I am SO glad my world traveler is home safe and sound.
We've talked hours and are just starting to scratch the surface.
One of the biggest blessings of being in Chile during the earthquakes (there were two more, a 7.2 and a 6.9 the morning before they left) was seeing the people reach out to their brothers and sisters and neighbors.
At one point the girls in Chile had to INSIST on helping with relief because there were so MANY people helping that they didn't really need them. Just their neighborhood area collected over 4 tons of clothes and hundreds of boxes of food, medical and cleaning supplies for those further south who were devastated by the big earthquake.
Leanna's sister recommended that she write, since she ‘wrote in her journal all the time.’ The idea took root and began to grow. So after five years of teaching, she quit and started writing, with no clue about the book business. Ignorance is bliss. If she’d known the odds against her, she might not have ever started writing.
For about three years, she wrote with a collaborator, but because she had so many ideas she began to write more stories on her own. She suffered numerous rejections. Deservedly so. But she was growing as a writer and learning. She went to as many conferences as she could manage. During that time, she met her future husband, fell in love and became engaged. She also began to final in contests and then actually began to win! The contests helped her get noticed by editors and agents. In March, the year Braveheart won the Best Picture Oscar, Victor/Victoria opened on Broadway, she sold her first book. It was her Cinderella year. She sold her book, got married and won RWA’s Golden Heart Award in Hawaii.
She wrote six books between her first baby’s birth and when the second baby turned one. Then she hit a wall. Not literally. But creatively. It’s not that she didn’t have any ideas, but her ideas didn’t fit the romance market. These new characters, random and weird as they were, began to take over the part of her brain that wasn’t domesticated. These stories were about all types of women, and so she began to let her writing grow in new and different ways.
Leanna Ellis sold more than 1.3 million romantic novels writing as Leanna Wilson, winning a Readers’ Choice award and the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award for her work. Elvis Takes a Back Seat is the first book published under her married name, marking a new creative direction in her writing. Like Francine Rivers before her, Leanna has left behind a successful career as an author of secular romances to write novels of faith that glorify God. A former schoolteacher, Leanna is now a homeschool mom and lives with her husband and children in Keller, Texas.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Bryn Seymour was nine years old when her mother died under mysterious circumstances on the same day Apollo 11 made its historic lunar landing. Forty years later—divorced, working as an obituary writer, and duly cynical—she meets Howard, a conspiracy theorist who knew her mom and believes a small Texas town may hold clues to what really fueled her demise. Seeking closure, Bryn goes along for this men-in-black ride. But upon meeting Howard’s son Sam, an outspoken Christian, she can’t decide whose beliefs are more pie-in-the-sky.
The gravity of life has pulled Bryn down for decades. But a perfect love could be her first step to soaring. It only happens once in a blue moon.
MY REVIEW: Once in a Blue Moon is a charming and quirky novel of second chances, forgiveness and moving toward hope. Reckless in life, but not in love, Bryn Seymour, meets a man full of strange ideas and conspiracies who knew her deceased mother and hints at a conspiracy involving her mother's death. Bryn was just a child when she lost her mother and emotions and hungers drive her to investigate this crazy man's theories. Along the way she meets another man who challenges her with things she fears far more than any physical stunt she's ever encountered, love and faith. Those of you who like charming, well-written, romantic encounters full of quirk and characters need to give this book a chance.
1. Enter the contest here by March 30, 2010 2. Once you enter, you'll be given a link to download a PDF of the coloring sheet 3. Print the coloring sheet out on any computer printer 4. Have your kids color the sheet 5. Mail the sheet to:
WaterBrook Press Attn: Coloring Contest 12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200 Colorado Springs, CO 80921
We look forward to seeing your kid's amazing coloring pages!
One of my favorite Christmas songs is Joseph's Lullaby by Mercy Me. The simplicity of the words and the immensity of the meaning behind them brings tears to my eyes nearly every time I hear it. I have often pondered what it would have been like for Mary. For her to be aware of a destiny beyond her capability to understand and the slow realization of truth as the events unfolded throughout her Son's life. But then there's Joseph. A man who took on this scandalous mother and baby and who then set aside his own rights in order to respect her and the holy task within her. What kind of man was Joseph?
I'm not alone in my ponderings. Fran Riedemann has used her knowledge of Scripture and Jewish history and has fleshed out Joseph the man. Though I hesitated on the Amazon star ranking because there were some technical issues and preferences that made the read a little challenging at times, I was thoroughly pulled into, especially, the later portion of the story. Riedemann layers in elements of sacrifice and communion and remembrances that were nearly painful to read. How much did Joseph and Mary know before the events unfolded? Did they understand that Jesus would die for us all? Or did they hope that He might be the one who'd be the conquering king that the nation expected? At what point did Jesus know He'd be the world's sacrificial Passover Lamb? The things I couldn't possibly relate to as a modern American woman are thoughts to ponder. Ones that have added to a story that continues to change the world one soul at a time.
I love the black hairy grandchildren I've been hanging with for the past couple of weeks. Well, I actually always hang with them but I've been responsible for them, the caretaker, the affection recipient whilst their mommy has been away.
This is why I enjoy the dogs. There is no question of what they want, nor is there any game playing going on. When they need a hug they go for it. Now this is sometimes a bad thing because they don't stop to check what I'm wearing or whether I'm carrying anything before they missile into my personal space. When they decide it's mealtime, clarity is not an issue. As a matter of fact they begin to remind me that dinner time is at 5:00 o'clock by 3:30. Wouldn't want to miss that. They are actually standing guard over the food bin right now, in case there are any squirrel or cat pirates about.
My favorite is when they both want affection. Lola's love language includes toys. An intact toy or even a toy shred will do. Her favorite thing in the world (okay, second favorite after treats) is being chased around the table in an exciting game of keep away. Lily is content only if she is being touched, the closer the better. If she could get her 70 pound body into my front pocket, she'd be very thrilled with that. If we could shrink her and carry her around in a purse, she'd be pretty happy, as long as she had some skin to lick. This love language difference makes for some funny living puzzles. I'll be petting Lola, complimenting her on her toy and suddenly look down and realize that Lily has managed to squeeze Lola out of the picture and slide her head into my hand mid-pat.
Definitely nice to come home to simple, just-the-facts dogs after a long day in the people salt mines.
Obvious one. 23 arrived safely, survived an 8.8 earthquake, and is in an upbeat frame of mind and is anxious to help wherever and however she can.
The earthquake that rocked my world rocked several others. Without going into a lot of details let's just say that I have shared my faith and talked about God's power and peace more this week than I remember ever talking about it. At work it's come up. The newscasts and newspaper articles are causing people to ask me questions that they've avoided or never thought to ask me. I have shared details about the crazy peace He gave me with crying individuals. It's been awesome. I know this is happening to most of the folks involved in this as well. .
I am working on starting a ministry that I don't really want to start. But I feel like I'm supposed to, that it's important and that I'm the one who is supposed to start it. I was questioned by someone who is infamous for being sour and I was able to separate my feelings from the truth. The truth is that individual is sour and that most ideas are going to evoke a "bitter beer face." I feel freed from trying to please this person and actually really only feel a burden to give God what He's asking from me and that He'll work out the details and the wisdom part. I have gotten some serious affirmation from some others, those whom I feel the burden to minister to.
My rear-end is sore and I feel my ab muscles and I love feeling healthy after working out and I'm grateful that God has given me a body that I'm able to work out with.
Lily and Lola are being extremely good while 23 is gone. One broken flower pot which was pretty much human stupidity. Why would we put it at tail level I ask you. Three nervous pees. One ripped-up bread sack, two ripped-up napkins and that's it. Impressive. Really impressive.
It feels like spring instead of winter. Nuff said.
Have a blessed weekend. I plan to count mine... (blessings)
We got a phone call tonight. It was so good to hear 23's voice. So good. They have had power for just over 24 hours. During the aftermath of the quake, 23's team has been hard at work, doing what they originally went to Chile to accomplish. And they have almost completed what they set out to do. Now that power is back and places of need are becoming clearer they will probably head south and do what they can to bring relief to many who have lost much.
The four Americans feel absolutely blessed to be in Chile. More and more stories of miracles thrill them. 23 said that there was an moment where a sparse gathering of church members voices singing praise in Spanish gave her goosebumps. Beautiful to God's ears and hers. There have been light-hearted celebrations as they people have discovered another friend or relative is safe. 23 has moms, aunts and sisters insisting that she must meet this young man or that young man. She even has a dog she can visit and cuddle with.
I am SO glad my world traveler is home safe and sound.
