Hero Interview from Homecoming Blessings

Interview with the hero from Homecoming Blessing by Merrillee Whren:

1. Peter Dalton, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I’m a pretty boring guy probably because I work too much. I hate to think that the most interesting thing about me is my ability to make a business plan and stick to it, but that’s about it.

2. What do you do for fun?

Fun? What’s that? In recent years, I’ve been too busy to have fun. But I have to admit working with Ashley Hiatt is fun in itself. She keeps me on my toes. There is never a dull moment when she is around.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I put off admitting that I’m wrong. I hate to say I’m sorry because I like to have the upper hand in every situation.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m afraid of having my heart broken again. My fiancée’s betrayal fifteen years ago has made me wary of any serious relationship with a woman.

5. What do you want out of life?

Ever since I came to work for Hiatt Construction, my dream has been to eventually step into Richard Hiatt’s shoes when he retires and run his company.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

My family is most important to me. I almost lost my brothers—one to war injuries and the other to cancer. I’ve learned to appreciate them a lot more.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

I’ve always loved to read. I especially enjoy thrillers, mysteries and any books that deal with espionage. I don’t do as much reading as I used to because I’m much too busy with my job. Since I’ve been working with Ashley, I’ve been reading my Bible a lot more, too.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’d like to be more spontaneous. I’m all about plans and sticking to the plan. Ashley’s presence in my life has put me in a more spontaneous mode. I find myself buying her little gifts on the spur of the moment—something I’ve never done before.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

I have no pets. I work long hours, and I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the time to give a pet the attention it deserves.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’m a construction guy. I like to build things. So if I could go back in time, I’d like to go back to ancient Egypt and see how they built the pyramids.

FEATURED TODAY: HOMECOMING BLESSINGS BY MERRILLEE WHREN

A small-town gal who does God's work for a living? Big-city businessman Peter Dalton doesn't think he and fresh-from-the-field missionary Ashley Hiatt have anything in common. Until his boss—her father—pairs them together on a special project to help those less fortunate. Suddenly, instead of making money, Peter is making dreams come true. He's a changed man. Well, maybe not when it comes to settling down. With his past, he's just not cut out for family life. But lovely Ashley seems to think otherwise…and is making it her mission to prove it for good.

ohmygosh! It's Friday!

I am soooo sorry. I thought it was Thursday all day today and just realized I had lost a day somewhere. It's Friday. And I'm LATE POSTING.

I know I should have done it ahead of time but since I was off a day in my mind it wouldn't have mattered. Yes, I have a brain like Swiss cheese. Or maybe Sponge Bob.

And, to make this even worse, I have no idea what to say other than groveling, and I imagine you've all had plenty of that so far.

I can use Spring as an excuse. Even though I should have been working/writing on the novella that I have contracted right now, I just HAD escape to the yard to play in the garden and plant more flowers and veggies. There is something renewing about this time of year, something that reminds me of the scripture "There is time for everything, and a season to plant." This is certainly it.

I'll add one picture of my phlox from last summer.
And I promise to try to do better next time.

Blessings,
Val

One Refreshing Day by Missy Tippens

Missy here. Since we’re talking about spring and renewal this month, I had the idea of sharing the beautiful photo at the left (from a redbud tree at our church) and telling how, after years of drought, we’ve had a fairly wet spring, etc., etc.

But then yesterday we had the most wonderful day—a renewing, refreshing day for me. And I wanted to share it with all of you.

My son plays on the middle school tennis team. They had their last match last week, but for fun, the coach arranged to have an 8th grade student and teacher doubles tournament . Each 8th grader was matched with a teacher and played doubles against another teacher/student team.
First off, it was an absolutely perfect spring day. Sunny and about 65 degrees. But what was so refreshing to me was how supportive the teachers were to show up after school hours to take part in the event. They cheered for the kids, teased with them, and had good competitive fun.

You know, I’ve been really impressed with the middle school teachers. They show up for a good many events above and beyond the call of duty. And they do it out of caring for the kids—at an age where the kids aren’t always so easy to love! That’s what was so refreshing to me yesterday. We so often hear the negative stories about school and teachers. So I’m happy to share a bit of the positive.

And as an addendum, today a bunch of those same teachers were out helping with a county-wide track meet!

I hope you’ll share a story of renewal or of something that has refreshed you recently.
Missy

Hanging by Your Fingertips

This blog isn’t specifically about renewal, but in a way it is. I’m renewed by the Good News of Easter. I’m renewed each time I think of Jesus’ sacrifice or of how much He must love me. A little event occurred this weekend that sort of relates. I hope.

I have a four-year-old grandson. Like most little boys, Kade sometimes gets himself into a sticky situation. Last Saturday he was in the garage with his mom. She was loading the car to go to the church Easter egg hunt and didn’t have her eye specifically on him. She pressed the garage door opener and went on loading things.

Suddenly, she heard a small voice call, “Help, help!” Kade had grabbed hold of the garage door bottom, and there he went—all the way to the top of the garage, dangling by his little finger! My daughter-in-law is very small and couldn’t reach him. Fearing he couldn’t hold on much longer, she rushed over, reached up, and told Kade to jump into her arms. He did, and she caught him. Though he could have been hurt, today the story is funny. I can just seen Kade taking that ride out of curiosity, then suddenly aware that he’s got a problem he can’t solve.

Kade’s incident brought to mind my relationship with the Lord. Sometimes I get myself into bad situations. Sometimes I’m doing things that I think the Lord wants me to do, but nothing is going right. And there I am holding on by my fingertips, painfully aware that I can’t handle this by myself. The amazing, marvelous thing is this: The minute I cry, “Help, help,” those strong, loving, everlasting arms reach out. That’s when I have to Kade’s childlike trust, the confidence of knowing that if I take that leap of faith, my Heavenly Father is there to catch me.

Christ is Risen...and boy, I'm glad!!

Our Spring Escape, a Love Inspired Tour

My dh and I (photo of us in front of the Alamo) did something that we haven't done for a long time or maybe ever. On March 18 we set out from our northern WI house to drive to Dallas for a Book Expo there. But really we set out on a journey to revive us from winter and from doing the same routine day after day.

It was still very early for us to see much in the way of the signs of spring--green grass, flowers, new tender leaves and buds. Yet about an hour south in central WI, we left snow behind us and then we began to relax. We spent a day with friends on their farm in Central IL that we hadn't seen in 8 years. Then we zipped down to Dallas and stayed in one of the old grand hotels in downtown--think LUXURIOUS--lots of marble and dark woods glowing with age. And delicious food. We had a special meal at one of the hotel restaurants and savored the triple layer chocolate cake and the moment.
By now we were feeling good.

We drove south to San Antonio. I had just finished writing a trilogy of books, Texas Star of Destiny series, set in Texas 1821 -1847.


And I wanted to visit many of the settings that I had written about--the Alamo, the Spanish governor's palace, the San Fernando Cathedral. After we spent two days in San Antonio, we drove through east Texas decorated with wild crepe myrtle in bloom passing by the site of the Massacre at Goliad and then up to Galveston Island which was still rebuilding after the hurricane last fall. Oh, to wear shorts again and walk on the white sand beach and listen to the seagulls screech. Amazing.



Then we drove NE to LA and spent a night with a Craftie Lady, Lenora Worth. I got to see her WORLD famous shoe collection and ate Cajun food and laughed and talked with her and her dh. In the morning, we drove through the LOVELY Ozarks in Arkansas and had delicious and fun Chinese dinner yet another Craftie Lady, Val Hansen and her dh. The next day, we headed north through Missouri where we stopped to see the grave of Daniel Boone and his children and drove through Hannibal where Mark Twain had grown up and set his Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn books.

Nearly home, we stayed with another Love Inspired author Roxanne Rustand in Iowa where our son still lives. I also got to see Cynthia Rutledge which many of you know wrote many great books for Love Inspired not so long ago. And on March 31st when we crossed the Mississippi River to drive the last leg for home, we stopped to visit Patt Marr (and her dh), the final LI writing friend on our Love Inspired tour.

So that's what we did on our spring getaway from winter trip. We did hit snow once again an hour south of home, but it didn't matter. We had breathed in spring and knew it wouldn't be long till the trilliums would be blooming white and low in the forest of home. And we truly felt blessed and renewed.

We're already talking about doing something about the same time next year! Have you ever just followed your nose and took a leisurely no rush trip?

Day After Easter

How was your Easter? I was thinking about the day -- wondering if I'll be basking in the afterglow or just moving on with life like nothing's happened. I'm writing this in advance because by the time you read it I will be leaving my brother's place where I will have celebrated Easter with my parents, my brother, sister-in-law and nephews. We've had some great Easters together (my nephews are convinced I am the Easter Bunny and I have never denied it). Why don't you post a note here and tell everyone how your Easter went. As I said, I'll be driving north from Tucson so I don't know if I'll be able to check in. But I'll read your notes when I can.

Hero Interview from Texas Ranger Dad

Interview with the hero from Texas Ranger Dad by Debra Clopton:

1. Texas Ranger, Zane Cantrell, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

Actually, I’m an ex-ranger. I realized my life was short and I had…well, let’s just say I’ve had one thing in my life that I’ve regretted and I decided it was time to try and rectify that bad decision. I’ve just taken a job as Deputy Sheriff in a tiny Texas town called Mule Hollow. The woman I wronged 13 years ago lives there and it’s time for me to see if—well, frankly it’s time for me to seek her forgiveness. Back to your question though, I’d say my job was the most interesting thing about me. But then, my job was my life. I’m hoping I can change that though. Coming face to face with death gave me a new perspective and my hope is that I can use this second chance God has given me to make things right.

2. What do you do for fun?

I’ve worked mostly. But, every once in a great while, I might go to a friend’s ranch and take one of his horses for a ride. That didn’t happen often though. I’ve been on assignment so much that I have to keep my mind focused on keeping my assignments alive. I learned the hard way that one slip up, one distraction, can mean the difference in life or death. I take my responsibilities seriously so fun isn’t something I’d say I think about often.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Facing Rose.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

Finding Rose and realizing that I’ve been right in thinking she only thought she loved me 13 years ago.

5. What do you want out of life?

What I want—to make things right by Rose. In a perfect world she’ll tell me she forgives me for what I did to her. She’ll tell me she loves me and wants to make a new start with me…but this is far from a perfect world. So if I can just make things right by her and let her know how much I regret my past actions then that’s what I want.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

Making things right by Rose.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

Can’t say that I’m much of a reader but I’ve read a little Zane Grey and I read my Bible fairly regularly.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’d say my stubbornness

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

No. I was on the road too much.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to the day I let Rose down and I’d change it. I’d fix it to where she never knew I cared…that way maybe she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

FEATURED TODAY: TEXAS RANGER DAD BY DEBRA CLOPTON

Everyone in Mule Hollow can see the resemblance between former Texas Ranger Zane Cantrell and Rose Vincent's son. The same gold-flecked amber eyes. The same smile. Not that Zane is smiling. He's in shock! How could Rose have kept their child a secret from him? Rose reminds Zane that he's the one who walked away. He has to make her see he had no choice. But Rose is as prickly as the cactus jelly she makes. And that's where their hopeful son and the Mule Hollow matchmakers come marching in.

Rest and Renewal, by Carol Steward

There comes a time when everyone needs renewal of some sort. It may be a time of physical exhaustion, recovery from an illness, or a season of spiritual crises. When this time reaches out to you, it's time to reach out to those who love you. It's time to let them give back and give to you.

When I'm writing, I build a cocoon around myself and force myself to focus on the current book. My family builds the layers of protection around me, supporting me so I can focus. When I was younger, letting others take charge of those chores around the house was out of the question. Who knew that letting go would be such a challenge?

As a mother, I learned to juggle everything to keep my family going at warp speed. I didn't know what sleep was, literally. The time I thought I needed for renewal was shorter then, maybe an afternoon of shopping with a friend, a date with my husband, sleeping in for an extra hour on a Saturday morning. I had things to do and people to meet… I didn't have time to "waste" on the frivolity of renewal.

As His child, I realize more than ever that God intended for us to renew ourselves regularly. Much as I try, to this day, I can't seem to sit still on Sunday. It's often my one day to catch up with housework or writing for a longer stretch of time.
His plan included a day of rest, as documented in Genesis 2: 2, "And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested..." Even God took time to renew and reflect, setting an example for all of us.

Mark 6:30-31 says, "The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. And He said them, 'Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." Stress and busyness has been around for as long as man. Exhaustion leads to stress and stress kills - not just the body. Stress kills our hope, our joy, and our love.

It's critical that we continue trying to fit rest and renewal into our lives. Rest and renewal go hand in hand. Through the winter, many plants go into dormancy, a time to renew. Spring is a perfect visual example of God teaching us the importance of renewal. Trees and flowers wake up from a long winter's nap. The icy cold melts away to warmer days of light. And light naturally boosts our mood, our hope. God has that one ALL figured out, doesn't He?

A few years ago, my daughter and daughter-in-law helped me replenish our supply of sugar Easter eggs - one for each family on Easter morning. By sharing that time together and taking my mind totally off writing, He refreshed me and I was able to get back to writing again. Find ways to treat yourself and make it a concentrated effort to follow through. Here are a few ideas to let grow on you this week. I'll be working on several of them, too.

Go to bed early one night a week. (not tonight)
Turn off the television and pick up a book.
Reach out to someone else who might need a reminder to slow down and let God refill their cup.
Sit down and eat dinner rather than eating it on the run.
Have a friend over for coffee.
Pick up a craft or hobby that you never finished.
Listen to soft and relaxing music.
Get a massage.
Go for a walk.

The list is endless. Just stopping to plan to rest gives my mind a much-needed break. What about your ideas? How do you Renew yourself?

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

Easter has always been a favorite holiday of mine. Not just because of the goodies in the Easter baskets I received as a child (I still have a fettish for a good hollow chocolate bunny!) or because of the family lunches, the new dress for Sunday, or hiding eggs (some with $ in them!) in the yard at my grandparents house - but because of what it means to my heart.

Without Easter, we would have no hope. No life. No future. Without the resurrection, we'd be a lost race. We can have Christmas and be grateful for Jesus' birth. But without Easter, there is no rebirth - there is nothing to take with us.

This year, I have a daughter to influence. She might be only 9 months old, but I firmly believe it it is never too early to share the good news of Jesus Christ. I figure the more I tell her now, the deeper it'll sink in later. Sort of like listening to a song over and over in the background - eventually you learn the words, whether you intended to or not. =)

This picture was taken in my parent's yard last weekend. She's already having a blast with her plastic eggs and little wicker basket. And of course, Mommy had to hook her up with a new spring dress!

I can't wait to share this holiday with my new little family.

This Easter, when you're hiding eggs for kids in your yard, remember not to hide the message of the gospel, but rather wear it proudly like a new Easter dress. When you're baking green bean casserole or a ham or hot rolls, remember to also partake of the Everlasting Bread. When you're spending time with family and friends, remenber to take a few moments to revel in our ultimate Friend - the one who sacrificed all so that we might have an Easter, so that we might have life.

And when you're devouring that hollow chocolate bunny - well, have a big bite for me! =)

Happy Easter, from my family to yours!

Spring is in the Air

April is here and with it the spring sunshine has finally made an appearance. We actually had warm weather up into the high sixties.

Our family took our first bike ride of the season through Cook Park where paved bike paths wind along the Tualatin River, through a Butterfly Garden, past the many sports fields (where several little league games were in progress) and a picnic area complete with a huge play structure and sandpit.

And then, like most everyone else in town, or so it seemed with how crowded it was, we headed to downtown Portland with our two dogs in tow for a long walk along the river front park, a paved path with lots of green lawn running the length of the banks of Willamette river and then on to the Saturday Market where we wandered through the various vendors hawking their wares and the eclectic assortment of food choices. Snow cones and Thai food were are choices for the day.

It was a good weekend and a wonderful way to revive ourselves after a long cold winter. Though, the weather man predicts another cold snap coming our way soon, but for this moment, I felt a renewal in my spirit that can only carry over to my writing.

Happy Spring everyone!

Did You Really Write That?

Okay, I'm gonna show my age. When I was in college (the first time) I took creative writing. The class was so popular that the first time I tried to enroll it was full, so I had to wait until the next semester (Kinda like my four-year-old's soccer league. If you don't register an hour after registration opens, you miss out). I was a journalism major and had some idea that I'd get my degree, give Reader's Digest a call, and become a brilliant columnist who typed (yes, on a manual. Computers were around. There were two in the school's newspaper room but neither my friends nor I had one) a few pages that were published every month and then I'd sit around and by patted on the head (You did read the blog about me being raised an only child?).

Back to topic. I finally got into the creative writing class. For assignments, we were to write 2 - 3 pages stories or poems or whatever and then the teacher would copy them on colored paper and pass them around for the class to read (think poke fun at).

The first time I got an assignment back, the teacher had written across the top: Did you really write this?

He didn't mean it as a compliment. Back in those days, teachers didn't have Google to help them look for plagiarism. He truly thought I'd stolen it. I was young and naive and didn't hit him over the head with my three page science fiction story (I was a big Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams fan back then). I also did not drop. I stayed in the class.

Did you really write this? could have caused me to throw my typewriter out the window (Don't worry, I lived in a bottom floor apartment). It didn't. I actually remember thinking, "When I publish, I'm sending this guy my book!" Unfortunately, by the time I'd published fifteen years had gone by, and I couldn't remember the professor's name.

BTW, a plug for someone I don't know... Thanks to Brandt Dobson, author of Daniel's Den, for the idea for this blog. He put in his bio over at the Christian Fiction's Online Magazine that it was during a creative writing course in college that a professor said,

"You're a good writer. With a little effort and work, you could be a very good writer."

Two examples, very different, but with the same affect: to push someone into writing more. If you're not writing today, for whatever reason, go ahead and renew, and get at least three pages on that manuscipt. You might not get a pat on the head, but you can walk around with your head up high.

Hero Interview from Twice Upon a Time

Interview with the hero from Twice Upon a Time by Lois Richer:

1. Tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I’m Reese Woodward. The most interesting thing about me is that I wasn’t born into the illustrious Woodward wedding family of Denver. Not many people know that they adopted me when I was very small. Oddly enough, I’ve never felt like I don’t belong to my family.

2. What do you do for fun?
Fun? As a father or twins, I don’t have a lot of spare time but fun is important. The most fun I have is with my twin sons. They’re also the most work, give me the most headaches and force me to learn patience faster than I’d like, but I wouldn’t trade places with anyone. My boys enrich my life so much. I’d do anything for them.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Admitting to the family that I’ve made a mistake. I’m the eldest, they look up to me, depend on me. I hate letting them down.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?
I’m afraid life will pass too quickly and I won’t have made enough of the time I have with my family. Things change so quickly. Love and family are so important. I want to savor every second.

5. What do you want out of life?
To prove that I was worthy of receiving the life I’ve been given.

6. What is the most important thing to you?
Love. If you’re blessed with love, everything else seems less important.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?
I’m a lawyer, so I read a lot of legal stuff, but reading for entertainment is something I never have enough time for. My favorite books are family saga type stories that span generations of a family. I find them utterly fascinating.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d like to be more relaxed.
I tend to take life pretty seriously and sometimes it’s better to laugh than stress. My sons are teaching me that God is more interested in my heart condition than in the mistakes I make.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
What is it with the pet question? (laughs) The boys have been at me to get them a puppy and I’ve been seriously considering it, though the bedlam around here would multiply exponentially! I had a chocolate lab when I was a kid and that dog showered me with unconditional love. When something went wrong, he was always there, ready willing and able to comfort me. I’d like my twins to experience that same bond. (chuckles) Though I worry they might smother a puppy with their exuberance.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
I’d go back to when Jesus was on the earth. I’d love to see him with kids, watch him heal the blind, the sick, listen to him teach. Watching God, physically among men, at work—to me that would be awesome.

FEATURED TODAY: TWICE UPON A TIME BY LOIS RICHER

Twins are double the trouble. And between his work at Weddings by Woodwards and his boys, widower Reese Woodward is convinced he doesn't have time for love. Then he meets Olivia Hastings—his sister's bridesmaid, and a woman with troubles of her own. The betrayals from Olivia's past make her wary of closeness. Yet who could resist the twins—or their father? Though neither is looking for love, Olivia and Reese's attraction continues to blossom. And soon, they just might find a second chance at love, and a doubly blessed happily-ever-after.

New Beginnings

Springtime is associated with with new beginnings. What paints a better picture than trees as they display their new leaves or flowers as their color and beauty spread across the landscape? Here's a photo I took from the deck of my friends' cabin in the north Georgia mountains last spring when I was doing research for my April book, HOMECOMING BLESSINGS. If only I had stopped and taken a photo of the Dogwood trees that were in full bloom when I passed through Atlanta on my way to the mountains.



The leaves were just starting to pop out on the trees on the hillsides above the lake when I took this picture. The signs of new beginnings were everywhere. The theme of HOMECOMING BLESSINGS is new beginnings for the hero, heroine and even her father. What better time is there to tackle something new than in the spring when we see so many signs of renewal?

Two scriptures come to mind as I think about new beginnings—one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.

One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 40:30-31.

³⁰ "Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

The other scripture comes from Romans 12:2.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—
his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Life is reassuring when we know that God is there to guide us and renew our spirits and our minds and give us the strength to make that new beginning. Whatever it is.

The lilac bush.

Spring, renewal, rebirth, what great topics we have for this month. Don’t you just love Spring? Daffodils are my favorite spring flower. When I see their sun bright faces nodding in the wind I know spring is really coming even if it snows a time or two before Old Man Winter gives up the ghost. I do love daffodils, but nothing takes me back to my childhood like the smell of lilacs.

Oh, that deliciously sweet fragrance. When the lilacs are out, spring is well underway.

When I was a kid, (a year or two ago) we had this great big lilac bush in our backyard. Big enough for me and my brothers to hide inside, to make pretend forts and to plow winding roads for our toy cars in the soft dirt. Why was the dirt so soft under that lilac bush?

Maybe it was because our dog used to dig holes there to stay cool when the summers got hot. Maybe it really wasn’t any different than any other dirt on our farm. Maybe I only remember it that way because I was a child. No, it must have been soft. Children have a wonderful, uncluttered view of life without preconceived notions of how things should or should not be.

God asks the we see our faith with those same eyes.

Luke 18:17 (New International Version)
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

I hope and pray that when my time comes the Lord finds me worthy and I can enter the Kingdom of Heaven like the child I once was, like a little girl racing to play under the lilac bush.

Pat

Is spring here?

This is the first of April. I won't even go into what April Fool's Day is, but then this weekend we had a little "April Fool's" from Mother Nature. I took this picture Sunday morning. We got over six inches of snow here in Oklahoma and set a record for the most snow after March 21st. The road crew wasn't really prepared for the snow, and there were a lot of wrecks. Saturday we had snow showers with thunder and lightning. Actually it was beautiful. The weather people told us it was coming, but our weather has been in the 80s and 70s so how in the world could it really snow and stick? I'm not sure the temperature got below 32 degrees, but boy, the snow come down and stuck. Nature's last hurrah before spring really set in.

I was worried all the flowers and trees blooming would be damaged, but because the temperature didn't get down too much, I think they will be all right. I did lose a limb off my Red Bud tree because the snow was so wet and heavy on the branches that they were weighed down (some hanging to the ground).

It's all melted now. The sun is shining, and I really think spring is finally here. Spring is my favorite time of year. A time of renewing after a long cold winter.

The perfect friend--from Lenora Worth :)

God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1: 9
We've been discussing friendship here all month. I think we all long for that perfect friend--you know the one who isn't skinner than we are but about the same; the one who isn't more beautiful than we are, but about the same, the friend who always agrees with us and always comes running right away when we call. Do you know that friend? (I'm grinning here) We all know she doesn't exist. But we also know that we have friends who come close to the above descriptions. And we probably all have friends who ARE skinnier and prettier and smarter and just about perfect in our eyes. But if we look closely, we might find we have a lot in common with this "perfect" friend. For example, maybe she smiles when she really wants to cry. Maybe she volunteers when she really needs to rest. Maybe she wears lovely clothes, but she buys them to fill a void in her life. Or maybe she has "perfect" children or so it seems but inside her home, turmoil is rampant. Maybe she's trying so hard to be perfect, her life is slowly falling apart. The whole point of this is to remind ourselves that we need to look beneath the surface to find a true and perfect friend and that usually is a friend with flaws and concerns and worries, just like the rest of us. While we don't wish problems on anyone, it is a bit comforting to know that friends are human just like we are. And it's also very comforting to know that we can turn to the one perfect friend--Christ. He listens, he comes when we call out, he is always nearby to help us carry our burdens and to brighten our day. Christ is there when we celebrate blessings and he is there when we cry in the night. When we think we have no one to turn to, Christ is there. His footprints are always right there beside ours. I appreciate and love my dear friends here on Earth and I celebrate and suffer with them as part of my love. But it's comforting to know that Christ is constant and dependable and trustworthy, even when I'm feeling alone and blue. And even when I think everyone else is perfect and I'm not! Call a friend today and tell her you're thinking about her. And thank Christ that you have that kind of love within your heart.
Lenora Worth :)

You Be the One

Hi Debra Clopton here--finally! Running a bit late getting this posted today. I've recently started visiting a new church...a Cowboy Church actually--they are really growing around here in Texas and I think they are wonderful. But, anyway, I love my old church, I have the most wonderful friends there who have been with me through so much and I love them all dearly. But my life is evolving and sometimes we have to move where God leads us. That being said, I'm making new friends where I'm visiting and I people reaching out to me in friendship and I'm doing the same. I feel blessed and invigorated by the prospects. But that being said, I realize just as I did when I joined my other church ten years ago (it was also in a building process and I felt I could be a part of that) which is how I'm feeling about this new spot--anyway, I realize that to feel at home and really build friendships I have to do my part. I have to join in and participate, and become a friend myself.

So I guess where I'm going with this post is to this...I once had someone comment to me that she wished she had good friends like I did at my church and in my life. I told her that the secret to it was to get involved and to reach out herself. I hope if others out there are looking for friends like she was that you'll be the instigator of finding it. Believe me there are many people in churchs who are looking for a friend, they just aren't making the first contact to take aquaintice the next level--YOU be the one. Step out there and let God use you to be that friend that someone needs- I can promise you it will enrich your life. It has mine :)

FEATURED TODAY: A LOVE INSPIRED CLASSIC BY TERRI REED

Fall in love again with these uplifting stories from Terri Reed.

Love Comes Home

Twelve years ago, Dr. Rachel Maguire followed her faith into medicine, choosing her career over love. But time never diminished her feelings for Josh Taylor, and now God is giving Rachel another chance—if she can overcome the pain of the past.

A Sheltering Love

With her faith as strong as her shoulders, Claire Wilcox opens a shelter for runaways. But it's her mysterious handyman who causes her sleepless nights. As their attraction grows, Nick Andrews must decide if he can trust in God's power to heal.

BFFs and other good buddies

Hello there! Welcome to my front porch, as my website always says.

My husband and I are very blessed to have friends who are a couple. We've all been married to our spouses for so long that we finish each other's sentences and then everybody laughs. You know how that is.

Recently, this dear couple retired and moved close to us in Arkansas and it has enriched my life beyond imagination. There is just something special about being able to reminisce and chuckle over events that occurred years and years ago. This is a picture of the 4 of us - and "Charlie" my infamous Labrador retriever.

There are others who have played a big part in my life, too, and I want to show you some of them. There's a lovely group of cancer survivors who went to Little Rock for the Race for the Cure last year, then posed for this picture. I'm the one on the right.

And, of course, I consider many other authors as friends. Although I don't get to see them as often as I'd like, we do keep in touch by email. What would we shut-in writers do without the Internet? Go crazy? Most people think we are already a bit strange. I agree. It takes a special kind of person to live a fictional life for her characters, then be able to return to reality and relate to REAL folks. But authors understand each other. We know how hard we work and how life can interfere with art to the point where we just want to run screaming from the computer and never come back. But we always return. Because we are compelled to write. And because in many cases, like mine, we feel that our telling of uplifting, helpful stories is our personal ministry. We all know what happened to Jonah when he tried to run from the job God had given him! So we hunker down and do our best and pray that something we write will please God and heal someone else's heart. For me, having friends who listen and understand without condemnation is the biggest blessing of all. It is my sincere hope that I, too, am that kind of friend.

Left to right, Mae Nunn, Irene Brand, Debbie Clopton, Marta Perry,Valerie Hansen, Margaret Daley, Terri Reed, then the other picture, Lenora Worth and Marta Perry WITH APOLOGIES TO THOSE SPECIAL BUDDIES WHOSE PICTURES I DON'T HAPPEN TO HAVE HANDY. We don't get together nearly as often as we'd like. That's the thing about friendships, though. They can last even when the parties are separated by many miles.

Blessings,

Valerie Hansen

To Have a Friend, Be a Friend

Missy Tippens here. This photo is of a group of my writer friends/F.A.I.T.H. bloggers. We had a "reunion" at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference last fall. They're like my sisters and all much more adept at being fun and dramatic than I am (don't I look silly, like I'm not quite doing the "ta da" thing quite right?). :)

Since it's our theme for this month, I'm still thinking about friendship. A sweet lady at our previous church used to say, “In order to have a friend, you have to be a friend.” Waunette is with God now, but I still remember what she said.

Sometimes in friendship relationships, we get our feelings hurt, or we feel neglected, or we think we have no true friends. But when is the last time we were good friends to someone else?

I’ve been thinking about things we can do to be a good friend. Here are some of what I came up with:

--Listen. Sure, it’s great to be listened to. But do we listen as often as we speak?
--Be there when things get tough. Don’t be afraid we won’t have the right words to say or afraid we can’t handle the bad stuff. Just be a shoulder. Be an ear. Be a support. Just be there, period.
--Be generous—with our time, energy, and emotional support. Sometimes this might mean giving up time for something else (hey, maybe it can be housework!). :)
--Initiate. Sometimes it’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves if we initiate all contact. But I think it’s important to go ahead and step out there. Sometimes our friend may need that little extra push (the friend may have stuff going on or may just be timid or may think we’re just trying to be nice!). And eventually, that friend may start initiating.

What can you add? I’m sure there’s a lot more we can do. What are some things you’ve tried in keeping a relationship going?

I may not be able to get online today, but I’ll do so as soon as I can and check out your great ideas!

Missy

True Friendship-Two Friends

Thinking about friendship led me to two women who have been my friends for many years. The first is Lisa whom I met in "Mommy and Me" group at the local park district center when our eldest children were around 2 years old. The other friend is Carol. I met her at my first teaching job. We were each other's maid of honor. Here are Lisa and Carol's answers to my 2 questions:

1-What do you look for in a friend?

Lisa: Over the years, I've enjoyed having a diverse group of friends. Many friendships were just formed because of an emotional connection - as in we just "clicked." At other times, the friendship formed over time as we shared a common experience. Nevertheless, what I want in a friend is to find them interesting and be able to relate to them. From that, I hope that mutual caring and consideration grows.

Carol: At this point in my life, I think friendships often start with mutual interests and expand with shared experiences. I think that both people must want to strengthen the friendship with trust and revelation.

2-Why do you think some friendships last and some don't?


Lisa: Friendships last when people really care about each other. When I was in my twenties, I moved around a lot and a lot of my friendships dissolved. I did keep up with one friend with whom I have been close since age 12.


Carol: I think this is very complex. Some people keep in touch with each other because of the past or family connections. I have a friend or two with whom I feel that special connection or bond and we do not live close to each other. This unique bond can reestablish itself, instantly, even after not seeing that special friend for years.

Lyn: I value friendship and loyalty very highly and have been surprised in the past that some people gain and shed friends without any qualms. I'm happy that I have Lisa and Carol as true friends. So what are your answers to these two questions?

What do you look for in a friend? What makes a friendship last? .

Friendships that turn

We've had a good month talking about frienship and so I'm going to bring up the not-so-good part of things -- they way friendships sometimes turn sour. I have had that happen with one or two friendships in my life (more so in my younger years, but I don't know if that's usual). I remember one woman who was my friend

for years -- until I sold my first book. Then she just couldn't continue to be my friend. She had worked for years (much longer and harder than I had) on getting published and when I got a contract before her, she didn't want to talk to me, see me, or anything. I decided to back off thinking maybe she just needed more space. But she never was able to be around me after that. I had thought my success would encourage her, but it seemed to be the opposite. How about you? Have you ever come to an roadblock in a friendship that you just couldn't get past?

Heroine Interview from A Dropped Stitches Wedding

Interview with the heroine from A Dropped Stitches Wedding by Janet Tronstad:

1. Lizabett McDonald, tell me the most interesting thing about you. I’m in love. Well, I guess that’s not big news since I’ve been in love with the same guy since kindergarten and he’s always thought of me as his best friend’s little sister, but lately, well, things are changing.

2. What do you do for fun? One of my absolute favorite things to do is to get together with my friends and knit. I know it doesn’t sound exciting, but we have the most interesting conversations. You see, we’ve been meeting together and planning our lives ever since we all had cancer as teenagers. We’re all better now so you don’t have to worry, but we do find ourselves in some funny situations.


3. What do you put off doing because you dread it? What I had put off was taking the plunge into faith like the other sisters had done. But now that I did that all I need to do is find the right time to tell everyone about it. I keep thinking it’s such a big announcement it needs a dramatic moment.

4. What are you afraid of most in life? That life will just pass me by. Ever since I had cancer, people coddle me (especially, my big brother). No one wants me to suffer anything so I’m too cautious. Maybe it’s time to just break loose.


5. What do you want out of life? To have a family of my own. Now that my brother is marrying Marilee, I keep thinking how nice it would be if I had someone special like that, too.

6. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I want to be carefree and bold even if, well, I’m not really.


7. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet? I don’t have a pet, but I enjoy the wild parrots that fly around Pasadena. Some nights they come and nest in the trees next to my mother’s house. I can hear them when I sit out on the porch at night.

8. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? Truthfully, I’d rather get a glimpse of the future instead. I’d like to see where my sisterhood friends all are in twenty years.

FEATURED TODAY: A DROPPED STITCHES WEDDING BY JANET TRONSTAD

My almost sister-in-law thought I, Lizabett McDonald, would be the first of the Sisterhood of the Dropped Stitches to marry? True, I've confided to my friends that I've had a crush on Rick Keifer since childhood. But will he ever see me as more than his best friend's kid sister? The Sisterhood wants to give me a beauty makeover to catch his eye. I've been preoccupied with a spiritual makeover, and with starting my own wedding-planning business—no time for romance. Yet with Rick as best man, maybe as I give Marilee her dream wedding, my own dreams will also come true!

Friendship's Many Blessings, by Carol Steward

Friends are precious, always there when you need them, and sometimes when you don't realize you do need them. They're there to hold you accountable, to laugh with you, to cry with you, and pray with you.

Writing is a very solitary job. For those whose full-time career is writing, the internet and online friendships have changed their lives. Suddenly, the world is much "smaller" than it was when I was a child.
My friends aren't right here in Colorado, they're in Canada, Holland, Australia, West Virgina, Pennsylvania, and almost every state in the USA.

Each of these friends bring a unique perspective to my life, and bless me in different ways. Without friends, writing would be a lonely and difficult career. When one of us struggles, all of us feel the pain and band together to lift one another up, just as God planned, in Ecclesiastes 4:10, If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up"

and in verse 12 –

"Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. "

Friends are all around me, at my day job, sharing my home, in my family, and as close as an email. In these times of higher demands to our time, resources and emotions, we all can use a friend to keep us grounded and keep us focused on His plan for us. Reach out and touch a friend today. Bless them, and bless yourself. For as you give, you shall receive.

I'll be traveling to see my friend and mother-in-law today, where I likely won't have internet, but I hope you will take time today to reach out and bless your friends.

Blessings to each of you, and Happy First Day of Spring! Carol Steward

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

A Friend Is...

To me, a friend is many things.

A friend is someone who tells you when you have ink on your face or whip cream on your nose. A friend is someone who helps you justify how red polka dot shoes could be practical and worth the cash. A friend is someone who calls just to say hi or calls because they felt God telling them to. A friend is someone who can finish your sentences, knows what drink you order at Starbucks, and understands that the concept of sharing cheesecake means ordering two different flavors and splitting both. A friend is someone who knows your secrets and see the inner places of your heart and loves you anyway.

But above all, a friend is there. Just...there.

I am blessed to have 3 best friends. One local, the other two living many states away. Yet because we share so much in common and love each other so dearly, the miles don't matter. Distance doesn't have an effect on the concept of "there" - a fact which my two far-away besties have proved a thousand times over.

In no particular order, let me introduce to you Best Friend #1 - Lori Chally. My true sisterchick! (Robin Jones Gunn fans will know the meaning of this term!) A fellow writer and lover of shoes, purses and all things vintage. My Lori is so unique, and her writing is amazing. I can't wait for her to be published - its going to be HUGE. =)

Lori and I share a lot of things, and last year, we even shared pregnancy. Yep, we were both pregnant at the same time, I was about 3 months ahead of her. In my 8th month, Lori flew down from Kansas to spend a long weekend with me. Talk about fun times! Here's a pic. (we might not look very pregnant here but its because we had such great dresses. lol)

We antique shopped, had a strawberry pie/Grease marathon night, ate crawfish, and got foot massages. It was such a perfect weekend! And Lori was amazing to make the trip, while preggo and uncomfy herself, to be there for me.

Best Friend #2 is Katie Smiley. Katie is my local bestie and a beautiful redhead. Her husband says the redheaded-temper concept is very true, but I've never seen it. Katie is a fantastic friend, someone who has been there for me for years, and is wonderful at encouragement and commiseration. Guess what? She got pregnant about 5 months into my pregnancy. Talk about great minds! =)

Here's a preggo pic of the two of us - me very far along, her not very at all. (wow, I gotta quit posting pics of me being fat!!! lol)

Katie isn't a writer, but she is an avid reader and a huge fan of....me! What a friend. =)

And last but oh so NOT least is Best Friend #3 - Georgiana Daniels. Another far-away bestie, this gal pal lives in Arizona and is such an amazing woman. Stay at home mom of 3 (including 2 tots!) and a fellow writer. How does she do it? Georgiana is one of my best critique buds and a wonderful listener. I can never get through a day without her uplifting emails.

Georgiana (doesn't she look great in red!) is a fellow ACFW member with me and Lori, and is well on her way to publication. She is also my fellow Type A - we thrive on routine! Georgiana is always good for a laugh, an email hug, or a prayer request. I don't know what I'd do without her! (and surprisingly no, we were not ever pregnant at the same time. haha)


Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9

And I have three!!! =)


What I especially love is that all of my "besties" were brought to me in a very special way. Lori and I met at an ACFW writers conference, Georgiana and I met through the ACFW chat forums, and Katie and I found each other again through the publication of my first novel with The Wild Rose Press - Midnight Angel. She heard of my book, bought it, read it, saw my email on the "contact author" page, and wrote me to tell me how much she enjoyed it. Only God could have concocted these divine meetings! =)



Take a moment to thank God today for the friendships in your life. (and be careful if one of your besties turns up pregnant! haha)

Firefly Lane

Since we’re talking about Friendship this month I wanted to share a book I recently read by the incomparable Kristin Hannah.
They were known as the Firefly Lane girls--a single, inseparable unit. The best friends promise to be there for each other forever--and for 30 years, that promise holds strong. Then events and choices make that promise impossible.
I don’t normally read women’s fiction, no particular reason other than I gravitate more toward romance and romantic suspense novels. I did enjoyed this book on so many different levels, partly because so much of the cultural references over the book’s thirty year span I could relate to, as well as, relating very closely with Kate, one of the lead characters. At times funny, nostalgic and unforgettable, Firefly Lane hooked me from the first paragraph until the very end.
Warning, though, have a box of tissue close at hand.

The Real Story of My Best Friend

"Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver but the other's gold." I remember this poem from Brownies. Ah, Friendship. One of God's richest blessings. Let's have some fun with it. Please answer the following questions. Then, match your answers to the numbers in the story.

1. Name a Profession
2. Name a Restaurant
3. Name an unusual animal
4. Name a type of business
5. Your Name
6. Number 1 – 10
7. Favorite Food
8. A Question You Ask Someone The First Day You meet
9. Another Number 1 – 20
10. Name a City
11. Name Something You Do for Fun
12. Name a Holiday Location
13. Your Best Friend’s Name
14. Another Question You Ask Someone The First Day You Meet
15. Name Something Friends Do Together
16. Name a Well-known Party


Once upon a time there were two women who lived in the same town but did not know each other. One was a single [put number 1]; the other was a married, mother of [put number 6], part owner of a [put number 4]. [put number 5], the [put number 1], usually woke up late, rushed to work after eating a [put number 7], taught until five, then mostly for fun [put number 11] and went to church. Late at night, she wrote romances. [put number 13], the business owner, woke up, got the family ready, went into her office and ran a company. Then, in the evenings, she took care of her two children, husband, and various pets including dogs, cats, horses, mules, chickens, and even a [put number 3]. Here and there, she found time to write romances.

One Friday night both of them wound up in the the Romance Chat Room on the old AOL Romance Boards. There were probably more than twenty wannabee romances authors in that room all talking and dreaming and making friends. To this day, [number 5] and [number 13] don’t remember who asked “[put number 8]?” But, it doesn’t matter because they both said [put number 10].

Huh?

Since they were in a Romance Chat Room, it only made sense for [number 5] to say, “[Put number 14]?” [number 13] understood the question, and she decided to attend the next meeting both because she was writing a romance, because they’d discovered they both liked to [put number 11] and because it would be neat to meet [number 5].

Fast forward [put number 9] years.

[number 5] and [number 13] are best friends. They’ve roomed together at [put number 12]. [number 5] has babysat [number 13’s] twins. [number 13] was in [number 5]’s wedding. Of course she was the Maid of Honor. [number 5] has forced [number 13] to attend a [put number 16] party when [number 13] was tired, grumpy, and lost and had decided to give it up and go home. That night Cathy was to get the local chapter’s Desert Rose Award for being member of the year award. [number 13] was one of the first to know when [number 5] found out she was pregnant. [number 5] has watched [number 13]’s daughter perform in Little Shop of Horrors. [number 5] has watched [number 13’s son play football. [number 5] and [number 13, along with two others, are in a [put number 15] that meets at [put number 2] every two weeks. They’ve done this for seven years.




And now for the real story!
Once upon a time there were two women who lived in the same town but did not know each other. One was a single schoolteacher; the other was a married, mother of two, part owner of a construction company. Pamela, the schoolteacher, usually woke up late, rushed to work after eating a pop tart, taught until five, then mostly for fun played competitive softball and went to church. Late at night, she wrote romances. Cathy, the business owner, woke up, got the family ready, went into her office and ran a company. Then, in the evenings, she took care of her two children, husband, and various pets including dogs, cats, horses, mules, chickens, and even a pig. Here and there, she found time to write romances.

One Friday night both of them wound up in the the Romance Chat Room on the old AOL Romance Boards. There were probably more than twenty wannabee romances authors in that room all talking and dreaming and making friends. To this day, Pam and Cathy don’t remember who asked “Where do you live?” But, it doesn’t matter because they both said Phoenix.

Huh?

Since they were in a Romance Chat Room, it only made sense for Pam to say, “Have you heard of RWA?” Cathy had, and she decided to attend the next meeting both because she was writing a romance and because it would be neat to meet Pam.

Fast forward fifteen years.

Pam and Cathy are best friends. They’ve roomed together at romance conferences. Pam has babysat Cathy’s twins. Cathy was in Pam’s wedding. Of course she was the Maid of Honor. Pam has forced Cathy to attend a Membership Appreciation Night when Cathy was tired, grumpy, and lost and had decided to give it up and go home. That night Cathy was to get the local chapter’s Desert Rose Award for being member of the year award. If not for Pam, Cathy would have missed the fanfare. Cathy was one of the first to know when Pam found out she was pregnant. Pam has watched Cathy’s daughter perform in Little Shop of Horrors. Pam has watched Cathy’s son play football. Pam and Cathy, along with two others, are in a critique group that meets at IHOP every two weeks. They’ve done this for seven years.

The real number 5, Pamela Tracy, sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired line. Her next release is in August. It’s called Fugitive Family.
The real number 13, Cathy McDavid, sold to Harlequin American. Her next release is in June. It’s called Waiting for Baby.

Heroine Interview from Home to Crossroads Ranch

Interview with the heroine from Home to Crossroads Ranch by Linda Goodnight:

1. Rainy Jernagen, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

Oh, that one’s easy. My kids! I’m a foster mom, though a lot of people think I’m nuts, mostly because I’m single. But I’m not nuts. (Well, maybe a little.) I just love kids, especially the ones having a tough time of it.

I also do puppet shows. You know, the puppet ministry at church. The kids love it. There I go again, talking about kids.

2. What do you do for fun?

Sleep, maybe? Just kidding but I am pretty busy with my four foster kids. Right now, we’re spending a lot of time at Nate Del Rio’s ranch. He’s a sweet guy (really cute, too) from my church. He lets me bring the kids out to his place so they can learn about animals, ride horses, and play with his dog. I don’t think he really wanted them to come, but I sort of twisted his arm. I’m good at that.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I really dread facing my neighbor, Kathy. She causes a lot of trouble in the neighborhood. Right now, she has this vendetta against me and my foster children. She wants them out of my house and away from her grandson. What does she think they’ll do, give him the plague? I don’t begin to understand a person like that, but she sure is trouble.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I recently applied to adopt my four foster children. There’s always the worry that the birth parents will object, especially because I’m single. It would break my heart to lose them now that I love them so much.

5. What do you want out of life?

God called me to minister to children, whether as a teacher, a puppet minister or as a foster mom. I want to do that to the best of my ability. But I’d like a husband too. I have to tell you, I’m getting a real crush on Nate, but he’s kind of different around the kids. One minute he seems to like them. The next he’s cranky and gruff. Do you think there’s any hope with a man like that?

6. What is the most important thing to you?

I grew up in such a great family, so after my relationship with the Lord, family is top priority. You probably guessed that one already, huh?

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

I love to read. I’m a teacher, remember!? Lately, I read mostly children’s books but when I get the chance I love to curl up with my killer chocoholic brownies and a fun, romantic comedy. Hey, if you love brownies, don’t miss the recipe at the end of my book. Yum!

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Well, nobody ever said I was beautiful, so that would be nice. But I’m a decent person and I have really great taste in shoes. Nate teases about my ‘city-slicker’ boots but I think he likes them.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

Not officially. The kids all want a pet but I have neither the time nor the room for an animal. And imagine how my troublesome neighbor, Kathy, would complain about a barking dog or a prowling cat! Instead, the kids and I head out to Crossroads Ranch and play with the animals there. I think Nate has something up his sleeve in this area. The girls keep hinting. We’ll have to see what that’s all about.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I would go back to the time and place where my little Katie was abused and keep it from happening. Somehow. She’s come a long way with counseling, love and prayer, but abuse like that leaves a big scar on an innocent child’s heart.

FEATURED TODAY: HOME TO CROSSROADS RANCH BY LINDA GOODNIGHT

Finally, Rainy Jernagen has the child-filled home she's always wanted! Okay, so she still hasn't found Mr. Right, but the foster kids she's taken in fill her heart almost completely. Then handyman/rancher Nate Del Rio comes knocking, and Rainy starts to wonder if she really can have it all. There's only one problem: Nate doesn't want kids. At all. And nothing Rainy says will change his mind. Of course, she's not going to let that stop her. Not when she has a houseful of adorable allies to raid Nate's ranch and win his heart—whether he likes it or not.