Guest Blogger Maureen Lang: Inertia and Life

The other day my husband described to me an exercise he does in his Physics class to explain inertia. Boring, you say? I say anything but! If you’ve ever seen the commercial for arthritis treatment (or perhaps if you’re old enough to notice such a commercial) you’ll know the law of inertia, at least the active part: an object in motion tends to stay in motion.

Here’s the exercise. My husband starts by calling on any jugglers in class. Since his school has a juggler’s club (which always performs in a popular Variety Show) he usually has at least one student willing and able to volunteer. So a talented student is given three balls to show off his juggling expertise.

The inertia lesson actually begins when my husband Mr. Physics takes out a rather large skateboard he’s made. The trusting juggler is instructed to hop aboard. Question posed: If the juggler is transported across the front of the classroom on the skateboard, will he have to adjust where he throws the balls while he’s being transported?

What do you think?

Here’s another scenario: Two kids are riding their bikes side by side at a relatively slow speed. Let’s say eight miles per hour. If one kid tosses a ball to the other while they’re riding, should he adjust where he throws it, or aim the ball straight at the kid who is riding at the same speed?

As the wife of a physics teacher, one who has at least heard the law as I related it above (things in motion tend to stay in motion), you might think I knew the answer to this little thought experiment, as Einstein would have called it. Visualizing the scenario, I guessed both the juggler and the boys on the bike should adjust where the ball would be if the juggler or the other biker kept going at the same rate of speed. In other words, tossing the ball toward where he anticipated the catcher would be.

Which is, of course, the wrong answer. Here’s the scenario that makes it all come together. If I’m on a plane with my husband and he tosses a ball to me across the aisle (because we both want aisle seats) each of us are traveling at the same speed of the plane, just as the bikers were. If he adjusted his throw to where he thought I’d be while traveling the speed of the plane, he’d at best be throwing it several seats in front of us—which of course he wouldn’t do. He’d aim it straight at me, because we’re all traveling forward at the same speed as the plane: me, my husband and the ball. Once the ball leaves my husband’s hand, it still maintains the forward motion it was traveling with the plane.

 Now what in the world does this have to do with life?

All of us follow a path in life, either one we’ve set for ourselves or have carved out under God’s direction. Unless we do something to change it, it’ll follow a fairly predictable route. This can be good . . . or bad. Work hard, be responsible, do the right thing by loving God and others and life should be navigable. But when life’s challenges come along and we get caught up in a path that isn’t healthy or doesn’t honor God, we must exert a new force to stay on the right path (with the Holy Spirit's help). If we’re carried on the word of God and traveling at the same speed God has designed for us, when He tosses us the ball we’ll be just where we need to be to catch it.

And that’s why my husband might be right when he says understanding God’s plan behind the fabric of the universe might help us understand His plan for our life.

In closing, I’d just like to add how much fun it’s been visiting Writes of Passage! There is true community here, and I was honored to be part of it. As a fan of the authors here, I’ll continue to follow the blog and hope to visit again sometime in the future. Until then, I wish you all the best!

---

Robin here:  Many thanks to Maureen for helping out in Tracie's absence. I hope our readers will also thank her by visiting her web site and checking out her books. You already know she's a wonderful writer.

Thursday sneaked up on me...

Sorry I'm late! Hubs and I were gone ALL DAY yesterday. Left at 7:30 in the morning and didn't get home until almost 10. I was pooped and completely forgot about my blog post. Until just now. This gettin' older thing...it kinda messes with your thinker.

Anyway, since the wonderful ladies covered ACFW pretty well, I won't expound on that except to say if you aspire to write for the Christian market, ACFW is the place to be. Education, edification, networking, prayer support, mentoring... You'll find it all! I've attended all ten conferences and that time with other Christian writers has become one of the highlights of my year. But I said I wasn't going to expound on ACFW conference, so I'll stop now. :o)

Hubs and I traveled to Topeka (and waved at Judy--did you see us, Judy?) to do all the paperwork for Hubs' retirement from the military. Yep, the time has come. Like so many other things, his retirement sneaked up on me. Can we really have spent more than two decades as a military family? His "official ceremony" is tomorrow in Wichita, and I intend to take lots of tissues. I'm so proud of him for serving his country. Although the constant coming and going has been hard (as it is on all military families), I never complained because he was doing what he loved--protecting and serving the United States citizens. *sniff*sniff* (Better grab a tissue NOW.)

After we finished the paperwork (which was a lot less intense than I thought it would be thanks to a wonderfully knowledgeable woman named Bobby), we drove on another hour to spend a little time with youngest daughter and the Wugmump. Hubs hadn't seen their little apartment, so daughter was proud to give him the tour. And Wugmump has grown so much in the past two weeks! Her little face and thighs have plumped, and now she's smiling and cooing...oh, what a delight! I didn't get to hold her much. Couldn't wrestle her out of Hubs' arms (he's bigger than me). But that's okay. Grampas need Wugmump time just as much as grammas do.

So daughter and Wugmump are on their own, entering a new chapter in their lives. And Hubs and I are at the end of one chapter, entering a new one as well. God has His hands firmly wrapped around all of us. It'll be exciting to see how the next pages of our lives unfold.

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

P.S. -- Oh! Lemme share something exciting that arrived in my inbox while at ACFW! The cover for my first first contemporary story with Bethany House! I love it! This is book one of a four-part series of "starting over," with Mennonite (yes, I know she looks Amish, but she isn't *grin*) characters discovering new chapters in their lives. When Hope Blossoms will release Fall of 2012.

P.S.S. -- I still remember I owe someone a book. I didn't forget. Well, I kinda forgot in the crunch of conference readiness, but now I remember. So I'll get that done soon...I promise! :o)

ACFW-Another Year Older

I suppose this will be the week that lots of Christian writers will blog about all things ACFW. Not wanting to disappoint, I decided I'd join the group. However, my post will be short and my pictures will be few. There's a reason for both. The post will be short because I have a deadline on Friday. The pictures will be few because I couldn't seem to find my camera in time to get pictures taken, but that doesn't mean I didn't have a wonderful time and take pleasure in visiting with old friends and meeting some new ones in person!
Above is Shannon Vannatter on the phone sharing some wonderful news with her hubby! I met Shannon this year--she taught one of the workshops and is a blogger over on the Inkspirational blog. What a wonderful gal!





Gayle Roper and I shared dinner with a group of writer friends on Wednesday evening. I haven't seen her for a couple of years and we shared some memories. Tammy will probably jump in here and say I lifted this picture from her Facebook page. It's true--she took the picture, so I'm giving her full credit for not telling me to fix my hair before she snapped the picture.


With roommates Lorna Seilstad and Dawn Ford. We're all 'gussied-up' to attend the Gala Banquet where Tracie was awarded a lifetime achievement award. Way to go, Tracie! I'd post a picture with her, but I didn't get one.

I had a great time sharing lunch with three of my favorite people--Lorna Seilstad, Jill Eileen Smith and Maureen Lang.
Meeting Patti Jo was a highlight. We weren't together for long, but let me tell you that we made the most of that precious time. Of course, Tammy already showed you our picture with Patti Jo, so I lifted a picture of the Arch from her Facebook photos. You can see the lovely view from her hotel window. I, of course, had a lovely view of a parking garage. I'm not bitter--just sayin' some folks had a better view than others. It all worked for good, however, because I did get over to the Arch for some up close and personal time.


May you find joy spending time with friends! ~Judy

Home from ACFW in St. Louis

Oh what a fun time we had. Here are just a few pics from the conference. You can see lots more on Facebook. And Tracie, brava, lady! Wonderful job keynoting for the conference.

Some of the Writes of Passage gals. 

Robin and Cathy, we missed you both! 

(Doesn't Judy clean up nice?)

Ms. Sawyer and I were tired of getting our pictures taken....

Laughing with Liz Curtis Higgs. But really, what else do you do 

around this woman? Her joy is contagious! 

Hanging with Judy and our own Patti Jo Moore. Love these ladies.

Judy tried her best to steal this picture, thinking it went well with her jacket and purse. But we managed to keep her in line. Not easy...

Giggling with Dianne Burnett of CBD.com. She is hysterical! Love her.

There are soooo many glimpses of the conference and some really fun moments on facebook, when you have a minute.

I picked up some books at the conference and one of them can be yours! If you'd like to be entered in the drawing for one of the books pictured above, just note that in your comment on this blog post (anytime through Monday of next week, U.S. and Canada addresses only pls) and your name will go in the hat!

I'm off and running this morning. As good as it was to go to ACFW, it's fabulous to be home and back in the swing of things, and writing on this next book.

Blessings on your Tuesday,

Tammy

Engaging Scripture

My church just finished a three week series on the Bible, including why we can trust it and how we can study it. I loved when the pastor said there are "multiple ways of engaging with Scripture."

Engaging Scripture. Isn't that a great way to think about it?

I love to read and study the Bible every morning. When I don't begin my day with it, everything feels off. I read through the entire Bible regularly, and I almost always have a study going as well (such as BSF or a Beth Moore; something that makes me dig deep). I love encouraging others to make consumption of the Word an integral part of their lives.

At church yesterday, they had a panel join the pastor to discuss their own Bible reading/study habits, what works for them, what obstacles they have to overcome. I don't know about you, but it helps me to know others sometime struggle with focusing their thoughts or shutting out that growing list of To Dos.

Bible reading/study shouldn't be a legalistic thing in our lives anymore than eating a decent breakfast/lunch/dinner is a legalistic thing. But Christians need the nourishment it provides every bit as much as they need their fruits and vegetables every day.

Henry Cloud said (and this may not be an exact quote): "When your maturity isn't strong enough to do something, add external structure." That applies to regular exercise (if you aren't disciplined enough to do it on your own, join a gym) or any other good habit we are trying to form, including reading/studying Scripture. External structure doesn't always mean we're being legalistic. It can mean we're trying to form a good habit.

I want to engage Scripture in my life. I don't merely want head knowledge. I want it to go deep into my heart. I want it to come out of me in the way I interact with people and in the words in my books and in the way I face trials or the ho-hum of daily life.

There are a couple of books (among others) that the pastor recommended to help with Bible reading/studying. I went straight home and ordered them, so I thought I would pass along the titles, just in case you wish to do the same:

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament by Craig S. Keener

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart 

 May you engage with Scripture in a new and wonderful way in the days to come.

~robin

Set Afire

IF.. you happen to be at Glacier Point in Yosemite

~~and~~

if happens that the usual December and January snowmelt wasn't too great

~~and~~

there's now sufficient snowmelt in a two-week period in late February
~~so~~
the earth lines up to the sun at a very specific angle

~~and~~

it is dusk

~~and~~

it's not stormy or even cloudy

THEN you might be blessed enough to see one of God's spectacular events: The Horsetail Fall changes from a waterfall into what looks like a firefall. It's breathtaking!

Here's a very short video of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_GawHOBQU0&feature=player_detailpage

Man is a copycat. From 1872-2968, the owners of Glacier Point Hotel would shovel embers from the Camp Curry's campfire down the waterfall, causing a man-made firefall. It became a tourist attraction.. and fueled the hotel owners' income. Yosemite finally stopped the custom, but many people now deny that the firefall is a real phenomena of nature.

Isn't that like Satan? The Imitator copies, takes credit, and then convinces us to believe what isn't true.

I want God to touch me in this special way--to thaw my heart, to wash me with Living Water, to set me afire and burn away the dross so my heart and soul are ablaze. I want others to look at me and not see a copycat, but to see the Creator's work and turn to Him.

So I look back. It means I have to wait for His timing, to be where He wants me to be, to turn my face toward Him even when it is seeming like the dark is going to envelop me.Because it is only then that it's not my will, but His.
IF only I were good at waiting...
Cathy

Guest Blogger Maureen Lang: Core Needs

I always take a small journal to church with me. I thoroughly enjoy taking notes during the sermons, mainly because my pastors are such great teachers. I’m the kind who learns best by filtering through my pen whatever I’m trying to take in, hoping some of it will stick. If it doesn’t, I have my notes to remind me.

In a sermon I particularly loved, one of my pastors talked about five core needs all of us have. Perhaps you’ve heard a version of these 5 points, because a quick online search reveals there are more than a couple interpretations. I’ve pictured one here, from 1943.

Here are the ones my pastor offered:

• Will I have enough? (Are my physical needs going to be met? Food, rest, clothing, shelter.)
• Will I be safe? (A need for security.)
• Will I be happy? (A need for human love as well as spiritual awareness)
• Do I matter? (A need for purpose.)
• Do I belong? (A need for acceptance.)

As I mentioned recently, I’m diving into the research phase of my new novel. This is a time when I get to know what kind of characters will best fit the challenges of the setting emerging from my research. Somewhere along the way, these five core needs will be felt by my characters. How they meet those needs will define what kind of character they are.

Since I write from a Christian perspective and with some help from the insight my pastor, I explore my characters responses to these needs. Will they react with self-interest, or selflessness? Do they want to live in luxury, or will they live generously toward others? Do they want celebrity or humility? Privilege or service? Indulgence or purity? Convenience or truthfulness? Vengeance or forgiveness? Indifference or compassion?

Answering those questions is more fun to do with my characters than in real life, because I control my stories. (Well, I try to control them but there are those times when they seem to be on a path even I don’t expect…) But I do like to be reminded, through my characters, that the stories I write are supposed to reflect real life. And when they do, maybe I can be a voice of inspiration—first to myself, and then to others—about the choices we make every day of our life.

So my goal today is to remind us all that the choices we make can be answered in two ways: to advance or to stall the Kingdom of God. That was the question my pastor asked, and it seems like a good one for both fiction and real life.

Maybe I’ll have a new take on this after I return from the ACFW conference and sit in on the class about the Moral Premise. In that regard, please forgive me if I don’t answer comments for a few days, since I’m so bad at typing with my thumbs on a hand-held device for my Internet connection that I plan to wait until I get home to get reconnected. In the mean time, happy reading!

Meet me in St. Louis

I'm currently at St. Louis at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference. What a delight! Hanging out with friends, fellowshipping with writers (people who GET ME...lol), attending classes to improve my craft. I love this conference! Katy's New World is a finalist for the Carol Award in the Young Adult category, and I look forward to getting all dressed up and attending the gala award banquet on Saturday night.

Since I'm a little busy, I'm not going to talk much, but please enjoy the following video clip from the wonderful old movie "Meet Me In St. Louis." That Judy Garland could sure sing!

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

THE 5 R'S

A few weeks ago we received constant reminders of what our country experienced on 9/11/01. The articles were in the newspapers, on television, all over the internet, and just about everywhere you looked. Facing that tenth anniversary was also a reminder that all of us face tragedy during our lives—our own 9/11’s. We all face trials during our lifetime. I’ve discovered that how we face that adversity and the choices we make will shape our future. Whether it’s illness, death of a loved one, a child we’re unable to conceive, or a child we didn’t plan to conceive, a parent with Alzheimer’s, or dealing with the loss of a job, we are faced with hard decisions. Below are five Biblical responses to tragedy that we received from our pastor last Sunday. They spoke to my heart. I hope they will do the same for you.

RELEASE YOUR GRIEF. Psalm 62:8 Experiencing grief is normal and crying is okay. Remember—Jesus wept. We are given the release of tears as an emotional outlet that God knew we would need.


REACH OUT TO OTHERS. James 5:16 Christ tells us we are to love our neighbors and bear one another’s burdens. Instead of isolating, go to the body of Christ and ask for help.


REFUSE TO BE BITTER. Hebrews 12:15 Don’t let a tragedy in your life effect your attitude and change you into a bitter person. Tell God you don’t understand, but you trust Him.

REJOICE IN WHAT YOU HAVE. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 We need to dwell on what we do have rather than what we’ve lost. It takes only a look around to realize the blessings in our own lives and we need to think on those rather than what we don’t have.


RELY ON CHRIST. Hebrews 13:5-6 Christ is steadfast and will never forsake us. He is well acquainted with grief. Remember, you are still under construction--spend time with the Lord and He'll continue to build you.

You may not need these words today—I pray you do not. But when the time arrives that you are faced with tragedy, I hope you will remember the 5 R’s and that the truth of God’s word will direct you as you make your choices.

May you find joy as you discover the depth of God’s love. ~Judy

P.S. I'm off to the ACFW Conference so forgive me if I don't have an opportunity to interact on the blog, but I will read it later this evening!

Foreshadowing, it's not just for novels

Foreshadowing: a literary device in which an author 

suggests certain plot developments that might come later in the story.

We're in the gospel of Luke right now in our corporate study at church, and I'm loving getting deeper into this book. The accounts of Jesus' ministry are so rich, and the study is opening facets of God's Word that I either haven't seen before or sorely needed reminding of.

I was amazed this week by something I've read time and time again and yet never drew the connection. 

It pertains to Luke 9:10-17 where Jesus (in a remote region of Bethsaida, pictured to the right) feeds the thousands of people who've come looking for Him, and then in Luke 22:14-22 during the last supper. When Michael, one of our preaching ministers, pointed out the 5 similarities in these passages, the foreshadowing in Jesus' actions about took my breath away. [You can click on the above scripture links to be taken directly to the verses listed]

As you read through the following similarities, be reminded that only about six months remains before Jesus will go to the cross…

1) He had the thousands to sit down (literally to "recline").

He and the disciples reclined together at the table.

2) He took the bread and the fish.

He took the bread and the wine. 

3) He gave thanks for the loaves and the fish.

He gave thanks to God for the wine and the bread.

4) He broke the loaves into pieces.

He took some bread and broke it into pieces.

5) He "kept giving" the bread to the thousands.

He gave the bread to his disciples.

Do you think that maybe, just maybe, as Jesus "looked up toward heaven," as is recorded in Luke 9:16 as he prepared to feed the thousands, that his journey to the cross was in his thoughts. As was the last meal he would share with these same twelve men (the disciples) the night before he was betrayed. I wonder if the disciples ever thought back to that afternoon, discussed it, and put two and two together. If they ever saw the similarities in what their Savior did that afternoon, and then six months later.

I know I didn't. Until this past Sunday.

But I know with certainty that at least one of the disciples did––Luke, the author of this gospel. And I'm so grateful he included these details for us.

Have you ever noticed this "foreshadowing" before? Don't you love that God's Word is alive and active, able to touch and forever change the human heart.

Blessings on your Tuesday, and be sure to grab some daily Bread!

Tammy

P.S. I'd appreciate your prayers as I travel to St. Louis tomorrow for the annual American Christian Fiction Writers' Conference. I hope to see many of you "Writes of Passage Pals" there too!

I'll tweet a time and place for us all to get together and take a picture during the course of the weekend, so be watching!

A More Excellent Way

Ah, love. Writers of romance believe in it with all their hearts. I know I do. I love to write stories about two unlikely people finding their way to each other, discovering a new future because two have become one. Romance is about hope for the future and a life made better because two people are walking the path together.

But we live in a society that all-too-seldom considers the cost of true love––and there is a cost to loving another human being. It isn’t easy, whether that be the love of a man for a woman or a mother for a child or even a friend for a friend. Loving someone opens us up to hurt and disappointment as well as unspeakable joy.

Love is a verb, not a feeling. It’s an action. Anyone can say the words, “I love you.” Yet those are meaningless words unless the actions of love follow them. Love is what you do when the other person is unlovable. It’s putting the other person’s needs above your own. True love is sacrificial and abiding and worth striving for.

I don’t believe there is any better description of real love than the beautiful verses from 1st Corinthians 13 that have been used in countless wedding ceremonies through the decades:

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (verses 4-7, New Living Translation)

I have loved deeply in my life, and I have mourned the loss of love as well. But I continue to believe that, as the Bible says, love is the more excellent way.

~robin

---

P.S. The above was my contribution to the book, Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer (published earlier this year). I thought it worth sharing with my blogging friends. Sorry I got it up late. My Internet was not cooperating.

P.S. part 2 -- Andrea Cox, your name was drawn for a copy of BELONGING (from my post two weeks ago). Please send me your mailing address at rlhreadermail@gmail.com and I'll get one in the mail to you.

Guest Blog, Kelly Hake

Kelly is sweetly filling in for me today. Rehab is going well--but exhausting. I'm blessed to have a daughter who loves me, loves writing, but most of all, loves Jesus! --- Cathy

WRITE ON!

Plotting a novel is an intricate, many-layered, and enjoyable process. The people, the places, the trials and triumphs woven together to form a believable world and complete story… all combined, they create a challenge. We authors employ our compassion, our imagination, and maybe a bit of mischief into our tales, just to make it balanced and believable. But in the end, we know we have the ability to bring our characters safely (if slightly the worse for wear) to their Happily-Ever-Afters.

Thus the common lament: If only life were so easy!

We mean, of course, our own lives. The daily grind, rushing around and juggling friends, family, work and so much more leaves us off-balance and harried. The big picture—so much simpler to see when we sketch out a plotline—fades and wavers.

But what if weren’t only talking about our own lives? What if we looked at it from God’s perspective. How often does He look down on the men and women He gifted with free will, only to consider how much easier it would be if He’d created the world the way we write our stories?

Honestly. How much harder would it be to get our beloved heroes and heroines to that Happily-Ever-After if they leapt to life and ran in the opposite direction? Would we respect our creations enough to let them make their own decisions? Could we trust that the part of ourselves imprinted in their characters would guide them home? .

Love and respect go hand in hand. That God loves and respects us enough to make our own choices boggles my mind. It’s the deepest kind of sacrifice—to give up control. (Or perhaps that’s only true for those of us who like managing things.)

I love knowing our Lord is the author of freedom. He gives us choices, but plans far into the future to guide us back to Him. Millions of people over the course of untold years, are all woven into the story of His love. We’ll never manage such a masterwork, but it seems to me that every story—and every heart—sounds an echo of His epic.

If only life were easy? It wouldn’t be any kind of life…or story…at all!

Kelly Hake

Kelly Eileen Hake has been writing humorous historical fiction for the past decade. Her most recent releases include Rugged & Relentless, Book One in the Husbands for Hire series, and the novella, "Traps and Trimmings" in the Log Cabin Christmas anthology.

Guest Blogger Maureen Lang: Anything new under the sun?

 In the past few weeks I’ve been researching background material for my next novel. This is always a love/hate phase for me. I love exploring other eras and settings, because I’m constantly intrigued by lives that have gone before me. But I also hate the fact that I don’t yet know enough about my characters or the story world they’ll inhabit. I always feel like I’m floundering in the dark at this point in my writing journey. (Although I must admit one of my favorite memories is sitting in on Robin’s workshop years ago, when she said at the outset of every book she wonders who in the world thought it was a good idea to write a book. It’s comforting to know such insecurities are experienced even by the best veterans out there! But I digress…)

As I hunt through the pages of history books for the most fascinating facts, one thing never fails to surprise me: how little has changed. Yes, culture and technology have progressed. Breakthroughs in medicine, advances in our understanding of the world around us abound. But throughout history there have been economic ups and downs, tension between the haves and the have-nots, injustices between races or anyone perceived as different either in appearance or ideology, battles between those who follow the law and those who don’t. I don’t care how far back we look—people have largely remained the same on the inside.

Which always reminds me that God lovingly created us with a free will. And how well He knows us! What an amazing gift the Bible is to us, because in it He reveals through so many authors and voices just how intimately He cares. He knows our capabilities and our weaknesses. He knows our need to worship, our craving for love, the difference between what we physically need and what we think we need. I know the Bible is a miracle in so many ways—prophetically, historically, scientifically, literarily—but not the least of its power is in the amazing knowledge of the human condition. God knows me. Not only that, He loves me anyway.

So I just wanted to start out this day with a prayer of thanksgiving. As I dive into another day of history-hunting, I want to take a moment to thank God for reminding me that He is my Creator, and He formed us not as a creature that evolved into what we are today but as the same miracle He wrought in Adam and Eve. Yes, we have flaws. We can fall short of what God would have us be. But oh how He loves us anyway! There is plenty of proof in history to see God’s loving kindness sustaining us through challenge after challenge—some that seem a repeat of earlier versions. He’s seen us fall to our foibles before, yet somehow pulls us out. His consistency is something to praise Him for today.

Conversations with my Grandkiddo

I love the innocence of children. They're so transparent. To my great happiness, two of my grandkids--the Bugaboos--live here in town and I see them at least once a week. Follows are some recent conversations with Bugaboo 1, who is four.

Bugaboo: Gramma, you are goofy.

Gramma: I'm goofy?

Bugaboo: Uh-huh. You are.

Gramma: Are you sure it's me who's goofy? Are you sure you aren't the goofy one?

Bugaboo (thinks for a while): Um...I'm pretty sure...

Bugaboo (very seriously, from the backseat while driving to church): When I grow up, I'm going to be Spiderman. I think the world could use another one. (Prior to his decision to become Spiderman, he intended to run a hamburger restaurant called Crusty Jacob's. LOL)

Bugaboo: Can I come over to your house?

Gramma: Not today, sweetheart. Gramma has to work.

Bugaboo: But you can still work. I'll just sit there.

Gramma: That doesn't sound like very much fun for you.

Bugaboo (shrugs): Sometimes I just like to be where you are.

(Gramma's heart melted.)

Bugaboo (very excitedly, from the backseat while driving to preschool): Gramma, guess what? I have a girlfriend now.

Gramma: You do? Do you play with her at recess?

Bugaboo: Um. No.

Gramma: Why not?

Bugaboo: I don't think she really knows she's my girlfriend.

I get so tickled, listening to his little-boy approach to life. Sometimes I have to hide my face so he doesn't know I'm trying not to laugh. Other times, I just let my merriment roll and delight when he joins in. My pleasure in this Bugaboo reminds me of the beginning of Zephaniah 3:17, "He will take great delight in you..." Do you suppose there are times God looks down after hearing something we've said, shakes His head indulgently and chuckles, thinking, "Oh, that kid of Mine...what a character..." Kind of a neat picture, isn't it?

I'll close with a video of the Bugaboos meeting the Wugmump for the first time. I hope it makes you smile. Or maybe even chuckle.

God bless you muchly as you journey with (and delight) Him! ~Kim

A Giant Step Back in Time

A couple of weeks ago Jenna and I attended the Renaissance Festival outside of Kansas City. Earlier in the week we'd made plans to join Justin for dinner in Kansas City and decided the Festival would be a fun stop along the way. It had been years—if I’m figuring correctly, probably twenty-two or twenty-three—since we had taken our kids to the Festival.

Jenna remembered the flying dragon ride that’s pushed by strong fellows who hang on for dear life once the dragon is in motion (picture upper left corner) and she also remembered her Maid Marion hat. Probably because we didn’t discard it until a few years ago. I didn’t remember how much walking was involved. (See the map at left). I was thankful the weather wasn’t terribly hot, but oh how I wished we would have had a little rain during the week to help keep the dust at bay. We both had to wash our feet and legs once we arrived in Kansas City. Talk about shaking the dust from your feet!

While I don’t aspire to write books set during medieval times, I had fun cheering for my jousting champion, watching Robin Hood and his Merry Men wield their swords, the dance lessons at Canterbury, the King’s falconers, and watching the belly dancing—which seemed strangely out of place to me. And no, Tammy, I did not participate in the belly dancing! Of course there were lots of food pavilions serving turkey legs, funnel cakes and apple dumplings, but I was able to withstand the temptation since I was hoping for better fare in Kansas City.

The booths were fascinating, visiting with the actors portraying historical characters was fun and perusing the variety of arts and crafts all proved to be worth a little dust on our feet. After all, it isn’t everyday we have an opportunity to meet with the king and queen or Leonardo da Vinci.

I can’t close without saying that dinner at Brio’s at the Plaza in Kansas City was wonderful. I enjoyed salmon with crusted tomatoes—much better than a turkey leg. And for dessert—feast your eyes on this. Far better than a funnel cake. We were only able to finish three, but I tasted all of them!

May you find joy as you travel the highway of life with God as your pilot. ~Judy

Comfort Food, and Words of Comfort

Why is it that some foods are comforting? They not only taste delicious but they feel good to eat? I mean, they literally make you feel better as you're eating them. I think, for me at least, part of that is the connection the food has to memories and to people in my life. 


For instance, my Granny Gattis made the best Blackberry Cobbler on the face of the earth. Oh, I still remember smelling it baking in that old oven of hers, the cobbler juices all bubbly and spilling out, and the crust golden brown. And then her biscuits... The kind where she melted the butter on the bottom of the cast iron skillet so the dough would soak up all that rich goodness and leave your fingers all slick with yummy stuff. Sigh.


And then I grew up. And my metabolism changed. And I learned about clogging arteries and heart attacks and cellulite and turkey necks (not the fowl kind). And now I tend to stay away from those comfort foods. But some days...

There's just nothing like a warm biscuit with butter. Or a loaf of fresh wheat bread from the oven. Or a Southern tea cake drizzled with a glaze of powdered sugar. Or...this recipe I got from my latest issue of Southern Lady magazine.

Walnut Chocolate Loaf from the latest issue of Southern Lady

Delicious! And so simple to make. And I love Southern Lady Magazine.

Click to preview.

The truth is, we can still have these comfort foods. Just not every day. Or at least not every day all day. And we need to throw in some disciplined exercise along the way too. 


Just last night my son and I were walking the neighborhood, and we were talking about how every step in life changes the view. How every experience flavors the next one and influences your perspective. And it's true. But the most wonderful realization came in the reminder that Jesus Christ never changes. Never. 


He is steadfast. Immovable. Everywhere. All powerful. The Alpha and Omega. The Bright and Morning star. The Rider on the White Horse who has a name written on him that no human tongue has maligned or taken in vain (Revelation 19:12). And He's preparing a place for those who love him even now. Amazing! And guess what else...


I'm sure there's going to be a feast there! And I'm certain there's going to be comfort food too! And no cellulite! But to be in His presence, for all eternity. Now those are words of comfort that really fill me up.


So tell me, what's your favorite comfort food––and comforting Word from scripture––in recent days? I'd love to know. I'd also love to have you all over for a weekend so we could bake up a storm. What fun that would be. We'd make some wonderful recipes from the new Loveless Cafe Cookbook that arrived last week. And Judy's already volunteered to do the dishes, bless her, so we're all set!


Slathered with sweetness (but still lookin' for that halo),  
Tammy


P.S. For Rosie... Here's Crisco! No Southern kitchen is complete without it. And yes, I still make my buttermilk biscuits with Crisco, just like my mama taught me.  :)