Peering Through Life's Window

In the winter in Georgia someone always says, “Our weather isn’t cold enough to kill the insect eggs and larva.” I recall this now because we had an unusually frigid winter here, and I’ve seen more bugs this summer than I’ve seen in years. One particularly fascinating insect appeared on our deck while we had a house guest. I first heard it fling itself into the sliding glass door in our living room. It sounded as though a baseball struck the glass. Our guest sat in front of it. I jumped and looked at her. She shrugged her shoulders, but said nothing. A few nights later we turned out the lights to get ready for bed, and I heard a loud, staccato clicking outside. Our guest said, “It’s that bug.” “What bug?” I asked. “The same one that banged into the door the other night. When you go to bed, and I'm here on the sofa I hear it. It makes that sound. Pull back the curtain and look. It spins around. I peered outside. A lime green insect about the size of a butterfly spun around in

The Liebster Award was given to me by Connie Almony Thank you, Connie! I'm passing it on to: Danielle Thorne  Anne Patrick   Miss Mae Laurean Brooks Regina Andrews

In Staci's interview she tells about a dangerous school situation. As for writing, she prefers characters who've decided life stinks. She offers them hope. She advises other writers to write their hearts. Welcome, Staci. First, tell us a little about yourself. I'm a stay-at-home mom with three kids a husband and a writing addiction! I've written 30 full-length novels, hundreds of articles, six Bible Studies, and two God Help books (for when self-help just isn't working anymore!) I blog. I volunteer at two schools and my church. I teach Sunday school and substitute. And the only reason I'm still sane is because God loves me and does an awesome job scheduling my days. Were you an avid reader as a child? What did you read? Yes. Words were one of my first loves. I told my grandpa when I was four that I was "anticipating" getting a ring when we went back to town. However, when I hit junior high and found romance novels (anyone remember Sweet Dreams?)

REGINA TALKS ABOUT ANGELS OF THE HEART, BOOK TWO IN HER STERLING LAKES SERIES Hi Regina, welcome. First, tell us a little about yourself. Gail, thank you so much for having me here today! I’m a New England girl through and through who loves to travel the world and loves getting home. I love in Providence, RI, and love being near the ocean. I met my husband because my sister moved in next door to him and I visit her all the time. She had a Christmas party, and well…that was that! Now I love there, too. We have a cat rather feral we rescued from a shelter named. Her name is Tiana. I love getting to know more about you. Tell us about your latest book. My newest book is called “Angels of the Heart”. It is book two in the Sterling Lakes Series, a 9-book series from Desert Breeze Publishing. The series looks at the town of Sterling Lakes as they undergo a rebirth while they are renovating their church. In three words describe your style of writing . That’s a great question, Gail! I’d

DEBBIE CLARK WINS LESSON OF THE POINSETTIA! CONGRATULATIONS, DEBBIE.

Mildred talks about three new E-Books. She's giving away one. Winner picks! To enter to win leave a comment with an email address. Hi Mildred, First, tell us a little about yourself. Gail, thank you for inviting me here today. I’ve been writing for about ten years for Heartsong Presents, which is the romance line at Barbour Publishing. I have eleven novels published with them as well as two collections and one audio book. Learning to Lean is a new venture for me as I launch into ebook publishing and promotion. It’s exciting to reach into a new area of readers with my work. While I fully intend to continue writing for my Heartsong readers, I hope to reach many ebook readers with the stories I am now working on for Amazon. In fact, as my backlist becomes available, my goal is to rewrite some of those and publish them as ebooks as well as new, unpublished stories. It sounds as though we readers have lots to look forward to. Were you an avid reader as a child? O

THE WINNER OF SCHOOL IS WHERE THE HOME IS: 180 DEVOTIONALS FOR PARENTS IS... CONNIE ALMONY! CONGRATULATIONS CONNIE!

Anita Mellott shares a devotional about trust from her new book, School Is Where the Home Is, 180 Devotions for Parents She'll give away an e-book. To enter to win leave a comment and an email address. He’ll Catch You “I will trust and not be afraid.” (Isaiah 12:2) “How do I know you’ll catch me?” Seven-year-old Caleb peered down from a tiny ledge five feet off the ground, a deep gorge behind him. “Look at us,” yelled a homeschool co-op buddy. A dozen kids and adults faced each other as their intertwined arms formed a safety net. Caleb had been the first in line for Trust Fall, a team-building exercise for our co-op kids at camp. Now he took a half step backward, bringing his back up against the solid tree trunk. “Well, I trust you with my secrets,” his voice faltered. “But not to catch me.” “But we’re your friends,” a chorus of voices replied. “You can do it, Caleb,” the adults encouraged. He sighed and turned around to face the tree. He closed his eyes, lea

CONGRATULATIONS TO... DANIELLE THORNE!

Twenty Promises For Your Life Psalm 91 has long been one of my favorite portions of Scripture and this morning I was reminded why. Did you know that tucked inside the 16 verses of this Psalm are no less than 20 promises? It's true. There are nineteen instances of what God WILL do for the believer, and one "I WILL" on the part of the believer. That makes 20 promises. Nineteen for us to receive and one for us to do. I'd say that's a generous ratio! Let's take a closer look: 1. Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High WILL remain in the shadow of the Almighty. (vs.1) (I will be protected by God's sheltering "shadow".) 2. I WILL say of the LORD, You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.(vs.2) (God is a refuge, a place of rest and peace and I can trust Him--and tell this to world.) 3. He is the one who WILL rescue you from hunters' traps and from the deadly plagues.(vs.3) (If someone tries to trip m

MEET JENNIFER AND ASHE SLATTERY Be sure to click on K Dawn's name below to see Ashe's interview on K Dawn Byrd's blog Parenting on Your Knees This year our daughter starts high school. This is the age when kids either flop or flourish. They either self-destruct or blossom. Quite honestly, a great deal of the parenting’s already been done. More and more, I spend less time telling my daughter how to view the world. Most often, I listen as she tries to figure out how her views fit in with the world. Basically, her core values are set, although luckily, she’s turned into a very strong and committed Christian. I say luckily, yet luck had nothing to do with it. When she was young, I dreaded the teen years. We’ve all seen teens raised by wonderful parent spiral into self-destruction. We’ve watched relationships shatter and once sweet and cooperative children turn into angry, rebellious teens. But one thing I learned very early on—whatever battle we faced, whatever dis

WELCOME AGATHA CHRISTIE AWARD NOMINEE AMANDA FLOWER Searching for the Blue Danube If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:9-10 There’s nothing quite as terrifying as being lost by yourself in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. This has happened to me more than once. The most memorable time was when I was twenty-five, and I got this ridiculous notion in my head that I should travel to Budapest, Hungary alone. I was already in Eastern Europe visiting a friend, and my friend had to work the day of my Hungarian adventure. I didn’t want to waste one minute in Europe by sitting around her apartment when a whole continent was right outside the window. I took the train from Bratislava to Budapest without incident. I felt confident I knew where I was going. I had a map and a travel guide—what could possibly go wrong? I figured I’d find the Danub

Protection in Dangerous Times Psalm 91: 1-2 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust !" The 1940s, the time-period BURNING HEARTS is set in, were dangerous times. World War II had ended and the Cold War and a great global arms race was beginning. Today we're living in dangerous times, an era of global terrorism. We all have a desire to protect those we love. We face this every time we, or someone we love, goes off to work in the morning. Our streets today are not as safe as they once were. It's a reality for us when our children go off to school, or our teens get into a car with their friends. Yet, we have an all-powerful and loving God, who's desire for us is the best, not the worst. He is our refuge and our fortress. In Him we shall trust. But this doesn't make God into a Santa Claus up in the sky to whom we shoot off a

GOD BLESS AMERICA! MAY WE ALWAYS BE FREE MAY WE ALWAYS WORSHIP AS WE PLESE WHEN WE PLEASE AND WHERE WE PLEASE MAY WE ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUCCEED WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OF TYRANNY OR TOTALITARIANISM MA Y WE ALWAYS RESPECT OUR FLAG MAY WE HONOR THOSE WHO DIED OR SUFFERED TO KEEP US FREE 

  Regina Shares her Love Story     And Tells us about her New Book                                                                                                                                                   LIGHT OF THE HEART When Love Comes Knocking on Your Door                                            by Regina Andrews Sunlight fills the room, warming the lemon chiffon walls. I look over from my side of the bed and see him there, sleeping peacefully on his side, his breathing relaxed and his limbs at ease. Closing my eyes, I open them quickly. Yes, he is still there. Yes, he is my husband. And yes, today is our wedding anniversary. A breeze flutters through the open window, rustling the sheer curtains and stirring memories of such sweetness and contentment. Our wedding anniversary! A truly blessed union that was meant to be. I smile as I recall how those who knew me “before” were amazed when I finally “tied the knot.” Fancy-free and independent, I was the quinte

                                             Notes from Camp One day, Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1 NIV When my oldest son went away to summer camp for the first time I was a nervous wreck. Although he was nine years old he hadn’t as much as spent a night away from home, let alone an entire week. I packed his suitcase with special care, making sure he had enough socks and underwear to see him through the week. Since this was prior to the advent of cell phones I also packed stationery and stamps so he could write home. Thanks to a conscientious camp counselor I received the first letter from my son three days after he’d left. I quickly tore open the envelope and stared at the childish scrawl. Camp is fun and I only barfed once. The next letter offered little more. Jerry wet the bed. Who’s Jerry, I wondered. The third and last letter provided this interesting piece of news. The

K. Dawn will be giving away a giftcard for a free download of Mistaken Identity, her new young adult romance. To enter to win leave a comment and your email address. It's so nice to have you here today K. Dawn. Were you an avid reader as a child? What did you read? I was an avid reader as a child. My favorite picture book was about a little boy who refused to get a haircut and when he hid behind some mops in the grocery store, a woman grabbed his hair thinking she was choosing a fuzzy mop. When I became a better reader, Nancy Drew was my absolute favorite. I must have read every Nancy Drew book in the school library...twice. Aww, that's a cute story about the little boy who refused to get a haircut. Tell us about your latest book. It's a young adult romance. Here's the blurb from my publisher: Eden Morgan longs for a boyfriend of her own, an impossible goal when her best friend, Lexi Branson, gets all the attention and all the guys. When they fall i