Yesterday -- Labor Day

What did you do? I took my mother to see a close, old friend, about a half hour's drive. He's in the VA hospital and seemed to enjoy it so much. I was really glad we went. What a blessing older folk are, if we'll let them!

At home, I did some minor cleaning, prepared a new dessert. That evening friends and one son came for a cookout. The air was crisp, the fire warm, the food tasty. My dessert: what a flop! Everyone said they liked it, but . . . It was an ice cream dessert and hadn't hardened enough. Enough said?

We had a grand time eating though, feeding my spoiled animals, and talking till late. One young friend (14 & a girl!) loves to gig frogs (YUK). She threatened to go after my frogs in my fishpond. No way, I answered. Won't mention her name but the initials are KR. So there, KR, you got your name (sort of) in print.

My novel synopsis is just about ready. Another friend playacted out my novel repesentation with me this morning. She was such a help! With God's help, I just might make it through this editor thing.

A tip for the MW: Fall is in the air! Yeah. It's always been a favorite time for me. Anyhow . . . since we've got cool weather lined up, shortly, let's think about food.

Hmmm. What's easier than casseroles and soup?

1. Take a half hour, sit down, and jot down three good casseroles and/or soups you like, fix well, or can get your hands on.
2. Then take an afternoon and prepare these up ahead of time.
3. Make two of each. Since you're cooking, might as well use that energy for two as one.
4. Pick out one for supper that night, label, and use later as needed.

• Too busy to cook one day? Grab a frozen meal, add some greens (if wanted)and a crusty bread, and there it is. Your meal ready for that hungry family of yours.
• Got some unexpected company? There's all those prepared-ahead-of-time meals, ready to serve.
• Need to do some encouraging, take something in to a bereaved family, a new one in the neighborhood?
• You have to substitute host a group meeting? No problem!

Tomorrow: more on tempting those picky eaters.

A quote for you today: Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf's a flower. --Albert Camus

Blessings on your day and evening.

Favorite Things
What a topic. Everyone has favorite stuff they enjoy, eat, watch, read, etc.
Here's a few of mine:
a fireplace in the winter
a good book or tape
rain that shuts me in the house to enjoy a break
brownies
Simon, Sandy, Twitch, Snuggles, and Tipper, my cats
writing on my novels
eating out w/my favorite guy--Dan
talking with my favorite guy--see above
Christmas
spring
my water garden

Enough for now. More later . . .

Your quote for today:
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning. --Louis Lamour

A tip for the minister's wife:
Begin your own list of favorite things. Add to it everyday. Make it a practice to thank God for so many wonderful things in your life. Enjoy your list.

See ya next week,
Keep writing, or whatever. I've got a synopsis to finish on my inspirational love novel, so gotta get busy.

Blessings.

Lost

Oh, brother. I've lost three things this week. And all three major items, not just my head, or an old shoe. Important stuff.

So, what to do? Look for it, obviously. Pray. Plead earnestly actually. And desperately. Look some more. Repeat all of the above. I must have searched through the house and the car and my purse three times last night.

On to other things . . .
I'm getting headaches from figuring out my synopses thing-a-ma-jigs. Like how to make them interesting enough an editor jumps up and down, and begs for my manuscript. Like how to get them so enticing editors bid on them.

Yep, I said bid. As in auction for a piece of work. Yikes. I think I'd be satisfied for just one editor to give me a slight nod. Yes, I'd like to see your work. Oh, well.

A tip for all you ministers' wives:
Have a fun night with your kids and/or hubby cooking supper and cleaning up afterwards. What? You don't like pizza again? Who cares? Gets you out of the kitchen (or at least, at the table watching) and maybe you can squeeze in a few minutes for relaxation, devotions or something else important to you.


And your quote for today:

Aim for the stars so you can hit the moon!

Don't you just love the stars? Brilliant-sparkly white in all that dark sky? Mysterious, and fun, and wonderful to dream under.



See ya tommorrow, and

blessings . . .

ACFW

American Christian Fiction Writers. Why am I so hepped up on this conference? Well, let me see if I can name a few of the reasons:
* I've gotten tons of info from their email loop
* I'll get to meet and talk with some of the best christian editors in the U.S.
* I'll maybe have a chance to obtain an agent
* I'll get to make new friends with other writers
* I'll get to meet my critique partners.
* I get a critique from a well published author.

Is that enough?
September 21st through 24th are the dates. Liz Curtis Higgs is the main speaker, with many other well established writers participating in the workshops. I'd urge you to check it out. Even the letters ACFW will take you to their website. Do it. Today.

Your quote of the day: Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. --Theodore Seuss Giesel
Cool, huh?

Here's . . . that tip for all you ministers wives:

Anyway possible of finding out ahead of time what your visitors like to eat? Or dislike? If you can, that's a great bonus in preparing the meals that'll delight everyone. But, you know, don't sweat it. Cook what you do best and hope for the best. If all else fails have a few staples on hand, like a frozen batch of homemade soup, or a tasty casserole in the freezer. That'll save the day when you're running late. And most of all, don't spend all your time in the kitchen preparing fancy meals while everyone else is enjoying themselves outside. Delegate the chores, keep it simple, and you'll have fun, too.

Blessings to all. Have a great weekend. See you Tuesday, next week.

Minister's wife: Tips

TIP OF THE DAY . . . for the minister's wife:
Do you entertain much? Feel inadequate in making that not-very-well-known visitor comfortable? Try these ideas:
* Prepare a welcome basket. Include such things as travel-sized lotion, shampoo, band-aids, small notepad and pencil/pen, some hard candy like peppermints, and any other thing that comes to mind.
* Have a table and chair so they can write
* A good comfortable chair
* Plenty of pillows
Some don'ts:
* Get rid of all the souvenirs and knick knacks you've collected and stored in that spare room. They're in the way and if accidentally broken, makes for an uncomfortable situation, something you're trying to avoid. Remember: keep it simple.
* expect for them to cram their clothes in an already overfilled closet. Remove your winter clothes and all those you can't wear anymore. Have a nice empty closet. They'll love you for it.
How do I know these are essential to your visitors? Been there, done that. I've entertained and visited in homes for over twenty-nine years as a minister's wife.
Happy entertaining!

Interested in writing? Have you registered at American Christian Fiction Writer's conference yet? It's the premier writing conference. Check it out. More later . . .

Did I tell you I'm a writer? (among many other things) I write christian suspense, romance, and children's books.

Here's your quote for the day: Small numbers make no difference to God. There is nothing small if God is in it. -- Dwight L. Moody

Blessings

Famous writer

Ha. That was just to get your attention.

What's it feel like to get your picture in a local newspaper because you're part of a group of writers who put together a self-published book?

Pretty good. Hey, some review is better than none.

Anyhow, it's part of the process of writing and publishing. Besides doing the agony (joy) of writing, you get to edit, edit, edit, edit, create one-sheets, write a synopsis, research a market plan, write up a pitch, print our professional business cards (several different kinds, no less), work through your nerves, spend a lot of money going to a writer's conference (have fun), meet some new friends, hear some great speakers, get a chance to talk to agents and editors, tremble with anticipation for that request (send me a sample), and finally, finally, someday, reach your goal. Hold your published book in your hands.

Of course, that's not the end of it. If you want your book to sell, you gotta put that marketing plan (see above) into practice. Visit bookstores and any other stores that sell books, set up signings, print bookmarks and other marketing tools, give speeches (on your book, or at least bring your topic around to your book in some sneaky way), bore everyone around you with the only topic you really want to talk about (writing), blog, set up a webpage, and oh, probably a dozen other things I haven't mentioned yet.

So all that brings us to our quote for the day: Advance confidently in the direction of your dreams! -- Henry David Thoreau

Minister wives: You're Tip of the Day: Call a friend and tell them they're appreciated. It'll make their day, and yours. You'll be surprised at the response you'll get, at the delight that will seep through that phone into your ear and down to your heart.

And by the way: I'll post mostly on Tuesdays through Fridays.

Blessings

Wonderful Words

Words.

Aren't they the most amazing things? and look at what can be done with them.

Tear down, hurt, or bash someone.
Or better still: encourage, bless, pray for others.
You can write with them: Articles, letters, books, journals.
You can share your feelings through them: Memories, musings, dreams.
And blog. Ah, yes! The rage of the century.

Look at that word in the title of this blog: meandering. Isn't that a totally lovely word? What does it bring to mind? Lazy, clear water brooks? Paths that amble through woods or fields? A stroll through a loved park? Maybe you like to meander through the library, searching for the right book to carry home and read by the fire or in a favorite chair.

More on that subject later.

An important announcement:
The American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference coming up.
When? Thursday, September 21, 2006 and Sunday, September 24, 2006
Where? Dallas, Texas at the Marriott Quorum at the Galleria
Check out their website for more information:
www.americanchristianfictionwriters.com

If you're a writer, or even an aspiring one, this is the up and coming event to attend.

A Quote to make your day . . . hmmm . . . how about this one:
"And thou shall be secure, because there is hope." --Job 11:18

And for you who stand beside your husband as he serves in the ministry, here's An Idea. Of course, you've heard it many times, but doesn't make it any less true. Sometimes we need the reinforcement of an idea on our minds and in our hearts. Take some time out today, for yourself. It doesn't matter whether its five minutes or the whole afternoon. Just do it. Here's some of my favorite ways:

* Take a sudsy bath with a special scent lavishly sprinkled in.
* Talk to your pets
* Take a walk--somewhere, anywhere
* Begin a journal, or pick up that neglected one. Make an entry, share your innermost feelings.
* Laugh for the sheer joy of hearing your voice. Laugh for the sheer healthiness of it.
* Forgive someone. And if you have no one to forgive, then pray for someone.

If you don't like those suggestions, think of one of your own. Something you especially like. Just be sure to do it. Today. Remember the old adage: tomorrow never comes.

Blessings.