Rachel Hauck's Blog, page 6

Cover Reveal for THE WEDDING CHAPEL

Drumroll please . . .



So . . . tell me what you think! Do you love it? Are you excited? I definitely am!

Share! And Enter To Win $200 Target Gift Card!

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The Wedding Chapel

So, last year, i was on vacation.

In Tennessee.

Driving from our cabin rental into town for a call with my publisher, Daisy, I drove past a lovely wedding chapel “in the glen.”

Hmm… Interesting.

As I talked with my publisher about what to write next, I tossed out the idea of “The Wedding Chapel.”

She loved it.

By the time I got back up to the cabin, she’d emailed that the whole team loved it.

Guess I was on to something.

Mind you I only had “The Wedding Chapel” and something about unrequited love as a plot.

I wrote the book in 2.5 months last fall.

It’s currently in line edits after a rewrite by me.

And next Wednesday, April 29h, the cover will be revealed on Goodreads!

If one adds the book to their shelf, then she will get a gander at the first two chapters!

Exciting.

Just wanted to let you all know in case you wanted in on the ground floor.

Here’s the link to Goodreads. http://goo.gl/f697Lj

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And The Winner Is…

Thanks to all who entered the How To Catch A Prince Giveaway.

I’m pleased to announce the winner of the How to Catch a Prince royal prize pack giveaway is Karen Chmieleski!

Congratulations!!! Let us know how you enjoy the prizes!

And The Winner Is…
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A Royal Giveaway!

In honor of How To Catch A Prince we’re doing a fantastic giveaway!

Check out the campaign page here!

 

 

 

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“You’re Not Crazy, You’re Super Menopausal Part 4″

Okay, I’m winding this up. Coming to the not-so-dramatic conclusion.

I’ve wondered about blogging my journey. It’s kind of personal topic.

But as I lay awake at night suffering with symptoms, surfing the web offered a bit of comfort.

I realized I was not indeed crazy. Nor suffering from some other malady. Reading of menopause symptoms helped.

Because I knew eventually the “change” would end.

That was the key! To know it would end.

A lot of the women I talked to seemed unfamiliar with my sort of journey.

“Hmm, weird! I think I had a few hot flashes.”

A few said “It’ll pass.” Which was hopeful.

But what I wanted to know was, “Did anything like this happen to you?”

Mostly no… Some couldn’t remember.

Then no, nothing like what happened to me happened to them.

I’ll move on but I won’t forget!

I found a few articles online that were helpful.

Yet no two journeys are the same.

In March I attended a book club and shared my journey with the group when talking about “the next book” and there were many bobbing heads.

It’s a wonder women don’t talk about it more.

Anyway, for all the talk of sisterhood-solidarity, my dear hubby was my most constant ally and friend.

He understood. Prayed with me and encouraged me.

After the Deep Thinkers Retreat I was way better.

No more night tremors. God healed me!

I wrote a novella in March and took some time to rest in April.

May was crazy busy and added a bit of stress. I had some sleepless night.

I learned melatonin wasn’t the perfect sleep aid.

Nor Unisom.

I love Proverbs 3:24. When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

God promises us sleep!

I’d pop an Advil PM from time to time but mostly just let my body settle and adjust.

I had a hankering for avocado and black beans.

I added Quinoa once in awhile but never became a fan.

Then I got my appetite back. Sad to say I gain 8 pounds.

But I was on rewrite deadlines and not exercising as much. I had to at last give How To Catch A Prince an ending!

I discovered Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk and Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream makes the most splendid chocolate shakes. Along with a dash of Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup.

To die for!

After dreading the business of May, which included a family vacation, a conference and a friend’s daughter’s wedding — all good things — but in my state just made me feel slightly overwhelmed, I came home jubilated.

I did it! I survived. I had some sleepless nights but haha!! I got on that plane and did what I committed to do.

God’s goodness shed on me!

Through the summer I continued to improve. Ups and downs, good days and so-so days.

But nothing like the beginning of the year.

I am on no meds. Prayer. Belief. Staying calm as I can seem to work.

So whatever your menopause journey, take heart.

The One who made you is familiar with your frame, with your journey.

Psalm 139: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

If you find yourself in a menopausal swirl, talk to God. Talk to your doctor.

Know that it really will pass. You’ll improve!

I’m post menopausal now. Adjusting still, on occasion. But so happy to be on the other side.

All is well!

You’re Not Crazy, You’re Super Menopausal Part 4
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Everyone Is Reading How To Catch A Prince, Are You?

Everyone is reading How To Catch A Prince, are you?
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Valentine’s Giveaway! Two days left!

 

 

 

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Ends Saturday night!

Two Days Left On The Valentine’s Giveaway
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What Does It Mean To Love Well?

 I took a walk around my neighborhood circle with my little dog about a year ago, thinking, praying.

Gotta burn a few brain cells to write a novel.

My book, How To Catch A Prince, was in the works and I’d not yet honed in on the spiritual theme.

My heroine, Corina, had a twin brother killed in Afghanistan and unfortunately, there was a shroud of secrecy about his death.

As I pondered her heart about his death five years later, this thought hit me.

“Did I love him well?”

My eyes teared up.

I thought of my brothers, especially my older brother. We’re the closest in age of all my siblings.

When we were kids, people thought we were twins.

“Have I loved him well?”

Suddenly, I knew that if he died, nothing would matter but my love for him.

Our childhood fist fights,

Our arguments,

Our debates,

Our teen and adult friendship,

Would not matter in light of me loving him well.

And even though we don’t see each other as much as we could given time and distance, we are connected.

I love him.

But am I’m loving him well?

I was so gripped by this concept I meditated on it for several days.

Do I love well? Have I loved well?

Starting with my current household, have I loved my husband well?

If he were taken to heaven tomorrow, would I find regrets on the field?

Things I should’ve done but didn’t.

Words I intended to say but never did.

Other than abuse, or abandonment emotionally or physically, is there anything to keep me from “loving well,” no matter what?

Even then, I can love well while taking care of myself, right?

We don’t have to hate.

I mean, we draw such thin and narrow lines on how we dole out our love.

“My husband never picks up around the house so I… you  know… can’t respect that… and he’s a jerk.”

Or…

“My husband spends all of his time fishing and yea, he invites me but I don’t want to go!”

Or…

“The kids think I’m their taxi service. Really irritates me and man, I can’t wait for them to graduate and leave.”

“My parents drive me crazy! They want to know everything about my life.”

Those little complaints, those small relationship hurdles that most of us face, push us away from love little-by-little as we embrace them.

They seed our heart. And flower into bitterness.

All the while we feel justified. And maybe, in some small way, we are.

But to not love well? Hmm…

Then we create imaginary comparisons.

“Jill’s husband is so great! He brings her flowers and they have a regular date night. My guy? Comes home every night and falls asleep in his chair.”

What we don’t know is the truth behind Jill and her man.

And that “love” from your husband is demonstrated by his nightly return home.

As opposed to hitting the golf course or the bar with his friends.

Again, I’m not talking about abuse or neglect or abandonment.

I know there are a lot of ministry-widows out there where their husbands are so involved in church or pursuing ministry they are left alone with the kids.

To all husbands, your first ministry is AT HOME! The Lord will ask, “Did you love your wife and children well?”

Same with your wives. Our first ministry is AT HOME!

(Kicking way the soap box now!)

Back to the question:

Do I love well?

I once heard the story of a man who died and stood before the Lord (documented true) and the Lord asked him, “Did you learn to love?”

The man was sent back to his body (however that works) with the notion to learn to love.

I was so impacted by this story when I first heard it and again when I mused on the theme of “loving well.”

Jesus loved well.

I don’t think his life and death on earth are up for debate.

He lived and died well… in love.

His whole purpose was love.

Mankind nailed Him on the Cross and He cried out to the Father for their/our forgiveness.

If that’s not love…

So how do I love well in the shadow of His light?

I’m called, we’re all called, to be like him!

For my character, who loved her brother very, very much, his death raised natural human doubt.

“Did he know how much I loved him?”

“Did I love him well?”

Memories surfaced of times when she should’ve loved him, paid attention to him, but was too distracted from her own life.

And she wondered…

Did he know how much I love him?

I looked deep in my own life and said, “There is NOTHING in my life that can keep me from loving well.”

And in Jesus, I can love well those who might not love me well.

Or when I think something is unbalanced or unfair.

I want to chose love over being irritated at the small things, at the things I can’t control. Even at the big things!

It’s so out of my human frame to love well, to demand my kind of justice.

But it is not out of God’s frame.

Jesus loved first! Then He will judge.

And when He returns again, He’ll bring justice. But no one can say He did not love.

The Royal Wedding Series Book 3 – Feb 2015
Zondervan

So let’s love well.

If you’re in a difficult situation or abusive one, seek the God of justice.

Seek counsel and help. Don’t stay where you are harmed emotionally or physically.

But love well in the midst of it.

What about taking things off the table that are just distractions?

If you’re hubby is not a romantic, take it off the table and learn to see his way of loving you!

Go fishing with him, even if you hate it, because you can love well in a boat or on the shore.

Love changes people.

It changes us.

And when you stand before the Lord and He asks, “Did you learn to love?”

You can say, “I gave it my all, Lord.”

Love well.

***

In honor of love and Valentine’s Day, some friends and I are giving away some books and prizes.

But you have to visit all the sites to pick up the clues for the winning sentence.

Visit each of the Valentine’s Giveaway blog stops and collect a word on each page that will add up to our ‘secret sentence’ on the final stop at Becky Wade’s.

Enter the sentence in the entry box you’ll be entered to win the side prize of jewelry and chocolate.

My secret word for the sentence is: WHO.

Here’s a list of the blogs in order:

. visit Dani Pettrey by clicking here

2. visit Rachel Hauck by clicking here

3. visit Lisa Wingate (you’re here now and my word is LOVES)

4. visit Katie Ganshert by clicking here

5. visit Susan May Warren by clicking here

6. visit Becky Wade by clicking he

 

Click on the Rafflecopter below to be entered. Read the instructions and exceptions, please!

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Loving well isn’t always easy. Six authors share their thoughts in this #lovewellgiveaway.
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***

Pre order How To Catch A Prince and download bonus material and be entered to win a Skype chat with me!

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 A glimpse the first chapter!

With each passing day, she remembered she had a secret. She’d lived in the fog of death until six months ago, when she crawled out, reaching for the first glimpse of life and light she’d encountered in five years. It came in the form of a simple telephone call. A refreshing-breeze offer.

But clearing the fog meant the memories surfaced. Ones she’d long since regarded as lost. Now they rattled around the empty corridors of her heart.

And recently, in the faintest ting or ping, like when elevator doors opened just outside her office, Corina remembered how she loved the glorious, rolling chimes of cathedral bells pealing through a crisp Cathedral City dawn.

And she ached. Deep in her soul. With a longing she couldn’t reach nor remove.

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“You’re Not Crazy, You’re Super Menopausal 3″

Originated with It’s Been A Year

Well, I turned in How To Catch A Prince unfinished, with the last hundred pages rough draft.

My publisher and editor offered peace and understanding, and when we had to make the decision to push the book out 3 months, I knew it was the right decision.

Even though it was a hard decision.

I felt too awful to feel like a failure.

Turning in a book, even the mess I’d created, usually comes with some relief.

Not this time.

But I tried to let it go, rest, heal.

My friend Joan came over for prayer nights.

The melancholy came in waves. I’d miss friends and family I’d not seen or talked to in years.

But I refrained from calling most of them because I didn’t trust my emotions.

I prayed. A lot.

I’d link up to the prayer room in Kansas City and broadcast it on the TV.

And soak. In Him.

At the end of the month I had to go to Destin, FL for the My Book Therapy Deep Thinkers Retreat.

It’s an advance writing intensive that would require all of my creative energy.

The attendees paid good money for my help.

Usually I’m afforded my own room at this retreat but this year I had to share.

Granted it was with my good buddy, Susan May Warren, and we’ve shared before, but this time it seemed ominous.

Would I keep her awake all night? What would I do if I couldn’t sleep?

I didn’t sleep well the night before my drive up.

But by the time I took off, feeling rather zombie-ish, I determined to worship my way to Tallahassee where I’d spend the night with my older brother.

I prayed, listened to worship and teachings that lead me to truth.

But oh, I was so tired.

I had to be one for visiting with friends and one of my “girls” from youth church.

And an old friend from Publix days invited me to dinner.

We’d not seen each other in 25 years and yeah, I’m a basket case.

Her home and family were lovely.

But during dinner, I started to shake. Blimey!

I sat there and confessed the whole thing to her and her husband.

Did I care or feel embarrassed. NOPE.

I just had to talk about it.

Plus, I could tell I wasn’t myself.

My friend was kind and sympathetic.

Offered a sleep aid but I didn’t want to take anything. I’d tried melatonin and Tylenol PM…

Black Cohosh and St. John’s Wart…

and at times I think they made the shaking worse.

I’d not yet been to see the doctor (only got her call) and I realized, “I don’t know what my body needs.”

I didn’t sleep a wink at my brother’s.

I trembled and shook, heart racing all night.

Pee’d a gazillion times.

I finally got up and packed to head west.

As I said Goodbye to my brother, I told him, “I’m super menopausal. Pray for me.”

He was hesitant. “I don’t pray well out loud.”

“Pray for me!”

And he did.

In the pouring rain I drove down I-10 feeling like poo on the shoe, and praying, crying out to the Lord.

By the time I hit Destin, the sun was shining in a glorious blue sky.

I pulled up to the beach house, grateful, feeling like, “I can manage this.”

But I was really, really tired.

And in the back of my mind, I thought, “If this doesn’t change, I’m going to go to the hospital.”

I couldn’t imagine being in a house of twenty-one women and not sleeping.

The staff arrived early and we ran out to spend some time together in pedicure chairs.

As my feet were being scraped and massaged, I started to shake.

Noooo…

Man, I was discouraged!

I told the girls my situation, but didn’t want to belabor it and bring down the party.

I’m not sure it was possible to communicate how crappy I felt.

We got in the car to run to Publix and Susie suggested brainstorming my upcoming novella.

Sure, why not?

I focused, trying to talk out the story but wondering if this shaking would ever stop.

As we drove and talk, I noticed I was slowly calming down.

And right there, the tremors and quakes stopped.

And did not return again.

Healed! Oh, glorious Lord, thank you!!

The first realized answered prayer on this menopause journey.

I asked the pharmacist at Publix what she might recommend for sleep.

Unisom.

So I bought a box.

I really needed to sleep.

We went home.

I took half a Unisom, unsure how I’d respond to it, and curled up.

Please, Lord, let me sleep.

Did you know the Bible promises us sleep?

In Proverbs 3 and Psalm 4.

And we can raise God’s promises to Him in faith.

I could hear the attendees arriving.

I felt bad I wasn’t downstairs to greet them.

But if I was going to be any good to them through the week, I had to sleep.

I slept ten hours that night.

Oh, glory to God! GLORY TO GOD.

I felt half way myself.

And, I slept good all week!

I had a few touchy moments.

One lunch I wanted to just burst into tears.

So I went up to my room, called my hubby, cried and he prayed.

The waves of just feeling “overwhelmed” would get me on occasion.

But over all, Deep Thinkers was a success, a gift from God.

And I started to realize I could walk through this.

On the drive home, I went back to my formula.

Worshipped. Prayed. Listen to the men of God I respected.

I literally sang Galatians 5:22 for fifteen minutes…

“I’ve got the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control.”

Until I felt my spirit begin to change.

When I came home, a friend from church left a card for me with this verse,

Luke 12:32New King James Version (NKJV)

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

I cried, cried and cried.

I was at peace.

We went to a worship explosion that night and I cried and cried.

God spoke to me.

And I knew I would endure this… leaning on my beloved.

 

More to come… 

 

You’re Not Crazy, You’re Menopausal 2
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