An E-reading We Will Go

About fifteen years ago, my friend Chris purchased an e-reader from Office Max.  Maybe it was longer ago than fifteen years, but she bought the first generation - not a Kindle or a Nook, but an e-reader.  Maybe the Edsel of the e-readers.  She raved about it.  The rest of us looked at her, turned to the next chapter of whatever book we were reading, and thought to ourselves..."It will never last."

That e-reader didn't last.

However, the next e-reader did.

I love print books best <gasp!>  Always will (really).  But, on trips (really, I brought 200 books with me, I tell my husband), or late at night (this backlit thing is a good idea), or when I'm tired (just how large a large print should I go?), the ebook reader cannot be beat.

So, if you're going on a trip, thinking about reading late at night, or tired and want a short story, go ahead try a new anthology out called Mistletoe Kisses.  You'll see that all the authors have their roots in the LI garden :)

Today, until Sunday night, this 8 author, Christmas romance is only 0.99!

Now at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ON4UXBU/

So, what's your favorite thing about e-readers?

Thursday Sisterhood with Danica Favorite

Family Status: Married with two girls at home- the Princess and the Cowgirl, and two adult step children. I also have a Dog, who is my favorite (just ask the rest of the family, and they will tell you that he is my favorite), and some chickens. Currently, the chickens are Lacy, Nyssa, and Gwennie, but the kids are trying to talk me into getting more.

Also, I have an inordinate amount of love for my chickens. And, since I mentioned pets, I should also give a shout-out to the toilet fish. We have a fish. It lives on the toilet. I can never remember its name, so I call it the toilet fish.

What Is Your Favorite Beverage: Tea

What Is Your Favorite Food: Really, you have to ask that? I JUST had to give up chocolate for health reasons, among a few other things, and so these days, all of my favorite foods are off-limits. I'm currently trying to get satisfaction by biting the heads off cinnamon bears.

What Is Your Favorite Thing to do During Free Time: I'm sorry, what is this thing you call free time? If I had free time, I'd read more. I also like to make art, knit, and travel.

Who Has Been the Most Influential Person in Your Life: I am a terrible interviewee because I HATE questions like this. My answers change a lot, maybe I'm fickle. But really, there's not a MOST person. A lot of people have been influential in my life in different ways. Camy Tang and Cheryl Wyatt (yes, the LIS and LI authors) are two of my best friends and they have taught me so much about friendship and grace, and with where I'm at in my life right now, I've been really clinging to the things they've taught me. Also, my friend Kay has been really amazing in helping me free my creative spirit. Hmm... those are all current. I can't think of any in the past at the moment.

First Book You Fell in Love With: The Secret of the Old Clock

A Book You Wish You’d Written: Pride and Prejudice

First Book Published: Coming November 2014!

Most Recent Book:Coming November 2014!

Out Next: After my November release, I'll have a follow up coming Spring 2015.

How Many Have You Written: I lost count... somewhere around 20 or so. This should be an encouragement to folks who'd like to be published and feel like it's taking FOREVER. If I can do it, so can you.

What Do You Know Now That You Wish You’d Known Then: That as much time as you spend unpublished WAITING, the waits are equally as long when you're published, so be prepared to make waiting the story of your life. :)

What is Your Favorite Bible Story: SERIOUSLY, I hate questions having to identify my favorite anything. I change my mind ALL. THE. TIME. Right now, it's Jonah, because we're doing a great Bible study on Jonah at my church, and it's been really impactful on me.

What is Your Favorite Bible Verse: I have a lot of favorites, but let's go with the summary of the Bible in one verse. Amos 5:4 "This is what the Lord says to Israel, Seek me and you shall live."

What is Your Favorite Hymn: I'm extremely fond of the Doxology. We sing variations of it every Sunday. It goes through my head a lot, especially when I'm out walking, and sometimes I think I even move in tune to it. I probably look silly doing it, but it makes me happy.

 What is an Ongoing Prayer Request You Have: Why are these questions so hard??? My ongoing prayer request is big with lots of pieces that are hard to explain, so I'll do my best and hope it makes sense. I'm in a weird season of transition and figuring out my life, healing some past wounds, and working on deepening my relationship with God. There's a very amorphous project in my head that has a bunch of pieces, but so far, I don't know what it all means, or how to put it together, so I'm just holding them, and praying for God to give me direction.

The Harlequin of the Moment

Yesterday, we talked about the first Harlequin that we read.  Today, we're talking about the most recent.  So, what are you reading, per Harlequin, today.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Captain's Mission is the first book I've read by Debby Guisti. I really like Debby so I was pleased that I enjoyed her book too! This is book 2 in her "Military Investigations" series. Her heroine CID Agent Kelly McQueen has the unpleasant task of investigating the death of a solider during a tranining exercise. The soldier was killed was under the command of Captain Phil Thibodeaux. The mystery of whe ther the soldier was killed by accident or murdered soon begins to threaten Kelly in particular. And what about the aging mother of the dead soldier? Why isn't she getting the care Kelly thinks she needs. Both Phil and Kelly have to get past their pasts to figure out the truth of this death and what's keeping them from a love they both deserve. Good book!

Lyn Cote


I just finished Camy Tang's "Protection for Hire" and highly recommend it. The alpha heroine is a former mobster who has given her life to Christ and doesn't quite know what to do with herself. It's such a great inner conflict to watch this heroine try to figure out how to be herself while also projecting her faith. Camy handles it beautifully and I really enjoyed the insight into the Asian/American culture.


Linda Goodnight



I'm reading Cheryl Wyatt's "Doctor to the Rescue".

Leann Harris


The Harlequin I read most recently was WAKING UP MARRIED by Mira Lyn Kelly, from the new Harlequin KISS line. I really enjoyed the snappy banter between the hero and heroine. It will be fun seeing how this new contemporary line develops.

Teri Wilson


I last read Regina Scott's The Rake's Redemption, a November 2012 LIH title. I couldn't wait to read this book since it promised to solve the mystery of the Everard Legacy. Naturally, it did not disappoint me one bit. Now, I'm in deep with one of the LIH titles off my TBR pile - Renee Ryan's Courting the Enemy. Love, love, love her WWII spy thriller romances. They keep me on the edge of my seat.

Christine Johnson



The most recent Harlequin book I've read is our own Winnie Grigg's "Hand-Picked Husband." Love Winnie's books. I also recently enjoyed Susan Sleeman's "Double Exposure" and Sandra Orchard's "Critical Condition" which, incidentally, is about a nurse! I've come full circle.

Lenora :)



I most recently read Virginia Carmichael's debut novel from Love Inspired, Season of Joy. I loved the setting (a homeless shelter), and I loved the characters and really rooted for them to find their happy ending!

Missy


Oh wait! I read Seasons of Joy by Virginia Carmichael, too. And I really loved it. It was a tender story about personal growth and helping those in need, and I really loved the main character's work with the homeless shelter. That's a spin you don't see very much of in novels.

Naomi Rawlings



Last week I read Lyn Cote's Frontier Family, a Love Inspired Historical. I walked away with new knowledge about Quakers, with a real urge to spend a weekend in a cabin (she described it so well), and an attachment to Sunni and Noah. It was a great story that inspired me to go looking for her previous Gabriel Sisters' book.

Pamela Tracy

Look what I woke up to...(Cheryl Wyatt)

Cheryl Wyatt here to say look what I woke up to today! Not the roses, the SNOW! I love snow. I stayed up late last night just to watch it fall because it rarely snows here. Everytime I watch flakes fall, it reminds me of God's mercy, falling...falling...falling around and over us, covering completely and making us pure. As white and gleaming as the driven snow. Snow brightens everything it covers. Mercy is like that too.

We don't deserve it but it's beautiful, and it's ours for the taking.

I'd love to know if it snows where you live and if you like snow or not and why.

The photo, with the contrast of the red roses and the white snow glistening through the window behind it reminded me of one of my favorite Bible verses:

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18 NIV

I pray you have a strong sense of God's mercy toward you. May it cover you like the diamond-white snow covers the ground. A snow-covered ground brightens everything around it, the entire landscape. You're like that too when God's mercy resides in you. Praying you have a safe, happy winter brimming with tender moments alone with God and that you live in constant wonder of the magnificent things He's made for us to enjoy. For me, it's glimpsing a rare snowfall like I woke up to today. That I'm even breathing is a gift and I'm thankful.


My January Love Inspired (A Soldier's Devotion-IN STORES NOW) is set in Southern Illinois and while I absolutely LOVE the cover, January doesn't really look vibrant like that. But what I love about the cover is that by the time another month of winter settles in for a visit, people around here will be longing for the vibrancy and new life that spring will bring. They'll be tired of the grays, browns and whites of winter. God's changing seasons remind me that His seasons in our lives change too. Winter is sometimes harsh and cold. Vince, my main character would probably say, "Winter was cool for awhile but enough already. Bring on the color!"

Have a wonderful week!

Cheryl Wyatt

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Christmas Frays-Cheryl Wyatt Style

I play jokes on people all the time. My family expects it. They live in a constant state of heightened awareness (read: fear-LOL) of me because of it. They never know what they're going to get gift-wise or how the gift will be wrapped. I've been known to use entire rolls of duct tape to wrap presents. Sometimes those jokes backfire and I could tell you many frays where I got into a HUGE box only to find a teeny box inside of the seventy other boxes I had to open to get to the real gift. But, indeed I deserve it and I suppose I should be willing to take it as much as I dish it out.

I got this image and description from a friend through e-mail. I usually delete forwards but I'm so glad I looked at this one. At first, I thought the photo was real and I wondered why in the world would someone be snapping a photo of rather than rushing to help the person-in-distress.

Then I realized that the person dangling was fake and that the scenario WAS the Christmas decoration.

I laughed so hard and begged my husband to let us decorate our home like that this year. We have NEVER had outside decorations. Ever. I told him this is the only one I'd EVER ask for.

He said, "No."

Not just "no" but "Absolutely not. It will cause traffic accidents."

LOL! Well, pout.

When I read him the description below that came with the e-mail, he grinned as bright as a Christmas star because he knew he was right.

And I'm still pouting but I do see his point. Still...it would be hilarious and totally like me, being the practical joker that I am. Hubby is a practical joker too..big time. But I guess it's good for humanity that he's also "practical" without the jokey part when necessary.

Here's the description that came with the forwarded photo:
(I'm sorry, I don't know the original author of the photo or the below e-mail or I would TOTALLY give them credit well-deserved.)
---
"Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard"

---

Hope you get a good laugh out of this today. And may your Christmas decorating NOT go like this. LOL!

Merry Christmas!

Cheryl Wyatt

Cheryl Wyatt with Thanksgiving Despite Difficulties

Cheryl Wyatt here. Most years are a joyous occasion for our family during the holidays. But some years are difficult due to hardship or loss that occurs during the season. I didn't want this post to be a downer but I can't help but think about the people for whom today is hard.

Night before last, our family business, the one my husband has built for two decades, burned.

The building--which housed seven small businesses and equipment for the same...total loss. I lost count of how many nearby towns sent firetrucks and firemen to help...most of whom work on a volunteer basis and have jobs outside their homes. Today I'm thankful for them. I'm thankful they got there within minutes.

I'm thankful for neighbors who rushed outside and came around us, arms encircling my waist, as the building burned. I'm thankful no one was injured when things, vehicle gas tanks, etc. started exploding. I'm thankful the steel beams didn't break with firemen inside. I'm thankful that the gas main, located in the hottest part of a fire that raged above the tree tops and spanned the diameter of the structure, did not break. Had that happened, it would have caused a tremendous explosion which could have injured or killed firefighters. I'm thankful for EMTs and Paramedics who came to standby and hydrate firemen and women with water and be ready to administer oxygen when smoke became too much. I'm thankful that a couple of my husband's crews had vehicles out after working so that meant they weren't in the building when it burned. It also means they can keep skeleton crews running and all his employees paychecks coming in during holidays.

He has many employees who support their families, wife and children, with the job. I'm thankful those employees rushed to come support my husband when they heard the business was burning. They offered moral support and comic relief for my husband during a tough time. I'm thankful for a sense of humor that enabled me to laugh when I tripped over a fire hose (those things do NOT budge) and re injured the knee I chipped in a wreck two years ago. LOL!

I'm thankful for the paramedic who reminded me that I'd just brainstormed a story about a fire department that burned and here's first hand research and gently suggested I should take notes.

That made me remember that the series before this, I wrote about a woman who broke her ankle in a bridge collapse, then two months later I was hit by an impaired driver and...you guessed it...fractured my ankle and crushed my foot.

I responded to the EMT, who is a friend, that I think from now on I will write about people who win the lottery.

I'm thankful for insurance.

I'm thankful for people who kept the moment light when I could have stood there sobbing instead. Somehow, despite our livelihood literally going up in smoke, I found moments to laugh. I'm thankful for two writer friends, Camy and Dream, who were ready to hop planes that instant and come be with my husband and I who live in Illinois. They live in Denver and California. And I know they would have had I said, "Come." Camy literally did fly in when I had to have a series of surgeries after the wreck. She was a tremendous help to my family.

So today, our family has a lot to be thankful for despite the difficulty and that it will probably take a year to get everything even halfway what it was. God will provide, of that I have no doubt. I'm thankful for the calls and emails of support and for all the people who are praying.

If you are having a difficult day today because of loss or heartache or hardship, please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. It's not a happy time for everyone but God is very, very near to the broken-hearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit. He is thankful for YOU. Praying that you have a strong sense of His presence today and that He overwhelms you with peace and joy, friends and family to buoy you this day and this season.

I'm thankful that for most of you, today will be a joyous occasion. Enjoy your family and your friends and yummy food. God bless you and yours.

Cheryl Wyatt

FEATURED BOOK: SOLDIER DADDY BY CHERYL WYATT

U.S. Air Force commander Aaron Petrowski leads pararescue teams, yet can't find one nanny for his three-year-old twins? The widowed father is returning to duty, but not without the best care for his beloved boys. So when Sarah Graham applies, the young woman surprises everyone by passing inspection. Until Aaron discovers Sarah has a secret tied to a tragedy in his past. He can't keep her in his employ—or in his heart. Until his brave little soldier boys teach him a thing or two about love.

Whoops! Fall Stuff

Sorry for this going up late. I thought I scheduled it but I think Blogger burped or something because it didn't post.

Fall is my favorite time of year. I live in a woodsy area so the forests are starting to look like an earth-toned rainbow scrolling by my window as I drive down the road.

I love pumpkin pie and scarecrows. I love deep purple mums and rust colored mums in big thick bunches. I love the smell of cider bubbling and the taste of cinnamon. I love camping this time of year, cooking on a campfire and roasting marshmallows. It's cool enough for a hoodie but not cold enough to require a heavy coat yet.

These are all things I love about fall.

I'd love to know your favorite season and why. I'd love to hear what your favorite part of fall is too.

The cover of my October book depicts fall well. I love the artist's rendition of the twins tossing leaves in the air. Soldier Daddy is still in stores but only for a few more days. Hope you hurry and get your copy. Let me know what you think of it.

Talk away!

Happy Fall,

Cheryl Wyatt

Cheryl Wyatt here to say: Your Readership is a Blessing

Hi all! Cheryl Wyatt here.

Ten years ago I was an avid reader of Love Inspired novels. Some of the authors on this site were and still are among my favorites.

Who knew that ten years later, I would have the great privilege of being among them?

As you know by previous posts, several of us recently returned from the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Denver. One thing the keynote speaker deposited in us through her inspiring talks was to remember to be thankful every day for even the little things.

Sometimes in the midst of deadlines I forget to remember what it's like without deadlines. Debbie Macomber's talk brought me back to the beginning of my quest for publication and helped me to remember a day I dreamed for this yet never imagined it could become a reality.

Another thing Debbie taught us was to dream big no matter how old we are.

What do you dream for?

What are you afraid to dream for?

Why?

Remember that we serve the God of all hope who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that we can think or imagine. (Eph 3:20)

I pray you dream big today and everyday and that you remember to be thankful for the little things.

I can't tell you what an honor it was to be able to sit next to one of my author mentors and now friend, Margaret Daley at the ACFW booksigning.

These LI ladies live the faith they write about in their books. Each of them are remarkable in the way they reach out to newer authors like myself.

I'm so thankful to be here...and we are so thankful for your readership that keeps us here and able to write books we hope you will love.

Hugs all!

Cheryl Wyatt

Loyalty...lessons learned from a lonely, cyber-rivalric dog.

Cheryl Wyatt here...

I have an ever-growing list of attributes that I keep for the purpose of fashioning heroes and heroines I think people will love. Stuff like: Brave. Patient. Heroic. Funny. Perceptive. Caring. Noble. Integritous. Loyal and a bunch of others.

I was thinking about the attribute of loyalty one day last week when I was wandering around my house looking for something at two am. (don't ask-sigh).

Anyway, we have a tiny dog who has very set times he likes to do things. Once eight PM hits, the dog heads to his bed for sleep...or tries to. And he will normally sleep until about seven in the morning. This little guy loves his sleep.

BUT, when I'm on deadline I tend to get nocturnal. I'm a night person anyway but when I'm on deadline and the book is flowing, it's not unusual for me to stay up until the wee hours of the morning writing because I'm way more productive at night.

Thankfully I have a supportive husband who understands my body's rhythms and also, he knows I worked night shift for a quarter of a century, so my body is accustomed to working at night.

My dog's body, however, is not. Yet he will wobble out of his bed, bleary-eyed and stumbly to follow me around the house no matter how tired he is. And at times the poor thing is about to fall over from fatigue, yet he will not stop following me.

Sometimes he stands so close, right on my heels, literally, so if I make a sudden turn, I end up stumbling over him. LOL! But I love this puppy and I love what God has been teaching me about loyalty through him.

I have even tried to carry him back to his bed and tuck him in his favorite blanket. But this dog's faithful loyalty will not let him let me out of his sight no matter how sleepy and wobbly he is. He watches my every move and never strays more than four inches from my side.

He always waits for permission to jump on my lap, but when I pat my knee and say, "Come!" he goes completely berzerk with puppy joy. His nubby tail wags so fast it's nothing but a blur on the edge of his bottom. And he makes these little
contented noises that I couldn't replicate if I tried. Not that I'd want to. But this dog is so loyal, fiercely loyal.

He sometimes gets jealous over me using the computer. In fact when he gets really lonely for my affection he will actually run across my keyboard. LOL! Or drop his favoriate toy on it if he's in the mood to play. And if I keep typing, he will actually come stand on my keyboard and look me right in the eyes. LOL!

He thinks he's ten foot tall and bullet proof and if a stranger comes near me, he will snarl and snip like a lion in attack-mode.

This dog's loyalty humbled me the other day when he was clicking behind he through the hall.

How often do I not put forth the effort to press in and connect with God when I'm tired? Nearly always.

I do connect, but when I'm tired or sleepy or hungry, I can think of little else but my bed, a hot bath and FOOD. Of course it doesn't help that I have low blood sugar and at times get grumpy.

But still, I do wish that I were as loyal to staying in God's presence as my little dog is in staying in mine. He loves me. There's no doubt.

And God loved me enough to send this little messenger to teach me about loyalty.

I'd love to hear about a pet who meant a lot to you, past or present. Comment away!

Patter on, :-)

Cheryl

Random End-of-summer Stuff

Wow! Can't believe summer is almost over! This summer was a bit more fun-filled for our family simply because I was on crutches and unable to drive all last summer following a car accident.

I was thinking back to that time and laughing about how being on those crutches made everything take ten times as long. Ever tried hopping with a pan of water from the sink to the stove? Yeah, even every day stuff like cooking for the family became a monumental task.

Having been temporarily disabled helped me in a lot of ways though. It made me more aware of what those who are permanantly disabled have to contend with. Ever tried to push a wheelchair through aisles of a department store? Think most of them are made to ease the way of those with disabilities? Nope. Trust me, NOT SHOPPING for three whole months was a chore in an of itself. LOL!

So if you see a disabled person struggling with a door or to get through an aisle, do offer assistance. When your entire life consists of having to depend mostly on others, it becomes REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hard to ask.

I hope we can all be perceptive enough to pick up on the needs of those around us without them having to ask. I'm trying to be better at it too.

I hope you have had a wonderful summer and are gearing up for a great next season. If you've ever been down and out or on crutches, a walker or in a cast or wheelchair, I'd love to hear your story in the comment section. What did you find the most challenging chore when you were differently-abled?

Hugs all!

Cheryl Wyatt

It's a toss-up

It was a toss up today as to whether to write about my dad or my husband. So I'll take the opportunity to brag on them both.

Trust me, to that end, this blog post could go on forever...or at least to novel length. I'm on deadline this week so this post will be kinda short. Speaking of deadlines though, hubby knows that I am writing on a tight deadline this week. In addition to being brave enough to conquer Mount Laundry for me this week, he brought in two (2!!!) HUGE cups of McDonald's Sweet Tea yesterday...

When did he figure out that I love to sip on it (in between water bottles) when I write? And I have two days until deadline. That he takes enough interest in my writing to make making deadlines easier means so much. But the sweetest thing about yesterday wasn't exactly the tea.

It was when I took a stretch break and wandered into the living room to see my husband in the middle of the couch, all three of my girls cuddled up next to him watching Hanna Montana. I could tell by the wry humor on my husband's face that watching Hanna Montana was a real stretch for him. LOL! But that was one of many sweet images to add to my mental photo album...and the look on his face as he met my gaze was the sweetest thing of all. Because I know that man was thinking, "I'm doing this for you, so you can concentrate on writing the best book possible."

My June book, A Soldier's Reunion, that's in stores now was challenging for me to write in that the heroine's father wasn't really there for her, which led her to have trust issues later in life. My husband is such a great father and my dad was such a great father that one of my biggest challenges as an author is writing about characters who have a hard background as far as their parents.

I write military stories for the time being. My dad served as a Marine in Vietnam and they went through so much, not only during the war but once they came home. I have often wished the U.S. would make a day and have a redo of when those guys came home. And this time that the country would welcome them. My dad was pretty tough on us as far as when we'd say we couldn't do something. He'd prove to us that we could. I learned the courage to do many things because my dad wouldn't let me believe otherwise. He said that it's okay to fail as long as you did your best, but it wasn't okay to sit back and not try just because you think you can't do something. He said that to me when he and mom taught me how to ride a bike without training wheels. He said that to me when I broke and trained my own horse the first time. When I learned to use a firearm after him teaching me gun safety. When I learned to use a bow and arrows. When I learned to play chess and ride a motorcycle at age five. All those things and a gazillion more.

I came home once crying from school because my PE teacher and the class gave me a hard time and made fun of me because I couldn't do a push-up like a guy. Yes, I know I'm a girl and I tried explaining that to the PE teacher. But she was like a drill sergeant and refused to let girls do girlie push-ups. We had to do them like a guy. Only I couldn't.

So when my dad asked me what was wrong, I told him I was upset because they made fun of me because I couldn't do a push-up. Did he pull me in for a hug and tell me he was gonna go beat up the PE teacher for me as I'd hoped he'd say?

Nope. He smiled. Nodded and pulled me in for a quick hug then jabbed a finger at the floor and said, "Get down there and do a push-up."

Then he got down in the floor beside me and showed me the best way to build my arm muscles. Every single day he worked with me on practicing push-ups until I could do them. I was so mad at my dad at first...MAKING me do push-ups. But now, I understand that what he was trying to teach me. Failure is not an option. Well, it's an option but refusing to try because you think you'll fail is not an option.

Had it not been for my dad's manner of teaching and not allowing us to shy back from anything, I may not be the writer I am today. May not even have had the courage to try to be published. Nor would I have lasted the seven strenuous years and the seven manuscripts it took me to finally break in.

Likewise, if my cute, rocker dude husband didn't love me enough and wasn't willing enough to subject himself to shows like Hanna Montana, I'm not sure I'd have the privilege and honor of being able to blog with the rest of the Craftie Ladies of Romance. Such an honor and I'm so thankful to have men in my life who champion my dreams.

I pray that you do as well.


So, Cowboy Dad and Cute Rocker Dude...if you guys are listening...thanks!

Cheryl

Houston...I have power! AND a great mom...

Sorry for getting this up late. We only recently had power restored after an enormous storm...ever heard of an inland hurricane?

Neither had I until two weeks ago when I saw whole trees sailing past my windows. LOL!

Today I'd like to honor my mom by telling you a story. I've wanted to write since I could hold a crayon. My parents always encouraged me toward my dreams. My mother is the kindest, sweetest person I know. She always believed in me and told me so. She never once doubted my potential even when I did. After high school, I went to college to be a nurse. I worked in health care for about twenty years before trading in my nurse's hat and running those corridors at midnight to running after the patter of six little feet.

Becoming a stay-at-home mom is a choice my mother made when we were young too, and I was so glad for that time with her. I thought, my kids are only little once and I can never get that time back with them. Staying home with them enabled me to begin writing. Actually, what started me staying home was the fact that I was placed on bedrest with a pregnancy. So God really launched the gift of story in me then, though I'd written for years.

After seven years of trying, I finally sold my 7th completed manuscript but I'd finished 15 by that time. Once my author copies of my debut novel came in the mail, I went straight to my mom's house, because she's been my biggest champion and I knew she'd be so proud of me. I handed that book to her and said, "Look! My first book!"

She smiled in her sweet way and said, "No, actually...this is your first book." And she walked over to a file cabinet that she'd kept drawings and art projects and things from my sister and I from when we were young. She pulled out this tattered blue construction paper book that was illustrated and had a story in the pages about a dog named blue (LOOOOOOOOONG before Blues Clues! LOL.). I'd written it when I was in elementary school, probably around age 5. She handed it to me and said, "THIS was your first book." Then she hugged me and said, "I always knew you could do it."

What would we do without mothers?

For those of you whose mom has passed on...my prayers and thoughts are with you today. I pray God will grant you special memories today.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Spring Fun & April Fools Jokes

Okay...I know it's the end of the month...but bear with me. I LOVE April Fool's Day. I am one of the biggest practical jokers I know.

Problem is, my husband rivals me in the art of trickstery. Two of our favorite shows to watch are Candid Camera and Punk'd and similar practical joke shows.

Before we married, we'd play jokes on each other ALL the time. Once him and a friend taped eight foot pieces of plastic to my door at 4 AM. Then FILLED it to the brim with thousands of packing peanuts. So when we opened the door the next morning, this mountain of packing peanuts avalanched into our apartment. It took my roommate (waving to Kelly Rushing) and I three hours to clean them up. It took SO long because the foam peanuts kept sticking to us due to static electricity. It was SO frustrating. We finally got them cleaned up by me scooping them with a dustpan into a lawn bag. We filled like 4 lawn bags I think. It was crazy.

Then when we got married, my husband warned me NOT to stock our new pantry with canned goods until after we got back from our honeymoon and moved in. Apparently his mom was trying to sneak our house keys in order to get in and do what she did to his brother when he got married...ripped all the labels off their canned goods. So they didn't know what they were eating for a month and a half.

Sigh. At least I know who my husband got his jokester genes from.

Unfortunately my children must have inherited that trickster streak because one day when they were little they, yes, ripped ever label off the canned goods. You CANNOT tell the difference between green beans and peaches when you're shaking a can and holding it to your ear. LOL!

SO I'm curious as to what was the WORST or FUNNIEST or MOST MEMORABLE practical joke you've either played on someone or had someone play on you?

Don't be shy! I know I can't be the only trickster among us.

Cheryl Wyatt

Spring Cleaning (or not!) by Cheryl Wyatt

I'm trying to declutter my house. Specifically, my closet. Well, not that I WANT to get rid of clothes...but since that end of the house is tipping and the foundation is cracking from the weight, I figured I'd better thin the closet out.

The problem is, I can't get to my clothes that I hardly wear because I have an eight foot wall of Sterilite containers. Getting to the clothes would require me to actually MOVE all those boxes.

What's in the boxes? Uh, not sure but I'm guessing MORE CLOTHES.

Okay, let me explain. When I met my husband, I wore a size 5 to 7. Then I crept up to a 9. Then I hit double digits. Thankfully, I haven't hit triple digits yet. Anyway, I have this tiny bit of hope that I will eventually get back into the 12s at least.

The 9s, 7s and 5s? I'm going to keep one pair of each, buy those box frames, stick them in there with a caption that says, "I wore these once." Then get rid of all the other clothes that I will never, ever, ever, ever and I mean EVER fit this caboose back into.

Or....I could save them for my daughters. Or, my daughters can help me declutter. Yeah!

Nah...I think I'll just go clothes shopping.....

Snicker. Snicker. Snicker.

Okay, SERIOUSLY. I mean it. I AM going to thin out that closet this Spring. I AM. Really.

And...I have to give credit where credit is due. My friend, Renee Morgan is who gave me the idea to frame the size 7 pants and get rid of the rest. Um...have I yet?

I plead the 5th.

But I want YOU to talk.

I wonder what's the BEST declutter advice or Spring cleaning tip you have ever heard?

Come on...let's hear it.

I'd also like to hear what area of your house or yard needs a dose of Spring cleaning. Talk away! Don't be shy. Help this pack-ratty-author out. Share your best tips. Are you a pack rat? Or a neat freak? Do share...

By the way, hunky Ben Dillinger, the hero for Ready-Made Family is a neat freak. But he brings his brother to live with him and his brother, who has Mosaic Down Syndrome, is a hoarder. I hope you will pick up this story (IN STORES NOW!) and let me know what you think. I love hearing from readers.

PS...don't forget to share with us your tips on conquering clutter.

Cheryl Wyatt

My Kind of Friendship Poem by Cheryl Wyatt

My sister sent this to me by e-mail. I thought I'd share it with you all. Not sure who the original author is, but this friendship poem cracked me up because it is SO me.

Enjoy!

None of that Sissy Stuff

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this-
Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad --I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.
4. When you're scared -- we will high tail it out of here.
5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining, ya big baby!!!!
6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.
7. When you are sick --Stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
8. When you fall -- I'll pick you up and dust you off--
After I laugh my butt off!!
9. This is my oath...I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask -- because you are my FRIEND!

Friendship is like peeing your pants,
everyone can see it,
but only you can feel the true warmth.

Send this to 10 of your closest friends,
Then get depressed because you can only think
of 4.

Cheryl here...isn't that cute? LOL! I also wanted to mention my upcoming April 1 release (but it should be in stores any day now and can be ordered anywhere online that books are sold) titled Ready-Made Family.

In the book, the heroine is new to town and is in need of friendship among other things. The kindness of people, reaching out to her without agenda helped to restore her faith in church and in Christians as well as let her know that God wasn't holding her past against her. She prays for a good friend and God sends more than she asked for.

Have you ever prayed for a friend and had that answered? I'd love to hear your story.

Talk away!

Cheryl Wyatt

Quiet Love

I grew up with a family of huggers. Not tree huggers. People huggers. We hugged each other every day at least once. My parents always gave goodbye hugs when we left for school and goodnight hugs before sleep.

After we'd mow our dad's knees over with hugs when he'd come in from work, we'd plop down in the floor and help him tug his cowboy boots off. Fond memories. My family showed love by affection. Especially my mother who is the most loving person I know.

Enter dashing Rocker Dude twenty-something years later...

I fell flat on my heart in love with his contagious grin, kind brown eyes and hilarious sense of humor. He remodeled a 1200 square foot home and built onto it by the sweat of his brow until it became 4000 square feet...plenty of room for all the babies that came later. The teething rings did come after the wedding rings, but once we got married however, I began to doubt my husband's love. He never showed affection. Never hugged. Never held my hand. Of course he didn't really do that sort of thing before we got married either. But he served me. Sometimes without me knowing it. Him and a friend sneaked to another of my friend's house and, in the middle of the night, built a wheelchair ramp for her disabled son. We only found out about it because neighbors described his work truck and he fessed up.

I'd work midnights at the hospital and come out to find every nurse's vehicle in the parking lot COVERED with ice and snow...and my windshield scraped clear with one red rose and a hilarious greeting card from Rocker Dude stuck in the windshield wiper. My nurse friends scraped their windshields in frenzy while eyeing my car in envy and spouting, "You'd better hang on to that guy. You'd better not let that one get away. Any guy who gets up and four a.m. to scrape your windshield deserves a chance. You should give him one."

I'm SO glad I did.

I had a friend (Pammer James) and her family visit. After observing my husband and I interact for a couple days, Pammer said, "He loves you quietly, doesn't he?"

That hit me like a two-by-four. This man might have a hard time with hugs. But he knows what it means to serve. He wasn't raised with huggers. It dawned on me that we love how we are taught. His family serves one another and does tasks and projects to show their affection. That's how he grew up knowing love from his parents and how his parents displayed love for one another. Home-improvement projects. Landscaping. Etc. So that's how he learned to love.

My rocker dude might not hug, but I have a gorgeous window-fronted twenty-by-thirty foot sunroom that houses a library for my book addiction and a gym for all the equipment I don't use near enough and a beautiful desk for writing--a dream he supports and champions--that is an obvious testament to his love. A breathtaking corner gas log that he and his dad installed. A comfy sectional for family time that houses side-by side recliners where we spend time in each other's company and which is my favorite spot to write.

Hubby says he built this sunroom for me to have a place to come retreat to and write in peace. I actually think he subconsciously built it as a PMS Shelter for Men and plans to check himself into it when all our daughters turn teenagers at once. HA! But for now, I'll enjoy the view out of my gorgeous sunroom which lends a view of the deck he built, the fence he fashioned, and the massive swingset playhouse fort he and my dad and his dad constructed for our children. True love. His music may be loud but his love is quiet. I don't so much miss the hugs anymore. Besides, after eleven years together, he's finally starting to lift his hands and do this sort of bend-arms-at-the-elbow and pat-pat-pat my back. Not quite a hug...but we're getting there. :-)

In the meantime, I'll relish his servant's heart and his loud music and his quiet love and try my best to learn the best ways to love him back.

And now...time NOT to be quiet. I would LOVE to hear how you love best to be loved. Don't be shy! Chat away.

Cheryl Wyatt

Love does not boast...

...Love does not boast....

(I Cor 13:4)

When I found out I was blogging on boasting today, it occurred to me that I'd never really done a Bible study on this word alone. Yes, I'd studied about pride. And yes, I've strived to practice thinking of others more than myself, but I realized something interesting when I did a Biblical word search on boasting.

Know what I found out?

Well, I'll tell ya anyway. LOL!

Not all boasting is bad. What kind of boasting is okay?
--the kind that brings attention to God rather than us. (1 Sam 2:1-3)
--the kind that serves to make God famous rather than us. (Ps 44:8)
--the kind that gives God credit for things done in our lives. (Ps 34:2)
--the kind that honors others above ourselves. (2 Cor 9:2-3)
--the kind that encourages believers that they are on the right track(2 Cor 7:14)
--the kind that builds others up (2 Cor 10:13-15)

The kind of boasting that is not okay:
--the kind that takes credit away from God for things accomplished (1 John 2:16)
--the kind that robs attention from God (James 4:16)
--the kind that steals glory and fame that belongs to God (Judges 7:2)
--the kind that tears others down (1 Cor 5:6)
--the kind that discourages and disheartens those who feel they can't measure up when we elevate ourselves rather than let God do it. (Ps 94:4)


When is it okay to boast?
In the Lord(in his abilities, accomplishments, deeds, character, etc)
In others (for the purpose of encouraging and admonishing them to obedience and toward a closer relationship with God)

When is it not okay?
To boast in ourselves (over our abilities, accomplishments, gifts, deeds, character, etc. Anything that takes credit away from the One who really deserves it)

-----

When I first sold my books, I SO struggled with promoting them, because I felt like I was braggin, boasting or otherwise trying to push myself off on people. It's a fine line to honor our publishers by helping to get the word out about our books, without making it seem like we are tooting our horn.

Another thing I struggle with is when to share writing accomplishments. When both of my debut novels received Top Picks, I HAD to let my writing colleagues know. Especially since some of them had mentored me. Though I sent that e-mail with a pure heart in that I really was trying to encourage them because they'd spent time helping me, another part of me just CRINGED as soon as the e-mail sent. I automatically worried that people would think I was bragging on myself.

So now I opt to let others share any good news I have. Not saying it's wrong to toot our own horns when we have an accomplishment, I'm just being real here in saying that I really struggle with knowing when I've crossed a line. Generally people love to hear about our good news and accomplishments. But it goes down easier I think when it's not the person themselves sharing the news. Reconciling that sort of thing and knowing how to share the good news about myself in such a way that it brings honor and attention to God and others rather than myself and doing it without being cringeworthy is key for me.

As authors, we definitely rely on readers to help us get the word out about our books. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to market books. The problem is, many authors struggle with marketing themselves because we've been conditioned that bringing attention to ourselves is somehow wrong. If you like an author and their books, one of the best things you can do for them is tell others about their books so they don't have to. LOL!

Thank you for dropping by our blog today!

Now, I'd like to hear from you all. Has there been a time in your life when someone else's bragging/boasting has driven you up a wall? Without mentioning names, I'd love to hear how you coped with that, as well as any struggles you've had with boasting.

Hopefully boastless,

Cheryl