tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.comments2023-08-11T10:32:22.795-04:00Reading Is My Super PowerCrystal Lainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09284296811544392777noreply@blogger.comBlogger1533125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-87576872817038321952014-10-24T18:51:30.516-04:002014-10-24T18:51:30.516-04:00Hi Crystal, I just came across this blog in the co...Hi Crystal, I just came across this blog in the course of doing research on the 1936 tornado, and I was wondering whether you might be able to share any more information with me. Also, if you don't mind, I'd like your permission to include the story in my article.<br /><br />Would you mind emailing me at stormstalker01@gmail.com?<br /><br />Thanks!Shawnhttp://stormstalker.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-87432123813885667032014-07-12T00:02:17.072-04:002014-07-12T00:02:17.072-04:00Yes, Joe, that is exactly what I'm talking abo...Yes, Joe, that is exactly what I'm talking about--the interesting stories that are shared in a time when we sit and tell the stories. Does anyone do that any more? I don't know! I love that memory you had--not just the interesting story of your ancestors driving the cattle to Tennessee (my family lived in TN as well) but also the moment your mom shared it.<br /><br />I wish I had been more proactive during the time everyone was still living. My Aunt Mina wrote down a lot of stories and II want to keep them going, as well. Crystal Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284296811544392777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-40373172203572779782014-07-11T20:42:22.070-04:002014-07-11T20:42:22.070-04:00Good for you, Crystal. I wish I had done more to c...Good for you, Crystal. I wish I had done more to capture my mother's memories before she sank into dementia. We have a cassette tape that we made of her recollections some 15 years ago, great stories of how she supported my sisters and herself after her divorce, and how she met her second husband. I wish now that I had persuaded her to talk all night and just kept the tapes coming!<br /><br />There was a golden Thanksgiving afternoon at my Uncle Frank's home in the mountains of North Carolina, a home he'd built himself with floor-to-ceiling beside a huge brick fireplace (he earned his living as a glass setter). While Uncle Frank and Aunt Marlene busied themselves in the kitchen, making dinner, Mom and I sat in front of that roaring fireplace want watched leaves falling outside. And there Mom told me how her parents moved from North Carolina to East Tennessee while she was still a school girl, and they had to drive their herd of cows on foot the whole way. That memory is on the tape of my mind...and I hope I never lose it.Joe Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05678378293620593593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-55963529063154200242014-01-26T20:28:18.422-05:002014-01-26T20:28:18.422-05:00Good ones, Linda! I love that. :)Good ones, Linda! I love that. :)Crystal Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10299533846483083971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-42428099723139593992014-01-26T15:37:57.725-05:002014-01-26T15:37:57.725-05:00Lamb of God and Lion of Judah, His gentleness and ...Lamb of God and Lion of Judah, His gentleness and His strengthLinda Glazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04374683352435771715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-49616284981203992092013-12-16T11:45:24.566-05:002013-12-16T11:45:24.566-05:00Jel, such a great comment--she would have loved it...Jel, such a great comment--she would have loved it (and you may have already told her) how you almost peed your pants laughing. She truly was a happy person. <br /><br />Thanks for reading and commenting and sharing. <br /><br />((Hugs))Crystal Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284296811544392777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-39232626211016698282013-12-15T18:57:29.894-05:002013-12-15T18:57:29.894-05:00Love this post!
I never met her, but I will miss...Love this post!<br /><br />I never met her, but I will miss her. Loved reading her books.<br /><br />esp. RV there let. in one part,I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants.<br /><br />one thing that I thought was so cool, was that we shared the same birthday. :)jelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468151130326112121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-34824409428046531462013-06-02T15:37:26.480-04:002013-06-02T15:37:26.480-04:00Aww, Melinda, I'm sorry for all the trouble yo...Aww, Melinda, I'm sorry for all the trouble you have had to endure. Healing time itches, doesn't it? Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment.<br /><br />I love the descriptions of your house. We SHOULD spend some time together. We do have many things in common. Love you! Crystal Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284296811544392777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-75999969206648347872013-06-01T12:49:12.275-04:002013-06-01T12:49:12.275-04:00Oh Crystal, I can so relate to everything you'...Oh Crystal, I can so relate to everything you've said here!! I too have been plucked from where I was happy to live to places I just plain hated. With this last move in 1997 I left my new dream home on 40 acres with a brand new pool to a rundown old ranch style house. It has land, which I like, but the house was just not what I wanted. Then nothing seemed to be working out for us. I couldn't understand why God was allowing it to happen to us. But, in His time He's brought me around. Now I'm claiming this house as my own & we are very slowly remodeling it to suit us. The dining room is done with a beautiful fireplace. The pool area is done with a very nice breezeway where we love to sit & watch the birds. We are slowly reclaiming the landscaped parts of the property that we let the woods take over after the tractor & mower broke. I'm getting outside & making new flowerbeds & loving it.<br /><br />I don't have a lot of friends here but I do have a church that I love. After my mothers death last fall my siblings haven't spoken to me. So there's been a lot of sadness over broken relationships as well as grief over losing my mother. My dad died in 1995. I'm content with staying home & being with those I love & who love me. <br /><br />Again, there are so many things we have in common. We really do need to spend some time together!!<br /><br />Melindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13424535245010676898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-47475386921693622022013-04-11T14:19:23.475-04:002013-04-11T14:19:23.475-04:00I meant to reply to you because I so appreciated y...I meant to reply to you because I so appreciated your comments and thoughts. <br /><br />Joe, I no longer have boys at "home" but still balancing my husband's random schedule and still keeping up with my boys who are now men. :) But lots of good comments to help me out! Thank you. <br /><br /><br />I'm honored when anyone leaves a comment and I thank you all for your thoughtful comments. As a reader of other blogs, and someone who understands the balance of time (boy, do I ever!) I would like to have "been read." I am putting more time and thought into what I put up here. <br /><br />Thank you so much! I treasure each of you. :)Crystal Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284296811544392777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-78004694472655694592013-04-11T09:35:17.207-04:002013-04-11T09:35:17.207-04:00I do, too, Marti! I just drove by your neck of the...I do, too, Marti! I just drove by your neck of the woods on the way down and back from Nashville, TN and you all are a bit ahead of us (maybe two weeks?) in spring! <br /><br />Crystal Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284296811544392777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-47168263304924765522013-04-10T20:18:37.340-04:002013-04-10T20:18:37.340-04:00I always love when the crocuses come up. They rem...I always love when the crocuses come up. They remind that spring really IS coming. They're a tangible sign of hope! (Maybe that's why God invented crocuses.)Marti Kramer Suddarthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05435028944794986900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-3148811972487303162013-03-23T12:02:35.961-04:002013-03-23T12:02:35.961-04:00When we've talked together at ACFW functions, ...When we've talked together at ACFW functions, I've been fascinated by your experience as a newspaper writer and a publisher's scout, balancing the responsibilities of a mother/homemaker/writer. So the slices of Crystal's life as a writer would bring me back. As Mary said, I value your insight. That alone makes it worth my time to come and see what you're thinking.<br /><br />Also, you've shared some striking quotes from your reading at ACFW events. Reflections on life and faith that I've not seen or heard anywhere else. I wouldn't want to miss any of those.Joe Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05678378293620593593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-89082275667410858352013-03-23T10:00:57.774-04:002013-03-23T10:00:57.774-04:00Ditto to Lynda's comments. I don't even ha...Ditto to Lynda's comments. I don't even have my own blog. Just when I worked myself up to get it done, the few professional bloggers I followed announced they were spending their promo time more wisely and cut back. There's simply far too much out there to keep up, unless you do it instead of writing. I think a joint venture would be far more productive. Three people caring for one site could maintain their individual flavors while pooling the resources of energy, time, contacts, and encouragement. That's my two cents. PS Because I know you, I value what you say, Crystal, so I'm more apt to check out your site. Honestly, keeping up with my facebook is about all I can do. As your blog feeds into that I read it, otherwise, no.Mary Marie Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07140800346217363866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-33250065891219028082013-03-23T08:40:05.643-04:002013-03-23T08:40:05.643-04:00I may have to steal this blog post idea. I, too, h...I may have to steal this blog post idea. I, too, have taken time away from my blog (over a month now) and, honestly...I haven't missed it much! Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. <br /><br />My reasons have to do with personal issues, plus I think I just had blog burnout and needed to focus on other things for a while. Only within the past week or so have I started really thinking about what to do. Hopefully I'll figure it out by summer (that's the plan, anyway). I feel the same way about my "voice" and really want to focus on a specific topic that readers can relate to, learn from, and smile at. That's no easy task and I feel your pain!<br /><br />As for your blog, I personally am drawn to blogs that offer humor and fun. Love to read brief entries about everyday events with a biblical or moral takeaway...something to chew on, but nothing too deep. As an author, of course I love writing tips and industry news, but there are a ton of blogs out there that offer that type of info, and only so much time to read them. I love your "When I was a kid" feature. Love reading about other people and the childhood they experienced. <br /><br />Not sure I helped you, but I will say a prayer that you get clarity and direction for your blog and that it will be a huge success! :-)Lynda Lee Schabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05827732317985384301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-49378929178134996612013-03-05T13:24:36.348-05:002013-03-05T13:24:36.348-05:00Beautiful. I love spring, so full of promise.Beautiful. I love spring, so full of promise.Christine Lindsayhttp://www.christinelindsay.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-12038551475422342272013-03-04T19:20:34.105-05:002013-03-04T19:20:34.105-05:00Thank you, Crystal. I can smell those daffodils no...Thank you, Crystal. I can smell those daffodils now! Just what I need as we wait for the next ice storm to blow in tonight.Joe Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05678378293620593593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-67999181975032072172013-01-12T11:28:29.327-05:002013-01-12T11:28:29.327-05:00Joe, I'll be praying for you and your writing ...Joe, I'll be praying for you and your writing and life. Thanks for visiting. Crystal Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284296811544392777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-84715078189567672672013-01-12T09:06:04.162-05:002013-01-12T09:06:04.162-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Joe Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05678378293620593593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-7907338393691437912012-12-15T16:16:27.375-05:002012-12-15T16:16:27.375-05:00I know! It still does for me, too, Candy! Thanks f...I know! It still does for me, too, Candy! Thanks for dropping by. :) Merry Christmas. Crystal Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284296811544392777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-64296292257387304582012-12-15T12:13:35.030-05:002012-12-15T12:13:35.030-05:00My dad always put an orange in my stocking, too. H...My dad always put an orange in my stocking, too. He said the smell of oranges reminded him of Christmas.Candynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-63353673197812895592012-12-08T07:22:57.261-05:002012-12-08T07:22:57.261-05:00Love you sis.Love you sis.Story and Logic Media Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13317731231950753140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-10996773862941934182012-12-07T16:00:28.938-05:002012-12-07T16:00:28.938-05:00So true. I read the other day that pain is a gift,...So true. I read the other day that pain is a gift, without it we would not see God.<br /><br />Lovely words, Crystal. Take heart.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533290326694777502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-68365889147606205732012-11-12T06:40:50.855-05:002012-11-12T06:40:50.855-05:00It is humbling to admit we can not do everything w...It is humbling to admit we can not do everything we set out to do. It is humbling to fall at the foot of the cross. But it is necessary.Story and Logic Media Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13317731231950753140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13980015.post-15554449784259549392012-11-10T03:57:18.965-05:002012-11-10T03:57:18.965-05:00I almost didn't open the post and was ready to...I almost didn't open the post and was ready to hit the delete key when I remembered that you use this name sometimes. You have already built your brand with Crystal Laine.Story and Logic Media Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13317731231950753140noreply@blogger.com