Hello everyone.
Sorry I haven't written anything in a couple of weeks. I received an email from someone who didn't know who I was. It came as a shock to me, because being not well known yet, although my readership is growing by leaps and bounds, I only send my blog to people I meet and request it and of course to the people I've known over the years of my life. The ones I hear back from have enjoyed my blog, saying how much its made them smile, or gives them hope, or just loves hearing the positive attitude in my voice.
Well y'all. Everyone who's known me for any length of time, knows I'm a happy person and almost always looking for the good in everything and everyone. I've been blessed by God my whole life and have said so for fifty plus years. (that's as close as I'll come to speaking my age :-) ). Anyway, as God continues to bless me spiritually, emotionally, and physically...I continue to praise Him and thank Him, and share my blessings with others.
BUT when I started to write my blog last week, my husband said you're not going to tell them about your new car are you? Well that made me stop and look at him strangely. Of course I was going to tell you all, because I love ALL the blessings God is pouring down on me. And some of them are earthly things. So I told him so. He said it sounds like I'm bragging. I told him I am--ON GOD NOT ME. I reminded him that I always give God the glory.
Only that conversation, along with the one person of over 100 people I send this to, made me second guess myself and what I was doing. So I stayed away from the blogging and talked to my Lord about this, asking Him to show me what to do, tell me what to say and when to say it.
He reminded me of His Scripture...Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. THAT'S a promise from Him. And I have seeked Him and the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. I have made Him my #1 priority. I share Him with every opportunity I'm given, which I find grows more and more every day. I'm proud to be His blessed daughter and be an heir to His righteousness and His kingdom. All these things, peace, joy, love, everything I need and some things I desire, are added to me. Praise God! Thank You, Lord.
So I'm writing another blog.
God is still showering down the blessings.
My editor is speaking at a conference in Florida...and I'm going!!! It's right around the corner. I can't wait to meet her face-to-face and sit in on several classes being taught on improving my writing. As a writer I want to always be open for improvement. I want my books to get better with each one. I want you the readers to say...Oh I can't wait till the next Deborah Lynne novel hits the book-shelves.
This weekend we (Scott & I) are going to a wedding. My brother-in-law, the widower of my sister, is getting married. Since God brought this new woman in his life, Robert hasn't stopped smiling. He grieved deeply for Sharon, but knowing she was in heaven and no longer in pain and suffering, he finely left her in God's hands and moved forward in his own life. We are so happy for him and pray many blessings on Robert and Barbara's marriage.
The deck I've talked about has been built out back and it's beautiful. 3 tier deck. Unfortunately the rain has kept it from being stained (but the wood was pretreated so it will be okay for the time being). The rain was needed but now I hope it slows down so the stain can be added to that light wood and the trim around the bottom can be completed. In the meantime, its wonderful to step out the back door and walk out or sit outside enjoying the lake. Our neighbors seem to like the addition too, which we were glad to hear.
Kali and Kole (our cats) get along well now. They are such a joy to watch when they are in the playful mode. Unfortunately, sometimes its REALLY late at night. Then I'm not in the mood. I'm in sleep mode and ready for them to settle down. But they are still cute together.
As of this past weigh-in I've lost 31 pounds. What a joy its been fitting into my blue jeans and now some of them are starting to bag. Of course I have the next 2 sizes down of jeans and I will make my way down through them. Finally something that works for me. I'm no dieter. I can never stick to anything longer than 3 weeks. But by "My Fitness Pal" on my iPhone and keeping tabs on the calories of the food I do eat, enjoy eating, I've learned to eat smaller portions. I have my limit set on 1200 calories and if I go over a little or don't remember to put my Crystal light peach tea in there, I'm still okay. And guess what? If I exercise it removes some of the calorie points I've taken in, so I can eat a little more and still lose. It's great. The main thing is, I get to eat what I want, not only celery and carrots which are at the bottom of my to eat list. Trust me. Yes!! I even enjoyed King Cake here and there for the past 3 weeks. A strawberry and cream cheese filled one. The next one was just cream cheese filled. Tuesday is was pecans and cream cheese. Last night I had a very small sliver of a Zulu King Cake. Thats cream cheese filled, covered with chocolate. Then sprinkled on top is coconut. It was very good. Now who can say I'm dieting. No ONE. I'm counting calories and trying to make good choices. But when that desire for the sweet hits, I cut back on my calorie count somewhere else. It works people.
I'm not going to put a writing tip on this today, but I will say to all you writers, don't quit writing. Even when you sit down to write and nothing comes (which that was yesterday and the day before for me), just doodle or write what comes to you, or reread what you've written, so your creative juices will start to flow again. Don't give up. Don't put yourself down, or think I've lost it. It does come back. It's happened to me plenty of times over the years, but as long as I keep trying eventually the story starts taking shape. The words start to flow. And it all comes together. It's the rewrite that sharpens it. So go for it. Keep writing.
God bless you all. I'll talk to you soon.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Under the weather -- yuck! AS WELL AS GOOD NEWS!!
Hey guys!
First let me say, I didn't get picked for the jury. I was in the big batch of people who they were combing through to find the right juror for a major murder trial. After going the first day and put in that pool, I was told every day to call back between a certain time and they would tell me whether to show up or not the next day. This went on all week. Friday the judge released us. The trial started the following week. I don't watch the news or read the paper, but my husband kept me informed. Kind of glad I didn't make the cut. I'm guessing (actually knowing) God knew what He was doing when I didn't get on board.
As a mystery writer, I would have found it interesting. But remember. I deal with fiction. The real life story of it all, was...IT WAS REAL...PEOPLE WERE MURDERED. It gives me the shivers just thinking about it. Also I was sick the whole time. Me who never gets sick was under the weather with some sort of upper respiratory thingy. No fun. Still the last of it is holding on to me...tizz why I haven't written my blog until now.
Now for the good news. My book, Be Not Afraid, Book 1 of The Samantha Cain Series, got a new face lift. Oh, ladies & gentlemen, it is beautiful if I do say so myself. No scars, no wrinkles, just plain beauty. They kept the moon with the overlay of clouds for the suspense, but you have to check it out. I don't think its been changed on my website yet. But I know Ms. Moore will get it done as soon as she can. Anyway, the new face lift on book 1 is done. OakTara is working on Testimony of Innocence, Book 2 of The Samantha Cain Series. I'm so excited. My editor, Ramona Tucker is speaking at a conference in Leeville, Florida next month. My husband and I are going to go to it. I can't wait. The conference will be a great one!
More good news. We got the blueprints for our deck being added and the approval to start the work. It will begin Monday. YES! After that we will be able to enjoy BBQ's or just plain sitting out back enjoying the lake. Of course we do that now from the porch, but it will be so nice having the deck and the patio furniture.
On top of that we have Landscape Services, LLC who will be making our front yard beautiful as Munn Construction Co makes the backyard a pretty sight.
Okay guys. We've been in our new home 2 1/2 months now and we are almost settled. By the end of February everything should be as we planned when we first were lead to our new home. Thank You, Lord, for all your blessings. He is the one who has been pouring out on us His favor, and I know its not going to stop. He has plans for us in a big way.
Today I will be restarting my new book (not in the Samantha Cain Series) After You're Gone. This is another story God gave me a couple of years ago to write while I was working on others. I start it, and my computer crashed. I get my computer refurbished and I start it again (this time wise enough to make a few notes) and my computer crashes again. I buy a new computer, but never start the book in it. Since then bought a laptop and moved into the Mac era. (iphone, Macbook). SO TODAY, I'm doing it the way I originally started over 25 years ago...writing long hand in a notebook. Then I will transfer it to my laptop and save on a zip drive chapter by chapter.
The geese still come day after day and we watch and laugh and relax. It is so wonderful. And then, as I told you last week we got a new kitten, Kole, for Kali to play with. It took 5 days before they became a playful team. Now we get to watch and laugh and relax watching them indoors. So even on these rainy days like we've had lately we get to relish in the goings on around us. Those of you who are still young and your kids are growing up around you, take time to appreciate the joy they bring to your life. Ours did, but sometimes we didn't enjoy it like we should have. The peace it gives you when you take time to enjoy the life God's given you, moment-by-moment, day-by-day, is beyond words. So take the time. Look around. Smile. God is good!! check out the pictures:
My wonderful son-in-law, Pete, put together a new bookshelf for me yesterday. He did great!! It looks good. So now those last 5 boxes of books get to be unloaded. This will make our home no longer look like we are moving in!! Yes. Thanks Pete!!
God bless you all, my blog readers. Tell others to check out my blog too. Writer's keep reading and the rest of you (read if you want), I'll talk to you next week.
Writing Tips:
I told you before that I have a book I call "My Idea Book" where I write down things, stories, titles, and whatever else comes to mind in connection with writing. Then when I have a time where new ideas aren't coming or my creative side just isn't flowing like normal I'll go back through and read these notes I've jotted down. Some times from them, I start my next book. Sometimes I write a little short story. And one time I even wrote a poem that God told me to give to our music leader at the time, in case he ever felt lead to use it in one of the songs he was writing, or maybe to inspire another song. Who knows why God told me to give it to him, but I did. Now our music leader is our Pastor. So maybe it will end up in a sermon. I don't know. Only God knows..but the main thing is I did what God lead me to do.
Now before I get to far off track what I'm telling you to do as a writer, start your own idea book. Keep notes when you get inspired. Don't worry if it sounds silly at the time. When you reread it, something different could be inspired or it could open that..what do they call it??...that writer's block that comes sometimes.
Now, as I move forward on writing After You're Gone, you go write what you're supposed to write.
God bless you and talk to you some time next week.
First let me say, I didn't get picked for the jury. I was in the big batch of people who they were combing through to find the right juror for a major murder trial. After going the first day and put in that pool, I was told every day to call back between a certain time and they would tell me whether to show up or not the next day. This went on all week. Friday the judge released us. The trial started the following week. I don't watch the news or read the paper, but my husband kept me informed. Kind of glad I didn't make the cut. I'm guessing (actually knowing) God knew what He was doing when I didn't get on board.
As a mystery writer, I would have found it interesting. But remember. I deal with fiction. The real life story of it all, was...IT WAS REAL...PEOPLE WERE MURDERED. It gives me the shivers just thinking about it. Also I was sick the whole time. Me who never gets sick was under the weather with some sort of upper respiratory thingy. No fun. Still the last of it is holding on to me...tizz why I haven't written my blog until now.
Now for the good news. My book, Be Not Afraid, Book 1 of The Samantha Cain Series, got a new face lift. Oh, ladies & gentlemen, it is beautiful if I do say so myself. No scars, no wrinkles, just plain beauty. They kept the moon with the overlay of clouds for the suspense, but you have to check it out. I don't think its been changed on my website yet. But I know Ms. Moore will get it done as soon as she can. Anyway, the new face lift on book 1 is done. OakTara is working on Testimony of Innocence, Book 2 of The Samantha Cain Series. I'm so excited. My editor, Ramona Tucker is speaking at a conference in Leeville, Florida next month. My husband and I are going to go to it. I can't wait. The conference will be a great one!
More good news. We got the blueprints for our deck being added and the approval to start the work. It will begin Monday. YES! After that we will be able to enjoy BBQ's or just plain sitting out back enjoying the lake. Of course we do that now from the porch, but it will be so nice having the deck and the patio furniture.
On top of that we have Landscape Services, LLC who will be making our front yard beautiful as Munn Construction Co makes the backyard a pretty sight.
Okay guys. We've been in our new home 2 1/2 months now and we are almost settled. By the end of February everything should be as we planned when we first were lead to our new home. Thank You, Lord, for all your blessings. He is the one who has been pouring out on us His favor, and I know its not going to stop. He has plans for us in a big way.
Today I will be restarting my new book (not in the Samantha Cain Series) After You're Gone. This is another story God gave me a couple of years ago to write while I was working on others. I start it, and my computer crashed. I get my computer refurbished and I start it again (this time wise enough to make a few notes) and my computer crashes again. I buy a new computer, but never start the book in it. Since then bought a laptop and moved into the Mac era. (iphone, Macbook). SO TODAY, I'm doing it the way I originally started over 25 years ago...writing long hand in a notebook. Then I will transfer it to my laptop and save on a zip drive chapter by chapter.
The geese still come day after day and we watch and laugh and relax. It is so wonderful. And then, as I told you last week we got a new kitten, Kole, for Kali to play with. It took 5 days before they became a playful team. Now we get to watch and laugh and relax watching them indoors. So even on these rainy days like we've had lately we get to relish in the goings on around us. Those of you who are still young and your kids are growing up around you, take time to appreciate the joy they bring to your life. Ours did, but sometimes we didn't enjoy it like we should have. The peace it gives you when you take time to enjoy the life God's given you, moment-by-moment, day-by-day, is beyond words. So take the time. Look around. Smile. God is good!! check out the pictures:
Kole asleep on Scott's shoulder
Koby letting Kole lay in his lap
Kali watching Kole from a distance
My wonderful son-in-law, Pete, put together a new bookshelf for me yesterday. He did great!! It looks good. So now those last 5 boxes of books get to be unloaded. This will make our home no longer look like we are moving in!! Yes. Thanks Pete!!
God bless you all, my blog readers. Tell others to check out my blog too. Writer's keep reading and the rest of you (read if you want), I'll talk to you next week.
Writing Tips:
I told you before that I have a book I call "My Idea Book" where I write down things, stories, titles, and whatever else comes to mind in connection with writing. Then when I have a time where new ideas aren't coming or my creative side just isn't flowing like normal I'll go back through and read these notes I've jotted down. Some times from them, I start my next book. Sometimes I write a little short story. And one time I even wrote a poem that God told me to give to our music leader at the time, in case he ever felt lead to use it in one of the songs he was writing, or maybe to inspire another song. Who knows why God told me to give it to him, but I did. Now our music leader is our Pastor. So maybe it will end up in a sermon. I don't know. Only God knows..but the main thing is I did what God lead me to do.
Now before I get to far off track what I'm telling you to do as a writer, start your own idea book. Keep notes when you get inspired. Don't worry if it sounds silly at the time. When you reread it, something different could be inspired or it could open that..what do they call it??...that writer's block that comes sometimes.
Now, as I move forward on writing After You're Gone, you go write what you're supposed to write.
God bless you and talk to you some time next week.
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