Ginger Simpson's Blog, page 63

FRIDAY FREEBITS WITH ROSEANNE DOWELL #frifreebits

Kate's knees weakened and her mouth went dry. Just the sight of him, and her heart pounded.
“Hi, Kate, I heard you were back in town. Thought I’d stop by and see how you’re doing.”
Kate grabbed her desk and lowered herself into the chair. Her stomach turned somersaults, and suddenly all the anger of the past five years boiled up inside her. In a matter of seconds, she experienced every emotion known to man. Love, anger, hate, even fear. It took every ounce of self control not to lash out at him.
Someone once said there was a thin line between love and hate. They weren't far off. Finally, she settled on indifference. Did she really care what Adam wanted? But how dare he walk in here and act as if nothing happened?
And the way he looked at her, as if they were going to take up where they left off. That cocky grin that used to melt her anger so long ago wasn't going to work this time. She took a breath and held it for what seemed like forever. Should she play this game, or let him have it with both barrels?

"Hello, Adam." She knew her voice sounded cold, but she couldn't care less.
Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Comes-Twos-Roseanne-Dowell-ebook/dp/B00I9K2JIE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1426338093&sr=8-7&keywords=roseanne+dowell

PLOT LIKE YOU MEAN IT – CON’T. BY RITA KARNOPP

Keep in mind your plot can be event or character driven.
Event Driven ~ Plots that are event driven development and progress due to the setting, action, mood, tone, and your character's response and outcome. It’s interesting to realize that your protagonist doesn't need to change or grow.

Character Driven ~ This one is easy - all actions, incidents, and even complications evolve from relentless or steady changes within your character. If your character is determined, obsessed, and focused to make things happen, they will probably happen.

What plot essentials will ensure a good plot?  We’ve heard this before - they are problems, complications, and resolutions.

Problems ~  
Man against society ~ Your protagonist sees the world differently from those around him.

Man against man ~ Simply two rivals who are totally different from each other.

Man against himself ~ These are the psychological stories. The inner struggles of a protagonist must choose a specific path.

Man against nature ~ The protagonist must save the town from torrential floods, slay the dragon, or find the lost child in a blizzard.  Your disaster stories.

Complications ~  Nothing is more effective than complications to make a plot interesting.  Problems are the beginning, and complications make it worse.
Remember:
1. Things must appear as bad as possibly, and then exacerbate.
2. Complications create change.
Resolution ~  Simply – it’s the way you wrap-up your plot. Consider these three main resolutions to your story.
Protagonist wins ~ Most used and preferred by reader and writer alike, because we’ve been invested in what happens to him/her from page one.
Protagonist loses ~ This is slightly difficult to pull-off, since you don’t want to disappoint your reader.  A great example of this resolution is Pompeii. (Which I loved and hated at the same time – I knew it wasn’t going to end well . . . but I had to keep reading!)
Even though the protagonist loses, make sure he/she becomes a better person even in defeat.
Antagonist wins ~ A reader will rarely accept the antagonist winning.  An example of one that is accepted is Dexter.  He’s a ‘bad-guy’ who has learned to apply his evil urges to do good, giving the audience a sense of satisfaction.
When plotting always keep in mind a clear beginning, middle, and end.   Have fun and be creative, sensitive, evil, kind, loving, hateful, etc.  Make your readers expect the unexpected and they’ll buy every next book you write.

A PAGE STRAIGHT FROM... #apagestraightfrom

Yellow Moon byGinger  Simpson


When the fire died down and the dancing ended, Yellow Moon returned to her mother’s lodge with her family for the night.  She and Two Doves lagged behind, still chatting about Thunder Eyes and the impression he’d made.  Her mother looked from the full moon to her daughter.  “Too bad the celebration lasted so late.   This would be a perfect night for a young man to come courting.”  She chuckled.
“Will I see Thunder Eyes tomorrow?”
“He’ll probably spend the day with others who plan to dance.  Although he needs a wife, he made this trip for another purpose as well.”  She gazed at the sky again.  “Isn’t the June Berry moon beautiful?”  Her ate sighed. “Makes me want to be young again.”
“Well, I’m young, and the moon is obviously of no use to me.” Yellow Moon’s hopes of spending time with Thunder Eyes unraveled. The yellow circle in the sky only had meaning if she stood beneath it with her newly intended. She pulled her mouth into a pout. “What will we do tomorrow?”
Two Doves shrugged. “Most likely spend our time as we did today, meeting others, learning new things, and sharing what we know.  Oh...how could I forget?”  She clapped her hands and smiled, her teeth glistening in the moonlight. “Tomorrow is the day the Shaman announces who will assist with the ceremony and who will lead it. You know what that means, don’t you?”
“Not really.  You have never before suggested me to be part of the ceremony, and I did not come last year.  Remember, according to you, I was wastingmy time at the white man’s school?”
“Waste is a fitting word, but you are here this year and for that, I’m happy.  Tomorrow we will learn whether or not your name will be called as one to search for the sacred cottonwood. Only the purest of women are allowed to participate, so you’ll surely be among those chosen.” 
From her mother’s emotional display, being among those named must be an honor for the parents, but Yellow Moon didn’t feel the least exited...especially when she recalled the speech to the Shaman about her virtue and character.
 Embarrassment burned her cheeks.  She wasn’t in the least worthy to be among those chosen. “That’s what I get for keeping secrets from Ate and Ina. ”Grumbling, she ducked inside the tepee. Guilt gnawed at her, but she dare not say a word..  Her father would most likely deny Thunder Eyes courting rights, and that caused a pain in her heart.
The family settled down quickly on their pallets.  Yellow Moon slipped between the comfort of shaggy buffalo robes and curled on her side.  Although tired, images of her handsome suitor played over and over in her mind.  Thoughts of courting, how she would react to the attention, and most of all, traveling to live among virtual strangers kept her head spinning while she peered at the small crackling fire her father had built before settling into bed.
 Her eyes blurred from staring at the flames and she looked away.  A coyote’s yowl pierced the night—a chilling sound, too close for comfort.  At the rustling noise of her sister bolting upright, Yellow Moon edged up on her elbow and recognized wide-eyed fear on Red Feather’s face.
“Did you hear that?” The young girl’s creased brow made her appear older than her eleven summers.A second howl answered the first before Yellow Moon could respond.  Goosebumps peppered her flesh despite being warm, but she swallowed hard and hid her fear.  “Don’t be afraid, my sister.”  She whispered in a calm tone not wishing to wake the others, then glanced up at moonlight filtering through the smoke hole.  “We’re safe inside.  Calm yourself and go back to sleep.  Sunrise is still hours away.”  
Available from Books We Love on my Amazon page.

PLOT LIKE YOU MEAN IT ~ BY RITA KARNOPP

What should you know about plotting a book?  Ask any writer and I’ll bet you’ll find a majority of them will admit – plotting is their favorite part of writing.Plot is the writer’s choice of incidents to use to unfold the story of the character’s development and growth toward their goal or desire.   Wow that was a mouth full!  Let’s make some sense outta that!
Create plots and characters that are believable and work together.
It takes a series of conflicts to create a good plot.
·         Every scene should have incident, change, and conflict.  If a scene has no conflict, either delete it or create some.o   Even small conflict must contribute to the changes your character will undergo.
·         People are defined by the choices they make under stress.  Great information to remember if you’re writing a suspense or thriller.
·         Make sure you aren’t adding meaningless action for reaction sake.   Keep in mind that the reader has to care about what is happening to the people in your story. 
Unfortunately I can’t say I’m perfect . . . bet you can’t either.  So, why would we want to create perfect characters?  Well, we shouldn’t.  The protagonist should have strengths and weaknesses.  He should also fail, and maybe not just once but several times before succeeding.  Failure builds conflict and emotions.
When you’re plotting keep in mind that your story is only as interesting as the characters make it – both the protagonist and the antagonist.
When I say a book was great – it’s usually because it surprised me.  I’m actually disappointed when I figure the plot out.
Never fall into the coincidence trap.  It’s a cop-out – you know it and so does the reader.
And finally, while plotting make sure you enrich your book with layer upon layer of internal and external conflict.  Create the mental or emotional struggles that occur within a character.  Build the struggle that occurs between a character and outside forces, which could be another character or the environment.

My next blog – let’s discuss the difference between event and character driven plots.

HOW USEFUL IS FACEBOOK AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA?

Copied with Google ImagesIn your opinion, do you feel that Facebook provides an advantage to your ability to share your books or is it just a giant "timesuck?"

I go there to promote myself, but tend to get caught up in commenting on other's posts, playing games, and trying to avoid arguments.

When I first became an author, publishers pushed you to have your own website, myspace page, and even a monthly newsletter so you could better connect with readers.  Now there are so many authors using social media, I'm wondering if I'm just lost in an ocean of blurbs and covers.  Is there a more efficient way to get your work in front of an audience?

 Over the years, my newsletter turned to a blog...this one, which I appreciate much more because I can share issues on a daily basis if I wish, and if someone leaves a comment, I can respond...which puts me more in touch with visitors.

When Rita Karnopp joined me as a partner, the variation of posts helped grow our popularity.  I stuck more with relying on guests to help keep my weekly features going, and Rita, tended to publish helpful tips and hints about writing.  Sadly, Rita is retiring from blogging, but I'm lucky to have snagged Jamie Hill.  I wonder what type of posts she has in mind for us.

Anyhow...I've made it my mission each day to share our posts on FB, Twitter, Pinterest and Google.  Whether or not it helps with sales, I'm not sure, but I do know one thing...if you don't keep your name out there, you'll be lost in the sea of every growing authors.

 Twenty years ago, when I started writing, people who read and reviewed my books were only readers, and now years later, they have become authors as well.  Finding a place that will review your work requires twice the effort it once took.  I'm not sure what to make of that.  I recently read an exchange on Facebook between two reviewers, and they talked about how boring blurbs have become.  Sometimes authors don't have much recourse, but my publisher has always told me that you should strive to snag the interest of the reader.  I thought I was doing that, but my books don't seem to get reviewed on the major sites I used to count on.  I don't think I'm boring.  *lol*

Back to Facebook.  I've given up Myspace, Linked In and yahoo groups and moved with the times.  Linked In doesn't seem like a good fit, and I don't understand how people who don't even know you can "endorse" you for talents in certain areas.  I'm about to surrender my website because of the costs involved because I feel I can get the same coverage on my blog and share the same information.  I'm sad to let http://www.gingersimpson.com go, but only because there is a bit of myself in the design since I did the website myself.

Is it just me, or did everyone give up reading yahoo groups?  Some authors have even gone "digest" on their author's loops.  That, to me is a sad testimony of fear to participate in a group.  I can say that because it's happened to me.  I have too little time left on this earth to worry about being singled out for daring to ask a question. I swore I would never go digest on such an important loop, but... Okay...rant over.

Twitter seems to be helpful only to those popular folks who are trending.  I belong to Triberr, but I'm not sure all the effort I put into sharing everyone else's post is helping me.  I'm so confused!

I guess what I'm wondering...are we authors really spinning our wheels?  Every day, FB is saturated with shares from authors about books coming, new, and old.  Is there a secret to making people want to read your books to find out what type of author you are?  Does posting every day to FB make people excited to read your work or bore them to tears?  Do people even read our tweets?

I rearely get comments, but I'm hoping for some today.  Please share your thoughts.  I've always followed the rule that if you don't keep your name in the public eye, you'll disappear.  What do you think?

Friday Freebits #Frifreebits

Ohhhh....It's Friday the thirteenth.  Hope you don't believe in "bad luck."  I'm forging ahead, and this week,  continuing with six paragraphs from The Well.  Hope you enjoy my offering:  Note:  Harlee sure isn't having a very good time..maybe it's the thirteenth in Oklahoma.  :)

Time ticked by and she (Harlee) grew weary. Her elbow, evidently skinned during the fall, joined the dull ache in her head, and her knees begged her to sit. The blue sky above darkened with the approaching nighttime, and Harlee sagged into the water letting it lap to her chin while she rested against the stony interior. Why hadn’t someone come to look for her? Especially her impatient little sister? 
Despite her discomfort, Harlee slept and woke with a crick in her neck and fingers wrinkled from being under water. She glanced up, praying to see someone peering back, but strangely, no longer saw the sky. Could it still be nighttime? Straining her eyes, she noted light leaking around what appeared to be a cover. Her mind whirred. Was this all a bad dream? The fact that she sat in water, confined in a stone prison confirmed the truth. But why hadn’t someone missed her, and why did they cover the well unless her family thought her dead? 
With a hoarse voice, she shouted as loud as she could, but still no one responded. Trying to find a bright spot, she remembered the circling vultures. “At least I cheated those gluttonous birds out of a meal,” she muttered as tears plunked into the water, barely making a ripple. Death would surely claim her anyhow. Maybe the grim reaper already had and she didn’t realize she’d passed. Resting a hand on her bosom, she searched for a heartbeat. 
* * * By Harlee’s estimation and the glimpses of light around whatever covered the well, she’d been imprisoned for at least three days. Her head still hurt and she shivered, although the shallow water wasn’t cold. She wasn’t dead…at least not yet, but with each passing moment, she grew weaker and weaker. For part of the day, she forced herself to run in place, splashing around in what little water remained, fighting the numbness in her legs from continued wetness. Now, after having no food, hunger rumbled her stomach. She stopped sloshing around and grasped the rocky wall, intending to try once again to climb out. Between weakness and the slipperiness of each stone, she made only small progress before she crashed back to the bottom further jarring her insides and scraping her hands and legs.

Her soaked dress cloaked her like a second skin, and the slime from the well’s bottom coated her skinned palms. She crinkled her nose at the musty smell and kept assuring herself help would come, but her weak cries bounced off the walls and went unanswered. 
Harlee’s strength waned more and more by the morning of the fourth day, and she prepared to die. Her measure of time came by means of daylight filtering around the well’s sealed edges, and she no longer had hope of rescue. After wanting water so badly, she hadn’t even sated her thirst, and now dreamed of Ma’s buttermilk biscuits. An imaginary aroma masked the musk and hung teasingly in the air.
Cover by Charlene RaddonAvailable on my Amazon page.  This is my first self-published novel.

Look at your New Year's Resolution . . . Heath Brothers

As we move into the first few months of 2015 . . . I wanted to share four tips from Dan and Chip Heath (authors of Made to Stick and Switch) on sticking to your New Year's resolutions.  It seems everyone addresses the New Year Resolution in January … and by March it’s already slipping ~ because January is still a pressure month. 
I prefer to take a break – and address my resolutions in March ~ after I’ve had a chance to let the New Year settle in.  J

To learn more from the Heath brothers visit: http://heathbrothers.com/
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4 RESEARCH-BACKED TIPS FOR
STICKING TO YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Every New Year brings two proud traditions: Making resolutions and then, shortly thereafter, breaking them. Often the full cycle doesn't take more than a few weeks, which allows well over 11 months to plot the next year's resolutions.

The research on resolutions is damning: A study of 3,000 people led by Richard Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire, found that 88% broke their resolutions. (Even people who resolved merely to 'enjoy life more' failed 68% of the time.)

If you want to buck humanity's sorry performance record, here are four research-based tips to improve your chances of keeping your resolutions:

1. Look for your bright spots.

Nwokedi Idika, an American graduate student in computer science, was a chronic procrastinator. He'd set a goal to work six hours per day on his thesis but found that he only hit the target sporadically. Rather than bemoan his failures, though, he examined his bright spots: What is different about the days when I do manage to complete my six hours? And what he discovered was that, in almost every case, he'd been working early in the morning. So he turned that realization into a strategy: He started setting his alarm for 5:30am every morning.

The early-morning approach worked like a charm. 'When I'm up that early, I have no motivation to check email, Facebook, or Twitter because nobody is up to send email or update his/her status,' he said. He defeated procrastination by cloning his bright spots. (Idika became the first African-American student to earn a PhD in computer science at his university.)

2. Make one change at a time.

Over the last 15 years, a series of studies in psychology has confirmed a sobering result: Our self-control is exhaustible. The research shows that we burn self-control in many different situations: when controlling our spending; holding in our emotions; managing the impression we're making on others; resisting temptations; coping with fears; and many, many others.

Why is this important? Because any life change will require careful self-monitoring and self-regulation--in other words, self-control. Self- control is the fuel that allows change to succeed, but it is limited. For that reason, you will have a better chance of success if you can focus on one change at a time. If you try to change jobs and exercise routines and relationship habits all at once, you are more likely to stall, because you've run out of 'fuel.'

3. Turn that one change into a habit.

Steve Gladdis of London found that he was constantly falling behind on his personal 'to do' list. 'Looking at the list on my phone now,' he said, 'I need to hang those pictures, phone a friend I haven't spoken to in a while, extract that box from the back of the shed, investigate child-friendly mousetraps, the list really does go on and on.'

He resolved to create a daily routine: Every morning, like clockwork, he'd finish one task. 'Once I'm on a roll, it seems easy to carry on. I remember to look at my list for today's task because I'm used to doing it, and I almost look forward to ticking off that day's chore,' he said.

Habits are effective because, once established, they no longer burn self-control. (Think about how little mental energy it requires to take a shower, or make your morning coffee, or to carry out any of the other habits you've acquired.) You'll be more likely to keep your resolution if you can turn it into a habitual behavior--something that happens in the same time and place on a regular cycle.

4. Set an 'action trigger' to start your habit ASAP.

What's the best way to start a habit?

Let's say you're trying to exercise more. You might declare to yourself: Tomorrow morning, right after I drop off Elizabeth at dance class, I'll head straight to the gym for my workout. Let's call this mental plan an 'action trigger.' You've made the decision to follow a certain plan (exercising) when you encounter a certain trigger (the school's front entrance, tomorrow morning).

Action triggers like these can be surprisingly effective in motivating action. The psychologists Sheina Orbell and Paschal Sheeran studied a group of patients in England with an average age of 68, who were recovering from hip or knee replacement surgery. Some of them were asked to set action triggers for their recovery exercises--something like, 'I'll do my range-of-motion extensions every morning after I finish my first cup of coffee.' The other group did not receive any coaching on action triggers. The results were dramatic: Those patients who used action triggers recovered more than twice as fast, standing up on their own in 3.5 weeks, versus 7.7 weeks for the others.

Psychologists have compared action triggers to 'instant habits' because what they do, in essence, is make our behavior automatic when the trigger moment comes. Seize that power for yourself: Jump-start a new habit by setting an action trigger.

Psychologists tell us that we are wired to look at the negative. One famous study concluded that, when it comes to the way we think, 'bad is stronger than good.' So when it comes to changing our lives, we'll tend to ask ourselves, 'What's the problem and how do I fix it?' But often we can benefit more by asking a different question: 'What's working and how can I do more of it?' In other words, we can learn from our own 'bright spots.'

A Page Straight From Ginger Simpson #apagestraightfrom

Yellow Moon byGinger Simpson
A thunder of drums created a steady melody. Male dancers, most dressed only in breechclouts, knee-high moccasins and wearing a variety of feathered headdresses, stomped in time to the beat around a roaring fire in the middle of the compound.  On this, the first night of the Sun Dance festivities, Yellow Moon sat with her family in a large circle comprised of members from other tribes who had traveled great distances to pay homage to the Great Spirit.  Her focus was more on meeting Thunder Eyes than the celebration and the pleasing aroma of roasting meat wafting in the air.  She swiped her damp palms down the skirt of her dress.
Her mother sat to Yellow Moon’s left, next to Walking Tall. Dressed in fringed buckskins, he wore one eagle feather draping down the side of his silver-streaked hair, his back straighter than the arrows he carried in his quiver.  The firelight reflected ebony eyes that stared forward.  Yellow Moon’s pride knew no boundaries.
She had changed into her favorite doeskin...the one her mother had adorned with colored beads. Even her younger sister and brother sparkled like the cherished new penny Father O’Brien had given her. He’d said the coin promised good fortune, and she’d hidden the treasure in her moccasin.  A wayward stone poked into her skin.  She reached beneath her leg, found, and tossed aside the offending pebble. Maybe the penny’s lucky power had nothing to do with discomfort.  Still, she cherished the gift from a beloved friend.
Casting aside those pleasant memories, Yellow Moon glanced down at her dress then to her mother.  “Maybe we shouldn’t sit together. You look more like my sister than my ina. We are even dressed alike.”  Yellow Moon giggled and smiled. “Maybe I should worry that Thunder Eyes will find you more attractive than….”
Her mother clucked her tongue against her teeth.  “Such a silly daughter you are.  I am already married and have birthed three children. Clearly, Thunder Eyes asked after you.” She cocked her head and returned her daughter’s smile. “Why would he want an old woman like me?”“Old? No one would ever guess you near your forty-third summer, Ina.  Your skin is smooth unlike other women your age.  I hope I am as blessed.”
Her mother’s gaze returned to the dancers, her fingers keeping time to the sound of each ‘hi-ya, hey-ya, hey’ sung in accompaniment to their movements.  The drummers sat separate from the circle, their faces bearing colorful paint and their hands moving in unison with one another.  The constant tempo sounded in Yellow Moon’s chest and kept time with her pulsing heart.  Despite reminding herself to be composed, nervousness danced along her spine like flames charring a log.
Conversation of aging forgotten, she craned her neck, searching the crowd, but then realized her suitor was supposed to be unknown to her.  She relaxed and turned her gaze to her mother. “Do you yet see Thunder Eyes, Ina?”  The innocence in her voice sounded convincing even to her.Her mother’s gaze didn’t sway from the entertainment. “No, but I am captivated by those who dance tonight.  Did you know their movement tells a story of a hunter’s kill?” She patted Yellow Moon’s knee. “You showed very little excitement about Thunder Eyes earlier, I’m surprised by how anxious you are now.”
For fear of discovery they’d already met, Yellow Moon had dared not ask too many questions when her mother had announced Thunder Eye’s request, but now that an official meeting with him had been approved, she had many queries.  Her subtle gaze darted from face to face, searching.  Her mouth turned dry, and unwanted images played in her mind.  What if he’d found another who interested him more? Her stomach felt as though a stone had settled at its bottom.
She recalled her encounter with him at the river, and worried she hadn’t made a good impression. Memories of brushing his arm sent shivers through her again.  Had he felt something similar? Why would he have asked permission to meet her if he didn’t find her appealing?  Doubts clouded her mind and kept her from enjoying the festivities.

Thunder Eyes had been on her mind all afternoon, and those muscular arms, copper chest and deep voice should be reserved only for her. She took a deep breath and struggled to put aside thoughts of him with another. The bitter taste of jealousy in her already dry mouth made it even more difficult. She blinked back tears—foolish tears, she told herself.
Yellow Moon is availabe on my Amazon page.

Rita is hitting the dusty trail...sniff

As I've already mentioned, Rita Karnopp will be leaving the blog, except for the times I can twist her arm to return as a guest, but the good news is that Jamie Hill will be replacing her as my partner.  I've sent Jamie an invite and she'll be adding her stuff to the blog even though Rita is still here and has posted into the month of April.

I know, you as well as I, will miss Rita and her fantastic posts, but at least I can keep in touch with her by phone, text and email.  Don't forget, she'll still have some wonderful reads out there, so keep her in mind when you are making those all important selections.

Help me welcome Jamie Hill.  She's another awesome author with great reads which I'm sure you will learn more about.

God's Wife

I especially liked number 5!
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.  The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was:
A four-year-old child, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old Gentleman's' yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.'
*********************************************
2. Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted.
A little girl said, 'I know all about Adoption, I was adopted.'
'What does it mean to be adopted,’ asked another child.
'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'
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3. On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was 'We're behind 14 to nothing,' he answered with a smile.
'Really,' I said. 'I have to say you don't look very discouraged.'
'Discouraged?' the boy asked with a Puzzled look on his face...
'Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet.'
*********************** **********************
4. Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.
Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen.
On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. 'Guess what, Mom,' he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me....'I've been chosen to clap and cheer.'
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5. An eye witness account from New York City, on a cold day in December,
some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.
A lady approached the young boy and said, 'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!'
'I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,' was the boy's reply.
The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water
and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.
She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel.
By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks.  Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes.
She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, 'No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.'
As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her:

'Are you God's wife?'