Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 65

In Others’ Words: The Story of Books

I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love books, when I didn’t surround myself with them. A few beside my bed, one beside the couch, always one in my hands … I was often chided for reading while I walked, reading while I ate meals … and yes, reading in the bathroom. This last habit was a criminal offense because there were seven people in my family and one bathroom in our house.

Of course, I spent my allowance on books … up until I began spending it on clothes. But even then, I always squandered a fair bit of my money in the bookstore. Yes, I could borrow books from the library, but there was something about owning a book … about a book being mine for keeps.

Once I was married, my husband quickly learned that I kept books. When it came time to do some deep cleaning or spring cleaning — whatever you want to call the kind of cleaning where closets and shelves are ransacked and black trashbags are toted to the local thrift store – the one thing that didn’t get sorted through were the shelves of books. Our kids learned this too. Books are forever purchases in our family.

In Your Words: What’s your story when it comes to books? What’s the first book you remember owning — buying it yourself or receiving as a gift? Are you a keeper of books or can you let them go when you’re sorting through stuff? 

The care and keeping of books #lifequotes
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What's your story when it comes to books? #lifequotes
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In Others’ Words: Lesson Learned

I like John Wayne. To be more specific, I like his movies. Some of my favorites are Hatari, Hellfighters, The Quite Man, Rio Bravo, The Searchers … okay, I’ll stop there. I had fun weaving my love of John Wayne movies into to my newest novel, Somebody Like You. My heroine, Haley, likes John Wayne movies too.

I have a few favorite John Wayne quotes — and I added today’s quote to the list. “The Duke” is often remembered as the actor who portrayed cowboy heroes or military heroes and had a bit of an odd hitch in his giddy-up.

But then you read a quote like today’s … and you realize the man-of-few-words was watching life, living life — and forming some insightful opinions.

There are several nuggets of truth in John Wayne’s quote and I appreciate his perspective on how tomorrow arrives “clean.” But my favorite segment of today’s quote is this:

[Tomorrow] hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.

That sentence gave me pause. Do I take the time to stop and think — and process — the lessons learned from each day? Do I apply them to my life so they make a difference in who I am and how I live out the next day?

Sadly, I don’t think I’m always that intentional.

But I want to be.

In Your Words: What did you learn from yesterday — and how does it change today?

Learning Yesterday's Lesson and Changing Today #lifequotes
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The Importance of Tomorrow #lifequotes #JohnWayne
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In Others’ Words: Victory by Surrender

 

All in favor of determination, raise your hands.

And how about trying harder?

Anybody else out there ever gritted their teeth to help them get through something?

Determination, trying harder, gritting our teeth . . . they’re all good things . . .

. . .  except when all our determining and trying and gritting our teeth turn into stubbornness.

. . .  except when God is sayiing “Stop trying so hard. Stop trying to figure out how to make something happen. Look and see what I’m trying to accomplish here and now — in you.”

. . . except when we’re so determined to hold our ground  we’re missing the chance to walk into freedom.

We’ve been raised in a culture where surrender is a bad, bad thing. Waving the white flag is for losers– and no one wants to be a loser, right?

This is when we have to remember that God’s ways are not our ways, is thoughts are not our thoughts … and be willing to do things his way. (Isaiah 55:8)

In Your Words: When has surrender meant freedom for you?

When Surrender becomes Victory #lifequotes
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Choosing to wave the white flag of Victory #lifequotes
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Thanks to everyone who participated in the Somebody Like You WIN DOUBLE Rafflecopter Giveway. Today I’m announcing the winners!

Susie Sellner won the Grand Prize — a $100 Amazon gift card for herself and a friend, as well as copies of three of my books (Wish You Were Here, Catch a Falling Star, and Somebody Like You), for both of them.

And 5 other people won autographed copies of Somebody Like You:

Amie Stockton
Cindy Regnier
Eileen Flynn
Chris Bures
Jan Hall

Stay tuned for more contests and giveaways. Check out my Author Facebook page & make sure you’re signed up for my free quartlerly newsletter. 

Celebrating the winners of the Somebody Like You WIN DOUBLE #Rafflecopter #Giveaway!
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In Others’ Words: Maya Angelou and the wonder of today

 

I so often look at Friday as the end of the week — Thank God it’s Friday! — I forget that it’s a new day all in it’s own right.

A wonderful day, as Maya Angelou said on May 17, 2013.

I’m still adjusting to the reality that we’ve lost her voice, her insights, her courage.

Today, I wanted to share this quote that was featured in “Maya Angelou’s Guide to Life in 12 Tweets” shared by Today.com:

“This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” 

Open your eyes. It’s a wonderful day, one you’ve never seen before. Savor it.

In Your Words: What helps you find the “wonderful” in any given day? Do you have any favorite Maya Angelou quotes?

Looking for the wonderful #lifequotes #MayaAngelou
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To this day - and the wonder hidden in it. #lifquotes #MayaAngelou
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It’s the final day to enter the WIN DOUBLE Rafflecopter Giveaway! Win prizes for you and a friend — and 5 other winners receive autographed copies of Somebody Like You, my newest release. Click on the image below to enter. 

Last day to enter the Somebody Like You WIN DOUBLE #Rafflecopter #Giveaway!
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In Others’ Words: Who Do You Think You Are?

I first read this quote by C.S. Lewis on my writer-friend, Susan Tuttle’s, blog: Steps Into the Abundant Life. I tucked it away in my quote file thinking I’d highlight it one day … and today’s the day.

I’ve wanted to be a lot of different things in my life.

Older — as in “Oh, I can’t wait to be 10 … or 16 … or 21.”
As good as — as in “Please let me compare myself with (fill in the blank) and be satisfied.”
Content — as in “What I have, what I am is enough.”

And then, somehow, someway, I realized God, who created me (imagine that!) had something to say about who I was … and who I was to become. I was, as C.S. Lewis said, ” … born in God’s thought, and then made by God …” How life-giving is that truth? I embraced that truth. I stopped and listened. I changed my plans, my aspirations …

and yes, I got older.

And I asked him to help me not to strive so much. To stop the comparison game.

And I found contentment in who I was because he had made me with a purpose in mind.

Grand, indeed.

In Your Words: What helped you embrace God’s purpose, his touch, in your life? How do you remind yourself that you were ” … born in God’s thought, and then made by God …”?

Who do you think you are? #lifequotes
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Embracing how God chose to make you #lifequotes
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The WIN DOUBLE Rafflecopter Giveaway ends May 31! Enter now to win prizes for you and a friend — plus 5 people win autographed copies of Somebody Like You!

WIN DOUBLE #Rafflecopter #Giveaway ends May 31! Enter today!
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Memorial Day 2014

Remembering our military men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to our country … in service to us. Take time to pause … to remember … to be thankful for our armed forces because that is what today is about. 

Memorial Day 2014: the legacy of heroes
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In Others’ Words: Are You Satisfied?

Some things bear repeating. This quote is one of them:

Let whatever you do today be enough.

Too many days are piled with the leftovers of yesterday and the day before that … and I end up going to bed thinking, “I should have done more.”

Dissatisfaction is an irritable bedfellow. He crowds the bed, steals my sleep … and I wake up anything but refreshed.

I always want to do more than I accomplish in a day … and maybe that’s the problem: I misjudge what I can accomplish well in any given day. I don’t know when — or how — to say, “Enough” and then to be satisfied with it.

I want today to be that day. Whatever I do, even if it’s not everything I planned on doing, will be enough.

In Your Words: Take the challenge with me and let whatever you do today be enough. And may you be blessed. I appreciate you.

"Let whatever you do today be enough." #lifequotes
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What will it take to satisfy you today? #lifequotes
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Enter my Somebody Like You WIN DOUBLE Rafflecopter Giveaway! Wina $100 Amazon gift card + books for you and a friend! Plus 5 winners receive autographed copies of my newest release, Somebody Like You! Click on the image to enter — AND YOU CAN ENTER MORE THAN ONCE!

 

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In Others’ Words: Have a Look Around

Perspective makes a huge difference in life. Sometimes perspective makes all the difference.

Here’s the thing though: to gain perspective you have to live through something and then you have to look at that experience and ask “So, what did that teach me?”

I’ve learned that it’s okay to cry when you need to cry — after going through a season in my life when I refused to cry. And I’ve learned to laugh more than you think you need to. Never at another person. But laugh out loud. Laugh with family and friends — and go ahead and laugh when you’re by yourself.

Laughter is refreshing. Healing. It nourishes our hearts, minds, and souls.

And here’s a little bit of comedy a la yours truly — because everybody should have a blooper reel, right? Enjoy!

In Your Words: Looking around your world recently, where have you found comedy, a reason to laugh?

Life literally abounds with comedy #lifequotes
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Have you found a fun reason to laugh today?
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Enter my Somebody Like You WIN DOUBLE Rafflecopter Giveaway! Win a $100 Amazon gift card + books for you and a friend! Plus 5 winners receive autographed copies of Somebody Like You, my newest release. Click on the image to enter — AND YOU CAN ENTER MORE THAN ONCE!

WIN DOUBLE for you & a friend: $100 #Amazon gift cards & books #Rafflecopter #Giveaway
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In Others’ Words: Embracing Story

 

My friend, Sherrinda, recommended the book The Artisan Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus. (I’m not going to comment on his wonderful middle name — Raphael — at this point. But I mean … really … Raphael.)

One thing Sherrinda said was how she was underlining the book like crazy.

So I bought the book … and I am doing the same thing. McManus’s book just breathes truth to my thirsty soul.

Today’s quote is one of those truths:

Our story is what we have to offer the world. 

McManus goes on to write:

“I wish I had a different story than the one I just lived through, but I am so grateful for the story that has made me who I am today.

Even the pain. Even the wound.

The sadness was real.

The brokeness deep.

The scars mine.

It’s my story.

It’s who I am.

It’s how I’m becoming.”

Today more than ever, I am embracing my story. Is it the beautiful fairy tale I longed for growing up? No. But it is my story … and as I allow God to soak it in his lavish grace — rather than steep it my efforts — it’s becoming something beautiful. Something worth sharing. 

Like McManus I can say:

The sadness was real.

The brokeness deep.

The scars mine.

It’s my story. 

And the healing is just as real. Just as deep.

Because God is real.

In Your Words: How are you embracing your story? How are you offering it to the world? 

Our Story: what we offer the world #lifequotes
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Are you embracing your story? #lifequotes
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Enter my Somebody Like You Win Double Rafflecopter Giveaway! Win a $100 Amazon gift card + books for you and for a friend! Plus 5 winners receive autographed copies of Somebody Like You, my newest release. Click on image to enter — AND YOU CAN ENTER MORE THAN ONCE!

 

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In Others’ Words: Everyday Heroes

 

I didn’t think much about our country’s military until I fell in love with and married a man who was serving in the U.S. Air Force. Marry someone in the armed forces and suddenly the military is up-close and personal.

Funny Story: I was so naive that I resisted carrying my brand new military I.D. card because it had the word “dependent” on it. I was quite independent, thank you very much. My husband smiled his sweet smile and said, “Fine. You don’t have to carry your I.D. card. You also won’t be able to get on base. Or buy gas. Or groceries.”

Reality: this civilian along for the ride had a lot to learn — and military rules were, well, rules. I would be wise to learn them and play by them.

My military friends wear all the uniforms of our country’s armed forces. Yes, I was an air force wife for more than 20 years, but friendships know no boundaries. Miitary men and women became my heroes — and so did their spouses and children. While we were stationed in Florida, a precious friend’s husbamd was killed overseas … and the word “widow” was seared into my heart as I embraced her and then watched her trust God with her greatest loss. Several years later, another friend’s husband was killed in Afghanistan … and then just two years ago, a friend’s son, an Army Ranger, was killed.

I believe, as Tom Clancy said,  “The U.S. Military is us.” And I believe that our soldiers — men and women — need to be supported both on days like The Armed Forces Day, which is tomorrow, May 17, and every day of the year — because their protection of us never wavers.

In Your Words: If you or anyone in your family — anyone — is serving or has served in the U.S. military, please take the time to let me — and the readers of this blog – know to today. I’d like to pray for them and for you. And say thank you. 

 

"The U.S. Military is us." ~Tom Clancy
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Armed Forces Day: Saturday, May 17 - Thank you to our military!
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Enter my Somebody Like You Win Double Rafflecopter Giveaway! Win a $100 Amazon gift card books for you and for a friend! Plus 5 winners receive autographed copies of Somebody Like You, my newest release. Click on image to enter.