Weekend recap

Left for the wedding at 8:30 a.m.

9:00 - Warmed up my voice on the piano. Worshipped then learned to play Desperado.

9:22 - Looked for hot water for voice. Found mug and water in church kitchen. Found microwave. Ta-da, hot water.

9:30 - David shows up and we do a sound check and quick run through of the songs.

Wedding party in trickling in.

10:23 - Wedding begins.

10:50 - David and I get up to play and sing. Two songs. Stood behind the wall of groomsmen so I was very happy not to be most visible. Singing went well. Did not croak or pass out. Could not look at bride during the singing. She was worshipping and it would've made me cry. Then I would've croaked.

11:30 - Drove to reception

12:00 - Tony and I played in park by reception hall with Eza. He'd say, "M'on, Opa and Oma."

Somewhere in here bridal party shows up.

2:30 - Leave reception.

3:30 - 6:00 - Deep nap.

6:30 - Dinner at Gani for Lance's birthday with all the Olinskis and the Barthalomews. Good times.

10:00 - Stop by Olinskis for a bite of cake. No I didn't not need it. Yes I was way over my point count for the day, possibly for the week.

11:30 - Collapse in bed.

All in all, a beautiful spring day, lovely, tender wedding, good dinner celebrating a friend.

Sunday

6:30 - Anoying alarm disturbs sleep.

7:40 - Leave for church

8:00 - 8:45 - Pick out worship set and spend time in prayer.

9:00 - Get band ready and rehearse.

9:55 - Start worship

11:45 - Closing worship song.

12:30 - Go home, eat lunch, talk to house guest Micah, update blog, take nap.

Yes, Heather, I owe you a worship CD.

Day is done. God is good.

Sometimes you have to take a day...

... and do errands. Got up for an 8:30 meeting, which went well, but long. Then went to pastor/Fire Dweller leader prayer, followed by our Fire Dweller meeting, followed by lunch with Javi, errands, a visit to Barnes & Noble and at last home.

We have a new Fire Dweller motto. Talk is cheap.

Now I'm writing a few pages of Diva. I'm ready to get started and reading through a book for a friend before she turns it in to our editor.

Tomorrow is busy again. Wedding rehearsal and dinner tomorrow night for one of our former youth. I'm singing at the wedding Saturday morning. And yes, I'm crazy.

We have a house guest from Kansas City. She took my car to the beach today and had a good time. We continue to meet KC people, one by one, as they come for a Florida vacation. What a cool calling we have!

Grace and peace.

Increase your tension and your speed

"Increase your tension and your speed."

This is what our spinning instructor said to us this morning. What? Climb a steeper hill and go faster? At 6:15 a.m.? You're crazy.

I went faster, but my hill got smaller. ::wink, wink::

Watched "Walk The Line" with Tony. Good movie. Research I suppose.

Worked on Diva outline today. Got some feedback on my synopsis from my editor Ami. Thank you, Ames!

Very tired now. Must sleep.

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday

It's an old Monkey's tune. Now you know.

Long day at church with services and after church party for the youth, but it was fun. Good conversation around the light booth with Dave, Trisha, Elizabeth, Chelle and et. al.

Afterwards, Tony and I came home and have been talking and doing stuff on our computers. Very nice evening.

Damaged Mirror Update: I was able to electronically adjust my mirror, so the damage is managed. The mirror is cracked pretty bad and the casing was broken off, but it's wedged on for now.

Death Of A Mailbox: Tony went to leave for church and found our mail box on the ground, belly up. It's dead. The mail box bashers have done him in. Funeral services will be tomorrow at 10:00. Dirge at 10:02. Burial at 10:04.

Please, do not send flowers. The family request donations to the Replace Bash Mail Box fund.

Mail Box was 5 years old. He is not survived by any other mail boxes.

I killed my mirror

Last night, I pulled into the garage - around Tony's angled truck and the sound equipment trailer.

I was a little close to the garage wall, but I made it.

This moring, I pull out, checking over my left shoulder to clear Tony's truck when I hear "crunch."

Look over and the passenger side mirror is crumpled and cracked!! Ah! I killed my mirror.

I hate when that happens.

Tony popped it back into place, but it needs to be fixed. At a later date.

Went to a friend's wedding today on the beach. So lovely. Saw several old Harris work friends. It was really cool. I miss them.

Peace out.

Got the word back

Found an email from my secondary editor in my in-box this morning.

Rachel! Rachel, Rachel, Rachel. What a fabulous job you did on your rewrites! Seriously, it was a strong manuscript before, but with the tightening and tweaking you did... Goodness, it's wonderful! Give yourself a pat on the back.

Woo hoo. Big sigh of relief. I sent them to her Monday at 2 til Midnight. But I have to say, GOD IS GOOD. I truly give Him all the praise and thanks. I'm not doing a religious lip service here. The creator of the universe, the uncreated God, the Almighty, makes His home inside of me. I imagine His creative genius supercedes any human creative capacity.

He's so amazing.

Off to work on next book now, opening a new chapter, closing on old one.

Oh, been listening to Kim Hill's new CD, Broken Things. It's awesome. Visit Kim's web site to buy a copy. Seriously, I highly recommend it.

www.kimhillmusic.com.

Peace and grace.

Accomplished today

I did some research for Diva, and started writing her bio as if she were speaking in an interview. It was fun because I just let the information flow and didn't try to fix it.

It's a great way to learn about the character.

Worked on dedication and acknowledgements for Lost In Nashvegas. I loved this part - it's my favorite. When I wrote them for Georgia On My Mind, I cried and cried.

Well, it's late... Grace and Peace from the Prince of Peace, Jesus.

Resurrection Sunday

Today's the day we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead, conquering death and hades. Our church always has a sunrise service on the beach, and today was simply beautiful.

But greater than Jesus being raised from the dead, and ascending into heaven, is that he also lives in us. Colossians 1:27 Paul reminds us that "Christ in you, the hope of glory. THIS is the mystery of the ages."

The unseen, uncreated God dwells inside of us. He chooses to make His home in mankind. Amazing!

We're home

We're home from Nashville. More later....

By the way, I was a guest blogger on Tricia Goyer's GenX parenting site. Check it out.

http://www.genxparents.blogspot.com/

First Day in Nashvegas

Tony and I had a great drive up Sunday. Thank you, Jesus. The weather was great and except for a few slow downs, traffic flowed.

Yesterday my brother Peter-John and his wife, Julie, and son Asa came over for the day. Fun! We had breakfast at the Pancake Pantry then ran around Centennial park with Asa before a visit to Harris Teeter followed by roaming around down town.

The picture is Tony and me with Asa on the steps of the Parthenon.

We had a nice dinner downtown, visited the CMT block party. It was okay, but we were tired, I think. We visit Grunn Guitars which is a nice, famous guitar store in downtown. Had fun talking to the sales guy about who he's sold guitars to.

When we got back to the hotel, I discovered my Lost edits back from my second round editor, Leslie, so I got to work on those. Mostly reviewing her edits and changes, then will go back and add or fix things she notated. It's in pretty good shape, thank the Lord. And thank you Leslie.

Today I'm meeting with some folks, Kim Hill, a Christian artist and a rep from one of the record labels. Probably drive around town some, figure out where my character will live and breathe.

Well, off to get some stuff done before the day gets away.

Peace and grace to you from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus.

Heading out

We're going to Nashville next week. On the verge of writing Diva Nashvegas, my second book for WestBow, I needed to do some more research.

Tony is going with me. Yay!

I'd rather be home writing and working, but I know I need to get back to Nashville, look at the city from a Diva's point of view and scout out some different locales.

Finished my final edits on Georgia On Her Mind. I'm excited about this book. I can't believe it will be out in six months. Woo hoo.

Encouragement from the Word. Psalm 23 is familiar to us all. Perhaps too familiar. David beautifully paints a picture of the One true God and how He is able, within Himself, to provide all our needs.

He is our Shepherd. David proclaims, "I shall not want."

God is able to provide all our needs. No matter what the circumstance, He is able. Better yet, He is willing.

"He makes us lie down in green pastures," David writes. These are not idle words. Green pastures are an image of peace. Our Lord is a Lord of peace, both of heart, mind and soul.

"He restores my soul, He leads me in paths of righteousness."

He is a God who heals wounds and emotions. We don't have to be riddled with fear and anxiety. Walking in His ways leads us to right thinking, right living.

Peace out.

A pair of jeans

I have a pair of jeans I love. When I pull them from the dryer and slip them on, they are snug and make me feel fat.

But, I wear them for an hour or two, they loosen up so much I feel skinny again.

We all have our sick ways, don't we?

What we take in

I have to guard what I see and read. A bad spiritual tone bugs me. I started reading a book by an artist/musician who believes in all kinds of weird spiritual stuff, and man, it's creeping me out.

Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world, but I can't keep reading, not even for research. She gets very detailed about her life as a recording artist, but she also get's very detailed about the weird spiritual crap she believes and does - it's nasty. So, bye-bye book.

I'd won't mention her name here, but don't buy her stuff, though.

As to my last post, I'm over it, but the issue still needs to be resolved. I was able to talk to a key person today about my situation and it helped.

I'm going to God with it. I just have to lean and depend more and more on Him.

But, back to the mystic artist. If she can get inspiration, songs, whatever from "spirit guides," I KNOW I can get inspiration, stories and whatever from THE SPIRIT of God.

I read bios of authors and artist, and many of them delve into the supernatural, just not Jesus supernatural. This is why I think Christian writers ought to be the best, the most anointed.

There's a creative flow coming from the heart of God. BUT, it has to be about his great Son, Jesus. It can't be about me getting rich and famous. No, and I don't want that. I want Jesus to be glorified.

Look at David and Solomon. What creative writers. David always found his hope in the Lord. And his writings have survived four thousand years.

In whatever you do, fix cars, build houses, manage a shop or team of people, ask God for His creativity to flow through you. For Jesus sake.

You may find this surprising

You might find this shocking, but sometims I can be offended. Gasp!! Those of you who know me well are shocked right down to your toes, I know, but yes, I get offended....

Okay, not offended. Mad.

When I'm treated like I'm a second grader, spoken down to and disrespected. BTW, this has nothing to do with publishing or my marriage or family or finances or the general state of my life.

Yet, I should not be offendable. Or even provoked to anger. If I've died and my life is hidden in Christ, why would an unjust situation anger me?

Because I'm a sinner. Weak. Trapped in the boastful pride of life. My response to the situation has be be Christ like. I can't quit. I can't refuse to do what I'm being told to do and I can't vent. I have to respond in humility even though I believe the situation is wrong.

Even been in this place?

After I got over my initial, "What?!?!" I prayed and talked a long talk with Tony. He is always full of wise counsel. He agrees with me the situation is misordered, but encourages me to have a right, love-centered response.

While I don't agree or like the situation, I welcome the opportunity to refine my character and grow in Christ.

Please, no Staint Rachel's yet, but I am working on it.

Grace and Peace

Babies

My baby sister had a baby this morning. A girl. She has two of each now.

Two boys, 12 and 10. Two girls, 1.5 and 0. She's going to be raising kids for a long time. Elizabeth (Lillabeth) is on the left, eyeing peanut butter.

My sister was born when I was ten. With three brothers, I desperately wanted a sister. Dad came to my school to tell me, catching me as I walked up stairs, back to class.

"Rachel," he said. I ran into his arms. "It's a girl. Rebekah."

So I had a beautiful sister. Too late to help me in the war with the boys, but she came nonetheless.

Thank you, Lord, for sisters. And babies.

A Door to Heaven

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."

Revelation 4:1

The image of the door is impacting. An entrance, a way in, or a way through. Doors open to intimate places, or quiet gardens, or grand halls. Perhaps to new opportunities. Closed behind us, doors keep us from the dangers of outside, or the haunts of our past.

Jesus is challenging John in this vision to come up higher. Enter into a new place. For John, it was a place of revelation. He saw the One who appeared like jasper and sardius seated on an emerald throne.

The revelation of Jesus in His Glory.

What doors is God knocking on in our lives? In my life, I think it's the door to the secret place. Intimacy. Face to face communion.

Maybe for some, it's closing a door to the past and looking forward to the future.

Nevertheless, pondering doors these days.

Peace

I've never felt this...

... exhausted. I'm wore out. I feel like I did June of '83 after pledging Phi Mu in January and being initiated in May. Burning the candle at both ends and every bit of wax in between.

I spent the entire week in rewrite heaven. Will review this weekend and send to my editor. I'm still very excited about this book though I know it backwards and forwards.

Tony is doing well, in case you're wondering. He's such a great husband. I am very blessed.

Been reading in Proverbs. What a great book. You know, just a reminder, button your lip, be kind and wise and don't worry about tomorrow. Solomon had it going on.

I wish I had more exciting things to tell you, but this is my life these day.

Grace and peace.

A Great Afternoon

I had a very lovely afternoon. I met with authors Davis Bunn and Mark Mynheir at the Sun Shoppe Cafe in downtown Melbourne.

I've known and admired Davis' work for years. So it was a big thrill to hang out with him. Davis is such an encouragement and classy man. Mark, a Palm Bay police officer, is a rising author who writes police thrillers. It was fun to get to know him.

God is good.

Then I met Tony for a movie. It's our 14th Wedding Anniversary. We went to see "Failure to Launch." Funny, well done movie! I recommended it, but be warned, Terry Bradshaw show's his backside for a good 30 seconds.

Some things should remain covered up.

To my husband and best friend, I love you. Thank you so much for encouraging me to be all God's called me to be, for making our home safe and peaceful. And fun. ;) You are the best.

Bathroom Tissue or Toilet paper

We're shopping, the hubby and me, and as we round the paper aisle, Tony asks ever so calmly, "Does the guest bathroom have enough bathroom tissue?"

"What did you say?" I asked.

"Bathroom tissue."

I lost it. Right there. In the aisle. Could not stop laughing. Who says bathroom tissue? He might as well said, "Does the privvy have enough tissue?"

While he picks out toilet paper, I laugh.

Seems he'd been reading the aisle signs. Okay, maybe you had to be there, but it was funny. Really.

Working on edits. This is why my blogs are short, Heather. It's the bucket-load-of-edits thing verses the food thing. We're eating some, here and there, once in a while, so that's not bad. But the edit thing... more to do and little time to do it. But, God is able!

I love this verse: Psalm 31:20. "In the secret place of Your presence You hide them (us) from the plots of men; You keep them secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues."

In the secret place of God, hiding in Him, He literally keeps us safe, from evil, from our enemy. Isn't that awesome?

Grace.

Quick Hello

Just a quick hello. Finished line edits today, but now have to go back through and add some layers. I do love this book and really want to make it shine.

Youth Church tonight. David lead worship. He did a great job.

I'm tired. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow, but get this, my body is demanding I exercise. I haven't been because of the no food thing but we are eating some. Mostly, sitting all day gets to me. Need to move.

More later. Peace out.