Rachelle D. Alspaugh's Blog, page 51
September 13, 2015
A spread out family
This skype conversation today just warmed my heart.[image error]
I love it when these brothers get to reconnect with each other.
Once upon a time, it was the other way around--with me on the other end.
I love it when these brothers get to reconnect with each other.
Once upon a time, it was the other way around--with me on the other end.
Grateful
Praise God, my husband has a job and is working again!!! More details to come in later posts. :) (You know there's going to be a God-story here. Stay tuned.)
September 6, 2015
Do you have a war room?
https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11999094_10156022493035253_8222602234699705186_n.jpg?oh=ed905be99c5af19910bb9e69c9f6910c&oe=56720C73I just read that this movie is now #1 in the country! I can't tell you how happy that makes me. I've been so excited about this movie since the very first mention of it. I went to see it by myself (on purpose) on opening weekend, and I cried the whole way through it. You see, I've been there, and I can personally attest to the power of prayer.
Do you have a war room? In my first house, it was a screened in porch. I spent a lot of time with God out there, digging deep into Bible study, but I can't say I had a prayer strategy or spent a lot of time praying.
When I moved into my house in Texas years later, I turned my front porch into my sanctuary. I started meeting with God there every morning shortly after moving in, and by then I found the need and desire for a specific prayer strategy. Life is a constant battle, and without prayer, many days feel hopeless. With it, we can overcome anything the enemy throws at us. I learned how to fight my battles the right way, with the right power.
Now I have three war rooms. My front porch (where I can watch the sun set in the evenings), my back porch (where I can watch the sun rise), and my prayer corner in my living room (where I can sit by the lamp light when it's too cold to sit outside and where I can cover the wall with Scriptures, prayer requests, and answers to prayer).
It works, and I can tell story after story of specific ways God has answered my prayers, led me to victories, and changed my life in unimaginable ways. Yet even better than that, I've watched other lives change and know that God used me to pray them through.
If you haven't seen the movie, please don't wait another day! Make plans to go. And if you don't have a war room, make one, and then develop a prayer strategy to fight your battles the right way. The only way.
The lamp lightTucked in the corner by the fireplaceSit a small lamp and a chair,A few books and pens and notecards,A worn and tattered book of prayers.Before the sun comes up each morning,I turn the lamp light on.I sit to talk with GodAbout how my days have gone.I fess up all my failures,And add to my journal of praise.We adjust my grumpy attitudeAnd address my selfish ways.I read a portion of Scripture,Ponder over a devotional page,I reflect over how it affects meSo differently each year I age. Once my heart is in tune with the Spirit,I open that tattered book by the chair.I anoint my family with Scripture,And surrender them all in prayer.Though I always fall short as a wife,A mom, a daughter or a friend,Know I give you the giftThat matters most in the end. Every morning when you wake up,And you see the lamp light on,It means you have been prayed forEven before your day has begun.
By Rachelle D. Alspaugh
September 5, 2015
When the child you've prepared for doesn't come home
Over the last year, after turning in both my manuscripts to ABH for editing and publishing, I started working on something completely different. I wanted to focus on short stories, and I felt compelled to write personal testimonies on the names of God. I've been writing one a month to take to my writer's group for critique, and now it looks like they all might be turning into another book. I'm not really sure what God wants me to do with them yet, but here is the latest one I wrote. Since it coincides with the release of Unexpected Tears, I thought I'd share it here. Feel free to share this blog post with anyone you think could benefit from it.
Jehovah Oz, the Lord my Strength
She reads the books about what to expect during the pregnancy, the labor, the delivery, and even about the first few months of her child’s life. She and her husband choose a name, paint the nursery, stock the closet, set up the crib, and decorate the room. They anxiously await the day their child will finally come home. They dream about this day for nearly nine months, ever since the moment they realized the miracle of life growing inside of her. She goes in to see the doctor for one last check, assuming their baby will be here any day. Delivery day comes, but they return home, devastated, without a baby in their arms. Instead, God holds their child in Heaven while He holds them in their grief. ***A new wife, baffled by her own body, yearned to be a mother someday. They told her she’d never be able to bear a child of her own. Her dreams of motherhood vanished as she processed those words. She and her husband grieved, and then they prayed. Meanwhile, a young girl, barely prepared for the responsibilities of an adult, responds with fear and trembling as the pregnancy test reveals a positive result. She weighs the odds and decides someone else should take on the responsibility she isn’t ready for. Someone else who prayed desperately for the chance to be a mom. She and her spouse read the books, chose a name, painted the nursery, and made every last preparation. When the birth mother went into labor, they rushed to the hospital to be present for the delivery. Someone else would give birth to the child they’d been waiting for. In their excitement, they missed the fear and mixed emotions in the birth mother’s eyes. She’d had nine long months to think, meditate, and ponder over the reality of her decision. The moment she heard her child’s first cry and held her child in her arms, she knew. She couldn’t let her child go, after all. With tears in their eyes and a hollow ache in their soul, they went home without a baby in their arms. God held them tight as they grieved the loss of the child they had prepared for. The child who never came home to them.***We held our son close. We loved him dearly. We thanked God for him, our little miracle. A miscarriage took away his only sibling very early in pregnancy. That child existed in my womb just long enough to let me dream about the possibility of our son having a brother or a sister. Just long enough to make our family feel incomplete. Two years later, we anxiously awaited the arrival of both his brother and his sister. We read all of the adoption books, took the parenting classes, and received specific counsel regarding the adoption of older children. We knew their names, saw their pictures, met them in person, and even chatted with them by phone on a regular basis. We painted their rooms, set up the beds, and filled their closets. Over a year of paper-pregnancy gave us plenty of time to dream and envision how life would change as a family of five, rather than our intimate family of three. Our hearts and our home were more than ready for them to arrive. We didn’t foresee the glitch in our paperwork, though, that would halt our whole process. Just a few months later, we all three grieved when neither brother nor sister came home. God held out the bottle and collected our tears.***Where do you turn when the child you’ve prepared for doesn’t come home?It’s a different kind of grief. It’s a loss that must be properly and fully grieved, but it cannot be categorized with the loss of a child you have raised and already called your own. Very few understand the emptiness that follows losing a child you held in your heart but never in your arms. When I lost the kids I tried to adopt, I felt so alone. I connected more deeply with those who had lost children due to other heart-wrenching circumstances, but a guilt over my loss not being as great or tragic as theirs kept me from fully opening up. Instead, I retreated into myself, withdrawing from friends, activities, and social circles. I didn’t talk to anybody as each stage of grief set in. I just kept myself as busy as possible as I searched for something else to fill the void in my heart.I went through the shock, the numbness, and the denial for the first few months. Then when reality finally set in, the anger and emotional outbursts came. After that came the fear. The fear that it was all my fault, that it could’ve turned out differently if I would have sought more counsel in the beginning. Fear that I’d never escape this pain, this heartache, this guilt. Fear that I’d never think clearly again. Everything inside me hurt. I had two choices. I could let the bitterness continue to grow and numb my heart enough to move on, or I could reach out for the tender strength offered to me in the initial moment of loss. I chose to reach upward, taking hold of Jehovah Oz. He embraced me as I finally let the tears spill out, and then He lifted me up when I didn’t have the strength to get back up on my own. He held me steady while my whole body trembled with fear. He gently whispered my name, over and over, reassuring me He’d see me through this. He gave me breath when the grief seemed to suck away all my air. He lifted the guilt when I felt its weight might suffocate me. He spoke promises over me every day, whenever He caught my attention at random moments through specific Scriptures in a devotional, songs on the radio, e-mails from friends, or cards in the mail. His strength came through other people’s prayers for me, people I didn’t even know were praying. He showered me with His love and convinced me I could trust Him, but I had to let it go. I had to let my children go and accept His will for their lives. I had to believe He loved them and that He had not abandoned them, while at the same time I had to believe He loved me and had not abandoned me. I still grieved. I still hurt. But I found that grief eventually carries on into the light. It gave me a new sense of determination to move forward, and it led me to new relationships. I found myself stronger than before, and I found a new me clinging to a new hope. He affirmed to me that this circumstance held purpose, and He began to use me to help and encourage others. Not only those who might be grieving a loss or hurting in some way, but anyone who craved an intimacy with Christ or a greater understanding of Scripture. Anyone who wanted to experience the Strength they saw in me, a strength beyond myself. Jehovah Oz, the Lord my Strength. (Exodus 15:2)"The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.***Also known as:Jehovah-'Ez-Lami- The Lord my Strength – Psalm 28:7 (NIV) The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise him.
Jehovah-Tsori - Lord my Strength - Psalm 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Read the full story here:
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Tears-Trusting-Adoption-Surviving/dp/1943004714/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441474473&sr=8-1&keywords=Unexpected+Tears&pebp=1441474486213&perid=1QAHQC3746GZ5S9AW8HQ
Jehovah Oz, the Lord my Strength
She reads the books about what to expect during the pregnancy, the labor, the delivery, and even about the first few months of her child’s life. She and her husband choose a name, paint the nursery, stock the closet, set up the crib, and decorate the room. They anxiously await the day their child will finally come home. They dream about this day for nearly nine months, ever since the moment they realized the miracle of life growing inside of her. She goes in to see the doctor for one last check, assuming their baby will be here any day. Delivery day comes, but they return home, devastated, without a baby in their arms. Instead, God holds their child in Heaven while He holds them in their grief. ***A new wife, baffled by her own body, yearned to be a mother someday. They told her she’d never be able to bear a child of her own. Her dreams of motherhood vanished as she processed those words. She and her husband grieved, and then they prayed. Meanwhile, a young girl, barely prepared for the responsibilities of an adult, responds with fear and trembling as the pregnancy test reveals a positive result. She weighs the odds and decides someone else should take on the responsibility she isn’t ready for. Someone else who prayed desperately for the chance to be a mom. She and her spouse read the books, chose a name, painted the nursery, and made every last preparation. When the birth mother went into labor, they rushed to the hospital to be present for the delivery. Someone else would give birth to the child they’d been waiting for. In their excitement, they missed the fear and mixed emotions in the birth mother’s eyes. She’d had nine long months to think, meditate, and ponder over the reality of her decision. The moment she heard her child’s first cry and held her child in her arms, she knew. She couldn’t let her child go, after all. With tears in their eyes and a hollow ache in their soul, they went home without a baby in their arms. God held them tight as they grieved the loss of the child they had prepared for. The child who never came home to them.***We held our son close. We loved him dearly. We thanked God for him, our little miracle. A miscarriage took away his only sibling very early in pregnancy. That child existed in my womb just long enough to let me dream about the possibility of our son having a brother or a sister. Just long enough to make our family feel incomplete. Two years later, we anxiously awaited the arrival of both his brother and his sister. We read all of the adoption books, took the parenting classes, and received specific counsel regarding the adoption of older children. We knew their names, saw their pictures, met them in person, and even chatted with them by phone on a regular basis. We painted their rooms, set up the beds, and filled their closets. Over a year of paper-pregnancy gave us plenty of time to dream and envision how life would change as a family of five, rather than our intimate family of three. Our hearts and our home were more than ready for them to arrive. We didn’t foresee the glitch in our paperwork, though, that would halt our whole process. Just a few months later, we all three grieved when neither brother nor sister came home. God held out the bottle and collected our tears.***Where do you turn when the child you’ve prepared for doesn’t come home?It’s a different kind of grief. It’s a loss that must be properly and fully grieved, but it cannot be categorized with the loss of a child you have raised and already called your own. Very few understand the emptiness that follows losing a child you held in your heart but never in your arms. When I lost the kids I tried to adopt, I felt so alone. I connected more deeply with those who had lost children due to other heart-wrenching circumstances, but a guilt over my loss not being as great or tragic as theirs kept me from fully opening up. Instead, I retreated into myself, withdrawing from friends, activities, and social circles. I didn’t talk to anybody as each stage of grief set in. I just kept myself as busy as possible as I searched for something else to fill the void in my heart.I went through the shock, the numbness, and the denial for the first few months. Then when reality finally set in, the anger and emotional outbursts came. After that came the fear. The fear that it was all my fault, that it could’ve turned out differently if I would have sought more counsel in the beginning. Fear that I’d never escape this pain, this heartache, this guilt. Fear that I’d never think clearly again. Everything inside me hurt. I had two choices. I could let the bitterness continue to grow and numb my heart enough to move on, or I could reach out for the tender strength offered to me in the initial moment of loss. I chose to reach upward, taking hold of Jehovah Oz. He embraced me as I finally let the tears spill out, and then He lifted me up when I didn’t have the strength to get back up on my own. He held me steady while my whole body trembled with fear. He gently whispered my name, over and over, reassuring me He’d see me through this. He gave me breath when the grief seemed to suck away all my air. He lifted the guilt when I felt its weight might suffocate me. He spoke promises over me every day, whenever He caught my attention at random moments through specific Scriptures in a devotional, songs on the radio, e-mails from friends, or cards in the mail. His strength came through other people’s prayers for me, people I didn’t even know were praying. He showered me with His love and convinced me I could trust Him, but I had to let it go. I had to let my children go and accept His will for their lives. I had to believe He loved them and that He had not abandoned them, while at the same time I had to believe He loved me and had not abandoned me. I still grieved. I still hurt. But I found that grief eventually carries on into the light. It gave me a new sense of determination to move forward, and it led me to new relationships. I found myself stronger than before, and I found a new me clinging to a new hope. He affirmed to me that this circumstance held purpose, and He began to use me to help and encourage others. Not only those who might be grieving a loss or hurting in some way, but anyone who craved an intimacy with Christ or a greater understanding of Scripture. Anyone who wanted to experience the Strength they saw in me, a strength beyond myself. Jehovah Oz, the Lord my Strength. (Exodus 15:2)"The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.***Also known as:Jehovah-'Ez-Lami- The Lord my Strength – Psalm 28:7 (NIV) The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise him.
Jehovah-Tsori - Lord my Strength - Psalm 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Read the full story here:
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Tears-Trusting-Adoption-Surviving/dp/1943004714/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441474473&sr=8-1&keywords=Unexpected+Tears&pebp=1441474486213&perid=1QAHQC3746GZ5S9AW8HQ
August 30, 2015
New and Improved--Book 1
It's finally here! I am officially pulling From the Mountain...to the Valley...and Back! off the shelf as Unexpected Tears finally replaces it.
Here are pictures of the ABH second annual brunch yesterday, the day we officially launched Unexpected Tears (among a few other books). My friend, Fran (also the President of ABH), released her book called Widowed, and her childhood friend, Mitch, released the republication of his novel, Whispers.
Our table 
My first copy of my new and revised book (with its new title, cover, and author name)
(two of the main characters in the story, though a lot bigger now)
Here are a few new additions to this version of the book, in addition to more concise writing.
A Reader Reviews section at the front, right after the endorsements
New copyright date and name, along with a mention as to how the book was previously published.
An advertisement for the second book, still in production, right after the epilogue
At the very end of the book, God's plan for salvation is presented and outlined, step by step. This is a signature mark of every ABH book that will be published.
The best part is knowing that now that I'm published with ABH, I know that every sale of this book goes toward ministry, specifically helping pastors in other countries who have little Biblical resources in their own language, and also toward the cost of translation of those resources.
Who knew how my pursuit to self-publish my second book would lead me to become part of this amazing ministry. If you haven't checked out Authenticity Book House, please do, and please consider supporting them if you can. http://www.abhbooks.com/who-we-are/ (though the website is not yet updated with its newest books)
Here are pictures of the ABH second annual brunch yesterday, the day we officially launched Unexpected Tears (among a few other books). My friend, Fran (also the President of ABH), released her book called Widowed, and her childhood friend, Mitch, released the republication of his novel, Whispers.
Our table My first copy of my new and revised book (with its new title, cover, and author name)(two of the main characters in the story, though a lot bigger now)Here are a few new additions to this version of the book, in addition to more concise writing.
A Reader Reviews section at the front, right after the endorsements
New copyright date and name, along with a mention as to how the book was previously published.
An advertisement for the second book, still in production, right after the epilogue
At the very end of the book, God's plan for salvation is presented and outlined, step by step. This is a signature mark of every ABH book that will be published.
The best part is knowing that now that I'm published with ABH, I know that every sale of this book goes toward ministry, specifically helping pastors in other countries who have little Biblical resources in their own language, and also toward the cost of translation of those resources.
Who knew how my pursuit to self-publish my second book would lead me to become part of this amazing ministry. If you haven't checked out Authenticity Book House, please do, and please consider supporting them if you can. http://www.abhbooks.com/who-we-are/ (though the website is not yet updated with its newest books)
August 26, 2015
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that Unexpected Tears is 100% live on Amazon, both e-book and paperback, I wanted to take a few moments to answer some frequently asked questions, or even just questions that I am assuming some of you are wondering about.
Question: Why did you rewrite your first book? (From the Mountain...to the Valley...and Back!)
Answer: Honestly, I never intended to. But when I finished writing the sequel to it, I knew I wanted the books to make a perfect pair. I joined a writer's group after publishing the first book, and my writing improved and matured so much in that time. I knew I'd be much prouder of a revised edition, which I am. It's a book that I can take back to my writer's group and say, "Look at all you've taught me." Plus, now they will go together quite well since they are both under the same publisher.
Question: What makes this book (Unexpected Tears) so much different than the earlier edition?
Answer:
More active voice, less passive voiceShorter paragraphs, meaning less reader fatigueMore condensed, concise writingMore dialogue, taking you right into each sceneMore intimate detailScripture verses with each chapterAdvertisement for the coming sequel in the epilogue (Painful Waiting)The true names for three of the four "children" in the storyTrue author name, no longer a pen nameNew title (shorter)New cover (catches your eye better and draws you in emotionally)New publisher Been through several editors Extra reader reviews addedCheaper price (for the paperback)--less than $10!More availability and greater opportunity to use in ministryI am really excited about this unexpected turn in my writing "career"/ministry. I look forward to seeing all that God still wants to do with our story, and I hope you'll stay tuned as we progress toward publication of the second book, the sequel many of you have been patiently waiting for.
For my current readers, please leave a review on Amazon if our story touched your heart in any way, and pass the word on!
Thank you, ABH, for believing in me and my story enough to be part of your new ministry. I am honored to be part of it.
Question: Why did you rewrite your first book? (From the Mountain...to the Valley...and Back!)
Answer: Honestly, I never intended to. But when I finished writing the sequel to it, I knew I wanted the books to make a perfect pair. I joined a writer's group after publishing the first book, and my writing improved and matured so much in that time. I knew I'd be much prouder of a revised edition, which I am. It's a book that I can take back to my writer's group and say, "Look at all you've taught me." Plus, now they will go together quite well since they are both under the same publisher.
Question: What makes this book (Unexpected Tears) so much different than the earlier edition?
Answer:
More active voice, less passive voiceShorter paragraphs, meaning less reader fatigueMore condensed, concise writingMore dialogue, taking you right into each sceneMore intimate detailScripture verses with each chapterAdvertisement for the coming sequel in the epilogue (Painful Waiting)The true names for three of the four "children" in the storyTrue author name, no longer a pen nameNew title (shorter)New cover (catches your eye better and draws you in emotionally)New publisher Been through several editors Extra reader reviews addedCheaper price (for the paperback)--less than $10!More availability and greater opportunity to use in ministryI am really excited about this unexpected turn in my writing "career"/ministry. I look forward to seeing all that God still wants to do with our story, and I hope you'll stay tuned as we progress toward publication of the second book, the sequel many of you have been patiently waiting for.
For my current readers, please leave a review on Amazon if our story touched your heart in any way, and pass the word on!
Thank you, ABH, for believing in me and my story enough to be part of your new ministry. I am honored to be part of it.
August 24, 2015
Unexpected Tears: Good news!
Unexpected Tears: Good news!: Unexpected Tears is now available on amazon in the kindle edition. The paperback should be available in another day or two!
August 22, 2015
Trudging through unemployment
It's been four long, awkward months since Mike lost his job. Four. Long. Months. We never imagined it would take more than a month or two at the most to find something else, yet here we are.
His application and resume are all over the Garland, Wylie, Sachse, Plano, Dallas area. He's spent a ton of time and a fortune in gas to meet employers all over for interviews. They all seem to go well, but we still sit and wait, wondering when God is going to open up the right one.
"Well, we really like you, but we don't officially have an opening right now."
"Well, we're looking for someone with AC certification."
"We're hoping to find someone with more specific experience in this field."
"We're looking for someone with a CDL."
"You're a bit overqualified for this position."
"You are highly qualified for our company, but we're really just needing to hire someone 'cheaper' at this time and can't invest in another full-time employee."
"I'm sorry. We ended up hiring someone from within the organization that wanted to move up/down."
"Your experience sounds great for this position. However, we've still got 30 more applicants to interview."
"Yes, the position is still open, but there are 20 more applicants ahead of you. We will call you for an interview when we get further down the list."
"You are one of 74 interviews today." (He even made it to the top 5 that day, but then we never heard anything more after that.)
Each "rejection" makes you wonder if you should be pursuing this or that certification and training, but how do you even know where to start? Which one do you pursue? How much do you invest in doing so?
I have my days where I battle quite a bit of discouragement, but I really don't like camping out there for too long. It's too depressing. I have to look around and count my blessings to remind myself of everything that is going right rather than what appears to be going wrong. I am going to choose to err on the side of faith here, continuing to believe that God has a specific assignment for Mike, a specific job either waiting on him or that's not even available yet. We both pray for His guidance, peace, and patience every day, and I thank God every day for whatever job He is going to bring his way in His time.
Thankfully, (but unfortunately), we know of a few other people in the exact same position, out of work for almost just as long now or even longer. We take comfort in that because it shows us just how hard it is to find a job right now, no matter what income level you're trying to replace. It helps to know you're not alone.
I know one thing. I have a whole new compassion for people going through a job loss. It's hard, and it can be scary.
Thanks for your prayers. God has answered several very personal and specific prayers over the last few months, so I know He is listening. There must be a purpose for this delay.
His application and resume are all over the Garland, Wylie, Sachse, Plano, Dallas area. He's spent a ton of time and a fortune in gas to meet employers all over for interviews. They all seem to go well, but we still sit and wait, wondering when God is going to open up the right one.
"Well, we really like you, but we don't officially have an opening right now."
"Well, we're looking for someone with AC certification."
"We're hoping to find someone with more specific experience in this field."
"We're looking for someone with a CDL."
"You're a bit overqualified for this position."
"You are highly qualified for our company, but we're really just needing to hire someone 'cheaper' at this time and can't invest in another full-time employee."
"I'm sorry. We ended up hiring someone from within the organization that wanted to move up/down."
"Your experience sounds great for this position. However, we've still got 30 more applicants to interview."
"Yes, the position is still open, but there are 20 more applicants ahead of you. We will call you for an interview when we get further down the list."
"You are one of 74 interviews today." (He even made it to the top 5 that day, but then we never heard anything more after that.)
Each "rejection" makes you wonder if you should be pursuing this or that certification and training, but how do you even know where to start? Which one do you pursue? How much do you invest in doing so?
I have my days where I battle quite a bit of discouragement, but I really don't like camping out there for too long. It's too depressing. I have to look around and count my blessings to remind myself of everything that is going right rather than what appears to be going wrong. I am going to choose to err on the side of faith here, continuing to believe that God has a specific assignment for Mike, a specific job either waiting on him or that's not even available yet. We both pray for His guidance, peace, and patience every day, and I thank God every day for whatever job He is going to bring his way in His time.
Thankfully, (but unfortunately), we know of a few other people in the exact same position, out of work for almost just as long now or even longer. We take comfort in that because it shows us just how hard it is to find a job right now, no matter what income level you're trying to replace. It helps to know you're not alone.
I know one thing. I have a whole new compassion for people going through a job loss. It's hard, and it can be scary.
Thanks for your prayers. God has answered several very personal and specific prayers over the last few months, so I know He is listening. There must be a purpose for this delay.
One more week!
A week from today, I should be holding my new and revised book, Unexpected Tears, in my hands. It's been a long time in the making, totally not my original plan. But I am pleased with how it turned out and how nicely the two books will go together when that one comes out.
From the Mountain...to the Valley...and Back!
Note to all my previous readers: This is still Book 1--just a much better version of it. The last page of this book advertises the cover of the second book still in production, Painful Waiting. A long, tedious, and somewhat confusing process that will be totally worth it in the end.
August 13, 2015
Let.it.go!
Look how I spent my last day of summer! I finally got brave enough to try the front car on the roller coasters. That picture was the Texas Giant (by far the smoothest roller coaster in the park), but I also rode in the front on the Titan, which was much scarier and thrilling than I expected. However, those hands in the air are Mike's, not mine. I was definitely the one holding on for dear life (and screaming my heart out).
I'm so glad David was able to take the picture of us. It was the perfect end to an interesting summer.
