Peering Through Life's Window

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY, SAFE NEW YEAR! Beginning on Tuesday, January 4th, join The Sweetest Romance Authors for a round robin writing adventure at Coffee Time Romance. We'll be writing a sci-fi story, and we'd like you to participate. Some of us have written science fiction, but lots of us haven't, so we'll see where the story leads together. The biggest thing to remember -- The Sweetest Romance Authors write only G-rated material. We hope to see you at our forum. It's http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=1096

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! BE SURE TO CHECK BELOW FOR CHRISTMAS FUN GIVEAWAYS AND PRIZES The Love of Christmas It’s Christmas Eve in Georgia. My husband, my daughter and I are riding on deserted streets into the cold, dark night. The pots and pans in my kitchen are washed and dried. The rolls of wrapping paper are empty; the presents under the tree. We pull into the church parking lot and go inside. We find a seat in the back, where the woman beside me brushes flour from her skirt. I smile at her and settle into the peacefulness reflected by the Christmas tree glimmering at the altar. Bright green wreaths with red bows line the sanctuary filled with a congregation dressed in red and green. I listen to the Christmas story. Ushers hand out candles, lighting one on the end of each row. The overhead lights go dim. We pass the flame from one person to another while we sing “Silent Night.” All the hustle-bustle of the season leaves me. I am still. I rejoice in Jesus’ birth. We finish with, “...

I’m so happy to have Delia Lathan to talk about Destiny’s Dream , the first book in her Solomon’s Gate series, which revolves around a Christian dating agency of the same name. A dating service – what fun! And, she’s having a contest. Be sure to click on “my website” at the end of the interview to learn about it. First tell us a little about yourself: I’m a born-and-raised California girl, recently transplanted to Oklahoma. (That’s a big change for a gal past 50!) I’m a wife of 37 years, a mother to four adult children, and Nanny to nine, counting the five extra grandchildren God “brought” into our family. I enjoy singing, and especially enjoy Southern Gospel music. And I enjoy designing marketing products, such as business cards, bookmarks, flyers, postcards, etc. Were you an avid reader as a child? What did you read? It would probably be easier to say what I didn’t read! J I’ve loved books ever since I was introduced to “Dick and Jane.” (Okay, I know, that really dates me, doesn’t...

Danielle Thorne's Goodie Tour: Crazy Corn – Caramel Corn, That Is! I'm so happy to have talented writer Danielle Thorne. I've recently learned that she's a great cook. She's here with a holiday recipe. And she'll tell us a little about her sweet romances. Hi, Gail! Happy Holidays to you and your readers. Thanks for letting me drop by on my Goodie Tour to share some recipes for the Season. I've pulled out my best end-of-year recipes that make great additions for parties and get-togethers. Today I'd like to share something near and dear to my heart – and my taste buds. I love snacks that I can gobble up myself and give away as gifts. My Crazy Crunch caramel corn recipe covers both bases. Adapted from a magazine recipe I found many years ago, this popcorn is a unique find and the best caramel corn I've ever tried. I highly recommend doubling. Enjoy! DANIELLE THORNE'S CRAZY CORN 6 cups of microwave-popped Kettle Corn (sweetened popcorn) 3 cups of Ric...

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Next week Danielle Thorne will be here to share one of her yummy recipes for the holidays. On December 7th, Delia Latham will tell us about a contest.

STAINED GLASS ART BY CAROLYN BOYER Ah, the tangled webs we weave Right, Copper cross, geode, stained glass Connecting art and faith began for me in the 70’s as I linked new theological insights regarding women in biblical history and interpretation with the work of two contemporary women artists, Judy Chicago and Sister Corita Kent. At that time I embraced the women’s movement and the feminism which espoused equality and inclusion in secular and religious life. I still do. As inclusive language became the norm in public life, I longed for the church to utilize it in worship and conversation including references to the feminine imagery for God found in the Bible. I became acutely aware that visual images and words, read and spoken, influence self image and behavior and inform an understanding of the world and faith. Left: Now we see in a mirror dimly... The works and words of artists Judy Chicago and Sister Corita Kent profoundly influenced me as a woman and an artist. Viewing Chicago’...

AND THE WINNER IS...... DANIELLE CONGRATULATIONS, DANIELLE It’s great to have K. Dawn Byrd, author of Killing Time. She'll be giving away a mouse pad with the image of her book cover on it. To enter to win leave a comment with your email address (U.S. residents only). I'll select a winner on November 3rd! First, tell us how your story originated. I've always been an avid reader and planned to write a book one day. When I began work as a counselor in a jail, I thought that would be a neat setting for the book. I began to jot down notes about the environment such as sights, sounds, and smells. Before I knew it, my heroine had formed in my mind, begging me to tell her story. What a worthwhile job! Tell us about your journey from idea to publication. This book didn't go through rejections because I never sent it out. I did enter it in some contests in order to get feedback. It finaled in the Duel on the Delta last year. An agent took a look at it and said that she really l...