ONE YEAR AGO TODAY...
On January 28, 2010, I was standing in the veterinarian's office picking up some cat food when my phone rang. It was the Hospice nurse calling to tell me my beloved mother had just died. (The assisted living home where she resided was my next stop after purchasing the cat's food.) I knew it was coming, and I had even prayed for it, considering the stage she'd reached with her Alzheimer's, that wicked disease, but it still took me by such surprise. I've reached the conclusion that nothing truly prepares you for the loss of a loved one.
As I look back over the year, I'm reminded anew of God's wondrous grace, mercy, and love. Even in loss, and especially in loss, He sticks "closer than a brother". (Proverbs 18:24 says: "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a man who sticks closer than a brother.")
Above is a photo of Mom taken two and a half years ago with my granddaughter and me. She was a precious soul, beloved by ALL, but mostly by her Heavenly Father.
I miss her so much on this particular day. I love you, Mom.
PURRY FURRY FRIENDS...
My daughter and her hubby gutted their kitchen for a full remodeling project, so for the last couple of months their jet black kitty has made her home with us. I think she's going home tomorrow, though (boohoo), and I'm going to miss her, so I thought I'd take a picture of her sprawled out on the bed with my Himalayan/Siamese. They have grown to become good buddies.
Aren't they cute?============
And by the way, I've been on a "blog roll" the last couple of days, so if you haven't checked out the previous posts, don't forget to do it. YOU'LL MAKE MY DAY! Oh, and make a comment, too, as I always get so giddy when people do that.Giant HUGS!!!!!
Say CHEEEEESE!
Haha! This is what you get when you tell your two-year-old grandson (for at least the 10th time) to say cheese for the camera. He was getting pretty sick of the whole thing. And if you didn't guess it already, he was screaming it!
CAN ANYBODY RELATE? (Umm, calling all 'oldsters'...)
An elderly husband and wife were suffering with some memory issues and during a recent checkup their doctor assured them they were in good health but advised they start jotting down notes to aid them in remembering things. Later that night while watching TV the wife asked the husband to get her a bowl of ice cream. The old man got out of his chair to head for the kitchen.
"You better write it down or you'll forget," his wife said.
"No I won't. You want a bowl of ice cream."
"I want some strawberries on it. You better write that down or you'll forget it."
"I can remember that," he argued. "You want ice cream with strawberries."
"Oh, I also want some whipped cream on top. You better write it down, though, or you'll forget that for sure."
"I won't forget!" he said, irritated. "You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream on top."
Twenty-minutes passed before the old guy finally scuffled back into the TV room with a plate of bacon and eggs.
His wife leaned forward to stare at the plate of food. "Hey, where's my toast?"
I just HAVE to say this...I am called to be a writer. Jesus called me to it 10 years ago on a hot summer day in 2000. I might have ignored that teeny tiny voice, but instead I walked to my computer, sat down, and vowed to see if I could get beyond page one of a story stirring in my head. And I did! At the time, though, I didn't realize this sudden urge to create stories had come from God. Only as time went by, and that strong desire didn't dissipate, did I recognize it as a "call" upon my life, something I knew I had to do as much as I knew I had to breathe.
Unfortunately, receiving an all-important call from God means only that He will equip us for the work, not that He'll do it for us. No, he gives us the motivation and urge, and even the strength, but the work is up to us. Most days, writing is pure pleasure. I love being able to tell my characters how to behave, what to do, and where to go. I love directing their dialogue, their thoughts, and creating their scenes - even though most times it feels as if they are the ones with the minds. Some days, though (like today), I sit in front of my computer and dawdle over the same few sentences and paragraphs, wasting, it would seem, my entire day.
Those are the days God calls me to persevere, to shove through, to continue the course. Even through the doldrums, when life gets tedious and things don't go as I'd like, God expects me to plod along. I'm not talking just writing here now, peeps, I'm talking the day to day stuff, the daily grind - when nothing terribly exciting is happening. God says, "Keep going, trust Me, I have a plan and purpose, and I need you to stretch yourself, expand your vision, see beyond the tedious to the extraordinary."
Some days are bumpy, uncertain, and downright impassable, but when I place my full trust and confidence in God, He sees me through these times. And guess what else...He will do the same for you.
STEP BACK IN TIME WITH ME...
I love old pictures! And this one especially appeals to me. Don't know who the girl is or what the occasion was for the photo, but the way she's standing there next to that fancy car in snazzy clothes and wearing a lush fur coat makes me think she's set for a night on the town.
There is something about the 1920s that really intrigues me. How about you? Think dance halls, flappers, prohibition, the mafia, speakeasies, automobiles, telephones, and the onset of the Depression era. Currently, I'm working on a series set in Wabash, Indiana called "River of Hope", and its setting is the 1920s. Anytime I write a historical series, I wrap myself up in that particular era - in other words, I eat, sleep, and drink it, which is what I'm doing now.
Take a closer look at this picture. (You can click on it to enlarge!) What do you see when you look into that young lady's eyes? Hope? Hidden hurts? Love? Innocence? Or maybe mischief? I would love to know the story behind this image, but I guess I'll just have to rely on my imagination. I could build an entire story around this photo. Hmm, maybe I will.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY BELOVED FRIENDS!
Is it possible that another year has come and gone? It seems like only yesterday 2010 came marching through the door, and now we're ushering in yet another year? I JUST got used to writing 2010!
As I reflect over 2010, I think of the gains and losses, the happy times and sad, and yet I'm also reminded of the blessing of God's constant faithfulness no matter what comes my way.
I pray this year will bring you bounteous joys and blessings from above and that in spite of difficult times, you'll always be filled with hope, recalling God's FOREVER presence and goodness.
In fact, may this be the verse you carry with you throughout the New Year:"For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him. So be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope in the Lord." Ps. 31: 23a, 24I LOVE YOU ALL!
