Ask Elnora--About Packing for a Trip????? Lenora Worth

I'm in a rush today, my darlings. That's because I'm in Oklahoma City at the Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference. Elnora will be doing two workshops. One today after lunch (when everyone will be extremely sleepy)and one early Saturday morning (when Elnora will be extremely sleepy.) But I will make sure my two or three attendees get a bang for their buck. I can certainly tell fellow writers what NOT to do. But right now, I'm exhausted. Packing? Why is it so bothersome? Why can't I just walk into my closet and grab a few outfits and one--yes, one--pair of shoes and be happy?

Elnora just isn't wired that way. Oh no, I have to try on this with that and tie this scarf around that blouse and ... decide which shoes and jewelry to wear and maybe I do need a different pair of shoes for each day. A different string of pearls for each day, too. In the end, I usually have more shoes than outfits and days to wear them. But ... that's just me. This is a three day conference. And one day on the road Sunday. So far, I've packed five pairs of shoes. And I'll have one pair on my feet. I haven't even considered purses yet!!!

My back hurts and I think I'm getting a headache. I am highly allergic to packing!
I need a ladies maid. I also need a housekeeper and a chef, too. But alas, I don't think I'll have any of those things in the near future.

But enough about my needs. I must get back to the conference. I might actually learn how to write a book. Meanwhile, discuss amongst yourself--Why is packing for a trip so tedious???? And if you have questions, ask away. I'm sure my Love Inspired sisters will be happy to talk to you about packing. Or maybe some of you out there have a system that I can use. Y'all might even give me a few pointers. I'll check back later, I promise. Right now I have to decide which shoes to wear today!

Elnora loves a good party???Lenora Worth

Hello, Friday People. I had a lovely time this week visiting Publisher's Weekly and dear Barbara Vey's Beyond Her Book Blog. http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/
She threw a week-long party to celebrate her blog. (I'm pretty sure it was the fourth anniversary, but Elnora ate too much and shopped too much so I'm a little fuzzy on the details.) Those wild and wacky Seekerville chicks took over on Wednesday and wisked us all away to a tropical island. Every girl's dream, right? And Captain Jack Sparrow was there. Ahoy! Then on Thursday, it was YA, inspirational and non-fiction. The lovely ladies of Love Inspired showed up to have fun because the virtual setting was .... gasp .... a shopping mall.

So let's talk shopping? Why do women love to shop more than men? Why do women love shoes so much? Why do some women (bless their hearts) not like shopping so much? Can we find a way to help them? What's the best bargain you ever found, ever??

Elnora will be in and out today because I'm off to a wonderful local conference (www.nolastars.com) I baked Ghirardelli double chocolate pecan cookies for the speakers. Elnora can become domestic when an editor or agent is going to be visiting!

So ask away and discuss. I will check back between packing and doing my conference duties. Don't you just love Fridays???

It's Ask Elnora Friday--Lenora Worth

Darlings, I'm so excited! Today we're trying something different. My alter ego, Elnora, loves to dole out advice (whether she knows what she's talking about or not.)
So each Friday, you can ask me anything. Anything within good taste, of course.

If I don't have the answer, my LI sisters here will help us out. I love to advise on fashion, food, family and of course, fiction. I've been around the block a few times and ... this ain't my first rodeo. But enough with the cliches. Let's have some fun!

I was supposed to send our wonderful Blog Boss a picture, but alas, I have had a giant zit on my left cheek right by my lip for a week now!! Horrors. I suggest our lovely Blog Boss just puts up a picture of a kicking pairs of shoes. Red for Valentine's day!

Now there's a good subject to start our fun. As Cinderella said, "One shoe can change a girl's life." Let's discuss. And please, ask me something!

Love ... always protects

When I found out my topic was "protection" I thought about how one of my
husband's friends always teases me about my pointy toed shoes. He says I
could easily protect myself if I use those shoes to kick a person. He calls
them my "roach-stomping" shoes. I do have a lot of pointy toed shoes but protection
is about more than just kicking bad people. In this beautiful passage from First
Corinthians, love is the protection that God offers us. And it is part of what
we offer when we extend our love to another person. When we have love in our lives, it acts as a shield against hurt and misery. Love lifts us up when we are broken, it
takes over when we are in shock. Love protects us from the every day stresses of
life. Love is truly our soft place to fall. Can you image living each day in a
loveless life? How could we possibly handle everthing that is just outside our
doors if we didn't have the protection of God's steady and everlasting love?

God's grace flows over us like a shield. And that shield goes to battle with us
during the worst of times. It is also there during the best of times. It guides us, keeps us standing, deflects all sorts of pain and harm and keeps us warm when we
are alone and scared in the middle of the night.

The protectin of God's love is like the light that is always burning, that beacon
that always shows us the way home. God promises protection. He promises to go into
battle with us. His unconditional love will cover us and we can hold fast to that
protections. Love ... always protects because love gives us the courage to protect
ourselves, love gives us the knowledge to stand firm in our beliefs and love gives us the power to overcome fear and rage and pain and despair. Love can protect us
if we open our hearts and allow love to come inside. Wearing pointy toes shoes is
one way I can protect myself. But in the end, it doesn't matter if my shoes can do
damage to any attacker and it doesn't matter what kind of shoes I'm wearing. It only
matters that I know God's love is surrounding me when I head out the door