Allison Tebo's Blog, page 20
March 9, 2017
London in the Dark, Spotlight/Review
I am so excited to be a part of Victoria Lynn's blog tour for her recently released mystery suspense novel, London in the Dark. I had the privilege of beta-reading this novel, and I was so excited not only to be included in the authoresses blog tour; but to be able to share my review with all of you!
About the Book
London, 1910Budding Private Detective Cyril Arlington Hartwell has a conundrum. London is being ravaged by the largest run of thefts in recent history. His hunch that it is all tied together may put him and those he loves in more danger than he could have reckoned.
Olivia Larken Hartwell is just home from boarding school for the summer anticipating time with her adoring parents.She misses her absent brother, Cyril, hoping for the day he will finally come home. But tragedy strikes, causing upheaval for all concerned and changes her life in a way she never could have imagined.
Olivia, Cyril, and their friends must bring the hidden to light, seek to execute justice, and dispel the darkness that hovers over London… and their hearts.
Find it on Goodreads and purchase or download it at Amazon.
My Review.
“Never dwell on ‘if onlys’ They steal your peace and weaken your faith.”
There are some powerful scenes woven into London in the Dark! Victoria Lynn's love for Christ shines throughout this novel; themes of faith and seeking God’s peace are worked into this book like a sweet seasoning. I especially liked the scene where the heroine, Olivia Harwell, is reading her Bible and reflects on how God protects her ‘unguarded side’ – the side that is not covered by the shield of a warrior.
I really liked the spiritual battles that were worked into this story, and the wonderful theme of redemption (especially a certain twist with a certain character!). *zips lips mysteriously*
The three main characters are very well worked out. Olivia is sweet and mature, but she also makes mistakes; she’s human. Cyril, who could have been a very unlikable person, is still a character that we root for, and we strain with Olivia to see him push through the walls he’s built around himself. But it’s Dr. Dudley who is particularly well written – it can be extremely difficult to write such an exceedingly nice personality, but the authoress nails it. Dudley is a kind and sweet fellow, but has the appropriate amount of sassiness and steel to push back on Cyril's coldness.
There also some clever dialogue between Cyril and Dudley that tips a stylish nod to that other mystery solving duo, Holmes and Watson!
Charming little bits of characterization (Olivia’s continual struggle with her dress buttons, Dudley’s eternal ‘medical tips and checks up’, Cyril’s mustache infatuation) are scattered throughout the book, and there are several intriguing side characters as well (I want a novel featuring Barlow and Kenton, please!).
There were a couple of very funny moments that made me laugh in London in the Dark. I DO NOT remember the part about Olivia playing a joke on Barlow (jumping ice water on his head). Hilarious!
But I must admit, the epilogue was my favorite part – I had a big sappy grin on my face for those last few pages. Bravo, Miss Lynn!
Victoria Lynn writes with a lot of emotion; there are genuinely painful and heartfelt moments in this book! And most of all, there is TRUTH in London in the Dark.
It shines like a beacon in the dark.
Because of mysterious setting, the theme of family, and the authoresses ability to narrate easily from male or female characters – this is a book that I think would be equally enjoyed by guys and girls of many different ages.
I greatly look forward to seeing Victoria Lynn’s next work and I can’t wait for the next installment!
About the Author
Victoria Lynn is in her 20s and if she's not writing, she is probably sewing, singing, playing the piano, washing dishes, creating something with her hands, or learning something new. She has a passion for serving her Creator, encouraging others and being creative. She blogs at www.rufflesandgrace.com about writing, fashion, modesty, her walk with God and life. She lives in Michigan with her parents and 8 siblings.Giveaway!Who doesn't love a giveaway? Look at these beautiful prizes - ENTER it! NOW, PEOPLE! You know you want to! Just lookit!
Aren't they pretty and don't you want them BADLY??You can enter the giveaway at Victoria Lynn's blog here - or on Goodreads (see below).
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London In The Darkby Victoria LynnGiveaway ends March 17, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter GiveawayGood luck to all of those who enter the giveaway!
Follow the rest of the tour at Ruffles and Grace!
February 27, 2017
February In A Nutshell
All kinds of thing's were popping up in our yard in the month of February . . . daffodils, pear blossoms, coyotes - whoops! Did I say, coyotes? Um . . . yep, I did. We really thought the coyote family had moved to new stomping grounds, but apparently they told some friends that our sprawling property and heavy underbrush makes an ideal wild dog hostel for traveling coyotes. Having coyotes waltzing around your yard can make you pretty uncomfortable going to get the mail every afternoon. You start to hope that you'll have heavy packages in the mailbox so that you have something to beat them off . . . if necessary.
Not a very good picture - it was moving fast! How do you really know when you've committed to the life of a blogger? Easy. It's that moment when you see a coyote in your backyard and you race to grab your camera because - hey, I can BLOG about this!
Now for the not so novel news: I published 'The Reluctant Godfather!' I still can't put into words what this feels like . . . it really is beyond words at the moment!
I got in some more beta-reading for some buddies!
Valentine's Day happened. My sweet brother gave me this lovely lady porcupine. Or is she a hedgehog?
I'm still brainstorming names, but I'm tentatively thinking of 'Sophie'. What do you guys, think?
Our neighbors and good friends brought over their one year old grandson for a visit. I had heard a lot about him, but I hadn't had a chance to meet him. What a wonderful Valentine's Day gift - and what an amazing way to remember God's love when looking at the little soul who is still making baby sounds and crawling across the floor. What a beautiful little package of love! I wanted to pick him up and squeeze him, but he was shy and I didn't want to crowd him. But I would have loved to have given him a hug!
I did get to touch his perfect little hand and foot! And I got to watch him laugh and play. He did enjoy the cookies I made for Valentine's Day! His grandpa kept sneaking him crumbs when his grandma wasn't looking!
Another successful photo shoot and recording of Walt Disney's 'Little Black Rain Cloud'. I dedicated it to my dear friend, Blessing Counter's, new baby sister 'Sweet Pea'.
Our family took a picnic lunch to the beautiful grounds of a local museum and then toured the museum.
Reached 16 subscribers on my blog and 11 subscribers on my Youtube channel! True to my promise (Hanna - where are you?) I will honor my dare about my Youtube channel. Now that I have reached 10 plus subscribers, I will reread 'The Borrowers' by Mary Norton and possibly reevaluate my negative rating. The book is transferring to my library as we speak! Now, if I could only get 4 more subscribers to my blog, you would all get the dubious treat of seeing me eat a piece of celery slathered with peanut butter . . . Yes, I'm sure you have all been waiting your whole lives to see that.
My beta readers grew from 4 to 5! Again, you guys do such an amazing job and I truly appreciate your friendship, thoroughness and eagle eyes! Thank you so much for your faithful polishing!
My book haul was lamentably small . . . only one book in February . . . but my goodness, what a book!
An Easton Press leather bound edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for a mere $30.00! A thing of beauty and a joy forever! Isn't it wonderful? Don't you just want to hug it and stroke it and stare at it? After arranging it in a place of prominence and honor on your bookcase of course - and after rearranging everything else around it . . . like framing a particularly gorgeous painting.
My monthly book purchases were low because . . . 'cough', I was um . . . forced! That's right, forced, to buy some other necessities.
I read 11 books this month. A far cry for the dazzling array of books I whipped through in January, and some of the 11 books I didn't even finish! I skipped through them.
The best reads of February were 'Susanna Don't You Cry' by Zachary McIntire, 'The Sparrow Found A House' by Jason McIntire, and Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter. I highly recommend all three of these books!
Successfully cut back my blogging schedule to a more realistic pace. My overtaxed brain and weary bones are slightly happier with me.
Got interviewed on my friend's blog 'Once Upon an Ordinary'. Getting interviewed by Kate was such a blast!
Went with my siblings to a local ‘entertainment center’ (I don't know what to call this place exactly - my twin said to describe it as 'the place where you spend money to make a fool of yourself').
Anyway, I played miniature golf for the first time in my life (yes, really), starting with ‘Black-light’ miniature golf – you wander through dark carpeted tunnels with a glow in the dark course, club and golf balls.
There are very few rules to miniature golf – anyone can play. If you make a good shot, gloat as your family cheers. If you make a bad shot, groan while your family mocks you. It’s pretty simple. If only getting the ball to go into the hole was as simple. After being instructed to hold my club . . . like a club . . . I gave an enthusiastic wind up and hit a sign behind me that said ‘Hole One’. Fortunately, it was made out of metal, the club out of industrial plastic. Other than producing a very loud noise and embarrassing myself, I didn’t see any damage.
All in all, I found miniature golf to be pretty boring – I commented later to my Mom that it would have been more fun if we had been getting shot at with rubber pellets while trying to play.
The most interesting part was the ‘water hazards’. The miniature golf course was built around a ‘false mountain’ with large waterfalls pouring at various points into pools. It was an exceptionally windy day (and rather chilly) and sheets of water kept blowing across certain holes, spraying the players with cold water.
My far more athletic brother and twin did some indoor rock climbing . . . and we tried out a Laser Maze. The Laser Maze was the most fun. A dark room no bigger than a bedroom is full of a spiderweb of lasers and contestants have to crawl, jump, shimmy, and basically turn themselves into a human slinky to get to the other the side of the room AND BACK without breaking the lasers. But the BEST part of the day was the ‘Beam Buster’ version of the Laser Maze, where the goal is to break as many laser beams as possible. Contestants race across the room, leaping, kicking (and in my case, screaming) trying to set off as many lasers as possible in a certain amount of time. Great fun!
We finished up the outing by eating copious amounts of garlic rolls and pizza at the center’s restaurant, as well as large cups of frozen yogurt. Happiness is peach frozen yogurt with sprinkles and M&Ms on top!
And now . . . let the humiliation begin!
What I Meant to Get Done In February - but didn't -
1. Create a more professional looking newsletter. No . . . again . . . no!
2. Get up earlier. Still that insomnia thing I'm dealing with . . .
3. Write 2,000 words a day. Uh no . . . I am struggling with major writers block - it feels like an insurmountable mountain. I think I wrote maybe 12,000 words, tops, in February - and it was bad and I probably wouldn't use most of it . . . I'm starting to feel desperate! Somebody send me some inspiration!
4. Get back to my artwork. I did, A LITTLE . . . I got in about two or three days of really good work and then . . . whoosh . . . oh look, there went February! 5. Join Homeschooled Authors.com. I should have submitted the form at the beginning of the month - but nope! - I waited till the last week in February . . .
6. Start exercising more. Um . . . I don't suppose blogging counts? 7. Publish Key to the Chains. Nope - the release date got pushed back - this is the one 'failure' that I actually feel pretty good about. I think it's for the best that this was delayed a little.
Hopes and Plans for March
1. Write 5 blog posts.
2. Reduce my time on social media (Goodreads) to 30 minutes a day. 'weeps'
3. Publish Keys to the Chains 4. Return to a regular writing schedule - 40,000 words in March or bust!! I'm just going to FORCE the words out!
5. Get back to my art. I'm working on some designs for the Zazzle 'store' I am hoping to open sometime in March or possibly April.
6. Join Homeschooled Authors.com 7. Plant morning glories.
8. Post two new songs to my Youtube Channel.
9. Beta read for my friend, Paul.
10. Beta read for my twin! Wahooo!!
11. CREATE A MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOKING NEWSLETTER BEFORE I KEEL OVER FROM SHAME!!!
12. GET OUT OF BED EARLIER!
So how was your January, my faithful followers? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!
Not a very good picture - it was moving fast! How do you really know when you've committed to the life of a blogger? Easy. It's that moment when you see a coyote in your backyard and you race to grab your camera because - hey, I can BLOG about this!
Now for the not so novel news: I published 'The Reluctant Godfather!' I still can't put into words what this feels like . . . it really is beyond words at the moment!
I got in some more beta-reading for some buddies! Valentine's Day happened. My sweet brother gave me this lovely lady porcupine. Or is she a hedgehog?
I'm still brainstorming names, but I'm tentatively thinking of 'Sophie'. What do you guys, think?
Our neighbors and good friends brought over their one year old grandson for a visit. I had heard a lot about him, but I hadn't had a chance to meet him. What a wonderful Valentine's Day gift - and what an amazing way to remember God's love when looking at the little soul who is still making baby sounds and crawling across the floor. What a beautiful little package of love! I wanted to pick him up and squeeze him, but he was shy and I didn't want to crowd him. But I would have loved to have given him a hug!
I did get to touch his perfect little hand and foot! And I got to watch him laugh and play. He did enjoy the cookies I made for Valentine's Day! His grandpa kept sneaking him crumbs when his grandma wasn't looking!Another successful photo shoot and recording of Walt Disney's 'Little Black Rain Cloud'. I dedicated it to my dear friend, Blessing Counter's, new baby sister 'Sweet Pea'.
Our family took a picnic lunch to the beautiful grounds of a local museum and then toured the museum. Reached 16 subscribers on my blog and 11 subscribers on my Youtube channel! True to my promise (Hanna - where are you?) I will honor my dare about my Youtube channel. Now that I have reached 10 plus subscribers, I will reread 'The Borrowers' by Mary Norton and possibly reevaluate my negative rating. The book is transferring to my library as we speak! Now, if I could only get 4 more subscribers to my blog, you would all get the dubious treat of seeing me eat a piece of celery slathered with peanut butter . . . Yes, I'm sure you have all been waiting your whole lives to see that.
My beta readers grew from 4 to 5! Again, you guys do such an amazing job and I truly appreciate your friendship, thoroughness and eagle eyes! Thank you so much for your faithful polishing!
My book haul was lamentably small . . . only one book in February . . . but my goodness, what a book!
An Easton Press leather bound edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for a mere $30.00! A thing of beauty and a joy forever! Isn't it wonderful? Don't you just want to hug it and stroke it and stare at it? After arranging it in a place of prominence and honor on your bookcase of course - and after rearranging everything else around it . . . like framing a particularly gorgeous painting.My monthly book purchases were low because . . . 'cough', I was um . . . forced! That's right, forced, to buy some other necessities.
I read 11 books this month. A far cry for the dazzling array of books I whipped through in January, and some of the 11 books I didn't even finish! I skipped through them. The best reads of February were 'Susanna Don't You Cry' by Zachary McIntire, 'The Sparrow Found A House' by Jason McIntire, and Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter. I highly recommend all three of these books!
Successfully cut back my blogging schedule to a more realistic pace. My overtaxed brain and weary bones are slightly happier with me.
Got interviewed on my friend's blog 'Once Upon an Ordinary'. Getting interviewed by Kate was such a blast!
Went with my siblings to a local ‘entertainment center’ (I don't know what to call this place exactly - my twin said to describe it as 'the place where you spend money to make a fool of yourself').
Anyway, I played miniature golf for the first time in my life (yes, really), starting with ‘Black-light’ miniature golf – you wander through dark carpeted tunnels with a glow in the dark course, club and golf balls.
There are very few rules to miniature golf – anyone can play. If you make a good shot, gloat as your family cheers. If you make a bad shot, groan while your family mocks you. It’s pretty simple. If only getting the ball to go into the hole was as simple. After being instructed to hold my club . . . like a club . . . I gave an enthusiastic wind up and hit a sign behind me that said ‘Hole One’. Fortunately, it was made out of metal, the club out of industrial plastic. Other than producing a very loud noise and embarrassing myself, I didn’t see any damage.
All in all, I found miniature golf to be pretty boring – I commented later to my Mom that it would have been more fun if we had been getting shot at with rubber pellets while trying to play.
The most interesting part was the ‘water hazards’. The miniature golf course was built around a ‘false mountain’ with large waterfalls pouring at various points into pools. It was an exceptionally windy day (and rather chilly) and sheets of water kept blowing across certain holes, spraying the players with cold water.
My far more athletic brother and twin did some indoor rock climbing . . . and we tried out a Laser Maze. The Laser Maze was the most fun. A dark room no bigger than a bedroom is full of a spiderweb of lasers and contestants have to crawl, jump, shimmy, and basically turn themselves into a human slinky to get to the other the side of the room AND BACK without breaking the lasers. But the BEST part of the day was the ‘Beam Buster’ version of the Laser Maze, where the goal is to break as many laser beams as possible. Contestants race across the room, leaping, kicking (and in my case, screaming) trying to set off as many lasers as possible in a certain amount of time. Great fun!We finished up the outing by eating copious amounts of garlic rolls and pizza at the center’s restaurant, as well as large cups of frozen yogurt. Happiness is peach frozen yogurt with sprinkles and M&Ms on top!
And now . . . let the humiliation begin!
What I Meant to Get Done In February - but didn't -
1. Create a more professional looking newsletter. No . . . again . . . no! 2. Get up earlier. Still that insomnia thing I'm dealing with . . . 3. Write 2,000 words a day. Uh no . . . I am struggling with major writers block - it feels like an insurmountable mountain. I think I wrote maybe 12,000 words, tops, in February - and it was bad and I probably wouldn't use most of it . . . I'm starting to feel desperate! Somebody send me some inspiration! 4. Get back to my artwork. I did, A LITTLE . . . I got in about two or three days of really good work and then . . . whoosh . . . oh look, there went February! 5. Join Homeschooled Authors.com. I should have submitted the form at the beginning of the month - but nope! - I waited till the last week in February . . .6. Start exercising more. Um . . . I don't suppose blogging counts? 7. Publish Key to the Chains. Nope - the release date got pushed back - this is the one 'failure' that I actually feel pretty good about. I think it's for the best that this was delayed a little.
Hopes and Plans for March
1. Write 5 blog posts.
2. Reduce my time on social media (Goodreads) to 30 minutes a day. 'weeps'
3. Publish Keys to the Chains 4. Return to a regular writing schedule - 40,000 words in March or bust!! I'm just going to FORCE the words out! 5. Get back to my art. I'm working on some designs for the Zazzle 'store' I am hoping to open sometime in March or possibly April. 6. Join Homeschooled Authors.com 7. Plant morning glories.
8. Post two new songs to my Youtube Channel.
9. Beta read for my friend, Paul.
10. Beta read for my twin! Wahooo!!
11. CREATE A MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOKING NEWSLETTER BEFORE I KEEL OVER FROM SHAME!!!
12. GET OUT OF BED EARLIER!
So how was your January, my faithful followers? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!February 23, 2017
The Gif(t) of a Twin
Monkey: Me. Cat: Her.
There's no denying that being a twin is cool. "'Twin power' is the ultimate power in the universe!"
Well, not the ultimate - but it's powerful.
We see each other in our worst moments . . .
We always have a partner in crime . . .
We can make bigger and 'better' messes than other 'normal' people . . .
We're always there to build one another up . . .
Jobs are faster and more fun with two!
Nothing is safe from from our opinions . . .
We can always find something to do . . . even if it's nothing . . .
We pretty much do everything together . . .
We can 'jam' together . . .
We do NaNoWriMo together . . .
We can try out new exercise regimes . . .
Or challenge one another to try daring feats. . .
And of course, there's all those fun pranks you can play on one another . . .
Or on other people . . .
We can share lots of private twin jokes . . .
Even though we might fight a lot . . .
We're still friends.
In good times. .
. . . and not so good times . . .
We like a lot of the same things . . .
Though not everything . . .
We may be in the same universe . . . but we're worlds apart . . .
But no matter what . . .
we are always part of each other's hearts.
This post was put together with the assistance of my twin. 
Thanks, 'Surely'! I love you to the moon and back! February 17, 2017
He Made Me Laughing
Not long after I started blogging at Allison's Well, the little voice that has permanent residence at the back of my brain started to talk to me . . .
"Who do you think you are? You are so arrogant, you're so deceived! You couldn't find water if you were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! You don't have anything to offer, you couldn't refresh anybody with your pathetic blogging. . ."
And then the voice digressed even further, pointing out my failures, my sins, and reminded me of the fact that I am a general all-around loser.
I was having trouble ignoring this voice as some of its claims seemed quite valid. I felt like an imposter, a liar . . . worse, I felt like I was a fake Christian.
I see a lot of blog posts full of good advice, sage wisdom, uplifting messages....and I wondered in frustration what was the matter with me. . . . why my blog wasn't measuring up.
Finally, I asked myself the all important question. "Okay, this is Allison's Well. What do I have to offer, every day? What is 'a cup of water' that I pass out every day of my life?"
And the answer came. It's who I've been all along....the Holy Spirit just reminded me of it.
Last year, my family and I went on a Christmas vacation; and while we were in our hotel, we switched on the TV and started watching an old B&W movie.
The movie started out funny, but it started getting more and more dark and depressing. I nearly got up and left several times but something made me keep watching. The plot was as follows.
Sullivan is a popular young Hollywood director who makes profitable, but shallow comedies. He tells his boss, that he wants his next project to be a serious movie. He wants to "know trouble" first-hand, and plans to travel as a tramp so he can return and make a film that truly depicts the sorrows of humanity. Sullivan dresses as a hobo and takes to the road. Complications ensue and Sullivan gets into more trouble than he bargained for, ultimately winding up in a labor camp for a crime he didn’t commit. The labor camp is inhuman, with horrible conditions and cruel overseers. But while he is in the labor camp, Sullivan attends a showing of a Walt Disney's Pluto cartoon. Suddenly, all these hardened, beleaguered prisoners—who have very little left to live for—start laughing hysterically. Sullivan tries to resist, wrapped up in his troubles, but finds himself swept up in the hilarity of the cartoon and the contagious laughter of the men around him. Looking at the pure joy in the audience's faces, Sullivan realizes that humor can do more good for the poor than his proposed social drama. At the end of the movie, he returns to Hollywood exonerated, and ends the movie with this statement. “There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.”
As the credits rolled, everything fell into place in my mind. I do have something to share, and I’ve been sharing it probably every day of my life. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been making the people around me laugh.
Recently, I came down with a severe cold and completely lost my ‘bounce’, and my voice.
Things were pretty quiet around here. After about a week; I was able to start croaking out some words and had regained my usual perkiness. That first evening I could talk, I was back in form again; despite sounding like a bull frog. Five pairs of eyes were trained on me, my whole family started laughing and one by one; they all said in different ways: “Allison, we’re glad you’re ‘back’.”
Ever since I joined social media last fall, it seems like a day hasn’t gone by without someone saying: ‘Allison you’re so funny, Allison you make me laugh.’ I would sit at my computer and think. ‘Hmm, that’s interesting. I wasn’t really trying, I was just being myself.’
Taking credit for any of this would be as ridiculous as taking credit for this morning’s rainfall. God made some of us teachers, some of us engineers…and some of us clowns.
I’m willing to do just about anything to get my family to laugh; from dressing up in a Darth Vader costume and dancing around the house (yes, I did do this—and was rewarded a Star Wars coin by my amused siblings and voted most amusing Imperial in the Galaxy) or singing ‘In The Good Old Summertime’ in a Donald Duck voice. I’ve always been ready to pull out the stops to make the people I love laugh; they need it; and I need it.
Am I crazy? Maybe a little – but I’d rather be this kind of crazy, than the world’s normal. There are plenty of times to grieve and mourn and plenty of times to be serious. The times of laughter are rare; and I think we should take advantage of every opportunity to share laughter.
A few weeks ago, I received some tragic news and in truth, I was devastated. As an emotional person, I can sink into deep depression, and when I received this news, my normally upbeat personality leaked out of me like a burst balloon. That evening, I turned on social media very briefly and saw a friend’s comment that was prime picking for a particularly funny gif that I had saved to my computer.
I hesitated. I had an opportunity to dispense a laugh, but I didn’t feel like it, I felt it would somehow be disrespectful to laugh, to make a joke (especially a half-hearted one) in lieu of the news I had received.
I had a choice, just ignore the opportunity, walk away and keep on wallowing in sorrow – or laugh.
I posted the gif, and it did made my friends laugh. I couldn’t manage a laugh at that point, but some of the heaviness lifted. Laughing is how I fight sadness.
A clown just can’t throw in their big red nose when life gets hard, they were meant to entertain, to refresh people with laughter – a clown’s job is to forget about themselves, and think about someone else’s happiness.
And laughter is infectious. Laughter is a medicine that doesn’t just help one person, it spreads like wildfire. Why is that?
The poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox said in her poem ‘Solitude’: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.”
I was thinking about this quote, wondering why it was so accurate. I believe the Holy Spirit answered me. Tears are a thing of the world; laughter is a sign of eternity.
The Bible tell us that there will be no more tears in heaven—and whether a person has read the Bible or not, God has set eternity in the hearts of men—and all people, at all times, are looking for the things of eternity--
though not always in the right way.
Everyone wants redemption—some look for it from God, others look for it in ‘works’. Everyone wants love; some look for it from God, others try to fulfill the need with cheap substitutes. Everyone wants fulfillment; some look for it in God; others try to find it in relationships, work and hobbies. Everyone wants security; some look for it in God, others look for it in financial investments. The list goes on and on. Every single human being on the planet is looking for eternity and despite all the world’s propaganda, it is drawn to the signs of eternity. The Devil has attacked the gift of laughter and the need for laughter by convincing people that cruelty or crudity or excessive sarcasm are a form of hilarity; but despite his propaganda, the fact remains that people seek laughter; not tears. The only kind of tears humans actively seek are the tears of happiness, the tears that express something our laughter can’t.
There are moments during laughter when we start crying; we’re literally laughing so hard that we have tears running down our face. And then there are moments when we’re laughing and weeping for joy. But . . . there won’t be any tears in heaven. What this suggests to me, is that there is some kind of emotion—some kind of depth to joy and hilarity—that we can’t even put into words, or even fully experience in this world; and tears are merely a safety valve; a way to express something we are not capable of fully feeling in our earthly bodies. I think the phrase ‘burst with happiness’, really might be viable. If it wasn’t for the safety valve of tears, we might not be able to cope with the incredible emotions of laughter and joy.
But in heaven, that safety valve will be turned off; and something new will be opened; I’m certain of it.
What will laughter be like in Heaven? Will laughter actually be visible? If so, what will it look like? Will it look like a golden cloud? Or will it be like pixie dust, radiating off one person and then sparkling away to touch someone else?
What will laughter feel like? There is a feeling in the pit of my being when I’m laughing with my family; a peace, a jubilation—I’m full, and yet something is missing—there’s some kind of ache I can’t identify. It’s like the whisper of a song I can’t remember, or tasting something I can’t eat. It’s lovely; but it’s only a reflection, a shadow. There is still something unfilled in my laughter, some facet of it that I can only glimpse, but not yet touch.
What will laughter sound like in Heaven? I imagine that all laughter would be contagious there. If one person laughs in Heaven, will the laugh travel the length and breadth of Heaven in a wave of hilarity? If that were true; then laughter would never end, it would be a song always on repeat, one long, endless laugh.
I have a daydream about Heaven; in my mind I am standing before the Lord, He has already claimed me as His own, forgiven me, wiped away my tears, and welcomed me to Heaven. My first day in eternity is stretching out before me, one amazing and glorious venture, but first, He draws me into his arms – just Him and me – and tells me that I have something to learn to help me in the new life He has prepared for me . . . and then, as we sit together, He’ll teach me how to laugh for the first time.
I have no idea what this would be like, or even if this day dream is even valid, my finite human imagination fails me at this point . . . but the image fills me with joy, as I imagine sitting with my Father and enjoying the holy gift of laughter, and sharing in all the pleasures of joy with Him for eternity.
And I think that is why laughter is so sought after . . . laughter is eternal. It’s a sign of what the world desperately seeks, without even knowing what they are looking for.
I’m not always laughing. Being a very emotional person, I have a tendency to be ‘higher than a kite, or lower than a skunk’; there was one very dark time several years ago when I was really struggling and I thought I had actually lost my ability to laugh; as well as my faith.
But thank God, He preserved my faith and pulled me through that fire and he gave me back my laughter twofold. Because of His miraculous grace and sanctification, I find myself spending more and more time hanging onto that high-flying kite, instead of dithering around on the ground.
I was lost in legalism – and then God came in and did what no one else could – He changed my heart; and my laugh escaped once again.
I don’t want to return to the way I was; I don’t want to return to that self-imposed prison. I’ve been let out of the dark, and I want to keep dancing in the light.
God has grown my faith by leaps and bounds, He has restored the years the locusts have eaten, He has given me Himself. I gave up myself to receive these gifts; and once I gave up myself, He gave my true nature back to me; the Allison that laughs, the Allison that dances for happiness. I am more like who I was truly meant to be now than I was two years ago. God’s plan is to strip away more of the illusions, more of the facades, until finally one day, I will lose this earthly shell and truly finally be Me – the real Allison, finally, at long last, reunited with the one I love.
A little while ago I published my first book, accomplishing a dream that I have nurtured for about a decade. My instant thought was: “Oh, I’m going to have to be more professional and dignified now; I’m a published author, I have to cultivate a professional persona. I can’t keep clowning around and posting idiotic gifs all over the place.”
I actually considered this course of action…for a single afternoon; then I dismissed it.
The fact is, I can’t be more ‘dignified’. I can’t do what God made me to do if I’m worrying about my image. And even if I wanted to stop, I couldn’t; He made me laughing . . . and I just can’t stop.
My happiness is such that it pops out in ways that look like foolishness to the world – Donald Duck imitations, stupid gifs, or dancing around the room in a Darth Vader costume. Most of the world will laugh at that sort of thing –mostly they would laugh at me, than laugh with me –they would see the fool, without seeing why I’m so foolishly happy.
But I don’t care what people think of me. God has given me living water. He refreshes me daily with laughter; I can rest in the joy of His peace. Laughter is too rare a thing to hoard. I’m not waiting for people to come to my well with their buckets; I’m running around with my own bucket slinging water in all directions. It’s who He made me to be, and it’s who I want to be.
He made me laughing.
Then . . .
Now . . .
Someday I’ll finally escape this ‘cockeyed caravan’ and be with my Father in Heaven - I’ll be going to school, and I will be learning attending all kinds of cool classes. I’ll be learning how to laugh and in that place, laughter will always be new; and it will be new forever.
God has set eternity in the Hearts of men . . . so keep laughing; it’s a sign of eternity.
Psalm 126:2-3 Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said, “The LORD has done spectacular things for them.” The LORD has done spectacular things for us. We are overjoyed.
"Who do you think you are? You are so arrogant, you're so deceived! You couldn't find water if you were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! You don't have anything to offer, you couldn't refresh anybody with your pathetic blogging. . ."
And then the voice digressed even further, pointing out my failures, my sins, and reminded me of the fact that I am a general all-around loser.
I was having trouble ignoring this voice as some of its claims seemed quite valid. I felt like an imposter, a liar . . . worse, I felt like I was a fake Christian.
I see a lot of blog posts full of good advice, sage wisdom, uplifting messages....and I wondered in frustration what was the matter with me. . . . why my blog wasn't measuring up.
Finally, I asked myself the all important question. "Okay, this is Allison's Well. What do I have to offer, every day? What is 'a cup of water' that I pass out every day of my life?"
And the answer came. It's who I've been all along....the Holy Spirit just reminded me of it.
Last year, my family and I went on a Christmas vacation; and while we were in our hotel, we switched on the TV and started watching an old B&W movie.
The movie started out funny, but it started getting more and more dark and depressing. I nearly got up and left several times but something made me keep watching. The plot was as follows.
Sullivan is a popular young Hollywood director who makes profitable, but shallow comedies. He tells his boss, that he wants his next project to be a serious movie. He wants to "know trouble" first-hand, and plans to travel as a tramp so he can return and make a film that truly depicts the sorrows of humanity. Sullivan dresses as a hobo and takes to the road. Complications ensue and Sullivan gets into more trouble than he bargained for, ultimately winding up in a labor camp for a crime he didn’t commit. The labor camp is inhuman, with horrible conditions and cruel overseers. But while he is in the labor camp, Sullivan attends a showing of a Walt Disney's Pluto cartoon. Suddenly, all these hardened, beleaguered prisoners—who have very little left to live for—start laughing hysterically. Sullivan tries to resist, wrapped up in his troubles, but finds himself swept up in the hilarity of the cartoon and the contagious laughter of the men around him. Looking at the pure joy in the audience's faces, Sullivan realizes that humor can do more good for the poor than his proposed social drama. At the end of the movie, he returns to Hollywood exonerated, and ends the movie with this statement. “There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.”
As the credits rolled, everything fell into place in my mind. I do have something to share, and I’ve been sharing it probably every day of my life. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been making the people around me laugh.
Recently, I came down with a severe cold and completely lost my ‘bounce’, and my voice.
Things were pretty quiet around here. After about a week; I was able to start croaking out some words and had regained my usual perkiness. That first evening I could talk, I was back in form again; despite sounding like a bull frog. Five pairs of eyes were trained on me, my whole family started laughing and one by one; they all said in different ways: “Allison, we’re glad you’re ‘back’.”
Ever since I joined social media last fall, it seems like a day hasn’t gone by without someone saying: ‘Allison you’re so funny, Allison you make me laugh.’ I would sit at my computer and think. ‘Hmm, that’s interesting. I wasn’t really trying, I was just being myself.’
Taking credit for any of this would be as ridiculous as taking credit for this morning’s rainfall. God made some of us teachers, some of us engineers…and some of us clowns.
I’m willing to do just about anything to get my family to laugh; from dressing up in a Darth Vader costume and dancing around the house (yes, I did do this—and was rewarded a Star Wars coin by my amused siblings and voted most amusing Imperial in the Galaxy) or singing ‘In The Good Old Summertime’ in a Donald Duck voice. I’ve always been ready to pull out the stops to make the people I love laugh; they need it; and I need it.
Am I crazy? Maybe a little – but I’d rather be this kind of crazy, than the world’s normal. There are plenty of times to grieve and mourn and plenty of times to be serious. The times of laughter are rare; and I think we should take advantage of every opportunity to share laughter.
A few weeks ago, I received some tragic news and in truth, I was devastated. As an emotional person, I can sink into deep depression, and when I received this news, my normally upbeat personality leaked out of me like a burst balloon. That evening, I turned on social media very briefly and saw a friend’s comment that was prime picking for a particularly funny gif that I had saved to my computer.
I hesitated. I had an opportunity to dispense a laugh, but I didn’t feel like it, I felt it would somehow be disrespectful to laugh, to make a joke (especially a half-hearted one) in lieu of the news I had received.
I had a choice, just ignore the opportunity, walk away and keep on wallowing in sorrow – or laugh.
I posted the gif, and it did made my friends laugh. I couldn’t manage a laugh at that point, but some of the heaviness lifted. Laughing is how I fight sadness.
A clown just can’t throw in their big red nose when life gets hard, they were meant to entertain, to refresh people with laughter – a clown’s job is to forget about themselves, and think about someone else’s happiness.
And laughter is infectious. Laughter is a medicine that doesn’t just help one person, it spreads like wildfire. Why is that?
The poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox said in her poem ‘Solitude’: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.”
I was thinking about this quote, wondering why it was so accurate. I believe the Holy Spirit answered me. Tears are a thing of the world; laughter is a sign of eternity.
The Bible tell us that there will be no more tears in heaven—and whether a person has read the Bible or not, God has set eternity in the hearts of men—and all people, at all times, are looking for the things of eternity--
though not always in the right way.
Everyone wants redemption—some look for it from God, others look for it in ‘works’. Everyone wants love; some look for it from God, others try to fulfill the need with cheap substitutes. Everyone wants fulfillment; some look for it in God; others try to find it in relationships, work and hobbies. Everyone wants security; some look for it in God, others look for it in financial investments. The list goes on and on. Every single human being on the planet is looking for eternity and despite all the world’s propaganda, it is drawn to the signs of eternity. The Devil has attacked the gift of laughter and the need for laughter by convincing people that cruelty or crudity or excessive sarcasm are a form of hilarity; but despite his propaganda, the fact remains that people seek laughter; not tears. The only kind of tears humans actively seek are the tears of happiness, the tears that express something our laughter can’t.
There are moments during laughter when we start crying; we’re literally laughing so hard that we have tears running down our face. And then there are moments when we’re laughing and weeping for joy. But . . . there won’t be any tears in heaven. What this suggests to me, is that there is some kind of emotion—some kind of depth to joy and hilarity—that we can’t even put into words, or even fully experience in this world; and tears are merely a safety valve; a way to express something we are not capable of fully feeling in our earthly bodies. I think the phrase ‘burst with happiness’, really might be viable. If it wasn’t for the safety valve of tears, we might not be able to cope with the incredible emotions of laughter and joy.
But in heaven, that safety valve will be turned off; and something new will be opened; I’m certain of it.
What will laughter be like in Heaven? Will laughter actually be visible? If so, what will it look like? Will it look like a golden cloud? Or will it be like pixie dust, radiating off one person and then sparkling away to touch someone else?
What will laughter feel like? There is a feeling in the pit of my being when I’m laughing with my family; a peace, a jubilation—I’m full, and yet something is missing—there’s some kind of ache I can’t identify. It’s like the whisper of a song I can’t remember, or tasting something I can’t eat. It’s lovely; but it’s only a reflection, a shadow. There is still something unfilled in my laughter, some facet of it that I can only glimpse, but not yet touch.
What will laughter sound like in Heaven? I imagine that all laughter would be contagious there. If one person laughs in Heaven, will the laugh travel the length and breadth of Heaven in a wave of hilarity? If that were true; then laughter would never end, it would be a song always on repeat, one long, endless laugh.
I have a daydream about Heaven; in my mind I am standing before the Lord, He has already claimed me as His own, forgiven me, wiped away my tears, and welcomed me to Heaven. My first day in eternity is stretching out before me, one amazing and glorious venture, but first, He draws me into his arms – just Him and me – and tells me that I have something to learn to help me in the new life He has prepared for me . . . and then, as we sit together, He’ll teach me how to laugh for the first time.
I have no idea what this would be like, or even if this day dream is even valid, my finite human imagination fails me at this point . . . but the image fills me with joy, as I imagine sitting with my Father and enjoying the holy gift of laughter, and sharing in all the pleasures of joy with Him for eternity.
And I think that is why laughter is so sought after . . . laughter is eternal. It’s a sign of what the world desperately seeks, without even knowing what they are looking for.
I’m not always laughing. Being a very emotional person, I have a tendency to be ‘higher than a kite, or lower than a skunk’; there was one very dark time several years ago when I was really struggling and I thought I had actually lost my ability to laugh; as well as my faith.
But thank God, He preserved my faith and pulled me through that fire and he gave me back my laughter twofold. Because of His miraculous grace and sanctification, I find myself spending more and more time hanging onto that high-flying kite, instead of dithering around on the ground.
I was lost in legalism – and then God came in and did what no one else could – He changed my heart; and my laugh escaped once again.
I don’t want to return to the way I was; I don’t want to return to that self-imposed prison. I’ve been let out of the dark, and I want to keep dancing in the light.
God has grown my faith by leaps and bounds, He has restored the years the locusts have eaten, He has given me Himself. I gave up myself to receive these gifts; and once I gave up myself, He gave my true nature back to me; the Allison that laughs, the Allison that dances for happiness. I am more like who I was truly meant to be now than I was two years ago. God’s plan is to strip away more of the illusions, more of the facades, until finally one day, I will lose this earthly shell and truly finally be Me – the real Allison, finally, at long last, reunited with the one I love.
A little while ago I published my first book, accomplishing a dream that I have nurtured for about a decade. My instant thought was: “Oh, I’m going to have to be more professional and dignified now; I’m a published author, I have to cultivate a professional persona. I can’t keep clowning around and posting idiotic gifs all over the place.”
I actually considered this course of action…for a single afternoon; then I dismissed it.
The fact is, I can’t be more ‘dignified’. I can’t do what God made me to do if I’m worrying about my image. And even if I wanted to stop, I couldn’t; He made me laughing . . . and I just can’t stop.
My happiness is such that it pops out in ways that look like foolishness to the world – Donald Duck imitations, stupid gifs, or dancing around the room in a Darth Vader costume. Most of the world will laugh at that sort of thing –mostly they would laugh at me, than laugh with me –they would see the fool, without seeing why I’m so foolishly happy.
But I don’t care what people think of me. God has given me living water. He refreshes me daily with laughter; I can rest in the joy of His peace. Laughter is too rare a thing to hoard. I’m not waiting for people to come to my well with their buckets; I’m running around with my own bucket slinging water in all directions. It’s who He made me to be, and it’s who I want to be.
He made me laughing.
Then . . . Now . . .Someday I’ll finally escape this ‘cockeyed caravan’ and be with my Father in Heaven - I’ll be going to school, and I will be learning attending all kinds of cool classes. I’ll be learning how to laugh and in that place, laughter will always be new; and it will be new forever.
God has set eternity in the Hearts of men . . . so keep laughing; it’s a sign of eternity.
Psalm 126:2-3 Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said, “The LORD has done spectacular things for them.” The LORD has done spectacular things for us. We are overjoyed.
January 30, 2017
January In A Nutshell
Ah, January - I had so many grand plans for you! What a beautiful, lovely, schedule I had worked up! I was raring to go, and then - of course - the unexpected happened, and life threw an obstacle my way.
I got sick...for the first week and a half of January I did little else but blow my nose and read. I was eventually able to appreciate some of the humor of the situation. I had been quite puffed up and proud of myself, thinking about everything I was going to get done in 2017 and then, right off the bat, I was sent one of life's banana peels. It was appropriate for such an impatient person to be reminded on New Years Day that I do not control what happens in my life, God is the one who makes people's plans succeed. It was little more than a tap on the shoulder, a friendly reminder; and hopefully the lesson will stick.
Snow day! If we get snow, it's usually in January - and we weren't disappointed this year! Unfortunately, I was sick so I couldn't go out. I desperately wanted to round up my siblings (and some air soft rifles) and re-enact the battle of Hoth, or just make dozens of snow angels and roll around in the snow like a puppy, but - unfortunately - I was forced to restrain myself.
Another book haul. I went ballistic AGAIN and bought far more books than I could afford to buy. It wasn't enough that I had to buy $130.00 worth of books in December, I spent another $80.00 in January. Hey, at least I'm cutting back...maybe by April I will actually be staying within the confines of my monthly book fund - $10.00.
Maybe
.
I'm particularly excited about this lovely edition of 'The Art of War'....I am head over heels for this gorgeous cover and book design. It's definitely the kind of book that I just want to hold and stroke....
In honor of my twin's 'Bean Day' (she found the bean in the cake during our Epiphany celebration) we went to an Australian bakery and I got to sample some genuine Australian dishes. The bakery appeared to be run and staffed by two Australian gentleman so I assume they didn't change anything for American palates and served us accurate fare.
To be honest, the only thing I liked was the Anzac 'biscuits' - which were delicious - and the candy I picked up at the checkout - Chewits. This candy is from the UK, so I'm not sure I can count that, but the black currant flavor is definitely unusual for American palettes - I loved it!
And then of course, we have that adorable little 'Monster Muncher' on the front of the package! Isn't he cute?
Afterwards, we did some window shopping and I dragged my siblings into a toy store....HAPPINESS! Definitely a dream job. There was all kinds of wonderful toys and products to....ahem...test (had to make sure the stuffed animals were soft, had to ensure that all the sounds on interactive toys were loud enough, had to verify that the balls were bouncy). They even had children's music playing the whole time.....The Nutcracker Suite, 'Following the Leader' from Disney's Peter Pan.... I could have happily spent hours in that store. Though it wasn't much larger than a master suite, it had a lot of 'magic' packed into it. Who knew they had COLORED bubbles? They even had Squishables! Yes, I want one of these; and if anyone can think of a good name for a stuffed cupcake, I would love to hear about it in the comments!
Afterwards, we went to the local park. There ARE some advantages to being short....I still fit on all the kiddie stuff!
Swinging is my favorite outdoor activity, though I can guarantee that I was the only person on that swing set wearing a dress, knee boots, silk scarf and sunglasses... I may be weird, but I can at least be stylish about it.
Also made the interesting discovery that I can chew gum and swing at the same time; until I spat my gun out at my brother - he was throwing sticks at me and trying to pull my scarf off while I was swinging - he didn't believe my warnings that I would spit my gum out at him if he didn't stop. He knows better now...
My siblings and I played yet ANOTHER round in our endless Star Wars campaign....I played the Empire again....and was voted 'Most Entertaining Imperial Ever'.... Hey, I don't just perform and goof off for you guys...I've had years of practice with my family.
I beta read three stories for three different friends. I had such a wonderful time joining the ranks of beta-reads. I learned so much from this experience and it was a blast to be able to help - and learn from - my fellow writers.
Wrote my very first short story, 'The Key to the Chains'. I had no idea that I was even capable of writing a short story (I usually write massive tomes) and it was nice to have such a manageable story on my hands - for once. I am very excited about this story and have high hopes for it. 'The Key to the Chains' will be available on Amazon in mid February - also hopefully.
My beta-readers grew from 1 to 4: You know who you are - thank you so much for reading my stories and polishing them till they sparkle! You guys are AMAZING!!!
After setting the goal of reading 64 books in 2017 - I read 31 books - IN A MONTH! I FINISHED ALMOST HALF OF MY READING CHALLENGE IN A SINGLE MONTH. I also completed several other special reading challenges. Am I bragging? Yes - but I promise, it will just be this one paragraph and this one gif and then I won't mention it again.
I READ 31 BOOKS IN JANUARY!
I reached 9 subscribers on my YouTube channel and 14 subscribers on my blog: Interestingly enough, I got three new people on the blog and my YouTube channel since December. I got a kick out of the fact that both of them received identical 'growth'.
And now.... What I DIDN'T get done in January - but meant to.
1. Create a more professional looking newsletter. No, I didn't. I'm sorry! I'm really frustrated by the amount of 'tech', that I am having to learn lately....
2. Due to minor insomnia, I am not getting up at the earlier hour that I had planned....or would like/need to.
3. I was supposed to write the second draft of my NaNo mess and edit it. Eeeh....Nope - it didn't happen.
4. Returning to my exercise 'regime'. Uh...no.... I was too busy with 'work'.
And I think I'll stop there, before this gets depressing....
- Hopes and Plans for February -
1. I have decided to move from eight blog posts a month - to five. I simply cannot keep up with my regular writing and maintain such an intense blogging schedule. I tried it and failed; all I did was push my stress levels from 'bearable' to 'maximum'.
2. For all those wonderful people on Goodreads...I am not going to be spending quite as much time with you as I was in January. This month was a blast, but the axe will fall in February. It's back to work, I've got to cut back on some of the chitchat and show some social media restrain...at least as much restrain as a social creature such as myself is capable of having.
3. Publish the Reluctant Godfather. Because of personal reasons, I set off the publication of TRG till February first.
4. Publish 'The Key to the Chains' on Amazon.
5. Return to writing schedule - ideally 2,000 words a day.
6. Get back to my art. I'm working on some designs for the Zazzle 'store' I am hoping to open something in February or possibly March.
7. Get interviewed on 'Out of the Ordinary'. My friend, Kate Willis has graciously invited me to an interview and I am so excited about it!
8. Join Homeschooled Authors. This has been a dream for a long, long time. I can't wait!
9. Read. I've got a lot of books that I cannot wait to start....wait for me books! I'm coming!
So how was your January, dear readers? I would love to hear about it in the comments!
I got sick...for the first week and a half of January I did little else but blow my nose and read. I was eventually able to appreciate some of the humor of the situation. I had been quite puffed up and proud of myself, thinking about everything I was going to get done in 2017 and then, right off the bat, I was sent one of life's banana peels. It was appropriate for such an impatient person to be reminded on New Years Day that I do not control what happens in my life, God is the one who makes people's plans succeed. It was little more than a tap on the shoulder, a friendly reminder; and hopefully the lesson will stick. Snow day! If we get snow, it's usually in January - and we weren't disappointed this year! Unfortunately, I was sick so I couldn't go out. I desperately wanted to round up my siblings (and some air soft rifles) and re-enact the battle of Hoth, or just make dozens of snow angels and roll around in the snow like a puppy, but - unfortunately - I was forced to restrain myself. Another book haul. I went ballistic AGAIN and bought far more books than I could afford to buy. It wasn't enough that I had to buy $130.00 worth of books in December, I spent another $80.00 in January. Hey, at least I'm cutting back...maybe by April I will actually be staying within the confines of my monthly book fund - $10.00.
Maybe
. I'm particularly excited about this lovely edition of 'The Art of War'....I am head over heels for this gorgeous cover and book design. It's definitely the kind of book that I just want to hold and stroke....In honor of my twin's 'Bean Day' (she found the bean in the cake during our Epiphany celebration) we went to an Australian bakery and I got to sample some genuine Australian dishes. The bakery appeared to be run and staffed by two Australian gentleman so I assume they didn't change anything for American palates and served us accurate fare.
To be honest, the only thing I liked was the Anzac 'biscuits' - which were delicious - and the candy I picked up at the checkout - Chewits. This candy is from the UK, so I'm not sure I can count that, but the black currant flavor is definitely unusual for American palettes - I loved it!
And then of course, we have that adorable little 'Monster Muncher' on the front of the package! Isn't he cute? Afterwards, we did some window shopping and I dragged my siblings into a toy store....HAPPINESS! Definitely a dream job. There was all kinds of wonderful toys and products to....ahem...test (had to make sure the stuffed animals were soft, had to ensure that all the sounds on interactive toys were loud enough, had to verify that the balls were bouncy). They even had children's music playing the whole time.....The Nutcracker Suite, 'Following the Leader' from Disney's Peter Pan.... I could have happily spent hours in that store. Though it wasn't much larger than a master suite, it had a lot of 'magic' packed into it. Who knew they had COLORED bubbles? They even had Squishables! Yes, I want one of these; and if anyone can think of a good name for a stuffed cupcake, I would love to hear about it in the comments!
Afterwards, we went to the local park. There ARE some advantages to being short....I still fit on all the kiddie stuff! Swinging is my favorite outdoor activity, though I can guarantee that I was the only person on that swing set wearing a dress, knee boots, silk scarf and sunglasses... I may be weird, but I can at least be stylish about it. Also made the interesting discovery that I can chew gum and swing at the same time; until I spat my gun out at my brother - he was throwing sticks at me and trying to pull my scarf off while I was swinging - he didn't believe my warnings that I would spit my gum out at him if he didn't stop. He knows better now...
My siblings and I played yet ANOTHER round in our endless Star Wars campaign....I played the Empire again....and was voted 'Most Entertaining Imperial Ever'.... Hey, I don't just perform and goof off for you guys...I've had years of practice with my family. I beta read three stories for three different friends. I had such a wonderful time joining the ranks of beta-reads. I learned so much from this experience and it was a blast to be able to help - and learn from - my fellow writers.
Wrote my very first short story, 'The Key to the Chains'. I had no idea that I was even capable of writing a short story (I usually write massive tomes) and it was nice to have such a manageable story on my hands - for once. I am very excited about this story and have high hopes for it. 'The Key to the Chains' will be available on Amazon in mid February - also hopefully.
My beta-readers grew from 1 to 4: You know who you are - thank you so much for reading my stories and polishing them till they sparkle! You guys are AMAZING!!!
After setting the goal of reading 64 books in 2017 - I read 31 books - IN A MONTH! I FINISHED ALMOST HALF OF MY READING CHALLENGE IN A SINGLE MONTH. I also completed several other special reading challenges. Am I bragging? Yes - but I promise, it will just be this one paragraph and this one gif and then I won't mention it again.
I READ 31 BOOKS IN JANUARY!
I reached 9 subscribers on my YouTube channel and 14 subscribers on my blog: Interestingly enough, I got three new people on the blog and my YouTube channel since December. I got a kick out of the fact that both of them received identical 'growth'.And now.... What I DIDN'T get done in January - but meant to.
1. Create a more professional looking newsletter. No, I didn't. I'm sorry! I'm really frustrated by the amount of 'tech', that I am having to learn lately....
2. Due to minor insomnia, I am not getting up at the earlier hour that I had planned....or would like/need to. 3. I was supposed to write the second draft of my NaNo mess and edit it. Eeeh....Nope - it didn't happen. 4. Returning to my exercise 'regime'. Uh...no.... I was too busy with 'work'. And I think I'll stop there, before this gets depressing....- Hopes and Plans for February -
1. I have decided to move from eight blog posts a month - to five. I simply cannot keep up with my regular writing and maintain such an intense blogging schedule. I tried it and failed; all I did was push my stress levels from 'bearable' to 'maximum'.
2. For all those wonderful people on Goodreads...I am not going to be spending quite as much time with you as I was in January. This month was a blast, but the axe will fall in February. It's back to work, I've got to cut back on some of the chitchat and show some social media restrain...at least as much restrain as a social creature such as myself is capable of having.
3. Publish the Reluctant Godfather. Because of personal reasons, I set off the publication of TRG till February first.
4. Publish 'The Key to the Chains' on Amazon.
5. Return to writing schedule - ideally 2,000 words a day.
6. Get back to my art. I'm working on some designs for the Zazzle 'store' I am hoping to open something in February or possibly March. 7. Get interviewed on 'Out of the Ordinary'. My friend, Kate Willis has graciously invited me to an interview and I am so excited about it!
8. Join Homeschooled Authors. This has been a dream for a long, long time. I can't wait!
9. Read. I've got a lot of books that I cannot wait to start....wait for me books! I'm coming!
So how was your January, dear readers? I would love to hear about it in the comments!
January 27, 2017
My Favorite Reads of January
Due to an unforeseen sickness, I read a LOT more than I usually do in a single month. Admittedly, I read a lot of short stories and children's books, but I NEARLY read a book for every day of the month!
I wish that I could do this EVERY month; but I can't. My writing and the rest of my schedule have been out the window this month and starting in February, it's back to work - the 682 books on my 'to read' shelf will simply have to take a deep breathe, and wait patiently until I have a chance to listen to their frantic pleas for me to pick them up. But enough chit chat - on to the books!
It seems like I have read this story a hundred times before, but somehow, Perry Elizabeth Kirkpatrick made it fresh. Mia is a charming narrator. Making Mia write instead of talk was a stroke of genius. Her relationship with all the human characters are funny and believable. Mia herself is so believable I found my own dislike for cats melting away. By the time I reached the end of the book, it left you convinced that you would never be able to look at a cat the same way again. I used to enjoy these humorous stories about intelligent animals - but there are very few exceptional stories written about this subject. The Case of the Tabloid Tattler has a fun, bright quality that made it stand out from the pack, it got me excited about animal stories again. I could happily give this book to a child without reservations and that quality firmly secures my five star rating.
This is one of the best children's picture books I have read in a long time. This book is such a masterpiece, it transcends its genre and its age group. My entire family - including my Dad - flipped through the pages of this beautiful book. The artwork is truly lovely, every shadow in this tiny little world is deliberate. The nuanced detailing is astonishing. I found myself completely immersed in the Mouse's dreams and struggles. The artwork touches me in the same way poignant words might move me....there is a beauty and richness to Torben Kulhman's work that is rarely seen and I am delighted to see such quality reading material available for children. Aside from the artwork, the story itself is charming and the translation spot on. This would be a wonderful way for children to learn about the Space Race....who knows....if this book had been written twenty years ago....I might be more interested in science!
This is not the kind of book you buy second hand. You need a perfect, pristine version of this, it needs a cherished spot on the shelf....and it needs someone to thumb it to death as they lovingly read it over and over again. 'Armstrong: Mouse to the Moon' would be the perfect gift; it is a treasure.
I had quite a few preconceived ideas about this book that made me struggle through this book when I first picked it up. The pacing was a little slow and my preconceived notions so solid, that I got about two thirds through this book and then set it aside for about a year. I finally picked it up again...and realized that I had stopped just at the good part. The end finale alone caused me to give the book another star - we have guns, knives, fist fights, falls, thrills - someone is even zapped by lightening - all culminating into one satisfying explosion. This certainly wasn't a boring read.
As I read further, I was also able to appreciate some of the backstory that I had been reading before. One reveal literally brought tears to my eyes as the authoress capped off a satisfactory read with the perfect note of happiness.
Now that I'm 'over' all those preconceived notions I had mysteriously gathered, I'm able to gain some perspective on this book and really enjoy its uniqueness. I am definitely buying a copy and planning on reading it all the way through with fresher and more appreciative eyes. I have never read diesel-punk before, and I think I'll be glad - I certainly will never forget - that Storming was my first foray into the genre.
Content: The following description sounds incredibly graphic, but the references I am about to list are either restrained / editable. This is a fairly intense book and it's not for everyone....but I thought the fun adventure and great world building balanced out any of the content.
Some romantic moments involving, kissing, holding, feelings/thoughts. Quite a bit of violence near the end including torture, stabbing, shooting. One rather sad/upsetting death that a small child witnesses. The little boy has been traumatized because a moment of carelessness nearly resulted in the death of his little sister, thus he won't speak. The little boy is frightened/terrorized throughout the end finale. The MC was separated from his wife (she died afterwards). There are some themes of vengeance.
Aside from Narnia - I studiously avoid 'portal fantasy'. To me, it's a Catch-22 situation. You don't want the character to leave Earth and all their family behind and yet you certainly don't want them to stop having fun in this incredible parallel world. Whether they stay or return, there doesn't seem to be any satisfactory ending....one way or another, the reader is sure to be distraught and dissatisfied.
But Sharon Hinck disproved all my presuppositions. First of all, she started with the brilliant idea that the lesson that Susan needed to learn was in her world, her heart was firmly in her world, it was her emotions that had to be sorted out in the parallel world. Then, making it a family affair helped immensely, having you-know-who, actually from you-know-where turned the whole scenario upside down, inside out and placed the whole story into a shiny, new concept that had me utterly captivated.
On top of that, Hinck's rich writing, incredible world building, powerful allegories and believable characters are just like a double shot of sweetener in a story that felt like a warm drink of cocoa....warming me consistently from the first sip down to the very dregs. I literally could not put this book down, but stayed up to the wee hours to soak in this beautiful world and the message of hope.
Content: Some intense/frightening moments. Torture scenes. Very brief scene involving the main character and her husband (not graphic/specific).
And there you have it!
If you decide to try one, or all, of the books above - I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
I wish that I could do this EVERY month; but I can't. My writing and the rest of my schedule have been out the window this month and starting in February, it's back to work - the 682 books on my 'to read' shelf will simply have to take a deep breathe, and wait patiently until I have a chance to listen to their frantic pleas for me to pick them up. But enough chit chat - on to the books!
It seems like I have read this story a hundred times before, but somehow, Perry Elizabeth Kirkpatrick made it fresh. Mia is a charming narrator. Making Mia write instead of talk was a stroke of genius. Her relationship with all the human characters are funny and believable. Mia herself is so believable I found my own dislike for cats melting away. By the time I reached the end of the book, it left you convinced that you would never be able to look at a cat the same way again. I used to enjoy these humorous stories about intelligent animals - but there are very few exceptional stories written about this subject. The Case of the Tabloid Tattler has a fun, bright quality that made it stand out from the pack, it got me excited about animal stories again. I could happily give this book to a child without reservations and that quality firmly secures my five star rating. This is one of the best children's picture books I have read in a long time. This book is such a masterpiece, it transcends its genre and its age group. My entire family - including my Dad - flipped through the pages of this beautiful book. The artwork is truly lovely, every shadow in this tiny little world is deliberate. The nuanced detailing is astonishing. I found myself completely immersed in the Mouse's dreams and struggles. The artwork touches me in the same way poignant words might move me....there is a beauty and richness to Torben Kulhman's work that is rarely seen and I am delighted to see such quality reading material available for children. Aside from the artwork, the story itself is charming and the translation spot on. This would be a wonderful way for children to learn about the Space Race....who knows....if this book had been written twenty years ago....I might be more interested in science! This is not the kind of book you buy second hand. You need a perfect, pristine version of this, it needs a cherished spot on the shelf....and it needs someone to thumb it to death as they lovingly read it over and over again. 'Armstrong: Mouse to the Moon' would be the perfect gift; it is a treasure.
I had quite a few preconceived ideas about this book that made me struggle through this book when I first picked it up. The pacing was a little slow and my preconceived notions so solid, that I got about two thirds through this book and then set it aside for about a year. I finally picked it up again...and realized that I had stopped just at the good part. The end finale alone caused me to give the book another star - we have guns, knives, fist fights, falls, thrills - someone is even zapped by lightening - all culminating into one satisfying explosion. This certainly wasn't a boring read. As I read further, I was also able to appreciate some of the backstory that I had been reading before. One reveal literally brought tears to my eyes as the authoress capped off a satisfactory read with the perfect note of happiness.
Now that I'm 'over' all those preconceived notions I had mysteriously gathered, I'm able to gain some perspective on this book and really enjoy its uniqueness. I am definitely buying a copy and planning on reading it all the way through with fresher and more appreciative eyes. I have never read diesel-punk before, and I think I'll be glad - I certainly will never forget - that Storming was my first foray into the genre.
Content: The following description sounds incredibly graphic, but the references I am about to list are either restrained / editable. This is a fairly intense book and it's not for everyone....but I thought the fun adventure and great world building balanced out any of the content.
Some romantic moments involving, kissing, holding, feelings/thoughts. Quite a bit of violence near the end including torture, stabbing, shooting. One rather sad/upsetting death that a small child witnesses. The little boy has been traumatized because a moment of carelessness nearly resulted in the death of his little sister, thus he won't speak. The little boy is frightened/terrorized throughout the end finale. The MC was separated from his wife (she died afterwards). There are some themes of vengeance.
Aside from Narnia - I studiously avoid 'portal fantasy'. To me, it's a Catch-22 situation. You don't want the character to leave Earth and all their family behind and yet you certainly don't want them to stop having fun in this incredible parallel world. Whether they stay or return, there doesn't seem to be any satisfactory ending....one way or another, the reader is sure to be distraught and dissatisfied. But Sharon Hinck disproved all my presuppositions. First of all, she started with the brilliant idea that the lesson that Susan needed to learn was in her world, her heart was firmly in her world, it was her emotions that had to be sorted out in the parallel world. Then, making it a family affair helped immensely, having you-know-who, actually from you-know-where turned the whole scenario upside down, inside out and placed the whole story into a shiny, new concept that had me utterly captivated.
On top of that, Hinck's rich writing, incredible world building, powerful allegories and believable characters are just like a double shot of sweetener in a story that felt like a warm drink of cocoa....warming me consistently from the first sip down to the very dregs. I literally could not put this book down, but stayed up to the wee hours to soak in this beautiful world and the message of hope.
Content: Some intense/frightening moments. Torture scenes. Very brief scene involving the main character and her husband (not graphic/specific).
And there you have it!
If you decide to try one, or all, of the books above - I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
January 21, 2017
Tag - You're It!
Thank you Shantelle Hannu – I was at my wits end trying to find inspiration for a new post, not to mention I was struggling with finding the time to write one.
But thanks to Shantelle’s post 'The Ten Random Questions Tag' in which she graciously extended the tag invitation to anyone that read her post, I was able to put together this quick post – AND tag OTHER bloggers for the first TIME EVER! Yay!
So without further ado – The answers to 10 Random Questions....I'm sure you're dying to hear them....
1. What is something you loved to do when you were little?
I loved to play ‘Story Keepers’ when I was little. The Story Keepers was a children’s animated series about the persecuted Church in Rome during Nero’s reign. It used to be my favorite thing to watch.
When my Dad would light a bonfire…my twin and I would run around it, pretending that we were persecuted Christians trying to escape the fires of Rome. My sisters and I would climb into an empty refrigerator box, stand it upright and pretend that we had been imprisoned for our faith. Then we would ‘break out’ by rocking the box back and forth and sending it toppling to the ground – which was painful but also lots of fun. This memory sounds a little irreverent now that I know more about how the persecuted Church suffers…but I am grateful that I was raised with this seed of knowledge, that there is something in life worth fighting for. Even at that age, I admired the passion and commitment of the characters in the Story Keepers and wanted to fashion my life after them.
2. If you had to change your first name, what would it be?
This was a tough one... I love the name 'Amelia' and would really like to have the nickname 'Mia'.
3. If you had to dye your hair an unnatural color for one week, what color would it be?
Well…I WOULDN’T dye my hair an unnatural color…ever…but if somebody had a gun to my head….I guess I would dye it….a really, really dark purple. Or maybe white. But I wouldn’t be happy about having to dye it!
4. What book are you reading at the moment?
I am currently reading about 10 books simultaneously...but the only one I will mention here is Eats, Shoots, and Leaves:: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss:
I never thought I would find a book about punctuation so fascinating, but I am really enjoying this book. From the witty dedication onward, Lynne Truss has completely pulled me in to the microscopic world of little squiggles and dots that tell us how to read the stories we love. I had no idea that punctuation is so stylistic, I had always thought it followed strict rules – like math. This book has really got me excited about words again, enjoying words for the sake of enjoying them…. Words are my craft and Lynne Truss is causing me to be fascinated with them all over again.
5). What era would you enjoy dressing up in?
I already dress in a lot of 1940s / 1950s styles…they’re my favorite way to dress. I love the blend of femininity, style and practicality. I also like select styles from the 1960s. The turn of the century styles were lovely (such as the costumes in Anne of Green Gables)….the Civil War styles would be lots of fun too. I think the 1770s styles are wonderful…but I would want to wear the men’s clothes – which of course, wouldn’t be proper or historically accurate.
6. How many siblings do you have?
I have three siblings…an older brother, an older sister and an older twin. But she’s only older by about fifteen minutes…so that doesn’t really count.
7). What's your favorite type of dance?
This was the toughest question yet, in fact, I find it impossible to answer with only one favorite, as I pretty much love every kind of dance. Does free-form count? ‘grins’.
I really like ‘retro’ dances. I also enjoy dancing to some select Latin music. Square Dancing is a blast too...I would love to do it more often.
8. What's your favorite restaurant?
Panera Bread! I am crazy about their menu and I really love the atmosphere; a unique blend of casual refinement….Panera Bread is a thinking person’s restaurant, a place for good conversation and quiet reflection. They are one of the few restaurants I can think of that play classical music or very soft traditional jazz…which just further proves how classy they are.
I wish I could eat my weight in these de- licious bear claws....
9. What version of the Bible do you read?
The NIV (New International Version).
10). What's one hope for 2017?
My one hope would be that Christians across our nation would stop looking at God’s will with suspicion…that they would recognize that His ways are not our ways….and that what we might think of as bad things – are really His blessings being showered down on us. My hope would be for nationwide clarity and revelation; that Christians would recognize the goodness of the Father.
And now to tagging!
I tag....
Blessing Counter @ Counting Your Blessings One By One.
Jonathan Trout @ Fishing for ideas.
Mary Horton @ Sunshine and Scribblings.
Paul Willis @ Project Blank Page.
Kate Willis @ Once Upon an Ordinary.
Kellyn Roth @ Reveries.
Lydia Howe @ Noveltea
Victoria @ Ruffles and Grace.
Jane Maree @ Maiden of the Misty Mountains.
Tracey Dyck @ Adventure Awaits.
Questions
1) What is something you loved to do when you were little?
2) If you had to change your first name, what would it be?
3) What era would you enjoy dressing up in?
4) What's your favorite type of dance?
5) What's your favorite restaurant?
6.) What is the best compliment you ever received?
7) What was the weirdest / funniest prank you have ever pulled on someone?
8). What are some things that you do that help you calm down when you’re stressed?
9) What is one strange thing that you are afraid of?
10) What's one hope for 2017?
Guidelines for anyone that wishes to create a post as a result of this tag:Use the header! Use any old title you want...just answer the questions and mention yours truly! 'beams'Answer the questions. (Forgive me for repeating myself...but I like to repeat myself).Take five of the questions you answered and make up five more for the people that you tagged to answerTag as many people as you wish!
Whew....thank goodness that's over with...I'm going to go eat a tasty snack.
But thanks to Shantelle’s post 'The Ten Random Questions Tag' in which she graciously extended the tag invitation to anyone that read her post, I was able to put together this quick post – AND tag OTHER bloggers for the first TIME EVER! Yay!
So without further ado – The answers to 10 Random Questions....I'm sure you're dying to hear them....
1. What is something you loved to do when you were little?
I loved to play ‘Story Keepers’ when I was little. The Story Keepers was a children’s animated series about the persecuted Church in Rome during Nero’s reign. It used to be my favorite thing to watch.
When my Dad would light a bonfire…my twin and I would run around it, pretending that we were persecuted Christians trying to escape the fires of Rome. My sisters and I would climb into an empty refrigerator box, stand it upright and pretend that we had been imprisoned for our faith. Then we would ‘break out’ by rocking the box back and forth and sending it toppling to the ground – which was painful but also lots of fun. This memory sounds a little irreverent now that I know more about how the persecuted Church suffers…but I am grateful that I was raised with this seed of knowledge, that there is something in life worth fighting for. Even at that age, I admired the passion and commitment of the characters in the Story Keepers and wanted to fashion my life after them. 2. If you had to change your first name, what would it be?
This was a tough one... I love the name 'Amelia' and would really like to have the nickname 'Mia'.
3. If you had to dye your hair an unnatural color for one week, what color would it be?
Well…I WOULDN’T dye my hair an unnatural color…ever…but if somebody had a gun to my head….I guess I would dye it….a really, really dark purple. Or maybe white. But I wouldn’t be happy about having to dye it!
4. What book are you reading at the moment?
I am currently reading about 10 books simultaneously...but the only one I will mention here is Eats, Shoots, and Leaves:: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss:
I never thought I would find a book about punctuation so fascinating, but I am really enjoying this book. From the witty dedication onward, Lynne Truss has completely pulled me in to the microscopic world of little squiggles and dots that tell us how to read the stories we love. I had no idea that punctuation is so stylistic, I had always thought it followed strict rules – like math. This book has really got me excited about words again, enjoying words for the sake of enjoying them…. Words are my craft and Lynne Truss is causing me to be fascinated with them all over again. 5). What era would you enjoy dressing up in?
I already dress in a lot of 1940s / 1950s styles…they’re my favorite way to dress. I love the blend of femininity, style and practicality. I also like select styles from the 1960s. The turn of the century styles were lovely (such as the costumes in Anne of Green Gables)….the Civil War styles would be lots of fun too. I think the 1770s styles are wonderful…but I would want to wear the men’s clothes – which of course, wouldn’t be proper or historically accurate.
6. How many siblings do you have?
I have three siblings…an older brother, an older sister and an older twin. But she’s only older by about fifteen minutes…so that doesn’t really count.
7). What's your favorite type of dance?
This was the toughest question yet, in fact, I find it impossible to answer with only one favorite, as I pretty much love every kind of dance. Does free-form count? ‘grins’.
I really like ‘retro’ dances. I also enjoy dancing to some select Latin music. Square Dancing is a blast too...I would love to do it more often. 8. What's your favorite restaurant?
Panera Bread! I am crazy about their menu and I really love the atmosphere; a unique blend of casual refinement….Panera Bread is a thinking person’s restaurant, a place for good conversation and quiet reflection. They are one of the few restaurants I can think of that play classical music or very soft traditional jazz…which just further proves how classy they are.
I wish I could eat my weight in these de- licious bear claws....
9. What version of the Bible do you read?
The NIV (New International Version).
10). What's one hope for 2017?
My one hope would be that Christians across our nation would stop looking at God’s will with suspicion…that they would recognize that His ways are not our ways….and that what we might think of as bad things – are really His blessings being showered down on us. My hope would be for nationwide clarity and revelation; that Christians would recognize the goodness of the Father.
And now to tagging!
I tag....
Blessing Counter @ Counting Your Blessings One By One.
Jonathan Trout @ Fishing for ideas.
Mary Horton @ Sunshine and Scribblings.
Paul Willis @ Project Blank Page.
Kate Willis @ Once Upon an Ordinary.
Kellyn Roth @ Reveries.
Lydia Howe @ Noveltea
Victoria @ Ruffles and Grace.
Jane Maree @ Maiden of the Misty Mountains.
Tracey Dyck @ Adventure Awaits.
Questions
1) What is something you loved to do when you were little?
2) If you had to change your first name, what would it be?
3) What era would you enjoy dressing up in?
4) What's your favorite type of dance?
5) What's your favorite restaurant?
6.) What is the best compliment you ever received?
7) What was the weirdest / funniest prank you have ever pulled on someone?
8). What are some things that you do that help you calm down when you’re stressed?
9) What is one strange thing that you are afraid of?
10) What's one hope for 2017?
Guidelines for anyone that wishes to create a post as a result of this tag:Use the header! Use any old title you want...just answer the questions and mention yours truly! 'beams'Answer the questions. (Forgive me for repeating myself...but I like to repeat myself).Take five of the questions you answered and make up five more for the people that you tagged to answerTag as many people as you wish!
Whew....thank goodness that's over with...I'm going to go eat a tasty snack.
December 30, 2016
Bubbly Grape Juice, Good Intentions and God's Will
2016 is almost over!
It's that time of year again! Time for all those well meaning but utterly insane resolutions that are probably induced by drinking too much bubby grape juice.
So allow me to provide my list of insane goals...in no particular order....
Create A Better Newsletter For My Blog: The one I sent out this month was....really awful. 'hangs head in shame'. But I was only planning on sending out out a newsletter once a month and I just found out to do a professional newsletter with Weebly it will cost me $10.00 every month! It would be nice if i could just spend money like that....
So, the jury is still out on how I will solve the newsletter problem, any advice from my readers would be greatly appreciated it! Once I publish The Reluctant Godfather and get those thousands of new followers (right)...I will probably have to break down and go the professional (and overpriced) route.
Publish My Book: God willing, my novella 'the Reluctant Godfather' should be 'hitting the shelves' sometime in January!
Ramp Up My Exercising: This is something I really need to do, as a way to deal with my every burgeoning stress levels (can't imagine why I should be stressed). I still desperately want that kickboxing unit, but I'm afraid I'll hurt myself. I'll probably just stick with my 10,000 steps a day and add in some dancing (I love dancing) and stair steps.
Read More Books: And more books and more books and more books and...
Participate in the Rooglewood Press Contest: I have a theory that it's either going to be Snow White or Little Mermaid next. I personally hope that it will be Snow White.
Do NaNoWriMo Again: Only NEXT TIME, I will be more prepared!
Beta Read Again: This is definitely time consuming, but so fun and gratifying! Job Training: Big learning curve ahead....
Get 10 Followers On My Youtube Channel and 20 Followers on my Blog: I currently have 6 followers on my Youtube channel and 11 followers on my blog....how I will get more, I have no clue.
Publish At Least Two More Stories: I really wanted to say ten, but even I know my limits... Start Drawing and Painting Again: I miss my art!
Create an Etsy Store: I would love to start putting some of my art on various products.
Finish my Voice Demo: I was supposed to have finished this in December...'hangs head'
Finish The Second Draft Of My Science Fiction Novel: 'cracks knuckles'
Memorize Some Scriptures: At one point I wanted to memorize Psalm 119...that would definitely take some doing.. I did have a large part of it memorized but now I'll have to refresh my memory.
Get Out Of Bed Earlier: Well, how else did you think I was going to get all this done? Besides, I just love to get up early in the morning. 'eye roll'
And most importantly of all....I want remember that sometimes life and all its vagaries interfere with the best laid plans. Most of all, if God wants me someplace else, or He wants me to switch gears at any time during 2017, I want to be quick to obey Him. I don't want to be so hung up on my goals and schedule that i forget about the One who enables me to do all things.
That nasty little voice that we all have in our heads is now saying something like this: 'You don't really mean that! We both know that you're a prideful, sinful little wretch that won't give a hoot about what God wants but will go on doing what YOU want to do....
Another other voice says something like this: 'I really, DO want to be quick to obey God's will....but I HAVE to meet these goals....I'm in my mid twenties, life is passing me by, I've got to start accomplishing things. God won't really ask me to give up my goals, will He? What if He does?
Doubtless you are all familiar with these nasty little voices...they like to keep up a running commentary in my head during every moment of consciousness....sometimes even in my sleep.
I would like to make a public announcement to all those voices in my head.
Response to voice number one. ALL RIGHT! I'm a loser, I'm a failure as a human being....that's no big news. As my pastor would say 'welcome to the human race'. The point is, I am new in Christ and I am a victor in Him. My Father sees me covered in the blood of Christ...He knows I fail. Only He knows my heart and only He can change it. I ask him daily to do this, so I need to put my trust in Him and move on as best as I can.
Response to voice number two. God gave me my writing, my art, my singing voice....He MADE me love these things....why would an engineer tell his design to stop doing what he created it to do? That wouldn't make sense. No; what My Father wants is for me to NOT LOVE THESE THINGS (or my schedule) MORE THAN HIM. I pray with all my heart that I will keep Jesus first in my life and that my heart will be inclined to Him above all things.
Lastly, when I start to get depressed thinking that I haven't gotten anything done and never will, I recount to myself all that I got accomplished in 2016.
1. Got online and started a Pinterest, Facebook, Goodreads, Gmail and Goodreads Account.
2. Started a blog.
3. Met some amazing and wonderful friends online.
4. Got to Beta-Read for the first time.
5. Got to go travel and see new things (Tellus Science Museum and Williamsburg, VA to name a few).
6. Got some sewing and quilting projects done (yes, I quilt).
8. Finished first draft of my novel.
9. Participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time.
10. Prepped my novella for publication and shared it with someone OUTSIDE OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS. Massive breakthrough, there.
11. Took more singing lessons.
12. Recorded two songs in a professional sound booth.
13. Graduated from the 2nd time with Merit from London Art College, completing my course in cartooning.
14. Participated for the third time in LAC's art competition....and learned what rejection is all about for the third time.
15. Completed some home decorating projects. i.e. repainting furniture.
16. And most importantly of all....I grew in the Lord. Those dumb voices in my head tell me that I'm still as messed up as I was at the beginning of 2016....but they are wrong...I have grown in my relationship wtih Jesus...some of it I see, and some of the work has been done in secret places. Much of my journey will remain a secret between HIm and me, but suffice it to say....He is amazing, He is good....God Is Love and he has a message for me and for all his children for 2017.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3
You will make known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11
May the beauty of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17
Happy New Year everyone!
It's that time of year again! Time for all those well meaning but utterly insane resolutions that are probably induced by drinking too much bubby grape juice. So allow me to provide my list of insane goals...in no particular order....
Create A Better Newsletter For My Blog: The one I sent out this month was....really awful. 'hangs head in shame'. But I was only planning on sending out out a newsletter once a month and I just found out to do a professional newsletter with Weebly it will cost me $10.00 every month! It would be nice if i could just spend money like that....
So, the jury is still out on how I will solve the newsletter problem, any advice from my readers would be greatly appreciated it! Once I publish The Reluctant Godfather and get those thousands of new followers (right)...I will probably have to break down and go the professional (and overpriced) route. Publish My Book: God willing, my novella 'the Reluctant Godfather' should be 'hitting the shelves' sometime in January!
Ramp Up My Exercising: This is something I really need to do, as a way to deal with my every burgeoning stress levels (can't imagine why I should be stressed). I still desperately want that kickboxing unit, but I'm afraid I'll hurt myself. I'll probably just stick with my 10,000 steps a day and add in some dancing (I love dancing) and stair steps.
Read More Books: And more books and more books and more books and...Participate in the Rooglewood Press Contest: I have a theory that it's either going to be Snow White or Little Mermaid next. I personally hope that it will be Snow White.
Do NaNoWriMo Again: Only NEXT TIME, I will be more prepared!
Beta Read Again: This is definitely time consuming, but so fun and gratifying! Job Training: Big learning curve ahead....Get 10 Followers On My Youtube Channel and 20 Followers on my Blog: I currently have 6 followers on my Youtube channel and 11 followers on my blog....how I will get more, I have no clue.
Publish At Least Two More Stories: I really wanted to say ten, but even I know my limits... Start Drawing and Painting Again: I miss my art! Create an Etsy Store: I would love to start putting some of my art on various products. Finish my Voice Demo: I was supposed to have finished this in December...'hangs head'
Finish The Second Draft Of My Science Fiction Novel: 'cracks knuckles'
Memorize Some Scriptures: At one point I wanted to memorize Psalm 119...that would definitely take some doing.. I did have a large part of it memorized but now I'll have to refresh my memory. Get Out Of Bed Earlier: Well, how else did you think I was going to get all this done? Besides, I just love to get up early in the morning. 'eye roll'
And most importantly of all....I want remember that sometimes life and all its vagaries interfere with the best laid plans. Most of all, if God wants me someplace else, or He wants me to switch gears at any time during 2017, I want to be quick to obey Him. I don't want to be so hung up on my goals and schedule that i forget about the One who enables me to do all things. That nasty little voice that we all have in our heads is now saying something like this: 'You don't really mean that! We both know that you're a prideful, sinful little wretch that won't give a hoot about what God wants but will go on doing what YOU want to do....
Another other voice says something like this: 'I really, DO want to be quick to obey God's will....but I HAVE to meet these goals....I'm in my mid twenties, life is passing me by, I've got to start accomplishing things. God won't really ask me to give up my goals, will He? What if He does?
Doubtless you are all familiar with these nasty little voices...they like to keep up a running commentary in my head during every moment of consciousness....sometimes even in my sleep.
I would like to make a public announcement to all those voices in my head.
Response to voice number one. ALL RIGHT! I'm a loser, I'm a failure as a human being....that's no big news. As my pastor would say 'welcome to the human race'. The point is, I am new in Christ and I am a victor in Him. My Father sees me covered in the blood of Christ...He knows I fail. Only He knows my heart and only He can change it. I ask him daily to do this, so I need to put my trust in Him and move on as best as I can. Response to voice number two. God gave me my writing, my art, my singing voice....He MADE me love these things....why would an engineer tell his design to stop doing what he created it to do? That wouldn't make sense. No; what My Father wants is for me to NOT LOVE THESE THINGS (or my schedule) MORE THAN HIM. I pray with all my heart that I will keep Jesus first in my life and that my heart will be inclined to Him above all things.
Lastly, when I start to get depressed thinking that I haven't gotten anything done and never will, I recount to myself all that I got accomplished in 2016.
1. Got online and started a Pinterest, Facebook, Goodreads, Gmail and Goodreads Account.
2. Started a blog.
3. Met some amazing and wonderful friends online.
4. Got to Beta-Read for the first time.
5. Got to go travel and see new things (Tellus Science Museum and Williamsburg, VA to name a few).
6. Got some sewing and quilting projects done (yes, I quilt).
8. Finished first draft of my novel.
9. Participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time.
10. Prepped my novella for publication and shared it with someone OUTSIDE OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS. Massive breakthrough, there.
11. Took more singing lessons.
12. Recorded two songs in a professional sound booth.
13. Graduated from the 2nd time with Merit from London Art College, completing my course in cartooning.
14. Participated for the third time in LAC's art competition....and learned what rejection is all about for the third time.
15. Completed some home decorating projects. i.e. repainting furniture.
16. And most importantly of all....I grew in the Lord. Those dumb voices in my head tell me that I'm still as messed up as I was at the beginning of 2016....but they are wrong...I have grown in my relationship wtih Jesus...some of it I see, and some of the work has been done in secret places. Much of my journey will remain a secret between HIm and me, but suffice it to say....He is amazing, He is good....God Is Love and he has a message for me and for all his children for 2017.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3
You will make known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11
May the beauty of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17
Happy New Year everyone!
December 29, 2016
December In A Nutshell
I can't believe December is over already....
A lot has happened for me in the last 31 days...allow me to recap...
1. At the very last minute, my family decided to take a vacation. Yup, we like to do these things by the seat of our pants. Now that we’re a family of adults, we have found that what we really want is a chance to rest from our busy schedules. We all love to travel but because of our work, the only time we can get away is around Christmas. This is the third year in a row that we've chucked trees, decorations and cookies in favor of the open road. Last week, we jumped in the car and tootled away, feeling deliciously naughty at being able to fly in the face of the typical Christmas traditions.
Me and my family leaving the office.
There is something delightful about strolling down a street in full vacation mode while watching the rest of the populace frantically prepare for Xmas; its as if you've discovered a wonderful secret they know nothing about. This must be how master criminals feel when they pull off the perfect crime.
And in case you guys are wondering were we went for our vacation (hopefully somebody is wondering)...we chose Williamsburg, VA as our destination. I hope to share several posts and lots of pictures about our trip...but for now, here is a sneak preview. On Christmas Eve I ate jelly bellies and watched cannons being fired....what a perfect holiday! 2. Celebrated Christmas Day on December 17th, yet another good reason to go on vacation during Christmas break...you get to open all your presents early! I didn't have to wait as long as the rest of you! Muahwaaha!
Being a new blogger I have no idea if it's tacky and infantile to say what you got for Christmas; I'll take a chance and mention just one gift...because it is so wonderfully bookish. and I'm going to talk more about books in a minute.
My sister and brother got me a pair of bookends! Allow me to introduce Pomp and Circumstance...they love to read! My brother wanted me to call them 'Plump' and Circumstance!
3. After my recent scare in discovering that my local libraries are getting ride of their books, I went on a book buying binge and bought $130 dollars worth of used books. Could I really afford that kind of crazed impulse shopping? Absolutely not....but it had to be done! There were books out there that were counting on me to save them!
Sorry for the crummy picture... I make no claims of being a photographer! I
loooove
books! I want to roll in books the way I would roll in snow, I want to swim in a swimming pool piled with books. I want to sleep in a nest made of books. Ahem....I'd better stop before I lose all control.
4. As a Christmas gift to myself, I ordered an original watercolor painting and handmade cards from my good friend, Sarah Grace. Amazingly, the package arrived on December 17th (Christmas Day Observed for my family). I felt like I was getting an Xmas gift from my friend! I just hugged it and smiled! I was impressed with the lovely attention to detail with the packaging and wrapping and very touched by Sarah Grace's personalized message.
See how pretty they are? I can't wait to hang the watercolor in my sewing area. I'm going to frame one of the note cards as well. The other two note cards I am going to save for a Mother's Day gift for my Mom...who also admires Sarah Grace's work.
You can check out Sarah Grace's lovely Etsy Store here.
5. After nearly two years of waiting, I finally got to read the spoilers for Star Wars Rogue One to determine whether or not I wanted to watch it.
My reaction to reading the ending for Star Wars Rogue One.
And....I'd better stop....'screams in rage and frustration, pounds keyboard with fists'....HOW COULD THEY DO THAT?! I didn't think they'd kill
EVERYONE!
'cries in disappointment' 6. I learned about the death of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. These women were more than just international icons...they were human beings and despite all their fame, they suffered through terrible personal lives. I keep thinking of the scripture: What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8:36. There is no turning back now. I hope with all my heart that Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds accepted Jesus as their Savior before passing into eternity. It grieves to think that two more souls might have been lost forever.
7. Got to Beta-Read a book for the first time! There is something kind of relaxing about editing a story that isn’t yours and I am honored and thrilled to be helping my good friend, Victoria edit her book, London In the Dark.
8. Shared my book, 'The Reluctant Godfather' with my lovely friends, Victoria and Sarah Grace. It was the first time I have ever shared any of writing with someone outside of my immediate family members. I was nervous, but I was also incredibly blessed by their interest and encouragement. I am looking forward to sharing my writing with even more people in the new year!
9. And lots of other good stuff. I got a little writing done, mostly editing. I sang, recorded some songs, read lots of books. I worked, ate, slept, exercised (some), unloaded the dishwasher....but I digress.
So how was your December? I would leave to hear in the comments!
A lot has happened for me in the last 31 days...allow me to recap...
1. At the very last minute, my family decided to take a vacation. Yup, we like to do these things by the seat of our pants. Now that we’re a family of adults, we have found that what we really want is a chance to rest from our busy schedules. We all love to travel but because of our work, the only time we can get away is around Christmas. This is the third year in a row that we've chucked trees, decorations and cookies in favor of the open road. Last week, we jumped in the car and tootled away, feeling deliciously naughty at being able to fly in the face of the typical Christmas traditions.
Me and my family leaving the office.There is something delightful about strolling down a street in full vacation mode while watching the rest of the populace frantically prepare for Xmas; its as if you've discovered a wonderful secret they know nothing about. This must be how master criminals feel when they pull off the perfect crime.
And in case you guys are wondering were we went for our vacation (hopefully somebody is wondering)...we chose Williamsburg, VA as our destination. I hope to share several posts and lots of pictures about our trip...but for now, here is a sneak preview. On Christmas Eve I ate jelly bellies and watched cannons being fired....what a perfect holiday! 2. Celebrated Christmas Day on December 17th, yet another good reason to go on vacation during Christmas break...you get to open all your presents early! I didn't have to wait as long as the rest of you! Muahwaaha! Being a new blogger I have no idea if it's tacky and infantile to say what you got for Christmas; I'll take a chance and mention just one gift...because it is so wonderfully bookish. and I'm going to talk more about books in a minute.
My sister and brother got me a pair of bookends! Allow me to introduce Pomp and Circumstance...they love to read! My brother wanted me to call them 'Plump' and Circumstance!
3. After my recent scare in discovering that my local libraries are getting ride of their books, I went on a book buying binge and bought $130 dollars worth of used books. Could I really afford that kind of crazed impulse shopping? Absolutely not....but it had to be done! There were books out there that were counting on me to save them!
Sorry for the crummy picture... I make no claims of being a photographer! I
loooove
books! I want to roll in books the way I would roll in snow, I want to swim in a swimming pool piled with books. I want to sleep in a nest made of books. Ahem....I'd better stop before I lose all control. 4. As a Christmas gift to myself, I ordered an original watercolor painting and handmade cards from my good friend, Sarah Grace. Amazingly, the package arrived on December 17th (Christmas Day Observed for my family). I felt like I was getting an Xmas gift from my friend! I just hugged it and smiled! I was impressed with the lovely attention to detail with the packaging and wrapping and very touched by Sarah Grace's personalized message.
See how pretty they are? I can't wait to hang the watercolor in my sewing area. I'm going to frame one of the note cards as well. The other two note cards I am going to save for a Mother's Day gift for my Mom...who also admires Sarah Grace's work. You can check out Sarah Grace's lovely Etsy Store here.
5. After nearly two years of waiting, I finally got to read the spoilers for Star Wars Rogue One to determine whether or not I wanted to watch it.
My reaction to reading the ending for Star Wars Rogue One.
And....I'd better stop....'screams in rage and frustration, pounds keyboard with fists'....HOW COULD THEY DO THAT?! I didn't think they'd kill
EVERYONE!
'cries in disappointment' 6. I learned about the death of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. These women were more than just international icons...they were human beings and despite all their fame, they suffered through terrible personal lives. I keep thinking of the scripture: What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8:36. There is no turning back now. I hope with all my heart that Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds accepted Jesus as their Savior before passing into eternity. It grieves to think that two more souls might have been lost forever.7. Got to Beta-Read a book for the first time! There is something kind of relaxing about editing a story that isn’t yours and I am honored and thrilled to be helping my good friend, Victoria edit her book, London In the Dark.
8. Shared my book, 'The Reluctant Godfather' with my lovely friends, Victoria and Sarah Grace. It was the first time I have ever shared any of writing with someone outside of my immediate family members. I was nervous, but I was also incredibly blessed by their interest and encouragement. I am looking forward to sharing my writing with even more people in the new year!
9. And lots of other good stuff. I got a little writing done, mostly editing. I sang, recorded some songs, read lots of books. I worked, ate, slept, exercised (some), unloaded the dishwasher....but I digress.
So how was your December? I would leave to hear in the comments!
December 20, 2016
What If He Comes Back For Xmas?
This year my family is not participating quite as much in the typical traditions of Christmas and I am thinking more about the real implications of this holiday, as some of the distractions are removed, allowing me to look at what Christmas really means with fresh eyes.
God could have just placed his hands over this sinful planet and said ‘Let it be wipped out, without mercy.’ We would have deserved that to happen to us. Instead, we got this. 'For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only begotten son, into the world, that whomsoever believeth in him will not die, but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16
It’s not an easy concept to grasp, I find myself accepting it quite glibly without thinking about the full ramifications of such a sacrifice. Life seems pretty good to us down here because we have no comparisons. We’re like children played in a play pen, rejoicing in our simplistic surroundings. But imagine if the person that made the play pen and toys suddenly climbs into the play pen with us. He becomes a child, stuck in that tiny play pen, playing with simplistic toys that are far less glorious then anything in his world. It’s downright embarrassing to contemplate what Jesus was really thinking while He was on earth. Even a brief perusual of the Gospels constantly reveals Jesus frustration with the men and women around him.
C.S. Lewis once likened Jesus coming to die for us to a human being sacrificing their life for a crab. It was a staggering and humbling analogy. Jesus sank down to a crab’s level, took on the sins of a colony of crabs, died for a colony of crabs, suffered in Hell for a colony of crabs…and remained Holy; the perfect sacrifice. ‘And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross! ' Philippians 2:8
At Christmas time, what we are really celebrating is Christ’s humility. He humbled himself to become a wailing babe that had to be fed and changed and taught. He had to learn to talk, to run, to work. I personally believe that Christ was particularly ‘advanced’ for a child and that these things came more easily to Him…but how humiliating that he had to do them at all. But He did do it. For me and for everyone that has ever lived and everyone that ever will live.
Sometimes I regret that I wasn’t living in the Holy Land while Jesus was here on Earth. I alternately long to have been able to seem him face to face, and tremble at how I might have reacted to Him...or failed Him.
I have never seen and never shall see Jesus the Man. Instead, I shall see something better. I shall see the Risen Son of God returning to Earth; not as a helpless child, but as a warrior and judge, as a rescuer coming to save his brothers and sisters.
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)
And this makes me think of how poetically beautiful it would be if he would return to us on Christmas Day.
When I was little, even when I was a teenager, I had difficulty looking forward to this event. I had—and still have—a pretty great life. I am happy here on Earth with my family, I didn’t want it to end. As I got older and as I prayed for the Lord to change my heart, my desires have begun to change.
I look around at this fallen world, see the horrible suffering, the loss, sorrow and sin and I find myself longing for his return so that he can put an end to this place and create it anew. As I see more and more of the perpetual wickedness of mankind, I comfort myself with the Lord’s coming judgment, knowing that these men and women will not go unpunished forever, that evil will not always go unchecked. He’s coming back, not as a child, or even as a man…but as the One seated at the Right Hand of the Most High. He will come with fire, with terror and with awe. And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. Revelation 19:11
This is an intimidating image, even if you are saved. But it helps me to think of it in the following way.
I’m a child, lost in a strange and unknown place, looking desperately for my father. I wander into a rough playground and am caught in a horrible thunderstorm. I’m surrounded by bullies, savage animals and every other imaginable plight. And then suddenly, my Big Brother shows up.
I actually have a very cool big brother who is always there to protect and defend me….I try imaging him on steroids, the best big brother to the power of….a million…and the image is enough to make you gape in admiration, how could I not love a brother so amazing, so perfect, so wonderful?
This Big Brother rushes onto the playground. Like a superhero, he’s faster and more handsome and stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen. He has special and amazing powers; his presence is accompanied by flashes of light, trumpeting music. He kills the animals that tried to hurt me, he seizes the bullies and sends them to my father to receive their just punishment, he stills the thunder storm, then he picks me up, brushes the mud and tears off of me and carries me back home to Daddy.
I’ve got a grin on my face just thinking about it.
In the meantime, here I am, waiting. I still enjoy my life…I’m looking forward to spending this Christmas with my family, participating in all the fun traditions we've have developed over the years. I love these things dearly; they are all great and wonderful gifts but His ways are not my ways…and just like I can never fully wrap my mind around my Father’s greatest gift—His son—I cannot fully comprehend what a magnificent Christmas present it would be if he came back to Earth this month, this week, this day…and brought us to our Father to celebrate Christmas in Heaven with Him.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)
God could have just placed his hands over this sinful planet and said ‘Let it be wipped out, without mercy.’ We would have deserved that to happen to us. Instead, we got this. 'For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only begotten son, into the world, that whomsoever believeth in him will not die, but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16
It’s not an easy concept to grasp, I find myself accepting it quite glibly without thinking about the full ramifications of such a sacrifice. Life seems pretty good to us down here because we have no comparisons. We’re like children played in a play pen, rejoicing in our simplistic surroundings. But imagine if the person that made the play pen and toys suddenly climbs into the play pen with us. He becomes a child, stuck in that tiny play pen, playing with simplistic toys that are far less glorious then anything in his world. It’s downright embarrassing to contemplate what Jesus was really thinking while He was on earth. Even a brief perusual of the Gospels constantly reveals Jesus frustration with the men and women around him.
C.S. Lewis once likened Jesus coming to die for us to a human being sacrificing their life for a crab. It was a staggering and humbling analogy. Jesus sank down to a crab’s level, took on the sins of a colony of crabs, died for a colony of crabs, suffered in Hell for a colony of crabs…and remained Holy; the perfect sacrifice. ‘And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross! ' Philippians 2:8
At Christmas time, what we are really celebrating is Christ’s humility. He humbled himself to become a wailing babe that had to be fed and changed and taught. He had to learn to talk, to run, to work. I personally believe that Christ was particularly ‘advanced’ for a child and that these things came more easily to Him…but how humiliating that he had to do them at all. But He did do it. For me and for everyone that has ever lived and everyone that ever will live.
Sometimes I regret that I wasn’t living in the Holy Land while Jesus was here on Earth. I alternately long to have been able to seem him face to face, and tremble at how I might have reacted to Him...or failed Him.
I have never seen and never shall see Jesus the Man. Instead, I shall see something better. I shall see the Risen Son of God returning to Earth; not as a helpless child, but as a warrior and judge, as a rescuer coming to save his brothers and sisters.
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)
And this makes me think of how poetically beautiful it would be if he would return to us on Christmas Day.
When I was little, even when I was a teenager, I had difficulty looking forward to this event. I had—and still have—a pretty great life. I am happy here on Earth with my family, I didn’t want it to end. As I got older and as I prayed for the Lord to change my heart, my desires have begun to change.
I look around at this fallen world, see the horrible suffering, the loss, sorrow and sin and I find myself longing for his return so that he can put an end to this place and create it anew. As I see more and more of the perpetual wickedness of mankind, I comfort myself with the Lord’s coming judgment, knowing that these men and women will not go unpunished forever, that evil will not always go unchecked. He’s coming back, not as a child, or even as a man…but as the One seated at the Right Hand of the Most High. He will come with fire, with terror and with awe. And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. Revelation 19:11
This is an intimidating image, even if you are saved. But it helps me to think of it in the following way.
I’m a child, lost in a strange and unknown place, looking desperately for my father. I wander into a rough playground and am caught in a horrible thunderstorm. I’m surrounded by bullies, savage animals and every other imaginable plight. And then suddenly, my Big Brother shows up.
I actually have a very cool big brother who is always there to protect and defend me….I try imaging him on steroids, the best big brother to the power of….a million…and the image is enough to make you gape in admiration, how could I not love a brother so amazing, so perfect, so wonderful?
This Big Brother rushes onto the playground. Like a superhero, he’s faster and more handsome and stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen. He has special and amazing powers; his presence is accompanied by flashes of light, trumpeting music. He kills the animals that tried to hurt me, he seizes the bullies and sends them to my father to receive their just punishment, he stills the thunder storm, then he picks me up, brushes the mud and tears off of me and carries me back home to Daddy.
I’ve got a grin on my face just thinking about it.
In the meantime, here I am, waiting. I still enjoy my life…I’m looking forward to spending this Christmas with my family, participating in all the fun traditions we've have developed over the years. I love these things dearly; they are all great and wonderful gifts but His ways are not my ways…and just like I can never fully wrap my mind around my Father’s greatest gift—His son—I cannot fully comprehend what a magnificent Christmas present it would be if he came back to Earth this month, this week, this day…and brought us to our Father to celebrate Christmas in Heaven with Him.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)
