Tony and I laughed until we cried

Note: Have not forgotten the fear post, just don't have time to blog it properly.

Saturday, we're getting ready to go to the grocery store, Publix, and Tony is standing at the sink washing out tupperware bowls.

I was eating a slice of cheese and notice he's wearing a faded grey Palm Bay High football t-shirt, his navy plaid pajama pants, white socks and his leather slip on, slide shoes.

Hum. "Are you wearing those pants to Publix?"

"Yeah, unless you can give me 27 reasons why not."

"Well," I say in a low voice, chewing cheese. "You look like a Grandpa."

"So, I'm old enough to be a grandpa."

"You'll embarrass your wife."

"What else you got?"

I tear off another piece of cheese and still in a low, slow voice say, "They're... flood... waters."

Tony looks up. "Actually, that's the best reason you've given so far."

I start laughing. He adds, "I don't mind not being fashionable, but I don't want to look like dork."

I laugh even harder.

"Flashbacks from '70s young teen insecurites," Tony says. "Wasn't it the worst to wear flood waters?"

He's laughing, I'm laying on the counter, laughing so hard I can't breath, eyes watering. Tony goes into the bedroom and changes into jeans.

I laughed all the way to Publix. We ran into several people we know, one we hadn't seen in a dozen years. Tony looked quite dapper in his ankle covering jeans.

Maybe you had to be there. But the combination of me saying, "they're flood waters," and Tony reacting like we would've in seventh grade was just too, too funny.

Sue-weet Caroline

Done, done, done. Doing the happy dance! I finished Sweet Caroline today. Fifteen hours in my chair. But I did it. Took about an hour break at 9 p.m.

Now to edit. It needs some fixing. But, writing to the end let me know how I wanted to tie things together so I know what to fix, what to add or change. Very. Good.

I wrote 7,500 words today.

Since February first, I've written probably sixty thousand new words. But, I knew the story based on the other iterations of the story. So, don't be too impressed.

I am hard at it for eleven more days, then it's due and I'll turn it in. It's a good story. I like it a lot. I made cried writing a closing scene with her brother.

Love story twist at the end. This is the first time I've written a book open to a sequel. I usually launch the heroine on a journey and sorta tie it up at the end.

This book ends with Caroline launching into something new and a few story questions are open for speculation.

God is so very good. He helped, as always.

I love my job!

More on overcoming fear tomorrow.

Overcoming Fear & Anxiety - Part 1

As a kid, fear wasn't an issue with me. We moved around as my dad attended school and while I was shy on the first day of a new school or meeting new friends, I was never afraid.

Fear was only an issue after watching the Wizard of Oz. I'd be in my room under the covers imagining the witch showing up in my room.

I'm sorry, but let's be honest. The Wizard of Oz is stupid movie to show a kid.

So, fear-in-general, not part of my genetic make. But "it" came calling.

The first time I felt anxious fear I was twelve. I woke up in the night feeling weird, odd, condemn, afraid of losing control or doing something horribly sinful.

Overwhelmed with negative thoughts and feelings, I did the only thing I knew to do, throw the covers over my head and pray.

Interesting to note this "attack" came in the dark, dark of night, not the light of day.

My parents were a tad older than the folks being caught up in the Jesus Movement, but they were impacted by the move of God in the mid '60s and early '70s. My dad had learned about "overcoming by the blood of the Lamb" and so he taught us to pray the blood of Jesus as protection.

I prayed such a prayer, hiding under the covers that weird night. But this battle was not about hiding from something in the room, like the wicked witch of the west, this battle came from within. I didn't understand it. But at twelve, I understood to fight it.

Thirty some years away from that first moment of fear/anxiety, I guess some of it might have been hormonal, but the prescription for overcoming was the same as any problem.

Jesus.

In today's modern Christian mind-set we go about with a PC view of our enemy, the devil. "Oh, I'm saved, he won't bother me."

Hello? If not you, then who? The heathens he already has in his grasp. No, dear ones, he doesn't fight fair, and as lovers of Jesus, we have a BIG OLE TARGET on our backs.

He will harass us, discourage us, fight us, oppress us.

He's a clever enemy. He doesn't come at us full on in warfare gear. We'd recognize him. He comes at us in whispers. Subtly, through words, feelings, emotions. Lies we believe, even words we speak over ourselves. Through words spoken over us. And yes, the sins of our fathers and mothers.

But be can and will overcome. But we must fight.

So, my next encounter with fear happened about seven years later ...

New Hampshire Weddings is in the House

Got my "hot off the press" copy of New Hampshire Weddings in the mail today. The cover is beautiful. Check it out.

This is a compilation of the three Lambert books I wrote for Heartsong Presents. Straight up, good, romance.

Blurb: Three New Hampshire women find their lives are lacking pace, family and direction.

Buy today! ;)

What's In Your Wagon?

Tony and I were talking about "cleaning house" and this verse from Isaiah 5:18 .

"Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes..."

The Message reads, "Woe to you who use lies to sell evil."

Our society is permeated with lies selling evil. Abortion, homosexuality, pornography, fornication, lust, jealousy, gossip, even issues like racism and hate crimes have the truth overshadowed by lies.

But let's talk about our personal sin wagon. Do you pull around sin with you like it's your toy red wagon? Is it your company? Friend?

The rest of the Isaiah verse says "You say, "What's God waiting for? Let him get a move on so we can see it. Whatever The Holy of Israel has cooked up, we'd like to check it out."

We've lost sight of the hierarchy. God is in control. WE submit to Him. He doesn't answer to us.

YET to those who are His, He LONGS for a partnership. "Let us RUN together."

Can we ask of God? Yes. Can we carry around our sin and demand He prove Himself to us? No.

We call evil good in this country. Given to excuses and reasons other than humbly pursuing the heart of God.

Listen, I've been there! Struggled. Hurt. I know the power of fear and anxiety. But this I know and have seen proven in my life - GOD is bigger. God saves. God heals. God delivers.

Sorry, but I accept nothing else. He is true. Men are liars.

We have to cut the cords of our sin wagon - dump the jealousy, gossip, hating, envy, strife, drunkenness, selfish ambition.

Are we weak? Yes! Do we stumbles? Yes. But we don't dare hook ourselves to a sin wagon and drag it around calling it good.

Let God's love and power set us free. There is SO much more to Him than our weak hearts are willing to believe.

But I'm going to go as far as I can. Be abandoned. How about you?

Meet Christine Lynxwiler & Promise Me Always

Thirty-five-year-old widow Allie Richards has always dreamed of having her own landscaping business. After losing her job, Allie's Pinky Promise girlfriends convince her to enter Shady Grove's Beautiful Town Landscaping Competition.

The prize? The town's landscaping and maintenance contract.

But there's a hitch. Every move Allie's ragtag crew makes will be featured in the reality segment of a local TV show.

Armed with only a green thumb and a motley crew of helpers, does Allie have any chance of surviving the hype and making her dream a reality? Daniel Montgomery, the man behind the camera, is after more than just a story.

Will he be satisfied with anything less than Allie's heart?

YYY

Christine Lynxwiler considers herself hugely blessed to be a wife and mom who lives the crazy writer life in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains in her home state of Arkansas. Her latest release Promise Me Always is the first in the Pinky Promise Sisterhood series from Barbour. When Christine isn’t writing, she and her family enjoy kayaking on the nearby river or relaxing together with good books. If you'd like to know Christine better, drop by her website sometime and check out her new release info or latest blog entry.

Rachel here: I loved this book by Christine Lynxwiler. She writes fun, enjoyable, heartwarming characters and stories that reflect the human struggle to know God more.

Chris is also humble enough not to mention she's a three time American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of The Year in novella and short contemporary categories.

If you're looking for a wonderful winter read for curling up by the fire or to escape the gray days, pick up Promise Me Always!

Charlie

I go to McDonalds in the morning as part of my pre work routine. Sometimes I just run in and out with a Diet Coke. Lately, I go in and sit with my a Diet Coke and read my Bible.

Today, I saw the cashier from Walgreens eating an Egg McMuffin and drinking coffee. Hum, I thought, I wonder...

I have a character in Sweet Caroline who worked up to his dying day at the age of eighty. Now I know there are plenty of active, healthy eighty year olds, but I doubted how many could or would work forty hours or more a week.

Then, I met Charlie. The Walgreens cashier.

I approached him. "Can I ask you a question?"

He nods.

"How old are you?"

"Eighty-five."

I smile. "Very cool."

Charlie has worked all his life. To this day, he works forty hours a week. Served in Europe during WW2.

Perhaps he might be a friend of my character, Jones McDermott.

Love One Another

In light of things going on in the world, I have to speak out. A little, anyway. Big surprise, eh?

There are some, in the name of religion, spreading hate and killing. In this country, we've hamstrung ourselves with the weak and flighty concept of "politically correct."

We can't objectively criticize anyone except white men, big business and Christians. Even to protect our nation.

But any religion that spouts death and hatred to those who disagree with them is not in my book, a religion, and should be challenged. I'm not saying to hate those people in return, where's the good in that? I'm saying challenge it!

Here's what John, the friend of Jesus wrote:

"He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

Hate produces darkness. Hating people, other religions, other nations put the hater in darkness. If you hate, check your darkness meter.

Christians are accused of hating because we oppose abortion or sexual sin - homosexuality, adultery , fornication - or the government taking more and more of our money, or censuring our voice and rights.

Are there religious idiots who claim to be Christians holding up hate signs. Yes. And I say if Jesus were physically among them, He'd rebuke them.

Jesus hates religiousness. He calls us to love one another, BUT to speak the truth.

When the woman was caught in adultery and thrown at His feet about to be stoned, Jesus challenged her religious, bigoted accusers. He said, "First guy with no sin, throw the first stone."

None could.

To the woman He said, "Go, SIN no more." He didn't condemn her, require punishment like lashes, but He called out her sin.

We still have to lovingly call out sin. How will people be free if we don't call out sin? If I gossip, someone should call me on it.

I'll close with these words from John, Jesus' friend.

"No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us."

He Makes Me Laugh

My husband is many wonderful things. I especially like that he makes me laugh.

Today, I was in the kitchen making a sandwich and singing part of a Keith Urban song.

Take your cat / and leave my sweater

Tony responds in his Red-the-cat voice. "Why don't you want the cat?" As if on queue, our orange tabby cruises around the corner toward me.

Oh my gosh, I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Still makes me laugh.

Tagged by Cindy Woodsmall

Author Cindy Woodsmall tagged me to name six weird things about myself and then to tag six others.

I hate these things, but love Cindy, so here goes.

1. I like Diet Cokes from McDonald's.
2. I'd rather email than talk on the phone.
3. I take a lot of baths.
4. Donny Osmond was my teen idol.
5. People magazine jumps into my cart while shopping.
6. For Christmas, we have to have lots of presents to open since it's just Tony and me. Nothing that plugs into the kitchen or sucks dirt is allow.

I tag Tracey, Susie, Chris, Candice, my sister, Beka, Kristy and Pam.

Go Colts!

Peace out.

Rain, Rain, Write, Write

This is my life these days.

Rain, rain.

Write, edit, write, rewrite, edit.

Time, time is ticking by and I can feel an explosion inside. ;)

Thanks to those who called to check on us after the tornadoes the other day. And for letting us know there were tornadoes. Clueless, here.

An Inconvenient Truth

Al Gore has it right. It IS an inconvenient truth.

Right title. Wrong subject.

Global warming is a distraction. Not that we shouldn't care about our environment! We should. I was a great fan of the weeping Indian in the '70s commercial. Remember that one? He as standing by a stream littered with garbage.

Gore's movie, for whatever reason, has an agenda. He's not interested in presenting both sides of the Global Warming aisle. He wants us to believe it's happening, hands down, no doubt. But there is as much evidence that global warming is cyclical as whatever evidence Gore presents in his movie.

But I'm not really interested in discussing global warming here.

I want to discuss the REAL inconvenient truth.

And that's the God-Man, Jesus, the Christ.

What the world REALLY doesn't want to face and deal with is who this Man says He is - the Savior. He is Lord.

He's quoted saying the following things:

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

" I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

So here's what we have to ask ourselves. Is He for real or not? Is the Jesus, a supposed great prophet, lying? Is He a lunatic?

Or, is He who He says He is? Is He the God who left the splendor of Heaven to take on the form of Man (for ALL eternity) and then give His life for our salvation. For our sins.

Did He really allow God the Father to put the sins of the world on Him?

History says He did.

The truth is, and it's inconvenient to atheists, agnostics, other religions, but Jesus is Lord. We all have to decide this. We have to face Him, look at His life and wonder, "Do I need to believe."

Look. Most religions are about mankind become like God. Mankind appeasing God. Or mankind making a way to God.

Belief in Jesus is the exact opposite. God becoming mankind (His creation), God appeasing Himself WITH Himself, and God making a way for mankind to come to Him.

All we have to do is believe an inconvenient truth - Jesus is Lord.

Al Gore's movie is asking us to believe an inconvenient truth that has less evidence than the life and sacrifice of Jesus.

It takes more faith to believe what Gore's put on celluloid than to pick up a Bible, ask for understand and read a couple of the Gospels.

Are you determined to believe an inconvenient truth?

Believe in Jesus.

The sound of my friend

A friend of mine plays bass. In fact, I have several friends who play bass. But on this one particular day, I was listening to a song called "Glorious Throne" by Alisha Powell from the International House of Prayer-KC.

The song is upbeat with a lot of funk. Pretty good for a white girl. There's a vamp bridge in the song with drums, congas and bass.

The bass is grooving and breaking it down. I'm dancing in my car when I suddenly recognize the technique and style of my friend, Stuart.

He's got to be playing the bass on this song. I watched and listened to Stu play bass for seven years. Has to be him. There's a certain pop he has....

I asked his brother-in-law the next day at church. Sure enough. Stu plays bass on the song.

We recognize people by their voice, handwriting, walk, gestures, even dress. But what other subtleties do we know of our friends and family that make us recognize them?

The sound of their footsteps. A sigh? A riff on a guitar or bass? Drumming. I bet I could pick out my boy Eric's drum playing.

One time in my corp job, there was a person sending anonymous emails about the good things people were doing on the job. Caught in the Act or something like that.

Of course, everyone wanted to know who was sending the emails. We whispered and guessed. Upper management knew, but never spilled the beans.

But, we all worked together. The tone of the email was the tone of our co-worker. And I figured it out.

So be careful. You may think you're sending an anonymous email, but if the receiving person knows you, they may just hear your voice in the words you write.

My friends and family tell me all the time, "When I read your books, I can see and hear you."

Anyway, my friend Stu has a bass sound distinctly his. Pretty cool.

Making a Case

Pardon me while I make a case, from the Word. Hang with me, this is interesting. Promise.

In Numbers 27, the daughters of Zelophehad went to Moses and said, "Hey, just because we're girls we don't think we should lose out on our fathers inheritance."

They made their case. Our dad died. He was a righteous man, and why should his name be cut off because he had no son?

Moses goes, "Hum, I'll talk to God."

Know what God said, "They are right. Give them their inheritance with all the others."

This is incredible at so many levels. First of all, the daughters showed wisdom. They knew their father's name did not deserve to be cut off, thus recognizing justice.

Unlike how many women would react today, the submitted to the proper authority and justice channels. They humbled themselves and went to Moses, and pleaded their cases.

They trusted God to look out for them when technically, maybe they didn't get an inheritance with their father's brothers.

And the thing is, no one was offering. Hey, want us to give you your Dad's land?

No, they had to SEEK it! They had to have vision and hope and dreams.

God honored them. He said, they are right.

Had they not been bold, yet humble, they would've never gotten an inheritance with their father's brothers. They would've been left out.

They didn't give into their "position" as woman or daughters, they sought justice.
They hoped in God.

My guess is they changed their lives and destiny. Instead of being poor and waiting on a husband, they had land, they hand an INHERITANCE.

What are you doing to lay hold of your inheritance? Are you waiting for someone to hand it to you? Waiting for someone to recognize injustice and go, "Oh, we're sorry, here."

I think God knew all along they deserved their father's inheritance, but he waited to see if they would come and ask.

Don't wait. Ask. Humbly. You also notice they didn't do a libber thing on Moses and God, spouting in justice to woman and unfairness and needing equal rights and compensation.

They didn't overplay their hand. Wisdom!

John Elway Furniture

I'm driving home from an errand this morning and hear an ad on the radio for John Elway Furniture at SAMS Club.

Really? John Elway, the Hall of Fame quarterback? Has a furniture collection? Did he design it?

I thought it was a little hokey when Cindy Crawford teamed up with Rooms To Go with a signature line of furniture, but John Elway?

The parent company is Bassett. So, I picture myself sitting around the board room table at Bassett Corporate going, "Sales are down folks. What are we going to do to jump start our growth? We need a name, a gimmick..." Snap, snap, snap of fingers. "Think people, think."

"Hey, I know," says young, eager marketing exec. "Let's call a football player and design a signature line of furniture."

"Yeah, that's the ticket." More finger snapping. "Someone famous."

"John Elway."

Okay, maybe it didn't go down quite like that, or maybe John Elway was on the golf course one day and said, "Hum, I'd like to design furniture. Or at least have my name on a line of furniture."

Does it make me run out and buy furniture from Sam's? No! It feels insincere really. I'm curious, but not intrigued. Not motivated to buy.

Now, a line of sportswear or footballs for the kids, or even a BBQ grill or something, but inside the house furniture. Nope. Do not buy it.

Now, say, Nate Berkus comes along with a signature like of furniture for Sam's, I'm buying it. Interestingly enough, you don't see Nike signing up Nate to launch a signature sportswear line or footballs.

I thought the purpose of using a Celeb in marketing was to capitalize on their association with certain things - say sports, or decorating, or music.

It'd be like me asking John Elway or Nate Berkus to endorse one of my books. Cool, but really? No one is going to buy it cause what do they have to do with southern chick lit.

I don't know, maybe it's just me.

Failure

Failure is not falling short. Failure is not measuring up to how or who I want to me.

Failure is quitting because of those things. "If I can't be the best, I won't be at all."

So I press on.

Success.

Weddings, Celebrations, Life

We went to a wedding tonight. It was lovely and sweet, but it was during the reception when people were talking and dancing that the celebration began.

Maybe because I'm in deep-dark-writing-mode and don't get out much, but it was fun to laugh and talk, dance a little, eat a little.

Have cake. I love cake.

On the way home, I told Tony, "We don't celebrate enough."

We being Tony and me, sure, but people, the church. Ancient cultures took days, even weeks to celebrate. Not just some, but all. Businesses closed, activity stopped.

To celebrate.

Even Biblically we see a call to celebrations.

If you don't have a wedding or party event coming up soon, plan one. Invite friends and family.

Celebrate.

Not to be political, but...

This site isn't a political forum. It's about me, because well, it's all about mmeeee!

If you don't know me in person, that last line is not funny in blogosphere, but in real life? A hoot! I promise! Actually, it's all about Jesus. I'm NO fool.

Okay, back to the not-so-political post. I'm not going to draw lines and talk here about who you should vote for and why. But I have to address something I've seen over and over in recent months, especially concerning the charismatic Jr. Senator from Illinois, Obama.

People are saying things like, "I don't care what he believes. I don't care who raised him. I don't care about his religion. He's going to bring us all together."

To this I say, if you don't care about the core of man, then what are you voting for? In any candidate? With what values is he going to create and execute policy and decisions? You HAVE to care what he believes, his values, his core strengths. That is, in essence, Obama. Or Hilary, or George W.

How can a man be a man if his values and character don't matter? Especially in the areas of faith. That's what ultimately moves all of us! Our passions.

YOU have to care about a presidential candidate's faith, upbringing, values and character. It is those tools he will use, if President, to bring the country together. What will we look like at the end of the day?

Is he easily swayed? Is he a people pleaser? Can he be trusted to carry the "football?" Can he deal with our terrorist enemies if he has close ties to the Muslim faith?

We cannot lose our heads over nice, extremely charismatic candidates. I see too many people blindly throwing their support. It's emotional. I know. I've felt it.

And we live in an extremely emotionally driven society. I feel, therefore, I am.

My challenge is to think a little, investigate. Read history. We have a world behind us who blindly followed charismatic leaders. Hitler in retrospect, was a tyrant, but he swayed the masses.

No, I'm not calling Obama, or any candidate, Hitler, not at all! But I'm calling attention to the fact that the German people never looked closely at the man they blindly followed. By the time they did, it was too late. To speak out cost them their lives.

Vote for whomever! But I challenge you to NOT dismiss a man's values and faith, his upbringing and culture. On surface issues, you may agree with a candidate on abortion, taxes, immigration, the war, or whatever.

But each Presidential adminstration does not effect just his years in office, but for generations to come. Will we remain the American you want your children to be raised in? Land of the FREE, home of the Brave?

We are in a war. Think about where this nation will be if we elect a leader sympathic to our enemies.

Ladies, how do you feel about wearing a black burka? In July. At the beach?

Two other Crosses

Two men were crucified with Jesus. Criminals condemned for their deeds and Scripture was fulfilled, "He was number among the transgressors."

One of the criminals hurled insults at Jesus. Condemned to the same death, his pride caused him to join the crowd in taunting Him.

The other criminal rebuked him, "Do you not fear God?" Then he cried out to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into Your kingdom."

How amazing. He showed both faith and humility.

Jesus' answer moves me. "Today, (today!) you will be with me in paradise."

This picture of the crucifixion is a powerful life picture. All of us will face the cross - believers and unbelievers alike.

For the one criminal, he chose pride and the cross of death. The second criminal chose the way of humility and the cross of life.

How many will come face-to-face with the Cross of Jesus and reject it? It's frightening.

Oh, to be like the second man and cry out, "Remember me Jesus."

Do we recognize the power of the cross? Are we angry at Jesus? Hurling insults out of hurt or pride? It only leads to death.

Whether we believe in Jesus or not, all of us go the way of the cross. It cannot be escaped.

Which criminal do you relate to?

Easy like Sunday morning

Great words from a great tune by the Commodors.

Cause I'm easy/easy like Sunday morning

I don't know about you guys, but Sunday mornings are anything but easy for me. Up at 7:00, off to church by 7:40, prep for worship, pray, practice worship, lead worship, listen to sermon, get back up for closing song, wait for Tony to do finances, go to lunch.

2:30, home.

Long day.

I try to take the afternoon/evening off and get rested for the rest of the week. I got a lot of writing done yesterday, but have a ways to go.

Tony and I had fun at lunch brainstorming the next book. Yeah, I know, I'm far from done with this one, but I wanted to toss out ideas so I could leave this book open for a sequel if I we want.

Caroline Sweeney is my new character and she's pretty cool. A mixture of Lost In NashVegas' Robin McAfee and Diva NashVegas' Aubrey James.

It takes me a long time to like my characters no matter how many times I "talk" to them or write bios and scenes with them. She's finally clicking with me.

I also was having a hard time bringing in the hero, but I managed to do that last week in a manner I like and feels smooth to the flow of the story.

Diva NashVegas has two points of view. Aubrey and the hero's, Scott's. I thought I'd include the hero's point of view in Sweet Caroline, but as I work through the story, it's not necessary.

In Diva, Scott is the interviewer and his POV adds a lot.

Writing is an awesome career and at times, I can't believe God has so blessed me. I love my job, my publisher and editor, and ultimately, I love my stories. There's something deeply satisfying to writing. It touches a part of me nothing else in this life touches.

Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday.

(pic of one of my "sons" Eric Exley, 3, many years ago.)