Angels all around

Wild experience today at the Oral Surgeon's office. I had to go in and get this "thing" cut out of my lip. Looked like a blister, but it wasn't.

Dr. Oral Surgeon said he can laser it off in a few seconds, which is true, he did. But before that, he numbed my lip and so the numbing could commence. "Be back in ten minutes," he said.

I wait in the chair, reclined. I'm not nervous, but a little apprehensive like, "Let's do this. I have a lunch date." Plus, it was freezing in there! I said a short prayer, "Lord, just let it go well."

A few seconds later I sense angels in the room. I see them in my spirit eye. Since I'm not seasoned in angel sensing, I don't take it to heart until the largest of the three angles, reaches out and touches my head. I start to cry! Ok, now this is something.

I don't want to boo hoo cause the Dr. and/or his assistant will think I'm hurt or scared, so I sniff it up, but felt like crying off and on before during and after the procedure.

When the Dr. started working, one of the smaller angels moved around the assistant so he could watch, so I could "see" him. I knew that he and the other smaller angel were like host angels and they would be with me until I left. The larger angel had already gone.

Next, I checked out and while doing my co-pay, I teared up. Angels. I wanted to say, "You have angels here."

I got in my car, they were gone. Or at least to my awareness.

God is so awesome! He sent angles to watch my surgery! He loves me!

Thursday and thunder

It's thundering outside right now, but I'm safe inside, typing on my new wireless keyboard. I had to break down and buy one, you know? I sit at the computer desk most of the time now and the laptop sits too high. Now, I can use the pull out keyboard "table." Even have a wireless mouse.

Chris and Raul leave tomorrow. I've enjoyed having them, and will miss them when they leave. Yesterday afternoon was Doris Day fest! We watched Send Me No Flowers and The Thrill of It All. It was fun.

Well, blank brain again. LOL. Peace out.

Lunch with a writer friend, and Jeremy

A fellow Florida writer, Kristy Dykes, and her husband graciously treated me to lunch this afternoon. They were in town to attend a funeral. It was good to catch up with her and talk "shop."

While we are eating and talking, I look up and there's this really hansome, familiar face coming my way. It was Jeremy Emerson! I couldn't believe it. My jaw dropped and I gave him the biggest hug. My kid! At home!

I met Jeremy when he was fifteen, moving dirt, laying the foundation for a school in Guatemala. He's all grown up now, in the military and about to get married.

While we are talking, he looks at me and in complete Jeremy fashion says, "You're as hot as ever."

Now I have to write this because he completely made my day! A man half my age thinks I look "hot." Thanks, Jer. Forty-four year old women start to wonder after awhile.

Anyway, the Exley's are hosting a party for Jer and his bride sometime in September so I'll get to see him again, and meet his wife. It's always so good when the "kids" come home.

Chris, Tony and I watched "Pillow Talk" tonight. Can you believe that? What a funny movie. We laughed out loud.

The new Wal-Mart opened - three miles from my house. Ahh, life is good.

Friday Fables

It's Friday. Don't you just love Fridays? I do. Not sure why, though. Old habit, I guess.

Chris Schoff and his son, Raul are here for a few days. It is always good to have them around. Chris is like a brother.

The American Christian Fiction Writers conference is coming up in a few weeks. I'm driving my Cabrio to Nashville. I want to stop by Pete and Julie's and also tour some of Nashville since most of the Country Princess is set there. I want to go to the Bluebird Cafe and see the songwriters perform. My heroine is a songwriter.

The Lord has really blessed me through ACFW. More than words can say.

You know, I want to write more, but I'm tired.

We have all we need to help others

So, there's Jesus, talking to the multitudes and the day is getting late, ya know? So, His disciples nudge Him and say, "Send the people away for food and lodging. We're out in the middle of no where."

Jesus looks at them. "You give them something to eat."

"Um, Master, lookit," they say, "all we got is five loaves and two fish. We were kinda hoping to eat that ourselves... with You, of course." Besides! Five loaves and two fish can barely feed thirteen let alone more than five thousand.

Jesus smiles. "Tell everyone to sit down in groups of fifty." The disciples organize, Jesus prays to the Father, then the disciples hand out the food.

There was more than enough. In fact, they took up twelve baskets of leftovers. One for each disciple to take home.

Don't you get it. Whatever we have, what little tiny bit, if we are willing to give it to help others, the Lord will more than multiple and give us the remainder.

We keep looking to outside sources to help our friends and family, but we have all we need in Jesus to "feed" them. We just have to believe!

Time, money, heart, soul, houses, cars, talent whatever we have, give it to Jesus to help others. He will take care of them, and supply even more to us than we had to start with.

We have to stop looking to the outside for help. We must look to Jesus, offer our five loaves and two fish, then help Him tend to the multitude. Then, He will give us the abundance that is left over.

How amazing is that?

In the vast scheme of things....

. . . I don't know if it matters that I wasted $15 tonight on a movie, popcorn, candy and a large Diet. Yet I did.

I saw "Must Love Dogs" with Chelle while Tony and some of the kids went to see "The Great Raid." It was a cute movie, not $7.50 cute, and John Cusack's performance was the only redeming quality. I think the book is probably much better than the movie. I've decided, books are always better than the movie.

Today was cleaning day and shave Jack day. Man, he is one furry dog. Tony cut all the fur from his tail (he's a sheltie) and now he wags a stump. It's humiliating.

Tomorrow is church followed by youth band practice and then maybe Stuart and Esther coming over in the evening. They are in town for a few days - Stu was speaking at Freedom this weekend.

Peace out.

Thursday, and a thought about Dad

I love this chorus my "daughter" Cassie sang when she was here during the In The Fire Conference. It's an exhortation from the Lord to us.

"If you want to love Me, listen to Me. You gotta let Me love you first."

Isn't that a great song from the heart of God? So true, too! It's almost impossible to love Him unless He draws us. And we have Bible on that notion. 1 John 4:19, "We love because He first loved us."

Then I learned another chorus listening to a recording of Misty Edwards during a live devotional set at the International House of Prayer in KC.

"I wanna take my affections, put them in a bottle, just to waste it at Your feet. I wanna take my passion, put it in a bottle, just to break it at Your feet."

So heart of Mary, don't you think? I sang them at pastor's prayer today. ;D Then Tony and I went to Peppe's Pizza. I realized it's much like the Guiseppe's Pizza I have in the Lambert Books and I'd never been to Peppe's before starting the first book. Isn't that weird? But cool.

Now I'm home and want to finish Allie. Kyle is on his way to back to Florida after the hurricane, hours before the wedding is supposed to take place, and oh no! Part of I-95 is out... Will he make it to the church on time?

A thought about Dad... I picked up a Calvin and Hobbes book and opened to this:

Calvin: Can I have a different plate?

Mom: Why?

Calvin: Somebody puked on mine.

Instantly, I saw Dad's face as he broke into a laugh. First the silent, hestitating laugh that's trapped in his chest, then it bursts out into a rolling chuckle. I saw his wide smile as he slapped his knee, and heard the second rumble of his laugh as the joke settled in and tickled his funny bone. He liked Calvin. I think he had a little bit of Calvin in him. ;) Miss you, Dad.

Peace out.

Blank Mind

I sit to write in my blog, but cannot think of anything to write. I had a bunch of thoughts earlier this week, but was too busy or too tired to write them down.

Now, they are lost forever.

Today was hottttt! Go figure, I live in Florida. But I cannot remember when it was this hot. Ok, yeah, several years ago when we had all the fires.

I'm about finished with Hurricane Allie. Need an ending. I cut about a thousand words today to tighten and smooth.

I'm tired. Night.

Reading Blogs

I've been reading a few blogs on writing the last few days. Very interesting. I keep thinking, "I don't want to discuss it or write about it, I want to do it!"

I learn a lot from reading. I'm reading Colleen Coble and Charles Martin right now. Simultaneously. Very different books. Very different styles, but I love them both. Mostly I look for wording, phrasing, how they put their stories together.

I've learned from my crit partners. I've learned from Kristin Billerbeck. Just little comments she's made in email, or in something of mine she's read. Of course, reading her chick lits.

I'd prefer a down load from God, you know. Ta-da! I'm a brilliant writer. Like guys who just "get" math. Or can sit down at the keyboard or drums and play.

Well, now that I think about it. Even then, they have to work at it to be good. Work really hard to be great! I know quite a few people who are just natural musicians. But I only know one who is fabulous. She went to college and studied music. It makes her stand out.

So, let's say I got said down load from God. I'd still have to work at writing. Polish my gift. Learn how to use it. Even someone brilliant at math still has to take the courses, work the problems. They just "get it" quicker and easier than the rest of us.

I had a friend who couldn't do math. Turned out he had a pea on his brain. Yeah, a pea sized tumor. Had it removed and he could suddenly do math. He still didn't like math, but he finally understood it.

Think I got a pea on the brain? LOL. No. My doctor says I'm healthy as a horse. "Which horse?" I asked. A sway-back mare or Afleet Alex?

I've decided. Writing is a journey. Prayer is a journey. Our life in God is a journey. We cannot separate our place at His feet from our place in this world. We find ourselves and our identity at His feet, by the beating of His heart toward us. Then, we cut a swath in the forest of life.

Otherwise, life cuts a swath in us.

Sunday

Today was a relaxed day. I slept in and read some, road my bike, prayed, talked to my friend Renee, started laundry, wrote 2k words on a story that is not even a Work In Progress (WIP) but wanted to get my ideas on paper. The story was birthed during my prayer time and I felt I needed to capture the character's voice and story.

Tony and I took Cassie and Eric to Carrabbas for dinner and now I'm stuffed! But we had a great time. Cassie goes back to Kansas City tomorrow and Eric leaves at the end of the month.

I'm going to miss them both terribly - my son and daughter - but they must live the lives God has destined them to live.

The Fire Dweller band was gathered for the In The Fire conference this weekend. So good. So very good. Our sound man was a professional, like he has Latin Grammies. He worked for us for a nominal, nominal fee and because of his relationship with Javier. Anyway, he loved the band. He said he'd never seen a band play together like the Fire Dweller band, and never, ever seen two electric guitars work together. Just goes to show you what humility and relationship can do.

God's ways really are so incredible. I've even taken that stand with writing. Cassie and I were talking about the fasted life, the contemplative life and I remembered a dream I had about being in a locker room all alone. It was a very nice locker room, like in a country club. But there was another locker room full of people, lots going on, seemed like the place to be, but it was more like the locker room at the Y or public gym.

There's more detail that I won't go into, but I always felt the private locker room represented my private place of preparation in God. It's rich and beautiful, but I was tempted to be in the public locker room, among the others. Yet, it was noisy, crowded and low class.

I have to purpose to remain in the secret, quiet place in God. The riches in Him are worth it. In His time, He'll call me out to the place beyond the locker room.

The conference was awesome. Great speakers, including mio, and great, great worship. It wasn't as big as last year because we didn't bring in any speakers from Kansas City's House of Prayer, but we know God did what He wanted to do. I think it was a success.

Now, I'm tired and ready to get to work this week on finishing Hurricane Allie.

Grace and Peace.

Tony

I love my husband!
(it's 2:00 a.m. and he's letting me take his picture after a looooonnng conference weekend. See.... )

Our Pool

Hi all. Just want you to know our new pool is open and you can come by for a swim. Here's some of our guests swimming.

Ok, it's Monday...

I'm sitting in my Florida room, staring out the window at my neighbor who is on the phone, lounging by her pool. I'm green. Light green, but nonetheless green.

We had a nice weekend. Went over to the beach for a 16 year old's surprise birthday party! It was very nice. Got a ticket... and not to a Broadway show if you know what I mean. I really thought I was going the speed limit!

Nope. Nineteen miles over. And get this, kind Mr. Police Officer "cuts me a break" and gives me a lower fine. It cost me a $100 instead of $200. Where is the logic in that? Look, give me the ticket for my crime or DON'T give me a ticket at all. What is the point here? I honestly didn't know I was going 49 in a 30. I wasn't even in 5th gear, so it's not like I was intentionally breaking the law. But I did. So, give me my due. Grr.

Note to self: Watch for speed limit signs.

Later that night I thought my computer died. What an ordeal. Then we figured out the power plug wasn't all the way plugged in. What a goof. But I can't see the power plug cause it's on the back of the computer desk. Even if I crawl under, I still can't see it. I have to feel around for the socket holes.

But, Praise God, my computer didn't die. I think the battery is going, but I still have my hard drive.

Note to self: Back up every day!

Note to self: Don't drink 48 oz of water before going to bed.

Ok.. Hurricane Allie is coming along. I'm really trying to make it a fun, romantic story, but not cliché. But I only have 20K words to work with here. Gee whiz.

This week is In The Fire week. Cassie is coming in from Kansas City today and will be here all week. Yay! I have a meeting tonight for the October girls conference and then pretty much a meeting every night this week. Shew! I'm teaching at the conference Friday night so I'll be working on that this week. I'm doing a practical element: focus life. Thank you Mike Bickle for inspiring me.

Better get wid it. Peace.

How Many Days

OK. I'm keepig a blog on how many days I'm keeping the top dropped on my VW Cabrio. That's the new term now, you know. Not convertible, but drop top. Ha!

This is day 4. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. It rained a little today, but the car was garaged. By the time I went to step aerobics, the sun was blazing. Now this is the Florida summers I remember.

So, Day 4 of Drop Top.

Wouldn't you like to meet Gabriel?

Luke 1:19 says this, "And the angel answered and said to [Zacharias], "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings."

Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. That's amazing... stands in the presence of God.
A few verses later, he shows up to tell Mary she's going to bring forth a Son from the Most High and His name will be Jesus.

This is the same Gabriel who appeared to Daniel about 600 years ealier! I thought, "Hey, Gabriel, what are you up to these days?" I mean, I haven't met anyone who can say, "Yeah, Gabriel visited me last night."

Wouldn't that be incredible? Gabriel who STANDS in the presence of God stopping by for a visit. You know, through Jesus, we also are in the presence of God. In fact, He lives IN us, but I would love to have a visit from Gabriel. I'm not sure my life calling merits a visit from a this messenger of the Throne, but yeah, that would be amazing.

I do know people who have angelic visitations, people who see, people who've been caught up into heaven. I'm pretty sure Gabriel has visited our generation, but I wonder what he said.
But this is incredible too. Luke 1:38. Mary finds out she's going to be a pregnant virgin. Even in today's world, that would be weird. But for her day, it was disgraceful. But Gabriel tells her she found favor with the Most High. He hailed her, "Highly favored one."

And her response to this incredibly strange event in her life is, "Let it be to me according to your word."

There was a Yes! in Mary's heart to the Lord. Despite the oddity and embarrassment of her calling, she said Yes!

How many times do we say No to the Lord because it's not what everyone else is doing or because we don't feel like it.

Oh I want there to be a Yes! In my heart. "Lord, I say yes! Help my weakness!"

..... I've been editing galleys for Lambert's Peace. And will finish Hurricane Allie this week and start shipping it off for critting.

Youth church tonight, then I'm leading worship Friday night for the Space Coast Prayer Gathering. We're doing strong Harp & Bowl so I brought in Jeremiah and Laura to help me.

I'm reading the biography of Vivian Vance. Next I'm reading Gilead or The Living End by Lisa Samon. Not sure. I'm in a little group of writers who are trying to read the same thing so we can discuss it. But we haven't picked a new book yet. So far, we've read The Mermaid Chair and Shem Creek.

Ok, better get to work. Sorry I haven't posted any new pictures, but I can't get them to upload!

Peace.

Still turning heads

I forgot to tell you all this story. About two months ago, the weather was really beautiful and I was cruising around town in my "drop top" Cabrio, the top dropped.

I was playing Todd Agnew in my CD player and was jammin', I mean jammin' to "Grace Like Rain." I had it cranked and for my standard-issue car stereo, it sounded pretty good.

Waiting at a stop light, a big ole F250 pulls up in the lane next to me, three teenage guys in the cab. I am rocking to this song - singing, drumming, bobbin'. You get the picture.

The driver of the truck pops his head out the window and looks at me, smiling. Then he speaks to his buddies, jerking his thumb my way. I... am still jammin'. I love that song.

Blonde dude looks at me again, grins and backs up the truck. He nods his approval.

My light turns green and off I go, waving at the young men who understand the rockin-out needs of a '70s child.

I mostly thought it was cool that they recognized Todd Agnew and Grace Like Rain. Must be church boys.

Busy day today. Pastor's prayer followed by the Fire Dweller leadership meeting. Then ran errands with Tony and came home for dinner. After that, I couldn't get motivated for much.

But lots of little things are on my plate and I need to get them done. So, the next week will be busy.

Today we decided that I'm speaking at the In The Fire conference. I think I'm going to do one of my practical teachings. You know, how do you do all the things we're exhorting you to do?

So, I'm going to talk about how to organize life so you have time for 1. Prayer and the Word and 2. Achieving goals.

Many people talk to me about writing, but they never set aside time to write. You'll never get published that way. Or, wanting to learn an instrument. You'll never learn if you don't set aside time to practice and play with others.

Growing in God is so much like that. If you don't set aside time to develop a life in God, you never will. Plus, there are keys to going deeper that happen if we just stick to them - basic things. You know, most people really think prayer is boring, and reading the Bible is just about as boring. But! What if you combine the two together? Pray using the Word. Read a chapter, talk to God about it, ask for insight or understanding, or how to apply it to your own life and ta-da, you're praying and reading the Bible!

So, that's my thought for the day.

No Place Like Home

I love visiting family and friends, but it always feels so good to be home. I slept so soundly.

It was back to the grind as soon as we got home. I had mail requesting I trim Lambert's Code by 7 pages. The printed version came out too long. I did that last night, but wish I could change more than a few lines here and there! Is a manuscript ever completely done?

I like the writing in this book, but wish I could rework the story a little. Oh well. It's good, so buy it! Hahaha.

I have Lambert's Peace galleys to do and finishing Hurricane Ally. Tony's niece and her family are coming today to check out the area. They want to move here. So, the house will be busy. I can always go to the library or coffee shop to write. Better, Barnes & Noble. No internet there.

You know a great place to write? My Grandma's house. So quiet and peaceful. She has about the most peaceful house. I love going there. She lives across the street from my Mom, who also has a peaceful house. But lately when I've been there, it's full of people.

Well, off to hang with Jesus for awhile. Peace.

Merry Christmas, everyone

I can't believe it's only a few days before Christmas. I love this time of year. The house is decorated and cozy, twinkling lights dancing in shadow against the walls. The aroma of baking cookies fills the house and as soon as the sun goes down, I'm going to light a fire in the fireplace and curl up on the couch with a few cookies.

Most of my shopping is done, though I have a few things left to buy Tony. We like to open, okay, I like to open lots of things Christmas morning. What a great time of year, isn't it?

Psych!!!

It's not Christmas, it's July. It's hot and you all know it had to be a fairytale when I wrote, " the aroma of baking cookies fills the house" Puleeze!

I'm in Tallahassee this weekened with the fam. All the kids are here and we are helping Mom with more yard work. While Dad's health declined, they never got things done on and in the house that they wanted. The garage needs organizing and Dad's office cleaned out and organized, pictures need hanging.

The house is beautiful and the furniture so nice. It will be good for Mom to have things in place.

Pressing forward - I've been impressed lately with Phil 3:13 - 14, "... forgetting the things that are behind and pressing forward to what lies ahead." I've posted this before, but it's worth remembering. If we go through life looking over our shoulder, we'll eventually wreck. We cannot revel in our failure, neither can we revel in our success.

We have to press on to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus! High calling. We have a high calling! What is that calling? To be the Bride of the Prince of Peace!

What makes forgetting the past and looking to the future more promininent in my life lately is that my Dad is in a box on the fireplace hearth. Is that wierd or what? I walked in yesterday afternoon and there he was. The most influnential man in my life is in a box.

While I miss him, still, my life goes on. My work is not done on this earth. I so want to stand before the Lord and hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Even more, "Come to the dance of the Bridegroom."

Life is good. God is good. Peace out.

Left, left, LEFT!

I've learned I'm a conceptual person. No surprise really, but here's how it plays out in my life.

I'm at Step aerobics last night and the class, for once, is small. I figure good chance for me to get this stuff down. I'm still klutzing my way through. Thursday night, I had to set up in the FRONT of the class which was humiliating.

OK, so Friday night I set up behind the instructor so I can learn the Step moves and lingo. The other three in the class were experienced Steppers, so I figured this was my chance advance my skill.

Things are going along fine... I'm Stepping away... and we do this move where we "power over" the step and now everyone is facing the back and facing me. I'm suddenly in FRONT.

Instructor says, "We're going to power over the step and into left V step." Translation: move to the other side of the Step bench, then step up beginning with your left foot.

Cool with me. I like powering over. So, we do the move and I hear her go, "Start left."

Fine. I can do that. I step up on the left three times, then power back over and am now facing the front of the room and I'm back in the back where I belong. We do some more routines, then wham! Power over again and we're all facing the back.

Instructor says, "Left V Step. LEFT! LEFT! LEFT!"

OK, gotcha. I'm V-Stepping left.

We do it again, later. She says, "V-Step. LEFT! LEFT! LEFT!"

I think, "Wow, why is she saying LEFT! LEFT! LEFT? Someone must not be getting it." But, I can't see behind me, so I figure they'll get it sooner or later.

Um, yeah, it was ME! I was the one not getting it. I'm telling you, I don't know my left from my right and now all the women in that class know, too. They were all looking at me when I was V- Stepping right instead of left!

You guys, I was the reason she was yelling, "LEFT! LEFT! LEFT!"

Ahhhh! But in my mind, I was V-Stepping left. Why? Because when we were on the right side, shall I say, correct side of the bench, facing forward, that's the left side to me. Just because we powered over doesn't mean left moved to the other side. Well, not in my mind.

Does this abnormality disqualify me from being like, er, a Navy Pilot or something?

Hurricane Dennis - The storm is passing by us about 275 miles west, but we are getting wind gusts and rain. This is a massive storm. Mom, Grandma and Danny will get lots of wind and rain in Tallahassee.

Tony tricked me into working in the yard with him today, but we had fun. We're all mulched for another year.

I'm STILL reading Shem Creeek. Can't seem to get it finished, but I'm almost there. I have so many other books I want to read - and they are here, in my house, waiting.

Talked with my bud, Tracey, today. And praying for my other bud, Chris, to feel better. Love you guys.

Long lost friends - A friend from long, long ago, Dennis Stricklin, called the other night. We talked for about an hour. It was great to catch up with him. He was in Homestead, Florida when we moved down there in '74. He lives up in Cocoa and called to first say how sorry he was about Dad dying, then to catch up on the last twenty-five years. I was fourteen when I met him, he was twenty-four. Good talking to you, Dennis.

Writing - Off to write.

Five things I miss about my childhood

My brother Joel wrote: You've been tagged! Now you have to write a post about 5 things you miss about your childhood. and then pass it on! Love you.

Ok, I'm game.

One, it's obvious. Dad. I miss my Dad. When he died so much of my childhood died with him.

Two, I miss playing and exploring the Shawnee State Forest in southern Ohio. The sound of gravel popping under car tires as we drive up Grandma's drive way.

Three, Christmas with the Hayes's, Taylors and Fausnaughs.

Four, playing with a bunch of friends, then running home to a warm house and Mom's cooking.

Five, 45's and long play albums.

I'm sure I could think of more. Snow days, living with my brothers and sister, etc. But you know these days are the best days.