M. Jean Pike's Blog, page 33

Wordless Wednesday

Sisters.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Ohio!

Go Bucks

a little joy

This is just in case anyone needs a little shot of joy in the midst of the holiday season. Smile courtesy of my granddaughter, Mya Grace!

The Little Things

I am not the calmest person in the world. Not even close. I am easily overwhelmed and I deal with my anxiety by keeping to a routine, by creating detailed lists and following them obsessively in an attempt to keep my world in order. So when the pandemic hit in 2020, my orderly world turned upside down. In a time of fear and uncertainty that was far beyond anything my lists could control, my anxiety level went spinning off into outer space.

I watched as one by one churches and businesses closed. As an “essential worker” I went to my job every day but other than that I stayed close to home. In the quiet solitude of my new routine, I turned my attention to the little things. I walked my dog, taking note of the absence of traffic noise and the vast blue sky above us. I tried some amazing new recipes, experimenting with different herbs and spices. I became obsessed with the songs and colors of the birds at my feeder. These things calmed my mind and I began to recognize some blessings I had taken for granted and the hundred ways that God’s voice whispered to me through the chaos… I’ve got you.

Like most every writer I know, a clear calendar and the absence of distractions meant more time for writing. I put together some short pieces, but the time seemed right for another novel, so I dusted off some ideas that had been on the back burner. I slowly put down a paragraph. And then  another, and another as that strange magic that is novel writing overtook me.

And finally the book was finished. And a new journey, begun.

I’m thrilled to announce that I have just signed a contract with Pelican Book Group for my latest Contemporary Christian Romance, The Little Things.

I’ll keep you posted!

Garden Goodness

I’m so thankful to have friends and neighbors that share their homegrown produce! Each year when fresh tomatoes come my way I look for a new take on one of my old favorites — tomato soup. Last year I embellished my go-to recipe with hot peppers for a tangy soup. This year I came across a garden tomato soup recipe from Allrecipes that included whole cloves. I love the little bit of sweetness they gave the soup. I was able to make my standard big batch this year — some to enjoy now and some to freeze for the crisp autumn days that I so look forward to!

Have a favorite recipe? Please share it in the comments

Miracles

I love Colton Dixon’s song, Miracles.

How do miracles just happen like that

Happen like that, happen like that

You can say the stars aligned but

I know that it’s more than timing…

Miracles. I’ve experienced a lot of them in my lifetime. Some big, some small, but every one of them a gift from the hand of God.  My story, A Beautiful Day, featured in this month’s issue of The Lutheran Digest, is about one of them. I hope you enjoy it!

A Beautiful Day

I didn’t give it a second thought when the pick-up truck rolled into the car wash beside me. A long, cold winter had evolved into a muddy spring and my car, like everyone else’s, had reached the point of being embarrassing. In fact I’d been surprised, when I arrived on that mild April morning, to see that I was the only one there. I’d thought the car wash would be mobbed with people rinsing off road salt and scrubbing away mud. Another dirty vehicle in the lot was not out of the ordinary at all.

Except the man in the truck didn’t seem to be taking care of business.  He wasn’t washing or rinsing or even so much as tossing out a bag of trash. He was just sitting there, watching me vacuum.

My breath caught as I thought of a news story I’d read the summer before about  a woman assaulted at a car wash, her purse stolen. But that was at an all-night car wash, I told myself, in a much larger city than ours. I shot a nervous glance at my purse, sprawling open on the passenger seat across from me. Could something like that happen here, in our small city?

I didn’t dare look at the man again, but feeling the weight of his eyes on me, I realized how vulnerable I was. The car wash sat a good distance back from the busy main road. If something happened, no one would see a thing. My fears ran away with me and my heart started to pound until I felt light headed. The vacuum timed out, and still, I crouched there, clutching the nozzle.  A church hymn popped into my head, one  about God’s eye being on the sparrows, and I took comfort in knowing that the man’s eyes were not the only ones watching me.

God, I know you see me, I prayed. Maybe I’m being silly, but this man is making me afraid. If he means me any harm, please make him go away…

Sometimes God’s answers take time. But sometimes He steps in immediately and in the most astonishing ways. The prayer had scarcely left my lips when a third car pulled into the car wash. Not just any random car. A city police patrol car.

I was lightheaded again, but this time with relief. The officer got out of the car, whistling as he walked to the coin machine. He fed his dollars into the slot, and as his coins clinked down into the tray, the pick-up truck pulled through the wash bay and rumbled out of the lot.

I stared after it, utterly amazed.

Had the man meant me any harm? I will probably never know. All I know for sure is that I had never felt more loved or more protected than at that moment. I finally stood and replaced the vacuum hose in its cradle, the enormity of what had just happened still sinking in.

The police officer glanced over and gave me a smile.

“Beautiful day, today.”

I smiled back at him. A beautiful day, indeed.

Beautiful Day

Ever pray a frantic prayer and watch God step in so immediately and so perfectly that you know, just know, it couldn’t be anything other than His hand at work?

My story, A Beautiful Day, is about a prayer just like that.

It’s been selected to appear in an upcoming issue of The Lutheran Digest.

I’ll keep you posted

Shiny Things

I’m sure this falls under the heading “You know you’re getting old when…” but I am beyond excited about my new prep table! Though my 700 sq. foot house is mostly kitchen, it is pitifully lacking in counter space, so the three feet of counter space I just gained is going to be a game changer. And it’s so pretty! If I’m not working my day job or into a writing project, I’m often in the kitchen, whipping up something fun. This little table will make my life so much easier. Hmmm, now what can I bake…?

#kitchenadventures #stillloveshinystuff

:30 Friendships

Back in January, with a new year before me, I thought I would try something new with my writing. I’ve always enjoyed reading “flash” pieces but never really thought it was my niche. I mean…. express myself in a meaningful way in 500 words or less?? In real life, and on the page, I tend to be a bit more loquacious than that   Even so, when I came across a blog called :30 Friendships and saw they were holding a contest, I decided to try.

I just got word that my entry, Sweet Daddy, has won an honorable mention out of 500 entries. I feel good about that! I guess the old saying is true. It’s never too late to try something new J

You can read Sweet Daddy, as well as a lot of other great stories here:

https://www.thirtysecondfriendships.com/friendships/sweetdaddy?fbclid=IwAR21AO_PCct9T38xIgdY8Y1pWPrgvrY9dD5Te00qDkC0hNOjV6HBLjLueKc

Shadow Lake in Audio!

My 2009 Contemporary Romance, Shadow Lake, the first in my Love on the Lake series published by Black Lyon Publishing, has just been released in audio and it sounds amazing! Listen to a sample here:

https://www.audible.com/pd/B08QKMZN9R/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-229960&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_229960_rh_us

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