IS IT REALLY 2008?

The past year is behind us now. There's no going back to reverse something you've said or recoup the time you've wasted. So don't waste time on regret. Our time is too short on the planet for that. January is always considered the month to start again fresh. That's why the magazines and television programs have all the advice that you'll ever need on how to lose the weight you've gained during the holidays, get organized, make a career change, or tackle a project that you've put off.

After a week of angst, from a painful shot into a nerve in my foot, I started yesterday with my usual 2 mile walk, just so I could place a big check-mark off my "to do" list. I'm all about making lists, and I feel so good when I can use a red pen to strike out the chores that I've completed. My daughter, Sheri does the same thing. We both get great satisfaction from making lists. At least I'm back to normal mode with somewhat of a routine established.

I'm looking forward to whatever this year will bring into my life. I hope mainly good things. I'm working on my second book with thoughts of the third one drifting through my mind and the hope of a possible movie being made from my first book. My critique group will start meeting again next week, and I'm excited about that because of the support and ideas that we brainstorm. Some, are very funny, and we have a good time discussing how the plot can be improved over coffee at Border's or here at my house. My crit bud, Kelly, gave me a sign for Christmas that reads-"Never Go to Bed Angry, Just Stay up at 'Plot' Your Revenge." I love it! A writer's mind never stops. We see a story in almost everything. So many stories, so little time.

I've read some great books this year, some of which I've reveiwed on my blog. My circle of writer friends has expanded and I thank God for that. So many of them through the ACFW who are willing to help other writers succeed and give of their time and talents.

One special sweet friend, Kristy Dykes, is going through kemo for a brain tumor, and still offers encouragement daily. She's got the "joy, joy, joy" down in her heart, as the song goes. Her hair is falling out, but not her enthusiasm for the Lord. Even through her illness, I guarantee that she will lift your spirits, not matter what trial that you are facing today. Check out her blog for the latest update at http://christianlovestories.blogspot.com/.

Have a great time planning out your new year, but remember that "Man plans in his heart, but God directs his steps."

PRODIGAL SONG

REVIEW OF PRODIGAL SONG

If I had to recommend one book that I consider my favorite this year, it would have to be Jim Robinson’s Prodigal Song. This book was first released in 2003. Jim’s beautifully written memoir created exceptional visual imagery of his early childhood, adolescence and adulthood, with such clarity that I could almost smell the pines or taste the ocean’s salty air. It was provocative, heartbreaking and deeply anguishing to read at times. It was so moving that I couldn’t wait to turn the page. Knowing that this was a real person’s experience into headlong disaster made me want to shout---No! Don’t do that to yourself. Many passages in the book bring certain tears.

This is the story of Jim’s surrendering totally to God, and the realization that the God of the universe had walked with him throughout his life, just waiting for him to render his life into His hands. In stark honesty, he allows us to glimpse into his very soul that longs for acceptance, longing and love, through just about every event that life affords, to take us further and further away from God. But most of all, it is about the power of grace that can only be obtained through a sovereign God that removes the spiritual separation barrier.

Walk with Jim through life’s greatest trials of drugs and alcohol abuse to find victory and success as God uses him in an incredible way through music and a ministry for many others walking a similar path.

For further exploration, visit Jim Robinson’s website. http://prodigalsong.com.

BEGINNINGS

REVIEW OF BEGINNINGS

I received my copy late, and Kim’s book had already hit the bookstores. Trying to read it during the busy month of December and the holidays, etc., caused me to fall behind for this review, but definitely not because it didn’t hold my attention. As always, I love Kim’s writing style and vivid characters. In the continuing Sommerfield trilogy, Beth Quinn shares the faith of the Mennonites, but still feels like an outsider, especially now that her mother is married and expecting twins. She feels like she is standing on the outside looking in on their sweet happy family and feels a little sorry for herself. Beth is a stained glass artist and opens a shop that becomes a lucrative business after a shaky start, with long hours in her studio away from family. Andrew Braun works for her and not only shares her loves of designing stain glass, but conveys his affection to her.

Her designs catch the eye of businessman, Sean McCauley, and they strike a deal for stained glass windows for churches that his dad’s construction company builds. He becomes more interested in Beth each time he visits her studio, and Andrew openly shows his displeasure. Beth has been hurt before and is very cautious to both men’s attentiveness.

A crisis paves the way for Beth to finally feel a part of her mom’s life again. When she puts family first, she finally learns to trust God in all areas of her life.

What can I say? Great read, Kim, reflecting your Gentle Stories of Hope. I can’t wait for the third book. Thanks Kim!

MIRACLE FOR MONDAY

Today, I’m selfishly going to ask that if you are reading my blog, to pray for a dear friend of mine, Kristy Dykes. On Monday at 3:30, she will be having radiation for a stage 4 brain tumor. Unless God intervenes with a miracle, she only has a few weeks to live. Kristy is a multi-published author and speaker. She is a lively, vivacious red head with a willing heart to help others, and a member of the ACFW, (American Christian Fiction Writers). Her husband is asking for special prayer for her around the world, through many people networking in prayer at the time of her treatment which is Eastern Standard time. We will be praying for a miracle, but if God chooses not to heal her and take her home to Heaven, then Kristy is ready. But we are selfish and don’t want to lose her.

If you’d like to read Milton’s post about their journey, here is the link to Kristy’s blog. They’ve already had one healing last week when they prayed that she would be able to read or write after her surgery when they took out the mother tumor. It’s an incredible story.

http://www.christianlovestories.blogspot.com/

Tonight I watched the Sanctuary Choir at my church perform the Christmas Festival and for the first time in 12 years, Idid not sing with them. While I did miss singing, I allowed myself to be bathed in the music of over 200 beautiful voices and the orchestra sharing the truth of God's love and the birth of Christ. The fact is, the Christmas story is a miracle that God's son would be born of a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit, to take on the sin of the world so that when we die we wouldn't be separated from God. No greater price was ever paid. Folks, God still does miracles in the world today, though we may not be aware of them. Monday, I will be praying for a miracle in Kristy's body, along with many others. Join me if you will, and I hope that soon I'll be able to post about her healing.

What does Christmas really mean to you?

VETERANS DAY

Today we hiked at Kennesaw Battlefield on this spectacular fall day. On the drive home we passed the Confederate cemetary and then Marietta's Town Square where the military had just ended their tribute to our Armed Forces. Seeing the military band and men in uniform brought tears to my eyes as I comtemplated all those who served our country well. I thought of my brother Orville, known as OK to some and Ken to others. He passed away 4 years ago, one year almost to the day as my brother, Jerry (Gary). He was the most cheerful, out-going guy you'd ever want to meet, ready with a smile and ready to lend a hand. I remember when I was a little girl my mama cried every day because he was in Korea tucked into a fox hole at the tender age of 17. He lied and told them he was 18. I really didn't understand then, but later realized the danger he was in. There was much happiness when he returned. Years later, he suffered from post traumatic stress as a result of the war and confided to me about this one day after my mother died while driving to her apartment in his truck to go through her things. He told me that he would never get closure on that part of his life and was having terrible nightmares. I felt so sorry for him, but not nearly as bad as I did when he contracted lung cancer. Seeing him in the hospital, and me massaging his swollen feet, made the little girl in me want to crawl up in his arms and tell him everything would be all right, but I knew better.

So, I guess today, I'm remembering the dedication of our men in uniform. My other brother, Sam was in the National Guard. My father-in-law, Clarence, was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. My brother-in-law Michael MacIver, served in Viet Nam, my brother-in-law Garland Hardison, served in the US Air Force, and my son-in-law, Bobby Christine, served in Iraq and is a Jag with the Guard and was, at one time, a Green Beret. His father, Alex, came home gravely wounded from Viet Nam after serving 2 tours retiring as a Colonel with 3 Purple Hearts. He lost and arm and leg and suffers from a muscle disease presently.

Suffering, pain, heartache, separation of loved ones and so much more scars our nation and hearts today. But because of brave, willing men, we have freedom in this great United States today. I bow my head in prayer to honor each and every one. War is so terrible, but God's word says "That there will be wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end..." Matthew 24:6. These are merely the beginning of birth pangs...

If you've read this far, indulge me with the post of OK's obiturary that describes his military service with honor. One of the finest to have served our country well. What a hero!!

Orville Kenneth O’Neal
___________________________________
Funeral: 10 a.m. Monday at St. Ann Catholic Church, HWY 53, Gulfport

Orville Kenneth O’Neal, 70 of Gulfport, born March 1, 1933, died Thursday, March 27, 2003 in Meridian, MS.

Mr. O’Neal was a native and except for the 22 years of service in the United States Army was a life-long resident of the Coast. He was a loving husband, supportive father, an avid golfer, a great friend to many and a valuable community member. After retiring as a Master Sergeant from the Army, he worked in data management at Litton in Pascagoula. From there, he was drawn to the sea and earned his Captains License and worked on assignment to private yacht owners. He was an active member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Lizana.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Samuel and Maggie O’Neal; By a sister, Gail Hardison; and by a granddaughter, Michelle Williamson.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Fayard O’Neal; his three sons, Kenneth K. O’Neal, John J. O’Neal and his wife Arlene, and Joseph M. O’Neal and his wife Ronna; his two daughters, Louvine Williamson and her husband Michael, and Elizabeth Weiss and her husband William; his brothers Samuel O’Neal Jr from Gulfport, Jerry O’Neal and Sylvia from West Glacier, Montana, his sisters Doris P. Swarnowicz and her husband John from Gulfport, Dianne MacIver and her husband Mike, from Mobile, Ala, and Brenda Lott and her husband Bruce from Marietta, Georgia; and Ken’s thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will begin at 10 am St. Ann’s with a Recitation of the Rosary at 10:30 am with the Reverend Peter Mockler officiating. Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be at 11 am. Burial will be in Long Beach Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Kenneth O’Neal, Michael Williamson, John O’Neal, Joe O’Neal, William Weiss, and Jerry O’Neal.
The family prefers contributions to St. Ann’s Building Fund, 23529 Highway 53, Gulfport, MS, 39503.


Master Sergeant Orville K. O’Neal
United States Army Retired
January 15, 1950 to May 31, 1973

Master Sergeant Orville K. O’Neal had the privilege to serve with the following units throughout his distinguished military career:

1st Cavalry Division
2nd Infantry Division
2nd Armored Division
31st Infantry Division
United States Army Air Defense/Missile School

While assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea from 1950-1951, Sergeant O’Neal earned the “Combat Infantry Badge” for Courage, Valor and Duty. He served as an Army “Sniper” and “Platoon Sergeant” during the Korean War. Afterwards, he attended various schools within the Army. He specialized in electronics, ground radar and guidance systems. This training enabled him to become an instructor at the headquarters of the United States Army Air Defense School in Fort Bliss, Texas, from 1966-1973.

During his distinguished military career, Sgt. O’Neal earned the following medals and awards:

Two Army Commendations Medals with gold Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Ribbon with Oak Leaf Cluster
Five Good Conduct Medals
Korean Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars
United Nations Peace Keeping Service Medal for Korea
Korean War Service Medal
Two Presidential Unit Citations for 2nd Infantry Division

Sergeant O’Neal also received the following badges: expert rifle, AA artillery, Missile and Drivers badge.

He retired at the rank of Master Sergeant in May 1973.

Review of Sancturary

REVIEW OF SANTCUARY

I really enjoyed this book! It was a page turner from the beginning which surprised me for a historical. It had just the right blend of suspense and romance to keep me reading well past by bedtime. It’s a story of heartbreak for Rachael Levin, a Jew during the 1740’s, when her family is murdered and her home burned to the ground by the French, who despises Jews and Huguenots. She escapes her village with Huguenot Pierre Dupree, her murdered fiancé’s brother. Pierre looses his heart to Rachael and vows to protect her from further harm and suffering, so he attempts to hide his feelings. The two of them find a safe place to stay called the Sanctuary but in order for them to repress suspicions, they must become man and wife.

The French Captain is hot on their trail and vows to have Rachael for himself and won’t stop at anything to get her.

Molly’s book held my interest to the very end and I’m sure that the second one in the series of Faith of Our Fathers will be equally compelling

Autumn Arrives

It's high time that Autumn arrived in Atlanta! It felt wonderful with 50 degrees this morning, especially after being in Alabama, Mississippi and New York with so much heat and humidity.

This is my front door wreath that I hung the first week in September while I waited for signs of fall. It's my favorite time of year.

Our leaves have barely started to change but with the cool nights ahead it won't be long now, and I will be inspired once again on my morning walks. These are the days of homemade soup, sweathers, caramels and candy corn, and great coffee on the patio, while listening to the wind blowing through my trees and the sweet birds singing their lovely music for my enjoyment and of course, a good book to read.

It's also a time of rememberence for me. My mother loved fall and she often visited me in October. I would take her to Garden Ridge and she would snap up as much fall foliage that our cart would hold to take back to her tiny apartment for floral arrangements. I can almost smell her chicken and dumplings that we insisted she make and her tea cakes, our family favorite. Mama had a sweet tooth and when we made afternoon coffee, she had to had a sweet roll or slice of pie to go with it. Later she would iron clothes on my screened porch until supper, surrounded by a pot of yellow mums that she always bought for me.

One of the things I look back on was being out of school for the day to go gather pecans at my brother Sam's farm. We worked hard all day to harvest them and it would be a little added income for our struggling household. This weekend I saw my brother Sam who is the oldest of mama's eight children. He's not in good health after a stroke and congestive heart failure and can barely talk. It was hard to see him this way, so small and weak. I remember him as my big, handsome brother who would pick me up and run with me if I was in trouble or mama was threatening a whippin'. He cried when I surprised him this past Saturday and I cried with him. Sad now to think life had come to this, where he has lots of time to ponder his life and the past, unable to speak.

Plants and trees go into their dormant stage, and I watch as squirrels gather nuts for the winter. We too, draw inward during the fall and winter staying inside our homes for the most part, as we pass the winter and nurture our souls with food, family and friendship, remembering.

A TEXAS LEGACY CHRISTMAS-REVIEW

Romance thrives once again like the star of Christmas shining in the East when two childhood lives are reunited many years later. Zach Kahler rekindles his friendship with Chloe Weaver after returning from NY to live in Kahlerville.

Zach is looking forward to leaving NY to run a newspaper in his hometown after big city life. Implusively, he adopts 6 year old twins after they pick his pocket. Once they arrive in Kahlerville, they reside in a boardinghouse where Chole is working until he can find a proper house to purchase. The children become a handful to manange, however, but he is endeared to them despite their antics. He remembers Chloe as he little girl whom he used to give his lunch to back in his school days and the affect she has on Zack, now that she is all grown-up, takes his breath away. He must first provide a stable home for the twins before getting involved with love.

Chloe was an abandoned, poor girl and grew up with a wounded heart. Jacob Barton is a demanding employer who is totally smitten with Chole and confesses his love to her. Her response is not what he wants to hear so he refuses to give up. He knows that she is attracted to Zach and makes it difficult for her to see him while working at the boardinghouse. She needs her job desparately and works hard, so she she does not upset his continual advances to court her.

A miracle of love awaits you in the festive Christmas story along with well developed subplots and compelling characters from other Texas Legacy series. This is a wonderful romance to put you in the mood for the holidays. DiAnn Mills creates another memorable love story that will warm your heart like a cup of hot chocolate. This would make a perfect gift to those on your list who love a historical told with vivid imagery as only DiAnn can do!

BACK TO SCHOOL

A sure way to know that fall is on the way, is when the children return to school, and the commute to work is slowed by the volumes of school buses on the major streets of the city or county, depending on where you live. Even though I don’t have children at home, my grandchildren are returning to school. I love walking down the supply isle at the store to smell the crayons, glue and pencils then gaze at all the new notebooks and lunch boxes. Maggie is in the 3rd grade, Angelina is in the 1st and Peter is in preschool. Their backpacks are almost as large as they are. But aren’t they so cute?

There is something so magical about returning to school that I can still remember how I felt as a child. Maybe in a new dress and armed with my new supplies, we’d walk to school, (it was safe back then), meet our new classmates, and hopefully find a new best friend or keep an old one. Then we would be assigned a desk. How I loved that! A place for just my things made me so happy.

New books that the teacher would write our names in, brightly colored cut-outs on the walls and a clean slated blackboard with the teacher’s name written in big letters greeted us, making the atmosphere our “home away from home” comfortable and friendly. Our minds were filled with the bright hope of learning and reading time that took us to faraway places. Lunchtime was fun and they had the best yeast rolls ever in MS, and we would return to our rooms with full tummies but just a little bit sleepy. Recess was a blast, jumping rope, playing kick ball or swinging on the playground or hopscotch.
I was one of the odd children that loved walking home at 3:30 taking my time on the sidewalk, chatting with friends or my sister, Dianne, enjoying the slant of the afternoon sun and the smell of my mama’s sweet potatoes frying, and her standing at the door with the proverbial apron on, wearing brown pointed glasses with fake rhinestones, and her arms folded across her ample bosom. She was a lovely, steadfast vision of what it meant to be come back home at the end of the day for this little girl, and sweet memories of going back to school.

Staying Out of the Kitchen

I'm over this summer heat! Enough of the 103 degee Hotlanta temperatures. To prove it, here's my nice and tidy kitchen that I don't cook in when it's this hot. Oh no...it's salads and more salads for me. But actually a Chic-fil-la milkshake sounds even better on a hot day! Since my power bill is outrageous already, I try to find ways not to turn the oven on, (and I have 2 of them). Now this doesn't mean that I don't like to cook. Sometimes I actually like to. For instance, on a fall day, I love to have sweet potatoes baking and a homemade chicken pot pie bubbling or a delicious chuck roast complete with potatoes and carrots cooking slowly. I make delicious spahetti sauce, but not with meatballs. I'll give that award to Kathy Christine of Augusta, GA, who was kind enough to send some with my daughter for my freezer. Can't wait to take that out and have it one night when I'm too busy to cook. One of my quick meals is chicken burritos topped with chilies and cheese and sour cream. Don't worry, I cook this almost entirely fat-free. It can be done and tastes great. I make wonderful grits for breakfast. They must be slowly and gently cooked with butter, so you yankees out there don't compare the grits with what you might find at a resturant to the real southern dish. By the way, never could master biscuits like my mama so I buy Pillisbury's frozen ones and they are so good.

I love to cook red beans and rice with sausage and cornbread on a cold winter day or big white lima beans ladened with ham. My sweet mother taught me how to make cornbread and chicken n' dumplings. Speaking of chicken, my homemade chicken noodle soup is my son's favorite and I also make Green Chili chicken soup. Kept for special occasions, because of the high-fat, is my fried chicken. No one makes it better, just ask my kids. That's really living it up to me. I make a simple meatloaf that taste even better the next day as a sandwich. No southerner would be complete without crowder peas with okra swimming on top and sweet iced tea. My favorite. Banana bread is especially good with morning or afternoon coffee or Oatmeal Raisin cookies. For company I like to make Banana pudding from scratch--not the instant pudding you mix that you buy at the store. That stuff is disgusting. I taught my daughter, Sheri, how to bake and decorate sour cream sugar cookies trimmed in beautiful icing for Christmas and how to decorate cakes as well. Now she is better at it than me.

Uh oh--I think this is making me hungry! I can't end this without telling you (more info than you ever wanted) that my sister-in-law, Sylvia makes the best jambalaya that you ever put in your mouth. She & my brother Gary made fabulous jumbo! We used to have it on Christmas Eve when they lived here. How I miss that....Now... that Sil is an awesome cook, whipping up gourmet meals in a flash. Just get out of her way! My sister Dianne makes the best cole-slaw in the world, and her hubby makes the best wings that I've ever put in my mouth! My sister Doris? Well, there's nothing she can't cook, but she's had a lot more practice than me. My son, Jared grills wonderful steaks and his wife Amy has introduced us to some good and healthy California cooking.

Am I boring you to death yet? I just want to add that I quit buying cook-books sometime ago. I have about 20 presently. I gave a lot away 2 yrs. ago. I do occasionally find a receipe that I want to try.

So now I've made up all these excuses for not cooking because I'd much rather be reading or writing or singing or dancing. I need a cook! Wait a minute--I need a housekeeper too. LOL! By the way, if you haven't seen the movie, No Reservations, check it out. It's all about love and cooking. Great movie!

If anyone would like to send me their favorite summertime receipe, I'd love to have it. Guess I'll go fix my salad for dinner...boring huh?

Starting Over

As of two weeks ago, this is where my everyday job will be. I resigned from the realtor world, with a gut-load of sadness. I was lucky enough to work with three of the most wonderful ladies that I could have ever wished for in a work place. They were my family away from home. I miss seeing them everyday and their friendship, their different moods and the days of stress, smooth sailing days, the fast paced days, the pull-your hair out days, the fun, the laughter, the bubble gun we consumed, the constant ringing phone, FMLS uploads, GMLS glitches, and the tears when we supported each other through difficult phases of our lives. I still want to answer my home phone with Thank you for calling Weichert Preferred...

This is a picture of my home office. It has a wonderful view of the trees outside, along with chipmunks, birds, bunnies and lately three wild kittens. It's right off the breakfast room, so we are planning on some French doors for privacy and walling off the arches that lead into the dining room eventually. The TV is too distracting for me. But it's hard not listening to The O'Reilly Factor or Shaun Hannity on Fox. The paintings on the side of my desk are a few that I've painted.

Since quitting my job I have finished a chapter on my second book, done a review, submitted an proposal to an agent, and had my laptop repaired, including more memory installed. Now if I can just get it to recognize the other computer to retrieve my documents, I'll be happy. Not bad for just getting back into the groove and a fresh start. Once school begins, I'll start my critique group back up again since my writing buds have school age children. We took a month off because of summer conflicts, but I really look forward to reading their submissions, not to mention their feedback and support for me.

I had a nice distraction this weekend with a visit from my daughter and grandchildren, but now, if I can quit watching the hummingbirds, I'll get back to writing.