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

Time for the Holidays

It is now official. Time to gear up for the holidays. The stores already started a month ago. Hallmark is always in the lead with their July release of ornaments.

Every year I plan how to make the holidays less stressful and time consuming. Yet, every year it seems that events pop up that make it impossible to relax. Maybe I’m not supposed to relax. So, this year I’m throwing all caution to the wind. I’m busy praying and directing the Christmas Outreach drama (A Respectable Birth) that will be performed for two nights in December. This is a good and worthy type of busy. I also plan to volunteer for the Dickens of a Christmas event (again) at the Ohio Historical Village. I will have to post pictures of the 1850s dresses my daughter and I have made in preparation.

I will concede to making fewer cookies and fudge, buying most of my gifts before Thanksgiving, and reading a few good Christmas fiction books. How’s that for a plan!

I welcome you to share (if my comments section works right) how you plan to spend the holidays this year. Family traditions are a wonderful thing and sharing the Good News of Jesus is something the world needs.

Hugs,
Beth

Changing Colors

Have you ever wondered what our world would be like without color? Boring? Sad? Lazy? All of us have our favorite colors. Mine is a peachy orange like an orange sherbert Pushup. Yum! I try to use color when writing, because it can bring a story to life. Fall is full of color this year….a bit early perhaps…but the reds, oranges, yellows and purples look beautiful. These colors can reflect the differences and the similiarities of life. We all have our happy and sad times, and many times they are very different, just like the fall colors.

Currently, I’m bending my characters into different lives and moods….just like colors. It gives them more dimension. Now, if I can just find more time to write.

It’s camping time again. Fall is my favorite for camping. There is a cool nip in the air as the sun sets early and the fire roars. It’s warm during the day while basking in the sun. There is plenty of time for reading and working puzzles.

My website is also in the midst of change. Webmaster Jeff is working on making the site different and refreshing. Be patient as he uploads different features and we work the bugs out.

Shining in Him,
Beth

Back to the Ol’ Grind

When I was a kid, it seemed like summer lasted forever. We didn’t head back to school until after Labor Day and August was still a month of freedom. Now, school starts about the third week of August which makes this time a “school” month. College has started once again for our oldest and homeschooling started today for our family. I’m not ready to let go of summer, because that means fall is coming.

Not that I have anything against the fall. I love it. It’s the winter months that follow that I would like to avoid. How about going from New Year’s right into spring? Now we’re talking.

All joking aside, the fall season does bring me back into an organized schedule that allows me to accomplish many more tasks. God knew what He was doing when he gave us weather changes.

The garden is still blooming like crazy. Red ripe tomatoes color the yard and my Stella’s are still blossoming with beautiful yellow flowers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and enjoying the warm weather.

May God’s Son shine on you!

Hugs,
Beth