Unexpected Encounters

I'm still chortling over Judy's caffeinated goats from yesterday. When I read her post, I thought, "My stars, and I have to post right after her. She's a hard act to follow!" Then I drank another cup of coffee to console myself. lol But I digress...

Last week, flying home from the conference in Indianapolis, I ended up sitting next to a young woman quite by default. The woman's seatmate, who has asthma, was very affected when this young lady innocently applied hand sanitizer. So the seatmate needed someplace else to go fast. I volunteered my seat, and I ended up sitting beside Lauren.

The poor girl was quite embarrassed at creating breathing difficulties for the other woman. At first she seemed reluctant to talk, but when I asked if she was going home or off an an adventure, she opened up: "I'm going back to where I live, but I don't call it home."

Her response piqued my interest (wouldn't it have yours?), and even though I didn't want to be pushy, I had to ask what she meant. Over the next few minutes this young woman shared how she was living in a town in Georgia because that's where she'd found work, but she really wanted to do more--to serve God--and was waiting for Him to tell her what and where. A delightful conversation followed, the details of which I'll spare you out of respect for this young woman's privacy, but it ended with me getting her address so I could send her a copy of In Every Heartbeat, the story of three college students searching for their God-chosen place of service.

Even though I'd never wish an asthma attack on anyone, I found it interesting how one person's health issue led to my path crossing with Lauren's. Had the asthma-sufferer not needed to trade seats, I wouldn't have enjoyed that time of fellowship with this young Christian woman or had the opportunity to offer encouragement and the promise of prayer. It was a blessing to visit with her.

I never cease to be amazed at how God uses all kinds of circumstances to open doors to His children. I'm praying for Him to reveal His place of service to Lauren and for her to have the confidence to march boldly onto her God-carved pathway. And in the meantime, I'm deeply grateful for unexpected encounters. My time visiting with Lauren kind of reminded me of a verse in Deuteronomy when the writer admonishes his listeners not to ignore it when a brother's donkey or ox fall beside the road--instead, help him get it to its feet. Not that I'm comparing Lauren to a fallen donkey! But hopefully you understand what I mean--when we see a brother or sister in need, rather than turning away, we should take the time to reach out.

I have to wonder how many times God has thrown a situation into my pathway that I didn't recognize as an opportunity to help... I pray He makes me more aware of and responsive to unexpected encounters. Have you had one lately that touched your heart?



BTW, on a lighter note, at the end of conference I got to check "ride in a stretch limo" off my bucket list. Had such fun sharing the ride with friends Connie, Dorothy (from Australia), Vicki, and Eileen.

And now...back to my manuscript. God bless you muchly as you journey with Him! ~Kim

Coffee Drinkers Unite

Today is National Coffee Day, so hoist those cups of java and drink to your heart’s delight.

Since there are five authors of historical fiction sharing this blog, I think the first order of business should be a little history on the subject of coffee. Now, quit that yawning—I’ll do my best to make it interesting!

My research tells me that coffee dates back as far as the 9th century when it was discovered by an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi. I’m not sure who gathered this information from Kaldi the goat herder, but the story goes that he noticed the stimulating effects that coffee berries had on his goats and he began to experiment with the coffee berries. I don’t know about you, but I’m picturing a herd of goats having a mighty good time in the Ethiopian countryside.

And I’ll bet Kaldi didn’t get much sleep with those caffeinated goats running around all night. But, I do think we owe Kaldi a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices he made on behalf of coffee drinkers everywhere.

A century after Kaldi and the goats decided caffeine was a good thing, coffee began being roasted and traded by Arabs. From there, the beans entered Indian and European markets, and the first coffee shop opened in Constantinople in 1475—and it wasn’t named Starbucks. Fast forward to 2010 where over 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year and where coffee is a world commodity that is second only to oil.

Now that you’ve finished this brief history lesson, you can hurry out to celebrate at your favorite Starbucks or you can stay home and enjoy a cup of your own. I’m not sure how many methods there are for brewing coffee, but here are just a few: drip, French press, Turkish, percolator, expresso, vacuum, Neopolitan flip, instant, and my favorite, Keurig. (I have Kim to thank for introducing me to the wonders of the Keurig.) And whether you use vacuum packed, instant, grind your own beans, flavored, or K-cups, take an extra moment to savor the goodness. And be sure to drink an extra cup for Kaldi and the goats. After all, it’s National Coffee Day!

May you find joy as you savor the goodness of God’s love. ~Judy

P.S. And for those of you who are wondering, I did make it to my book signing and back home without getting lost, so thank you for your prayers.

Really... Football & Spiritual Insights?

Yes, that's a picture of legendary football coach Tom Landry. And no, you haven't landed in the middle of ESPN by mistake. Bear with me…

This past weekend, Michael Easley, one of our preaching ministers, referenced hall-of-fame NFL coach Tom Landry in his sermon. And I want to thank my husband, Joe, who's been a life-long fan of the game (I enjoy football, but hey...it's no Dancing with the Stars), for clueing me in on some of Mr. Landry's history.


While still a player/coach in the 1950s, Landry invented the 4-3 defense, which still remains as today's standard in the NFL. He also coached the Dallas Cowboys from 1960-1988 and here are some of his pearls of wisdom:

• “The secret to winning is constant, consistent management."
• “Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.”
• “I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.”
• “Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.”
• “Today, you have 100% of your life left.”

I especially love that last one. 


The particular nugget of Landry wisdom that our pastor, Michael, shared with us was one I needed to hear:

• "Don't worry about winning the game, just make the first down."

How many times have I been so caught up in life, in the middle of a crisis, or a loss, or a struggle, or even in the midst of a fabulous time of life, but my head was spinning with everything there was to do. How on earth would I get through it?

Just make the first down.

Landry knew that if his players could make that first down--if they achieved those smaller incremental goals--that the game objective would take care of itself. So it is with life.

What's on your plate right now? Is a loved one sick? Is it a terminal illness? Are you waiting on test results to know the answer to that question? Are you working in a job you loathe? Or at the very least, feel "stuck" in? Are you worried about one of your children? Whether they'll ever be potty-trained? Or be able to be dropped off at school without clinging to your leg, crying their little eyes out? Or is your child older, and you're wondering whether you'll ever have the relationship with them that you always hoped you would? Or that they'll have the relationship with God that you daily pray they will? 

After a rather rough past year, I'm at a much better place now. But I got here one...step...at...a...time. I remember thinking to myself, "Just get through this day. Just write this next scene. Or the next page. Or the next paragraph. Just cook the next meal. Just get through it (whatever it was)."

And I did. God brought me through and my heart is more attuned toward Home than ever before. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you might remember me sharing a picture of Mom's violet that had been sorely neglected during her illness and then in passing months when Dad lived alone. Here's a picture of the violet when I brought it home to my house this past May.

Here's a picture of that same violet today...

Doesn't this say it all. And this is exactly how I feel inside. Like I'm finally coming back to life again after a very long dry spell. Granted, at my age, perhaps without so many blooms... But, you get the point.

Remember, no matter where you are, focus on making the first down. Whatever it is. And know you're not making it alone. Jesus is there. And don't worry about winning the game either. He's already won it (see John 16:33).

Tammy

P.S. Thanks, Veronica, for suggesting that I put Mom's violet in the bathroom a few months ago. It loves it in there!

Too Beautiful for Words

My next door neighbor and I went to see the Broadway musical production of The Color Purple on Sunday afternoon. I LOVE Broadway musicals, but I had no idea what to expect of this play. After all, the story is not exactly light fare. A young woman, raped by the man she believes to be her father and giving him two children by the age of 14, babies who he takes away immediately and gives to others; basically sold in marriage to a man she knows only as Mister, who beats and abuses her and calls her ugly and separates her from her younger sister whom she fiercely loves; etc. (You probably saw the movie, right?)

While this wouldn't be one of my most favorite Broadway musicals, I did enjoy it a great deal. It made me laugh and hurt and, in the end, rejoice.

About midway through, I was brought unexpectedly to tears by the song, Too Beautiful for Words. It's sung by Shug to Celie, who has always believed that she's ugly, just as Mister has told her hundreds of time. Here are some of the lyrics:

I DANCED WITH DUKES, CROONED WITH COUNTS,
BEEN COURTED LIKE A QUEEN.
BUT WHEN I SEE WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART,
ALL THE REST IS BLURRED.
THE GRACE YOU BRING INTO THIS WORLD'S
TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR WORDS.
YOU HIDE YOUR HEAD UNDER YOUR WING
JUST LIKE A LITTLE BIRD.
OH, DON'T YOU KNOW YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL,
TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR WORDS?

I have many friends who bring grace into this world because of their relationship with Christ, a grace that is too beautiful for words. I want to make a point of telling them.

~robin

Getting the Story Straight

Bed and breakfasts are so much fun!

I went to Indianapolis for the American Christian Fiction Writers’ conference in Indianapolis last week and stayed at a charming B & B that was constructed back in 1901. Built in the Craftsman style of the late Victorian period, the Stone Soup Inn featured the charm of yesteryear and the solid feel of having stood the test of time.

In that era, bright colors in vivid and intricate patterns were vogue. Houses with all the "gingerbread" fancy woodwork often would wear four or five wildly different colors and are known as "painted ladies." Each room in the inn is different--a calming blue room with portraits, loft rooms with beds under the peaks of the roof, an airy breakfast room, a rich melon-and-white music room with a baby grand piano. I stayed in the Victorian room with the colorful, intricate stenciling on the walls and even the ceiling! Wondrous antique portraits hung on the walls.

I heard the Stone Soup story for the first time while volunteering in my son’s Kindergarten class. The characters were all animals. The innkeeper told me she’d read a book where there were all pigs. Jim Peterson tells me his version involved Civil War soldiers. It didn’t take long for me to hear they were Napoleanic soldiers. Or a beggar at a king’s gate. Or a stranger who traveled to a new village… Or a monk… or a tramp… For Pete’s sake, in some countries, it’s not a stone: it’s a nail or an axe! Could someone please get the story straight?

In a nutshell, the tale revolves around someone who shows up in a new location. Hungry and without food, he pulls out a cauldron, boils water and drops in a stone. Someone asks what he’s making. “Stone soup. But it would taste better if there were a little cabbage…” One by one, more people come along. Each adds something—a little beef or a bone, seasoning herbs, carrots, an onion, etc. Finally, they all sit down together and have delicious stone soup. The stranger saves his stone so he can repeat the event again.

Delightful, isn’t it? In the end, it didn’t matter whether it’s a monk, a warrior or a tramp. The heart of the story doesn’t change if it’s nail soup or stone soup. Everyone gives what little he has, and through cooperation they accomplish what none could do alone—they make a satisfying meal and have a good time.

We all have something to add or give or a way to serve God and one another. Jesus is the Rock of Ages—and His hands are nail scarred. So whether it’s stone soup or nail soup, welcome! We need you. THAT is the story--straight and true.

So what are you bringing?
Love,

Cathy

Busy Busy

Sorry to have been absent, but I've been busy!

Last week I had book signings in Columbus and Greenwood, IN and then Jim (my hubby of nearly 31 years) and I taught basic writing at a conference in Indianapolis at the national American Christian Fiction Writers conference.

We had such a great time. Here I am at one of the booksignings with a really great lady named Militine. Isn't that an awesome name? It's a compromise of Millicient and Christine.

We met a lot of wonderful people and in Columbus got surprised by my mother's cousin Anna Ruth and her daughter Denise and son-in-law Jim.

On our last night in Indianapolis, Jim and I dined in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Hyatt and enjoyed this view of the Capitol Building.

All in all, it was an incredible trip and God was so very present. We met wonderful new friends and had great reunions with longtime friends. I imagine heaven will be much the same way.
Tracie

Let them wear purple!

I recently returned from the 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Indianapolis. I've been attending the ACFW conferences since 2002, and it really has become one of the highlights of my year. Being able to connect with friends who I usually only see on-line, celebrate writing victories, and just be with people who understand that the voices in my head are perfectly normal is such a treat. I discovered something interesting this year...something I really had no intention of creating...but seemed to have occurred intrinsically. And it made me smile.

When some people see purple, they think of me.

So what's the big deal, you ask? Let me tell you... I've always loved purple. But as a painfully shy little girl, I never wore it. The color was too bold, too pretty, too special for someone like me. I admired it, but wear it? Nope. Couldn't do it. It would draw attention, and the last thing I wanted was for anyone to truly look at me. So I wore my browns and navy blues and taupes and longed for the courage to wear purple.

Then in 2004, at the ACFW conference, a lovely lady named Ruth took my hand and said, "I want Brandilyn to pray for you." I thought she was going to pray for my physical health. After all, I suffered from six different chronic illnesses resulting in constant pain and dizziness; I relied on a cane to keep myself upright. I wasn't sure I wanted to bother Brandilyn, but I couldn't deny Ruth, so I went. And God revealed the real source of my difficulties--an emotional burden carried from early childhood. Using Brandilyn as His hands on earth, He stripped away that burden, and the next day I cast aside my cane to step forward in a brand new, pain-free body. To celebrate it, I began to wear purple.

You see, purple is the color of royalty. Purple reminds me I am a daughter of the King! I have no need to hide in shadows or hang my head in shame. I am loved by Him and I can proclaim it boldly. Purple is my declaration of freedom.

When the hotel clerk in Indianapolis gave me a purple room card, I laughed and declared, "Perfect!" She noted my purple purse and top and said, "So purple is your favorite color?" And I said, "Yes, it is. I'm a daughter of the King, so I wear the color of royalty." The old Kim wouldn't have been so bold. But thanks to those prayers in 2004, I'm no longer the old Kim. And wow, does it feel good to be free of those burdens!

I had a blast snapping pictures of as many people in purple as I could spot at the conference. With over 600 attendees, I know I missed somebody, but I gave it the old college try. (If you're a Facebook friend, check out my "Purple People" photo album.) As I zipped around the dining room (yes, zipped!!!), accosting perfect strangers to ask for a picture (yes, willingly talking to strangers!!!), I couldn't help but think about a verse--2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." I realize it's referring to salvation, but for me it has a secondary meaning as well.

My "old things"--my way of viewing myself as tainted and unworthy--are passed away, and now all things are become new...and doused in a gorgeous shade of purple.

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

P.S.--The lovely lady with me in the picture is Martha Rogers, an historical fiction writer and very dear friend.

A Festival of Readers

On Saturday I had the opportunity to present a one-hour talk to readers at the Iola Reading Festival held at Allen County Community College in Iola, Kansas. For those who don’t know the location of Iola, Kansas—and I was among that group prior to my Mapquest investigation—Iola is approximately one hundred miles, mostly south and a little east, of Topeka. If you don’t know where Topeka is located, I’ll leave you to your own devices to check out a map. I was scheduled to present from noon until one o’clock, and then sign books for the hour following my presentation.

Thankfully, a non-writer friend offered to ride along with me. Even better, she was familiar with the area. Let me say that this friend had never before traveled with me. Those who have, or those who read my earlier blog, know that I am directionally challenged. I warned Theresa of my 'disability,' but she didn’t understand the depth of the problem until we were looking for a restaurant prior to heading home.

After asking her at every corner which way I should turn, she declared that from now on she would be praying for me every time I left town on my own. (I didn't tell her I still get lost in Topeka!) I believe she’s now convinced that without prayer, I’ll likely never find where I’m going and will surely never make it back home. In truth, I think she’s probably right! So, when I mention I’m heading out of town, please join Theresa in a prayer for my ability to find where I’m going, and then find my way back home! That said, I’m heading out next Saturday morning—by myself—so mark your calendars and lift up those prayers. Please!

Now, back to the Iola Reading Festival. The Iola Public Library was the recipient of a grant that helped them present a year long initiative to increase readership. At the end of their program, they elected to have a festival to celebrate readers. The festival featured a group of authors with a connection to Kansas—the authors were either Kansas residents or authors who have written about Kansas.

There were programs presented each hour in three different groups: Children; Non-Fiction; and Fiction. I was pleased to represent the Christian fiction genre and met some wonderful readers as well as a number of number of Kansas authors. Among them, Nancy Pickard, a NY Times Bestselling author who writes for the secular market. And for the Iowa basketball fans, I also met Paul Shirley who has written a book titled Can I Keep My Jersey. In college, he majored in journalism and is pursuing his writing career. Unfortunately, he took off before I could get a picture. All in all, it was an enjoyable Saturday—the weather was agreeable, the people I met were delightful, and I had an excellent co-pilot.

However, remember me next Saturday and say a prayer since I won’t have a co-pilot along. I don’t want to spend the remainder of my days going in circles, or like the proverbial dog chasing its tail and getting nowhere.

May you find joy as you follow God’s direction for your life. ~Judy

Candy can't be trusted

There I was, minding my own business, writing like I should be, rewarding myself with a velvety smooth Dark Chocolate Dove "Promise" candy---I added the velvety smooth just for you, Veronica---when I read my inside "promise" and my world screeched to a halt.

The foil wrapper lied to me. Flat out lied.

I couldn't believe it. I've trusted this candy for so long. But, there it was. And there was no denying it. The promise printed on the foil was...well, foiled.

See for yourself...

"Always follow your heart, it's never wrong."

Really? The heart is never wrong. Always follow my heart and I'll always be in the right. With the candy still melting in my mouth (yes, I went ahead and ate it; the promise was faulty not the chocolate), I ran and got my Bible, and searched until I found the two scriptures the Spirit had brought to mind...

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? (Jeremiah 17:9, NLT)

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23, NIV)

The most deceitful of all things. Desperately wicked. Those are descriptions the Bible gives about the human heart. Above all else, guard it, God continues in Proverbs, for it is the wellspring of life. It's amazing how much bad theology there is out there, just floating around. On billboards and bumper stickers, t-shirts and yep, even candy wrappers.

All the authors on this loop write historical romance, as you know, and we appreciate beyond words that many of you spend so much time reading what we write. But above all, we encourage you to be in the Word. Every day. Feasting on the Bread of Life. And we pledge to be right there beside you at the banquet table.

And now, to prove that some Dove Promises are true (and that the candy is therefore still safe to eat), here's what another wrapper said a few days later...

"You go girl! You deserve this!"

(Thanks, Teresa from Arlington, KY)

I love it when candy loves me back. But not necessarily the way it keeps on giving... : (

Have a great week,

Tammy

P.S. Would you like to submit your own suggestion for a Dove Promise? I did! (Several times.) 

Click here for details, then click "Suggest Your Own" in the lower right-hand column. 

With or Without Makeup

I didn't feel good on Sunday morning. A little feverish and over all general blah. So I stayed home from church, put my foot up to keep the swelling down for a change, and relaxed. Needless to say, I didn't fuss much with my hair and didn't put on any makeup.

My grandnephew has had his Jeep for sale for a week or so, and tonight a couple of different people came to look at it. The second one bought it. He went home to get cash, then caught a ride with a friend to come get it. Buyer and friend's wives came along.

All this is going on while I was watching the on-line blog of the ACFW Awards Ceremony where Fit To Be Tied was up for the Carol Award in the Long Historical category. My book didn't win. But I read, loved, and endorsed the winning novel, Stealing Home by Allison Pittman. Trust me, it deserved to win.

Anyway, my nephew is out front with the buyer of his Jeep and all of a sudden comes into the house and says, "Aunt Robin, you gotta a fan out here who wants to meet you." A fan? In my driveway? Now?

Why can't this happen when my hair looks great and I have makeup on?

I went to the door and the two wives, young gals in their 20's, cute as can be the both of them, walk up to introduce themselves. I made my joke about the no makeup, then one of the young gals says she just finished reading my latest series while on vacation. She had the first two books with her, and when she finished Fit To Be Tied, she made her husband drive her around to bookstores until they found A Matter of Character. Bless her heart. What writer doesn't want to hear a story like that?

And it felt just a little like the Lord said, "Well done."

Don't you love it when He does that? Whether or not you've got makeup on.

~robin

Did I Read That Right?

There’s nothing like a good laugh. I love collecting funny headlines or seeing crazy signs. Sometimes, reading things aloud makes all the difference. “And” sounds like “in” or like the initial N. Going through some old research last week, I ran across an advertisement that gave me the giggles all over again. Take a look at the company that manufactured this perfume. Would you buy perfume made by a small child in that location?

The condition of a sign can make you do a second take, too.

This bullet-ridden sign that makes you wonder whether you’ve been warned about the hitchhikers or if you’re supposed to rescue them from lawbreakers.

And does the person who created that sign drink and work?

Now here’s a social statement. Everything you need for a great wedding:

I wonder if that store is in the came country where there’s a sign with only one arrow pointing to both the Marriage License Bureau and the Mental Health Department.

Headlines can be stunning:
Tuna Biting off Coast of Oregon

Is the land shrinking, or do you want to go fishing?

Grandmother of Eight Makes Hole in One!

I really hope she’s golfing, or I pity the children.
Either that, or she’s why someone added the "No Hunting" to the bottom of this sign!

Menus can take away your appetite, too, unless you’re a cannibal.

We proudly serve the toughest men known: soldiers and vets!
Dinner Special — Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25; Children $2.00.
Then there was the article entitled, "Children make nutritious snacks.”
Come to think of it, there’s probably a food supply issue. There were the headlines of

“Enraged Cow Injure Farmer With Ax.

“Farmer Bill Dies in House.” And

“Milk Drinkers Turning to Powder.”

Here is a man who should have blamed this sign for the accident…
~ I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.


I love the swirl of words as they tangle with human emotions.
---James Mitchner

So do I. And sometimes, a picture or sign along with the words is worth a great laugh. Have you seen a sign or read a headline that tickled you?

Wishing you laughter and love,

Cathy

Books and Friends (Stephanie Whitson, guest blogger)

Welcome back to Stephanie Whitson who is kindly guest blogging for Tracie today. Welcome, Steph!

One of my favorite places in the world is in the middle of a room lined with book shelves. The e-book craze notwithstanding (and don’t get me wrong--I think it’s a wonderful development for us all), there is nothing quite like the company of strangers who can become old friends through the simple act of reading their words.

It used to quite literally freak me out to hear from readers who said, “I feel like I know you,” mostly because I haven’t ever consciously put myself into my own books. On the other hand, I have come to realize that the thing that resonates most with me as a reader may well be the intuitive hand of the author that enables me to make an emotional connection, not just with imaginary friends, but with the “friend” who created the imaginary worlds we love to inhabit when we read. With that in mind, I suppose I could say that, along with the writers of Writes of Passage, I count Jane Austen among my friends.

When I stand in my personal library at home (about thirty running feet of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves) and peruse the shelves, what makes me smile isn’t the books themselves as much as it is the people they represent. How about you? Do you feel a friendship kind of bond with the writers whose worlds you like to visit, even though you’ve never met them? If you were going to have one in for coffee, who would you invite?

You’ve likely never heard of the two women I’m introducing today, but because of the things they wrote, they have had a profound effect on my life:

Katie Goar Maze, author of Looking Backward, who emigrated to western Nebraska in 1883. Met by her husband at the train in Plum Creek, Katie was taken “thirty-five miles away through canyons and hills” to a sod house. When Katie’s young child died, she “could not quite understand why God had permitted our little blue-eyed boy … to be taken from us.” In 1886 a Reverend Brooker conducted meetings and Katie said, “We had come west to find a home and now we had located on the homestead, but God never slumbers or sleeps. He had His eyes on our future welfare … I had always felt the need of being a Crhistian, and I wanted to know more of the life of Jesus and His power to save and keep.” Katie and her husband were saved in those meetings, and went on to full time ministry. Katie wrote, “I think, when I am permitted to enter the pearly gates, that I shall seek out those early missionaries the first thing after greeting my Savior.” I hope to meet Katie Goar Maze soon thereafter and thank her for writing the memoir that has come to mean so much to me.

Dixie Oblinger, who knew life in a sod house as a child and grew up to be a cab-driver in 1936 Washington, D.C. She wrote of one husband (Dixie was married more times than the average woman), “I realize now that what I should have done was call his bluff, even if I had to do it with a chair wrapped around his neck.” “One more of my philosophies is, adversity is for our instruction. Gosh, but I must really be a Dumb Dora, it takes so much adversity to teach me anything.” “It seems like the good are dieing [sic] young. I’ll sure live to a ripe old age if that is the case.” And, lastly, “I live in the best country on earth and I intend to do my share to keep it the best …” As the country faced WWII, Dixie was hoping she would be allowed to enlist in the Navy as a chauffeur. “I could relieve a man around Washington and let him get behind a gun.” Who wouldn’t want to meet Dixie?

May your week be decorated with friends you met in books!

Stephanie Whitson

www.stephaniewhitson.com

Check out Steph's historical blog with author, Nancy Moser...

I find humor in odd places

Blame it on my being raised by an inveterate punster, but I see humor in unlikely locations. Several times while traveling in Ohio, Hubs rolled his eyes over the things that brought a rush of giggles from my throat. Maybe some of these will bring a grin to your face or even an all-out chortle. Laughter is good medicine, after all. :o)

First up is something that seemed completely incongruous...
After all, we were in the heart of Amish country--surrounded by people so averse to stimulants they don't even drink coffee!--and I spotted at least a half dozen barns all painted over with advertisement for Mail Pouch Tobacco. I couldn't help but shake my head and release a puzzled chuckle.

Now, I live very near an Amish/Mennonite community, so I'm accustomed to signs signifying a place for buggies to park. But this was a new one on me--"Buggy & Limo Parking." Such a strange pairing!

I dare you not to snicker while looking at this picture! Note the stair-steps from short to tall peering west, while one faces east in case something happens over there that they don't want to miss. Actually, a video would have been better, because their heads were constantly swiveling...the four stair-steps all in one smooth back and forth motion (like their heads were tied together with string) in opposition to the single chicken. Sooooo amusing! I outright guffawed while watching them. If those chickens could talk, what do you think they'd be saying?

And here's where you get a barnful of chickens! Just buy your Chick Starter and begin growing a herd (flock?)--only $11.99 for 50-pounds of chicks! What a deal! Hubs rolled his eyes more than once over my take on this sign. lol

I saved my favorite for last: Charm School. I suppose if you don't behave yourself in Amish country, this is where they send you to learn better. (Hubs never did understand why this one tickled me. But I hope you get it!)

All in all, we had a good trip. Lots of driving--we covered more than 1500 miles in that rental car (thank goodness for unlimited mileage!)--and so many stops it's kind of turned to mush in my memory. But I recall, over all else, the kindness of the people we encountered and the peacefulness of the countryside. It was a slower pace of life I'd like to experience again. I hope to return to Ohio someday. And if you've ever considered visiting there, I have only one word of advice: GO.

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

Making Waves at Lake Manawa

On Sunday, I drove to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to attend the book launch party for Lorna Seilstad’s new book, Making Waves. Regular readers will recall that Lorna filled in for me several times while I was taking time off from blogging. Lorna’s book is set at Lake Manawa, the locale where wealthy folks living in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area vacationed to escape the heat of the city during the mid to late 1800’s.

The lake is beautiful and was also the setting for the Lorna’s launch party. I considered taking a dip, but I found a hole in the knee of my bathing suit. (Borrowed that joke from Mary Connealy). Although many of the amenities, such as a roller coaster, fantastic clubhouse with restaurant, and boardwalk have disappeared, there are gorgeous homes that now dot the shores of the lake.

I’m not going to share cake recipes today, but I’m going to show you pictures of the cakes at Lorna’s party. You can all thank me for saving you from those unwanted calories.

Lori’s father collects antiques so the tables were decorated were all sorts of wonderful antiques, including an old picnic hamper, complete with the china and silverware. What a treat to see those items! You can see the hamper in this picture. I didn’t want to push those women’s heads out of the way—they were far too nice, but you can spot the hamper at the rear right of the picture.



I also had the pleasure of meeting Lorna’s parents and then visiting with author Mary Connealy during the launch. Mary’s on the left, Lorna in the center and me on the right. Most of you are probably familiar with Mary’s books. If not, you should visit her website and give her books a read—especially if you enjoy humor in your reading. And Dawn Ford managed to change this picture from full color to sepia tones which I think is quite lovely and helps hide a few of my wrinkles. So a big vote of thanks to Dawn.

I had a lovely drive to Council Bluffs. The weather was beautiful and although I didn’t get to tour any mansions (like Tammy), I did get to see the outside of the gorgeous homes around Lake Manawa. It’s enough to make a gal want to move to Iowa—almost.


May you find joy as you take pleasure in the celebration of friends. ~Judy