Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 30

Day 30. 

It's been a fun month, hasn't it? I've enjoyed spending time each day thinking of things for which I'm thankful. Family, friends, writing colleagues, and you, my readers. Thanks for sharing the journey with me.

As the month closes, it's time to look ahead, not back, so I'm heading into December with anticipation of the greatest birthday the world has known.

"Come, Immanuel, Come." 

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 29

Day 29. A Sweet Deal for You.

While writing is a solitary endeavor, many people are involved into the process of a completed novel – agents, editors, copy editors, art departments, publicists, and one of the most crucial in my opinion – critique partners. These are the brave souls who see the ugly parts of our stories, all the dangling participles, misplaced modifiers, goofy and illogical ideas, and atrocious spelling. Finding critique partners who understand your vision and are able to slap you around one minute and offer cyber hugs the next are more precious than rubies. They must be tough on the outside and marshmallowy on the inside.

I’ve been fortunate to have a few critique partners who’ve shaped my work and encouraged me along the way. I’m eternally grateful as these ladies have also become dear friends. But the joy of being a crit buddy is that we are also able to celebrate the successes of one another.



One of my best critique buddies is Camille Eide. She's smart, savvy, and funny, and I’m as proud as a new momma that her first novella is releasing in just four days! It’s a lovely story (I’ve had the pleasure of reading and endorsing this enchanted Christmas tale). So for today I’m going to send you over to Camille’s blog where she has some fun things going on – a Christmas cookie recipe exchange and a chance to win a copy of her “baby” – Savanna’s Gift – an e-book just in time for Christmas. And you’ll get to meet Camille, too, who’s as lovely and witty as her blog.


See you tomorrow for Day 30 of Thanksgiving.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 28

Day 28. 

A frost is in the air. Most of the turkey is gone. ALL of the pie is gone (thank goodness for that!). The house is quiet. All is calm. And I’m thankful for the relaxed Thanksgiving we've had with two of our sons and their families. We enjoyed eating (of course), watching football, playing cards in the kitchen, and doing a jigsaw puzzle in the dining room.

I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed sitting around a table, sorting puzzle pieces by color, elbowing each other looking for just the right piece. It’s a sort of being together that we don’t do much of anymore, and you know I’ve missed that. With our iPads and data phones and laptops, I wonder if we’ve forgotten how to just “be” with one another. No agenda. No volume controls. No clock to watch. And you can get up from the table and meander off to do something else for awhile or stretch your legs. And when you come back with a cuppa something warm, someone will have added a few new pieces and you settle in for another session, heads together, bent over looking for an elusive piece or giving a little hoo-rah when you find it. And always toward the end, the pieces start flying into place and you joke about who will get to put in the last piece. Being the grownups we were, we let one of the grandkids have the esteemed honor.

I’m thankful for the reminder of simpler times, of the pleasure of doing a jigsaw puzzle. And because I enjoyed it so much, I’ve added “get a new puzzle” to the Christmas list. Actually, I can’t wait.

How about you? Were there any reminders of the past from your Thanksgiving weekend? What family activities did your family enjoy?

Day 27. The Letter Z.

Today I’m thankful for the one who is my constant muse and companion. She gives unconditional love with no strings attached, unless you count the daily ritual of an after-dinner treat. I’m never lonely or truly alone with my faithful pup at my side. I can’t imagine a world without animals or my home without this sweet girl – Zelda.

As a puppy almost 8 years ago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zelda today, still loved and adored. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 26

Day 26. The Letter Y for You, my readers!

If you have read one of my books, thank you.

If you have attended one of my book launches or book signings, I appreciate the time you took from your busy life to celebrate with me.

If you have written a review and posted it on your blog or online, thank you for sharing your insights and your gift of words.

If you’ve read my blog, been friends with me on Facebook, have liked my Facebook author page, or followed me on Twitter, thanks for hanging out and spending your days with me.

If you’ve said a prayer or given me a word of encouragement, you’ve blessed me in ways you can’t imagine.

If you’ve written me a note, an email, or messaged me, thanks for the sacrifice of your time.

If you’ve shared my books with others or recommended them to a friend, you are a treasure above all things.

To all of you, my gratitude overflows. Because of you, I search for the perfect word, that special turn of phrase, the spark that will make my stories come alive. It’s for you I write.


As a very small way of saying thanks, I’m giving away two of my books in a drawing. I’ll be drawing two names on Dec. 3, and winners may choose either Chasing Lilacs or Broken Wings. To be entered in the drawing, please leave a comment WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION telling me how you first found out about my blog or my books. Even if you already own one or both books, you’re welcome to enter. I’d be honored if you won and gave my book to your church or local library or gave it as a gift. If you’re a first-time reader, my hope is that you will like what you read and tell others.

Thanks for your support and joining this adventure with me!

Note: These are my personal books. Chances of winning dependent on number of entries. Void where prohibited. Open to North American residents only. 

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 25

Day 25 – The Letter X

Today’s letter is the tricky little X, which can serve as a legal signature if you’re unable to write your name. It’s also the unknown in math – the number to be found that will make an equation true. It’s also the symbol that indicates the crossing of two objects or things to come up with something totally different and new.

That said, I have a question for you today:

What happens when you cross a best-selling non-fiction author with a Christy award winning novelist? Since it’s Black Friday and I don’t want to slow down your pursuit of the “perfect” deal, I won’t keep you in suspense.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Marriage Carol Moody Publishers (September 1, 2011) by Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

CHRIS FABRY is a graduate of W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and Moody bible Institute's Advanced Studies Program. Chris can be heard daily on Love Worth Finding, featuring the teaching of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers. He received the 2008 "Talk Personality of the Year" Award from the National Religious Broadcasters. He has published more than 60 books since 1995, many of them fiction for younger readers. Chris collaborated with Jerry B. Jenkins and Dr. Tim LaHaye on the children's series Left Behind: The Kids. His two novels for adults, Dogwood and June Bug, are published by Tyndale House Publishers. Chris is married to his wife Andrea and they have five daughters and four sons.

GARY CHAPMAN is the author of the bestselling Five Love Languages series and the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio program airs on more than 400 stations.





ABOUT THE BOOK

On Christmas Eve twenty years earlier, Marlee and Jacob were married in a snowstorm. This Christmas Eve, they are ready to quit, divorce is imminent. Their relationship is as icy as the road they’re traveling and as blocked with troubles as the piling snow. They take a shortcut to get to the lawyer’s office, on a slippery, no-fault path. She thinks they need to stay on the main road. He disagrees. They fight. Story of their lives and they slam into a bank of snow , spinning, drifting, falling, out of control. Just like their lives. Reluctantly, freezing cold, hungry, scared, she trudges up the hill. Paul is nowhere to be found. Her ears frozen, fingers and hands red, she comes to a house on the hillside, built like a Bed and Breakfast, a green wreath on the red door and the door-knocker is in the shape of a wedding ring.


The red door opens and the first thing she notices is the fire in the room, blazing hot, a warm, inviting, friendly place and the voice of an old man welcomes her in. There are three golden pots on the hearth, shining, glimmering things. The old man claims that they are used to restore marriages. She laughs—and begins a journey through her past, present, and future that will test how she views her lifelong love. There are two futures available. Which will she choose?

If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of A Marriage Carol, go HERE.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 24

Day 24. Happy Thanksgiving!

Departing from the alphabet today to celebrate Thanksgiving. Hope your day is blessed and filled with all the things you love – turkey and the trimmings, big screen football, sweet reminisces, and barrels of laughter. Love on your family. Have a second helping of dressing and a whole piece (or two) of pumpkin pie. Jump in the leaves. Hug a child. And in everything, give thanks.

You are loved!

Have a safe and glorious day!

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 23

Day 23. The Letter W.

Today is a grab bag of things that I’m thankful for that begin with the letter “W”, and at the end of the post, a special surprise for you.

Words: No secret here – I’m in love with words. I’m in love with Writing words. I love it when I think about it for two days and find the exact perfect word for a scene that I’m working on. I know it’s a quirk, but it does give rise to another thing for which I’m thankful – the community of Writers. Thankfully, people in this weird tribe understand what I’m talking about.

One of my writing pals – who is a doll and not weird at all – is Alice Wisler, a two-time Christy award nominee. She writes tender love stories with fun, quirky characters who have a touch of southern sass AND Alice always includes recipes in her books. I love that about her, and I think you’ll like her latest release:

A Wedding Invitation.

After returning home from teaching English at a refugee camp in the Philippines, Samantha Bravencourt enjoys her quiet life working at her mother's clothing boutique in Falls Church, Virginia. When she receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart, and a young Amerasian refugee named Lien who needs Samantha and Carson's help to find her mother before Lien's own wedding. When the search for Lien's mother reveals surprising secrets from the past, Samantha must reevaluate her own memories and decide whether to continue to play it safe or take a risk that could change her life.



If you would like to read the first chapter of A Wedding Invitation, go HERE.

Now, the fun for you. I’ll be giving away a copy of A Wedding Invitation on Saturday, Dec. 3. To get your name in the hat for the drawing, please leave a comment WITH YOUR CONTACT INFO on this post and tell me what you are most grateful for this Thanksgiving. I’ve done enough talking this month, it’s your turn!  

Disclosure: This book was provided by Bethany House. Contest void where prohibited. Chances of winning dependent on number of entries.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 22

Day 22. The Letter V for Dream Vacation. 

Last May, Max and I had the trip of a lifetime – a week in Maui. We had not really intended to plan such a trip even though “everyone” said we should. Then, to our surprise, Max found out his company wanted him to attend a leadership conference in Maui – on their nickel. This was not rocket science. Of course we went.

 
Even now, six months later, when I close my eyes, I see glorious sunsets and remember my first glimpse of lipstick trees (which are much more vivid in person than in this photo!) and the rocky cliffs along the twisty road to Hana. Apparently we “just missed” seeing George Lopez, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Steven Tyler, but it wasn’t the celebrities I went for. What I remember most was walking on the beach in the moonlight, sipping MaiTais in an open air café jutting out over the Pacific, and the sweet indulgence of Maui gold pineapple. It was like “everyone” said – paradise on earth – the handiwork of God at its finest.
 

What a special gift. My heart is full with the memories. And lest the images grow dim, I still have 650 digital photographs to remind me. Here are a couple you might like.

 

 

What is your dream vacation? What are you waiting for? 

 

 

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 21

Day 21. The letter U for Unicorn. 

When my boys were young, Roger Whittaker made a children's album – fun, silly songs like Google Eye, Boa Constrictor, Puff The Magic Dragon, Winken, Blinken and Nod, and my personal favorite – The Unicorn Song. The kids loved it, and truthfully, so did we (We still have the album!). Today I’m thankful for those magical songs – the moments of whimsy when for a little while you can almost imagine the possibility of being swallowed whole by a boa constrictor or that once upon a time Unicorns roamed the earth and that they were the loveliest of all creation – those silly unicorns.

Here’s the Irish Rovers rendition of The Unicorn Song – I think you’ll agree a touch of whimsy once in a while is a very good thing.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 20

Day 20. The Letter T.

It’s no secret that I have a special attachment to the little state south of the one where I now live. Although I’m a Sooner born and bred and proud of my Oklahoma roots, I moved to Texas when I was two and grew up there. Max and I honeymooned in Dallas and later lived many wonderful years there. Two of our boys were born in Texas as well as two of my grandsons. And I do admit that when I cross the Red River, a small part of me sighs – Home.

So today I’m grateful for the privilege of being a Texan a few times in my life, for the sweet memories, and for the friends who still live there. You know who you are.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 19

Day 19. The Letter S. 

Today I’m thankful for my son Scott. He came twenty-four tension-filled minutes after his twin brother, Brett. Their differences were apparent from the beginning, being fraternal for one thing, but I’m amazed at how early in each of our boys’ lives their personalities became evident. Scott has always—ALWAYS—been a competitor and understood the concept of numbers.

He figured out multiplication in kindergarten (stunning his teacher) and by the time he was seven years old, he read the sports section every morning with his Cocoa Pebbles and began memorizing the baseball stats of his favorite players. He spent hours every day shooting baskets in the driveway. Rain or shine. Summer or winter. He took breaks by throwing a baseball against a pitchback.

It didn’t surprise us when he chose to major in math in college and went on to get a Master’s in statistics. Scott thinks in percentages and can probably tell you the odds of how often a fraternal twin becomes the father of identical twins. What goes around comes around, and he now has the pleasure (and challenge) of raising twins.



He and Denice get bonus points, though, for presenting us with our first grandgirl four years ago. I’m 100% certain she’s the cutest girl on the planet, and I’m 95% sure that Scott can still give you the lifetime stats of his all-time favorite baseball player, Reuben Sierra.

I’m a lucky mom. My heart overflows with thankfulness for these fine young men. Selfishly, I’m also a wee bit thankful for the solitude of my life now. Can you relate?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 18

Day 18. The Letter R for Random. 

Some random things I’m thankful for today. Here goes:          

         My iPad!

My awesome new hairdresser!

                    My friend Debbie remains cancer free after her latest checkup (along with my sis and my cousin) - Yay!!!

I love elastic waists . . . . and spandex.

                                 My mammo came back A-OK.

                  I am my dog’s favorite person (my sweet hubby just 

                                              told  me this, but I already knew it).

            Foreman grills.                           

                         My friend Glo is Grammy again for the third time.

       This year’s Thanksgiving turkey is already in the freezer. 

The foliage this year was in Technicolor. 

        We survived our first earthquake! (Along with 3.75 million other people in my state)

                              FREEDOM! 

Two of my best writing buddies have debut books hitting the market soon!

I could go on and on, but the thing I’m most grateful for on “random” day is that it wasn’t random at all that Jesus came to earth, that he lived and died for me, that my days were planned before the foundations of the earth. The joy of belonging to Jesus and the hope of eternity lifts me to the heavens every day.

I’m not worthy. But I am thankful.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 17

Day 17. The letter Q for Quilts. 

We’ve been having an on-again/off-again start to autumn. The leaves are falling at a steady (frantic) pace, and some days are sweater days, some aren’t. Today was a chilled-to-the bone curl-up-in-my-favorite-quilt kind of day. I brewed a cup of green tea, crawled under my favorite throw, and logged on my computer to check email and catch up with latest on FB and Twitter. Of course I’m thankful for all those ways to stay connected with friends and family – you are the best!

But this time of year when the first really cold blasts come, I’m also reminded of how much I love quilts. I’m thankful that many of the ones I have connect me to my past, one as far back as my great-grandmother. A few were made just for me which makes them all the more special. And a few I’ve rescued from yard sales, sad that the owners would turn loose of a piece of who they are because the color was no longer in style or they didn’t value the hours and love that goes into stitching together a quilt. I’m honored to have the ones I have. They are treasured. Here’s a peek at a couple of them.

Wishing you lots of cozy quilt days with your favorite cuppa this Thanksgiving!

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 15

Day 15. The Letter O for Opportunity.

As Thanksgiving Day draws near, I’m glad that I’ve set aside a few minutes each day to reflect on specific people and things for which I’m grateful. To be honest, I don’t always feel like doing it. I have a lot of projects going on; I made a trip in the early part of the month; and I’m trying to get a few pages done each day on my next novel. But this has been a good exercise for me to be a disciplined writer and reflect on things that matter most.

As we reach the halfway mark, you guessed it – today’s word is opportunity. How blessed we are to live in a land of boundless opportunities – the freedom to choose what we want to wear, whether we want to live in a house or an apartment, whether or not to go to college, whom we will marry, even if we want to have children. Obviously we took several opportunities to explore that option at one time or another and have four sons, who have turned into pretty cool young men, to show for it.

I’m sure I’ve missed a few golden opportunities along the way – haven’t we all? But Thanksgiving is a good time to take the opportunity to make someone’s life brighter or easier by hearing a kind word, receiving a thoughtful note, or being invited to lunch.

And while we’re on the subject of opportunity, I want to remind you that you have until this Saturday to claim your “coupon code” for Novel Morsels (See button on right side of this blog and click to read about it or check out this post). Leave a comment with your contact info and I’ll zip the code right out to you. It’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

See you tomorrow!

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 14

Day 14. The letter N for Nostalgia.

Time for a blast from the past. Today I'm thankful for YouTube to take us back to the Good Old Days!

Enjoy!

Any golden oldie memories you want to share? I'm listening.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 13

Day 13. The letter M for Max.

Today, I’ve been married to the love of my life, my best friend for 39 years, 5 months, and 18 days. It seems like yesterday when my dad walked me down the aisle and handed me off to Max. We had stars in our eyes and no earthly idea what we were doing. But, by the grace of God and his mercies which are new every morning, here we are. I’m thankful every day for Max, and just as I promised those many years ago to love, honor, and cherish, I’d marry him again in a heartbeat.

I love you, honey. Thank you for being the rock that I need, understanding all my wacky ways, and still loving me.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 12

Day 12. The Letter L for Legacy.

I was honored recently to sit in my pastor’s study and learn more about the legacy of our church. He was kind enough to write an article about the time capsule that was found during a reconstruction project and how First Baptist Tulsa has impacted our city for more than one hundred years. I’d love for you to read Deron Spoo’s inspiring story on Inspire a Fire. 
Talking with Deron made me think more about the concept of legacy, and I think it’s something to ponder during this month of Thanksgiving.

What sort of legacy will you leave for future generations? What will be your personal mark on the world? For some, it might be building an empire, getting your name on a plaque on the side of the building, or having a vaccine that eradicated a terrible disease named after you. The majority of us leave a mark that is far less grandiose and yet, in the big scheme, every bit as important. Raising a child, enduring a debilitating disease, teaching a classroom of students to read, holding the hand of a parent who’s just lost a child. When others observe you in action, an impression is made, and over the course of a lifetime, many small impressions become your legacy.

From my parents, I learned about Jesus and faith, the importance of being honest, and gained confidence that I could accomplish whatever I put my hand to. From my grandparents, I have the examples of strong family loyalty and the value of hard work that led them to survive the Great Depression. During this Thanksgiving season, I’m grateful for a strong heritage, for the fact that I knew all of my grandparents and several of my great grandparents.

And now I’m a grandparent myself. It doesn’t seem possible, but life passes at such warp speed that it makes me dizzy, and I wonder what possible impact I’m having on the world and on my family. I’m nearly certain that I won’t be remembered in future generations as a scholar or writer who changed the world. A few people may be blessed by my books, but the greater scope will probably be passed down through the family. When it’s all said and done, I pray my legacy is positive and that people say I wasn’t afraid to look life in the eye and accept new challenges, that I gave it my all, that I spoke up when I needed to, and that I shared the love of Jesus. I’ve been a miserable failure many times with those very things, but at the end of my life, I would feel honored to have the epitaph on my tombstone read, “She tried.”

What sort of legacy are you leaving? How do you want people to remember you?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 11

Day 11. The Letter K. 

I’ve always had a fascination with Koala Bears, those fuzzy marsupials from Down Under with lighter colored tufts coming out of their ears and sparkly little eyes. They look intelligent and thoughtful like they have loads of great thoughts they’d love to share with you. I’ve only had the pleasure of seeing them "in person" once – a few years ago at the San Diego zoo, and seeing the mama koala with a baby on her back lumber along at a sloth’s pace was worth the price of admission.

Then, a couple of years ago, I started getting comments on my blog from someone named Koala Bear Writer. Since then, I’ve learned she is from Canada, a fellow writer, and we’ve become cyber friends. So in honor of Koala Bear Writer, I’m thankful today for those who’ve made my life richer through cyberspace. Here are a few of my favorite blog stops: an even dozen for your reading pleasure. When you visit, be sure and say I sent you!

Koala Bear Writer

Erica Vetsch

Courtney Walsh 

Susan Meissner

Anne Mateer

Jenny B. Jones

Southern BelleView

Billy Coffey

Novel Journey

Camille Eide

Myra Johnson

Rel Mollett 

Rel is a real girl from Down Under, so hats off to her today, too, on Koala Day!! 

And an added thanks to all the veterans who've sacrificed their time and lives for our country, especially to my dad who served in Korea and to my son, Brett, who is on active duty now with the US Coast Guard. I'm proud of you and appreciate you. God Bless America!

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day Ten

Day 10. The Letter J.

Today I’m thankful for my son James – the “baby” of the family.

By the time your fourth child comes along, you think you know the drill and what to expect. Granted, it had been eight years since I’d given birth to the twins and the Big 3-0 had sailed past in a blur. But just about the time I got cozy with having all my boys in school, you guessed it – baby fever hit. Max and I prayed about whether this was a good idea or not, but after a couple of months, we knew we wanted to have another child.

The entire pregnancy I had a weird skin condition and at one point had ankles the size of tree trunks. I was miserable, but thought it might be a sign that this time we’d have a girl. God had other plans. Not quite a year after we’d been stricken by the baby bug, boy number four arrived. One month early. Adorable with loads of silky black hair and three brothers who doted on him from the beginning. And in the end, God knew James was just what we needed to complete our family.

Poor kid. We dragged him to soccer games and school plays and craft shows from the time he was a month old. We were definitely more relaxed with this late comer, and it showed in his easy disposition. He was easily entertained and entertaining to have around. And he really couldn’t get by with anything because, as parents, we’d learned a few tricks of our own via the antics of his big brothers.

Still, James has always exuded a certain confidence and seemed to know what he wanted and worked hard to achieve it. He’s earned a lot of honors through 4-H, FFA, high school, and in college and made us proud parents, but his greatest feat was in finding Allison. There’s no doubt they were made for each other, and three years ago it was our pleasure to be part of their fairy tale wedding (see picture).


Today, they’re the proud parents of two girls – Tempe and Scout – their Siberian huskies.


Max and I are blessed by all of our boys and their families. Sometimes it’s more than our hearts can hold, and this season of thanksgiving is a good time to ponder just how incredible the gift of parenthood is. And, of course, we’re especially grateful that we’ve lived to tell about it!