I can't help it. I have to do this. It's too fun to pass up. I read several different Four Things posts on different blogs and decided to accept the challenge.
4 movies I'd see again:
1. Sabrina
2. Dave
3. You've Got Mail
4. The Great Escape
4 places I've lived:
1. mom's house in Texas
2. my college dorm in Texas
3. my first apartment in Texas
4. my first house in Texas
(Hey, I was born here. Why would I want to leave?)
4 TV shows I enjoy
1. EXTREME Makeover - Home Edition
2. PBS documentaries on the awesome beauty of nature
3. any PBS show about Jazz
4. Andy Griffith reruns
4 of my favorite vacation spots
1. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2. Orlando, Florida
3. Yosemite, Califorina
4. Athabascan Glacier, Canada (where my brother got muddy up to his knees and had to sit in the back of the station wagon in his underwear while his jeans and socks, which were snuggly tucked in the back window, flapped in the wind to dry as we drove away.)
4 websites/blogs I frequent
1. Forensics & Faith
2. Camy's Loft
3. Pyromarketing
4. ACFW Forum
4 foods I like (in no particular order)
1. Italian
2. Asian
3. Seafood
4. Bakery Items
4. Greek
4. Mexican
Okay, so I'm easy to please!
4 places I'd rather be
1. on a NYC booksigning tour (I'm currently unpublished, but they have great restaurants.)
2. on a secluded beach with my husband
3. getting my hair and nails done
4. on a daytime talk show promoting my second book (I'm still unpublished.)
Anyone who wants to accept the challenge please consider yourself tagged. Post a comment here to tell me where to go to read yours.
Terri's Brother
I'm working on my writing. Training. Learning. Improving. And going to concerts.
My sister invited my family to a Wayne Kerr concert at her church. Of course I wanted to go. My husband and I've been on a mission trip with him. He's talented, fun, and has a huge heart for God.
He related funny anecdotes about his recent trip to Indonesia. He thinks teens need to spend time in other countries so they won't take for granted all the freedoms they have here. When we leave home and stay a couple of weeks overseas, we learn a lot about other cultures. Punctuality and personal space take various forms depending on where you go. It sometimes takes a little getting used to.
Wayne is a great singer/song writer, but he's also Terri's brother. I met Terri and her husband Dave before I went on my first mission trip. She has an awesome voice. She and our friend Vickie and I sang in Belize, Jamaica, and Texas at various events before we had kids. Years later, the trio split up. It wasn't geographically convenient to continue since Terri and Dave left Texas for a great job - and I was busy raising my little family. I miss seeing her, but I appreciate the chance to go to Wayne's concerts when I know about them.
Thanks for the wonderful worship music, Wayne. Enjoyed the prayertime-video. Hope your wife had a happy birthday.
My sister invited my family to a Wayne Kerr concert at her church. Of course I wanted to go. My husband and I've been on a mission trip with him. He's talented, fun, and has a huge heart for God.
He related funny anecdotes about his recent trip to Indonesia. He thinks teens need to spend time in other countries so they won't take for granted all the freedoms they have here. When we leave home and stay a couple of weeks overseas, we learn a lot about other cultures. Punctuality and personal space take various forms depending on where you go. It sometimes takes a little getting used to.
Wayne is a great singer/song writer, but he's also Terri's brother. I met Terri and her husband Dave before I went on my first mission trip. She has an awesome voice. She and our friend Vickie and I sang in Belize, Jamaica, and Texas at various events before we had kids. Years later, the trio split up. It wasn't geographically convenient to continue since Terri and Dave left Texas for a great job - and I was busy raising my little family. I miss seeing her, but I appreciate the chance to go to Wayne's concerts when I know about them.
Thanks for the wonderful worship music, Wayne. Enjoyed the prayertime-video. Hope your wife had a happy birthday.
Prepare with Prayer
I will not be at my usual place next week because I'll be on my way back home from a writers' conference. I'm pretty excited about going to the Mount Hermon Writers Conference.
I went to the conference last year and loved it. This year, I'll know my way around a little better, and hopefully, I'll get a little more out of it. I'm hoping to not have that freshman wide-eyed stare this year. Hoping to look a little more like I belong there.
Last year, my roommate used a lot of patience with me at night when I was tired. We were talking about my characters. She was trying to help me. I was really tired - and a teeny bit scatter-brained.
Thank you, God, for experienced writers who love to help out the unpublished and unenergetic conferees.
This year, I'll have a different roommate. Big surprise. Maybe I won't scare this girl off. The good news is that my first roommate and I still love each other. Of course she loves me. She's a godly woman.
I know that God has called me to write. I wouldn't spend money on conferences if I wasn't sure of my calling. I also know that success doesn't show up just because I'm called to write. I must prepare.
The best way to prepare is to ask God what He wants. After all, prayer is talking WITH God.
I've looked through my Bible to find scriptures that mean something to me regarding this particular conference. Psalm 42:6 "...I will remember you from the... heights of Hermon..." I'm going to Mount Hermon. I definitely plan to remember God every day from the heights of Mount Hermon. I'll be asking for safety as I walk up and down the hilly campus to get to various workshop locations. I'll be asking for wisdom so I can carry on intelligent conversations with experienced members of the writing community. I'll be asking for guidance in all areas of my experience there.
Psalm 47:6 encourages us to "sing praises to God" and "sing praises to our King". I will be joining in the crowd of worshippers singing praises to our Living God.
Psalm 57 reminds me that I take refuge in the shadow of God. I cry out to Him and He fulfills His purpose for me.
Psalm 52 speaks of my trust in God. "I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints."
When I talk to God, I usually try to listen. He may want to speak. I know how it is when my son speaks to me, and then leaves without listening to what I'm saying. I sometimes raise my voice so he can hear me as he's leaving. I pray that God will help me hear Him, that He will raise His voice above my emotions this weekend. I pray that I will hear Him well enough that if He chooses to speak through me to someone else, I won't miss Him.
Thank You, God, that You know my weaknesses. Give me courage to serve where You send me.
"to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." Rev 1:6
I went to the conference last year and loved it. This year, I'll know my way around a little better, and hopefully, I'll get a little more out of it. I'm hoping to not have that freshman wide-eyed stare this year. Hoping to look a little more like I belong there.
Last year, my roommate used a lot of patience with me at night when I was tired. We were talking about my characters. She was trying to help me. I was really tired - and a teeny bit scatter-brained.
Thank you, God, for experienced writers who love to help out the unpublished and unenergetic conferees.
This year, I'll have a different roommate. Big surprise. Maybe I won't scare this girl off. The good news is that my first roommate and I still love each other. Of course she loves me. She's a godly woman.
I know that God has called me to write. I wouldn't spend money on conferences if I wasn't sure of my calling. I also know that success doesn't show up just because I'm called to write. I must prepare.
The best way to prepare is to ask God what He wants. After all, prayer is talking WITH God.
I've looked through my Bible to find scriptures that mean something to me regarding this particular conference. Psalm 42:6 "...I will remember you from the... heights of Hermon..." I'm going to Mount Hermon. I definitely plan to remember God every day from the heights of Mount Hermon. I'll be asking for safety as I walk up and down the hilly campus to get to various workshop locations. I'll be asking for wisdom so I can carry on intelligent conversations with experienced members of the writing community. I'll be asking for guidance in all areas of my experience there.
Psalm 47:6 encourages us to "sing praises to God" and "sing praises to our King". I will be joining in the crowd of worshippers singing praises to our Living God.
Psalm 57 reminds me that I take refuge in the shadow of God. I cry out to Him and He fulfills His purpose for me.
Psalm 52 speaks of my trust in God. "I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints."
When I talk to God, I usually try to listen. He may want to speak. I know how it is when my son speaks to me, and then leaves without listening to what I'm saying. I sometimes raise my voice so he can hear me as he's leaving. I pray that God will help me hear Him, that He will raise His voice above my emotions this weekend. I pray that I will hear Him well enough that if He chooses to speak through me to someone else, I won't miss Him.
Thank You, God, that You know my weaknesses. Give me courage to serve where You send me.
"to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." Rev 1:6
Villains
In any good story, there is an opposing force with which the hero must contend. Bad guys.
I've written a few villains and have found that they vary in personality as much as heroes do. I've written a sanity-challenged boyfriend, an ultra rich deceiver, a confused former friend of the hero, a vengeful and scheming former student, and a greedy thief.
Any interesting character has a few good character traits as well as some flaws. The hero's flaws and the villain's good traits make them more real and believable.
When I'm writing about a villain, I'm reminded of the cartoons I used to watch as a kid. The putty tat ran after the tiny bird, but never had enough luck to get what he wanted. Sometimes the bird was incased in claws with sharp teeth bared and ready for the kill, but the bird would always escape.
My guess is readers know before they start the story that they will encounter this same phenomenon over and over. The hero finds trouble, escapes trouble, finds worse trouble, and escapes again.
The fun is seeing what they're escaping from and how they do it. I loved watching the MacGuyver shows and Home Alone. They used whatever they had around them to build a defense against the villain.
My heroes look forward to their ultimate success, and so do the villains. However, I write happy endings. Sorry, villains.
I've written a few villains and have found that they vary in personality as much as heroes do. I've written a sanity-challenged boyfriend, an ultra rich deceiver, a confused former friend of the hero, a vengeful and scheming former student, and a greedy thief.
Any interesting character has a few good character traits as well as some flaws. The hero's flaws and the villain's good traits make them more real and believable.
When I'm writing about a villain, I'm reminded of the cartoons I used to watch as a kid. The putty tat ran after the tiny bird, but never had enough luck to get what he wanted. Sometimes the bird was incased in claws with sharp teeth bared and ready for the kill, but the bird would always escape.
My guess is readers know before they start the story that they will encounter this same phenomenon over and over. The hero finds trouble, escapes trouble, finds worse trouble, and escapes again.
The fun is seeing what they're escaping from and how they do it. I loved watching the MacGuyver shows and Home Alone. They used whatever they had around them to build a defense against the villain.
My heroes look forward to their ultimate success, and so do the villains. However, I write happy endings. Sorry, villains.
Things I love
Things I love: God, family, friends, writing, laughing, eating, peace and quiet, etc... I love a lot of things, but I don't love everything about all things.
Necessary things I don't enjoy: cleaning my kids' knee scrapes and other wounds, cleaning house, cleaning up after a sick kid, and cleaning up my manuscripts (editing). I will take care of necessary duties, but it doesn't mean I have to enjoy it. I do it knowing there is something to enjoy when I'm done.
When I'm busy editing my work, I try to see it as a puzzle. I love puzzles. (Oops. I forgot to list it.) If I can challenge myself in a positive way, the stubborn determination in me comes out and the editing gets done. The key to staying positive is making a game out of it. When I've finished a scene that I really like, I look up at a handwritten note over my desk which asks, "Okay. Now it's good, but can it be better?"
The answer is always, "Yes!"
When I re-read a chapter that I've re-written countless times, I remember that someone else besides me will read it someday and smile. That's the goal. I have to keep doing what I do until it's in the hands of those who need to read it.
When a stranger comes to me and thanks me for my hard work, I'll be glad I didn't give up.
No one benefits if I don't share the story. And I don't get to share the story unless it is written well. So for now, my hard work is done with an eye to the future.
The smiles will come. ...I love smiles.
Necessary things I don't enjoy: cleaning my kids' knee scrapes and other wounds, cleaning house, cleaning up after a sick kid, and cleaning up my manuscripts (editing). I will take care of necessary duties, but it doesn't mean I have to enjoy it. I do it knowing there is something to enjoy when I'm done.
When I'm busy editing my work, I try to see it as a puzzle. I love puzzles. (Oops. I forgot to list it.) If I can challenge myself in a positive way, the stubborn determination in me comes out and the editing gets done. The key to staying positive is making a game out of it. When I've finished a scene that I really like, I look up at a handwritten note over my desk which asks, "Okay. Now it's good, but can it be better?"
The answer is always, "Yes!"
When I re-read a chapter that I've re-written countless times, I remember that someone else besides me will read it someday and smile. That's the goal. I have to keep doing what I do until it's in the hands of those who need to read it.
When a stranger comes to me and thanks me for my hard work, I'll be glad I didn't give up.
No one benefits if I don't share the story. And I don't get to share the story unless it is written well. So for now, my hard work is done with an eye to the future.
The smiles will come. ...I love smiles.
Hats
I am a woman.
I am a wife.
I am a mother.
I am a writer.
I am a sister.
I am a daughter.
I am an aunt.
I am a friend.
Today, I'm also a nurse.
Kids don't generally like being sick - unless they get to miss a day of school. They like that. My son was fine after school yesterday, but as soon as evening approached, he got whiney.
I try to keep my son happy, yet well-behaved. I fussed at him for continuing to whine after I'd repeatedly asked him not to. I told him to whine in his own room. He started crying. I was frustrated.
I asked him why he was crying. He kept crying. I told him to stop crying. He kept crying. I was frustrated and annoyed. He stopped long enough to utter nonsense that had the word stomach in it. I asked questions and pressed his abdomen. Nothing he said made sense, except that his stomach hurt. We watched him whine and cry through dinner. He only ate a few bites of kiwi fruit.
All mothers can guess what happened next.
In just a few seconds, I graduated from nursing school. At the same time, I became a professional carpet cleaner. (Club Soda is mommy's little helper.)
Why is it that mothers have this enormous guilt when they look at situations through their 20/20 hindsight? I felt so bad for fussing at my son. I wanted to rewind and hold him on my lap instead of trying to make him go to his room for being so annoyingly whiney.
My kids are well most of the time, but when they feel bad I always want to know the details. There should be a panel a mother can open to see what her child's problem is. The hand on the forehead is good, but doesn't tell the difference between 101 degrees and 99.5. I need one of those diagnostic handheld devices I used to see on the USS Enterprise. I'd be using it whenever my kids exhibit strange behaviors, or if they're unusually cranky.
My son liked staying home from school. I gave him a cup of water and a popcicle, and then he was feeling much better. As a nurse, I give huge doses of tender loving care. It helps with the temperature-taking. In return, I get a little boy's smile and an invitation to play Guess Who.
I'm almost ready to put on my cab driver hat and pick up my daughter from school. I'll try to get a hug and call that a tip.
I am a wife.
I am a mother.
I am a writer.
I am a sister.
I am a daughter.
I am an aunt.
I am a friend.
Today, I'm also a nurse.
Kids don't generally like being sick - unless they get to miss a day of school. They like that. My son was fine after school yesterday, but as soon as evening approached, he got whiney.
I try to keep my son happy, yet well-behaved. I fussed at him for continuing to whine after I'd repeatedly asked him not to. I told him to whine in his own room. He started crying. I was frustrated.
I asked him why he was crying. He kept crying. I told him to stop crying. He kept crying. I was frustrated and annoyed. He stopped long enough to utter nonsense that had the word stomach in it. I asked questions and pressed his abdomen. Nothing he said made sense, except that his stomach hurt. We watched him whine and cry through dinner. He only ate a few bites of kiwi fruit.
All mothers can guess what happened next.
In just a few seconds, I graduated from nursing school. At the same time, I became a professional carpet cleaner. (Club Soda is mommy's little helper.)
Why is it that mothers have this enormous guilt when they look at situations through their 20/20 hindsight? I felt so bad for fussing at my son. I wanted to rewind and hold him on my lap instead of trying to make him go to his room for being so annoyingly whiney.
My kids are well most of the time, but when they feel bad I always want to know the details. There should be a panel a mother can open to see what her child's problem is. The hand on the forehead is good, but doesn't tell the difference between 101 degrees and 99.5. I need one of those diagnostic handheld devices I used to see on the USS Enterprise. I'd be using it whenever my kids exhibit strange behaviors, or if they're unusually cranky.
My son liked staying home from school. I gave him a cup of water and a popcicle, and then he was feeling much better. As a nurse, I give huge doses of tender loving care. It helps with the temperature-taking. In return, I get a little boy's smile and an invitation to play Guess Who.
I'm almost ready to put on my cab driver hat and pick up my daughter from school. I'll try to get a hug and call that a tip.
Work, work, work
Thought for the day: If you never practice the piano, you'll never play in Carnegie Hall.
I feel like a character in a book. I have a goal, but I also have conflict. In order to achieve the goal, I must push through the conflict. I have to work out a plan. I have to be desperate enough to keep at it until I suceed.
If my characters don't feel the goal is necessary, they fade into the page and become nothing. If the goal is absolutely necessary, they will do anything to achieve it.
I have to keep working at writing. I keep learning and applying. I try this and that until I find that plan of attack that is most effective for me.
I don't mind working at writing. I love writing. It's the juggling that gets me.
God has given me a wonderful family, but they take a lot of my time. I do a lot for them, and they give me some time for writing. But just taking off one hat and putting on another several times a day gets me frustrated. I know many writers do much more than I do in any given day, but that knowledge doesn't really help me. Everyone has challenges.
I have to forget what others are accomplishing and focus on my tasks. I have to forget that the dryer is buzzing and finish my sentence. I have to forget about planning a summer vacation and focus on now.
I know I'll suceed as a writer because I know God called me to write. But I'll never be the writer God wants me to be unless I work at it right now.
I feel like a character in a book. I have a goal, but I also have conflict. In order to achieve the goal, I must push through the conflict. I have to work out a plan. I have to be desperate enough to keep at it until I suceed.
If my characters don't feel the goal is necessary, they fade into the page and become nothing. If the goal is absolutely necessary, they will do anything to achieve it.
I have to keep working at writing. I keep learning and applying. I try this and that until I find that plan of attack that is most effective for me.
I don't mind working at writing. I love writing. It's the juggling that gets me.
God has given me a wonderful family, but they take a lot of my time. I do a lot for them, and they give me some time for writing. But just taking off one hat and putting on another several times a day gets me frustrated. I know many writers do much more than I do in any given day, but that knowledge doesn't really help me. Everyone has challenges.
I have to forget what others are accomplishing and focus on my tasks. I have to forget that the dryer is buzzing and finish my sentence. I have to forget about planning a summer vacation and focus on now.
I know I'll suceed as a writer because I know God called me to write. But I'll never be the writer God wants me to be unless I work at it right now.
Happy Valentines Day
Ahhh... February! The month of love.
Anyone that wants to be sweet doesn't have to wait for the month of love. But while it's February, let's focus on the moment.
Not all months get to have a color scheme. March/April (Easter)'s colors are the pale hues of beautiful spring flowers: the beauty of God's love. November's (Thanksgiving) colors are brown, orange, and red: the noticeable bright brilliance (orange and red) of God's love on the earth( brown). December's (Christmas) colors are red and green: true love and fresh new growth.
February gets to have red and white: true love and purity. White represents the purity of God's love, and red represents the true love of the Lamb of God who was destined to be crucified before He arrived as a man on the earth - and still He came to us.
In February, everyone gets a card or a verbal greeting of love. Grandparents get cards, parents get cards, school friends get cards, siblings get cards, teachers get cards, etc. If you don't get cards, you get greeted by people in the work force with Happy V Day. Everyone seems happy.
How often do we remember to send God some love notes? I've written out prayers to God and when I think about it, it seems silly. He knows what we're going to say before we say it. Certainly, He doesn't need to read a love note. But reading what I've said to God sometimes makes me remember all He's done for me and that reminds me to thank Him.
God doesn't need glitter glued to red construction paper, but He does want my heart.
Anyone that wants to be sweet doesn't have to wait for the month of love. But while it's February, let's focus on the moment.
Not all months get to have a color scheme. March/April (Easter)'s colors are the pale hues of beautiful spring flowers: the beauty of God's love. November's (Thanksgiving) colors are brown, orange, and red: the noticeable bright brilliance (orange and red) of God's love on the earth( brown). December's (Christmas) colors are red and green: true love and fresh new growth.
February gets to have red and white: true love and purity. White represents the purity of God's love, and red represents the true love of the Lamb of God who was destined to be crucified before He arrived as a man on the earth - and still He came to us.
In February, everyone gets a card or a verbal greeting of love. Grandparents get cards, parents get cards, school friends get cards, siblings get cards, teachers get cards, etc. If you don't get cards, you get greeted by people in the work force with Happy V Day. Everyone seems happy.
How often do we remember to send God some love notes? I've written out prayers to God and when I think about it, it seems silly. He knows what we're going to say before we say it. Certainly, He doesn't need to read a love note. But reading what I've said to God sometimes makes me remember all He's done for me and that reminds me to thank Him.
God doesn't need glitter glued to red construction paper, but He does want my heart.
Good News - Bad News
The good news is... my work in progress is going smoothly.
The bad news is... I still worry about it being less than superb.
The good news is... I've studied my craft well enough to write a good story.
The bad news is... I don't know everything about writing.
The good news is... I know that I don't know everything about writing.
The bad news is... I still don't know everything about writing.
Sometimes I catch myself going through the dismal joyless blues. Then, being the optimist in the family, I find something good to say in the midst of it. However when I stop at the bad news, it takes a little longer to get the cold engine of my optimism running again.
In school, I was the daydreamer. Our elementary school had nice large windows in all our classrooms. When the teacher lost my attention, it was usually because the wind was swinging on our swingset outside. It didn't take long for me to "see" children playing on the playground and imagine what each one would do.
The good news is... I had fun in school.
The bad news is... my mind was playing on the playground without permission.
The good news is... I graduated with my class.
The bad news is... I was totally clueless about which degree to get in college.
The good news is... I got my BSHE and my MRS.
The bad news is... the job I wanted was unavailable because the industry centralized and put the experienced workers out of a job.
The good news is... I got a job as a manager.
The bad news is... I worked in the mall.
The good news is... my husband got a great job.
The bad news is... okay, I can't think of any bad news after this.
That's what happens when I think of how God has changed my life. He has been with me from before I was born and has blessed me in and out of trials. No life is full of only good news. I love knowing that when the trials come, God is already there with a plan. What bad news can stand up to God??
The good news is... Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Name above every name that can be named.
The bad news is... there are some in the world that don't know this.
The good news is... they will.
The bad news is... I still worry about it being less than superb.
The good news is... I've studied my craft well enough to write a good story.
The bad news is... I don't know everything about writing.
The good news is... I know that I don't know everything about writing.
The bad news is... I still don't know everything about writing.
Sometimes I catch myself going through the dismal joyless blues. Then, being the optimist in the family, I find something good to say in the midst of it. However when I stop at the bad news, it takes a little longer to get the cold engine of my optimism running again.
In school, I was the daydreamer. Our elementary school had nice large windows in all our classrooms. When the teacher lost my attention, it was usually because the wind was swinging on our swingset outside. It didn't take long for me to "see" children playing on the playground and imagine what each one would do.
The good news is... I had fun in school.
The bad news is... my mind was playing on the playground without permission.
The good news is... I graduated with my class.
The bad news is... I was totally clueless about which degree to get in college.
The good news is... I got my BSHE and my MRS.
The bad news is... the job I wanted was unavailable because the industry centralized and put the experienced workers out of a job.
The good news is... I got a job as a manager.
The bad news is... I worked in the mall.
The good news is... my husband got a great job.
The bad news is... okay, I can't think of any bad news after this.
That's what happens when I think of how God has changed my life. He has been with me from before I was born and has blessed me in and out of trials. No life is full of only good news. I love knowing that when the trials come, God is already there with a plan. What bad news can stand up to God??
The good news is... Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Name above every name that can be named.
The bad news is... there are some in the world that don't know this.
The good news is... they will.
Happy New Year
I plan to have a great year. There's a lot of writing to do, so I'll be busy.
I did some writing on my year-end trip. Not much writing, but I was glad to make whatever progress I could make. We were in the car a lot. A lot.
We saw old family homes and drove out to my great-grandparents' old homestead. We saw the house where a different set of great-grandparents lived in town. My mom was born in their house. That house is now owned by my mom's cousin and is being restored to its original luster.
We saw patches of snow in Kansas and patches of burned grass in Oklahoma on our way home. I'm reminded of how much God has blessed me when I hear reports of people losing their homes to wildfires.
Everyone will eventually have a moment of sadness. When yours comes, I hope you are surrounded by love as my family was in our recent sadness.
I did some writing on my year-end trip. Not much writing, but I was glad to make whatever progress I could make. We were in the car a lot. A lot.
We saw old family homes and drove out to my great-grandparents' old homestead. We saw the house where a different set of great-grandparents lived in town. My mom was born in their house. That house is now owned by my mom's cousin and is being restored to its original luster.
We saw patches of snow in Kansas and patches of burned grass in Oklahoma on our way home. I'm reminded of how much God has blessed me when I hear reports of people losing their homes to wildfires.
Everyone will eventually have a moment of sadness. When yours comes, I hope you are surrounded by love as my family was in our recent sadness.
Change of plans
Don't you love Christmas? I do. I love preparing for over-nighters, dinner guests, and surprise visits. I love decorating, wrapping presents, and helping my husband with the meals. He bought smoked turkey and made an outstanding cheesecake.
This year we planned to have fourteen people at our house for Christmas. We bought food and spiffed up the house. We knew who would be sleeping in each of our beds and sleeper sofas - with kids on the floor.
Christmas is usually fun. But this year we had a tripple whammy.
My mom's cousin, on the mend from cancer, died of pneumonia during the holidays. After that, my grandma, 89 years old, passed away. A few days later, my mom's uncle died.
On December 26th, my family and I put our hats on and went to honor my grandma at the funeral. She was known for wearing hats in church and on many special occasions. Other than baseball caps, hats aren't generally worn in my hometown, so we stood out in church, as she sometimes did. She was used to getting compliments about her hats. We got a few, too, in the reception hall that day. She always said, "A woman should wear a hat."
We didn't have any guests spend the night at our house this Christmas. We took all our presents and food to my mom's on Christmas day. Even at her house, we had every bed and sofa filled, with kids on the floor.
We will drive from Texas to Arkansas for my great-uncle's funeral and then to Kansas to bury my grandma. It's a sad trip, but we'll be surrounded by loved ones.
When plans change, it's good to have God's love in the family.
Thank You, God, for Your peace.
This year we planned to have fourteen people at our house for Christmas. We bought food and spiffed up the house. We knew who would be sleeping in each of our beds and sleeper sofas - with kids on the floor.
Christmas is usually fun. But this year we had a tripple whammy.
My mom's cousin, on the mend from cancer, died of pneumonia during the holidays. After that, my grandma, 89 years old, passed away. A few days later, my mom's uncle died.
On December 26th, my family and I put our hats on and went to honor my grandma at the funeral. She was known for wearing hats in church and on many special occasions. Other than baseball caps, hats aren't generally worn in my hometown, so we stood out in church, as she sometimes did. She was used to getting compliments about her hats. We got a few, too, in the reception hall that day. She always said, "A woman should wear a hat."
We didn't have any guests spend the night at our house this Christmas. We took all our presents and food to my mom's on Christmas day. Even at her house, we had every bed and sofa filled, with kids on the floor.
We will drive from Texas to Arkansas for my great-uncle's funeral and then to Kansas to bury my grandma. It's a sad trip, but we'll be surrounded by loved ones.
When plans change, it's good to have God's love in the family.
Thank You, God, for Your peace.
Making Memories
Here it is... my birthday week.
This year I'm celebrating the birthday of Jesus - and my birthday - and twenty-five years with my husband.
He asked me out for our first date on my birthday twenty-five years ago, and somehow, we've been happily together ever since. We've been through our ups and downs and stayed together in ministry and in parenting. We've had our stressful moments and blissful moments. Through it all, love has been the bond.
Milestone moments are great times to remember who you once were and thank God for personal growth. Hopefully, as we get older, we get wiser. God gives us His wisdom, and then He gives us a family to keep us from thinking we're wiser than we really are.
I thank God for my family. They keep me laughing. I can't take myself too seriously because of them.
This week is my play time. The work gets done, but it's not really work when you're having so much fun. I'm hosting my family at my house this Christmas, and that by itself will liven up things.
The writing is on PAUSE this week - and maybe next week, too. It makes sense to cherish kids when they're small and family when they're here. I'm anticipating my joyful return to writing. But, for now, I'm seizing the moment and making memories.
This year I'm celebrating the birthday of Jesus - and my birthday - and twenty-five years with my husband.
He asked me out for our first date on my birthday twenty-five years ago, and somehow, we've been happily together ever since. We've been through our ups and downs and stayed together in ministry and in parenting. We've had our stressful moments and blissful moments. Through it all, love has been the bond.
Milestone moments are great times to remember who you once were and thank God for personal growth. Hopefully, as we get older, we get wiser. God gives us His wisdom, and then He gives us a family to keep us from thinking we're wiser than we really are.
I thank God for my family. They keep me laughing. I can't take myself too seriously because of them.
This week is my play time. The work gets done, but it's not really work when you're having so much fun. I'm hosting my family at my house this Christmas, and that by itself will liven up things.
The writing is on PAUSE this week - and maybe next week, too. It makes sense to cherish kids when they're small and family when they're here. I'm anticipating my joyful return to writing. But, for now, I'm seizing the moment and making memories.
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