“The Noticer” by Andy Andrews is a keeper. I read a lot and give away many of the books I read. Only the ones that really “get to me” stay on my shelves. This book is full of wisdom for all ages. Some books speak the challenges in marriage. Others are about dating and young people’s issues. There are quite a few books about making the “golden years” count. “The Noticer” touches on all of these in a calm and reasonable manner. My notebooks are full of quotes and outlines from books such as this one. I am certain that I will be referring to my notes on this book for a very long time.
The historical illustrations caused me to want to study history more. The impact biographies of great people had on some of the characters caused me to explore doing more reading along those lines. I wish teachers would read this book so that they can see another approach to teaching these things. I think that “The Noticer” is a great fit for people that want to get a grip on the important things in life. Especially in the days we are living at present, readers will find encouragement, as well as workable plans to implement in their own lives.
Elaine Littau
Author of “Nan’s Journey” and “Elk’s Resolve”
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Anticipation at the Mailbox
Everyday, I mean every single day that the mail runs, I open my mailbox with anticipation. Some days I am rewarded. A lot of days I am not. You may think that I am talking about getting a check from the Reader's Digest Contest stating that I may have already won a bazillion dollars.
No, my heart races when I see handwriting on a regular letter. A real live letter thrills me. My friends and daughters-in-law know this and indulge me fairly often. Don't get me wrong, I am an email addict and love having as many notes from people as possible. I like personal notes about how everyone is doing..their kids...grandkids...their hopes...dissappointments...You know, all the stuff of life. It doesn't take much. I am happy with a couple of sentences in my emails.
When I see an unfamiliar return address on a handwritten envelope it touches my heart. People have been very supportive about the books I write. It is like they send the encouraging words just in time to rescue me from self-doubt. There are a lot of very kind people in this world. They don't get a lot of press, but they are amazing.
I guess the thing about holding and tearing open the crispy envelope to see the contents is the realization that sending a letter takes purposed effort. So many times I think of writing someone and then just as quickly as the thought landed in my brain it flew off. I love looking at the script. (I get a little jealous of other people's handwriting. Mine looks so scratchy.) I am nutty about letters....Can you tell? I save every hand written thing I get...
Here is an idea. Send a hand written letter to your mom for mother's day. If your mother is not around anymore, send one to someone special in your life. You will surprise them and make their day.
No, my heart races when I see handwriting on a regular letter. A real live letter thrills me. My friends and daughters-in-law know this and indulge me fairly often. Don't get me wrong, I am an email addict and love having as many notes from people as possible. I like personal notes about how everyone is doing..their kids...grandkids...their hopes...dissappointments...You know, all the stuff of life. It doesn't take much. I am happy with a couple of sentences in my emails.
When I see an unfamiliar return address on a handwritten envelope it touches my heart. People have been very supportive about the books I write. It is like they send the encouraging words just in time to rescue me from self-doubt. There are a lot of very kind people in this world. They don't get a lot of press, but they are amazing.
I guess the thing about holding and tearing open the crispy envelope to see the contents is the realization that sending a letter takes purposed effort. So many times I think of writing someone and then just as quickly as the thought landed in my brain it flew off. I love looking at the script. (I get a little jealous of other people's handwriting. Mine looks so scratchy.) I am nutty about letters....Can you tell? I save every hand written thing I get...
Here is an idea. Send a hand written letter to your mom for mother's day. If your mother is not around anymore, send one to someone special in your life. You will surprise them and make their day.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Persistence and Battle:The modern world of book publishing
Fellow Tate Publishing and Enterprises author, Cliff Graham posted this article on the Tate Author Forum Blog today. He has a fantastic book about to be released, "Lion of War", (First book, "Day of War" - Lion of War series--novels based on King David's Mighty Men.) Get your copies at Tate Publishing.com or at his website. (I will post the address here soon.)
I am humbled that he chose my experience as a first time author for his post. Thank you Cliff and good luck and great sales for you series!
Persistence and Battle: The modern world of book publishing
My first order of books arrived today, and we have been busy getting orders ready to ship. Since the release of the book to distribution (bookstores, online retailers like Amazon) is not until October, it is up to me, and only me, to get the word out about my product.That's the right word, after all: product.Gone are the days when a writer could just sit back and wait for someone else to do their work for them. The industry does not operate that way anymore, and if you still labor under the illusion that an unknown author with no platform has any prayer of magically striking rich with the debt-ridden and tanking traditional publishers, you might need to take a deep breath.This blog is operated by a career literary agent, and look at how dour a picture she presents for those who are trying to write nonfiction. If you don't have a platform, your blood, sweat, and tears alone will sell that book.This is a report on the transformation of publishing as we know it, in the form of a Q/A with a notable Writer's Digest figure. It has fantastic analysis on the state of publishing.This is a blog post about how even fiction writers need platforms nowadays.
All of this is interesting reading. One of the complaints I have heard about Tate is that no one likes to talk about their sales figures for their books if they aren't a famous author because it can be a bit embarrassing. True enough. But did you know that only 2-3% of all books published in the world sell more than 5,000 copies? That is sobering. It tells us two things.1) Only 2-3% of authors are ever looked at again by publishers in New York, even if they get good contracts for their work.2) Even less than that actually make a living writing books. Even if you sell 5,000 copies and succeed in becoming one of the 2-3% of authors who do so, that does not add up to a full-time career. Let's say that your contract gives you 7% of distribution royalties (the standard rate for New York publishers--Tate offers 15%, by the way). 7% of every copy from that 5,000 copy run will not pay your mortgage for 30 years. It might get you a new garage door or help repair your roof from hail damage, but it won't guarantee milk in your refrigerator. Especially if the books sells only 5,000 copies, and it sells them through distribution, for which the author only gets a tiny amount of the royalties. It won't sell more than that unless word of mouth is powerful (which can happen, see The Shack) or you work your tail off marketing, sacrificing writing time.
There is a happy medium to be found. I am not able to list the specific sales numbers for other authors I have spoken with, but I know that Tate author Elaine Littau had a counter on her blog that was well over 1,000 copies sold when I checked it last. 1,000 copies for an unknown first time author in just 2 years is a remarkable figure, especially considering that she did not get heavy television promotion and her novel did not appear on shelves nationwide. Many books do get that kind of attention and never even sell 1,000 copies.
The Gargoyle, a book whose marketing I frequently point to as the standard for everything wrong with the industry, coughed up just 15,000 in sales after months on prominent bookstore shelves, and that unknown author was paid over a million dollars in an advance. Elaine's perseverance and belief in her book (call it a product) are driving sales. She has built a loyal fan base of genuine fans and not just people duped into buying because of a corporate marketing scheme. She recently published her next book in the series, and the first wave of fans will be getting the sequel they have been waiting for.Elaine's story is fascinating because it is quintessentially American: hard work, dedication, and driving faith will see better results than haunch-sitting. She has been dramatically effective at self-promotion, and she still found time to write another novel in her series while working at a job. Now that's efficiency.
Tate is doing what other publishers are just now starting to understand: they set their authors up for success. They don't guarantee it. I had a drill sergeant when I first joined the army who always shouted to us, "None of this training will guarantee that you will survive battle--it just guarantees that you will be in the battle."An author in the modern times is in a battle, and it is better to have a publisher who provides tools and training to equip that author for battle than a publisher who just hopes on a wing and a prayer that something will be the next "Purpose-Driven Harry Potter."It's all about incentive. Do we have what it takes to swallow our pride, realize that no one likes us or cares about our book, certainly not enough to spend money on it, and go from there? That's how Rick Warren, John Grisham and J.K. Rowling started. Persistence won the day.
Posted by Cliff Graham at
I am humbled that he chose my experience as a first time author for his post. Thank you Cliff and good luck and great sales for you series!
Persistence and Battle: The modern world of book publishing
My first order of books arrived today, and we have been busy getting orders ready to ship. Since the release of the book to distribution (bookstores, online retailers like Amazon) is not until October, it is up to me, and only me, to get the word out about my product.That's the right word, after all: product.Gone are the days when a writer could just sit back and wait for someone else to do their work for them. The industry does not operate that way anymore, and if you still labor under the illusion that an unknown author with no platform has any prayer of magically striking rich with the debt-ridden and tanking traditional publishers, you might need to take a deep breath.This blog is operated by a career literary agent, and look at how dour a picture she presents for those who are trying to write nonfiction. If you don't have a platform, your blood, sweat, and tears alone will sell that book.This is a report on the transformation of publishing as we know it, in the form of a Q/A with a notable Writer's Digest figure. It has fantastic analysis on the state of publishing.This is a blog post about how even fiction writers need platforms nowadays.
All of this is interesting reading. One of the complaints I have heard about Tate is that no one likes to talk about their sales figures for their books if they aren't a famous author because it can be a bit embarrassing. True enough. But did you know that only 2-3% of all books published in the world sell more than 5,000 copies? That is sobering. It tells us two things.1) Only 2-3% of authors are ever looked at again by publishers in New York, even if they get good contracts for their work.2) Even less than that actually make a living writing books. Even if you sell 5,000 copies and succeed in becoming one of the 2-3% of authors who do so, that does not add up to a full-time career. Let's say that your contract gives you 7% of distribution royalties (the standard rate for New York publishers--Tate offers 15%, by the way). 7% of every copy from that 5,000 copy run will not pay your mortgage for 30 years. It might get you a new garage door or help repair your roof from hail damage, but it won't guarantee milk in your refrigerator. Especially if the books sells only 5,000 copies, and it sells them through distribution, for which the author only gets a tiny amount of the royalties. It won't sell more than that unless word of mouth is powerful (which can happen, see The Shack) or you work your tail off marketing, sacrificing writing time.
There is a happy medium to be found. I am not able to list the specific sales numbers for other authors I have spoken with, but I know that Tate author Elaine Littau had a counter on her blog that was well over 1,000 copies sold when I checked it last. 1,000 copies for an unknown first time author in just 2 years is a remarkable figure, especially considering that she did not get heavy television promotion and her novel did not appear on shelves nationwide. Many books do get that kind of attention and never even sell 1,000 copies.
The Gargoyle, a book whose marketing I frequently point to as the standard for everything wrong with the industry, coughed up just 15,000 in sales after months on prominent bookstore shelves, and that unknown author was paid over a million dollars in an advance. Elaine's perseverance and belief in her book (call it a product) are driving sales. She has built a loyal fan base of genuine fans and not just people duped into buying because of a corporate marketing scheme. She recently published her next book in the series, and the first wave of fans will be getting the sequel they have been waiting for.Elaine's story is fascinating because it is quintessentially American: hard work, dedication, and driving faith will see better results than haunch-sitting. She has been dramatically effective at self-promotion, and she still found time to write another novel in her series while working at a job. Now that's efficiency.
Tate is doing what other publishers are just now starting to understand: they set their authors up for success. They don't guarantee it. I had a drill sergeant when I first joined the army who always shouted to us, "None of this training will guarantee that you will survive battle--it just guarantees that you will be in the battle."An author in the modern times is in a battle, and it is better to have a publisher who provides tools and training to equip that author for battle than a publisher who just hopes on a wing and a prayer that something will be the next "Purpose-Driven Harry Potter."It's all about incentive. Do we have what it takes to swallow our pride, realize that no one likes us or cares about our book, certainly not enough to spend money on it, and go from there? That's how Rick Warren, John Grisham and J.K. Rowling started. Persistence won the day.
Posted by Cliff Graham at
Foul Language
Lately I have been studying Ephesians 4. It is full of wisdom... although most of the time I just read through and don't chew on the words. This time I took notes. There was a lot to be gleaned from the chapter. I thought that verse 29 which speaks of not using foul language was relatively easy for me. Upon closer inspection it says to not use foul language (use only words that are beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace [God's favor] to those who hear it.)
This is harder than not cussing. The reading goes on: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit." I think this may be connected with the last paragraph because it goes on to say..."Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath - (Passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment - (anger animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind) stop.
Replace this "foul language" with: Becoming useful, helpful, kind, tenderhearted, forgiving just as God in Christ forgave you and me.
Wow, that is a taller order than just cleaning up my language. This instruction is a change of mind and attitude. It is a change of life and perspective. It is truly living the golden rule - treating others as you want to be treated. (FYI -This is not a promise that they will treat you good back.) I must repent for using "foul language" as I see the measuring stick the Lord uses. I pledge to endeavor to live by this verse.
This is harder than not cussing. The reading goes on: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit." I think this may be connected with the last paragraph because it goes on to say..."Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath - (Passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment - (anger animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind) stop.
Replace this "foul language" with: Becoming useful, helpful, kind, tenderhearted, forgiving just as God in Christ forgave you and me.
Wow, that is a taller order than just cleaning up my language. This instruction is a change of mind and attitude. It is a change of life and perspective. It is truly living the golden rule - treating others as you want to be treated. (FYI -This is not a promise that they will treat you good back.) I must repent for using "foul language" as I see the measuring stick the Lord uses. I pledge to endeavor to live by this verse.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Peace by Piece by Peter and Sandra Loth
When a friend recommended Peace by Piece by Peter and Sandra Loth to me I had no idea that I would be glued to my chair and crying the rest of the day away. I simply could not put it down. It was difficult to stomach in places but necessary. Forgiveness is an important topic to me and the issues I have dealt with in that subject do not stack up at all to what this man has been through in his life. Yet, by the grace of God, he was able to release the pain and truly forgive. This gives me hope for myself and my situations. The freedom of spirit he experiences through forgiveness shows that it is worth it. Honestly, I have heard stories about the Holocaust before this one, but this first person post Holocaust story is a must read. Younger readers should not read it without parental approval.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Parker Planners
I've joined Parker Planners and think you'll be interested in it as well. To check it out, follow the link below: http://www.parkerplanners.com/?psinvite=ALRopfUi6z98bI_mdhYiH6VM0yLQnMpvphpLRzOas9HR7DEpC24Z-707WcK7N9RULYdp6BWL-EfB4Ld61pbhXa2Be-ewJ6HnzQ
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Rain is so Welcome
This year has been so dry so you can imagine the excitment everyone in our area when the big snow hit. Now we had a glorious rainey Easter Sunday. It has been such a relaxing day. The buffalo grass is responding already. It is wonderful!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Our Town, Our Lives
Have you ever seen the play "Our Town"? The message of the play is one that has stayed with me ever since I first saw it when I was in Jr. High School. (I'm as old as dirt so that is a long time.) The main female character dies at the beginning of the play and asks to be able to say one last goodbye. She is granted the privilege of watching one of the ordinary days of her life. She remarks about how young her mother and father look. She watches herself as she lives through this ordinary day. One thing that she says is something like, "We aren't even looking at each other!"
Yesterday is not a day that I would want to come back to for an ordinary day in my life. Terry and I were busy. We were not at home. We were working on his mother's house finishing up the remodelling we have been doing. We were intent on the work and did not really talk at all. Terry was in one room and I was in another. Part of the day, for me, was broken up with visiting with Viola. I think she is really ready for the process to be over so that she can settle into this life changing move.
Although no terrible words were said. No arguments ensued. Nothing notable happened. When I pulled the covers up to my chin to sleep, I felt that something very important was missing in the day. We didn't even look at each other! On the hour-long ride home we didn't really speak. Terry was so tired he just couldn't carry on a conversation. My heart squeezed and I felt sad.
I opened this page of my life to urge you to not waste your days. I would be very sad if this were to be the last day we spent together. What a wasted last memory. We have had so many good memories and days. I think about the hurry and stress we all are in these days. If you take anything from reading my words, please remember to take time to "look at each other." I intend to wrap my arms around my weary husband when he comes in from work and tell him that he is a good son to his little mother and also a sweet husband to me. I want to look into those sky blue eyes and memorize his face one more time and see that incredible smile flash across his handsome face. He probably is too busy to realize that he misses me too, but I have to remind him...right?
Yesterday is not a day that I would want to come back to for an ordinary day in my life. Terry and I were busy. We were not at home. We were working on his mother's house finishing up the remodelling we have been doing. We were intent on the work and did not really talk at all. Terry was in one room and I was in another. Part of the day, for me, was broken up with visiting with Viola. I think she is really ready for the process to be over so that she can settle into this life changing move.
Although no terrible words were said. No arguments ensued. Nothing notable happened. When I pulled the covers up to my chin to sleep, I felt that something very important was missing in the day. We didn't even look at each other! On the hour-long ride home we didn't really speak. Terry was so tired he just couldn't carry on a conversation. My heart squeezed and I felt sad.
I opened this page of my life to urge you to not waste your days. I would be very sad if this were to be the last day we spent together. What a wasted last memory. We have had so many good memories and days. I think about the hurry and stress we all are in these days. If you take anything from reading my words, please remember to take time to "look at each other." I intend to wrap my arms around my weary husband when he comes in from work and tell him that he is a good son to his little mother and also a sweet husband to me. I want to look into those sky blue eyes and memorize his face one more time and see that incredible smile flash across his handsome face. He probably is too busy to realize that he misses me too, but I have to remind him...right?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Do Not Be Afraid.
Yesterday some of the ladies of my church and I were praying. The Lord impressed me strongly with this message to give to anyone who will receive it:
Do not be afraid. The same water that flows from under the throne of God is that which flows from out of your belly as a river. It was given for these last days. Don't waste the Holy Spirit flowing from you. You will speak to your children and loved ones and they will listen to the voice of God. You will be carried on this river through this dark time. The Holy Spirit of God will carry you.
Psalms 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he had made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
John 7:37-39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Revelation 22
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, In the midst of the street of it and on either side of river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there: and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY.
vs. 12
And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
vs 20
He which testifieth these things saith, SURELY I COME QUICKLY. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
If you read all of that, hang in there with me a minute more. I am not a preacher. I am a person who loves Jesus and I love people. I feel urgent to tell you that the time is short. I know that the Scriptures were from the King James Bible and some of you may find it hard to understand. Please get a translation you do understand and study the verses I have written here. Read the Bible. You will see that it is time to quit playing around and get serious with God. He loves you and wants to help you.
Spend some time reading Revelation, the last book of the Bible. I know that it will be difficult to understand for you, but pray for understanding. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Ask Him to show you what to do. Find a good church that believes that the Bible is true and current for our lives today. Read the Bible starting with St John and go through the whole New Testament. You will find the road map to show you what to do in these uncertain days. If you need prayer please contact me at elainel45@msn.com . I don't take offerings or anything like that. Time is short. Like the Lord said...He is coming quickly!
Do not be afraid. The same water that flows from under the throne of God is that which flows from out of your belly as a river. It was given for these last days. Don't waste the Holy Spirit flowing from you. You will speak to your children and loved ones and they will listen to the voice of God. You will be carried on this river through this dark time. The Holy Spirit of God will carry you.
Psalms 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he had made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
John 7:37-39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Revelation 22
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, In the midst of the street of it and on either side of river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there: and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY.
vs. 12
And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
vs 20
He which testifieth these things saith, SURELY I COME QUICKLY. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
If you read all of that, hang in there with me a minute more. I am not a preacher. I am a person who loves Jesus and I love people. I feel urgent to tell you that the time is short. I know that the Scriptures were from the King James Bible and some of you may find it hard to understand. Please get a translation you do understand and study the verses I have written here. Read the Bible. You will see that it is time to quit playing around and get serious with God. He loves you and wants to help you.
Spend some time reading Revelation, the last book of the Bible. I know that it will be difficult to understand for you, but pray for understanding. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Ask Him to show you what to do. Find a good church that believes that the Bible is true and current for our lives today. Read the Bible starting with St John and go through the whole New Testament. You will find the road map to show you what to do in these uncertain days. If you need prayer please contact me at elainel45@msn.com . I don't take offerings or anything like that. Time is short. Like the Lord said...He is coming quickly!
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Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JOYCE MEYER is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than seventy inspirational books, including The Confident Woman, Look Great, Feel Great, and the entire Battlefield of the Mindfamily of books. She has also released thousands of audio teachings as well as a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life® radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $16.99
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446509396
ISBN-13: 978-0446509398
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Introduction
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything elseówe are the busiest people in the world.
ÓERIC HOFFER
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
—Hebrews 12:2
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
The Blog Tour for "Nan's Journey" Begins July 23
It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book's FIRST chapter!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and his/her book:
Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Littau is a life-long resident of Perryton, TX. She met husband, Terry at the Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, Kansas in 1974. They married March 1, 1975 and reside on a small acreage near Perryton where they enjoy spending time with their family and friends. They raised three sons and now have three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren added to their family. They also enjoy visiting with their extended family located in Perryton, Clear Lake, Laverne, and Amarillo.
Author Elaine Littau is a busy woman who by profession is the church secretary for Harvest Time First Assembly of God Church in Perryton. Among other things she has led women’s groups and taught preschool, and was a mentor for the M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in her community. She has been active in Toastmasters and enjoys painting, crafts, and playing piano and organ. She was recently appointed to the Campus Education Improvement Committee for Wright Elementary in Perryton. She belongs to Christian Storytellers and Faith Writers writing groups.
“Nan’s Journey” was written over the course of several years. “A salvation message is at the core of the book.” Littau says. “If it weren’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I truly enjoy meeting new people.”
Littau is currently working on two other books that are continuations of “Nan’s Journey.” Book signings and speaking engagements are currently set up for venues in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Oregon.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 188 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602478325
ISBN-13: 978-1602478329
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Chapter One
It was late. The moon had risen and the night symphony was in full force. Crickets chirped at their rivals, the frogs, and dominated the night chorus. Only one sound in the forest was foreign—a whimper from under the ferns. At the base of the largest pine in the woods was a small form crying, moaning, and whimpering. Black hair, matted and dirty, hung in long ropes down the front of the tiny girl. She had been in this spot for hours. At least that is what it felt like to her. Stretching, she cried out in pain. The blood-covered welts burst open to bleed again. Her back was wet with blood, and her dress was torn and useless.
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Westminster CO
Great book signing in Colorado!
Mardel Bookstore in Littleton, CO
Booksigning - Elaine