Peering Through Life's Window

  A Warm Welcome to Tracy Wainwright Hi Tracy, thanks for telling us about your technique for getting rest in a busy life. About 10 years ago, I began feeling the call to implement a Sabbath rest into life. Over the last decade, I have done better at this sometimes and worse at others. Lately, following an exceptionally busy year and heading into the Christmas/holiday season, the idea of resting in the Lord and being intentional about observing a Sabbath has resurfaced. And it seems like I’m not the only one, as the topic seems to be coming up in a variety of spaces and platforms. But how do we rest in the midst of busy schedules, obligations, and commitments? 1 – We must be intentional. Once or twice a month, I spend some quality time with my calendar and plan a do-nothing, go-nowhere day. It goes on my calendar just like all the other things and I hold it as non-negotiable (barring emergencies). Because I’ve learned the importance of rest, I’ve decided to make it a priority. Know...

  Hats... Horns... The winner is... Congratulations, Melissa!

  A Warm Welcome to Carol James Carol will give away a digital copy of  Crocuses for Christmas to a U.S. resident. A Favorite dish for a Texas Christmas My most recent Christmas novella, Crocuses for Christmas , is set in a small fictional Texas town called “Crescent Bluff,” as are all my novels.  I’m sure you and your readers are familiar with Texas pride…as in everything’s bigger in Texas. Well, I’m here to tell you that somethings are, and somethings aren’t.  But, we do like our beef! While most people enjoy ham or turkey for Christmas. My family’s favorite is beef brisket. My step-mom gave me this recipe about forty years ago. At the request of my family, I’ve been making it every Christmas (and other holidays) for years. It’s easy to make and yummy to eat. I have yet to find a person that didn’t like it. (Of course, I haven’t tried it on vegetarians.) Bessie’s Oven Brisket 4 lb. beef brisket (If you have a big crowd you can get a larger brisket and sim...

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Children’s/Middle Grade: Key’s Secret by Jennifer Arrington and Albrey Arrington -- A strange blue envelope greets the kids of Coral Canal right before Labor Day weekend. Inside it contains a riddle and a set of instructions. Nobody, not even their parents, seems to know who sent the riddle, and the children only have five days to solve it and send photographic proof. (Children’s/Middle Grade, Independently Published)   Contemporary Romance: An Unexpected Texas Reunion by Heidi Main -- After a traumatic experience, Brenna Park hopes that leading a youth summer camp with her emotional support dog, Lulu, will help ease her back into her life. Only, she didn’t expect to be sharing the responsibility with the man she left behind a decade ago. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])   Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller -- What happens when history teacher O...

A Warm Welcome to Tracy Wainwright Hi Tracy, Thanks for Sharing Your Thoughts about Staying Focused and Telling Us about Your Series  Staying Focused Has your mind ever written checks that your body can’t cash? If you just smiled, you know what I mean. If not, hang with me. I’m an idea person. I think most creatives are. We thrive on creating and our brains are constantly coming up with an idea or project or book plot. The problem comes with constraints of time, motivation and focus. I’ve always marveled at people who’ve tackled NaNoWriMo, as my holiday preparations always seem to take up the entire month of November as well as December. Plus, there always seems to be extra events, conferences, bonfires, and gatherings during November. Now, don’t get me wrong, I get not everyone’s lives are the same, which probably contributed to the success of for 20 years. However, after two decades, it looks like they, too, may have bitten off more than they could chew. But this isn’t just about...

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Amish Romance: A Daughter’s Choice by Kelly S. Irvin -- Henrietta Miller loves animals—especially her goats. She wants to marry and have children someday, but right now her goal is to have her own business selling snacks made from goat's milk and goat's soaps. Against her the wishes of her father--who's also the bishop—she applies for a job as a veterinary assistant to earn money. Then newcomer Nicholas Byler snatches the job out from under her—or so it seems to Hen. Now Nicholas is treating Hen's beloved animals as if he knows more than her. Hen turns her frustrations toward expanding her business to include wool-producing goats, even while her aunt hatches matchmaking plans—with Nicholas Byler, no less. (Amish Romance from Barbour Publishing)   Biblical: Loss and Loyalty - Moabites by Christine Dillon -- What makes someone family—blood, love, or something more? Arielle...