Thursday, March 15, 2012
One of my favorite things to do, next to spending time with Mel playing gross-out to see who can watch the bloodiest episode of NCIS or Bones and maintain an appetite, is to spend time with girlfriends.
There hasn't been a lot of time for that lately. I did get to see my girlfriends from high school, who came to Mom's funeral, but we usually like to spend more time together than that, hence this picture of some of us blowing off steam on a recent retreat.
This week, however, Mel and Bonnie, our assistant, and I were told by the grief counselor that we needed to take some time away and just play. Well, I've had God tell me that same thing on a talk on one of my hikes in the past, but the words sounded strange coming from a real, live therapist who was once a minister. So on Monday he advised Mel and me to take the rest of the afternoon off and go to Joplin to Red Lobster. Since king crab is our favorite food, and safe on our gluten free diets, we did as we were told, leaving Bonnie at home to type one of our next projects. Poor Bonnie.
The food was great, since we both love crab legs, and we relaxed as we took our time driving back home to check on Mom's gravesite. It's beautiful out there in the middle of the country, serenaded by milk cows, and we held a serious discussion about what next in our lives. Mel had promised to live where we are as long as Mom was alive. He could now choose where he wanted to go, what hospital he wanted to work in, what kind of job he might be interested in.
Yesterday, Mel had to work, so Bonnie and I decided it was her turn to take a trip with me to Springfield, eat at Outback, shop for shoes (she needed a new pair) and just have some fun. No one warned me before we went that Bonnie is a shoe freak. Even Bonnie didn't warn me until we reached Sears and I saw the gleam in her eye at the 1/2 price sale signs all over the place in the shoe department. She had five pairs tried on and replaced before I could even figure out what she was looking for. I can tell you this for sure: her taste in shoes is the exact opposite of mine.
I go for hiking boots and Birkenstocks--one pair of which I did find at deep discount in Dillards. I salivated so heavily that by the time I made up my mind about them. they were so slobbered on I no longer wanted them. Besides, they were pea green. Yes, the same color as the shoes Bonnie had just purchased and loved, but her coloring matched that color of green. Mine definitely does not. I have to return to Springfield next week with Bonnie to have one of "those" follow-up check-ups where parts of your anatomy is hideously abused, and you have to take narcotics to bear the pain. I figure the shoe sales will still be on, and we missed at least one shoe store on the mall. I have a feeling I may go back and check on that one pair of green Birks that I might be able to dye when I get them back home.
But speaking as someone who isn't a shoe freak, I can still admire from afar the sparkling, high-heeled monstrosities of ankle-breaking seduction that has obviously drawn many a woman into crutches much too early in her life. The last time I wore high heels was when the heel broke on my right shoe. I twisted and fell on my face in the gravel, and was sure I was scarred for life. When it turned out I had jumped to conclusions I decided I wouldn't take that chance again. Now I love flats. Cute sandals with darling rows of straps and chains around the ankle. Oh, my. So may shoes, so little time!
How about you? Do you have a shoe preference? If so, is it modest and comfy, or would you be willing to suffer agony to wear a beautiful pair of high heeled shoes with gold sparkles and straps and even glitter on the soles of the shoes? How far are you willing to make sure your feet are beautifully adorned?
Labels: boots or slinky heels?, Girl fun, Shoe sales, Shoe shopping
Hannah Alexander
posted at
11:51 PM
Comments (15)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
It's getting worse. Have you noticed? The way Christians are portrayed on television and in the media? We're always the intolerant, the rash, and the stupid. This drives me nuts. Christians are not one type of people. We're everyone, so for television to portray us as ignorant fools makes me a little insane. (okay, MORE insane)
Last night I was watching our equivalent of Shakespeare -- "The Real Housewives of the OC" and they have this really ignorant woman who is a Christian. God love her. He made the Gospel simple for everyone, but this girl does not exemplify a lot about Christianity -- though she really tries. She's just so lost in her own world she can't see beyond the fake extensions and the rest.
Last night, she said over and over again, "You threw me under the table." BUS. BUS! She threw you under the bus. Say it with me...IDIOM.
I know this shouldn't bug me, but the fact is, she'd never be a part of the Real Housewives if she were an intelligent Christian woman. They have her character there for the bumbling comic relief and it makes me so angry when she lives up to it! It could just be the editing, but I know that casting had a lot to do with it. You mean with Saddleback down there, they couldn't find a smart Christian?
Then you have ABC airing GCBs, which is a terrible show about fake Christians written by those who hate them. Christians are out saving the world every day with their ministries and it's not okay to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If you want to be truthful in fiction, you have to show both sides. Show both sides Hollywood!
Labels: American Christian Fiction Writers, Christians, fake Christianity, GCBs, Hollywood, Real Housewives, reality
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I had a blast at the Facebook party and was thrilled so many of you showed up. Here are the answers to the trivia questions. :)
How well do you know the 1870s?
1. How did most people travel in the 1870s? (horse and buggy)
2. How much did sugar cost in the 1870s? (.07 per pound)
3. What famous book about a horse was published in the 1870s? (Black Beauty)
4. What famous cavalry massacre occurred in the 1870s? (Battle of the Little Bighorn)
5. What item of clothing that we all wear was invented in the 1870s? (jeans invented by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis)
How well do you know Colleen?
1. Where is my favorite place to vacation? (Hawaii and we just got back!)
2. What do I call my granddaughter? (That's easy, right? Punky.)
3. What is my husband’s name? (Another easy one--Dave!)
4. What tragedy compelled me to start writing? (My brother Randy's death by lightning)
5. What is my favorite beverage? (Come on, you know this one--Coffee, of course!)
Three Super Duper Trivia Questions – for a chance at the Kindle Fire!
1. What creature did Lucy fear and what did Nate call his “pet” one? (spiders, Zeke the tarantula)
2. Where did Lucy hide the coins? (pickle barrel)
3. In what town does Blue Moon Promise begin? (Wabash Indiana, my hometown)
And here are the prize winners!
Winners from Colleen Coble's Facebook Party!
Colleen Coble, author of Blue Moon Promse, is thrilled to announce the winners from tonight's Under Texas Stars Facebok Party.
Here is the list of every one who won something at the party tonight:
Congratulations to Ashley Roberts! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise!
Congratulations to Karla Hanns! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise!
Congratulations to Linda Gordon! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise and the gift certificate of your choice (Amazon, iTunes, Starbucks)! Email your mailing address and choice to amy {at} litfusegroup.com!
Congratulations to Kristine Morgan! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise!
Congratulations to Paula Griffith! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise!
Congratulations to Betsy Blasser! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise and the gift certificate of your choice (Amazon, iTunes, Starbucks)! Email your mailing address and choice to amy {at} litfusegroup.com!
Congratulations to Stacy Tozier! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise!
Congratulations to Alisha Wood! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise!
Congratulations to Bette Sklon! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise and the gift certificate of your choice (Amazon, iTunes, Starbucks)! Email your mailing address and choice to amy {at} litfusegroup.com!
Congratulations to Kate Scott! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise for posting your photo on my wall! Email your mailing address to amy {at} litfusegroup.com!
Congratulations to Patty Saunders! You've won a copy of Blue Moon Promise for posting your photo on my wall! Email your mailing address to amy {at} litfusegroup.com!
Texas-sized, Lucy-inspired HouseKeeping Basket winner:
Congrats to Becky Stelwagon! You won the housekeeping basket! Email your mailing address to amy {at} litfusegroup.com!
And here is the Kindle Fire Winner:
Congrats to Brenda Stimely! You are the winner of the Kindle Fire and Blue Moon Promise! Send your mailing address to amy {at} litfusegroup.com and we'll get right out to you!
Congrats to all the winners - please email your mailing address to Amy {at} litfusegroup {dot} com.
Congratulations to everyone and thanks for coming!
Labels: Facebook party
Colleen Coble
posted at
11:25 PM
Comments (0)
In spite of the rain, we've had a fun time on Kauai. In case you haven't heard, our island has had 46 inches of rain in the past week. Flash floods, even hail. Crazy! But in spite of it all, we've had a great time. We stayed here and it's a fabulous house with a pool. Glad we had that pool because there was no snorkeling to be had in this weather. I tried yesterday but the visibility was about 2 feet. LOL
One thing has become very clear these 3 weeks. I'm directionally challenged. So much so that my dear daughter has taken to mocking me when I point toward where I think something is located. She's now suggesting that I point upward since I'm not going to be accurate anyway! I'm laughing but she's very right. I couldn't tell you which was was north or south. Some people have an innate sense of direction. That would not be me. I park my car in the same row at Walmart so I'm not wandering around looking for it.
But I've got good sense about health things. Probably because I'm interested in it. I'm not so interested in directions. LOL But isn't it great how God gives each of us different gifts? Dave is great with directions and he makes sure I never get lost. If he has a health issue, I research it to death and figure out what needs to be done. He hates to cook (his idea of cooking is to take me out) but he's great at fixing things. I'm hopeless at fixing things like plumbing but I'm good at fixing computer problems.
So all in all, I'm comfortable in my skin and with the gifts I have. It wasn't always this way when I was younger. I always wished I had someone else's gifts. All that striving and angst isn't good for cortisol levels so I'm glad I have grown contented! But what about you? Are you aware of your gifts or are you still wishing for what you don't have? Evaluate what God has given you and see how you can use them in more ways.
Want to share what you're good at? I love hearing about gifts.
And a quick thank you! Blue Moon Promise just hit #6 on the CBA best seller list, my best ranking EVER thanks to you!
Labels: Blue Moon Promise, gifts
Colleen Coble
posted at
1:30 AM
Comments (4)
Sunday, March 11, 2012
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
"My son," he said. "There is inside us all, a battle between two 'wolves'. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other wolf is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
This Native American legend could easily represent the Christian struggle between the flesh and the spirit.
We feed the fleshly wolf by: dwelling on sinful thoughts; reading books, watching movies, or listening music that draw us toward unChristlike things; seeking close companionship with unGodly people; entertaining a spirit of ungratefulness; focusing on self and selfish desires.
We feed the spiritual wolf by: spending time in God's word; fostering relationships with Godly people; having a rich prayer life; reading books, watching movies, and listening to music that encourage a Godly lifestyle; striving to keep our thoughts pure, focusing on others instead of ourselves; having a spirit of gratitude.
Which wolf are you feeding?
Denise Hunter
posted at
10:51 PM
Comments (3)
Friday, March 09, 2012
Colleen mentioned this week in her blog that my mother passed away two weeks ago. Caring for Mom in her illness has kept me focused on her for quite some time, and I've done little more. Hence, I've written few blogs to some of my favorite blog girls. I've missed y'all.
Though I'm an only child with no children of my own (except for my wonderful stepsons) I was surrounded by family from before the night Mom passed away and for a whole week afterward. Our house was packed, and those days I would otherwise have spent in grief recalling the awful last days of Mom's life, I spent instead with Mel, and cousins and my uncle and close friends keeping food in my mouth whether I wanted it or not, keeping me active and distracted, even taking me to get a massage.
The day after everyone left was the first time I had alone, and I cried all afternoon, despite the fact that Mom was a staunch believer, and I knew she was forever out of pain. I could close my eyes and see Mom's face, eyes open wide in fear when she didn't know what was happening to her in her demented state. The memories of Mom's suffering were like a haunting I could not shake, and I walked around the house devastated, sat on her bed and sobbed.
But then I received an email from yet another cousin, who is a missionary in China. She'd been trying to reach me for several days, but their systems don't always work where she lives. She'd had a dream the night before Mom died, in which she saw Mom in the arms of Jesus. Her words brushed away those awful memories that had haunted me. I don't even have to close my eyes to see that picture in my mind. Yet another cousin to the rescue. Have I mentioned that I love my cousins? So now I can attend grief counseling for six weeks and learn how to do this right--if there's really a right way to do it.
Last night I was alone again while Mel worked a late shift. I went down to the basement laundry room to check on his scrubs, and my attention caught on the row of Mom's clothing we'd hung there because we had run out of room in her small closet upstairs. For the first time, I didn't feel pain at the sight of something that reminded me of Mom. In fact, I smiled. I walked over to the first shirt and caressed it. Mom had no more use for these clothes because she is now dressed in her heavenly clothing, and she's in the arms of Jesus. There is sadness and pain in suffering, and there is a sense of loss when someone you love is no longer with you. But in truth, there is great joy with the realization that the one you love is with Christ in heaven, never again to be confused or frightened, never again to suffer pain.
Labels: Eugene Patterson photo, grief counseling, sunsets
Hannah Alexander
posted at
10:41 AM
Comments (9)
Thursday, March 08, 2012
My four year old grandson colored this picture yesterday and his mom sent it for me to see. Not only was I proud of his fine job, but I saw the spark of imagination in his eyes.
It occurred to me. Writers are just grownups who never lost their imagination. Think about what great story tellers kids are! There are no boundaries, no set of rules, to follow. If they want a purple dinosaur, so be it. They haven't developed that inner editor yet.
What if we could do that. Forget genres, forget grammar, forget plot and structure. Today, make purple dinosaurs. Write whatever you want to write--no matter what your inner editor tells you--and free up your creative side. It could just be your breakout novel waiting to be jostled loose.
Labels: creativity; imagination;
Diann Hunt
posted at
8:48 AM
Comments (5)
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
I'm in between ideas, unsure of where I'll go next. That's both freeing and frightening. Freeing because the world is my oyster, I can start something new. Terrifying because I can easily shop online or redecorate my house or play Angry Birds instead. So I need an idea. Wait, I have an idea. I'm just not sure I'm ready to write it. Did you ever have something feel too important and that you're not ready yet?
I know Moses did. And God gave him Aaron and said, "Go ahead, you're ready."
So I need to find my Aaron, my crutch and get back on the horse as soon as possible. Today I'm going to write a proposal. I may never send it anywhere, but it's something to get me started, right? I want to write a chick lit again, so I'm working hard on keeping my perspective UP. So I'm trying to think WITH people so that I don't get too bogged down in the thought process.
I find that if I have too much time on my hands, I waste it. So I need to have a plan and a schedule. Do you have any motivating ideas for when you weren't ready for something and God said, Go Ahead and you survived it? Flourished in it? Inspire us!
Kristin
posted at
3:33 PM
Comments (2)
One of my favorite things to do, next to spending time with Mel playing gross-out to see who can watch the bloodiest episode of NCIS or Bones and maintain an appetite, is to spend time with girlfriends. 
Delicious
In spite of the rain, we've had a fun time on Kauai. In case you haven't heard, our island has had 46 inches of rain in the past week. Flash floods, even hail. Crazy! But in spite of it all, we've had a great time. We stayed here and it's a fabulous house with a pool. Glad we had that pool because there was no snorkeling to be had in this weather. I tried yesterday but the visibility was about 2 feet. LOL 
Colleen mentioned this week in her blog that my mother passed away two weeks ago. Caring for Mom in her illness has kept me focused on her for quite some time, and I've done little more. Hence, I've written few blogs to some of my favorite blog girls. I've missed y'all.
My four year old grandson colored this picture yesterday and his mom sent it for me to see. Not only was I proud of his fine job, but I saw the spark of imagination in his eyes. 
