Loretta Eidson's Blog, page 5

Called to Write?

Somewhere deep inside, a longing to write stories that might touch the hearts of readers wells up and won’t go away. This desire holds a passion to develop characters who can usher God’s love to others in a non-threatening and non-preachy manner.

Whether through historical, women’s fiction, suspense, thrillers, or whatever the genre, inspirational stories can stir the true Breath of Life into the depths of a well-designed plot. The hero and heroine are free to discover life happens through their adventures, and there is hope for the future, even in the real world, outside of fiction. God is our Hope.

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV.

 

Stories, whether fiction or nonfiction, can offer God’s truth in different layers. While some may prefer the in-your-face approach, others find answers by reading books that allow time to ponder the facts as the story unfolds. Then, there are those who prefer a subtle hint of how God intervenes on behalf of His children, whether fictional characters or actual humans when they call out to Him.

*Is writing continually on your mind?

*Do you question God about writing?

*Are you drawn to your keyboard even when you doubt yourself?

*Have you said more than once that you want to write a story?

*Have you questioned what others will think of you if you share your story? 

Regardless of all the uncertainties scrambling through your mind, You Are God’s Masterpiece, and only you can write what’s on your heart. You are your own person, and the decision to follow His call rests in your hands.

 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV.

 

Writing takes time, courage, and vulnerability.

Writing requires following rules and guidelines.

Writing is hard but rewarding when you follow through.

Remember, He is the Potter, and we are the clay. You become His writing masterpiece when you succumb to His plans and purposes for your life.

As the old saying goes, God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the call.

 

My writing journey began over twelve years ago. What I share with you, my readers, is from personal experience.

Feel free to follow along, ask questions, or share your thoughts.

Loretta

 

Award-winning author Loretta Eidson loves writing romantic suspense. She believes in the power of prayer and enjoys putting her characters in realistic situations where they must trust God to pull them through. Loretta is an AWSA certified coach and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray. She has two novels published by Love Inspired Suspense, Pursued in the Wilderness, September 2022 Blue Ridge Mountain Escape, June 2023, and The Marine’s Deadly Reunion, releases December 2023.

Loretta loves chocolate, caramel, iced tea, and coffee. She lives in North Mississippi, close to her family.

www.lorettaeidson.com

https://www.facebook.com/loretta.eidson.7

https://twitter.com/lorettajeidson

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Available on Amazon

Available on Amazon

 

 

Available for Pre-Order on Amazon

Releases December 26, 2023

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September 2023 ACFW New Releases

September 2023 New Releases

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary Romance:

A Louisiana Christmas to Remember by Morgan Tapley Smith, Betsy St. Amant, Lenora Worth — Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town’s founding family? In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places… In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home…
In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again… (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Redeeming the Cowboy by Lisa Jordan — Five years ago, bull rider Bear Stone lost everything. His best friend. His fiancée. His career. And Piper Healy, his best friend’s wife, never forgave him for the rodeo accident that killed her husband. Now they’re working together to save his family’s ranch. But can this cowboy choose between his last chance at the rodeo…and the woman he’s falling for? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

Where Love is Planted by Dawn Kinzer — A beautiful horticultural therapist.A handsome social worker in a woman’s prison. Will their loyalty to others cost them their own happiness? Or will something beautiful grow where love is planted? (Contemporary Romance from Morningview Publishing)

Historical Romance:

A Counterfeit Betrothal by Denise Weimer — A frontier scout, a healing widow, and a desperate fight for peace. At the farthest Georgia outpost this side of hostile Creek Territory in 1813, Jared Lockridge serves his country as a scout to redeem his father’s botched heritage. If he can help secure peace against Indians allied to the British, he can bring his betrothed to the home he’s building and open his cabinetry shop. Then he comes across a burning cabin and a traumatized woman just widowed by a fatal shot. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Francine’s Foibles by Linda Shenton Matchett — World War II is finally over, and America is extra grateful as the country approaches this year’s Thanksgiving. But for Francine life hasn’t changed. Despite working at Fort Meade processing the paperwork for the thousands of men who have returned home, she’s still lonely and very single. Is she destined for spinsterhood? Grateful that his parents anglicized the family surname after emigrating to the United States after the Great War, first-generation German-American Ray Fisher has done all he can to hide his heritage. He managed to make it through this second “war to end all wars,” but what American woman would want to marry into a German family? Must he leave the country to find wedded bliss?? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)

The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky — In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd’s staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she’s left searching for answers. In 1912, after her father’s death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again. (Historical Romance from Bethany House)

Wooing Gertrude by Jodie Wolfe — Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he’ s the right man for either job. Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller’s life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she’ ll find peace and happiness. Will either of them ever be able to find peace? (Historical Romance from White Rose Publishing)

Literary/Contemporary:

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Powner — After years of drifting, fifty-year-old Pete Ryman has settled down with his potbellied pig, Pearl, in the small Montana town of Sleeping Grass–a place he never expected to see again. It’s not the life he dreamed of, but there aren’t many prospects for a high-school dropout like him. Elderly widow Wilma Jacobsen carries a burden of guilt over her part in events that led to Pete leaving Sleeping Grass decades ago. Now that he’s back, she’s been praying for the chance to make things right, but she never expected God’s answer to leave her flat on her face–literally–and up to her ears in meddling. (Literary/Contemporary from Bethany House)

Split Time:

Fall Back and Find Me by Sarah Hanks — Two resilient women separated by over 150 years are linked forever by their challenges, values, and determination. (Split Time from SonFlower Books)

Thriller/Suspense/Romantic:
Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills — When the long-awaited reunion between Risa and her brother, Trenton, ends in tragedy, Risa is riddled with guilt, unable to cope with the responsibility she feels over his death. On leave from the FBI, Risa returns to her former career as an English teacher at a local college, only to see her past and present collide when one of her students, Carson Mercury, turns in an assignment that reads like an eyewitness account of her brother’s murder, with details never revealed publicly. Alarmed by Carson’s inside knowledge of Trenton’s death, Risa reaches out to her former partner at the FBI. Special Agent Gage Patterson has been working a string of baby kidnappings, but he agrees to help look into Carson’s background. Risa and Gage soon discover their cases might be connected as a string of high-value thefts have occurred at properties where security systems were installed by Carson’s stepfather and children have gone missing. There’s a far more sinister plot at play than they ever imagined, and innocent lives are in danger. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic from Tyndale House)

Seeking Justice by Sharee Stover An agent and her K-9 partner risk their lives in the ultimate mission.
With her partner gravely injured in the line of duty, FBI agent Tiandra Daugherty has one shot to complete her mission. She’ll have to convince her partner’s twin brother, Officer Elijah Kenyon, to take his place undercover in a deadly drug ring. Together they must find justice for his brother and dismantle the gang. But the target is now on them, and the mission could prove fatal. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

Young Adult:
The Text by Julane Fisher — In 2048, 25 years after a pandemic killed one-third of the world’s population, America is flourishing under the department of Safety Threats and Reinforcement (STaR). STaR keeps citizens safe and healthy STaR’s social media app, Allicio, boasts two billion users. The a power outage shuts down STaR’s health monitors and disables millions of mobile phones. Sixteen-year-old Rami Carlton earned a starting spot on the varsity volleyball team. For fun, she races tech-genius Finley Drake to decipher the online identities of their techie friends. The game is harmless. So they thought. Rami receives a chilling text message that she’s being watched. That night, her mother disappears. Despite thousands of city-wide monitors, STaR’s Reinforcement Division cannot locate Rami’s mom. And Rami’s stalker threatens to kill her brother if she talks to Reinforcement Officers. When Finley hacks the nation’s cellular provider, Connect Mobile, he discovers STaR has a secret. STAR isn’t just watching. They’re manipulating Allicio. And Rami is their next target. (Young Adult from Infinite Teen)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Cold Case Revenge by Jessica R. Patch — A kidnapped child. An unsolved cold case. This K-9 is on the trail. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)

Daniel’s Oil by Urcelia Teixeira — Keeping a secret is easy. Getting away with it is the hard part. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)

Escaping Illusions by Therese Heckenkamp — All she wants is a new beginning, but it will come at a chilling cost. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)

Just Be Here by Susan Page Davis — If Nick gets the promotion he’s dreamed of, will it rip him away from the woman he loves? (Contemporary Romance)

Reclaiming the Spy by Lorri Dudley — How can he protect her from himself when she keeps winding up in his arms? (Historical Romance)

The Last Laird of Sapelo by T.M. Brown — Based on the tragic story of Randolph Spalding, the youngest son of Georgia’s most well-known antebellum-era coastal planter and influential political figure, Thomas Spalding. (General Historical)

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Overwhelmed or an Opportunity by DiAnn Mills

Side note: Before you dive into DiAnn’s timely article concerning Overwhelmed or an Opportunity, let me announce and congratulate her. Today is the release day for her new novel FACING THE ENEMY! If you haven’t already pre-ordered this amazing romantic suspense book, today is the day. The Amazon link is below.

 

Overwhelmed or an Opportunity

Do the challenges of life leave you overwhelmed? Or are you using challenges as an opportunity? How our bodies are affected by stress and tension determine a healthy or unhealthy body.

Stress and tension are not always bad experiences. Stress is the body’s reaction to a potential mental or physical threat. We strive to find answers while our brains are in “fight or flee” mode. Those situations cause us to reach deep within ourselves to find solutions.

Opportunities are golden moments that allow us to successfully achieve something we want. The goal usually requires work and sacrifice, but the rewards are worth the investment. Stress and tension may accompany the opportunity, but we are filled with optimism to embrace the challenge and move forward. Sometimes we have a sleepless night or skip a meal while our brains are engaged. The result presents satisfaction of a job well done.

Consistent stress and tension shove a person into overwhelmed mode. A state of being overwhelmed causes a person to feel defeated, devastated, and often physically or mentally ill. It’s like drowning with no lifeline. The victim goes down for the third time and fails to rise again.

Unchecked stress leads to emotional behaviors such as agitation, inability to relax, avoiding others including loved ones, and depression that can escalate to suicide. Physical reactions such as nausea, high blood pressure, intense headaches, insomnia, addictive behaviors, and uncontrollable trembling can push a victim to a heart attack. Add to those mental and physical symptoms an inability to think clearly and constant worry. Many other conditions can stem from the inability to handle life’s challenges. Unmanageable stress can kill.

Here are 10 ways to approach challenges:

Confess your overwhelmed condition to a trusted friend, loved one, or pastor.Commit to seeking help and making positive changes in your life.Connect with others who face the same issues in a group setting.Carve out time to pray and meditate.Consider diet and healthy foods to fuel your stressed body.Choose an exercise plan to work off stressors.Correct your lifestyle to avoid being overwhelmed.Cease to believe your self-worth is based on your performance.Collect quotes that are positive and uplifting.Create a journal to record the ups and downs of life.

Life can present itself with undo stress and tension until we are overwhelmed. Or we can learn the techniques to manage our lives and choose to convert challenges to opportunities.

Do you have a tip to help relieve stress?

 

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; Golden Scroll awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn or diannmills.com

 

TODAY is release day!

Get your copy now!

Amazon: https://a.co/d/5nRJbd6

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Mountain Abduction Rescue by Darlene L. Turner

Incredible! Darlene L Turner has done it again. This suspenseful page-turner, releasing August 22, 2023, held me captive until the end. The non-stop action and unexpected twists were ‘expected’ as that’s Turner’s style, and she didn’t fail to deliver—another successful book from a gifted author.

Park Warden Hazel Hoyt faces the horror no parent should face—the abduction of her son and his friends while on a camping trip in the Rocky Mountains. And to add more tension, an arsonist sets fires in the wilderness that slows their search.

Wildfire Unit Crew leader Mitchell Booth once considered Hazel, his sister’s friend, as another sister. He finds himself in the middle of the fires working with his line crew and being tugged into the search for Hazel’s son. Working with her stirs deeper feelings, but he pushes back due to a bad relationship in his past that almost cost him his life. Would he ever reveal his secret or overcome the horrific memories holding his emotions captive?

Between Hazel’s strained relationship with her Park Supervisor father and the rejection of a broken relationship, thoughts of becoming more than a sister figure to Mitchell dissipate. Now she must work closely with both men. What is God doing to her? Will she survive the raging fires, the tension stirring, and the uncertainty of her son and his friends’ welfare? Can he let go of her past and allow Mitchell to be a part of her future, if he’s even interested?

Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/jbtwagv

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders. 

Darlene is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Woy8dK

Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Qso27O

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/2UhbelT

BookBub: https://bit.ly/2QrdkhP

Pinterest: https://bit.ly/2x2Batz

Instagram: darlenel.turner

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Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills

Another action-packed adventure by DiAnn Mills hits the shelves on September 5, 2023.

This high-stake inspirational romantic suspense novel packs a punch as FBI Special Agent Risa Jacobs with the Violent Crimes Against Children division of the Houston FBI is the target of a hit-and-run. Her brother, Trenton, has returned home with good news that he’s turning his life around. They exit the restaurant together and start crossing the street—a vehicle speeds toward them. Trenton pushes Risa aside. He’s hit and dies. Risa is grief-stricken and blames herself for her brother’s death. She learns she is the intended target, not her brother.

She goes on leave from the FBI and opts to teach at the local college until she can overcome the guilt consuming her. One of her students turns in his homework. His short story reveals details of her brother’s death. Was the student the killer?

FBI Special Agent Gage Patterson receives a call from his former partner and love interest, Risa Jacobs. At her request, Gage agrees to help in her investigation while still working on his case investigating baby kidnappings.

Is it possible Gage and Risa’s cases will merge? How many agents must die before the killer is brought to justice? Will Gage and Risa be able to rekindle their relationship as they partner together to solve both cases?

 

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; Golden Scroll awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn or diannmills.com

 

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Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley

Patricia Bradley knocks it out of the park with her inspirational romantic suspense novel Counter Attack, released May 16, 2023. The suspense builds as a serial killer stalks heroine Alexis Stone and murders ladies with her same hair color, height, and build. With each body, he leaves his signature behind—a white pawn from a chess game and a note indicating a chess move. To understand the killer’s next move, Alexis must learn how to play chess.

At the request of her chief deputy grandfather, who raised her, Alexis regretfully moves back to Pearl Springs from Chattanooga, where she worked as an undercover agent, after he talks her into working as the interim chief deputy position in Russell County, TN, while he recovers from a heart attack. Will the killer know she left town? Will he follow her to Pearl Springs?

Who else but her old high school flame, the now chief of police in Pearl Springs, Nathan Landry, will work with her on the case. Their breakup years ago left him apprehensive about reconnecting. Will he and Alexis be able to leave the past behind and rekindle their love before the killer finds her?

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. Readers won’t be disappointed, either, with the action, suspense, and romance building throughout the novel.

 

Patricia Bradley is the author of fifteen Inspirational Romantic Suspense books set in the South. She is the winner of a Selah award, and an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. She’s been the keynote speaker at several conferences where she also teaches workshops on writing fiction.
She and her two rescue kitties call Corinth, Mississippi home, and when she’s not writing, she likes to throw mud on a wheel to see what comes out.

 

Watch for Patricia Bradley’s upcoming release.

FATAL WITNESS

 

 

 

 

Blog: www.patriciabradleyauthor.com/blog

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Caregiving Straight Talk Finale by Loretta Eidson

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the real-life stories over the past five months. This series stemmed from me caring for my husband through his struggles from exposure to Agent Orange while in the Navy. I had cared for others before, but not to the extent his condition required. This series touched my heart to the depths of my soul and I pray it touched your life and gave you insight into the lives of caregivers.

Today concludes my Caregiving Straight Talk series. I want to thank all who were brave and gracious enough to share their hearts with the world:

Mary Jane Holt, Cheri Swalwell (3x’s), Tess Hardy, Deborah Malone, Rhonda Wells, Darcie J. Steiner, Evelyn Johnson-Taylor (2x’s), Kathy Howard, Amy Loos, Lori Vober, Janet Morris Grimes, and myself, Loretta Eidson (4x’s).

What’s next?

As a published author and an AWSA-certified coach directed toward those just starting their writing journeys, I want to encourage you. Next week, I will begin a new series titled You Are God’s Masterpiece: Encouragement for Aspiring Writers.

This title came to me one Sunday morning while listening to my pastor preach about how we are God’s masterpieces and how we are to live accordingly. I listened intently and wrote notes. I even asked permission from my pastor to use his “God’s Masterpiece” title.

Wow! This is so true in multiple ways. We ARE God’s masterpiece, including all writers who want to further the gospel through inspirational stories.

My thoughts immediately flew to all the struggles I encountered as I began my writing journey and how I’d prayed for direction. Despite all the rejection letters and emails I’d received, I refused to give up.

I invite you to join me in this next series. Who knows, it may become an ongoing subject.

I welcome your thoughts, comments, questions, and concerns about writing!

By the way, there are no dumb questions . . . ask away. If I don’t know the answer, I know people who do.

See you next week,

Loretta

 

Loretta Eidson is an award-winning author who loves writing romantic suspense. Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency is her agent. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Faith Hope, & Love Christian Writers, Sisters in Crime, Heart of Christian Writers Network, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and attends the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. She is an AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) certified coach. She directs her coaching toward aspiring writers.

She loves chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Loretta lives in North Mississippi, close to her family.

www.lorettaeidson.com 

www.facebook.com/lorettaeidsonauthor

Her debut novel, Pursued in the Wilderness, was released in September 2022. Her upcoming book, Blue Ridge Mountain Escape, will release on June 27, 2023. Check them out:

On Amazon:  https://a.co/d/eWcFJRy and https://a.co/d/dsmrndH

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Time Stand Still by Janet Morris Grimes

It’s Graduation season. Nothing brings me to tears faster than the first few strands of Pomp and Circumstance. No matter the venue or whether I know one of the graduates personally, it’s such an incredible feat and brings to the forefront how long it takes to find success and how many people we need in our corner to pull off such an accomplishment.

As the celebratory photos are splashed all over social media, I often see parents utter this plea.

“Time, stand still.”

It’s a public admission that time is indeed fleeting; and our limited years with our children are flying by faster than we can remind ourselves to enjoy them.

If the truth be known, that’s exactly what we hope for as parents. For our children to learn all they can. To grow in wisdom, stature, ability and confidence. To create their own life with a means to support themselves and also honor God and those around them.

Time truly marches on and usually takes our children into adulthood right along with it. It’s a sign of a job well done by both parent and child and definitely should be celebrated.

But what if this isn’t the case?

What if our children are different?

I’m reminded of this phrase as I watch our little two-year-old special needs grandson. Logan was diagnosed with a rare syndrome that will limit his ability to grow and develop in typical ways.

He’s is an incredible little boy. With his full head of black hair, he earned the nickname ‘Baby Elvis’ when he was born, because he arrived with the longest sideburns I’ve ever seen on a baby.

Baby Elvis is about to turn three, but is still the size of an 18-month-old. His developmental milestones only come after months and months of therapy, and the reality is that some may not come at all.

For him, time truly does stand still.

Logan doesn’t know if it’s Tuesday or Friday. He doesn’t realize he’s about to celebrate a birthday, and his feeding issues won’t allow for a treat such as cake. In most ways, his birthday will be like any other day, and his pictures won’t look much different than those from last year.

Logan is non-verbal so far. Still, he’s mostly happy and content; even a little loud at times as he practices his consonant sounds. With his cousins, he stops them by pressing his hands against their chests so he can study them closely and claim them as his own. Logan prefers his home environment, where he’s free to safely roam and knows what to expect. He never stops moving and always has places to go.

Like other children, Logan does celebrate milestones as he starts preschool in the fall. Two days a week, his therapists will come to work with him at the school. But the timeline and expectations are different. At best, education is an experiment, and we are so thankful for such resources.

Only time will tell where life can take Baby Elvis. Our family knows we were chosen for him, and he for us.

God is using him to teach us to pay attention in different ways. Set aside pride, schedules, and the innate pull to compare ourselves to others.

Logan requires us to slow down.

Today, he brings me an electric toy drum and stretches my hand to the controls.

He wants me to enjoy this moment as much as he does.

He wants me to join him where time stands still.

And I will.

 

Janet Morris Grimes may not have realized she was a writer at the time, but her earliest childhood memories were spent creating fairy-tale stories of the father she never knew. That desire to connect with the mysterious man in a treasured photograph gave her a deep love for the endless possibilities of a healing and everlasting story.

A 2022 Carol Award Finalist for her debut novel, Solomon’s Porch, Janet is also a writer/music reviewer for Nashville Arts & Entertainment and Crossroad Magazines. She is also a devotional contributor to Christian Woman, Power for Today, Inspire a Fire, and The Christian Pulse. Janet has featured stories in several anthologies, including The Spirit of Christmas and Sweet Tea for the Soul: Real-Life Stories for Grieving Hearts.

A wife of one, mother of three, and Tootsie to four, Janet currently writes from her quiet two-acre corner of the world near Elizabethtown, KY. As her debut novel and first children’s story have been introduced to the world, she can’t wait to follow the next breadcrumb of a story to see where it leads.  

Stories that stretch your heartstrings. 

An unforgettable combination.

Meet Logan, the handsome young man and the subject of Janet’s article.

 

 

If you haven’t read Janet’s book and want your copy.

You can find it on Amazon. https://a.co/d/aoOk7Ri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Reader,

I stand amazed at the strength God gives us to carry out our caregiving responsibilities. With those tasks, love for God and others is the key to no regrets. 

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Blessings,

Loretta Eidson

 

I invite you to join my friend Tracy Crump’s monthly newsletter for caregivers.

Caregiver’s Corner shares short stories of joys and heartaches along with tips now and then to help you survive this season and even make sweet memories. Together, we’ll cheer and encourage each other through the caregiving journey.

https://tracycrump.com/blog/

Tracy Crump knows from experience the burdens caregivers shoulder after caring for both her parents and her 100-year-old mother-in-law. A former ICU nurse, Tracy dispenses hope in her award-winning book, Health, Healing, and Wholeness: Devotions of Hope in the Midst of Illness Twenty-two of her stories have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and she has published hundreds of devotions, articles, and short stories in diverse publications such as Guideposts books, Focus on the Family, Woman’s World, and Ideals.

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Caregiving Through the Patient’s Eyes by Lori Vober

In January 2003, at the age of twenty-nine, I suffered a devastating hemorrhagic stroke. The stroke was caused by an undetected malformation of blood vessels on the right side of my brain, and I underwent emergency brain surgery the night of my stroke to stop the massive bleed. I woke up seventeen days later from a drug-induced coma, paralyzed on the left side. In the blink of an eye, our whole lives had changed. I am an only child, and my husband, Dainis, and I were just shy of our fifth wedding anniversary when my stroke occurred. I spent two months in the hospital, and during that time, I went through another brain surgery, learned to sit up, stand and walk with help, and went home in a wheelchair.

Not only had our lives been severely altered, but our roles had also been changed. I was no longer the independent, carefree wife I had been with hopes of soon starting our family. My parents and my husband were now my caregivers, and I was now confined to a wheelchair, unable to do anything without help. At the beginning, I needed help with everything from rolling over in bed, getting in and out of bed, showering, and even going to the bathroom. As I reflect back on those days, it was a very difficult and exhausting time for all involved because I was still fighting for my independence. I did not want to be cared for. I needed help and knew I needed to be patient, kind, loving, and appreciative for all that was being done to help me, but I wanted to be independent and do it myself.

Through my stroke and time volunteering at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, I can reflect on caregiving from different angles. It is a delicate balance, and the needs of each person is unique to their situation, independence, and mental capacity. I believe it is important for both the patient and the caregiver to look into support groups because everyone needs an opportunity to release their emotions. Many caregivers and survivors both need that outlet and time away but feel a sense of guilt for needing it. For each of us to recognize our needs and emotions and be honest with each other is important and necessary. Although those were difficult times, I will always be so grateful for the love of my family.

Lori suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at age twenty-nine, then developed epilepsy from the stroke. She is a walking miracle, and felt called to share her journey of faith and perseverance to encourage others. Even with her difficulties, Lori and her husband, Dainis, were able to become adoptive parents to a sibling group of three. She published her first book, CHOICES: When You Are Faced with a Challenge, What Choice Will You Make?, in March 2022 and has been connecting and encouraging others to choose to bloom in every circumstance.  In October 2022, she had the opportunity to be a part of a new compilation titled RADICAL ABUNDANCE: More Than All We Can Ask or Imagine. This new publication is an amazing book compiled of fifty devotionals by thirty-three different authors, each telling their unique story.

Website: www.lorivober.com

Email: lorivober@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.vober/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorilonghor...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE CAREGIVING Information:

Caregiver’s Corner Newsletter

I invite you to join my author friend, Tracy Crump’s monthly newsletter for caregivers. Here’s her information.

Caregiver’s Corner shares short stories of joys and heartaches along with tips now and then to help you survive this season and even make sweet memories. Together, we’ll cheer and encourage each other through the caregiving journey.

Link to subscribe to Tracy’s blog

https://tracycrump.com/blog/

Tracy Crump knows from experience the burdens caregivers shoulder after caring for both her parents and her 100-year-old mother-in-law. A former ICU nurse, Tracy dispenses hope in her award-winning book, Health, Healing, and Wholeness: Devotions of Hope in the Midst of Illness Twenty-two of her stories have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and she has published hundreds of devotions, articles, and short stories in diverse publications such as Guideposts books, Focus on the Family, Woman’s World, and Ideals.

The post Caregiving Through the Patient’s Eyes by Lori Vober appeared first on Loretta Eidson.

A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch

This novel is intense, dark, and suspenseful. Keep your lights on and your doors locked.

A Cry in the Dark will keep you on your toes as a serial killer turns his focus on FBI special agent Violet Rainwater, a violent crimes forensic psychologist, while she’s investigating the horrific disappearance and deaths of women in Nigh Holler.

Detective John Orlando is the only person she can truly trust in these back hills of Kentucky, filled with thick forests, caves, and hidden passages. With her secret past nipping at her heels and John’s wife’s mysterious disappearance, they must forgo their personal quests to stop a devious killer before he strikes again.

Could they’d both find answers and resolve their issues in this remote setting among an unwelcoming, small population?

 

 

Jessica R. Pate is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her dry wit, signature twists, and complex characters. She loves reading true crime books, discussing cold cases over chips and salsa with her girlfriends, and hunting down serial killers in her romantic suspense novels and psychological thrillers.

Jessica loves to encourage and inspire people to forward living through her Forward Friday Blog posts and through her monthly email newsletter. You can join the Patched In community at her website: www.jessicarpatch.com.

She resides in the Memphis area with her husband, two young adult children, and her spoiled tri-colored Shetland Sheepdog. Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books and Such Literary Management.

 

 

If you’d like to read this book or others by Jessica, you can find them on Amazon.

The post A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch appeared first on Loretta Eidson.