Summer Fun
It’s time for me to catch up on a few things with my blog. First, I love Facebook. I’m connecting with people from all over and keeping up on what they are doing. Best of all, it’s not taking a lot time to accomplish this. Again, readers need to be sure to send me note with your friend request so I know that you are one of my readers….and not a stalker (as my oldest daughter call them). 
As promised (but late) is the YouTube links for the play I wrote and directed in the spring. It was performed by the teens of the Jasper Theater. It’s in two parts since it the play is approximately 18 minutes. They did a great job. Be sure to check it out:
I’m still working on my manuscript and another one is forming. I’m primed to spend plenty of time writing next week.
We went camping the first week of June and had a wonderful time at Cedarbrook Campgrounds in Lebanon, Ohio. It was warm for this time of year and I really appreciated the pool. This is a nice, quiet campgrounds and I was able to catch up on my sleep. One morning I didn’t get up until 9:30. That’s unheard of. Then there were a few afternoon naps. Total bliss!
Be sure to visit the YouTube page and enjoy summer. I am.
Hugs,
Beth
Just a quick note. If you do send a friend request on FB, please send a note with the request to say that you are an author friend. There are times when friend requests come through and I have no idea who they are. I don’t want to miss any true friends.
Beth
Stepping Out
It’s official! I’m now on Facebook. Yes, it’s true. It seemed like everyone was connecting on FB and it was time join the group. And it has been great fun. I’m talking with friends to whom there wasn’t time to call, but FB allows “quick chats” that work fine. I’m stepping out into Cyberspace once more.
School is nearly out. Jessica is home from college for the summer. Erica is almost done and enrolled for joint HS/college classes for the fall. I eagerly await the summer. Camping is now upon us.
We have been busy with family celebrations. I’m finally going to be a great-aunt on the Loughner side (I’ve been a great-aunt on the Davis side for over 20 years) and we attended a fun family baby shower. Only a short time to go.
The theater production of The Mysterious Will of Fergie Whoopenburger will soon be on YouTube. This was a fun play to write and the homeschool teens did an awesome performance. Can’t wait to share it will you. Watch in the next couple days for a link.
With plenty of hugs,
Beth
School’s Out
Remember the old song we sang as children on the last day of school? School’s Out, School’s Out, Teacher let the monkeys out. I loved that song. Not sure why. But I feel it bubbling up and getting ready to launch again. I’m ready for a little summer vacation relief. How about you?
I’m working on my current book and hoping to attend the ACFW Conference in Indianapolis this September. Right now, it’s hard to concentrate on anything but the last few weeks of school and a couple of major planning events that seem to be happening all at once. I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
I hope to add some pictures to my gallery shortly, so keep watching. I’ll write again.
Hugs,
Beth
Magnolia Trees and Life
Our family spent part of last weekend trimming the Magnolia tree. What a job! It has to be done every 6-7 years to keep it off the roof and out of the neighbor’s yard. Matter of fact, the tree is big enough now to span all the way to our neighbor’s roof if we’re not careful. But it’s a beautiful tree that is gorgeous in the spring when it blossoms and it provides wonderful shade in the summer time. I love the Magnolia.
As we were trimming the tall branches and then separating out the wood for firewood or mulch, it gave me time to think about what I’ve been learning in the book of James about faith. Faith without works is dead and works without faith is no better. So much of that has to do with trimming and pruning our lives to conform to Jesus. God gave me a few insights that day.
Trim the branches of our life before the leaves and/or fruit come out. It takes so much more work to trim after the leaves and blossoms present themselves. The branches are heavier and it’s harder to haul away the debris. It’s like that in life. Once we let something come into full being, it’s harder to get rid of it. So, I need to trim out things that don’t move me toward Jesus before I get too attached.
Tree branches can be useful when cut. We use the bigger pieces for firewood and then mulch the rest for the garden. It reminds me that God can bring good even out of our trimmings.
Pruning has to be done regularly. The Magnolia tree needs trimmed every 6-7 years, but others like our cherry tree need it yearly. If we miss the designated time it become harder to handle the next year and we can’t reach the fruit it bears. I need to keep evaluating and pruning my life on a regular basis.
I want my faith to be real and my works to reflect this faith. I hope you do, too.
Happy Trimming,
Beth
Seasons to Appreciate
February has been a busy month and March is just around the corner. I can’t wait. A Robin Redbreast appeared this week. He may be a bit ahead of schedule, but it does mean spring will arrive. The garden is currently under more than a foot of snow and more is coming. The seeds, however, have arrived and it’s almost time to begin the seedlings.
Spring is a great reminder that all things can be made anew. New flowers, leaves, grass and yes, even weeds. I’m sure my appreciation for spring comes from living through the winter. Without the winter, I might grow to take the lovely seasons for granted. So, I appreciate winter, too.
Right now I’m busy writing a play for a teen drama class I’ll be teaching. What fun! It’s a mystery comedy. Not exactly Jessica Fletcher, but close.
I hope everyone is doing well. Drop me a line anytime to let me know how the outside world is doing.
Hugs,
Beth
The Finish Line
It’s a good feeling when you finish a project and love the results. My short story, Flowers For Christine, is finished. My editor made great suggestions that really improved the story. Of course, I couldn’t have done it without my faithful friend, Becky Rickard, who helps edit and makes valuable suggestions during the writing process. It’s wonderful to have someone help in this way. So, a big Bucky Beaver Badge goes to Becky.
It’s time to get back to my current writing project. This novel has been in the the stop-and-start mode for five years. That’s patheticl. It’s time to finish the story. My goal is to have it nearly completed before a writing conference this fall. So, between taxes, homeschooling, and other duties, I will be writing.
Usually, January and February are my slow months. Not anymore! I’m crazier than ever. It must be the high school and college deadlines that weren’t there a few years ago. They say we all have phases to go through in life. I’ll just keep marching along.
Stay warm this winter and if you live in the South, please forward some warm weather to the north.
Hugs,
Beth
Posting Pictures
Just a quick note to let you know I’m trying to upload the Christmas pictures, but I’m having a problem. Either I’ve uploaded too many and will have to take some off…..or the individual pictures are too big. I’m working on it.
Hope everyone had a merry Christmas. Now, I wish you a Happy New Year!
Hugs,
Beth
Merry Christmas 2009
Everyone is busy wrapping presents, baking cookies and preparing for all the family traditions that make Christmas fun. It’s a time when the world stops, believers and unbelievers, to contemplate the Lord Jesus. It is with that spirit that I celebrate this wonderful season.
In my last blog I warned about going full steam ahead and I have. The Christmas Outreach drama at our church reached many people and delivered a strong message about the birth of Jesus. With the exception of one mishap on the first night (a main character tripping and falling two feet down and off the back stage in the first twenty seconds of the first scene) the drama went beautifully. The falling character did survive (PTL) without injury to himself or the prompter behind the backdrop. He climbed back onto the stage and announced, “That was fun”, and on went the play.
Later the night after the last performance, I began to feel ill and a new chapter began. One ER visit followed by a partially, expense-paid 4-night stay at a luxurious hospital in town, I returned home. I now have the dubious diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. What fun it was. I am much better now, but did miss one night (and an entire week of Christmas preparation) as a character at the Ohio Village.
But all is well. The Ohio Village “Dickens of a Christmas” went well and was beautiful. We even had a visitor from London, England. I will post pictures today or tomorrow. Be sure to check out my husband. He looks very dashing in his Dickens outfit.
I do wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Remember….Life is tough, but God is good. Even in the bad times he is in control.
Christ is King,
Beth
Happy Thanksgiving
Okay, I know the Christmas merchandise and music begins earlier and earlier every year, but let’s not shove Thanksgiving out of the way. Case in point, I needed new Thanksgiving hand towels. I waited patiently until the day after Halloween to make my search. Imagine my surprise when the orange pumpkin towels disappeared and were replaced not with Thanksgiving emblems, but Christmas. Bam! No Thanksgiving.
This was not just one store, but every store I visited. There were a few “harvest” kitchen towels, but no turkeys or “Give God Thanks” towels to be found.
So, I’m here to declare Thanksgiving is alive and well at our house. Although our attitude of thanksgiving is year-round, this is the official day we can come together as God’s people to celebrate what He’s done for us.
I wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you are a Heartsong subscriber, be sure to look for my new novella, Flowers for Christine in next year’s Romantic Notions newsletter.
Hugs,
Beth