Monthly Archives: May 2008
Paparazzi (‘Fro Me to You)
This is my family. Well, a small part of it: Nathan (my sister’s husband), me, my brother Tim and my mom. This was taken around Christmas 2001. At the time there was only one grandchild, only one nephew: Jacob. We all thought he was best thing in the world. Well, he was! And still is one of the best, only now he’s not the only one. Anywho, we were worse than paparazzi in the backyard that day. Rick and Tracy (my sister) were pulling Jacob around in a wagon tacked onto the back of a riding lawnmower. Three cameras and two camcorders. It was a fun day. I don’t have any good pictures of Jacob, but I’ve got this one. And I love it.
You ever think God gets this excited about His children? Do you think He watches with elated anticipation to capture the next delightful thing we may do?
Last night Rick and I watched Evan Almighty. (I was quite reluctant about it, because I HATED Bruce Almighty. I found it offensive and sacrilegious. But this one was very different. I won’t go into the details of the movie. I’ll just say if you haven’t seen it, you might want to check it out.) My favorite part of the movie was the very last scene. Evan, who has struggled throughout the entire movie’s journey to trust and obey God, stands in a large meadow under a single tree with God. There he acknowledges God’s infinite wisdom and His loving plan, the fact that He saw the future before it happened and gently orchestrated the events to happen in the best possible way. And then they “do the dance.” It’s not a get down and boogie type of dance; it’s a silly little victory dance most people do only when they think no one is looking. My college suitemate and I had one of these dances; just a little happy dance we did together whenever God answered prayers or tickled us in an undeniable way. We danced it a lot!
In the movie Morgan Freeman, who plays God, laughs during the dance. It’s a wonderful sound. My spine tingles at the thought of God laughing and dancing with me! Realizing that He loves me so much to delight in me when I delight in Him. It’s pretty awesome.
This post is sponsored by Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You over at We are THAT Family. Check out the carnival over there to see who else is sharing blasts from the past through pictures.
Offering Shade
One of my first posts on this blog was about our backyard. In it I lamented our lack of privacy and told of a slight haven I created by stealing the neighbor’s shade. I am proud to announce we now have our own shade! Isn’t it beautiful??
Too lovely little patches of shade. We planted the trees on Memorial Day. Well, Rick did most the work, but the kids and I had fun watching. Okay, I know they’re tiny trees and the shade they offer is slightly pathetic, but it makes all the difference. Maybe not to you, but to us the effect is amazing. To us, the backyard feels cozy and welcoming. It feels more like home. (Right now my friend Karen is laughing her tail off on her mini-farm of seven acres.)
Sometimes little things make a huge difference.
Last week Zach had a rough day which caused a rough day for all of us. For no apparent reason (I’m sure there was a reason, but I was never able to decifer it), the boy screamed for five hours. I’m not talking whiney crying or fussy grumpiness. I’m talking full blown at the top of his lungs screaming. For. Five. Hours. Straight.
Being outnumbered is tough. There’s only one of me, but there’s two of them, each with different needs needing to be met at the same time. Having two children so close together and yet so completely opposite is a challenge, to say the least. When one child has a rough day, it’s far too easy to take it out on the kid who is not having a rough day. Unfortunately, the kid being calm and collected often suffers the brunt of frustration caused by the one being wild and unruly. I know this and I try to prevent it, sometimes more successfully than others.
Last week when Zach was pulling on my last thread of sanity, I stopped. I took a deep breath, then I left him in a safe, but closed space and took Isabel outside. We sat on the edge of the driveway while I told her how much I loved her and how patient she was being that day. I thanked her for her good behavior. Her smile could have lit up the whole east coast! When I expressed how difficult it must be to have to share your mommy and put up with a noisy brother, she wrapped her arms around mine and nodded her head. The rest of the day, she was so very helpful. What a difference a little encouragement can make! Just that bit of gratitude and acknowledgement of her perspective gave her shade. It refreshed her (and me!) enough to make it through the rest of the day.
We are a people filled with pride. It’s easy to point to others and acknowledge their shortcomings, because after all we know how it should be, how it would be done if we were doing it ourselves. But how often do we point out the good things? How often do we appreciate the way other people handle themselves? Sadly, not enough. Just a little bit of thanks, a little bit of encouragement can make someone feel welcome. It may offer them the shady refreshment needed to make it through the rest of the day. It can make them feel like home, safe and secure. Rested.
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” – Psalm 16:24 (NIV)
Take the opportunity today to plant a tree in someone’s backyard. It may take just be a word or two. Maybe a smile or a hug. Offer someone the sweet haven of encouragement.
My BIG mistake!!
Hey, folks. I totally messed up this time. I misread the giveaway for Mike Dellosso’s new book. I posted yesterday that … “You can get a FREE autographed copy if you’re one of the first twenty people to sign up for his newsletter during his blog tour.” Well, it’s not a free book; it’s a free book flat. No, that’s not a flat of books (as I thought); it’s a flat book cover. But it’s still autographed and it’s still free. 
I’m SO SORRY for the misunderstanding!
To make up for it, the first person to comment on THIS post will get a free copy of the book. My treat. Leave a comment with your email address. You know, thewinner (at) jackpot (dot) com. Something like that.
Remember, you can purchase The Hunted online. You can also read the first chapter and visit the author’s website. See my previous post for more details on the book, the author and the blog tour going on this week.
Another new author!
Hey, folks! I want to introduce you to another new author, Mike Dellosso. I can truly relate to his writer beginnings. As he puts it, Mike’s “birth as a writer was as sudden and soul-wrenching as … [his] birth as a Christian.” He wrestled with God. Life wasn’t turning out the way he expected, so to process this and to seek answers, he started writing. Before then he had never considered writing. He didn’t even like it. But God blessed his talents and through much effort and perseverance, Mike’s work has been well received.
Several of his short stories and articles have been featured in a number of publications, and his first book, The Hunted, is being released on June 3rd. (It’s already available on Amazon. See the link below to purchase it now.) You can get a FREE autographed book flat if you’re one of the first twenty people to sign up for his newsletter during his blog tour (today through June 2nd). Here’s a link to do that. Be sure to put “blog tour” in the comments field.
This guy has been compared to Frank Peretti and Stephen King, both phenomenal authors. If you like either of them, you’ll like this. Here’s a synopsis.
A town’s deadly secret will drive one man to the edge of his faith. After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills. With rumors spreading of a rogue lion roaming the woods, he embarks on a mission to learn the truth. As he peels away the layers of Dark Hills, he discovers a secret that has been shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence. Will his young faith be strong enough to battle the demonic forces behind it?
Read the first chapter HERE.
Buy the book HERE.
Now, I haven’t read the book, just parts of it. I admit it! It’s a too scary for me. *grin* But for those of you who enjoy the thriller genre, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with this. Mike is an excellent author. To learn more about him, visit his website: http://www.mikedellosso.com/.
For a list of all the blogs participating in this tour, click HERE. Some sites feature interviews with the author and personal reviews of the book (from those less frightened than yours truly!)
And the winner is …
… Jen! Congratulations!! Email me with your mailing address and I’ll get your book right out to you. (Unless, of course, you are who I think you are. Then you just need to let me know when is a good night for a BBQ. I’ll hand-deliver it!)
I finished the book over the weekend and loved it! It was funny and sweet, and unexpected delight. You can purchase it by following THIS LINK to Amazon.
We’ll look forward to the next offering from Sherri Sand!
Meet Sherri Sand and Get a Free Book!
I love meeting new authors, so when my friend Tina asked me to join another book blog tour, I was all over it.
Meet Sherri Sand.
Aside from her degree in psychology and her love of running, she’s much like me and many of you. She’s a wife and mother struggling to juggle everything those two roles require. And, of course, she’s a writer who loves to read. (Did you catch that? A mom of four succeeds in completing her book and getting published! Woo-hoo!) Oh, and she loves chocolate. Is it possible for moms to maintain sanity without it?
Now meet her debut novel.
I’ve got to be honest. When I first heard the premise of this book, I was more than skeptical. A boy, a girl and a horse. Sounds like a cheesy, teeny-bopper romance – right? I mean, didn’t we all dream about having horses and rugged men to come along and reign in our wild, independent streaks with their charm and devastatingly good looks? But then we grew up.
Leave it to Chance FAR exceeded my expectations. I’ve not been able to put it down! Yes, it has a boy, a girl and a horse, but the story is much more complex than that. And Sherri’s writng is fantastic. Her characters are intricately developed. Their struggles are relevant, and their faith is tried. I anticipated a predictable storyline, but instead was pleasantly surprised with each twist of plot and character’s choice.
Let me give you a synopsis. Single mom, Sierra, inherits a horse. Her three kids are thrilled, but there’s more than one problem. Her ex-husband is behind on child support, she just lost her job, she’s about to be evicted, and her overbearing mother wants Sierra and the kids to move in with her. Does she sell the horse to pay the rent and crush her children’s hopes in the process? Or keep it and face a bigger problem: her paralyzing fear of horses? Meanwhile a hunky landscaper becomes a role model for her oldest son and a definite distraction for Sierra. At the crux of the book is the issue of trust. God wasn’t there for Sierra when she needed Him most, so how can she trust Him now? If she doesn’t loosen her need for control, will her children ever forgive her?
The book is filled with endearing characters. My favorites: Elise, Sierra’s best friend; a fun, quirky chick and one of very few people Sierra has seen exhibit a sincere, uninhibited relationship with God, and Sid, the hunky landscaper’s neighbor and father-figure; an ornery grandfatherly type who challenges everyone around him to be their best and believe the Truth. It’s a great read! Did I mention you can get it free? *grin*
Leave a comment on this post and I’ll enter you in a random drawing for a FREE copy of this delightful, encouraging book. I’ll pick a winner on Saturday.
In the meantime, I encourage you to check out the author’s website: http://www.sherrisand.com/ and the other blogs participating in the tour.
Amber Miller
Blog Tour Spot
Camy’s Loft
Chatter Matters
A Christian Romance Writer’s Journey
Cliffy’s Mom’s Blog
Fictionary
Flying Changes
The Friendly Book Nook
Horse Book Reviews
I Don’t Wanna Blog
Leap of Faith
lighthouse-academy
A Little Bit of Sunshine
Margaret Daley
Ma Space
Musings on This, That & The Other Thing
Mystery, Suspense and God, Oh My!
Net’s Notes
Novel Journey
Penning Prose
Portrait of a Writer . . . Interrupted
Readin N Writing with Patricia
Real Women Scrap
Relevant Blog
Sharon Hinck
Sips ‘n Cups Cafeteria
Smells Horsey
So You Wanna Be Published
Toni V Lee
Writing by Faith
The Writing Road.com
Please pray.
If you haven’t heard, Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest daughter was killed in a horrible accident yesterday. Most people are aware of Steven’s success in Christian music. He’s a definite icon in the industry, whether you like his music or not. But his family has embraced a ministry beyond music. They’ve embarked on mission trips to China and have become advocates of international adoption. Shoahannah’s Hope is an organization they founded to “mobilize the body of Christ to care for orphans.” They’ve even written children’s books about it. Maria, the daughter who died last night, was one of three girls the family adopted from China. Please pray for this family, especially their son Will.
My family endured an almost identical accident years ago. A two-year-old cousin ran into the driveway where she was crushed under the tires of my brother’s SUV. His wife, who was driving the vehicle, never recovered. Rather than turning to God and accepting His grace, she turned inward, blaming herself for Gabriella’s death. What’s worse, she resented all those around her who tried to help, those who didn’t hate her for what happened. We knew it was an accident, but she was never able to believe it. The “if only”s and “what if”s took over. It destroyed her and their marriage.
This is going to be an extremely difficult time for the Chapman family. They seem to be tight-knit and solidly grounded in God’s truth. I hope so. They’ll need to be to come out of this victoriously. May God be glorified through this situation! It sounds awful to pray that, but I know He can make even the darkest times radiant through His wisdom and love. I pray He’ll do just that for this family now.
‘Fro Me to You
Kristin over at We are THAT Family hosts a weekly “‘Fro me to you” carnival. It’s a fun way to show off old and maybe should be forgotten photos, like the ‘fros we all sported in the 80s. You know, the stuff that will never see the inside of a scrapbook because it’s either blackmail worthy or because we’re simply too busy doing other things, like writing that bestseller or keeping our children from playing in the toilet.
Unfortunately, I only have a handful of childhood photos. I’m a middle child and my parents are split which means all my baby stuff is too. Well, this weekend while visiting my brother in Pennsylvania, I got a new one. Ted (my brother) pulled out a few boxes of photos he got from our dad a while back. I just had to snag this adorable one.
This is Ted and I. I don’t remember this day or even where we were, but I love it. We’re 18 months apart, almost the same as Zach and Ellie, the older sister born in the winter followed by the little brother born in the summer. And in this picture we appear to be about the same ages as Ellie and Zach now. Everyone thought we were twins. I’m sure E & Z will get the same reaction. We’ve already been asked a few times. With him being so tall and his speech so advanced, the assumption is inevitable.
Yesterday I came out of the bathroom to find Ellie — yes! I actually got to go to the bathroom by myself!! Isn’t that exciting? Anywho, the first thing I saw after emerging from the loo was Ellie standing on a big cardboard box singing from the top of her lungs: “Me and Zach-a-wee are best friend FOE-EV-ER!!” She sang it over and over. Then Zach had a turn. “Me and I’abel are best friends forever!!!” It was so sweet.
My brother and I have had our ups and downs over the last thirty years, but we’re still friends. Hopefully forever.
Glimpses
I want to share a great online subscription with you.
Glimpses is a monthly ezine put out by Heather A. Goodman. It’s purpose is to highlight those who are “incarnating Christ in their stories, in their art, and as the Church.” Furthermore, it provides encouragement for you to live out Christ in your life as well. Glimpses features interviews, stories and devotionals, all centered on Christ and the arts. It’s really fabulous.
You can subscribe to Glimpses below or visit Heather’s site to see sample issues. Just be sure to list me as your “referring friend.” And, if you sign up now, you have a chance to win a $50 Barnes & Noble gift certificate. See her blog for more details.
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Being Disciplined: Part 2
Two Saturdays past I attended an event for local Stampin’ Up! demonstrators. I’ve been selling their products and teaching stamping and scrapbooking classes for seven years. It started out as a hobby and then became a business and now it’s back to being little more than a hobby. But recently a friend decided to start her own SU! business by becoming a demonstrator too. I attended this “Spring Fling” to support her and help her get off to a good start.
The day was a blast. We made some great projects and, of course, heard some very inspiring words by career demonstrators. They talked about the most productive ways to maintain a consistently successful business. Because I no longer plan to take over the world as Creative Stampin’ Queen, much of it went in one ear and out the other with a generous “if only” roll of the eyes. But some of it I found very applicable to writing. Or actually any career that has you working at home.
Leave home to work. This doesn’t mean get a different job or rent an office. Simply find a way to differentiate between home time and work time.
The problem with working at home is that we’re surrounded by all of our at-home chores. It’s difficult to turn off the “gotta do” pager when you pass a stack of dirty dishes while grabbing a glass of water or an overflowing hamper on your way to the bathroom. If I went away to work, I wouldn’t be able to do the dishes or throw in some laundry, but because I’m home all day, I feel like I have to. The result? All my work (read: writing, editing, market research, etc.) gets put off. The speaker on Saturday encouraged us to make sure we’re treating our work like a real job (duh!) by leaving home to do it (ah-ha!) Maybe that means literally leaving the house; going for coffee before returning home to start work. Or maybe you can just flip a mental switch. Maybe a timer would be helpful. Whatever it takes. But make sure you’re not using your work time for household chores.
Stop multi-tasking. I’ve decided multi-tasking is a fancy way to procrastinate without feeling guilty about it. One of the speakers asserted that doing one thing at a time ensures you’ll finish it quicker with better results than if you divide your efforts among several tasks. She’s right. This is why lists work for me. I see what needs to be done and cross them off one at a time. Without my list, I meander from room to room doing a little of this and a little of that consistently forgetting why I entered the room in the first place. I used to be labeled ADD; now it’s called Momnesia.
Great tips – right? Only I can’t do it.
My work IS my home. I’m a stay-at-home mom! My kids and the home where they live, they are my work, and I can’t leave them. I’ve tried. They follow. (The kids, not the house.) So, I set up designated work times when they’ll leave me alone, but that doesn’t work either. Take today for example. Rest time is not optional. It happens every day at one o’clock. For at least one hour, I have quiet to work. In theory, anyway. But today Zach didn’t want to play in his room and he didn’t want to take a nap. Instead he chose to stand just inside his door and scream for an entire hour. Did I mention my workspace is about ten feet from his door? After several visits to calm hm down and remind him who is in charge, he finally quit screaming (I think he passed out from the exertion.) at 2:08. That’s when Ellie came down the stairs thrilled that rest time was over. I popped in a video for her, hoping it would keep her occupied for a while. Instead of being content with Cinderella, she begged me to sit with her (cue the mom guilt) and has been talking to me nonstop since.
As for multi-tasking, well, that’s my life too. I need to be able to fill juice cups, make dinner, clean the kitchen and listen to one kid singing while praising another’s latest drawing for Grandma. Sure, a list keeps me directed, but actually being able to focus on one thing at a time? Well, that would only be possible if I woke up hours before the rest of my family. I’ve tried working after the kids go to bed, but by then I’m exhausted and my brain barely functions.
And so, as my friend Dale would say, it’s another day of Tanya’s whining and complaining. *grin* I’m not complaining! Or at least I dont mean to be. Just sharing thoughts. Maybe I’m too ambitious, my goals too lofty. Perhaps my expectations for this time in my life are completely unrealistic. Or maybe I’ve just done enough already today. But I did want to share these tips with you! If they don’t work for me now, maybe they’ll work for you. And I can get them back later.
