OLD TIME CHRISTIAN

A Writing Wednesday: Memories

2012-02-01T06:41:00.003-05:00

They say to write what you know. Write what you feel. So, here are some thoughts from yesterday.

I stepped outside to walk to the Post Office this afternoon, and like a fog, the scents of damp earth and wood smoke surrounded me. Added to the sixty-four degree temperature, it made me think of spring, not the last day of January. It also made me remember springtime at my grandparents’ house.

Memories are funny things. Sometimes, they bring feelings of sadness, especially when you’re remembering a loved-one who has passed away. Other times, memories bring joy. Just like people, memories are different. Yesterday’s memory makes me a little sad and a little happy, too.

Springtime at Mamaw’s. Faint wood smoke lingering in the air from the chilly morning a few hours before, damp earth just waiting for something to be planted in it, the smells of homemade beef stew or Pinto beans cooking on the gas range in the kitchen, the sound of split logs hitting the walls of the wood house as my papaw prepared for the next winter, I remember like it was yesterday.

Knowing I was home, I’d hurry from the car and up the front steps. I’d grab the handle of the screen door and walk right in, knowing I was welcome. The screen door would bang shut behind me, as I made my way toward the kitchen where homey smells of cooking food and Mamaw waited. I’d open the microwave, and sure enough, left over biscuits or cornbread would be arranged on a plate inside. Once, when there was only one biscuit left, my cousin and I fought over it, eventually tearing it in half so we both could get some.

Pulling out a chair, I would sit at the table and sigh. Usually, no one was interested in hearing about a twelve-year-old’s daily account of what her friends and latest crush had or had not said at school, but not Mamaw. She’d listen and give her advice, all the while making me feel like I was the most specialist girl in the whole wide world. And to her, I was, along with my sisters and my cousins. You’d have thought we kids hung the moon or turned in to God’s perfect angels over night. I miss being loved like that.

Sometimes, Mamaw and I would sing together. She was the one who taught me to hear the alto part in a song, and to this day, I can still hear her singing alto when I sing “Amazing Grace”.

Every time I catch a whiff of wood smoke, fresh snow or damp earth, I think about being at my grandparents’ house. I’m there, hearing dogs bark close by, remembering how the sun goes down behind the mountain around six P.M. in the summertime. More than anything, I want to go back home. I want my kids to play in the yard I played in. I want them to peel boiled eggs, just like we did one Easter, and leave their colored egg shells in the yard for me to find, just like Mamaw found our mess. I want to sit on the porch in the morning with a cup of coffee and listen to the song of birds and the occasional whoosh of a passing car. But, time is elusive, and I can never go home again.

These memories are unique to me. No one else can have the exact same memory as I have. But, like an album of pictures, I can pull the memories out and cherish them time and time again. Probably the best thing about my memories is I can share them. Sharing them keeps them alive, and in my memories, Mamaw lives.

Introducing "Love Like This Life"

2012-01-30T06:14:00.002-05:00

Love Like This Life

Dana Brown Ritter

Hey y'all! Shannon and I have become blog/Facebook friends over the last year or so, thanks to a random Google search. And I'm so happy to have this opportunity to share about my life, and the blog I write with my husband, www.lovelikethislife.com

My husband Michael and I were married in a beautiful beach wedding on the North Carolina coast, Labor Day weekend, 2009.

I had always dreamed of marrying on the beach. I wasn't sure, when the time came for me to get married, if I would be able to pull it off on the beach. Because the man I fell in love with, the man who made me a little movie slideshow, and played in in front of a big fountain in Washington DC at night, and asked me if I would make memories with him for the rest of our lives, that man is in a wheelchair.

When Michael was 17, he broke his neck in a gymnastics accident on a church youth group missions trip. Because of this, he's paralyzed from the chest down, and has limited use of his arms, and no use of his hands.

We got to know each other because of a chance e-mail in the beginning days of the internet. We kept in touch via e-mail for 8 YEARS before we admitted to each other that there may be something there. You could say we took our time. More like God took HIS time!

Several airplane trips later, we were engaged, and a few more airplane trips after that was that dream wedding I mentioned.

When we got back from our honeymoon, I started a new job as the White House Producer for CBN News (Christian Broadcasting Network). This was not only an answer to prayer, but a dream come true! Well, more than one dream actually! I had always dreamed of covering the White House, and here I was, doing it! I stood in the East Room as the first living Medal of Honor recipient was pinned since Vietnam. I stood on the South Lawn as the President of China was welcomed. I had a seat in the White House Briefing Room. My life was feeling very "West Wing." And I loved it.

Behind the scenes, though, I was struggling. My new boss and co-workers had no idea that I was getting up between 2:00 and 4:00 in the morning, so that I could take care of all of my husbands needs before I embarked on my nearly two hour commute to work. I would get up, take care of the dogs, stretch my husband's legs, transfer him to his shower chair, help him go to the bathroom and bathe him, dress him, transfer him to his wheelchair, fix us breakfast, then get myself ready for work. Then, walk to the bus stop, ride the bus to the metro, the train to DC, stop at Starbucks, then walk in the office at about 6:30am. Exhausted. But thrilled to be there, and with a smile on my face.

This pace almost killed me. I lost 30 pounds without trying. (That part was nice.) My hair started falling out, and I found myself very emotionally unstable.

I remember breaking down on New Year's Eve. We had been married just a couple of months. I had been so looking forward to being together, and living happily ever after. And, Michael had an accident, I cleaned him up and realized he had a small pressure sore. I felt completely overwhelmed. He needed to stay in the bed, to stay off of his sore. So, I cleaned the house, cooked for him, helped him eat in the bed (at that time we did not have a bed that sat up). Then, he fell asleep before midnight, and I watched Dick Clark ring in 2010, and I sat up in bed alone, crying.

It was one of the lowest places I had ever been.
It was about that time, that we started the blog.
I just poured myself out onto it.
All of the emotions, the guilt, the feeling of being overwhelmed. The good things too, like the happy times we were enjoying as Newlyweds, and all of the new things I was learning to do in the kitchen.

Michael really stepped it up, and started doing more on his own. We sought some counseling. I started hearing from people who were reading my blog, and got to know some other couples out there, in similar situations as us. I suddenly didn't feel so alone.
I felt like maybe I CAN do this? Little by little, the strength came back, I believed in myself again, and I gained all that weight back.

And little by little, my faith in the Lord was patched back up, sustained, and is now finally in a place of growth again. It is wonderful to be on this side of the mountain. I am now embracing my role as a wife and a caregiver and as a career woman, living out her dreams.

I now know that it is possible to be happy and sad at the same time. I have gone through the grief process, and now life is so much better, and is generally filled with a lot of acceptance.

I don't know how I would have done it without the blog. And now, God is using us and our blog, and we are just thrilled. We are hearing from more and more couples that are going through that dark season we went through, and not that I want anyone to go through disability – but once you realize that you an make it through – you realize that you can do anything. And that's a feeling I will happily lead other couples to have.

Thank you so much for taking time to read our story. Follow along on our life on our blog: www.lovelikethislife.com

Fabulous Fridays: My Poor Brain

2012-01-27T12:41:00.003-05:00

Apparently, there is a disorder where a person's internal clock gets out of sync, and their mind can think there are more than 24 hours in a day. :) Studies are being done to see if a certain type of medication can reset the body's internal clock. It seems to be pretty common for totally blind people to have sleep disorders. I know my body can wake up at 2:30 in the morning and think it's time to get up and get busy. It usually takes me a good four hours to go back to sleep, and then, of course, it's time for everyone else to be wide awake. I mean, I always knew a mom wanted more than 24 hours in a day so they could get things done, but I want real hours, not ones created by my brain only. lol

Speaking of my brain, well, sometimes i wish I could take it out and give it a good whoopin'. It comes up with bad ideas, for one thing, and for another, it don't know when to stop working, even when it is all worn out. I'm so tired of thinking the same old thing. Am I alone in this?

I'm tired of thinking about writing. I'm tired of trying to analyze everything about my works in progress. Notice, I did not say I was tired of writing or tired of coming up with ideas, just tired of worrying about it. So, I'm taking a break. I bought a book this morning, and I'm going to read it. So far it's pretty good. When I'm finished, then I'll check in and see if I'm ready to worry about writing, again. :)

I cleaned out a dresser drawer the other day. It felt so good, I'm thinking of doing another real soon. I threw away a whole bunch of stuff I did not need, and I put back a couple of things to give away. If I keep this up, I might find some room in this little house. :)

You know, it gets difficult coming up with things to say when you blog three times a week. So, I have an idea. Why not ask you faithful readers if you have something to say. If you are a writer and would like a chance to advertise yourself, your blog or website, drop me a comment or an email at
oldtimechristian@gmail.com
and let me know if you'd like to write an article for this blog. The important thing to remember is the title of this blog, "Old-time Christian". I will not promote books, websites or blogs that support pornography, homosexuality or anything anti God.

Maybe, you are not a writer, but you have a question or questions about blindness, writing, baking, crocheting or singing. I admit I'm not an expert, but I'll try to answer in the best way I can. If I do not have an answer for you, I'll go a-googling and see what I can come up with in the way of info for you.

So, whether you write or not, have questions or not, feel free to get in touch.

Have a fabulous Friday, and I'll catch y'all again on Monday.

A Writing Wednesday: On Publishing

2012-01-25T09:50:00.004-05:00

Question: If God calls you to do something, are you automatically great at it?

David was God's choice for King. It seemed unlikely that a boy who did nothing all day but take care of sheep would rule, but that's what God had in store. Did David become king right off? No. He had to grow up, first. He had to go through a lot of turmoil and learn some hard lessons before he became king.

I can't speak for anyone else, but even though God gave me a love for singing, I was not born with an amazing voice. I still think there are better vocalists out there, but I'm not the worst, either. I have a cassette tape I made in 1992, and my singing, IMO is horrible. You can tell I was not gifted with voice. It's not bad for a 14-year-old, maybe, but it wouldn't win any contests. If I am any good at all, it is one, because God allows me to be, and two, I've grown up and learned a few things over the years.

I heard a minister say once, "There is a difference between God's anointing and His appointing. For the most part, I agree. If God calls a person to preach, they have to learn how. No, they don't necessarily need to go to school, but they do need to spend time in the Word and they need to be given opportunities to preach, so they can get some experience under their belt. That is why a lot of denominations are real careful about licensing and ordaining new ministers; they need to grow in the Lord.

I think that this same mentality can be applied to writing. For as long as I can remember, I have been making up stories in my head. Some I wrote, some I didn't. I write some of my own songs, I've written some poetry and I wrote a couple of novels. Does this mean I am an accomplished author? Not necessarily. Does it mean I am called to write? I believe I am.

Just after my first book was published, I reviewed several books published by Publish America. I'm telling y'all, those authors, while they had good story ideas, needed an editor. Now, I'm not trying to point fingers, here, because if you've read "Wild Heart" you'll know that I needed an editor, too. What I am saying, is just because we think we can write, does not mean we can. Just because everybody tells us our book is good, does not mean it is written properly.

In today's market, ebooks, audio books and publishers who pop up over night, what is publishable has changed. But, I think we can all agree, we know a good book when we see it/hear it. lol More people are being heard than ever. FaceBook, Twitter, blogs; if readers can't find you today, there's something wrong. But, is everything you read on the internet publishable?

We can sit and hash out the good and bad about ebooks. We can hash out the good and bad about self-publishers versis mainstream ones, but the fact of the matter remains, people who read, for the most part, buy books from those mainstream publishers. Also, if it can't be bought through Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, or some other store with a large presence, folks are not going to risk it. Of course, more and more people are buying from these self-publishers, like Author House, Lulu, CreateSpace, Whiskey Creek Press, but when I ask around, the answer I get is that folks will buy from a publisher they know they can trust.

I've bought books from Whiskey Creek press, and I have found noticeable mistakes in them. I've read books published by Publish America, and I have found not only obvious mistakes but flat characters in them. I've read books published by Harlequin and found mistakes, as well. BUT, mistakes in books by mainstream publishers are few and far between. These publishing houses who won't read your manuscript without an agent have high standards, and well they should. Am I asking for perfection? Maybe.

Here's what this post boils down to. My writing might be good. In fact, some of it, the stuff I know is totally from the Holy Spirit, is really good. But, I can do better. I am not where I was, but I'm not where I want to be, either. I might be called to write, but I have a lot to learn. Just because I love to do it, does not mean I am an instant success.

I went back and read the prologue to "To Tame A Heart". I'm sorry, y'all but it's awful. Of course, that's just my opinion, but I see so much that is wrong with it that it makes me cringe. I paid a lot of money to have that book put in to audio, and I was considering paying even more to publish with someone else, but now I'm considering rewriting the thing. To all those who are saying a real loud, "NO", thank you for being my biggest fan. Y'all keep me believing in my abilities. But, seriously, I can do better, and I'm tired of throwing money away.

I told my husband the other day, if I had a thousand dollars to spend printing the book, I'd save until I had two thousand and go to a writer's class and learn how to do better. He didn't say anything, but I think he agreed with me.

It's scary, thinking about pitching to an agent. It's daunting, thinking about learning to write a 5 page synopsis. It's enough to make me want to quit, thinking about signing a contract with a mainstream publisher. Some people say I don't need to go that far. But, if the only thing holding me back is the lack of knowledge, then, folks I don't have an excuse. As we all know, the internet is plum full of articles on how to write that 5 page synopsis, so there goes that excuse. I can learn. I can do better, and I'm tired of paying someone to publish my stuff. I want to be paid for it. I want someone to buy my books from Audible.com. I want my books on a bookshelf for $7.99.

Maybe, God has other plans for you. In fact, I'd say that God has different plans for different folks, because as the Word says, not everybody can be an eye. Finding out what God wants for you is up to you. Finding out what He wants for me is up to me. Maybe, I'm being too ambitious, but whenever I get to praying about my books, I feel a gentle urging not to throw anymore money in to self-publishing. So, "To Tame A Heart" might not be available much longer. I might just cancel my contract with CreateSpace and rewrite it. Maybe, I won't, but don't be surprised if I do.

This post did not end up like I thought it was going to. I hope it wasn't discouraging to all you writers out there, because it wasn't meant to be. This particular time in my writing is scary, because I feel the Lord wants me to put forth more of an effort and not take the easy way out. It's hard, cause if you know me at all, I'm all about finding the easier path. So, pray for me, and I'll pray for you. Thanks for reading, and be sure to come back on Friday. I don't know if I'll write about homeschool or not, but you can be sure, I will write. :)

Monday's Musings: Independence

2012-01-23T11:30:00.004-05:00

Wow! What can top that last post? I went back and read Friday's post this morning, and only thing I can say, is "Wow!" lol Where did that come from? Oh, yeah, the Lord. :) Had to have come from Him; nothing good in me, that's for sure. So, the question still remains, how do I top Friday's post? Hmm. Don't think I can. But, it's Monday and time for another post on another topic, so here we go.

I read an email this morning. The person said she wanted full independence. She wants to learn to cut her own food without getting messy. She was asking for suggestions, one because the sighted folks she eats with do not like watching her touch her food, and two, because she wants to be independent. I'll admit, I was not as diplomatic as I should have been. My feeling on the subject of messiness is so what. But, back when I was younger...ahem, 20-years-old or so, I was the same way. I wouldn't eat pancakes unless I had someone to cut them up for me. I wouldn't eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because they were too messy to make. Then, one day I wanted a pancake and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and no one was around to fix them for me. It was either fix it myself or go without, and I was tired of going without. So, I got messy and made them. Awful glad I practiced, because my daughters' favorite foods are pancakes with syrup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. As for total independence, that, I wanted to tell the woman, could never be achieved.

To be independent, means you can do something totally on your own; you don't need any assistance. Let's see, how many men out there depend on their wives to wash their clothes? If the wife didn't wash his clothes, he wouldn't know what to do. So, is that man totally independent? Nope. What about the owner of a company, can he or she produce that product independently? No way. That's why people have jobs. Can a person run for president without any help? Nope. Can a deaf person chat on the phone without assistance? Nope. Can a blind person see what is going on in a movie without assistance? Nope. Can someone who is paralyzed walk up that flight of stairs unassisted? I don't think so. Can one person haul their piano in to the moving truck without assistance? No. You see what I'm saying? Deed, reckon that should be asked another way. Do you hear what I'm saying? lol

Just to clarify, I believe that a person with a disability should work to be as independent as possible. In saying that, I mean a person should be able to utilize what resources he or she has in order to live as best they can. If you are losing your sight, admit it to yourself and get some training on how to care for yourself. If you are unable to walk for whatever reason, admit it to yourself and stop being so embarrassed about using walking aids or wheelchairs out in public. So what if people stare. at least you aren't running around naked. If you need a caregiver to go places with you in order to do your shopping, admit it and get out there and shop. Independent living means you know how to use what you have in order to live as you see fit. Note: I am not talking about spiritual matters; I'm talking about physical ones. That spiritual chat will happen some other day.

Ok, I'm climbing down from my soap box, now. lol I do want to say something else before I'm finished blogging for the day.

I have something to admit. All of this depending on someone scares me to death. I try not to think about it, but in my weaker moments it consumes me. Here's what runs through my head.

What if something happens to my husband? What if, someday I can't depend on him to drive us to church. I'd have to find a church that I can walk to and like it. I'd have to move to where I can get a cab or walk to a grocery store or go hungry. I know I need to use what I have and make the best of my current situation, but if my husband was seriously injured or died, I'd be stuck, and I do mean stuck. That scares me. Oh, it's ok that Shannon lives in a rural town with no public transportation, because she doesn't need it, but what if I did?

Letting these fears get the best of me won't accomplish a thing, so I don't let them get the best of me. God, in His infinite wisdom will provide for me and my family. I know this, and I trust Him.

Even so, I miss being able to get up and go whenever I wanted to. Yeah, sure, having kids would have made it hard to do that, no matter where I live, but it would have been nice to walk to the store to get a loaf of bread, rather than depend on my husband all the time. Yeah sure, I would have had to save gas money, if I could see and wanted to take the car somewhere, but at least I could have taken it.

And, before I fall in to a major pity party, I'm done with all that.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

Y'all have a marvelous Monday, and be sure to come back on Wednesday, when I'll write about writing. :)

On Homeschool and Life

2012-01-20T05:24:00.005-05:00

Well, it's Friday, and it's before 6 in the morning. Am I nuts, or what? lol Been up since 4 something. Part way through my second cup of coffee. Been reading on my current WIP, hoping for inspiration. I can see some things i need to get rid of, but not sure what I'm going to add to it, next. Also, I've been planning out my day. Got to teach the children, after all.

Speaking of homeschool, or is it home school? I don't know. Never said I was an editor. lol Anyway, speaking of teaching at home, promised y'all a post about it, so here goes.

Not too long ago, someone asked me, "How is it coming, your in home teaching, I mean?"

In home teaching. I guess that would be opposite from out of home teaching, you know, the kind you do out on your front lawn? haha! Maybe, in home teaching is opposite from teaching on the roof. I don't know. lol But, the lady who asked, well, her brain doesn't work like mine, so I was nice and said something like, "Oh, it's going fine."

But, here's the real heart of the matter. Home school is a balancing act. I believe that spending time with my girls in any capacity is the point. Sometimes, our days are filled with handwriting, math problems, reading and science lessons straight from a book. But, other times, we play pretend, we play barbies, we talk about something the girls heard on TV, or we just cuddle. Balancing between it all is the hardest part. If we spend too much time with the books, all three of us get frustrated, but if we spend too much time outside the books, all three of us get lazy. It takes constant prayer to walk somewhere in the middle.

Another thing home school is, is tiring. :) My kids can run circles around me and not think twice about it. One day this week, they were complaining and crying around, not wanting to turn the TV's off and get started. Quite honestly, I wanted to whine and crawl back in bed, too. It would have been so easy to give place to the devil and take a day off. But, if I don't put forth an effort, how can I expect my girls to put forth one. So, we went to the piano, and I took a seat on the bench.

"Now, girls," I said, "we've been talking about mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and amphibians, right? So, while I play a song, you have to go around the room and act like one of these animals."

They pretended to be birds, and I played and sang part of "I'll Fly Away." lol They played musical chairs while we all sang, "This Little Light of Mine."

When they grew tired of this, about twenty minutes later, we sat down and got started with school. Turned out to be one of our best days yet.

Something home school is not, is boring. My girls are always saying something funny or asking questions. I'm always finding new techniques of teaching sighted kids without sight. Some ideas on how to teach sighted kids when I can't see are tried and true things, but some are new, so they take some practice. When one thing doesn't work, I stop and try something else. By the time they graduate, I'm gonna be a pro. Ha! Something that helps me a lot, are those foam numbers and letters my mom picked up at Dollar General. I know what letter or number I'm holding, and my girls know it, too. My girls like to pretend and make up stories like I do, so we make the letters in to characters. For instance, I pretended to be the letter C. As letter C, I say things like, "Hello. My name is C, and I start words like cookie and cry. What's your name?"

My 4-year-old holds up a letter A and says, "I'm A."

Every day is a challenge. Every day is a blessing, and every day I am reminded how little I know. Sometimes, a home school day is a success, and i spend all evening on cloud nine. Other days, I wish I could start all over. still other days, I wish they had never come. It's a balancing act, home schooling, writing, and somewhere in there i have to wash clothes, wash dishes and keep up with friends and family. I guess life is full of ups and downs for everyone. We can't concentrate on them as separate things, though. We have to remember the end goal and keep on keeping on, even when the way is rough. If I fail, I have to get up and try again.

My husband has this saying that I absolutely love. When our girls were smaller and learning to walk, they were always tripping and falling down. When they fell, as long as they weren't hurt and crying, he'd say, "Get up and do it again."

That's what we have to do in life. whether we home school, write, teach in public school, nurse sick folks, or greet people at Walmart; if we fall, we have to get back up and do it again. Failure isn't final, and giving up is not an option.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard a well-meaning person tell me, they just don't know how I do it, being a mom who can't see and all. If I'm in the wrong mood, I might say something like, "Well, it's not like I can get any help, anyway, so I might as well keep going." But, that's not the right answer. The answer is, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Give up just because I can't see? Not on your life. Give up because I didn't graduate from college? No way, y'all! Where there's a will, I'll find the way, and when I find it, the Lord will be there to guide me through the obstacles that the devil tries to put in my path.

"I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God's holy word, a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. It's words will I hide in my heart that I might not sin against God." Amen?

Have a fabulous weekend, and we'll see y'all on Monday.

A Writing Wednesday

2012-01-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

Just FYI, I can not write with the TV on. Why that is, I don’t know. I can write when the kids are talking to me. I can write in the middle of the night when I’m half asleep. I can write inside my head when I’m in a shopping mall full of talking people. I can even make up stories when I’m supposed to be paying attention in church...um, I didn’t mean to admit that. lol But, for some crazy reason, when my husband comes home and turns on that TV, I just can’t write!

Speaking of writing in the middle of the night, I’ve been doing quite a bit of that, here lately. About a week ago, a character waltzed in to my head, right out of the blue. Immediately, I liked him, even though I didn’t know much about him. I still don’t know a whole lot, but he lets me know when he’s ready to tell me. A couple of days after I met my character, the heroine of the story started talking to me in my head. I was like, “What is your name, anyway?”

Deed, y’all she wouldn’t tell me. So, I wrote 1,039 words, the first night, and I kept saying “She” cause I didn’t know her name. I’m like, “Lady, I can’t write a book about you, if you don’t tell me your name.” lol

So, I went a-googling, cause my male character’s family is not originally from this country, and I needed a good last name for him. While looking up names in his native language, I found what appeared to be a normal, old-fashioned, American girl’s name. But, apparently, in Spanish, it means “beauty”. Aha! That’s her name! :)

As for research, well, I’ve stopped, for now. I need to do a lot, but I can’t. The biggest reason for stopping the research is that I want to write the story. My characters live in a place called “somewhere”, and they go visit places like “that town”. The bad guy’s gun is a “gun” and the illegal organization is called “something or other”. Ha!

I’ve been following the blogs and writing advice on
www.mybooktherapy.com
and their suggestion is to do a fast write. I’m not editing, even though one character has changed gender on me. I’m not correcting bad sentences, because it all makes sense to me, right now, anyway. lol I’m just writing. It looks bad, but oh well. It’s in pieces, scenes separated by about 4 blank lines, but that’s ok. And, more importantly, I’m not talking about it. No excerpts on here, no teensy excerpts on FaceBook, no chats with my best friends Anita and Peggy about it. Nope, I’m not talking. What you’ve heard is all you get. This way, maybe it will get finished. I sure hope so.

Another thing I want to say about writing, is it’s a sacrifice. Very few people take me seriously, mostly because I never finish anything. I’m real good at the big ideas, but not so good at following through. But,with writing, the biggest problem is confidence, not laziness. I love to make up stories. Love to read them, love to write them, and someday, I’ll be taken seriously. But, I digress.

Anyway, as I was saying, writing, for now is a hobby. I have to home school my girls during the day, do laundry, dishes, yatta, yatta, yatta, so my writing has to come somewhere after that. This blog, too, has to come in between it all. In today’s world, if you want to be seen, you got to have a presence on the internet, and i like communicating with y’all, my faithful readers, via blogging. After all, why would you consider buying one of my books, if you haven’t read anything I write? This way, if you like my blog, you might be more interested in buying my books.

People ask me, “How do you find time to write, plus do everything else?”

Well, y’all, do you remember the writing in my sleep? That’s it. I get up early or stay up late, put off doing housework, stuff like that in order to write. Does it have an impact on the rest of my life? Sure it does. Sleeping off a 3 hours wakefulness in the middle of the night, usually means we don’t get started in school until 10 or 11 in the morning. But, these characters who are talking, living and breathing in my head, have to come out! Even if no one reads them, the stories have to be told.

Take this current WIP, for instance. I haven’t told you anything about it. And, truth is, I’m not writing this one for anyone, except me. I want to write this one for me. I want to know if I have what it takes to write this kind of story, and I’ll never know, if I don’t try. I wrote the sequel to “Wild Heart” for a few interested folks, but this one’s for me. I need your prayers that I finish it for me, cause if I finish it, then and only then can it be a blessing to you.

Y’all take care and come back Friday. Think I’ll write about home school and some of the funny things that happen when you get kids involved. :)

Can We Be Too Holy?

2012-01-16T07:56:00.002-05:00

1 Peter verses 15-16 says, and I quote from the King James 1611 version, “but as he hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

I listened to a sermon the other day, where the minister spoke against women waring pants, watching television, the internet and FaceBook. He didn’t get too many amens, just FYI. His message did have a positive effect on me, though; it made me think. So, here’s the results of my much thinking. :)

When I was growing up, my dad was not a Christian. Praise the Lord forever, today he is! Yay! But, a conversation with my dad when I was a teenager has stuck with me all these years. We were talking about someone we knew, and for the sake of privacy, I’ll call her Mary. I don’t know what we had been saying about Mary, who BTW is a Christian. What I do remember is my dad said, “A little holier than thou, isn’t she? I mean, from the way she acts, you’d think her name was Mary Christ.”

From what he said, I believe my dad felt like Mary had reached a level he felt he could not reach, so why bother. I believe there are lots of folks out there, who probably feel the same. Someone told me a few months ago that she had no use for organized religion. Let me say, that I think the reason for that, is quite possibly, organized religion had no use for her.

In the book of Luke, chapter 19, Jesus passes through Jericho, and in Jericho, there was a rich man, a tax collector named Zacheus. Now, Zacheus was real short, but no one felt sorry for him. In fact, no one liked him, much, I’d bet. When people saw Zacheus coming, they probably hid, like a lot of you do when the Jehovah’s witnesses or Mormons come up your front walk. Zacheus deserved people being hateful to him; he cheated folks out of their hard-earned money. Well, on the day Jesus was coming through town, Zacheus was curious to see him, but he couldn’t, because he was too short to see over the heads of the crowd. Wonder why he wanted to see Jesus? I’m sure he had heard all the stories about Him, and like any nosy person, he wanted to get a look at Him for himself. So, he climbed in to a sycamore tree and waited.

Pretty soon, he caught sight of the famous man that everyone was talking about. But, something wasn’t right. I mean, this man who reportedly healed folks and raised them from the dead didn’t look like anything holy. Why, in fact, He looked a lot like everyone else. He wasn’t especially nice-looking, either. Had Zacheus misjudged Him?

Then, as Jesus passed under the tree, He looked up and saw Zacheus hiding there. He told him to hurry up and come down, for He was going to his house to stay, today. Somewhere between that moment and the moment when Jesus left Zacheus’s house, something happened to the tax collector’s heart. And, wonder of wonders, Jesus never said anything about do’s and don’ts. He didn’t say, “Now, Zacheus, your wife and kids got to put on church clothes.” He didn’t say, “Um, Zach, buddy, better stop cussing, ‘cause the son of God is eating with you today.” He didn’t say, “Now, Zacheus, you got to start treating folks right and not cheat them anymore.”

Nope, Jesus didn’t lay down the law and expect Zacheus to obey. Instead, he just offered to be his friend, ate a meal with him, I’ll bet, and was just Himself, Jesus. Because of the Lord’s willingness to seek and save that which was lost, Zacheus had a heart transplant. :) After his heart got right, then he, Zacheus, told the Lord that he, Zacheus would pay those folks back, plus some. Zacheus’s heart was changed, and only then, did he seek to please the Lord.

Now, only you know if FaceBook is wrong for you. Only you know whether you should ware a dress or pants or a paper bag. lol Only you can make things right between you and God. If that TV keeps you from reading your Bible or going to church or praying, turn it off. If you spend more time on FB than you do praying, then stop it. But, don’t judge what is sin in another’s life. I think it’s high time, we start being real careful about saying, “Well, God told me this or that.”

Is there a such thing as being too holy? You tell me.

I took a break from blogging three times a week, but I’m going to try to get with it. :) So, come back Wednesday, when I’ll write about writing. Y’all take care, and remember Jesus loves you!

Birthdays and New Year's Day

2012-01-05T15:39:00.002-05:00

I turned thirty-three the other day. You know when you’re a kid and a grown-up asks you how it feels to be such and such age? Well, if you were to ask me how it feels to be thirty-three, I’d have to say it feels a lot like thirty-two but it a bit more depressing. It’s not that I’m embarrassed or depressed about my age, but I can’t help thinking that I’m growing older and nothing spectacular seems to be happening. That sounds silly, I know, but it’s true. I guess when we’re teenagers, we think we know it all and we’re going to change the world with what we know. Then, when we’re all grown-up, we realize we didn’t know it all, and the world is very much not impressed with the little that we do know. lol

There was a song out a few years ago called, “1985”. I remember laughing when I first heard it. It was 2005, I was pregnant with my first baby, and I was on my way home from work. The radio was playing in the van. The driver turned up the volume, and I heard, “Springsteen, Madonna. Way before Nervana, there was U2 and Blondy and music still on MTV. Her two kids in high school, they tell her that she’s uncool. But, she’s still preoccupied in 1985.” :D

I remembered a lot of the things mentioned in the song. I remember my dad watching MTV, and it was music videos. I remembered listening to Springsteen and Madonna. A cousin of mine used to have a cassette tape of White Snake. 1985, in 2005 was just as real to me, as it was to the woman in the song. A few days after I heard that song, I was sitting at a table and talking to some kids in middle school. The one said something about going to a Tracy Lawrence concert. I said something like, “He was popular when I was thirteen.” One of the girls was like, “I know. That was like when I was born.” Haha! That, y’all was the first time in my life that I ever felt old. lol

A friend of mine, when she turned forty, decided it was time to sit down and write the book she always wanted to write. So, that is what she did. Her one daughter is married, her other daughter is engaged to be married, and her homeschooled son is in high school, doing most of the work on his own. Me, on the other hand, now, I wrote a book, and now I’m trying to concentrate on raising my children who are practically still babies. I don’t know what nuggets of wisdom I’ms upposed to gain in comparing my friend and I,, but I wonder, when my kids are grown, will I look back and find something I’d wish I had done? If so, wonder what that will be?

I’ve always been a dreamer. Some of my dreams are big and some aren’t. Some are way too outrageous for my own good, and some, while not too big, are big enough that I don’t have room on my already-full plate for them to ever come to fruition. But, still, I wonder if any of those dreams will ever amount to anything. Maybe, they will become books. I love making up stories, after all. Maybe, the really outrageous dreams are only meant to give me something to smile about. Then again, we can’t see the future, therefore, we never know what God has in store for us.

It’s a new year. Last year, as I told my 6-year-old on New Year’s Eve, is gone. We’ll never see 2011 again. Babies were born last year, family members died. Some folks got married, and others got divorced. Those babies will never be teeny babies again. Those who have died, we’ll never see again this side of eternity. The person you married will never be your fiance, again, and the spouse you divorced is no longer yours to have and to hold. But, since we’re alive and kicking, God isn’t finished with us. He has something He wants us to do, somewhere He wants us to go, someone out there He wants us to witness to. And, if you don’t know Him, He’s calling your name and has something wonderful planned for you, a relationship with Him. Since we can’t go back to yesterday, we have no choice but to plow ahead to the rest of today.. We’re not promised tomorrow, after all. We have to live in the “now”. Now, is all we have.

As for resolutions, I made one. I promised myself that I would do the best I could do in my now. I’m not going to worry about the decisions I made yesterday. I am not going to worry about the decisions I have to make tomorrow. I am going to live and do my best right now. Right now, I’m going to love my children and show them how much I love them. Right now, I’m going to do the job God has given me. Right now, I’m going to be the best wife I know how to be.

Last year, about this time, if you care to go back that far on this blog, I was writing about obedience. Nothing much has changed since January 2011; it has, however, gotten better. Three years ago, about this time, I had just published my first book. A few things have changed since then, mostly I’ve fallen off cloud nine and realized writing isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. :) What will I blog about in January 2013? What will be different next year? Only God knows. But, my goal for this year is to live in such a way that when I look back to January 2012, I have no regrets. How about you?

It's What's on My mind

2011-12-21T07:49:00.003-05:00

Y'all know what I'm talking about, if I say I have a plastic container like you get sauce in from a pizza place, right? Well, just FYI, if you put it in the microwave with the lid on, after 5 seconds, the lid will pop off and scare you to death. lol

During Sunday School the other day, the children handed out treat bags for everyone. They were just the run-of-the-mill brown, paper bags, but inside was an orange, an apple and a Hershey bar - at least, that was what was in mine. :) So, this morning, I was thinking... Hmm, melt some chocolate, slice the oranges and dip them in the melted chocolate. Put them in the fridge, and a couple of hours later, we'll have us a snack. I have some bananas, too. Wonder if that would be good? But, what about the apples? Apples and chocolate...I don't think so. lol Hey, but I just realized, I do have a can of biscuits. Wonder if I pealed and sliced the apples and then put cinnamon and sugar on them and wrapped them in the biscuits? Hmm, not sure about that They are those big, red apples that are pretty sweet to start with, so I'd better just eat them as is. :)

Sunday evening, we went to my mother and father-in-laws' for an early Christmas. Needless to say, Monday morning was spent fighting with boxes in order to get those toys opened. The 3 boxes of barbies were the worst, and they weren't even from the grandparents but a friend from church. Back when I was a little girl, I remember being so happy that I could open my own barbies without any help. Now, because so many dishonest people have ruined things for the honest, I can't hardly get those barbies loose for nothing. Finally, I got the scissors and went at it. I am firmly convinced that if a person is bound and determined to steal, let them, but for goodness sake, stop making it hard for the rest of us to free Barbie and Ken! When the happy couple were finally free of restraint, poor Ken's leg popped off. I dutifully removed his shorts, reattached his appendage and gave him back to my 6-year-old, saying, "Now, put his shorts back on him so he won't be naked." Haha!

Speaking of Barbie's man, my 6-year-old insists on calling him Kem. What is up with that? I keep telling her that his name is Ken, but she thinks I'm lying to her. She told me it was spelled K e m. I'm like, no it isn't. She said, "Well, you're blind and can't read it."

"Yeah," I said, "but I've kind of been around a bit longer than you, and I know his name is Ken."

Yesterday, my mom even told her I was right, but she wouldn't listen. Deed! She's 6 going on 25. And, poor Ken is going to end up with a complex, if she doesn't stop. lol

Just because I want to share something with y'all that I think is so funny, I'm placing a teensy excerpt below. This is one of my many WIP's,. Feel free to comment, critique, boo or like. :) I wrote this piece this morning, and couldn't stop laughing.

Work in Progress that doesn't have a name yet
“Pizza, huh? Hope you brought a truck load; these kids are like wolves when it comes to food.”
“I counted on that when I ordered it,” he said, following her toward the sounds of children’s voices and the smell of pepperoni and cheese.
The smiles on the children’s faces, Megan decided, were enough to make Jace’s surprise visit worth any discomfort on her part. It wasn’t often they got take out for dinner, and because her favorite people were happy, she was happy.
“So, if you used to live around here, why did it take you so long to come back home?”
It was Cathy who asked it, and because she had been preoccupied with watching Jace and Cody, Megan almost missed it. But, when Jace opened his mouth to answer, she felt her breath catch in her throat.
“Well, Cathy, I was in college for four years. Then, I went to medical school for four years. After that, I did a couple of internships, and I guess, as they say, the rest is history.”
“Wow,” Amy said. “If becoming a doctor takes that long, you can count me out!”
Jace laughed.
“So, how do you and my mom know one another?”
“Yeah,” Missie piped up, “did you two like each other?”
If the floor had opened up and swallowed her whole, Megan would have gladly let it. But, it it stayed in place. Her heart, on the other hand, got caught somewhere in her throat, and she almost choked on her bite of pizza. She could feel her face turning red, but before she could say anything, Jace was answering.
“The first time I ever saw your mom, Cody, was at a church youth raly. She was new around here, and all the guys thought she was the prettiest thing they’d ever seen. The youth director told us to line up for a game, and I was the lucky guy who got to stand behind her. The game was one of those where you have to pass a tooth pick from person to person using only your teeth. If you used your hands, you were disqualified.”
Snickers of laughter echoed around the room, and Megan gave up and laughed out loud.
“Well,” Jace continued, “your mom turns to me with that tooth pick between her teeth, and I thought I was going to die from embarrassment. But, I wanted our team to win, so I leaned forward and took the other end of the tooth pick between my teeth. I mean, our noses were so close. I was about to pull away, when I felt my nose start to tickle. And, before i knew it, i was sneezing all over the prettiest girl in church.”
“Oo! Yuck!” all the girls said before collapsing in to fits of laughter along with the boys.
“Oh, that is so gross!” Amy said. “Were you embarrassed, Aunt Megan?”
“Yes, I was. But, that wasn’t the only time he did that.”
“No way!”
“Yes, way,” Megan said, nodding toward Jace. “He was the snottiest kid I had ever seen. He was always sneezing on me. One time, he even barfed on me.”
That had all the kids snorting and laughing, and Megan grinned.
“That is so gross!” Cathy said around giggles. “I don’t know if I would let him sit at your table, after all that.”
“Hey, I got better after seventh grade.”
“Not much,” Megan said. “Why do you think I started carrying tissues around with me all the time?”
“Prettiest girl or not,” Chris said, “I’ll bet you didn’t have the guts to ask her out, after all that.”
The room grew quiet, then, as all eyes turned toward Jace and Megan, waiting for an answer.
“Well, by the time I had a car and could take her on a proper date, I was on some strong allergy medicine.”
“So, you two did like each other.”
From across the table, Megan met Cody’s eyes, only then realizing how intent his gaze was and had been during the entire conversation.
Jace must have realized it, as well.

Y'all have a happy Wednesday, and you be sure to come back and see me here real soon.

On Books and Writing

2011-12-15T09:19:00.006-05:00

I am not a superstitious person. I don't believe in bad luck or good luck. But, I am firmly convinced that if I talk about a story too much without writing it, it will never get written. It's almost like talking about it, jinxes it or something. If I reveal my secrets too soon, I never finish the book.

Here lately, it seems I can't finish any story, talked about or not. Maybe, depression has had some part in this, but I think it's more of a lack of direction on my part. When I published "Wild Heart", there for a while I was on cloud nine. I was ready to get the word out about my book. I wrote the sequel within eighteen months and published it through CreateSpace. I have sold less than fifty copies of that book, I would guess. Publish America says I haven't sold a book in over a year and want to know if I want to pay $149 to have my contract back. Those idiots need a wake up call, if you ask me. I didn't pay to have it published, they have made more money off me already. No way am I paying them for my contract, when I can have it back for free in a couple of years. CreateSpace, on the other hand isn't asking for any money, but my book isn't selling, either. I don't like how it came out, actually. So, what to do?

My friend, Peggy Hoy has her own Christian publishing company and has agreed to publish the second edition of "To Tame A Heart". I would like to do this for a couple of reasons, not the least of which, I could bring the price of the book down, and she can make it look better. But, what keeps running through my mind, is why pay all that money to have it printed? Will I sell enough copies to make it worth while? If I held on to the manuscript, could I submit it to Harlequin or pitch it to a literary agent?

Here are some hard truths I am coming to understand:
1. While "Wild Heart" and "To Tame A Heart" are my babies, they are not my best. I can do better.
2. People, no matter what these vanity presses are saying, do not want to buy books, and if they do, they don't want to pay more than $7.99 for it.
3. Even if I manage to wow an agent or an editor with my log line, signing a contract with a mainstream publisher means a full-time job, which means I will need babysitters in order to meet deadlines. Working full-time doesn't leave a lot of room for homeschooling. I'm not sure that is the route I want to take.
4. I just don't have hundreds of dollars lying around to spend whenever I finish a book.

So, do I sound depressed to you? Or, are these things to consider, things that make sense?

I believe I am called to sing. I believe I am called to play the piano. I believe I am called to be a stay-at-home wife and mom. I believe I am called to homeschool my kids. I believe I am called to write. All I need now, is for the Lord to reveal unto me, just what He wants me to do with it all. :)

Just so you won't think I'm totally negative, I am writing. I had a manuscript lying around here with 6k words. Monday, four days ago, I started working on it in earnest. It's up to 12,393 words, now. It's not a Western, it's not a historical at all, unless you consider the 1980's to be a long time ago. lol I don't have any plans for it, just to finish it and do my best. Maybe, that's all I need to worry about. Maybe, the problem is I wrote "To Tame A Heart" for a few someones. Maybe, this WIP is working because it is for me. But, then again, maybe not. I don't know. I do know, however, I keep praying, and God keeps the ideas coming. I need y'all's prayers that I finished this one. Maybe, when it's done, the third book in the "Wild Heart" series will happen, or the mail-order-bride story will happen, or...well, I could name a number of stories I've started, but I won't. :)

Just for your amusement, here's a story Kierstin, my 4-year-old told me this morning. I transcribed it, just as she told it to me.

"Devils and Pigs" by Kierstin Wells Transcribed by Shannon Wells
the big man that's named Deck. he was so crazy like the crazy man from the Bible. He hurt hisself with rocks like the crazy man did. people tried to chain him up with ropes and chains but he broke them with his teeth, not like the crazy man. The demons got out of him and he broke the chains for kids. The kids had loose pants so they had chains for belts. and then, the demons got in the pigs, then they were crazy like the crazy man. After the demons got in the pigs, they got bad and shouted out like evil crazy pigs. then they hurt thereselfs with chains. they were crazy awful. The pigs were crazy and that's all.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to join the conversation with your two cents worth. Until next time, keep on keeping on. :)

After the Weekend

2011-12-12T07:19:00.004-05:00

So, I guess by now y'all realized I took a few days off from blogging. My best excuse is that I really could not think of anything to write about. The good news is I'm back, I'm ready to write and I have something to say.

Friday was one busy day. I did laundry, swiffered my house, straightened up the living room, made a pot of chili which I'll tell you about later and made some cheese-filled bread. I bathed my girls and after dinner, went to a Christmas play at my dad's church. Due to the inadequacy of the chili, we had to get cheeseburgers from Burger King on the way home.

On Saturday, I washed dishes, did laundry and thought a lot about baking. I never did bake, though. I kept wondering why my tongue was so sore. I even had the hubby to look at it to see if something was obviously wrong. It burned every time I ate or drank anything even remotely acidic, and every time I turned around my mouth was watering. What on earth was going on? Ha! It was that crazy chili. See, I accidentally put too much chili powder in it. As a result, it set my tongue on fire. It's still sore today, but not as much, thankfully. As for the cheese bread, my girls and I finished an entire loaf on Saturday, mostly because it didn't hurt my mouth to eat it. lol

So, Saturday night rolls around, and the 6-year-old is coughing. I gave medicine for it, sent her to bed and prayed. The next morning, she gets up with a fever and a bad cough. No Sunday School for us. Instead, her daddy took her to the doctor who gave her an antibiotic and offered to write a note for her teacher so she could miss school the next day. This teacher plans to take it easy for the poor, lil thang. lol

So, while the man of the house and the 6-year-old were at the doctor, the 4-year-old and I played barbie, watched some TV and made 2 batches of cookies. Ok, I made the cookies, but she helped. The Christmas tree was lit, and the house smelled yummy. By the time Dad and Sis got home, cookies were ready to be tasted. I made chocolate chip and chocolate sugar. After cleaning up from my bake fest, I did more laundry, then sat down to rest. Bedtime came, we gave meds and tried to settle down for a long winter's nap...uh, wait a minute - wrong story. What I meant was, we tried to get some sleep, but the 6-year-old was wound up. She got up to go to the bath room; she got up to get a drink. She got up to blow her nose, and walked back and forth before the sink...oh, dear, I'm rhyming. Somebody stop me! lol

Needless to say, it was a long night, but not a sleep-filled one. But, this cold Monday morning, we're awake, at least the 4-year-old, the man of the place and I are. My man's off to work, I'm blogging at the kitchen table, the youngest is eating coco puffs cereal and gabbing my ear off, and the big baby is still sleeping away. No plans to wake her up anytime soon, I can tell you.

Since y'all seem to like to hear about my books, I've started working on another one that has been on the back burner for a while. This one is a contemporary Christian Romance. Well, it's contemporary if you think 1989 is modern-day. :) I have about 6k words written, but most of that was when I started it months ago. For the past few days, the storyline has been running around in my head, I've changed some names, and I've written a paragraph or two. One thing I'm slowly learning, writing full time and homeschooling full-time is almost impossible. :) Is it ok to take a day off from school and write? Is it ok to take time off from school, when you've already taken some time off this year? Hmm, I don't know.

When I start thinking of making sure my first grader is doing first grade stuff, I feel like hyperventilating. Am I covering everything I should be? Am I missing something vital? Should I consider having her tested either now or at the end of the year to see if she is really on a first grade level? Ok, I'm getting wound up. Let's talk about something else.

Let's see, baking, homeschooling, writing... What else do y'all wanna hear about? Tell y'all what, you drop me comments letting me know what you want to know, and I'll do my best to write about them. Have a question about blindness or blindness related issues? Ask away.

Until next time, keep smiling, keep praying, and hang in there. We have something to be thankful for, after all; we're not pushing up daisies! Amen?

Just the Everyday

2011-12-07T13:26:00.005-05:00

A few minutes ago, my 6-year-old said she saw a spider in the floor. I told her to go get a shoe and smash him. She and her 4-year-old sister ran to get a shoe. They came back, but by that time, the spider had ran and hid under my husband's desk. They sat there for about five minutes, waiting for him to come out. He never did. I told them the spider was probably afraid, and wouldn't come out from under there until their daddy came home, and when he did come home, I'd tell him to stomp on that spider. They were happy about that and ran to the other room to play. As they ran off, I heard the 4-year-old say, "I don't wike spidas, cause day are cweepy." Hahahaha!

A couple of days ago, I read a book just for the pure enjoyment of it. We didn't do school, I didn't bother with laundry, I just read and washed up a few dishes. I didn't even cook dinner. Had the man of the house to bring pizzas home. It was nice to read a book, it was nice to be lazy, but I tell you, I was out of sorts all day long. I couldn't concentrate on anything, and I didn't want to do anything, either. Was the book worth it? Maybe, maybe not. Ok, probably not.

Once, a friend's husband told me that entertainment wasn't good for him. I remember thinking, "Are you crazy?" I mean, who doesn't like to enjoy some free time for entertainment. After all, nothing wrong if it's clean. As it turns out, he isn't crazy. The other day was a prime example, for me, anyway. Ignoring my responsibilities just for my own pleasure was not the best decision. Reading for enjoyment, now there's nothing wrong with that, but I could have been a bit less selfish while reading.

Note to self: If you want to read a book, do so, but don't be so selfish while you do it. :)

What else has been going through my head? Oh yeah, we're supposed to get some snow. At least, the mountains are, but I don't think this valley will see much of it. For one, the ground is too wet and warm for anything to stick. Yeah, I know they are calling for it to be a heavy, wet snow, but it has been raining cats and dogs for like the last two or three days. Everything is sopping wet. It would have to be freezing if anything was to stick. Hope it snows some, for the girls, anyway. They love to see it snow.

Haha, that reminds me, my mamaw used to say, "sopping wet." You ever heard that one before? Sopping wet...or how about this one? "Do ye want to sop ye biscuit?" lol Mamaw used to fry eggs so that the white was just done and the yellow (yalla) was done but easily broken. She'd "bust the yalla" and I'd "sop" my bread in it. Wow, I want some breakfast! lol

Nowhere else, I don't think, except the hills and hollers of the Appalachians will you hear such biblical sayings as "sop" "ye" and "reckon". Here, I used to think that it was old-fashioned for my grandparents to say, "I reckon I'll sop my biscuits in gravy", and turns out Jesus might have said the same thing. Hahaha!

Well, once again I have switched which WIP I'm working on. Having good ideas for the third book in the Wild Heart series. Haven't done much work on it, but school does come first, ya know. Maybe, I'm crazy, maybe I'm ADD when it comes to writing, but going from one book to another seems to keep the boredom away. :) Usually, if I give myself a couple of weeks and go back to a problem story, the parts i thought were real bad aren't so bad after all.

Oh, my, well, the 4-year-old is whining today, the dirty dishes are taunting me, I need to make more koolade and sweet tea, and I should listen to my first grader read to me, one more time before saying school is out for the day. If that big snow doesn't come, we're taking the girls to youth tonight at a local church to practice for the Christmas program. If it does snow, we're staying home. Either way, there's dinner to cook. I think we're having chili. Not sure. Y'all have a happy Wednesday, and remember Jesus loves you. Be sure and come back again.

Monday's Random Thoughts

2011-12-05T11:16:00.003-05:00

People, like characters in books, are multidimensional. That is a big word for a Monday, I know, but it simply means that there are a lot of different things that make up our likes and dislikes, our hopes, our dreams, and how we feel about everything. People are not like numbers, always the same no matter what. We can't be classified, even though some would like us to be.

Where didd this observation come from? I have no idea. Hahaha! I guess I was just thinking about myself and realizing that I, and everyone else enjoys or does not enjoy a lot of different things for a lot of different reasons.

I believe we can think we know someone. We can know their likes and dislikes, what they believe in, what they were like as a child, and why they have a passion for this or that, but even then, there are things about us that remain a mystery. Maybe, if my husband and I are blessed with 50 plus years of marriage, we might know each other pretty well, but I'm not so sure.

I developed a liking for hot tea with sugar in it, because my mom always drank it. She likes so much sugar in hers, though that if you let it sit in the fridge long enough it would turn to pure sugar. lol Me, on the other hand, now I like it a little less sweet. I also like a drop of milk in my hot tea. I do not like milk in my iced tea, though. My grandparents always liked coffee, and now I like it, too. I grew up drinking Pepsi, but I'd rather have Coke. My mom always salted my food so much when I was a kid, because that's the way she liked it. Now, though, I don't use salt hardly at all. I wore jeans when I was a teenager, and I like wearing them now. I grew up in a 14 by 70 trailer with 3 younger sisters, and now I really need a few minutes a day without any noise at all. I used to like to sit in the dark in my bedroom as a kid and listen to audio books. Now, I am totally blind and still like to be read to. Speaking of that, I think I developed a love of audio books, because my mom always read out loud to me. I don't mind the smell of perm solution, because my mom is a beautician. I like music, because I grew up hearing so much of it. From Southern Gospel to Bruce Springsteen, I was exposed to a lot of different genres and styles.

We're all like that, different and as complex as ever.

. I asked a lady once what her favorite kind of music was. Her answer made me laugh. She said, "I like country and heavy metal." lol
I still can't find the connection, there, but - whatever.

I grew up in a mostly white community. Most of the folks who lived around me were very prejudiced. But, because I am blind, I went to a school 20 miles away in a community that was not mostly white. Most of the kids I went to elementary school with were black. Most of my friends were black. All of the kids in my classes at school were the same to me. I did not grow up to be prejudiced against someone because of the color of their skin. As I have mentioned in a previous entry, I had a teacher who was Jewish. Therefore, I did not grow up thinking that someone who believes different from me is a "bad person". Experiences we have as children help shape what we will become, but they do not define who we will be.

The one thing I know for a fact, the one thing I am sure of, is that God knows me better than I know myself. He knows you, too. He created us and knows what makes us tick. He also knows who and what we will be in 10 or 20 years. I am glad I do not know.

This entry seems random, and I can't seem to keep my mind on it. When I drank my coffee this morning, I felt the heat of it in my ears. What's up with that? My ears don't hurt, but it felt good to swallow something hot. My kids won't stop fighting, and i had to separate them. Why do they fight after such a good day, yesterday? Why do I feel like it's wrong to want some time to myself? I guess we all need to do our own thing and be left alone for a while. Y'all take care, keep us in prayer, and come back Wednesday.

Are You Happy?

2011-12-02T07:00:00.003-05:00

What does it mean to be happy? Does it mean having everything you ever wanted? Does it mean being with that special someone? Does it mean having everything to suit you? What about everything going the way you want it too, is that being happy?

Now, y'all should know me better than to think any of the above are true. Of course, being with the man or woman we love is happiness, or it can be. ;) Having things we like can make us happy. We would all agree that a day where everything goes our way feels good. We all like to be entertained, and certainly a good story or funny joke can bring a smile to our faces, but are these things what make us happy?

I heard someone in a Sunday School class say once, "Well, I think God wants us to be happy."

The teacher of the class ignored the woman, which in my opinion was a mistake. But, maybe the answer strikes a little too close to home for us to be able to talk about it, comfortably.

This morning, I was listening to some music, and all of a sudden, I felt this overwhelming joy. Chills ran over me and I smiled for no apparent reason. I thought, "Oh, Lord, I am so happy!" And I am. But, why am I?

Is it the place where I live? Um, no. I live in a house that is too small. The town i live in is so rural, I can't afford even a cab to go to the Walmart. I have to rely on others to go anywhere, unless it is the Post Office the doctor or the playground. Is it my family that brings me happiness? Well, yeah, sometimes they do, but being a stay-at-home mom of 2 can be challenging and hard, sometimes. I don't always feel like laughing. And, yet, I am still happy.

I think that sometimes, folks have trouble being happy, because they have a mixed up view of what happy really is. I think we remember how it was in our school days, and think, "Gee, since I'm not as physically well or have as many friends as I did back then, I'm not happy."

But, true happiness does not come from without, it comes from within. Now, all you fundamental Christians calm down a minute. :) Let me explain. If the true source of joy, happiness, peace and love is living in your heart, then it will be within you and come out of you.

All these kids shows on TV tell you to trust your heart, and believe in yourself. I know they mean well, but folks, there is nothing within us that can give us anything. Jesus says that we are the branches, He is the true vine and God is the husbandman, or the carer of the vineyard. If I'm a branch, then it's safe to say that I can't nourish myself. Do you see branches living after you pick them? Of course not. When you pick a leaf off a tree or a flower from a plant, it always dies, doesn't it. That's how we are when we are not living in the vine, Jesus Christ. We whither and die. But, if we stay connected to the vine, we receive the nourishment that we need and we live. Just in case there is some misunderstanding, I'm talking spiritually, here, not physically.

Jesus lived a perfect life. He did no wrong. Yet, He lived in a sinful world. He got hungry. He got tired. He probably got a splinter, seeing as how His stepfather was a carpenter. He had siblings. If He wanted to go somewhere, He had to deal with crowds of people. He knows what it's like to pay taxes. I'm sure He knows how it feels to have annoying family members, too. :) He knows how I feel. He knows how you feel. And, He cares. He loves us so much that He gave up His life for us. Go read it in John, if you don't believe me. I think it's safe to say, we can trust Him with our hearts, homes, lives, children, spouses, finances, health, in-laws, weight difficulties, and everything else in between.

A few years ago, I was volunteering at an assisted care living facility owned by some friends of mine. I was in the kitchen, and they had those baby monitors, so you could hear what went on in the rooms, and the monitors were turned up real loud in the kitchen. I couldn't help but over hear, one day, as one of the owners went in to a patient's room and started singing at the top of his voice.

"Where do all these happy people come from? Where do all these happy people come from? They come from Jesus!"

The poor patient was unable to speak, but you could hear their grunt, as if to say, "Bah humbug!" :)

But, that did not deter the man's enthusiasm for sharing God's love. And, turns out, he's right. Happiness, the lasting kind can only come from Jesus. Hands down, no other answer for being happy; just Jesus. Why, just saying His name brings me peace.

Y'all have a happy Friday, and a wonderful weekend. If you get lonely, read St. John, or any part of the Bible you wish. Need an uplift, remember I'm praying for you all, whoever you are. All I gotta say is, "God, please bless those who read this blog." He'll do it, too. He is faithful, don't forget.

Wednesday's Writings

2011-11-30T08:46:00.005-05:00

Inside my head is a lot of useless knowledge. Maybe, a tenth of it comes in handy when writing my books, but probably not. The main character in my current work in progress is a farmer in 1866. I'm wondering if it would have been possible that his neighbors and he got together and put money in to a reaper or threshing machine. He and his neighbors could have shared it, especially if there was a lot of grain. So, because I had a few minutes while eating my breakfast of buttered toast and coffee, I went a-googling.

There were articles on eHow with directions on how to thresh and winnow some home grown wheat, which I thought was interesting. Maybe, someday that can be a science project? Hmm. Anyway, I happened upon a blog that I thought I'd share, in case your mind is strange and works like mine. Here's the link
http://doyle-scienceteach.blogspot.com/2009/03/separating-wheat-from-chaff.html
It's interesting from both the literal definition of separating wheat from chaff and from the biblical point of view. I guess that since my family doesn't usually plant and harvest wheat, I just didn't know how hard it was, or what it meant. Now I do. :)

I know that in my writing I don't need to know all about a threshing machine, but I wanted to know what my character's new wife might think of it. What might she see if she paused at the kitchen window to wipe the sweat from her brow? What might she hear? What particular job might her husband have in the whole process? Neither Google, eHow nor YouTube gave me those answers, of course. lol Guess I'll have to fake it until I find the answers.

Coming up with conversation the women in the kitchen might have, now that's easy. They will talk about their husbands. :D It will be hot in the kitchen, and it will smell heavenly. I'd like to be there, in fact. Let's step in for a minute, and see what's going on.

Ok, we're flies on the wall, and we hope those ladies don't see us, because this could get interesting. There are two ladies standing over there by the cookstove, and man is it hopping with heat and boiling pots. Smells like coffee, potatoes, gravy, and are those green beans from this summer's garden? MMM! Oh, my, what is that white-haired lady rolling out on the table over there? Looks like pie crust to me. Oh! Oh, and are those apple slices in that bowl? Apple pie, yes that's it! And, there are two other women cutting corn from the cob. Will they can it today, do you think? All around us is conversation and laughter. Every now and then, a mother scolds a child for putting his or her fingers in a forbidden bowl, and there's one of the mother's from over at the stove, comforting a tot with a burned finger. Wait! Someone is opening the oven. They are pulling out a pan with...fresh bread! Oh, see how golden brown and yummy it looks? Ah, I hope we get to eat some of that. Yeah, I know we're flies, but we can sample it so fast, those women won't have time to swat us away.

On the other side of this big room is the living space with a couple of rocking chairs, a cot, a fireplace, a sewing basket filled to the brim, and an old, rag rug on the floor. There are a couple of girls who look as if they are about fifteen. They are minding the babies, each holding one. One baby is fussy, and nothing seems to be able to calm him, while the other sleeps, blissfully unaware of the bustle around her.

Oops! Buzzy, I think we've been spotted. FLY! No, no, not that way! That's not a door! yes, this way, the mosquito netting is broken around this door frame. Watch out! Fshew! That was a close call! Let's go back down to the barn, where it's quieter.

Hahaha! Can't y'all tell I've had some caffeine today?

Since it's the last day of November, the last day for National Novel Writing Month, I just want to say, that the WIP I was working on, the one that has 21k words and holding, is sitting there, waiting for inspiration. In the last two days, I have written 3k words on another WIP. Won't tell you anymore than i already have, but it's one I can't seem to get out of my head. I'm glad I didn't sign up for NaNoWriMo, but I do wish I could have written more on the sequel to "To Tame A Heart". The ideas just aren't there, though. So, I'm writing on the one that wakes me up in the middle of the night, the one that makes me think of my mamaw who past away back in February. She would have loved this type of story, a Prairie Romance complete with a mail order bride and all. :)

Well, time to get off here and print some stuff out for school. Happy Wednesday to everybody and thanks for stopping by. I'll be blogging again on Friday if not before, so y'all come back, now, ye hear? lol

A Kitchen Delight

2011-11-28T15:59:00.003-05:00

The other evening, I was finishing another Joanne Fluke book, "Candycane Murder", when I suddenly HAD to have a cookie. Not just any old cookie, either. I wanted a chocolate sugar cookie. But, the recipe called for cream of tartar, and I am like Old Mother Hubbard who went to her cupboard to get her poor dog a bone. Just like her, when I got there, my cream of tartar shelf was bare, and so when it came to chocolate sugar cookies, i had none. However, i was not giving up so easily.

On a whim, I pulled up my sugar cookie recipe, the plain one and started mixing up ingredients. Here's what I did, how I did it and the end result.

First I preheated my oven to 375 degrees. Remember the sugar cookies I wanted to make in the post "Kitchen Nightmare"? Well, that bowl of flour and such contained 2-3/4 cups of all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder. So, in a bigger bowl, I beat together 1 cup, that's 2 sticks of Land O Lakes butter that had been melted in the microwave, 3/4 cup of brown sugar and 3/4 cup of white sugar. When it was mixed well, I added one egg and beat some more. Then, I put a teensy drop of vanilla extract in there and some imitation maple flavoring and mixed. I put my beaters in the sink, after licking them a bit, and poured my flour mixture in to the butter and sugar mixture. I stirred carefully, and then put my hands in there and finished the job.

I greased my cookie sheets with olive oil and used the oil to put on my hands. Then, I rolled out the cookies and baked them at 375 for 10 minutes. Turns out 10 mins wasn't enough, so I went to 11 mins. What came out of the oven were some yummy, warm cookies that made me think of maple and brown sugar oatmeal - without the oatmeal, of course. Hmm, wonder if oats in the cookies would be good. Might have to think on that.

Maybe the idea isn't new, maybe it is, but I was tickled pink by my experiment, especially when the end result was so good. If you've been following my blog, you'll remember a couple of weeks ago, when my time in the kitchen was not as successful. The other night's success, though was like a balm to my soul. And, all because I wasn't willing to settle for plain old sugar cookies.

Today has felt like a Monday. Today has even sounded like a Monday, what with the rain dripping outside and the sighing of yawns in the house. All my girls and I want to do is laze around on the couch, but we did manage to get some things done. Faith practiced her handwriting, her reading and reciting of the Lord's Prayer. We had a Bible lesson that was taken from Luke 10:33, which talks about the man who fell among thieves and was rescued by the Good Samaritan. The girls colored pictures illustrating the story and hung them on the freezer to show their daddy. We also started a science project with beans. We took a white bean, actually 2 of them, because you can't have just one with 2 kids. We talked about how they felt and looked, then placed them in water to see what happens. Every little bit, Faith and Kierstin go check on their beans. At one point, Faith tells me it's starting to look wrinkled. I asked her if she knew what else got wrinkly in water. When I told her it was her and her sister, she wanted to know if our skin was like a bean's skin. Haha! I said that, yep, in a way, cause our skin has tiny holes in it that soak up water. :)

But, now, it's time to get off the internet and go wash up some dishes in preparation for dinner. I had planned on hamburgers, but my husband said there was a cook out at his work today, so no hamburgers, please. Hope he has another good idea, cause I'm fresh out. Deed, just bring me a chicken basket from Dairy Queen or something from the Chinese place, and I'd be happy. Thing is though, there was too much month at the end of the money, because I went Christmas shopping on Amazon, so we'll have to make due with what we got.

Before I say bye for the day, I want to congratulate Heather C for winning the contest! Always love hearing from my readers. Congrats, Heather, and hope you enjoy the book.

Until next time, y'all keep on keeping on. God is faithful. Amen?

Early Morning Thanksgiving Thoughts

2011-11-24T06:18:00.004-05:00

Do y'all know why stores started decorating for Christmas before we even had a chance to buy the turkey for Thanksgiving? Do you know why stores are open for Christmas shopping during Thanksgiving? Do y'all know the real reason why people are encouraged to say Happy Holidays, instead of Merry Christmas? Here's my opinion, for what it's worth.

First, the season of Christmas, no matter what religion you claim is a money maker. Stores and businesses want your money, and it would seem they aren't above doing anything to get it. If they think they can put you in the Christmas present buying mood to get your money, they will. The second reason they push Christmas so early, and the biggest reason they seem to ignore Thanksgiving, is simply this: the devil uses anything he can to keep you from being thankful. Think about it. Don't the children learn in school about the Pilgrims who came to the new world so they could worship God in their own way? And, aren't we supposed to think on what we are thankful for? So, who don't want you to be thankful? Who wants you to be as miserable as you can be? Doesn't it make sense? I mean, how can you concentrate on being thankful, if you are busy shopping? How can you focus on how good God has been to you, if you're rushing around like a crazy person, just to get a better deal on a gift nobody really needs after all?

Now, about that happy holidays thing. There's nothing wrong with wishing someone a happy holiday, nothing wrong in it at all. I mean, it is easier to say that, than to say Merry Christmas, happy Thanksgiving and happy New Year. Here again, though, if the devil can use something, he will. subtly whispering in your ear, Satan says, "You don't want to offend anyone, seeing as how you are such a great Christian. Better say happy Holidays, so you won't hurt anyone's feelings." Sounds right enough, doesn't it? I mean, God don't want you to hurt anybody's feelings. It's just like when those Jehovah's Witnesses come to your door. You either hide so they won't know your home or you are so polite to them and wish them God's blessings. Am I right?

Ok, so here's the deal. When Jesus sent His disciples out two by two to preach, he told them to go in to a city and ask if anyone is worthy, which in today's terms kind of means, "Hey, anybody interested in learning more about Jesus and willing to let me come in and talk to them?" So, Jesus tells these men that if anyone is worthy, go in and abide in peace. (Shannon's interpretation) But, if the people are not worthy, those men were to shake the dust off their feet and go on. Y'all, we're not supposed to wish for God to bless a ministry that does not follow what the Bible says. If something is causing us to stray away from God, even if it is being inclusive, we're not to do it. When Jesus comes back, He ain't going to be asking if you spent your life being politically correct.

Some Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door once, and because I'm kind of mean, I told them I didn't want their booklet cause I was blind and couldn't read it. Hahaha! They came back the next week with a copy in braille so I could read it. I read most of it, just because I was nosy. When they came back, I told them what I thought and opened my Bible. They didn't stick around much after that. I did not wish them success, because I don't want them to be successful; I want them to be saved. They were such a nice couple, and it's a shame we don't have those kinds of folks ready to spread the Word. What's the matter with us "regular Christians" anyway?

Back to Merry Christmas. If my belief and trust in Jesus bothers you, get over it. If your unbelief bothers me, which it does, I'll pray for you, but I will not harass you.

I had a teacher in elementary school who was Jewish. She brought in a Dradle and taught us to play a game with it. She told us all about Hanukah. Yet, every Christmas she would take us to a local church to sing Christmas songs. she always asked me to sing "Away In A Manger". I wonder now if her heart was searching for truth. She made Christmas crafts with us, and always wished us Merry Christmas. We in turn, wished her and her family a Happy Hanukah.

Wherever you are, Shelley Kanner, I wish you a Happy Hanukah, but more than that, I pray you realize that the baby Jesus in that old Christmas song, is the one who can bring true peace to your soul.

Wherever you are today, folks, and whatever you do, take time out to be thankful. God is the one who has provided, remember to thank Him. Don't wish someone a happy turkey day, say "Happy Thanksgiving".

Something I thought was funny, one year someone told me back in October that they had already bought the turkey for Thanksgiving. It was just a 5 pounder, but that didn't matter. She had put it in her freezer and was looking forward to turkey gravy and stuffing. When the first part of November came, she said she still had that 10 pound turkey. I didn't say anything, but I was like, I thought she had a 5 pound one. lol Then, on Thanksgiving, she said something about a 20 pound turkey took a long time to cook. Hahaha! I told my husband, "I reckon that there turkey done growed in the freezer."

Now for the contest! Y'all thought I had forgot, didn't ye? Well, I haven't. Leave me a comment either on here for Facebook and tell me how you plan to spend your Thanksgiving. I'll randomly pick a winner, and that winner will receive an audio CD version of "Wild Heart". If you've forgotten what "Wild Heart" is all about, go check it out at
www.wildheartbook.com
Contest ends Sunday, Nov. 27 at 11:59 PM. Winner will be announced on Monday. Probably not blogging until then.

Happy Thanksgiving, and don't eat too much. :)

Mommying

2011-11-21T13:29:00.003-05:00

Do y'all remember that Loretta Lynn song "One's On The Way"? Well, thankfully there isn't another one on the way, but other than that I feel like the woman in her song. My favorite part of the song says, "But, here in Topika the flies are a-buzzin', the dog is a-barkin' and the floor needs a scrubbin'. One needs a spankin' and one needs a huggin' and one's on the way." lol

Last night before going to bed, I purposed in my heart to get up at a decent time, spend some time in the Word, start at 9 A.M. sharp with a Bible lesson, a few hours of school including math, reading and some learning about the Pilgrims. I planned on cleaning up my kitchen while Faith worked in her book. I planned on cleaning my house. But, here's how it went down.

The 3 year old woke me up at 4:22 crying. She didn't want on my side of the bed; she wanted in the middle. I said no and she said no. Hahaha! I finally got her to sleep in her own bed, but by that time it was 5, so I put on some coffee and turned on my computer. I was almost finished with cup number 1, when here she comes. Hadn't even opened my Bible, yet. She's upset and will not go back to bed without a huge fight. I'm not in the mood for a fight, so I held her for an hour while listening to music on iTunes. Around 7:20 I get up off the couch where I had been sitting with her and watching Little Bear to go talk to my husband before he went to work. While in there, the phone rings. While i'm talking, my little one starts crying again. She was sad that I had left her on the couch. At 7 A.M. I was the greatest mommy ever, but by 7:20 I had turned in to the meanest. lol All morning long the girls have fought. "Mom, she won't share! Mom she hit me! Mom she won't let me sit in my favorite chair! Mom, she won't leave me alone!"

I tell y'all, sometimes I want to buy a pair of earplugs. At one point, I said if they couldn't figure out a way to share, then we were putting it away. Both of them about cried then. Deed, mommying is not easy, and yet the Bible says in Psalms 127 that children are a reward. When the girls were much smaller, I remember thinking, "A reward for what, my own bad behavior?" Hahaha! Maybe so? lol ;) Truthfully, I'm thinking that isn't too far from the mark.

Makes me wonder what goes through God's mind when we bicker and fight. Opposing ball teams pray God will let their team win, and clearly, both can't. We pray for world peace, and turn around and cut somebody off on the freeway. Some folks never even acknowledge God, and yet, they expect Him to bless them with riches untold. What does He think of all this? More to the point, what does He think of me? Do I fuss and argue about what He has given me? And, more important, do I shut my mouth and listen when He speaks?

Ouch! Hang on a sec while I pull my feet in a bit.

Admittedly, I'm not all that smart, but here's a few things I'm beginning to figure out.

1. Children will teach you just exactly what you are made of.
2. Children will make you realize just how much you are loved.
3. Children will tell everybody all your secrets.
4. Children, especially those related by blood will treat you just like you treated your mom and dad.
5. Children will bring out the best and worst in you, usually at the oddest times.
6. Children will give you a good reason to climb up out of that depression that plagues you.
And, last but not least
7. Children will be one of the greatest blessings you'll ever receive from the Lord.

As for home school, we did manage to get some math and reading done. We still have some home ec to do, though. lol

Happy Monday, y'all and be sure to come back Wednesday. Still trying to figure out when I'll do the next giveaway/contest, but it'll either be Wednesday or Friday, so be sure to come back. And, if you can't think of anyone to pray for, pray for me.

Kitchen Nightmare

2011-11-18T16:27:00.003-05:00

Do y'all ever watch that show on TV? We do. In fact, we watch a lot of cooking shows, especially with Chef Gordon Ramsey in them. I get a kick out of watching people mess up real bad. I like to think I wouldn't be that stupid, but knowing me, I would. lol

Today, I am so very glad Chef Ramsey is not coming to check out my kitchen. It's not as bad s it was, but it sure isn't what it should be. Of course, I'm not cooking for anyone and making them pay for it, but still. If a chef, or anyone else for that matter would have been in my kitchen today, they would have thought I didn't know how to bake. All my cookies, except for 3 pans, stuck, badly. All except 3 pans needed put back in for an additional minute or 2 and never did feel done. As for the rest, most were ok, some got too done and others fell apart to the point we are eating them in pieces. Honestly, y'all if I had managed to goof up this bad in the beginning of my cooking days, I would wait a very long time before trying again. Luckily, I know I am a better baker than I was today. Also luckily, I like bread better than cookies. Ha! I'm better at bread, too. I have messed up my bread before, of course, but not this bad.

What did i try to make? Well, I mixed up a batch of chocolate sugar cookies, a recipe I got from one of Joanne Fluke's books. I can't remember which one. "Apple Turnover Murder" maybe? I don't know. Anyway, the first silly thing I did was tip my mixing bowl too much and splashed hot butter and chocolate on to my hand. It was a yummy mess, but it was hot where it had just come out of the microwave. And, yes, I melt my chocolate in the microwave. Sorry Chef Ramsey. :) Then, I made my dough balls too big and that first dozen didn't get done. Had to put them back in for another minute. After that, some of them stuck to the pan. My recipe didn't say whether to grease the pans or not, so I didn't. Probably should have.

The next batch of cookies was a recipe I found online somewhere. I don't know what they were called, but I call them pecan filled. When I measured out the nuts to put in the bowl, I spilled about half of them out on to the table. My 6 year old was happy to tell me I had made a mess. lol Basically, with these cookies, you make your batter, roll them in balls, press your clean thumb in them and put a pecan mixture in the thumb print. Before I had even finished rolling all the dough out, I had run out of nut mixture. Also, because the last time I made these cookies they didn't rise well, I made them bigger. Mistake. Last time my baking powder and baking soda were old. This time I had fresh, and y'all fresh works better than old. Haha! Needless to say, they spread out way too much, stuck to each other and the pan and made a mess. Tasted good, though, but had to throw a lot of them out.

I put together the flour and other dry ingredients for sugar cookies, but when I saw that last batch of pecan cookies looking that way, I put foil over that bowl, set it aside, cleaned up my mess, took out the trash, poured me some tea and gave up.

Note to self, next time you want to bake a lot like that, get more than 3 hours of sleep. I tried to sleep more, truly I did, but the baby was kicking me most of the night. She had sneaked her way in my bed without my knowing it. By the time she got there, it was too late. I was awake for good.

What's that? I should have went to bed earlier? Well, yeah I should have, but here's that story. See, I got my yarn yesterday that I had told y'all about on Wednesday. I had to work with it a bit. Made myself a pair of my wristers in pale green velvet spun, which is lovely BTW. I finished the second one around 11 and turned everything off so I could go to bed. But, before I made it to bed, I had an idea for my WIP. Knowing I would forget it, I hurried to turn the mac book back on and write. An hour later, I turned it off again, got a drink and hit the sack. So, I think I slept about 3 and a half hours.

Ok, so now a bit about that yarn. The velvet spun, like I said, it's wonderful. You have to be careful when tying it off, though, because the fibers are long and not really tight. For me, paying $5.99 a ball was worth it. I wore the wristers last night when I did my writing. Kept my hands warm, too. As for the angora marino (probably spelled wrong) well, it isn't quite what I expected. It is soft, wonderfully soft. I love the feel of it. But, where it's a real fine yarn, it takes patience to work with. Also, after balling it up and crocheting a while, I felt like I had little fuzz balls all over me. :) I think I did, cause Kierstin said something about me having fuzz balls on me. Ha! I'd say if you are allergic to animal fur, you might not want to buy it or wear it. Would I buy it again? Maybe. I crocheted a chain and one whole roe so far, so I really can't say how it works up, but I think that if one had the patience, it would make a lovely sweater, shrug, or scarf. Thinking of a scarf with this particular bunch. We'll see, though.

So, that's my Friday. How was yours? Some of you have asked for a post about baking, so there you go. Hope you got some enjoyment out of it. I will tomorrow when i can laugh about it. Today, though, I'm just tired. :) Take care and come back Monday. Also, feel free to comment. love hearing from y'all! It keeps me writing.

Of Yarn, Writing and Rolls

2011-11-16T11:22:00.004-05:00

It is one rainy Wednesday out there, y'all. Makes me want to go back to bed, but who can do that with a couple of restless rug rats in the house? lol

I did something the other day that I don't normally do. I bought some yarn online. Like I said, this just isn't usual for me. For one thing, I do not need yarn, y'all. :D I have a huge, wooden box sitting in the middle of my living room floor, absolutely full of yarn. Also, I have several balls of it back here in my computer room. I do not need yarn. The other reason I don't like buying it on the internet is that I can't feel it before buying. The very best thing about buying yarn is feeling it. Drop me off at a Michaels or A C More (probably spelled wrong) and I'm like a kid in a candy store. I walk up and down the isles, hands outstretched touching every piece of yarn I can. Each strand that passes by my fingertips gives me an idea for a project. From baby afghans to sweaters, from wrist warmers to wash cloths, I love to shop for yarn.

So, what made me buy it the other day without feeling it, first? Well, Lion Brand had a sale. :) Twenty percent off some of their luxury fibers. Now, y'all, you just can't buy some of this stuff from a craft store. The only two ways to feel it are to buy it like I did or go to the lion Brand studio in New York and feel it. Since New York is a bit too far for a quick shopping trip, I decided to splurge and get some. I ordered it Friday, and I got the email that it shipped on Monday. Y'all don't know how bad I want to go to the Post Office today to see if it's there. Haha! It's probably not, but I still want to check. I can't, though, because of all this rain. Taking the girlies out in it when they are getting over colds would not be a very good idea. I must wait.

However, in the mean time, I did get started on some Christmas gifts. I sat down yesterday, grabbed up some cotton yarn and my size G crochet hook and made a wash cloth. Actually, the finished product looks more like a doily, but oh well. It was supposed to be in the shape of a hexagon, but somewhere along the way, I made a huge mistake. It's the shape of a pentagon. Haha! At least it's different, right?

Over the weekend, I finished a pair of what I like to call wristers. It's basically a fingerless glove. Even the thumb sticks out. There are countless patterns all over the internet for these, but I just made up my own version. The first pair I made was out of some left over chenille I had laying around. It was a category 6 yarn, which for you who do not know is just real thick yarn. I used a size N hook, and it worked up really quick. Lion Brand stopped selling that lovely-feeling yarn, so I had to look for another. I didn't have a lot of money, so I bought some Michaels brand called Loops & Threads, I think. It said Charisma on it, and it feels really nice. It's warm and cozy and makes a wonderful pair of fingerless gloves that are great if you do a lot of typing.

As with most things in life, the fact I am not a millionaire keeps me buying the cheaper stuff, but even then I am very picky about what yarn I use. The biggest reason is if I'm going to hold it in my hands for hours, I want to like the way it feels. I've used Red Heart and Caron. Both are great for afghans, but Caron is my favorite of the two. I like to get those cones of cotton from Walmart for washcloths and oven mitts. I used some bernat once to make a scarf, and loved it's silkiness. It was a category 3, so I'm not sure if it was a baby yarn or not, but it made wonderful Easter sweaters for my girls. Lion Brand's BabySoft is great, too. I don't like the feel of cashmere, sorry to say. :) I don't like real fuzzy yarns, either, like that eyelash stuff. It's too hard to feel my stitches. Lion Brand's Homespun is one I like, though. I felt some of Lion Brand's Velvetspun once, and that is one of the yarns I bought on Friday. Three skenes of it, actually. The other one was angora marino - I think. :) Not sure how that one feels, but I will know in a couple of days.

So, with November half way gone, how am I doing with NaNoWriMo? I've written approximately 18,811 words. I got about 16 thousand, and the Lord tells me to take it another direction. I'm praying, researching and thinking, but I don't know if I'll reach that 50K words by the 30th.

Oh, and next week is Thanksgiving, for those of us living in the US. Of course, it should be thanksgiving everyday, no matter where you live, but you know what I mean. :) There are some who are hoping and praying I make rolls again, but then, I think there are folks who hope I don't. Last year's roll making was a disaster. Think, bad yeast. Yeah, yeast can die, and when it does, folks, ya don't wanna be using it in your bread dough. Haha! But, this year, the yeast is good, so I might try again. Rolls should not be hard to make, and they aren't, except, my family like those rolls they used to have in school, and that recipe calls for a 5 lb bag of flour. Five pounds of flour, plus 6 to 7-1/2 cups of water can make a mess, as you can well imagine. It's so much dough that I have to use a big soup pot to mix it up in and about 4 big bowls to let the dough rise in. This year, because of the successful halloween we had, I have no big bowls. I might have had one, but I broke it this past summer when I dropped it full of banana cookie dough. For the record, those cookies weren't worth loosing my favorite bowl over. Deed, anyway. lol

Have a happy Wednesday, and come back to see me on Friday, where hopefully I'll be able to report on the yarn purchase and be able to tell you I've written thousands of words on my WIP. Don't forget, sometime soon, I'll be having another giveaway, and you won't want to miss it. Take care and keep smiling.

We Have A Winner!

2011-11-14T06:09:00.003-05:00

I was so excited to see the response to my contest, and I am happy to announce we have a winner. Congratulations goes out to Salvatore Buttaci for winning a copy of "Wild Heart" my first published book.

Now, don't y'all go getting down in the dumps on me; I'll be doing another one in a couple of weeks, probably after Thanksgiving or maybe in honor of it. :) Not sure, so you'll have to keep coming back to find out. "Wild Heart' is available in audio and then there's the sequel "To Tame A Heart" which is in paperback and audio, as well.

Speaking of winning, I'm reminded of a verse from the Bible. Phillipians 3:14 says, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." I heard a preacher say once that Jesus is the prize, but I'm thinking the high calling is the prize. What's a high calling, though? Well, a high calling from God, I would think, would be to live according to His standards. Maybe, to be a separate people, a peculiar people?

No one in today's society wants to be different, especially kids and teens. To be different is wrong, bad, socially unacceptable. If you don't conform to the ways of your peers, nobody wants to know you or be seen with you, but being different from the rest is what God calls us to be. If we say we are His, we need to act like we are. In this Bible verse, Paul says he is pressing toward the mark for the prize. In other words, he's working hard to get the prize, which is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He is working hard to be different. He's working hard to be what God wants him to be. Paul wants to win that prize. I think he won. Do you agree?

People everywhere want to win something, especially when there is no effort involved. They pay a few dollars here and there, hoping to win that power ball. Millions would be nice. :) They spend a few dollars to enter to win stuff being raffled off. From motor cycles to concert tickets, quilts to free pictures, people work hard to win something. Ever wondered what this world would be like if we all pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus? What if we all embraced our differences instead of shunning them?

Thanks to those who participated in the contest. I really appreciate it. Thanks, too for being a faithful reader. Like I said, I'll do more giveaways. Promise. Until Wednesday, take care, keep smiling, and ask the Lord what it is He wants you to do. One thing about God, He is faithful, and He is long-suffering to us-ward. Aren't you glad? :) Amen!

Calling All lurkers! Enter The Contest!

2011-11-11T05:24:00.001-05:00

If I could name one thing I love about the internet it would be the fact I can lurk and nobody knows it but me and the Lord. In my everyday life, I couldn't lurk if you paid me. I'm loud, I make too much noise when I'm trying to be quiet, and I don't know how to do things unseen. :) But, online I can. I read a lot of blogs and rarely ever comment. Yet, I wonder why only a very few comment here. lol Maybe, y'all just like lurking, too.

Well, today, y'all might want to forget about lurking, cause I'm having a contest. In honor of those men and women who fought and are still fighting for freedom, I'm giving away an autographed, paperback copy of my first book, "Wild Heart". Interested? Just comment here or on FaceBook. Tell me in your comment why you like the internet. Contest ends Sunday Nov. 13 at 11:59 PM. I'll randomly choose from the answers I get. The winner will be contacted either through FaceBook, or your email addy, if you give it to me.

Forget what "Wild Heart" is about? No problem. Here's a synopsis and a link to the books' trailer on YouTube.

Gage Colton, ex-gunman turned Christian is searching for the man who killed his father. After witnessing a gunfight in Tombstone, he feels God urging him to change his plans. If he obeys the Holy Spirit, it may cost him dearly; possibly even his life. Shewana Christy, a young Cheyenne woman, is bent on revenge, in the hope that it will finally bring peace, something she has not known in a long time. She has already avenged her mothers death and is looking for her father's murderer, when she is kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to hit the trail in the middle of the night. With a posse in hot pursuit behind them, unknown dangers lurking ahead, and constant friction between them, will Gage and Shewana find what they were looking for, or will they answer that still, small voice of God, leading them in another direction?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TYa3l3-KrI

Hey, did y'all catch that? "Unknown dangers lurking ahead" Wow, I'm good. lol Didn't even mean for that to happen. :)

Happy Friday. Happy Veteran's Day, and happy weekend to you all. Tell all your friends, so they have a chance to win, or enter for a friend. Christmas is just around the corner, and what a way to get a gift for that special someone. Don't worry, I'll have more giveaways, so you'll have a chance to win the audio copy and the sequel in paperback or audio. Y'all take care and play nice. :)

When I Grow Up, I want...

2011-11-10T01:29:00.005-05:00

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Adults ask children this question all the time. I don't know if it's just that they have no idea what to talk to the kid about, or if they really want to know, but it is a common question. Grown-ups asked me that, when I was a young'un, too.

I remember answering like any other kid. I want to be a doctor, a nurse, a lawyer, an astronaut, a writer, a teacher. The great thing about children, is they don't think about the money they will make or what type of schooling it will take to achieve that goal. They just want to be it, whatever "it" is.

When I was about 6, 7 or 8 years old, I remember wanting to grow up to be just like my mom. Funny thing, is I see that same tendency in my own 6 year old. She mimics me, patterns her style of doing things after me, and I find myself wondering if she wants to be like me when she grows up. Fshew, that's a scary thought. lol Faith and I procrastinate together, but when we finally get up and do what we're supposed to do, we often start singing together. I'll be washing dishes, while she is picking up her toys, and I'll start a song. Before too long, she's singing right along with me, and soon our chores are done. But, I digress. :)

I don't think I thought seriously about what I wanted to be when I grew up until I was around 15 or so. I thought about it a lot, but there just didn't seem to be much choice. On the one hand, folks would say I could be anything I wanted to be. On the other hand, folks would say I had to be realistic. Having dreams was one thing, but at some point I had to come down to earth and think about what I truly wanted. There were jobs that blind people just didn't do, not because they were not smart enough but because it took sight to do those jobs. I was not, I was informed, ever going to be able to be an astronaut, a doctor, a nurse, a school bus driver, and I might as well get over it while I was still young. In my mind, that left only teaching.

After graduating high school, I did go to college, intending to be a teacher for the visually impaired, but both times i started school, I quit. Then, I got married, and for a time, being a house wife was enough. I went to a local vocational school for a year and received a certificate of completion for medical transcription, but no matter how hard I tried, I never got a job doing that. I did work for a time in Romney WV, preparing braille documents for mailing. After that, I worked at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland as a sewing machine operator. Then, I went to the school of hard knocks and learned what a selfish woman I really was. Or, put more plainly, I got pregnant and became a mom. lol

Now, with my 33rd birthday fast approaching, I have finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. :) I want to graduate from medical school, so that I can have the know-how to diagnose my families' illnesses and do something about them. I want to go get my driver's license, so that I can give disabled folks a ride where ever they want to go. Finally, just for grins and giggles, I want to be an airplane pilot.

A couple of days ago, I took my 3 year old to the doctor. I KNEW she was sick. For a couple of nights she had had a fever. She was coughing, some and sneezing, occasionally. I didn't know for sure, but I thought it was probably an ear infection. For one, her breath smelled funny, and when my girls' breath smells like that, they need an antibiotic. Just for the record, I've only been wrong once. :) Sure enough, the doctor looked in to her ears and both were infected. She's on an antibiotic. So, am I a doctor, sort of? Maybe. What about a teacher? I only have 2 students, but I'm teaching all the time. Faith is learning about word problems by counting how many bananas we have and then figuring out how many loaves of banana bread I could make with them. lol She's learning to read, and that comes in handy when I need labels on canned foods read to me. So, am I a teacher? Why, yes I am.

As for the astronaut, lawyer and pilot, well, those will have to wait a while. lol My mom always said I'd make a good lawyer, because I like to argue. Ha! While at Space Camp in Huntsville Alabama, I learned that even if I could see, I'm too short to go in to space. As for flying, anybody out there game for taking me up in their plane?

Just for the record, people who are blind can do anything they set their mind to, even if that job requires sight. Where there's a will, there's a way. A few years ago, I read about a man who is blind graduating from medical school and earning his MD. Last year I read about a woman who is blind being a beautician. Several months ago, a man who is blind took his family for a drive around Daytona Speedway. He used technology created by the folks from the National Federation of the Blind and students from Virginia Tech, and drove around the track. They threw boxes in his way, someone even pulled out in front of him, and he and his family still live to tell the tale. I know a man who is blind, and he rides a bicycle without any sighted assistance. I have a friend who is blind, and she makes baskets and sews quilts. I have a friend on FaceBook who is blind, and she writes her impressions of WV ball games, and gets paid doing it.

Here's a couple of things I've been pondering on. First of all, have I grown up to be what I wanted to be? Yes, I have. I'm an author, a singer, a song writer, a piano player, a wife, a mom, a crocheter, a baker, but more important, I am a Christian. Except for the writing and piano, I have grown up to be what I thought my mother was at that time. Second, have I achieved all that I wanted to achieve? No, I have not. Remember that plane? I wonder if it will be as I imagine, now that I have no sight at all. I used to want to feel it lift in to the air and be able to look out and see the sky. Of course, I can't see the sky, but will it be as thrilling, anyway? Guess there's only one way to find out. :)

Ordinary day

2011-11-07T15:22:00.004-05:00

I don't know about you, but it seems like it's been forever since Friday. I haven't done a whole lot, not really, but a lot has gone through my mind. I have thought about my book I'm working on, I had some sad times and fun times, and I have had hours of wonderful sleep and some hours without sleep. I've laughed. I've cried. I've worried. I've prayed. And, yet, the world kept spinning. It's Monday again, and I'm still here. So are you, if you're reading this blog. :)

After posting on Friday, I made chocolate chip cookies, went to get hot dogs for lunch, visited with a friend while our kids played, went out to eat and had a good cry. On Saturday, I did laundry, wrote on my WIP (work in progress), washed dishes and took a nap. On sunday, I wrote a little, went to church, went out to eat, went to the grocery store, gabbed on the phone, went to another church, went out to eat yet again and came home and went to bed. During the night, both Saturday and Sunday, I was up holding a fevered 3 year old. So, needless to say, I'm tired today.

This morning, while trying to catch up on a little sleep, a friend calls to ask if I'm ready for breakfast. I'm like, "Um, not really."

"Well," she said, "get ready. I'll be there in fifteen with biscuits and gravy."

Y'all, I don't think I've ever showered so fast. lol In fact, I was ready, the coffee was ready and there was a path through the toys in the living room by the time she came knocking on my door. Haha! As for the breakfast, it was yummy, and I shared it, too.

For supper tonight, we're having ham that is cooking in my slow cooker. I thought it would be nice to have scalloped potatoes, but they won't be ready when the man of the house comes home, because I can't read the directions on the box. Tried to get the 6 year old to read them, but she can't find them on there. lol Oh well, I'll preheat the oven or something, and it'll be all right.

Just another day with you and me in paradise. No other way to say it, God's been good.

Got Any Dough?

2011-11-04T07:32:00.004-04:00

I am finally baking again! :) I tell you, just to press my hands in to that warm dough, yesterday, did something for me that is hard to explain. I made some french bread to take to my local writer's group's NaNoWriMo kick off party, and today I'm thinking of baking a quick batch of cookies. I have the stuff all laid out. After I write this post, I'm going to try to whip them up. But, back to yesterday.

I began, like any busy mom, by washing up several dishes. Then, while the water was running hot, I put 2 cups of it in a bowl and sprinkled in 2 tsps of active dry yeast. I let it sit for 10 mins while washing up some more dishes and putting a few away. Then, I measured out 2 tbsps of honey and stirred it in. I had never used honey in place of sugar, so this was a first for me. I mixed in 3 cups of all purpose, unbleached flour, one cup at a time. Then, I added 2 tsps of salt. After that, I mixed in another cup of flour with the spoon, before abandoning said spoon in place of my trusty hands. The lady who taught me to make bread used an electric mixer, but I'm glad I practiced with my hands, because now I know how it is supposed to feel.

When the fifth cup of flour turned out to be not enough, I added about a half a cup more, and kept on mixing. After several seconds, I plopped the mass on to my floured board and went to kneading. I kneaded and sweated, all the while talking to my girls. They asked questions like, "What shape are you going to make it? Who will get to eat it? How much longer before we can taste it? Can I help?" :)

When my dough felt smooth and silky, I placed it in an oiled bowl, covered it and washed more dishes. Then, I took a break. lol

During my break, I drank some hot tea, played on FaceBook, and ate a slice of pizza...and did more dishes.

An hour after placing a towel over my dough to keep in the warmth, I pulled the towel off and tried to separate it in to 3 loaves, as I was taught to do. But, I'm not a good divider, so I ended up with 5 loaves. All we needed now, I remember telling my girls, was a couple of fish and we'd have a dinner like Jesus served to the folks who came to hear him teach. So, as you can imagine, while I rolled out each ball of dough in to a circle-like shape, I told them the story of the 2 fish and 5 loaves that Jesus fed to the 5,000 men plus women and children.

When the circle-like shapes were ready, I rolled them up, pinched the edges and placed them on a piece of parchment paper that was lining my bread pan. I attempted to cut small slits in them to resemble french bread, but I didn't do a very good job. :)

I reached for a bowl to crack an egg in to, but instead of one bowl coming down, 3 bowls came down. I was not prepared, and they fell on to the counter, where 2 broke. One almost in half, the other had a crack in it, but still, I had to worry about cleaning up glass shards.

When that mess was finally cleaned up, I cracked an egg in to a bowl with no cracks in it, and separated the yoke from the white. Let me say here, that Faith is a big help during this kind of separation. lol I took a fork and beat that egg white before brushing it on to my prepared loaves. By now the oven was preheating to 350. Forgot to mention that part. Sorry. :)

I baked the bread at 350 for about 20 minutes. Since my oven is old and doesn't brown things well, I like using the egg white. Folks see a golden color and they have no idea that without that egg white, my bread would be as pale as the dough it came from. Ha!

So, last night at the NaNoWriMo party, my bread went well with the yummy soup that my friend Peggy brought. The bread was crumblier than it usually is, but I do not know if that is because I used honey or if I had too much flour in the dough. Could have ben the weather, too. You wouldn't think barometric pressure, temps outside and whether the wind is blowing or not would have anything to do with bread, but it does.

As for the party, it was fun. We ate dinner together, drank some yummy sweet tea and wrote on our works in progress. I wrote only about 792 words, but I was tired. Still tired this morning and thinking about a second cup of coffee. I shouldn't, but I might anyway.

Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend, and i hope you'll come back and see me on Monday.

Write The Night Away

2011-11-02T04:05:00.004-04:00

Wow, it's November, again! Can y'all believe it? I mean, wasn't it just yesterday we were trying to breathe in all that heat in July? Now, I'm dreaming of pumpkin pie, hot tea and coffee and wearing long sleeves inside my house. Where does the time go?

If you are a serious writer at all, you'll know that November is NaNoWriMo AKA National Novel Writing Month. The basic idea is to start on Nov. 1 with no words, write everyday and keep track of your word count. Then, on Nov. 30 you are supposed to have 50 thousand words, which make up a story. I did the math and what it boils down to is if you write about 1600 to 1700 words a day, you'll reach 50k. Doesn't sound too hard, does it? Well, it isn't, if you can spend the time writing. As for me, I got a 6 year old and a 3 year old, plus a husband and house to care for. I try to write everyday, and most times I write anywhere from 500 to 2 thousand words, depending, but 50 thousand by Nov. 30? Probably not.

Ok, so I say all that, but around 1 something this morning, I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. Now, I did that on Monday night, and ended up not writing any, so today things were going to change - I'd make sure of that. I lay there, trying, at first, to go back to sleep. After all, it's 1:30 AM, and I don't have to get up until 7 or so. I have a full day ahead of me and need my sleep. Yeah, well, the brain don't listen. I start thinking about a character in my story. He has something to say. He has a story of his own, directly related to my hero. I wrote a small piece on him a month or so ago, so to keep the characters in my head happy, I crawl out of my warm bed, pull on some PJ's and go turn on the mac book. I bring up the story, start copying and pasting here and there, then I have to delete and rewrite a lot of it. But, now it's there. Where does it go, exactly? I don't know. What will be the end result? Don't ask. The getting there is the important part. As far as word count before 5 AM, I think it was 11,058, but now, I started with 9,867. Y'all can do the math. lol I'm wearing down. :)

A friend on FB challenged her friends to post each day of Nov. what they were thankful for. I forgot about it in my sleepiness yesterday, but I posted 2 of them this morning. First, of course, is my heavenly Father. Second is my husband. I have a lot to be thankful for, as do you. God has been good to us all!

How about you? Think you can find 30 things to be thankful for this month? What is your favorite part about this time of year. Do you write? Hunt? Why do you like November so much? Or, are you still thinking of those hot 100 temperature days of July? lol

Halloween, Date Night and Walmart

2011-10-31T21:01:00.002-04:00

Doesn't sound like they go together, does it? Well, friends, read on. :)

When I was in elementary school, I rode a wheelchair accessible school bus with other children with disabilities. I was on the bus for what seemed like ages, but it was probably about an hour to an hour and a half. We had an aid on the bus, and every Friday she would say, "Friday night is boogie night!" lol

Now that I'm all grown up with kids of my own, I have a different saying. "Trick or Treat night is date night." :)

My mom and dad take my girls trick or treating, so the hubby and I turn out all the lights, hop in the car and go somewhere. The last couple of years, our date nights on Halloween have been terribly exciting! Just wait until you hear where we went. Tonight and last year, too, we went and ate dinner at Shoneys. The place this year was practically empty, which was a real treat. We got our food quickly, and it took us no time to eat. We were out of there so fast, I keep wondering what had happened. :)

After dinner, Terry took me to the new Walmart where we shopped for food. That place, too, was practically empty. We navigated that buggy through those isles like nobody's business. lol In no time, we were back in the car and heading to my dad's to pick up the girls.

The girls, I'm happy to say, had a blast. They got so much candy, our trusty candy bowl which sits on top of the freezer for obvious reasons, could not hold it all. We had to sample some candy, one to make sure it wasn't poisonness and two, so we could start fitting it all in one bowl. Ha! Y'all believe that, don't y'all?

So, next time you tired parents want a date night out, have the grandparents or cousins or friends to take your kids trick or treating. I mean, you get time alone with your spouse and free candy, too. It's a win-win situation. :)

So, now the kiddies are in bed, I have a washer a-spinnin', and soon I'll have to put those clothes in to the drier so the man of the house can have some uniforms to wear to work in the morning. I tell you, I'm glad for machines that wash and dry, cause if I had to do it all by hand, somebody would either have to wear everyday clothes or go without. ;)

On that note, I'll say goodnight and apologize for being so late with this post. HOpe y'all had a good day, but mostly, I pray you found time for the Lord today. He's so good, in case you forgot.

Oh, and if any of you have tried sending email to
ShannonNicoleWells@suddenlink.net
and haven't heard from me, just comment here or try sending an email to
oldtimechristian@gmail.com
I have email troubles, and I apologize.

Until Wednesday, don't eat too much of your children's candy and remember to smile; God loves you!

Writing, Parties and FaceBook

2011-10-28T12:27:00.003-04:00

Since my blog post about writer's block,
http://oldtimechristian.blogspot.com/2011/10/and-diagnosis-is-writers-block.html
I've actually started writing on that story. I still do not have a clear picture of what it will be, but that's all right. In fact, writing in bits and pieces was how "Wild Heart" and it's sequel "To Tame A Heart" came in to being. i like to describe it as a puzzle. Scenes, or rather parts of scenes come to me. I write them down, then over time I fill in the connecting paragraphs until…voila! A book! Ok, so I shouldn't say it's a book at that point; it's actually a first draft. lol But, you get what I'ms saying. Right? :)

A friend told me once that when she wrote her first book, she would sometimes write 60 pages at a time. Ok, y'all, I'd love to say that, but it's just not so. I did write around 2000 words last night, though. One night, while writing "To Tame A Heart", I stayed up until 5 in the morning, just writing, so maybe I got 60 pages out of that, but I don't think so. When I say I'm writing, that doesn't always mean I'm sitting still, typing away on the Mac Book. Sometimes, it means I'm editing something I wrote at an earlier date. Sometimes, it means I am reading what I wrote and trying to figure out where it came from. lol

Ok, I've talked enough about writing. On to another subject.

Took my girls to a Halloween/costume/fall party the other night. They had a blast. There were games, a contest, treat bags and pizza. Ahem, I'm still trying to figure out which was their favorite, the treat bags or the games. lol When asked if I had a good time at the party, i hesitated before saying, "My girls had fun, and that's all that matters."

Parties like that one have not been "fun" for me in a long time, I hate to admit. I feel rather awkward, if you want the truth. I don't know anyone well enough to have a conversation, and if i did, I wouldn't be able to hear them over the noise of the kids. And, lemme tell y'all, that place was noisy. :) In fact, lots of noise like that, added to the fact I can't see, makes me, for all intents and purposes, blind and deaf. Sometimes, I wish I could clone myself. Except, my other self would be able to see; that way, the sighted Shannon could go to parties and the blind one could find something else to do. But, back to the girls, they had fun, and honestly, I'll do it again just to make them happy.

My church is having a Gospel sing tomorrow night. If you live close enough…and if you live far away…you are welcome. :) I wanted to create an event on FaceBook yesterday, so folks would know about it and so everyone would know they were invited. Well, lemme tell ya, it took me over an hour to create that event. I'm not sure I even did it right, but a couple of folks have already RSVPed, so I guess I didn't do so bad. :) I tried to not invite certain of my friends, mostly so I wouldn't hurt any feelings, but I couldn't find a button for that. I tried to invite everyone on my friend list, but then the page reloaded on me, and every box I checked became unchecked again. Deed, FaceBook can be annoying. Anyway, I think that from now on, I'm going to just post an announcement for an event in my status. It would be much simpler and might keep me from sighing so much. :)

So, what nuggets of wisdom have I gleaned from writing, costume parties and FaceBook? Life's too short to get hung up on the little things. If I trust in the Lord, the book will happen. If I'm there for my girls, they will remember it when they are grown. And, the fad of FB will fade one day. Ha!

Y'all enjoy your weekend, and be sure to come back and visit me on Monday. I'm considering a few giveaways, now that the holidays are fast approaching. If you are interested in winning a free copy of one of my books, comment on this post. If I get at least 10 comments, I'll do the giveaways. If not, I won't.

Items available for the giveaway, are as follows:
Wild Heart in paperback autographed by moi
To Tame A Heart in paperback autographed by moi
Wild Heart in audio
and
To Tame A Heart in audio

The audio books are read by W. B. Ward, and you can find him on the web at
www.wbward.com

To read more about my books, go to
www.wildheartbook.com

To learn more about the group singing at my church tomorrow night, go to
www.hoyfamily.net

Happy Friday!

I'm wondering...

2011-10-26T10:59:00.001-04:00

I wonder, do my daughters realize how sleepy I get when they play with my hair? :) My mom used to ask me to massage her shoulders and play with her hair. I'd talk the whole time I was combing or massaging, and she'd always go to sleep. Ha! I used to think I was boring, and I might very well be. But, now, I know better; she just couldn't help herself.

I wonder if we realize how very blessed we are. I have a cousin in the hospital who was having a spinal tap done this morning. i have a friend in another hospital with a blood disorder. I have friends with sick children, and yet, here I am with my 2 healthy girls, I'm recovering well from my surgery, and I have a sighted 6-year-old who is worried about my white spots in my hair. lol :) She is tucking them in so she can't see them very well. She says I can't have a make-over until she hides those white spots. What's up with that? Ha!

I wonder, is it all right to be sleepy and tired because I stayed up until 2 A.M. writing? I'd like nothing more than to lie back down and have my girls do my hair so I can nap. I most definitely do not want to fold and put away laundry, wash up dishes, worry about dinner, work in some school time and go to a costume party this evening. But, back to being blessed, thank God I am able to do these things, sleepy or not.

I'm wondering if it's ok to drink some more caffeine for energy. I have a lot to do, after all, and I'd better quit blogging and get busy. Or, as my mom used to say when I was a kid and didn't want to do my home work, "You'd better git on the ball, ole girl!" lol

Just as a side note and completely off topic, I miss my mom.

I'm wondering why our thinking gets messed up somewhere between childhood and adulthood. Kierstin isn't really sad about my grandmother's death, because in her mind, any minute now, Jesus is coming back, and she'll get to see her Mamaw Johnson again. The other day she asked me…she and Faith asked if they could crochet a blanket to give to Mamaw when Jesus comes back. I was like, "Well, I guess, but she isn't going to need it." They asked me why not. :) I told them that when Jesus comes back, we'll never be cold again. They still wanted to do it. Why are grown ups so afraid to hope like that? Why do we hesitate to answer when children ask questions like that? Do you think it has something to do with parents telling us the truth about things we believed in as kids?

For instance, my girls desperately want to believe in Santa Claus. Faith knows it's just a man dressed in a suit, but Kierstin doesn't believe me, yet, when I tell her he isn't real. She sees nothing wrong in believing in what she can't see or inn things she can't explain. Some kids are heart broken when they learn Santa isn't real. Kierstin can't see Jesus with her natural eyes, but one day she asked if He was sad because His mother is dead. Wow! Are y'all following this? Do we as parents somehow influence our children to stop believing in the supernatural? Why is that?

The Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." That's in Hebrews chapter 11 the first verse. Now, for Shannon's interpretation. Faith is when you know something is real, even though you can't touch, see, taste, smell or hear it. Children, without being taught know there is something out there bigger than them. They know the unexplainable is possible. Sure, we need to teach them right from wrong, but they already know there's a God out there, even though they don't know how to say it.

Lord, I believe you are able to do anything. Help me when I start to doubt. Forgive me when I begin to limit what you can do.

Thanks for reading today, y'all. Be sure and come back Friday. Until then, keep praying. Don't ask someone to pray for you in times of trouble. Instead, get to know the Savior so you can pray all by yourself.

And The Diagnosis Is Writer's Block...

2011-10-24T22:54:00.001-04:00

or, is it procrastination?

My dad used to say, "Shannon, you spend more time trying to figure out how to get out of doing something, than actually doing it." Ha! He's right.

Example:
I have a book to write. The characters are constantly talking to me. "Tell our story!" I dream about them. They are in my head. They are just as real to me, as my family and friends. So, I try to write their story. I write a few scenes, and I start thinking, "Wow, I've got it! Here's what's going to happen."

Yeah, well, a couple of days go by, and I start thinking that maybe my ideas weren't so good after all. So, I pray and think and get busy with another manuscript. Eventually, these 2 particular characters start talking to me, again. I do research on the current idea, and start writing. Then, I start doubting, again. Y'all see a pattern?

Here's what's funny, and a bit nerdy; I love doing research for my books. I've gotten pretty good at googling. My story takes place somewhere around 1896-1900, so I look up stuff about the Spanish American War. I looked up shipping. I read about clipper ships and steam ships. I read about polio, which BTW was called a lot of things back then, including Infantile Paralysis. I read about Yellow Fever, life on the streets of New York City, the cattle industries back then, medical practices, nursing, women's rights and the lack thereof, immigration, gangs, gold strikes in Alaska, P. T. Barnum's circus, involuntary servitude aboard ship…you name it, and i've researched it. And, still, I'm not sure.

So, what does my first sentence of this post have to do with research? Well, see, I've done so much research, that now I'm confused on what to make happen to my characters.

I ask them, "Hey, why can you two be together?"

The answer I get surprises me.

"Because," she says, "he's married."

I'm like, "Do what?" I mean, I can't write a Christian book like that!

So, I ask them, "What would it take to bring you both to a place where you can trust fully in God?"

The answer does not come easy.

One character says, "I ain't needed a man yet, and I'll never need one. I can do anything I set my mind to do. Sure, my folks taught me about Jesus, but I don't think He will forgive me, this time; I've really messed up."

My other character says, "Where was God when I needed Him the most? I mean, sure I was taught about Him, and I believe He exists, but in order to be good enough, there are things I have to do, first. As for the woman I love, she'd never look twice, if she knew where I came from."

Deed, faithful readers, y'all need to pray, cause I just don't know where this book is going to go. To the gold fields of Alaska? To the high seas during a war? Back home to the ranch and praying loved ones? I don't know.

Tell you something else I don't know, too; I don't know where the man came from or how bad it was. I don't know what it's going to take to get these two together. I'm absolutely stumped.

Any thoughts? Questions? Comments? Ideas? :) Y'all wanna hear about the gold fields in Alaska? How about overcoming temptations of the flesh? Do you think Christian books ought to include characters making bad choices in a moment of weakness? Does anyone even want to read this book? :D Feel free to comment or drop me an email at
ShannonNicoleWells@suddenlink.net
would love to hear from y'all.

Goodnight and see you on Wednesday.

Crazy Is As Crazy Does

2011-10-22T23:33:00.001-04:00

It's late on a Saturday evening. In fact, it's so late, I would consider it already Saturday night. I dozed off in my chair some time around 7 this evening, just after finishing a 20 oz bottle of coke. So, even though the man of the place and the kiddies are in bed snoring, I'm wide awake…and bored out of my mind.

If I were the movie type, I'd be wanting to watch a movie. But, TV isn't my thing. Sure, I like a good movie every once in a while, but to actually watch TV would make a little more noise than I'm willing to make. So, I hop on FaceBook. Well, FB is ok, but I don't play any of the games, and statuses don't change that often, so I check my email. No new messages. So, I go to
www.audible.com
and play around. I listen to a few samples, and something starts to happen; I get interested in listening to an audio book. Finally! Something to take away the boredom…only, there's a problem here. Do you see it?

Ok, lemme help y'all out. It's after 11 at night, I'm bored, and I gotta be up around 7 AM to start getting ready for Sunday School. If I buy a book and start listening, I'll be good for nothing in a few hours. And, yet…

Those Samples war good! I don't know how long they are, maybe 3 minutes, maybe 5, but our of the 3 I listened to, 2 of them caught my attention. I really wanna know what happens next! And, they are books I normally wouldn't listen to. One was about a vampire guy who is looking for his werewolf woman who had been kidnaped a year or so before. I feel like I just have to listen and see if he gets her back. I don't even like vampire and werewolf romances. lol

The other book started out with a woman reporter feeling the ground shake. She thought it was a bomb and called 9 11 to ask. They didn't know, but she saw a thin plume of black smoke rising against the sky. What happens next? I don't know, but I wish I did!

Audible.com works with credits. I pay so much a year and get a certain amount of credits, which I use to purchase audio books. In Feb. I had 24 credits. As of today, I have 3 left, and they are supposed to last until Feb. 2012. lol Yeah, like that's gonna happen. It usually does, though. But, in order to make them last, I have to be real careful how I spend those last 3 credits. While these books sounded great, and I'd love to see what happens next, I don't want to throw away my credits. I'll look for these books on another website, where books are free, and if I can't find them, I'll just wait. Chances are, I'll lose the urgency to listen to them.

You'd think I'd be busy writing on my own books, instead of seeing what others have written, but not me. I'm crazy. Remember? Ha! Thing is, I do have my word processor open. The story is there. In fact, there are several I could be working on. So, what's my problem? Um, I don't know.

Here's what I do know:
1. I'm thirsty
2. I think too much
3. I'm in desperate need of a weekend alone with my husband ;)
4. I really want someone to read a passage from one of my books and say, "Man, I have to buy that book!"
5. My cousin's strawberry rhubarb pie is best when you take it out of the freezer and nuke it in the microwave for about 15 seconds. lol
6. I desperately need an exercise program so I can lose weight
and last but not least
7. God is blessing me, even when I'm in a weird mood

So, now y'all know what my temptations are; sweets and books. Oh well. Could be worse. Y'all take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend. Go to church on Sunday, and come back and see me on Monday for another post.

Presenting WV Author, Salvatore Buttaci!

2011-10-21T08:03:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday, y'all, and thank you so much for joining me here on the blog. Today, let me introduce you to WV writer, Salvatore Buttaci!

Shannon: What part of WV are you from? Do you still live there?

Salvatore: I am not originally from West Virginia. I visited Crab Orchard, WV, back in 1957 and fell in love with the state. In fact, I made one of my few predictions that came true: "I'm gonna move here someday!" Of course, my older brother laughed. I was only 16. What did I know! Nearly 50 years later I married my pen pal from Yukon, WV, and brought her to Lodi, New Jersey, where I was living. In 2007, only 11 years later, I retired from nearly 30 years of teaching, and the two of us moved to Princeton, West Virginia.

Shannon: I've been to Princeton. How long have you known you wanted to be a writer?

Salvatore: Since I was about nine. It sounded like a fun way to spend my life. To be sure, I also wanted to be a pilot, a priest, a trial lawyer, a newspaperman, among a list of other vocations. I believe a poem I wrote for my mother got me started. My father told everyone about that dumb poem. "My son's another Dante!" he told them. Remember, I was nine. I bought into that and never stopped writing.

Shannon: Children are very impressionable. :) So, who or what inspires you the most?

Salvatore: That's easier asked than answered. I believe writing is a gift God gave me and the only way I know how to say thank you is to pray and write everyday. Of course, my wife Sharon inspires me because love does that to writers. It gives us a reason to release those awesome feelings we take into ourselves. I am also inspired by all the things and people I observe who I feel should become part of my poem or story or novel: captured forever, saved in those pages even after they leave this world for the next. Finally, I am inspired by great writers like Dickens, Dostoievski, Sandburg, Vallejo--so many geniuses I call my heroes.

Shannon: How many books have you written? How many are published?

Salvatore: I self-published my first book back in 1974. A book of poems. In all I've self-published perhaps ten of them, mostly poetry and a few prose. In fact, one of them, A Family of Sicilians...is still selling since I first published it in 1998. It's available at lulu.com and Barnes and Noble as a Nook book.

Pudding House Publications in Ohio, the largest small press in America, published my Greatest Hits: 1970-2000, and added it to their Greatest Hits Series of American Poets. Two more of my poetry chapbooks were published as well: Boy on a Swing (Big Table Publishing) and What I Learned from the Spaniard (Middle Island Press).

Cyber-wit Publications in India published Two Can Play This Game... (co-authored by the poet Paul Juszcyk) and A Dusting of Star Fall: Love Poems, which I wrote to and for my Sharon.

My two flash-fiction collections, published by All Things That Matter Press and available at Amazon.com, are entitled Flashing My Shorts and 200 Shorts.

Shannon: Wow, you've done some writing! Do you like to read as much as you like to write?

Salvatore: I have always been an avid reader, beginning with the comic books of the 1950s and Classic Illustrated Comics which introduced me to classic literature. Unlike Sharon who reads one book at a time and usually completes it in a day or two, I have the weird habit of reading about eight books, a few pages from each. It makes each book last and luckily--so far!--I know where I left off in each book.

Shannon: :) I've done that on occasion; read more than one book at the same time. Do you have a favorite author?

Salvatore: I have many favorites, but as for the writers of today, I enjoy John Sanford, Alan Folsom, and Jeffrey Archer.

Shannon: What other hobbies/interests do you have?

Salvatore: Taking walks with Sharon, playing poker, water painting.

Shannon: What advice would you give to all those aspiring writers out there?

Salvatore: If you really want to be a writer, be willing to learn the writer's craft, read extensively, hone your observation skills, ignore destructive criticism, build up your self confidence, write everyday, and be unafraid of sharing your writings with editors and publishers.

Shannon: Good advice. Any other thoughts or comments?

Salvatore: If anyone is interested in ordering my books, they can click on any of these sites:

200 Shorts

Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.com/200-Shorts-ebook/dp/B004YWKI8O/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318289667&sr=1-1

Print Edition: http://www.amazon.com/200-Shorts-Salvatore-Buttaci/dp/0984639241/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1318289667&sr=1-1

Nook Book: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/200-shorts-salvatore-buttaci/1104027163?ean=2940012786968&itm=1&usri=200%2bshorts

Flashing My Shorts

Print Edition: http://tinyurl.com/6772fps

Kindle Edition: http://tinyurl.com/5vkhd9r

A Family of Sicilians

Print Edition: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/ButtaciPublishing2008

Nook Book: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/A-Family-of-Sicilians--Stories-and-Poems?keyword=A+Family+of+Sicilians%3A+Stories+and+Poems&store=ebook

Shannon: Thank you Sal for joining me today and allowing me to interview you. It was a pleasure.

And, thanks to all you faithful readers out there for joining me, as well. Y'all be sure and have a wonderful, safe weekend, and I'll catch ya back here on Monday!

No, Don't Make Me Kill It!

2011-10-19T11:22:00.001-04:00

Have you ever created something that you knew was horrible? Maybe, you are a writer, maybe a painter, maybe a musician, maybe a chef. Whatever your craft, I'm sure some of your creations are outstanding and some are not. Okay, so maybe you succeed every time, but I, for one do not.

I was going through some files on my hard drive the other day, and I came across several stories that I had started. The dates on them range back to 1997, if you can believe it. :) Some are as short as a half a page, while others are about 70 pages. But, mostly they are anywhere from 2 to 35 pages. Some of them sounds so good, I can't believe I wrote them. Others…well, I can tell from the get-go, they will never see the printed page. It's not that the ideas are bad; they just have no clear direction, no real conflict. So, what am I going to do about them? Absolutely nothing.

"But, Shannon, they are just taking up space. If you aren't going to work on them, get rid of them!"

I say, "No way!"

Those stories, the good ones and the bad ones are my babies, and I'm not about to kill them. Not to say that I have never trashed a manuscript, because I have. Back before I used a computer, I had to trash those really bad stories, because the mountains of braille paper would have taken over. I wouldn't have minded this, but my mom was a stickler for a clean room, and braille paper stacked all over the place did not promote a clean room.

Y'all should have seen me, when I learned that data could be stored on a disk and kept practically forever. I was like a kid in a candy store. Any brailled story I had went on to that first 3-1/2 inch floppy disk with my name on it. I spent countless hours in the computer lab, just transcribing my stories in to WordPerfect 5.1. lol That old computer was a 286 with dos on it. Now, my hard drive is so big, I can't remember the numbers, I'm surfing the world wide web countless times a day, and there is so much stuff saved on my Mac that it takes a long time to get through it all. Look at me now! Ha!

Sometimes, I find myself thinking that if i could take all the good parts from each unfinished manuscript, I might end up with a really great story. :) Of course, with characters being different, plots, times and places not being the same, I can't do that. However, I can take note of what works and what doesn't and try to incorporate those ideas in to something new. I guess to put it in simpler terms, I can learn from my mistakes and try again. Practice makes perfect, or at least that's what they say.

How about y'all? Any darlings you need to kill? lol

Be sure to come back Friday. I am interviewing WV writer, Salvatore Buttaci. Until then, keep smiling. Remember that song, "Smilers never lose and frowners never win. So, let the son shine in. Face it with a grin. Open up your heart, and let the son shine in." :)

FaceBook, and the Simple Things in Life

2011-10-17T13:59:00.001-04:00

It's been a week since my surgery, and I have to admit it's hard getting back in the swing of things. Of course, it doesn't help that I picked up a cold from the girls. Life goes on, though; dishes need washed, laundry needs doing, kids need fed… Y'all know what I mean. :)

So, here it is Monday again, and I'm blogging from the hip, so to speak. I didn't know what I was going to write about, when I began this post, and I still don't know. Yet, as I type, certain things come to my mind. So, here goes nothing. lol

I really enjoy FaceBook. Yeah, sure, I'm nosey; I like to check everyone's status and see what they are up to, but I also like to update my own. It's sad that the only way you can keep up with your family, anymore is FB, but it's the way it is. If you don't have internet, chances are you are going to miss something vital happening in your family or friends' lives, and in turn, they will miss what's happening in yours. FaceBook is where I learn about my family's visits to the hospital. It's where I learn who is single and who is in a relationship. It's where folks post pics of family, friends and events. It's where prayer requests are asked and received. It's a great way to promote yourself if you write, sing, blog, paint, take pictures, sell stuff, or if you just want to be seen. FaceBook is all the rage…and yet, I am more lonely for friends than I have ever been in my entire life. I find myself wishing some friends and I could take a walk and chat like we used to. I miss having friends over for dinner, like I did when I lived in Romney. I miss sharing a good laugh over something silly.

Since I'm talking about FaceBook…y'all want to know what kinds of statuses I "like" the most? I like the ones that are positive. I like the ones that praise the Lord, the ones that make me laugh, the ones that uplift my heart and not bring it down. Statuses where folks talk about mundane things and how they are loving it.

Yesterday, I saw on there that one of you were eating chicken nuggets and tater tots and watching football. I clicked "like". Last week, one of you talked about shopping with your mom, and I clicked "like". Some of you talk about cooking for your families, and I always "like" those, too. You talk about cleaning your carpets while your man takes the kids to the park, about needing prayer for your families, about your kids doing well playing ball, about having birthday parties, spending time at grandparents' houses, something funny your kids said, somewhere special you got to eat out at, and everything in between. And, I notice a trend; y'all are just enjoying the simple things in life.

Here's something else, I pray for you. You who say in your status that your having a hard time making it through this long Monday, I say a little prayer for you. Those of you who say you've been up all night with a sick kid? I know what you're going through, and I remember how I feel when it happens to me, so I pray for you. You ask for prayer for your brother? I pray. You ask for prayer for your son? I pray. Sounds corny, but it's the truth. I care about all of you, but more than that, God cares for you, and I want you to know that.

So, to wrap up today's post, remember, next time you're on FB, I'll see your post. :) Thanks so much for reading.

What did you think of today's post? What about Friday's post? Did you go check out Peggy's website?

Y'all take care and be sure to come back on Wednesday. Come back on Friday, too, cause I have another interview lined up. Friday's entry will feature WV writer, Salvatore Buttaci.

Presenting First Time Novelist, Peggy Hoy!

2011-10-14T07:43:00.002-04:00

From international drug lords, to country preachers; from hopelessness to faith in Christ, "Classified" by first-time novelist, Peggy Hoy, has it all. Not your run-of-the-mill Christian fiction, this book will keep you on your toes from beginning to end. Just when ou think you know what is going to happen, Hoy surprises you with something new. I literally did not want to put it down, and I stayed up all night to finish it. With characters so real they seem to pop out at you from the pages, and with action so fast paced and real, you will soon find yourself in Hoy's world, laughing, grieving, and living right alongside her characters. This book is funny and sad, full of suspense and joy, and the message of God's love pours out through every word. "Classified" is a must read! I highly reccomend it.

Shannon: So, Peggy, what was your motivation for writing "Classified?"

Peggy: That's funny. It was a whim, actually, that evolved into so much more. I say it really started as a whim because I was turning forty and wanted to see if I could accomplish something. I joked that I was setting out to write the Great American Novel. Of course, like I said, after a while, I found that I truly had a desire to glorify the Lord in the story. When I set my heart to that, it all fell in place and I found the help I needed to finally finish something I started.

Shannon: Did you base your characters on real life people?

Peggy: I didn't start out to, but as my characters developed, I found that some of the personality traits in my characters - especially Ranson Hilliard - were found in a couple of men I knew. There are a couple other people who helped inspire Amy, but just bits and pieces. Sam, however is a totally fictitious character.

Shannon: Well, I have to say, Sam is my favorite character. :) So, is there a sequel? Can you tell us what we can expect?

Peggy: There is a sequel called "Closest Enemies" which continues to develop the first characters to be introduced and introduces a few more. You can expect kidnapping, fraud, counterfeiting and of course some more tender moments and life-changing events to add some spice. There is also a third book which wraps everything up in a neat little bow, I hope anyway! It's got murder and an all too-real terrorism plot.

Shannon: Wow! I can't wait. It sounds like you have a lot planned. When did you first realize you wanted to write books?

Peggy: I've always wanted to. Like I said, I've never been able to actually get it all to come together.

Shannon: I'm curious, and I know everyone else is, too; who or what inspires you the most?

Peggy: There are a million things that inspire me. It can be something as simple as a phrase I catch from someone telling about an event that happened to them, a picture I see or even a song. I'll be honest, too. You inspire me! I love talking to you about my work because you always have positive feedback, and since you had blazed the entire book publishing and printing trail for me, it made it much easier not to worry about the little hangups and just write!

Shannon: Well, thank you. Truthfully, you inspire me, too. "Classified" seemed to come to you so easy. It almost seems like you did quite of bit of reading to study your craft. Do you like to read as much as you like to write?

Peggy: I love to read when I'm not writing. When I'm writing, I don't want to read anything because it might inadvertantly cause me to write something about what I've read. I read my Bible, but I limit my reading to that while I'm writing. When I'm not writing, I'd love to find some Christian books which aren't so, well frankly, sappy.

Shannon: I know what you mean. Do you have a favorite author?

Peggy: I like to read after Debi Pearl for devotionals and marriage and child training guidance for non-fiction. As for fiction, before I was convicted for reading so much profanity, my favorite author was Diana Gabaldon with her Outlander series. For Christian fiction, I like Frank Peretti, but I like him much better when he writes alone and not with someone else. Also there is this local author named Shannon Wells who does a pretty good job, too, and I'm not just saying that because of the interview!

Shannon: Awe, you're too sweet. :) I think you're a pretty good writer, too. So, do you have any favorite books out there?

Peggy: I like This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peretti, and some of his other works, but I woulndn't read and re-read them.

Shannon: Besides writing, what other hobbies do you enjoy?

Peggy: I sing with my family in a bluegrass gospel group and we travel all over the country doing that. I like to sew quilts and I enjoy helping families learn how to begin homeschooling.

Shannon: You are a busy lady. lol How do you find time to write between singing engagements, home school, and all the traveling you do with your family?

Peggy: I have no idea! Honestly, I don't know where the time was stuffed in there. I stayed up a few nights, but my body isn't used to that and shut down without my permission most of the time. I never write when I'm at a meeting, either, because I want to focus on the ministry and pray for the services without hindrance of thinking about a plot during preaching! As far as homeschooling goes, it was Sarah's senior year and Logan didn't need me much either, so I guess that's where it happened. When I got started I would write probably sixty to eighty pages at a time, though. God was really good to give it to me like that!

Shannon: I notice your book is published by Father's House Publishing. I do not think anyone has heard of that publisher before. Can you tell us more about it?

Peggy: Father's House Publishing is my brainchild. As I looked for a publisher, I found that it was very expensive, first off. Secondly, I found that all the Christian publishers I could find were not all that picky about what they published or what version of the Bible the works featured. I stand strongly on the final authority of the King James Bible, and was convicted about having a company who promoted other bibles put their signature on my books. So I was led to start my own publishing company for the sole purpose of not having my name associated with any company who does not honor the Word of God exclusively in the King James Bible. I found that it not only eased my spirit, it cost me a whole lot less to do it myself than to go with an established publisher. I could have published for free through some other companies on line, but again, their name would be on my work.

Shannon: What advice would you give to all those aspiring authors out there?

Peggy: Keep it real. Even if it's fiction, you can make it believable! I know that junk sells, but I don't know how some of those authors actually rest at night knowing they put out so much trash! It's like cheese puffs, all air and no good stuff! Stay away from cliche phrases and leave some things to the readers' imaginations. It's not necessary to describe every little detail. Last but not least, write, write, write!

Shannon: Sound advice! Is there anything else you would like to share?

Peggy: Thank you for the opportunity to share some information with you about "Classified" and Father's House Publishing! I appreciate your interest, and look forward to working with you in the future!

Shannon: No, Peggy, the pleasure was all mine. Thank you!

So, there y'all have it! "Classified by Peggy Hoy can be purchased from the publisher's website

www.fhpublish.com

It costs $10 plush $3 for shipping and handling and Father's House Publishing accepts payments through PayPal.

Peggy mentioned her family's singing group. She sings with her husband, Ron, her daughter Sarah and her son Logan. The whole family is sincere, and their spirit filled singing blesses me everytime I hear it. They play their own instruments; no sound tracks for these folks. :) Check out the Hoy Family's website at

www.hoyfamily.net

Thank you for joining me today! Y'all have a wonderful weekend, and I'll catch ya on Monday!

Packing A Spiritual Bag

2011-10-12T16:56:00.002-04:00

A week before my surgery, I had to go to the hospital for some pre op testing. At the end of the visit, I asked the nurse if I should bring anything on the day of the surgery, like paperwork. She said that the only things I needed to bring, were the things I wanted to have with me during my hospital stay, like slippers, robe, tooth paste and tooth brush...stuff like that.

So, the night before the surgery, I packed a bag with the few items I thought I might want. I packed a tooth brush, some tooth paste, a comb, some deodorant, the charger for my phone, my mp3 player and earbuds and some extra socks and under things. As it turned out, I didn't use the mp3 player or earbuds, but most of the other stuff got used. But, that bag of stuff got me to thinking.

What if we had to pack a spiritual bag to take to the hospital? If we did, what would we put in it? Ever thought of that before? Well, let's think about it. Hospitals are not the funnest places to be, but we've all had to be there or will be there at some point in our lives. So, if we are packing a spiritual bag, here is what I thought might go in it.

1. a huge package of patience, 'cause there's lots of others at a hospital in more need of help than me
2. a big package of humility, 'cause after all, I'm there because I am the one in need of help
3. a satchel of thanksgiving, 'cause everyone needs to hear "thank you" every now and then
4. a bag of smiles, 'cause when you smile, it makes everyone else wan to smile, too
5. a container of friendliness, 'cause no one needs a friend like the night nurse who empties your cath bag. lol
6. a box of forgiveness, "cause even professionals make mistakes
and last but not least,
7. a heapin' helpin' of Christ-like charity, 'cause after all, isn't witnessing the point?

How about you? What would you pack in your spiritual bag? Would you add to this list? Take away from it?

BTW, I'm home from the hospital and doing all right. Tired and sore, but promised y'all a blog post, so here ya go. Be sure and come back Friday! I'll be featuring a new author, Peggy Hoy and her first book, "Classified"!

I Can't Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand

2011-10-09T21:11:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, I stop and take a look at where I am, and I think, "Wow! How did I get here?"

I'm talking figuratively…sort of. lol Seriously, though, it's good to stop and take a good look at our lives. Are we at the place we planned to be? Are we doing what we thought we would always do?

Back when I was thirteen in 1992, I went to a retreat at Camp Whitney in WV. We put items in individual plastic baggies and put them in a time capsule. Our plan at the time was to open it in the year 2000. The funny part of this is, 2000 seemed so very far away; now it's in the past.

A lot has happened to me since the year 2000, and I think I can say with all honesty, I'm not the same person I used to be; I am more. That girl's dreams and aspirations are not different from my current reality; they are broader.

When I was in elementary school, my teachers had a hard time getting me to do my school work rather than write stories. I wrote stories all the time, and about anything I could think of. Now, I am a published author.

When I was six-years-old, I received a tambourin as a birthday present. I recorded myself playing and singing. My right leg even got sore from banging that noisy thing against it. Ha! Now, I play piano, sing and even have a couple of CD's out. Wow!

I am the oldest of four girls. My sisters are 3-1/2 years younger, 10 years younger and 15 years younger than I am. I remember carrying my sister Veronica around, as if she were my own. Mom worked evenings, I was in high school, and during those long winter evenings, while rocking my sister, I remember dreaming of children of my own. I wanted babies to sing to, babies to rock, babies to love, and a Christian home. Now, I am happily married with two rotten, little girls of my own. I sang to them as babies, and I sing to them now. Amazing!

As a teenager who was blind, I used to wonder if I would ever meet nice guys. Every blind woman who was married, my mom said their husbands were ugly. That wasn't nice of her to say that, but that's how she felt. I remember begging God in my prayers, "Oh, God, please, please, please, don't let me meet an ugly man!" lol Now, i have a husband, who I think is the handsomest man in the world. And, I don't care whether anyone's mom likes the way he looks. :)

I used to wonder if I would ever have a home of my own, if I would ever be able to cook and clean for myself...you get my drift. Now, today, I have all of these things, but there's one thing I have learned that you might not be expecting; I don't do it on my own.

Nope, I can't be kind to my husband and children on my own. I can't write books, sing and play piano, take a walk down the street, all by myself. Now, don't y'all go thinking Terry does most of the work around here. I changed more diapers than he, I wash more dishes than he, and I do more laundry, too. Of course, since he likes to cook, I let him. lol No, I don't get help from anyone down here; I rely on my heavenly father, and He has never let me down.

When it came time to change the first nasty diaper, I literally prayed for God to show me how. When my first baby threw up all over herself, the high chair and the kitchen floor, I stood in the middle of the mess and cried out in the quiet of my house, "Oh, God, I need you! I do not know how to clean this up! Please, God, help!!!"

It's that way with everything, and I plan to keep it so. God showed me how to care for the babies. God showed me how to clean up their messes, and it's God who keeps reminding me, that I can do nothing without Him. After all, doesn't the Word say that He is the vine, and we are the branches? In another place, it says that if God be for us, who can be against us? And, yet another place, it tells us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. With such wonderful reminders of His love and willingness to be our very present help in time of trouble, how is it that we go astray?

How about you? Where has God brought you from since 2000?

Be sure and come back Wednesday. Not sure what I'll write about; having surgery and I'm not sure when I'll get to come back home, but I will blog. Also, be sure and come back Friday. I'm interviewing a new author, Peggy Hoy, reviewing her book, and you just have to be here.

Friday's Fiction Times 4

2011-10-07T07:56:00.001-04:00

Yep! The title says it all. A friend suggested I blog about my newest book, but, as you are about to find out, there isn't one new book; there are four works in progress (WIP's).

Now, before y'all go to reading, there's something I want you to keep in mind; none of these have been edited, and they are works in progress, which means, what you read today might not show up in the final product.

So, without further adieu, here's something for you faithful folks to read.

*****

Wild Heart number 3

As the last notes of the verse sounded in the tiny cubical, she met Colbey's gaze and knew it was over; Mr. Saunders had passed.

Colbey closed the unseeing eyes, folded the lifeless hands over the silent chest, and helped Katie spread a sheet over the body before speaking.

Touching a hand to her shoulder, he said, "It's nearly dawn, and we both have been here since yesterday morning. Come have coffee with me before I take you home."

"I don't think that is a good idea," she said, an all to familiar ache squeezing her heart.

Rubbing a tired hand across his eyes, Colbey sighed.

"No, I guess it isn't."

"There should be some coffee in the lounge, though, and Mrs. Pemberton brought in some homemade doughnuts last night."

Colbey looked in to her eyes, and Katie knew what he was unable to ask. She mustered up a smile for him and nodded; she would never mention the invitation, again.

The lounge was quiet, the coffee hot, and there was a couple of doughnuts left in the box. Leaning back in an old, overstuffed chair, Katie took a long drink of coffee, allowing it to warm the inside of her mouth before swallowing. What she had to tell Colbey was not going to be easy, especially after the night they had had, but it needed to be said.

"Colbey?"

When he looked up, she took a deep breath and just blurted it out.

"I'm leaving New York."

There was a dazed look in his eyes, and it took him a full minute to realize she was serious.

He sat his coffee cup down with such force that some of the dark liquid splashed out on to the table, but he paid no attention.

"Leaving? But...but why? I thought... Well, I thought you liked it here ."

"I do like it here, but it's time for me to go home. The folks are having a time of it, what with the drought and the economy like it is. I've... I've learned a lot, and I've enjoyed it, but it's time for me to leave."

For a moment, Colbey's mouth moved, but no sound came out. Katie's heart ached at the desperation on his face, but there was nothing she could do about it; he had made his choice and they both had to live with it.

"I leave on tomorrow morning's train. I know it's sudden, but..."

"Sudden? You're right, it's sudden! I mean, sure an extra pair of hands would help out at home, but your folks would never hold it against you, if you stayed. You know that!"

"Yes, I know."

"Then, why, Katie?"

"You know why, Colbey."

Just like that, the truth, wrong as it was, lay between them. And, as if she could be conjured up by thoughts alone, the door to the lounge banged open and, Camille Lockhart stormed through the portal like a whirlwind.

*****

Trace and Adison's story

Tightening his embrace until she leaned back against him, Trace enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. Her scent, a mix between sunblock and grape soda, wafted around him, and he felt like this moment would last a lifetime.

In silence, he and the woman he loved watched as brilliant shades of every color in the rainbow began exploding above them. When there came a pause in the show of fire works, he pulled loose the tie that held her braid in place, and then ran his fingers through her silky hair until his hands were tangled in it.

Leaning forward, he nuzzled her ear and whispered, "I've been waiting to be alone with you all day."

"Me, too," she said, and he could hear the smile in her voice.

"I love you," he whispered.

She did not answer right away, but sat still in his arms, watching the display above.

When the last shower of stars faded in the night sky, he felt her turn her head until her lips brushed his ear.

So soft he almost missed it, she said, "I love you, too."

He tried to hold on to her, but even as his arms tightened, her warm body faded until he felt nothing.

"Adison! Adison! Where are you, baby?"

Her face was so vivid in his mind's eye, the feel of her had been so real, but he could no longer see her on the river bank. Then, he knew; she was not at the river; she was just ahead of him, guiding him as he ran toward safety.

No! No! This wasn't right!

But, he could not deny what his eyes told him; she was there, urging him one way and then another, as bullets rained all around.

He heard her voice then, that distinct alto that was hers alone, and it was reassuring him that she would show him the way out.

In the end, she had done as she had promised; gotten him out.

All of a sudden, his eyes flew open, and he tried to sit up. Knifing pain coarsed through his head, and he fell back against the pillow. It took all his concentration to keep from passing out. It was several minutes before he could focus once more on his surroundings.

He lay flat on his back, looking up at the ceiling. He was in the hospital, he knew, and all around him were sounds of a busy day: a woman's voice calling for a Jill to report to the nurse's station, an AT&T commercial playing on a nearby television, and nearer still, the sound of someone quietly weeping.

Something lay over his nose and mouth, and if he crossed his eyes, he could just see the out line of an oxygen mask. He tried to lift a hand to remove it, but his hands would not obey.

Why did he feel so weighted down?

It came back to him, then, what his sister had said to him in one of those odd, lucid moments he had before the dreams came.

A spinal cord injury, she had said.

But, what exactly did that mean, and why the oxygen mask? Was he still unable to breathe on his own?

Taking an experimental breath, he ran his tongue along the inside of his mouth and felt no foreign objects there. His chest felt a little tight, but other than that he was definitely breathing on his own.

Thank you God.

*****

A Place Called Home

"You did what?"

"Ah, Krissy, don't be angry. It's for your own good."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

"You might be ten minutes older than me, but that don't make you my boss!"

"Don't shout, Krissy. Please."

Guilt and sorrow, swift and sure pierced Kristi's heart.

"I'm sorry, Kial. I didn't mean to shout. It's just that...well, you surprised me so. Now, why don't you let me get that tonic the doctor left for you."

"I don't want any medicine; I want you to sit down and hear me out."

"But, this is insane! I can't leave you and go on a fool-hearty trip like that! Why, what would I do if I get there and your perfect plan backfires? What if he decides he didn't want a wife after all? I'd be out on the streets, worse off than I am now."

"Sit down and listen...please, Krissy?"

Dropping in to the straight backed chair near the bed, Kristi sighed.

"Okay, I'm listening."

"It's a good idea, Siss," he said.

Kristi saw the earnestness in his blue eys so like their father's. Kial was pale with dark circles beneath his eyes. It was evident he had lost sleep, all because of this crazy idea of his.

But, marry a man she didn't even know? On the otherside of the country?

"Mr. Quade needs a wife. He says he is a Christian, so you wouldn't be mistreated. He has a prosperous ranch, so you wouldn't have to go without. He needs a woman to keep house and take care of his daughter, and you can do all of that. I know you're a good cook, you always wanted a home of your own, and you managed to hold on to this old place despite yankee troops and four years of war."

Kristi wondered what he would think of her housekeeping abilities, if he knew just how she had managed to hold on to the old homeplace. But, he did not know...would never know. The man he planned on giving her to did not know either, but he would find out, sooner or later. She could not allow that to happen. It was her secret, hers, God's and the yankee captain's with the steel gray eyes.

*****

Found

Thankful the rain had stopped, Britney concentrated on the ground beneath her and tried not to think about the stealthy noises she kept hearing ahead of her. The way was slippery, but there were enough tree roots to brace herself against as she struggled upward. The very real possibility that she was heading in to danger, made her feel sick to her stomach, but what choice did she have except to go on? Maybe, the noise ahead had been a rabbit, or a dog or cat.

Probably not; a dog would have barked...unless..."

Oh, Lord,, please don't let there be any cujos out here!

No matter what lay ahead, it was better to face a living thing from whom she might be abel to escape than the dark waters of the stream below that absolutely terrified her. She had not always been afraid of water, but ever since that long ago day when her world had turned upside down, she could not bare the thought of being in water above her knees. Her lack of sight only made it worse.

Pausing against a pine tree, she stood to her feet and listened. There was the sound of the rain as it moved off in to the distance, the breeze as it rustled the trees, but she heard nothing more. The way the wind in the trees sounded, she knew she was nearing the edge of the tree line, simply because there was no rustling ahead of her, only behind. She reached out a foot to check the ground immediately ahead. Realizing it was too steep to walk, she got down on her knees again and went forward, hoping to find a place where she could rest.

After several moments of crawling in the wet grass and mud, her left hand brushed against an outcropping of rock that for a few feet was straight up and down before leveling off. With her right foot braced against the sloping ground, she hoisted her left knee up and using it for leverage, pulled her other leg up on to the rock ledge. Then, she froze, fear running like ice water through her veins.

All at once, she knew she was not alone. The rock beneath her hands was dry and warm to the touch, whereas everything else was soaking wet from the rain.

Someone was there;she could hear him breathe.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she kept her head down. The sting of tears made her feel helpless, something she prided herself on not being.

The woman was a mess; Trey could see that right off. The only thing she wore that was not covered in mud was her backpack.

Funny, her backpack looked like the one that he had bought for...

Leaning to the side, he reached out and adjusted the backpack, looking for the monogram he knew would be there. Sure enough, there it was.

How on earth had she gotten here?

"P…Please, don't hurt me. I…I didn't s…see a thing."

The pleading in her voice tore at his heart. She still didn't know who he was. But, there was no forgetting that red hair or the slope of her cheek. In what felt like another lifetime, Trey had known this woman as well as he had known himself.

He watched as she scrubbed her palms on her jeans, then shoved her wet hair behind her shoulders. At sight of her face, his breath caught in his throat. It was her, all right, Britney, his ex-wife, the one to whom he owed so much.

A splattering of mud ran down her left cheek, and her nose was running. Tears were gathering in the corners of her eyes, and there were bits of leaves and twigs trapped in the mane of her hair. Something was different, though, something about her eyes. They were still a vivid green, big and clear, still rimmed by lashes other women only dreamed of having. But, for some reason, she would not meet his gaze. It felt like she saw him, but there was no recognition, no emotion at all. A shaft of afternoon sunlight fell across her face, right in to her eyes, but she did not react. Her pupils did not contract, she did not blink or turn away.

Reality, cold and painful slammed in to him then; she was blind.

*****

So, which was your favorite? Any questions? Suggestions? Comments? Come on, y'all, let's talk!

Have a fabulous weekend, and be sure to come back next Friday, for sure. I'm reviewing a new book, interviewing the author, and you are going to love it! Until Monday, remember that when you have time on your hands, put them together and pray. More good things are wrought by prayer, than this world dreams of. BTW, that quote came off an old shirt I used to wear. :)

A Mixed Bag of Stuff

2011-10-05T09:55:00.001-04:00

Honestly, y'all, I do not have a clue on what I am blogging about today. :) But, I have committed to blog, so buckle up, cause this ride might be unpredictable and the topics a mixed bag of stuff.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. They were an hour behind in getting patients in. Needless to say, I had to practice some patience. I sat there for over an hour, and the conversations around me were interesting, to say the least. To give you an idea of what the conversations were about, let me add it was an OBGYN's office. lol Moms discussed pregnancy, labor and delivery, weight gain and weight loss, and everything in between. i kind of felt sorry for the lone dad in the room and the boy who sounded about twelve. Along with the conversations, there was a 14-month-old who cried because her mama wouldn't let her explore the trash can. Ha! The twelve-year-old boy and his brother were watching YouTube videos on their phones and blowing up the latex gloves someone had given them and making the baby laugh out loud.

Later on, I was at the hospital for some pre op testing, and the RN took my temperature by running the end of the thermometer over part of my forehead and the side of my neck. My temperature had been taken this way before, but I found myself thinking, "Wow, technology sure has come a long way." I mean, think about it, y'all; it wasn't all that long ago when doctors could only guess at our bodies' temperatures. I'm sure they knew what was too hot and what was all right, but still… With blood pressure cuffs hooked to machines that check the blood pressure of a patient at the touch of a button, thermometers that only need to touch a portion of the forehead to check body temperatures, and a machine that beeps to let the doctor know when he or she has successfully intubated, who said I couldn't be a brain surgeon? ;)

Later still, I went shopping and found lots of things I wanted to buy. There were shoes, sheets, blankets, halloween costumes for kids, and I'd better stop there. :) So much stuff in that store, and while there's nothing wrong with buying, as long as I had the money, what long-lasting purpose would that stuff have served? No doubt, the shoes would have fit me. I could have worn them to church and everywhere. No doubt 2 or more sets of sheets would have been nice. But, I only needed one set. No doubt the blankets would have been nice to curl up with on a cold day, but I have blankets…and heat for the winter months. No doubt those costumes would have looked beautiful on my little girls, but I'll find some less expensive ones, somewhere else. After all, they will only be able to wear them once.

The last stop for the day was at the new Walmart. We ate dinner at Subway while the pharmacy filled prescriptions. When the meds were ready, we got a couple of other things we needed, then left. Our new Walmart isn't as large as some, but you can still buy groceries, toilet paper, prescriptions, clothes and an already prepared dinner, all at the same time. To most folks, a Walmart store is the next best thing to sliced bread. They love it! One lady said, "I just love the idea of buying a package of panties, my medicine and a box of cereal, all without leaving the store." Hate to break it to y'all, but this idea is not a new one. REmember stories about those old general stores? Yep, you got it! Walmart might be wonderful, but all it is, is a modernized general store. Hmm, kind of makes me wonder in 50 years or so, if the world's still standing, if someone will say, "Gee, I think we need specialty shops. How about we market a new idea? Let's have a butchery, a bakery, and a store just for fresh produce." If that happens, someone will blog and say, "These aren't new ideas, after all." :)

So, that's what's on my mind, today. Told you it would be a nixed bag of stuff. If I had to sum it all up, guess I'd say that people are funny, technology is great but not perfect, stuff don't really matter even though we think it does, and very few ideas are as new as we think they are.

Any thoughts? Questions? Admissions? Confessions? Rebukes? Comments? Would love to hear from my readers, so please feel free to comment or drop me an email at
ShannonNicoleWells@suddenlink.net

Be sure and come back Friday! Not sure what I'll be doing, but planning something good!

Make Believe...No Matter How You Look At It

2011-10-03T09:42:00.005-04:00

It's October, but it feels like November. Am I the only one who thinks that? :) Of course, if you do not live in WV, then you might not agree. I heard a couple of days ago that it was in the 90's in Arizona. Yikes! I'm not moving there. lol Of course, there's probably a place in Maine or Montana with temps colder than the 50's, too. But, around here, in the Kanawha valley it feels like late fall. I keep wanting to talk about what's for dinner on Thanksgiving. I keep thinking about buying a thermos so my coffee will not get cold so fast. I'm wishing there was a regular heater in my bathroom. In other words, my body thinks it's curling up time. :)

speaking of curling up, yesterday morning, around 6:20 AM, I was getting ready to pour some coffee, when my three-year-old gets up and wants to watch TV. Everyone else was asleep, of course, but I turned the TV down and let her watch, anyway.

"Pease, Mommy, watch TV wiff me!"

Who could resist? Not me. :) So, I brought my coffee in to the living room and went to get my MacBook. I sat down beside her and wrote on my book while she sat beside me, wrapped up in her Dora blanket watching Kai-Lan. For a time, it was quiet; I was back East somewhere in Virginia a year or so after the end of the Civil War and Kierstin was watching Kai-Lan and her friends play. Then, I hear through the writer's fog, "Mommy, here's my ballerina. You pay wiff me."

Ha! No more writing for me. lol I put the MacBook away and played barbies. Our dolls had a sleep over, they went to the movies and all their friends came over to play. We had barbies, Dora, Swiper, a couple of ballerinas, Rapunzal. Needless to say, the couch was full. :)

What a joy it is to see my children's imaginations develop. Honestly, even though it's hard to concentrate on my story and her make-believe, I think it is what keeps me writing.

How about you? What keeps you writers writing? What feeds your creative side?

One more question. How in the world do you spell the name of that character with hair long enough to hang from a tower and touch the ground? lol :D

Finally Friday

2011-09-30T10:03:00.003-04:00

If you've been following this blog, you will remember Monday's post that dealt with how to begin the work week. I guess we were programed to look forward to Fridays; it's the end of the school week, and we had two full days ahead of us with nothing to do. At an early age we were taught what TGIF means, and I can remember I wasn't the only kid going around school, chanting "TGIF, thank goodness it's Friday!"

Then, I entered Junior High and those two full days of laziness were filled with homework, but still we all looked forward to Fridays. In High School, what time I wasn't doing homework, I remember sleeping the weekend away. :) After graduation, I went to college, and I still thought Fridays were the best thing since spread peanut butter. So, after a semester and a half of college, I met the man of the place, got married and for some crazy reason, still looked forward to Fridays. Now I homeschool, today is Friday, and I find myself glad of it. I heard somewhere that students in France go to school on Saturdays. When I first heard this, I remember thinking, "Those poor kids!"

Anyway, it is Friday, the end of my husband's work week, the end of the school week for the girls and I, and apparently the girls feel my anxiousness to be done with work for the day; the are fighting and very reluctant to get started. I don't have a lot planned for the day, but we need to get on the ball, or we won't get anything done.

As for me...well, I hate to admit it, but I found a book online that sounded good. I downloaded it and listened to about five minutes of it so far. I want to read on, but...you guest it; there's work to be done.

So, here's where putting God's instruction and others' needs above my own, come in to practice. God has called me to teach my children. If He hadn't, they would be in public school, and I'd be sitting back, enjoying a good book with no interruptions until two PM. Also, the girls need me. No one said I couldn't read all day. The Bible does not have a commandment that says, "Thou shalt not listen to thine audio book during school time." lol But, here's what the Bible does say...and it applies to many things in life: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Now, I didn't check to make sure all the punctuation was correct, but that's what the King James version says in Matthew chapter 6 verse 33.

Now, to put that verse in action. If I put my girls' needs and God's will above my own, I will get off this computer, put the book down, turn off the TV's and teach them. If I teach them about God's love, about His creation, how to read, write and..."do figgers" like this one old lady I knew called it... then God will give me time for me. In other words, when my work for today is over, I can get back to the book.

How about y'all? Any thoughts on this subject? Is there something God is calling you to do that is a struggle for you? Do you have a hard time putting God's will before your own?

Let me leave you with just a thought. The devil is a roaring lion, the Bible says, seeking whom he may devour. he is the enemy, no doubt about it. His job is to steal, kill and destroy, but there is another enemy that just might be harder to defeat. That enemy, is self. Many, many times throughout the day when things get hard, I find myself saying, "But, Lord, I want... "But, Lord, I don't like..." "But, Lord, I..."

See what i mean?

Hope y'all have a happy, enjoyable and short Friday! Pray for me, cause now I'm gonna go practice what I preach. :)

A Message From Yours Truly and Some Links You Might Want To Check Out

2011-09-29T09:32:00.002-04:00

Wow! It's Thursday already. On Monday, I promised myself I would blog three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but as you can see for yourselves, Wednesday came and went and no entry from me. My excuse? I guess writing on a new book, homeschooling my three-year-old and six-year-old, and household chores just got the best of me. :) But, I am blogging this morning. Can't chat long; school starts soon, and I still have to print out coloring sheets to go with our Bible lesson, print out tracing worksheets for my youngest to work on while the eldest does her math, yatta yatta yatta. And, yeah, I know, I should have been prepared before I went to bed last night, but after our supper of WV hot dogs, all I seemed to have time for was a cup of half caff coffee, straightening up a mess and putting the girlies to bed. Oh, yeah, and I had to make time for the man of the place. Did y'all like that phrase, "the man of the place"? I stole it from Laura Ingalls Wilder, actually. In one of the books written about the girl from "Little House on the Prairie", there are some articles she wrote for local publications. In them, she refers to her husband as "the man of the place". I kind of like it, but then again, I'm strange. :)

So, since I have a full day ahead of me and still haven't had anything sweet to eat, let me share with y'all a few links.

Do you like stories about mail order brides? I'm actually working on one now, and in my search for info on the net, I came across this

http://bustlesandspurs.blogspot.com/2011/08/matchmakingcom-in-old-west.html

One of the blogs I follow is that of Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary. In one of her posts, she mentions an online readers' club called, "She Reads." It's a division of Proverbs 31 Ministries. They discuss twelve books a year, so if you like to read any type of Christian Fiction and want to connect with other like-minded women, go check it out at

http://www.shereads.org/

If you are a writer and want to follow Rachelle's blog, here's the link.

http://www.rachellegardner.com

Another blog I follow is

http://www.mybooktherapy.com

If you are a writer of Christian Fiction, go check it out. If you love Susan May Warren's books, go check it out. :)

As always, if you love me, my books, and everything you can think of about me, ;) you are more than welcome to check out my website

http://www.wildheartbook.com

Do you Tweet? Come follow me at

http://www.twitter.com/authorshannon

Do you FaceBook? Come be my friend at

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1826550903

What person or persons inspire you on your journey?

Until next time, keep on keepin' on. Let's help each other make it home. Remember that song?

"It'll be worth it after all, child. It'll be worth it after all. After all of these trials, we'll hear Jesus call. It'll be worth it after all, child. It'll be worth it after all. After all of this climbing, it'll be worth it after all." The Spensers

Monday Madness

2011-09-26T07:59:00.001-04:00

Good morning to all! It's Monday, in case you haven't noticed, the first day of the work week for lots of us. Also, for many, it's too early for rational thought. So, grab your coffee, tea or soft drink of your choice, and let's get movin'! :)

Of course, you and I know, that is easier to say than do; take me, for instance. After the craziness of Sunday, the lazy side of me wants to chill out on monday morning. I want to enjoy my cup of caffeine, the quiet of my little office space and maybe do some reading. But, I have a three-year-old and a six-year-old, there are dirty dishes in my kitchen sink, we have school work to do, there's probably laundry I need to do, and there's writing to be done. Now, to those of you who get up early and head out to work an eight or ten our shift, this may not sound like a lot. After all, how hard could it be to be a stay-at-home mom. My answer, it's not hard. However, when you have issues with time management as I do, it can get confusing.

It took me a while to go to sleep last night. For some reason, I kept thinking about the characters in my newest book. It's a historical.

I kept asking my two main characters, "How do you feel about him," and "What do you think about her?" Just in case you are wondering, they aren't listening to me. lol

So, i managed to fall asleep, only to dream I was stuck at an unfamiliar house, my husband was somewhere dangerous, and no one i knew would text me. :)

After this weird dream, I woke up to a three-year-old in my bed, kicking me and wanting to prop her legs and feet on my back. Needless to say, I don't think anyone except the six-year-old slept well.

If you are a parent, you've had nights like that. You have also had to get up and get to work after nights like that.

I have a full day of home school planned, I have a certain amount of writing i want to accomplish, there are some household chores I need to complete, and there's only one way I'll make it through…trusting in God. I believe God has blessed me with a talent to write. I believe God has called me to be a stay-at-home mom and to home school. It is not such a great leap of faith to say that if I believe God has called, then He will equip me with the right tools and strength to do what He is calling me to do.

Now, here's your challenge…and don't be shy about joining in the discussion. What are some things you believe God has called you to do?

Baking and What-Not: An Update

2011-08-01T19:04:00.001-04:00

So, it's Monday, it's the first day of August, it has almost been four months since I've written anything on here, and any faithful readers I once had are probably long gone. So, why keep on blogging? Well, guess I can't help it; writing's in me blood, you might say.

Not that I've been doing much writing, here of late, but when the urge to write hits, I do my best to obey it. If not, depression sets in, and I'm tired of going down that road.

What I have been doing a lot of, lately, is baking and reading. The reading is for entertainment, I suppose, and the baking, I reckon is how I have been expressing my creativity. Not that I've prepared anything that would impress Paula Deen or wow Rachal Ray, but I have tinkered with a few recipes and made them my own.

I found a recipe for a 100 year old blackberry cake from my own wild and wonderful state of WV. Intrigued, I wash some freshly picked blackberries from two days previously, and proceeded to mix up the ingredients, and to my amazement, I found myself singing. Singing while whipping up a cake, whose ingredients I had only memorized? Ok, so I never said I was sane. Anyway, the recipe, I discovered had a mistake in it. Near the end of the list of ingredients, it said to add a half (1/2) cup of cloves. I'm like, "There ain't no way!"

So, knowing I was smarter than that, I just added a half (1/2) teaspoon of ground cloves, which, in case you want to know, was too much, even then. I should have put only a fourth (1/4) in it. Still, the cake was good. I greased the bottom of my bunt pan with crisco, but instead of using flour, I used powdered sugar. I hoped it would sweeten the whole concoction. I think it worked. One thing I should have done and did not, was sweeten the berries before baking. the sweet cake made them sour as ever, even though they were sweet and ripe from off the vine.

A couple of weeks before the blackberry cake, I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies and a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies. I couldn't find my baking powder, so used self rising flour, instead. They turned out rather yummy, if I do say so, myself.

Just last week, I took a recipe for peach cobbler that I found online, and instead of canned peaches, I use 2 cans of fried apples. YUM! In this recipe, as well, I used self rising flour, the hudson Cream kind. The only thing lacking with the apple cobbler, was vanilla ice cream. lol

To end this latest frenzy, two days ago, I tried a new brownie recipe. Once again, all I can say is, "Yum!"

As for reading, well, I've been all over the place with that pass time. I read a Karen Kingsbury book called "Learning", the Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Jo Ann Fluke, a few culinary mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson, and a few others that I can't remember, now. I have also reviewed a friend's book. It's called, "Classified", and she is looking to publish it, hopefully some time this year. You can check out her family's website at
http://www.hoyfamily.net

And, writing, that hobby of mine that I said I wasn't doing much of? Well, I have tentatively started working on the third book in the Wild Heart series. I write something, though, find out I don't like it for one reason or another and write something else. Maybe, quite possibly, if I stop reading so many other books, I'd be able to concentrate on my own. :)

Now, here's something odd for me. There is one thing I have been writing. At least once a month since March, I've been writing letters to my grandmother who past away on February 20, 2011. Now, don't call the head doctor yet. lol I know how it sounds; weird, but it actually helps me get my thoughts and emotions under control. It's strange, but I find I can really open up and write what is on my heart, when I am writing to her. Of course, I know she can't hear me and will never read the letters. But, maybe, that is why it's easy to open up. Usually, I can't finish a letter without crying, but this last time, I did manage to get through an entire letter without tearing up. Call it therapy, call it crazy; I don't care. It makes me feel better. After all, each person grieves differently. Right? So, for now, whenever I feel I have to say something to her, or when I get to missing her real bad, I'll write her a letter. And, no, I will never publish them!

So, as for what all is happening with me, guess you have it. The summer's been hot…real hot, but I'm trying not to complain, 'cause I heard yesterday we're supposed to have another bad winter. I tell y'all, I'm awful thankful the Lord isn't calling me to go without my air conditioning. lol The family is well, and we're gearing up for another year of homeschool. Faith is in first grade, and Kierstin, I think, is ready to start some preschool stuff. How I'm going do buckle down and do it all, is something only the Lord knows.

Is that about it? Yep, I think so. I'll be posting again, soon, talking about my books that are available for purchase, and some up-coming good news concerning said books. Be sure to come back soon, for all the updates on that subject.

Until next time, keep on keeping' on, and don't be shy about dropping me a comment or an email at
ShannonNicoleWells@suddenlink.net
to let me know what you think of my blog. I also welcome comments/questions on the topics I write about on here. You have a question for me and want it answered on the blog, let me know. You tired of hearing me yap on and on? Tell me so. :D Love hearing from my reader friends!

Keeping y'all in my prayers and asking you to do the same for me.
Shannon

So sorry

2011-04-06T11:39:00.001-04:00

Well, I am without internet, so no blogging until I am back online. Hang in there, cause I will be back soon.

A Writing Wednesday

2011-03-30T15:45:00.001-04:00

First off, before I yammer on about anything else, I want to say thanks to those who commented on the excerpts, and to those who commented on the poem. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I really appreciate feedback! I was nervous about posting the poem; I don't usually write poetry, and even rarer do I allow anyone to read it.

About the excerpts, I believe I agree; I like the first one the best, as well. Although, Katie Colton in the second one is dear to my heart, and she will get her story written, I like working on a modernday story, for once. My first and second books were historicals and so was the children's book. So, it's nice to try something different. Thanks again for everyone's comments. :)

Here's the thing, though; I'm experiencing a bit of writer's block where that story is concerned. I get real scared, thinking it's boring, when it probably isn't. If I try and talk about it with someone, I lose the excitement for it and end up not writing it. However, I really need to bounce ideas off someone, because...well, I don't know why, but I feel I do. :) The only answer I can come up for this is to just write what's in my head, and then weed out the boring stuff, later. It's meant to be a fast paced, Christian romance, chic lit, story, sort of, so no need to get worried, but still...

When I was a little girl, I loved stories where somebody got hurt...bad hurt. lol I even made my barbie dolls ill in some way. Haha! I liked stories like "Pollyanna". If the synopsis says "after tragedy strikes", well, you can bet I'll be trying it out. I used to get made fun of for this, so it scares me to try and write my own story, where in the synopsis may say, "And after tragedy strikes..."

What do y'all think, though? Do readers like tragedy? Of course, I know not everyone does. I'm just asking what my readers like. My plan is to build up to something, and really break your heart. But, can I do it? I want you to feel Adison's frustration, her anger and her shock. But, will you? I want to give you just enough info about the "tragedy" without boring your socks off.

I have done so much research on Google, that it's pitiful. I've spent more time doing that research than writing, and that, in case you don't know any procrastinators, is my whole problem. My daddy used to say, "Shannon, you spend more time trying to figure out how not to do something, than it would have taken you to just do it." And, he's right. I've read blogs, personal stories, watched countless YouTube videos, until I'm tired of it, and yet, I'm still not sure if I can pull it off. I mean, I can tell you how if feels to be blind. But, can I get inside the head of someone with another disability? Better yet, can I put you in their head? Can I make you feel their pain, feel their frustrations, wish for their lives to get better? Or, will you just feel sorry for my hero?

I guess when it all comes down to the wire, I gotta write it, then we'll all know the answers to those questions. I need to stop second guessing myself and "git on the ball" like my mama always said.

So, are y'all enjoying your week? It's chilly, still, when March should be feeling warm like a lamb. I'm ready for spring!

Like most of the time, I didn't know what I was going to write, when I sat down to blog, but feel free to comment anyway. :) I appreciate you, all twenty of my followers, and i hope you will keep in touch. If anyone wants to email me privately, the email addy is
ShannonNicoleWells@suddenlink.net

Until Monday, if not sooner, keep on keepin' on, remember God still loves you, and remember to pray without ceasing. It's the only way we're gonna make it through.

SURRENDER

2011-03-28T22:37:00.001-04:00

I have never shared much of my poetry, mostly because most of it was written when i was a silly teenager. However, I wrote this just this evening, and decided to share it. Comments are welcome.

SURRENDER

Who knew that surrender would taste so sweet!
The earth has shifted beneath my feet,
And my reality has changed.
Where once I was content to kick against the pricks,
Where once I lay buried beneath heavy bricks
I now wear a new set of chains.

I once was a prisoner against my will.
Hope lay dead, silent and still.
Forever meant to be a slave.
Daily the weight on my shackles increased!
They were tearing me apart, and there was no relief!
There was no life beyond this cave.

"I surrender all!" became my heart's cry.
It was all I could do; I did not want to die!
I kept nothing from Him this time.
With no word of rebuke, He accepted my gift,
Poured His light in to me and closed up the rift,
And because of Him, I can shine.

Chains of obedience now make me free!
Surrender is sweet; I sing victory!
I gladly bare His name.
Finally trusting He will supply my need,
I am content to follow His lead.
Bound by love, there is no shame.

Cast Your Vote On Your Favorite Excerpt!

2011-03-23T17:24:00.001-04:00

Wow, y'all, I just realized what day it is! Seriously, if you've been waiting on an entry today, I'm sorry. I actually forgot. :)

So, since I'm late at blogging, I'll do something I don't normally do. How about an excerpt? Let's see, what to post. Hmm... Oh, I know!

Ok, here's the deal. I'm working on two different stories right now. I'm going to post teensy excerpts from each, and y'all can vote on which one you think I should finish, first! The piece that gets the most votes, will get more attention than the other.

So, here we go!, and please look over the typos. :)

Excerpt one:

["You may be home, but this is still my house, and if I want to pay someone to care for the yard, I will. And, since you apparently want to have this conversation your second day back, then, yes, you have been gone too long. I've needed you, Addie, and you can't even come home long enough to spend the holidays with me. I know your work in Morgantown has been important to you, but it's high time you settled down and found out what is more important in life."

For an instant, Adison could only stand there and stare at her mother.

"I know what is important in life," she said. "I'm a Christian, I go to church regularly. I pray, and I'm sincere about it. I love you, I miss Dad, and I'm…"

"Holding a grudge against Trace O'Connor for going in to the military instead of marrying you," Helen finished.

Adison felt like she had been punched in the stomach, and for a moment, she had to concentrate just to breathe.

"I do not begrudge Trace the right to serve his country."

"Don't you?" Helen asked.

"No!"

"Then, why aren't you married to him? Why have you avoided his family, all these years?"

"Because," she choked out, "it hurts too bad! Because he chose the army over me! And… And, because I made a promise to help injured soldiers. How was I supposed to do that while living on a base? And, what if… What if he got his fool self k-killed over there in Iraq, like Daddy? You forget, Mom, I know how hard it was on you, when they came and told us Daddy was gone, and I don't want to go through that."

Tears glistened on Helen's lashes, and it took her a moment of swallowing hard before she could answer. When she did, her voice was so soft, Adison had to lean close in order to hear.

"And, you, my daughter, have forgotten that it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. Furthermore, if helping injured soldiers is what you are really called to do, then maybe you should get your rear over to the O'Connors and start doing it!"

With that, Helen stood and went in to the house, allowing the screen door to slam shut behind her.

Feeling as if she had missed something very important, Adison blinked, realizing only then that she was alone on the porch. She rubbed a hand across her eyes, and tried to recall what her mom had just said, but it was like her brain had stopped working.

They had been talking about her dad, hadn't they? And, her mom had said that it was better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all. Then, she had said…something about…helping injured soldiers and the O'Connors…and…

Oh, God no!

The exclaimation was somewhere between a cry and a prayer, and the sound of her own voice, raw and pleading made the little hairs at the nape of her neck stand at attention.]

Excerpt two:

[ As the last notes of the verse sounded in the tiny cubical, she met Colbey's gaze and knew it was over; Mr. Saunders had passed.

Colbey closed the unseeing eyes, folded the lifeless hands over the silent chest, and helped Katie spread a sheet over the body before speaking.

Touching a hand to her shoulder, he said, "It's nearly dawn, and we both have been here since yesterday morning. Come have coffee with me before I take you home."

"I don't think that is a good idea," she said, an all to familiar ache squeezing her heart.

Rubbing a tired hand across his eyes, Colbey sighed.

"No, I guess it isn't."

"There should be some coffee in the lounge, though, and Mrs. Pemberton brought in some homemade doughnuts last night."

Colbey looked in to her eyes, and Katie knew what he was unable to ask. She mustered up a smile for him and nodded; she would never mention the invitation, again.

"Colbey?"

When he looked up, she took a deep breath and just blurted it out.

"I'm leaving New York."

There was a dazed look in his eyes, and it took him a full minute to realize she was serious.

He sat his coffee cup down with such force that some of the dark liquid splashed out on to the table, but he paid no attention.

"Leaving? But...but why? I thought... Well, I thought you liked it here ."

"I leave on tomorrow morning's train. I know it's sudden, but..."

"Sudden? You're right, it's sudden! I mean, sure an extra pair of hands would help out at home, but your folks would never hold it against you, if you stayed. You know that!"

"Yes, I know."

"Then, why, Katie?"

"You know why, Colbey."

For an instant, Katie froze, but, recovering quickly, she schooled her features to give nothing away. Then, like the lady her mama Shewana had taught her to be, she set down her half empty coffee cup, rose to her feet and nodded politely toward a seething Camille.

"Thank you for the coffee, Dr. Lockhart," she said, not allowing her gaze to stray toward Colbey. "If you will excuse me, I must be heading home. Good day, Mrs. Lockhart."

Then, back straight and head held high, she walked out of the lounge and out through the front door of the hospital, never looking back. It was not until she stood alone in her room at the boarding house that she allowed her shoulders to slump in defeat.

You are such an idiot, Katie Colton; in love with a married man!]

So, I am anxiously awaiting your vote. Which one intrigues you the most?

One more thing before I'm finished. How would y'all like for me to post book reviews on here? How often?

Until next time, keep smiling, keep praying, and eat some chocolate ice cream for me. Ok? lol

What's On Your Mind?

2011-03-21T14:11:00.001-04:00

If you are on FaceBook, then you know about the box where you put your status and the question it asks. "What's on your mind?" My screen reader, which is called VoiceOver on the Mac, actually sounds as if he is asking a question, when he reads this box. His voice goes up near the end, prompting an answer. However, what I want to know is, does everyone on FaceBook really want to know what is truly on my mind, or does everyone hop on there, hoping to see something funny?

It's the same way, when folks ask how you are. You see someone while you are out and about, and you both say hi, and then, one of you ask, "How you doing?" Do we really want to know, or are we just being nice? Usually, I think the latter is true.

I have a friend who, when you ask him how he is, he answers the same thing all the time. He says, "Wonderfully blessed." Admittedly, this is something we are not used to hearing, which is sad.

Once, my husband and I passed a man, and Terry asked, "How are you?"

"Just terrible, buddy," the man said, "just terrible."

At the time, I'm sorry to say, I laughed, and I still smile, when i think of that man, mostly because he answered in such a dry tone, almost as if he was saying the opposite. But, here again, we do not usually expect folks to say they are bad off, or just terrible, which leads me to believe we only ask how someone is doing or ask what's on their mind, just as a courtesy.

Wonder why that is?

Have we gotten so wrapped up in our own lives, our own misery, our own joys, needs and feelings that we can't even begin to consider another's feelings? Are we just too busy to stop and show concern for another? If this is so, then why be courteous at all? Why not just end our greetings with a simple, "Hi there."? If you don't want to know how someone is doing, don't ask them. If you don't care what's on someone's mind, then don't ask.

Sometimes, on FaceBook, I don't post anything, because I don't have anything to say. Yes, there is always something on my mind, but no, I don't always want to share it. Sometimes, I am thinking about books, the ones I'm reading and the ones I'm working on. Sometimes, I'm thinking of things I need to do, or folks I'd like to talk to. Sometimes, I am just trying to practice good manners, and say nothing, 'cause I don't have anything nice to say. lol

So, I said all that, to say this; a lot has been on my mind lately. last Thursday was not only St. Patrick's Day, which I celebrated by eating a green doughnut, but it was also the anniversary of my baptism back in 1991.

The day was clear, the sky blue, the sun warm, the water in the water whole, cold as ever, and I'll never forget it. One of the ministers who baptized me is dead, now, and I still miss him, even though he's been gone since 2004. After the service, my mom and my sisters and I went to my grandparents' house and had dinner. We kids, my sisters and cousins and I played outside in the yard all afternoon. I was 12 years old, and to me, life just couldn't get any better than it was that day.

This passed Friday, March 18, was my wedding anniversary. terry and I were married 11 years ago at Mammoth Advent Christian Church in Mammoth WV. Pastor Roy Boyd did the ceremony, my cousin Tina sang a song and played the piano for the service, and I said vows that took almost 11 years to understand. :) See my entry, "Wil Thou Love Him, Serve Him, Honor and Obey Him" for more details. A cousin of mine had made the cake, my grandmother had made the punch, and everyone, it seemed, was there to share the day.

Yesterday, March 20, makes one month since Mamaw died, and I can't believe that time has gone so fast. Some members of my family can't speak of her, to this day. Some write nice things on FaceBook about and to her. Me, I don't know how to express my feelings. I can't seem to talk about her, I can't bring myself to write anything on FaceBook, I can't cry anymore either. So, since I can't do any of those things, let me tell you what I would like to do.

I want more than anything to go sit on her front porch and listen to the singing of birds and the occasional passing of a vehicle on the road. I want to take a deep breath and smell the chopped wood awaiting the winter in the wood house out back. I want to hear the laughter of children at play in the front yard. I want to go outside in the winter and breathe in the scents of wood smoke and fresh snow. I want to enjoy the shade at 6PM in the summer, when the sun goes down over the mountains too early. I want do wash dishes at her sink and listen to the pitterpat of rain on the pump house roof outside the open kitchen window. I guess what I really want is to go home.

I have this weird urge to change something major in my life, but I have no clue what that would be. Had thought of getting my hair cut, but the baby loves to play with it so much, I can't bare to do that to her. I have no desire to feel pain of any kind, so there goes a piercing or tatu. lol I can't see worth a plug nickel, so better not get behind the wheel and punch the gas. Wouldn't do any good to die my hair, cause what's the point when I can't see it, anyway? Good grief, y'all, I'm running out of crazy things to do, here!

Now, don't y'all go thinking I'm feeling sorry for myself, or anything. I'm not. I wouldn't die my hair, get a tatu or piercing, even if I could see. Jump in the car and punch the gas, though? Well... :)

So, there you have it, folks, what was on my mind, when I sat down to write. Be sure to come back Wednesday for another entry. Have no clue what I'll write about, but maybe that's best. Keeps ya wondering...at least I hope it does. Until Wednesday, keep praying, keep on keepin' on, and go check out my new book on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Tame-Heart-Shannon-Nicole-Wells/dp/1456300873/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298899713&sr=1-1-fkmr0

How Good is Your Imagination?

2011-03-16T12:11:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Writing Wednesdays! Today's post, like so many of my posts, will probably seem a bit random, mostly because what goes through my mind is a bit random, but it does have something to do with writing...sort of.

How creative does one need to be in order to become a good writer? Can a mother spot the writer in her child from an early age?

In answer to the first question, I have to say I don't know. For sure, there must be some creativity there in order for a person to write fiction. But, what about nonfiction? Again, I don't know. I don't write nonfiction, unless you consider this blog a work of nonfiction. :)

As for the second question, as a mother, I would say yes. Let me give an example to explain what I mean. Kierstin, my 3-year-old is always playing pretend. She brings me barbie dolls, toy ponies and baby dolls, and we make up conversations for them. She make-believes one is fighting another, pretends to save one of them if they are falling, and introduces her dolls to mine, wanting to be friends. She names the bubbles in the bathtub, when I put in bubble bath, asks her family to pretend to be someone else, and today, she named the potatoes that I was cutting for a roast we are having for dinner. lol

"This one's name is Shala," she said. "Cut her real easy. She's a baby."

I promised to be easy, then said, "You'll eat Shala for dinner."

She thought I was teasing and laughed. But, even when she understood I was serious, the thought of eating poor, baby Shala for dinner didn't bother her. Haha!

My other daughter, Faith who is 5 has a wonderful imagination as well, but it is different than her sister's. Faith would rather tell you the story, while Kierstin wants to act it out. One night, after pulling the stopper out of the drain to let out the bath water, Faith asked me, "Can we have a funeral for them?"

"Who?" I asked.

"Our bubble babies we named that are going down the drain."

I was like, "I guess." lol

I guess with an imagination like Kierstin, you'd never be without friends, and with an imagination like Faith's, you'd always have something to write about. :) So, which one will be the writer? Too soon to tell, but Faith has already written a couple of little stories. Of course, Kierstin isn't writing yet, so time will tell.

I don't know how anyone else feels about the subject, but if you don't have a good imagination, then how can you write fiction? How can a writer put life to a long dead historical figure, or a potato, for goodness sake, if they can't imagine it? Imagining how someone would act in different situations is how a writer makes up characters. Being able to come up with different, what ifs, is what stories are made of.

Many people ask me, "How do you come up with this stuff?" talking about my books.

Well, folks, the answer is, I play pretend. Then, because I am me and no one else, I take that pretend and try to make it as believable as possible. All my characters are just that, pretend people with real life situations to go through. Just as people are different and go through different life experiences, so are my characters different. I can't write a book that is too similar to another; it just won't come out right, because if I don't make it up from scratch, then it isn't mine; it's someone else's. And, folks, if you steal someone else's work, it's called plagiarism.

So, that's what was on my mind, when I sat down to write this entry. Any thoughts, y'all would like to share? Always like hearing from my readers, so feel free to drop a comment. What did you think of Monday's interview? Want more of those? Anyone in mind?

Until next time, take care of yourselves, keep smiling, and remember to name your potatoes before eating them for dinner. They probably tastes better that way. lol

Introducing the man behind the microphone, Jonathan Milam!

2011-03-14T08:39:00.000-04:00

Good morning, y'all! I'm so glad you could join me on this Monday! Did you have a good weekend? If so, then I have good news: Lord willing, another weekend is only five days away! lol

Today, I have for you an interview I did with my good friend, Jonathan Milam. Joe, as I used to call him, way back in the day, used to live up here in WV near me. We attended the same elementary school, and the bus ride to and from was over an hour, if my memory serves me correctly. We spent that time sharing snacks our moms had packed for us, playing bus drivers, where we would pretend to chat back and forth as we drove the children to school, and I think we even sang a song or two. When he moved away to North Carolina, just after my first grade year, things got pretty quiet around here, but we kept in touch by sending braille letters and tapes to one another. Today, we keep in touch via email, but who doesn't? Right? :)

Jonathan asked me if he could have me on one of his radio shows, and since I wanted to return the favor, well, here you go.

Shannon: How long have you known you wanted to work in radio?

Jonathan: As early as I can remember, I've just somehow had this endless fascination with radio and knew that it was the career that I wanted to pursue.

Shannon: What inspired you?

Jonathan: That is a great question, and unfortunately it is one to which I don't have an answer. I believe my fascination with radio developed due to the fact that audio was my major source of enjoyment as a child.

Shannon: That makes sense. So, how old were you when you first started working at a radio station?

Jonathan: In 1997, when I was 17 and still in High School, I began working at WTOB-AM, a News/Talk station in Winston-Salem North Carolina, and then moved to WFDD-FM, a Public Radio station at Wake Forest University in late 1998.

Shannon: How did you manage to get your own internet radio station, and where did you get the idea?

Jonathan: My lifelong dream has been to own my own radio station. I think that is a dream of most people who have a passion for radio like me. I have had many interviews and encounters with radio station management staff who are unwilling to hire someone with a disability. I think many sighted people try to picture themselves doing a job without sight, and just cannot fathom how someone who is blind could possibly be successful in doing so. Obviously this isn't stereotypical with everyone given my employment history. In any case, I hosted an online radio show with ACBRI, and audio service of the American Council of the Blind, for a few years and really enjoyed it. I then decided to venture out on my own and run my own station. My main goal was to create an online environment where my family, friends and I could visit and hang out together. However, I also figured if I couldn't fulfill my passion for radio at terrestrial stations, I would start my own internet station and prove myself to those who initially refused to help me pursue my dream. I contacted a previous member of the ACBRI broadcast staff who owned an online business offering hosting plans for internet stations and went from there.

Shannon: If you could, would you do radio all the time?

Jonathan: I will always be involved in some form of radio broadcasting. It is something that I've always wanted to do, and no matter where my actual career path takes me, I will never lose my obsession for the field. However, my current full-time job is the Team Lead Technical Support Coordinator at Wake Forest University's IT Service Desk. I started working there in August of 2000, and discovered an interest in computers and internet technology that I really never knew I had. It's truly an awesome place to work and I honestly don't think I could be treated any better by an employer!!

Shannon: Were you ever shy about talking through a microphone?

Jonathan: I was as a child, however, as I've gotten older, it has become much easier to engage in public speaking. My previous jobs and my daily interaction with customers at work has helped a great deal as well.

Shannon: How did you become blind?

Jonathan: I was born completely blind as a result of an eye disease called Aniridia, which prevented my irides from developing. The irides are responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils of the eyes.

Shannon: Did your blindness ever get in the way of your dream of working in radio? If so, what did you do to overcome it?

Jonathan: Well, not directly. There were/are those who don't think it is possible, but I believe talents are given by God, and through him, all things are possible. I think that one of my greatest strengths is determination, and I have always viewed blindness as an inconvenience more than a disability.

Shannon: Do you have any other hobbies?

Jonathan: I love listening to audio books and watching crime shows on TV. I've always been fascinated by police work, and if I could see, I think I would be a state trooper. When I was a kid, the father of one of my brother's friends was a local cop, and I've been hooked ever since. I also love swimming and bike riding as well, and of course, visiting radio stations whenever possible. I just can't get enough.

Shannon: You ride a bike? Now, that is unusual for a blind person to do. How do you do it?

Jonathan: Basically I just listen to where I'm going as I ride. Pretty crazy I know but it really works. lol

Shannon: Oh Wow! But, in a way, I know what you mean. So, if you were to give advice to someone wanting to work in radio, what would it be?

Jonathan: My answer might be considered somewhat senekal. I would first say not to give up. I was interviewed by a TV station after a 30 minute show I had on a local station back in 1990 when I was 10, and my answer 21 years later hasn't changed. However, I would also strongly suggest that a person learn as much as humanly possible about computers and automation systems. Radio has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time from carts and CDs, and now lives largely in the digital world. You certainly don't make a ton of money in it for the most part, and the opportunities for live and local talent are slim to none, given that there are less people owning more and more stations. However, I also understand that if you are hopelessly in love with it like I am, no amount of water could, nor should, distinguish that fire.

Shannon: What advice would you give to a person who is blind, when it comes to following their dreams?

Jonathan: Here again, don't give up. We as blind people are just as capable as the sighted. We work in NASA, we are doctors, and some of us have even driven race cars. I am constantly amazed by the professions many choose, but I am never doubtful of the success. Can't never could do anything, and blind people should never let anyone or anything stand in the way of living the life and dream he or she chooses to live.

Shannon: "Can't never could do anything" I like that! Anything else you want to share with us, like projects you are planning or things you will be getting in to in the near future?

Jonathan: Well I must say that I am always getting into mischief to some degree. What is life without laughter and fun? I am always trying to convince people that being blind is an act and that I really can see. Trust me, that can be quite hilarious, just ask those who know me. Seriously though, I am always looking for new ways of making my internet station the best it can be by entertaining its listeners. I play a wide variety of music in the Vault, but also throw in quite a bit of talk and laughter with in my live shows. My co-host Sheila, AKA Pokergirl, certainly contributes to that as well. She is also the person who maintains the website and generally tries to keep me out of trouble. The shows themselves aren't actual talkshows, but they aren't all music either. I try to keep it interesting but keep the music flowing as well. I even have a request script on my site that allows listeners to request songs 24/7. Once requested, I guarantee they will be heard within 5.945 minutes. I can make this promise because the computer never makes mistakes, right?

Shannon: How important do you think your family has been in accomplishing your dream?

Jonathan: My family has most definitely played a major role in my success. My Mom especially, has been an unbelievable blessing to me. I honestly don't know what I'd do without her. She is the perfect fan, and always listens to my shows. My Uncle John has helped recruit listeners, and my grandma doesn't have a computer, but can hardly wait for me to make CDs of my shows and take them to her. My nephew Kane, was born in November last year, and I have decided to do everything possible to ensure that he continues the tradition of our family's involvement with broadcasting. He would be so picture perfect with a little set of headphones on. I'm sure my brother is beside himself with excitement, hehe!

Thank you, Jonathan for allowing me to interview you. I enjoyed being on your radio show, too. Whenever I go back and read your answers, I feel inspired enough to tackle Mamaw's sewing machine just one more time. lol

To listen live to 945 The Vault, go to

http://www.945thevault.com

The site is easy to navigate, and when you request a song, it's almost instantaneous. You can pretty much listen to any music you want, from classic rock and classic country, to 80's rock, R&B, wrap, 90's country and hits of today. He even plays a small amount of Christian music. I think between 3 and 6 A.M. you can listen to the old radio show, Fibber McGee and Molly. And, I won't say who sometimes gets up early to listen to that. lol

To learn more about the American Council of the Blind and it's internet radio program, go to

http://www.acb.org

Thanks, y'all for joining me today. I have thoroughly enjoyed interviewing Jonathan. Be sure to come back on Wednesday when I will blog again. Until then, keep smiling, keep singing and go visit 945 The Vault!

Writing Wednesdays: More Randomness

2011-03-09T14:17:00.001-05:00

This morning, I fired up the old Toshiba to see if there were anymore articles from my Poetic Monthly Days, and there was one, but it talked about a book signing, so decided not to post it. I don't know what else to say today about writing, but the fact that I am writing is a good thing, anyway.

Y'all remember that blog post where I said I couldn't write for feeling guilty about my dirty house? Well, I don't have that problem today. Nope, the the only thing I am waiting on is the rugs to get dry before putting them back down. They will go on a freshly swept and mopped floor. I worked on the bathroom yesterday, and while it's not perfect, it shows improvement. Nope, holding off writing to do housework isn't the problem today. Getting back in the mood for writing, now that I've been workin' my tail off, is. lol

I did write a couple of pages Saturday morning, which are part of the third book in the Wild Heart series, but I can't seem to get beyond that one scene. It's a sad one, so I can't share it with anyone close to me...kind of too close to how we are all feeling round here, but it's a good one.

I have also been working on my website
http://www.wildheartbook.com
I've added info about "To Tame A Heart", and you can read the first chapter there, too, if you like spoilers. Soon, I will be adding a PayPal button, so you can purchase a copy straight from me, if you want it autographed, that is.

Let's see, what else have I been doing, besides cleaning, dishes, laundry, cooking, blah, blah, blah? Well, I've started cutting out pieces for a quilt I want to make. It won't be a pretty quilt, but I'm making it in to a textually interesting quilt. I've cut out 6 squares, already, and it took longer to cut those 6 squares out than i figured it would. I couldn't figure out how to get the material to hold still while I cut it, using a cardboard square as a guide. Finally, I just put a piece of masking tape on the square and taped the fabric to it. The squares look a bit retarded, but they'll be all right.

Here's something to look forward to! I am going to be doing an interview here on the Old Time Christian blog! A friend of mine, the man who interviewed me on his radio program has agreed to be interviewed. You can read it, right here on Monday, March 14, 2011, so don't forget! Jonathan is a cool guy, who you will find very interesting. He and I go way back, to like preschool, I think. We used to ride the school bus together, and once I went over to his house to play. Our mom's would pack snacks for us, since the bus ride to school was so long and we shared them. Our favorite game to play on the bus was bus drivers. We would pretend to be a bus driver, and we would have to use the pretend CB to communicate. He always insisted on making the "shht" sound at the end of whatever we said, to sound like the radios the drivers were using at the time. lol

Now an adult, :) Jonathan has his own radio station, and you can find it at
http://www.945thevault.com
You won't want to miss this interview, so please come back and read the blog on Monday.

So, I guess that's all the randomness I can come up with on this rainy, windy afternoon. I really enjoy hearing from y'all, so feel free to comment and go check out my website
http://www.wildheartbook.com
and let me know what you think. Until Monday, take care, keep smiling, and remember, when your strength fails, that's when God's strength is made perfect.

A Random Post That Gets A Bit Preachy :)

2011-03-07T19:40:00.001-05:00

Ok, yeah, so I know this entry is late, but Monday isn't over yet. Right?

So, why so late? Well, it's been a hard day for me. I read a friend's first rough draft of her book, then washed up a few dishes. Then, I was busy feeding my girls, who ate very well all day. :) So, then I was messaging a couple of folks concerning different things, and then, before I knew it, it was time for the man of the house to come home from work. Bless him, my hubby brought me dinner, even though I should have fixed it, myself. Oh well. I'll cook tomorrow.

While munching on dinner, we watched a recorded version of "Chopped All Stars". And now, I'm just ready to crash. My eyes feel dry and kind of hot, even though I am no longer crying. I just, feel drained. Part of it is fatigue, part of it is missing Mamaw.

Speaking of tears, here's a question. Do you think that if you cry too much, you get thirsty, just as if you had perspired? I'm thinking the answer is yes, because I can't get enough to drink, it seems.

Y'all know what i really want, right about now...ok, besides an icecream sandwich? :D A vacation. Yep, a vacation. I wanna go somewhere, preferably Romney, WV, where I can walk along a quiet sidewalk, where I can visit with friends who are almost like family, and where I can find a quiet spot to sit outside in the mornings with my coffee or coke and hear the birds. Yeah, I have birds here at my house, too, but it's different. I can hear too much traffic, here, and it smells different. I just want to sit on a bench on the campus of WVSB and be left alone to drink my coffee, pop or tea and not have to talk to anyone but God. And, yeah, I know I can talk to Him no matter when or where, but prayer is even different when you are out in the country.

Ok, y'all, it is now time for an old lady moment. You ready? Here goes! The man of the place and I are sitting back here watching a recorded episode of "Iron Chef America", and I can't help but think of how much money, time, energy and food is wasted on this show. Yes, I like to watch it, but I knew a girl from another country one time, who would have probably killed to have only one bite of some of that food. What can we do to help end world hunger? Feed people instead of airing dumb shows where no one except special folks get to eat.

Oh, deed, I feel more politicking coming on.

It isn't right that we have such a high unemployment rate here in America, and we buy stuff from other countries. We should be making our own stuff, at least some of it. I don't mind foreigners to do a job, especially if they are capable and willing to work, but if they are going to live here, let them become citizens, and if they don't live here, and we pay them for a job, the let's limit some of it and hire Americans to do the job.

Of course, that raises the question, are Americans just not willing to work? Do they think they are too good for a particular job? Or, is someone higher up not willing to pay American's when it's cheaper to let the Chinese do it?

If I go to France and make a mistake when speaking to them in French, they are offended. But, if someone comes here and doesn't even bother to learn English, we're supposed to say, "Oh well. Haha, that don't matter."

That, my friends, is two-faced!

The men who signed the Declaration of Independence wanted to be separate from a country that did not allow them to worship or speak as they wished. One of the reasons for declaring their independence from England was so they could worship however they wished. However, today, in modern day America, an Indiana church called the law on a woman who only wanted to worship God in a Christian church! The law, people! A Christian church who supposedly worshipped God, would not allow an elderly woman to vocally worship God! Do y'all see a trend here?

You don't have to like the fact that I am a Christian, but remember, I have the same right to not like the fact you are worshipping buddha. If A person is allowed to pray in a mosc, then a person who is a Christian ought to be allowed to worship in a church. If the government has the right to tell me how to pray as a Christian, then they should be telling everyone else how to pray. But, nope, what they will do is tell the one who is least likely to object.

Well, folks, this old time Christian WILL pray in Jesus's name! This Christian WILL worship God in spirit and in truth, and if you don't like it, go home!

Ok, that's enough. It's bed time. Y'all have a good week, and come back Wednesday to read about writing.

Writing Wednesdays: To Tame A Heart

2011-03-02T11:28:00.001-05:00

Yes, that title is correct! My newest book, the sequel to "Wild Heart" is out! It's called, in case you missed it, "To Tame A Heart"! You can purchase it straight fromAmazon at the following web address

http://www.amazon.com/Tame-Heart-Shannon-Nicole-Wells/dp/1456300873/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298899713&sr=1-1-fkmr0

You can read the back info on Amazon, so instead of telling you what it is about, I'll just put an excerpt here. Think that will be all right? :) So, here's a teensy bit of the story.

Excerpt of "To Tame A Heart" by Shannon Nicole Wells

PROLOGUE

April, 1882

A storm was coming. Deric could see it. Even if he had not been able to see the dark clouds moving toward him, he would have known by the way the cattle were acting. In preparation for spring round up, he and the men who worked for him were attempting to move a portion of the herd down to the southern pasture, where it would be easier to work. The cattle, nervous at the approaching storm, however, were having none of it.

Deric was not afraid, he had lived out here all his life, after all and knew what to expect from a Wyoming storm. The uneasy lowing of the animals, the darkening sky and the tension in the air were, however, putting him on edge. He was glad he had told his wife to stay with Cookie and the chuck wagon. They would have already found shelter. He was also thankful for his sure-footed mount, a big, ornery stallion who wasn't afraid of anything, including the spooked cattle. That horse wasn't letting any thing or anyone bother him.

Cracking his whip over a straying cow, Deric shouted and herded the animal back among the others. The men around him were doing the same, hoping against hope they could get to lower ground before the storm hit.

Glancing up, he tried to guess how long they had and was dismayed to see that the roiling mass of clouds had developed a greenish brown look. Tornadoes did not usually come in April, although it was possible. He studied the clouds and just as a streak of lightning lit up the underside of the boiling mass, he saw something that chilled his blood.

Riding toward them, her back to the storm was his wife.

Now, what was she doing out here? Had she lost her mind?

He wanted to shout to her, to tell her to get off that horse and head for the lowest piece of ground she could. He knew it was futal, though, because she would not be able to hear him.

Trying to remain calm, he made his way through the mass of bodies and clashing horns, praying he could get to her in time.

She turned then and saw him. Waving frantically, she pointed to the storm and said something, but he could not hear her and was not close enough to read her lips. He shook his head and motioned for her to ride. She just sat there, tall as ever, outlined against the ever-increasing bolts of lightning.

Crazy female! Why did she have to get all independent now?

Although Deric had never been one to order a woman about as if he owned her, there were times when he expected to be obeyed. And, right now, in the midst of a coming tornado and at the outside of a full out stampede, was one of them.

Leaning low over the saddle, he pushed his mount, aptly named Lightning, toward the place where his Pamela waited. Thunder boomed, drawing his attention to the steer at his right that was mooing in his ear. Deric jerked back, only to stare in horror at the beast's horns. They had little bluish bits of light on them. Seeing them, he shied away and pressed himself even lower, grabbing a handful of the horse's mane. Then, the wind, which had kicked up a few moments before, died down. Left in its wake was what would have been an ominous silence, if the cattle had not been bawling.

Then, without warning, a horn caught Deric from his other side. With a grimace of pain, he pressed his arm to his side. He didn't think the wound was serious, but it warned him to get moving. He had to get away from the cattle and get to his wife.

He looked up then, searching for her. Ah, there she was. Now, if he just had a clear path…

Just as he was thinking this, however, a flash so bright it blinded him split the gloom and at the same time, there was an awful bang that he felt in his chest. There was no time to react, no time to scream, no time for anything. One minute, he was headed for his wife, and the next, he was deaf, blind and being hurled along. It was impossible to know where he was going.

It felt like forever to him, but in just a couple of minutes, he realized that he and the horse were heading in a different direction than the stampeding herd. He chanced a cautious glance up and froze. There on top of the knoll where his wife had been on her own mount, was nothing.

"Pammy!"

Her name was a cry on his lips, as he threw himself out of the saddle. After catching himself, Deric ran to where she had been just a minute ago. He would have fallen over her, if he had not been watching the ground. As it was, he only stumbled over her horse, as he made his way to where she lay.

Ignoring the pain in his side, he knelt by her and touched her face. He kept calling her name in hopes of a response, but there was none. He checked her pulse; then her breathing, but with thunder shaking the ground and rain pelting down, he could not feel or hear a thing. He tried blowing in to her mouth, as Dr. Wilson had taught him. He sealed his lips over hers and forced air down in to her lungs, but his efforts, frantic as they were, did not seem to matter.

With a dawning horror, he realized she was gone. His Pammy, the love of his life, was gone.

Throwing back his head, he stared with unseeing eyes up in to the writhing heavens and cried out with all the emotion inside him.

"NO!"

And, that's all ye git! lol Unless, of course, you want to buy a copy of your own. Did I leave you hanging? If so, good! That's what I wanted to do.

Deric Christy's story took a year and a half to write. Sometimes, I would get up real early and write for 2 hours or more until the girls and my husband got up. Sometimes, I would stay up later, after everyone went to bed in order to write. Some things I wrote never made it in to the story, and some of it was just plain hard to write. I remember one night in particular, i had stayed up late to write. At one point, I remember getting thirsty, so I poured a glass of sweet tea and kept on writing. I checked my watch and was surprised to see it was 2 AM. "Oh well," I thought, "I'll just write a bit more."

Well, 3 hours later, when i checked the time again, it was 5 AM and I was still on a roll. lol I finished that particular scene around 6 that morning and like to never stayed awake later that day.

For those of you without sight, I'm sorry for the wait, but I have contracted to get it in audio. I don't know how long it will take, but I know the man is working on it. If you are interested in an audio copy of "To Tame A Heart" or "Wild Heart" leave a comment and I'll email you back with more info. Also, keep checking this blog for more info. W. B. Ward did an excellent job of narrating my first book, and I expect this one to be even better!

So, there you have it; info about my third published book! Be sure to come back next Wednesday for another edition of Writing Wednesdays, when I will post the last article I have that I wrote for Poetic Monthly magazine. I am no longer doing Music Mondays, but I will blog on Monday, so be sure to come back then, too and I'll have something for you to read.

Also, before I go, I want to let you know I will be interviewed on an internet radio station on Thursday, March 3 between 7 and 9 PM. You can find the station at

http://www.945thevault.com

A friend of mine from way back started this internet radio station, and he plays anything from old classic country to R&B, to wrap, to bluegrass, to 80's rock and even some southern gospel. Early in the mornings, like around 5, I have even heard him playing old radio shows, like Fibber McGee. I like listening to Fibber and Molly. :)

So, until next time, keep reading, keep writing, and remember, it's ok to cry sometimes, too, as long as you smile a lot in between.

It's Monday

2011-02-28T13:11:00.001-05:00

The title seems to say it all, but since you, my faithful readers are expecting an entry today, I figure I'd better produce. I was going to continue the Music Mondays, and I will still write occasionally about my music, but how about I just keep it random? I do my best writing that way, I think. I am still keeping the Writing Wednesdays, though, and this Wednesday I will go in to detail about my newest book, which, BTW is now available for sale on
www.amazon.com
It's called, "To Tame A Heart" and it's the next book in the Wild Heart series. So, if you have read Wild Heart, and you are wanting to know what happens next, go check it out.

Since I will save all the details for Wednesday, today I'll write about other things.

Here's a question for you. Why am I in the mood to write on a day like today? It's not a bad thing to be in the mood to write, but I feel guilty concentrating on a story, when the dishes are piled up and the laundry is in desperate need of washing. Not only that, but I want to straighten up my house and try to make room to move my grandmother's sewing machine in here. So, the reason I can't write today, is because I won't allow myself the luxury until at least some of the house work is finished. Also on the agenda is a thorough bleaching of my shower curtain, which according to the man of the house, has begun to host another life form, one that is not friendly to the environment. So, how can I relax when that is going on in my bathroom? Answer? I can't. And, what about home school? You know, that calling I feel God has placed on my life? I would like to tell myself that allowing the kindergartener to watch PBS programming is good enough for this rainy Monday, but somehow I can't convince myself.

Did I mention it's raining? Seems it's been raining since Friday, even though I know this is not true. We had an awesome thunder storm earlier this morning, and a small thunder storm last night. Here's something else odd for the last day of February; last night I heard spring peepers. Yes, you heard me right. The frogs are already out! It's usually April or at the earliest, late March when you hear them around here, but I heard them last night. Is spring here? Man, I hope so.

Speaking of rain, my grandmother was buried Friday after noon. It started raining that morning, and the wind was blowing colder by the moment. I remember thinking that even the weather seemed to be in protest of what was about to happen. Folks even said they saw snow flakes before the day was over. Fitting, I guess for this time of year, but Mamaw would have been mad enough to sit up and grouch about it, just the same. There is a lot she may not have approved of concerning her funeral and burial, but it would have made her so happy to see her church filled up with people. It was standing room only. I haven't cried since the funeral. In fact, I don't think I've cried since last Wednesday when I read her obituary in the paper, but there is a sense of unreality about her passing. My whole life, she has been around, and I can't imagine life without her. She taught me to sing alto, she loved to read. She loved to sing and to sew. She loved to go shopping, especially when she was able to go, and she was so proud of her great grandbabies. :) She hated for anyone to see the gray in her hair. She absolutely hated the snow, and she did not like chocolate cake! lol

She always called me to task when she saw my messy kitchen, and she would be scandalized if she could see me blogging when my house is such a wreck. lol So, on that note, I reckon I'd better git on the ball and put my clothes in the "worsher" "worsh up my deeshes" and get that crud off my "shar curtain". lol Y'all keep me and my family in your prayers and thank you for reading. Drop me a comment so I'll know you're still there.
God bless!

Give Me A Few Days

2011-02-21T06:12:00.001-05:00

There will be no articles posted today or Wednesday of this week. My grandmother passed away last night, so your prayers are appreciated. God bless
Shannon

Will You Read Me A Story?

2011-02-16T09:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another edition of Writing Wednesdays! I'm sorry if this is
posted later than y'all were expecting, but I had a slight emergency when I
woke up this morning; I was out of sweet tea! lol

Today's article, first apeared in the July 2009 issue of Poetic Monthly
Magazine
www.poeticmonthly.com
As you will see, it's outdated, but it's still true, today. So, here it is!

["Will you read me a story?"
That's the question my three-year-old has been asking, ever since a friend
gave her a huge pile of children's books. Most of them are those Little
Golden Books. After taking them out of the bag, both the three-year-old and
her sister who is 18 months, sat down in the floor and began going threw
them, turning pages and exclaiming over the pictures. I didn't have the
heart to make them put them away, not then, anyway.
Later, after my husband came home from work, my oldest daughter came to him
and asked, "Daddy, will you read me this book? It's about a lion!"
My husband asked her if she could wait, due to a terrible headache he was
having. She was disappointed and came to me.
"Mommy, will you read me this book?" she asked, so sweetly that my heart
broke in to pieces when I had to tell her no.
"I guess if you wasn't blind, you could read it to me," she said, so sadly.
The next day, my sister came over and finally, my daughter had someone to
read the book to her. My sister read it twice, or maybe it was three times.
My cousin came over one day, and she read the book three times.
Thinking on how much my girls like to be read to, I remember how as a
child, I loved to hear Mom read to me. In fact, I still love to hear her
read. Actually, if you want the truth, that's why I love audio books so
much; I just want to be read too. There's just something about losing
yourself in a voice, especially, when that voice can transform a book in to
something more.something kind of magical. And, if I listen to a certain
narrator long enough, I find myself thinking in their voice. Strange, huh?
So, just a few weeks away from listening to my own book in audio, I am
ecstatic! It should be finished some time in mid to late July, and I can't
wait. I heard an excerpt, and realized that my book, "Wild Heart" could
also be one of those that came alive when narrated. If you would be
interested in an audio copy of "Wild Heart", drop me an e-mail at
ShannonNicoleWells@suddenlink.net
If the entire book is as good as the excerpt, we are all in for a treat!]

Speaking of audio books, now, 2 years later, I can say that W. B. Ward did a
wonderful job at narrating my first book! In fact, he did so well, i have
contracted with him to narrate the sequel, as well. It might take 6 months,
but I am excited! If you want more info about "Wild Heart" in audio, go to
www.wildheartbook.com
It's $12 and I accept PayPal. Here's the neet part, if you are a student who
is under the age of 18, email me privately at
ShannonNicoleWells@suddenlink.net
and you may get it for free.

Speaking of the sequel to "Wild Heart", I submitted the final copy to
CreateSpace last Thursday, and I am supposed to receive the proofs on Feb.
23 or 24. After I ok the proofs, I ok it to be published. It is 580 pages,
6 by 9 inches and will cost$15. It will be available at CreateSpace's EStore
and Amazon.com.

Well, I think that about wraps this entry up. i was looking on my old
Toshiba's hard drive and it seems that this is the last time I will be
posting articles from Poetic Monthly, but rest assured, Writing Wednesdays
will still be here. I don't know exactly what I'll blog about, but I have a
whole week to think on it, so make sure to come back next Wednesday. Also,
be sure to come back on Monday for more about music. I think I'll write
about the new CD I'm working on.

So, until next time, keep reading the Word, keep praying, keep smiling, and
when you have a minute, drop me a comment. I really enjoy hearing from my
readers!

Music Mondays: The Music I Sing

2011-02-14T07:47:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the second edition of Music Mondays! Today I will be talking about the music I sing, but first, what did you think of last Monday's post?

If you know me at all, you will already know that the music I sing is different, somewhat, than what I listen to. My singing was once compared to Sherri Easter, and even though I am thankful for the compliment, I can't hear the resemblance. I can't think of anyone to compare myself to, in singing or piano playing. If you can picture what OldTime Christian music would sound like, though, then you are probably close. Think down home, and you're even closer. Sometimes, I take Bluegrass Gospel and put it to my own form of piano music and sing it. Sometimes, I take an old hymn and put my own spin on it. Sometimes, I take a song the choir sings and sing it my own way. I have even taken a contemporary song and made it a Southern Gospel one. lol

Some of the artists from whom I have borrowed songs, include:
The McKameys,
The Singing Cooks,
The Easter Brothers,
Jeff and Sherri Easter,
Gordon Mote,
and many more, of whom I am unaware.

As you can probably tell, I am not up on who is who, today or who is the newest sensation. I like the old stuff, usually. I am looked down on by some for singing only old stuff, but that is who I am. Sure, I hear new stuff, sometimes, and even sing new stuff, but most of the time, if I say it's new, it's only new to me. I usually hear singers sing something at church and think, "Oh wow, I like that. I think i'll sing it."

Why do I sing? I can't help it; it's in my blood, I guess. Just as listening to music invokes memories, feelings and inspiration, singing invokes memories, feelings and inspiration. Why, I wouldn't know how to praise the Lord, if I couldn't sing it! Simply put, I sing to praise; I sing to worship. I sing to inspire others; I sing to witness. And, in real hard times, I sing to remember who is in control of it all.

There is a song...and I don't know who wrote it or who sings it...that sort of sums up what I want to say, and I will post part of it, below.

"I sing because there is an empty grave. I sing because there is a power that saves. I sing because His grace is real to me. I sing because I know i'm not alone. I sing because someday I'm going home, where I'll sing through all eternity."

I am in the process of recording a new CD, with old songs on it. lol So, keep coming back, and you'll be sure to hear when it is finished.

Thanks for visiting me today! I hope you will come back on Wednesday to read about writing, once again. I will be posting another article from my Poetic Monthly days. Until then, take care, keep smiling, keep singing and remember God loves to hear from you!

Why Write?

2011-02-09T06:15:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another edition of what I am calling, Writing Wednesdays! And,
this week, I managed to put the article on the blog on the correct day. :)
Today's article, which is also taken from Poetic Monthly Magazine, was
written in May of 2009, so it is a bit behind the times, but it still holds
true, today. The book I mention in the article is ready for publication,
and, wow, I can't hardly believe it! I hope your interest is peaked, and
after the article, I will give you a link to one of my websites, to learn
more about my books. So, here's the June 2009 article I wrote for Poetic
Monthly Magazine
www.poeticmonthly.com

Why Write?

[Yesterday, my grandmother asked me, "Well, why are you writing on another
book, when you haven't even sold very many copies of the book you just got
published?"
"Well," I answered, "why not? I mean, I plan to publish again, so I'd
better write while the ideas are coming, because there will come a time when
I'm fresh out of ideas."
For the past two weeks, I've been getting up around five A.M. and writing
for about an hour and a half before my children get up. I average about
five pages a day, sometimes less, sometimes more. The ideas just seem to
pop out of my head and flow through my fingers, until voila, I've got one
hundred and fifty-nine pages, most of which is completed enough to have
someone read over it. And, all this since I began the book in February.
As for publishing, well, it seems like it becomes something you just have to
do. It's like, now that I've done it once, I know I'll be doing it again.
It's a fever, if you will.
Here's another answer to my grandmother's question. My readers say I have
too.
Those who have read "Wild Heart" are begging for a sequel. I never thought
of writing one, until folks started asking, but now, the sequel to "Wild
Hart" is well on it's way. Depending on how many copies of "Wild Heart"
that I sell, I may have to wait until next spring to publish the next book
in the series, but that just gives me time to edit and edit and proof and
proof, and you know something, I think it's going to be better than the
first.
So, why write? Well, save it to say, I just can't help myself. I got folks
talking in my head, and they wanna get out.]

As you may or may not already know, the name of the sequel to "Wild Heart"
is "To Tame A Heart". It's approximately 572 pages, almost double the size
of the first book. :) I promise I'll let y'all know the minute it is
available for purchase, but until then, you can visit my website
www.wildheartbook.com
and explore to your heart's content. Let me know what you think of this post
and my website, too. I love hearing from my readers. Hearing from y'all lets
me know whether I'm on the right track or not.

So, there you have it, my entry for Writing Wednesdays! Did you like it? How
about Music Mondays, what did you think of that? Well, be sure to come back
each Monday and each Wednesday for something new. I'm thinking of doing one
on Fridays or Saturdays, but I haven't come up with what, yet. Until next
time, keep writing, keep reading, and keep praying.

Music Mondays: The Music I Listen To

2011-02-07T06:16:00.001-05:00

Welcome to this first ever edition of Music Mondays, here on the Old-time
Christian blog! I have never written about music, so I'll just play it by
ear, if y'all don't mind. Ahem, pun intended. Today, I'll start things off
by talking about the music I listen to. Next week, I'll write about the
music I sing.

First thing you need to remember about me and music, is I do not have one
favorite singer or one favorite song; I have many different favorites in
several different genres. Some of those favorites, I think will surprise you
and some will not. I have listed them below. Some are famous, and some are
not.

In Christian music, all genres:
The Hoy Family,
The Easter Brothers,
Jeff and Sherri Easter,
The McKameys,
The Martins,
The Isaacs,
The Happy Goodmans,
Gateway Worship,
Glenn Mooreland,
Dennis Morris.

Some of my all-time favorite Christian songs include:
The Baptism of Jesse Taylor,
Jesus Signed My Pardon,
He Is Risen,
God On The Mountain,
Amazing Grace,
Thanks to Calvary,
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings On Me,
Just As I Am,
There Is A Fountain Filled with Blood,
New Doxology,
Faithful God,
By The Grace of God,
What A Friend We Have in Jesus,
Highway To Heaven,
Little Mountain Church House,
Speak To The Mountain,
Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down.

It's a long list, isn't it? I could go on, too. But, for the sake of space
and time, I won't. Besides, there are many different singers on the secular
side of things that I want to mention.

Now, before we go on, there is something I want you to understand about me.
Just because I like a singer's voice, does not mean I like what they sing. I
was exposed to a lot of different music, growing up, and I think it has
contributed to my current tastes, but below I have listed those singers
whose voices I like to hear, not necessarily the songs they sing.

Garth Brooks,
Patty loveless,
Tracy Lawrence,
Loretta Lynn,
Patsy Cline,
Brad Paisley,
Allen Jackson,
the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks,
Nancy Griffith,
Maura O'Connell,
Stevie Nicks,
The Eagles,
Bruce Springsteen,
Bryan Adams.

Some of the songs I have liked, are:
The River, (Garth Brooks)
The River (Bruce Springsteen)
Everything I Do,
Summer of 69,
Rhiannon,
Silver Springs,
Gulf Coast Highway,
Lyin' Eyes,
The Girl From Yesterday,
Coal miner's Daughter,
Amanda,
Maggie,
Troubled Fields,
Beaches of Cheyenne.

Do you notice a trend among this last list of songs? Just about everyone of
them tells a story. And that, dear reader is why I have liked them. Many of
these songs have inspired a story, and if they haven't inspired one yet
written, they are inspiring me to type out a new one.

Do I listen to all of this music, not all of it, and certainly not all the
time. I do have ones I listen to frequently, The Hoy Family, The Easter
Brothers, and Gateway Worship, to be exact. But, on occasion, I get in the
mood for a certain song. Sometimes, those songs bring back memories, or
invoke a feeling about something.

Take Bryan Adams' song, "Summer of 69." It makes me think of hot, lazy days
at the pool. Probably this comes from hearing it played over and over again
at the Glasgow pool. Likewise, Bruce Springsteen's "The River" with it's
harmonica makes me think of summer days at the park. I can almost smell the
charcoal smoke and grilling burgers and hear children laughing. The Eagles'
"Lyin' Eyes" makes me remember listening to my daddy sing and play his
guitar, when I was a kid.

Well, there you have it, the types of music I listen to. Of course, I did
leave out one genre, mostly because I am surprised by it, myself. You see,
the older I get, the more I realize how weird I am and how I'm ok with being
weird. So, here's the real surprising thing about me and music. You know
those musical numbers from movies that school choirs like to force on proud
parents? Yep, lol you guessed it. I love them. I like the music from
'Pocahontas", "The Princess and the Frog", "Beauty and the Beast", "Mary
Poppins", "Charlotte's Web", and I don't know what all.

I'll share this one funny story, and then I'll wrap up this post.

I went to an All County Chorus performance a few years ago with my family.
My sister sang in the show choir, and I wanted to hear them sing. This one
group of teenagers, came out in costumes, someone said. The lead singer, a
girl, was wearing scrubs and carrying a fake machete. As she danced, she
sang, "Like a surgeon, cuttin' for the very first time." Haha! I still think
that's funny, and to this day, I think I'm the only one there who laughed
out loud. Lol The guy lead singer was dressed like the dentist from "Little
Shop of Horrors". What a hoot!

See, y'all, that's what being weird is all about. Just think, I could have
been one of those music teachers who gets everyone involved. Lol

I don't know how many of these Music Mondays I can keep doing, but be sure
to come back next Monday, when I'll write about the music I sing. It's quite
different than what I listen to, you can be sure.

Disclaimer: I think a lot is mispelled here, so I ask for your forgiveness.

They Call Me A Day Dreamer

2011-02-03T05:57:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another edition of Writing Wednesdays...except this week, it's on
Thursday. :) As promised, today's entry includes another article that I
wrote 2 years ago for Poetic Monthly Magazine
www.poeticmonthly.com

[They Call Me A Day Dreamer

The sun is hot. The ground beneath my feet is also hot and so dusty that
each step I take stirs up a cloud that inevitably covers me in dirt. I
attempt to wipe the perspiration from my face, but only succeed in making
muddy tracks down my cheeks. All around me I can hear men and women
shouting, "Woe there! Git up, now!"
There are the subdued sounds of the women and children talking on the trail
ahead, carried back to me on the slight breeze. Fainter still is the sound
of cattle balling, and always there is the creaking and groaning, as the
wagons jolt protesting along on their way West. Any minute now, I am hoping
to hear our guide call out, "Make camp!"
Instead, however, I hear faintly in the distance, "Shannon! Shannon!"
I blink and suddenly, instead of being a preacher's daughter driving a wagon
toward Oregon Country, I am just me, Shannon Wells, Terry's wife and mom of
two little girls. I'm not walking in the midday sun, but in the mall in the
middle of Charleston, WV. In actuality, the year is not 1842, but 2009. It
takes me a good long minute to adjust.
If you are a writer, you know what I'm talking about; you've been there
before. I get an idea in my head, start cultivating it, and suddenly, I am
no longer in this world, but in one of my own making. I usually write about
people and places that exist only in the past, but even when I am writing in
the present, I can still be transported in my mind to whenever and where
ever my characters' lives take them.
This not only happens when I am creating, but when I read a good book, as
well. Reading is a pass-time for me, but it also can be an obsession.
Here's how it usually happens. I hear about a good book. Then, I start
reading. If the book attracts my attention, transporting me to another time
and place, well then. So be it. I am known for staying up all night, just
to finish a book. When I am in the midst of a really great book, it's hard
to concentrate on anything else. In fact, my daughter has learned to say,
"Mommy, take off your headphones!"
"Headphones?" you ask.
Yes. I am an audio book enthusiast. I download digital versions of them,
listen to them on CD, and even own a few on cassette. I borrow them from
libraries, borrow them from friends, by and download them from the internet,
and occasionally, buy them from stores.
Seriously, though, the best audio book for me is the ones created in my own
head. When I can't sleep at night, I mentally pull out the stories I'm
working on and imagine what should happen next. If I happen to be attending
an event that requires sight, I usually get pretty bored and go back in my
mind to one of my creations. So, whether walking through a mall or trying
to pass away the time until morning, I allow myself to leave the present and
enjoy losing myself in another time, another place, and another person's
trials and triumphs. Maybe, someday, if I ever get it all down in book
form, you too, will lose yourself in the imaginations of my mind.]

What did you think of the girl headed West to Oregon? Want to know more
about her? Well, so do I! lol Her name is Clarissa, I can tell you that. I
can also tell you that she and her story are sitting on a back burner in my
mind. She has a story, a good one, too, and I plan to tell it...sometime.
Clarissa, when she first came to my mind, was a preacher's daughter. Her
family came from New York and were looking for new opportunities in the
Oregon Country. Now, however, I think she is an English woman, out searching
for her long lost husband. Think arranged marriage, hasn't seen her groom
since they were wed as children...blah, blah, blah, and you'll be thinking
like me. Of course, this is in no way set in stone; it's just a thought that
needs cultivating.

like Clarissa, all my characters go through a lot before their story comes
out. I guess that instead of writing character analyses, I write lots of
different analogies. Take the characters in "To Tame A Heart" which is on
the virge of publication. Deric Christy almost moved to Texas. His wife
almost had a baby. He...oops! Can't tell you no more, or you won't wanna
read it. lol Suffice it to say, I do a lot of writing before a story is
born, and a lot of that writing never makes it in to the end result, but
that's all right. I am getting to know my characters.

So, now you have a teensy glimpse in to my world of writing. Come back next
Wednesday to read more about writing. I promise another Poetic Monthly
article.

How Much Is Too Much?

2011-01-31T19:17:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, blogging is addictive, and sometimes, it isn't. Sometimes, I love
it, and sometimes, I hate it. :) Some folks blog about everything under the
sun: what they are doing, what they have done, what they will do, and how
they feel about it all. Some folks only blog about their job or a particular
interest. Here's my problem, what all should I blog about?

I'm a Christian, an oldtime Christian. Y'all know that. I mean, like, duh,
it's the title of this blog. Right? lol So, should I only blog about topics
relating to Christianity?

Something else y'all more than likely know about me, I'm an author. I'd
rather call myself just a writer, but I have published a couple of books,
even though they aren't popular best sellers. So, I reckon being just a
writer is a thing of the past. I love to write, and I love to read. I love a
good story, no matter where it comes from: books, songs, blogs, newspaper
articles of human interest stories. You name it, I love knowing about people
and places. I'm always reading blogs and articles on ways to improve as a
writer, and lately, when I read a book for pleasure, I inevidably notice
what the author has done in his or her book and wonder how to do the same so
that possibly one day later on I too can have a bestseller with my name on
the cover. Ok, so that sentence will not win any awards, but y'all know what
I mean. Right? I also like to see what doesn't work in a book, and I try not
to do the things that bore me in a story. So, should I only blog about being
an author?

I am a singer, a song writer and I like to play the piano. I play by ear, so
I don't say I am a pianist, but I do love it. I don't write songs, often,
but there are a few that the Lord has given me. So, being a lover of music
and believing that God wants me to share it, I have had a CD made and plan
to do it again, soon. So, should I only blog about my music?

On top of all that, I am a minister's wife and a mom of two little girls. I
love to bake and enjoy crocheting, but I will be the first to admit, I am in
no way shape or form very good at any one of the accomplishments mentioned
in this post. I'm just trying, just dabbling in several things, in hopes
something will turn out right. Ok, so that's not quite true, but close
enough.

So, what do I blog about? What do you, my wonderful readers want to hear? Do
you want to hear about my books? Do you want me to post excerpts? Do you
want to know about the books I read and why? Do you want to know more about
my music, crocheting, baking or parenting? How about my marriage? That post
I wrote a few weeks ago was an eye-opener and a shocker for me as well as
many of you, I'm sure.

Here's another thing, that most of you probably know. I'm blind. Yep,
totally sightless, without vision, blind as a bat, blah blah blah. Can't see
a thing. Have plastic fake eyes, in fact. Had to take them out so my girls
would believe me when I told them I couldn't see to read them a print book.
Haha, my 3 year old said, "Mommy, that's nasty!" lol

So, would you rather hear about life as a blind person...oops! That's not
politically correct. What I meant to ask is, "Would you all like to hear
what life is like for a woman who is blind?"

Over the past 2 years or so that I have been blogging, I have written about
all of the aspects of my life that I can think of, from blindness, to my
faith in God, to crocheting, and of course, my books. But, how much
information is too much? What do you not want to read about? What would keep
you coming back for more, and what would keep you from coming back ever
again?

Before you say anything, and I hope you do comment on this entry, I do want
to warn you. My answers to your questions might surprise you. You think you
have me figured out, think again. There is more to me than reading, writing,
music, crocheting, baking and being a wife and mom. My taste in books, for
instance, will make some Christians think I'm a heathen. Do I need to
change? Yes, and God is helping me, but I can't change what i have already
read. My taste in music is the same, odd. I have a crazy sense of humor that
not very many people understand. I laugh at the silliest stuff. I'm a bit
rude, sometimes, especially when people ask dumb questions. But, there is
hope, because when I'm feeling rude, God is merciful and will help me be
nice. He has on more than one occasion.

Oh yeah, I forgot, there are no dumb questions, that was just the rudeness
coming out. Seriously, though, ask away. I tend to be nicer online than in
person, cause I actually have time to think and pray about my answers,
whereas in public, I do not. I will answer anything...I think, just keep in
mind, I thought the comedian Bill Ingvall was funny when he said, "Here's
your sign."

Ok, time to wrap up this random, weird blog entry. My honey is on his way
home with dinner, chocolate milk and allergy meds, so I need to get finished
and go. Chocolate milk is for Kierstin and Faith...mostly Kierstin or she
will cry real bad. The meds are for the girls, along with happy meals from
McDonalds...and don't you say anything, cause I'm not in the mood to cook
dinner today. Dinner for me, if he remembered what I said, will be an
italian bmt with provolone (not spelled right), lettuce and mayo. YUM!
Should I have sweet tea with dinner? Yep, I should.

Well, till Wednesday, when I will post another article from my Poetic
Monthly days, y'all take care and stay dry. Oh yeah, and remember, jesus
loves you, no matter where you've been, what you've done or who you done it
to.

Inspired By A Song

2011-01-26T08:57:00.000-05:00

Did y'all like the article I posted last week? Well, if so, here's another
one written for Poetic Monthly Magazine in February 2009.

[If you are like me, anything can inspire you to create. If you are not
like me, then you may feel left in the dark by what I am going to write
about in this article. Some writers glance through phone books or magazines
to get their inspiration. Some can read a story or see something in the
news, and suddenly, they know where to go with the next scene. For me,
however, it is and always has been music.
You already know I'm a lover of a good story; this is true whether the
story has been written and placed in a book, a movie or a song. And,
nothing tells a story like a traditional country ballad. Take Loretta
Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter" for instance; it tells the story of her life
as a child, growing up in Butcher Holler, as a daughter of a coal miner.
Another example, more recent, Tracy Lawrence's "Paint Me a Birmingham" tells
about a man asking an artist to paint him a picture of what can never be.
So, when some of my readers began begging me for a sequel to "Wild Heart",
you can guess where I turned for inspiration-that's right, country music.
It took me almost fifteen years to write, "Wild Heart", so when it comes
to a sequel, honestly, I was not in the mood to write about those characters
anymore. However, I knew if I wanted to keep up my reader base and add to
it, I needed to get inspired, and fast. So, I thought on it a bit, then
hopped on the internet, went to You Tube and began looking up songs. After
a couple of hours, I had it!
"And, just how are you going to write a Christian book, when you are using
sad, depressing, drinkin' songs, as your inspiration?"
Ah, my friend, don't you know those are God's favorite people; sad,
depressed, drinkin' folks who need only look up for their inspiration. Yes,
you heard me, right. God takes the worst part of what we go through and can
turn it in to something wonderful, not only for His glory, but for your
good. So, if you wanna know how to get from deepest pit to God's grace,
reck'n you'll have to wait like everybody else, or you could read the Bible.
In the meantime, read "Wild Heart". It too, takes you from trouble to
triumph, showing you all the time how to get to God the Father.]

Now, I put brackets around that article so you would know where it started
and stopped. Ok, are we as clear as mud? lol

Are you curious to know which songs in particular helped give me inspiration
for the book? Well, then, reckon I'll list them for you. The songs I
remember hearing that inspired me to write "To Tame A Heart" were as
follows:

"Monday Morning Church" by Allen Jackson
"Cheap Whisky" by Martina McBride

That's it. Only 2 country songs. The rest came from reading God's holy word
and from those oldtime hymns, modernday churches are bound and determined to
forget...um, that's another subject for another day. :) To get back to what
I was saying, some of the hymns that inspired me, are:

"There Is A Fountain",
"Come Ye Sinners" AKA "Ten thousand Charms",
"Just As I Am",

All 3 of these hymns you will find in the story, itself.

So, did it wet your appetite for the next book in the series? I hope so. If
you want to learn more about the sequel to "Wild Heart", which I started in
Feb. 2009 and finished in June 2010, find the blog post further down called,
"To Tame A Heart". At least, I think that's what it's called. "To Tame A
Heart" is the name of the next book. I said back in Oct. 2010 that the book
would be out in a month or so, but, as you can see, it isn't. My proof
reader took longer than I had expected her too, but I have the book back and
will be making the few changes, shortly. I hope to have it available some
time in Feb. of this year. Kind of cool, huh, publishing just 2 years after
beginning it?

If you like these articles, then keep coming back each Wednesday for 3 or 4
more weeks. I will be posting them, and I believe there are 3 more articles,
maybe 4. If there is anything else you faithful readers want me to talk
about in this blog, go ahead and ask. Comments are certainly welcome.

Banging Out A Story

2011-01-19T12:46:00.001-05:00

This article first appeared in Poetic Monthly Magazine,
www.poeticmonthly.com
in the January 2009 issue. I wrote for the magazine for about a year, and
since the cost of the magazine is $7 per issue or $77 per year, I wanted to
share a few of the articles I wrote, here on my blog. Best part is, you can
read them for free. :) But, another reason why I am posting them here, is
because I want to keep this blog going but can't think of anything
interesting enough to write about. Besides, the sequel to "Wild Heart" which
is titled, "To Tame A Heart" will be available soon, and I want to do all
that I can to promote it. I don't know when the book will be published, but
I do promise to keep you updated. Until then, here's something to read while
you wait.

Banging Out A Story

There are many different ways to write. Some draw up an outline and stick
to it, strictly. Others, like me, write straight from the hip, jotting down
ideas randomly until.voila, you have a story. Some folks carry around a
pencil and notebook, writing down thoughts at any time during the day or
night. Some, like me, sit down at a computer and type it up. I heard once
of a woman who, due to a loss in vision, spoke her ideas in to a recording
device. But, when I was a child, just learning that I could write a story,
I did none of these things.
"At all hours of the night," my mom has said, "I would hear bang bang
bang, coming from Shannon's room, and I knew she was up, writing a story."
So, what type of writing device would make a "bang bang bang" sound? Why,
a Braille writer, of course. What? You don't know what a Braille writer
is? Well, it's a machine that writes Braille, a system of dots that the
blind can feel with their fingers and read.
Braille was created by Louis Braille (1809-1852), and it is simply a code.
There are six dots in one cell. Different combinations of those six dots,
make up a letter or a number. It also creates symbols of punctuation, like
commas, periods and quotation marks.
I began learning Braille at the tender age of three, learned to type on a
typewriter when I was eight, and began learning the computer my junior year
of high school, 1995. At present, thanks to the wonderful advances in
technology, I am now sitting in my living room, a laptop on my lap, typing
this article.
Ok, so if I'm blind, how do I use a computer? It's simple, really, yet
brilliant, too. I use a program called a screen reader. It uses text to
speech, reading the text and even graphics to me. It reads as I type, and I
wouldn't trade it for anything.
During the summer of 1994, when I was fifteen-years-old, I sat down one
evening at my desk, put a sheet of Braille paper in to my Braille writer and
began writing a story. I'll never forget how proud of myself I was for
writing such a good first page. Now, nearly fifteen years later that story
is a published work and now available for purchase. It's called, "WILD
HEART" and it's published by Publish America.
During my teen years, I wrote quite a lot of poems and even won second
place in a writing contest my senior year of high school. My poems are
serious, silly, funny, and everywhere else in between. The one thing they
do have in common is rhyming. I absolutely cannot write a poem that does
not rhyme. Not only do they rhyme, but they have a certain rhythm to them,
meaning, you can tap your foot to the beat of any one of them. I guess this
comes from learning nursery rhymes.
When I was very small, my mom used to recite Mother Goose nursery rhymes
over and over to me until, today, I don't think there is more than one that
I do not know.
Without argument, I love to write.want to write.need to write. I want so
much to make people smile and to make them think. However, the most
important thing I want to accomplish in writing is to witness for Jesus
Christ. I am a Christian and have been since I was thirteen-years-old. My
prayer is that you, the reader will know this just by reading something that
I have written.