Heart Chocolate

Happy 2012!

2011-12-30T16:32:00.000-05:00

I love Christmas and the whole holiday season... except when it winds down and the tree is gone and the lights are gone and January blahs set in.

So to combat the letdown, our family has collected a nice amount of snowmen and snowflakes~ mostly handmade creations~ to decorate. And I spend some free time at the computer this week, looking back and praying and dreaming into the New Year.

The last handful of years, I've prayed about a word for the year. Each time, God has given me a wonderful word: Peace. Love. Contentment. Those were the words for the last three years. They heralded in very tough, very painful years of struggle, challenge, and discontentment.

But they also prepared me for what was ahead long before I knew what I'd meet on the path before me. I've learned peace in the midst of career and family chaos. I've learned to love when that word meant a cross. And I've learned to be content when life gave me plenty of reasons to rail against contentment.

Not that I've arrived. I think maybe all the tough lessons are because I'm a little stubborn. Okay, a lot. And that's why such beautiful words have welcomed in such tough days. And such amazing opportunities.

The word for 2011 was Contentment. I've looked back to see last year was a series of medical non-answers, lots and lots of hours spent working on two books, and the reality that God was there in the midst of it all.

I remain hopeful that the word for 2012 will come with some lessons that challenge and stretch me— some of which fall in the category of "good" and not all "painful."

My word for 2012 is Family. Not the word I was looking for, but it fits perfectly with what God has been doing in my life all 2011. After a stressful stretch of almost all workdays, school days, and hospital days, it's time to reorient and rest. It's time to focus in and laugh with the four people that mean more to me than anything. Then focus out and serve. Maybe even do both at the same time.

We had planned to ring in the New Year with a weekend full of family, fun, and friends. We started with a sleepover last night. Then finally starting work on our doll house today—the one we bought last Christmas and dreamed about how we'd have it put together, lights installed, and decorated by this Christmas.

Tomorrow we were headed to the High Museum, out to a favorite restaurant, and then on to a friend’s home to play games and usher in 2012.

But the chorus of coughs and sniffles going on behind me today says God had different plans for our New Year's weekend. I'm praying we can knock what appears to be sinus infections away and still manage to go out to eat.

But if not, we'll definitely be celebrating family and rest by welcoming in 2012 sound asleep. ;-)

So for the healthy ones out there... Enjoy ringing in the New Year a little extra for us, okay? Have a fabulous time laughing and loving and remembering and dreaming.

For those of us not able to carry on with plans as usual... Enjoy ringing in a New Year where God has already gone ahead and is preparing both us and the circumstances around us to see and know that He is God and He is good.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! May 2012 be a year filled with the love of God, the hope of Christ, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. And may you be encouraged and strengthened as you receive from God and overflow to all of those around you.

Happy 2012!

Time for a Vacation

2011-10-19T17:13:00.000-04:00

Life's tough. We all experience that. So I did what all wise women do when life heats up to a boil... escape.

Okay, maybe not all of us do that. Some go shopping. Smart ladies pray. (I'm praying someday I'll be one of those smart ones.) I daydream about escape. Especially when my body doesn't cooperate and falls apart, my wonderful children decide today's not the day for wonderful, and writing is akin to swallowing tacks.

In October, I finally stopped daydreaming about escape and took a cruise with my hubby and some writer friends.

It was the best medicine for all that ailed me. God was gracious and gave us this blessing of time away, time with friends, time to float in the huge blue ocean. Time to laugh. Time to think.

I came home realizing yet again, that I need that kind of time more than once a year. If I were rich, I'd cruise three or four times a year. But I'm not rich and I have school to teach, kiddos to love, writing to do, martial arts for needed exercise.

But I do need time with friends, time to laugh, time to just be. And time to hear God before the need to escape kicks in.

I'm not quite sure yet how to do that, but I'm praying and trusting God's not done with the lessons learned on Caribbean waters.

For now, when my health is still a struggle and my kids and I are human and not always wonderful, I think I'll watch these videos (soon to come, they're still upside down and in need of editing) and stare at these photos below... and remember.

God is good.
He delights in His creation~ even me on a bad day and funny, tiny, electric fish in the ocean.
He has a good plan that includes trials and tough days.
He loves me. And you.

Amy, David, and Biggs in Jamaica.

Me snorkeling for the very first time!

Dear friends, Sharon Hinck and Trish Perry. They are two of my favorite authors of all time.

Isn't God amazing! This is a view from the dining room somewhere in the Caribbean.

Cruising with friends is the way to go! So many laughs, learning, and love shared amongst this amazing group of writers.

God is so good! And I'm no longer wishing for an escape. I love being home and my kiddos, and I love being a writer. Still wish I could bring Jamaican deep blue water home with me. ;-)

Answers, finally!

2011-09-08T16:34:00.000-04:00

I'm soooo excited! After months of not knowing the extent of damage or cause of my ICU trip in July, I have answers. My pulmonologist reviewed the breathing tests I had today and said my lungs were fine, pretty good in fact. As we discussed numbers from my ICU visit, he admitted I "could have had blood clots that passed quickly."

Yep, God sure did something big in healing me.

In addition, we exchanged ideas about what could have caused these blood clots. He agreed I most likely have sleep apnea and that sleep apnea could cause my higher pulmonary pressure numbers, which in turn could cause blood clots. BUT the pulmonary numbers aren't high enough to warrant a diagnosis now or treatment besides what I already knew to do.

My doc also agreed that staying hydrated and exercising were the best things I could do to remain healthy. That and do a sleep study to prove I have sleep apnea and start using a C-pap.

He also explained the pain I'm still having in my chest. After some poking around and a series of questions, he felt confident the pain was caused by joint damage to my ribs where the rib and cartilage join. He also said to stop the routine of push ups I'd started doing again. Guess hand weights will have to do until my ribs heal.

My best connect the dots for what happened is that a martial arts injury to my shoulder also caused the rib joint damage. That benched me from physical activity. When I don't exercise, I don't drink enough water. Then the night before my ER stay I'd had two cups of coffee and ended up so dehydrated I had no tears even with all the pain. The missing link was the sleep apnea adding to this perfect storm and increasing my pulmonary pressure and thus the blood clots.

But if I stay hydrated, exercise, and start using a C-pap, there's a very good probability I'll stay healthy and no more blood clot worries.

THANK YOU soooo much for praying~ during the ICU visit and all the non-answers and resulting doctor visits with no answers~ you kept us sane and hopeful and as pain free as possible. Thank you all again for praying for healing and for wisdom... and answers. God is so gracious to have given a "Yes" to those requests.

I've lived the power of prayer and I'm forever grateful you all were a part of this journey. Thank You!

Back to Normal... Not

2011-07-21T21:09:00.000-04:00

I've experienced the craziest, most pain-filled, most joy-soaked week in my life. It all started with stabbing pain in my chest Saturday at 4 AM. I couldn't breathe well and the pain spread to my shoulders and back, up my neck and into my head. I finally gave up my stubbornness and woke my husband. Then I told him I was going back to sleep.

He insisted we go to the ER.

One of the ICU nurses said if he hadn't forced me to go, I likely wouldn't have woken up the next day.

Long story short, I had another attack just as they were releasing me from the ER that was so much worse than the first. My husband was terrified. I would have been if I could have thought of anything else but the pain.

They sent me for a CT scan that a doctor said was lit up like a Christmas tree with blood clots in my lungs in all four quadrants. No wonder I couldn't breathe. Pulmonary embolism was the diagnosis that earned me a trip to the ICU.

When the pain finally subsided, my kids were terrified along with my husband. So was I. But instead of giving in to fear, my youngest stuck by my side and made me get well cards. She's still making me cards today.

My husband and older two daughters decided to pray instead of worry. My girls prayed with the families of two other ICU patients and encouraged them. Later Saturday night, David heard a code blue in the ICU and noticed a woman crying outside a room near mine. He ended up praying with her when the doctor came out to say her husband had passed away. Had David not been there, she'd have faced that news alone. When the doctor told her of her husband's death, she praised God for her husband's life and the time they had with him. I want to live like that. Please pray for Donna and her two children (10 and 12). God is holding them, but prayer makes a difference that defies explanation.

I know that from experience. Prayers carried us through a long day in the ER, a frightening stay in the ICU, and enabled us to see so many God moments.

In addition to the privilege of praying and watching my family share God's love with strangers, another God touched moment happened on Saturday afternoon in the ICU. My youngest daughter wouldn't leave my side the whole time she was there. But she was freezing. One of the ICU nurses warmed up a blanket, wrapped it around her, and sat her back on my bed. She wasn't even old enough to visit the ICU, but the nurse not only allowed all three of my girls to be with me but took the time to make sure they were comforted and cared for.

The next day, Sunday, I had a second scan done and the doctors were shocked to see my lungs were clear. Their only explanation was that the first CT scan was wrong. My family and I know better. We know God choose to heal me. I went home the next day.

I went from almost dying Saturday morning because of a pulmonary embolism to walking out of the hospital Monday with no blood clots at all. I'm home and so thankful for another day with my precious family.

At the same time my heart is heavy for Donna and her family. Even as we pray comfort for them in their huge loss, I can't forget how she choose to praise God during one of the most difficult and painful moments of her life.

I don't know why God healed me and took Donna's husband home. What I do know is Donna believes God is good. How can I not agree?

Life in my home is back to "normal," and yet it's not. We're keenly aware that my family could be going through what Donna's family is. We won't waste the gift of another day.

Every pain I've struggled with since coming home, another ER visit with no answers, and the normal squabbles of family life remind me that this world is not my home. Even so, each day is a miracle. Each breath is a gift. Thank You God!

Title Help and Something for You

2011-07-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

I'm doing a new thing today and praying it will spark some ideas from you creative geniuses out there. Yes, I'm talking to you. ;-)

I found out yesterday I need two new titles for my Mennonite Romantic Suspense books due out in April and October of 2012. So, I'm asking for your help.

I'll post the story blurbs with original titles. The awesome publishing team at Harvest House loved the titles but heard from some bookstore accounts that the titles are overused in the marketplace, so we need something fresh.

Here's where you come in.... please give the information below some prayer and thought and start listing out your title ideas. If I send your title suggestions to my publisher and they pick yours, your name will appear in the acknowledgements with my eternal gratitude and you'll receive a signed copy of the first book when it releases.

Sound good?

Here's a little about the stories:

In Plain Sight

A female police officer’s assistance to a Mennonite runaway forces her into the middle of an escalating battle between two communities and the big city violence she left behind.

Nowhere to Run

Hiding among the Mennonite community fails to protect a female police officer and places everyone she loves in the crosshairs of a dangerous stalker.

I can't wait to see your creative genius! Thanks so much for helping.

The Art of Sacrifice

2011-06-28T12:47:00.000-04:00

God has a sense of humor. Sometimes I say this with a smile, sometimes it's a bittersweet reality. Right now I'm living in the latter part of that sometimes.

I've recently finished my first contracted novel of this year and turned it in, then turned right around and started working on my second book. This is not optimal writing time, but it was a gift and opportunity straight from God.

When I first began this writing journey, I wrote a book about forgiveness thinking I knew what I was talking about and it would be easy.

I'm pretty sure God chuckled.

I can now join Him in that because I learned the hard way that there is nothing easy about writing, especially when God uses your book to teach you a deeper truth. A truth that's sometimes painful.

I can laugh now because I see what God did in my heart, my life, and my work, and in retrospect it was worth every tear. God brought beauty from pain and joy from despair. He also created books that I'm proud of and that He used to touch hearts and draw people into a place of healing.

You'd think after a number of subsequent books I'd learn. Apparently, I'm still in kindergarten.

You see, I've tried to write books about chocolate and friendship. God closed that door.

I tried to write the first book of this new series without really bleeding on the pages. God said no.

So I did what most kindergarteners do, I pouted and tried the whole, "I'll do it by my own self!"

Yeah, I know. You all had no idea how mature I could be. ;-)

God is a perfect parent and thankfully doesn't laugh at me nor leave me to my own devices and plans. He's wooed me slowly and subtly and in some not-so-subtle ways regarding the next lesson.

I thought book two was going to be about fear, what happens when faith fails. God allowed me to go forward on that premise but then started putting books in my path that challenged me to go deeper.

So I started playing around with the idea that maybe this book was about sacrifice versus selfishness and how God can use both. Maybe even that there's a deeper picture, an echo of the real life we're called to live. There's a part at the end of the novel that is clearly a huge spiritual and physical sacrifice so it meshes nicely with this idea.

But that wasn't enough. God had to make it personal.

First my pastor had to go and talk about how we are called to a life of death, the way of the cross, to lay down our wants and rights and plans without a fight for the cause of Christ. For something bigger than ourselves. Sacrifice. To follow Christ means to follow Him in death, so that life, real life, is what He lives through us.

Then I read in Sacred Parenting this morning a line that laid my selfishness bare. "While we find it easy to 'open up' a spiritual gift, it's not so easy to lay one down on God's behalf."

Ouch. That stepped all over my best laid plans for a book that didn't require my blood, sweat, and tears.

There were hopes and dreams I had for this section of my journey that I'm having to lay down. One of those is a story that didn't turn my world sideways and pound my heart to pieces.

But even as I wrote about this in my journal this morning, I realized there was a purpose. I may not always get to see the reason God asks me to lay something down, but I can trust His heart.

He's never taken me through the fire for nothing. A book with fire in it that has God's fingerprints and my tear stains all over it is a gift. A sacrifice of love to a God who's given me everything.

An opportunity to fly in the face of "normal" and easy and instead choose an adventure that will change me, grow me, and draw me deeper into Christ.

This call to sacrifice is hard. It's death. I didn't ask for it. I don't often want it. But it's the call of the cross and the Christ of the cross. To lay it all down without a fight or a two-year-old pouting session and trust the heart of the One who walked this path first into a horrific death and life-giving resurrection.

There is an art to this call of sacrifice. A surrender full of grace and peace and hope. A trust like Job's that says though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.

I just happened to look up to the left of my monitor to see a writing verse God impressed on my heart four years ago: 2 Samuel 24:24 "I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

I think God is chuckling again. This time I'm joining Him at the beginning.

Listen Up!

2011-04-12T17:21:00.000-04:00

Lately God has been doing something I've never experienced before. And it's happened so often, it's almost funny.

My girls think so. I'm not so sure.

It all started with a normal activity: reading a book. It's a wonderful book, but I've read it off and on for a while now. So I didn't think much of it, except that what I read was a good thing to remember.

Here's a highlight from Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas: "Viewing ourselves as ancestors as well as descendants represents a vitally important spiritual transformation. The sacred journey of parenting changes our perspective. We travel from 'me' to 'us,' from individual to family, and we begin to understand the difference we can have on future generations.... Sacred parenting calls us to focus our brief lives on what will create the most impact for future generations."

See, great writing, great way to start with day with my kiddos.

So we get ready, eat breakfast, and then read from a book we're studying as a family. The book is another John Ortberg book, When the Game is Over it all Goes Back in the Box.

He's talking about life rules and the biggest lesson life has to teach is "the absolute necessity of arranging our life around what matters in light of our mortality and eternity."

I don't know about you, but I got a little shivery and wondered what exactly the Lord was trying to tell me.

This message being repeated happened again on the same day. This time it was about speaking words of life. I'd read in Ephesians 4:15-16, 29-32 and then opened a prayer book and was surprised to see the theme of the prayer was about learning to speak life.

I told the girls later I felt like I was living one of Jesus' parables where He spoke saying, "Verily, verily I say to you..." In other words: Listen Up!

We talked about how when God speaks, we should listen. And when God repeats Himself, we should pay close attention- VERY close attention.

I have to be honest here. I didn't think much about these two things as the busyness of our homeschooling day took off and we had martial arts class that night. In fact, I ended up in bed exhausted by eleven. I seldom see my pillow until one or one-thirty in the morning.

So God in His infinite wisdom and grace saw that I needed another dose of His verily, verily.

This day, the girls and I read in the devotional 101 Cups of Water about fearing pain. "The truth is, I have perfect circumstances today because the Architect of my circumstances is perfect and does all things well. What I have today is exactly and precisely what I need- not necessarily what I want, but certainly what I need. And that's the point: sometimes pain is what I need."

We read in Romans 5:1-4 about rejoicing in suffering because suffering produces perseverance and perseverance produces character and character, hope.

Unlike most days, we then read a second, totally unrelated devotional called A Woman's Path to Inner Beauty by Ginger Garrett. This has been a wonderfully encouraging devotional, one I'd encourage every Christian woman to spend some time reading and relishing.

Today's devotion was, you've probably already guessed, about finding God in the darkness. I loved this part, "We fear what lurks in the night. We fear the loss of goodness and hope. But in truth, God uses darkness to create, to call forth new life, to astonish us with His creative passion."

Ginger also talked about how Leonardo Da Vinci masterfully used shadows and darkness to focus the viewers' eyes on the light, to make light brighter.

We mulled over how darkness and suffering are tools in God's hands, for our good.

And one of my girls said, "Isn't this the second time God has repeated Himself to you? You'd better listen up, Mommy." She said it with a smile and in love, but it got my attention.

Later that day, a thorny issue arose. And in the midst of it, I cried out to God about how I've never been able to overcome my anger in this situation and I had no idea why He kept putting me in the same situation day after day but didn't show me how to change my attitude and my words.

I know, I'm a bit of a blockhead sometimes. Thus, God repeating Himself.

All the sudden, God whispered the word "Forgiveness," and I got it. The past few days' repeated messages all flooded back and I saw that God had prepared me for this very moment. To view it in light of eternity, to build up with my mouth and not tear down, to see how He uses suffering and darkness to mold us and make us more like Him.

I got up from that prayer and mended a relationship and loved someone dear to me in a way I hadn't been able to before. It became a sacred moment.

In a powerful way, God showed me how to run to Him and see His Word and His teachings come to life.

I'm pretty sure God smiled. Even though He had to repeat Himself a few times. Okay, more than a few.

All this to say, when God repeats Himself...Listen Up! He has something important to show you. It could matter more than you know.

A Well-Ordered Heart

2011-03-31T16:35:00.000-04:00

You know the saying, "When you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all." Well... I finally have some good things to share and some thoughts on a FANTASTIC book titled The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg.

First the good news... my sister has been home from the hospital for almost a month. God showed up in mighty ways and my sister who wasn't supposed to leave the ER for months went home two weeks after you all started praying for her and my family. That's the power of prayer! Thank you all sooo much for praying and sending cards. You were the hands, feet, and encouragement of Christ to my family.

More good news...Earlier this month, I signed a contract with my new publishers - Harvest House - for a two book romantic suspense series launching Feb/March of 2012. So those of you looking for a new book... it's coming! ;-) Keep praying. ;-)

Now for some book musings. This morning my daughters and I finished a chapter in the book The Life You've Always Wanted, and I couldn't shake the thought, "I should blog about this."

So here I am. I hope to make a sustained habit of it. ;-)

John Ortberg says, "There is a quest worthy of our devotion. It is the quest for what might be called a well-ordered heart."

Augustine suggested a well-ordered heart is to "love the right thing, to the right degree, in the right way, with the right kind of love."

To pursue a well-ordered heart, Ortberg talks about Colossians 3:17, "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Then he asked some questions that sent my mind whirling.

"What would it mean for us to wake up in Jesus' name?" My answer, probably not the pillow over my head groan that usually greets my alarm clock.

"What would it mean for us to drive in Jesus' name?" I read this question and my children giggled. Then they told stories to each other about how I fuss at slow drivers and don't have a good attitude and how I talk to people on the road who can't hear me. They each have a favorite story they tell in between peals of laughter. I won't repeat them here. You'll have to ask my kids sometime, because I'm not sure what they're talking about.

"What does it mean for us to watch TV in Jesus' name?"

This question resulted in a long discussion. I tend to watch crime shows on TV and explained to my kids how I watch them because I love the justice that's inherent in those types of shows. But their question was, "Do they scare you?"

They know all too well that there are nights I come up from my office after having written a suspense scene or after having watched one of my favorite shows and my heart is racing and I'm sure some sniper outside has a bead on me.

They think it's funny. I guess the way I tell is. But is that watching TV in Jesus' name? I have to admit, I don't think so. That fear doesn't cause me to love Jesus more or depend on Him. It just makes my imagination run wild to places it shouldn't go.

However, I don't think it means I give up all TV. For me, watching TV in Jesus' name means inviting Jesus to watch with me and listening to His thoughts about what I'm viewing. If something is presented that the Bible speaks against, I turn the TV off. But if not, I think Jesus cheers when justice prevails. I certainly do.

What does it mean to do household chores in Jesus' name? How do I work in Jesus' name?"

These two questions hit home too. Ortberg said in response to chores, "To respond in Jesus' name would mean reflecting on how fortunate I am to have a nice place to live. It would mean recognizing that this task can help me remember that I am not the Messiah, and the earth won't stop spinning if I have to take some time out to fix something."

My girls just said, "Oh. Yes. I need to think like that." Me too.

Ortberg's comments on work, for the girls: school, were insightful. He talked about how to work in Jesus' name involves viewing people as people, to treat them with kindness, maybe even to say a prayer for each person we encounter.

The conclusion we came to was that having a well-ordered heart means we have to be intentional about how we think and act. We have to be quiet more and prayerful more and focused on us less. We also discussed how we can't do this in our strength or determination.

We need Jesus. After all, it's in His name, in His character, by His strength we're to live.

So how would you do life "in Jesus' name?" What would you do differently than you have been doing?

Hurting with those who hurt

2011-02-15T15:54:00.000-05:00

My younger sister, Heidi, has had a tough seven months. She got married in May of 2010 to her high school sweetheart—the only good thing in a series of life-threatening things. Then a few weeks later, she had the first of three brain surgeries.

She almost died after the first one.

Then she had an elective surgery and the surgeon nicked her intestines, causing her entire thoracic cavity to become infected in addition to septicemia, an infection of the blood.

She’s been in ICU since a few days after the surgery in January. The last update we received from my mom was hopeful. An ICU nurse said there was an antibiotic to treat the antibiotic resistant infection my sister was suffering from.

The nurse lied.

What she did may have seemed like a kindness, but it wasn’t. It gave false hope. It got my mom’s spirits up, only to be crashed a week later when there were more pockets of infection found and she heard the truth about how no antibiotics can help my sister.

The doctors have no idea how long Heidi will be in the ICU or if she’ll ever leave.

I’m telling you all this to ask you to do something differently than one of my sister’s nurses did. I’m asking you to hurt with the hurting right now in a way that will give true hope and peace.

Please pray for my sister, her husband and son, my mom, and my family. I’m five hundred miles away and feel helpless. But I know we’re not. Prayer is powerful and can change everything.

If you want to go a step further and comfort someone who is struggling and afraid, below is an address for my sister. We’ll be sending some cards to cheer her up and let her know we’re praying. Would you consider doing that too?

Heidi Little
Baptist Hospital East, room 337 ICU
Louisville, Ky. 40207

Thank you for listening. Thank you for praying. We appreciate that more than words can express.

Weakness and Strength

2011-01-26T17:23:00.000-05:00

I finally know why 2010 was such a difficult year. But the answer isn't encouraging... it's scary.

I spent a few hours yesterday in a new endocrinologist's office to learn that the explanation for all the injuries, severe muscle fatigue/pain I live with, and the lack of concentration has a name. Grave's disease.

There's no great treatment for this auto-immune disease either. I could have my thyroid removed. Or have radioactive iodine treatment to kill my thyroid. Or take pills that could possibly cause hypothyroid, a condition I've experienced that made getting out of bed all but impossible.

I spent last night crying. I live with diabetes, another auto-immune disease that makes life a challenge. But I've done things my doctors said I could never do. I've given birth to three beautiful and healthy children. I've lived complication-free a decade longer than they said I should. I've kept my eyesight.

And I've known for a long time it wasn't anything I did, but the grace of a loving God that enabled me to live and do more than survive.

That same God has been graciously close to me today. He started by showing me verse after verse in the Bible where God uses the weak things to show His glory and strength.

These verses were a direct response to the pain I got out of bed with this morning.

God was near when I talked to my children about Grave's disease and answered questions about what happens next.

The reality is I don't know. I could go into remission and possibly be free of injury and muscle weakness and dogging fatigue.

Or not.

But God spoke clearly this morning to my heart. I can live in fear and push beyond my abilities to accomplish what needs to be done.

I can despair and give up.

Or I can lean into God no matter what the circumstances and experience how the joy of the Lord is my strength.

I think I'll choose option three.

What's in a Word for 2011

2010-12-29T12:45:00.000-05:00

Every year about this time I start peering into the future and pondering what God sees in me that needs some adjusting. Often, as I pray, a word or group of words rises to the top and becomes the focus of my thoughts.

Then I look back over the past year and what God has already done.

2010, by all accounts, was a difficult year. We were sick a lot and so was our checkbook. But the word God kept bringing to mind helped me focus on what really matters. Every time God reminded me of our 2009 Christmas reminiscing, peace seeped in and He empowered me to live this word and make better choices than in years past. The word was LOVE.

When God first whispered that word, I thought He was going to teach me more about His love and how to love others better. What happened instead were many opportunities to see how frail and fallible human love is: both in giving and receiving.

What also unfolded last year was learning to appreciate evidences of God’s perfect love in the small imperfect expressions that are often overlooked: a silly card handwritten backwards by a beginning writer, a series of “just one more” hugs as I’m running out the door, a quiet hour of dreaming about the future with my husband.

This year God whispered a word for 2011 early: CONTENTMENT. And He has already begun opening my eyes to how vital this word is.

We’ve been sick since October with one thing after another. We've been injured more this year than any other. And we've tightened the belt on spending, even during the holiday season. No vacations. No big expenses unless we had earned extra dollars.

It wasn't fun at all.

During one very sleepless, sick, and frustrating week, I was unleashing my inner two year old on God and begging Him for health and other various, self-centered requests. God simply said, "Contentment."

I can’t say I was thrilled. In fact, I got even more two year oldish for a while.

But then I started looking at the circumstances through His eyes…

Every bump and bruise in life is an opportunity to depend on God more...

To listen deeper...

To grow wiser...

To trust more...

To be thankful, even when life hurts.

Every time God and I did the two year old versus contentment dance, I came out with a bruised ego and a bigger heart.

I caught a glimpse of how much better life can be with my hand in God's instead of my foot stomping.

I have no doubt God is just getting started teaching me about contentment. But for the first time, I'm beginning a new year excited about what God is up to because I've already seen Him at work.

Contentment.

Two thousand eleven is already looking better and better.

What about you? What has God taught you in 2010? What might He be teaching you in 2011? There's so much focus and strength... even excitement summed up in a word that God whispers to your heart.

So what is God saying to you? What's your word for 2011?

More Festive Fun

2010-12-20T16:13:00.000-05:00

For your yuletide pleasure, here's another Christmas game my whole family enjoys.

This time your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become a holiday wordsmith and figure out the names of popular carols. I'll post the answers in the comments section, so check back and let me know how you did!

1. Bleached Yule

2. Castaneous-colored Seed Vesicated in a conflagration

3. Singular Yearning for the Twin Anterior Incisors

4. Righteous Darkness

5. Arrival Time was 2400 hrs~ Weather was Cloudless

6. Loyal Followers Advance

7. Far off in a Feeder

8. Array the Corridor

9. Bantam Male Percussionist

10. Monarchial Triad

11. Nocturnal Noiselessness

12. Jehovah Deactivate Blithe Chevaliers

13. Man in Red En Route to Borough

14. Frozen Precipitation Commence

15. Proceed and Enlighten on the Pinnacle

16. The Quadruped with the Vermilion Proboscis

17. Query Regarding Identity of Descendant

18. Delight for this Planet

19. Give Attention to the Melodious Celestial Beings

20. The Dozen Festive 24 Hour Intervals

Merry Christmas!!!

Festive Fun

2010-12-16T16:07:00.000-05:00

The decorations are up, the baking is done, the Christmas cards are in the mail. Now it's time to relax and have some holiday fun.

I thought you all might join me.

First up is a short list of scrambled carols. I'll post the answers tomorrow. Don your holiday Santa hat and see how well you do...

1. Glijen Slebl

2. Linste Githn

3. Het Strif Leno

4. Leshig Erid

5. Racol fo eth eblsl

6. Tiwern Nowlardend

7. Ew Erhet Gksin

8. Yosfrt het Wosmnan

Along with the chuckles, I wanted to share a Christmas thought that has me contemplating this season in a new light...

1 Corinthians 13, Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtimes but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas!!!

Thankful for What?

2010-11-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

Have you ever been thankful for your shortcomings? The areas in which you struggle? Strange questions, I know, especially when tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we're focused on all the good things we have to be thankful for.

One of our church members asked the questions I'm asking you and it stopped me in my pre-holiday tracks. Be thankful for financial struggles, selfishness, immaturity? I battle every day not to give into what I know will destroy me.

I've never thought about being thankful for those things.

But I never struggled with anything, how would I know the goodness of the only One who seeks after a prodigal child and runs to him or her?

If I never struggled, how would I experience the grace and forgiveness of God? The compassion that I can do nothing to deserve, the forgiveness that can't be earned, the grace that is poured out when we've done nothing to merit it?

How do we intimately know God rescues us out of the darkest pits unless we've been in one?

I don't know about you, but I don't have to invent pits or problems. I can name my weaknesses, my sins, my failures.

I can't say I'm thankful for them either. I'd rather be mature, responsible, gentle and, well... better.

I am thankful those sins and weaknesses were all nailed to the cross and I don't have to atone for them.

I'm thankful those deep pits and black problems have forced me to my knees to experience God in ways I would have missed unless they were all I had.

I'm thankful these things I struggle with here on earth won't follow me to heaven.

I'm thankful that God has delivered me from sins that easily entangled me decades, months, days ago. And He promises to continue the good work in me and in you until the day we're face to face with Him forever.

I'm thankful I've had to struggle. It's made me human. It's made me face how desperately I need God. It's made me see how small I am and how infinitely big and powerful God is.

He is our reason for thanks giving. He knows we are but dust. He knows every sin, every thought, every dark pit we've faced....

And He loves us still.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

Psalm 107

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

3 those he gathered from the lands,

from east and west, from north and south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,

finding no way to a city where they could settle.

5 They were hungry and thirsty,

and their lives ebbed away.

6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way

to a city where they could settle.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

9 for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

In all things, whoever you are and whatever you've done or not done...give thanks to the Lord. He is good. His love endures forever.

Giving thanks... for the good, the struggles, and everything in between,

Amy

Early Christmas Coincidence

2010-11-20T21:26:00.000-05:00

Ever wondered if the little decisions you make in a day's time matter?

I have some days. Other days I've known without a doubt one decision made all the difference.

Today was one of those days.

It started normally enough... the alarm went off. I groaned. Then I stayed in bed wondering what today would hold, praying some, organizing what I knew had to be done.

We'd planned to go shopping for our yearly Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes earlier this week. But lots of ordinary things prevented us. So we went today.

All pretty ordinary. Shopping commenced with candy, toys, toothbrushes, and conversation about the child who would receive the box we were packing.

We hurried home, wrapped and packed our shoebox, then hurried to make it to a processing center to drop off our gift.

This was the first time we haven't dropped our shoebox off at church with a prayer and a hope it would brighten a child's Christmas.

This time we stumbled into a moment in time that had God's handiwork written all over it.

We thought we were late, that we were skirting into the processing center right before it closed. Instead we landed smack dab in the middle of a family day event we hadn't signed up for, hadn't planned to attend, but were invited into anyway.

There we saw a shoebox's journey from a child's hands in the US to a child's hands in another country.

We saw what a difference little choices make. The toothbrushes we pack every year could be a first time gift of better health. A sewing kit prayed over by my child could help another child earn money to keep her family alive.

Little things to us, little toys or a bag of candy, might mean our child hears the Good News of Jesus for the first time in her life. The love we packed into that small box could open up a child's heart to hearing that someone who doesn't even know her cared enough to send a shoebox so that the One who knows every hair on her head could be shared with her forever.

Little "coincidences" got us to this moment in time today. A moment when my little girl who wants to be a doctor saw doctors with Samaritan's Purse helping children and adults in Haiti. Something flamed in her eyes as she looked up at me and said, "I'm going to do that someday."

Something flamed in all of us today. A desire to be part of something much bigger than any one of its human parts. A longing to do something to bring joy and the love of Christ to many.

An understanding that packing a shoebox was so much more than a holiday tradition. It was hope disguised as a simple cardboard box. A simple gift that could change a life.

I have no idea what God is up to with all He organized today. But I'm convinced today wasn't about coincidences. It was all about God- incidences.

I can't wait to see what He's up to next.

To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, check out the Samaritan's Purse website.

Do You Know Him?

2010-11-10T16:25:00.000-05:00

During a recent devotion with my children, we watched this video and were reminded of the greatness of our God and why we should stand in awe of Him.

Enjoy...

Do we remember?

2010-09-11T12:16:00.001-04:00

Today I woke up like normal~ slowly. Then I realized what today was. My family and I talked about 9-11-2001. We read poems, looked at my scrapbook from that day, and cried.

I remember that day.

I remember the world grieving as one.

I remember Congress singing God Bless America on the Capital steps.

I remember the heroes of that day too. The firefighters. The police. The military. The FBI. The men and women aboard the four planes that changed our world. The doctors and nurses and EMS personnel who cared for the injured. The priests and pastors who comforted the grieving. The family members of those who died.

I remember the candles lit around the world.

Our prayers. Our tears. Our unity.

I pray we don't forget. I won't. My children won't. I pray we're different because of it. More compassionate. More dependent on God. And more willing to fight on our knees for the things that matter.

Love. Family. Unity. Peace.

There are two poems I read this morning to my family. I pray they touch your soul as they did ours and that, along with us, you won't forget.

On Monday

On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools

On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying

On Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race, sex, color, and creed
On Tuesday they were all holding hands

On Monday we thought that we were secure
On Tuesday we learned better

On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes
On Tuesday we relearned what hero meant

On Monday people went to work at the world trade centers as usual
On Tuesday they died

On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property
On Tuesday the same people all said, "God help us all" while thinking, "Thou shalt not kill"

On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids

On Monday people picked up McDonalds for dinner
On Tuesday they stayed home

On Monday people were upset that their dry cleaning was not ready on time
On Tuesday they were lining up to give blood for the dying

On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses
On Tuesday grief stricken they sang "God Bless America"

On Monday we worried about the traffic and getting to work late
On Tuesday we worried about a place crashing into your house or place of business

On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived
On Tuesday we saw people celebrating people dying in the USA

On Monday some children had solid families
On Tuesday they were orphans

On Monday the president was going to Florida to read to children
On Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children

On Monday we emailed jokes
On Tuesday we did not

It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into perspective, but it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again.

~ Author Unknown

Is This Normal?

Four thousand gathered for a mid-day prayer in a downtown cathedral.

A New York City church, filled and emptied six times last Tuesday.

The owner of a Manhattan tennis shoe store threw open his doors and gave running shoes to those fleeing the towers.

People stood in lines to give blood, in hospitals to treat the sick, in sanctuaries to pray for the wounded.

America was different this week.

We wept for people we did not know.
We sent money to families we've never seen.
Talk-show hosts read Scriptures, journalists printed prayers.
Our focus shifted from fashion hemlines and box scores to orphans and widows and the future of the world.

We were different this week.

Republicans stood next to Democrats.
Catholics prayed with Jews.
Skin color was covered by the ash of burning towers.

This is a different country than it was a week ago.
We're not as self-centered as we were.
We're not as self-reliant as we were.
Hands are out.
Knees are bent.

This is not normal.

And I have to ask the question, "Do we want to go back to normal?"
Are we being given a glimpse of a new way of life?
Are we, as a nation, being reminded that the enemy is not each other and the power is not in ourselves and the future is not in our bank accounts?

Could this unselfish prayerfulness be the way God intended for us to live all along?
Maybe this, in HIS eyes, is the way we are called to live.

And perhaps the best response to this tragedy is to refuse to go back to normal.

Perhaps the best response is to follow the example of Tom Burnet.
He was a passenger of flight 93. Minutes before the plane crashed in the fields of Pennsylvania he reached his wife by cell phone. "We're all going to die," he told her, "but there are three of us who are going to do something about it."

We can do something about it as well.
We can resolve to care more.
We can resolve to pray more.
And we can resolve that, God being our helper, we'll never go back to normal again.

~ Max Lucado

What Southern Women Know

2010-09-07T06:00:00.003-04:00

I should preface what follows with the fact that I'm not a Southerner. I'm an Army brat who grew up all over the world. But I was born south of the Mason-Dixon and have lived most of my life in the dear old South. So I guess you could say, "I got here as fast as I could."

Read on an enjoy!

Southern women know their summer weather report:

Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southern women know their vacation spots:

The beach
The rivuh
The crick

Southern women know everybody's first name:

Honey
Darlin'
Shugah

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:

Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:

Baptist
Voodoo
Football

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern charm:

Chawl'stn
S'vanah (This is REALLY how it's pronounced here!)
Foat Wuth
N'awlins
Addlanna (Same with this one!)

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen:

Men in uniform
Men in clean overalls
Rhett Butler

Southern girls know their prime real estate:

The Mall
The Spa
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:

Havin' bad hair and nails
Havin' bad manners
Cookin' bad food

More Suthen-ism's:

Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.

(Okay this one is soooo true! I have never heard of anyone having a hissie fit. We pitch 'em down here. ;-) )
Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, poke sallet, white beans, etc., make up "a mess."

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in: "Goin' to town, be back drekly ."

Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad.

If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'!

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right fur piece."

They also know that "juss down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.

(This is ABSOLUTELY true in Atlanta!)

A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.

(This one might actually qualify me as a Southerner. I've used "fixin" since I could talk~ mostly as a verb.)

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ...and when we're "in line,"... we talk to everybody!

In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not breakfast food.

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway.

You just say, "Bless her heart"... and go your own way.

To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff...bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!

And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I'm not from the South, but I got here as fast as I could."

Hope you had a good laugh like I did reading through these!

The Secret of Scents

2010-08-20T16:23:00.000-04:00

After posting on Facebook yesterday about how I had nothing to say, inspiration struck this morning. I finished reading an amazing book, Beauty Secrets of the Bible by Ginger Garrett, and the section on scent captured my attention. Here are a few reasons why...

"Smells are processed in the same area of the brain that we process and store emotions and memories."

Immediately, I connected to this. The smell of books transports me to my Grandma's basement where I spent many happy hours sitting at a huge red-benched picnic table with her reliving the past and reading her favorite stories.

The smells of Christmas send me back to Berlin, Germany where I can see Kurfurstendamm's twinkling Christmas market and feel the chilly air and remember one of the happiest times of my teen years.

Ginger goes on to talk about God's wisdom with scent...

"God gave His people directions on incorporating scent into their spiritual lives."

"When you walked into the ancient temple, you were immediately transported by the scent of the perfume to another place, a holy space. Perfume set the mood for worship and intimacy."

"The anointing oil was to be made from myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia, and olive oil. I imagine that the scent smelled very much like a scent we would associate with Christmas."

I LOVE that! And since scents affect my soul like music, a plan began to form in my brain. I packed up my kiddos and off we went to a favorite store: Yankee Candle.

We spent a fun hour smelling every scent there, and I put together three of my favorites for something extra special.

At home, I assembled my sweet-smelling treasures on a simple, dark candle plate and put it on my dresser, along with a hymn book.

I lit the candles and let their mingled scents transport me to a place of worship. As the heated air carried my prayers skyward, the candles' rich, beautiful scents carried me to a new experience with God, something I'd never thought to do before.

It was lovely. Refreshing. Rejuvenating. And I can't wait to make these scents part of my worship time every morning.

In case you're wondering, here are my worship scents: cinnamon, cedarwood, and almond.

What about you all? Do you have special scents for special occasions? Or special scents that bring back happy memories?

Whatever your scent story, I hope you'll consider allowing special scents to brighten your day, maybe even deepen your time with the Lord.

Summer Reading Enjoyment

2010-06-24T16:57:00.002-04:00

My oldest daughter is an avid reader like her mom. This summer, she's already read and re-read a series she wanted to tell folks about.

I'd second her opinion about Kim Vogel Sawyer. If you have any teen or pre-teen readers (moms will like these books too), put the Katy Lambright Series on your to buy list.

Katy's New World (The Katy Lambright Series, Book 1)
By Kim Vogel Sawyer

Katy's New World Review
By EW, age 12

I really enjoyed reading this book. In it, Katy Lambright, a Mennonite teenager, gets to go to high school. She loves it-- especially English class. But soon she begins having trouble fitting in, at school and at home.

I recommend this book for its truths about staying true to yourself within a fascinating, well-told story.

Katy's Debate (The Katy Lambright Series, Book 2)
By Kim Vogel Sawyer

Katy's Debate Review
By EW, age 12

I was really drawn into the story. I laughed a lot, but nearly cried a few times too. It was really good! In the story, Katy finally feels stable in her new school and is on the debate team, which she enjoys. But at home, her dad is courting a woman Katy can't stand, her best friend has a boyfriend who annoys Katy, and she is trying to convince her dad she doesn't need a mom. Worse yet, she likes a boy her community would never accept. She is faced with many choices, but is having a hard time choosing wisely.

I recommend this book for its fascinating plot full of twists and turns and truths about acceptance.

Doctor, Doctor

2010-06-19T18:29:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to write a new chapter today but got sidetracked by this very cool YouTube video about one of my hubby's and my favorite new shows~ Doctor Who.

All I did was Google a particular song, and this fun video is what I found. Enjoy.

Auf Deutsch

2010-06-15T21:02:00.000-04:00

This week I got word from a German magazine that all three of my books have been translated into German. Since I grew up in Germany, this was thrilling news!

I thought you all might like to see the German covers and read a translated review of the books. Also, here's the link for my German publisher.

Ransomed Dreams review Auf Deutsch:

Pressestimmen (1)

01.08.2009LoveLetter

"Der Tag, der alles veränderte" ist der erste Band der "Defenders of Hope" Serie, in der sich FBI-Agenten auf die Suche nach vermissten Kindern begeben. Die Hauptfiguren im Serienauftakt sind dabei so überzeugend, dass es leicht fällt, sich der Handlung hinzugeben. Gracies Trauma wird derart realistisch beschrieben, dass das Lesen fast körperlich wehtut. Auch Steven hadert mit dem Leid, mit dem er täglich konfrontiert wird. Amy Wallace gelingt es dabei meisterhaft ihre Protagonisten als Menschen aus Fleisch und Blut darzustellen. Obwohl der Roman christliche Werte vermittelt, sind sowohl Gracie, als auch Steven nicht perfekt. Gerade weil sie Wut und Trauer empfinden und Gott in Frage stellen, sind sie überzeugend. Stevens Fall und auch Gracies Vergangenheitsbewältigung sind zudem überaus spannend und packend inszeniert. Die zarte Liebesgeschichte rundet schließlich diesen wunderbaren Roman um Schuld und Vergebung ab."

In English:

"The day that changed everything" is the first volume of the "Defenders of Hope" series in which FBI agents go in search for missing children. The main characters in the series opener are so compelling that it is easy to add the action. Gracie's trauma is described in such realistic that almost physically hurts to read. Steven also quarrels with the suffering with which he is confronted daily. Amy Wallace succeeds masterfully while its protagonists as people of flesh and blood present. Although the novel gives Christian values, both Gracie, and Steven is not perfect. Just because they feel anger and grief and God into question, they are convincing. Stevens case, and also Gracie's dealing with the past are also very exciting and thrilling staged. The delicate love story finally rounds off this wonderful novel about guilt and forgiveness."

Healing Promises review Auf Deutsch:

Kundenstimmen (1)

12.05.2010B. Gregor

Gott sitzt immer noch auf dem Thron. Und er ist gut. Immer. (u. a. Seite 268) Wirklich immer?

Schon öfters habe ich geschrieben, daß ich nicht so recht weiß, wie ich eine angemessene Rezi schreiben soll. Hier bei diesem Buch ist es so, daß ich selbiges eher nicht will. Nicht, weil das Buch so schlecht (oder überhaupt schlecht) wäre, oh nein, ganz im Gegenteil. Das Problem ist, es hat mich persönlich „kalt erwischt“, fast noch mehr, als „Der Tag, der alles veränderte“. Nach Iris Kammerers „Varus“ ist dies in den letzten Jahren das zweite Buch, das mich emotional dermaßen stark berührte, daß mir schon alleine beim Gedanken an den Titel Tränen kommen. Vielleicht, weil Clint am gleichen Tag Geburtstag hat wie ich. Vielleicht, weil eben jenes Zitat aus dem Buch Hiob, das ich für das Totenbildchen meines Vaters ausgewählt habe, hier an entscheidender Stelle zitiert wird. Vielleicht, weil ein Standardspruch meiner Großmutter an zentraler Stelle im Buch fällt. So Gott will.

Aber manchmal will er eben nicht.

Das zweite Buch der Defender of Hope - Trilogie läßt mich etwas zwiegespalten zurück. Stilistisch schien mir das vorige Buch etwas „runder“ zu sein, flüssiger und weniger aus Einzelszenen bestehend, wie ich hier an einigen Stellen den Eindruck hatte. Auf der anderen Seite empfand ich dieses hier wesentlich dichter an den Protagonisten. Konnte ich im ersten Buch eine gewisse (durchaus angenehme) Distanz halten, so war mir das hier nicht mehr möglich. Unerbittlich wurde ich in die Handlung hineingezogen, habe den beruflichen Druck, der auf den FBI-Agenten lastet, verspürt. Habe mitgetrauert, wenn es wieder mal nicht gereicht hat; sei es beim FBI, sei es im Krebszentrum. Und konnte bisweilen mich auch mitfreuen an den viel zu wenigen schönen Ereignissen. Während sich im Hintergrund bereits die Gewitterwolken zusammenballen, die sich im dritten Teil entladen werden.

Der Focus dieses Buches liegt auf Clint und Sara. Bei den Folgeuntersuchungen einer Schußverletzung wird bei ihm Krebs diagnostiziert. Von heute auf morgen wird sein und das Leben seiner Familie, wie auch der Kollegen, aus der Bahn geworfen. Sara trifft es doppelt, macht sie sich Vorwürfe, daß sie als Onkologin das nicht selbst schon früher diagnostiziert hatte. Während Clint also den Kampf mit dem Krebs aufnimmt, jagen seine Kollegen Steven und Michael einen Serienmörder, der offenbar Katz und Maus mit dem FBI spielt.

Wie schon in „Der Tag, der alles veränderte“ gibt es auch hier immer wieder Kapitel aus der Sicht des Täters. Allerdings ist es hier nur anscheinend klar, wer das ist. Sehr geschickt legt die Autorin falsche Spuren, so daß zumindest ich völlig falsch mit meiner Einschätzung war. So offensichtlich der Täter im ersten Band war, so un-offensichtlich ist er es hier. Wie falsch ich lag, habe ich auch erst bemerkt, als das FBI die Identität entdeckt hat.

Das Buch hat mich mit auf eine emotionale Achterbahnfahrt genommen, die öfters nach unten denn nach oben ging. Die „Verlustraten“ sind hoch - beim FBI, Abteilung Verbrechen an Kindern, wie auch in der Krebsklinik. Waren im Vorgänger die Entführungen eben unpersönliche Fälle, kamen sie mir hier schon näher. Oder Frank, der nur (im Buch) lebte, um zu sterben. Das war wirklich (emotional) hart zu lesen, und ich mußte teilweise nach 30, 40 Seiten erst mal eine Pause einlegen.

Als Grundthema des Buches gibt die Autorin die Frage an, ob man Gott in wirklich jeder Situation vertrauen kann. Nicht ganz ohne Grund wird einige Male das Buch Hiob zitiert, um schließlich in der geflüsterten Frage: Wie lobe ich Gott, wenn das Leben so wehtut? (Seite 231) zu münden. Immer wieder gelangen die Protagonisten an diesen Punkt, sind kurz vor (oder nach) der Verzweiflung - und müssen doch weitermachen. Diese inneren Konflikte, in denen wohlgemeinte Sprüche nicht mehr weiterhelfen, fand ich persönlich gut und überzeugend dargestellt. Ich konnte mich mit den „Helden“ identifizieren und ihre Zweifel und Nöte verstehen. Sicher ist letztlich bis zu einem gewissen Punkt klar, wie das Buch ausgehen wird. Selbst die Perfekt- und Vollkommenheit Gracias wird (von Hanna) bemängelt. Dennoch erschien es mir persönlich eben nicht übertrieben, sondern die Personen haben (für mich) im gegebenen Rahmen glaubhaft und nachvollziehbar gehandelt. Gerade das hat noch mehr zu der schon erwähnten Nähe beigetragen.

Als ich das Buch zugeklappt habe und im Kopfkino der Schriftzug „The End“ auftauchte, war ich innerlich gleichzeitig aufgewühlt, aber auch ruhig und zufrieden. Im sicheren Bewußtsein, den mir ans Herz gewachsenen Protagonisten noch einmal wieder zu begegnen, in sicherer Vorahnung etlicher schlimmer Dinge, die da wohl ans Tageslicht kommen würden, in unsicherer Hoffnung, wie alles letztlich ausgehen wird. Und schließlich mit der Frage, wie ich es noch rund drei Monate aushalten soll, bis ich weiterlesen kann.

„Ihre Geschichte ist anders als unsere, aber Gott ist derselbe. Sie können ihm vertrauen. Er wird Sie nicht im Stich lassen.“ (Seite 102)

In English:

Testimonials (1)

12.05.2010B. Gregor

The hours that count~ title

God is still sitting on the throne. And he is good. Always. (Including page 268) Is it good?

Even more often I have written that I do not really know how to write proper Rezi. Here, in this book is such that I tend not The same will. Not because the book so bad (or even bad) would be, oh no, quite the opposite. The problem is, it took me personally "caught cold," almost more than "The day that changed everything." After Iris Kammerer "Varus" this is in recent years, the second book that touched me emotionally so much that I had come alone at the thought of the title of tears. Perhaps because Clint has the same birthday as me. Perhaps because of that very quote from the Book of Job, which I have selected for the little picture of my dead father, is quoted at the decisive point. Perhaps because a standard saying of my grandmother at a central point in the book falls. God willing.

But sometimes he will not.

The second book of the Defender of Hope - trilogy leaves me somewhat ambivalent. Stylistically, I thought the previous book something to be "round", and less liquid consisting of individual scenes, as I have here in some places had the impression. On the other hand, I felt here that much closer to the protagonists. I could in the first book to keep a certain (very pleasant) distance, so to me this was not possible. I was inexorably drawn into the action, have the professional pressures put on the FBI agents felt. Have mitgetrauert when it itself has not yet served, be it at the FBI, whether in the cancer center. And sometimes I was able to rejoice even in the far too few good events. While in the background agglomerate already the storm clouds, which are unloaded in the third part.

The focus of this book is on Clint and Sara. In the follow-up studies of a gunshot wound is diagnosed him with cancer. Of today will be tomorrow and on the lives of his family, as well as colleagues, thrown off course. Sara takes it twice, she reproached herself that she, as the oncologist had not even been diagnosed earlier. So while Clint takes the fight with cancer, his colleagues chase a serial killer, Steven and Michael, who seems to play cat and mouse with the FBI.

As in "The day that changed everything", there are always chapter from the perspective of the perpetrator. However, it is just seems obvious who that is. Very cleverly, the author lays false trails, so that at least I was completely wrong in my assessment. So obviously the offender in the first volume was so un-obvious he is here. How wrong I was, I have only discovered when the FBI has discovered the identity.

The book has taken me on an emotional roller coaster ride that often went down because the top. The loss rates are high - at the FBI, Department of crimes against children, as in the cancer clinic. Were in the previous abductions just impersonal cases, they came to me here closer. Or Frank, the only (living in the book), to die. That was really (read emotional) is hard, and I had some appeal at 30, 40 pages until a break.

The overall theme of the book is the author of the question whether one can really trust God in every situation. Not without reason, some times the book of Job is quoted, and finally whispered in the question: How do I praise God when life hurts so? (Page 231) lead. Again and again the protagonists get to this point, are just before (or after) of despair - and must continue that. These internal conflicts, in which help is no longer well-intentioned spells, I was personally well presented and convincing. I could identify myself with the "heroes" and understand their doubts and worries. Sure, ultimately, to a certain point, it is clear how the book will end. Even the most perfect and perfection is Gracias (criticized by Hanna). However, it appeared to me personally just not an exaggeration, but the people have (traded for me) in the given context believable and understandable. Just that has contributed more to the already mentioned nearby.

When I closed the book and movie in my head the words "The End" appeared, I was deeply disturbed at the same time, but also calm and satisfied. In the safe consciousness, the protagonists meet me to the heart grown once more again, worse in a safe premonition of several things that would come to light as well, hope in uncertain how everything will turn out eventually. And finally, the question of how should I hold out about three months, until I can read.

"Their history is different than ours, but God is the same. You can trust him. He will not let them down. "(Page 102)

Last but not least... Enduring Justice Auf Deutsch:

Ende Juli 2010Nervenkitzel pur

Amy Wallace

Im Hauch eines Augenblicks

Über zwei Jahrzehnte lang hat Hanna Kessler ihr Kindheitsgeheimnis tief in ihrem Innersten vergraben. Aber als die dunklen Schatten der Vergangenheit diejenigen zu zerstören drohen, die sie liebt, muss Hanna sich zu einem schwierigen Schritt durchringen. Sie muss sich den Erinnerungen an jenen Sommer stellen, der ihr Leben für immer veränderte. Und dem Mann, der bis heute ihre Gedanken beherrscht.

Als FBI-Agent weiß Michael Parker, was es bedeutet, einen Rückschlag zu erleiden. Schwierige Fälle und zerbrochene Beziehungen pflastern seinen Lebensweg. Aber als das System versagt und ein Rechtsextremist auf freien Fuß gesetzt wird, wächst sein Wunsch nach Vergeltung ins Unermessliche.

Der gut geplante Anschlag eines Rassisten zwingt Hanna und Michael, sich zu entscheiden. Wollen sie Rache üben oder der Gerechtigkeit zum Sieg verhelfen? Letzteres wäre ihre Chance auf Heilung. Aber ist Gerechtigkeit wirklich genug, wenn der Angriff sich gegen sie persönlich richtet?

In English:

Thrills

Amy Wallace

In the breath of a moment~ title

For over two decades, Hanna Kessler her childhood secret buried deep in her core. But threaten to destroy the dark shadows of the past than those who loves them, durchringen Hanna has become a difficult step. You must make the memories of that summer that changed her life forever. And the man who still dominates their thoughts.

As FBI Agent Michael Parker knows suffering, what does it mean a setback. Difficult cases and broken relationships pave his life. But when the system fails and a right-wing extremist is set free, his desire for revenge grows immeasurably.

The well-planned attack by a racist forces Hanna and Michael to choose to stay. Do you want revenge or justice to help the victory? The latter would be their chance of cure. But justice is real enough, if the attack is directed against them personally?

Enduring Justice, or should I say In the Breath of a Moment will be available in July 2010! ;-)

Sacred Parenting

2010-05-30T14:33:00.000-04:00

I'm embarking on a new journey in parenting ~ very soon my oldest will be a teen. Instead of fearing this transition, I'm taking steps to make it the best it can possibly be. And I'm preparing my heart too.

As part of this process, my oldest and I started having an Esther Year and working through an amazing book: Queen Esther's Secrets of Womanhood by Ginger Garrett.

An Esther Year is a blueprint for activities to pamper mom and daughter and for discussions to go deep into stories of the past and wisdom for the future. We've enjoyed a number of diners or coffees out, fun beauty treatments, and lots of good talks.

It's been a great preparation for this transition.

But my heart needed more. So I hinted (okay, a lot) to my hubby and kids that for Mother's Day I wanted a specific book.

They were so wonderful to get it for me.

They had no idea just how much it would change all of our lives.

This book is Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas. His book Sacred Marriage, which I read last year, changed my heart and my marriage in many profound ways.

I know God will show up through the pages and prose to transform me again in my parenting.

Today, I'm mulling over some fantastic and thought provoking quotes that I wanted to share with you.

"Christian parenting is truly a sacred journey. It invites us parents to purify ourselves, to use the process of raising kids to perfect holiness, and to do this consistently, every day, out of reverence for God."

This section, from chapter one, delves into 2 Corinthians 7:1 and the question: Why Parent?

I love this next quote. It beautifully articulates words that have lived in my heart ever since my oldest was born.

"In the good and the bad they (our children) mold our hearts, shape our souls, and invite us to experience God in newer and deeper ways."

I've long known that my children are amazing teachers, even before their first words. They've taught me about God's love, His infinite forgiveness, and the joy of sacrifice. I pray daily I might teach them something too.

Here are some other phenomenal quotes. I hope you'll savor them along with me.

"It is in families we are broken and it is in families that we are healed." Carl Whittaker

"Sunshine without rain is the recipe for a desert." Arab Proverb

"Repentance, contrary to popular misconception, is not a heroic first step I make toward Christ, nor is it a feeling-sorry-for my sins. It is the divine gift of being turned toward truth." William Willimon

"There is in repentance this great mystery~ that we may fly fastest home on broken wings." William Sullivan

I'm looking forward to this journey, knowing I'll be stretched farther than I've yet been and broken in places I wasn't aware needing breaking. But I'll also be taking a step closer to my heavenly Daddy and savoring His presence as He teaches me to parent more like Him.

I plan to enjoy the journey.

Influence and power

2010-05-21T07:00:00.004-04:00

A very close friend called me up on Wednesday to wish me an early birthday and said she’d be praying for me on my birthday (today) and thanking God all day that He made me.

I nearly cried.

What a sweet thing to say and mean.

My daughters and I have been talking about power and influence this week, and today that thought converged with the idea of thanking God for someone’s life.

I wonder if the people I’m in authority over: my children, mentorees, students, lower belts in my martial arts, thank God for me.

What about you? Who do you influence? And how can you use that influence for good, like Jesus did?

By serving. It’s an easy Sunday school answer, but I wonder if you’re like me and that isn’t an everyday thought.

Who can you influence for good by serving?

It might be a smile, a kind word, a firm but loving round of discipline, a cheer when they’re trying hard but not quite getting it.

They may never say thank you, but they will someday be thankful for you. They may even spend your birthday thanking God that He made you because you made a difference in their life.

Always learning?

2010-04-16T18:21:00.000-04:00

When I mentor or teach writers—elementary school kids with big dreams, teens, or adult writers—one of the first things I tell them is never stop learning. I also tell them that even if you think you know something so well you could do it in your sleep, keep practicing and improving it.

I got a nice object lesson of this truth the other day.

We were in a martial arts class, practicing blocking moves. In this particular class, we’d gone over these techniques for weeks. I was pretty confident I knew what I was doing.

But then all four advanced belt leaders had something else to show me.

At first, I was discouraged, thinking I’d never get it.

Then I realized they weren’t telling me the same stuff they’d told me last time or the time before. They were teaching me more advanced techniques and pushing me to learn more, to keep improving.

It clicked that evening that even if I know a million and one things about any given subject (I don’t), there are always a million and two things to learn.

Always learning has a ton of benefits—sharper mind, growing base of knowledge and wisdom, winning Trivial Pursuit. That last one matters, truly. Ask my friend Carrie.

It has benefits for the people around you too. Your learning can be a source of inspiration and it can give you opportunities to mentor and help someone else take one more step toward their dreams.

What can you learn today, this week, this year?

Then look around and find someone a few steps behind you in learning that same thing. Teach them, encourage them, and share what you’ve learned.

You’ll touch a life. You might even inspire a God-sized dream.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

A beautiful look at the richness of Easter through the art of one of my favorite painters, Ron DiCianni.

Enjoy... and worship Him today. He is risen, indeed!

The Final Week of Jesus

2010-04-01T13:49:00.000-04:00

This week, my daughters and I are reading through one of my favorite non-fiction books about Easter: And the Angels were Silent by Max Lucado. This book recounts in beautiful words and heart-healing stories the final week of Jesus.

Here's a snippet from the beginning of And the Angels were Silent ... "Commonly clad. Uncommonly focused. Leaving Jericho and walking toward Jerusalem. He doesn't chatter. He doesn't pause. He is on a journey. His final journey.

"Even the angels are silent. They know this is no ordinary walk. They now this is no ordinary week. For hinged on this week is the door of eternity. Let's walk with him. Let's see how Jesus spent his final days. Let's see what mattered to God."

As we've read, we've talked about what mattered most to Jesus. What He talked about this last week. What He taught about. What He did during these seven days...Jesus clearing the temple- His passion for God and His anger at those who would keep us from truly worshipping. We've talked about truth and lukewarm faith and the courage to dream again. Of sandcastles and tides and the fact life is fleeting. And that Jesus is coming back.

No matter how many times I've read this story- I've owned it since before I was married- I cry as I read each chapter. The words are that evocative and the truths that soul-watering.

It's one of the ways I keep this week in my heart.

I hope, no matter how you do it, that you keep this week in your hearts too. Remember who Jesus is and what He's done.

Remember the scourging and the cross.

Remember the blackness of Friday and the glory of Sunday.

An empty tomb. A risen Saviour.

And celebrate!

Fiction Mirror

2010-02-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

Fiction mirrors real life.

I learned that hard truth while writing three suspense novels that delved into deep subjects, themes that poured out of my own struggles and triumphs, my own questions and wrestling with God. A lot of me and many people I know filled those pages.

You can't hide writing a novel. And you shouldn't. Because when fiction reflects real life, real people read and not only enjoy a great story that touches them on a deep level, but they also find hope and a mirror into their own soul.

Fiction reading and writing have forced me to face big issues in my heart. That's one of the reasons I'm a lifetime fiction reader and talk passionately about how fiction is a place where wounded people can find hope, healing, and encouragement.

But I've never found that to be true with fiction how-to books or DVDs.

Until last night.

My fantastic local writing group, WORD, met last night and watched part 2 of an amazing DVD ~ The Hero’s Journey.

In it, one of the presenters, Michael Hauge, taught about the hero's inner journey. I scribbled notes furiously and hoped at some point I'd understand concepts that weren't new but weren't quite fitting into my brain very well either.

When I got home, I brainstormed with my husband about my current characters' inner journeys until his eyes glassed over. I still didn't understand, and that bugged me. A lot.

So this morning as I was praying, I started thinking about the concept of identity and essence and how all of the other terms Mr. Hauge used to describe the inner journey fit together.

It hit me that I could plug myself into the concepts and maybe understand them better.

God is so sneaky in getting me to do this. He knew I couldn't pass up the chance to understand the benign subject of writing deeper. Little did I know, I'd be totally exposed in working through a technique just like I am in the actual writing.

As I've done in my books, author letters, and on this blog, I'm going to put my real life examples out there.

Mr. Hauge talked about the concept of longing, a wound, fear, identity, and essence. I'll explain them using me.

A longing~ I long to be a kind, gentle, emotional person.

What's funny to me about that longing is in many arenas I am that person, especially in my writing and with other writers. But it's taken me a long time to get healthy enough to honestly be who I am around other people, especially my family.

A wound~ Growing up I was made fun of for any emotional display, sometimes physically punished. These were not temper tantrum displays, but everyday ones like sadness, excitement, fear, ect. So I learned never to cry in front of anyone. Anger was the only acceptable emotion.

Fear~ Emotion equaled weakness in my family of origin, so my fear as I grew up was that if I showed emotion, besides anger, I'd be rejected and unwanted again.

Here is where I'd attach my understanding of "the lie," a truth and technique I learned from counseling to apply to my own life, to my fiction, and to teach to other writers. My lie that I've lived out of a majority of the time is I'm unwanted.

Identity~ I’ve defined myself as a strong woman and used anger like a sword. This was my protection against rejection in any situation where I might have to risk exposing my wound. Anger happens anytime my lie is pushed on or in some way shown to be true. As in anytime I've felt put down, disrespected, or not liked.

Essence~ This is something that took me a while to understand through Mr. Hauge's teaching. This is basically who the character, or real person, is when all their definitions of who they are get taken away. Instead of defining myself by my family, my work, my abilities, or my characteristics like strong and angry, essence is who I really am.

As a believer, who I am is God's child. A child He made to be very emotional, passionate, and (when I'm listening to Him and believing Him) a kind, gentle, caring person.

The journey of life and of a fiction novel is for the character to be stripped of identity and have their essence revealed and accepted as they live in a new reality being who they really are.

Writers, unlike our characters, are still in process. The last page of our story~ my story~ has yet to be written.

But this insight matters. It forced me to look in Jesus' face and bow before Him, confessing my lie, my self-protections, and my fears. And taking from Him the freedom to be who He created me to be.

I'm sure God has plenty more ways to teach me truths like this. And I’m sure I’ll need them.

But for today, I'm grateful a how-to book/ DVD on writing taught me truth about myself.

Now I must go make my fictional characters suffer as I have so they can rejoice like I am today. ;-)

Fiction is a beautiful mirror. So is anything that helps us look deeply inside and see what God would have us see.

How has a fictional novel or even a fiction how-to book mirrored you and revealed something that helped you grow?

Do What You Love

2010-02-19T17:32:00.001-05:00

Life and writing both share some basic “rules.” Do your best. Don’t give up. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated—except you can’t do this to your characters until the last chapter.

An often overlooked “rule” is one thing I try to incorporate into everything I teach because it’s a bedrock good idea if you want to enjoy life… and writing.

Do what you love and do it with passion.

Love and passion are the intangible ingredients that change something good to something filled with wow, something which draws you back for more—everything from beautiful art to beautiful food to engaging drama, warm and wonderful knit clothing, and books worthy of a second or third read.

The big question here is not why—we all know why we love wow experiences and things—it’s how. How do we figure out what we love and do it with passion.

The first step is to think about what you loved as a child. Cooking? A breathtaking sunset? Taking pictures? Making things with your hands? Telling stories that made people laugh?

Often we find something we love as children and let life and busyness steal it away.

I never dreamed about becoming an author. But I started down that path when my husband pushed me to do something he knew I loved but I’d forgotten.

I’d won a writing contest in elementary school, a story telling contest in middle school. And I spent most of my days floating from one movie-like daydream to another. But it wasn’t until someone else saw that spark and nudged me to go for it that I remembered.

So I’m nudging you. What did you love to do as a child? Rediscover it.

The next step is to enjoy it again. Love painting but feel a bit rusty on techniques? Take a beginners class at a craft store or local church. Love photography but don’t know where to start? Barnes and Noble is full of inexpensive books to get you going.

Did you love arts and crafts as a kid? What about scrapbooking, sculpture, building ships or birdhouses or sewing or knitting? Again, ask about classes at a craft store, fabric store, community college or talk to people at church. Chances are someone there loves an activity you love and can help you get started and stay motivated with it.

Then pray about how you can use that thing you love, that activity or cause you’re passionate about, to serve others.

Of course, it’s wise to be praying every step of the way. But don’t let yourself get bogged down with fear about showing your art or creations to others. Not until you’re ready.

And when you are, keep praying. There are people out there who will help you get better. Ask God to connect you to those folks. It may not be easy to hear areas for improvement, but it will help you stick with it and grow.

Another possible step in this process is taking what you love and making a career out of it. Baking, knitting, photography, writing, and art are all areas that can move from hobby to career.

Just remember to do what you love and keep that passion alive. Enjoy it. Your work will shine because of it and your heart will be even more alive. And others will be drawn to that.

It’s a beautiful cycle of joy.

Welcoming 2010

2010-01-12T01:00:00.002-05:00

It's January 11th and 2010 has already worn me out. We started the year with sickness and surgery, middle of the night laundry and pain meds around the clock.

But even in the sleep-deprived chaos, God has shown up and set a course for 2010 that scares me senseless at the same time it puts a smile on my face.

To begin with, I'm turning 40. Two of my children are passing through major growing up milestones. I'm training toward a black belt in martial arts. Did I mention I'm turning 40?

Feeling old aside, one of the interesting byproducts of how we entered 2010 (besides lack of sleep) was seeing my oldest shine as she endured her first major surgery.

Her doctor was so impressed he exhausted a thesaurus full of synonyms for amazing. Then, as she was coming out of twilight sleep, I caught of glimpse of the doctor's reasons.

My kiddo, still very asleep and out of it with anesthesia, began to finger spell words with the ASL alphabet. She spelled fine. Then signed that she'd had surgery. Not that I didn't already know that. ;-)

Then she finger spelled d-r-i-f-t. I couldn't figure that one out. So she pointed to the ceiling. Then I got it. She wanted to be sure I heard one of my favorite songs playing though the speakers: Drift Away by Dobie Gray.

I have an amazing little girl.

And this year we're doing something special together to celebrate who she is as we prepare her for the future.

We're having an Esther Year. Yes, this beautiful idea is straight out of another book I'd highly recommend: Queen Esther's Secrets of Womanhood by Ginger Garrett.

An Esther Year is a blueprint for activities to pamper mom and daughter and for discussions to go deep into stories of the past and wisdom for the future.

The first month we'll be talking about beauty. Ginger says, "Beauty is a reflection of God's character and His artistic nature, but the more we focus on defining human beauty in human measurements, the more we're distracted from God."

So we'll be talking about how we've defined beauty and what makes a person beautiful. And what God has to say about beauty.

The part about this Esther Year's journey that makes me smile is how much my daughter is looking forward to our time together.

The part that scares me senseless is that my daughter is looking forward to this time together... and I wonder if I'm up for the task of sharing stories from my past and imparting wisdom as my daughter races into womanhood.

Can I ask a favor? Would you do two things?

One is pray.

The other is help this tom-boy mom with the topic of beauty. Honestly, I had to go to a Clinique counter as an adult to figure out how to apply makeup the right way. (As in not the too blue eye shadow of the 80s I tried when I was 13 with miserable results.)

One of the story starters is a question about who were the most beautiful women when I was growing up. And what made them beautiful. I'm drawing a complete blank. Any suggestions?

Also, I'm curious... how do you define beauty? Inside or outside, or a combination of both? How do your actions back up your definition?

Let's talk!

I'm sure all of us will come away better prepared to encourage and inspire the women around us to see themselves as beautiful.

All About Love

2009-12-31T14:49:00.006-05:00

Today is my fifteenth wedding anniversary. And it's fitting that today I'm finally ready to share my word for 2010, a tradition started years ago.

Unlike other years, we haven't spent a lot of time this holiday season looking back over 2009. It was a hard year. One better left in the hands of God as we trust Him to take the last 365 days and continue the quiet work He was always about.

My word for 2009 was PEACE. The oddest of all the words God has given me to reflect on for the coming year.

But it was the good way God showed Himself in the midst of multiple hard things. He was our peace. Both felt and not realized until well after the fact.

When I do look back on 2009, PEACE is what covers everything.

I pray I'll say the same this time next year, because the word for 2010 is LOVE.

Fitting for today, the day David and I said I DO to whatever God had in store.

Like 2009, our wedded bliss has been a challenge, more like a roller coaster ride of high heights and deep drops that God has covered in His grace.

And God has always been at work teaching us about His love.

Sometimes we've listened.

Sometimes we've touched heaven. We've held three precious gifts of God in our arms and released one straight to God's arms.

We've stood in awe when our Heavenly Daddy became our daughters' Heavenly Daddy too.

We've celebrated birthdays and Christmases and anniversaries where love was the focus.

But as God whispered my 2010 word, it was clear there's much more to learn.

I have so much more to learn.

Especially in everyday moments. Those small flashes of time where God is always there, always speaking, and where we make choices which seem small, decisions that don't feel like big things. But they change the course of our lives.

Sometimes, in those seemingly small moments, I don't listen. School, work, even serving others creates a static that drowns out God's words. But God doesn't give up on us. He continues drawing us closer, opening our eyes and ears.

In one of those everyday moments full of big potential, God got my attention and I listened to a set of verses that my whole family got excited about.

Since then, we've started saying these verses together, the verses God used to turn my heart to thoughts of 2010 and LOVE.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.
Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

Barukh sheim k'vod malkhuto l'olam va'ed.
Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.

V'ahav'ta eit Adonai Elohekha b'khol l'vav'kha uv'khol naf'sh'kha uv'khol m'odekha.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

V'hayu had'varim ha'eileh asher anokhi m'tzav'kha hayom al l'vavekha.
And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart.

V'shinan'tam l'vanekha v'dibar'ta bam
And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall speak of them

b'shiv't'kha b'veitekha uv'lekh't'kha vaderekh uv'shakh'b'kha uv'kumekha
when you sit at home, and when you walk along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Mark 12:29-31

'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

These verses jumped off the page as God reminded me that it truly is all about love. So that's my prayer and my hope for 2010: that all we say and do be all about LOVE.

Speaking of love.... Happy Anniversary, honey! I'm more in love with you today than on that extra-special day fifteen years ago when my heart was more full than ever before. I love you. Always.

And Happy New Year, everyone!

May your 2010 be filled with LOVE. A love that wraps around your heart and soul and warms you in the cold moments, calms you in the tough moments, thrills you in the joyous moments, and comforts you in every moment.

May you love as Jesus loved~ with all that He is. Enjoy 2010 and love well.

Christmas Gifts

2009-12-23T16:38:00.002-05:00

The stockings are hung, the decorations are out, and like many of you all I'm almost too exhausted to enjoy the fruits of the labor.

Except that God keeps taking me back to a few simple things...

We celebrate Christmas because of one reason: Jesus came.

Everything else is icing.

So instead of focusing on the icing, I wanted to share some of the good stuff God has been showing me about the Christmas story.

The First Christmas Gifts

Salvation~ Jesus came to make a way for us to be reconciled to God. He came to be the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God, on the cross. I wonder if that's one of the reasons the angels proclaimed the first birth announcement to shepherds.

Peace~ After God's glory was proclaimed, the angels spoke of peace to men on whom His favor rests. That's us, His children. He is our peace.

Hope~ Jesus was born into a dark world, a world where many had given up hope. But because of His birth, centuries later we can have hope. Hope that all the trials and hardships have a purpose and that this life is not the end. Because of Jesus, we can anticipate heaven and spending forever face to face with the One who loves us more than we can ever comprehend.

Purpose~ From shepherds to prophets and wise men, in our uniqueness we can proclaim Him and share the good news that sent wise men journeying far, prophets shouting out praise, and shepherds telling everyone they met about all they had seen.

I hope, as you open other gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, that you'll remember these first Christmas gifts too. And rejoice in the truth that God's gifts are life changing. They're never too old or too used to unwrap and enjoy year after year.

May your Christmas be full of awe and wonder as you worship the newborn King, God with us~ Immanuel!

Merry Christmas!!!

Noel with the Novelists

2009-12-15T07:00:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I'm thrilled to be among a group of Christian fiction authors opening our homes for a special holiday tour and our personal wishes to YOU.

The awesome Marlo Schalesky has linked to me, so if you're stopping by from her blog, a special welcome to you!

Enjoy the video below and then continue the tour by hopping over to my friend and historical fiction author and beauty expert, Ginger Garrett, and her festive video.

Next stop, Ginger Garrett's blog~ Happy Christmas to all!

Making a Difference

2009-12-07T20:19:00.003-05:00

Christmas is an amazing time of the year when many turn their focus outward and see how they can show kindness to neighbors and complete strangers.

Because of thankful lists my family made this Thanksgiving and an offhand comment about making our lists come true for others, we're entering this holiday season and 2010 looking for ways to spend time, treasure, and talents to help others.

I have the beginnings of a list for ways to serve others, but would love to enlarge it. Maybe one listed here or hopefully in the comments will start your heart to pumping faster and you'll know you've found a way to make a difference this holiday season and on into 2010.

One person can make a difference. One family even more.

What about you? Who will your life touch this December and New Year?

Ways to Make a Difference:

Give the gift of hope

Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree: http://www.angeltree.org/angeltree-home

Harvest of Hope: give gifts that change lives www.harvestofhope.org

Give the gift of food

Heifer International: giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief http://www.heifer.org

Give the gift of security

Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. http://www.compassion.com/

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian charity organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. http://www.worldvision.org/

Give the gift of respect and health

Secret Angels Project: provide gift cards for moms and grandmoms who care for children born with HIV. Your gift also provides warm clothing, coats, socks, underwear and a toy. Secret Angels Project has offered crisis support in Christian love for the past ten years. http://www.secretangelsproject.com

Thanksgiving Thoughts

2009-11-26T12:27:00.002-05:00

New ideas and traditions abound this Thanksgiving Day in the Wallace home. We started the day a new way with a snuggle time devotion in our bed.

First we all piled in and David read Psalm 100. And then each of our girls read Psalm 100 from their different versions of the Bible. Even our youngest... with a little help from Mom.

It was so beautiful.

Next, instead of waiting for the big dinner to do kernels of corn and say five things we're thankful for, we each took sheets of paper and listed lots and lots of things from this past year we're thankful for.

Before I share our lists, an idea hit me. What if we took these lists and found ways to make them come true for others in 2010?

So that's our plan for 2010. Want to join us?

First make a list. Then choose as a family which things you're thankful for to make happen for someone else.

I'd love it if you could share some ideas here. We just might inspire each other and others to make 2010 an incredible year of blessings.

Here's my thankful list:

Jesus being real and powerful in my life
My husband and amazing daughters
David's job
Anchor church and participating in the Children's Ministry through drama
Writing
Teaching
WORD~ Writer's of Remarkable Design
Tao Hsieh Wu Shu and the amazing believers we've met there
Writing a new book that I'm loving

The encouragement from readers and fellow authors who have become friends~ you all make my life so much richer!

Lizzy~ a young lady I'm mentoring in writing

Chip MacGregor~ my awesome agent who keeps me striving higher and working happier

Best friends~ Jen, Sharon, Elizabeth, and Carrie. I love praying with these ladies, laughing, and being nudged to keep growing and loving well

Beauty Secrets of the Bible book~ it's made us rethink our definitions of beauty and see ourselves as beautiful

Beach trips with friends~ Stewarts and Medlins. You guys make it soooo much more fun!

Fresh air
Clean water
Abundant food
A comfortable bed
Books
Laughter
Health~ being in better health this year because of martial arts
Our Compassion Children
Freedom

David's list included many of the above plus:

The gift of a car we couldn't afford
Men's Bible study
A mentor
Growth in our relationships

Our girls has these things to add:

My Bible
My toys
Disney trip
Pictures of fun times
Light
Clothes and PJs
Food and treats
Heaven
Life
Nature
Education
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes
Indoor plumbing
Animals
Snuggle sessions and devotions

Right away, my mind zeroed in on fresh air, clean water, Bibles, and other things we can be part of bringing to people around the world.

Also, church ministries. What are your gifts and how can you use them in your local body?

How about special times with loved ones and welcoming someone without that into your home and heart?

The possibilities are endless. So what will you do all through 2010? Please share your ideas!

And have a Thanksgiving filled with special, heart-filling moments of love!

Thanksgiving mishaps

2009-11-24T17:03:00.002-05:00

Now that many thoughts are turning to turkey and all the fixings, I'm gonna share a red-faced Thanksgiving moment.

This holiday humor is inspired by my dear friend Sharon Hinck as we traded Thanksgiving foibles today.

First you should know that two years ago I was diagnosed with gluten allergies as well as an allergy to eggs and dairy. Sort of shoots Thanksgiving recipes out of the water, huh? Yep.

So this year we're getting creative with all new recipes we pray retain the taste.

So far we've tried cranberry chutney which turned out pretty well. And I baked a from-scratch pumpkin pie.

That's my offering for today's holiday chuckle.

To begin with, I made this pumpkin pie for the first time to take to our church's Thanksgiving meal.

First mistake.

But all went well the entire adventure. My kids looked on with awe as I masterfully pretended to know all about these weird flours and other stuff the recipe required.

A little over two hours later, the pie turned out looking great and smelling great. I even put a cute pumpkin cut out of crust on the top of the pie.

Then we loaded up our food offerings and proceeded to church.

The meal was wonderful. The company awesome.

But at the end of the evening I found the dessert table still held my almost intact pie.

Why?

Apparently, the thick pie crust was hard to cut.

As in try cutting a brick.

So it's back to the drawing board for me... I'm still working on allergy free and tasty... minus the bricks.

And I'll try it out on my family first. ;-)

Life lessons

2009-11-23T20:49:00.009-05:00

I'm not big on jumping into the deep end with my eyes closed. It scares the daylights out of me.

But my family and I are part of an amazing group of believers who are also martial artists. The head of our school, our Soke, seems to think it's good to grow.

Which I'm all for... except that deep end, eyes closed jumping.

So he sort of shoved me~ nicely~ off that diving board.

And David and I landed in our first martial arts competition this past Saturday.

My hubby not only looked formidable, he also took ownership of his ring and came out with a second place trophy!

Way to go honey!!!

I came out of the entire experience having learned some valuable lessons.

The first is Do Your Best The FIRST time.

Circumstances converged to shake my confidence, and I didn't adjust. I stayed shaken and technically did a good job with my traditional form~ so says my husband. He's sort of biased, though.

But I knew inside I'd not done my best. And I was ticked at myself.

God was gracious and gave me a second chance. I'd tied for third, and a trophy was on the line.

So I got out there and gave it my all. I earned a score I'm proud of and experienced the difference between good and best.

It's a lesson I won't forget.

The second lesson is to never stop learning.

One of my favorite people in our martial arts school inspires me to keep reaching higher and learning more. She's graceful, amazingly strong (I have bruises to prove it) and such a beautiful person inside and out.

Julia is the kind of person who teaches by example and encouragement. I want to be more like her as I grow in martial arts.

The last lesson I'll articulate here is to cheer for others~ loudly.

No matter what you're doing, sometimes the difference between giving up and giving your all is someone in the crowd cheering for you.

I want to be the person whose words spur others on and strengthen them to do their best.

So that's my goal for the next tournament: Do my best the first time, keep learning, and cheer others on~ loudly.

It's my goal for all of life too.

One last thing I learned... martial artist have pretty good taste in books. Don't ya think? ;-)

Twenty years too late for prom

2009-11-18T16:18:00.005-05:00

Seeing as I've already passed my twentieth high school reunion, I've had little use for a prom dress.

Until the first part of November, that is.

My family and I were recently asked to be in a wedding and we said yes. That involved a trip back home to Louisville and getting my children and myself all dressed up. Hubby even donned a tux. He looked amazing too!

We practiced and talked a lot about proper wedding manners.

And we survived. No one fell. (I tripped a couple of times.)

No one burped the ABC's at the formal dinner either.

Success! ;-)

But our kids were ready for bed after a long spin on the dance floor. David and I were not.

So we took a nice horse drawn carriage ride and then headed back to the hotel in downtown Louisville.

The girls were given a cell phone and strict orders not to burn the hotel down while David and I did something we've never done before...

We left our oldest (of baby-sitting age) in charge and went out for a very late dinner.

Dressed in prom attire.

I've never been looked at so weirdly in my life.

I mean, really... what's so strange about a guy in a tux and a lady in a huge, billowing purple dress???

Maybe if we were in our teens and it was prom weekend, all would have been well.

But prom was a long time ago and so were our teen years.

Even so, David and I had a great time, a great dinner, and got some extra mileage out of our wedding attire.

So what do you think? Would you have given us weird looks???

Words

2009-11-06T08:08:00.000-05:00

I have a love hate thing going on with words. From what I’ve noticed as a teacher, a church leader, and even in my home, lots of folks feel the same way.

We love words when we’re understood and hate it when we’re not.

We love crafting the right response to a sticky subject, sharing a word fitly spoken, and cheering up a friend. But at the same time, we hate when those things we call words fail us.

Aren’t you glad we can pray without words? (Romans 8:26)

This weekend, and into the holiday season, I encourage you to listen closely to your words. Are they saying what you want them to say?

Or are they getting you into trouble?

Either way, God is there with infinite patience and understanding and wisdom to help. After all, He spoke the world into being and is called the Author of our faith.

Talk to Him. If necessary, use words.

Welcome to our Homes This Christmas

2009-11-04T23:14:00.004-05:00

A special treat for you all... Noel with the Novelists. Stay tuned for more details about this blog video tour of Christmas wishes from our homes to yours.

Here are some sneak peeks to get you in a holiday mood...

A Beauty Breakthrough

2009-10-21T23:15:00.002-04:00

Have you ever picked up a book and knew right then it would change your world?

Well... I've picked up tons of books over the years and many have added depth and richness to my life. Some have even drawn me closer to Jesus and made me love Him more.

But until a few weeks ago, I couldn't say a book changed my world.

I'll share the title in a minute. But first, the big deal...

I have three beautiful daughters who I love with all my heart. Princesses I spend almost every waking moment with being both mom and teacher.

And I love it.

But my oldest and I have always looked at the world through different glasses and never quite found a way to meet in the middle.

That dissonance has reared its ugly head lately and left both of us hurting. And I’ve been unable to just walk away and hope it gets better this time.

Please tell me I'm not the only parent who tried to tuck something under the rug because you had no idea what to do with it!

Enter my best friend. Jen loves my girls dearly and me too. She's also the one to listen to me rant and then tell me I need to go have a talk with Jesus. Kind of a "you need a come to Jesus moment right now" sort of thing.

But last week, she didn't tell me to go talk with Jesus. Instead, she poured out His words until they overflowed my heart.

They stung at first. REALLY stung as she pointed to my aching heart and said I had a big part to play in that pain. As in you need to stop living with guilt and using it as a smoke screen to the real problem.

Ouch.

After about an hour, I was in tears. Something I'm not given to do where anyone can hear me. But Jen was right. And I needed a long stay in my heavenly Father's arms to see the past through His eyes, repent, and see my sins and my children's nailed to the cross.

Nailed there paid in full.

I got up from the floor of my bedroom and couldn't wait to see what God would do next, how He was going to answer my prayers for healing in my relationship with my oldest daughter.

Then I woke up the next morning and felt like a teen on my first date. Shy. Awkward. Wondering what in the world I was supposed to do.

God kept flashing the cover of a book in my brain and started walking my feet down to my oldest princess's room. There I stood in the doorway and asked if she'd like join me in a new beauty routine I'd started from this amazing book: Beauty Secrets of the Bible.

She said yes. And we had a totally normal, girly spa session that opened the door to another long talk. A talk that ended with lots of tears and true repentance.

And my daughter's assurance that I'd not lost her heart, but gained it.

Now there's so much more to this story that a blog couldn't contain. But I'll let my wise daughter's words sum it up....

After we read the ninth day of beauty devotions in Beauty Secrets of the Bible, my oldest looked me in the eye and smiled, saying, "I'm glad you got that book. It's helping me stop thinking I'm not beautiful and see that I am beautiful in Jesus."

We would have never had this ah-ha moment and the breakthroughs before if it hadn't been for God speaking through a best friend, a beauty secret, and an amazing book.

Want in on some of the beauty secrets that led to a bonding time with my daughter? Check out Ginger's website and some sneak peeks from her book, Beauty Secrets of the Bible: http://gingergarrett.com/downloads/

It may be that, like me, you need some time in your heavenly Father’s arms to sort out fact from fallacy and see yourself and your children as beautiful.

I pray you’ll make that time. And give yourself a treat that nudges you down that road. (hint: Ginger’s book is awesome!)

Evidences of Grace

2009-10-17T17:17:00.002-04:00

Six years ago today I almost died.

So did my youngest daughter. After a complicated delivery, I watched her struggle to breathe and shake from a crashing blood sugar.

Today she never slows down, and the only time she can't breathe is when she's laughing so hard she's making the rest of us gasp for air.

There’s another prevalent memory from six years ago…as the people prepping me for surgery administered too much anesthesia and I watched my heart rate slow to almost nothing, I whispered a desperate prayer to just see my baby.

I now see her every day, and I'll never tire of it.

Because looking in her eyes is a very physical evidence of grace. I almost lost her before I held her. But today we baked her first cake and played princess games.

This is a far better way to spend an October day!

But now I have to go... a little princess still wants to snuggle and play dress up. And eat cake! ;-)

The Sound of Sleigh Bells

2009-10-13T00:28:00.004-04:00

If you're looking for a great Christmas read or an awesome Christmas gift for the readers in your life, Cindy Woodsmall's newest release, The Sound of Sleigh Bells, is perfect!

Cindy's books took me on a journey into a different world, a journey that cost me a few night's sleep. But it was worth it! The writing is so rich and beautiful and the characters so real, it's like spending the early morning hours with good friends huddled around a cozy fire.

So whether you're knee deep in snow, or water as the case is in Atlanta, snuggle up with a quilt and a yummy beverage and enjoy a taste of Christmas joy with The Sound of Sleigh Bells.

Leave a comment and you could be the winner of an early Christmas present! ;-)

Story Summary:

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?
Cover art:

Author Bio:

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

I need to add to be FTC compliant that this book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Lessons From the Dojo

2009-10-09T17:19:00.005-04:00

If you haven't already heard, my family and I take martial arts classes and love it! After a grueling class on technique last week, I sat down to write one of the devotionals I've mentioned to you all before.

Since you've seen my broken boards and many of you have seen the ankle braces and finger braces and bruises... I figured you all might like to see one of the many great things we've gained from martial arts.

Oh, you haven't seen the board pic? Well... here it is. ;-) And yes, I broke it all by my self. ;-)

And here's the devotional. Enjoy!

We love Tao Hsieh Wu Shu! I could do without the running before almost every class, but what we learn and how we’ve grown is worth the difficulty of running.

We’ve broken boards~ big, 1 inch thick, oak-like wood. Okay, maybe not oak, but they weren’t balsa either. ;-)

We’ve learned kicks and stances and punches and…most of all we’ve learned discipline, respect, and that technique matters.

And after a very focused class on technique, it dawned on me that technique matters in our walk with the Lord too.

No, not the check-off-boxes-and–feel-good kind of technique. But the basics: praise, confession, all-out honesty before the Lord, and reverence. Forgiving others. Loving well.

Maybe you guys have all that down with a snap. But me? Well, I’ve been a believer for twenty-four years and I’m still learning and growing and realizing how much more I have to learn.

In martial arts, if my technique is wrong when I kick, I break my foot. If it’s wrong when I fall, I go boom on the floor and hurt for a long time.

But with the Lord, if my “technique” is wrong, it might not show up right away. It will show up though. Maybe months later when prayer has grown rote or I hold a grudge or there’s a lot of bickering going on at my house.

That’s when I stop and get down on my knees asking why. The Lord has always been gracious to show me too. And to welcome me back with open arms.

My family adores and highly respects our Soke, our martial arts leader. He’s tough but clear that he’s tough on us to make us better and keep us safe.

Even more, my family and I love Jesus. And He’s tough too because He knows all the amazing things He’s created us for and knows exactly how to prepare us. He’s also loving and compassionate and just and so very much more.

So join me in brushing up on our “techniques” with the Lord. Let’s jump in to cheer each other on too. We can do that a million unique ways: lend a hand when there's a need, offer a kind word or a written prayer, call to say hi…they may seem “little” but they’re not.

They have more power than someone breaking concrete blocks.

Where it all began

2009-09-29T16:41:00.005-04:00

I'm part of a cool group of folks who write weekly devotionals. This group was started by a dear friend of mine from high school.

My friend Cindy, the devotions guru, asked the writers to share a little about themselves to start this year's devotionals.

I thought you all might get a kick out of seeing my first devotional. Here it is.... I'm pretty sure you'll learn something new about me in there! ;-)

Oh, by the way... can you guess which one is me in the picture?

Okay, on to the devotional...

When Cindy, who is one of my high school buddies and knows waaaayyy too much about my growing up years, asked the DT writers to share about themselves, I got a little nervous. Sort of envisioned being questioned by a cop in a cold, gray room with one bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling.

I mean, what would you all really want to know about me?

I could do the basics: I've been married to a great guy for almost 15 years. We have three children we've home schooled from the start. I'm a published author, teacher, and speaker. I love teaching kids and adults about writing, about God's infinite grace and patience, and how He is the Giver of Dreams and the One who called us with a holy calling according to His purpose and grace. (2 Timothy 1:8-9)

I suppose I should add some things about my faith journey that Cindy and Chris would probably rather forget. Did you know Chris and another DT member used to draw straws on who had to drive me home from youth group? It might have been because I talked everyone's ear off who would listen with all my God questions.

I didn't come from a Christian home, so at 15 when a school friend invited me to church, I went. But not before I'd backed out a ton of times. See, my only concept of God was a big guy with thunderbolts who probably didn't like me much. But what I found there was this huge, amazing God who knew everything about me and loved me. Me. And so I did what I've always done and continue to do~ I asked questions. I read books. I bugged everyone with everything I could think of regarding religion and Jesus and the church.

I heard a lot of great answers. But nothing stuck. Not until I sat out on a cold concrete step behind the church and looked up into the stars and asked, "Are You really there? Do You really want me?"

The answer was yes. And it's been a journey of wrestling, dancing, and questioning our very big God with all my very small questions. I know less now than I did twenty-four years ago. But I've never forgotten that God bent near a scared and alone 15 year old and said, "Come."

Still awed,
Amy

Perfect Love

2009-09-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

Some days I resemble the Cat in the Hat on a really bad day.

It's the age old lament of too much to do and not enough time. But I'll go a step more transparent and say that a lot of my problem has been my refusal to sit down for a decent amount of time and be quiet.

I get uncomfortable with the silence.

Especially when I'm afraid of what God is going to show me.

It's easy in the day-to-day to excuse my frustration as understandable, my short prayer time as at least I prayed some, and my busyness as "everyone is doing it" and just part of how it goes when you balance two full-time careers.

But all that sort of evaporates in one silent moment before a holy God.

The funny thing is when I took my pastor's dare to try to spend an hour in prayer each day for a week, I didn't expect anything good to happen.

I expected to feel guilty.

What I experienced was freedom.

It didn't happen that week. But over time...and even when the time I had in the morning shortened...I noticed God still showed up. He still guided my eyes to take in something in His Word that connected.

And I found that confessing sin and praying for my family were no longer times when I felt guilty for all that I've done wrong. They were times I admitted to this holy and loving God that I couldn't do what I was asking to be done~ only He could.

Today, as I was praying for my husband with The Power of a Praying Wife prayer cards by Stormie Omartian, (GREAT book by the way!) I prayed 1 John 4:18 about perfect love driving out all of my husband's fears. And 2 Timothy 1:7 that David would walk in a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

Then my eyes locked on a note I'd written years before. A year when God was so near I could feel His breath on my cheek.

The note said, "Perfect love creates a safe place."

I long for my husband and children to think of our home as a safe place. A place where love drives out fear and God's perfect love is closer than a whispered dream.

So I prayed for that very thing.

But that note pulled me even deeper. It was as if God were inviting me to see that the safe place is closer than my DNA.

It's real. And the door is always open. The Light is always on.

Even when the darkness of a cave presses in on me and it’s hard to breathe, my Safe Place is still there.

Even when prayer times are short and my to-do list long, I can run into the Perfect Love that creates a safe place.

I still long for my home to be a safe place too. But today I caught a glimpse of the only way that will ever be true.

Christ is the only perfect love that creates a safe place.

This is where I need to hang out and trust God to cause what I learn there to overflow and broaden that Safe Place to wider dimensions than I can even imagine.

Remembering 9-11

2009-09-11T17:25:00.004-04:00

Eight years ago today our country was attacked. Lives lost. Chaos.

Where were you?

I was baby-sitting my oldest daughter's best friend, and my husband interrupted a normal day of play with a shaky phone call.

He said a plane hit one of the Twin Towers.

I said that was crazy.

I meant impossible. But when I turned on the TV, I saw it was possible. It was still crazy.

I sat in front of our TV on a scratchy rug, numb as I watched the second plane hit and both towers crumble.

I stayed there for a week.

Then and now I couldn't comprehend why it happened. Or what would happen next.

I just knew my world had changed forever.

For a short time, the world changed for good. People from all over the globe held vigils by candlelight. Leaders expressed sympathy. Heroes emerged from twisted metal and police cars and fire trucks.

They showed us what the American spirit looked like in the 21st century. Our nation came together and sang God Bless America on the Capitol steps.

It was beautiful.

So where were you? What do you remember?

Magical moments

2009-09-01T18:23:00.013-04:00

Monday morning, 1 AM, I was driving my three sleeping children home from a magical week with dear friends and a Disney trip.

Our very first Disney trip.

Let me just say, the fairy dust didn't keep my old feet from screaming at me during the fireworks. ;-)

But it was truly magical to watch my princesses meet their favorite princesses and absorb all the wonder Disney specializes in.

For all five of us Disney was the high point of our trip. Of course, a very close second, maybe even tie for first, was spending time with friends. Oh, and swimming with manatees.

As usual, there's a story with each. And some pictures.

My middle princess is the daredevil of the family, so her and her daddy's fave stop in Disney was the famed Splash Mountain.

I sat that one out.

Hearing both of them scream all the way down the watery drop-off was enough to confirm my wise choice. But when we met them after, all our princess could do was gush about how cool that was.

My oldest princess loved the Swiss Family Treehouse and Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride. She's a total book-girl and had enjoyed the books so much she couldn't wait to see them in real Disney life. The rides doubled the fun as she recounted story facts and reveled in books coming alive.

Fun fact I added...the love song from Aladdin was the music I walked down the aisle to at my wedding.

Here, David and I pose with the Genie at Mickey's PhilharMagic~ one of my favorite Disney experiences.

And contrary to all the adult moans I heard about It's a Small World, we loved it. My youngest princess even danced to the familiar tune...

Sing with me..."It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all...."

Okay, suffice it to say we too are still singing the catchy ditty because we rode It's a Small World twice.

I liked the air conditioned, calm ride across the water and through the countries of the world, especially Ireland and Germany.

My husband's favorite ride was the Jungle Cruise. He got a big kick out of our guide's corny jokes. David even videoed the entire cruise. So we'll have the pleasure of reliving fifteen minutes of stand up comedy with rushing water, head hunters, and non-ear wiggling hippos, minus the sweat-dripping heat.

But it was worth it. Having David's laughter on tape is priceless.

I've already shared my highlight of Disney magic~ my princesses awed by Cinderella, Belle, and Aurora. Another very high point was part of our lunch celebration.

First, I have to tell you all that I haven't tasted bread in almost two years. I'm allergic to wheat, so most of my fave foods have been big no-nos for me.

Thankfully, Disney's magic isn't just for the tiny tikes. They do their best to make the big kids smile too. And they did with special made rice rolls just for me.

I had to commemorate the moment with a picture. Can't you see my smile?

We capped the day off with shopping~ four girls in the family, remember? ;-)~ and fireworks.

It was amazing! Nobody does fireworks like Disney.

The rest of our vacation was spent at the beach and pool. My three fishes loved every minute.

We found shells~ gorgeous, huge, only on the Atlantic coast shells. Shells David and I risked life and limb to snatch out of a stormy ocean.

But hey, the ocean taught me how to do a full split and live to tell about it.

We also swam with manatees. After wolves, manatees top my list of cool wild life. So when one of my best friends suggested Sebastian Inlet Park, I was there.

David and two of our princesses hung out on the rocks, above the tide pool. My friend and the rest of our kiddos, stayed in chin deep water~ murky, green water~ hoping to spot a manatee.

One, and then two huge manatees popped their noses up to say hi a few times. But then they disappeared.

I made a joke about how they were probably close by, listening to us talk about wanting to pet them and just laughing because we couldn't see them.

So they popped up again, less than two feet away, right after I said that.

Everyone but me got to pet them. My hubby accidentally sat on one and it nudged him back up. Another of the manatees saved my daring daughter when she swam out to where she couldn't touch and got too tired to keep treading water.

The benevolent manatee swam up closer to the surface and gave her a boost my way.

I'm telling you, these creatures are amazing!

But instead of letting me pet them, my manatee friend decided it was going to pet me.

Yep, he swam close, nudged me with his flipper, and then swam off. Probably laughing all the way.

Even so, our swim date with these cool creatures showed us that fairy dust doesn't just make magical moments at Disney.

One of my princesses said it best. "Thank you, God, that You really do make dreams come true!"

And while it's fun to be silly about fairy dust, I know what got sprinkled over my family this past week had nothing to do with fairies.

It was all the Holy Spirit's laughter, inviting us to make memories with Him that we'll smile about for decades to come.

Good From Excruciating Bad

2009-08-21T16:37:00.003-04:00

I get a kick out of telling a group of women that my last baby weighed 11 pounds, 8 ounces.

Wide eyes, wows, and even some bowing follows.

I smile.

And now I've joined a different type of group. What I get when I tell my story is deep empathy and tons of advice.

But it's a painful group to belong to~ these folks know excruciating pain: migraines.

I could list all the physically painful things I've experienced, but I won't. I'll just say that birthing a three-month old was at the top along with a ripped rotator cuff injury.

Now migraines bumped both of those out for first place.

My children have only seen me cry in pain twice. Both times were because of migraines this year.

Thankfully~ praise God!~ I have an amazing doctor who listened to my research and together we charted a new medical course for me.

One that I pray puts migraines squarely in my past.

I also need to say that there were MANY wonderful people whose advice regarding migraines got me through those nightmare days.

The one good thing I will take away from my miserable migraine time is how I watched the Body of Christ work beautifully.

So many prayed along with their helpful advice. Others just prayed. Some sent books. Some just got in the trench with me and practiced the ministry of presence.

My incredible family did all of the above.

I'm SOOOO thankful for each and every one.

And I'm curious. When have you seen the Body of Christ work like that? Or what good have you taken out of a bad experience because of the actions of believers?

A deep, dark cave

2009-08-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

On Monday, I was praying with a dear friend, and a reoccurring dream from way before I was a writer came back to me. The cool thing was, as I prayed, I started to understand some things I've missed.

But the creepy thing was I could still see the mental pictures as vividly as the first time I woke up in a cold sweat, breathing hard, scared the dream was real.

Any of you dream analysts can go to town on what I'm about to share. I'd love to hear what you think...okay, only if it's along the lines of I'm not crazy. ;-)

The dream starts out with me realizing I'm blindfolded.

I try to tear off the blindfold, but I can't. It's on too tightly. So I start groping for some idea of where I am. And I touch cold.

Rock cold.

Bumpy. Cold. Rough. Hard. Rock.

Pretty soon a frigid wind blows with no noise. No leaves rustling. No animals moving about. Just cold.

I try to step forward, but the ground is pebbly, uneven. Nothing solid.

On one side of me there's just air. Cold air.

On the other side is the rough rock. I cling to the rock and try to scoot my way forward, one foot tapping out in front before I step.

A few times I stumble and the rock under me gives way. There's no one there to catch me.

But somehow I dig into the wall and steady myself, heart hammering, tears falling.

I still can't get the blindfold off.

After miles and miles of stumbling forward, I sense a hand gently tugging me forward. It's large, warm, and smooth. No voice. No comforting arms wrapped around me.

Just some unknown person gently guiding me forward.

As we keep walking forward, I sense more of the world around me. The rock ledge I've been traveling widens and feels more like pavement.

But then, as I explore the area with my hands, I swish into cobwebs and jump back...almost falling into the cold air.

Then the blindfold comes off.

And it's still dark.

I can't see the person guiding me, can't hear anything but the thumping of my heart trying to get out of my rib cage.

So I ask questions.

Why am I hear? What's going on? Who are you?

No answers. Just gentle pressure to keep going.

When I settle into walking one step at a time, pretty soon there's this huge cave opening, but all I can see is light.

Blinding. Painful. Light.

That's when I wake up.

I won't share yet what I've always thought the dream meant. I really do want to hear your thoughts.

What I will share, so as not to leave you anxious and sweating about the dream, is that in praying I finally realized two of the biggest dangers of that cave.

Not the cold abyss I could fall into.

Not the mammoth spiders those webs belong to.

The two biggest dangers were the choices I faced in that cave. The choice to run ahead and try to force my way out. Or to sit down and give up.

So as my friend and I were praying, I asked God to keep us from those two easy choices and show us how to walk the hard walk.

It's soooo not an easy path. It's very rocky.

See... I'm already trying to explain everything. So I'll stop and give you first dibs on unpacking this dream. What do you think it means?

No creepy music sort of ideas either, okay? ;-)

Teen inspiration

2009-08-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

Ever since I was in college, I've loved teaching teens. They're open. Honest. And they typically just say it like it is.

Back in April, I had the privilege of visiting South Effingham High School and speaking to the Stomping Stangs book club.

I met some amazing teens that day. It's been my continued blessing to keep in touch with many of them.

A few sent me chapters to books they're writing. They're good! And creative.

Some stay in touch via email and Twitter.

One of the young ladies I connected with sent me some poems she'd written and we talked about.

I know not everyone digs poetry, but I do. Especially gut-level honest poems.

And while Christina said I inspired her, I'm here to tell you all that she's an inspiration to me. She's been through a lot in her years, and yet she was at the book club meeting with a smile. And she stayed after to help clean up and make sure my entire family felt welcomed.

We did. And we left there thankful to have met her.

So with her permission, I'm letting you all have a sneak peek into this young lady's world. And as someone who has listened to teens share similar stories and emotions, I'd strongly suggest we adults listen up.

There's much to be learned from the insights Christina shares in her poetry.

poem 1:

sorry

sorry im not perfect

sorry im not smart

sorry im not nice

sorry i do the things i do

sorry i am who i am

sorry i dont speak my mind

sorry i do the right things

sorry i dont listen to what you say

well youre right im not sorry

sorry im not perfect

sorry im not smart

sorry im not nice

sorry i do the things i do

sorry i am who i am

sorry i dont speak my mind

sorry i do the right things

sorry i dont listen to what you say

poem 2:

undefined

I want to hate you

but i dont hate you

i love you

but its hard to love you

you cheated

you lied

five years was a long time

but now its gone

i miss you

but i dont need you

i have no regrets being with you

but i do regret giving my heart up to you

i cried every night

but now im done with all the tears

i dont need this

i deserve better

we had a future together

i was supposed to be your wife

i was supposed to have your kids

guess now we are over

you have found another

so now i have to move on

poem 3:

my life

I try to put the past in the past

forget about all the hard times

i try to change

but its hard

parents siblings cousins

aunt uncles are just more pressure on me

do this do that

i feel like im doing everything wrong

always messing up

i know im not perfect but i try to be

im going to make mistakes in life

i know im going to have to live with them every day

everyone is different

you make sacrifices

drugs alcohol killing yourself

wont solve anything

getting help will

all you got to do

is keep your head held up high

today is the day my life takes a turn

~Christina, 11th grade South Effingham High School

Winners!

2009-08-10T21:45:00.002-04:00

It's so fun giving away books! :-) And especially sweet to give back to you all who have always been such an encouragement to my heart.

The two book winners are:

Edna~ Blue Like Play Dough

Robyn~ The Hope of Refuge

Congratulations ladies!

And for those of you who still haven't read Enduring Justice, book 3 in the Defenders of Hope series.... I'm having too much fun giving away books, so I'll give away one more.

Just leave me a comment and someone will win a signed copy of Enduring Justice for yourself or to give away.

Happy Monday!

The Hope of Refuge

2009-08-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

I'm super excited to share with you a book that renewed my love of reading and made me laugh, cry, and cheer for the main character, Cara Moore.

The book is The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall.

Cindy is a dear friend, someone I love teaching with, and one of the few authors I will read everything they write and offer to clean their home so they can write faster. :-)

And now Cindy has a fantastic new series that combines the fascinating life of the Amish with a tough and tumble New Yorker, Cara Moore, and her search for answers and a better life.

Treat yourself well and pick up The Hope of Refuge!

And to help you along with that, I'm giving away a copy~ leave a comment and I'll draw a winner next week.

But first... more about Cindy Woodsmall and The Hope of Refuge.

Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start.

She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus.

Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

Don't miss Cindy's The Hope of Refuge Tour!

New York Times bestselling author Cindy Woodsmall is on tour, and she may be coming to a city near you! Don’t miss your opportunity to meet Cindy and have her sign her newest title The Hope of Refuge at one of the following events.

Tuesday, August 11 7 – 8:30pm

Barnes & Noble
5141 Peachtree Parkway, The Forum
Norcross, Georgia 30092
(770) 209-4244

Wednesday, August 12 7 – 8pm

Barnes & Noble Opry Mills
515 Opry Mills Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
(615) 514-5000

Thursday, August 13 6 – 8pm

Barnes & Noble
2540 Futura Pkwy. #135
Plainfield, Indiana 46168
(317) 838-7941

Friday, August 14 6 – 8pm

Barnes & Noble
1550 West 75th
Downers Grove, Illinois 60516
(630) 663-0181

Saturday, August 15 1 – 3pm

Baker Books
2768 East Paris Ave SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546-6139
(616) 957-3110

Sunday, August 16 2 – 4pm

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
3700 Rivertown Parkway Ste. 2058
Grandville, Michigan 49418
(616) 531-1825

Monday, August 17 7 – 8:00pm

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1739 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212
(614) 298-9516

Tuesday, August 18 7– 8:30pm

Joseph Beth Booksellers
2705 E. Carson Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
(412) 381-3600

Wednesday, August 19 6 – 8pm

Hackman’s Bible Book Store
1341 Mickley Road
Whitehall, Pennsylvania 18052-4610
(610) 264-8600

Thursday, August 20 1 – 3pm

Rachel’s Country Store (Amish dry goods store)
6352 McClays Mill Road
Newburg, Pennsylvania 17240
(717) 530-9452

Just when you thought it was safe

2009-08-04T08:00:00.002-04:00

I've finally reached a point in life where...

My children are out of diapers
They can dress and feed themselves
School is a nice routine (okay…only some days)
I'm happy in my career
My home is mostly peaceful

And I'm bored.

So...we're considering the fulfillment of one of our daughters' long-held wishes.

A dog.

And not just any dog, but one that first existed in Enduring Justice. Gotta love it when fiction becomes reality. :-)

So I did what I always do when faced with something new....

I read.

Yesterday, I searched online and read a ton of things, looked at a load of pictures, and even took some doggie and family compatibility quizzes.

Then today, I went to the pet store and bought a bunch of books on Labrador Retrievers.

And now I'm not so bored.... I'm scared.

And tired.

Who knew how much went into finding, buying, and training a canine?!

Not me. At least not before today.

All I can say is, it's a good thing I didn't read a bunch of books on parenting until AFTER I found out I was pregnant.

Or maybe that was God's divine wisdom.

Because had I read about babies like I'm reading about puppies.... well, let's just say I might have waited a while longer.

But I love being a mommy. And I'm praying I'll love welcoming a new canine addition to our family.

Thankfully, we're going into this a bit slow. We're all reading and planning and puppy-proofing and budgeting BEFORE our dear little fella joins us.

And I'm sure, once the big homecoming day arrives... I'll not be bored for a gooooooood looonnngg while.

Maybe never again. :-)

Any tips or lessons learned the hard way would be much appreciated! Leave me some wisdom in the comments. My whole family and family-to-be thanks you!

Blue Like Play Dough

2009-08-03T19:10:00.007-04:00

Tricia Goyer has a new and totally rad new book out called Blue Like Play Dough.

I fell in love with the story in the prologue when I read these words: "Donald Miller had blue jazz. I had blue play dough.

"I tried not to be disappointed. In each of our lives, there is molding and shaping to be done. Perhaps I needed more work than most, but as I look back on my life, I realize that if there is one thing that all the stretching and poking and smashing has taught me, it's that I never want to be anywhere but in the grip of God."

Want to learn more? Keep reading... there's a ton of cool things to learn about Blue Like Play Dough before you rush out and get a copy.

Want to win a copy? Keep reading and leave a comment. I'll be picking one special winner.

Want to help others? Check out the GO-GO Campaign

For every copy of Blue Like Play Dough purchased, Tricia will donate a copy of My Life Unscripted or Generation NeXt Parenting to a pregnancy, teen or family support ministry (while supplies last).

All you have to do is buy a copy of Blue Like Play Dough on Christianbook, on Amazon, or at your local bookstore, and then go to Tricia's Go-Go page and fill out the form. EASY!

Now here's more about Blue Like Play Dough and Tricia Goyer...

A note from Tricia:

Are you a mommy who feels squeezed by Motherhood? Could God be shaping something beautiful in you?

In my new spiritual memoir, Blue Like Play Dough I invite women to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary! To learn to see God's hand lovingly at work in every aspect of your life---from laundry-folding to the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon.

About Blue Like Play Dough:

In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible.

Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is-me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.

In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognize the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.

Read an excerpt:

http://triciagoyer.com/cmsdocuments/Blue_Like_Play_Dough_Prologue_CH_1.pdf

About Tricia:

Using her own experiences as a teen mother, and leader of today’s generation, Tricia’s vision is to be a voice of hope and possibility for teenage girls, pregnant teen girls, mothers and wives through her educational and inspirational speaking, workshops and books. Her intention is to serve ordinary women by encouraging extraordinary things with God’s help. Tricia expresses real life, real hope, for real women.

Tricia is the author of 20+ books and has published over 300 articles for national publications such as Guideposts for Kids, Focus on the Family, Christian Parenting Today, Today’s Christian Woman and HomeLife Magazine. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from American Christian Fiction Writers, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion Book Award in 2005.

In her fiction novels, Tricia writes contemporary and historical stories that feature strong women overcoming great challenges. She recreates historic wartime eras with precise detail through perseverant and comprehensive research.

Each of her World War II and Spanish Civil War novels tell the inspiring stories of engaging characters—and a God whose hand is evident in the landscape of history and the obstacles of ordinary lives.

Tricia speaks to groups interested in these eras, with the intention of preserving and honoring the memory of the men and women who served.

She also speaks and conducts workshops for teens around the nation, and offers programs to assist teens and teen moms through Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, which she founded. Tricia is a frequent workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Convention.

Author website: http://www.triciagoyer.com/ watch a video and read the endorsements

Link to purchase the book: http://triciagoyer.com/store.html

Want to learn more? Check out the Blue Like Play Dough Tour: http://www.litfusegroup.com/latest/what-is-new/87-blue-like-play-dough-blog-tour

Don't forget to leave a comment and a way to contact you! I'll draw a winner this weekend and might be sending a copy of Blue Like Play Dough your way!

Breaking down

2009-07-21T12:06:00.003-04:00

Last night I did something I've never done before...

I broke a 1 inch pine board completely in two!!!

Okay, that may not be exciting to you... but it totally was for me! Adrenaline rush and hand slaps and cheers from the class and all.

Here's the play by play: David and I lined up together to break boards. He went first.

First try, he split the board clean in two.

So, of course, I had to do it too. ;-) And I did. Woot!

It was such a cool feeling to know I'd focused on a task and succeeded. So much of writing and mommy-ing doesn't afford that instant gratification.

The coolest part was I did it! My hand went through wood. And I felt just a tad of superhero-ness. ;-)

After our first try went so well, David and I decided to do synchronized board breaking.

I so wish I had pictures... it was a hoot. David counted down, and then on three we slammed through the boards.

But... alas.... I'm still old and my hands are screaming at me today and one is a nice reddish blue color.

Truth be told... old has nothing to do with it. I just got so focused on breaking the board because David did that I forgot to use good form.

My sore hand is teaching me all about focus and good form.

So next time I'll split the boards without taking home a blue and red trophy. :-)

Okay, now it's your turn. What new thing have you tried and found out you could do? Share the excitement. And maybe even the lessons learned.

I'm all ears. And sore hands. Prayers appreciated. :-)

Dinner with a writer

2009-07-20T14:05:00.002-04:00

Last Friday, my husband began the descent into craziness.

See, it all started with a fantastic meeting David and I had with my awesome agent, Chip. In the process of discussing book ideas, David and I had a minute to discuss meshing new plot ideas with old, and he was a huge help.

I didn't think anything of this, because David and our kiddos have helped me work out story ideas many times over the past four years.

Then we went out to dinner to celebrate Healing Promise's IRCC win. And, of course, I was talking book ideas the entire drive and scribbling notes like crazy.

I love this part of the writing process, especially when God pours out the ideas and my husband assists in organizing them.

A while later, our elegant dinner at Chateau Élan started normally enough.

Well... normal for us, anyway.

My husband placed a menu back on the table and it slipped into a water vase...

Said vase dumped over onto my lap and streamed down the table. The water kept coming and coming.

We had a good laugh about it though.

Then we went back to discussing books.

That's when it happened.

As you all know, I'm a writer. And writers aren't normals.

I can hear many of you laughing. Other's thinking, "Oh... that's what's wrong."

My husband is a normal, most of the time. So I thought nothing of starting a game I play when I'm out somewhere around people I don't know.

I surreptitiously pointed to an older couple and asked what they did for a living. We discussed this a while and then moved on to another couple.

Pretty soon, David had concocted this story about one of these men doing business deals out on the golf course and being forced into some shady situations, unwilling to share these things with his wife. As happens when we hide things, this man kept turning a blind eye to his downward spiral and was about to fall into...

I forget the rest of the story. See, I was so shocked and bewildered to be sitting next to a once normal man now spouting suspense plot outlines.

Then it hit me. Eureka! I've finally done it!

Insert evil "bwah ha ha ha" and hand wringing here.

I've finally done it.

I've turned my husband into a writer!

So now I'm wondering.... who's wants to take me out to dinner next?! :-)

Praise God for wow moments and loved ones

2009-07-15T21:46:00.005-04:00

Many moons ago, I shared the story of when I received "THE CALL" and a was offered a three-book contract by my dream publisher.

If you'll remember, my reaction was not dancing or celebrating.

I got sick.

Really.

But I distinctly remember the reason wasn't so much fear as the overwhelming responsibility to give readers a story that touched their hearts and drew them closer to God.

When I contemplated that...then the fear kicked in.

It didn't last long. Not when I started sharing with friends and they did the dancing and celebrating.

I couldn't help but join in.

What a difference it makes to share the joys with my family and friends who have also shared the teary bumps in the road.

Unlike that "CALL" years ago, today I received another very cool call. This time from a number I vaguely recognized but let go to voice mail because I was working.

My hubby was upstairs, and all the sudden I hear him pick up the phone.

Silence for a few beats.

By now my ears pricked up.

And sure enough his voice rose an octave and he came thundering down the stairs, phone in hand, smile on his face.

"I think you want to take this call."

Okay.

So I took the phone and the delightful Nancy Farrier explained that my second novel, Healing Promises, won first place in the romantic suspense category of the IRCC!

Wow!

This time I wasn't queasy at all. In fact, I nodded and babbled and blinked a few times before it sunk in that I'd won.

Then I danced.

A little while later, at dinner, my hubby called everyone to attention. He then proceeded to announced that a very special, award-winning author was their special guest tonight.

Our children didn't exactly get it, so he continued and explained that I'd won first place in a very amazing contest.

That's when the high fives, way-to-gos and lots of hugs and smiles started.

I didn't have time to get teary since we were all laughing too hard at David's silly introduction in a very exaggerated British butler voice.

A while later I logged on to Facebook where a flurry of congrats hit me and made me smile.

All the kind words in addition to the congrats made me cry.

Really.

That's when it sunk in that today was a day to celebrate.

And I'm still beaming.

So my very special, tear-dropped thanks to you all for praying through the tough times and dancing with me in the good.

Today's a day I celebrate you! Thank you for making this day even more amazing!

And thank you, Daddy, for such a sweet kiss. Not only is Your timing always perfect, but Your gifts are always good.

The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn

2009-07-14T08:00:00.005-04:00

I'm so excited to give a shout out to Liz Johnson, my publicist at Multnomah, who is now not only an amazing publicist, but she's also a talented author.

Here's a bit about The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn and about Liz, then a fun interview and how you can get a copy of this great new book...

The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn

Myles Parsons is just another inmate in Kenzie Thorn’s GED course until he kidnaps her, offering only a feeble explanation–that he’s actually FBI Special Agent Myles Borden. Terrified, Kenzie doesn’t want to believe his story of being undercover to protect her. Moreover, she can’t believe that someone might really want her dead.

But just when Myles thinks he has her out of harm’s way, his plans start to fall apart. He attempts to take Kenzie to a safe house—but the stubborn woman won’t go! So together they must uncover the clues that will reveal a most shocking perpetrator. All the while Myles tries to keep his distance from Kenzie … but finds himself falling in love.

About Liz Johnson:

After graduating from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a degree in public relations, Liz Johnson set out to work in the Christian publishing industry, which was her lifelong dream. In 2006 she got her wish when she accepted a publicity position at a major trade book publisher. While working as a publicist in the industry, she decided to pursue her other dream-being an author. Along the way to having her novel published, she wrote articles for several magazines and worked as a freelance editorial consultant.

Liz lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she enjoys theater, ice skating, volunteering in her church’s bookstore and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her nephew and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn is her first novel. Keep up with Liz's adventures in writing at http://www.lizjohnsonbooks.com/

An Interview with Liz

I love writing and reading about the FBI and enjoyed your FBI guy a lot! What resources did you use to research your suspense novel?

Wow, that’s a great question. I spent a lot of time reading other novels about FBI agents, Navy SEALS, and other elite military men. It helped me get a feel for how Myles, my FBI guy and hero, should feel on the page. I did a lot of research and reading on the official FBI website to learn more about the organizational structure, titles, and things like that. I also did a lot of research online about the Oregon State Prison system. While the Evergreen campus is fictional, it was important to me to find the right titles and phrases in the system. But I have a terrible habit of reading up on these things and then throwing them out the window as I write. After all, it’s fiction, and I love taking a bit of liberty with my writing.

What sparked the idea for The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn?

It’s hard for me to pin down one specific spark for this book. There are a lot of little ones. I think that a big part of developing Kenzie’s story was where I was at in my own life. I had just made two major moves in the span of six months, and I was 1100 miles from my family. I felt like the only one I could lean on was God, so reliance on Him became one of the key themes of Kenzie’s story. I also had a friend from high school who made some really poor choices and ended up in prison for five years. His sister asked me to write to him, and I did. For five years we wrote back and forth, and his letters made me wonder if there was anything that would cause someone to willingly go to prison. It all just developed from there.

How did you decide on the names in your book: Kenzie Thorn and Myles Borden?

Well, with Kenzie, her name was just always there. Before I even started the book, I knew I wanted to title it The Kidnapping of … someone. I’m a big fan of alliteration, so I was looking for a K name. I just tried a bunch of combinations, and when I landed on Kenzie Thorn is was just so perfect. It fit perfectly as I needed her to share her grandfather’s name. Mackenzie was easy to split up so he is called Mac. As for Myles, I’ve just always thought that was a tough-guy’s name. It seems strong, and now I can’t imagine him with another name. Right before I started writing the book, I had seen The Prestige, which has a character named Alfred Borden. It was stuck in my head, and while Myles is nothing like Borden in the movie, I just couldn’t get it out of my mind.

What is the spiritual emphasis for this story that you pray touches readers' hearts?

I really pray that readers will be reminded that the eyes of the Lord are on those that fear Him. I pray that they’ll recognize that God can be relied on in every situation, no matter what.

Share a little about your background and how you started down the writing path.

I’ve always loved reading and writing, so I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in the Christian publishing industry. After college, finding a job—especially one in publishing—was harder than I thought it would be, so I signed up for the Christian Writers Guild apprentice course. I learned a lot about writing over the 2-year correspondence course, and I continued playing around with stories (terribly written stories) until I was hired into the industry in 2006. And then it was a my good friend and fellow publicist Kelly Blewett who told me she couldn’t wait to read the book I had told her I wanted to write. Her accountability got me from the dreaming stage to the sitting down and really working out The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn.

Find The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and CBD. You can include any or all of these links.

Sunset Beach

2009-07-08T22:21:00.005-04:00

Summer is the perfect time for a story that whisks you away to a beach setting (minus the sunburn and sand) with characters you'd love to hang out with in real life.

And I have just the story for you all that I've read and loved.

Trish Perry's new novel, Sunset Beach.

I've said before that Trish is one of my all-time favorite authors. I fell in love with her writing as I read her debut novel: The Guy I'm Not Dating. She made me laugh and cry and close the book with a satisfied smile.

Trish is also a dear friend and a very classy lady. In fact, she so impressed my daughters when we caught up with her in DC last year that they still talk about how nice, pretty, and funny she was. All of that translates into her stories.

My thoughts on Sunset Beach:

First off, isn't the cover GORGEOUS?! It makes me smile just looking at it.

Sunset Beach is an upbeat, engaging story with depth that translated into real life for me. One of the main story lines involves Sonny's quest for answers about her family that her mother has kept secret all her life.

Sonny's questions and the consequences of her digging into the past really got me thinking about how I teach my children about their extended family. Even though I've never even thought about acting like Sonny's mother, there are things in everyone's past that are easier left unsaid. But God has kept me open and honest with my children as we talk about life and faith and God's Word.

So while Sunset Beach made me think, it also left me glad for the path I'd chosen to walk with my daughters.

There are some heavy moments and deep themes of forgiveness and brokenness, but they're handled with grace and Trish's uncanny ability to make human nature ring with authenticity and yet still sparkle and make you smile.

Here's more about Sunset Beach and some really cool questions to learn more about Trish.

About Sunset Beach:

Sonny Miller is tired of not knowing who she is. Soon she’ll begin graduate school to earn her masters in Psychology. But how can she counsel future clients about their identities when she isn’t even sure about her own? To that end she has cooked up a little meeting at a certain beach house in San Diego.

Sonny’s mother, classical soprano Teresa Miller, isn’t aware she’s about to be reunited at the beach house with her sister, Melanie Hines, after 25 years of estrangement. And Sonny isn’t aware her mother has invited a surprise guest of her own. Russian adoptee, Irina Petrova, finds herself dragged along on a trip so tumultuous she summons her handsome concert violinist brother for moral support.

The four women converge on the funky little beach house in San Diego, each with her own disappointments and hopes about family, identity, and love. For Sonny, the trip reveals all she expected and more than she ever dreamed.

About Trish:

Award-winning novelist Trish Perry has written Sunset Beach (2009), Beach Dreams (2008), Too Good to Be True (2007), and The Guy I’m Not Dating (2006), all for Harvest House Publishers. She writes a monthly column, “Real Life is Stranger,” for Christian Fiction Online Magazine. She was editor of Ink and the Spirit, the newsletter of Washington D.C.’s Capital Christian Writers organization (CCW), for seven years. Before her novels, Perry published numerous short stories, essays, devotionals, and poetry in Christian and general market media.

Perry holds a B.A. in Psychology, was a 1980s stockbroker, and held positions at the Securities and Exchange Commission and in several Washington law firms. She serves on the Board of Directors of CCW and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group and Romance Writers of America. Perry lives in Northern Virginia with her teenaged son.

Interview with Trish:

Tell me a little bit about your background and your family.

I’m the middle child; middle girl. I was raised as one of five kids by my British mum and my WWII Air Force vet dad. I lived in Newfoundland (Canada), California, Colorado, and finally Virginia, which I’ve called home for the greater part of my life. I love it here. Most of my family still resides in Virginia, which is a bonus.

My late sister lived a rough lifetime of medical problems, which had a distinct bearing on our family lifestyle and our sensibilities toward the hardships of others. Her eventual death may have been a blessed relief for her, but it was a huge loss for us. The loss is what brought me to the Lord.

Both of my children are believers, which brings me such peace. I have a 29-year-old daughter, who is one of the coolest, smartest, most intuitive women I know. She’s blessed me with a remarkable grandson, now five. And my 16-year-old son is brilliant and funny, and he tells me daily that I’m weird (but I can hear the “I love you” in there when he says it).

What do you like to do in your spare time? Hobbies?

Novels and films are constants in my life; if I’m home and not working, I’m usually absorbed by one of those. I love good stories. I enjoy varied styles of music. I love to sing and served on my church’s worship team until my writing schedule got so busy. I still serenade the neighbors on occasion, whether they want me to or not. I’m a self-admitted former disco queen, and I still love to dance. And I make sure to get together with girlfriends at least once a week. Socializing, dining, and laughing—it’s like having your batteries charged!

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Well, hands down, I’d have to be able to teleport. Frankly, I’d travel a lot more if it weren’t for airports! I would have chosen the superpower of flying, but who wants to carry all that luggage in the air? If I could teleport, I could have my luggage in my circle of teleportability (you have heard of those, yes?), and it would teleport with me, free of luggage searches and additional-baggage fees.

What has God been teaching you lately?

I’ve been blown away by how clearly He forgives my weaknesses. Things have occurred in my life over the past 18 months for which (right or wrong) I carried a burden of guilt. You know, that feeling of “how did I contribute to this mess?” Yet He has blessed me so abundantly in the midst of my feelings of conviction, that He amazes me daily with His obvious love. The blessings keep me humbly aware of how much I need Him. And they instill in me such a strong desire to serve Him and to follow His guidance and will.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?

I love writing dialogue. What a control freak’s dream, to have control over what everyone says, including the antagonist. If only life were that easy, LOL! But truly, sometimes a scene simply shapes itself right before my eyes when the characters are engaged in dialogue. I don’t know quite what will be expressed sometimes, and I love it when it flows even faster than I seem to be able to think it.

When you write do you generally know where you’re headed or are you sometimes as surprised as your characters about the way things end?

There is always surprise, no matter how well I plan out a book’s progress. I was just talking with my editor about that the other day, the fact that the initial summary I write might change a bit as events unfold around my protagonist. I think that’s happened with every book I’ve written. I typically write a summary, which tells me generally where the story will go, and then I write a sentence or two per chapter idea, and then I start hammering away on Chapter One. As I write actual chapters, the events between “Once upon a time” and “The End” evolve in more significant ways than I expected in the first place. It’s an exciting process!

What would you say to someone who wants to become a published author?

Give the endeavor to God first. And daily. When doubts arise (and they will), you must be able to fall back on the knowledge that your efforts are for Him. And know that He will never show you the way by crushing your efforts with rejection and desolation. If He wants you to do something other than writing, He’ll lovingly draw you to that other endeavor.

That said, take all the practical steps to learn the craft and the business. Read (both how-to’s and novels), write, network, and submit. Over and over again.

Where did you get the idea for Sunset Beach?

The setting (the funky little house on Mission Beach) and time frame (one or two weeks’ time) were already established for me by my publisher. All of the books in The Beach House series fall within those parameters. But the characters and their stories formulated over time.

First I dreamed up Sonny—a young woman who had lived her entire life devoid of details about her family background, thanks to her secretive mother. Sonny had reached a point where she wanted to take control of her own life. Her mother was the barrier to that, so Sonny needed to both go around her mother and barrel headlong towards her. The hidden details about Sonny’s past arose as I created each new character. Even though my own family is close and forthcoming about our family history, there have always been fuzzy areas about which I’ve wanted to know more. I imagined how difficult it would be if your entire family history were fuzzy. I know I’d be compelled to act as Sonny did.

What are the major themes of the book?

My books always end up having a broad overall theme of the importance of seeking God’s guidance in everything. That’s never been deliberate—that’s just the way my stories work out. But for Sunset Beach, the most important theme entails our personal identities and how we determine them. Upon whom, or what, do we base our beliefs about who we are, what we’re worth, what our purpose in life is? A subtheme in the book has to do with the struggle to approach romance and passion appropriately. I think that’s a tough one for every single person I know, and it brings us right back to that whole seeking-God’s-guidance-in-everything theme.

What kind of research did you have to do for the book?

For the setting, I had already done quite a bit of research on Mission Beach and Pacific Beach for my previous book, Beach Dreams. And I read both of Sally John’s books in the series, which were the best research material I could ask for. But for Sunset Beach, I wanted to branch out some, so I sought help from friends from the surrounding areas and businesses that operated in San Diego and elsewhere in California. Also I was blessed by coming across a fellow writer who was able to answer my questions about Russian orphanages, which I coupled with online research. Finally, with regard to the psychological aspects of the story, I leaned on my own education, my textbooks, and on research available through various psychological studies and educational sites online. I’m not a fan of research, but those particular searches were fun.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

First, I hope they’ll find the book entertaining. I want them to enjoy Sonny’s journey and the way her discoveries uncover secrets and feelings for the people around her. I hope they’ll be amused, but only when I mean them to be! On a grander scale, I hope readers will be touched by the whole issue of personal identity and how God factors into that. I never want to write a preachy book—but I certainly enjoy hearing when my books are inspiring. My prayer before every book I write is that God will give me the story someone somewhere needs to read in order to feel more of what He wants them to feel. Then I leave it up to Him.

Other Blog Tour Spot Bloggers talking about Trish and Sunset Beach:

A Peek at My Bookshelf
A Spacious Place
Blog Tour Spot
Book Junkie Confessions
Book Nook Club
Cindy’s Stamping and Reviews
Cornhusker Academy
Drive Home Productions
Edgy Inspirational Author Blog
Fictionary
Fresh Brewed Writer
Gatorskunz and Mudcats
Giving Up on Picture Perfect
Heart Chocolate
I Don’t Wanna Blog
J’s Spot
Lighthouse Academy
Net’s Book Notes
Our Family’s Adventures
Real Women Scrap
Refresh My Soul
S.A.G.A
Scraps and Snippets
Sherry Kyle
Springs Writers
The Friendly Book Nook
The Sarah Jane Diaries
The Writing Road
This That and The Other
wandering, wonderings of a whacked-out woman
Word Up Studies
Word Vessel

Here's to a Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

My family and I are celebrating many things today.

The freedoms we enjoy

The men and women who are serving and have served to keep us free

The history of our nation

Family and friends

Faith and forgiveness

Hotdogs and hamburgers

Slip and slides

Laughter and love

Ice cream

Fireworks

Songs about our heritage

Prayers for our nation

Along with many today, we're celebrating. Because for all that the world might say about our nation, it's still our home.

We're still free. And that's worth singing about and enjoying the day.

I pray you will wherever you are too.

Shepherd's Fall

2009-06-27T22:21:00.002-04:00

My husband kidnapped my book for this week's CFBA tour~ that should tell you how good this book is from a male bibliophile's perspective. ;-)

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Shepherd's Fall

WaterBrook Press (April 14, 2009)

by

Wanda Dyson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Wanda Dyson lives with her severely autistic teenager on a busy farm with horses, chickens, dogs, cats, rabbits, and the occasional fox, deer, groundhog, and snake. She could seriously live without the snakes, but that's life in the country.

After writing three critically acclaimed suspense novels, she was asked to write the true story of Tina Zahn (Why I Jumped), which was featured on Oprah. Readers characterize her books as "riveting" and "Packed with twists and turns."

Wanda serves on the board of several writers conferences across the country including the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference.

Wanda has finished the second in this series called Shepherd's Run, that will come out in 2010. And she's hard at work on the third and final installment of the Prodigal Recovery Series - Marti's story -- tentatively called Shepherd's Quest.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bounty hunter Nick Shepherd is fearless when it comes to chasing down criminals. It's his difficult ex-wife, rebellious teenage daughter, and dysfunctional siblings that keep him awake at night. In charge of the family business, the Prodigal Recovery Agency, he thinks of himself as a shepherd of sorts. When his "flock" is out of his control, Nick's well-ordered universe falls into chaos.

Prodigal Recovery's search for Zeena, a prostitute on the run, leads to a faulty arrest, complicating Nick's business. He is thrown together with Zeena's twin, the beautiful Annie, and the two find themselves on a desperate search. The stakes significantly increase when Nick's daughter is kidnapped. Now, to save someone he loves, Nick must risk everything. But will it be enough?

If you would like to read a Prologue excerpt from Shepherd's Fall, go HERE

Something to think about

2009-06-19T13:58:00.002-04:00

I'm not much for political debates because debates rarely change what I believe. But I think it's wise as Christians to pay attention to what's happening in our nation.

First to pray.

Then to act as God instructs.

Here's a video worth watching.

A new way of life

2009-06-19T00:08:00.002-04:00

Decades~ yes decades~ ago, I took Judo in college. I really enjoyed it too, especially when I sent a football player twice my size to the mat with one flip.

This month, my family and I started Martial Arts classes. We're learning Tao Hsieh Wu Shu - The way of unified martial arts. It's hard work (really hard work~ much harder than it was in college) in a Christian environment and we're loving it!

Earlier tonight we learned some kicks and pounded the daylights out of the mats and the instructors holding them too.

We also celebrated birthdays with games and treats after class. We played the concentration game where everyone~ from age 5 and up~ stood in ready position (feet together, hands in praying position) and could blink, breathe, and swallow. Nothing else.

The instructors tried many ways to get us to do anything else but those three things.

I'm glad to say four out of five of us went the distance and stayed in the game till the end.

Then we played a foot game where the goal was to step on other people's feet without them stepping on yours. If you got stepped on, you were out.

My goal was to get my hubby out. And I did it! Winning the whole game was icing on the cake after that.

But we came home and practiced some and I could feel every old muscle in my legs screaming for mercy. My kids were tired too, but they wanted to keep working on what we'd learned.

That's one reason I'm so very thankful for this family class. My girls are learning discipline and loving it, as well as a whole new experience in respect with bowing and showing respect to higher belts and instructors.

Plus, we're exercising and have a great time doing it.

In many ways it's a whole new way of life for us. Class twice a week. Practice. Conditioning.

But it's amazing. And I'm sure someday my experiences will end up in a book.

After all, life is great fodder for writing!

Father's Day blog tour

2009-06-15T15:40:00.005-04:00

I wanted to share two new books that are part of Multnomah's Father's Day blog tour and a bonus review by my oldest princess with her thoughts on Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart, one of the Knights of Arrethtrae series.

First, my princess on an author she adores and a series that is among her favorites.

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart
by Chuck Black

Summary:

Sir Dalton, a knight in training, seems to have everything going for him. Young, well-liked, and a natural leader, he has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow knights, and especially the beautiful Lady Brynn.

But something is amiss at the training camp. Their new trainer is popular but lacks the passion to inspire them to true service to the King and the Prince. Besides this, the knights are too busy enjoying a season of good times to be concerned with a disturbing report that many of their fellow Knights have mysteriously vanished.

When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission, he encounters strange attacks, especially when he is alone. As his commitment wanes, the attacks grow in intensity until he is captured by Lord Drox, a massive Shadow Warrior. Bruised and beaten, Dalton refuses to submit to evil and initiates a daring escape with only one of two outcomes–life or death. But what will become of the hundreds of knights he’ll leave behind? In a kingdom of peril, Dalton thinks he is on his own, but two faithful friends have not abandoned him, and neither has a strange old hermit who seems to know much about the Prince. But can Dalton face the evil Shadow Warrior again and survive?

Review:

I really enjoyed reading Chuck Black's new book, Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart. My favorite part of the story was when Master Sejus is healing and training Dalton. And I liked the way Chuck Black went from the present time in the story to Dalton's memories and then back.

I admired the passion for the King and His Son that Dalton's true friends had. I also liked the way the vices and virtues were portrayed and especially how the vices were overcome.

However, the death ravens and hounds of despair were a little frightening. The scenes in the box canyon with the death ravens, especially the first time, when Dalton is helpless, are rather scary. It was frightful and probably meant to be that way, with the prisoners staked to the ground in two scenes.

But every good story has its bad parts~ and its scary parts~ and this was definitely a good story.

I consider Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart a wonderful book, and I can't wait to read it once again!

And now for the theologians among you, a book by Dr. R. Albert Mohler: The Disappearance of God

Summary:

More faulty information about God swirls around us today than ever before. No wonder so many followers of Christ are unsure of what they really believe in the face of the new spiritual openness attempting to alter unchanging truth.

For centuries the church has taught and guarded the core Christian beliefs that make up the essential foundations of the faith. But in our postmodern age, sloppy teaching and outright lies create rampant confusion, and many Christians are free-falling for “feel-good” theology.

We need to know the truth to save ourselves from errors that will derail our faith.

As biblical scholar, author, and president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Albert Mohler, writes, “The entire structure of Christian truth is now under attack.” With wit and wisdom he tackles the most important aspects of these modern issues:

Is God changing His mind about sin?
Why is hell off limits for many pastors?
What’s good or bad about the “dangerous” emergent movement?
Have Christians stopped seeing God as God?
Is the social justice movement misguided?
Could the role of beauty be critical to our theology?
Is liberal faith any less destructive than atheism?
Are churches pandering to their members to survive?

In the age-old battle to preserve the foundations of faith, it's up to a new generation to confront and disarm the contemporary shams and fight for the truth. Dr. Mohler provides the scriptural answers to show you how.

How do you connect with God?

2009-06-10T15:29:00.015-04:00

How do you connect with God?

I’ve found three ways that reach into my soul and draw me closer.

The first is spending time at the beach. It’s where I hear Him loudest in the roar of the water and where I’m still enough to just sit and listen.

But before I share the beach pictures and commentary, I wanted to share about another powerful way I connected with God~ through a book.

And there’s a book we just finished reading as a family that's skyrocketed to the top of my all-time favorites list. That list still has The Restorer by Sharon Hinck at the very tip top. But this new book is a hair's breath away.

It's a children's book.

A Newbery Winner.

About family and love and...

Space travel.

It starts with one of my favorite lines in all literature, "It was a dark and stormy night." And no, it's not from Snoopy like my children guessed. ;-)

It's Madeleine L'Engle's book A Wrinkle in Time.

I've never fallen for a book quite like I did this one. Partly it's a pure love of the author's beautiful language, something that's never been big on my reading list. Madeleine L'Engle used words and the concept of communication in so many varied and fascinating ways that I often stopped reading or stopped my oldest reading and just marveled at the ideas.

I also experienced the quirky characters and the deep realities each grappled with. Some of those pictures of God, our world, and relationships are ideas I'm still dancing with and pondering.

All this in a children's book.

And now we're embarking on a summer adventure with Madeleine L'Engle as our tour guide through four other books in the Time Quintet series. I'm sooooo looking forward to the trip!

Now for some looking back at one of my favorite places in the world...

I love Destin, Florida. I love the waves, the sounds, the time with my girls, the ocean, the seashells, the food, the water.... ;-)

I could do without the sand and bathing suits. But I'll take those if it comes with all the other things I love. ;-)

This year, one of my closest friends and her family joined us in Destin. We went crabbing at night, played in the water, and had a blast playing spoons in the evening too.

Here's a photo tour of our trip...

These are our beach toes... special painted toes just for vacation and a painting party to boot!

Next picture is my hubby with a captured crab.... all I have to say is Wallaces rule. ;-)

I absolutely love this picture of my girls in their beach dresses.

We take a number of these photos each year and it's fun to capture who they are in a shot like this.

Look closely... one is a princess, one a warrior, and the other a tall and graceful scholar.

The next photo is my oldest and I hanging out in the surf. We had such a lovely time just talking and bobbing in the waves.

I have never before been to the beach when it was cold. On Monday, the water was soooo COLD it was hardly bearable.

The first picture is me before drinking my Starbucks. Notice the shivers?

The next is me happily in beach dreamland after warming up with a nice hot cuppa Starbucks!

Last is a photo my hubby snapped while I was otherwise occupied with watching dolphins and being blown away by the creativity and goodness of God.

The beach and books are two of the most powerful ways I connect with God. Music is a close third.

What about you all? How or where do you experience Him the most?

Amish Love

2009-05-28T17:49:00.003-04:00

I just had to give a shout out to a dear friend, Cindy Woodsmall, who did an amazing job on ABC's Nightline this week! Check out her now online interview and post a comment to encourage Cindy and let the folks at ABC see the Christian community supporting one other.

Here's a bit from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group with more details...

Amish Love

What’s all the hubbub about Amish fiction? Major media outlets like Time and ABC Nightline are covering it, and authors like Cindy Woodsmall are making the New York Times bestseller list regularly. What makes these books so interesting?

Check out the recent ABC Nightline piece about Cindy and her titles When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. It’s an intriguing look at Amish culture and the time Cindy has spent with Amish friends.

And don’t forget that Cindy’s new book The Hope of Refuge hits store shelves August 11, and is available for preorder now.

Shadows on the River

2009-05-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

SHADOWS ON THE RIVER is the story of Ally Roarke. When she was a young teenager she saw her best friend pushed to her death. Here are Ally's own words:

"I was only fourteen when I witnessed a murder on the riverbank. A murder that went unpunished. Unless you count what happened to my family. We were forced out of town by the teenage killer's prominent parents. And the murder was forgotten—by everyone but me. Now, the killer is a respected businessman. I can't let him get away with it. But I'm a single mother with a child to protect, what can I do? The new man in my life, Mark Bishop, warns me to be careful. For there's already been another murder. Close to home."

A bit about Linda:

Award winning and twice Christy-nominated author Linda Hall has written fifteen novels plus many short stories. She has also worked as a freelance writer, news reporter and feature writer for daily newspaper.

She grew up in New Jersey where her love of the ocean was nurtured. Most of her novels have something to do with the sea. When she's not writing, Linda and her husband enjoy sailing the St. John River system and the coast of Maine. In the summer we basically move aboard their 34' sailboat aptly named - Mystery.

Shadows on the River can be ordered from most online bookstores such as amazon, or can be ordered from her website: http://writerhall.com

What others are saying:

- With a voice well suited to mystery and suspense, Hall creates an almost gothic atmosphere and a wonderfully satisfying conclusion in this final installment of her Shadows series. Romantic Times 4 stars

2009-05-27T12:26:00.001-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Rose House

By

Tina Ann Forkner

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. She grew up in Oklahoma and graduated with honors from CSU Sacramento before settling in Wyoming. She lives with her husband, their three bright children and their dog and stays busy serving on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors. She is the author of Ruby Among Us, her debut novel, and Rose House, which recently released from Waterbrook Press/Random House.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope.

Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

If you would like to read an excerpt from HERE

Memorial Day Tribute

2009-05-25T10:35:00.002-04:00

Many men and women have served our country in the Armed Forces, my dad and grandfather among them. Today we remember the ones who gave their lives.

Please keep our soldiers in your prayers.

Dream Big

2009-05-24T21:09:00.001-04:00

Thursday was my birthday, and as birthdays always cause me to do, I grew contemplative. But too often those big thoughts, big dreams, big decisions get lost in the everydayness of life once the big day passes. Even so, one thing I'm forever trying to teach my children is to live with passion. That means taking those big dreams and big decisions and living them out. I fail at that too often. But each day, because of God's great mercy and His never giving up on any of us, we have another opportunity to make good on those dreams. To take action and live them out.

We can start simple... like forgiving someone. Or making time to just sit before the throne of God and listen. Spending a little more time just being with our children, our parents, our friends. Knowing our gifts and talents and seeking God as to how He wants to use them in the Body of Christ. Giving a cup of cold water on a hot day.

Then move on to some of those dreams you had as a kid or an idealistic young adult. What did you want to be when you grew up? Even more importantly, what did Jesus create you to be? Think about where you are now and where you'd like to be in answer to those two questions. The space between them is truly spanned one step at a time.

Of all the things I pray my children remember about me, my not giving up on God's dreams for me and living them with passion is the one that tops my list.

Ephesians 4:1 "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."

Ephesians 5:2 "...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Dream big and take the next prayerful step.

Nothing But Trouble

2009-05-23T08:00:00.004-04:00

Just in time for sun, fun, and summer reading comes another amazing book by Susan May Warren. I'm loving PJ Sugar and the heap of trouble that zooms her way.

Jump into the fun with a blurb about PJ Sugar and a note from Susan. Then head out the door or online to your fave bookstore and pick up a copy of Nothing But Trouble. It'll get you started right for summer!

Nothing But Trouble
by Susan May Warren

PJ Sugar knows three things for sure:

After traveling the country for ten years hoping to shake free from the trail of disaster that’s become her life, she needs a fresh start.

The last person she wants to see when she heads home for her sister’s wedding is Boone—her former flame and the reason she left town.

Her best friend’s husband absolutely did not commit the first murder Kellogg, Minnesota, has seen in more than a decade.

What PJ doesn’t know is that when she starts digging for evidence, she’ll uncover much more than she bargained for—a deadly conspiracy, a knack for investigation, and maybe, just maybe, that fresh start she’s been longing for.

It's not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her hometown, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend's husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder--who also happens to be PJ's former flame--is convinced it's an open-and-shut case, PJ's not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend's husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

Read the first chapter: http://gotsugar.susanmaywarren.com/

About Susan:

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

A note from Susan May Warren

Sometimes, do you feel like you just don’t fit in? You look around you and if anyone knew how difficult it was just to put yourself together, to smile when you feel completely overwhelmed, to even figure out what you were making for supper, they’d know what a mess you were. Maybe you totally relate to those words in 1 Peter – God’s elect, strangers and aliens in the world. Do you feel like when you look in the rear view mirror, all you see are your mistakes?

Maybe not. But if so, then PJ is your gal. I wanted to write a story about the person in so many of us who just wants to get it right…but can’t seem to stay out of trouble. My friend and I have what we call the “stupid mouth” club…and we report our weekly foibles (usually on Monday, after Sunday church!). PJ is our charter member. She’s the girl that changes her mind, always hopes for the best, is always discovering that she is just a little different than everyone else. PJ is us.

And that’s good news. Because God loves PJ. He loves her messiness, and her impulsiveness, her heart bent toward others, the hope that fuels her actions. And He has a plan for PJ – one that includes her weaknesses as well as her strengths.

Yep, I need to hear that – need to hear that I don’t have to be perfect for God to love me, use me, sing over me. Need to hear that although I don’t fit in, well, I’m not supposed to…in fact, I’m supposed to be a little…alien.

I wrote PJ for everyone who feels just a little messy, just a little like they can’t quite get it right. And who needs to hear that God loves them. Period. Full stop. Hallelujah.

What is your favourite Bible verse and what does it mean to you?

My current favourite is: Hebrew 4:16, “Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” It means that even when I come crawling, my face to the floor, He won’t reject me. I pull it out whenever I blow it, or feel inadequate, or when someone hurts me, or...when I hurt someone else. Basically whenever I feel like I’m Trouble, I remember that God won’t turn away. In fact, He may even do what I do to my children – turn me to face Him, despite my puffy red face, wipe off my tears and pull me into His arms.

Where did the idea for PJ Sugar come from?

Every author dreams of a moment where someone says something, or they see something on the news, or in a newspaper and it springs out at them, nearly shouting – STORY IDEA! This happened to me a number of years ago while talking to friends about their daycare situation, and how one of the parents ended up being a murder suspect! Scary! But an interesting idea. About that time, I was a mom who wore many hats – homeschooling mom, writing teacher, speaker, children’s church leader, -- and it occurred to me that a mother really has to be a sort of PI. Not only taking on different roles, but sleuthing out daily household mysteries like, who ate the last of the peanut butter (and put it back in the cupboard?) and whose socks are laying in the middle of the floor, and finally…(in our house), who let the dog (and her muddy feet!) in the house! PJ is the alter-ego in every mom, that super-hero inside of us that allows us to have esp (I know you’re not really done with your homework!), or have “eyes in the back of our head,” (stop poking your sister!) or even figure out how to whip together an award-winning science project the night before the fair. PJ just applies all those skills to bad guys and figuring out the truth.

PJ Sugar is also a woman who wants to be all things to all people. She wants to be her nephew’s champion and her sister’s best friend, and her mother’s favorite daughter, and Boone’s special girl, and the hero of her hometown. That’s not too much to ask, is it? Maybe…because God wants her to be His girl, and satisfied in who He made her to be. And that is a journey for all of us PJ Sugars.

Fiction authors have all the fun!

2009-05-14T18:30:00.002-04:00

If you haven't seen the TV show, Castle, you need to check out this ABC show! One of the main characters, Rick Castle, is a famous crime fiction writer and totally proves fiction authors have fun~ especially with research.

Even if you're not a crime TV or even a TV junkie (I'm not either, but I love Castle!) here's a peek into my psychosis... I mean my writing life.

This week I've been compiling research and working on character charts for my new suspense series people. And I've had a BLAST!

I'd forgotten how fun writing can be.

Honestly, I didn't want to do the character charts. But after I started typing, these fictional people came to life and I loved poking around in their pasts and finding more and more ideas for present-day conflicts.

I also took a look into something I did for the Defenders of Hope characters that'd I'd forgotten about. Soooo glad God turned my thoughts to this character builder.

It's a concept called an imagery item.

I heard about this through a writer friend (Thanks, Jen!) who heard it from the author, Jade Lee. I have to tell you, Ms. Lee is a genius. So is my best friend, Jen. She’s also a saint for critiquing my proposal at midnight. Meg too.

I could totally do a blog post on the crowns in heaven Jen, Meg, and Sharon will receive for making me write better.

Okay, back to imagery items… an imagery item is a tangible object that describes a character. This can be anything, as long as it exemplifies your character.

Here are some of my favorite examples:

Crimes Against Children Agent Steven Kessler. His imagery item is a broken superhero toy: powerful but wounded, fun if he remembers how to play.

Steven’s partner, FBI Agent Clint Rollins, is a tall, Texas cowboy hat: strong, dependable, traditional, a sturdy covering for those under his care.

I love how those simple items so totally encapsulate the characters. Plus, these items have helped me remember the characters major conflicts and, in some cases, how they heal.

The only imagery item that made its way into a story was Hanna Kessler's.

Her item is a cracked crystal vase: can’t see the full beauty without lots of light, fragile, doesn’t break without a great deal of pressure unless there’s a weak spot. You know the saying, "God uses cracked pots"? Well, Hanna is a heart-deep twist on that truth.

If you've read Enduring Justice, you know why this particular imagery item is so powerful and so dear to me.

For those who haven't read EJ yet, I'll just say Hanna’s imagery item is integral to the story’s ending in a way that still makes me cheer.

All this to say: Imagery items, along with deep back-story, help me see fictional characters as multi-dimensional, breathing people.

Some of whom I like to hang out with. ;-)

And that makes writing even more fun.

And the winner is...

2009-05-14T04:00:00.001-04:00

The winners from the Enduring Justice blog tour were chosen at random by the Random Integer Generator --

Here are your random numbers:

47 - Grand Prize winner of the Defender of Hope series:
Elizabeth Medlin

71 - winner of Enduring Justice:
Renee - steelergirl83

77 - winner of Enduring Justice:
Need A Nap

Timestamp: 2009-05-14 06:01:48 UTC

Congrats! Please email your mailing address to Amy! (amy@litfusegroup.com)

Thank you all so much for signing up for my newsletter and visiting my blog tour.

A Vote of Confidence

2009-05-13T08:00:00.005-04:00

A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
by Robin Lee Hatcher

Who says a woman can’t do a man’s job?

Put up or shut up! Complaining about Bethlehem Springs' dissolute mayoral candidate, Gwen Arlington is challenged to take on the role herself. For seven years, she’s carved out an independent life in the bustling mountain town of Bethlehem Springs, Idaho, teaching piano and writing for the local newspaper. But now she’s a single woman running for mayor — and in 1915 this decision is bound to stir up trouble.

Morgan McKinley is fed up with the delays that hinder the construction of New Hope Health Spa, a place where both rich and poor can come for rest and healing. New to the area, he has determined that serving as mayor would help him push through his agenda for progress.

Gwen and Morgan each want to prove they are the most qualified candidate, not only to voters but to each other, and so sparks fly as the two campaign. Although Morgan has learned to guard his heart as fiercely as Gwen guards her independence, could they learn to be allies instead of adversaries?

This first book in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs Series provides intriguing insights into how women challenged convention and shaped America in the early twentieth century.

BIO:

Robin Lee Hatcher is the best-selling author of over sixty books. Her well-drawn characters and heartwarming stories of faith, courage, and love have earned her both critical acclaim and the devotion of readers. Her numerous awards including the 2000 Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the 1999 and 2001 RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance, Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards for Americana Romance and for Inspirational Fiction, and the 2001 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Catching Katie was named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin began her writing career in the general market, writing mass market romances for Leisure Books, HarperPaperbacks, Avon Books, and Silhouette. In 1997, after several years of heart preparation, Robin accepted God's call to write stories of faith and hasn't looked back since. She has written both contemporary women's fiction and historical romances for CBA publishers, and in 2009 her 60th book, A Vote of Confidence, was released, launching a new series (The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs) that looks at the question, "Who says a woman can't do a man's job?" The setting is Idaho during the WWI era.

A NOTE FROM ROBIN:

Ideas come to writers in lots of different ways. The idea for The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series came to me back in 2003-2004 and had its genesis in a couple of other books. From Catching Katie had come a fascination with the decade leading up to the passing of the 19th Amendment that gave American women the right to vote. From a secondary character in Speak to Me of Love came a fondness for a woman in an unusual occupation. While those two things were rolling around in my head, up popped the final ingredient. A question: Who says a woman can't do a man's job? And the next thing I knew, I'd met Gwen and Cleo Arlington, the heroines of the first two books in the series. I had to wait to meet my third heroine until the hero of A Vote of Confidence walked into my imagination. Guess what, Morgan McKinley had a younger sister, Daphne. Each of these women have jobs that weren't considered a woman's domain in their time (1915-1918). I hope readers will become as fond of Gwen, Cleo, and Daphne -- and the men with whom they fall in love -- as I am.

Here is the link to an excerpt from A Vote of Confidence:

Where oh where have I been?

2009-05-11T16:24:00.016-04:00

It's been a busy April and things aren't slowing down yet. But almost all of the busyness has been a blast, so I thought you might like to see my April in pictures.

I just had to share a proud writer moment. It's me at the arrival of my third book baby, Enduring Justice.

And here are some pictures of my speaking at South Effingham High School on April 23rd, my amazing hubby's birthday.

Here's my family with the SEHS Stomping Stangs Book Club and their amazing leader, Mrs. Olivier, SEHS principal, and laughing with Mr. Pearce.

The next big April event was a book launch party at Lifeway Christian Store. Here’s a pre-event photo with my handsome hubby.

Then there are photos of dear friends, Jessica and Elizabeth, who have attended and cheered me on at every Defenders of Hope launch party.

Please make note of the famous, beautiful, and amazing Cindy Woodsmall asking for two hundred cases of Enduring Justice! Okay, she was just goofing off for the camera. But she did come and keep me smiling with her encouragement.

Here is my pastor, Steve Hammack, questioning my use of his name for a character~ good guy or not???

Well... I happen to really like my pastor, so his namesake in Enduring Justice is a good guy.

That just goes to show you... be nice to writers or they might put you in a book.

My last April event was an amazing book club in Jackson Georgia. I had the honor of meeting and spending two hours talking with a Christian book club led by Stephanie Akom. Then we had more fun signing books and talking well into the night. I loved every minute of my time with these wonderful ladies!

The Enduring Justice blog tour!

2009-04-25T04:24:00.039-04:00

So glad you could join me for the book tour for the latest release in the Defender's of Hope Series! I'm so privileged to have such a stellar cast of bloggers agree to tour this book!

~~Contest~~
Enter to win all THREE BOOKS in the DOH series by signing up for Amy’s Dark Chocolate Suspense Newsletter and then leave a comment on this blog tour post. If you already subscribe to the newsletter, just leave a comment saying so on this post! The winner will be chosen at random on 5/13/09. Two runner's up will also be chosen to win a copy of Enduring Justice.

Enduring Justice Secrets Can’t Last Forever

A PAINFUL PAST
Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories.

A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLER
As a Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. Difficult cases and broken relationships have plagued his entire year. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A LIFE-ALTERING CHOICE
A racist's well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?

Want to read more? Read the first two chapters of Enduring Justice here!

Also...don't forget to sign up for the once-a-quarter newsletter chock full of insider info on the writing world, a thought-provoking devotion, and easy but yummy recipes.

Please visit the stops on my nationwide virtual book tour by clicking on the links below! The tour runs 4/27 - 5/7.

4/27
Denise at Under the Boardwalk
You will find yourself rooting for these characters as they deal with their wounded pasts. This series is not only entertaining, but each one has a specific message for our lives. The stories are fast paced full of suspense and a touch of romance.

Mimi at Mimi's Pixie Corner
I love Amy Wallace's stories. She thrills as well as makes your heart soar. Very intellegent along with a lot of heart.

Pamela at Aunt Pam's Closet

Marietta at Mari's Morning Room

4/28
Cathy at Word Vessel and a great interview here!
Author Amy Wallace delivers an edgy read with the third book in her Defender of Hope Series. This book is real and gritty and unnerving, all the things that keep you up all hours of the night turning pages! The author does a wonderful and gutsy job of tackling difficult subject matter.

Melissa at A Weak Rose
Amy Wallace's writing is superb, her subject matter gripping. I will be looking for future book titles by her and adding them to my library!

Gina at Portrait of a Writer
I read the first book in this series and really liked it.

Amy at The 160 Acre Woods
It isn’t a comfortable read. It touches subjects that are real — racism, bigotry, rape, and family issues. It also gives hope to these issues. I love that Amy shares her personal story (about rape) in the end notes, and how she dealt with some of it. It really adds to the story and makes it more empowering. Amy adds in God and it really makes the book so much more! The struggle with emotions in this book from the un-forgiveness, and the rage are well represented. But most of all it really shows the hope and the healing we have by listening to God and letting His truth release us. This is a great read, and if you’re looking for an edge of the seat thriller, this one is it!

4/29
Margaret at The Cappuccino Life
Amy Wallace ties together some big issues in this novel--child abuse, white supremacism, and general human sinfulness--to create a thrilling fast-paced novel.

4/30
Leticia at My Daily Trek
I must confess that I have not read the first two books in this series. But reading Enduring Justice stands great on its own. This book represents the title perfectly...It is a must read! And I am going to head over to the library and get the first two books of this awe inspiring series.

Laura at Lighthouse Academy
ENDURING JUSTICE is the third book in the Defenders of Hope series. I’ve read all Amy’s books since the beginning and can honestly say that she’s only gotten better with time...ENDURING JUSTICE is a book that will not be easily forgotten.

5/1
Marta at Marta's Meanderings
Wow this book is exciting! The action never stops in this book...All of the detail really makes the story believable.

Kaylea at My Scrappy Life
I found more than a novel as I dived into the pages...While the book wasn’t an easy read, it did provide me with something to think about. It also makes me want to find the earlier books in the series –

Melissa at Breath of Life
It's been a while since I stayed up past midnight for anything, let alone to finish a book. But Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace sucked me right in.

5/2
Deborah at Books, Movies and Chinese Food

Amy at Sprightly
What an action packed whirlwind of a story! Bravo Amy...I was on the edge of my seat right up to the end. Amy's character's jump right out of the pages of the book. What a treat!

5/4
Dineen at Kittens Come From Eggs
I recently finished Enduring Justice and loved it just as much as the first two in the Defenders of Hope series. All three books have ministered to me in some way. And you just can't put these stories down! Amy Wallace weaves deep characters with real issues and struggles. These are stories and characters that linger with you. I can't recommend them enough. This is definitely one of my favorite series of books.

Donna at Write By Faith
Check out Donna's fun interview with me!

Jill Elizabeth at Artistic Blogger
An awesome writer and dear, lovely friend, Amy Wallace, has just released her dynamic third book in the Defenders of Hope series, Enduring Justice. It's a "wow" read...

5/5
Kate at A Simple Walk
I thought the story line of Enduring Justice was just fabulous. It was action-packed right from the start. It was full of dynamic characters and intense drama and suspense.

Peggy at Sips & Cups Café

Cara at Cara’s Musings
I loved this book! Amy does not write easy stories. Instead, her characters deal with real life issues in very real ways. But each book is over shadowed by God's amazing grace. This books shows that even more than the prior two. Her characters are real -- the kind you want to sit down and share a cup of coffee with. Her plots are rich with layers of suspense, romance, and a spiritual depth that reaches right to your heart!

Amy at My Friend Amy

Jill at Christian Work at Home Moms

5/6
Janice at The Nearsighted Bookworm

Kara at Ramblings-n-Writings
Author Amy Wallace tackles some big issues and writes in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I know I will be heading to the library for the first two books in the series.

Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author
I can honestly say that this read is fantastic and the emotions that coincide with Hanna's past were very well done. The thugs are creepy. The writing is intelligent. It's ALL good.

5/7
Camy at Camy's Loft

Christa at Chrisa Allan

Mary at Home Steeped Hope
Her latest romantic suspense, Enduring Justice, “had me from hello”! I’ve got to tell you, I am so sad to see the Defenders of Hope series end! But what an ending!

Ruth at Christian Fiction Queen

5/8
Deborah at Comfort Joy

Suzanne at Clicking Her Heels

Tricia at It's Real Life
Amy is a GREAT writer! Her stories grip the heart and leave you on the edge of your seat!

Mindy at Ponderings of the Heart
Amy Wallace's new book is suspenseful from the first chapter to the last chapter and I can honestly say that while I won't give away the ending, I sighed a big sigh of relief that all the "good guys" came through in the end!This book is full of heart- wrenching humanity. I really loved this book.

5/10
Lena Nelson at Christian Writer's World

Check out Lena's interview with Amy!

5/11
Joanna at Becoming His

A powerful read!

Susan at Scribbles
Amy Wallace tackles the tough stuff with ease (and pure enjoyment) in the latest installment of her series.

www.litfusegroup.com

Living a Dream

2009-04-24T17:13:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was my amazing husband's birthday and he took the day off, not to lay around the house and be waited on, but to cheer me on and keep me calm before a TV interview and then to take our entire family on an eight hour round-trip journey for me to speak to an amazing high school book club~ the Stomping Stangs book club at S. Effingham High School.

They were AWESOME! I loved every minute of my time with the teachers and students. My kiddos and husband did too.

Other than having my family with me when I speak, one of my favorite parts of the writing life is encouraging people and challenging them to live their dreams. I love talking to teenagers especially because they ask far tougher questions and challenge me to go deep. So I started off my time at SEHS with a little talk about living a dream.

In practice, it was about a five minute speech. But it took about thirty because this group interacted with my questions and gave some amazing answers. Here's a snippet of the talk:

There are tons of people in this world who want to be famous. In fact, we’re a culture of celebrity stalkers and American Idol followers. But the sad fact is it’s tough to live a dream. Even harder to stay the course 'till achieving that dream.

If you’re going to be one of those who gives their all and sticks it out, there are a few things to take with you on the journey.

Living a dream takes passion. Not just the “I want to be famous” hope but something deep down inside that burns hot and spurs you on to keep at it. Know what you love and do it with everything you are.

Living a dream also takes hard work and sacrifice. It means giving up something you want for something you want even more.

Living a dream also takes a community. My writing mentor says two things that stick with me in everything I do. First, she said to bleed into your work. Give all you are to the work, be honest and pour yourself out. People will be inspired by that.

Second, she said to pull someone else up. I didn’t get to live my dream without a number of folks standing with me, encouraging me, and helping me keep going. So I need to turn around and help someone else on their journey.

You can achieve your dreams and leave a mark on this world for good. Each one of you has special gifts and talents that are unique to you, gifts and talents this world needs. So go after your dream, but go into it prepared.

Do something you have a passion for. Be willing to work hard. And don’t go it alone.

My challenge to the students and teachers who were there and also to the rest of you who weren't... what's your heart's message and how do you share it with the world around you?

Like the amazing students I spoke with yesterday, you too have gifts and talents our world needs. How will you share the passion Christ put in you with others?

Happy Birthday Honey!

2009-04-23T04:30:00.002-04:00

Today is my amazing hubby's birthday! So in honor of his big day, I want to share a little about him...

This is the guy who teamed up with God and shoved me into the writing world. There are days I love him for this and days I don't.

David is the amazing and gifted web designer behind the Dark Chocolate Suspense website, my blog, and just about everything I'm part of online. He's so totally cool! And longsuffering. Just ask him. :-)

David not only works full time and owns his own website business, he helps homeschool our girls. They and the world will be glad he's their math teacher.

David has always taken off work or worked from home so that I could teach, go to conferences, or other writing things. And he's done it with a smile and many prayers.

This amazing guy is also rising to a new level of servanthood... giving up his birthday to take me to a TV interview and to speak to an incredible group of high schoolers. He says it's more family time. I say he's a candidate for sainthood.

He's also the one who prays over our girls every night. And the one I run to when I need someone to pray with too.

He's become an amazing listener. With a house full of girls, he sort of had to or go crazy. KWIM?

David makes us all laugh and reminds us that laughter is good medicine.

He brightens our home with flowers just because.

He still sends me weird and goofy cards that make me laugh out loud like he did when we were dating.

He watches chick flicks even when I put four straight on our queue because he made me sit through the entire Batman Begins movie.

He reads everything I've ever written and thinks it's amazing even when I know it's not. He's finally admitting that a little more and helping me fix it up.

All that great stuff inside and he's a hunk on the outside too. :-)

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!! You are loved to infinity and beyond!

Ruby's Slippers

2009-04-20T18:24:00.002-04:00

I'd like to share about another favorite lady, author Leanna Ellis, and her new release, Ruby's Slippers. I met Leanna at an ACFW writer's conference and found a kindred spirit and a wonderful friend.

And not only do you get to see her beautiful cover and a story blurb, you all also get to read her first chapter~ enjoy!

Wizard of Oz meets Cinderella in Ruby’s Slippers, a novel by Leanna Ellis

When Dottie Meyers loses her ‘no place like home’ during a Kansas tornado, she wakes up to find a pair of ruby slippers left by her father who abandoned his family thirty years ago. With her sister hot on her trail to find the treasured ruby slippers, Dottie travels a yellow brick road with three friends to find her father. No wizard can solve her problems. Only the love of a heavenly father can heal her wounds and give her the desires of her heart.

There’s no place like … the heart for God’s healing touch.

Winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award and Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award, Leanna Ellis writes women’s fiction for B&H Publishing. Visit her website at http://leannaellis.com.

Ruby’s Slippers
Leanna Ellis

“There’s no place like home.”
Dorothy The Wizard of Oz

Chapter One

Some people wish on candles, others on stars. When I was a girl, nose pressed against the passenger window of our Vista Cruiser, I watched truckloads of hay bales rumbling down the highway near our Kansas farm. Weather-beaten farmers driving thirty miles an hour (or slower), traffic piling up a mile behind them. Momma would ease the station wagon into the left lane to pass the snaking line and say, “Make a wish, girls, and don’t look back.”

My younger sister, Abby, always made a production out of her wishes. She squeezed her eyes closed, pursed her lips toward heaven, and proclaimed to all who were within hearing, “I’m gonna . . .” She leaned forward, her hand on Mama’s shoulder. “Can I wish on every hay bale?”
“Why not?” Mama shook her head with bewilderment as if my sister was a novelty act in the circus. To me, she was.

Puckering up again, Abby rattled off her litany of wishes. “I’m gonna be famous! I’m gonna be on the big screen! I’m gonna fly around the world.”

Like any good big sister, I rolled my eyes and let out a long, loud huff of irritation. Looking back on it now, I realize I was jealous that Abby knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to throw her dreams out there for all the world to see.

Cynical, even at age nine, I never wished on candles, stars, or hay bales. Maybe I’ve always been looking back rather than forward. Nowadays, I’ve become a moderately healthy realist at age thirty-five. But sometimes, in the dark of a lonely night, I do imagine wishes coming true.

Otto’s barking first signals something amiss on this damp, overcast afternoon. He’s my loyal, scruffy black dog, not more than ten or twelve pounds soaking wet. He follows me everywhere and will defend me if so much as a crow flies too near. Crouched on my knees in the garden, holding a prickly weed, I watch a strange sedan clip along the forlorn drive at an unsafe pace and feel a catch in my chest.

Squinting against the afternoon glare, I shield my eyes and push to my feet. Hope overrides any childhood cynicism. I decided long ago to hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Ever since I was small, I’ve kept watch on the drive to our small Kansas farm. “Momma,” I would shout, “somebody’s comin’!” She would stop whatever chore was occupying her—folding laundry, drying dishes, balancing the checkbook—and we’d stand on the porch, my hand in hers, tracking the approaching vehicle. “Do you think it’s—”

“No, Dottie.” Momma named the truck as some neighbor’s. “Don’t say anything to Abby, all right?”

Ever the protective big sister, I nodded, keeping my disappointment to myself. My little sister by two years tended to be more emotional than Momma and me.

Momma never acted sad, and I took my cue from her. But she never hesitated when I called out again, “Visitors!” Hope would crest, soon to be dashed by disappointment. Still, even after all these years, when Momma is no longer here to stand beside me, there’s that smidgen of hope at the sight of a strange vehicle coming up the drive.

Rolling my shoulder forward, I swipe my face with my sleeve, wiping away bits of dirt and sweat, and blink at the pale-gray four-door as it stirs up a whirlwind of dust in its wake. None of my neighbors drive this type of car. Craig Hanson, my lawyer and friend, drives a conservative dark-blue 4-Runner. Rhonda Cox, the preacher’s wife, drives a white Expedition to haul her three children along with Pampered Chef wares to parties in the adjoining counties. Homer Davies, from the feed store, drives a battered and weary Chevy truck he’s had since the seventies. Most come to drop off donations for the annual Easter egg hunt I’m organizing again this year, or if their kid needs help with math, or if they’re in need of a third on yet another church committee.

The darkened windows of the strange sedan veil the driver’s identity as it comes to a screeching halt in front of my house. I dust my hands off on the back of my overalls. My muddy Crocs leave a depression in the soft earth. Otto prances around me, yipping and barking. “Easy now. Let’s go see who it is.” I lift Otto over a chicken- wire fence I strung up last summer to keep out a family of rabbits that had been nibbling on my beets and sugar snap peas. The sedan hasn’t moved. No door opens. No window slides downward. Is the driver lost or confused? Reconsidering? My footsteps quicken.

The driver’s door swings open and a tall, shapely woman in a form-fitting white dress emerges. I keep my head upright as Momma always did, my footsteps steady. This woman is definitely lost, like she’s looking for the pages of a Vogue magazine to crawl into. She has long black hair and dark sunglasses that make her eyes as big as a grasshopper’s. It isn’t until she swings her hair over her shoulder in a familiar way that recognition causes a whoosh of air to escape me.
“Abby!” I holler.

She turns, raises her sunglasses to the top of her head and spots me. “Come on, boy!” I slap the side of my leg. “Abby’s home!”

Tour De Force

2009-04-18T10:09:00.003-04:00

Beth White is one of my all-time favorite people! She's also one of the driving forces behind my ever becoming an author.

Beth was the first author I got up the courage to email. And when she emailed me back, she also pointed me toward ACFW and truly cared about my heart. What started as a casual fan/ author email became a friendship I treasure.

And so it's with great joy that I introduce you to Beth and her newest book Tour De Force! Enjoy!

TOUR DE FORCE: A Love Story by Elizabeth White
May 2009, Zondervan

A Passion for Dance

Gilly Kincade is a rising star on the New York ballet scene. Dancing is her life's passion, second only to her love for Jesus, and she believes her faith sets her apart--but hasn't held her back. Chosen for a plum role in a new ballet choreographed for her, it seems the sky's the limit. Then she meets Jacob Ferrar....

A Passion for God

Jacob Ferrar has left behind the glittering temptations of stardom in New York ballet. He has established a reputation as a brilliant, innovative artistic director of a regional dance company in Alabama, with a vision for choreography that glorifies God and encourages the audience. In fact, he's certain nothing could make him go back....

Becomes Love's Tour de Force

When Jacob offers Gilly the lead in his original Easter ballet, she begins to reevaluate what she's willing to sacrifice for dance. And he sees exciting potential of shining light on the world's dark stage. But their brilliant first performance is destroyed by a terrible accident, and Gilly and Jacob find themselves facing an uncertain future. Together, they dance the fine line between personal vision and God's will, listening for the beat of the Father's heart.

Romantic Times BookClub says:
“White takes readers behind the scenes into the competitive dance world. It's refreshing that Gillian befriends and respects people living different lifestyles while still boldly living out her faith.” (4 stars)

Elizabeth White invites readers to meet her on the Web at http://www.elizabethwhite.net.

You can buy Tour de Force at your favorite Christian bookstore or at Amazon~ Tour De Force , CBD~ Tour De Force , or Lifeway~ Tour De Force.

An interview with Beth about Tour de Force:

Q: What inspired you to write a novel about ballet dancers?

A: Too much cold medicine? JUST KIDDING! Actually, Gillian Kincade was a character in last year’s Off the Record.. As the off-beat teenage sister of Judge Laurel Kincade, Gilly took on such a distinct personality (as characters often do) that she demanded a story of her own. Readers have written to ask if she follows through with her crush on musical heartthrob Tucker McGaughan…To be blunt, no. Too easy. But rest assured, Tucker makes his appearance in Tour de Force.

Q: So were you ever a dancer yourself?

A: If you could see the bruises on my knees just from trying to make it across the Wendy’s parking lot, you wouldn’t ask that question. But since you did…I once took tap, jazz and rudimentary ballet as a child. I learned just enough to pick up elements of the dance language. Everything I know about professional ballet has come from interviewing and observing real dancers, notably the exquisite Kathryn Morgan of New York City Ballet and Kathy Thibodeaux of Ballet Magnificat! in Jackson, Mississippi.

Q: What spiritual take-away is involved in a story about dancers?

A: I was interested in exploring challenges to Christian artists in general. The Scripture I kept coming back to is Luke 12:48: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Debates have gone on for decades (probably centuries, for all I know) regarding Christian art. For example, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, the story goes, discussed whether the world needs more “Christian writers” or “writers who are Christian.” The only way I knew how to tackle the subject was to create characters who must face those questions, take a stand, and either live for God—or not.

It’s my belief that flawed people are more interesting than perfect ones. They’re also more real. Though Gilly and Jacob aren’t “real” in the obvious sense, they do struggle to cope with universal issues. How much overt “witnessing” should a Christian performer or teacher do? What’s the line of grace between acceptance (“tolerance”) of the lifestyle choices of non-believing friends and sticking up for morality and truth? How should we respond when God seems to pull the rug out from under our dreams and desires? Are Christians allowed to feel disappointed?

My job as a novelist is not to preach the answers to those questions, but to draw pictures of possibilities and to point readers back to God’s Word—the only place to find answers. If I succeed in making readers think and pray, then I’m happy.

Q: This book has a subtitle, “A Love Story.” Is there significance to that?

A: Well, I’ve always considered myself a romance writer, but this one is truly focused on the development of relationships—not just between the hero and heroine.. Tour de Force explores friendship, family love, and God’s love. It was a very satisfying book to write. I hope readers will like it.

My third book baby is here!

2009-04-14T16:49:00.003-04:00

Celebrate with me! My third book, Enduring Justice, is launching out into the world today, and like any proud mama, I just had to share.

I'd so appreciate your prayers that this story would touch many lives and strengthen hearts to hear the truth that healing is a choice. One that we can make and don't walk through alone.

Enduring Justice

Secrets Can’t Last Forever

A PAINFUL PAST

Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories.

A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLER

As a Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. Difficult cases and broken relationships have plagued his entire year. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A LIFE-ALTERING CHOICE

A racist's well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?

Want to read more? Read the first two chapters of Enduring Justice in a very cool book reader format on the web:
http://www.amywallace.com/ej_chapter.html

Check out the Dark Chocolate Suspense Newsletter too.

Easter Awe

2009-04-12T14:54:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter everyone! He is risen!

He is risen indeed.

Yesterday, my family took our first ever family hike. David and I used to hike, but with little ones it had been too hard to get back into it. Finally our youngest can handle a mile on her own, so we took off for the mountains.

We hiked to a gorgeous waterfall and that's where I found the essence of Easter for me...

Standing in awe.

I've often imagined what it could have been like to stand in awe at the empty tomb. To see death defeated and the grave opened. To see the angels and be like Mary and see Jesus. I wouldn’t have wanted to let go of Him either.

Yesterday, I just stood in awe at the Creator of such beauty. I felt His joy in the spray of cold water, heard the roar of his power in the waterfalls and was filled.

Whatever makes you stand in awe... I pray you will today. And take that awe with you wherever you go.

He is risen indeed!

Going where I've never gone before

2009-04-09T06:00:00.001-04:00

On April 23rd, I'll be doing something I've never done before... speaking to an amazing group of folks at South Effingham High School.

The Stomping Stangs Book Club has invited me to come speak to them and I'm sooooooo excited! I love talking with teens and sharing my love of writing.

I've been emailing with Jacquelyn and Mrs. Olivier (hi you two!) and they've been incredible! They've done an awesome display and even contacted the local paper about doing a story on my visit.

Plus they're doing a research project on me... I'm not sure if I should feel old like Lincoln or something. ;-) I don't really. Just honored by their enthusiasm.

For part of what I want to share, I'm taking my outlines for Healing Promises and one (of four) huge research folders as a visual and a look at what goes into publishing a book from concept to completion.

I'd really appreciate your prayers for a great visit and that those attending would be inspired and encouraged.

I've already been cheered by their invite and challenged as I looked back over a fraction of the work that went into Healing Promises.

It's good to look back and see what God has done. And then to look ahead and be excited about what's next.

So here's a special thanks to the Stomping Stangs Book Club! You all are awesome, and I'm looking forward to spending some time with you in just a few weeks!

Stomping Stangs Book Club members: Jacquelyn and Victoria, Mrs. Olivier, Mr. Pearce and Mrs. Edmonds, English teacher co-sponsors.

The Treasure Principle

2009-04-08T16:52:00.003-04:00

I have a special Easter giveaway for you all!

If you're like me and one of the ten or so folks who haven't already read Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle, leave me a note in the comments and I'll make sure at least one of you has one. ;-)

If you're not familiar with The Treasure Principle, read on...

The Treasure Principle

Flip-Flop Your Concept of Giving!

Bestselling author Randy Alcorn introduced readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity with the release of the original The Treasure Principle in 2001.

Now the revision to the compact, perennial bestseller includes a provocative new concluding chapter depicting God asking a believer questions about his stewardship over material resources.

Readers are moved from the realms of thoughtful Bible exposition into the highly personal arena of everyday life. Because when Jesus told His followers to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” He intended that they discover an astounding secret: how joyful giving brings God maximum glory and His children maximum pleasure. Discover a joy more precious than gold!

Story Behind the Book:

After years of writing and teaching on the theme “God owns everything,” in 1990 Randy Alcorn was sued by an abortion clinic (for peaceful, nonviolent intervention for the unborn). Suddenly he had to resign as a pastor and was restricted to making minimum wage. Legally unable to own anything, Randy gave all his book royalties to missions work and need-meeting ministries. He and his family have experienced the reality of The Treasure Principle—that God really does own everything, takes care of us, and graciously puts assets into our hands that we might have the joy and privilege of investing in what will last for eternity.

Author bio:

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM). Prior to 1990, when he started EPM, he served as a pastor for fourteen years. He has spoken around the world and has taught on the adjunct faculties of Multnomah Bible College and Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Randy is the best-selling author of twenty-seven books (over three million in print), including the novels Deadline, Dominion, and Deception as well as Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, the Gold Medallion winner Safely Home, and Wait Until Then.

April Fools?

2009-04-01T12:34:00.002-04:00

This morning my oldest shared a devotion she'd read earlier today. Nothing new about that. But God used it to spark an idea worth sharing.

First, the devotion talked about a brother and sister telling each other good news things like, "You made the band solo!" And then saying, "April Fools."

My daughter thought that was funny.

I did not.

Why? Because words have power. Paired with hope and encouragement, words can strengthen our souls and brighten our days. But paired with expectations and then used to deflate, words do more than sting. They cut.

Think back to middle school. High school. Remember any words that stuck like glue even when the silly rhyme said they didn't? (I’m rubber, you’re glue. It bounces off me and sticks to you.)

I do.

Words like fatso and four-eyes.

Even as an adult, especially as a writer, words can cut like a sword. I remember one reviewer, a librarian, who not only used words carelessly, she must not have considered their venom at all.

She said in a nutshell that my books were reminiscent of Karen Kingsbury, only, "Karen's books have much more genuine emotion and are much better written."

Ouch.

I've heard from teachers, writers, and folks from many walks of life how someone's careless words wounded them.

Words that take a person's dreams and stomp on them are words that should never be said.

Now before you think I'm saying we should all talk like Pollyanna, I'm not. I've had reviewers and also close friends who have pointed out places where I was weak and yet their words didn't wound... they helped me grow.

Those words, though sometimes hard to hear, are worth speaking. They might sting, but they also show love and care. They can help us and lead to healing.

All that to say, let's not be fooled today or any day. Words matter.

Choose them wisely.

Pearl Girls

2009-04-01T12:13:00.003-04:00

One of the coolest things about the writing life is meeting amazing folks who use words to touch hearts.

One of those folks is a familiar name and face with Christian Women Online, Book Buzz book reviewer, Laurel Wreath.

She had a huge announcement on her website recently. Check our her good news here.

I'm going to spill a little here because I'm thrilled for her and want to help her spread the word about a new devotional called Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace.

Doesn't that sound amazing?!

Here's more...

Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace $9.55

100% of this book proceedes go to charity. So no guilt in spending some hard-earned book money on this treasure.

After experiencing the death of both parents, Margaret McSweeney recognized the importance of community like never before. Through these difficult times in life, she learned how God uses gritty circumstances to conform us to the stunning image of Christ.

McSweeney also realized that she was not at all alone. It is for this reason that she decided to compile essays into an inspiring book: Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit Experiencing Grace.

Through this collection, readers will be encouraged by the heartfelt writings that deal with loss and hardship in a real and honest way. Respected authors such as Robin Jones Gunn , Melody Carlson, Debbie Macomber, Shaunti Feldhahn and others help remind every woman that they are not alone and that no circumstance is beyond the grace of God.

McSweeney uses the metaphor of a pearl in order to better describe the situations that ail us all. When an oyster takes in a piece of sand in order to create its coveted masterpiece, it is initially painful to the soft flesh of the creature. But after the pain, appears a clean, white symbol of simplicity, purity, and endurance that any woman would be proud to wear. McSweeney believes that each woman is a pearl and together, form a necklace of great worth. In this book, readers will discover community and encouragement: women are alone in neither their pain nor victories in life.

Sounds like a perfect Easter gift for yourself or a special friend or family member.

Be sure to check out Laurel's blog too: I hear she has an interesting interview posted there right now. ;-) http://laurelwreathsreflections.com/lorisbookreviews/interview-with-amy-wallace/

Take your best shot

2009-03-25T22:16:00.009-04:00

There was a time in my life when many people were infinitely glad I neither owned a firearm nor could shoot one.

But that has all changed. Thanks to some good friends in Mississippi who taught me to shoot and pointed me in the right direction. ;-)

We went to Mississippi recently for some book research and it was some of the most fun research I've ever done. Second only to my week in DC, which I loved!

Now I know what my characters have felt when they've used their weapons. And I know without a doubt I can handle a weapon well, shoot respectably, and stop anyone who thinks about harming my family. Add to that my beloved Louisville Cardinals are in the Sweet Sixteen and on there way to the Final Four, and you have a super amazing weekend!

Here's a list of the super cool weapons I was actually allowed to handle. And.... for those who are still afraid at the thought of me with a weapon... my instructors said I did better than my hubby and better than a lot of hunters they knew. Honest!

We shot a Colt M4~ that thing had some major kick. I totally took out the dirt hill I fired into... on purpose.

Ruger Mark III~ super easy to shoot and looks pretty cool.

Glock 22~ this is my FBI guys' weapon of choice, so I was surprised I didn't like it. Too much kick for my liking which made it harder to keep focused on the targets.

Springfield XD~ now this one was more my speed. I did much better with accuracy, even though my hubby out-shot me.

Remington 870 Tactical Shotgun~ this was my favorite of all. I totally out-shot my hubby and shocked the instructor. Can you guess why? This is the weapon I imagine when I've thought of someone breaking into my house to hurt my family. Now I know how to use it and had a 100% headshot accuracy.

DPMS Panther~ this one was a little too heavy for me to enjoy, but I nailed the target anyway.

Remington 700~ my second favorite weapon. I shot 100% headshots at 300 meters (three football fields). My hubby only shot 300 once, so I'm happy to say I beat him there too. We're not at all competitive. LOL

Anyway... all that to say research is sometimes a totally life-changing thing. And it's fun too. Especially when I graduate best in class. :-)