Becky Wade's Blog, page 138

2021 Intentions

For the past 5-6 years, every “goal” I’ve made for the new year has been swept aside by forces beyond my control. One year it was a bout with myocarditis, an infection in my heart. One year it was a move to a new city. Two years were weddings. Moving to a condo was another. Moving suddenly “home” again, too. And so I stand at the threshold of 2021 wondering what it will bring.

A few years ago, I read a book called Off the Clock by Laura Vanderkam. My biggest take-away from that book was the idea of intentions vs. goals. For me this was a huge shift. If my goals got sabotaged by life, I felt like a failure. However, if my intentions got swept aside by circumstances, it was just a change of plans. The difference, for me, reflected the admonition in James 4:13-15:

Goals or intentions, it’s really just semantics. Well, semantics and the intention of the heart. It’s an acknowledgement that the Lord is the one who knows what 2021 will bring. It might be the accomplishment of things we work toward. It might be a huge curve in the road of our journey. Either way, we have to trust that Lord’s plan over our own. Trust that He knows the plans He has for us. That His plans are good and for our good, even if they obliterate any goals or intentions we’ve set.

But of course this doesn’t mean we do nothing. Instead, we plan and persevere toward the things we feel the Lord has called us to.

This year, my professional intention is to finish a new book. I intend to diligently pursue this intention.

But if God desires this to be (yet another) year of relational or spiritual growth over professional progress, so be it. For when I stand before Jesus one day He will not congratulate me on how many books I managed to write. He will (I pray!) commend me for being His faithful servant no matter how He decided that would look in my life.

So when I boil down all my goals and intentions, past and present, to their very essence, the ultimate goal of my life, both professional and personal, is to know and love Jesus and to follow wherever He leads me. This goal never changes, no matter how often the calendar turns over to a new year. And I cannot fail in its achievement, for the Holy Spirit continually reminds me of God’s promise that I am His child and He will not forsake me.

So which are you?

I’ve got three questions for you today, and they all pertain to personal preferences. Ready? Let’s go!

#1
While Joe and I were in Hilton Head last month, we made a trip over to Bluffton (as we always do when we’re there). Bluffton, South Carolina has a wonderful little artsy district, and in that artsy district is a door that I just love.

I take a picture of it every time I’m there. I just can’t help myself. It’s like an old friend now, just patiently waiting for me to return.

I love the non-symmetrical design of this door. I love the color combination and the old stone steps. But when I shared this picture with a friend, she said the fact that the door was not symmetrical would drive her crazy, LOL. (I told her I thought she was already halfway there.)

So which are you? Symmetrical or not symmetrical with your doors? Would this door draw your eye or make you run screaming?

#2
We love to play games in our family and over Christmas we played a game new to us—THROW THROW BURRITO, billed as “what you get when you cross a card game with dodge ball.”

It is so fun!

The “burritos” are very soft and squishy so it doesn’t hurt at all when it hits you—other than injuring your pride maybe!

In the game, if someone plays a Burrito card, then battles and wars and duels can break out. Here’s me and Kellie (my fabulous new daughter-in-law) dueling it out for the very first time in the game. You can tell we’re all still learning what to do! (I have no idea why the video portion of the clip isn’t showing up. ?? Oh well, you can hear our laughter!)

We had such fun! And most of us played by the rules…sort of. : )

So which are you? A person who loves games or who endures them? Does throwing burritos at people you adore fill you with effervescent joy and jubilation? Or abject dread and dismay?

#3
I recently made these scrumptious little chocolate cheesecake muffins and oh my are they delicious! And low carb gluten free to boot!

Photo and recipe by Carolyn Ketchum of All Day I Dream About Food (a fabulous Keto site that I cannot recommend highly enough!)

Grab the recipe for chocolate cheesecake muffins !

If given a choice between salty and sweet, I will always choose sweet. I love salty, don’t get me wrong. Chips and salsa or chips with guacamole? Or air-popped popcorn with sea salt and butter? Come to Mama! One of my favorite splurges is to get a kids meal from Chick-fil-A and dip the warm waffle fries in the Ice Dream. Be still my beating heart. Talk about yummy! But my first love will always be sweets.

So which are you? A die hard sweets lover or a “salty Suzie?” Any favorite treats you make or grab when you’re out?

I look forward to hearing from you—and sincerely pray that 2021 holds blessings beyond belief for you and yours. I also continue to ask God for justice and righteousness for our country, and for Jesus to reveal his good and perfect will so we can glorify his name in the power of the Spirit at every turn.

And speaking of Chick-fil-A, be sure to enter to win one of three $10 CFA gift cards in my monthly giveaway!

ENTER TO WIN

So which are you in relation to non-symmetrical doors, games or no games, and sweet versus salty?

Tammy

Up In A Tree

I’m nearing the end of the novel I’m currently writing, and as I keep telling my husband, “I have to bring this story in for a landing.” My main characters have found themselves facing more and more problems and dilemmas over the past twenty-some chapters and it’s time to resolve them in a (hopefully) satisfying way. I’ve heard writers explain the plotting process as forcing your main character up a tree, then throwing rocks at her. Well, it’s time for me to fetch a ladder and help my characters down.

The novel’s climax is what readers have been staying up all night and turning pages in order to reach, so it needs to be stellar. I want my readers to sigh and maybe wipe a tear and feel as though all those hours spent reading have been worth it. Author Anne Lamotte says the climax is “that major event…that brings all the tunes you have been playing so far into one major chord.” For me, tying up all of those loose ends into a gratifying finish is the most intense and stressful part of writing a novel.

Once my characters are on solid ground again, they’ll have a chance to pause and reflect on the lessons they’ve learned during the trials and hardships they’ve endured. What have they discovered about themselves or about their faith? How have they been changed? This reflection process, called the dénouement, is a very important part of a satisfying ending, especially if the main character needed to change in order to become the person God created her to be. Yes, I have a big job to do in these final pages.

As I reach the conclusion of my novel, I’m also aware that we’ve reached the conclusion of a tumultuous year. 2020 has made many of us feel as though we’ve been driven up a very tall tree and had an avalanche of rocks thrown at us. Hopefully the climax is coming soon in 2021, and the rescue ladder is on its way. Maybe we can finally find our way down from our precarious position and recover from our wounds. But let’s not forget the final part of every great story—the time for reflection. Because if we don’t, everything we’ve endured this past year will have been a waste.

In a year as difficult as this past one, we may not want to remember everything we’ve been through, especially the losses. Yet I think it’s important to ask what lessons we’ve learned through it all? What have we discovered about ourselves? Is our faith any different? Has it grown? How has this year changed us? What new perspectives have we gained after being up in the tree for so long? I can already name a few things that I’ll never take for granted again, like a warm hug. An unmasked smile. And gathering together freely with my family and friends.

So, how about you? How are you different after spending this long, difficult year up in a tree?  

2020 Reflections and My Word for 2021

I didn’t blog on a regular basis in 2020. Plenty of good intentions but not enough follow through. But I’ve enjoyed writing a year end reflection post for several years and didn’t want to miss writing one for 2020.

MY WORD FOR 2020

Revelation (Ephesians 1:17)

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

2020 was definitely a year when I needed the spirit of wisdom and for God to reveal Himself to me in fresh ways. It was a year of COVID19. It was a year of isolation from so many of the people I love (I miss hugs and cuddles

Happy New Year!

Praying that your next chapter is filled with God’s peace, presence, and providence!

Happy New Year from the authors of Inspired by Life and Fiction — Becky, Tamera, Robin, Jody, Cara, Dani, Julie, Karen, Anne, Deborah & Lynn

A late Merry Christmas

For many years since our children have been grown, especially since we have several teachers in the family, our time to celebrate Christmas with them has been the week between Christmas and New Years. I’ve always said that as long as we can be together, it doesn’t matter when.

Well, this is that week! We are gathered in beautiful southeast Missouri at our oldest daughter’s house in the country. Very grateful that we’re able to be together and definitely missing our extended families and feeling sad for so many who’ve been alone for Christmas this year.

There is a lot going on and already a little granddaughter has sneaked into our room and climbed into bed with Papa and Mimi, so I’ll just leave you with a few views from our family Christmas.

There are still three more days to go and we have lots of fun activities planned, including our annual Raney Gingerbread House Competition!

I pray that you and your loved ones were able to be together, whether in person or by the wonders of technology. And most of all, I pray that 2021 will be a year that is greatly blessed by God!

Inspired by Scripture

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Merry Christmas!

On this wonderful day, the day of the year when we celebrate our Savior’s birth, I hope you’ll be blessed by the lyrics to the song “I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day”, based on the poem “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing
Like a choir they’re singing
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing
Like a choir singing
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does he sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men

Merry Christmas from the authors of Inspired by Life and Fiction — Becky, Tamera, Robin, Jody, Cara, Dani, Julie, Karen, Anne, Deborah & Lynn

Christmases Past

This week three of my kids and I are home in North Platte for an early Christmas and for my niece’s wedding. We’ve had a wonderful time with family, lots of games, laughter, and cousins running wild. But today I wanted to share some photos and a short video from locations featured in Canteen Dreams (my first book, an award-winner that is on ebook sale on Amazon for 99¢ this month). Our first night in town, my mom and brother told me that the Pawnee Hotel had been open for an open house. That might not sound very interesting, but the hotel was built in 1929 and featured in several scenes in Canteen Dreams. However, at the time I wrote the book, I had to rely on photos, because the location was senior living apartments that were closed to the public.

It’s a beautiful old building, but it hasn’t had much loving attention for awhile. A couple years ago, one of my brothers and I talked about buying it as a restoration project. It has the potential to be an amazing location, but will require a lot of work.

I was delighted to get to walk through it during a second open house. The developer who bought it is committed to restoration, not gutting it and making it ultra modern. The Tom-Tom Room was a coffee house during WWII, and there’s a scene it in during the book. You can begin to get a sense of what it might have looked like in the photo below. The external sign had been covered for years, and has been revealed during the early stages of restoration.

There was a massive Christmas tree in the lobby of the hotel. There’s so much work still to be done, but I could catch glimpses of the potential.

The White Horse was a bar during the time of Canteen Dreams. This sign was covered during until the restoration began. I can’t wait to see what it’s like next time I’m back home.

And this is an image from the inside. The White Horse mural had been covered up, but is now visible to everyone who goes through. The developer’s plan is to open the restaurants and have storefronts before restoring the rooms and ballroom. (I really want to see the ballroom because key scenes happen there.)

Here’s an example of some of the detail all over the main level. It’s going to be gorgeous!

And here’s a quick video I made yesterday of the location of the Canteen. Unfortunately, the Union Pacific knocked down the building in the 70s, but it’s marked by a pavilion and benches.

You may be wondering what this has to do with Christmases past. The book starts the day before Pearl Harbor and goes beyond Christmas. I hope you enjoyed this quick look at the real places featured in Canteen Dreams! Praying you have a blessed Christmas with your family! I think we’ve all earned the break and time to enjoy some rest and peace.

What’s one of your favorite Christmases past?

Glad Tidings

Hi friends,

It’s two days until Christmas! I can hardly believe it’s been another year of sharing our love of books, stories, and life together. I hope you know how much I look forward to sharing this time with you every other Wednesday. Today, I thought I’d share a glimpse of our pre-Christmas fun, along with how the McKenna family from my Alaskan Courage series celebrates.

We’ve been busy trimming our trees, getting our winter exercising in, and lots of time with the kids (who are way too old to be called kids, but they’ll always be my girls) and grandkids!

A friend shared this delicious and highly addictive recipe with me years ago and we still make it as often as we can.

Speaking of recipes, here are a couple of the McKenna family favorites:

Gage loves all things peppermint so he’s especially excited at Christmas when peppermint comes out in spades. My daughters love it equally as well.

This is my favorite McKenna wintry drink. Brew up a cup, grab a good book and curl up by the fire.

Despite all that is going on in the world and in many of our homes, those in Christ have hope–always. He is our hope. Hold tight to Him.

I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Reader Question: I’d love to hear how you’ve been preparing to celebrate Christmas and would absolutely love to see some pictures.

Merry Christmas!

~Dani