Twix the what and the huh???

Hello, all. Dana Mentink, here. We had a rolicking good time on St. Patty’s Day with the Mentink clan and assorted holiday foods including corned beef, cabbage, etc. It was a hoot, as it always is. My sister shared an old saying she learned somewhere along the way. “There’s always a slip, twix the cup and the lip.” We had a great time alalyzing that one! I think we concluded that it meant that life is unexpected and many things can set us back a pace. It got us to thinking about other sayings and their meanings. My mother always used to tell us to “wring it out like a turnip” before we set off on a car trip. I’ll leave you to decipher the meaning of that one. My favorite from my father is, “Never keep such an open mind that people can fill it full of garbage.” I think my children will probably remember the little nugget I have repeated to them since their wee years. “Just because you CAN do something, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.”

So over to you, dear cyber friends. What are some sayings common to your family? And, of course, feel free to add those special truisms that you’ve handed down to your peeps!

Here’s a link to Dana’s latest, a 99 cent prequel to the upcoming Love Inspired Suspense continuity series, True Blue K-9 Unit!

Shield of Protection

Stories, Stories Everywhere

by Jean C. Gordon

Readers often ask, "Where do you get your story ideas? "My short answer is "Life." Maybe I should refine that to "Ordinary Life."

For instance the idea for my first published book, a sweet romance, came from the experience of another family that was adopting a Korean baby from the same agency we used to adopt our son. The Korean agency had a strict rule of allowing only married couples to adopt its children. Sadly, after a child was placed with a local family, the mother died before the adoption was finalized. Initially, the agency wanted to take the child back. I don't know what actually happened, but the resolution in my story is a happy one--naturally.

An article I read at work in The Wall Street Journal  planted the seed of my second book. It was about a financial planner who scammed older people. In my book, the hero's grandmother was scammed. My heroine works for the practice that scammed her. Of course, she knows nothing about it. But the hero doesn't know that.

Small-Town Sweethearts, my first Love Inspired Romance grew from a comment a family member made about how she liked their new church because it was more formal, and she could worship privately there. In contrast, I really like our church because of the fellowship the congregation shares. I started thinking about the value of Christian fellowship and how different people perceive it, and the story unfolded.

An incident my daughter experienced as a midwife inspired my latest Love Inspired, Small-Town Midwife. I thought, what if Autumn, my midwife heroine, no longer has the confidence to catch babies. Then, I brought in Dr. Jon Hanlon who exudes nothing but confidence in his technical app roach to delivering babies. How could a romance not develop?

Think about your life. How many story ideas do you see?

Struggles and trials and frustrations, oh my!

Hi everyone, Lynette Eason here. Yesterday I was working on my newsletter. And lost the first draft after it was almost completely done. What??? Needless to say I was a little frustrated. However, once I calmed down, I decided to try to find the spiritual application there. I'll let you know if I find it. LOL. 

But seriously, sometimes things just go wrong. Sometimes life just throws us frustrations. I think God allows these things to happen to teach us how to respond to certain things. Now I realize losing a newsletter that I'd put several hours of work into doesn't compare to some things, but what if I respond with, "Okay, I'm not happy about this, but maybe there's some way to make this better?" I mean, it sure beats moaning and groaning about  the loss and pouting that I have to do the work over again, right? Maybe.

My fourteen year old daughter also recently learned a little about this when she fell off her horse a week and a half ago. She jumps horses on a regular basis and after nine years of riding has only fallen once before. This time her fall was a doozy. She sprained her back and couldn't hardly move for days. Pain medication gave her only partial relief. In the midst of her pain, she asked me, "Why did God let this happen?"

Of course I have no idea why He let it happen, but I asked her if she could learn something from it.

With no little sarcasm, she responded, "You mean other than the fact that I should have held on tighter?"

"Um...yes. Other than that."

She said something to the effect of, "Maybe it's so I'll slow down and make sure I'm keeping my focus on God."

Maybe.

In all of this, though, James 1:2 comes to mind: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." 

This is a hard one for me. I don't like trials. I don't like struggles. I especially don't like to see my child suffer. But when I--or my daughter-- come out stronger on the other side with the evidence that God is working in my life--and hers--, well, I have to admit, I like that part.

The same is true with writing. Before publication, we struggle, we moan and groan through the rejections. We cry out, "When is my time going to line up with your time, God?" And we press on, doing our best to learn through the frustrations. After publication, we struggle with deadlines, doing our best to make sure the writing doesn't take over so we neglect our family, our own needs--God. Through all of that, we must make sure not to take our focus off the one who will deliver us--one way or another.

I pray that if you are facing trials or frustration, struggles and hard times, that God will touch your heart, that he will wrap his arms around you to give you comfort and bless the socks off of you right there in the midst of your trouble.

Linda Goodnight here, talking about sacrifice. That’s a word most of us don’t want to think about. Oh, I might sacrifice a cookie to save a few calories. I might sacrifice an hour or two to help out at school or church. But I’m talking about real sacrifice, the kind that costs us something we’d rather not lose. I’ve known people who gave up Christmas to work in a soup kitchen. Other’s who gave up summer vacation to serve on the mission field. Of course, nothing can match the sacrificial love of Jesus.

When I start a book, I try to come up with something really important to a main character—and then I make him/her give up that one thing for the sake of love.

In my latest Love Inspired, A SNOWGLOBE CHRISTMAS, hero Rafe Westfield makes a major sacrifice before the story opens and his choice costs him more than the girl he loves.

In my ebook, CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS, a duo with Mary Connealy, my hero Seth faces a different kind of sacrifice. The sacrifice of revenge.

I can think of many books and movies that feature sacrificial characters. Remember Patrick Dempsey in Sweet Home Alabama? Because he loved Melanie, he let her go. Made me cry!!

What kind of sacrifices do you like to see characters make? Do you have a favorite from a book or movie?

Ask Elnora--About Summer Reading???Lenora Worth

Hello, my lovelies. It is summer in the deep South. Elnora glistens a lot in the summer. Actually I sweat. The humidity loves me. It must, since it clings to me like a cheap slip on a Saturday night! This is why I must have palm trees and hibiscus plants somewhere nearby. And a spot of water, preferrably a nice pool or a rather big ocean. Then, of course, I need something fruity and pleasant to drink. And I need lots and lots of great books to read. So that is the question of the day. What are we reading this summer?

I have a big "to be read" pile. In each room of my house. Right now, I'm "advance" reading a book by my friend Leanna Ellis. It won't be out until August, but RESERVE A SPOT FOR IT IN YOUR PILE NOW! I won't give it away, but trust Elnora when she says "This one is different. And not for the faint of heart. But this book has heart and a lot of it." Sigh. Loved it!! Other books I've read and loved or plan on reading and loving--"Rally Round Green" by my darling friend Judy Christie, the adorable "A Cowboy's Touch" by adorable Denise Hunter, and a book that I'm holding until I can enjoy the whole thing, kind of the way I stare at a piece of cheesecake--"Stars Collide" by Janice Thompson. She has a rather interesting older character in there and if anyone can guess or knows the character, you might just win a book from me!(First one to get it right wins!) Of course, I have lots and lots of the Love Inspired Sisterhood books to read, too. Shall I drop a few names here? Marta Perry, Margaret Daley, Valerie Hanson, Lynette Eason, Winnie Griggs--oh, that's just the surface of the ice cream! I luvva all of my LI sisters' books. Oh dear, I might have to break into my emergency shoe fund to buy more books. How many days are left in summer?

Okay, your turn, my precious people. What are you reading?? Do tell!