An unexpected surprise!

I met with a publisher at the She Speaks conference this year to pitch my "tween" Christian book. I ran the idea past a publisher at She PSeaks two years ago when it was just that: an idea. I han't written a word. The publisher liked the idea and gave me permission to submit it when I actually had a story on paper.

Fast forward to this year: I met with a different representative of the same company, and this time I brought about 20 pages worth for her to look over. She graciously accepted all the pitches from our group session, and said that she hoped to review them within the next six months. I am completely still a novice in the publishing world, but I knew from my past experience was a realistic number. That was June 23rd.

Today, while my husband was sorting through the mail, he asked me who this publisher on the return address is. I turned to see him holding in his hand the standard, SASE with my upside-down triangle stamp from the conference. I knew not only from stamp, but that this is the only publisher I've submitted it to so far. And usually those SASE's contain rejection letters.

Needless to say I was disappointed, but I opened it anyway. Maybe there was some advice or comments to aid in improving it for the next publisher prospect.

Much to my surprise, it was a simple letter inviting me to submit my full manuscript! I was excited, but not really surprised. I know how arrogant that sounds, but hear me out.

The only way that I can explain this is that I believe completely that God wants me to write this book. It's just something I know. And I'm trying to be obedient to that call, although it has taken make quite a while. When God gives you an assignment, He will carry it through to completion. Phillipians 1:6 says "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

I have no doubt that some day this book will be published. Even if I don't get picked up by a big publishing house and have to do it myself. This book will be published.

So, for know, I will finish writing the book,and see where God takes it....

Free stuff - just tell me why you want it by August 1st

I finally had to clean up my side of the closet. I am a fanatic knitter. (Yes, Marybeth. I was the one at She Speaks who yelled "Whoo-hoo"' about knitting blogs.) Maybe it would be more accurate to say that I am a fanatic yarn collector. I didn't count how many balls, hanks and skeins of yarn I had. I've got soft yarn, scratchy yarn, fat yarn, skinny yarn, fuzzy yarn, cheap yarn, expensive yarn, ribbon yarn, and lots of other yarn. I don't know how many naked sheep are grazing somewhere because I have their wool, but it's a lot. Really.

I guess I'll just say that I am immeasurably blessed. Instead of shoes or handbags (Micca), I love yarn. And then I make purses out of it! Sometimes, anyway. I love making kids stuff. Baby hats and toys the most. Or tiny clothes. Maybe I'll try posting pictures of them. I can't finish big projects. I get bored and have to put them away before I even remotely finish them.

Anyway, I discovered two "learn to knit" kits and one "learn to crochet" kit buried in my closet. I used to have a knitting ministry in the neonatal intensive care unit that my last son spent 11 days in. I tried to teach the moms with babies there to knit, but I couldn't get any help teaching and I let my human-ness burn me out, wear me down, and talk me into quitting. I took my focus off of God and what He wanted do accomplish through me, and instead turned the focus on myself and what I could, or couldn't, do. I know now that was a mistake to give up. But I'm letting God handle it this time. He'll let me know if I should try it again.

So, in the meantime, I knit things and give them to charity. A scarf for a college student who is an orphan through the Red Scarf project at Orphan.org. Caps for kids in need everywhere. Teddy bears for traumatized children. Chemo caps for cancer patients. It's very rewarding...

Sorry, off on a tangent. So, I don't need these kits anymore, and they are up for grabs! Tell me why you want to learn, or who you will give it to, and I will announce the winners August 1 after my much-needed vacation. I thought they would be great for teen girls to introduce them to "giving back" to the community. Just a thought....

Be creative, and good luck!!

What I Learned Fishing

As you saw in my post from Saturday, I gave up my selfish desires and went along with my husband's plans for our family. Out of all his possibilities, we only went fishing. Thank goodness. It was quite hot, like I knew it would be. So, I felt quite disgusting when we were done, like I knew I would be.

We had a few minor meltdowns, but overall it was fun. We went to a stocked pond, and we all caught at least one fish. We brought home seven fat rainbow trout which we grilled for dinner.

So what did I learn?

1. I still like fishing in general.
2. I still don't like the actual fish, or worms.
3. I still don't like getting sweaty and stinky.
4. I am SO THANKFUL that I do not work at a trout pond and have to gut and clean fish. God bless all you women who can do this!! I guess I would have starved as a pioneer woman! It is SO worth 75 cents per fish to have someone clean them for you!!!

In closing, my plans may sound good, but it IS possible to have a good time when you go along with someone else's plans. Like maybe God's plans, when He asks you to something you don't want to do, or don't understand. His plans are ALWAYS better than anything we can dream up...

Happy Fishing!!

I Love My Daddies!

I read a post from Beth Moore's daughter Amanda on the Living Proof Ministries blog. It was a birthday tribute to her dad and Beth's husband, Keith. I couldn't resist posting a comment there, but I think it bears repeating here. Check out Amanda's entry: http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com

Here's what I wrote in response:

How this makes me think of my daddy! The one who let me ruin one recliner after another because I insisited on squeezing in it beside him every night, and loosened the arms right off. The one who affectionately called me "The Boss." The daddy some of my friends wished was their daddy. The one who fixed my swingset. The one who let me sit in his lap when he was an usher at church. The one who still drives around in the snow, looking to help someone who slid into a ditch, for free. The one who repairs cars for next to nothing. The one who, even at 79 years of age, cuts wood and gives it to those in need.

I always thought my dad was a real sweetie. But the older I get, the more I can see my Heavenly Father in my earthly father. All the things my dad does that makes him so beloved in the community are reflections of the presence of our God in him.

We can inherit many things from our fathers: high cholesterol, blue eyes, a love of coffee, and hard-headedness (all of which I got from MY dad) to name a few. I hope that I inherit enough of his good traits, and especially of my Savior's good traits, that my heritage will be easy for anyone to see...

Show all the Daddies (especially your Heavenly One!) in your life that you love them today!!

Not MY idea...

I swim daily in a sea of testosterone. I, along with my poor mother-in-law, live with my tall, dark and handsome husband and three blond haired, blue eyes boys. Every Saturday the testosterone peaks to an all-time high! I will be barely out of bed, halfway through my first cup of coffee when my honey Jeff is crying out, "Let's go!!" And he means RIGHT THEN. I am always still in my PJ's, no make-up, teeth unbrushed, hair a mess, and he's ready to leave. I hate to say, but this often starts my Saturday's off in a very grumpy mood.

I deal with this a lot, and even ran across a list of possible writing topics for devotions this morning. This was at the top: "Don't be a party pooper. Have fun with the kids." Like I said, I DEAL with this a lot. God has to gently remind me that it can actually be fun to do all those "boy" things, even if you are a bit of a girly-girl.

My ideal Saturday is more like this: my hot coffee and I get to read, or write uninterrupted for a while. I can nap if I wish. Or I can work in the yard. Or I can go shopping. Or clean house if I force myself.

Did you notice all the "I"'s in there? Oh.

Well, it seems that I really should spend more time with my family. The work week is chaotic, so fun family time is really needed in my house on the weekends. I need to die, yet again, to my own selfish desires (which are really not going to happen anyway: writing uninterrupted? No way!) and focus on my family. And what my sweet heavenly Daddy is telling me to.

So today, I am about to do one or some combo of the following with all my boys:

1. Go fishing. I actually enjoy this, except for the worms and the actual fish. Yuk!
2. Golf driving range. Again, I enjoy, but it's 90 degrees out today. Can you say, "Heat Stroke?"
3. Linville Caverns. Cool, but almost 2 hours away. I am not spending 4 hours riding in a truck with 4 sweaty boys and a cooler of dead fish. Again, YUK!
4. Whatever else my husband said that I tuned out.

My ideal Saturday? No. But today, I think it is God's ideal Saturday for me...

Special Thanks!

Thanks go 0ut to Marybeth Whalen, whose class at She Speaks encouraged me to start my own blog. She also shared my story with Lysa TerKeurst, who wrote the book I mention in that story. And Lysa became the first person to leave me a comment! (Thanks Lysa!) I know that seems silly, but I find it quite exciting to know that someone besides me has read my blog! Not only was Lysa my first comment, she also wrote about all of this on her blog. You can check it out here:

www.lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com

The post is called "The Power of a Pause." She's just incredible, as is her ministry, Proverbs 31. Look in to that it as well at www.proverbs31.org.

Marybeth can be found in many places, but I find it easiest to go to www.marybethwhalen.com. She's a wonderful writer as well.


Happy reading!!

Divine Appointment in the Produce Section

I bought “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” by Lysa TerKeurst at the She Speaks conference this year. I’m trying very hard to listen to God, to learn to hear Him better. And to do what He asks. I’ve realized recently that I get distracted by the good I try to do. The search for the next great ministry, for my “place” to serve became like an idol. My focus stopped being on God. I didn’t even realize it, since my quest was to find a way to serve God. I guess even good things can trip you up…

In Lysa’s book, she shares a prayer that she says before getting out of bed every morning, and I have adopted it as well. It goes like this: “Lord, today I want to see you. I want to hear you. I want to know you, and I want to follow hard after you.”

So yesterday, I had to go to the grocery store (which I hate). While in the produce section, I saw an older gentleman asking the high-school-age stocker where the 99-cent tomatoes were. As I looked at him, I noticed his physical condition. He was walking with a cane, and was using that same hand to push his cart. One arm was much shorter than the other, and didn’t seem to work very well. He was struggling just to get around. I knew I should help him. So I did.

I showed him the tomatoes. I found a produce bag for him, and held it open while he filled it. He asked, “About how much is that?” I replied, “I don’t know. How much do you want?” “Oh, about four pounds. I like tomatoes,” he smiled. So I weighed them for him. Only three pounds. He said that was good enough, and thanked me for my help.

I retrieved my shopping cart and went about my shopping. I felt like I should help him finish, and as each aisle passed I felt worse and worse because I hadn’t. Then we met once again. This time, I offered to assist him again, but he declined. I felt better at having at least tried. But I still felt a little bad for not staying with him from the beginning. I saw him several more times throughout the store, and he looked just pitiful. My heart ached for this poor soul, as I pictured him loading these groceries into a car, and trying to drive. I could visualize him in my mind unloading his groceries, carrying one bag at a time with his good hand, which also held his cane.

I didn’t want to seem pushy, so even though I wanted to do more for him, I didn’t ask. He had already turned me down.

I think my grocery store trip was really a divine appointment. I know that God urged me to help that old man. Did I succeed? I do believe I was obedient, but I just don’t know if I accomplished everything God wanted. I may never know the answer to that.

But God answered my morning prayer. I saw God in that grocery store. I heard Him tell me to help that perfect stranger. I knew what God’s will was – to help “the least of these.” And by doing so, I followed hard after Him. I believe that I took the first step to becoming a woman who says “yes” to God, and THAT is exciting…