More than a 1000 Words

If I could write the emotion this picture displays... Dog mourns the death of his master, Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, was one of 30 Americans killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 6 when a rocket-propelled grenade took out a U.S. Chinook helicopter.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice Jon, and to your family and dog too. God is the God of ALL comfort.

United we stand, divided we fall.

Having a Garage Sale

So, Tony and I are having a "no one wants to buy your crap" garage sale. We cleaned out closets and drawers on Wednesday, organized the garage and ta-da, we're all set to sell our unwantable-closet-clutter to the masses.

So far... no one wants to buy our crap.

Can't say as I blame them, but we have some nice knick-knack stuff. some Christmas paraphernalia that I am too lazy to put out during the holiday, some candleish stuff, books galore.

We sold a few big items, but here's where we made the most money.

An older man stopped by and asked if we had any old coin. As a matter, yeah, we do. When I was in my early twenties, someone gave me a bunch of old coins - silver dollars, dimes, old money.

Tony and I go digging around in the house. We just cleaned so you think we'd know where the coinage lived. Nope. But! Never fear, there were only two tubs we didn't bother and sure enough, one tub had the coins.

As the man went through them, figuring out an offer, he told us his testimony. He was a heathen, he said, a partying Navy man, then a cabinet maker, an alcoholic, in the bars more than with his family.

When he was forty, he fell and hurt his hip. Stuck in bed, watching TV, he ordered Playboy from the toll free number, then went to the bathroom. There he said, God spoke to him

"You don't need that."

The man teared up as he told of his God encounter. "It wasn't an audible voice, but... I HEARD Him."

A few minutes later, he went out and turned on the TV, finding Richard Roberts preaching. It was one of those divine moments where the TV preacher really was preaching to one man.

Our coin hunter said for fifteen minutes, the televangelist spoke directly to him. He dropped to his knees, gave his life to Jesus, poured out five bottles of liquor, had his wife go all through the house and removed the porn and anything else he felt the Lord urged him to throw out.

Man, it made our day to hear him. God is so amazingly good. The man offered me good money for my coins, and went on his way.

Even better, Tony gave me the coin money for some retail therapy!

Meanwhile, Pal and Lola are quite distressed they cannot help in the garage sale. We could let them in the garage with us, but if they see one leaf fluttering down the road, off they'll go! And we live on a semi-busy street.

At 9:00, we decided to just give the stuff away. It's so fun to watch people's faces when we say, "Take what you want, it's free!" And seriously, there are some nice things on the tables. I have good taste.

As for the books, we ask people what they like to read, then I find a Christian author to match there taste. I've given away Kristin Billerbeck, Colleen Coble and Brandilyn Collins. Now, least you say, "Rachel, you're giving books away and that's not helping the author," I say, "Yes, but I'm turning people onto these readers who would never buy them otherwise."

It's PR. Otherwise, yes, please, buy the author's books. Help a starving artist.

In other news. . .

I'm starting a three book series with a co-author! I had to be a tad clock-n-dagger about it for awhile, but I can begin to leak information now.

This collaboration has a huge testimony on my end and as the days go by, I'll share it with my cyber friends.

Anyway, I met my co-author last week at her home in Nashville. She's the name, Big Name, I'm the wanna-be. :) We talked for several hours about books and story, and felt really comfortable with each other.

So, it's all exciting and very much a God thing. Please, no matter where you are in life, what you're struggling with, just BELIEVE!! God is good. God is love. God is for you.

Oh, while in Nashville I hung out with my lovely and talented editor, Ami McConnell, my sweet agent, Katie Sulkowski, and went to the Bluebird Cafe with Katie and my good Nelson buddies, Lisa Young, and Katie Schroder.

It's been lovely to have a few months off writing to regenerate. I had a minor health issue to deal with, but the Lord has taken care of it. I'm really excited about this new series. In fact, last night I was sitting in Friday night prayer, soaking in the Lord's presence and said to Tony, "I feel like I know these characters already." Don't you know, I teared up.

My barking dogs

And I don't mean my feet. Hahaha, get it. "My dogs are barking..."

Well, okay, never mind.

My dog, dogs, you know them Pal and Lola, bark. Yep. Not all the time, but Pal lays by the front window looking out, then goes berserk when something goes by: another dog, a person on a bike way, way down the road, the school bus, and the piece de resistance (snicker,) a squirrel.

Yet when Lola first moved in with us two months ago. She didn't bark at things passing by the window. No siree Bob, she didn't. But Pal taught her. Nice doggy.

She has this shrill kind of bark that makes my heart pound. But I'm so happy she's participating in family traditions, I hardly mind.

When I open the back door from them to run out and bark, Lola fires into the yard with Pal, rou-rou-rouing away.

Pal looks at her, she looks up at him, "Isn't this fun?"

They are good friends. Nothing like the turmoil with Jack and Pal. I couldn't have handled  another second of that gig.

Pal seems to endure Lola, if not appreciate her at times.

Red, on the other hand, is still an ornery cat and behaves as if all the world is his on a silver platter.

Off to Fire Dweller. Got to fill those "bowls!" Rev 8

 

Updates on a boring life

Okay, life has been a little boring lately - I'm happy to report.

Not boring to me, but just no a whole heck of a lot to report. Life is status quo and I'm glad!

I am feeling quite ranty about politics, but I'll refrain from spewing here. I'll say this, "Think, people, think. Listen! With both ears, your heart and your head!"

Ask questions, don't just go, "Hmm, that sounds good."

Ask how? When? Why? What will it cost me and my children, and future Americans?

Moving on... I have the galleys for "Love Starts With Elle" and will be reading over them the next few days.

I'm teaching a workshop Saturday at the Daytona RWA chapter. My topic is "The Third Character - Universal Truth."

It took me awhile to put it together, but it turned out really nice. In the near future, you can down load the class from MyBookTherapy.

Sometimes the best way to learn about writing is to teach.

Our little dog Lola is doing great. She's so cute. Between hanging around our other dog, Pal, and our cat, Red, her personality has blossomed.

The cat bit the bottom of my foot Sunday afternoon. Good thing he doesn't have front claws or my leg would've been torn up. He's a grumpy old man, that Red. I was on the couch watching a movie, Gridiron Gang, and he hopped up on the cushion by my foot.

Next thing I know? Mortal pain. I think he was mad because he wanted to sit with me, but I had Lola on my lap.

Five days later, it still hurts, but I can walk without hobbling now.

Yes, Red lived. I didn't kill him. He's sixteen so his days are numbered anyway.

Lost 5.5 pounds on Weight Watchers in three weeks. I'm happy with that considering the cat bite and another minor heath issue has impeded my exercise routine.

But never fear, I'm on the mend.

Did you hear about the healing revival breaking out in Lakeland with evangelist Todd Bently? Very cool. Check out the details at www.freshfire.ca.

We are praying for the same here in our county. This Sunday, the pastors made room for extended worship to focus on the Lord and pray for people. And, ah, we have to do an unplugged set because our drummers are going camping.

Hmm...

My "daughter" Cassie will be helping with worship this September for American Christian Fiction Writers. She is full time staff for the Night Watch at the International House of Prayer-KC. She's a worship leader and bass player for Misty Edward's band.

My other "daughter," Cassie's sister Carrie will be with us too. She's a writer for the State of Florida and one of the most compassionate people I know.

I'm working on a new story idea, too. Will keep you posted.

This is weird, I'm addicted to Gilmore Girl reruns. Yeah, go figure. I loved the show, but so hated the way the writers ended the series I had no interest in reruns.

But, now, I'm hooked.

Lola Eaten by A Pit Bull

Almost!

Man, it was scary.

Today was a cool day in central Florida, so taking advantage of the weather, Tony and I took Pal and Lola on a late afternoon walk. I needed to stretch and break from rewrites for a few minutes.

Lola is doing great - has a new bed and new leash.

We're strolling along one of our routes and as we near a corner house, a man is trying to corral a dog in his yard. But she would have none of it, maneuvered around him, ran straight for us and JUMPED on Lola. I'm not kidding.

So, I do what I can - scream. Which always helps.

Tony goes for her collar, misses, but it makes the pit bull move enough so I can get Lola free. Poor thing. I'm pulling by the leash and can't get her in my arms fast enough so she's dangling by the neck.

The pit bull started to go for Pal which would've been a fight-fight, but the owner arrived on scene and snatched up the mean dog. The lady-owner hit her with her hand on it's back side a few times which I thought, "Geez, she doesn't even know what she did. How are you helping?"

They apologized to us, but wow, it was scary. That happened to me once before with good ole Jack. A Mastiff jumped him after they sniffed noses and hind parts.

But this pit bull did not even hesitate. She went right for little Lola.

Tony said to me, "You know, screaming makes it worse."

"Yes, but I can't help it."

After the big drama, we trotted on down the road. Lola-Fifi (what I call her) was toodly-doing just fine.

Her name is La-la-la-Lola

Our found dog's owner called today. She described her perfectly and when I repeated her name, "Lola," the little Schnauzer perked up.

So, my Fifi is a Lola.

The owner said she'd be by in the afternoon to pick her up. I said, "No worry, we've loved having her. She's a great dog."

My comment opened the door I'd hoped it would open. "Do you want to keep her?"

"Yes!"

Afte five days, I wondered if her "people" were really concerned. The woman seemed super nice and cared for Lola, but not overly attached.

I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.

So, Lola is now our dog.

Smile. I'm very happy.

I found a dog

Thursday morning while running an errand, I spotted a little dog wandering down the road. I pulled over to see if she was okay, if there was a tag with her collar.

Sadly, there wasn't. She was friendly to me, but kept wandering down the side walk, trotting up each driveway to the front walk to the front door, sniffing.

Then she'd go around to the back of at house. At one point, she sat in between two yards, looking east, then west as if to inquire, "Which way home?"

I knew she was lost, so I called her again and took her with me on my errand. She was too cute peeking between the two front seats from the back.

We've had her a few days now and while working to find her owners, we are making her a part of our family.