Monday, February 28, 2011
I have to admit I was upset with God this past week. On Friday when news came that Di's cancer was back, I felt betrayed. I argued with God saying, "But you led us to Cancer Treatment Center of America. I know you did. And now this?" I railed and cried and was generally a total mess.
Thankfully, God is big enough to love me when I question Him. Our pastor's message on Sunday was about how our happiness on earth is not God's goal. We're on the path to heaven and God is making us more like Christ before we get there. But heaven is our final destination. This life is such a blip on the radar of eternity. And none of us knows which of us is going to get there first. A car accident or something else could take us on home at any moment.
There's a Petra song that I love. The lyrics are below. The part is red is my favorite part and it's a good reminder to me right now that this journey isn't all there is. That we are to expect trouble and heartache because we are pilgrims here. Just because it comes doesn't mean God doesn't love us.
Tomorrow Dave and I are taking Di to Zion, to the Cancer Treatment Center. Pray for her and her family. This is so hard on Jim and the kids. And pray for wisdom for the doctor. I believe that God is allowing this so that we will see His power as He miraculously heals her. :) We've made a pact that whoever gets to heaven first will put a down payment on the mansion next door. And you know what? In light of eternity, that moment when we're reunited with our loved ones will be like a second. My grandparents and my brother are there too. When I get there, they'll say, "Are you here already? I just got here and barely had a chance to look around."
Here's to keeping our sights set on the goal--heaven!
Road To Zion lyrics
There is a way that leads to life, the few that find it never die
Past mountain peaks graced white with snow, the way grows brighter as it goes
Chorus:
There is A road inside of you,inside of me there is one too.
No stumbling pilgrim in the Dark, the road to Zion's in your heart,
the road to Zion's in your heart
The river runs beside the road, it's waters living as they flow,
in liquid voice the water calls, on thirsty knees a pilgrim falls
(CHROUS)
Sometimes a shadow dark & cold lays like a mist across the road,
but Be encouraged by the sight, where there's a shadow there's the Light
(CHROUS)
Sometimes it's good to look back down , we've come so far we've gained
such ground but joy is not in where we've been, Joy is Who's waiting at the end
What about you? Have you ever been mad at God?
Labels: Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Diann Hunt, Road to Zion
Colleen Coble
posted at
6:39 PM
Comments (24)
This is Daisy. We got her when she was a wiggling, waggly, 4 month old puppy. I drove home with her curled in my lap because she was whimpering for her mama.
Today she's an 8-yr-old member of our family. She listens (most of the time), finds ways of communicating that belie her lack of English, and she'll expose her belly at the sight of your descending hand. The girl has no pride. She's always happy to see us--you can tell by her big smile and wagging backside.
But what I love most about Daisy is her gentleness. The boys were young when we got her, but even then, not so much as a nip. She wouldn't hurt a fly--or a rambunctious preschooler. In fact, you're less likely to be nipped by Daisy than beaten to death with her wagging tail. Don't say I didn't warn you.
So tell me, what's the most loved quality of your favorite furry friend, past or present?
Labels: dogs, Golden Retrievers, pets
Denise Hunter
posted at
8:46 AM
Comments (7)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friends, we need you now like never before. Diann was told today that her CA-125 is high again which indicates she has more ovarian cancer growing. Please, please pray! We all love her so much and it's painful to think that she has to go through more treatment. We're all a mess. So please pray for peace for all of us and for the right treatment plan that will eradicate this terrible disease.
We know God is in control, and he loves Di even more than we do. He's holding her close to his heart. Thanks for praying.
Labels: ovarian cancer
Colleen Coble
posted at
5:51 PM
Comments (37)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
I ate my first pansy today, and I have to tell you, from now on nobody's flower garden will be safe from me. Who knew nasturtiums, pansies, carnations and roses were edible? Mel and I had them in our salad tonight, along with sheep and goat cheese, mint leaves, spinach, olive oil, garlic, beef and chicken.
So please share with us: What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? I'm not asking for the grossest or most disgusting like they do in those survivor shows. I mean what have you eaten that was very strange to you that may have turned out to be quite good? Or bad. You don't have to limit it to one thing, either. We've been sharing recipes this week, and let's continue.
For example, I've eaten octopus, dried squid, fried squid and eel and found all but the octopus delicious. The octopus was rubbery. I've eaten goat, haven't been able to make myself eat lamb, but when Mel did, I waited until he had it in his mouth and then said, "Ba-a-a-a-ah."
I've eaten dog food--the dry stuff, when I was a kid. I've eaten berries and fruits from trees when I didn't know what they were--but I was hungry and curious, and we were lost on a hike in Hawaii. Everything in Hawaii is delicious. Anyway, I didn't get sick.
I've convinced other people to eat things I wouldn't, like dirt. Okay, I was in first grade, and I got a paper cup and gathered the soft dirt--probably fertilizer and all--from beneath a newly planted tree, and I took it around to my school mates (note I didn't say friends) and convinced them it was good for them. You know, I could probably have made a good career in natural supplement sales, but since then I've grown a conscience, and wouldn't do that. Honestly. You can trust me now.
So when I say you can eat nasturtiums, you really can. I bought these at a health food store yesterday, ready to try something new. Do NOT eat oleander blooms. I grew up in a home with an oleander hedge, and was warned they were poisonous. I've never actually used it as a poison in a book yet because I set my books in Missouri, and we don't have them here. If you live in California, you might give it a try.
Mel is still wanting to taste a pansy. I ate the only one in the package. So now I'll have to go buy more.
Share, girls. What weird, exotic, interesting, fun foods have you eaten in your life?
Labels: diets, edible flowers, Foods
Hannah Alexander
posted at
8:30 PM
Comments (16)
After almost thirty-six years, we're on a new eating adventure. We're trying to eat more veggies and less fast-food, pizza, all that. Not an easy switch. Mention pizza night versus leeks/potato soup and there's no contest. Thick spaghetti pasta versus squash, well, it just doesn't sound as appetizing.
Or does it?
Something very strange happened when I entered the grocery store this week. I strolled through the produce aisle and on my way to my usual broccoli/celery/carrots/potatoes run, I spotted a group of spaghetti squash. Feeling adventurous, I decided to make spaghetti squash for dinner, my first time ever fixing such a meal! It was YUMMY!
So now I'm on a mission. I'm supposed to eat lots of veggies and I need recipes. I'm trying different things: butternut squash, leeks (doesn't that sound frightening?), cabbage, more cauliflower, kale, etcetera.
Normally, I'm not the adventurous type when it comes to eating, but searching through foodnetwork.com is making me want to try new things. I'm also experimenting with herbs and seasonings. I haven't enjoyed cooking this much in FOREVER! I love to eat out and we're not doing it so much anymore!
So what's your favorite veggie meal? Got any recipes to share? Any good foodie links? I'm so getting into this and could use your help so I don't fizzle out and fall back into my usual routine of chocolate and vitamins. :-)
Labels: baking, cooking, healthy eating, roasting, vegetables
Diann Hunt
posted at
8:22 AM
Comments (16)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
This weekend, many of us met up in St. Louis for the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) board meetings. I can't tell you how much I needed the time to be with my friends. When you live your life as a writer, one has to make sure they get out often. I tend to be a hermit and a bit of a workaholic because I have to work constantly in the time allotted without my kids, so when I get a chance to play, I'm not good with limits.
Rachel Hauck and I went on my first Horse & Carriage ride. Sure, it wasn't as romantic as we might have liked, but it was way more fun. We giggled like schoolgirls all the way back.
We always hang out in Colleen's room, and her husband, St. Dave was trying to watch a movie. We were laughing, doing Pilates, teasing each other. Basically, Dave was putting up with a slumber party in his room. But I couldn't tell if my stomach hurt so badly from laughing, the Pilates or both.
I see the same thing in my mom's friends. They go to San Diego, Pajaro Dunes and the outlets at Gilroy and laugh, shop and then have a fashion show at the end of the night for all they bought. (Usually for their grandchildren!) But it heartens me to see that friendship is forever and those connections keep us alive. God was good to make fellowship a part of life, don't you think? Do you make time for your friends? If not, why not? I guarantee, you'll live longer.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
If you follow publishing at all, you probably see authors moving around from house to house all the time. But sometimes magic happens both with love and with business relationships, and authors choose to stay with a publisher long term. That's where I am now. I've been at Nelson 9 years this year. :)
Allen Arnold, fiction publisher at Thomas Nelson, invited me down to speak at the sales conference last week. On Friday Dave and I took candy to the staff at Thomas Nelson. It was like visiting family after a long time away. Love them so much! Then we had lunch with Mike and Gail Hyatt as well as Ami and Allen from my fiction team. I hadn't seen Mike and Gail in forever so we could have talked for hours (well, okay, we DID talk for hours. But we could have spent even more time!) We took Allen hot sauce that was supposed to make him sweat, but he just chowed down on it like it was candy. Sheesh, what a disappointment! :)
Dave and I helped Ami with some things at her house over the weekend like wallpaper removal and painting. Dave will do most things for most people but he hates to paint so it meant a lot that he painted for her. :)
Then Monday was the sales conference. What can I say about it? I got to see our terrific sales staff and share my passion for story. I got to meet book buyers and reps. But the best thing is that I was with my family. Truly, they are like my own flesh and blood. Brothers and sisters. And coming home, I realized magic really can happen even with business dealings. From my publisher to my editor, cover design to marketing and sales and to everything in between, Thomas Nelson has been such a blessing to me. I love them so much!
I'm curious. When you read a book, do you notice who the publisher is? Do you read the acknowledgements in the back?
Labels: Allen Arnold, Ami McConnell, Gail Hyatt, Michael Hyatt, Thomas Nelson
Colleen Coble
posted at
5:11 AM
Comments (14)
Monday, February 21, 2011
After battling extreme fatigue for 2 years, I was recently diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. The cure? Reduce stress and change my diet. No flour, no sugar, no caffeine, and absolutely no fun permitted at all.
Just kidding about the last part. Rest and fun are encouraged, in fact, as apparently, my adrenals decided they'd had enough and were going on strike until they were treated with more dignity.
I went on the diet 4 weeks ago and frankly I thought it would kill me. I mean, my idea of a great meal is a plate o'carbs, dessert, and a side of caffeine. But when I started feeling dramatically better, when I had the energy to, oh, say, wash my hair, I decided I could give up the chocolate chip cookies, and the white bread, and even my beloved Sugar Free Rock Star.
Four weeks later I'm tons better and can even have a treat occasionally without feeling the effects. The point is, sometimes you have to give up something you want to get something you need.
So, how about you. What have you given up that was beneficial in the long run? TV, food, activities, a relationship, a bad habit, a long standing belief about yourself . . . ? Is there anything you know you need to give up now?
PS If you're suffering from extreme fatigue, here's a helpful website with more info on adrenal fatigue. http://www.myadrenalfatigue.com/
Labels: adrenal fatigue, carbohydrates
Denise Hunter
posted at
7:26 AM
Comments (18)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Don't you just love sparkly things? Even when I'm out hiking, I'm always looking for crystals on the trail, or a flash of a bluebird's wings. Today I looked out the sunroom window to see what my kitty was chattering about, and I saw a bluebird, a rose finch and a goldfinch just outside in the bare trees. It was as if God had handed me a special gift to cheer me up. Nature's jewelry. Though I can't go out hiking right now, it seems God is bringing me the beauty of the hiking trail to enjoy.
I love beautiful things. I love to walk through a jewelry store just to look. Though I have a jewelry chest, I don't usually buy anything for myself. Most of my jewels are gifts from someone who loves me, especially Mel. After we got married, he started buying some piece of jewelry for me every month to celebrate our monthly anniversary. I had to stop him or our bedroom would be overrun by jewelry boxes. My mother will see a piece of jewelry and think of me and buy it for me. When I get together with my girlfriends from high school every year, we exchange gifts. Usually, one of the girls has been making jewelry that year, and I have some beautiful handmade pieces that I cherish.
Though very little of my collection is valuable in the eyes of a true jeweler, it's very precious to me. I can look at the earrings my mother bought me eighteen years ago when I was single and had to dress up for work. I can look at the freshwater pearl earrings and necklace Mel bought me on our honeymoon, or I can look at the necklace and earring set my girlfriend gave me at our last high school retreat. I even have older pieces that belonged to my mother when I was growing up--and one locket my mother gave to me that belonged to my grandmother. Inside is a tiny picture of my grandmother on one side and my mom on the other. I have a pendant that is a tiny gold replica of the Christy award Mel and I won several years ago, and that Mel had a girlfriend--who is a jeweler--make especially for me. Mel has a matching tie tack.
My jewelry case contains something far more valuable than the small amounts of gold, silver and gems, it contains sweet memories.
Would you share some of your memories with us? Do you have a custom made wedding ring--like mine is? Or a locket or ring, watch or necklace that holds a special memory for you? What's in your jewelry case?
Labels: earrings, jewelry, necklaces, special rings
Hannah Alexander
posted at
10:35 PM
Comments (12)
(Not the golden ones, but the St. Louis one.) Colleen being the true friend is in a suite, and got a Loofah and yoga mat in her room. She's going to hide her loofah so she can get me one too. That is a true friend! Plus, we planned to do Pilates tonight, and Dave puts up with us. What a guy!
HITTING THE SHELVES IN TWELVE DAYS!!!!!!
INTRODUCTION
“Delight yourself in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4
Don’t you just love the promises God gives us in the Scriptures?
Search for me, and you’ll find me. (Jeremiah 29:13)
I’m enough to provide you with everything you need. (2 Peter 1:3)
Commit everything to me and you’ll be a success. (Proverbs 16:3)
The promises of God form the very foundation of our faith; they say to us that, no matter what we experience, our Father is there for us, preparing a solution, or at least a way out. Although there are times in life when this is more difficult to believe than at other times, the promises are still ours. He’ll never let us down.
It is this knowledge that inspired us to write Delight Yourself in the Lord… even on bad hair days. The title is particularly apropos, since one of our own is going through chemotherapy treatments at the moment. Want to talk about a bad hair day?
But even in the worst of our bad hair days, when the roof is leaking, as we receive a terrifying diagnosis, or while the checking account is bouncing like a rubber ball… we know one thing for certain: Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Throughout this book, it is our goal to remind our readers that joy and hope in the Lord is the opening line to every story of redemption, provision or happily-ever-after.
With love and encouragement
from a group of women who could curl your hair
with stories of bad hair days!
Kristin, Sandie, Diann, Debby & Trish
Labels: Bad Hair Day, Bricker, Devotional, Hunt, Kristin Billerbeck, Mayne, Perry
Diann Hunt
posted at
10:12 AM
Comments (5)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I think this story bears repeating (forgive me, if you've heard it) Colleen and I met to do a novella collection through Loree Lough. Loree got busy and didn't do the novella collection, but Colleen and I joined Carol Cox and Gail Sattler in "Forever Friends" a Barbour publication. The book definitely didn't last as long as the friendship, but it was a good starting point and aptly named. Anyhoo, Colleen and I became good friends over the Internet because she thought she might have MS (she didn't) and we didn't meet for another two years.
When we did meet it was at the Glorieta Christian Writers' Conference in New Mexico. We roomed with Carol Cox. Let's just say I was not familiar with the ways of the religious retreat world and had I known I'd be essentially camping dorm-style in an aqua-on-steroids painted room with Brown Native American quilts, I may not have been so friendly.
My mother-in-law, who stayed with the kids, was freaking that I was going half-way across the country to stay with people I'd "never met" before. She was convinced I was meeting up with a serial killer. (Little did she know, I was -- that's what Colleen writes now!)
So here's where it turns ugly and Colleen becomes my lifelong friend. I find out, there is no such thing as espresso on this little Southern Baptist spread. And the nearest town is about a half-an-hour away. This was in my convertible days -- when I had the convertible for coffee jaunts and the minivan for the kids. (I know, I know, but it was the beauty of Reagonomics that held on through Clinton, all right?)
Anyway, I decide that I'm going to take a shower when I get there. So I go in and take a shower. One towel is on the floor. One is wrapped around my head and the other my body. I emerge from the bathroom and say, "We have to call down for more towels. They only gave us three!"
It turns out, that's all the Baptists give you. Three people, three towels. For the week!!! What are we, on safari?? So I have just met these people and essentially, I am wearing their towel reserve for the week. They laughed like hyenas after they told me, but first they tried to get more so as not to "hurt my feelings." They were so nice, no one wanted to tell me! So if that didn't cement my Diva reputation, THEN, I rented a car so I could go into town and get espresso. Because I was NOT going to sit through classes without espresso. This is how I got Colleen hooked on espresso. I gave her the entry drug: her first iced mocha.
We got along swimmingly and no one killed me (though they may have wanted to) and here's the pic of us from that conference. But it's a bonding experience when you make an idiot of yourself in front of new people. Try it. Worked for me. And if this picture doesn't tell you that writers' conferences are worth your money, I don't know what would.
In Pic from left to right: Carol Cox, DiAnn Mills, Colleen Coble, Tracie Peterson, Freda Crisman, Judy Miller, Joyce Livingston and moi.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentines Day! A whole day of love and sappiness. . . what more could a romance writer want? But if you've ever been in a relationship, you know love is more than a one-day flight of fancy. It's a year-round feat!
So, to help along those lines, here's a terrific and fast quiz to help you (and your significant other) know what your "Love Language" is. It comes from Gary Chapman's wonderful book "The Five Love languages".
Take the quiz (it only takes a minute) and have your loved one take it too, then compare notes. You might just be surprised--and better armed to meet each other's needs the other 364 days of the year. :-)
Labels: love, quiz, Valentines Day
Denise Hunter
posted at
7:05 AM
Comments (6)
Friday, February 11, 2011
First of all, I'd like you ladies to be thinking about some of the things your mother did for you as you were growing up that made you what you are today, because I'd like for you to share if you care to.
Mel and I sang in the choir for a funeral at our church on Tuesday this week. The deceased was a wonderful woman who had sung in our choir right beside me for years. There were a lot of tears, but there was also laughter. Our pastor loves to liven things up with humor, and because this was a Christian ceremony for a strong Christian lady, we were free to laugh out loud, because we knew she might just be laughing with us in heaven.
Our friend, Phyllis, left a legacy of strong faith, so that her children are all believers. Her youngest daughter is our church pianist who serves God at every opportunity. One of her two sons is a minister who works with Mel at the hospital in the position of hospital clergy. Her other son helps support a mission in Haiti, and her other daughter is a sweet and kind person. Children and grandchildren told stories about Phyllis, about how she read the Bible, sometimes silently, sometimes aloud. They will look back on their days with her and feel joy that they were raised by this woman.
As my mother declines in health and mental acuity and I watch her slowly slip from me, I think of the heritage she has left me. Independence, for one. Mom would take off driving to Arizona or California at the drop of a hat. She loved to travel, and the hardships never bothered her. She even hiked part of the Grand Canyon with me once. She taught me that it's okay to be different, but not to judge others who aren't like me. She taught me, finally, not to fear snakes, because she wasn't afraid of them. She taught me the power of a mother's love that tends to come out even when she is crotchety and isn't thinking clearly and can no longer remember my birthday, or even what day of the week it is, or what year it is. Last she knew, we were in the 1970s. And yet, she would do anything for her daughter.
Please share. What has your mother taught you that will last through your life?
Labels: A Mother's Love, Eugene Patterson photos, Family Friendship
Hannah Alexander
posted at
2:16 PM
Comments (8)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
First off, you can't tell because our camera didn't make the colors clear, but what looks gray here is actually almost a royal blue--or whatever blue Spiderman wears. This is a Spiderman blanket that I made for our three-year-old grandson. He is absolutely ecstatic!
Here's the link for those who have little guys who would like a Spiderman blanket:
Stitch 'n Frog: Superhero Dream Catcher Afghan, especially for Spiderman Fans
I was so proud. I started this last Sunday and have worked diligently to get this done for him. I delivered it last night.
Now, there's one thing about our dear little grandson, he's a bit, well, obsessive compulsive. He cannot stand strings. I know this so I was careful to weave the ends of yarn into the stitches. But before I had even left their addition, my daughter called me. Said grandson was wailing in the background.
He pulled a string. And pulled it. And pulled it.
Yes. The beloved blanket now has a big stinkin' hole--not near the end where I can easily fix it, no. But rather just a few rows into the beginning.
All those hours. The aching fingers.
Still, love compels me to fix it. So today it's back to the drawing board. I have to go over there and perform crochet surgery.
Is anybody out there cold? Me, the hot flash queen, I'm COLD!!! What's your temperatures there? We had a two-hour snow delay because it's seven below zero! Yikes, that's cold. Though my brother, who lives in Montana, said they have been having twenty below temperatures.
Good Spiderman blanket weather, don't you think? :-)
Labels: blankets, crochet, knit, Spiderman
Diann Hunt
posted at
8:33 AM
Comments (6)
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
I bought my mother a Kindle when they came out, and then I got one for the kids so I didn't have to head to the bookstore late at night when they say, "I need a book tomorrow."
I'm torn how I feel about the Kindle. I like to read on it. I like to stuff it in my purse and read one of the many books I have at the ready, but I'd still rather read a BOOK. I do read the Kindle in the bathtub, so that wasn't the problem I thought it would be. (Unless I drop it, and don't jinx me!)
I'm not fooled by the electronic page, and I don't like that it isn't easy to find a chapter, etc. on it. I'm also a big highlighter and flagger. My books look like they're ten years' old when I'm finished with them. I don't think they format that well on the Kindle, which makes the fiction reading experience nicer, but not so much for the non-fiction.
Since I live in Silicon Valley, everyone here has the iPad. I'm so yesterday around here, and I had someone in Starbucks show me how he made his own table of contents and highlighted on the iPad. But he was a retired science teacher. I'm a writer and I can't help it, I still prefer the page. A real page.
The one thing I do love about it though, is I don't have six books on my nightstand now (so it's neater) and I can get the books right away after I read a review or an endorsement. And I do love that I have the works of Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy and Dostoevsky and the Bible in the palm of my hands. I don't like the work it is to find "Hebrews" If you have an eReader, do you still read "real" books?
Labels: eReader, iPad, Kindle vs. book
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Well, we're packing up and heading out this morning. We've been with Kara and Mark for the past 4 weeks and it has been sooo fun! I've had 3 coffees a day with my baby girl. We start the morning with coffee then one of us will say, "Time for 2nd coffee?" Then later, "Time for 3rd coffee?" LOL
So I'm well-caffeinated as we hit the road. We're gong to Nashville next for the Thomas Nelson sales conference then home to see the other half of our kids. And I got to thinking this morning, ah heaven! Where we'll all get to be together. We've sorely missed Davy, Donna and Punky. As soon as we get home, we're rushing to see them. But I'll be missing Kara and Mark. Someone is always missing except the few times we get to vacation together or Kara comes home for Christmas. But in heaven, we'll all get to be together! I'm asking God if we can have one big mansion that we share. Then Mark, Davy and I can share the cooking. LOL Mark made the most wonderful tamales while we were here.
How about you? What are you most looking forward to in heaven? And don't tell me the lack of problems. LOL Tell me the positive side. :) And don't just say being with God because we all know that's the MOST important thing!!! But let's talk about the little things that will mean so much.
Labels: family, heaven
Colleen Coble
posted at
9:46 AM
Comments (14)
Monday, February 07, 2011
Super Bowl XLV Highlights
The title may be misleading because, well, you know me. The Super Bowl is not about the game. So here are my highlights (and lowlights) from last night.
Most Disgraceful moment: Christina Aguilara botches the National Anthem. I had equal parts horror and sympathy
Funniest Commercial: A tie: Doritos--"Finger lickin' good" and Bridgestone Tires "Reply All" (haven't we ALL been there?)
Most Tasteless Commercial: Doritos--"Ashes Fall from Mantle"
Most Tender: Volkswagon "Darth Vader"
Most surprising: A tie: Snickers "Roseanne Barr clobbered" and Go Daddy's "Joan Rivers"
Most Touching: Chevrolet "Motor City Pride"
Most Crass: Mini Cooper "Cram it in the Boot Contest"
Biggest Dud: The Coke commercials. All of them. Lots of effort, zero reward.
Most Disappointing: Half time show. Nice visuals, horrible on my ears. If only Simon Cowell were there.
Side note, there were an awful lot of aliens and cowboys strewn throughout the commercials. In one case, both in the same commercial. Huh?
What about you? I'm sure you have an opinion . . . you can even tell us what you thought of the entertainment that took place between commercials.
Labels: Christina Aguilera, commercials, Darth Vader, Doritos, superbowl XLIII
Denise Hunter
posted at
8:51 AM
Comments (9)
Friday, February 04, 2011
Okay girls, I need input. I'm working on an ever tightening deadline, and could use some inspiration for my romance. My female lead has had a crush on the male lead for years. He was her first true love, but she was determined to make her way in her career independently, and her career took her away from her hometown.
I need to hear about your first love. How old were you when you had your first crush? What was he like? What memories do you have?
The other night, Mel and I were watching Gilmore Girls, where one of the characters loses her mind and runs her fingers through the hair of the guy she has a crush on. She's humiliated. I told Mel I was also humiliated when I suddenly walked past Willie, the boy I liked in fourth grade, and impulsively kissed him on the cheek. Since we were supposed to be quietly studying, the whole class saw it, and the whole class laughed. Including the teacher. Poor Willie just sat there, probably trying not to wet himself. That relationship didn't end well. I learned an important lesson. Never let your first kiss be public. And ask permission first.
I could use some input, and my deadline is in ten days. Dish, girls!
Labels: Eugene Patterson photo, First love, innocence, romance romantic
Hannah Alexander
posted at
11:45 AM
Comments (18)
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Good Morning! Thought I'd give you the latest update in my ongoing growing hair saga. Aren't you glad? :-)
Here's the thing. My hair is shorter than it's ever been (obviously) and it's curlier than it's ever been (thanks to chemo). I'm told the curl lasts about a year, so it will soon be straight.
The fun part about having your hair fall out is that you can start all over with a new look or go back to your old one. The choice is yours. Of course, you can do that without chemo having your hair fall out, but this kind of forces you into it. At any rate, that's where I am. Do I keep it short? Do I let it grow back out? How can I possibly decide?
It's an absolutely wonderful dilemma, I assure you. I'm THRILLED to have my own hair back! Those wigs are scratchy, hot, and just plain not me. Though they did save me from looking like Bruce Willis. Still, soon I will have to decide where to go from here.
Any tips on how YOU decided on your current hairstyle? Any links I should go to for some ideas? Our hair is our crowning glory, after all--the Bible says so. I want to make sure I get it just right. ;-)
Diann Hunt
posted at
9:42 AM
Comments (10)
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
See these innocent faces? Don't let them fool you. That little doggie right there? Attack dog!
Jonah, my second son, has the dog sleep with him every night. I've heard you can get various diseases from this practice, but seriously, which has more dirt, a teenage boy or a princess dog? It's up for grabs. Anyway, Jonah takes after his mom. He hates mornings. HATES them. He starts school at 7:30, which is inhumane for both of us, but apparently, the dog too.
My son has taught the dog to attack me when I wake him up. I'm not kidding. The hand that feeds her! She will growl, go for my wrists and attack, so it becomes a game of whack-a-mole to wake up my son. Jonah finds this hysterical that he taught the dog this, and it makes him laugh, so that's what usually wakes him up. If you have any secrets for lulling teens out of bed safely, I'm all ears!
Labels: guard dog, waking up teenagers
I have to admit I was upset with God this past week. On Friday when news came that Di's cancer was back, I felt betrayed. I argued with God saying, "But you led us to Cancer Treatment Center of America. I know you did. And now this?" I railed and cried and was generally a total mess.
Delicious
Friends, we need you now like never before. Diann was told today that her CA-125 is high again which indicates she has more ovarian cancer growing. Please, please pray! We all love her so much and it's painful to think that she has to go through more treatment. We're all a mess. So please pray for peace for all of us and for the right treatment plan that will eradicate this terrible disease.
I ate my first pansy today, and I have to tell you, from now on nobody's flower garden will be safe from me. Who knew nasturtiums, pansies, carnations and roses were edible? Mel and I had them in our salad tonight, along with sheep and goat cheese, mint leaves, spinach, olive oil, garlic, beef and chicken.
If you follow publishing at all, you probably see authors moving around from house to house all the time. But sometimes magic happens both with love and with business relationships, and authors choose to stay with a publisher long term. That's where I am now. I've been at Nelson 9 years this year. :)
Don't you just love sparkly things? Even when I'm out hiking, I'm always looking for crystals on the trail, or a flash of a bluebird's wings. Today I looked out the sunroom window to see what my kitty was chattering about, and I saw a bluebird, a rose finch and a goldfinch just outside in the bare trees. It was as if God had handed me a special gift to cheer me up. Nature's jewelry. Though I can't go out hiking right now, it seems God is bringing me the beauty of the hiking trail to enjoy.
First of all, I'd like you ladies to be thinking about some of the things your mother did for you as you were growing up that made you what you are today, because I'd like for you to share if you care to.
First off, you can't tell because our camera didn't make the colors clear, but what looks gray here is actually almost a royal blue--or whatever blue Spiderman wears. This is a Spiderman blanket that I made for our three-year-old grandson. He is absolutely ecstatic!
Well, we're packing up and heading out this morning. We've been with Kara and Mark for the past 4 weeks and it has been sooo fun! I've had 3 coffees a day with my baby girl. We start the morning with coffee then one of us will say, "Time for 2nd coffee?" Then later, "Time for 3rd coffee?" LOL 
Okay girls, I need input. I'm working on an ever tightening deadline, and could use some inspiration for my romance. My female lead has had a crush on the male lead for years. He was her first true love, but she was determined to make her way in her career independently, and her career took her away from her hometown.
