 1962.
• He began appearances on “The Jimmy Dean Show” in 1963.

HECKLERS -- Statler & Waldorf first heckled on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975.

STAR-SPANGLED -- Sam the Eagle first was offended and appalled by the Muppets on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975.

PRE-HEATED -- The Swedish Chef kicked off his cooking career on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975.

RAT-A-TAT -- Rizzo the Rat originally appeared as an uncredited vermin in “The Muppets Musicians of Bremen” in 1972.
• He was revamped by Steve Whitmire for “The Muppet Show” sometime between 1978 and 1980, and credited as Rizzo the Rat for the first time in 1981’s “The Great Muppet Caper.”

IT’S ELECTRIC -- The Electric Mayhem, including Dr. Teeth, Animal, Janice, Floyd and Zoot, launched their legendary career on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975.

ABOUT THE MOVIE
On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, Disney’s “The Muppets” hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.

Fiction Friday: Two Writing Books To Add To Your Collection

2011-12-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

I am very excited to recommend two new writing books!

The first one is a book that you can read a little bit every day. If you've heard of (or done) NaNoWriMo this book is the guidebook for how to make writing a novel in a month actually happen. It's not just "You can do it!" it's "Here's how to do it!"

Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book In 26 Days (And Live To Tell About It) by Rachelle Melander

Find the focus, energy, and drive you need to start--and finish--your book

According to a recent survey, 81 percent of Americans want to write a book. But finding free time to write can be difficult for Americans. According to Gallup's annual lifestyle poll, 60% of working Americans say that do not have time to do what they want to do.

So many would-be authors start writing only to stall out due to writer's block, mental fatigue, and other challenges. Write-A-Thon helps you overcome those stumbling blocks and complete your book once and for all. And you don't have to type away for years on end. Here's a plan that will help you write your book--in twenty-six days!

Write-A-Thon gives you the tools, advice, and inspiration you need to succeed before, during, and after your writing race. Solid instruction, positive psychology, and inspiration from marathon runners will give you the momentum to take each step from here to the finish line.

*Start out well prepared: Learn how to train your attitude, your writing, and your life -- and plan your novel or nonfiction book.
*Maintain your pace: Get advice and inspiration to stay motivated and keep writing.
*Bask in your accomplishment: Find the best ways to recover and move forward once the marathon is over and you have a completed manuscript in hand.

Writing a book in twenty-six days may seem impossible--especially if you don't write full time--but in Write-A-Thon, Rochelle Melander will teach you the life skills, performance techniques, and writing tools you need to finish your manuscript in less than a month--guaranteed!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This next book is from a writer I've been following on YouTube for awhile. So when I found out she was creating a "how-to" book on plotting, I knew I had to get my hands on it. If you want to learn to plot, this resource is a wonderful overview with details any writer can benefit from. Here's what it's about:

The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Storytelling Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson

When it comes to writing bestsellers, it's all about the plot. Trouble is, plot is where most writers fall down--but you don't have to be one of them. With this book, you'll learn how to create stories that build suspense, reveal character, and engage readers--one scene at a time.
Celebrated writing teacher and author Martha Alderson has devised a plotting system that's as innovative as it is easy to implement. With her foolproof blueprint, you'll learn to devise a successful storyline for any genre. She shows how to:

Use the power of the Universal Story
Create plot lines and subplots that work together
Effectively use a scene tracker for maximum impact
Insert energetic markers at the right points in your story
Show character transformation at the book's climax
This is the ultimate guide for you to write page-turners that sell!

Book Review: The Names Of God Bible And Giveaway!

2011-12-01T06:00:00.004-05:00

This Bible is perfect for that a good friend who loves to study the Bible or a special woman who has influenced you in your own walk. This hardback edition is FILLED with resources to keep her digging into the Word all through 2012! Maybe you could get one for yourself and one for a friend and give it to her with a giftcard to Starbucks and a promise to meet regularly to talk over what you're learning. That's a gift that truly keeps on giving!

Since this Bible is truly filled with information, I decided to go ahead and post the write-up that the publisher did-- because otherwise I wouldn't do it justice. This new resource is one to check out for someone else... or put it on your wish list for yourself! :)

One of the best ways to get to know God on a deeper level is to know the names and titles both he and his people give to him. Now the bestselling author of Praying the Names of God reveals the richness of God's character and love found in his names. The Names of God Bible restores more than 10,000 occurrences of specific names of God--like Yahweh, El Shadday, El Elyon, and Adonay--to help readers

Discover the Hebrew names of God within the biblical text
Understand the meaning and significance of each name
Encounter God in a new way through prayers, promises, and devotional readings

Perfect for personal study, prayer, and reflection, The Names of God Bible includes these special features

more than 10,000 names and titles of God restored to their Hebrew equivalent and printed in brown ink to stand out within the biblical text
Names of God Reading Paths lead readers to the next reference of the name so they can pray the names of God throughout Scripture
Name Pages feature
- background information associated with 68 names and titles of God
- key Scripture passages in which the meaning is revealed
- devotional readings on each of the featured names
- specific Bible promises connected to each of the featured names
introductions to each book of the Bible highlight the main themes and list the names and titles that appear in that book
300 callouts highlight key Scripture for memorization and reflection
Calling God by Name sidebars shed light on the relationship between biblical people and the specific names they called God
topical prayer guide, pronunciation guide, name index, and Bible reading plans to assist in study

Anyone who desires a deeper understanding of God and new insights into the Bible will cherish The Names of God Bible as it opens a door into the Hebrew roots of the faith and the Scriptures.

But wait, there's more! I am giving away one copy of this Bible! Please leave a comment and make sure I can reach you if you win. I will announce the winner on this post next Monday!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND NOTIFIED.

Review: Christmas Novels!

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Oh the Christmas novels!

I have to read at least one every year. It seems the cheesier, sappier, etc. they are, the better when it comes to Christmas novels! Bring on the romance and sentimentality!

So this Christmas I am sharing some titles that are on my "to be read" list for December. Maybe you'll pick up one or two for yourself... or a friend:

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson
The small town of Parrish Springs is not ready for Matilda Honeycutt. A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town's quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn't fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.

Once again, Melody Carlson delivers a Christmas story that will touch hearts and delight the senses. Sure to be a classic, The Christmas Shoppe is filled with the special magic the best Christmas stories share--that intangible mixture of nostalgia, joy, and a little bit of magic.

Paper Angels by Billy Coffey
Andy Sommerville seems no different than others in his rural Virginia community, but what sets him apart is that his best friend is an angel. The angel is God's answer to a childhood prayer Andy offered to a twinkling star that his deceased mother once called "the door to heaven." The first angelic proclamation instructs Andy to find the wooden keepsake box in his grandparents' attic. Over the years, he directs Andy to fill it with apparently meaningless objects from twelve people with who Andy randomly crosses paths.

Andy's world is turned upside down when a brutal attack leaves Andy burned and the boy he loved as a son dead. At this crucial juncture, the angel abandons him to loneliness and pain. All that remains is the wooden box Andy has always kept safe, and a new angel, who will use its contents to reveal truth to him as a result, he discovers the defining truth of his life, new hope in the community he loves, and greater trust in the God who sustains him.

The story is told from Andy's hospital bed, where he awakes feeling God has abandoned him. Without being preachy or saccharine, the author brings the small town to life and reveals a spiritual secret--the presence of angels--that helps a wounded man discover the defining truth of his life, place new hope in the community he loves, and trust totally in the God who sustains him.

Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh
Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls on Thanksgiving weekend begging him to come home after his stepfather has a stroke, Rick is more than a little reluctant. He's never liked Art and resents the man's presence in his life, despite the fact that his own father abandoned the family when Rick was just twelve. When what was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and running off the homeless man who keep hanging about, Rick's attitude sours even more. Still, slowly but surely, the little bookstore and its quirky patrons--as well as the lovely young woman who works at his side each day--work their magic on him, revealing to Rick the truth about his family, his own life, and the true meaning of Christmas. With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story will have readers remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.

My hope is that one day I'll be sharing a Christmas novel (or more) that I wrote. I'll keep ya posted!

My Favorite Bible Giveaway!

2011-11-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

With the vibrant illustrations and engaging text in this Bible storybook, you can enjoy sharing the best-loved stories of the Bible with the children in your life and encourage a life-long love for the Word of God. My Favorite Bible is a book of exciting Bible stories and activity pages that guide children through the foundational truths of Scripture.

Each story is fully illustrated and includes a simple narrative full of things kids love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, and discussion questions to help adults introduce children to the Bible.

The colorful illustrations will capture the imaginations of children ages 4–8, and the stories will help adults to pass along the most important truth in life—the Gospel. Families will cherish this time as they read, listen, learn, and love, growing closer to one another even as they grow closer to God.

Marybeth's Note: This Bible will be waiting for my youngest on Christmas morning. Shhh! She's going to love it, especially since she's in that magical time of learning to read and discovering the world that reading unlocks. There's no better world for her to unlock-- no greater story for her to discover-- than the Bible. This version's friendly, gentle format provides a wonderful introduction just for her age (6). She can read it to herself, or we can read it to her and incorporate the Family Fun activities at the end of each story.

The best news is, I am giving away a copy! Leave a comment telling me who you're trying to win it for and you'll be entered. I will post the name of the winner at the end of the week here on this post. Make sure I have a way to contact you to let you know you won!

COMMENTS NOW CLOSED. A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND NOTIFIED.

Review Week!

2011-11-28T06:00:00.002-05:00

It's review week at my blog all this week-- just in time for Christmas you can find out about great books for the folks on your list. I LOVE getting books for Christmas. Nothing makes me happier than a gift card to a bookstore. (And if you have an indie bookstore in your area, patronize them! I love the small stores. Sure you might pay a bit more, but your money is going back into your community and supporting the kind of bookstores we grew up on. Plus you can't beat the personal attention and customer service.) Ok, stepping off my soapbox...

Anyway, for the rest of this week please come back as I am going to have a giveaway or two and recommend some great products for the kids, women, and writers on your list. Yay!

The Muppet Movie Review

2011-11-23T06:00:00.003-05:00

A few days ago, my kids and I got the chance to preview this movie. I will admit, I did it for my kids and didn't have a huge desire to see it myself. The surprising part was how much I enjoyed it. The movie is silly and fun, and I left the theater feeling happy. Watching it brought back memories of being a little kid in front of the tv with my brother watching The Muppet Show, waiting for my favorite characters to come on the screen. (Personally I loved Beaker and Chef.) I'd forgotten how much I loved The Muppets... and that's really what this movie is about. It also asks a question: Is this generation of kids too cynical, too jaded to love what our generation loved? I liked the question-- and I liked the answer too. It's definitely worth taking your kids to. You just might find yourself leaving with a smile on your face like I did. Anything that makes me smile and takes me back to a simpler time is a good thing in my book!

Just for fun, here's a quiz for you:

What Muppet Are You?

Question 1: What do your co-workers often find in your e-mails?

A) Hi ho! A simple and friendly greeting.
B) A joke. They may not need it, but they’re going to read it!
C) A demand, a self-flattering remark, and a reference to yourself in the third person.
D) LOTS!! OF CAPITAL!!! LETTERS! AND EXCLAMATION!! POINTS!!
E) An insult.

Question 2: It’s Friday night! What are you up to?
A) Getting together with friends. (Hoping, just this once, they don’t get too out of hand.)
B) Knock-knocking on the comedy club’s door.
C) Making a scene, with a paparazzi entourage.
D) DRUMS! ROCK AND ROLL!....BUNNIES!
E) In the balcony, hurling overripe produce.

Question 3: What brightens your day?
A) When you can get your friends to agree on something.
B) When someone laughs at your joke!
C) A mirror.
D) NOISE!
E) Getting annoyed at bright days.

Question 4: How many Facebook friends do you have?
A) You like to hang out with your friends in person. You’re not so sure about this Facebook thing.
B) Well, if you count the guy who likes your weekly Funny Friday posts. (Kermit, is that you?)
C) They don’t have numbers that go that high, sweetie.
D) LOTS!
E) One. (Sits next to you.)

Question 5: What is your favorite color?
A) Swamp green
B) Custard Pie White
C) Pink is the perfect color. But gold and diamonds are close.
D) Any color, as long as it’s… LOUD!
E) Red. As in “after we watched that last act, we’re seeing red!”

Question 6: Which film is the diamond of your DVD collection?
A) Disney’s “The Muppets” (Even if You Say So Yourself)
B) “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To This Question”
C) “Breakfast (Lunch and Dinner) at Tiffany’s”
D) “Rock & Roll High School!”
E) What’s a DVD?

Question 7: If you could switch lives with anybody for one day, who would it be?
A) Prince William. What you would give for a kiss from Kate! (And great security from lurking pigs.)
B) Jason Segel. A funny man. People actually laugh at his jokes.
C) Yourself. (By the way, most A-list actresses pick you in response to this question.)
D) Keith Richards.
E) Don Rickles

Now count up all of your answers for each letter.
· If you got the most As, you’re KERMIT! You’re loyal, professional and humble. Your friends mean the world to you – even if they sometimes drive you crazy.

· If you got the most Bs, you’re FOZZIE BEAR! You live to make others laugh. Or chuckle. Or at least chortle and maybe smile a little.

· If you got the most Cs, you’re MISS PIGGY! You are self-confident A diva who is not afraid to shine. You enjoy being admired. Actually, you demand it!

· If you got the most Ds, you’re ANIMAL! You live for Rock & Roll, big loud parties and bigger louder drums. You’re also fond of bunny rabbits.

· If you got the most Es, you’re STATLER AND WALDORF, those two old hecklers in the balcony. You have strong opinions which you share at every opportunity.

Summary:
On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With signature celebrity cameos, Disney’s “The Muppets” hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.

Thanksgiving Week

2011-11-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

I'm taking some time off this week to prepare for Thanksgiving and spend time with my family. (Although I am posting a review of a movie on Wednesday so stop by then to see what movie it is and what I thought of it.)

Hope you all have a wonderful time with family, eat lots of good food, and get some rest. That's what I plan to do! I'll see you back here next week with some great reviews and giveaways that might just help you with your Christmas buying!

Fiction Friday: Your Dream Is Not Dead, It's Nesting (A Guest Post)

2011-11-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

Today's post is a guest post by my friend Mary DeMuth, who has shared her wisdom with us here before. She has lots of writerly resources over at her site www.marydemuth.com. This article was in her newsletter and I loved it so much, I asked her to share it here. I think many writers can empathize with that feeling of having a dream that has died. But Mary shares here that your dream might not be dead-- it might just be nesting. How could seeing your dream that way change your outlook? Read on...

The other day my husband came into the house and said, "I don't know what to do about the dead bird in the gutter."

"There's a dead bird in our gutter?"

"Yeah, I think so. I'm not sure if I need to go up there with a ladder, or call someone in case it died of a disease."

An hour or so later, Aidan saw the bird's wing jutting at a strange angle from the gutter. "Dad," he said. "It's not dead. It's moving."

After some investigation, we realized that the bird wasn't dead or dying. It was nesting. And its husband often kept vigil nearby. (The birds are doves; I like to think of them as husband and wife.)

I thought about our misconception, and then the Lord zinged me. "Your dream isn't dead. It may look dead. But it's nesting."

His words to me are His words to you.

Do you have a dream?

Do you think it's dead?

Have you thought of the possibility that your dream isn't dead after all, but in a period of waiting and watching before it hatches?

So many of us give up too quickly on the dreams God plants inside us. Consider Oswald Chambers' important words:

"God gives us the vision {dream}, then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we have patience."

So you may feel battered and frustrated and bewildered. But there is life yet in that dream, a twitch of a wing, the waiting of a patient mama bird. You need to sit and rest and wait and trust. Everything will be made clear in God's perfect time. The hatching will come. Rest in Philippians 1:6: "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Thursday Thought: Dealing With Disappointment

2011-11-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

Today instead of writing a Thursday thought, I'm going to share a link to a post that really touched on some personal things I've been dealing with. Courtney Walsh shared what I've been feeling myself lately in her post When Disappointment Moonlights As An Answer To Prayer. Perhaps some of you will identify with the thoughts she expresses on dealing with disappointment like I did. Sometimes it's just good to know you're not the only one...

Psalms For Moms: Beautiful Transparency

2011-11-16T06:00:00.002-05:00

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17

"There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are." Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

Be who you are-- before God and before man. He knows the truth anyway. You're not fooling Him. And why would you want to go around trying to fool others anyway? As my friend Lisa Whittle says, be brave and others will feel brave. Go first. Tell the ugly stuff and watch others relax and say, "Oh you too? I thought I was the only one!" That kind of transparency is really beautiful.

Two For Tuesday: The Davids and the The Chrises

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have two names that recur in my music preferences: David and Chris

Under David you got David Gray, David Baerwald, and Dave Matthews

Under the Chrises you got Chris Botti, Chris Rea, and Chris Daughtry

Ahh. I've had such fun writing this particular post and finding songs to share with you! Hope you enjoy listening/watching. (Especially that Dave Matthews one featuring Julia Roberts-- it was part of the inspiration for a piece of fiction I'm playing with right now.)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Outside my window . . . 70 and sunny.

I am thinking . . . about how much I look forward to attending the Southern Christmas Show each year with my mom. It's a fun tradition.

I am thankful for . . . only being asked to have the faith of a child. We make it so much bigger and harder than it has to be.

From the kitchen . . . time to start thinking about Thanksgiving menus.

I am wearing . . . black fleece pants from Old Navy, a gray long sleeved tee shirt that says "Brewery Vivant," a unique restaurant I ate at while in Grand Rapids last week.

I am creating . . . a few days of blog posts and always, a novel.

I am going . . . to the Southern Christmas Show today!! This is the official start of the Christmas season for me. The smells, the gifts, the food!

I am wondering . . . if I should buy the new Nook Tablet. It looks pretty good. Now if it just did the laundry...

I am reading . . . The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. Why am I just now reading this amazing book?? But of course, it comes at the perfect time.

I am hoping . . . to get through my edits on my current book quickly. Next weekend I'm planning to slip away to a hotel for the night and work, work, work. That's the best way to tackle edits, I'm finding-- to immerse myself in them.

I am looking forward to . . . Thanksgiving with family. And turkey. And dressing. And mashed potatoes and... you get the idea.

I am hearing . . . pounding feet over my head-- kids are playing in the bonus room.

Around the house . . . the Thanksgiving things are out-- cornucopias and pilgrims and indians and pumpkins everywhere there's a spare surface.

One of my favorite things . . . my writing friends.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . planning Thanksgiving menu and starting to pick up some items (I say this every year and never seem to do it, always ending up at the grocery the day before with the hordes of other last minute shoppers. But not this year, I say. Not this year!), dinner out with extended family that are coming in town, writing, cleaning, playing a lot of Chris Botti while I do all of the above.

Pondering these words . . . come back Thursday and I'll share what I'm pondering. (That's what they call a teaser.)

Fiction Friday: 25 Insights on Becoming A Better Writer

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

I read this post and had to share it with you. It might take you awhile to read all the way through, but it'll be worth it-- a collection of quotes from famous writers about their best writing advice? I'll take it!

Thursday Thought: Your Past Does Not Determine Your Future

2011-11-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

This meant a lot to me when I read it. I hope it means a lot to some of you, too:

Your Past Does Not Determine Your Future

“Isn’t that the carpenters son? “Did she not have five husbands?” “Did we not catch her in the act of adultery?” Wasn’t that man a drug addict?” God is a redeemer to the rejected of this world, a restorer of all that has been lost, and a bridge to all that can be gained through Him. What is your story? Everybody has a story, but in the hands of our God, your previous story matters very little. Your past does not determine your future, and our God can make the end of any matter greater than the beginning.

Have you been letting your past story be a hindrance to your future?
Will you let go of your past and embrace tomorrow in the freedom you have in Christ?

You are not alone, and the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. Go forward in the power and assurance of your God.

(Source: Robert Ricciardelli www.convergingzone.com)

Psalms For Moms

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Once again I’ll go over what God has done,

lay out on the table the ancient wonders;

I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished,

and give a long, loving look at your acts.”

~Ps. 77: 11-12 MSG

Ann Voskamp sent this out as her weekend post, and I wanted to share it here with those who might've missed it. This verse expresses where I'm trying to live right now, reflecting on God's faithfulness in the past as I look towards an uncertain future.

Two For Tuesday

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Two ways to motivate yourself:

Give yourself a deadline. Or ask a friend to give you one and hold you accountable.

Withhold a reward from yourself until you do something.

People ask me all the time how I make myself write. Since I don't have a direct boss or even a specific timetable most of the time a lot of what I do has to be self-directed. But the problem with self direction is that you are apt to let yourself off the hook with excuses like it's that time of the month, I have a headache, I need to clean the house, I need to go shopping, I'm tired, I'd rather watch a movie, etc.

So I have found that I have to motivate myself or else I'll never get anything done. Giving myself assignments and a deadline to complete them as if an authority figure gave it to me has been extremely motivating. I've reached a place where I can't stand to let myself down. The more you do it, the more normal that will feel.

And for the times when I'm tempted to quit and go do something fun, I tell myself that if I just do (fill in the blank) I can do that fun thing. Ie, write one more scene and you can have dinner. Write this blog post and you can get a coffee. Finish this devotion and you can watch that movie. Etc.

It's not easy to hold your own feet to the fire, but it's definitely possible. Find what works on you and use it against yourself.

Stir It Up

2011-11-07T06:00:00.005-05:00

Today I've got a devotion running over at P31. This one's called Stir It Up and it's about the time I forgot to stir my sweetener into my coffee and then wondered what happened when I took a sip and it wasn't sweet. Yes, everything is fodder for writing! Even goof-ups! (Especially goof-ups!)

In honor of today's devotion I'm offering a ten dollar Starbucks gift card to one winner. Leave a comment here and share how God's stirring you up right now for your chance to win.

I'll start. God's stirring me up with my writing. And learning to balance it all. And dealing with this passle of kids we've got. Oh, and with trusting Him with our financial future. As we face having two in college next year I can start hyperventilating when I try to control it all. He's teaching me to let go, and-- sorry for the cliche-- let Him.

Your turn!

Fiction Friday: Suspense

2011-11-04T06:00:00.003-04:00

Every novel must have suspense whether it would be billed as a thriller or a mystery or a love story or a friendship novel. You've got to have an element that keeps your reader guessing, "What's going to happen next?"

I've been reading Noah Lukeman's The Plot Thickens and especially liked his chapter on creating suspense and how to do it. He outlines 12 ways that I can't tell you because I doubt he'd like me giving that info away. He'd probably prefer you to get the book. If you're a fiction writer, I'd say it's worth the purchase if for nothing than to read through his chapters on suspense and conflict.

But I did want to share his definition of what suspense is because I thought it was a good explanation:

Suspense, ultimately, is about anticipation. It is about what we do not
have, what has not happened. It is about the process of
watching events unfold. Once the victim is murdered, the woman wooed, the
suspense disappears. But while the victim is stalked, the girl courted, suspense
looms. Suspense, simply, is about creating and prolonging anticipation.

If you're writing fiction, how can you add suspense to the page? How can you prolong something for your characters-- and hence, your reader-- thereby building suspense? Add that element, and you will keep readers turning the pages all the way to the end.

My favorite reader letter to get isn't the one from the person who tells me they bought the book... but that they finished it. That is when I know I did my job.

Thursday Thought: I Could Care Less

2011-11-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

Warning: honest post ahead.

The other day my 17yo daughter and I were talking about driving. She told me a story about how someone behind her in traffic got mad and beeped their horn because she wasn't pulling out fast enough for them. I told her not to worry about what that driver thought-- to take her time until she felt comfortable. That some random stranger's opinion about her driving isn't worth risking her life for. After all, I told her, you'll most likely never see that person again.

This started a series of thoughts for me personally as I thought of the things I do so that some total stranger doesn't think badly of me-- when chances are I'll never see that person again. And yet, in that moment, their opinion matters too much. Whether it's the hesitance to dance to a song I love lest someone see me, or the freedom to dress in what I want to wear lest someone judge my fashion sense, or the courage to attempt something I want to do lest someone make fun of me-- I let other people's opinions weigh heavily on the decisions I make. People who shouldn't make any difference to me. How absurd is it that we might make a risky driving decision just because the stranger behind us might be miffed about our pause?

I wish I had an answer for this dilemma. I'm working on it. Trying to live like I don't care-- being true to what I know I've been called to do, without focusing on what other people think. I don't want to live in fear of embarrassment or exposure. I want to take my time, take risks, and take care of myself and those I love. Do I care about other people? Absolutely. But I've got to answer to God and to my husband and family-- and that's where my concern should end. And yet, I let it extend outwards and outwards and outwards. I could care less. In this case, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

Psalms For Moms: Grace For The Good Girl

2011-11-02T06:00:00.002-04:00

The lovely and gracious Emily Freeman has granted me permission to share excerpts from her book Grace For The Good Girl as my Psalms For Moms posts throughout the month of October. October is officially over but I wanted to share one last thought with you. Thanks Emily for sharing with us!

Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."

My favorite version of this verse is "Cease striving and know that I am God." What a reminder for me. I can stop striving-- for money, for success, for attention, for favor, for... fill in the blanks. Instead I can simply know that He is God. When I rest in that fact-- when I simply trust Him and His perfect plans-- I find rest. Stillness. Don't know about you, but I crave rest. I crave the simplicity of just trusting and not striving. It's... freeing.

Here's what Emily had to say:

"Along with the Psalmist I can sing of stillness and of knowing that the Lord, He is God. God does not say "be still and feel like I am God." He says be still, cease striving, make space... and know. Know it as sure as oxygen and gravity. We have a fortress, a refuge, a safe place. His name is Jesus."
What do you need to stop striving for today? Your children's security? Your financial future? Your marriage? Your position or acceptance? How can you be still and know?

Menu Plan Monday

2011-10-31T06:00:00.002-04:00

This week's menu:

Monday: Chili and cornbread (Nothing says trick or treat like a nice warm bowl of chili before you venture out!)

Tuesday: Barbecue Pork Sandwiches, Tater Tots, Corn (I make my barbecue pork with a pork tenderloin in the crockpot all day covered in a bottle of barbecue sauce. Shred with two forks just before serving and serve on buns. Easy and delish!)

Wednesday: Italian chicken, pasta, green beans

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Hamburgers on the grill, chips

Fiction Friday: You've Written A Novel, Now What?

2011-10-28T06:00:00.002-04:00

This post by my sort-of friend Juliette Fay (by sort-of friend I mean we've traded a few emails and she's a very nice person) is a great primer on what to do once you've typed the words "The End." I couldn't have said it better myself-- and I figure, why try?

Thursday Thought: {W}hole Review and Giveaway

2011-10-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

My friend Lisa Whittle has written an excellent book. It's the book we've been studying in our book study each week-- a randomly put together group of us met to hash out what wholeness looks like, and what personal holes prevent us from achieving the wholeness we desire. We talked, we cried, we vented, and-- as Lisa said-- we "went there." {W}hole is a book for people who want to go there-- to dig deeply into those things that we might otherwise not take the time to look at. We talked about how our religion, our roles and our experiences can lead to holes in our life.

I will share some quotes I've underlined:

Religion will always feel bad when we define our relationship with a supreme God by simple trying to perform spiritual things really well.

To gain true and lasting spiritual freedom, I would have to be brave enough to look at those holes without looking away. It would mean the difference in the quality of my life and how much I would be able to experience a real God without limits-- something I had always wanted. And something, as it turns out, that is available to us all.

More than thirty million adults say that their experiences with religion have caused them to question God.

Like me or not, I pray that you cannot deny the presence of God in my life.

One of the most curious things about humans is how hard we resist change. Even when our lives unravel before us, there is still something inside that holds on to the mess just so we don't have to do something different.

The roles we have in life often hold our hearts in their hands, so when the roles are taken away, our hearts are dropped and broken. We have depended on them to fulfill us, and that has created a hole... But these roles do not make me who I am at the very core. They are simply what I am blessed to do while God chooses to leave me on this earth.

When you screw up as often as I do, you're that much more thankful for an all-access God who has no ability to make mistakes and yet infinite capacity to handle ours.

Here's a link to the book site, where you can watch the trailer and learn more about what Lisa is offering in and through this labor of love birthed from her own personal struggles. Suffice it to say that this is an author who has truly lived her words.

If you're looking to "go there" in your spiritual life, I suggest you get {W}hole. This book will challenge you if you let it. It's one I would suggest reading a little each morning, with a pen for underlining and your journal pages open for recording what God reveals about your story as you read.

With that in mind, I am giving away a copy of {W}hole, a journal, and my favorite pen to one lucky winner! Please leave a comment to win, telling me why you'd like to dig into {W}hole!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. GILLIAN WAS THE WINNER-- IF YOU DIDN'T WIN THIS TIME, PLEASE CONSIDER BUYING LISA'S BOOK. IT'S A WONDERFUL BOOK TO GO THROUGH IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL QUIET TIME!

Psalms For Moms: Grace For The Good Girl

2011-10-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

Two For Tuesday: A Change Of Pace For Breakfast

2011-10-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

Want something different for breakfast? Tired of the same old cereal routine? Here are two things we've had at our house recently:

This is what was for breakfast at my house this weekend. I am happy to report my kids ate it! And it took nearly no time to prepare!
http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/apple-peanut-butter-oatmeal-recipe/

And here's a pumpkin spice smoothie that my kids loved:

Blend in blender:
1/3 cup canned pumpkin
8-10 oz. vanilla almond milk
dash of cinnamon and nutmeg
ice
(I also added protein powder for extra nutrition. I buy Vi-Salus but you can always check at your grocery store or Target, etc for a canister. I've also bought Jay Robb Enterprises brand and I see that Jillian Michaels has a brand too, though I've never tried it.)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Outside my window... watching yellow leaves flutter to the ground. Blue skies. Crisp air. Am so enjoying fall this year instead of grieving summer's loss.

I am grateful... for family life. We had a weekend of nothing on the calendar and I needed it.

I am thinking about... how to help one of my kids with an issue. Something she wanted didn't happen and she's sad-- with good reason. It's so hard to watch your kids go through disappointments. Even though I know she will grow stronger through this, I would love to save her from it.

From the kitchen... a change of pace for breakfast. I will be sharing some recipes tomorrow so stop back by!

I am reading... Isaiah, one chapter a day in The Message. It's one of my favorite books in the Bible. Also reading some YA books-- trying to learn how it's done.

I am hoping... that my daughter has a good day at school today in spite of her setbacks.

I am praying... for something I hope to share later. :)

I am hearing... the vacuum, the kids yelling at the dog. Family life.

Around the house... meals and cleaning and taking the dog out and keeping up with library books.

I am pondering... themes in fiction

One of my favorite things... biting into a big, crisp apple.

A few plans for the rest of the week... speaking on writing to the 7th graders at my kids' school, the last week (til we reconvene in Jan) of the book study group I've been attending, errands, and writing, writing, writing.

Want to read more Simple Woman's Daybook entries? Visit this link:
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Fiction Friday: On Endings

2011-10-21T06:00:00.004-04:00

Today I have a devotion running at Proverbs 31. If you've stopped by after reading, welcome! If you'd like to read some further thoughts on today's devotion, scroll down to read my "Psalms For Moms" post I ran on Wednesday. I shared a perspective on that same Scripture from author Emily Freeman. She's got some great insight.

On Fridays around here, I talk about one of my big passions: writing fiction. Today I'm talking about endings-- how they're not always neat and tidy, in life or in fiction. One of the criticisms I've gotten for She Makes It Look Easy is that readers don't like the ending. They wanted me to wrap it up more-- to show what happened to all the characters. But I didn't feel like that was a real representation of life-- at least for me, life doesn't get all wrapped up at the end like a sitcom. Some stuff seems to come to a close, while other things are left hanging. And that's how I left it with Ariel and Justine. You think you know what happened but... you're not totally sure.

I felt a bit bad about these reviews (about people finding fault with the ending) until I read a perspective on one of Jesus' parables, the Prodigal Son story in Luke 15. The author of the essay I read noted that that story ends (and I had to go look this up to find that it's totally true) with the older brother on the porch. Jesus never tells us whether he chose to go inside and join the party or whether he turned and went back to where he was. We don't know what happens to the older brother. We get to decide for ourselves. We get to think about what we would do if we were standing on that porch. When we start putting ourselves in the character's place, the author has done their job.

Of couse Jesus did His job. He's the Master storyteller. I think He wanted us to think for ourselves. He didn't tie his ending up in a nice shiny bow either. I love that-- and I love endings that make us think like that. I won't always do that (I didn't in Mailbox), but when the story calls for it, I will. She Makes It Look Easy called for it. I hope the fates of the characters do haunt you a bit. I hope you are left wondering what happened to Justine, to Ariel, to Erica and Betsy. To me they were-- and are-- worth worrying about... worth musing over long after the last page is turned.

Thursday Thought

2011-10-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

Source: Facebook

Pretty sobering thought, huh? Made me stop short and wonder what I'd even bothered to thank Him for yesterday. If you'd like to be more intentional about gratitude might I recommend picking up Ann Voskamp's book 1000 Gifts? It'll make you think about gratitude like you never have before. She's also got a handy downloadable printable record for each month so you can list your own gifts. October's can be found here. I've got mine on my dresser with a pen right by it so I can jot down items as I think of them.

Psalms For Moms: Grace For The Good Girl

2011-10-19T06:00:00.001-04:00

The lovely and gracious Emily Freeman has granted me permission to share excerpts from her book Grace For The Good Girl as my Psalms For Moms posts throughout the month of October. So each Wednesday in October, you'll be hearing from Emily. Thanks Emily for sharing with us!

Psalm 37:3,Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

On Friday I have a devotion running at Proverbs 31 that's going to go into this more so I had to share this post this week. I was amazed when I saw Emily going into something that I'd also been pondering and had written about. I loved the points she made.

Here's what she had to say:

One of my favorite pictures of safety in Scripture comes from Psalm 139:5-6, where David says, "You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it."

Imagine a day when you are overwhelmed beyond what you thought you could ever bear. Perhaps you just discovered a loved one is sick. Or you have a child who is living contrary to what you know is good for her. Or your husband just lost his job. Maybe you are simply having one of those days where you woke up in a funk. The house is a wreck, the laundry is piled high, the fridge is empty, it's raining. And you feel fat. Maybe you don't have to imagine. Maybe you're living that day right now.

Sometimes on those days, it helps to remember that God has enclosed me behind. That means everything in my past-- every situation, circumstance, pain, fear, and longing I've ever had-- He has been a barrier between those things and me. The Hebrew word translated as "behind" is also used in Scripture to mean "west." And He has enclosed me before, meaning forward, front, or everlasting. It can also mean "east." East and west are opposites forever. They have no beginning, no ending, and they never meet one another. He covers my yesterday and He holds my tomorrow. Still, this present moment is where I live. What about today?

He has enclosed me forever in the past and forever in the future. And then He lays His hand upon me in the great right now. The New Living Translation says it this way: "You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." Imagine a hero who not only leads the way but also brings up the rear and holds your hand all at the same time. I can't imagine a safer place than that.

Two For Tuesday: Two Fallish Recipe Links

2011-10-18T06:00:00.001-04:00

Apple Butter Crescent Rolls: Do these look delish or what?

And here's another sweet treat: Snickerdoodle Blondies. I'm thinking of making these for my kids' school cakewalk. It's not a cake but it sure looks good!

A Recipe

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm returning from Nashville TN today so I am just posting a quick recipe that you all might want to make now that the leaves are changing and the weather is turning cooler. When that happens I start making soup... and lots of it. If you've been visiting my blog for any length of time, you already know how much I love me some soup. And you've probably seen some of my recipes for various kinds of soup. This is one I'll be making soon at our house. It's quick and easy and delicious too!

Hope your family enjoys it!

Italian Chicken Soup

2 lbs of chicken breasts, cooked and shredded with 2 forks
1 medium chopped onion
1 Tbsp olive oil
28 oz can diced tomatoes
2 peeled and diced potatoes
1 can chicken broth
1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp pepper
10 oz pkg frozen mixed vegetables

Saute onion til tender. Stir in tomatoes, potatoes, broth and seasoning. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and and simmer, covered for ten minutes. Add veggies and chicken and simmer for at least 25 minutes (preferably longer). Serve with crusty bread for dipping.

Fiction Friday: Beta Readers (A Guest Post)

2011-10-14T06:00:00.002-04:00

Today's guest post comes from Jodie Bailey, a fellow writer whose comments about submitting her work to beta readers before she turns them in prompted me to ask her to share about that process here. What are beta readers and how can they help an author? Read on!

When I finished my first “real” novel (and believe me, there were a lot of “real” duds before it), I discovered writing the book was the easy part. The hard part was letting someone else read my baby and tell me everything that was wrong with it.
Gulp.

I thought about it for a long time, then decided the only way to get over the fear of possibly hearing “this is complete garbage” was to hand it to someone and make them read it in… front… of… me. My amazing friend/fellow English teacher Shannon did just that. She sat down in a booth across from me, took the three-ring binder I handed her, and sat there for an entire day as we worked our way through that book.

Have I mentioned I totally love her?

Shannon was my first critique partner, and now that I have a fabulous critique group, she’s one of my beta readers. A couple of years ago, I’d have said there wasn’t a difference, but four books later I know there is, and I make sure both lay eyes on my novels before my agent sees a word.

I write in a vacuum, finishing and revising and editing before I ever let anyone see my work. The first ones to see it are my critique group, truly formed by the hand of God working through the touch of ACFW. These are the ladies in my life who know my writer’s heart. They know how it feels to sweat black ink drops onto white paper. They have studied craft beside me and know how to follow the rules—and when to break them. They have the amazing ability to read my work and love me enough to say, “This doesn’t work for me. Maybe this would fix it.” They appreciate what I’m trying to say, but they recognize fatal flaws and refuse to let them go simply because it might hurt my feelings. They’d rather risk pain than see me lose a contract because they were too nice to say something. I love those ladies. They make my writing what it is.

As much as I love my crit partners, there is a big issue with them. They never get to read my work as a whole. We sub in pieces, sometimes out of order, a few pages a week. There’s something lost when you read that way, so after I’ve revised based on their comments, I call on my “first readers.” Typically, I post a message on my Facebook page that says, “Hey, who wants to read an unpublished novel and be mean enough to tell me if it’s bad?” I get an eclectic group, and I pick a varied five (whom I trust!). I want them to read like regular readers then call me up and say, “Hey, at page 72, I really got bored.” Or, “I need more of the conversation that happened on page 81.” They tell me what makes them want to read on and what makes them want to stop. They’re not reading line-by-line, scene-by-scene. We write for the glory of God and for our readers, and we want to know we’re reaching them. My “beta readers” look at my story as a whole and give me a pretty good idea how the general population will see my words.

Scary.

For me, both of these groups are vitally important. We love the words we pour from our hearts onto the page (we wouldn’t do this if we didn’t!), and we will never be able to read them with a truly unbiased eye. If you don’t have a crit group, get one. If you have a crit group and no beta readers, find some. You’ll be amazed the directions they can take you. The New Living Translation of Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” As for Shannon, she suggested I add a scene to that first novel, because she needed clarification on an issue. I wrote that scene, and out of it an entire new book was born. When it comes to having others read our work, God knows exactly what He’s doing…

Thursday Thought

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

This is so me. (Source: Facebook)

Psalms For Moms: Grace For The Good Girl

2011-10-12T06:00:00.001-04:00

Two For Tuesday: Two Books I'm Reading, Ok 3

2011-10-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm reading three memoirs about the farming life right now. Sometimes my reading aligns in a theme, and this is one of those times. I guess this type of book appeals to me because I grew up with cows (Bessie, Charlie and their daughter Daisy) and horses (Sugar, Misty, PeeWee, and others) and bees and dogs and rabbits out in the country. I've said many times that the absence of neighborhood kids and the room to explore and roam shaped me into a writer. While I didn't know that then, I look back at it fondly now. These books put me in touch with that. But don't get me wrong, I don't want that life now. I may like reading about it, but I have to have a Starbucks within seven minutes of me!

The Blueberry Years by Jim Minick

I had the pleasure of meeting Jim at SIBA in September. He's a genuinely nice guy. Of course I had to read his book after meeting him! Here's a description of the book:

The Blueberry Years is a mouth-watering and delightful memoir based on Jim Minick’s trials and tribulations as an organic blueberry farmer. This story of one couple and one farm shows how our country’s appetite for cheap food affects how that food is grown, who does or does not grow it, and what happens to the land. But this memoir also calls attention to the fragile nature of our global food system and our nation’s ambivalence about what we eat and where it comes from.

Readers of Michael Polland and Barbara Kingsolver will savor the tale of Jim’s farm and the exploration of larger issues facing agriculture in the United States—like the rise of organic farming, the plight of small farmers, and the loneliness common in rural America. Ultimately, The Blueberry Years tells the story of a place shaped by a young couple’s dream, and how that dream ripened into one of the mid-Atlantic’s first certified-organic, pick-your-own blueberry farms.

Confessions of A Counterfeit Farm Girl by Susan McCorkindale

At her husband’s prompting, suburban mom and New York career woman Susan McCorkindale agreed to give up her stressful six-figure job. Together, they headed down south to a 500-acre beef farm, and never looked back. Well, he didn’t look back. She did. A lot.

From playing “spot the religious billboard” on the drive to rural Virginia, to adapting to a world without Starbucks, to planning bright-orange hunter-resistant wardrobes for the kids (“We moved here to get away from the madness of Manhattan only to risk getting popped on our own property”), this is her hilarious account of how a city girl came to love—or at least tolerate—country life.

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball

Single, thirtysomething, working as a writer in New York City, Kristin Kimball was living life as an adventure. But she was beginning to feel a sense of longing for a family and for home. When she interviewed a dynamic young farmer, her world changed. Kristin knew nothing about growing vegetables, let alone raising pigs and cattle and driving horses. But on an impulse, smitten, if not yet in love, she shed her city self and moved to five hundred acres near Lake Champlain to start a new farm with him. The Dirty Life is the captivating chronicle of their first year on Essex Farm, from the cold North Country winter through the following harvest season—complete with their wedding in the loft of the barn.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Here's our menu for this week. It's a light week menu-wise at our house with two nights of me not cooking. Last night we had a french toast casserole with a yummy praline pecan topping and sausage and cooked apples. A perfect Sunday night fall meal!

Monday: Chick Fil A Kids Eat Free Night (This is unique to our local CFA. If you live near one, you should see if they do it. If not, look for restaurants that offer this during the week. This is a fun way to eat out without spending a ton.)

Tuesday: Barbecue Pork Chops on the grill, baked potato bar w/chopped broccoli on top of potatoes (Try it, it's good!)

Wednesday: Lime Chicken in the crockpot (included this recipe below), pasta side dish, green beans
Thursday: Spaghetti, Homemade French Baguettes, Salad

Friday: Pizza (I'll be out of town so Curt and the kids will order pizza.)

Lime Chicken In Crockpot

1/4 cup dijon mustard

1/4 cup honey

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

2 minced garlic cloves

3 Tbsp. margarita mix (or juice of one lime)

Mix all sauce ingredients and pour over chicken in crockpot. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.

Fiction Friday: Who Are You?

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

Below is a reprint from a weekly e-newsletter I subscribe to. This one I had to share with you. I included information about Holly Lisle, the author, at the bottom of the article. Her article on plotting with notecards was extremely helpful when I wrote The Mailbox and had not a clue what I was doing.

Holly's Tip -- Ask WHO.

There comes a day when you're sitting with your writing, and you
look at an important character you're writing who has just done
something that makes absolutely no sense in relationship to his
role in your story, and in a fit of frustration, you snarl at this
character...

Who ARE you?

Truth is, a lot of times characters will lie to you. One will come
into your story dressed in a hero's cape and tights, and when you
finally follow her home, you discover she doesn't just have a
skeleton or two in her closet...she has a whole row of bodies lined
up in her basement.

Or you'll find that you get these warm little shivers every time
you write your villain, and what you WANT are COLD shivers, and
then all of a sudden your villain saves a cat from a couple of
neighborhood bullies by being bigger and scarier than they are...and
there goes HIS credibility as a monster.

Not a single one of your characters is who he SAYS he is. Not a
single one of your characters is who YOU say he is.

Your characters ARE what they DO. Same as you.

Words are wind. Unless they're backed up by actions that match
them---either in the real world or in fiction---they're meaningless.

If your have a character who does nothing that matters, then even
if you SAY that character is your main character, he isn't.

If you have a character who hurts people, causes chaos, lies,
cheats, steals, or destroys lives or property or hopes and dreams,
then even if you planned that character as your hero, he isn't a
hero.

You can write a hero who has wonderful intentions, who wants to
save the world or his part of it, who takes actions he says
will help everyone...but if the end result of his actions is that the
people he wanted to save (or maybe a whole bunch of other people he
didn't care about) are hurt, or lose what matters to them---then he
isn't your hero. He's your villain.

Intentions, like words, don't count. Action and the consequences
of that action are all you look at when you're evaluating your
character and his role in your story.

Your characters are what they do, and your job as the writer is to
clearly and honestly evaluate what they do, and build the story
around the people they actually are, and not the people you think
they should be.

You CAN fire your main character from the role of hero, and turn
him into a villain.

You CAN fire your villain and rehire him as your hero.

You can also dump a character who contributes nothing from your
story and replace him with that unappreciated guy who's been doing
all the work for the last hundred pages.

First, though, you have to look past what your character says to
what he or she does.

You have to ask:

When we've moved past words to actions, who ARE you?

Write with joy,
Holly

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Reproduction of any portion of this email is strictly
prohibited without the express written consent of
Holly Lisle.

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Thursday Thought: Decision Fatigue

2011-10-06T06:00:00.002-04:00

I learned about the term "decision fatigue" last week at a conference, and thought I'd share a link with you in case you wanted to learn more about it. I think there's something to it. Too many choices can fry your brain. That's not the technical description for what happens, but I think it fits.

Seth Godin referenced it in a recent post:

What
to do next:

This is the most important decision in your
career (or even your day).
It didn't used to be. What next used to be a
question answered by your boss or your clients.
With so many opportunities
and so many constraints, successfully picking what to do next is your moment of
highest leverage. It deserves more time and attention than most people give it.
If you're not willing to face the abyss of choice, you will almost certainly
not spend enough time dancing with opportunity.

Deciding what to do next is just one decision we make in the course of a day. When you really think about it, the number of decisions we make each day is pretty staggering. I heard a story from a missionary once who returned to the states after time in a third world country. She went to the grocery store and was literally frozen by the number of choices she had in front of her. And yet, we make decisions from the vast numbers of products every time we enter a store without even giving it much thought.

How about you? Do you think you have decision fatigue?

Psalms For Moms: Grace For The Good Girl

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

The lovely and gracious Emily Freeman has granted me permission to share excerpts from her book Grace For The Good Girl as my Psalms For Moms posts throughout the month of October. So for the next four Wednesdays, you'll be hearing from Emily. Thanks Emily for sharing with us!

"I've thrown myself headlong into your arms-- I'm celebrating your rescue." Psalm 13:5, MSG

"At 8:30 pm it feels like midnight. Blinking takes effort. I'm tightly clenching my jaw as I type and I. Can't. Stop. This life is exhausting. And I'm not even sick or pregnant or depressed or dying of starvation or homeless. But I still need a hero. Good thing I've got one. I can receive the mess as a gift because it gives me the opportunity to tell God, 'I've thrown myself headlong into your arms-- I'm celebrating your rescue.' How life-giving it is to know I have someplace to throw myself headlong other than into my bed. Besides, it isn't made and the sheets are dirty anyway."

Two For Tuesday: Two Things That Keep Me (Somewhat) Organized And A Giveaway!

2011-10-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

Today I thought I'd share two things that help keep me organized: my master to-do list notebook and my daily mini legal pad where I "assign" myself things to do, using my master to-do list notebook.

I use the master to-do list to keep track of everything-- kid stuff, writing stuff, business stuff, house stuff, medical stuff... you name it! If it needs doing, it goes in there. But you can't get it all done in one day, right? So that's why I needed one place to put it all. My notebook is one I found at Office Max-- nothing fancy, just a 5X7 size business notebook.

I then use the lists from my master notebook to create daily lists, assigning myself a certain amount for each day according to the day I've got ahead of me. If I'm going to be gone all day, then I know the list needs to be short. If I'm home with time on my hands, the list can be longer. I've gotten a feel for what I can accomplish after years of trial and error. And if it doesn't all get done? Well, that just means it goes on the next day's list. No biggie.

I don't remember when I started this system-- it's been years ago and it still works well. If it goes in the master notebook, it generally gets done. The master list is a big picture list-- I usually make a page a week, sometimes a page a month depending on what I have going on. I take time regularly to sit down with my emails and add items to the notebook using saved emails as reminders. Several times a week I glance over that week's list and make sure I've assigned stuff that needs doing-- thereby spreading out the tasks in a doable way. If I focus on the master list too much I am prone to hyperventilate. That's where the daily lists come in handy. When I break it down, I can handle life. I can get 'er done.

So today I am doing a great giveaway! I'm giving away a master to-do notebook like I use, a small legal pad, AND two organizational books-- Glynnis Whitwer's inspiring new book I Used To Be So Organized and Laura Wittman's Clutter Rehab! The winner of this giveaway is sure to get a handle on life!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO LEFT A COMMENT!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-10-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

Outside my window... not as cool as you might expect as we begin October. But there's something different about the air and the light that means fall is here, no matter what the thermometer says.

I am thinking... about a new book. This one's a YA. Not sure that I will ever write it in its entirety but I'm having fun thinking of it for now. Keeps me entertained.

I am thankful... to be a writer. Sometimes I still can't believe that this is what I actually do. And people let me.

In the kitchen... soups, casseroles, hearty fall food.

I am wearing... jeans and a white tee shirt, silver flip flops. Haven't switched to fall shoes yet.

I am creating... book ideas and plot lines and character sketches, oh my!

I am going... to Nashville soon. But in the meantime I'm glad to not be going anywhere except about a five mile radius of our house.

I am wondering... when and how I can get myself back into some semblance of an exercise routine.

I am reading... The 19th Wife. I caught the beginning of this movie the other morning on tv and-- while I knew I didn't have time to sit and watch a movie, I got the book from the library. A modern day murder mystery that involves polygamy? Yes please!

I am hoping... to get some writing done this week. There's talking about writing-- and then there's actually putting words on paper.

I am looking forward to... a date night with my husband. Since I've been traveling so much we haven't been able to do that in awhile. Dinner and a movie, anyone?

I am hearing... laughter at tables near me, ice clattering out of the machine and into glasses, the shriek of a child. Am at Panera.

Around the house... Fall decorations are appearing around the house. Love the splashes of orange and brown and red.

I am pondering... how I can possibly read all the books on my TBR (to be read) list. It's borderline obscene.

One of my favorite things... a good old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I have three whole days this week with nothing on the calendar. Bliss. I also have a study I am doing with a group of women-- going through
{W}hole by Lisa Whittle and she's leading it! So fun! Am also having lunch with an old friend and volunteering at my kids' school.

A picture thought I am sharing:

A recent "wedding" I attended. The nuptials were a tribute to the SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Association) finalists for Book Of The Year. I was honored to be invited to take part since The Mailbox was a finalist. Some of the highlights of the night were the toasts to the bride and groom written by the authors, the groom's book jacket jacket (sewn together entirely out of book jackets), and the vows that included a reference to each of the books nominated. I'll never forget it.

Fiction Friday: Writing Likable Characters

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

Last week we asked our characters who they are. This week we're asking: Does anyone like you?

That's a question we have to answer for our characters. These two posts will help to determine how to make sure that the answer is a resounding YES!

Captain America's Ten Step Guide To The Likable Hero

Creating Sympathetic Heroes, Part I

I will never forget one of the biggest pieces of feedback I got from my editor after she read She Makes It Look Easy was "I don't like your main character. She's insecure, she whines, she's not good at anything she does. I just feel depressed when I read her." I had to go back and figure out how to make it so my reader didn't feel that way about her. Because if readers feel that way, they will put your book down. I hope that these posts will help you create likable characters so you never have to hear what my editor said. If I can save one person from that fate, I've done my job.

Thursday Thought: Towards Healing

2011-09-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I ran a guest post from my friend Mary DeMuth. Today I am providing a link to a video by her that I hope you will watch. If it doesn't apply to you, then perhaps you know someone who needs this information and encouragement. Take a few minutes to hear what she has to say. It's worth listening to.

(I would post the video here but apparently my computer has developed an allergy to all videos by YouTube. If I try to load one, it shuts the whole thing down.)

Psalms For Moms: Sing (A Guest Post)

2011-09-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

I read today's post in my dear friend Mary DeMuth's newsletter and immediately emailed her to ask if I could use it as Psalms For Moms guest post, to which she graciously said yes. Visit Mary and find out about her wonderfulness at her site. Access her September newsletter in its entirety (and subscribe for yourself) here.

I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
for you have ransomed me. Psalm 71:23

"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them." Henry David Thoreau

Will you die with your song still inside? Will I? Is there something only you can sing to the world that must be sung, but fear has held you hostage? The Lord tells us all, it's time to sing.

But sometimes I fear I've lost my voice.

Yesterday I read this in Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. The setting is that Much-Afraid, a scarred and scared woman is trying to venture to the high places. In this point in her journey mountainward, she is in the mist, nothing all around her but her companions Sorrow and Suffering. And everywhere she walks, she hears the voices of her enemies, trying to discourage and destroy her. Finally, after the voices threaten to stop her, she decides to sing.

"There was perfect silence as she sang. The loud, sneering voices of her enemies had died away altogether. 'It is a good idea,' said Much-Afraid to herself jubilantly. 'I wish I had thought of it before. It [singing] is a much better way to avoid hearing what they are saying than putting cotton in my ears, and I believe, yes, I really do believe, there is a little rift in the mist ahead. How lovely, I shall sing the verse again.' And she did so. (page 162).

This touched me. It reminded me. It helped me.

I am called to sing.

Particularly when the voices inside and around me are hollering terrible things. My job is to refrain from stifling myself and be brave enough to sing a song to Jesus.

Today was a terrible day. Yesterday too. The day before was even worse. When I ran along the neighborhood and music flooded my earphones, all I could do was cry. I heard music but I didn't sing. Couldn't.

But then I read this small little verse and I remembered:

I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
for you have ransomed me. Psalm 71:23

God has ransomed me.

I must sing.

And so must you.

Two For Tuesday: Blogging Tips

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a post for those of you who are bloggers-- or want to be.

This post is filled with ideas that will serve as a springboard to get you blogging-- especially if you've hit a slump and need some new ideas. Get out a piece of paper and make a list of posts you want to write, adding personal, specific details as they come to mind. Use this list whenever you sit down to write.

This post is by Michael Hyatt about how to write a blog post in 70 minutes. The tips he gives are good for any kind of writing-- whether a devotion, a blog post, an article, essay or book. I especially like the point about starting the night before. I do that but had never really thought about what I was doing.

A New Blogging Schedule

2011-09-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

One of the things I thought a lot about during my month off in July and my different schedule in August was what I wanted to do when I came back to posting on a regular schedule. I knew I wanted to make some changes as I get tired of the same old thing.

And so, here's what I am going to try-- a new schedule just to keep things from being the same old same old around here.

Mondays: Either Menu Plan Monday (with the occasional recipe thrown in for good measure) or a Simple Woman's Daybook entry. This will vary according to what I am in the mood to write. The past two weeks I've done one of each so you can go back and see what I am talking about if you missed them.

Tuesdays: Two For Tuesdays-- I will write about two things that are on my mind that are related in some way. This might mean verses, quotes, links to posts, authors I'm enjoying, recipes I've made lately... there will be no rhyme or reason to it, which I think will keep it fresh. I enjoyed doing the Top Ten Posts but felt I had exhausted that topic in the year I did it. Two is easier to come up with than ten.

Wednesdays: Will remain "Psalms For Moms" posts. This seems to be a popular post and I still have plenty of Psalms I haven't touched on yet.

Thursdays: Will remain the "Thursday Thought"-- I am going to try to keep Thursdays short and sweet, focusing on good quotes and things that will get you thinking, but not belaboring them.

Fridays: Will remain Fiction Friday. I could talk fiction every day of the week, so I am showing restraint in limiting it to just Fridays.

I hope you like this new schedule. I am excited about changing things up and will look forward to sharing with you in this new school year!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-09-19T06:00:00.004-04:00

I am taking the rest of this week off from blogging as I am going to be traveling a lot this week. I hope you all have a great week! If you are stopping by after reading the devotion at Proverbs 31, welcome! I hope you'll stay and poke around for awhile. Glad to have you! I will be back next Monday, when I will be announcing my new blogging daily schedule. I hope you'll come back for a visit then.

Outside my window... sunny as I write this-- blue skies, wispy clouds, still warm with just the barest hint of fall in the air

I am thinking... about the week ahead-- today I head home from one event and Wednesday I journey to another. I never travel back to back and I hardly travel at all anymore so this is a strange week for me.

I am thankful... for the time I will get to spend with friends I don't see often while I am at these events.

In the kitchen... pizza, Chick Fil A, sub sandwiches-- easy dad-friendly fare

I am wearing... black and white polka dotted pajama pants and a black top

I am creating... updated recipe files. My recipe binder got too full and so I had to go to Office Max and buy the biggest size binder they sell. This new one is 3"-- plenty of room to hold recipes galore! And it's pink!

I am going... to St Louis on Wednesday! Never been there before and looking forward to it.

I am wondering... about my new novel. Soon I will be finding out what I will be writing-- a decision that will be reached with the help and input of me, my agent, and publisher. I am excited about the possibilities!

I am reading... The Art Of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan, Grace For The Good Girl by Emily Freeman, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, The Writer's Compass by Nancy Ellen Dodd-- I never read just one book at a time. I've usually got at least a nonfiction self-help type book, a writing instruction book, and a novel going at any given moment.

I am hoping... my kids do well in school this year. I've got one embarking on his first year of college, one working hard to get into college as it's her senior year, and one beginning high school and hopefully believing the adults who are telling him that freshman year counts.

I am looking forward to... learning at the workshops I will be attending at ACFW.

I am hearing... nothing. Silence really is golden.

Around the house... Packing and unpacking (anyone else feel compelled to start singing the theme song to WKRP In Cincinnati whenever they hear that phrase?). Lists. Errands. Cleaning.

I am pondering... character names. I like to glean from Facebook. Check out the people your friends are friends with for some great suggestions. Also mastheads in magazines have great character names. I can remember being a young teen and poring over the Southern Living masthead to get my character names-- that's a habit that never died out.

One of my favorite things... Greek Pastries. I can't always pronounce them but I do love nibbling on them. Last week we had our annual date night at the Greek Festival in our city and enjoyed it as always. We picked up lots of goodies and the children were grateful we came home bearing sweet gifts.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Travel.

Want to visit other Simple Woman's Daybook editions? Check out her site for links.

Fiction Friday: Persistence Pays Off

2011-09-16T06:00:00.002-04:00

Last Friday we talked about being determined in our writing. Well I am going to continue that theme this week by sharing a snippet from this interview with Danielle Steel that was featured on Goodreads. I have to admit this interview made me grow in respect for her-- I had sort of dismissed her as not a serious writer and that was presumptuous of me. Someone who is as successful as she is must have something going on! I especially loved her comments about ghostwriters.

Anyway, this is the part that I wanted to share with you. It inspired me to keep at it. I hope it does you as well!

Then I thought I'll do this again [write another novel after the success of her first], but then I wrote five others that nobody ever wanted. I have no idea what made me pursue this. I think just stubbornness. I had no thought of becoming famous, and I had made practically no money on the one I sold. But I just always had another story that I wanted to tell, and while those ones were not selling I just kept writing more. And finally the seventh one sold again. I had five unpublished in between my first and the next published book.

I always use it as an example for young writers because persistence is the most important thing. Had I given up anytime between number one and number seven, I would never have had the career I have today. I really think it's important to keep at it and keep with it. And people are very unkind about unpublished authors. You know, the minute you say you're a writer, they say, "Have you been published?" and if you haven't, they think that doesn't make you a writer. But you're a writer if you're writing. And it may take longer than you want to get published. But keep at it. I think persistence wins the prize in almost anything.

Thursday Thought: Grace For The Good Girl Review And Giveaway!

2011-09-15T06:00:00.003-04:00

Grace for the Good Girl addresses the common experience of many Christian women who are trying hard to live a performance-based life instead of resting in God’s grace. We can live in a loving relationship with God by receiving His love, rather than striving to be a “good girl."

I am reading this book because I am a good girl, a rule follower. I know how to toe the line. I am the one asking for clarification of the rules when they are announced. I'm also the one who gets aggravated with those people who completely ignore the rules. I am comfortable with rules. They make me feel safe.

So this book has been good for me-- to shake me up a little. I thought that being a good girl-- obeying the rules (or at least knowing what they are) was a good thing. And I fell into several of the traps that can come along with that mentality, which Emily Freeman outlines in her book.

Here are some quotes I underlined:

If I am trying to please God, it is difficult to trust God. But when I trust God, pleasing Him is automatic.

God longs for us to place our trust in Him rather than in ourselves. One way to do that was to give us a law we could not keep to show us how very perfect He is. And there, in our weak and helpless condition, we would finally agree with Him. We need Someone to act on our behalf.

Worship, not work, flows out of the hearts of those who believe.

You have trained people to think you have no needs, but you are secretly angry with them for believing you.

If you're a good girl, you might want to pick up a copy of this book or leave a comment to win one! I will choose a winner and notify her privately so make sure I have a way to find you via your comment.

I am reading a chapter each morning for my quiet time-- and trying to ignore the fact that having a quiet time is a "good girl" thing to do. Just to be a rebel I am not answering the questions at the end of each chapter. At least, I am not writing the answers down. So there.

THE COMMENTS FOR THIS GIVEAWAY ARE NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER IS mheard11. CONGRATS! YOU'LL LOVE THIS BOOK!

Psalms For Mom: Re-Writing

2011-09-14T06:00:00.002-04:00

"God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes." Psalm 18:24 (Msg)

I just finished a pretty extensive re-write for my third novel that took me most of August. While I knew it was necessary, I didn't relish the rewriting process. I rather wanted to avoid it, wishing the editing fairy would make an appearance.

Today's Psalm tells us that God is doing that work in our lives. He's editing, streamlining, shaping... into the best possible story He can tell. He's the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)-- which means He won't stop til He has the best possible product.

But that doesn't mean the process is easy. Editing is hard and awkward and sometimes painful. Editing is unpleasant. I haven't met an author yet who has told me he or she loves the editing process. But I also haven't met one yet who has told me they could turn in a stellar product without that process.

Today I want to submit to the process, to open the book of my heart to Him and let Him start trimming away, adding and deleting as He sees fit. One thing I love about this verse is that God doesn't just muscle His way in. He waits for us to open ourselves up to Him-- to say, "Here. I've made a mess of this. Will You make something beautiful?" We have to want Him to rewrite our lives.

Are you ready to open the book of your heart to Him?

Top Ten Tuesday: Journaling Tips

2011-09-13T06:00:00.001-04:00

Throughout the month of August I posted journaling prompts. I hope it got you guys thinking... and writing! In light of that, I decided I would offer some journaling tips for those of you who are starting journaling-- or thinking about getting more serious about it.

1. Find a journal that works for you-- whether that's a composition book you bought for a buck or a fancy schmancy leatherbound dealie. I like a 5X7 size spiral bound journal with a durable cover-- and it's even better if that cover is pretty. You just want something that invites you to write. If it seems too ugly, utilitarian or fancy for your personality, it's not going to work.

2. Struggling with something to write about? How about unsent letters? Write a letter to someone you've lost, someone you need to talk to but don't have the courage, someone you need to confess something to, apologize to, etc.

3. Journals are also a great place for goal setting, dreaming, strategizing, etc. Just seeing your hopes in black and white can be the inspiration you need to finally take action. A study done by Kaiser Permanente on 1700 people trying to lose weight, those who wrote down their foods in a journal lost up to twice as much as those who did not.

4. If journaling in the broad sense of the word overwhelms you, consider creating a journal with a specific focus. For example, a weight loss journal, a spiritual journal, a travel journal, a cooking journal, a creative journal, a gratitude journal, a reading journal (write about books you're reading), a dream journal, etc.

5. Don't feel like you have to write every day. Sometimes I only write once a month in mine. If I am not in the mood sometimes I just can't force myself to be. But I am always pleasantly surprised when I push past those feelings of resistance.

6. Don't feel like you have to write in complete sentences-- or write at all. Draw arrows, charts, outlines, or write bullet points using fragments.

7. Don't censor or judge yourself on what you're writing. Shut off your inner critic and just let the emotions come to the surface. Don't worry about language, grammar, or being pc. A journal isn't the place to say what you're "supposed" to say.

8. Go back and re-read your writing from time to time. I've been amazed sometimes to read something I wrote months ago that I thought I was just now figuring out. It's amazing how short our memories can be!

9. Need some inspiration? Read books on journaling. Type in "journaling" into the Amazon search field and you'll get a surprising number of results.

10. Don't count your blog as your journal. Blogs are great but just the fact that they're public doesn't mean that they're going to inhibit what you feel free to say.

Remember, journaling is just taking notes on your life. What do you want to remember? What's important to you? What stands out? That's the stuff you should journal about!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-09-12T06:00:00.002-04:00

Thought I'd share my menu plan today as we kick off a new week.

Pork Tenderloin with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Buttered Corn

Grilled Pork Chops, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans

Grilled Chicken in Homemade Pomodoro Sauce over Penne Pasta, Salad

Roast in the Crockpot over Egg Noodles, Salad

Grilled Chicken, Pasta Salad, Lima Beans

Asian Chicken over rice, Steamed Broccoli

Many of the recipes for this menu plan were from the Gooseberry Patch cookbook, Super Fast Slow Cooking. I got mine at Cracker Barrel but you can order it online via the link I provided. One example of an easy and delicious meal is "Dad's Pork Tenderloin." Put the pork tenderloin in the crockpot and sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Mix a can of Cream of Mushroom, a can of Golden Mushroom, and a can of French Onion Soup together and pour over the meat. Cook all day and serve the meat with the gravy over mashed potatoes or rice or egg noodles. So good! So easy!

How about you? What's for dinner at your house this week? Want more inspiration? Head on over to www.orgjunkie.com and click on her "Menu Plan Monday" link.

Fiction Friday: In Defense of Determination

2011-09-09T06:00:00.002-04:00

The other day as I was running, I was thinking about Chris Daughtry. Ok, so I was listening to Chris Daughtry, which is what got me thinking about him. Chris Daughtry has gone on after American Idol to be one of the most successful musicians ever launched from the show. (And my personal fave) And yet, he didn't win. In fact, he almost didn't even get pushed through by the judges in his initial audition. You can watch it here.

Simon told him no.

But Simon didn't know. He may have had experience. He may know a lot about the music business. He may have picked a lot of hit singers. But this time, he got it wrong.

These thoughts got me thinking about those of us who let that one "no" stop us. We let one person's opinion determine whether we're going to be a success or not. We don't become so determined that nothing-- and no one-- can stop us. We don't believe in ourselves enough to push past the people who have the power to hinder us. We stay stuck in this place when the possibility for success is there all the time.

And so I give you Allison's story of publication success. See what her first agent said. But don't stop reading there. Keep reading. Just like Chris didn't let Simon have the last word, Allison didn't let her first agent have the last word either.

One of you needed to read, and think about, this today. One of you is about to quit when success is waiting just around the corner. One of you is believing the words of someone who-- while they might know a lot about the business-- they don't know everything. They can get it wrong. You've got to believe in yourself enough to keep writing, keep submitting, and have a good dose of toddler-style determination, too. Whoever you are, I hope you do.

Thursday Thought: Jesus, My Father, The CIA And Me

2011-09-08T06:00:00.001-04:00

Ever reviewed a book you didn't read?

That's what I am doing today.

The truth is I didn't read this book. But two people close to me did, and it's because of them that I am sharing this book with you. When I got the offer to review the book, I said yes, thinking that I would give it to my husband to read and then review it in time for Father's Day. But then, well, summer happened. I still don't know how we got from June to September but... we did.

And my grand plans for a Father's Day review never happened.

But in the midst of that my oldest son graduated from high school. And as I was writing in his card I felt that little nudge from God to give him that book-- the one I had intended to give my husband.

Now my son typically isn't the type to read a book I give him or take my advice at all. So I will be honest, I felt pretty silly giving him this book. I knew he would think it was stupid (though he'd be polite to my face) and he'd stick it in a corner and forget all about it. And the book would never get read and it would be just one more thing that didn't happen this summer the way I thought it would. I would be a reviewing failure.

But I know that nudge from God. And I have at least learned that-- even though I might not think it's the best idea-- it's best to do what He says. So I gave my son the book with his graduation card. (And his iPhone which he was, incidentally, way happy about.)

And that was the end of that.

Except.

He went to the beach with some family members and took that book with him. And that stinker read that book. Cover to cover. And it rocked him. It reached him. It changed him. He was amazed by it. He called me when he got home from the beach and told me all about how much that book had meant to him. And this is not a kid who gushes. About anything.

After he read it, my husband wanted to read it. So he read it. And then he gushed about it. He loved it. He talked to me about it. He said he totally understood why my son loved it so much. And he's not one to gush either. About anything.

And so that's my review-- I have not read Jesus, My Father, The CIA And Me. But two very important men in my life have. If you're looking for a book for the man in your life, and God is nudging you after reading this post, then I'd say it's a good idea to follow through on that. Then pray they read it and surprise you.

I am so glad I did.

Psalms For Moms

2011-09-07T06:00:00.002-04:00

"This I know, that God is for me." Psalm 56:9

Do you believe that God is for you? Or do you secretly think that He is really against you? I think of that scene in Bruce Almighty where everything that happens Bruce blames God, looking at the sky and saying "Seriously? You let this happen?"

I have to admit that there were times when I first started trying to have a quiet time on a regular basis that I had the same thoughts run through my head. Something would go wrong and I'd look at the sky, my finger pointed accusingly. "Didn't you see me having my quiet time this morning? Couldn't you let this happen to someone who didn't?"

I had a lot to learn about relationship and unconditional love. I couldn't let my circumstances determine God's feelings for me. And I couldn't let the things around me determine whether He was for me or against me.

Instead I had to focus on the truth of this verse: This I KNOW... God is FOR me.

Do you believe that? No matter what? Maybe today you will start shifting your perspective in that direction-- dwelling on truth and letting your feelings catch up. The truth is, He is for you. Try repeating this verse when things go wrong the next time and see if that changes the way you feel.

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books I Should Read But Haven't

2011-09-06T06:00:00.002-04:00

This post got me thinking about creating my own list of ten books I should read, but haven't. Mine is less classic books and more current books that have caused a stir in the literary world. It's not that I don't want to read these books-- I do-- it's just that other books, for various reasons, have found a spot at the top of my TBR (to be read) pile. I call the list below my "highbrow" books-- meaning you have to think to read them. What does it say about me that I tend to read the books that don't make me think very hard? Wait... don't answer that.

1. Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann

2. Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

3. Hotel At The Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

4. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

5. Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

6. Peace Like A River by Leif Enger

7. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

8. The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

9. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

10. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Fiction Friday: Idea-lly

2011-09-02T06:00:00.003-04:00

Therese Fowler wrote this very interesting post about where ideas come from... and what to do when one doesn't work as well as we initially thought it would. A thought-provoking post that's worth the read.

Note: I will not be posting on Monday because I will be celebrating Labor Day with my family. Hope yours is restful and happy! See you back here on Tuesday with a new top ten list.

Thursday Thought

2011-09-01T06:00:00.007-04:00

"Mommy, I had a dream last night that somebody loved me," my five year old said to me this morning, an impish smile playing at her lips.

"Oh, really?" I answered as I poured her cereal. "Who was it?"

"God, you and daddy!" she answered proudly. She thought about it for a moment. "So does that mean my dream came true?"

I smiled at her. "Absolutely," I responded.

I love seeing life through my children's eyes-- the innocent reminders they give me, unknowingly communicating such deep spiritual reminders. This morning I was reminded that my dream came true. God loves me. Maybe you needed to hear that too.

August Challenge: Last Question!

2011-08-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

Today we come to the end of our August challenge. I hope your journals are bulging with the insights and reflections that these questions have prompted. Even if you didn't write down your answers, I hope you spent some time pondering your own personal answers as you went about your days. I hope that this little exercise has prompted some of you to journal more often and that, even in the absence of my questions, you will find things to write about.

If you like having prompts to get you started, I recommend googling "journaling prompts." There are whole sites devoted to providing questions like what I've been doing throughout the month. Maybe these will keep you going if you find you need a jumping-off place.

And also, if you'd like to learn more about journaling, I can recommend the books Journaling As A Spiritual Practice by Helen Cepero and Spiritual Journaling: Recording Your Journey Towards God by Richard Peace.

Finally, here's our last question:

In her book 1000 Gifts, Ann Voskamp describes why taking notice matters. She writes, "It takes a full 20 minutes after your stomach is full for your brain to register satiation. How long does it take your soul to realize that your life is full?"

How has journaling helped you to slow down, to pay attention? Why does paying attention matter in your life? What is it you don't want to miss?

August Challenge: Twenty-First Question

2011-08-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

We're almost to the end! Only one more day!

Flip through Proverbs and pick one that really speaks to where you are in life-- either your situation, your attitude, your outlook, etc. Write it down in your journal, then write about why that particular Proverbs appealed to you at this time and place in your life.

August Challenge: Twentieth Question

2011-08-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today is my youngest child's sixth birthday. I remember when my children were all little and I thought I'd never live through those days of constant demands and endless needs. Now I have no more preschoolers at my house! What stage of life are you in? Are you content or wishing it would end? Write about the view from where you are right now.

August Challenge: Nineteenth Question

2011-08-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

Write about the way you think people see you. Then write about the way you want people to see you. Finally, write about the way God sees you.

August Challenge: Eighteenth Question

2011-08-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

Write about your favorite place in all the world. This can be a place you've visited, or long to visit. Why is it special to you? Write about any memories you treasure from that place.

August Challenge: Seventeenth Question

2011-08-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

The world watched as Kate and William exchanged vows. We marveled over the pomp and circumstance, the idea of a commoner and a royal falling in love, the dresses, the ceremony. Write about what marriage means to you-- whether you're married, seeking a spouse, divorced, separated, etc.

August Challenge: Sixteenth Question

2011-08-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Write down ten things (or more) that make you happy. Why do they make you happy?

August Challenge: Fifteenth Question

2011-08-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

What did you want to be as a child? How was that desire an indicator of the person you'd become? If you have kids, write about how you can foster those desires (to help, to teach, to nurture, etc.) in them.