Saying Good-Bye to the Old and Saying Hello To the New by Jo Ann Brown

Life is a woven tapestry of having to say good-bye to one aspect of it and saying hello to another. I always thought that a graduation ceremony,

instead of being called “commencement,” should be more of “Hail and Farewell” as we had in the military when a high-ranking officer cycles out and another takes her or his place. A celebration of both the leaving and the arrival. Throughout our lives, we have periods of time when we are settled and times when we’re packing up and moving on.
Sometimes, this is literal. We find we have to move from our home to another place. It might be a job change or retirement or even going to college or simply buying that RV and seeing the world. Right now, we’re helping my father with that good-bye. He’s getting ready to sell the house, the only one my parents ever owned, that he’s lived in since the early 1970's. It was part of our family even before they bought it, because my mother’s parents rented the downstairs apartment before it was converted to a single family. Nearly fifty years later, he’s realized that taking care of that big house is more than he wants to deal with,

so my sisters and I are helping him sort through years of possessions and deciding what he wants to keep, what he wants to sell and what he wants to give away. For all of us, it’s a farewell moment, a reopening of the past as we look at photos and through items we’d once been familiar with but had forgotten or simply put out of our minds. His “hello” moment will be when he moves into his new apartment at my sister’s house and no longer has the responsibility for a big house...though he still intends to keep busy by doing things like mowing the grass and puttering in the garden.
Life is made up of these moments of change. Change caused by outside circumstances, change caused by others, change caused by ourselves. After all, isn’t that what our romance stories are about...how someone is changed by someone who comes into their life at a pivotal moment? It’s always so comforting to me, as a reader, to see how the hero and heroine (and their families and friends) step up to confront change and make it work in a positive direction for them.
Though there’s always that moment when a reader is hoping that everything doesn’t crash down in disaster!
Right now, I’m facing a few endings and beginnings of my own. In life and in my writing.

My upcoming book The Amish Widower’s Twins will be final book in my Amish Spinster Club series. Releasing in mid-June in print, it’s a book that I felt really sorry to finish because I have enjoyed writing about a new Amish community set near my home town. On the other hand, I’m now working a new Amish series, Green Mountain Blessings, that will begin in December 2019. I’m getting to meet a whole new collection of characters and work with them as they go through their own endings and new beginnings. Just like when we read a book by a favorite author, it’s sad to have one series come to an end, but, oh, how delicious it is to begin something brand new! Who knows what waits us in the days to come?

Do You Need a Digital Detox? by Sherri Shackelford

It might seem strange talking about a digital detox on a digital platform, but that's the world we live in these days! I'd been thinking a lot about how much digital media and social sharing sights have taken over our attention when a couple of experiences opened my eyes with shocking clarity.

The first event was losing my phone. For almost forty-eight hours, I was without a phone. For the first twenty-four hours, I felt something akin to panic. I let a few people know the situation - my parents and close friends - and told them to contact my husband if they truly needed me.

The second twenty-four hours were an epiphany. I was untethered. FREE. The world took on a gorgeous clarity. I read an actual paper and ink book. I felt as though I was walking around in an alternate universe. Everyone else had their heads bent, their eyes glued to the screen. When I found my phone, I resolved to seriously cut down my usage.

At home, though, I was the same person--I was attached to my laptop for most of the day. That's when my second epiphany occurred. I was driving home when I saw three kids in the neighborhood park. They were milling around the sundial, all three of them staring at their phones. A generation of zombie adults had spawned a generation of zombie children.

I took a closer look at my own behaviors and realized that my attention span had seriously dwindled. I was constantly flipping through tabs while writing. I was flipping through screens while reading. My ability to work deeply had taken a serious hit.

The final straw was Marie Kondo. I posted on Facebook about how much I liked organizing with her method, and I asked people to please refrain from negative comments. I was only interested in interacting with people who also liked the process. You guessed it - a cacophony of negative comments followed. Ironically, every single negative comment was from someone who hadn't seen the show, yet still had an opinion they felt they needed to share. My request for positive comments was like a challenge for people to express the exact opposite.

Thankfully, I knew just what to do. Marie Kondo advocates keeping only the things in your life that spark joy. It was clear that my personal Facebook page was a place that no longer sparked joy for me, so I gave it the Kondo Kick out of my life.

The trouble with our digital world is that there's no way to go 'cold turkey'. Unfortunately, in order to run an Author Page on Facebook, I need a personal page. I was forced to create a 'dummy' account to run my Author Page. I was also forced to use the dummy account to join Groups.

Do I miss my personal Facebook page? Nope and never. I keep in touch with the people who are important to me the way we did in the olden days--in person. Sure, I don't get to see the pictures of my second cousin's fabulous tapas dinner in Aruba. But that hasn't been a huge loss. I don't have to see his political opinions either.

Since I'm required to participate in social media as an author, I started using Instagram along with a Facebook page. I haven't explored the platform as much as I'd like--but I'm getting better. Instagram is fabulous for creativity. It's all about beautiful photos and vignettes.

In my experience, Twitter is better for industry news. I have a 'list' of industry professionals I follow, and  I check the 'list' each morning. Beyond that - I don't care.

I've also started scheduling 'digital free' times.  People who know me know that I don't answer my phone while I'm working. My kids and my husband have a special ring in case it's an emergency. And, you know what, there has NEVER been an emergency during my digital-free time. Never. (Isn't that always our excuse? What if someone needs me????!!!! What if they don't...)

If even thinking about giving up your phone for an hour or two gives you the cold sweats...you might have a problem! Start small--the next time you're stuck in a line or a waiting room, don't pick up your phone. Sit quietly with your thoughts. Observe the world around you. The next time you're having lunch with your friends, leave your phone in your purse. Not facedown on the table--in your purse. For thousands of years, human beings survived without being in constant contact with each other. If you're taking a short trip to the store-gasp-leave your phone at home. If your car breaks down or you get into an accident, the guy who hit you will have a phone. He can call the police.

We've grown accustomed to being constantly entertained. Which is tragic because boredom is the birthplace of creativity. Allow yourself to disconnect.

If you feel like your memory is failing you--science has shown that sitting in a dark room for ten minutes after learning something can greatly improve recall. Instead of giving your brain more input after reading a great article, sit quietly for a few minutes. (You might be surprised at how difficult that is these days!)

Are you old enough to remember a time when we just blithely left the house without a phone and returned HOURS later? Do you need a digital detox?

(P.S. If you feel the burning need to tell me why you hate Marie Kondo - have some chocolate instead! It'll be way more productive and much more satisfying :)

Sherri Shackelford

A former naval reservist with a top-secret security clearance, Sherri writes rapid-fire suspense featuring captivating characters and heart-pounding romance. She's authored more than a dozen novels for Harlequin publishing, including both historical and contemporary suspense.

Visit her Website, or follow her on social media:

SherriShackelford.com

Facebook

Instagram

BookBub

Twitter

Coming in October:

Available Now:

NO SAFE PLACE

He lives by the law.

She’s running for her life.

After forensic accountant Beth Greenwood uncovers a money-laundering scheme tying her company to the organization that murdered her mentor, she knows she needs to go into hiding. With ruthless killers in pursuit, she’s forced to rely on homeland security agent Corbin Ross’s protection—even as his investigation suggests Beth is complicit in embezzlement. Can their uneasy alliance develop into something deeper—and keep them alive?

Sunday Scripture

Palm Sunday

Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, a 1617 oil painting by Flemish Baroque painter
Anthony van Dyck, Indianapolis Museum of Art. [PS-US]

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany 
at the place called the Mount of Olives, 
he sent two of his disciples.
He said, "Go into the village opposite you, 
and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered 
on which no one has ever sat.
Untie it and bring it here.
And if anyone should ask you,
'Why are you untying it?' 
you will answer,
'The Master has need of it.'"
So those who had been sent went off 
and found everything just as he had told them.
And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, 
"Why are you untying this colt?"
They answered,
"The Master has need of it."
So they brought it to Jesus,
threw their cloaks over the colt, 
and helped Jesus to mount.
As he rode along,
the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; 
and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, 
the whole multitude of his disciples
began to praise God aloud with joy
for all the mighty deeds they had seen.
They proclaimed:
"Blessed is the king who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest."
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,
"Teacher, rebuke your disciples."
He said in reply,
"I tell you, if they keep silent,
the stones will cry out!"

Luke 19:28-40

If you have any prayer needs, please mention them in the comments section so we can join you in prayer. You do not need to include specific names or situations of a private nature, just say that you have a prayer request. The Lord knows your heart and the needs you have. It is a privilege and honor to pray with you and for you.

Woof! Woof! Meow!

Yesterday was National Pets Day and my social media feed was filled will all things furry and feathery, so I thought I’d take a minute to celebrate the animals in our lives. Over the course of my life I’ve shared my home with five dogs, three cats, six birds, multiple fish and a turtle.

Right now, I have two little dogs, named Judy and Penny. One was adopted from friends and the other is a rescue dog from an animal shelter. They are the alarm clock that wakes me up in the morning, the exercise buddies that drag me out to the park no matter the weather, and the little fuzzy companions that curl up beside me while I write.  As you can see from the pictures, sometimes they like to creep up on me to see what I’m working on or if they can steal a pat. 

Most mornings my daughter and I start our day by scrolling through social media looking at other writers’ and readers’ feeds for pictures of their pets. And my amazing agent Melissa Jeglinski fosters cats and sends pictures of the kittens she’s cared for each Christmas. 

I’m very excited to share that I will be contributing a K-9 dog Christmas novella to the amazing True Blue K-9 Unit series. If you haven’t read this series yet, I definitely recommend you check it out.

Also, while I’m here I just want to say a quick thank you to all the readers who’ve written to me about my recent train heist book Rescuing His Secret Child. It was really fun to write a train caper about a military corporal who has to stop a team of hijackers while rescuing a little boy who turns out to be the son he never knew he had. This book’s only been out a week and it’s already gotten more letters than anything I’ve written before. While sadly there weren’t any pets caught up in the train heist, thank you to all of you who got wrapped up in the story!

What fuzzy, furry, feathery, scaly and fluffy friends do you share your life with?

Hiding all the Broken Things - by Sara K. Parker

UPDATE: CINDY SLEDGE IS THE WINNER OF THIS DRAWING! CINDY, I'LL MESSAGE YOU. :)

I rarely take baths anymore. They’re too time consuming. Also, I always make the water too hot and can never stay in long enough to make the effort worthwhile. An added deterrent is that our master bathroom does not have a locking door, and I’m always nervous that an unsuspecting kid will walk in on me.

But recently, I took a bath.

Lovely, right? Clean tub, comfy pillow, pumpkin-spice scented candle and a hand towel at the ready. The water is the perfect temperature, the bubbles divine, my phone off, and I’ve got two books to choose from because I couldn’t decide which one to bring with me.

I took the perfect picture, and then I enhanced it with filters. Finally, I cropped it and adjusted the lighting so that it would be post-worthy. Are you rolling your eyes? Because I am.

Here’s what you don’t see in this picture:

Nice view, huh? This hole has been in our wall for approximately seven years, just waiting for me to cut two squares of drywall like my dad taught me to do, pop them into place, seal them in, and repaint. Such a simple job, and cheap. That’s why we haven’t called someone to take care of it. It’s an eyesore, but it’s in our master bathroom. No one sees it. Except for me, every day – and it stares directly at me on the rare occasion that I take a bath.

Want to see what else I cut out of the picture?

That’s a crack in the window next to the bathtub. It’s been there since we bought the house in 2011. We didn’t notice it until after we moved in, and we never fixed it.

This towel rack is killing me. I gave up on fixing it a couple years ago, and now we just sling our towels over the glass door of the shower. This is such a simple project. I could easily fill those holes and touch up the paint and reinstall a new fixture. I could also easily call a plumber to fix the two bathroom sinks (not pictured) that have been leaking for years. Instead, we’ve just been living with the problems and trying to ignore them.

I waffled about whether I should post the photos of the broken things in our master bathroom. It’s kind of embarrassing. Why haven’t we taken care of the mess? There just always seems to be something more pressing to deal with – and more visible.

My husband and I have an inordinate amount of experience with broken things. I could probably write a book on the topic, come to think of it. ;) One almost unbelievable example happened the weekend our daughter finished her cancer treatment.

After she rang the end-of-treatment bell at MD Anderson Cancer Center, we celebrated with friends and then went to dinner. On the way home a little after 10 p.m., our eight-year-old van died.

(That’s a grainy pic of the kids waiting on our ride. One child is to the left, doing pushups. Not sure why…)

Turns out, the transmission had given out. If you know anything about cars, you know a transmission is not a cheap fix.

The next day, since our van was dead, I was driving our old 2002 Chevy Impala on an errand, and it started overheating.

We’d been having nonstop trouble with both cars for a couple of years, but we couldn’t imagine chucking both of them and buying two new cars. One income, four kids, and a very big medical bill were standing in the way of dealing properly with the problem. But with two dead cars, we needed transportation. So we gave the Chevy away… (I was sad, as it had been the first car I had ever purchased):

…and we put the money into repairing the Dodge Grand Caravan. Then, we bought this baby:

It was not convenient when our two cars broke down. It was not cheap to replace the transmission in our van. It was sad to get rid of the Impala. It hurt our monthly budget when we had to buy a new vehicle. But can you see the relief on my face?

Plus, we really had no choice. We’d put band-aids on the problems for years, constantly bringing the cars in for repairs – which had probably cost more money and time in the long run than was wise. Sometimes we do the same thing with the painful things in our lives.

Sometimes, we just find ourselves sitting in our pain and brokenness, applying band-aids of tears and food and avoidance and all kinds of other vices. We wallow in our brokenness. We stare endlessly at the hole in the wall, the leaking sinks, the broken towel rack, the cracked glass. We examine every angle of our broken hearts, lost dreams, raging disappointments, biting failures, critical losses, deep betrayals – and let the pain seep in. Then, we let it stay.

When I was at my counseling appointment this week, my counselor brought out this large sign about the eight basic emotions: anger, fear, pain, joy, passion, love, shame, and guilt.

We discussed the fact that these emotions are not bad emotions. In fact, these emotions are tools. More importantly, they are gifts. Take a look at Pain. That’s what we feel in our brokenness, right?

Now, take a look at the gifts of pain: healing, growth, awareness. It’s hard to recognize any opportunity in the midst of pain, however. Sometimes, we’d just rather wallow in our own misery than do the hard work of climbing out of it. Usually, it takes some sort of catalyst to push us out of our pain and into a search for some kind of lasting relief.

About a year after the cars died, we needed a fence.  When a freak storm passed through our neighborhood, an entire section of our fence came down, tearing apart our little shed with it.

This was not something we could hide from our neighbors like our broken master bathroom. It was a complete eyesore. Also, we have three wild dogs we consider pets, and we needed to keep them safely in our yard.

So, I called three contractors for quotes to fix the fence. We looked at our finances and decided how to pay for it. We scheduled the repair date. Problem solved. And solving that problem made me think about how long I’d been staring at our broken bathroom, the stress of it building each day. After all, with the time and money it took to get this section of our fence replaced, we could have easily fixed all the brokenness in our bathroom and probably painted over that diarrhea-brown for good measure.

So, why fix the fence and not the bathroom?

Two reasons: urgency and visibility.

It is when our pain becomes both unbearable and visible that healing can finally begin. Sometimes, we feel like we are functioning just fine, despite our pain. We keep it hidden because maybe we are ashamed. Or maybe we just don’t want to be the sad friend anymore. Maybe it seems to feel better to stuff it down than dredge it up. Also, we convince ourselves it costs far less if we just tote our brokenness around with us, alone.

But once we hold space with one another and share our burdens, healing can begin.

'Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

In my upcoming release, Security Measures, heroine Triss Everett has been carrying a painful secret for so long that she can’t even recognize how it has shaped her entire life. When that secret comes to light, when she shares that burden of pain, healing finally begins.

It is my prayer that you will have the courage to share your hidden pain – first with the Heavenly Father, who brings all comfort, and then with a trusted friend. Bonus if you share with two friends. :) And if your pain runs deep and long and haunts you on the daily, I encourage you to also seek a professional counselor to help guide you to a constructive path of healing.

We only have to look at the cross to see the truth behind the concept of healing through brokenness. Before Jesus was arrested, he prayed in desperation that there could be another way to redeem mankind. He was completely alone. His trusted friends couldn’t keep their tired eyes open long enough to keep praying with him. Then, His body was broken for all to see – the ultimate sacrifice with unfathomable pain. But through that brokenness? Healing. Redemption. New hope.

Have you experienced growth or healing through brokenness? Or are you still searching? Comment to be entered to win this tray of Easter sweets, plus your choice between a signed copy of Dying to Remember or an IOU for Security Measures when I get my ARCs in a couple of months.

In the meantime, come visit me on Facebook @SaraKParker.author for more encouragement, updates, and occasional giveaways.

Our family's favorites....for Easter dinner Roxanne Rustand

Easter is fast approaching.  Some of the other authors have shared some wonderful recipes for Easter.  Do you have some favorites that you serve every year?

We have the traditional Easter dinner with ham and the usual fixings... though this year our daughter wants us to make an Asian meal instead. I'm not too sure about it though.  Do you do anything unusual for Easter meals?
Here is a salad I absolutely love but don't make often enough. It came from my best high school friend Becky many years ago.  It's perfect for a dinner with extended family.  It serves a lot.

I'm also sharing my all-time favorite potato salad recipe, which I got in 1971 from the long-closed restaurant in the Minneapolis area, but altered to fit our own taste. It's perfect for the light supper on Easter evening with leftover ham.  I hope you will enjoy these favorites of ours! Note: I always figure it's a holiday, with company joining us, so I only use Hellman's regular dressing for these recipes because it just tastes soooo much better.  :)


BECKY'S PARMESAN BACON SALAD
1 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 head cauliflower
1 medium onion, chopped
1.25#   lean bacon fried crisp and crumbled
1 cup thin sliced carrots

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup  grated parmesan (in a shaker can--not the freshly grated kind)
2 cups regular Hellmans (no other kind will be as good!)
3 cups seasoned croutons

Break cauliflower into flowerets. Slice thin (a food processor works great.)
Place first five ingredients in a large container, in the order listed.
Combine the sugar, parmesan and Hellman's well, and spread over the carrots.
Refrigerate until serving time, then add croutons and toss until well mixed.


POTATO SALAD
Dressing:
2 cups Hellman's regular salad dressing (no substitute!)
2 TBSP yellow mustard
6 TBSP sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar

Salad:
7-8 red potatoes, boiled til tender & cubed, leaving at least half the skins--cooled
4 hard cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
5 green onions, chopped, using part of the green ends
5 radishes, sliced thin
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine with the dressing and refrigerate for at least two hours.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

Roxanne Rustand

Our Family’s Favorite Easter Resources + Love Inspired Suspense Cover Reveal

by Meghan Carver

When I was a child, Easter was a special time…of sorts.

My mother would usually make me a new dress. That was about the only time of the year she completed a sewing project, so it was extra special. J

We would usually spend the weekend at my grandparents’ house about two hours away. My grandmother would hide jelly beans all over her house for an egg hunt on Sunday morning…including in our shoes. Candy of any kind was such a rare treat for my brother and me that I apparently didn’t notice the slight taste of feet. J At my grandparents’ church, we would sit on the front pew. I don’t remember any of the sermons, but I remember my grandmother’s hats.

While these are nice memories, my husband (who didn’t have any Jesus in his childhood Easters) and I have decided to take advantage of the many resources available today to get more Jesus in our family’s Easter. Over the years, we’ve collected several books and videos…and a couple other things as well.

Books

Cute drawings and the basic story any child can understand.

 

Super adorable drawings and rhyming text.

 

We actually purchased this as an Abeka book for our homeschool curriculum, but I found it available for Kindle on Amazon. My two oldest girls have read it and thought it really brought the Bible to life, although the ending for Titus was surprising and sad. The story of the character Titus is fiction, but the setting, the society, and Jesus are based on the truth of the Bible. This one is shooting to the top of my to-be-read list, and in fact, I found two others by the same author on Amazon, a trilogy called Comrades of the Cross -- Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross and The Cross Triumphant.

Videos

Provides an entertaining contrast between plastic eggs and the resurrection. Try watching it and not singing about mechanical chickens. J

 

What an emotional experience! A couple of years ago, we let our older children watch it with us. We thought the two oldest were mature enough and knowledgeable enough to handle it. The visuals definitely made what they had only read about more real. In regard to your children, use your discretion.

Radio Theatre Drama

 

Specifically The Easter Story – Digger Digwillow travels back in the Imagination Station to witness the last week of Jesus’ life. The cover looks like it's just for children, but don't be fooled. Our teens and my husband and I love Adventures in Odyssey!

And don’t forget….

 

We always have a little egg hunt for our children at home after church. Scavenger hunts are just fun, and we take the opportunity to insert a little more teaching through the Resurrection Eggs. Our children usually end up competing to see who can find the most of these special eggs.

Isn't the cover of this adult coloring book fun and whimsical? So, my last item isn't terribly spiritual, but it can be stress-relieving.

What are your go-to resources for Easter?

~~~~~

Before you leave, may I share the cover of my Love Inspired Suspense coming this July? I love how pretty…worried the heroine looks!

Sign up for my author newsletter and be automatically entered into a giveaway with each issue. Soon, I’ll be giving away advance copies of Amish Covert Operation! You can sign up HERE, and thank you!

My Favorite Easter Desserts

by Jill Kemerer

With Easter right around the corner, I'm eagerly anticipating making a dessert or two to accompany our dinner. Easter is such a special day. I'm filled with joy Jesus loved us so much that He died and rose again to take away our sins. What better way to celebrate than with a good meal after the church service!

Last year I attempted two new recipes. My husband loves this lemon fluff-like dessert his grandmother used to make, so I found a similar recipe on Pinterest. Unsure if the recipe would match his memories, I also decided to make a lemon pie.

The fluff was tricky to make, and it didn't reach quite the right consistency. I threw that recipe out! But the lemon pie was super easy, VERY sweet, and we all loved it!

You can find the recipe at "Luscious Lemon Pie" at OrganizingHomelife.com.

Another dessert I found on Pinterest has become a staple in our house. It's called No Bake Chocolate Lasagna. Yes, CHOCOLATE LASAGNA! It's so delicious!

Basically, it's crushed Oreos mixed with butter and pressed into a pan. Then there's a layer of whipped cream/cream cheese. Then chocolate pudding. More whipped cream. And tiny chocolate chips! Yum!

You can find the recipe at "No Bake Chocolate Lasagna" at iHeartNaptime.com.

Recently, I created my own Chocolate Strawberry Trifle to celebrate Valentine's day. It would make a great dessert for a crowd. It does take planning and time, but it's not difficult to make. The picture below doesn't really do it justice!

Here's what you need:

Chocolate Strawberry Trifle

• 1/2 of a prepared Devil's food cake (I made two round cakes from a 15.25 ounce box mix. You'll need 1+1/3 cups of water, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs to make it), cooled and cut into cubes.
• 1 prepared 3.9 ounce package of chocolate instant pudding (you'll need 2 cups of cold milk to make it).
• Either 3 cups of homemade whipped cream, see "Homemade Whipped Cream" at LiveWellBakeOften.com (you'll need 1.5 cups of heavy whipping cream and 1/4 cup of powdered sugar to make it) or a 12 ounce container of Cool Whip.
• 1 pint of strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and sliced.
• Chocolate shavings for the top. (I shaved mine using a vegetable peeler on a dark chocolate candy bar.)

In a clear glass bowl, layer cake cubes, then pudding, then whipped cream, then a layer of strawberry slices, more cake cubes, more pudding, more whipped cream, and top with more strawberries, cake cubes, and chocolate shavings. If you have leftover ingredients, keep layering until the bowl is full.

This can be made up to a day ahead of time and will easily feed 6-8 people. It's wonderful!

What are your favorite Easter desserts? I'd love to hear about them!

*

Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of inspirational romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. She loves coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

*

My new release, His Wyoming Baby Blessing, will be in stores April 16, 2019!

She’s pregnant on his doorstep…

Saddle up for this Wyoming Cowboys novel

When his childhood friend Kit McAllistor shows up, widowed and pregnant, rancher Wade Croft offers her a place to stay…but he can’t offer her his heart. As old feelings begin to surface, past tragedies force Wade to ignore them. But on the brink of losing his ranch, will he also risk losing the woman he’s beginning to love…or can he cowboy up in time?

Purchase links can be found HERE!

Sunday Scripture

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Christ with the Woman Taken in Adultery, by Guercino, 1621,
Dulwich Picture Gallery, London. [PD-US]

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, 
and all the people started coming to him, 
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman 
who had been caught in adultery 
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught 
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin 
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

John 8:1-11

If you have any prayer needs, please mention them in the comments section so we can join you in prayer. You do not need to include specific names or situations of a private nature, just say that you have a prayer request. The Lord knows your heart and the needs you have. It is a privilege and honor to pray with you and for you.

Eating your way through a book

Patricia posted a delightful recipe yesterday as part of our idea to include recipes with some of our posts. I had already decided to do the same today. I hope you enjoy.

Are you one of those people who gets caught up in the food that characters in books are enjoying?
I always find myself craving whatever is in the book. I went on a tea and scones binge the entire time I was reading the Tea Shop cozy mystery series by Laura Childs.
This one included a recipe for lemon scones.

Or how about Christmas stories and Christmas cookies.

I could go on and on. Clearly, I'm very suggestible.

The trend also holds true when I'm writing my own books. I'm currently working on one book set in Texas and one set in Maine. Since I often spend summers in Maine, this is a great chance for me to enjoy some of my favorite dishes. All in the name of research and getting in the mood, of course.

In a scene I was writing the other day, my character was enjoying a hearty dish of fish chowder (chowdah!). I was so jealous. I wanted one too. Maybe because it reminded me of a favorite moment I shared with my husband.

Back in 2014, we celebrated my sale to LIS with dinner at our favorite lobster house in Maine.

We started off the meal with their fabulous fish chowder.

Long after we were home, I was craving this haddock chowder, so I played with some recipes and came up with one that I thought came close. (Although nothing could compare to that restaurant deck overlooking the harbor.)


This recipe is really pretty simple.

Start with @ 1 pound of haddock fillet and a pot of boiling water. I like to use my Dutch Oven for this. (You could also substitute cod or any firm white fish if you don't have haddock available.)

Boil the haddock in the water.  You'll have to skim off the foam, but after boiling it for about 10 minutes, you'll have a nice fish stock.
Note: Many recipes call for salting the water, but I find the fish salty enough. So, add salt to taste.

Remove the fish and break it into bite-sized pieces. Then add about 3 cups of chopped potatoes and a cup or so each of chopped onion and celery to the stock. Cover and simmer until tender.

When everything looks ready, add the fish back in. You can add some salt and pepper at this point, and then swirl in 1 cup of milk/cream/half and half (depending on richness you want) and a pat of butter.

Add a fresh loaf of crusty bread and you're all set for a hearty Down East meal. My character was sitting in front of a fire during a storm, but imagine sitting with this view.

As I was going through my photos, I found one of this fish chowder from a different restaurant. As you can see, they added shrimp as well as fish. Even more yum!

So, I'm curious. Please tell me I'm not the only one who gets cravings for certain foods either when you read about it them books or write them into your own. Let's here about what tempts you.

Something Good to Eat

Patricia Davids here with something good.

Crab-filled crescent wontons

I like to cook good things for my friends and family.

I LOVE to cook things that are good and EASY.

This appetizer fits the bill. Picture and recipe are from the Betty Crocker website, my go to place for all things delicious if what I'm looking for isn't in the 1974 dog-eared copy of my own Better Crocker Cookbook that I received as a wedding gift in 1974. http://www.bettycrocker.com/ I seriously love that book. And the man.

Crab-filled crescent wontons

Ingredients

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated Crescent Dough Sheet

1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup chopped cooked crabmeat

1 tablespoon chopped green onion (1 medium)

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

1 egg white, beaten

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F.

Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Unroll dough on work surface (if using crescent rolls, pinch seams to seal); cut into 6 rows by 4 rows to make 24 squares.

In small bowl, mix cream cheese, crabmeat, onion and red pepper. Spoon about 1 teaspoon crab mixture 1/2 inch from 1 corner of 1 square.

Starting with same corner, fold dough over filling and tuck end tightly underneath filling; continue rolling to within 1/2 inch of opposite corner. Lightly brush exposed corner with egg white.

Roll moistened corner of dough over roll; press to seal. Place on cookie sheet. Brush with egg white. Repeat with remaining squares and filling.

Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

The ladies of Love Inspired who blog here have recently talked about adding recipes once in awhile to change things up. I like the idea. Dear Readers, what do you think?  After all, what we write is for you, our books, our blogs and our Facebook posts are all aimed at making you feel like you know us.

Happy cooking and Happy Reading.

My next book, The Wish, will be in stores May 1st.

Pat