In Loving Memory

My Grandma Jean died this evening. She had been sick for quite some time, so it's actually a relief that she is no longer suffering. Such a joy to know that she's now with Jesus!

Grandma taught me manners, and she taught me to be a lady (which was a tough job on this tomboy!) She also tried - tried - to teach me that it's better to buy quality clothing and have it last for years, rather than cheaper clothing that falls apart in one season. I've never had her budget, so it's not been a lesson I live by!

Grandma was a ding-bat. I truly say that with great affection. She was goofy, and is probably one of the contributing causes of my own goofiness! She always reminded me of Edith Bunker, the Southern version.

One of the funniest memories all of us kids have of Grandma was when we were so young. We lived on the lake and had a dock from which we fished. Grandma and Grandad came to visit us one spring, and Grandma set up her lawn chair on the dock to fish. She didn't get the chair opened all the way so when she sat down, it pushed the back edge of the chair off the edge of the dock. She flipped over and went swimming in the shallow lake water. I just remember her laughing, and laughing. I would have died of embarrassment, but not Grandma. She laughed at herself, and caused us to laugh with her.

Grandma was spunky too. She learned to swim at the age of 75 - after being terrified of water all her life! It was great fun when she discovered she could not sink. She always popped to the top like a cork. Her swim instructors would try to hold her under to help her swim underwater but it was impossible. She would take us to the pool with her and show us how she popped in the water. Once she realized she couldn't sink, she loved to swim!

Grandma loved chocolate. One year everyone gave her chocolate for Christmas. Probably 5-10 lbs worth total. The goofy woman ate it all within a day or two. She eventually got so sick she had to go to the hospital. After that, all of her chocolate supply was rationed!

I lived with her and my grandad for a time when I first ventured out on my own. I discovered her love for Peanut Buster Parfaits from DQ. Her house was close to a little shopping mall with a Burlington Coat Factory and a Marshall's. We'd go shopping there, with her usually trying to teach me about the quality of clothes, and then we'd always make a stop at the DQ.

When she moved into an assisted living facility, we'd go visit and try to take her a treat occasionally. She quit eating PB Parfaits by then, said they were too hard to chew. But boy did she love getting milkshakes!

Grandma had a wonderful smile and a true gift of hospitality. She will definitely be missed, but her legacy will carry on with 3 daughters, 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

I love you Grandma!

Home sweet home

We've arrived in Selma after leaving Gettysburg, attending ACFW conference in Nashville and visiting with my family in north Alabama.

The conference was amazing. And full of God's blessings. I pitched a mystery series on day one, and the editor wants the first manuscript by Dec 1!!! I was so excited, I think I floated through the rest of the conference, although God continued to pour out His blessings.

I met with another editor about a romance novel I had submitted to him in June. He had not yet read the proposal, but after a quick pitch was interested, and said he would seek it out upon returning home. He also took my "one-sheets" (pitches) for my other romance novels. It was GREAT!

But God continued!

On Saturday, I met with a beautiful woman whom I had met online several months ago. We hit it off immediately and after talking a bit, we decided to become critique partners. I'm really excited - and she knows my deadline!! I pray I can give her as much encouragement as she's already given me.

Now that we've arrived in Selma, and set up my computer, I will be writing 3-5,000 words per day. I told my sil if it took til noon, yippee!!! If it took til midnight - oh well! This is the realization of a dream I've had since childhood, so I will work diligently.

I would appreciate your prayers. I'll post occasionally to give you updates.

Those were the highlights of the conference, but the meat of the conference were the classes and the friendships. Meeting as many writers as I did, who share the same love for God as I do was really astounding and at times emotionally overwhelming. Brandilyn Collins said it all the very first night - "there's not a 'normal' in the bunch." So true, so true.

God is awesome!

On the road again

Our time here in Gettysburg has come to an end, earlier than expected. Due to rising gas prices, camping reservations are being cancelled by the dozens and there is not enough work to keep us here. Thankfully, our new job in FL wants us to come sometime in October rather than November.

I'm excited about being on the road again. Being in one place for what we thought was going to be seven months is too long for our lifestyle. Gettysburg is a great location though, so we've been able to visit many places during our time here.

We are headed to the writer's conference. God opened doors completely for me to be able to attend. I pray I will be diligent with my time and my contacts and that my tongue will work properly when I speak. I get tongue-twisted when I get excited and forget what I'm supposed to say.

Thanks to wireless, I'll be able to stay in touch by email while on the road.

I'll update when we've landed somewhere for awhile.

See ya!

Praise God!

The Blog Relief effort ends in just a few hours and has raised over $1 Million for victims of Hurricane Katrina! Praise God!!!

Over 1700 different blogs took part, with donations going to 274 different charities. What a tremendous effort!

If you'd like to see the numbers for yourself, check out The Truth Laid Bear website.

There you will find links to the participating blogs, the dollar amounts raised, the charities represented. I've watched the figures climb by the hour and thanked God for every penny.

There's still time to participate if you haven't already. If you have, THANK YOU.

May God pour His healing hand over this land and all our hearts and minds.

Katrina Aid

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath is overwhelming. Lives have been lost, uprooted, traumatized and changed forever.

Today has been designated as Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Day. All bloggers are encouraged to name their favorite charities and give. David and I are sending out a donation today and we ask that you join us. There are numerous worthwhile charities so pray about it and then choose one or more to send a donation.

Our choice is the North American Mission Board.

For a listing of other charities visit Blogonational. Please just give.

Technorati's tag hurricane katrina

UPDATE: The Blogathon will continue through Monday. To follow the progress, go to Truth Laid Bear - it's awesome to watch what's being done!

I just read a disturbing article that this disaster is bringing out the worst in us, instead of the best, as was evident after 9/11. Please pray that God's Peace will prevail over the chaos, and that order will be in place shortly. We heard talk of our lives changing after 9/11 - and they did. With this disaster, and the events in the following days, our lives (as an entire nation) will change once again.

We need to pray like never before.

Song of the Synopsis

Daily, I am completing tasks that will prepare me for conference. Several of the tasks involve writing those dreaded synopses, because I have several books I'm in the midst of writing and hope to pitch at conference. Previously, I've been a SOTP writer (seat-of-the-pants writer) but after today, the synopsis is my friend.

I've had the character, setting and idea for this one particular book (temporarily called "Colleen" because I can't figure out a good name for it) for ten years. Yes, 10 whole years. I got the idea, and then my writing stayed on the back burner until this summer. Now, I've picked up the pieces, dusted them off and am going to finish the book sooner, rather than later.

Tonight, I was working on the synopsis for it. As I neared the end, I wrote a sentence that gives the book completion. I didn't realize I had solved the problem, until the sentence was written. Then I looked back at the sentence, and it was like the culmination of a 10 year waiting period. I felt such relief and such gratitude. I also knew the idea had not come from me, it had come from Above. It was a God-thing.

What more encouragement do I need to write, when He is guiding my every word?

Thank you, Lord!

Hurricane Katrina

This morning, while praying for the residents of LA, MS, AL, FL and TX who will be affected by hurricane Katrina, I was impressed to pray to the source of the hurricane. God controls all of the weather so I prayed that He would diminish its strength. He can make it disappear in the blink of an eye.

I asked one of my prayer groups to join me in praying that God would diminish the hurricane. I received comments that we should be praying for the people in its path and got the impression I was wacky to pray otherwise.

My comments in no way meant to quit praying for people's safety. I just felt we needed to go one step further and pray that God tweak that hurricane enough to cause the least damage to people and to property. Several times, I started writing a letter of apology to the group, explaining my intentions, but each time I was completely stumped for words. Then I visited Mary DeMuth's relevant blog and was encouraged by Scripture she posted today. I felt she wrote that entry just for me! Thanks Mary!

Sometimes it's difficult to share what God lays upon your heart. The lesson I learned today: do it anyway!

Please join me in prayer that God will diminish the hurricane, and lay His hand of protection on all in its path. Also pray that in all of this may God be glorified.