Truly Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I'm truly thankful for all that God has given, and blessed beyond all that I can ask or imagine.

A few years ago my daughter Jennifer went to Uganda to be a missionary with Calvary Chapel Ministeries. The time she spent there was eye opening to our entire family. It also served to give us an extended family. We have informally adopted Jean Pierre, Albine and their 5 wonderful little girls (the youngest of whom was born just a couple of years ago and they named her after me.)




Knowing this family and their needs has opened our eyes to how blessed we are in America. This family lives in Burundi and has often shared their home with some of the orphans from the war torn country. While Burundi is currently at peace, Jean Pierre lost his father when he was murdered by guerillas, and his mother died several years ago to sickness. After we got to know him very well and had spent considerable time emailing and praying, Jean Pierre asked my husband and I to be his parents.





We have cherished this family and thank God for the opportunity to get to know a different culture and lifestyle. However, it is not an easy world to live in. The threat of war continues to haunt them, their economy is far worse than ours, and sickness abounds in the form of aids and malaria.

Still, throughout all of this, Jean Pierre writes me to say how blessed they are. He is a pastor now and has planted 9 different churches and they are growing. He's seeing people accept Jesus as Savior, and prays that by coming to the Lord and ridding themselves of superstitious religious practices, their country and people will be transformed. They are so thankful for what God has done, that even when they will sit down to a meal of nothing more than beans and rice, they are very grateful for what God has provided.

I'm humbled by my African son and his family. I look at the vast wealth around me and know that I am truly, most amazingly blessed. I praise God for such blessings, but most of all I praise Him for opening my eyes to see the needs and love of this little family in Africa.

Tracie

A new generation

I brought my first daughter home from the hospital on Thanksgiving day, 1981. What a rush of emotions accompanied that event! Joy, of course, but also an element of...well, panic. I'd never nurtured a baby before. Would I do it right? I guess all any of us can do is our best and pray it's enough. By the time Kristian was eight years old, two more little girls had joined our family. What a blessing to raise these precious girls.

I loved having kids underfoot (so much so that I ran a day care for many years and then taught elementary school before God called me out of my classroom). 2008 saw my youngest daughter graduate from high school, and with her graduation came the end of kids underfoot and all the accompanying activity. May I go on record saying I found it depressing? I never looked forward to the "empty nest" like some people do, and I still battle a hint of melancholy over the fact that my little girls grew up.

However, there is a bright spot to little girls growing up and flying the coop: They marry and begin having little ones of their own. And the cycle continues...

Last week I had the delightful privilege of attending my oldest grandson's very first school program. He is a preschooler in Wichita, and his class fixed "friendship stew" and invited parents and other interested parties to come eat stew and watch the kids perform a couple of Thanksgiving numbers. Connor was somewhere in the middle of the throng, which made it difficult to capture pictures of his part in the actual performance, but trust me when I say he did a marvelous job with his actions during the reciting of a Thanksgiving poem set to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus" and then dancing the "Turkey Tango." (I still have the song running through my head: "Every turkey can tango; every turkey can dance. Every turkey can tango, if you give him a chance!")

During the program the kids wore turkey costumes, but for the meal many donned pilgrim gear, all created by their own little preschool hands. The entire event was absolutely adorable. I snagged a picture with my cheerful pilgrim before his teacher herded all the little turkeys and pilgrims back to their classrooms. I left humming the "Turkey Tango," my heart full of gratitude for the chance to enjoy all of the activity of a new generation of children.

Psalm 127 (The Message) says it so well: Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children!

I guess one might consider six grandchildren a "quiverful." All I know is I am grateful to be so abundantly blessed. If you have wee ones in your house today eating turkey and dripping gravy on the linen tablecloth, give them a kiss on the forehead from Gramma Kim in Kansas and let them know how grateful you are to have them as a part of your family.

God bless you muchly as you journey with Him! ~Kim

From our house to yours

Hello friends! And Happy Thanksgiving. I truly wanted to give you a turkey but I don't have a turkey clip art. Or a cornucopia. So, enjoy the strawberries!

Tonight is our celebration. We'll have 15 this year, loud, fun and hearts filled with gratitude. After dinner, an event takes place that our young grandchildren have eagerly anticipated. We're going to--for the very first time--start a new tradition. We have purchased The Leg Lamp, the gaudy, tacky black fish-net hose lamp in The Christmas Story. It's going in our dining room window for the whole neighborhood to witness--or concede that we've lost our minds. We'll have our manger, too. I believe that God has a major sense of humor.

We are indeed a grateful family this year. 2008 has seen major surgery for me, two ice storms that won't soon be forgotten, loss of a beloved sister-in-law, a younger brother having three artery stints put in last week, a good friend dying from having an artery stint put in, a phone call from my surgeon last week confirming that the original surgery site in May has herniated so I will be in the hospital Dec 5 for repair--and oh yes, they've seen something 'shadowy' on my liver and they need to check out. Ah. Sweet life. Prayers much appreciated.

All in all, life is great and getting better every year. Sure, we have heartaches and backaches, and financial pain but we have life, and we have it abundantly in our Lord.

Below I've listed my 10 most grateful blessings. Oh--and they are yours, too. May you truly rejoice this holiday from our Lord's words found in The Message, Matt:5 3-12


You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourself cared for.

You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution that drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Not only that--count yourself blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens--give a cheer, even!-for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds...

Let the cooking begin...

Family members are on their way and the kids are "coming home" for the holidays (I put that in quotes because they go to college here in Nashville so they don't have a far drive--we're blessed to see each other often), and I'm doing something I rarely do these days--cook.

My sister-in-law, Denise (who lives just four doors down), is hosting this year and we're all sharing the cooking (love that!) so my "to do" list in the kitchen is brief:

Sweet Potato Souffle (my Aunt Lyda's recipe, delicious!)

Gulliver's Corn (my mom's recipe, yum!)

Buttermilk Pies (my kids' favorite for years)

Boston Creme Pies (my husband's favorite)

Costco's Scrumptious Chocolate Cake (MY favorite, LOL!, for several reasons)

Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad (you know that one...)

Oh! And Joe's smoking a Brisket on our "Green Egg." He did that last year for Christmas (we were tired of turkey) and it was fabulous. So that's what we'll be doing this Thursday--gathering with family and sharing the meal and day together. And watching some Titans football, of course.

Kelsey and I will manage to sneak away some time during there to see the new movie Australia, too. Can't wait!

A nice treat this month---

From A Distance is a Books-A-Million's FaithPoint Book Club Choice for December, which is an honor! I've been doing more "Book Club Conference Calls" recently, and love them (where I call the book club and "attend" their meeting when they've read one of my books), so please keep that in mind if you're interested. I'll send you a Book Club Packet before time with goodies to distribute during the meeting.

I wish you all a happy and peace-filled Thanksgiving this week, and that you'll find a quiet moment to reflect on what God has done in your life this year. It's been a hard year in many ways, for so many. But never doubt that God will use every ounce of struggle, every tear, to bring us closer to Him and to make us more like Christ.

Happy cooking (& eating)!

Much love,

Tammy

P.S. Oh! And I finished Beyond This Moment!! Finally! I'm already working on substantive edits (nothing major, whew!) and then it's on to Within My Heart, the third book in the Timber Ridge Reflections series.

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.
(Psalm 100)

And that, my friends, says what is in my heart this week of Thanksgiving. May we remember to thank the Lord God and remember His bountiful blessings that He has poured out so liberally upon His children.

I pray that you will be with family and/or friends this week. I hope that in addition to good food you will have loads of laughter and make lots of precious memories.

Happy Thanksgiving from me to you.

Robin

WINDING DOWN

During our visit to Germany this summer, we bought a cuckoo clock. It's a really neat little clock with people who dance around and a waterwheel,and quaint German designs. Oh, and it plays music. Edelweiss at the top of the hour and Happy Wanderer at the 1/2 hour.

For those of you who have cuckoo clocks, you know they aren't without their issues. They need daily care as they spend their energy and wind down. Every morning and evening we find it necessary to adjust the weights and re-energize the clock. Otherwise it winds down and stops, and then getting it started again with the correct time can be a bit of a pain.

I find the same can be true of people. The last couple of weeks I've found myself dealing with sick or recovering family members. My son had knee surgery about a month ago, my husband developed a blood infection in his foot, and my mother had foot surgery. All of them needed a certain degree of care, plus I had a book deadline to fulfill, along with all the other routine issues of life to oversee. I found myself winding down and feeling the weight of responsibility.

But God always seems to know exactly what we need. He sent several good friends along to re-energize me with encouragement and prayers. He didn't let me get so far down that I stopped functioning, because He knew it would be a major effort to get me started again.

There might be a few of you out there who are feeling much as I did, and I just want to encourage you and offer you this hope. God already knows what you need, but He wants to hear from you. Take your frustrations, sorrows, and needs to Him, and trust that He will send the right people into your life to help. He never fails folks. Believe me, I've seen Him intercede too much to doubt that He will continue.

There seem to be so many issues in life right now that have us winding down, but as Christians we know we have a caretaker who will never let us go unattended. We can be encouraged to know that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

Tracie

Kind of like herding cats...

Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows I'm a gramma. A very proud gramma. 2008 was an especially good year because two new grandchildren joined the family--our 5th grandson and our 1st granddaughter. I couldn't resist scheduling a group picture with my beautiful, precious grandchildren to enclose in Christmas cards (yes, I am one of those obnoxious letter/picture senders at Christmastime!). When I told the photographer there would be six children under the age of 5, he warned me it would be a challenge just to get the kids all looking in the same direction, let alone all smiling. He was right. In the end, it was a bit like herding cats.

Following is a small sampling of our feeble attempts to capture a photo with six happy campers...

I have to admit, by the end of the 45 minute session, I was exhausted. Then when I perused the CD of photos, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. There are a few that are Christmas card worthy, but I think my favorites are the ones where the kids are just being "real."

That photo session reminded me of the process of writing. Sometimes bringing a book to completion can seem like herding cats. A series of questions hover in the back of one's mind: Are the characters believable? Did I stay in POV? What about the plot...is it flowing smoothly? Is there enough conflict to maintain tension? Did I include sensory details? Did I overdo sensory details? Do the narrative and dialogue balance one another and carry the plot forward? Is the research accurate...?

Then when you reach the point where you feel comfortable with the end result, the story goes to the publisher and the editing process begins. And that, of course, opens a new set of questions. Trying to get everything to come out right in the end can be complicated, to say the least! But just as I wouldn't have traded one minute of that photo session with my precious-beyond-belief grandbabies, I wouldn't trade one step of the story-writing process. God always ministers to me through the telling of a story. The spiritual lessons of the characters become my spiritual lessons, as well. He wastes nothing of any endeavor when it's committed to His glory.

Enjoy one more pic...one with the "cats," if not all smiling, at least all in a row.

God bless you muchly as you journey with Him! ~Kim

Rylin, Ethan, Adrianna, Cole, Connor, & Jacob--Gramma's sweeties

Sheep

A few weeks ago I went to an agent's conference and I shared a room with a lady named Suzanne Davenport Tietjen. Suzanne was a fun and considerate roommate (love those kind) and we got along great. She's written a couple of devotionals, one for nurses, since she's a nurse practitioner, and another on sheep, which she and her husband raise.

One night just before we dropped off to sleep she was telling me about a sheep's nature. I'm a city girl and know where milk comes from and that's about it. Anyway, she says a sheep makes a noise like baaaa normally, but when they birth their babies the tone drops to maaaa. She said one of her sheep had named their own baby, which she thought was pretty cool. When the newborn was minutes old the mama sheep said, maaa-ury. So, Maury it was.

The story made me think of how God tells us that His sheep know His voice. I've always found that was so touching. And the verse about He knew us when we were in the womb?

I learned many things about sheep that weekend. Suzanne had beautifully knitted wool shawls and sweaters from her sheep, pajamas with sheep on them, sheep's on blouses. Now I can't look at a sheep without thinking about her.

I'd bet that God looks at every new born in his foal and names them. Perhaps not our earthly names, given by our parents, but He knows our names.

Thanks, Suzanne. For new friendships, and the Maury's story. It's a good reminder of how our Shepherd keeps a close watch over us.

Where does time go?

Where did the day go? I was going to post around noon and then I blinked and now it's almost nine. I've been writing all day, trying to finish this book (Beyond This Moment). 

I'm not a pithy writer. I wish I was a pithy writer, but I'm not. I love lots of subplots and layering and lots of characters, and all those things seem like such a great idea as I'm writing the story.

But when I'm trying to finish the story...well, not so much.

Anyway, I'm sitting here with my partially frozen Diet DP (yum!), working towards typing "The End," deep into Colorado 1876, and I find that I have absolutely nothing funny nor poignant to share. So...

I'm going to do what my mom and I did when I was in Atlanta recently--dig through old family pictures. And feel free to laugh. We did. Above is a "current day" family picture, but below are some blasts from the past. 

Here's me with Kurt at age 3 (he's now 19) in Colorado on vacation. Love the denim jumpsuit--yes, jumpsuit--that I had on. I was stylin'! 

Here we are in 1990. Can you believe all this hair? What on earth was I thinking?
And here we have Kelsey at age 3, trying on my nylons and shoes. I'm not even sure I own a pair of nylons anymore...
As mom and I flipped through photographs, we were struck again by how much time has passed, and so quickly. I read Tracie's post about her grandchildren (precious, Tracie) and I hope those are in my future somewhere. But everything in God's timing. 

And speaking of timing, I need to get back to work!

~Tammy

the things we learn as writers

The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series is set in Idaho in the early 20th Century, the first book in 1915 and the second (my current WIP) in 1916. Each book features a heroine with an unusual occupation for her day. Ever since I wrote Catching Katie, I've been fascinated by the suffrage movement and the role Idaho women and Christian women had in the passage of the 19th Amendment. Women's history was not focused on when I was in school, so researching for Catching Katie was a true feast for this lover of history.

Interestingly enough, the suffrage movement hasn't played as big of a role in this new series as I expected it to. Novels are like that. They often go off in an entirely new and unexpected direction.

FTBT tells the story of Cleo Arlington, a horse wrangler on her dad's cattle ranch, and Sherwood Statham, fourth son of an English Duke who was seriously wounded on the battlefields in WWI. Sherwood has come to America to put his life back in order.

Until Sherwood walked into my mind and introduced himself, I had no idea that WWI would play any part in my story. But as a wounded veteran, he required that I learn more about the Great War. I've been doing my homework ever since, but it hasn't been nearly as much fun as the research I did on woman's suffrage (although there were some ugly parts to it as well).

WWI was called the "war to end all wars." Sadly, that was not the case. We have seen many hostilities since then. Millions more have died. And so I take comfort that a day will come when wars will be over and Christ will reign forever.

And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.

Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever. (Matt 24: 6-7, 12-14, 35)

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Robin

A PROMISE TO BELIEVE IN

Several of you have written to ask me where in Montana my new series takes place, and why I chose that area. So I thought I would share that with you today. My Brides of Gallatin County series is the latest series I've set in Montana. There will be three books. Book one is out and titled A PROMISED TO BELIEVE IN, as you can see noted here at the blog site. Book Two is out in April 2009 and titled A LOVE TO LAST FOREVER, and book three is out summer 2009 and is titled A DREAM TO CALL MY OWN.

This series deals with three sisters who run a stage stop hotel in 1879-81 Montana. The location was a fun one for me, as it's only about 5 miles away. There was a real stage stop in the tiny town of Hamilton, MT just 15 miles west of Bozeman. Now Hamilton is no longer a town (well it is, but more about that later). All that remains in of that old stop is a cemetery and a plaque that speaks about the fact that the town was a stage stop among other things.



I decided, instead of going with the exact location, however, I would create a little town to the south. In my research I found that many little, hole-in-the-wall towns started as stage stops - places to change out the horses or water and feed them, as well as give the passengers a break. Some were overnight stops, as is the one in my book, as well as a place that might provide a lunch stop.

Now for those of you who have run to the map to see where Hamilton, MT is - the current Hamilton is located just southwest of Missoula, MT and has nothing to do with my book's location. However, in the 1870s, the other Hamilton faced a plight much as the one my fictional town. The proposed railroad site was going in north of where the city was located, and they knew this would mean eventual death to their town. Like many locations on the frontier, Hamilton decided to move north to meet the railroad. When they did this, they renamed their town Moreland, and later renamed it Manhattan, MT. This place still exists and has a couple of fantastic places to eat - Sir Scott's Oasis (the most incredible steaks in Montana) and The Garden Cafe (nice for breakfast).

Some people ask me why I decided to create a fictional town when there was a real town available in the area. The reasons are many. Fictional towns obviously give me much more liberty and freedom. Also, Hamilton was a "dry" town. In other words, they had no saloons or liquor available to the public. I wanted my stage stop to have a most irritating saloon owner and the further complication of prostitution in their area. I also didn't want to worry about whether I put the exact number of businesses, and well-known residents into the story, although often I do this. For example in the series I'm working on now, I have a detailed list of businesses and streets available to me and am using the real town of Sitka, Alaska in 1870.

Nevertheless, I researched stage stops extensively and learned a great deal about the industry and its needs.

Research is one of the things I enjoy most about writing historicals, and I try to keep things very accurate. It doesn't mean I never make mistakes - as readers are always happy to point out - but it does mean my love of the past has a chance to shine through. I hope you enjoy that journey to yesteryear as well.

Tracie

The times, they are a-changin'...

Funny how Lori mentioned Twitter. I only recently learned about Twitter from Brandilyn Collins' Faith & Forensics blog. Two things struck me simultaneously: 1) Twitter is a really funny word; and 2) who would really care about the minute details of my day? But it's made me think about what those little details might reveal about a person if we were to analyze them.

Would the snippets (or "twitters") show a self-serving lifestyle [10:31 AM Standing in line at Sundollars Coffee buying a grande double mocha latte with extra cream because I am super stressed!] or a God-serving lifestyle [10:31 AM Buying a grande double mocha latte with extra cream to take to my neighbor, who's under the weather]? Tammy closed her blog this week with "only what we do for God will last." My dear step-grandma had a wooden plaque hanging on her bedroom wall with that same thought:

Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I'll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

Now, granted, there are certain tasks to which we must commit our time that aren't exactly what we'd view as "kingdom building." Laundry, driving, and shopping come to mind. But the attitude we convey while performing these mundane tasks can certainly honor God...or not. I can grumble about having to root through everyone's dirty clothes or I can thank God for the gift of my family; I can honk impatiently at other drivers or I can wave and smile; I can complain about the rising price of canned tuna to the person in the grocery line behind me or I can ask her about her grandchildren... There are always choices.

Personally, I think the Internet is a great tool. I love that I can shoot an email and communicate instantly with someone on the other side of the world. It's simplified my life to do a few clicks and pull up information on cattle branding to help with my current work-in-progress. I can book airline tickets and get directions and share a newsletter with readers. But truthfully, I don't expect to be Twittering soon. I'm too hung up on question number 2 above. Wouldn't it be better to indulge in face-to-face conversation with my hubby or children rather than shooting "here's what I'm doing now" messages to a host of on-line acquaintances? And my time is so limited. I'd rather spend my writing time on the stories that ring through my heart. That's my ministry, and I pray those words bring glory to God.

Lest you think otherwise, I'm not saying there's anything fundamentally wrong with Twitter. If it sounds fun to you, go ahead and "twit"! I just think this new-fangled means of communicating tiny bits of info isn't necessarily for me. We grammas have a hard time keepin' up with the times, y'know. ;o)

I'll close with a verse from my morning's reading. This is a "snippet of info" that speaks to me... From Psalm 90, verse 17: "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.."

May God bless you muchly as you journey with Him! ~Kim

Learning new things can be fun?

I've had an interesting week. I'm learning how to market my books, and I have to say I've had a lot of fun visiting sites like Facebook.com Twitter--does anyone out there twitter? I met a girl when I was in California that has the 'twittering record" Can't remember how many she does a day but it's mind boggling. If only I could twitter a book a month, that would be sweet, as my grandson says. I think I could spend my whole day just twittering and reading messages. Even the word is fun on the lips. Twitter. For those who might not know the term, it's a site where you go and just type in what you're doing at any particular time. That's it. I can't imagine people actually caring that Joe so-in-so in standing in the check-out line at Wal-mart, but that's the sort of stuff you get. Of course, I'm crass and twitter about my Christmas book that's out, but so far I haven't been stampeded with responses.

Inviting new friends to the Facebook has been fun. I see a lot of familiar ones and some I've never met. I have a hard time coming with with new friends to invite to my page so if anyone out there wants to join just send me your e-mail and I'll send you an invitation.

Fall has been simply gorgeous here in Missouri, so I leave you with the above picture of my street. The leaves are going to come down with the rain expected Monday and Tuesday, but how wonderful they've been to see every morning when I drive out.

Have a twittering good week!

There's no place like home

Traveling is wonderful but getting home is always better. ;)

Prague is a beautiful city and we had a very enjoyable time being "parents" (and I use that term loosely) to the 19 MBA students Joe and I escorted to the Czech Republic. They were great and I really enjoyed getting to know them all.

By the time Saturday came, you would have sworn we'd all known each other for years, the way we were bantering and laughing and kidding each other. And it was a lesson for me, yet again, of just how true the saying is that "we're all in this together."

No matter who you are, no matter what your background, your education, your family history, your health, your plans for the next week, for the next year, etc... we are all on a similar journey in that we're occupying space and breath and an incredibly small slice of time here on this earth. Then one day each of us will kneel before Christ and will give account for what we've done with what "little" or "much" He's given us.

And the eternal bottom line is this--only what we do for God will last.

I think that walking through an eleventh century basilica and touching those creviced, time worn stone walls, and sitting in a centuries old cathedral listening to a hymn of worship penned by someone who died in the 1700s reminded me of how quickly time passes and of how responsible we must be with what time and talents and gifts God has given us.

So as I make decisions today, surrounded by the tyranny of the urgent and past due deadlines and emails that need to be answered--three months ago--I'm asking myself not just how to get through this week or the busyness of this moment, but how to glorify God so that when I'm gone, the space and breath and incredible small slice of time that I've taken up on this earth will have made an eternal difference for the better. 

And while Prague held some pretty breathtaking moments, so did my backyard in Tennessee when we returned home. Fall is in "full bloom" here and it's my favorite season. There's beauty in every corner of this earth, and it all comes from Him. 

Remembering with you...that only what we do for God will last,

Tammy

P.S. Happy Birthday to my husband, Joe! ;)

Tough times and good books

I forget the exact percentage so don't quote me, but it's reported that something like 85% or 90% of people surveyed say they'd like to write a book. Although there are times when it seems like 100% of the population are writing and trying to sell their books, in truth very few people actually finish a book even if they start one. It is harder than it looks. Just ask me. I'm slogging through one right now.

The news about the economy isn't great. People are being laid off work. Companies are in distress. Everyone is just a little bit nervous (or a whole lot nervous). Publishers are cutting back, too. They're cutting lists, cutting advances, cutting personnel. But the one piece of good news as far as publishing of fiction goes is that books are not high ticket items, and in tough times, people like to turn to books that will carry them away from their troubles for a few hours each day.

I'm often asked what it is I hope to achieve in my books. First and foremost, I want to entertain my readers. I may write a novel that is packed with issues and deep meanings and wondrous spiritual truths, but if I don't entertain my readers first, who cares about the rest? Nobody.

And one reason I love writing historical romances (of the inspirational variety) is that olden days always seem like simpler times to many readers. The good old days. Were they really simpler? Were the good old days really better than the here and now? Maybe in some ways. But every age has its struggles. My current work in progress (WIP) is set in 1916. The Great War was in full swing and men were being maimed and killed in the trenches in Europe. Influenza was a dreaded disease, and in just two years, the pandemic flu of 1918 would kill 100 million people around the world. Staggering. Most homes didn't have electricity or bathrooms. And if you had a telephone, it probably did you little good as no one else you knew had one.

Still, snuggling down with a romantic historical novel from one of my favorite Christian authors is a great way to escape into those "simpler" times. My own troubles slip away for a while, and all I want to know is how on earth will these two people be able to solve their differences and give into the love that is so obviously meant for them. Ah ... love.

So if the times we live in are getting you down, I hope you'll pick up a novel and escape for a time into another place and time. How about a novel by the authors who write for Writes of Passage? It just might brighten your spirits and even help you see how God has been at work through the ages and give you confidence that He is at work today as well.

Robin

The best things in life

The best things in life truly are free. The smile of a child. Their fascination with the world. Their unconditional love.



My grandchildren don't care if I'm a writer or a ditch digger. They love me just for being Nana, and that's such a wonderful feeling. So often in this world we have to prove ourselves to someone to "earn" their love. It makes me think that God must feel the same way at times when we challenge Him to do XY&Z for us and then we'll trust Him or love Him.




So here's to unconditional love. May we recognize it for the treasure it is, and maybe we learn to practice it more.

Tracie

Things I Learned in Texas

My good friend/critique partner Eileen Key (who is also the brand-new published author of Dog Gone!, a cozy mystery from Barbour’s Heartsong Presents Mysteries line) arranged a book signing and two opportunities for me to visit with writing groups in San Antonio. Having never visited the home of the Alamo, I was delighted to make the trip! I teasingly told Eileen that my Texas time was “learning time.” Here are a few of my “take-aways” from Texas:

Willy Wonka candy is still available. I used to love bottle caps when I was a kid, but I hadn’t seen the candies in ages. However, there they were in the bucket of treats I helped distribute to little ghosts and goblins on Halloween night. (No, I didn’t sneak any out of the bucket--I don’t steal from kiddos.)

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Trees in Texas don’t all grow in the same direction as trees in Kansas. I thought all trees grew UP. Even in Kansas, where the wind blows ninety-to-nothin’, trees at least attempt to point their branches skyward. But there were these giant oak trees in Texas with branches that grew toward the ground instead of toward the sky. The one above hadn't fallen over--it is growing like that! Very interesting and much easier to climb than those in my childhood backyard.

* * *

There is such a thing as a confetti egg. This was a completely new concept to me. Of course, it takes a little ingenuity to fill an egg with confetti (directions here), but these things are called cascerones, and the purpose is to break them on the head of some unsuspecting person as part of a fiesta or Easter celebration. In my neck of the woods, we dye the eggs and eat them rather than break them over someone’s head. Smacking someone with a confetti-filled eggshell gives unique meaning to the term “egghead,” I suppose. (Okay, yes, that was lame… I never claimed to be a humor writer.)

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San Antonio has no bugs. The reason for this is the town has an abundance of bats that eat the bugs. To be honest, the jury’s still out on which I would prefer to have buzzing around my head…

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Worship songs can bring wonderful inspiration. The inspiration part isn't new; music has always ministered to me. But I attended church with Eileen--a much more contemporary service than that to which I am accustomed--and the praise team sang two songs I’d never heard before. Since I’m one who really needs to see the notes to learn a new tune and only the words were available on a big screen, I listened and focused on the words rather than singing. One phrase lodged in my brain and is still resonating: Break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Even though I’ve walked with the Lord for many years (40, actually), I know there must be things I do without thinking, either in ignorance or in apathy, that break His heart. In this day of “gray” (the blurring between right and wrong), that particular line really spoke to me. If we as Christians pray those words--Break my heart for what breaks Yours--and then actively make changes as the Spirit prompts, don’tcha think the gray could slip away and God’s perfect will for us/our actions be clearly revealed...?

* * *

A visiting couple from Germany took our picture in front of the Alamo church building. (BTW, Eileen is holding a "Flat Stanley" sent by a friend's niece. I used to do "Flat Stanley" projects with my 5th graders in my former life. *smile*)

Time with friends is sweet refreshment. This is also something I already knew, but it was certainly reiterated for me during my days in San Antonio. God gives precious gifts, and some of the best are called “friends.” I’m so grateful for mine. (Thanks again, my spunky pal, for such a fantabulous time of fellowship and fun!)

Until next week, God bless you muchly as you journey with Him! ~Kim

At the Blanco Rd. Family Christian Store with Judy (employee) and
Nicole (manager), who were wonderfully warm and welcoming. (For the first time in my life, I look tall! Both Nicole and Judy are quite petite.)

The end

Wow, I get to post the day after the election, and since I'm writing this on Nov 4 and voters are streaming to the polls I can't say yay or boo. But I can say, The End!

The end is always the happiest part of writing. I'm one of those that "loved having written" but I'm also just plain worn out with this election. Maybe it started too early and lasted too long. Maybe I get too emotionally involved. Maybe I believe who I want to believe and think the other candidate should go quietly into the night and leave me alone. Maybe I'm really really tired of talking heads. At any rate, I can, with confidence--and barring no hanging chads or lawsuits against one party or the other, put a period to the elections of 2008.

Now it's time to get back to the norm and pray that whoever God puts in charge of the United States of America (and while it may not be His choice on either candidate, He does know what our choice will be) will lead us in a way that we can all look back and say "why did we worry?"


Thanks for your prayers for safe travel. I had a wonderful trip to Napa Valley. Wish I could have seen a bit more of the lovely country.

From Prague with love

Hey friends,

As Robin mentioned yesterday, I'm in Prague with my husband, and we're loving this beautiful city. We're here this week with 19 MBA students from Belmont University in Nashville. We arrived Sunday and are enjoying all the sights. We're headed out again for the evening but I wanted to post real quick and share some pictures. 

These are from our first afternoon and evening here (please excuse my “plane hair.” I hadn’t slept for over twenty-four hours. I just couldn’t sleep on the flight over, don’t know why…)

Prague Castle (in the distance)

Joe and me on the St. Charles Bridge (our first night in Prague)

In Old Town Square at night (we ate at this cafe the next day for lunch. Delicious food here!)

Another view of Prague at night

Even half a world away, the U.S. Elections are being watched here in Prague. Goes to show what a role U.S. plays not only in the world's economy but in the world's eyes. I’m praying for the outcome of the Presidential election today, full well knowing that God is in control (as we've said often on this blog in the past few weeks), and that we’re a nation "under God" that sorely needs to be turned back to Him. At whatever cost.

To that end, I’m praying for both OBama and McCain and for the influence one of these men will have on the future of our nation as the next President of the United States. I'm also praying for the aftermath of the election, which could be huge in itself. Both economically and socially.

Back on Sunday night,

Tammy

P.S. Patty Jo, don’t worry…Jack is safe with my parents who came to keep him at our house. My folks have friends in Nashville, plus they wanted to see our kids, so it all works out really well. J

November, a month for gratitude

I'm almost too late for my Monday post. And with Tamera in Prague, who knows how soon she will post (if she's able).

I have decided to keep a gratitude journal on my Write Thinking blog for the month of November. Every day, I intend to post three things that I'm thankful for. I didn't get started until today (Nov. 3) but I plan to be faithful for the rest of the month. I invite you to drop over to my blog and tell me what you're thankful for each day.

What was one of the items I was thankful for today? That I won't have to see anymore election ads on TV until the next election rolls around. LOL!

I'm also grateful for each one of you who join the authors of Writes of Passage each day. May God bless you richly.

Robin