Girls and God

It only looks like I've fallen off the edge of the earth...

2011-02-15T12:06:00.002-05:00

I really haven't:-) I've been working on getting my new website up and functional over the last several weeks and now that it is, I'll be blogging over there. I'm leaving this one be for the time being, but all new stuff will be over at

a naked faith blog

I really wanted to focus more on the teen and college aged audience since that is where I spend most of my writing and speaking time. And well, this blog has been all over the place:-) So I wanted to start fresh. So please come visit me and in my new little corner of the web!

~Sarah~

NaNoWriMo - 2010 edition

2010-11-09T17:14:00.003-05:00

The pic says it all - 30 Days - 50,000 words

I have participated in NaNo before and sadly, have started off strong and then abandoned the project when life and busyness and laundry has gotten in the way.

But I am in a strange literary place - I have a novel that a publisher has requested re-writes for - and I need to do them. But I'd also like to find a new agent. Two of my top pick agents and a third I'm not sure what to think about yet, have said, basically, "we don't want this one but if you write anything else we'd like to see it."

So I really need to write another novel. And I've known that for a long time. Trouble was, I just couldn't decide which story to do - and lacked the motivation to just do it.

Enter NaNoWriMo - my personal kick in the pants. All the way up until October 31st, I was still praying and pondering - which novel to do. The easiest would have been one that I had already plotted but while I love the story, it's a quieter novel and I wasn't sure the story was going to snag an agent's attention. There was a second one that I was intrigued by, but hadn't thought through enough to feel like I could tackle it.

Then, when I opened my laptop on Monday, November 1st, I had a file on my screen of a story that I had been thinking about writing for three years. That was the story I had to write. It was clear.

What's crazy is that this particular novel may be the hardest of them all to get an agent with/or sell to a publisher. But I don't care. I feel like, for the first time in a long time, I am writing a novel because I'm meant to tell this story. What happens to it after isn't my concern.

Today I hit 16,000 words. And as I pondered where I was at, I realized that the story is much darker than I had anticipated. But I'm thinking that's okay, because I also know where the novel is headed. It's exciting. And exhausting. I have too much to do this month. But for some reason, the busier I am the more productive I can be. I kind of thrive on deadlines.

And that's what NaNo has been - a deadline, self-imposed as it may be, it still helps to know that thousands of other crazy writers are out there pounding out words every day too.

(And as an aside - I not only have a regular job, but I'm also directing A Christmas Carol - with 99 kids in the cast. Why yes, I am that crazy:-)

Seasons Change

2010-10-14T11:38:00.003-05:00

So Fall is beginning to arrive around here - the lush green leaves we've enjoyed all summer are putting on new clothes of orange, and yellow and some brilliant red. And the other day, I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets I think I have ever seen in my life.

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Psalm 19:1

I love that I live in a place where the seasons change, because it reminds me that we all have seasons of our lives - and that we can never hold onto one season so tightly that we miss out on the joys of the new season ahead.

Let me repeat that: We can never hold onto one season so tightly that we miss out on the joys of the new season ahead.

Embracing change is a bit hard for me. But we are never thrust into a new season without God first preparing us - and that is where I have been - for several years. It's been a long road. A hard road at times. But one where I have grown - and one that I know has been God's mercy and grace towards me.

But as sure as I smell Fall in the air around here, I sense a change coming for me. It's exhilarating. And terrifying. As it should be when we are fully in God's hands. The road ahead is one where I know I must rest in His wisdom - and His love - alone.

Yes, I know I'm being a bit cryptic. As I must right now. It's also why I have at times abandoned my little space here on the web. The last few years have been so full of things that I cannot yet share publicly. But now I am testing the waters - and seeing if it's time to return - in anticipation of the new season ahead.

One where I hope that as God unveils His plan, His beauty and goodness and mercy will be unveiled as well.

Fever Interruptus

2010-01-20T23:30:00.002-05:00

I've been sick. Plain and simple. And it's annoying to get sick when you finally have some momentum. Since I've started trying to do The 30 Day Shred I've gotten two migraines and some sort of flu thing. I've had a fever off and on since Sunday...

My energy level amounts to moving from one room to the other. In other words, walking push-ups are out of the question at the moment.

But here's to hoping to recovery...soon...

Helping in Haiti

2010-01-13T13:04:00.003-05:00

I went to Haiti during college, so my heart is greatly saddened by the news of the earthquake - such devastation in an already suffering country. If you feel led to give to the disaster efforts, allow me to provide a few links to do so:

The Salvation Army where you can give to their relief efforts. The Salvation Army isn't as vocal about their ongoing efforts, but they provide necessary relief, in the name of Christ.

Operation Blessing International

and Stars of Hope - if you give here be sure to specify your gift to go to The Love of Jesus Children's Home or for Haiti Earthquake Relief.

30 Day Shred (AKA When Migraines Derail You)

2010-01-11T15:22:00.004-05:00

I get migraines.

I still remember getting my first migraine at 16 and wondering if perhaps I was going blind right there in Sweet Eileen's Cafe. The spots in my eyes came on suddenly and were so bad that I couldn't actually see the register. A pastor who came by every morning for coffee was there when it happened and he walked me back to my boarding house so that I could lay down.

Then the headache came. The kind of blinding pain that makes you wonder if death would be easier. A few days later I recovered, but the migraines have been a very unpleasant part of my life ever since.

When you suffer from migraines, you get a lot of unsolicited advice. Trust me. I've heard it all. I've tried it all. I've gotten prayed for more times that I care to count. I've gotten rid of stuff that triggers them (like aspartame). I went to a chiropractor for long periods (until I just couldn't afford to go anymore and was still getting them). I've tried preventative medicine (my hands went numb - I'm hyper sensitive to meds). I've begged and pleaded with God.

There are times that I go weeks, even months, between them. And then other times where I get them more frequently. Mine, at least sometimes, appear to be related to the girl-cycle. Yeah, not much I can do about that. Sometimes I'll get them because of the glare outside. Only so much you can do about that. And sometimes, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason at all.

I got a migraine Christmas Eve, and then last Thursday, I got another one. And it was a doozy. Friday was a total blur. Saturday my little one had a cheerleading competition. Ever been to one of those? Yeah. Lots of loud music and pulsating lights. Not really a good place for someone still recovering from a migraine. Admittedly, that probably set me back a bit. It wasn't until Sunday that I started to feel better.

And it wasn't until today that I actually thought about getting back to Jillian. While I realize that there was nothing I could do about the sequence of events that precluded me from working out - I still felt - defeated. Like I had failed in some way. Instead of giving myself permission to heal, I felt guilty for not doing what I had committed to do.

It's ridiculous really. And I realize I've let this type of thing completely derail me before. You get some momentum, and then something happens. Then time passes and you never quite get back on the tracks again. But as I thought about this today, I realized that I don't have to let this derail me. It was more like a pit stop. I had to pull over to get some rest and recover but I can get right back into the race. I could choose to have a different mindset about it. I could choose to get back into the race.

So today was Level 2/Day 4. I knew that it would be hard after several days off. But I get through it. And I must say, even though the planks still are pure torture and that second cardio sequence is killer, it's awfully nice to be back in the race...

~Sarah~

30 Day Shred (AKA It doesn't seem to get easier)

2010-01-07T18:05:00.003-05:00

Completed Level 2/Day 3 just now and I haven't yet been able to add in cardio after this one. It's a tough workout. I think the second cardio circuit does me in and I never quite catch my breath after that. I can tell I'm taking less breaks - but I'm still taking them. I think Jack Bauer could easily add "planks" to his repertoire of torture.

But today was probably the hardest in terms of getting myself to workout. I learned my lesson last week when I took two days off in a row - so because I didn't manage to squeeze in a workout yesterday, I had to get it in today. I just wasn't feeling well, was tired, and just didn't want to be bothered.

Step 1 - I went and just got into the workout clothes.

By the time I do that, I may not be eager and excited to workout, but I am at least willing to tough it out. So again, yes, it's physically a tough workout - but the mental battle is SO much tougher.

My hope is in you Lord

My strength is in you Lord.

And now that the workout is done, I can go relax with my family instead of my workout hanging over my head.

Would all of this be easier if I understood why He's asked me to do this? I don't know. "It is better to obey God rather than man." this is not the first time, nor will it be the last time that God has asked me to do something without giving any further explanation other than "Obey." He is my Father, I am the daughter. He is the potter, I am the clay. Who am I to wonder why?

So while this whole thing - the food, the exercise - was once something that I played with like an occasional toy, it has become a mandate. One that I unfortunately ignored for a while (SO grateful for His mercy). That still, small voice - when He asks us to do something difficult, we are so much more likely to ignore it. But if we belong to Him, he'll keep whispering, keep wooing until we fall on our knees undone before him.

I am undone.

I am His.

So leaning on his strength, I'll obey...

30 Day Shred (AKA Yes, Jillian, My heart is gurgling in my throat)

2010-01-05T12:33:00.003-05:00

So I started with Level 2 - Day 1 yesterday and finished Day 2 today.

Let's just say I think my muscles are on strike and I'm pretty sure it brought me to tears but couldn't tell for sure because of the copious amounts of sweat. Yes, Level 2 is a butt-kicker.

I did a progress check to see where I was at after 10 days - I did have some small losses in terms of inches and about two pounds. Wasn't really thrilled or motivated by that unfortunately (simply because of the sheer effort required).

So once again, I have to remember that this isn't about the results, it's about following God. My eating is in good shape. I am working out. That's all I can do. I have found that the short term goal that the 30 day Shred offers has been nice, so that has been another lesson in this. Working out in this indefinite perpetual way doesn't work for me. I need a short-term goal. Right now - that goal is surviving the 30 Day Shred.

I'm thinking the next goal needs to be training for a 5K. I can't believe I actually wrote those words. You know how some things you "want" to do are the very things that terrify you the most. Yeah. that's about where I am at with the 5K. There's a local 5K race on June 13 that seems far enough away to be possible, yet close enough to have to work for.

Is God asking me to do it? I'm pretty sure the answer to that is yes.

Can I do it? With God all things are possible - however - still struggling with this one..

Cn a leopard change it's spots?

That is the question.

30 Day Shred (AKA Don't take 2 days off)

2010-01-02T13:08:00.002-05:00

I completed Day 8 on Dec 30 (and since that was my birthday I was extra happy I still got that workout in. But today I had to really force myself to do Level 1/day 9 of the Shred today because I bailed on the 31st and 1st. One day off can be refreshing. Two days off is dangerous. It's just too easy to stay on that road of "not doing it".

Lesson 1 - Get it done early! I probably could have done my workout yesterday if I had completed it when I first got up. Because I didn't, and the day was busy, I was just too mentally exhausted to get in gear to do it later.

Lesson 2 - Keep focused. Anytime my focus drifts, it gets too easy to forget why it's important. It's sort of just like needing to focus on God each and every morning - so that our gaze doesn't drift to meaningless pursuits.

Lesson 3 - It's easier to stick with it than pick it back up. Working out today was tough despite it being my ninth time through. Those two days off weren't wise.

So tomorrow is Day 10 - Level 2 looms on Monday...I'm afraid to watch it. I don't even want to know what I'm in for:-)

Happy New Year!!

30 Day Shred (AKA Why is this still so hard?)

2009-12-29T19:17:00.003-05:00

So today was Level 1/Day 7 of the 30 Day Shred

The workout is still good, because I still get winded. Though I am able to do nearly everything (a few reps short on the second set of lat raises and side squats - ugh those hurt). And my push-ups still pretty much stink. But other than that, I'm hanging in there. Level 2 looms like a black cloud though...

And I'm finding that I'm kind of depressed about it and thinking that this, like everything else, will do no real good. (Still wondering where all those happy, endorphin things are...)

But I'm going to keep pressing through. As I was praying about my crummy attitude (because thankfully God always hears me even when my attitude is crummy), I was reminded of a few things:

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (Heb 11:35-36)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)

First off, the "reward" is not some magic number on the scale. I'm very aware of that. It's that God is working something out in me that is for my good, and hopefully, His glory. Endurance can be a tough "fruit" to cultivate, and God knows that while I've grown some, I definitely need more. Because real endurance is cultivated in the dry lands. Where the ground looks like it will bear no fruit and yet you keep going, pressing deeper into Him.

God asked me to focus on my eating and exercise, and while I don't really know why it's so important, I am positive I need to keep going - even in the complete absence of "fruit". I don't know about you, but I am overly dependent on results sometimes. But I must remember that God's "results" are often things we cannot see until we've gone on the journey.

So here's to the journey. May it blow away the chaff in my life that needs to go.

30 Day Shred (AKA Pumpkin Pie Payback)

2009-12-26T21:44:00.002-05:00

Today was Day 4 /Level 1 for me - I confess that I skipped Christmas Day. Not really because it was Christmas, but because I had a migraine on Christmas Eve. (Yeah, a pretty rotten time to get a migraine). I was feeling better on Christmas Day but my head was still hurting and bouncing was not in the forecast.

So today was especially hard. Partially because of the junk I ate (like the aforementioned pumpkin pie) but also because like anything, getting back to it after a day off is just a challenge.

Most of the battle is really mental.

So what I've noticed:

- endurance getting marginally better

- push-ups are still cheaty and girly but better than what I did the first day (gotta take the small victories)

- a few things I still struggle to do every rep (lat raises with the side squats, and squats with press), but a few others that I probably need to use a heavier weight (chest flies) or can do extra reps (abs).

But I'm kind of surprised that I'm already feeling a little hopeless about it having any real effect on anything. Four days in and the emotional battle is on. But just as with our walks with God - we can't rely on feelings. I need to focus on what is true - God asked me to do this. That's pretty much all that should ever matter. The results - I can't control those - so I have to leave them in His hands.

A few things that are true:

I feel better when I exercise

I feel stronger when I exercise

I eat better when I'm exercising

I drink more water when I'm exercising

All of those things are pretty good reasons to keep pressing through. No matter how I feel emotionally about it. The Shred - well, I look at as a bit of a jump start. A manageable jump start. One day at a time.

~Sarah~

30 Day Shred (AKA Sarah's crazy attempt to start something new the week of Christmas)

2009-12-23T20:36:00.003-05:00

We got snowed in around here. And mind you, we don't get much snow in these parts. A couple times a winter it snows, 3-4 inches is a good snow. We got 20 inches. 20! Insane amount of snow. So because no one in the state was actually prepared, our neighborhood was never graced with a plow; effectively shutting me in since last Saturday. I blame all of this on VDOT.

Sunday we shoveled. Good grief did we shovel. I'm thinking the whole time that I would look at it as a workout. (P.S. - haven't actually worked out in...a while...) Totally fell off the exercise bandwagon and the wagon never seemed to come by and pick me up again. But the shoveling - it was a nice kick start. (That and Q's Blog - just seeing her name gives me exercise guilt - love you LAQ!)

That, and I knew God had been speaking to me for quite some time about food and exercise. (Oh yeah, and my intake of diet sodas - that's a whole other blog story). I lost thirty pounds during the first part of 2008 and I've kept it off. A victory to be sure. But the last twenty have kinda stuck around. I think I've gained and lost the same five pounds four dozen times this year. It's kind of annoying. And when I get quiet before God, well, we end up at the food, exercise and diet coke issues.

So I re-committed to the food plan the Lord lead me to and started praying for grace and help daily to stay within the boundaries he has placed me in.

That left exercise and the Diet Coke. But funny thing about exercise. I naturally drink more water when I work out so the Diet Coke problem hasn't been a problem.

So Monday I did a TurboJam tape. Chalene can be a little too perky and happy but it's a solid workout. Especially for those of us snowed in.

Then Monday night, I found Jillian Michael's "30 Day Shred" on the Apple TV and three things crossed my mind

1- it's short. 20 minutes. Even I can fit in 20 minutes.

2 - it's less than $10

3 - 30 Days. Even I can focus on something for 30 days.

So I downloaded it and Tuesday I did the first work out level 1/day 1. Since I was already sore from the shoveling/TurboJam combo earlier, I was a bit concerned.

Many, many things crossed my mind during the workout but were thankfully censored because the kids are home.

1- push-ups. hate them.

2 - jumping jacks - bouncing isn't very flattering and they're hard - especially when your legs are on fire from everything else

3 - my upper body is weak, weak, WEAK!

4 - not-so-nice-thoughts about Jillian. I know that "flat abs don't come free." (But I would gladly purchase if I could...)

I survived but it hurt to move. And breathe.

Waking and standing upright was painful today but I couldn't quit already. I didn't even want to take a rest day. 30 days. I wanted to push through - so I did Level 1/Day 2. The workout is set up in three levels so in theory, you should do level 1 for ten days.

It hurts to move. And breathe. And standing takes a focused effort and moans of pain. (P.S. The moaning doesn't actually help).

Day 3 may kill me.

I abandoned this blog a while back feeling a little lost, unsure what I wanted to talk about, or why. But accountability, even if it's on a blog, is a nice motivator. That, and I imagine that I'm not alone in my struggles. So if anyone is still out there listening, let me know.

Either way, if I still have use of my hands, I'll be back tomorrow to check in.

Peace, Love and Ibuprofen.

~Sarah~

The David Cook Story

2008-12-08T13:56:00.004-05:00

So everyone is asking - how did this happen? So here is the simple story. We happened to be at Disney World on Friday when they were filming some segments of the Christmas Day Parade. David Cook performed "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and we watched him sing it three times but really only saw the back of his head because of the way the crowds were arranged. (BTW - I have whole different viewpoint of that parade now that I've seen how staged it is.) Anyhow, after David Cook left, we waited around for the parade part but they filmed the opposite side of the street we were on and the kids just got bored waiting around.

So we went in search of popcorn for my eight year old and then went to go join my hubby and our little one in line to meet Tinkerbell, but on the way there we saw that they were filming an interview in the grass near the castle. We stopped to watch and a small crowd gathered as well. The girls waved and waved and he looked over and waved back, while laughing good-naturedly about how long they had been waving at him. They took a break from filming and when he did, David walked over to some of the crowd, but not where we were. I knew if I left my spot, we'd never make it over to him anyway so we just stayed and watched. Someone on the crew, his manager? someone from Disney?, I'm not sure, looked over at us and I shrugged saying that we'd never make it over there. He said, "Hold on a minute. I'll get him for you." So he goes over and asks David to come say hi to go my girls. And then he just walks over and chats with both of them and offers to get a picture. I only had my iPhone with me but it came out pretty good:-) I got the whole thing on film as well - maybe I'll upload it as soon as I figure out how.

But it was SO fun for them. They've never met a celebrity and since they watched every episode of American Idol and voted for both David's throughout the competition - they were over the moon excited. They still get swoony when they talk about it. Of course, I totally forgot to ask if I could get a picture with him, too!

So a big shout out to David Cook for being so kind and gracious and for absolutely making their day.

Twittering Away

2008-12-07T20:25:00.002-05:00

We just returned from Disney World and Im still trying to get unpacked. Some time away, even if it was walking who knows how many miles around Disney World was needed. There's a Broadway song called, "Stop the World I want to get off." I don't want the world to stop, but a pause button might be nice once in a while. The trip felt a bit like a pause, a break from the reality of the routine of life. It was nice.

All that to say that I'll try to post here more often, and you can always find out what I'm up to at Twitter - SarahSumpolec is my handle there. I find Twitter fun because it's so short - and I can do it from my phone! That tells you how often I'm out and about:-)

So assuming anyone is still reading this thing from time to time, I'm back:-)

A wow story:-)

2008-07-16T10:09:00.002-05:00

I had this forwarded to me, and really - it's amazing.

A Lion's Tale.

A Christian Movie Studio?

2008-06-11T10:51:00.002-05:00

Watch this video - and to find out more info, go to In Jesus' Name Productions:

I'll post some more about it over the next week so stay tuned for more!

Fear Factor

2008-04-24T09:23:00.004-05:00

This is The Drop Tower at Kings Dominion. The picture really doesn't do it justice. According to their website it's

The largest drop ride in North America, a 305-foot tower of thrills that promises daring riders a 272-foot descent at 72 miles-per-hour! This adrenaline-pumping adventure simulates the sensation of skydiving.

If that's true, I won't be going skydiving. Ever. I thought for sure I'd like it since the Hollywood Tower of Terror - also a drop-motion ride, was one of my favorites. But that one dropped and then went back up, dropped again, then went back up. It was fun. I went on The Drop Tower, or as I like to call it The Tower of Death, with my daring seven year old daughter, who BTW, was well within the height requirements for the ride.

My first clue should have been the women who panicked and asked to get out just as my daughter and I were heading towards our seats. The Ride Guy had to unlock her to let her out and they put me in next to the guy she had just abandoned on the ride.

I snapped the thing closed and my maternal instincts kicked in as I checked and re-checked my daughter's straps to be sure she was in securely. All the while, the guy next to me keeps up this constant chatter about how this is "the scariest ride I've ever been on" and "it makes me want to die". No wonder the chick with him jumped out! And just about the point my panic reached the "I have to get out of here" stage, the ride started and I was stuck.

I grabbed my daughter's hand thinking that if I was panicking how was she doing? Meanwhile, the guy next to me will not shut up. He's giving me a blow-by-blow about how many seconds it takes to get to the top and how long we'll linger there looking out over Kings Dominion before we drop to our deaths.

Then we dropped. And I mean totally and completely dropped. And it went on forever. I had never been more scared on a ride in my life. And not the fun kind of scared. The terrified kind of scared. But I had my seven year old to think about so all feelings of panic and fear were stuffed inside so that I didn't react. (besides the scream on the way down!) Not because I didn't want to admit it, but because I didn't want to scare her. But once we reached the ground safely (Thank you God!), my daughter hops out of the seat smiling, with only a little bit of nervous laughter. "Did you like it?" I asked her.

"Yeah! My legs are all shaky," she said.

I felt shaky all over, and a wave of nausea coursed through me just to add to the thrill. I spent the next hour telling my husband how scary it was and declaring that I'd never go on the ride again. My seven year old was surprised I was that scared, since she didn't think it was too bad. I even skipped out on the Rebel Yell because I was still feeling woozy from the whole thing.

I'm not sure that I have some profound spiritual point. Got any ideas? I mean, I'm okay. But I won't ever go on it again. Give me a nice loop-de-loop roller coaster and I'll be happy. But I am curious - what about you? Ever been on a scary ride? Ever done something that was really scary and then it turned out okay?

Tell me about it, maybe it will make me feel better:-)

Cross-posted from Girls, God & the Good Life

Breaking News: Camy Tang likes being a girl!

2008-03-13T08:15:00.004-05:00

Join me in welcoming Camy Tang to my blog today!

It’s hard being a girl

Sometimes, it’s hard being a girl, don’t you think? Mom telling you stuff like, “Ladies don’t sprawl on a chair,” or “Don’t hunch, straighten your shoulders.”

And pantyhose! Don’t get me started on that. I think it was invented by a sausage maker or something.

But most of the time, I like being a girl. I’m very different from my husband, Captain Caffeine, in many different ways. Most of the time, it’s funny (but then again, I’m kind of warped and I think a lot of weird things are funny).

For example, illogic does not faze me.

“You said you were craving salt, so you eat chocolate?”

I shrug. “So?”

Also, our choice of TV programs is very different. He records mixed martial arts on our Tivo, I record chick flicks. He watches stupid man movies, I think they destroy brain cells. He has stopped asking me if I’m watching Pride and Prejudice AGAIN, and I have stopped asking him why he’s watching a rerun of SportsCenter that he saw an hour ago.

But most vividly, my relationship with God is different from the Captain’s relationship with God.

I love my father-daughter relationship with Him, although it has many other facets, too—Sovereign Lord and His people, shepherd and His sheep, Lord Almighty and His soldier.

But I know that Captain Caffeine’s relationship with God is completely different from mine. His view of God as his father, his Lord, his role model for the head of the household and the family’s spiritual leader. Those are aspects of God I can’t quite understand.

And I wouldn’t want to. Our different relationships with God help make us more compatible. They complete our family unit, our spiritual oneness.

Of course, sometimes I wish I understood him better, especially when I ask him to pray about getting a new car and he says God told him NO, we don’t need a cute red Mini Cooper.

But most of the time, the differences between us make me glad I’m a girl, with my unique relationship with God, our unique styles of communication and the unique things He points out to me in His word. I am my father’s girl, and the Captain is his father’s boy, and I’m happy with it.

Although I really do think we need a Mini Cooper.

Some VI Info about Miss Camy

Camy Tang is the loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick lit. She used to be a biologist, but now she is a staff worker for her church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday, and she ponders frivolous things like dumb dogs (namely, hers), coffee-geek husbands (no resemblance to her own...), the writing journey, Asiana, and anything else that comes to mind. Visit her website at http://www.camytang.com/ for a huge website contest going on right now, giving away five boxes of books and 25 copies of her latest release, ONLY UNI.

From Sarah:

Seriously folks, Camy is one fun chick - and her books are a lot like her actually! I met Camy personally at Mount Hermon a few years ago and she happened to hear the story of "Sarah's worst and most public critique EVER." And not only that - she seems to still like me (and fortunately didn't believe the "worst critique EVER"). What a relief! Camy also happens to be a great person to stand next to during a party because she happens to be very funny. Read her books people! You won't regret it.

And just to give you an urge, I'll give a way a copy of the brand spanking new "Only Uni" to a random commenter. Want to win? So easy! Just leave a comment with your e-mail address for your chance to win. Come on, I've already got the comment # in mind so what are you waiting for:-)

And BTW - I totally agree about those pantyhose - and about enjoying that father-daughter relationship with God.

New Computer - Yeah! Moving Files - Boo!

2008-02-28T23:06:00.002-05:00

I have now spent most of the week trying to get my new computer and my old computer to cooperate with each other. I'm afraid it's not going very well. Well, that's an understatement. I think the relationship is doomed. They are not even on speaking terms and I'm afraid I'm going to have to quarantine them from each other, lest the new computer learn any bad behaviors from the old computer.

My new computer is a Mac, and I must admit, I have sat at my desk and just looked at the prettiness of it. It's my third Mac product. First came my Baby MacBook - which is still just as cute as ever. Then came the iPhone. Ahhh, what can I say except - I heart my iPhone. It's fabulous map feature has gotten me where I need to go more times than I can count. (I get lost regularly. I can't help it.) Now, I finally have a sleek new (well, honestly it's a refurb - I had to cut costs somewhere) iMac.

But even though I love my new Mac, I still haven't quite gotten the hang of some things. It's a bit more of a learning curve now that this is supposed to be my primary computer. Little things (like how in the heck do I get it to autofill my e-mail address) to major things (like getting Time Machine to work) are still giving me some problems.

I know it will be worth it.

Bad Blogger Redux

2008-02-07T15:42:00.000-05:00

Yes, I've been MIA again. Really, I haven't gone anywhere but somehow my life still seems to slip by too fast. It's these kids I tell ya'! Not really, of course. I love staying busy with them and helping out with their activities watching them experience new things. The truth is, I've been kind of bummed about the whole publishing experience lately and it hasn't made me feel very...inspired.

Sometimes God just says no.

With no explanation.

And frankly, it hasn't been very easy to hear this time around.

Still, even with everything that hasn't been happening in my writing career, I did manage to finish a novel in January. A novel that I really, really love. A novel that, if I'm fair, might not have gotten written if I hadn't gotten so many "No, thank you's" last year. And I suppose that's a positive thing. At least that's the way I'm gonna try to look at.

But right now I'm in that spot of asking, "Okay, Lord, then what next?" and I simply don't have an answer at the moment. So after talking with my hubby, I'm going to take a small break. This month is going to be pretty intense since I am working with the Christian Youth Theater on their production of Wizard of Oz and as Assistant Director - I will be there nearly every waking hour. It will be a fabulous show and maybe by the time it's over, I'll know which direction God wants me to head next.

And maybe I'll even have a bit more time for blogging:-)

Spring in the Winter

2008-01-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

The weather is a bit confusing around here this year. In December, it was raining one morning and then it all very quickly turned to ice. Me - well, I cracked my head on our concrete stairs when I walked outside. I thought it was just rain - I had no idea it was ice! We've even had a couple days of flurries. And today, January 8th mind you, it is seventy degrees outside. I'm going to pack a lunch and take my preschooler to the park just to get her out in this beautiful weather. (I'm trying not to think about how far behind I am on my word count!)

In certain parts of the country, seventy degrees in January is pretty normal. But not around here. I'm in Virginia, where January weather is cold and usually icy, sometimes snowy. It's just bizarre.

But as I've been heading into this new year, I have been asking God for guidance and wisdom. And just like the weather has surprised me - warmth in the winter - God can surprise us as well. It seems to me that when we fight and struggle to get out of a pit, we can end up more stuck, when all God wants to do is reach down and pull us out. I feel like he's reached down, and offered me grace. He's given me peace, where I have felt nothing but anxiety. I shouldn't be surprised by God but I still am. I still get amazed at how much he loves us, and to what lengths he will go to to draw us ever closer to his heart.

So on this amazing day, be amazed by God. He's totally worth it.

A Warm & Fuzzy Christmas

2007-12-18T15:37:00.001-05:00

Now that my shopping is done and my house is decorated, it finally feels like Christmas. Of course, I still have a lot of wrapping to do. I try to save money by buying gifts that are fun and unique but aren't too pricey. But that means twenty bucks worth of gifts could mean six presents to wrap. So I will, at some point this week, need to tackle the actual wrapping.

Wrapping can be fun though. I love to throw on Anne of Green Gables and be transported to Prince Edward Island as I wrap each gift. Kind of cool.

But this year is the first year that I have felt truly excited about Christmas. You see, my dad died a little over three years ago. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on October 27, 2004 and died on Nov 14 - just a few short weeks later. He was 59 years old. I spent that first Christmas still in shock I think. The whole thing had happened so fast, so unexpected. The holidays are hard for everyone that loses a loved one, but let me share a picture of my dad with you and perhaps you'll see why Christmas was particularly hard at first.

Yep, that's my dad. He spent the last ten years of his life dressing up as Santa Claus to raise money for the working poor in his community and then delivering the presents on Christmas Eve. The picture to the left came from one of his deliveries. So for four months of every year, this is what my dad looked like. Those first Christmas's, every Santa was a painful reminder. But this year I find myself wanting to fill the house with Santa Claus's because I want to remember him. I still miss him terribly , and it still hurts, but instead of trying to get through the holidays, I can remember him with joy.

So here's to a Merry Christmas!

Behind the Nano Ball

2007-11-12T17:31:00.000-05:00

I'm once again participating in National Novel Writing Month. It's that crazy month where thousands of writers decide to write like maniacs allowing their laundry to pile up and live on pre-packaged meals in order to get a novel written in one month.

It's madness I tell you. And I totally love it.

Of course, my well-laid plans went arwy almost immediately as my eldest daughter has been finishing up the last four shows of their production of the musical Annie with the Christian Youth Theater. That means I spent the bulk of my last five days in a high school hallway with about eighty kids. Not exactly conducive to mad writing.

So I got back on the Nano wagon this morning armed with Diet Coke and chocolate. Today's word count completed along with a bit extra to catch up. Hopefully, if I meet my word count AND write extra for a week, perhaps I can still catch up.

The weird thing is (though it shouldn't be weird since it always happens this way), is that this story is already taking me in unexpected directions and there have been a few surprising revelations from characters that I once thought I had control of.

Sigh.

The strange and wonderful life of a writer.

Now, off to make dinner for the kids because even though it's National Novel Writing Month, the kids still need to eat...

The Golden Compass Debate

2007-11-01T13:19:00.000-05:00

So I'm getting all these forwarded e-mails about The Golden Compass. Have you seen them? I get weary when Christians only step up and say something when they're mad about something.

So here's the basics of what I'm getting:

You may already know about the kids' movie coming out in December starring Nicole Kidman. It's called The Golden Compass, and while it will be a watered down version, it is based on a series of children's books about killing God. (It is the anti-Narnia.) From what I understand, the hope is to get a lot of kids to see the movie - which won't seem too bad - and then get the parents to buy the books for their kids for Christmas. I hope it totally bombs because we were all paying attention!

The movie has been described as "atheism for kids" and is based on the first book of a trilogy entitled "His Dark Materials" that was written by Phillip Pullman. Pullman is a militant atheist and secular humanist who despises C. S. Lewis and the "Chronicles of Narnia". His motivation for writing this trilogy was specifically to counteract Lewis' symbolisms of Christ that are portrayed in the Narnia series.

Clearly, Pullman's main objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that "my books are about killing God." He has even stated that he wants to "kill God in the minds of children". It has been said of Pullman that he is! "the writer the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed."

While "The Golden Compass" movie itself may seem mild and innocent, the books are a much different story. In the trilogy, a young streetwise girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle to ultimately defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God. Another character, an ex-nun, describes Christianity as "a very powerful and convincing mistake."

In the final book, characters representing Adam and Eve eventually kill God, who at times is called YAHWEH. Each book in the trilogy gets progressively worse regarding Pullman's hatred of Jesus Christ.

"The Golden Compass" is set to premier on December 7, during the Christmas season, and will probably be heavily advertised. Promoters hope that unsuspecting parents will take their children to see the movie, that they will enjoy the movie, and that the children will want the books for Christmas.

Please consider a boycott of the movie and the books. Also, pass this information along to everyone you know. This will help to educate parents, so that they will know the agenda of the movie.

I have two main thoughts about this whole thing:

1 - boycotts can actually work against you sometimes. Look at what the brouhaha over The DaVinci Code did for ticket sales of that movie - basically ensuring Hollywood will make more movies like that.

2 - It's not good enough to boycott movies that upset you. What Christians must do is go and see the good movies. Every time you buy a movie ticket you are casting a vote in Hollywood*. Every single time. It still drives me nuts what happened with Evan Almighty because it was a great movie, that was respectful of our faith, and yet it bombed. I can just see every executive in Hollywood shrugging their shoulders and scratching their heads saying, "Well, we tried. Let's try this instead." And that's exactly how we end up with movies like The Golden Compass. Hollywood could care less whether the movie has Christian or atheistic underpinnings. They really just care that it puts people in the theater seats. So if you aren't going to plunk down your money and cast your vote when the movies are good, then getting in a big stink over what you don't like isn't really going to do much good. It's kind of like complaining about election results when you don't go vote yourself. Or walking into Target and telling them, "I never shop here but I wanted you to know I was offended when you advertised underwear in your flier." Well, if you aren't a consumer then your opinion isn't really going to make much difference to anyone.

I think changing what comes out of Hollywood is a pretty simple thing to do. Trouble is, Christians won't do it. You see, all you have to do is spend plenty of money to go see the movies Hollywood does right and stay home when they put out the bad stuff. If enough people did that it would make a difference. Not right away, but within a few years.

I won't be holding my breath.

In the meantime, be a wise consumer, get all the information, and if you're going to stay away from the Golden Compass then please take the time to write a kind and gracious letter about why you're not going to see it and send it to:

New Line Cinema Production
888 7th Ave. 19th Floor
New York, NY 10106

You can e-mail them on the site - but trust me, it's too easy to delete. Write a real letter.

That's my opinion anyway...

* But you must go opening weekend. Those are the only box office numbers that really matter.

For Cat Lovers

2007-10-22T15:02:00.000-05:00

My Sister Got Married

2007-10-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

And the statement still surprises me. I mean, this is the girl who swore she would never get married. Ever.

It was a very nice wedding - well, except for the very stressful fact that the person that was hired to "officiate" the wedding never showed up. And that's really bad. It turned out though, that the mother of the little ringbearer was an ordained minister. Everyone was thrilled. Yee-ha. The wedding was saved.

I, uh, was less than thrilled. An ordained minister of what? I asked. No one seemd to care, other than my husband and I. Turns out that she's an ordained minister of a Universalist Unitarian Church which, if you read their stuff, has everything to do with "believe whatever you want to believe and we'll accept you" unless of course you happen to believe in Jesus Christ and call yourself a Christian because being a Christian is, of course, completely intolerant. I suppose it's because of that little detail that Christians believe - you know, the part about there only being one way to be saved, through Jesus Christ. Yeah, people don't tend to like that.

So while everyone is scurrying around getting ready for the wedding we are already late for, well, I was a little hung up on exactly what kind of wedding this was going to be. My sister is not a Christian, so I guess it shouldn't have bothered me so much. It was her wedding, and it was her choice, and since the wedding wasn't going to include God anyway, what difference did it really make?

But it does make a difference. It just didn't feel real to me. To do things completely apart and devoid of God, well, why bother at all? It ended up feeling a little strange to be there in that world. A world where they had fun by getting plastered and chain-smoking out on the patio. It was a frenzied kind of fun, without purpose, the kind that would fizzle out quickly because there is no substance to the temporary joy.

Yeah, I'm overthinking the whole thing and I should probably just let it go. I had fun dancing and taking pictures of my kids dancing with my husband, but underneath it all, it all felt so....sad, really. Sad because I see so clearly how far my sister is from seeing God for who he really is. Her world has been built around something else entirely. And at the end of it all, I know how brittle that foundation really is.

My husband and I (mugging for the camera above) celebrated our twelfth anniversary this year. And we both know that it is God's work in and through us that makes all the difference. I wonder where my sister and her new husband will turn when things are hard. When things don't go as planned. When life is unfair. What will their marriage look like in a year, in five? What will help it to last?

The sad thing is, I know exactly what she needs, and it is the very thing she doesn't want anything to do with. I bet you know someone like that, too. Most of us do. So in the end, all we can do is pray...and love. Then pray some more...

Only Me

2007-09-25T17:17:00.000-05:00

I had a memorable time at the ACFW conference (I'll spend the next few days filling ya'll in!)

But the picture at the right is how I went home on Sunday afternoon. That's Trish Perry tying my shoe! I am apparently incapable of wearing heels - I knew those things would kill me one day. Well, I'm not dead, but my knees are in pretty rough shape.

I went out to dinner the last night of the conference - my last night of freedom, and I suppose, in trying to be ultra cool, the nightclub had an uneven stone floor that looked very "natural". Which I naturally fell down on in a spectacularly embarrassing way. I blame the heels.

Fortunately for me, not one of the fifteen some people I was with actually saw the horrible, awkward moment (unless they're too horrified to admit they saw it.)

But let me just assure you it was bad. Really, really bad. It's just not good when your limbs go in all different directions and you land full-force on your knees, with nothing to break your fall. On a stone floor.

Everyone was having a grand old time, dancing, listening to some great music - blissfully (and thankfully!) unaware of my awkward moment:-)

I pretended to be fine and only admitted the fiasco to a couple of dear people and we went back to the hotel.

I had a terrible night sleep because every time I shifted in bed, I woke up from the shooting pain in my legs. And in the morning, I couldn't bend my left leg at all. My roommate, Ginny Smith promptly got on the phone and called Ronda Wells, who besides being a writer also happens to be a physician. She came up and took a look at my knees and told me I should go to the emergency room to get x-rays, but that I could wait until I got home. I iced them, popped ibuprofen like candy and made it through the morning. The airport was another situation. Suzanne Krein and Trish Perry were both flying home on the same airplane so when we got to the airport they plopped me into a wheelchair so I didn't have to hobble around. But because of that stupid wheelchair, I suppose the security people thought I was a national threat and put me through the ultra-search - unpleasant enough when your legs aren't killing you, but even less pleasant when you can barely stand.

I made it home and my dear hubby took me straight to the ER where they informed me there were no fractures, just bone bruises and to only move them as I can tolerate. They are definitely improving already. Though while I was in the ER they learned I was out of date on my tetnus shot, which they gave me, making my arm hurt worse than even my knees. Seriously. Aren't they supposed to minimize pain?

So that's the update on the "knee thing" for those of you who saw me hobbling around Sunday morning. What a way to end the conference, huh?

Crazy Sweet, Camy Tang

2007-09-25T09:37:00.000-05:00

I met Camy at Mount Hermon right after she had been snapped up for a fabulous three-book deal with Zondervan. And here we are, celebrating the first book in her series. So I thought I'd join in and host an interview with her so you can get to know her too. Enjoy!

Sarah: Okay Camy, you write about being single but you're married, so how'd you meet YOUR hubby?

Camy: At the most unlikely place to meet guys--at church! A mutual friend brought him to our church for Easter service. Unfortunately, I'd been out sailing with friends the day before and I was as radioactive red with sunburn. So when Kinmun hollered at me, "Camy, I want you to meet someone!" I was like, "Oh God, please no, please don't tell me it's a guy. At least make him be ugly and unfriendly."

Well, he wasn't ugly or unfriendly, but I was heartily embarrassed and promised dire retribution to Kinmun for doing this to me. (I got my revenge by putting him in the second book in my series, Only Uni.)

Captain Caffeine did what most engineers in Silicon Valley do when they're interested in a girl--he emailed me. We finally had our first date at his volleyball playoffs, in front of all his eagerly interested friends.

Sarah: You seem to enjoy putting your characters in awkward situations. What would be your most "awkward situation" moment as a writer?

Camy: Oh, most definitely the first time I met my senior editor, Sue Brower.
She had attended an ACFW conference in the place of Karen Ball, and Sue was senior marketing director at the time, but she was taking appointments and listening to pitches.
I arrived and perched uncomfortably on my chair in my slippery Asian-design acetate pants, feeling as huge as a whale and about to fall onto the floor. I started my pitch, which was only five sentences long.

On sentence three, I realized I'd skipped the actual sentence three and gone on to sentence four. A more prepared writer would have said, "Before this happened, blah blah blah happened."
Instead, I shrieked, "OH MY GOSH I SCREWED UP MY PITCH!" Sue, mercifully, just laughed and asked me a question about my storyline. I never did finish my pitch.

Sue tells me she doesn't remember this at all, so I must have wowed her with my stellar personality to make her forget all about it.

Sarah: What do you love most about your main character Lex?

Camy: She says exactly what she's thinking and she doesn't care what people will think of her. She's as brave as I wish I was. She's also as good at playing volleyball as I wish I was ... sigh.

Sarah: I think most writers infuse at least parts of themselves in the characters they write, but in what ways is Lex nothing like you?

Camy: Almost all of Lex is nothing like me. I made Lex the kind of person I wish I was--good volleyball player, smart mouth, uncaring about people's opinions of her, ready and willing to try new things. I am a poor-to-mediocre volleyball player, I always think of smart things to say AFTER it's too late to say them, I care too much about people's opinions of me, and I'm always hesitant to try new things.

Sarah: What part of writing do you stress about the most? Why?

Camy: EDITS! After eight manuscripts, critiques just don't get any easier.
Maybe I'm just too attached to my writing, although I try really hard not to be.
I'm very lucky because I have fabulous critique partners who catch all my continuity problems and aren't afraid to tell me when something stinks. I also have great editors at Zondervan who really work hard to make my manuscript the best it can be.

Sarah: And lastly, what advice would you give to someone who is single right now – other than read and enjoy your book!

Camy: Don't do like I did when I was single, and stress about it. I did way too much thinking and worrying about my singleness. It consumed me and that just wasn't healthy. God wanted me to enjoy that time when I had no commitments except to Him, but I threw that time away with my desire to have a boyfriend over my desire to become closer to God. I should have been working to allow God to make me into someone who deserved Captain Caffeine when he eventually came around.

Thanks so much for having me here, Sarah! Also, I want to let people know that I've got a huge website contest going on, where I'm giving away baskets of Christian fiction and an iPod Nano! Only my newsletter YahooGroup subscribers are eligible to enter, so join today:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Camys_Loft/join
Thanks!
--
Sushi for One? (September 2007)
http://www.camytang.com/
Romance with a kick of wasabi

And just a note - SO much to catch you up on. I want to update you on the movie and I've got some crazy pics to share from the ACFW conference. Let's put it this way - one of them is me in a wheelchair. Story and details to follow tomorrow so check back:-)

I'm gonna be in a movie!

2007-09-05T11:09:00.000-05:00

Alright - it's an independent movie and it doesn't have any major stars or anything like that, but it's still really, really cool that I get to be a part of it! I even have a real role.
My first day on set is next weekend so I'll take pictures and let you know how it goes.

You can check out some information about the movie at:

Wait Your Turn

My part is Lily Taylor but I'm not listed on the website yet. So stay tuned for more info!

Should Have Known

2007-09-01T11:43:00.000-05:00

I've been buried in books. And as an author, I happen to love books. But true to my impulsive nature I agreed to "help out" with a project - creating a library - for my daughter's preschool.

And that project took on a life of it's own. It took way more money and way more time than I thought it would. And it's left me scambling to catch up everwhere else. The kids all started school and activities have begun and I am still trying to catch my breath.

I should know better.

Really, I'm not sure what it's going to take to help me remember to THINK before saying yes to anything.

Sigh.

The worst part is I finished the project on Friday and then found out that there a "ton more books" to add to the library.

Double sigh.

I'm choosing denial at this point. I've got to many other things to do...

New pics

2007-08-01T14:28:00.000-05:00

I really, really, really don't like getting my picture taken, but pictures are needed occasionally for promotional reasons and I had the chance to do them so I figured I'd do them.

It was traumatic, let me tell you. I had myself so worked up and upset by the time it came to get them done that I was near tears by the time I posed in front of the camera. Adding to it all was the fact I didn't know exactly where to go so I searched around three floors of a hotel before I found where they were set up.

So I got the CD in the mail and I found that as much as I hate getting my picture taken, I also hate looking at pictures taken of me.

So I figured I'd see what y'all thought:-) And then, well, Blogger wouldn't let me. You lucked out today!

Posting

2007-07-24T11:32:00.001-05:00

over at Girls, God & the Good Life today:-)

Technology & Tears

2007-07-22T17:24:00.000-05:00

I am the the tech girl of my house. I mean, that's not saying much since I'm barely competant, but my husband, who willingly tackles many household projects shrugs in confusion when it comes to the technology stuff. Earlier this year we decided to get a digital cable box (because they offered about five extra channels for the kids that they would like.) Well, even though the basic process was understandable to me, hooking it up with our stereo system, VCR and TiVo box is not what I would call a fun experience. Actually, it was traumatic in the extreme. Tears were shed and instructions were crumpled and long hours were spent on tech support - mostly on hold. Within a few weeks, we didn't even want the digital cable box but undoing what I had done was a more daunting task than living with all the new problems.

Even with that trauma fairly fresh in my mind, I tackeld yet another tech project this weekend. It's all the fault of Webkinz. (And I guess I am partially to blame since I told them about Webkinz in the first place) My computer was being commandered by my children far too often and my oldest child hovered nearby anytime I did get to sit in front of it asking me when I'd be done. The easiest solution was putting our old computer back online so they could play in their little virtual world. Of course, that little task would require a router and new virus software. And if I was going to have to get a router, might as well set up the wireless network while I was at it. Sounded pretty basic.

Oh how naive I can be.

I bought the software and router quick and easy and brought the new toys home. I followed the really easy instructions and even though it was behaving as though it was all working, the wizard program never let me officially finish the set-up process. I kept getting errors. And this freaked me out because I couldn't tell for sure if I had done everything I needed to do, and if the network was secure enough. There were tears shed yet again over the frustration of not being able to get answers to my questions. And over the inane process of giving the same thing different names just to confuse me. I mean seriously. How was I supposed to know that a "WPA Shared key" means the same thing as "password"? Yeah. Took me hours to figure that one out.

Today it is done but I'm not eager to have to fix or do anything technology related for quite some time. In fact, I'd rather make an appointment at the dentist.

Home, Home to the Heat

2007-07-16T14:22:00.001-05:00

I never would have believed that the weather in Atlanta was actually better than it is here in Virginia. And while I'm finally able to add an update , I have to do it quickly since I hear thunder coming this way.

I had a good time, for the most part. Here I am with Camy Tang at the ACFW dinner, where we had a very good time, laughing. Actually, I have lots of pictures of Camy and I being silly. Thank goodness for silly friends! In fact, Tricia Goyer must have a ton of pictures since I rarely saw her without her camera!

Camy Tang & me

Tricia Goyer armed with her camera.

And Brandilyn Collins enjoyed eating some chocolate cake.

I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I should have. Honestly, it was because I felt very out of place all weekend. I felt welcomed and included and encouraged, but couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't quite belong there this week.

I am in "no contract" land. And while I have reconciled myself to that fact, I felt a little like a lurker on the edge.

And like every CBA I've been to, there were days I felt sad and overwhelmed, and days that I felt content. It's always a little like a roller coaster and the longer I go on in this crazy business, the more I realize that I am not alone in feeling that way. Lots of people have confessed to feeling just this sort of thing.

I did manage to meet a lot of amazing people, including Nancy Rue!

Ah, well more later, there is definitely a storm headed this way! Gotta go unplug!

Off to CBA

2007-07-04T16:10:00.000-05:00

errrr...I mean, ICRS. The International Christian Retail Show. The lights, the glamour and the dizzying amounts of books all packed into one convention center. Hundreds of companies trying to woo thousands of retailers to stock their products in their stores.

Notice I didn't say "books"? Yes, more and more it's all about product. While all the publishers are represented, a huge chunk of the CBA floor will go to the dolls, the socks, and the ties with Bible Passages on them. And don't forget about the toys, the paintings and the diapers with a detachable devotional on them for new moms.

Okay, so it's not that bad, but books are fighting for space in the stores. And authors have their work cut out for them.That's why I go to ICRS every year. I don't have a new book release. I'm not even doing a signing. But I'm still going. Because I love it. I love being a part of this industry. An industry where you can stroll down a convention aisle and see both Beth Moore and a first time novelist. A place where you can learn what everyone thinks will be big, and then wait and see what will happen. A chance to stand next to booksellers from all over the nation and meet them face to face.

I go for the lessons to be learned, and for the people. It's the one time a year I can count on reconnecting with old friends and making many new ones. As Susan mentioned in her post, it's not about networking, but creating real relationships with people who get the crazy life of a writer. I am one of the people that also goes for a pre-convention activity. Many groups hold conferences and retreats around the time of CBA simply because it's the best time to get people together. In additon to a conference, I will also have a number of meetings to go to to prepare for some upcoming events next year.

But mostly, I'll just be a guppy walking the oceans of aisles in awe of all the huge signs and long lines of the rich and famous. Rich being a relative term, of course. So I must go pack, but I promise a full (and very special) report when I return.

Cross Posted at CAN Marketing Blog

Bad Blogger!

2007-06-22T22:24:00.000-05:00

It's been so long! I haven't quite figured out how to live my life this summer. What I mean is, these three kids of mine...own me. They have so much going on that there are days I don't even come home.

Commitment # 1
My eldest daughter was in her first play production last week. I was thrilled for her but since it is Christian Youth Theater it also meant that Mommy had to be involved as well. I got put on the "make-up committee". The play was The Jungle Book so just imagine how much make-up that involved. Four hours to apply all the make-up each time and that was with six to eight of us working on it. It was a cool experience but the days were very long with dress rehearsals and six shows. I was so wiped out by the end of it that I ended up sick for three days after that.

The Upside: I am now an expert at turning any child into a wolf, peacock, monkey or bird. Not sure how I can translate that new skill into anything productive...

Commitment # 2
Swim team. It's our first year joining a swim team and oh. my. I had no idea how much work it would be...for me! It was my choice to get them involved because my oldest two are pretty good in the water, but they are still learning correct strokes and all of that. I also wanted them to build some endurance in the water. Swimming is one of those non-negotiable things for me as a mom. I want all of my kids to be very competant swimmers. So swim team seemed like a great idea. Except swim practices (because each kid is in a different age bracket) take up most of my morning. And then even after practice they still want to play at the pool, so I try to find time to let them just enjoy the water - which means a second trip to the pool.

The Upside: My kids are getting to be better swimmers. There is a baby pool for the four year old. And the pool has umbrellas so I can sit in the shade.

So seriously, I'm hardly home anymore - that makes blogging (and practically everything else) ...difficult. Now that the play is over (Hallejulah!), things are starting to settle down a little bit. But now I'm backlogged on laundry and cleaning and all those other little mommy details.

On the docket for tomorrow (despite the aforementioned laundry and cleaning)? Evan Almighty. I'll let you know how it is when I return!

Over at The Good Life

2007-05-29T12:22:00.000-05:00

I posted over at Girls, God and the Good Life today:-)

Birthdays on the Brain

2007-05-23T09:20:00.000-05:00

Cross post from "The Good Life"

Today is my daughter's 8th birthday. I think I'm every bit as excited about her birthday as she is. We actually had her party last Friday - her first sleepover party. We took some of her friends to Justice (a clothing store my daughter loves) where they all got their hair styled like rock stars and got their make-up and nails done as well. Then they came back to the house for pizza, ice cream cake and the sleepover.

We have always made a big deal about birthdays around here. To me, what is more exciting than celebrating the day you were delivered here by God Himself? I mean, that's pretty cool! My own birthday is December 30th. Tragically sandwiched between the brouhaha of Christmas and New Years. My birthday was always a bust. I always felt a little bit shafted, okay, who am I kidding, I felt completely neglected on my birthday. My own parents would forget! Oh yeah, didn't you have a birthday?

So perhaps that is also why I make a big deal out of my kid's birthdays. I am always careful to plan out a budget and stick to it, but I have found that a great birthday doesn't have to cost a fortune. It's really about making memories and celebrating with others. It's about making that kid feel special - simply because they are.

I don't know when your birthday is, and whether you get showered with love or forgotten, but you have to know that your birthday is very special. It was the day that God placed you here so that you could fulfill His purposes for you. You were created by God and that is cause for celebration. I can't even imagine the joy God has for us, because as a fallen parent, my heart is just full today as I think about my wonderful 8 year old girl. Wow, if I can feel so much for her, I wouldn't be able to contain the depth of God's pleasure in us. He takes pleasure in you. You are valuable simply because you are His.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I still have to go get one more birthday present for my own birthday girl today.

As discouragement goes

2007-05-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

So it's no secret I've been discouraged about my writing.

And it's basically what has made me lazy about writing here - no one wants to hear me whine. I don't even want to hear me whine.

But even though I'm heading out for the day, I promise I'll be better about updating. I promise! I feel like God shared something with me last night, but since my sweet daughter had a birthday party last night, and we've had a bevy of 7/8 year olds in my house (several are still here actually and for some reason keep ending up in my little corner of the house), and well, I can't think with all the screaming and squealing:-)

And for you Totally Unfamous fans - rest assured new stuff will go up soon!

Yard Sale Day

2007-05-12T09:11:00.000-05:00

My neighborhood is currently having a neighborhood yard sale. I like the theory behind yard sales and will likely talk a walk soon and explore other people's yard sales, but I didn't do one of my own.

And I feel a bit guilty about it.

One, we could use the extra cash. I mean, who couldn't?

Two, I have stuff that I should probably get rid of.

But I can't bring myself to do it. I used to do yard sales, but each time I did them I'd get so mad by the end of them that I would be ranting to my husband that "I will never again do a yard sale!" I got so tired of dealing with "hagglers" who, even if a price was perfectly reasonable, still only wanted to pay a dollar for anything, and the "early birds" who shove their way into your garage and poke through your stuff wanting prices on your kid's outdoor equipment or your stash of canned food.

And we always seem to get a multitude of people who don't really speak English. It can be very frustrating at 7 am in the morning to try to communicate like that. I am SO not a morning person.

So I'm inside, feeling a bit guilty and am simply planning to take all the household stuff we don't want to GoodWill. At least it goes to a good cause, and then I don't have to deal with any hassles.

I also have discovered the wonders of consignment sales. We have a well-organized, well-advertised consignment sale twice a ayear around here where I can get rid of all the clothes and toys my kids have outgrown. It's so much easier.

So guilt or no guilt, I'm still not doing a yard sale!

A Finalist!

2007-05-05T00:21:00.000-05:00

I was thrilled to find out tonight that the screenplay I wrote last year, based on my YA series Becoming Beka, is a finalist in the Faith & Values Screenwriting Competition!

What a blessing! Even as my career seems to be sinking into quicksand, I get these occasional gulps of fresh air that keep me from slipping under.

I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord. I lift my voice in praise to the one who is and is to come.

The Decision!

2007-05-04T14:13:00.000-05:00

So after going back and forth about what we will do to celebrate our 12th anniversary, we've made a decision.

We're going on a weekend kayaking trip!

I stumbled across a calendar of events that listed a two-day Beginner kayaking course and since it's on the James River in Richmond, it's nice and close. The first day is spent on a lake where you learn to row, and escape and all the essentials. The second-day is a trip down the river. It's not a raging river, mostly Class 2 and 3 rapids I believe, but being new to it that's just fine for us.

Over the years, My hubby and I have gone:

whitewater rafting multiple times
parasailing
scuba diving
canoeing

but we've never tried kayaking and we're looking forward to it. I love that he is up for any kind of adventure. And being the kind of girl I am, I just love trying new things.

Yeah, we could have picked out a weekend spa trip or hanging around the beach for the weekend, but I happen to think this sounds like way more fun!

So - what will you learn to do this summer?

Celebrating!!

2007-05-02T19:55:00.000-05:00

I just wrote the last line on the screenplay I've been working on and I feel like dancing in the streets, or on the ceiling or anywhere us 80's girls used to like to dance!

The story is actually from a friend of mine so it's a co-written screenplay, but I'm bursting at the seams I'm so excited. To have a solid draft to work with is just a phenomonal feeling.

Even with re-writing ahead of me, well, that's only going to make it better.

Ah..it stinks to be this excited when it's nearly time to go to bed!

My Anniversary...

2007-04-29T11:04:00.000-05:00

I blogged today over at Girls, God and the Good Life!

When I was a kid...

2007-04-28T18:03:00.000-05:00

A dear friend of mine just posted an interview she did with me that is unlike any I've ever done before.

It was fun, so if you're interested, hop on over to the Chat N Chew Cafe for a look!

Super mom

2007-04-27T13:45:00.000-05:00

After my experience at the house of the "bird lady", I realized I have a problem. A very serious condition for which I have found no cure.

So here's the scene: I'm exploring this woman's basement, peeking in the cages, looking at the little bird babies and I start asking questions:

"So how did you get started learning this?"

"How long did it take you?"

"Is it something I can do?"

(At this point I am envisioning my house filled with cages of all sizes and rescuing animals for a living.) And before I know it I have her business card in my hand and am all ready to sign up to be a "wildlife rehabilitator apprentice". She said she's be glad to teach me.

WAIT A MINUTE! Now, a few days later, I know this is crazy. I have more "jobs" than I can handle now without adding in a flock of birds that need to be fed every fifteen minutes. I can't even get a few loads of laundry done in a reasonable amount of time and yet here I am ready to take on a whole other career?

The real trouble is, this is not the first time it's happened. Nope. I have come home wanting to breed Russian Spaniel dogs. I have been talked into leading whole ministries simply because I get excited about them. I have agreed to teach classes on a whim. I visited a friend I used to teach with and in a mere twenty minutes she nearly convinced me to go back to teaching. I started a jump rope club at my daughter's school, because, well, they didn't have one.

Oh yeah, and last week, I downloaded the information on the classes I would need to take to become a personal trainer.

I realize I am being compulsive because I feel like my writing career is sinking into quicksand right before my eyes. I haven't had a contract in more than two years. For the first time I looked in the mirror and felt old. I keep writing but I'm not sure it will ever do any good. Basically, I'm feeling kind of hopeless about it. So I see these chances to do things that I know I can succeed at. I'm great at learning. I'm confident that I can learn to be a personal trainer or a wildlife rehabilitator. Success is practically guaranteed.

Not so much with writing, and that lack of success can be very draining and tiring on those of us who thrive on accomplishment. I feel as though I am not accomplishing anything so I look around and grasp for anything that might make me feel...valuable.

Because it's easy to relate what you are doing to your worth. It's ridiculous, of course, but we all do it. And so what I've learned to do is let myself turn these things over in my head and heart long enough to consider them but not long enough to sign any contracts. Because I know, even though my soul is feeling anxious and unsure, my spirit knows that even in the silence God is at work. And even though I may not know the plan, God does. And I can rest on that assurance, and persevere through the valley.

Anyone else get tired of being in the valley, though? Take heart, it can't last forever. Right, Lord?

Right?

Hello?

Oh Baby!

2007-04-25T13:44:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was simply beautiful here in Virginia. My husband got it in his head to do lots of yardwork and when he went to untangle the hose, where it's been left since the end of last summer, he found that a bird had built a nest inside the hose...dispenser? I don't know what you call those things but it helps wrap up the hose:-)

Anyhow, when he moved it the nest fell out, and so did five little baby birds, just hatched. I know, I know! We were upset and worried and did the best we could to replace the nest and get the baby birds situated back in there. And we all prayed that the momma bird would come back.
On Monday, I finally got the courage to check on them and found that all of them had tumbled out of the nest and were flailing around at the bottom of the hose thingie. One had died, but the others were moving fairly well. So, I rearranged the nest and put the other four back and prayed again.

When I got home this afternoon (Tuesday), we checked again, they weren't in good shape. Another one had died and the one live one I could see wasn't moving around much.
I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to let the poor things just die out there, because at this point I figured the momma bird had abandoned the nest. So I called our animal shelter to try and get some information and was given the name of a woman who does wildlife rescue. She said I could bring them to her and she would take care of them.

In ten minutes I had the kids back in the car, and the three live baby birds tucked in a shoebox. My heart was pounding the whole way (and it was a LONG way!) thinking that I should have done something earlier.

We arrived at this house and my two littlest girls and I were invited into the basement or as I call it "rescue headquarters". There were dozens of baby birds (we learned that our babies were finches), four squirrels, several older birds...and a swan swimming in the bathtub!
It was amazing. Our little babies were quickly nestled under a warming lamp, along with others that were about the same age. I felt such a sense of relief that someone was going to be able to care for them properly. I could have tried, but ultimately, I don't know anything about feeding newly hatched birds. But this woman did. I knew those babies were in good hands.

As I was driving home I couldn't help but think about how prayers aren't always answered the way we think they should. The obvious answer to me was that the momma bird should come back. But God knew about this woman even when I didn't. He knew they would be taken care of - but I had to actually do something. Praying is good, but there are times that God is calling us to add action to those prayers. Sometimes it's just not enough to pray for someone, sometimes you've gotta go wrap your arms around them and cry with them. Sometimes you've gotta bring in some help when you know you're in over your head. It's still God at work. He knows what each situation calls for. But we have to be willing to jump in and be a part of what he's doing.

So, I hope this week, you each get a chance to "jump in".

American Idol

2007-04-18T12:16:00.000-05:00

I've really been enjoying American Idol this season. There is some amazing talent represented each week and with so many great contestants, I am watching each and every week.

I'm also voting this year because unlike other years, I am concerned that the best may not win. The Sanjaya effect is keeping him on week after week. Despite some of the reports, Sanjaya is not as horrible as everyone claims. He actually has quite a good tone to his voice, if you like that Michael Jackson-like voice. The problem is that when you compare him to some of the others up there, well, he just doesn't measure up. I would chalk it up to his age except if you look at Jordin Sparks, well, she blew me away last night; not only with her amazing vocals, but with her maturity on stage. She's only seventeen, too.

My understanding is that Howard Stern and other websites are pushing people to "vote for the worst". How sad. I realize that there are probably legions of 11 and 12 year old girls legitimately voting for him, but why do people feel compelled to undermine the show? I mean, if you don't like it - don't watch it! Whether or not you like the show, you can't deny that the appeal of a show that can take a single mother who works as a bank teller and make her a household name - that's pretty powerful stuff. It's making dreams come true. It's giving people a chance who would typically have no chance. Why undermine that? Because you don't like the marketing? The hype? Simon? Again, don't watch it. But why would people hurt someone else's dream to make a point?

It upsets me. And so I vote, every week, for my top four favorites.

Jordin (who was amazing last night)

Melinda (also amazing)

LaKisha (not as amazing last night but the girl's got serious pipes!)

Blake (whose album I'd buy in a heartbeat)

So, who's your favorite?

Oops I did it again

2007-04-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I went to PetSmart with my kids. My husband was at home sleeping because he had worked an overnight shift at the hospital.

I let them talk me into adopting a puppy. Her name was Bella. I say "was" because we only kept her four days. She was very sweet but very rambunctious and she couldn't seem to leave the cats alone. Everytime they came within eye sight she took off after them. It was all in good fun - she wasn't trying to hurt them, but still.

There were a lot of issues that made me realize my mistake early on.

I can be impulsive at times, and that impulsivity has gotten me in trouble more than once. I'm the kind of person who has to force myself to stop and think before I act. But being aware of that is half the battle. The dog wasn't such a big deal because the adoption policy allowed us seven days to "try it out". I knew before I left that we could bring her back if it didn't work out. But for other things, my hubby and I have an agreement. We talk about things. Seems pretty simple but in his counseling practice, he finds that an awful lot of couples don't talk to each other. At least not about anything important.

Jeff's caution balances my impulsiveness. And vice versa. It's a good system. And as long as I don't go to PetSmart unsupervised anymore, we should be good.

Part of History

2007-04-09T18:27:00.000-05:00

Today, my husband and I took our three girls up to the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. I was amazed to find out that egg-rolling in Washington has been going on since 1872. Amazing. The event was...crowded, and pretty cold for April in DC. Of course, it wasn't as cold as the ten+ hours I spent outside - in the snow - early Saturday morning so that I could get the tickets to even attend the event.

If I could figure out how to get the pictures off my phone and into my computer, I could show you what it looked like - the Night of Waiting in the Snow - but alas, I am technologically challenged in this area. But trust me, I was trying to figure out what the symptomes of frostbite were since I was losing feeling in my hands and feet. They have this system that requires you to stand in line so that you can get the tickets, which are free, but there are only so many available. Even though I arrived at 2:15 in the morning we were still pretty far back. The first people in line had been waiting since 1 am on Friday morning - 30 hours before tickets would be handed out.

And if I had understood how the event worked, I might have gone out there a lot earlier - armed of course, with a heater and tent. The line started at the visitors center, circled the entire ellipse (a huge grassy area in between the Washington Monument and the White House) then continued on down an area on the other side of the road. I was on the other side of the road. And I didn't have a tent. And it was snowing. On April 7th. I was very wet, and very cold. And being so wet and cold, I really never even thought about how tired I was. Trouble is, they gave out timed tickets, so the farther back in line, the longer you had to wait before you could go into the event.

And that's why i wish I understood how the event worked.

Our biggest disappointment with the day was that my kids missed seeing Miley Cyrus, or Hannah Montana, - by 15 minutes. We didn't get inside the gates until 1:20 and she went onstage for the last time at 1:05. Did I mention how excited my kids were to see her? They watch every one of the shows, they know the music, and they were more excited about seeing her than anything else that day. And we missed it. By 15 minutes. We could hear her. But we couldn't see her. And the security guards weren't going to let us get over there until we had been thoroughly searched.

They did get to see The Jonas Brothers, who they know from the Disney Channel as well. They had fun at the short concert and Lydia (my 8 year old) said she really enjoyed it. My four year old layed in the grass in a delirious stupor from missing her nap, so I'm not sure how she felt about the concert:-)

They had a great day, despite the cold, and missing Miley/Hannah. They did roll eggs down the lawn and we were right next to the White House (and a lot of men in black suits roaming around!) They got to pose for pictures with Curious George, and eggs and bunnies of all different kinds. They even got to roll down a steep hill over and over until they were dizzy and breathless. All in all, it was worth it. Though I learned a lot of good lessons this year. Next year, I'll be ready.

And it would be great if Hannah Montana came back and gave us another shot!

Signs of Spring

2007-03-29T14:56:00.000-05:00

My daffodils are blooming. And that is really saying something since gardening and I are not the best of friends. We're barely even aquaintances. I dig the leaves out from under the shrubbery once a year (this task is sorely in need of doing right now!). I cut my unruly rose bushes back in the fall. And I'll water the new tree we put in two years ago when it gets to dry. Other than that, the plants on their own.

My 90 year old grandmother lives with us and she is the type of person who can just be near a plant and it thrives. She can make anything grow. Me, well, I kill my plants. Her "green gene" missed me completely. The plants that are alive around me are alive in spite of me, not because of me.

I don't remember planting daffodils (it is quite possible that my grandmother did it years ago.) But each spring they are the first thing to blossom. Just a few days before the pear trees burst into their white bloom, the yellow daffodils open up as if they are announcing that spring is on it's way. I love spring. (Well, I love spring when I'm on Claritin...but that's another story.) It comes each year no matter what we do. We don't have to hope it comes, we don't sit around praying for it to come - it just comes, because that's the way God designed it.

We all go through "spiritual seasons" as well. In my regular life, we are going through a very difficult time. It feels like it will never end, that things will never "get better" and that I will be stuck here in this spot forever. It might feel that way ten times a day, but in my heart - I know that's simply not true. This season will end when God wants it to. And not one day before. He is working out some grand plan that I cannot see, working things together, changing me on the inside and teaching me very important things. The delay might because He is still doing something, or it could be because I still have something to learn. Whatever the reason, I hear his precious voice telling me to keep my eyes on Him. To stop looking at the circumstances - and to focus my heart and mind on Him alone.

It's not always easy. But every once in a while, he'll give us a sign that spring is on it's way. Like the daffodils in my garden that burst from the ground, God will often give us little signs to help us "hang in there". Simple gestures that tell us that things will change, that spring will come - when it's the right time.

So if you're stuck in a "winter" time, keep your eyes on him, and be aware of those signs that spring is on the way.

Cross-post from Girls, God and the Good Life

Because of Dad

2007-03-26T08:57:00.000-05:00

An author named Jane Orcutt died last week, and many of my author friends knew her, loved her and are missing her. I never got to meet her. Sandra Byrd joined us over at Girls, God and the Good Life this month and her post today is about her friendship with Jane. It makes me sad, but in kind of a distant, helpless way. I can pray for those that are grieveing bnow, but there is so little you can actually do. And sometimes you just want to do something.

Death, of course, always reminds me of my dad. I can look at my grief and see how it has changed over the past two years. I still miss him. I still often think of things I'd like to tell him. He was the one who always wanted to know what I was up to. He was interested in whatever I was doing. He didn't even like to read and still loved the fact I was a writer.

This weekend I tackled a backyard project that had been looming. One of those things you keep meaning to do, but never quite get around to doing it? I needed to hang some lattice from underneath our deck to block off the spot where the wheelbarrow and other miscellaneous items sit. My grandmother, who lives with us, has a patio out there, and putting up this lattice would make things look so much prettier down there.

It was a beautiful day Saturday so I took my measurements and we all went off to Lowes to buy the supplies. Jeff helped me, of course. I especially needed help hammering a 2x6 to the rafters that hung 9 feet above us. But I was the one that measured, cut and hammered that baby into place. It looks great - and I have my Dad to thank.

See, I was the oldest of two girls so it was me that helped my dad with carpentry, lawn and any other project he could think of to do. He taught me how to use saws and hammers. How to measure wood and to not be afraid to build. I suppose there are lots of people who could have done that simple project outside, but my confidence to tackle the project at all came from years of watching my Dad. And if he were alive, it's the very thing I would have called and told him. "Thanks Dad! You taught me to do that!"

I had a rough time growing up, and I have so many bad memories. So when I have a day like today, when I can genuinely point to something in my life and say, "Hey! You helped put that there!" Well, it's kind of cool.

Rotten Fruit

2007-03-23T15:03:00.000-05:00

Cross-Post from Girls, God & the Good Life

In third grade, I had a teacher named Mr. Slocum. I adored Mr. Slocum. He was really old (though since I looked at him from an 8 year old perspective, he might not have been as ancient as I remember) but he was so nice.

At some point early in the year, maybe Christmas time, I was at the grocery store with my mom and we picked out a fruit basket to give him as a gift. I loved giving gifts so I was thrilled to bring it in to him.

At the very end of the year, I was getting something from some storage cabinets that sat along the side of our classroom. I opened a drawer, and there was my lovely fruit basket, nasty and rotten, the cellephane unbroken.

I was crushed.

I quickly closed the drawer and walked away, but the moment is burned in my brain. An image that stuck with me for many years.

Sometimes I think about that little girl skipping into the classroom bringing a gift to her teacher and my heart just breaks. Not because I was the girl, but because this happens to us all the time. We open ourselves up, like a flower, then a cold blast of wind snaps us shut. My early years were, unfortunately, full of moments like this, simple moments that cut deeply.

To be honest, it still happens. Times when I give of myself with joy only to face rejection.
But oh, how wonderful, to know that God is different than people. It's so easy to think that our gift becomes worthless when it is rejected by someone. The time we gave, the money we spent or the thoughtfulness that was just ignored ending up just like that rotten fruit in the drawer.

When I was a kid, I didn't know God. I didn't know that God loved me and that even though Mr. Slocum let that fruit rot in the drawer, God saw the gift I gave, and received it.

Now, when I see a gift I've given dropped to the ground, I can lift my face and offer it to God. I can remember that while people may fail us, God never does. When I give now, I can give freely, with no expectation, and trust that my gift is going straight to heaven regardless of what happens here on Earth.

God takes pleasure in you, and your gifts to Him will never fall to the ground. Isn't that nice to know?

(And believe me - having just found another basket of rotting fruit, I take comfort knowing that everything I just said to you is true - even when I have to remind myself of it!)

I'm a Cover Girl!

2007-03-21T12:47:00.000-05:00

I had to say that! Especially since it may be the only time that it will actually be true. That's me on the cover of Cross & Quill, in a section called "Meet the Pro".

It's kind of amusing really, because most of the time I feel like I'm struggling to get somewhere. I don't feel like a "Pro" at much of anything. With the exception of my ability to find things in the house that my husband can't. And I think most wives can do that.

It was still fun to do, regardless of whether I feel like I belong there:-)

And, my other news is that I will be teaching at the American Christian Fiction Writers Fall Conference. I'm excited about this because it means I have to go! I haven't been to a conference in so long that I'm beginning to feel the "crazies". You know that "I must be nuts" feeling you get when you're mostly around people who give you weird looks if you ramble about characters, plots or arcs? Yeah, I'm feeling the need to be around some other writers.

I still gotta pray that God lets me go (Translation: that He provides the finances to get there). But just the thought of going gives me smiles on this rather dreary looking, first day of spring.

The Demise of Christian Fiction?

2007-03-12T09:31:00.000-05:00

Maybe that’s being a little over-dramatic. But stick with me here -

I brought in my mail the other day and flipped through the new sales flyer from “Family Christian Stores”. I was pretty discouraged by what I saw.

Here is the lowdown on the products that were shown in the 50 page catalog. (Keep in mind, several products were shown multiple times.)

Easter Stuff (Easter related gifts/products) – 15
Movies for Kids – 39
Movies - 28
Music – 49
Gifts – 32
Kid Products – 59
Bibles/Bible Products – 54
Church Supplies (communion cups and choir robes) - 9

Non fiction books – 87
Fiction books – 6 (total!)
Three by Ted Dekker (shown twice)
2 Left Behind Books by LaHaye/Jenkins (three total covers)
Forever by Karen Kingsbury
The Watchers by Mark Andrew Olsen
The Heir by Paul Robertson

Six fiction books buried within 285 other products.

From a marketing standpoint, this catalog reflects what this store thinks it will sell. What will bring people into their store to spend money.

And it’s not fiction.

The thing that confuses me is that Christians seem to get the power of story when it comes to movies – they featured 28 DVD covers – some multiple times. Where is the fiction? Of the six fiction titles shown in the catalog, four are from bestselling authors. Ted’s book is coming out at as a movie soon. Only Left Behind and Three were even featured, the others were buried in a mostly nonfiction spread.

We’ve long been aware that the sales avenues for Christian fiction is changing. Those of us who have been to the Convention Formerly Known as CBA know that there is an awful lot of Christian “product”. While fiction may be on the shelves, from these numbers, it is obvious that it is not what brings people into the stores. It is not what keeps bringing them back.

So what does this mean for the novelist? What does it mean for those of us who are called to communicate truth through story?

I wish I knew.

I know that we will continue to face challenges. We’ll continue to face a market that, at least in part, has no problem watching a movie but feels a novel isn’t worth their time. I can’t even count the number of times I have seen that dismissive wave, when I share what I write, from someone who tells me they don’t have time for fiction.

I think there will always be a place for great fiction. There are tons of people out there who just can’t get enough of it. But the question for us is – where will that fiction be bought?

The local Christian bookstore or the local B&N or Borders? To be honest, I am much more likely to be found at Borders than anywhere else. Because they have a coffee shop where I can sit and write. And…while they have gifts and calendars and other stuff, the store is still mostly…books. And oh, do I love books. Just being around them makes me feel good. Walking through aisles where I have to climb a stool to see the top row and sit on the floor to look at the bottom row just makes me feel like I am at home. And since I’m not the sort to buy Scripture covered jellybeans or dust collecting statues for my house, my visits to the Christian bookstore tend to have a specific purpose. I go for something. At Borders, I just go to be there.

The shift away from books and towards products probably began long before I came on the publishing scene. But days like today, I sit back and wonder what will happen over the next five years. What changes we might see. How fiction from Christians will find readers. How writers will have to adjust to an ever-changing market.

I think I’m going to go work on my movie…

MIA

2007-03-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

Gah! It's been a while. I think of all these things I want to say and post about then don't actually get around to doing it. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about, since you probably do things instead of just thinking about doing things.

My daughter turned four last weekend, and while that did take a bit of time and planning, I have no idea where the rest of the last couple of weeks really went. The year is flying by and I am unable to slow it down. I turn around and it's two months later. I don't think I'd mind as much if I had something interesting to show for it, but I really don't.

I am pretty excited about a couple of things though - and perhaps that's why I've been a little sidetracked.

First - I finished the first three chapters for a new novel that I'd like my agent to pitch at the Conference Formerly Known As CBA. Since three chapters forms the base of a solid proposal, I am psyched that I have gotten this far...and I still like the story!!

Second, I have begun writing an original screenplay. It's a fabulous story from a friend of mine and she asked me to co-write it with her. After years of talking about doing it, well...we're doing it. I have the first twelve pages down in my little MacBook. This might not sound like much but since momentum is everything for me, getting started is half the battle.

It's interesting moving from a novel to a screenplay. There are things I can do in a screenplay that I can't do in a novel and vice versa. As a creative person, I appreicate different things about each form. But more than that, it reminds me of the passion God put in me to write movies in the first place.

Back when I attended my Act One class in Washington D.C., I remember plopping into my chair each morning, grateful to be there. It was an amazing class that truly changed my life in so many ways. But I couldn't launch into a screenplay right away since I had a book due. Then my father died. Which stifled my creativity for a while.

Then life just got busy. You probably know what that's like.

I could get frustrated with myself, thinking I wasted time, blah, blah, blah, but if there is one thing I've learned about God - it's that He happens to know what He is doing. For whatever reason, it seems like now is the time to write this screenplay - not two years ago, but now.

I have high hopes for it. Not because I am anything special, but because the story is. I have no doubt this movie will be made and that's saying something, since the percentage of movies actually made is woefully small when compared to the number of movies optioned and/or purchased. When it comes right down to it - it's the story that matters.

So, I've hit the ground running. And I promise I'll be better about blogging. Thanks for hanging in there with me!!

In Between

2007-02-23T09:51:00.000-05:00

So I've seen a few posts around about Totally Unfamous and the first messages from the website are beginning to trickle in. I've been getting good feedback but even as I posted today's new poems, I felt my heart squeeze as I read them, aching for this fictional girl. I wonder what it is that makes me like that. Why I cry at a good movie or book. Why my heart doesn't care to discern that these are pretend people, just stories.

I'm just glad I'm not the only one.

My writing process is one where I discover the characters and their stories as I go along. It's probably a little like sculpting might have been for those artists that took a huge hunk of marble and from it chipped a beautiful statue. The statue is inside the marble already, and the sculptor peels away those pieces that are not needed. I definitely start with something,usually a character, who I think about until they seem real, and I am compelled to let them tell their story. Then as I begin to write the story, I learn more and more as I go along. And here's a confession - I don't always know the ending. Oh, I have a vague idea of where I might be headed but there are always changes, shifts in the plot, that I never foresaw.

I know it sounds crazy to anyone who is not a novelist. As most of you who read this blog regularly know, I am in-between contracts, and have been for quite some time. I decided to write Totally Unfamous because frankly, I was going a little nuts without purpose in my writing. I am so glad that I did it, because I ended up adoring the story. I have another series going to a publishing board...next week, I believe...but since it's a co-author deal, it doesn't feel like it's really all mine. Which is why I have also started a new novel. It's the first time that I have tried working on two projects at once. Normally, I like to tackle each book all by itself. But these new characters, and their story, will not be quiet.

So this morning, I am blogging, feeling pulled by each story, unsure which one to devote my morning to. This is exactly why I am "one project" girl. It's like I have two kids and I want to spend time with each of them, get to know them better.

Decisions, decisions.

Deliver me from Mochas...

2007-02-20T15:06:00.000-05:00

I love coffee. I really do. So much so that when our church cafe needed a new person to manage it, I stepped up to help out. I enjoy being able to greet people at the church and make a great mocha for them.

But this past weekend our church hosted a conference with more than 1600 people in attendance...and boy am I tired of making mochas! It was a lot busier than we expected but God always provided an extra set of hands to pitch in when we needed it the most. Since I spent most of the weekend with a head cold, I found myself just trying to get through it rather than enjoying it.

I don't like just "trying to get through" things in general. I'm of the opinion we need to enjoy today, and not miss it looking towards tomorrow. But as sometimes happens, philosphies don't always translate into real life quite so neatly. That's why I guess I feel like I lost a weekend. I always felt like I wanted to be somewhere else. If I was home, I was thinking about what needed to be done in the cafe, and if I was at the cafe, I wanted to be home with my family. Sometimes things just end up that way.

I'm still a little bit in "recovery mode", trying to take it easy and let myself catch up. For that too, I find I start to feel guilty for resting, or neglecting something I feel like I should accomplish. But rest, like many things in life, can't be avoided, or we come to regret it eventually. I want to get better, and to do that, I have to give myself permission to take it easy and allow my body to recover.

Easier said than done!

Braced for...a mess

2007-02-12T19:47:00.000-05:00

Once again, a storm is going to blow through here. We've had nothing of any significance this year and while I'm okay with that (snow days really mess with my writing schedule after all), I still want us to have one good snow so that the kids can go sledding and have some fun. We've got a great sled hill right in front of our house and while they did get to sled for a while the other day, you could see the grass through the snow.

But this storm is the yucky kind - the wintry mix. Around here that means some snow, and a lot of sleet, freezing rain and ice. It's not nearly as much fun. The kids are already counting on a snow day tomorrow (since they cancel school as soon as three flakes hit the ground around here) and I am trying to decide how I will still meet my exciting deadline this week.

What's the news? So glad you asked!

This week I'm premiering my brand new blog-book, Totally Unfamous.

I know, it sounds weird but it's pretty simple. It's a full novel but it's written completely in poetry and will be published like a blog, a few pages at a time. It will be a reverse platform so when the main site comes up, the first page of the site will always be the first page of the story. Then you can read on from there. I haven't figured out some of the logistics since WordPress is new to me, so I have my work cut out for me this week.

But I am SO excited about this project! I know that you're not supposed to play favorites, but I had so much fun writing this novel.

You can check out the site at Totally Unfamous, which I think has a fabulous design. I've got the "About" page up and working finally (that old learning curve thing...) and the story will start going up on Valentine's Day!

So check it out, let me know what you think and if you feel so inclined, spead the word!

Life...Interrupted.

2007-02-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

I was driving to pick up my daughter from kindergarten when a migraine swooped in and, well, wrecked my plans yesterday. It wasn't that exciting of a day, really. I just wanted to get the tax stuff together for our fabulous tax guy but migraines for me mean dark rooms and sleep. Computer screens bother my eyes for several days after a migraine.

If you get them - I know you're feeling my pain. There's nothing like a migraine. I'm just so glad I haven't gotten one in a while. When I was pregnant/nursing (over the course of six years) I sometimes would get several a month. That was really bad! Especially since I couldn't use my good drugs and babies won't sit quietly while you flop and moan in pain in the dark.

But now that my "babies" are older, they have actually become helpful. I was able to rest some and while I still don't have my sea legs under me today I will be able to function.

The tax guy can probably wait just a little longer:-)

Moving On

2007-02-01T17:46:00.000-05:00

This month was a month of deadlines for me, but as of today I have met all but one of them. I can almost feel the relief hovering close by. I turned in an article this morning and mailed off my screenplay today at the post office. I was so excited about this but since I was at the mall post office, there wasn't really anyone to celebrate with. And the postal lady didn't seem to get while I was smiling. Still, I am very pleased with all the changes I made and even if I don't win the competition, I'm glad I at least made the effort.

Another project, the one I am not quite done with, is in its final stages. I feel like it just needs a tweak here and there abd then it will off to the publishers. Publishers aren't very...quick with these types of things so I know I'm in for a bit of a wait to hear back about this new series.

In the meantime...

I don't know!

I have learned this much about myself - I work best under deadlines. And since I won't have one, I need to figure out what to work on next and create my own deadlines.

The possibilites are:

> another screenplay (already plotted out, just needs to be written)
> another book proposal (on a new adult novel I'd love to sell)
> or...something else?

I could work on both but frankly I'm not very good at that either (work to your strengths!). I do know that I don't want to waste time surfing the Internet or answering e-mail. So now I will finish this other project up and trust that God will give me an answer to my dilemma. I am torn, and will gladly work on either project but since He knows what should come first, I'll trust the One who knows!

New projects always give me a thrill (almost as much as finishing a project). It gives me a chance to ponder and dream - so it should be a nice weekend. They say it may even snow...

The Tyra Show

2007-01-29T17:24:00.000-05:00

A friend came over this morning and kindly watched The Tyra Show with me as it went out live across the nation.

I thought it went okay. If I can put aside my self-consciousness and concentrate on what I said, I at least sounded coherent! I did scroll over to the Tyra Banks show website where they have more than 175 comments on the show already - a few encouraging, most very upset because they feel witchcraft wasn't treated/looked at fairly. In other words, there are some angry witches over there that Tyra wasn't more sympathetic.

Not that I'm surprised. Years ago, I would have reacted the same way. Regardless I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to show another side.

My people will talk to your people...

2007-01-26T13:51:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I wish I had people for other people to talk to! I know it used to be reserved for the rich and famous, this idea of having an assistant to post blogs or answer e-mails or contact organizations and media outlets. But not so much anymore. Actually, I know quite a few authors who utilize assistants.

Sadly, I have not attained that realm yet. Oh, I dream about it. Especially on days like today when I spend my entire morning sending e-mails and making phone calls trying to act as my own publicist. I don't have one, so I have to do it myself. I'd really rather be writing.

The other thing that has consumed my time (besides trying to garner some attention for the Tyra episode on Monday) is the re-design of my website. I am working with my fabulous designers to try to get the whole thing up and running by Sunday - in time for the Tyra show. It's fun but exhausting. And also terrifying - they're going to use pictures of me in the design. Ugh..

I've written over twelve pages of new content and I still have three deadlines looming next Tuesday. So I'm being pulled in too many directions...and an extra set of hands would be really, really nice right now.

But It's still in the "Wouldn't that be nice..." category of my dreams. Reality calls. Gotta get back to work!

Tyra Air date

2007-01-20T14:01:00.000-05:00

The producers called and said that the air date for "The Lives of Witches" is set for January 29th. It airs on CBS so you'll have to check you local listings to see when it will actually air in your town.

Please keep praying for the editing process this week, and of course, for the people that will see it.

I'm in a mad rush to get my new website going before the episode airs, but I love what is planned so I can't wait to announce it when it's up!

The Tyra Banks Story

2007-01-14T18:35:00.000-05:00

So I felt like it was probably a good idea to share the whole story for those who want to hear it (for those who don't, feel free to skim:-)

It all started with that little e-mail I mentioned yesterday. It came through about 2:30pm (I was diligently working, of course!) so on a whim, assuming it was a prank, I called the number and lo and behold it really was a producer from the Tyra show. She quickly explained that they were doing a show about witchcraft and that she had read an article on CBN and thought I would be perfect for the show. Perfect meaning that they wanted the show to be "balanced" and having me on to share about becoming a Christian and coming out of witchcraft. Oh, and could I be ready in 30 minutes?

I said yes. How could I not? The chance to be a light in the midst of a dark show like that doesn't come along very often. It was as if God had pointed at me and said, "Go be my witness." So by 5:00 they had sent a car to my driveway to take me to the airport.

I don't think the reality of what I was suddenly doing hit me till later. I spent my trip up to the airport trying to call people so that they would pray for me. I'm no fool - I knew I would be up against some serious spiritual forces. And I had to fill my husband in on the preschool carpool and doctors appointments.

When I got to LA, my driver was waiting at the airport with a sign - with my name on it. I've never been one of those people who had a car waiting for them before.

He took me to my hotel, but since it felt like three o clock in the morning to me, I opted to sleep instead of walking around Hollywood - by myself - at night.

It was a rough night,I started waking up at 4am and never really was able to get back to sleep. Finally, I gave up and ordered room service (another first). A fruit plate and some coffee that cost $30. Here's my breakfast:

CBS had put $40 on the account for me to spend for food so I figured I might as well enjoy it! Thanks to my hubby, I also got a call from two of my friends from Act One. And my jobless friend offered to come with me for the day. I was thrilled to have a friendly face with me so he came over to the hotel so he could ride to the studio with me.

At my hotel in the heart of Hollywood:

Then, this pulled up to take me - ME - to the studio:

Yeah, I've been in a limo like this exactly twice in my life.

So I had some fun:

Anthony and me, taken by the driver:

At the CBS studio - Anthony snapped this before the bouncer/guards scolded us for having the camera...

After we went through the metal detectors, we were taken through the studios to some dressing room areas. They tape two shows a day so the previous guests were literally kicked out of the room, they cleaned it (well, sort of, you can read more about that at Anthony's blog if you'd like). But they did slip my name in the door:

The Green Room - which is not green and even my Hollywood friends could not explain to me why they call this the green room.

I didn't run into anyone else from the show untuil I got to the make-up room. This is where I had my first encounter with Fiona - a witch who looks fairly normal, despite the goat skull tattoo on her arm. But normal looking or not, wow did that girl have some serious demonic activity around her! You can see her just past me in the photo. Of all the guests, she is the one that I felt the most warfare with. I prayed the whole time I was next to her, and honestly, felt totally sustained by prayer the rest of the time I was there. It was like nothing in any of those people could touch me or come near me.

So a very special thank you to the many, many of you who prayed for me. I felt it!!

Make-up complete - I even have on false eyelashes. I kind of felt like I should be working Sunset Blvd instead of just staying there!

On to hair:

I think she regretted choosing to straighten my hair when she realized just how much I have. It took her a good long time to do it.

The results, after hair, make-up and wardrobe (they let me wear my own pants but gave me the sweater and the shoes to wear:

The straight hair was a dramatic change for me, but fun.

During this time I had to read and sign a release (hilarious - basically they take responsibility for nothing) and the producer kept running through what Tyra would ask. Just before the show started, the head producer came in and told me that Tyra wanted me to know that she did not want to do a show on witchcraft and that she was very glad that I was there to share a different viewpoint.

Then, I settled in to watch the show:

The show basically went like this:
Three "white witches" (including Fiona) shared their thoughts about their beliefs.
A solitary witch, who they show being inducted into Fiona's coven (the lady I mentioned earlier,
Two witches who practice "dark arts" and own an occult shop
Two Satanists (the man apparently was the first child born into the Church of satan, which was started by his grandfather.
Then me.

In that order. I won't repeat the episode (and all of the horrible untrue statements that were made) because it will be on the air in two to three weeks. I watched about half the show before they walked me to the backstage area, put a mic on me and touched up my hair and make-up.

When it was my turn, they walked me out on stage and sat me on a stool. Tyra came out, said hello and within seconds we were on camera. She asked a few questions but I found it hard because I didn't have time to tell the whole story. I was able to tell the part about burning all my witchraft stuff. But overall, I don't know how it went. It was over so fast. Then as soon as the cameras turned off, Tyra patted me on the knee, said "Thanks for being here." and was gone again.

I was sitting there all by myself and since I didn't know what to do I just looked around the audience, random people throughout the audience smiled, waved or gave me thumbs up signs. One sweet lady mouthed "You did great." and that made me feel better.

Then they set up chairs for all of us to sit in one long row for the Q & A part. They sat me next to Mr. Satanist. Well, there wasn't much time left and Fiona had shamelessly planted two friends in the audience to promote Fiona's new book of spells and ask for directions to perform her favorite love spell (which Fiona obliged with). Boy do I hope they edit that part out! Then I think Tyra asked what Fiona thought about my story. Her voice sounded even and kind even as it dripped with venom. She blew off my story as just a lonely troubled teenager. I thought she was going to get the last word but Tyra then looked at me and asked, "What do you think of that Sarah?" It was here that I felt that surge of God inside of me and responded, not on my own, but powered by God himself. I don't even remember all I said (but pray they leave this in!) I do know that I ended with the statement that even though those onstage would disagree that I believed that there was only one truth. Tyra said something like, "Well, I think most of the audience and I would agree with that." Everybody clapped, and it was over.

So, it was a truly amazing experience - and I'm so glad I was given even a small chance to point to God. I hope I was able to bring Him glory.

After we left the studio, Anthony and I met up with Mollie and we had a great evening catching up and eating dinner toegther. That was the icing on the cake for me.

So, they say it will air in two to three weeks so I'll let you know when it gets scheduled. In the meantime, please pray for the editing process, and the two million some people that will see the program - may they not take any of the bad advice or be lured into any of that horrible stuff. I did talk to the producers about having a link on tyra.com and they seemed to think that would be fine. So hopefully, they'll find information on the good stuff too.

Tyra Banks & Me

2007-01-13T21:04:00.000-05:00

I just realized, despite my mushy, jet-lagged brain, that I should tell you what's been happening. It's all still a little surreal - like maybe I dreamed it or it happened to someone else. But it all started when I got an e-mail on Thursday afternoon that I thought was a prank.

It wasn't.

It was from "The Tyra Banks Show" and they wanted me to come appear on the program - on Friday (keep in mind it is Thursday afternnon on the East Coast. Well, because I have a super-supportive husband, the show sent a car to my driveway and picked me up within the hour, whisked me to the airport and flew me to LA. Yes, that fast.

It's a fun and crazy story that I want to tell with all my super-dorky tourist photos that I took. And no, I didn't get one with Tyra and me together. I'm going to try and pull a screen shot when they air the episode.

Oh, I didn't mention why they wanted me on did I? Yeah, they were doing a program called "The Lives of Witches" and wanted to "balance" out the program by having another viewpoint. That would be. The token Christian.

It was a really cool experience though - and I will post a full-report as soon as I can think straight enough to download the pics off my camera...

till then...

Conversation

2007-01-11T09:47:00.000-05:00

Read an interesting blog at Jesus Creed this morning about "conversation".

The idea I talked about the other day - how we no longer live in community, ties into this idea of "conversation". I have been looking into the Emergent Church Movement for quite some time because as someone who thoroughly enjoys being challenged to consider ideas, I find it interesting to watch the debate over it among the body of Christ. Lots of loud and passionate voices on either side.

But instead of really looking at some of the concerns of the "movement", a lot of people (i.e. the traditional church) blow the whole thing off as blasphemy or bad doctrine or any other number of things.

But I keep thinking about good old Martin Luther. Hundreds of years ago, he had the audacity to point out the "church" of his day might be telling the masses the wrong thing - and it changed the course of Christianity. Most major shifts and changes get started by people who are orginally seen as troublemakers and traitors. Take a look at how the Pharisees reacted to Jesus. They were the ones that were angry because it was their "way of living" that was being raked over the coals. They were losing their power over the people and it made them mad. The "church", or much of it, is mad over this whole emergent movement because it has the audacity to say that maybe it's time to re-look at the way we go about church.

Now. I'm not saying that I agree with everything I hear the leaders of the Emergent movement saying. But I'm willing to consider the ideas, turn them over, inspect them, and search the Word of God over them. Like a good conversation (See, I did have a point!).

I submit that the church is terrified of real conversation. We love to take a stand and say that we are "standing on the Word of God". But what we are really doing is refusing to listen. I agree that the Word of God is God's very words, breathed by His very breath and absolutely trustworthy. But I aslo think that the Word of God can stand up to a good conversation. We don't have to be scared to ask questions, ponder or even not know. I also don't agree that we can know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, all that God is truly saying to us (at least this side of heaven). Oh, we can understand bits and pieces, we may even get close on some topics, but we are fallible humans. Churches don't have conversations about ideas. They split. Because instead of inviting conversation, leaders (in the general sense) basically say "Well, if you don't like it, go somewhere else."

And that is the crux of the problem. People just go from church to church, looking for a place that 'agrees with them". Churches (again, in general) are getting bigger and bigger. Building bigger buildings. Making budget decisions rather than people decisions. Being a business rather than a family. And there happens to be a huge number of spiritual people who are tired of not being heard. I'm one of them. But I see trouble ahead. For this "new" sort of church and the "established" church. Because at the end of the day, we need each other. We can't make this journey alone and we each need the little pieces of bread that someone else has. I need to share what I have and you need to share what you have. We need to have conversations where we can truly "reach the mind of Christ". God says it can be done, but it happens in the context of conversation - not in the context of "you go do your thing and I'll go do mine".

I don't want to just do my thing. I want to do His thing. But we need each other to do that.

Let's Be Friends!

2007-01-08T16:18:00.000-05:00

I read an article in my paper today about MySpace where they polled teens ages 12-17 about their use of "social networking" sites.

More than half of American youths use online social networking sites, according to a recent survey. MySpace is, by far, the most popular (85%). 70% of girls aged 15-17 use social netwoking sites and 22% of teens check their site more than once a day. But teens are being smart as well - 45% of them have profiles that are visible only to their friends.

So what does this mean? Teens are online. Duh. I know. That's not news! No, but it sort of proves what we have assumed all along. That teens connect digitally and we don't really know what the long-term impact is going to be on this generation.

Our idea of community has changed radically over and over again, and while this is yet another culture shift, it's not necessarily a positive one. And it goes to why I decide to have a MySpace. Just a few generations ago, we weren't nearly as mobile. people stayed closer in communities, and older women naturally helped the younger women as they adjusted to being wives, and moms and everything that happens in between. That changed and now we get advice from friends and books and the Internet - those close-knit communities (for the most part) are gone. But with the Internet, and being able to instantly e-mail 300 people all over the country, we no longer even need to venture out of our houses to get lots of opinions about things. I'm all for peer relationships, but we all need "mentors" - people who have gone before us, that can help guide us along the way. It's the whole concept of Titus 2.

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverant in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they (older women) can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God." Titus 2:3-5

But where are all the older women to help these young women grow into the fullness of what God has for them? Many are enjoying their ladies Bible studies and chatting over lunch, while half a generation of girls are posting cute pictures of themselves on their MySpace page. This is why I am on the Internet - to be available. You see, I cannot necessarily convince anyone to listen to me. I just have to be out here, blogging, answering e-mails and being available to anyone who wants to listen. Writing books that share my heart and passion.

So whoever has found their way here, thanks for stopping by - I'm thrilled to have you. But if you're a young woman that has wandered here, then I hope you find something here to help you on your journey. Because that's really my heart's purpose.

Oh - and you can see MySpace, too.

Say What?

2007-01-05T19:03:00.000-05:00

I've always been somewhat of an overacheiver. A B was never good enough. It had to be the A. There was a girl in my high school that would argue with the teacher for a 99 if she had a 98 - I wasn't that kind of girl. But I always felt - disappointed -when I didn't excel at something. Being okay wasn't okay. I wanted to be the best.

The problem was that I really thought I HAD to be the best. I felt like if I was just smart enough, then maybe my parents would really love me and all of my problems would go away. Yeah. Right. But what has lingered is not believing that is true, but the thought life that goes with that kind of "performance mentality". I was my own harshest critic. If I didn't do well, I would berate myself mentally for messing up, for failing, for not meeting expectations. Granted, some of it came directly from parents who never seemed happy with what I accomplished, but I also set the bar so high that no human being could ever meet my own expectations - much less myself.

Those "bad thoughts" - the ones where I tell myself that I'm worthless or a failure or not smart enough or nice enough, that no one likes me and that I hate myself - have been my companions for years. That is, up until a few weeks ago. I don't really know what changed or what happened. Tongues of fire didn't land on my head and there were no bright lights or angelic visits - but something definitely changed. Now I work hard to speak in a positive way - about my efforts, about God's work in me, about giving myself grace and you know what - it has made a huge difference. You see, when you judge yourself harshly, it's hard not to judge others the same way. So I find myself more relaxed, and more compassionate, all at the same time. I am able to push through and persevere in new ways.

I doubt I am the only one who has made these same mistakes. Even knowing that God loved me and that my value was found in being his didn't really help my mind flip that switch. I had to change. And you know what I discovered? I discovered that sometimes those mean, nasty thoughts become your only friends. They are comfortable and familiar and if you let go of them, you're not really sure what will come in their place. Letting go is scary - even if you are letting go of bad stuff. And it's the bad stuff that God wants to clean out of you and me.

I'm sure there's plenty of other crap He's going to have dig out of there, but instead of feeling like I am always losing the battle for my thoughts, the tide has turned and my side won a pivotal victory. So no matter what battle you're facing keep trudging on - you just never know when the battle will turn for you.

To Sleep, Perchance to dream...

2007-01-03T15:03:00.000-05:00

A study published in the Nature Neuroscience journal examined how memories are processed in the brain during sleep. During the non-dreaming portion of sleep, the brain replays the day's events, helping people reflect on recent happenings and learn from them, said Matthew Wilson, a neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory.

The bottom line: Information crammed into the brain during a sleepless night has less chance of sticking. When deprived of sleep, students may be able to regurgitate information they've memorized overnight, but they have decreased their ability to understand its meaning or to apply it to future experience.

"Sleep isn't just a passive event," said Wilson, co-author of the study. "The best way to take advantage of sleep is to have it interspersed between periods of wakefulness in a regular way."

I can't even tell you how many all-nighters I pulled in high school and college getting ready for an exam. Staying out late, sleeping in, my roommates famous "ten-minute naps" in the middle of the day when we couldn't keep our eyes open another second! I'm a night-owl by nature so I'd rather stay up late than rise early. No matter how many times I drag myself out of bed early in the morning "to get something accomplished" I find I am utterly useless.

Today I crawled back into bed after seeing my kids off to school because I had a headache and I was feeling grumpy about it. I fell back asleep and when I woke up the second time, I was ready to face the day. But I felt guilty. I seem to have this idea that sleeping is equal to "wasting time", yet, if it is how God created us, then how can it be a bad thing?

Sleep deprivation has been linked to all sorts of bad things - chronic fatigue, depression, weight gain, irritability, headaches, memory loss, makes health conditions worse, causes accidents, failing grades, can impede physical growth, affects your immune system...it can even kill you.

Related to sleep is the concept of rest...I read a note from someone recently that talked about how they always honor the Sabbath by taking rest from sundown Saturday, to sundown on Sunday. The Sabbath is actually one of the ten commandments, yet most of us have trouble carving out ten minutes of rest much less a whole 24 hours.

I don't think we know what rest is anymore.

I know I don't. My life, just like most of your lives, runs at a frenzied pace sometimes. Slowing down, taking time to rest, and also sleep, can seem counter-productive. But we have to. God created us to need rest and sleep, not just ocasionally, but regularly.

So let's hear it for no-guilt sleep and a weekly rest. We should probably listen to Him - after all, I think He knows what He is doing, don't you?

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T12:29:00.000-05:00

A new year! A fabulous new you! Isn't it funny how (most) people look at the new year as a fresh start - when all that's really changed is the date? I'm not a big resolution maker but even I couldn't help making some plans about things I want to accomplish this year. The list gets long quick. (especially when I start adding in things like catching up with my scrapbooks!) January 1st isn't some magical day, but the idea of a brand new year helps us to think that we, too, can make a change.

That's sort of what following God is all about. Becoming better than we could be on our own. God can transplant us from one path to another, from one way of being to another. He can grow that good stuff inside of us while helping us to weed out all the nasty stuff that is common to us all.

Perhaps it's because I'm feeling more hopeful this year or perhaps it's because I see God rearranging my life on so many different fronts, but I do feel the urge to make some goals this year. I think goals are a little different for me than resolutions. Resolutions means I'm going to try to do (or not do) something this year. But I really want to accomplish something. To look back at the end of the year and be able to see some sort of tangible difference.

So I am dividing my goals into Physical and Spiritual - two areas that I feel like God is challenging me to go deeper in.

First - the spiritual. I want to read through the Bible this year. From beginning to end. I have started this a few times but always get bogged down somewhere in the "not so fascinating parts" - sorry Lord, but it's true.

Second - the physical. I actually started this goal a month ago. I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't struggle with my weight. It's been a life long chain wrapped around me. I've tried to get free from it, but then I would end up feeling wrapped up even tighter - because I kept failing. Over and over, again and again. I always learned something - about myself, about the way I looked at the world, the way I thought about things. But all my random understanding didn't seem to add up to real change. And I want real change. Transformation. While I know that God's love for me is not based on what I look like, I also am painfully aware that my outside is a reflection of who I am inside. It's just like a book. Those of us who are authors know how important a cover is. The cover has to reflect the story that is contained inside. Otherwise you could end up with an edgy suspense story wrapped inside a prairie romance cover. It wouldn't work for a book and it doesn't work for me. So, in part anyway, my goal is less about weight, and more about reflecting Christ who resides within me.

And the second part of the goal is about health. Again, it's not about the weight, but about not being a slave to anything (including Krispy Kreme donuts or white mochas) except God Himself. It's also about being fit. I don't think I've ever been fit - ever. (Remind me someday to tell you my college soccer story). God created us to have these absolutely amazing bodies and we - I mean I - don't care for them the way we should. We act like they are cheap rentals instead of luxury sports cars complete with seat warmers. I have three little girls, and frankly, I simply want to be a better role model. I want to show them the benefits (and fun) of being physically fit. Of eating healthy. Of making smart choices. Of honoring God with our bodies.

But I have to do it first. As "mom", I really set the tone not only for myself, but for my whole family. I have the chance to teach them healthy habits so they don't ever get wrapped up in the chains I did. And I've already started.

I almost didn't want to talk about this on the blog, but honestly, it's an issue that many, many girls deal with on a regular basis. Maybe talking about it will be a good thing. For all of us. And if it's about being a girl, and God, well, we'll talk about it!

So here's to 2007. May it be a wonderful year!

You say it's your birthday!

2006-12-30T14:22:00.000-05:00

Yup, I am 34 today and I think that officially crosses me over to "mid-thirties" rather than "early thirties". Not sure I like the change. I never liked having a December birthday - all smushed in bewteen Christmas and New Years. People have so many other things on their mind, that my birthday often just gets missed. Well, that and the dreaded Christmas-Birthday gifts that people like to buy for you.

Those of you with late December birthdays will know what I mean. But I guess I've gotten to the point where those things don't matter as much anymore. My family treats me special and I'm going to get my favorite meal in the world tonight! Lobster!

Yes, yes, I know about the Old Testament prohibition about scavengers and all of that so I am especially grateful that Jesus came and declared all things clean. I know it's totally shallow, but I am a seafood girl through and through.

Days like today remind me that God celebrates us, too. We are His prized creation - so important that He sent His Son to rescue us from our own folly. It's not about how pretty, how fast, how smart or how good we are, but simply because we are His. So even if you're not having a birthday today, you can celebrate being His.

Have a great day!

I'm Back!

2006-12-27T19:39:00.000-05:00

It's winter here, and I'm grateful to live in a place where we actually get four seasons a year. We get snow occasionally, and it gets cold, for us, and everything gets brown and dreary. But that's what makes springtime so wonderful. When the brown and naked tress start bursting with color, and the fields turn green and the flowers begin to show off. There's nothing quite like it.

Knowing that springtime is coming is what keeps me going. I've been in a very winter-like place with my writing, and in a few other areas of life, for a long time. And yet I have to hang on to the fact that the barren winter will - eventually - turn to spring.

I haven't been writing as much because I have been thinking a lot about where my focus should be. What this blog is really about. I have finally settled on the fact that it's all about the name. Girls & God. Being a girl who loves God but knows that she needs to love Him more. Being a girl who wants to please her Heavenly Father, but isn't always sure how to do that. Being a girl in the midst of this crazy world that shouts a million different things at us. Being a girl who wants every other girl out there know just how valuable she is.

So just as we head deep into winter around my neck of the woods, I'm going to make a deep and concerted effort to bring a blog that touches on issues that affect us as girls who follow God.

I'm excited - and looking forward to where the discussion will lead. Bless each and every one of you!

The Creative One

2006-12-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

I have been remiss in updating, getting sidetracked with so many things. As I'm sure most of you are as well. My middle daughter turned six last week and since my kids get to go out to dinner at the place of their choosing for their birthday, we ended up at Chuck E. Cheese.

Then I was in agony the rest of the night from a moderate case of food poisoning. It's my second bout with it and let me tell you, I really don't want it to ever happen again. So I wasn't really on my game for her birthday party on saturday. I still think it went well but I'm suffering from Mommy Guilt for not planning more games.

But the other reason I haven't written much is I have been thinking about shifting the focus of this blog. But since I'm not entirely sure what that focus should be, I've been a little stuck. I'm still pondering, praying, hoping for a shot of inspiration. Got ideas? Feel free to send them my way!

Actually, I'm stuck in lots of ways. I'm in the middle of writing a book (actually two-thirds down) but I got a little stuck on that as well last week. So I re-read what I have written so far and I think (I hope) I'm back on track with that.

The Nano Psych Ward

2006-11-26T23:17:00.000-05:00

Research killed the muse.

I spend one weekend researching for my novel. One weekend where I didn't write, I simply absorbed...and what happened?

I got behind. Way, way behind.

I'm like a runner who is unsure whether to keep plugging forward or plop in the grass and give up.

Sprint to the finish?

Write like a crazy person?

Hmmm, what could I do to keep the kids busy until Thursday? Giving them all the presents stowed safely in the closet would work, but then that would ruin Christmas (and force me back into the mob-infested stores).

What to do?

What? Quit writing in my blog and get back to the story? Oh yeah, that would probably be smart...

Here's to nano - and the padded room and giant margarita I'm gonna need when it's all over with.

Did I just admit to drinking the occasional Margarita? Great, now I'll never be published again in the CBA.

That Girl on TV

2006-11-21T00:02:00.000-05:00

Is me? The 700 Club interview goes live tomorrow!

I'll be spending the day at the Children's Museum with my three kids plus two extra little girls joining us. So I think I'll be Tivo'ing it.

Let me know what you think...but be kind. I still have an insatiable need to be loved and approved of:-)

If you miss it and still want to see it, you can watch it at CBN.

nano redux

2006-11-15T22:52:00.000-05:00

I don't know who invented the bar graph, but it's wonderfully satisfying to see my bar graph getting higher and higher.

In fact, I find it rather addicting. "I have to write today because I have to make my bar graph go higher." And after I add in my new word count I go back and refresh all my pages just to look at the new numbers on my icon, like I have done something great.

Deadlines, even self imposed ones, are good for me apparently. Nothing like pressure to make stuff cook faster, eh? I know it will need work when I'm done but I am making progress - and that's a lot more than I was doing before November.

But here's my problem. As addicted as I am to bar graphs, I also happen to be addicted to feedback (the positive kind). My husband is always good for this kind of feedback but he'd like me to finish the whole thing so he can read it all the way through. That way he doesn't have to wait to find out what happens, and also keeps him from hovering over the keyboard. But it means that I also have to wait to hear what someone else thinks of this story.

And I so want to hear what someone else thinks because I really, really, really love this story. While the whole Totally Unfamous story came out of a desire to offer something new to my readers, I have fallen in love with Lucy and yesterday I was completely emotional over the story that I am discovering along the way. My creative side is loving this pace. It's like riding a bike downhill. You just hold on and enjoy the ride.

So, at the end of the month, I'm hoping I'm not the only one who loves the story. I guess you will all get to weigh in on it at some point because it's going to be posted online in a reverse blog platform, free for all to read. Right now I'm trying to gather around me a group of readers (for that general feedback) and editors (a few people who will go through it thoroughly to get it ready for going live) so that when it comes time to release it, it will be in great shape.

I think I'm just excited to be working on something and making regular progress on it. That and those immensely satisfying bar graphs.

Rosie & Dangerous Christians?

2006-11-13T15:56:00.000-05:00

I read this just this morning, a news report about Rosie O'Donnell's comments on the View that aired more than two months ago.

Hmmm, was I under a rock or was this just not talked about very much? Of course, since a majority of our news outfits are liberally slanted, it shouldn't come as a surprise that most skipped right over this lovely little statement from O'Donnell comparing "Radical Christianity" to "Radical Islam".

The Queen of Nice ain't so nice. Unfortunately, she hasn't been for quite some time. But, I think I can understand the side of Christianity she probably sees. The side with the picket signs and the nasty letters and people telling her on the street that she will burn in hell. I bet all of these things and more have happened to her over the years, especially since coming out of the closet. You see, most celebrities probably have very little contact with real Christians. All they see are the picketers and the ones that like to rub everyone's nose in their sin. In their very closed world of celebrity and status, they probably don't get many letters from Christians who care about them. Nope. They get them from mean and hateful people who use the bible to abuse people and masquerade as Christians.

We've all seen these types of people, and yes, I think they are dangerous. Not in the way O'Donnell says, but in a different way. A way that reflects a very poor image of Christ. They turn people against God instead of winning them. I think I get ramped up about this because while most people are upset and shocked by what she said, I start to think about what put that anger there in the first place. Can you just imagine for a moment the way she has likely been treated by "Christians?" I can. That's why she's been on my prayer list for years. (Another friend of mine confessed that she prays regularly for Jennifer Lopez, so I know I'm not the only one who does this!)

That kind of pure anger comes from deep, deep hurt. And we can't lose sight of that fact. My main prayer is that God will put someone in her life that will model true Christianity. The kind of person that loves people, as much as they love God's Word. The kind that is equal parts holiness and mercy. So while Rosie may have said something awful, try to imagine the awful things that have been said to her, and we might be able to extend her a measure of grace.

And Rosie? I'm still praying for you!

Sun to rain

2006-11-12T16:14:00.000-05:00

On Friday and Saturday we had the two prettiest November days that I could imagine. Seventies, sunny with leaves on the ground. It was beautiful. We went for walks, raked leaves and just breathed in what we knew would be the last sunny days before winter officially wrapped us up for a few months.

Then, instead of a nice gradual change, we woke this morning to rain, cold and windy, the kind that pelts your face and makes you want to wrap your hands around a cup of coffee and stay inside.

Our lives are just like this aren't they, both the sun and the rain, the good and the bad? I find that paradox all over my life lately. A few good days will be followed by a whopper.

And frankly, I've had a few too many whoppers lately. Enough that I wonder when there will be good news. When things will begin to turn from this spot we've been stuck in for so long.

But knowing God, choosing to trust Him, means that I must wait expectantly for those sunny days to come. The spring always comes after the winter. The sun always comes up in the morning after a long night. And I have to trust that God will glorify Himself in the midst of all this. That He has a plan unfolding during the night that we are simply unable to see.

So if you have traveled a long and weary night, then know that the sun will come up, and a new day will dawn. It's just a metter of God's timing - and trusting that God truly does have our best interests at heart.

Take a minute...

2006-11-09T09:24:00.000-05:00

and watch this video. You'll be glad you did. If the popultaion of the entire earth were reduced to 100 people, what would it look like?

Miniature Earth
(And thanks to Mary DeMuth for pointing it out.)

The 700 club in my house...

2006-11-07T18:57:00.000-05:00

went pretty well I think. Of course, I have no desire to actually watch the interview. I know that's bad but I have enough body image issues thankyouverymuch to try and avoid myself on camera whenever possible.

Getting ready for the interview was interesting. Who knew it would take that long to set up two cameras? But first they had to decide the angle and ultimately decided on an angle that would include part of my kitchen, the one room on the main floor that was not exactly clutter free. So I had to hide the clutter, move the decorations and they had to tape the windows and set everything up.

My puppy was a major problem. He wanted everyone to love on him and after he nearly knocked over the light box we decided he had to go outside. Well separating a puppy from people that he can see isn't helpful. He whined and scratched at the door. So we put him in a basement room and he banged on the door so hard the upstairs shook. So we used his leash to corral him away from the door and he chewed through the leash.

Finally, we put him in the van outside where we couldn't hear a peep. One random phone call, the cat pulling down the decorations and the icemaker dropping ice added to the noise they had to deal with. Apparently those microphones are very sensitive. But despite all of that I got a chance to share my story and God was right there, let me tell you. A couple of times the interviewer was happy about the way I described something but I honestly didn't think about it beforehand. It was almost like God was feeding me the right way to put it.

It was amazing and I'm blessed to have had the opportunity to really give God some very public thanks for saving me. Going through old photos for them to use reminded me of all that old stuff and what could have happened to me if God had not intervened.

Thank you God, for rescuing me!

So I'll let you know when it airs but right now it looks like it's going to air on Thanksgiving Day. I think I'll just Tivo it;-)

(Read the article that started it all: Confessions of a Teenage Witch)

Barna and revolutionaries

2006-11-04T18:26:00.000-05:00

Interesting article.

I love discussions like this, from other people who are interested in church being something more than what it tends to be.

People who imagine what the church could be,
What it might be,
if we really look at what it means to be a family
to love each other
and be devoted to one another

Can you imagine what that would be like? What the impact on the world would be?

If you look at my last post you will see that I am one of those that have been "hurt by the church". I know my experience is pretty usual. Nothing out of the ordinary. But what should our response be?

Well, I'm going to choose to walk in love, to forgive, to not get offended. None of that is as easy at it sounds but I am committed to doing it that way because that is what Jesus asks of us. Of me.

But beyond that - I am not interested in leaving my church in some sort of huff (though you better believe the thought crossed my mind!) No, I honestly think that is part of the problem of the church today. Instead of being completely committed, we are only committed to church as long as the church is behaving the way we'd like. And since the church is comprised of fallen people, well, the church messes up. Sometimes royally. And too often we just leave, instead of staying committed anyway. Of loving anyway. You know, kind of like the way Jesus loves us.

See. I have this crazy idea that the church is supposed to be a family. Except for those of you who are in perfect families, most of you know that families mess up, they fight, they argue and they hurt one another. But when it happens, you're still stuck together because you're family. Yeah, you can not talk to them, you can move away, but no amount of denouncing them changes the fact that you will forever be linked.

We cannot walk out on our family of God either because whether you like it or not most of them will show up in eternity. Not to eternally irritate you, but because they too have believed God's word and exchanged death for life. You are forever linked because of the blood of Christ.

Wahoo, right? Yeah, I know.

But this idea of being someone who wants real faith to be lived out in real life, well, that's my kind of discussion.

So here's to being revolutionary...

Sucker punched

2006-11-01T16:56:00.000-05:00

Why is that Christians will behave in ways that the world wouldn't even conceive of? Why is that the church feels permitted to do unkind things and then if you don't like it then you are simply being immature?

I want to rant, scream and yell, yet feel that if I did so, then I would be seen as the one with the problem.

Is it good and right for the church to be unfair and invoke the name of God as the reason? So then, if we have a problem with it, it is God Himself we have a problem with?

I don't think that just because God will use a wrongdoing to make us more like Him is a valid reason for the church to do wrong. Do you?

Yet, as usual, it doesn't really matter what I think. And that's why I'm so sad. I will cry and rant to God and ultimately, I will have to forgive and let it go, and watch others get away with treating people like a mere commodity that is completely replaceable. Like just another cog in the machine. Like I really don't matter.

Some days it just all makes me sick to my stomach. Today is one of those days. I feel like I've been bled dry and I don't have another ounce to give.

Oh Lord, I love you so much. But boy is it hard to love your people sometimes!

Nano insanity

2006-11-01T13:50:00.000-05:00

Yes, folks, I am joing the National Novel Writing Month craziness. (Add me as a buddy! My screen name over there is Sarahmom. Click on the icon in the sidebar:-) I've always loved the concept - but not the pace. This year, well, I have a book that I really need to write and since I have no publisher's deadline to force my rear into the chair, well, this seemed like a good idea.

"seems like" being the operative word.

So even though I need to clean my house for the camera crew, I'm not going to even pick up a dustrag until I write my 1,667 words today.

I promise!

The whirlwind that is my life...

2006-10-30T18:55:00.000-05:00

So after my article came out on CBN last week, I found out that they want to send a camera crew to my house to tape my testimony and have it air on the 700 Club!

Oh, and did I mention they are coming on Friday? It's like riding a roller coaster. It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

I write stories, I even think in stories. And yet, this is different. This is me, this is my real story. Talk about putting yourself out there.

And what am I doing? Worried about getting my house cleaned and my highlights done, that's what. Yeah, that's me, Miss Spiritual...

So I'll keep you up to date! And please pray for me if you think about it:-)

Going Public

2006-10-25T13:12:00.000-05:00

I have a new article up at CBN.com - Confessions of a Teenage Witch. I was really excited about this piece and it's so cool that it got featured in their rotating pictures at the top of the home page.

I've talked about being a witch in high school, but I've never shared about how my father's cocaine addiction actually made me go way deeper than I had ever intended. I hope you enjoy the article! Talk about throwing yourself out there!

And now, I feel a little...exposed:-) It's a good thing though...

I'll just be here, feeling like I'm now "naked on the internet".

Yes!

2006-10-19T08:18:00.000-05:00

Yes!
I think I've been saying yes too much. I am always in danger of this when I feel like I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. I then start volunteering for all sorts of things and the next thing you know, I can't even breathe because I'm so stressed out!

Why do I do this?

Well, I'm fairly self-aware of the motives behind my behavior but the real question is this: How do I stop?

I used to have some friends that knew this pattern and they made talk to them before I agreed to anything new. And I've been a VGG (very good girl) for quite a while. But this "no-contract" thing has simply gone on too long and I'm itching to feel like I'm a valuable contribution to the air I breathe (yeah, yeah, that's the heart of the issue - I still struggle to recognize that it's not what I do, but who I am that makes me valuable in the sight of God.)

So, I'm praying that God will have mercy on me and not everything I've shown interest for will actually pan out. I did agree to write an article by Mondy. But I can do that, I believe, since it's a testimony story mostly. I did agree to take over (with a friend) out church's cafe. But hopefully the bulk of the work will be up front. Once I get into a routine of doing things I think that may be okay as well. The other thing is a part-time job I applied for. We could really use the money and it's something that I think could be very valuable professionally. It also sounds like something I'd like to do. But I'm a little concerned about how many hours it will actually take me. My prayer now is that if I am supposed to do it - that God will open the door that no man can shut. And if it's not...well, I'll simply (ha!) need to trust that God will work out the financial issues.

But boy a contract would be nice!

What I'm watching...

2006-10-16T09:51:00.000-05:00

So I need to have a little fun today.

Movies-
Stick It
Totally awesome gymnastics movie. Let's put it this way. I bought it on the release day. It was different and funny and had a great story. What more could you ask for? And it used a great anti-hero model since instead of the gymnast striving to win the Olympics, like countless TV movies of days gone by. Here we have a gymnast that doesn't want anything to do with the sport. The results are great!

Okay- anyone seen any good ones lately, because I can't think of anything else I've really liked. On my too-see list -

Marie Antoinette
Man of the Year (I can't help it - I love Robin Williams)
One Night with the King (Oh Lord, please, please, please, don't let it suck!)

TV
Lost
I have to admit I was a little concerned with how they were going to pull off another stunner. But they did. The "Others" are not castaways. They are there by choice. But why? Another great season so far.

Standoff
I like this new show. Even though it hasn't aired for a while because of some sport thing that I could care less about (Sorry Kathleen!) I love the banter and at the same time, the hostage negotiator theme is interesting. But it really is the relationship between the two negotiators that makes this show worth watching.

Gilmore Girls
I am a few weeks behind as I just got the season premiere. I'm too upset to talk about it really.

Other shows on my Tivo:

Num3ers
CSI (love this season)
CSI:Miami (Not loving this right now)
Ghost Whisperer (So sad that Aisha is gone - still waiting to see what they'll do)
Justice
Close to Home (Why did they have to kill her husband? They can't handle a happy couple?)
Heroes (Only seen one...)
Project Runway

Reality TV

The Amazing Race 10
is back!! The real thing. Not driving through Kansas, but running around in Mongolia with yak or oxen or some other such beast. It's a great show and I'm rooting for the Cho brothers right now. I want to like the Alabama friends because they talk about God, but they are only nice to a couple of the teams and rude to the others so I'm not sure what's up with that. I SO want to go on this race.

Survivor
I am not ashamed! I love this show. It's a very young cast, which is kind of disappointing because many of them are just sort of non-descript young people. Other than Cai Boi (yes, that would be Cowboy) who is just plain bizarre and Jonathan (who sounds exactly like Alan Alda!), the Hollywood writer!!!, most everyone else is young. Oh well, it's still great to see how the social dynamics of the game will work out. This is the most diverse cast ever, what with the "race thing", but it really hasn't been an issue as far as I can tell.

So. What's on your Tivo?

(And yes - I love watching TV and movies. So shoot me. It's only about an hour a night - which is why I am already three weeks behind on some shows)

More Photo Madness

2006-10-13T14:15:00.000-05:00

Let's look at some great photos today:

This is author Mary DeMuth

What's good: Mary gives off a warm relaxed appearance. From the picture we think she is friendly, and inviting (and since I sat next to her at a Writer's View dinner, I happen to know this is the case!) She's outside, which adds to the relaxed appearance. She's smiling, almost laughing, but it's still got a gentle quality.

Here is Jennifer B. Jones - a new novelist - her first book is about to debut:

What I like about this is that she chose clothes that make her look sophisticated (it says "trust me - read my novel!") but young and fresh as well (love the pink leopard print jacket). It's just funky enough to be appealing to her audience, but subdued enough to be completely professional.

Now, here is Meredith Efken, of fiction editing fame...

This is kind of got a young, fun, feel as well. The props work for this photo because she is advertising her editing services. She gives off a "go-getter" feel - exactly what you would be looking for when you hire someone to tear apart...uhhh, I mean edit your manuscript. She also has some full-length shots here and there in the website. These work well because her photos have a current feel.

Now. Crystal asked about finding a photographer.

Many photographers have websites so that is a good first spot to check. You will want to chose by portfolio - not by price. Does the photographer you are looking at do the kind of shots you'd like to get. Just like with a web designer, you will want to point out other photos that have the quality and feel of what you'd like to have. Print out the photos you find on the Internet to take with you.

Your steps:

- Start with the websites and see what you find there.
- Visit studios in your area.
- Don't neglect photographers without a studio - some photographers shoot entirely on location, some stay in the studio. Studio shots will always have a more formal feel - even if they are more relaxed (like Jennifer's). That's okay - you want to look professional - you just don't want to look stiff. People will think that's what your writing is like too.
- Look at the portfolios. If you find things you like, point them out. If you get some ideas, ask what is possible.

One place to get recommendations is at a Camera store in your area. I'm not talking Ritz Camera here, but a place that caters to professionals - a place that has cameras in excess of $1000. You'd be surprised at the dirt those employees will be able to give you!

The better idea you have of what you want, the closer your photographer will be able to get.

Don't dimiss temperament in choosing a photographer. You must have someone you will be able to relax with. If they don't make you feel comfortable in a consultation, don't even try to go in the studio with them.

I'm a fan of the location shot myself. It's easier to add that "relaxed and trustworthy" feel to a photo. But you can acheive a more relaxed feel in the studio through posing. Of all the chain stores that do photos, The Picture People tend to be my favorite. In general, because they use full-length and 3/4 shots, they can pose you in interesting ways. They also don't have sitting fees (unlike a professional) so you could try some stuff out and see what you like. The downside is trying to get the rights to them. I've never tried, so I'm not sure what they would allow. But it might be worth it just to get a photo session under your belt that is focused completely on you. It might help you shake out the jitters before you fork over the big bucks:-)

Any other questions? Thoughts? And tell us what great photos you've seen out there in cyberspace...

Author Photos Beware

2006-10-11T08:57:00.000-05:00

I had to comment on what I have to say is a growing trend of authors who throw up an awful photo for all the world to see.

As a photographer, I simply can't stand silent anymore.

And even though, I will talk about this subject, I will not name names, or point out bad photos - that would just be mean! So our discussion will have to exist without the requisite examples.

So here it is: if you aim to have a career as an author, then there are certain investments that must be made. A good author photo is one of them. Typically, you don't need an author photo until you have a signed contract. But nowadays, we have pre-pubbed (an interesting dose of hopefulness in that term, isn't there?) authors posting websites to show editors who they are and sometimes, those websites include...well, less than flattering pictures.

I often persuse the websites of authors to get a sense of who they are, but after visitng yet another one yesterday, I simply have to say something!

People! Get a good photo!

And lest you think that I'm only talking to the pre-pubbed, I have seen multi published authors with terrible photos as well.

Yes, I know that many many women have a physiological aversion to having their picture taken. Eleven years being married and I still can't get my mother-in-law to smile for a photo. I get it, I really do. But you will simply have to get over it...or don't use a photo!

Repeat after me: No photo is better than bad photo!

And dear friends, if you know someone with one of these awful photos, then you've got to say something! I think christians try to be so nice that they let their friends walk around with their skirts tucked in their panties so they don't embarrass them. Sometimes, you just gotta be honest!

The first big mistake is perspective: Most people wrongly think that what they are using is an author photo, or...a picture of the author. NO! What you are putting up there is a publicity photo. There is an important difference. If we just need to know what you look like, well, any old photo would do. But when you hook your name, with the word author, and then put up a photo, Voila! You have a publicity photo. That means you are projecting an image about who you are to everyone who sees the photo.

Now don't get scared and run away on me. Seriously, take a look at your photo. What image are you projecting?

Dowdy or Stylish?
In or out?
Fashionista or Fashion victim?
Frumpy or fabulous?
Boring or Fascinating?

That image you project will also affect what people think of the books you write (whether you like or not). If you write prairie romance, you can probably get a way with a school marm look (though in good conscious I would never actually recommend the school marm look). But if you write suspense, your photo better be intriguing.

But wait Sarah! I'm not fashionable you say. I wear sweats and slippers to my computer! So do I. But when it's time to take that photo, you need to consider three very important things...

Hair
Wardrobe
Make-up

First off hair: You have to get a decent haircut! If you have had your hair style for more than five years (and I'm willing to bet money some have had their hairstyle for twenty years...) than it may be time for a change.

Take a risk and add color, highlights, a fresh cut, anything! You'd be surprised at what a good hairdresser can do with your hair. If you want to keep your old hairstyle and can't bear the thought of a change...consider the "No photo is better than a bad photo" rule.

Wardrobe - notice a didn't say clothes. Wardrobe is a word to show that you are dressing for your role as an author - not your role as a mom, a carpool driver or your ladies ministry leader. Your role as an author. Get a great outfit that fits you as an author (your brand!) and wear that!

Make-up. You must use make-up in a photo. You don't have to get dramatic - it can still be make-up that you are comfortable with. But you must wear it. Lights will wash you out and make you seem lethargic, older or sick if you don't put some on.

And if you're not great at this kind of stuff, then here is a solution: Look around your church, or your group of friends, and find someone who is stylish. Beg them for help. Tell them that you are projecting an image to the entire world!! Have them come with you to shop and get a haircut. Take risks!

Then - you must hire a professional photographer.

This means that:
you may not go to Sears
you may not have your son snap a digital photo
you may not dig through your albums and find the picture of you twenty pounds lighter at that Christmas party 4 years ago.
you may not throw up a picture on a whim just to "get one up there".

Go to a professional - that means you'll pay a couple of hundred. Tell them what the photos are for and let them know up front that you need the rights to them.

Then, here's the important part - you're dressed and ready to project your image - so make sure the photographer knows what you are going for. If you're writing romance, well, then a photo sitting on a vintage chair with a reading lamp in the background would be fine. But if you write suspense, then the photographer will want to play with shadows and light. Tell them exactly what image you want to project and they will be able to do it. That's why you're paying extra money to hire a professional! That's why you can't just go to Sears and smile for the camera. You are not just getting a photo taken. You are projecting an image.

Okay - so I'm opening this up. What are your questions? What else do you need to know? Got a photo you need an honest opinion of? Then send it to me, as long as you can take a critique. This is not about how you look as a person - it's about the image you are sending out there, so this isn't personal - it's business:-) Send your questions and we'll keep talking!

Worth Considering...

2006-10-10T13:14:00.000-05:00

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

Herewith a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?

I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife.

Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are.

If this is what it means to be no longer young, It's not so bad.

Next confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.

But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How God could let something like this Happen?" (Regarding Katrina)

Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.

And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards... honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Sarah the strategic!

2006-10-04T15:16:00.000-05:00

So I've been a little MIA lately. Mostly because my brain has felt a little MIA as well. I'm busily trying to make plans and prioritize my life because apparently I can't get anything accomplished without a plan!!

So besides working on my business plan (so weird to think of myself as a business!) I have two looming projects. I've got an idea for a new novel that I now need to write a proposal for. And I must write my newest teen novel that will be published online. I'm quite excited about this new venture and when the website goes live I'll let ya'll know.

That is, assuming you are all going to tell me how wonderful it is!

Working on the plan though has not only made me think that everyone needs a plan but it has also helped me clarify what my own purpose is. I can see clearly now the rain is gone...

Seriously, ya'll don't know how huge this is! I've wasted a lot of time this year and now that I have some focus, I'm excited again.

And being a creative person, excitement is a precious commodity - that I needed a shot of!

I'm a grown-up

2006-09-20T15:50:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I get this little thought that amazes me.

"I'm a grown up."

I know that sounds like such a Duh! thing (and perhaps I'm the only one who feels that way) but the oddest things make me feel that way.

Sometimes it hits me when I'm out late at night.

Today I swung by my local Starbucks to grab a coffee on our first chilly day of the fall. I left with my purse on my arm and coffee in my hand and was just amazed that this was me.

Maybe it's because I don't feel all that different from when I was in high school. I'm still occasionally insecure (though over different things). I still can't play sports with any proficiency. I still wonder what I'll be when I grow up.

I am amazed that I have a husband, three kids, five books and drive carpool in my minivan. Who is this person? I think. How did I get here? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was bemoaning my lack of a date for Homecoming? Wasn't it just last week that I got caught stealing candy from the Cumberland Farms?

I know it so cliche but time just flies by. So fast in fact that my brain can't seem to keep up with the clock. Which leads to the amazement that I am old enough to have all these things. I am grateful, but occasionally perplexed that I have actually grown older. The kids I worked with in youth group are having babies of their own. People that I hung out with in college are paying private school tuition now.

It's all so strange.

So tell me - let me know I'm not crazy. Do you ever have those moments where you think, "Wow. I'm a grown up."

Revelation

2006-09-18T13:43:00.000-05:00

I don't think you can overrate revelation from God too much. It's pretty cool when he steps in while you're having a crisis and clearly shows you that you've completely gone off the deep end.

Which I had.

So what have I learned since I've been away from my computer? (Totally not my fault by the way since I'm trying to move from an old computer to a new computer - which is a lot more hassle than it sounds like.

1. Having more babies will not solve any other crisis you are currently going through. It will actually only add to your crisis. No, I'm not pregnant but I did just recover from a weekend of insanity where I thought I should just keep having babies rather than keep writing.

2. Fear sucks. Excuse the word but well, it fits. Fear can keep you paralyzed, afraid to make any decision so you wander around in small circles so you don't stray too far from the familiar.

3. Decisions are necessary. And when we don't make decisions - it is because of #2.

4. Planning isn't evil. I guess I had this funky idea that planning is a me-thing and that if I did it, I would be relying on myself rather than God. While that is possible to do - planning in conjunction with God isn't evil - it's flat out necessary. Do we think that He has a plan for our lives but no plan on how to get there? Exactly.

5. Whining about stuff doesn't do any good. Getting serious about the planning, making decisions and overcoming fear with God's help - well, those things can be great. I have no desire to enact "my" plan. I want to know God's plan. And I've decided not to be afraid of finding out what that is.

So this is all new to me, but as life with God is apt to be, it's a grand adventure all the same.

Kind of like when you're on a big roller coaster and you're having fun but you're also hoping you don't pee your pants at the same time.

Blogger is eating my posts!!!

2006-09-08T14:50:00.000-05:00

So I spend half an hour writing a post yesterday that included links and photos and, if I may say so myself, profoundly intelligent thoughts. (Okay. That part may be an exaggeration. But seriously - what a pain. I press "post" and poof. The Blogger monster eats it.

And I have this thing about wasting time to re-do something i just did. So now you get this post instead of my musings about what it must be like to be held prisoner in a basement by some guy in Austria. Here's the story.

And the new fall season has almost begun. Well, Fox has rolled out it's new shows. My thoughts so far:

Vanished - not bad but also not great. It's kind of average in it's mystery and as a serialized drama you better hook your viewers better than that. I bet it won't make it. It only stays on my tivo till the new stuff comes out.

Standoff - love this one. I love the interaction between the two main characters. I find hostage negotiation fascinating. This one's a keeper.

Justice - I had to try this one because Daddy spy Jack Bristow is in it. I'm still a little thrown off by him smiling in it (though it's a snarky smile, not a real one) but I'm not sure Jack Bristow ever smiled on Alias so it's a little weird. I like this one. It's fast-paced, but easy to follow and the hook is that they show you at the end what really happened. Pretty cool - this is one that i think I'd watch occasionally though - I don't feel compelled, and that might hurt it's viewers...

Crikey - he's gone.

2006-09-04T19:23:00.000-05:00

I knew my post was today so I went to bed last night with ideas rolling around in my head. Then, I woke up this morning and learned that The Crocidle Hunter himself - Steve Irwin - had died.

And that made me so sad.

Maybe it was his full-of-life personality, or the fact that he has two young kids, or that tragedy can strike in the most unexpected places. I'm not sure. But after my initial shock, I started to wonder if he knew God.

You see, in that quick, unexpected death, there probably wasn't a lot of time for much thought about eternity. Many people hardly ever consider eternity until death strikes close to home. But eternity is on the line - for everyone - even Steve Irwin.

I wonder if anyone took the time to share Jesus Christ with him.

I wonder if anyone ever talked with him about the One who created the amazing creatures he loved so much.

I wonder where he is tonight.

We can sometimes forget how much is at stake as we go about our daily lives. I call it the "urgency factor". Things like death and tragedy can make us feel more urgent about sharing the gospel with those around us. We get a big nudge that people's lives are at stake and that maybe it doesn't matter whether we are rejected for it or not. We become more willing to put our faith out there.

But we really and truly need to be willing to put our faith out there all the time. Are we talking to those around us about our faith? Are we able to give a reason for our hope?

Or are we so quiet about our faith that those around us don't even notice what we believe? If we are supposed to be salt and light, we are salt and light all the time - not just when we're feeling urgent.

I hope someone who loved God was around Steve. I hope he knew. And I pray that people of faith will speak comfort and love to his wife and children. May God surround them with His presence.

Worth Renting...

2006-09-02T16:40:00.000-05:00

Recently I've seen two decent movis that surprised me.

Poseidon (Okay I had to look that up to spell it right. Sigh)

It was a little campy and unrealistic but frankly, what action movie isn't. And I happened to enjoy this one. It made me nervous throughout. Not everyone survives. And the effects were pretty cool. The only character I hated was Kevin Dillon's obnoxious character. Frankly, there was nothing redeeming about him and it made Kevin just look like a really bad actor. I also found out watching the little feature at the end that they filmed this movie in continuity. That means that insetad of skipping around through the story and filming the logical thing (another scene on the same set for example), they filmed this movie from beginning to end. I thought that was pretty neat. It's a great popcorn movie.

V for Vendetta

I honestly had no idea what this movie was about and I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner. What fascinated me about it was this film's idea of what the future might be like. And knowing what we know will happen in the end times, it was interesting to watch a movie where a "God-fearing" man kills 100,000 people to gain power and rules over them with fear. AntiChrist anyone? Anyhow. It's a good movie. There are parts that get a little bloody and some swearing - but if you're a grown-up and you can handle that, give this one a try. It kept me up last night wanting to finish it.

My...cough...cough...Week

2006-08-26T20:05:00.000-05:00

I feel like all I've been doing is coughing! After over a week of not sleeping and spending most of my waking hours eating coughdrops and drinking Robitussin like a crazy woman, I finally gave in and went to the doctor. The brilliant diagnosis?

"It's probably allergies. Take some Claritin."

I've had allergies, all sorts, all of my life, and I've never ever had a cough like this. I was actually hoping for some sort of diagnosis that I could take some medicine and be all better right away.

Didn't happen.

Last night, after two days of taking Claritin and Flonase and some horse pill of a cough suppressant, I got at least a little bit of sleep. Which is the only reason I've made it to my computer.

A cough is not such an easy thing to deal with. I can't really talk - because it makes me cough. If I move around too much...well, it must make me breathe more so that leads to more coughing.

I've actually pulled a muscle in my neck from coughing.

No fun at all.

So I'm trying to get back to my life slowly but surely. School started this week so life happens whether you're feeling up to it or not, doesn't it? And the kids back to school ushers in a new wave of uncertainty for me.

Still no contracts.

I realize that the publishing world is a little slower in the summer. But still. Not knowing. Wondering. It all takes a toll on the "hope factor".

Right now though, I'd probably be thrilled with just a decent night's sleep.

Here's to perspective:-)

Good-bye Summer??

2006-08-21T11:36:00.000-05:00

School starts this week. The beginning of a new school year is always so exciting - and I tend to wax nostaligic about those years I was a teacher. A new school year was always my favorite time of the year. Setting up the room, writing all the kid's names on little punch out apples to hang on the bulletin board. Everything clean and neat and new. It was before you knew which kids were going to drive you crazy and long before you start counting down the days until Christmas break.

I'm not a teacher anymore and find myself in the position of "parent". It's different from this view. Buying all the school supplies, seeing a teacher's name written on a piece of paper and wondering if your child will be cared about. If that new teacher will see just how wonderful and extraordinary your child really is. My middle child is starting Kindergarten this year. I think she'll love it.

My youngest will go to pre-school. She too will love it.

And I will find myself - for the first time, with some quiet hours for writing. Three times a week. It's also sad and exciting. But when I look at how unproductive I have been this summer, I want to tackle this new school year with some real goals and plans. I don't want to get side-tracked and fritter those precious hours away. I want to be able to focus on my kids when they come home from school - not be thinking about what I didn't get finished.

So - I feel the urge of goal-setting coming on. I know most people think about that in January - but now feels like the right time.

I won't break it down into hours yet.

But my #1 goal - is to close down my e-mail while I'm working. I'm afraid I've developed a Pavlovian dog response when the e-mail dings to tell me there's mail in there. It breaks my train of thought and then I take a while to get back on track.

So the goal is this: Work first.

I hereby promise (I'll try) to only check my e-mail once when I turn on my computer, then close my outlook program and not check again until I'm finished for the day.

Sounds so simple but I think this one goal will help me actually do everything else I need to do.

Kind of sad, huh?

Here's to productivity!

Beach Bound

2006-08-11T21:19:00.000-05:00

We're finally going on vacation. Tomorrow. And I still need to pack:-)

But just thought I'd let you know that I'll have no laptop with me so no blogging folks! Nope. Just me, a notebook and a pen. I LOVE writing this way. I think better with a pen in my hand.

The only problem with this method is that I can't just hand it to my computer and I'll need to come home and actually type it all in. Oh well. It's better than bringing the laptop:-)

See ya next week!!