I think it is probably a good thing that Valentine's Day is in February because it gives us something positive to think about the month. Hang in there with me for a minute. Let's give this some thought.
We just had December, which was very exciting.
January came in with a flurry of goal setting, resolutions, and hope for a shiny new year.
February is here with the consequences of the nice big dinners from December, the overspending of Christmas gifts, the realization that those goals of getting out of debt, loosing weight, and getting a healthier lifestyle come with the price of great effort. The fresh new snow has been plowed and has gotten rocky and muddy. Your friends or you have gone on ski trips. The Olympics are almost over, and you have a decision to make.
Do we embrace February or not? February is sort of like life. It has its ups and downs. We love the chocolate Valentine hearts, Cards declaring love and devotion, and cuddly bears, but winter is still dragging on.
Barbara Waterbury, a friend of mine from way back, used to say, "Day to day life gets to be pretty daily." I translate that into Most days aren't going to be thrilling and eventful. Most days are spent in living, doing the right thing, loving your family, and being human. We want our lives to count for something so we feel like we aren't doing anything all that special when what we really need to focus on is being someone others can count on.
Year after year February and March hold the months together. In these weeks we dream of spring and new life. The very fact that these mundane weeks cause us to dream adds to their value. So, my suggestion is to grab a comforter, snuggle next to your loved ones, sip on the hot chocolate and enjoy the days you are in. They are "daily" but they are precious. If you are alone at this time of year, reach out to someone with a phone call, email, or ...gasp...a hand-written note. Be that someone who can be counted on. Be the person you need someone else to be.
God bless you and Happy winter days.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Life Survival
In working at my brother-in-law's accounting business this year I have heard a lot of heart-breaking stories. Last night a young couple came in telling us about the tragedies they faced this past year with their house burning down and losing their job. Another couple, too young to retire, told of her diagnosis of cancer and his job loss. There have been more unemployment forms this year than ever. Of course there have been customers who have phoned and asked if there were special papers they needed to bring to file taxes jointly with a spouse who had passed away in the past year.
Hearing the stories of these people and assuring them that we would pray for them has caused me to "get out of my own skin" a little more. I think we have all had hurdles this year. Some have had more life-changing things happen than others but we have all learned lessons.
For Me:
Lesson #1
God cares and will either deliver me out of this or bring me through it.
Lesson #2
There are things more important than money.
Lesson #3
Enjoy people and love them.
There are many more but I want you to read the interview I did with Author, Nicole B. Simpson.
She is a 9/11 Survivor and a financial expert. Her books are much needed in our day and time.
1. My name is Nicole B. Simpson and my book titles are Planning for a Reason, A Season, and a Lifetime, The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events, and Dare 2 Dream: Pushing Past Your Pain to Pursue Purpose
2. I would want people to know I am a survivor and I believe if you are breathing, capable of reading this interview, you have an opportunity to achieve greatness.
3. I don't know if I ever desired to become a writer. I simply had a story to share with the world about my experience on September 11th. As a World Trade Center survivor, I felt that the emotions of the survivors who lived through the actual experience was visibly silent. I wanted my family to know how I felt emotionally, and the challenges my family faced in the immediate aftermath.
4. I believe most people who read anything I write, would state they feel as if they are having a conversation with me. The simplicity in my writing allows them to absorb the message I am attempting to deliver. They feel very comfortable and because two of my books require self reflection, they are more willing to pause and follow the instructions. I do recognize that is a gift for which I am grateful I possess.
5. I do enjoy reading whenever I have the time. However, having been in school for the last five years, most of the books I read are theological in nature. I do love self-help and inspirational material.
6. I am currently reading Drawn to Destiny by Yvonne Capehart-it's excellent.
7. At the present moment, I just completed my third book titled Dare 2 Dream. I believe that everyone experiences catastrophic events or trauma. Dare 2 Dream will take you on a journey that takes your abstract thoughts and feelings and compels you to explore your dreams becoming a reality. It takes into consideration the hindrances and pitfalls you’ve encountered during your childhood. It will encourage you to face your fears and move forward in spite of uncertainty. This book will help unlock the hidden, innermost secrets you’ve housed for years and move toward liberation of all dream-killing hindrances. I am beginning the research for my next publication which will be release in 2011. I am not certain of the title but the concept is to identify ten individuals who were effected by the tragedy of September 11th, 2001 and see where they are ten years later. How has the experience affect their life, what lessons have they learned and what is their "new normal".
8. My biggest obstacle in writing now is facing a deadline and not having any inspiration. Since I wrote my first book years ago, my focus was on the story itself and not writing. However, I've been fortunate because people ask me to contribute to magazine publications, guest blog, and complete interviews. People may laugh, but now I will play the computer game Majong Titans while I think. I do some of my best writing in the middle of a game, late at night. Even my family recognizes when I am in a zone but sometimes it can take hours.
9. Planning for A Reason, A Season and a Lifetime
How would you feel if you were terminated from your company as a result of "downsizing"? What would you do if your spouse died unexpectedly and you learned afterwards that the insurance proceeds had been left to their parents or even their former spouse? Can you afford to be on extended disability without worrying about your home facing foreclosure? Planning for a Reason, a Season, and a Lifetime identifies the importance of having a financial plan in place before life circumstances dictate you require one. The author is a certified financial planner who concentrated on doing "her job" until the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. Then it became personal. Using her personal experience as a World Trade Center survivor, a wife and mother of two children as an example, the author identifies the potential vulnerabilities we all face in our lives financially. This book will assist you in determining what areas you must address to become financially free. It will outline why it is critical to address unknown variables and the steps you should take to protect the ones you love.
The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Event
Can you survive financially during your wilderness experience in life? According to certified financial planner, senior adviser, and 9/11 survivor Nicole Simpson, most of us unconsciously focus on survival from day to day. In her new book, The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events , Simpson illustrates through her own traumatic experience the need to create a financial plan of action to combat life's inevitable disasters. Through simple, engaging stories, The Ultimate Plan lays out strategies your family can incorporate to avoid total devastation when faced with unexpected death, disability, natural disasters, etc. The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events is your guidebook to being prepared when disaster strikes. Dare 2 Dream: Pushing Past Your Pain to Pursue Purpose a dream is destined to have two potential, extremely contrarian outcomes. It can maintain its abstract nature, never given the consideration or opportunity to evolve into something real. Or it can be pursued diligently with the stated objective of being fulfilled. When you dare to dream, you give yourself permission to imagine life from a best case scenario. You become the author of your fate, not allowing your circumstances to dictate your reality. Certainly, you will have to confront the very real issues of life, but your willingness to operate pro-actively is far more advantageous instead of being led by your finances, fear or insecurities. Dare 2 Dream will take you on a journey that takes your abstract thoughts and feelings and compels you to explore your dreams becoming a reality. It takes into consideration the hindrances and pitfalls you’ve encountered during your childhood. It will encourage you to face your fears and move forward in spite of uncertainty. This book will help unlock the hidden, innermost secrets you’ve housed for years and move toward liberation of all dream-killing hindrances. You will be refreshed and renewed. You will be motivated and productive. Most importantly, you will be free to DARE 2 DREAM again! 10. Anyone who desires to learn more about Nicole B. Simpson, can log onto my website www.nicolebsimpson.com . Through the site, they can follow my blog journey. They can interact directly through facebook which I actively utilize daily. Finally, please review my author's page on www.amazon.com.
Who is Nicole B. Simpson?
*One of the MOST INSPIRING AND MOTIVATING ORIENTATION SPEAKERS
*2 page feature in Black Enterprise
*Appeared on Money Matters with Lynn Doyle
*Profile to Success award recipient by BET.COM
*Recognized Disaster Planning Specialist
*Host of The Power of Gospel http://www.thepowerofgospel.com/
1-877-78 PLAN A • www.NicoleBSimpson.com • Nicolebsimpson@aol.co
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com/
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
Hearing the stories of these people and assuring them that we would pray for them has caused me to "get out of my own skin" a little more. I think we have all had hurdles this year. Some have had more life-changing things happen than others but we have all learned lessons.
For Me:
Lesson #1
God cares and will either deliver me out of this or bring me through it.
Lesson #2
There are things more important than money.
Lesson #3
Enjoy people and love them.
There are many more but I want you to read the interview I did with Author, Nicole B. Simpson.
She is a 9/11 Survivor and a financial expert. Her books are much needed in our day and time.
1. My name is Nicole B. Simpson and my book titles are Planning for a Reason, A Season, and a Lifetime, The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events, and Dare 2 Dream: Pushing Past Your Pain to Pursue Purpose
2. I would want people to know I am a survivor and I believe if you are breathing, capable of reading this interview, you have an opportunity to achieve greatness.
3. I don't know if I ever desired to become a writer. I simply had a story to share with the world about my experience on September 11th. As a World Trade Center survivor, I felt that the emotions of the survivors who lived through the actual experience was visibly silent. I wanted my family to know how I felt emotionally, and the challenges my family faced in the immediate aftermath.
4. I believe most people who read anything I write, would state they feel as if they are having a conversation with me. The simplicity in my writing allows them to absorb the message I am attempting to deliver. They feel very comfortable and because two of my books require self reflection, they are more willing to pause and follow the instructions. I do recognize that is a gift for which I am grateful I possess.
5. I do enjoy reading whenever I have the time. However, having been in school for the last five years, most of the books I read are theological in nature. I do love self-help and inspirational material.
6. I am currently reading Drawn to Destiny by Yvonne Capehart-it's excellent.
7. At the present moment, I just completed my third book titled Dare 2 Dream. I believe that everyone experiences catastrophic events or trauma. Dare 2 Dream will take you on a journey that takes your abstract thoughts and feelings and compels you to explore your dreams becoming a reality. It takes into consideration the hindrances and pitfalls you’ve encountered during your childhood. It will encourage you to face your fears and move forward in spite of uncertainty. This book will help unlock the hidden, innermost secrets you’ve housed for years and move toward liberation of all dream-killing hindrances. I am beginning the research for my next publication which will be release in 2011. I am not certain of the title but the concept is to identify ten individuals who were effected by the tragedy of September 11th, 2001 and see where they are ten years later. How has the experience affect their life, what lessons have they learned and what is their "new normal".
8. My biggest obstacle in writing now is facing a deadline and not having any inspiration. Since I wrote my first book years ago, my focus was on the story itself and not writing. However, I've been fortunate because people ask me to contribute to magazine publications, guest blog, and complete interviews. People may laugh, but now I will play the computer game Majong Titans while I think. I do some of my best writing in the middle of a game, late at night. Even my family recognizes when I am in a zone but sometimes it can take hours.
9. Planning for A Reason, A Season and a Lifetime
How would you feel if you were terminated from your company as a result of "downsizing"? What would you do if your spouse died unexpectedly and you learned afterwards that the insurance proceeds had been left to their parents or even their former spouse? Can you afford to be on extended disability without worrying about your home facing foreclosure? Planning for a Reason, a Season, and a Lifetime identifies the importance of having a financial plan in place before life circumstances dictate you require one. The author is a certified financial planner who concentrated on doing "her job" until the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. Then it became personal. Using her personal experience as a World Trade Center survivor, a wife and mother of two children as an example, the author identifies the potential vulnerabilities we all face in our lives financially. This book will assist you in determining what areas you must address to become financially free. It will outline why it is critical to address unknown variables and the steps you should take to protect the ones you love.
The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Event
Can you survive financially during your wilderness experience in life? According to certified financial planner, senior adviser, and 9/11 survivor Nicole Simpson, most of us unconsciously focus on survival from day to day. In her new book, The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events , Simpson illustrates through her own traumatic experience the need to create a financial plan of action to combat life's inevitable disasters. Through simple, engaging stories, The Ultimate Plan lays out strategies your family can incorporate to avoid total devastation when faced with unexpected death, disability, natural disasters, etc. The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events is your guidebook to being prepared when disaster strikes. Dare 2 Dream: Pushing Past Your Pain to Pursue Purpose a dream is destined to have two potential, extremely contrarian outcomes. It can maintain its abstract nature, never given the consideration or opportunity to evolve into something real. Or it can be pursued diligently with the stated objective of being fulfilled. When you dare to dream, you give yourself permission to imagine life from a best case scenario. You become the author of your fate, not allowing your circumstances to dictate your reality. Certainly, you will have to confront the very real issues of life, but your willingness to operate pro-actively is far more advantageous instead of being led by your finances, fear or insecurities. Dare 2 Dream will take you on a journey that takes your abstract thoughts and feelings and compels you to explore your dreams becoming a reality. It takes into consideration the hindrances and pitfalls you’ve encountered during your childhood. It will encourage you to face your fears and move forward in spite of uncertainty. This book will help unlock the hidden, innermost secrets you’ve housed for years and move toward liberation of all dream-killing hindrances. You will be refreshed and renewed. You will be motivated and productive. Most importantly, you will be free to DARE 2 DREAM again! 10. Anyone who desires to learn more about Nicole B. Simpson, can log onto my website www.nicolebsimpson.com . Through the site, they can follow my blog journey. They can interact directly through facebook which I actively utilize daily. Finally, please review my author's page on www.amazon.com.
Who is Nicole B. Simpson?
*One of the MOST INSPIRING AND MOTIVATING ORIENTATION SPEAKERS
*2 page feature in Black Enterprise
*Appeared on Money Matters with Lynn Doyle
*Profile to Success award recipient by BET.COM
*Recognized Disaster Planning Specialist
*Host of The Power of Gospel http://www.thepowerofgospel.com/
1-877-78 PLAN A • www.NicoleBSimpson.com • Nicolebsimpson@aol.co
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com/
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Catching Up
Those of you who get my newsletter regularly know that for the past few days I have been snowed in. It has been an opportunity for me to get some things caught up around here. I have been working on reformatting Luke's Legacy to send to the editors and I have also been putting together the details of the Authors' Book Marketing Workshop that we are holding in Denver on July 9-11. This workshop is for all authors regardless of publisher. I think that even seasoned authors will find something helpful in the workshop. (I may be prejudice here though.)
Be sure and look at the new blog. You will find authors that I have interviewed here in the past and hope to interview in the future.
The new blog is:
http://titlesforsale.blogspot.com/
Please go and look it over...& PURCHASE SOME BOOKS.
This week I am interviewing author, Terri Jones.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Nanny Mouse’s Tales…Raindrops and Rainbows
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I have a deep passion to help families and children
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
When I was in high school
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I enjoy getting lost in the story, it becomes so real as I am writing
5. If money were no object would you prefer being at home or being a world traveler?
Both! J I love traveling but love being at home with my family!
6. What are your favorite kinds of books and movies? I really love such a wide range, variety sums it up! Some days I love being lost in a novel or chick flick while others I am in deep thought and reflection.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it. Yes, it is a book to go along side my children’s book, written for moms of all ages for the most part. My children’s book came about due to our son’s battle with cancer. There is so much you cannot communicate in a children’s book so my desire is to tell our story and encourage those in the dark storms of life! God is always there even when the clouds seem to block His presence, so a book to help us all remember that and celebrate it.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
I would have to say time management and self doubt. I have an accountability partner who is also a writer. We hold each other accountable to write something each week and also to cheer each other on! I also know prayer is essential in over coming the doubt, the key is to focus on Him and obey what He is putting in your heart to do.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. When the first rainstorm in one hundred years comes to Rainbow Towne, the children are frightened, and Nanny Mouse must explain to them the importance of rain. Throughout the thunder and lightning, Nanny Mouse shares God's gift of the rainbow and the promise that it signifies. And as the children creep out from under the bed, they are able to behold the beauty that God has created and understand that they are unique and special to him. By overcoming the frightening struggle of a thunderstorm, all the mice learn how to appreciate both Raindrops and Rainbows. Using her son's battle with cancer as inspiration, Terri Jones tells a story of overcoming trials and fear that will teach and comfort both parents and children. Terri Jones lives in Athens, Georgia, with her husband, Jerry. She has eight precious grandchildren and a deep love and passion for helping families.
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com/
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
Be sure and look at the new blog. You will find authors that I have interviewed here in the past and hope to interview in the future.
The new blog is:
http://titlesforsale.blogspot.com/
Please go and look it over...& PURCHASE SOME BOOKS.
This week I am interviewing author, Terri Jones.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Nanny Mouse’s Tales…Raindrops and Rainbows
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I have a deep passion to help families and children
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
When I was in high school
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I enjoy getting lost in the story, it becomes so real as I am writing
5. If money were no object would you prefer being at home or being a world traveler?
Both! J I love traveling but love being at home with my family!
6. What are your favorite kinds of books and movies? I really love such a wide range, variety sums it up! Some days I love being lost in a novel or chick flick while others I am in deep thought and reflection.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it. Yes, it is a book to go along side my children’s book, written for moms of all ages for the most part. My children’s book came about due to our son’s battle with cancer. There is so much you cannot communicate in a children’s book so my desire is to tell our story and encourage those in the dark storms of life! God is always there even when the clouds seem to block His presence, so a book to help us all remember that and celebrate it.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
I would have to say time management and self doubt. I have an accountability partner who is also a writer. We hold each other accountable to write something each week and also to cheer each other on! I also know prayer is essential in over coming the doubt, the key is to focus on Him and obey what He is putting in your heart to do.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. When the first rainstorm in one hundred years comes to Rainbow Towne, the children are frightened, and Nanny Mouse must explain to them the importance of rain. Throughout the thunder and lightning, Nanny Mouse shares God's gift of the rainbow and the promise that it signifies. And as the children creep out from under the bed, they are able to behold the beauty that God has created and understand that they are unique and special to him. By overcoming the frightening struggle of a thunderstorm, all the mice learn how to appreciate both Raindrops and Rainbows. Using her son's battle with cancer as inspiration, Terri Jones tells a story of overcoming trials and fear that will teach and comfort both parents and children. Terri Jones lives in Athens, Georgia, with her husband, Jerry. She has eight precious grandchildren and a deep love and passion for helping families.
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com/
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Victory Over Anger, Rules of Engagement by Dr. Teresa Davis
Dr. Davis' book on anger and anger management is a wonderful resource. I can see this book making a huge difference in the lives of many people. Through personal experiences the journey she has been through, she makes clinical ideas flesh out in a way that the reader can know is workable in their life. With much personal understanding and a lot of Scripture, Dr. Davis points the way to victory over anger. After reading this book I have learned a lot about myself as well as A.D.D. and other situations that she highlighted. I would say this is an important book for anyone serious about getting their emotions under control.
Elaine Littau, author of the Nan's Heritage Series
Elaine Littau, author of the Nan's Heritage Series
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Older I Get
Last month was my birthday. I am not ashamed to tell you that I am 54 years old. I wouldn't lie about my age because you might say that I look even older than I am if I tried to buffalo you.
One year I remember reporters asking President Reagan how he felt about his birthday and getting older. He said, "Well, it's better than the alternative." When he said that I was pretty young and thought it was a funny remark. Later that day I thought it over and decided that never again would I worry about age.
I enjoy my age. I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a very blessed woman. I have the opportunity to write and do other things that I love. I thank God for my life. I thank God for you guys who have been so encouraging to me.
This week I am interviewing a lovely author who has reached out to me in friendship. I have yet to meet her in person but she is a sweetheart.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Jane E. Harber, LBT … “Here…Have A Miracle”
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I’m all about HOPE. I serve a God who is REAL, He’s ALIVE, and He’s a GOOD GOD. I’m a licensed belief therapist, specializing in the various aspects of overcoming grief and depression. I believe there is no hopeless person or situation, no obstacle that can’t be overcome. Through a positive mental attitude, proper education, effective tools, and folks who care enough to help, we can all see our way through to a more constructive, wholesome lifestyle of healing and wholeness.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
Actually, how I became a writer is a strange story, and totally a God thing. I never, ever gave thought to writing or becoming an author. But as I was studying for my license, I had to write a 10-page paper on a topic which I felt someone would come to me for counseling. Eleven immediate family members had passed away in the previous 7 or eight years, and, therefore, I felt an appropriate topic for me to write on would be grief. My 10-page paper turned out to be 29 pages long! The director of the institute said it was a good work, and that I should turn it into a seminar. So, I spent the next approximately year and a half revising and adding to what I had written, and I ended up with three seminar formats to teach. Right on the heels of that, my sister (my only sibling) got diagnosed with breast cancer. And I got angry! Here was ONE MORE TRAGEDY that I could do nothing about!! ONE MORE TIME my hands were tied!! I was too old to become a doctor so I could heal my sister. Also, too old to go into research to find a cure for cancer so she could be healed. Then, somewhere in the middle of that tirade, I began to pray. And God spoke to my heart … “Take all that material you wrote on grief, turn it into book format, and reach as many hearts as you can with the light of hope.” That’s when my first book, “One Foot on a Banana Peel” was birthed, and I became an author.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I’m a very simple writer. I write as though I’m talking to you. Actually, I’m glad about this trait because you don’t have to be a rocket scientist or have a doctorate in theology to have a relationship with God.
5. Are you a reader?
I used to be an avid reader. I once owned and operated a Christian book store, so I had great access to Christian material, and I read a lot of it. I read and studied the Bible a lot as well. More recently, it seems the Lord has me writing about what I learned and experienced throughout all those years.
6. What are you reading right now?
Currently I seem to be reading mostly what I research for my writing, although the desire to read further seems to be increasing, along with the access to more books. At the moment, I’m reading “Going Rogue,” by Sarah Palin.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
Actually, I just submitted and received a contract for another book. As far as I know, it will be called “Walking Toward the Light.” It’s a workbook study of Christianity for the new believer. While it is basic in its intent, it’s also an intense study, and therefore would also be great for the “veteran” Christian who wants an even deeper, more intimate, walk with the Lord. Again, it’s simple, basic Scripture study. After that, I’m working on the second book of the “Duct Tape…” series. This one will be a wake-up call for Christianity.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
I think all authors experience what is commonly called “writer’s block” occasionally. Times when you can’t think of what comes next. At times like that, I take a step back for a while. Of course, I pray and seek guidance and direction from the Lord. But I also am a note-taker. Whenever, wherever, I come across something that I see a spiritual parallel in (which is very often, because I see a lot of parallels between the flesh realm and the spiritual realm), I take note of it. I keep these notes in a folder, and include them into my writing where they apply.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. “One Foot on a Banana Peel”: A description of grief and an expression of the hope and healing that lie beyond trauma and tragedy. With so much pain in the world, “One Foot…” is a breath of fresh air and a light of HOPE. As deep as the pain goes, so deep goes the love and grace of God to bring healing. When you feel as though you have ‘one foot on a banana peel,’ place your other foot in the hand of God. It’s the safest place there is to be. “Duct Tape…for the Christian Mouth”: This book is loaded with spiritual insight, personal experiences and real-life applications that point to a major problem in many relationships today … misunderstandings in communication. Through this unique expose on communication, comes truth. And truth can set you free! “Duct Tape…” will refresh your spirit and impact your relationships, for good and for God! “Quit Digging! A Lifeline of Hope for Troubled Teens”: This is actually a program that I teach for CEU credits at the institute where I got my license. Our teenage years are often the most confusing and puzzling years of our lives. This program offers help … and HOPE, a priceless gift to those troubled teens struggling in our world. Through lessons and exercises, your teen will learn how s/he got to become the person they are; they will learn how to recognize and confront thinking errors and replace those errors with more healthy and positive choices; and they will learn how to make goals for their future. “Quit Digging!” will change lives. “Here…Have A Miracle”: Bringing healing and thirst-quenching revitalization to our minds, emotions and bodies, “Here…Have A Miracle” illustrates that there IS a way to reach out and grab hold of that which is so essential to our well being … times of refreshing. This book is stimulating, uplifting and inspirational.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
jeharber@cleansed.netwww.gentlespringsofhope.org http://livinghope.tatepublishing.net
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com/
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
One year I remember reporters asking President Reagan how he felt about his birthday and getting older. He said, "Well, it's better than the alternative." When he said that I was pretty young and thought it was a funny remark. Later that day I thought it over and decided that never again would I worry about age.
I enjoy my age. I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a very blessed woman. I have the opportunity to write and do other things that I love. I thank God for my life. I thank God for you guys who have been so encouraging to me.
This week I am interviewing a lovely author who has reached out to me in friendship. I have yet to meet her in person but she is a sweetheart.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Jane E. Harber, LBT … “Here…Have A Miracle”
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I’m all about HOPE. I serve a God who is REAL, He’s ALIVE, and He’s a GOOD GOD. I’m a licensed belief therapist, specializing in the various aspects of overcoming grief and depression. I believe there is no hopeless person or situation, no obstacle that can’t be overcome. Through a positive mental attitude, proper education, effective tools, and folks who care enough to help, we can all see our way through to a more constructive, wholesome lifestyle of healing and wholeness.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
Actually, how I became a writer is a strange story, and totally a God thing. I never, ever gave thought to writing or becoming an author. But as I was studying for my license, I had to write a 10-page paper on a topic which I felt someone would come to me for counseling. Eleven immediate family members had passed away in the previous 7 or eight years, and, therefore, I felt an appropriate topic for me to write on would be grief. My 10-page paper turned out to be 29 pages long! The director of the institute said it was a good work, and that I should turn it into a seminar. So, I spent the next approximately year and a half revising and adding to what I had written, and I ended up with three seminar formats to teach. Right on the heels of that, my sister (my only sibling) got diagnosed with breast cancer. And I got angry! Here was ONE MORE TRAGEDY that I could do nothing about!! ONE MORE TIME my hands were tied!! I was too old to become a doctor so I could heal my sister. Also, too old to go into research to find a cure for cancer so she could be healed. Then, somewhere in the middle of that tirade, I began to pray. And God spoke to my heart … “Take all that material you wrote on grief, turn it into book format, and reach as many hearts as you can with the light of hope.” That’s when my first book, “One Foot on a Banana Peel” was birthed, and I became an author.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I’m a very simple writer. I write as though I’m talking to you. Actually, I’m glad about this trait because you don’t have to be a rocket scientist or have a doctorate in theology to have a relationship with God.
5. Are you a reader?
I used to be an avid reader. I once owned and operated a Christian book store, so I had great access to Christian material, and I read a lot of it. I read and studied the Bible a lot as well. More recently, it seems the Lord has me writing about what I learned and experienced throughout all those years.
6. What are you reading right now?
Currently I seem to be reading mostly what I research for my writing, although the desire to read further seems to be increasing, along with the access to more books. At the moment, I’m reading “Going Rogue,” by Sarah Palin.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
Actually, I just submitted and received a contract for another book. As far as I know, it will be called “Walking Toward the Light.” It’s a workbook study of Christianity for the new believer. While it is basic in its intent, it’s also an intense study, and therefore would also be great for the “veteran” Christian who wants an even deeper, more intimate, walk with the Lord. Again, it’s simple, basic Scripture study. After that, I’m working on the second book of the “Duct Tape…” series. This one will be a wake-up call for Christianity.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
I think all authors experience what is commonly called “writer’s block” occasionally. Times when you can’t think of what comes next. At times like that, I take a step back for a while. Of course, I pray and seek guidance and direction from the Lord. But I also am a note-taker. Whenever, wherever, I come across something that I see a spiritual parallel in (which is very often, because I see a lot of parallels between the flesh realm and the spiritual realm), I take note of it. I keep these notes in a folder, and include them into my writing where they apply.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. “One Foot on a Banana Peel”: A description of grief and an expression of the hope and healing that lie beyond trauma and tragedy. With so much pain in the world, “One Foot…” is a breath of fresh air and a light of HOPE. As deep as the pain goes, so deep goes the love and grace of God to bring healing. When you feel as though you have ‘one foot on a banana peel,’ place your other foot in the hand of God. It’s the safest place there is to be. “Duct Tape…for the Christian Mouth”: This book is loaded with spiritual insight, personal experiences and real-life applications that point to a major problem in many relationships today … misunderstandings in communication. Through this unique expose on communication, comes truth. And truth can set you free! “Duct Tape…” will refresh your spirit and impact your relationships, for good and for God! “Quit Digging! A Lifeline of Hope for Troubled Teens”: This is actually a program that I teach for CEU credits at the institute where I got my license. Our teenage years are often the most confusing and puzzling years of our lives. This program offers help … and HOPE, a priceless gift to those troubled teens struggling in our world. Through lessons and exercises, your teen will learn how s/he got to become the person they are; they will learn how to recognize and confront thinking errors and replace those errors with more healthy and positive choices; and they will learn how to make goals for their future. “Quit Digging!” will change lives. “Here…Have A Miracle”: Bringing healing and thirst-quenching revitalization to our minds, emotions and bodies, “Here…Have A Miracle” illustrates that there IS a way to reach out and grab hold of that which is so essential to our well being … times of refreshing. This book is stimulating, uplifting and inspirational.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
jeharber@cleansed.netwww.gentlespringsofhope.org http://livinghope.tatepublishing.net
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com/
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
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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.”
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