Happy Thanksgiving

This is our family on Thanksgiving in the little stone house near the crick. My dad took the picture. Usually on Thanksgiving we either had family in (my mother's sister's family) or we traveled on a quick trip to Tennessee.

One of our favorite things to do on Thanksgiving was to get up, watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade on TV. The only parades we saw were either the mice going to the fields to pick up the dropped corn and beans, or the geese flying in a V to the South. After we ate our turkey, we searched the carcass for the "pulley" bone or the wishbone. Two people would pull until it broke and whoever got the larger piece could make a wish for the year.

We had already listed things we were thankful for and made placemats or turkeys from hand drawings (with the fingers as feathers.) Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday for many reasons.

Continuing on with the 1000 Gifts....

58. a warm house on a cold morning
59. crisp bacon
60. a working husband who loves his job
61. good friends who remember me
62. sons
63. crunching leaves and senses of hearing and smell to appreciate them
64. our broadband internet satellite and a clear day
65. stacks of books and magazines by my bed
66. neighbors
67. newspaper in the box early in the morning
68. comics section
69. smell of woodsmoke from neighbors' fireplaces
70. our shoe repairman who fixed my favorite pair of boots and had them ready yesterday!
71. good memories that fade out the bad
72. refrigerators and freezers that work!
73. electricity ON
74. sunshine
75. hot coffee when I'm bleary-eyed


What are your Thanksgiving memories?

1004 West 11th Street

Do you remember memorizing your phone number and address when you were in first grade? Well, I can't remember my phone number from that time, but I do remember our address. We lived in this house about 6 years. I remember my mother liking the house, but not liking living in town. She grew up on a farm in northern Minnesota. She had loved our house in Arcadia on the dirt/gravel road.

I probably picked up on her feelings about living in town, and I, too, missed having all of my animals and the freedom from neighborhood mean boys. We had a ton of mean boys on our street. And the girls weren't much better. In fact while living on this street: my brand new bicycle was stolen, my birthstone ring my grandmother gave to me was stolen (knew who did it, couldn't prove it,) my brother was hit in the head with a hammer (yeah, true story--he lived and recovered, amazingly,) I stepped on a sharp bone that went clear through my foot and got blood poisoning,a drunk neighbor man tried to scare and hurt us while we played in the yard (my dad went down to talk to him--let's just say he never bothered us again, but boy, was I scared!), fights occurred frequently, people screamed and hit each other, my dog was sent to exile, a man tried to get into our car (mom locked the doors with automatic locks and tromped on the gas,)and we and this house survived the Palm Sunday tornado, but some of our neighbors and their homes did not.

I want to remember something good about this place. It was such a nice house, with a big, fenced in yard. We were nice kids, with a nice mom and had a grape arbor, apple trees, peach trees, a cherry tree, a vegetable garden and a good stand of rhubarb. Mom made all kinds of treats from all of our bounty--even grape juice and grape jelly. We had our very own swingset and played on it daily. We had adventures in the yard and wore our dad's army uniforms.

I had my own room. We got to have an inside dog (a short-haired chihuahua named PeeWee.) I do remember that we lived within minutes from our pediatrician because it is what saved my brother's life. He was stung by a bumblebee and swelled so fast, that by the time mom got us into the car and into the waiting room of the doctor, he had stopped breathing--but the doc had the instant cure and he soon was pinked up and no longer turning blue! Now, that's a gift of Providence to have lived close enough.

But it just wasn't a place where we liked living. I've never liked living in town. Just a country girl, I guess. I used to want to go back to our old house, or better yet, move to Tennessee, I would ache (and sometimes cry.) I guess it is true that home is where your heart is. If we knew how wonderful our heavenly home really is, I think we would feel that way about heaven, too.


1000 GIFTS continued....
29. sinus pills and ibuprofen--OTCs that work!
30. boys home and content
31. cold water right from the tap
32. hymns
33. Sunday newspapers and color comics
34. football!
35. "da" Bears!
36. memories
37. memories not as painful as when they happened (fading or disappearing pain--a gift)
38. lots of trees
39. singing birds
40. scampering squirrels
41. mooing cows
42. the babble of the creek going over stones and logs
43. internet that works and brings friends to my email box
44. crushed ice
45. raspberry peach iced tea
46. homemade biscuits!
47. fried chicken
48. my humorous husband
49. laughing
50. teen boys who still kiss me goodnight
51. ironing (the only chore I actually like--I get to think while accomplishing a task)
52. Amazon Shorts!
53. books that come right to my door
54. choices of books
55. a comfy bed with down comforter on a cold night
56. Sharing humor in the Bible with my boys

What gifts can you count today?

I like lists. Even if I don't accomplish all the things on my lists, I feel a sense of accomplishment just having the list--lists of groceries, things to be done, lists for gifts, lists of my treasured things/people/places, lists of peeves.

So, when the Christian Women Online's Ann Voskamp challenged us to blog our 1000 Gifts this season, I immediately began thinking of just what kind of gifts I receive or give each day. Click on the photo to find out more about this, and to see how many unique gifts there are (there is a list of bloggers participating in this.)

1. A husband, whom I admire, who challenges me each day
2. Four boys who call me "MOM!"
3. My worn-out Thompson Chain Reference Bible with the marked pages I can turn to just the verse/passage I need easily
4. A dog who won't let me lie in bed all day--makes me get outside and feel the crisp air
5. Friends who won't lose touch and continue to email me
6. Sleep (in a cozy bed)
7. A book that makes me think about it even two days after putting it down
(Coming to America: Patterns of Love by Robin Lee Hatcher)
8. Sunshine after days of rain, flooding and gray skies
9. Talented family who gets together for music playing (tonight!)
10.Pizza!(Tonight!)
11.My husband's extended family
12.Imy and Melba who support all of us with their presence and cheers
13.my hearing--the woodpecker outside my window
14.my sight--a flash of red when I finally spot the woodpecker
15.my sense of smell--the cinnamon-pumpkin aroma from my burning candle
16.Spicy Obsession cologne
17.a hot shower
18.a great sale at Christopher and Banks
19.my old L.L.Bean boots I slip on to wear outside every morning
20.a small Degas notebook to jot my early morning ideas-- given to me by my friend, LeAnne
21.Uniball pens--love them
22.a fun bookmark arriving in the mail (thanks!)
23.My Steeple Hill Suspense books arriving (like having Christmas early!)
24.cheeeburgers (with onions!)
25.the color green
26.The Barbie Girls who started an editors' blog
27.The Writing Life blog that keeps me informed of writerly things
28.Camy Tang who is so very different from me, but yet I relate to her--plus, she challenges me to actually WRITE!


Only 973 things to go! What's on your list today?

FIRST GRADE BABIES...
Second grade snots
Third grade angels...
Fourth grade not.



And I can't remember the rest of the chant--can you? (You're old if you can. ha!)

I didn't go to kindergarten because we lived in the middle of nowhere on a gravel road. Most people my age probably didn't go. We had dogs and cats and cows and a great little pony named Star (whom I loved above all.) I loved where we lived. I was ruler of my little domain. I had a raccoon named Jim, and a little brother to boss around, and plenty of animals.

But when I was entering first grade we moved to a small city because of my dad's work. I had my own room and routinely began having nightmares about wild animals looking into my windows at night. The windows were small, horizontal and situated at the top of the room and you'd have to be pretty tall to look in. I didn't like the closeness of the neighbors, and it was all pretty strange to me. I missed my pony. And one of our dogs started causing problems. He was getting out and stealing. He'd bring stuff that people left in their yards and deposit them on our porch. We'd have to go door-to-door to ask, "Is this yours?"

It would be unbelievable what would be left in their yards. We ended up taking that dog to my granddaddy in Tennessee because my mom got tired of having to deal with it. I loved that dog, and my granddaddy, being simpatico with me, loved him, too. Someone, however, ended up poisoning the dog because he couldn't get over his thieving ways. He was also territorial in that he wouldn't let anyone trespass into granddaddy's yard. He probably had learned that when we lived back in the country. I suppose this was only a part of why I hated living in the city.

We owned a pretty good corner lot with a white picket fence, apple and peach trees, a small vegetable garden, a grape arbor and pine trees and rows of peonies and rose bushes. It looked idyllic, all-American. Our neighbors were a strange mix of characters. And because my dad was not too keen on the school system, he let my mother enroll me into a Christian school of my mother's family denomination, several blocks from our house. I loved books, could read and was very excited about going to school with kids. Except for some cousins, cradle roll at church, and my little brother of whom I'm 4 years older, I didn't have much experience with being around kids.

I was in a classroom of four grades. The other classroom housed the upper four grades. We had school in the church and our only playground was the parking lot. The two classrooms were taught by a husband-wife team. My teacher was the woman and her husband was the upper grades teacher. I didn't know it at the time, but I have a strong auditory learning style, so it was difficult for me to work on my seatwork while my teacher was teaching the other grades.

Soon I was listening to and absorbing not only my work, but 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade work, too. I would get all my work done and remember everything talked about in the other grades. I had a lot to talk about (an auditory trait) when I would get home from school. Since we were not allowed to talk much in school, I had to restrain my talk to recess and to when I would be picked up by my mother. Sometimes I would run to the car because I had so much pent up to say.

Lou Ann was the pastor's daughter and in fourth grade. She was sort of the "boss" of the whole class. Being outgoing and always seeking attention, she would hold court at recess and she did all of the talking. All the kids would gather around her to hear what she had cooked up for us to do at recess. She organized games and bossed us by saying who got to do what. I am not sure if the teacher was intimidated by her because of who her dad was, or if she was just relieved that she didn't have to organize us at recess (she never got a break from us all day long.) The teacher just let her do whatever. She would stand away from us and just let Lou Ann take over.

I, having been the princess of my entire universe from nearly the beginning, and having always been around adults (and used to getting my way,) from the beginning wasn't too keen on Lou Ann. But I also was the smallest kid in the entire school, and was very blonde and very fair. I am sure I looked pretty puny next to Lou Ann. Plus, I was an "outcast" because my mother had been unfairly ousted from her denomination(though she went to church regularly,) and my dad, well, he was a "heathen" according to "The Church." I not only was reminded of this black mark by my cousins on my mother's side, but now by kids at our school whom Lou Ann had informed (which would be--oh, yeah. Everyone.)

But, being a bit of a rebel, I bucked the system from the beginning. I wasn't going to have Lou Ann tell me what to do, first grade baby or not. I knew I was a good person and that the love of Jesus was in my heart, too. I knew I was smart and had as much right to talk as anyone else. This baffled Lou Ann.

Lou Ann had to get control of me, so I became her concentrated campaign effort. (Plus, besides me, her domain was pretty secure.)First of all, she corrected me whenever possible. She made sure to make it appear that I was not only the most ignorant person on the face of the planet (regardless of my straight-A status, except in handwriting,) but she wanted everyone to know that I was tainted with "shame." I distinctly remember telling a story(probably about my pony, my dogs or Tennessee--my most beloved place on earth) in a group of kids, and Lou Ann interrupted to correct me.

"You can't say that."

"What? What did I say?"

"Ain't. You can't say ain't. It isn't proper English. You must say, 'is not' or 'are not. If you say 'ain't,' you're stupid."

She made saying "ain't" sound like a sin. All the kids gasped and I wasn't sure how to handle this, not being used to someone calling me stupid. Plus, she made it sound like I had cussed--and I sure never did that. I remember the teacher correcting one of my fellow first graders for saying "Holy Mackerel" and I had cringed about that. (I don't think I'd ever heard someone say "Holy Mackerel" before.)I didn't even think bad words.

Anyway, being a bit of a Pharisee myself, I was determined to at least speak properly. And being quite auditory in learning style, I could pick up every spoken nuance and was pretty good at mimic.

My sinful nature wanted to get into Lou Ann's face and say, "Ain't. Ain't, ain't, ain't, AIN'T." Who was she to tell me what I could and could not say? Instead, I clamped my mouth shut, as I probably blazed blood red. I blushed fairly easily and knew when I was being put down into my place. I don't think I used the word ain't again until I was in high school, when I finally discovered grace.

That is when Lou Ann knew she had me. And that's when Lou Ann started her next campaign to ruin my life. She would race to my mom's car every day (because she stayed at school to go home with her dad later, she didn't have to get ready to go) and she'd tell everything I did or said that day to my mother. I'd get to the car and there would be my nemesis, Lou Ann, telling my mom her version of the day. She had blabbed absolutely everything to my mother and I had lost my fresh audience. Not only had she hobbled my talking tendency at school, but now she took over my mother--my one and only audience. Since I needed to "talk" through what I learned, this was a major frustration to me.

And so, the nightmares began. I vividly remember the nightmares I had throughout my time at in that house, in that neighborhood and in that school. What I couldn't work out in my waking life, I took to working out in my dreams. Lou Ann was just the beginning, and actually a small part of my troubles. And while my bubbly, outgoing nature was somewhat suppressed, it didn't die out. Like Joseph in prison, I had to make the best of my life, because I wasn't going anywhere else.

My mom seemed to think that no one paid attention to Lou Ann and so she talked to her every day. She didn't discourage her despite my objections to Lou Ann. She would laugh and tell me I could still tell her everything, and that it was ok for Lou Ann to talk to her after school. It was hard to share my mother, but it was the beginning of my observations of my mom and her gifts of kindness to and understanding of hurting people.

Fortunately for me, Lou Ann's dad was transferred to another church at the end of the school year. By second grade I no longer had to contend with her. What I didn't know was that Lou Ann was actually the least troublesome person I could run into. But, I would have plenty more Lou Anns in my life over the years (still do,) but like my mom, I learned to deal with and understand the bossy Lou Anns of life. And it sure didn't kill the "ain'ts" for me. Ain't no doubt about it.

Truth or Dare?

When I was in junior high I first heard about this game played at parties, "Truth or Dare?" (I was rather cloistered before then.) I never played it--nor did I ever observe it being played. I often wondered if I ever did get to play, would I take truth? Or would I take a dare? I never knew for sure. I think because at that time of my life I didn't want anyone to know anything about my real life, I would've taken a dare. Anything to keep my real life obscured. I would rather do something daring than to reveal my true thoughts, feelings or things about myself.

At that time was also when I was writing in earnest. I poured out my heart onto pages and pages of notebooks. I wrote fiction, memoirs, feelings, observations--anything! I could easily write 10 pages at a time, only quitting when I became exhausted and fell to sleep. I also was sketching on everything. I loved drawing.

When I was 18 and a week before I went to college, I remember that I took every single one of those stacks of notebooks filled with my writing and sketches, and burned them. No one was home at the time, and I had plenty of time. We lived in the country and we had a barrel for burning consummable trash. I made sure every page burned. I made sure no one would read one word or see what I drew. I had only shown these notebooks--and only selected pages--to a cousin visiting on furlough with her parents from Africa. She told me that I had inspired her to write her own stories--and she has published many articles and children's books--all related to her denomination. I am proud of her. She fulfilled a calling. She did what I only dreamed about doing.

In the years since then, I've published tons of articles,comic strips (high school newspaper,) columns, book reviews and written reams of unpublished works. I had dreams of publishing children's stories. I wrote a bunch of them. I even had a few book proposals. But those were not something I was going to get to fulfill through publishing. Markets, timing, and probably poor vision on them defeated them. I have not burned them, but someday when I'm dead, someone will probably do that for me. (Well, maybe a few of them were lost on old floppy computer disks.)

On Monday I posted my 60th blog and I took a step back to see what this has accomplished. Sort of an evaluation on my road to writing and actually publishing something. It has been a road dotted with pleasant sidetrips, squirrels, cows, books, favorites and a couple landmines(a couple blew up on me. Don't ask.) Some of the twists in the road surprised me. Some frightened me. (I have two posts I have not put up--I'm not sure if I should or ever will.)

I have appreciated every single reader and love getting the feedback/commentary. Voice? Do I have voice? Yeah, someone told me that I do. Early on I asked if readers would help me to decide what I should be writing. What do you like reading that I write? Doing a blog enables me to get feedback on what I have to say. I write these fast and don't think too much about what I'm going to say--I just write it (and you probably can tell.) They say if you write what you love, you will have no problem writing it. It is true. I can actually point out my favorite posts.

I decided after asking readers if they would judge samples, to just post stuff,share photos and see how people responded to my memories, observations and stories. Not all of the memories, observations or stories are necessarily accurate--and are not newspaper reports--they are skewed by my imagination, opinion, background and emotion-laden memories. They are limited by my own processing of events and photos. Most of it is not sale-worthy. I think I have one post that several actually told me should be fashioned into an article (and I did do this with that piece a few years ago--but it was rejected across the board. I really appreciated it that people liked it, though.)

I have been evaluating fiction for a while now. I have worked for agents, editors, published and unpublished authors, and even judged in a couple contests. I "fix" other people's fiction. In doing so I know what makes fiction work. Many of those manuscripts I tinkered with have gone on to be published now (or will be.) It is satisfying to me. But. I still want my very own fiction. Something that is written and filled with my own viewpoint and voice and stories. Something I tell that I want to tell. Because I had read so many books (having published around 500 book reviews--and having read much, much more than that,) and because I've "fixed" so many manuscripts, I had lost my own voice. I had lost my own stories to tell. I had become a chameleon and merely adapted to my environment. But this blog helps me to find my own voice again.

The other night I was out with a friend who does not write. She doesn't have a desire to write that I know of and I don't think she even likes writing the short emails I get from her. (My husband is this way, too. My husband doesn't like reading books, either. She at least likes reading.) My friend is my prayer partner and because I shared with her my angst over what I write, or should be writing, in the form of a prayer request, it came out that I didn't want to go back to teaching--and why. I told her story after story of tragedies from my classrooms--and the heartaches it caused for me. I have this way, however, of lacing almost all of the stories with self-deprecating humor. (There are some stories I cannot tell without crying, however. And I find no humor in them.)

I can always depend on this friend to tell truth. She would probably choose truth in playing the game. And the truth would be noble and just and laced (or skewed to the positive side) with love. She said I should tell stories like the ones I was telling her. She said people needed to read these stories because in reading them they would have something to relate to for their own troubles. While they didn't solve someone's troubles, it would be enough to know someone understood and could still laugh and cry with them.

So, I'm still thinking about this, and still trying to figure out what form, what genre, what way to take in the telling of these stories. And to tell them before I leave this life. So, truth or dare? If I were playing the game, what would be the truth I have to tell? And if I take the dare, what would I have to do? I don't know, even after now 61 posts.


What would you do? Which one do you choose? As I read some of the paths other people have taken, I find my own answers. But I find myself looking at something new in other people's writing--is the author telling truth? Or did he/she take a dare? It is important in establishing the type of writing you/I do and in the way it is told. Sometimes it is difficult to quantify. Sometimes it involves both truth and dare!

Truth? Or dare? Which do you choose? Which should I choose?

I Live in Nowheresville, USA...

If I go anywhere, I get asked, "Where are you from?" (Sort of with the look of "what planet are you from?" or "what state of mind are you from?" not "what place in the U.S. are you from?") And I always have to explain it.In fact it is like a passion of mine to make clear where I am from. (And yes, ending sentences with prepositions is a prerequisite language requirement for fitting in.)

"Well, have you heard of Garfield the Cat and James Dean, or The Gaithers or Sandi Patty or Zippy? Yeah, well, I am from the same place they are from,only I'm out in the cornfields, not the towns."

Technically, I live in a woods along the river. I have a lot of squirrels (but don't control them. They're squirrelly, after all.) Our biggest traffic problem is deer who get hit by cars (my son just hit one. Sigh) and farm equipment as big as houses on the roads trying to get to their fields.

Recently, I found out that James Dean's star on the Hollywood walk is the second most visited star of all. Now, how do they keep track of that? Do they have some sort of counter on the star that flips every time someone visits it? How does something like this happen that a movie star who has been dead for 50 years is more famous now than he was in real life? It makes you wonder. Still, people talk about him here like it was yesterday that Jimmy was reading comic books and not buying them in the dime store. Then, they get this look of the deer in the headlights when someone asks if James Dean was acting out on the streets when he was ten. (More like, he was feeding the cows who would be his dinner.)

We live quiet little lives with the biggest happening being during the Museum Days festival the last weekend in September, or when the cows escape from the butcher's holding pen (before the delicious execution--yeah, I like my steaks, roasts and hamburgers--what of it?) This happened a while back and no one could catch those cows. They were hiding in the unharvested corn, eating their way into our town's history books and newspaper reporting.

What happened was (and I have no idea how this happens, but I blame James Dean) some Right to Life for Cows organization in New York state decided to put their nose into our business. How they found out about the runaway cows is anyone's guess, so I'll guess and say that they're part of the world who gets our little hometown newspaper because of James Dean (which I get for free in my mail) and saw it in the weekly news. Yeah, sometimes we have real excitement. Why just this week we had an angry and tearful lady who was mad that for four years in a row her pumpkins got smashed on Halloween. I would like to start an advice column in this newspaper. My suggestion would be to bring her pumpkins inside on Halloween for safe-keeping. One of my friends finds this tradition of kids smashing pumpkins (or stealing) to be great as she never has to dispose of her pumpkins after Halloween. She lets the neighborhood thug-kids of mischief take care of them.

But I've taken a rabbit trail here. Back to the cow story.

Anyway, these NY guys who disdain meat not breathing, come to our town with a trailer. They are in our town to rescue the cows who have obviously gone feral. The cows on the lam are now being fought over between these guys who want to rescue them from their culinary fate, and the ones who would like to make these troublemakers into their dinner (the troublemakers being the cows here, not the animal rights rescue team.) The butcher is disgusted that no one can capture the fence-jumpers, so he tells these guys if they can catch 'em, they can take them back to Sunny Side Up Farm where cows are allowed to live their lives free from fear of being captured and eaten at a local Chat 'n' Chew diner.

Well, these cows were rather crafty, but didn't know they had been reprieved. They avoided all attempts at capture with legged-diligence for over a week. Finally, one day they broke through the corn and onto the road. Since they were full of corn and had picked up a little weight, they weren't as agile as they were when they went on their wild hare prison break. A certain brown package delivery truck hit one. He(the driver of the truck) was knocked coo-coo, and not very happy about the situation, but was ok. The Sunny Side guys show up to see if they can perform CPR on the cow, but the cow dies. I don't think I ever heard of what they did with the dead cow, but I'm thinking the truck guy got to claim it. The other cow, now sadly standing over his friend who took a jump over the fence with him, mourned by chewing a cud leftover from the now wrecked cornfield.

After a big lecture from the animal rights people about our heathen ways, they go back to New York because even though they worship James Dean, they cannot understand these people who born and raised him. While most of our community consists of gentle farmers and Quaker-mentality (except for the pumpkin-smashers once a year,) we don't like outsiders messing with our tenderloins and burgers. (And yes, we have non-combatant vegetarians, too.)

So, now you know about where I'm from. I Fear the Feral Cows. It disturbs our usual peaceful existence (except for that last weekend in September.)

Blue Plate Special Day

My friends have all done these 100 Somethings, so today is one of those days for me. Here are my current 100 Preferences. Subject to change at the will of the chef here.







Crystal’s 100 Preferences
1. Country-living over living in towns, cities or neighborhoods
2. Country music over most every other kind of music, but only by a big hair
3. Rings over other types of jewelry
4. Polished toenails over non-polished
5. Dark polish over pastels
6. Boots over all types of shoe-wear
7. Iced Raspberry tea over most types of drinks
8. With crushed ice, over non-ice,cubed ice or hot
9. Health Nut bread over white
10. Lay’s Potato Chips over any sweets, including chocolate
11. Black coffee over flavored coffee
12. Coke over Pepsi
13. Staying up late over getting up early
14. Blue jeans over khakis
15. Wood and tiled floors over carpeted
16. Leather furniture over fabric
17. Suburbans over mini-vans and Hummers
18. Black over blue cars
19. Salty over Sweet
20. Sausage, green pepper and mushroom pizza over pepperoni pizza
21. Casual over formal
22. Jackie Chan movies over Bruce Lee movies
23. Pierce Brosnan and Sean Connery over all other James Bonds
24. Dogs and cats over horses and guinea pigs
25. Daisies, Lilacs and Roses over Carnations
26. Star on top of Christmas tree over angels
27. Potatoes over all other side dishes
28. Loose watchbands over tight
29. My worn out NIV-Thompson Chain Reference Bible over all my other Bibles
30. Rivers over oceans
31. Local cookbooks over all other types of souvenirs (unless I’m visiting Australia—then I want an opal)
32. Stoneware over china
33. stoneware plates over paper plates
34. McDonald’s fries over all others’ except Steak and Shake’s
35. Oranges over apples
36. Cinnamon-scent over vanilla, fruit, flowers candles
37. Jeeps and pickup trucks over sports cars
38. White pines over other pines
39. Walnuts over peanuts
40. Barns over high-rises
41. Paper over plastic bags
42. Pies over Cakes
43. Hershey’s chocolate over any other brand (yes, really)
44. Peanut M & Ms over Plain
45. Robert Bateman and N.A. Noel over Picasso
46. Monet over Rembrandt
47. Romantic comedies over romantic dramas
48. Football over boxing (hate boxing)
49. Sweatshirts over sweaters
50. Cashmere or cotton over wool sweaters
51. Berries over melons
52. Salad over soup
53. Books and movies over symphonies and plays
54. Art galleries over zoos
55. Libraries over coffee shops
56. BBQs over Soirees
57. Elvis over the Beatles—but only by a hair
58. Dancing over sitting
59. Med-well over rare
60. Vanilla over chocolate ice cream
61. Cheeseburgers over chicken sandwiches
62. Book and movie discussions over politics
63. Yelling at ballgames, rather than sitting passively
64. coaching track over basketball
65. Playing rather than watching
66. Reading over board or video games
67. NASCAR over Indy Car
68. Sports movies over the film festival ones
69. Happy endings over sad, tragic endings
70. Indiana Jones’ Harrison Ford over Star Wars’ Harrison Ford
71. Cornbread or biscuits over desserts
72. Meg Ryan over Meryl Streep
73. Country Living magazine over Ladies Home Journal
74. Sports Illustrated over Newsweek
75. Dolly Parton over Celine Dion
76. Johnny Cash over Waylon Jennings
77. Makeup over no-makeup
78. Quilts over fuzzy blankets
79. Keens over Manalo Blahniks
80. Brighton over Coach
81. Chili over Chicken soup
82. Scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy rather than cereal
83. Funny over schmaltzy
84. 300-count cotton over silk/satin sheets
85. Down comforter over bedspread
86. Side-sleeping or stomach, rather than back
87. Field trip chaperone rather than planning class parties
88. Novels over poetry
89. Typing on computer word processors over manual typewriters
90. Clocks over no clocks
91. Saying getting “a Coke” over pop, soda or drink
92. Motorcycles over bicycles
93. Shooting sports over other sports (to participate)
94. Auto-racing over other sports (to watch)
95. HGTV over Network stations
96. Gem show over Knife show
97. American football over soccer
98. Savannah over Vegas
99. Poirot over Sherlock Holmes
100. My boys’ art projects over all other artists

Are You Happy and Do You Know It?


There are a ton of unhappy people in our lives. You know who they are. They're jealous and petty. They steal your joy, if you let them. They imagine what you're thinking. They're always busy, and are too busy for you. They step on your ribbons during your parade. They are not your friends.

Mary Lou Retton has so much joy bouncing out all over, people make fun of her. But frankly, I find her smile and positive outlook refreshing. Lately, I've let people steal my joy, but no more. I'm too old for all these games people play. In Mary Lou Retton's book, Gateways to Happiness: 7 Ways to a More Peaceful, More Prosperous, More Satisfying Life, she lists the gateways towards true joy and happiness. There is a lot of ugliness out there, and I'm determined to find the fun and the beauty and the joy in just being here. This is my time. It's all I've got, and someone else muddying my waters doesn't mean I have to stop enjoying the swim.

Here are Mary Lou's 7 Gateways to Happiness: Family, Faith, Relationships, Attitude, Discipline, Health and Laughter. I told you about some of the books that I have enjoyed reading and it's taken me awhile to figure out why I like them. Wrapped in the journey of reading is a seeking of true joy and contentment, no matter how bad we are bummed out by circumstances.

You may have a lousy family. Ok. So, "adopt" your family. Find people to love who love you back. A family is one that cheers you on, encourages you, thinks you are God's Gift. They are the ones who tell you your breath stinks, too, before you meet the President (but have a breath mint to help you out.) They're the ones who only wish the best for you. They love you unconditionally. If you have real family which is constantly negative and putting you down,too, and who finds fault every time you breathe, well, you don't need that.

Everyone needs faith. If you have lost your faith, then it's time to look for it. Billy Graham says that his purpose is to "help people find a personal relationship with God, which," he believes,"comes through knowing Christ." I think that's a pretty good purpose. However, there are people who steal your joy because you have this purpose. Don't let them.

What kind of relationships are in your daily life? For a long time I had some crummy relationships. I was always finding people who really aren't my friends. They dragged me down, sabotaged me, submarined me each time I had dreams or laughter. No more. If I can't find a person determined to find joy in living close in proximity to me (which my own family and my husband's family are joyful people, so I don't have to go far,) then I'll find them in long distance places, and try to keep up with those people. You people hopefully know who you are. I try to email you often.

Check your attitude. I notice that when I get around certain people, my attitude gets negative. Once you begin feeling negative about a situation, you soon are on your way to a poisoning. It makes things twice as hard. And watch it that your confidence doesn't come across as arrogance, rudeness or insensitivity. (It can.) Mary Lou says, "True confidence is founded on the knowledge of God's great love for us, and it doesn't require the approval or recognition of others." Mary Lou Retton's attitude is superb. The price of the book is worth it for this section.

Discipline is where I've fallen down lately. I have let myself be swallowed in involvements that I need to get rid of, excess in indecision, and just plain tiredness. It really makes me unhappy. So, it's back on the trail of self-discipline for me. Cleaning out and moving on. I may not be able to control what happens to me, but I can control my reaction, my self-discipline and my attitude in this area. You can, too.

Health is another area that is difficult to have control over. You can't always control what is going to happen to you. Disease hits the just and unjust. My mother lived well, but yet she was struck down by a disease that didn't care that she was doing everything right. Still, I believe that if she had just given in, or said, "Oh, well. I guess I'm going to die," that she wouldn't have made it 35 more years. I would've been without a mother growing up. My brother wouldn't have been born. My kids would've never known their grandmother. Even in the worst case scenario, you can fight for your health. Believe it.

Laughter is the area I've decided is going to be a big part of my life. I even made my tagline, "In love and laughter." I know that I cannot write tearjerkers. It's just not in my nature. I try to find something to laugh about each day, if it kills me. (Ha!) That's why I read the funny papers everyday and I keep Calvin and Hobbes books close by. If I start falling into an abyss of doom and gloom, or one of those petty people have crossed me like a black cat, well, I pull out something funny to read or look at photos of times when I laughed with my head back.

One of my very favorite photos of Mary Lou Retton is one where she is with President Ronald Reagan. He is laughing, but she has her head thrown all the way back and you can see the roof of her mouth! It makes you smile just to see it. And you long to know what was so funny. You want a good belly laugh, too.

Jesus told his disciples one time, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Yeah, we got trouble. It starts with a T and ends with an E, that's trouble. T-R-O-U-B-L-E. (Ok, I just stole that from a musical...) Find a joy in each day. Your peace and satisfaction depends on it. Take heart.

Building Blocks

Writing takes a lot of building blocks. You start with one, and build on it. Last night I tried to place another block in the building, and realized that I've been building on a solid foundation of reading good writing from the early days in school. Listening to Chip MacGregor talk about the business of writing in Dr. Dennis E. Hensley's Taylor University Writing program had me thinking long after the lecture was over. What was I reading to build up my own writing?

You need to be a reader to write. Stephen King says in his book, On Writing: "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot."

Then he goes on to say that he's a slow reader, but still manages to read 70-80 books a year!

I spent my first five years of school in a Christian school with very strict rules about what I was allowed to read. It was pretty tough on me because if I could've, I would read everything I could get my hands on--and did, when I could. But in sixth grade I went to a public school and had a Jewish man as my teacher. He loved books and read to us everyday. But what really opened my world of reading was when he read to us the stories of Edgar Allan Poe. I never got over that. My heart pounded and I had to have more. His voice was rich and the words pulled me into the story. I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was something I had never experienced before.

We were able to buy books through Scholastic Reading Club, and my mom and I would scan the papers and she'd buy me a couple books each time. I remember it was in sixth grade that I bought a paperback version of one of my all-time favorite books--My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber. I read that book over and over. It still makes me laugh.

Then, the summer of magic happened. The summer before I entered 7th grade, my mom decided I could finally read Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. She actually owned this book, and I still have this book. I read it nearly around the clock for almost four days. I barely ate, and only stopped for necessary breaks (oh, I probably took it with me...) I was so fearful that she would change her mind and take it back, so I read it as fast as I could. It was so good, I read it again, this time savoring the scenes and characters.

Then, that same summer, mom gave to me To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. They say there are books that change your life. That change you for having read them. Now, I can list many books since that affected the way I thought, but that book startled me. I ended up reading that book over and over. I read it just to read certain parts. I read it through completely 21 times. I wrote my own stories and they sounded like To Kill a Mockingbird.

Because I had been so protected as a child in reading books, it wasn't until I was in seventh grade that I read all of the Nancy Drew books. I could read one a day. I had never heard of Nancy Drew. Then, I read Mark Twain. I fell totally and completely in love with Mark Twain. I did reports on him, thought about wearing white suits and longed to see the Mississippi River.

In high school I had the best English teachers and I took every single English course my high school offered. I won the English department award and was even an assistant to one of the English teachers who had me teaching reading to students (mostly boys) who had trouble with reading. One time we read aloud, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. For my own enjoyment, since I worked in the high school library, I read almost every book we had. I found the likes of Faulkner, Hemingway, Steinbeck--but I also went back to pick up all the childhood books I should've already read, like Little Women.

It wasn't until I was studying to be an elementary teacher that I discovered Roald Dahl. One of my all time favorites that he wrote was Matilda. I felt like Matilda. The very first chapter is titled, "The Reader of Books." I understood Matilda. Roald Dahl was a genius in my book. When I became a sixth grade teacher, I read to my students The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Since my students could barely read themselves, were kids that were kicked around and "outsiders" themselves, they related to that book above all of the books I read to them that year. It changed them.

So, recently I was told to make a list of books I loved and felt passionate about to help me focus my own writing. I had to give up in frustration. Reading books is a joy, and I love to discover a new book. I love books. I have published around 500 book reviews and have books stacked to the ceiling. But of all the current books I've read, A Girl Called Zippy by Haven Kimmel is my favorite. I finally realized that this book is at the top of my list. Something Is Drooling Under the Bed by Bill Watterson is probably up there close to the top, too. (In case you don't know, this is a Calvin and Hobbes book.)

Anyway, here are a few books. I'm sure it will change soon.

1. A Girl Called Zippy by Haven Kimmel
2. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
3. On Writing by Stephen King
4. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6. My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber
7. A Heart for God by Sinclair Ferguson
8. On the Anvil by Max Lucado
9. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Burns
10. Jan Karon’s Mitford Series
11. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
12. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
13. Centennial by James Michener
14. Matilda by Roald Dahl
15. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
16. Columns by Will Rogers
17. Chosen by Ginger Garrett
18. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
19. Lighthouse series (3) by Eugenia Price
20. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
21. All Things series by James Herriot
22. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
23. Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott
24. Lake Woebeggon by Garrison Keillor
25. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
26. A Bride Most Begrudging by Deanne Gist
27. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
28. O’Malley series by Dee Henderson
29. Brenda Kinsel (all of them)
30. The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg
31. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
32. Just about anything Lisa Samson
33. Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
34. Savannah from Savannah by Denise Hildreth
35. Chateau of Echoes by Siri Mitchell
36. The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
and more...

Ok, I have to stop there for now. What are a couple of your favorite books?

Happy Birthday, Linder Woman!

Back in the day,Linder Woman and I were friends in high school and roommates in college. We were in the same youth group, took this trip out West with our good friends Linda and The Chief, and were in each other's weddings. Our oldest sons were born a month apart.

But this guy in the photo isn't our "Chief," but a guy making a living in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We still have stories about that trip. It was the summer before we started college and I am forever grateful to Chief, Linda and Linder Woman for saving me that summer. I have stories for a lifetime from that trip.

Today's her birthday, and she will always be special. She's like family to me, even though I don't see her much now.

She's one of the best people on earth. Happy Birthday and Salute to Linder Woman!(Almost made it to half-a-century!)

Love, "Beanpole" (why she gave me that nickname, I STILL don't know, but I'm getting suspicious that she was teasing me...)

Whaddea Know??

I just read an article in More magazine (yes, I do fit the age bracket) "20 Things You Should Know By Now." It's kind of like that list you get before your child goes to kindergarten--you know, when they tell you if your child doesn't know three languages by this time, you must've failed as a parent in your choice of preschools? Yeah, like that.

I know you want to know what was on the list, especially if you are approaching 40 or well on your way to Methuselah's age, like me. So here is More magazine's list):

1. How to tell your doctor you want a second opinion.

Seriously. I don't even want the first opinion. I don't go to the doctor.

2. How to find your way out of the woods.(literally)

Don't go. There are lions and tigers and bears in them woods--and flying monkeys. I saw The Wizard of Oz. I know.

3. How to fake a fox trot.

You are old. You can dance any way you want now. Your kids still will be embarrassed no matter how you dance at cousin Sophie's wedding.

4. How to get the best room in the hotel.

What I really want to know is how to get out of the house and off to stay in a real hotel. And, if you have money, you can get any room you want as long as Oprah isn't staying there. She has more money than you.

5. How to counsel a friend through divorce...without getting divorced yourself.

Whoops. You do have your degree in counseling, right? No? If you are still breathing in and out at this point in your life, then you realize you have enough drama in your own life. Sometimes all you can do is listen. Or rather, all you should do as a friend is to listen--not counsel. It really will only get you into trouble. Trust me. (And sometimes when you just listen her ex will still blame you. Sigh. )

6. How to do a background check.

This one is easy. All I have to do is get my teenaged kid on this. They can find the scoop on anyone. (As long as that person goes to their high school, or teaches there.)

7. How NOT to write a business plan.

If you are writing a book, you need Book Proposals That $ell for your business plan. Why would I want to know how NOT to write a plan? "How Tos" are better. Quit wasting your time on How Nots because you are getting old, buddy.

8. How to charter a jet with friends.

I assume if you can afford a jet, you got this one licked. My advice would be to just be friends with Oprah, or hang out with trapshooters. Or know a jet pilot who wants to get some money and hours in.

9. How to tell if someone's lying to you.

I actually liked this one, and feel it is the first thing on this list that is valuable to know. If you have been a teacher, married, or had kids, you know this one. If you have had siblings, you know this one. Once you found out(uh,oh! Spoiler alert!) Santa Claus was not actually coming to YOUR house (he goes to everyone else's,) you began your trek into figuring out the liars. Malcolm Gladwell who wrote The Tipping Point and Blink has this article about face reading on his site, if you are interested in this further. Great stuff.

10. How to kick someone out of your book group.

I know that there are people you just don't want to hang out with and who probably take up all the time of the book group by yakking about her post-op trauma with her hernia surgery. It's more like Grand Rounds with Dr. House on House(my favorite TV show right now,) than a group of Desperate Housewives (which I have never seen.)

Or, if you are in a book group who writes the books, she's the one who talks incessantly about her book that continues to get rejections, but is the greatest thing since Left Behind or Harry Potter. (You know that she is going to become famous, eventually, while you never will, don't you?)

But...let's face this one. This is kind of mean. Like the mean girls at recess who exclude the new girl or the cliquey club women who decide they don't want someone in their group because she's got a better figure than everyone else and she packs her husband's lunch. There's just something totally wrong with this one. Ok, so I was the girl in school who always tried to include everyone, even when they were mean to me. Maybe you should conquer the background check thing before inviting her. But meanwhile, remember my words: Never burn a bridge. She may someday be the one who who reads your proposal and gives it thumbs up or thumbs down. And I guarantold you--she will remember you. (I will remember you...)

11. How to run for office.

Ok. That's it. This list just goes downhill from here.

I know a lot of things. I am a know-it-all. I tell people what to do on a daily basis. Queen of My Known Universe. From this point on, I'm telling you that it's what you know that can hurt you. What you don't know can be ignorant bliss.

Here's the rest of the list and if you want to truly know something, just ask me, or find the October 2005 issue of More magazine (ok, ok, so I'm a little behind in my magazine reading!) What I don't know, I can find out. (This is what I tell my kids.) And if I don't know, or don't want to know, who cares? :


12. How to recognize age discrimination.
13. How to ask for a sabbatical.
14. How to ask a man on a date.
15. How to decide what to charge as a consultant.
16. How to find an old boyfriend without it ruining your life. (Didn't he ruin your life when you knew him the first time??)
17. How to negotiate a killer severance.
18. How to program an Ipod. If I win Camy's contest, then I will want to know this one.
19. How to pack for Machu Picchu. (Whatever. I want to know how to pack for my spot on Oprah when I publish my book.)
20. How to find your way out of the woods (figuratively.) What I want to know is how to find my way out of a plot corner. Or how to upload my blog photo. Or how to get out of going to the grocery store this week in the rain and cold....

So, whaddea want to know?

It's not often that I post twice in one day, but Delia is always doing something intriguing. So, I stole from the Kentucky Wild Mudcat Woman who stole it from someone else! (How do you find these wonderful rabbit trails??)

This is writing related. I am having an issue with my name. There are many out there doing writerly things with my name who are not me. Now, I have a perfectly great name, but it can get confusing. So, I'm in search of a pseudonym for my fiction. I think I have one(which I'm stealing from my great-great-great-great grandmother,) but I'm waiting until I get ready to submit my proposal. Wasn't it Shakespeare who said "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet?" I suppose. But a rose named Crystal needs to distinguish herself from the pack of writers!

Look up your name:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 1,316 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Reading Is FUN-da-Mental Day





Tuesdays are the day I let you know what I'm reading. I just picked up this book that was published in 2002 called The Mentor Quest: Practical Ways to Find the Guidance You Need by Betty Southard (Vine Books/Servant Publications,ISBN 1-56955-309-2.) I found it through a private seller. It's out of print.

I think all of us would like a mentor, and we talk about it often in writing
circles--finding a writing mentor who would guide our career and help us to find our voice and type of writing best for us. (Especially if we haven't published a book or don't have an agent.) We hate stumbling around, trying to discover who we are. (Well, I hate that.) Who are your role models? Who do you look up to?

I admit I have struggled with this concept. I don't have any particular teachers I've tried to emulate. I do listen to many people and what they say about the business. I have selected a few in the industry whom I trust to point me to the best information--and have even emailed them, asking about this or that. All of them live far enough away that I don't have what my friend, Linda, used to call a daily friendship or relationship. I don't meet them for lunch or coffee because it would require a jet or a long journey and not being able to sleep in my own bed that night (which I prefer.)

It is difficult to not only find those people we wish to glean knowledge and wisdom from, but it's tough to develop the relationships required once we do know whom we'd like to get to know. Betty says that we can get these relationships from books, as well as from people. I know this is true. I know that I have revisited books many times that speak to my own soul and heart. Books can pull me along when I'm stuck and I can't call someone up at 2 a.m. I have definitely stayed up until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning reading a book!

Some of you are writing fiction. You want someone to help you along in writing and to talk over your stories with that person, maybe get feedback or get information about writing. Here's a library that I have and refer to these books when I can't make it to a conference or find a writing mentor to talk to:

1. Read as much in the genre you wish to write in as possible--good, bad,mediocre. Know thy genre. If your writing is difficult to classify, then find who is writing something similar--where would you fit on the shelf? These should be recently published or as current as possible.

What is good, bad or mediocre about it? Keep these thoughts to yourself if you wish to publish in this genre. Editors you wish to woo to your own fiction may have worked on that fiction you just put down. No need to insult anyone with your opinion. Be humble in seeking this knowledge. Ok, even if the editor agrees with you that such-and-such book was a snore--if that editor spent time on that book, you better believe he is not going to take your evaluation of that book and how yours is better. He might even not agree with you. Ouch. Foot in mouth is no way to start off.

Do voice what you love about a book because editors DO like to know that you know the genre in which you are writing. You cannot be taken seriously if you don't even know what is being published right NOW. Read the good, just so you can recognize it. But don't turn your nose up at the "bad" or the "mediocre." Unless daddy owns the publishing company, that person got published somehow. You're not. (Well, I am assuming this if you haven't found a mentor, agent, editor, or are just starting out.)

2. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King (buy this--do not merely borrow it) If you cannot get any other book, get this one.

3. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

4. Stein on Writing by Sol Stein

5. Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain

6. 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them) by Jack M. Bickham

7. The Plot Thickens by Noah Lukeman

8. GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict by Debra Dixon

9. Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell

10. Writing for the Soul by Jerry B. Jenkins

11. The Making of a Bestseller by Brian Hill and Dee Power

My favorite:

12. On Writing by Stephen King Even if you are not a Stephen King fan, he has some good insight into writing fiction.

A little out of date, but still worth a look if you can find them:
Writing and Selling the Christian Novel by Penelope Stokes
How to Write (and Sell) a Christian Novel by Gilbert Morris
Guide to Fiction Writing by Phyllis A. Whitney

Another resource to check out is Terry Whalin's Right Writing web site with many articles on specific types of writing by experts and his blog, The Writing Life.

I never stop reading material that helps me with writing. Of course, applying that reading is what is important. You can read helpful books like this all you want--but if you ignore what you read, then you're just wasting your time.

Just remember to read where your passion lies. That is where I am reading today. The days of "have to" reading is over for me. I'm liking this new exploration in reading.

Flies in the Soup Friday






What is it about Fridays? I seem to spin more wheels on Friday than any other day.
No matter. Everyone is posting their 100 Things, 100 Preferences, etc. I decided today to post the flies of my life--those things which buzz around my head, annoying me when I should be thinking about blessings and good stuff.

See if these things annoy you, too. (This is my extreme dislike list...)



1. 4-way stop signs
2. Being late
3. Clutter
4. Impatient drivers
5. Japanese food
6. Dust
7. Self-righteousness
8. Mini-vans
9. Car trouble
10.Computer troubles
11.Arrogance
12.People who say, “You have no idea”/”You don’t understand”
13.Chin hairs/sunspots
14.Sunburns
15.Unkindness
16.Cliques
17.Sitting in long sermons
18.Waiting for flights/airline terminals
19.Being stranded
20.Unsolicited phone calls
21.Grocery shopping
22.Fish (to eat, except tuna salad sandwiches)
23.Bad haircuts
24.Indecision
25.Having nothing appropriate/comfortable to wear when I feel vulnerable at an event
26.Tanning booths
27.Denver International Airport in a snowstorm
28.Head-on wrecks
29.Tear-jerking novels
30. Morning News Shows
31. Someone holding my wrists
32. Meetings
33. Possums
34. Mice
35. Snakes
36. Being in smoky rooms
37. Diets
38. Dogs throwing up
39. My gray hair
40. black carpet
41. bees
42. camping
43. fishing
44. People who say, “You’re a city kid.” /“You’re too backwoods.”
45. People gossiping
46. Small town prejudice
47. Church denomination arrogance
48. People who try to force you to do what you don’t want to
49. People who say, “You don’t know art, so you can’t appreciate it.”
50. Petty Power Plays
51. Aqua-lung by Jethro Tull
52. Face piercings
53. Wearing glasses
54. Doctor appointments
55. Frying (but I like having fried)
56. Being too cold or too hot
57. migraines
58. mothballs
59. Shopping and no clerks around
60. sweating
61. trying to post a blog
62. Talking over the phone with a computer specialist
63. Crawling under my desk to find whatever the computer specialist tells me I have to find
64. Misunderstandings
65. Thinking of something to eat/cook
66. Trying to find a place when I'm in traffic
67. Waiting in a hospital to "hear"
68. Waiting for death to come
69. death
70. Picking out coffins
71. Being moved to tears in front of someone
72. cutting my dog's toenails
73. When someone I love hurts or is treated poorly
74. Concussions
75. Not knowing what colors to pick to wear
76. The laundry room
77. "Fake" iced tea
78. No electricity
79. No heat in cold weather
80. Planning parties
81. Bad hair days
82. Feeling dumpy
83. Mean neighbors
84. living in town
85. traffic
86. forgetting
87. hairspray
88. Hot Topic stores
89. Steaks too rare
90. Boring plays
91. Broken notebook rings
92. Cleaning out fridges
93. No place for quiet and solitude
94. remembering hurtful things
95. Playing games
96. Anger
97. Being pushed
98. Drunks
99. Being "by myself" at events
100. Staying home when I want to go
101. Going when I want to stay home

You Ever Have One of Those Days?






I saw this photo in my file, and thought, "Yeah, I'm having one of them kinda days."

This is me a few years back when I was living with my Grandparents in Tennessee. (They lived out in the hills and had chickens. I hated the chickens. If they laid a chicken feather on anything they didn't want me to bother, I would walk around it by miles.)

But how I look in this photo is how I feel today. Some days you have bad hair days (like a couple days ago) and then the bad hair catches up with the rest of you. I'm aching all over, and maybe it is the flu. Anyway, time will tell the story.

I have been reading all kinds of stuff today, but am unable to concentrate well. But Health magazine had these tips about "what to eat when..." and that got my concentration. If I can eat my way out of it, well, hold all of my calls!

What do you eat when you can't sleep? They say to try whole grains with protein. So, try eating a half-cup of whole grain cereal with skim milk before you go to bed. I should already have known this one. My dad, the King of Insomiacs (being a trucker, he had irregular hours)used to have a bowl of cereal before going to bed. Turns out this releases serotonin in your brain. Or if you eat a turkey sandwich (with whole grain bread or a whole grain pita pocket) that will do the trick, too--try a half cup skim milk with it. My mom used to say to warm up the milk and add a touch of real butter to it. Hmm. Probably just relaxes you.

So, what if you're coming down with a cold? Well, if you have a fever, you can get dehydrated pretty fast. You know that chicken soup you're supposed to eat? Turns out that you need to add either onions or garlic to it. Garlic has some sort of fight in it that gives your body a boost. The liquid is good for dehydration, and it being warm helps with the other icky stuff going on (the sniffles.)

I would like to hang out here some more, but my head just hit my keyboard twice in rapid succession, and I have to keep correcting this.

Let me know your best "I'm sick" remedy. What makes you feel better when things are going not too good?

My mom always made me red Jello when I was sick. There's something about even seeing red Jello that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Also, she had this Friendship Tea that she made when I'd have my yearly pneumonia and round of colds. Because it was made from powders(Tang/tea/lemonade,) I took a jar of it with me to college. I'd heat some water and have a cup of comfort from home pronto. As soon as I'm feeling better, I'll post the recipe.

Off to make a cup of my blueberry green tea.

In the meantime, check some of the blogs to the right for updates:

Terry Whalin is talking about booksignings

Terry Burns just became an agent with Hartline Agency and is also talking about smells in writing

Brenda Coulter, Steeple Hill author is coming to Kokomo, IN for a booksigning on Saturday

Nancy Ring has listed her 100 Favorite Things and 100 Quotes and 100 Things and some Bibliotherapy

LeAnne Martin has some great interviews with those in the arts and worship in the arts

Sabrina and Cara have posts about Karen Kingsbury's latest book

Karen Wingate has another great post about teaching children about Jesus

and Camy Tang, new author with Zondervan, has this fabulous contest going on where you (ME, ME!) can win a nanopod thingie (all my boys have one--I don't)and a whole slew of books. Drop by there and sign up for her newsletter (put heavenscrystal@yahoo.com as the person who referred you and ignore Delia's plea about putting HER down as the reference.)

This Ain't No Glamour Detail

This Ain't No Glamour Detail




My favorite place in the entire world, other than Indiana and Tennessee, is Savannah, Georgia. This is me in some distant past February in Savannah. I was at a regional championship trapshoot competing, and while my walk on the beach without my shoes was pushing it (it was a might chilly, but doable,) I couldn't get over the azaleas at the gun club entrance. At least I shut my mouth long enough to take the photo. (And later would stuff my mouth with Savannah cuisine and pralines.) Most of the places I've been to are related to trapshooting. Most of my life has been not too glamorous. I always want to look like the Audrey Hepburn of life; instead, I come across more like Harlow Hickenlooper.

We had just left a blizzard in Indiana. I didn’t think we were even going to make it out of the state. So, I had to have my photo taken there because even on a good day in Indiana, I had never seen such a profusion of colorful flowers. I felt even a bit glamorous. This is as glamorous as I get, though. I have to have God's glorious creation backing me up to get a good "glamour" shot.

Some people see shooting sports as glamorous. I have hung out with and shot with the rich and famous, it’s true. While eating a greasy hamburger in the clubhouse between rounds, I listened to my shooting companions talk about the best places to fuel up their private jets. And my Italian-made shotgun is considered "sexy" by others in this sport. The Italian craftsmen, who hand-designed and made my gun, are swoon-worthy. (They come over from Italy during The Grand American Championships and take care of any problems you are having with your gun, so I have actually talked to them. My goodness is all I have to say about them.)

The first time I ever shot trap targets, I knew it was a sport I was going to like. But trapshooting has never been glamorous for me. It is a "rush" to powder a clay target flying through the air. But this shot of me right before going out to shoot is the best I look all day. After shooting, my cheek or shoulder could be bloody or bruised,sweat soaks through my shirt and gun grease decorates my sleeves. It's not pretty.

When I first started shooting, it was hard to remember everything: put in your earplugs, put on your shooting vest, put on your eye protection, bring your box of shells, keep track of how many times you shoot, shoot on your turn, after five shots move to the next station, look at the target, don’t call for the target until you’re ready, call only on your turn, stay still while others shoot, keep your gun open at all times until it’s your turn to shoot, breathe easy, look over the gun, look over the traphouse, don’t pull the trigger until it is in your sites--and, well, phew, there is a lot to remember. But eventually it became second nature to me.

But at the time I started shooting, I didn't see a lot of women. I wore a vest too big for me, because it was a man's vest I'd borrowed, along with my gun, which was also too big. My cheek was beaten to a bloody pulp with a knot on it the size of a baseball, because the gun stock was too high and thunked me each time I pulled the trigger. I could barely hoist the gun up to my shoulder, which caused me to lean back. It was a wonder whenever I did hit a target--which I hit enough times to keep me coming back. So, after each practice session, I was a mess, but determined. Since you load one shell at a time into the gun barrel, each time I opened to load, a bit of grease would smudge on me somewhere. I ruined several shirts and jeans that way.

A lot of men shoot in this sport, of course, and some have been shooting since they were small boys. I had only shot a gun twice—and both times were handguns, not a 12-gauge shotgun. Some of the men I met were WWII, Korean Conflict or Vietnam veterans, and they had been hunting all of their lives, too. They had forgotten more than I even knew about shooting. I looked clunky and slow, I'm sure. I was a bit of a novelty, too, but wasn’t an Annie Oakley. It was hard work for me. They all had advice and gave it out freely. Talk about the most confusing time of my life.

“Hold your gun higher.”
“Hold your gun lower.”
“Close one eye to focus.”
“Whatever you do, keep both eyes open.”
“Use a longer gun. Use a heavier gun.”
“Use a shorter gun. That gun is too heavy for you.”
“Wear a vest to hold your shells. Get plenty of padding in the shoulder.”
“I never wear a vest. Get one of those belts and get a shooter's tee shirt.”

One time early on I was practicing on a particularly hot day. I don’t know where my husband had gone, but I was left on the field to shoot practice. I’m sure I was frustrated. In those early days of shooting, I was always frustrated. I wanted to do better. I just knew I could be good at this. And I really liked doing it.

This older man had been sitting on the bench watching me. Because it was so hot, my face was not only flushed with the heat of the day, but also from the gloves and long-sleeved shirt I had on to protect me from the now-heated barrel. Sometimes the barrel gets so hot, you can suffer burns. I already had some blood seeping through my shirt at the shoulder, and I was sweating--there's no dainty way to put it. My hair stuck out everywhere, even though I had pulled it back and stuffed it under my hat. My cheek was swollen and bruised. Arms and shoulders ached. I had lifted that gun over 500 times. It ain't a sport for the puny.

Dehydration becomes a problem, so you have to make sure you get some shade and some water between rounds. I walked back to my bag and the bench where the man was sitting and relaxing. I was braced for whatever advice he was going to bestow on me, because they all did that. This one spat on the ground before he spoke.

"You know, honey, this ain't no glamour detail."

I don't know why, but I thought of David when he had put on all that armor King Saul loaded him up with when little David said he was going to battle with Goliath. I was thinking to myself, I wonder if anyone pointed that out to David, right before he dumped all the armor and said, "I got this slingshot and I'll get some stones on the way..."

"Rhaaaa-it! Rhaaaa-it! Bring me my smelling salts! I believe I'll swoon..."

"Frankly, Scarlet, you're a wimp. You know, dahling, this ain't no glamour detail, this wah-r, and all."

I didn't know what to say. Usually when someone offered me unsolicited advice, I would say, "Thank you," and then would go on, ignoring the man in my face at the time, and keeping the advice from my coach firmly in my brain. This was something I just wasn't prepared for at the time. I'm surprised I didn't spit my water all over him from the shock.

Writing is a lot like trapshooting, I've found. Hey, LIFE is a lot like trapshooting.

So, I'm here to tell you that writing and life ain't no glamour detail. I guarantold you ain't.

This is the Blue Plate Special for Mondays. I'm having trouble again posting. Drat.

Pass the Salt Thursday


You ever feel the need for a makeover? As you can see by my current photo to the left, I not only need a new hairdo (my hair looked just like this today,) but also it wouldn't hurt to find some more attractive clothes. This was a professionally done photo.

My mom used to say I was the "worst" when it came to getting my photo taken (which knowing now that I'm a kinesthetic learner, explains the bangs--I probably wasn't still enough to get them straight.) By the time I got there to the photo studio, my hair was a mess (I have stick-straight, thick but fine hair that goes every-which-way,)and my clothes were twisted around. I sort of remember my high school senior picture being the same way.

One time mom was taking my brother and me for a professional photo--he was about 6 months old and I was nearing 5, and while she was dressing him, I decided to make myself pretty for my photo. I took a ballpoint pen and drew the prettiest pictures all over my arms and legs. (I mean, after all, my daddy had done this to both of his forearms in the Army!) I was so pleased. My mom said she nearly started crying and she rubbed my skin red to get them off (I was so fair-skinned,) which upset her even more (She was always kind.)

Today Sarah Anne Sumpolec on Girls and God has a blog about photos on web sites and the importance of getting them right. She's a photographer, as well as a published author of some great teen books as a series called Becoming Beka, (if you have or know teen girls, get these books for them) and a mom of three girls. If you want, get in on the discussion about your own look and photos. Sarah thinks that if you are a professional (and in this context, we're writers, but any professional) you should update your photo and have a professional photographer do it. I don't even know what color to wear! It's an interesting discussion and one I, personally, would like to know answers to. Somebody help me.

And speaking of photos, the girls over at Girls Write Out--Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, Diann Hunt and Colleen Coble--all had new photos taken by a professional for publicity. On their blog they share some interesting photos that I'm guessing are the "goof off" photos. At least I hope so. Colleen, who I used to think was the nicest person on the planet (well, Diann may have that title--I don't think Diann actually even thinks hateful thoughts,)has some sort of dagger, looking quite sinister.

The four of them couldn't be more different in their book genres. Colleen writes scary romantic suspense; Kristin writes super cool (that terminology probably just dated me) chick lit; Denise writes tearjerking,emotional wringers of true life; and Diann writes thigh-slapping (thigh-hating?) lady lit topped with chocolate sauce. And I like all of them (the girls) and all of their excellent books. Every one of them started off writing romance. Go figure. But even in their early work, their voices were there. Check out all of their books (and that blog with the wild photos.)

While I'm pointing out other blogs on my Pass the Salt Thursday, I also want to shoot you over to a new blog by writer and book reviewer, Sara Mills. Sara is blogging through her journey through Romans in the Bible. She recently finished a complete Bible-Bible study(that means all of the books!) and now wants to concentrate on this book.

Romans is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It is the book that holds our Bible doctrine. Written in Corinth by Paul, it is God's letter to you. Even though it was written in about 58/59 A.D., it is so relevant today. I will probably check in on Sara's study of Romans, because I don't know that I can hear too much about the "grace that is free, or it's not grace." It is the book which freed me from the heavy burden of trying to be "good enough."

So, while I'm trying to get the outside to line up with my insides, I'll be checking out these three blogs.

I'm thinking of cutting my hair short. What do you think? Sigh. Should I wear warm colors or cool colors? What are my basic colors and what is my style? Maybe I'll go over to Kentucky Boo Gal's beauty shop for some "big hair."

P.S. I'm so excited. I just was added to the Christian Women Online blogroll, joining over 600 blogs of Christian women.

Also, there have been over 1000 page views since I started my blog. (I'm amazed that I've had even 10.)See you in the funny papers!(Something my mother-in-law, Imy, has said. Don't really know what it means.)

Neurotic Health Watch Wednesday


A lot of people I know are ill today. I have a cousin Sally in her final stage on earth; an ill husband and son; an uncle who is suffering the fallout of a stroke; an aunt who has a multitude of illnesses, but may also have ovarian cancer. We will always have the sick with us. It is one of the fallout events of sin. How can God allow such stuff? Well, we allowed it. And He tries to get us out of our messes.

There are so many new discoveries of medicines, healthy practices and treatments. What gets me is when people deliberately try to harm their own health--like with smoking or illegal drugs or simply by not practicing moderation. And then, people want to blame someone else for whatever is wrong. They "sue" the very people who have tried to help them, or the people who gave them what they asked for! That's just not right.

Then, there was my mother. You can see her above. She spent several years in a TB hospital--a hospital you were required by law to enter if you had the disease of tuberculosis. She had such a strong will to live. She didn't place blame on anyone, and she relied on God to help her through. She wanted to stay alive and did everything she could to keep that way. Despite her best intentions, the doctors removed one lung and two lobes of the other lung. Yet, she lived on. They caved (broke) the ribs on one side and allowed the crushed bone to fill the cavity where the lung used to be. It was because of this technique, that she eventually suffered at the end of her 64 years and caused her heart to move over to the other side. It was a price to pay. But she got to see her kids grow up, get married, have children of their own.

Can you see her smiling in this picture? Despite her horrible prognosis, she found time to joke and smile. I think by making friends (she was far from everyone whom she loved and left alone in this hospital,) I think she found a way to endure the tortuous treatments and surgeries and worst of all for her--separation from her family. It is an incredible testament and one which demonstrated to me how others could do the same. Many people have, too.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh said one time:

"I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable."

This is something my mother practiced, experienced and understood in her own suffering. You can do this, too. Whatever your burden is.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Maybe that rest comes in this life, or maybe it comes when you die. Regardless, the rest is in Jesus. In Galatians 6:2 Paul says, "Carry each other's burdens, and this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This is what we do in ways that we can. Maybe I lifted a burden off your shoulders by sharing this story. Hope so.

If It's Tuesday, Would You Like Coffee with Your Reading?

I have tried and tried to post with this stupid thing. It keeps giving me an error message, so I'm starting all over again. The other post was much better. I even had a photo. This is ridiculous. Ever have one of those days?

Usually, today is the day I give you a little review on something I'm reading. Only what I'm reading today is a manuscript. I cannot tell you anything about that because whatever I think about this manuscript is strictly between my client and me. You would appreciate that if you were paying me to read/critique your manuscript.

I have two more manuscripts to tackle after this one. It's been a long summer.

This past summer I gave up my book review column. I stopped reviewing books because it was interfering with my own progress in writing. What was happening to me was I was reading EVERYTHING. I read just about everything coming out in the Christian market. I could not discern my own voice when I would write and I could not figure out anymore just what my story was above all of the other voices. I could doctor any genre and a few nonfiction manuscripts. I had no passion left, because it was consumed by so many words. I had to let it all go or I would never be able to lift my own head above the din. I was drowning in words.

That is why I started this blog. I had to get back to things that interested me. I couldn't even tell you what kind of a book I'd pick up, if I had the choice! I was so used to being sent books and reading whatever I was sent, that I could not tell you what kind of book I'd pick up if actually given a choice. Therefore, I could no longer figure out my own passions. I was enveloped in the passions and hearts of others. That is not a bad thing, but I have this great desire to write my own thing before I pass on. What are my passions?

Lee Warren on Little Nuances has these lists of 100 Things, 100 Preferences and 100 Little Nuances

I want to think about these things in my own life. I have thought about other people's things and given out so much to others, that I've lost myself in the word salads. I couldn't find a sesame seed of my own flavor anywhere!

I still have a few more pieces of writing I have done to share. (And I fixed all of the mistakes--I think--from yesterday's story. Sigh.)Maybe people can fully see me here, but I can't fully see me. I'm like in a fog, and I can't fire at targets until that fog disappears.

I still love books. I still love helping other authors find their full potential. But I need a little refilling of my own.

Maybe my journey here will help you, too, discover your own passions and potential. I hope so. As Stephen King says, "If God gives you something you can do, why in God's name wouldn't you do it?" God expects us to follow those passions in our soul because He put them in there to make you, you. You have to feed it and exercise it. I haven't done that for me.

Stephen King's book, On Writing, speaks to ME. Not something for one of my clients or fellow writers (though it may,) but I reread it for ME. In order to give out more, you have to refill the well.

So, that is what I'm going to do.

I swiped this from Delia. The ones I've done are in bold.

(This is weird. It said I couldn't publish this. Well, two posts in one day. Go figure. I will never figure this out.)

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula How about an alligator named Julie?
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it (every single day)
09. Hugged a tree (While climbing it only)
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris (Does New Paris, Ohio and Paris in Las Vegas count?)
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables (wish I could still do this)
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper (I have four boys, two years each apart so that is 9 years in diapers...plus, all the babysitting...sigh)
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon Well, no. Got in. Got out. ha
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne (oh yuck)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope (took a class in college in this...)
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight WATCHED a food fight. In Grandma's bedroom between little cousins at a Christmas dinner. Boy, were they in trouble!
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can Whooo hooo! Got hoarse, at the Sectional Basketball championships in Marion Arena when we beat the GIANTS!
32. Held a lamb (How about a baby pig?)
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer Yeah, but one died first, and then got the second, along with a motherboard, etc. etc. Sigh.
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke Hey, I've sung with a real band!
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football Played FLAMINGO football--with boys!
61. Gone scuba diving No, not really. Went snorkeling
62. Kissed in the rain Shot trap in the rain, too
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie Ha, in high school, we made movies--not big production...
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch Which recipe do you want??
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason Used to be a first grade teacher--got dandelions galore in the spring
84. Performed on stage Was voted Best Actress in the same hometown where James Dean was from
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents April 12th and June 11th
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children Almost!
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold Passed out during rehearsal of a half-time show because I didn't eat all day (Pom pon girl)
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country Rode 50 miles on a bike to earn a Pathfinder's badge. Got sunstroke.
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication (depends on how large you consider large...)
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone (Does this mean a concussion?)
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol (all three) Did competition trapshooting in the international championships--shot with champions. I own my own guns.
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild Stalking the Wild Morel with the Small Family...
118. Ridden a horse Had one named Star
119. Had major surgery Any surgery you go "under" is major
120. Had a snake as a pet GET REAL!
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions (Well, most)
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office (school board count?)
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident In college, in a green car, on a road that had a snow bank on it, slid into another car. Drat. The state police guy was very nice.
150. Saved someone’s life

Number 150--Saved someone's life by leading them to Christ. Try walking the Romans Road. If you want to truly save a life, including your own, try reading this:

The Romans Road
What can I do to be saved?

I'm no theologian, but I am a Christian. Sometimes I have been asked what makes a person "saved" and what can he do to be a Christian (follow Christ? )Jesus is a man who walked and talked on this earth, who lived and died--but who was different, as he was sinless,he was fully man and fully God, and then rose from the dead. Jesus is living today, not on earth, but in heaven with God.

First, find a Bible. Any version will work. I happen to mostly use the New International Version, but there are many versions out there. Also, if you are already a Christian, but you are unsure of your salvation, this "road" I suggest reading is helpful to show that there is no doubt.

The book of Romans was written by the Apostle Paul when he was in Corinth. It is God's letter to YOU.

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and Paul was one of its citizens. Paul tried to show in this book (letter) that we are bankrupt with God and we are unable to pay for our sins. Under that premise, no one should ever be able to get into heaven--but for Jesus. Jesus made it possible. And He freely gives it to YOU, if you will only accept it.

Believe this story as if your life depends on it--because it does.
Follow the Romans Road:
1. Romans 3:23:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...

2. Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

4. Romans 10: 9: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.*

From the Zondervan New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978,1984, International Bible Society, http://www.zondervan.com

It is that simple. Once you are saved--have confessed your sins and believe, of course, you are going to want to be with others who believe this same truth and to learn more about this amazing person, Jesus.