Cross Country Adventure - Day Five

PACKING AGAIN

Greg and I are getting the RV ready to head out tomorrow. We're making a short trip to Central Oregon to see our kids and grand-kids. I can't wait. We may run into snow later in the week ... so we're not sure when we'll be heading back home.

When we made our cross-country trip in 2006 we first spent time with family in Central Oregon and then set out. If only we were doing that again. Ah well, at least I get to relive some of the memories written in my blog journal while I worked on my book To Dance With Dolphins. Are you ready for the next leg of our research trip? 

Tuesday, Octoer 10, 2006

"Tonight we're sleeping in Hinesville, Georgia. We've logged more than 4,00 miles on our truck and still haven't put our feet in the Atlantic. Tomorrow is the day. We're heading into Savannah to have a good look at the historic city and then plan to walk on an Atlantic beach.

On October 7th, when we drove into Nashville, I felt a bit discouraged. It was too late to go downtown and stop in at some of the honky tonks. Plus Loretta Lynn was performing at the Grand Ole Opry and there was no way to get tickets. *Sigh* So instead, we had a late dinner at a very nice restaurant and had a fun chat with a sweet gal who served our meal. It turned out to be a good evening in spite of MY unfulfilled plans.

The morning of the 8th, we decided a trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame would be something my characters would do and so we went. It's an amazing place. Three floors, each more than a block long and a block wide are filled with country music history, videos, music and all kinds of instruments, stage costumes and stories about the stars. There were even some of the well-known performer's cars.

I learned a great deal and gained new respect for the country music industry and its celebrated musicians. Being there gave me insights that will help me better understand one of my characters (the infamous Taylor) and her passion for music.

I had a mishap while there. My husband and I took seats in a small theater and waited for a showing of country greats. I asked Greg, "Do you have the camera?" He said, "No." A thud went off in my chest. I looked around my seat to see where I'd put it. I couldn't find it. Panic set in. There were more than 200 photos on the card in the camera, all taken since leaving Oregon.

Greg and I set out in different directions. We had to find that camera! I was near tears and praying. Retracing my steps, I checked all the places I'd sat to watch and listen to videos. I couldn't find the camera anywhere.

And then I saw Greg. Triumphantly he held the camera above his head. Yay! I started breathing again.

I'd left the camera on a bench where I'd sat down to rest. This was not the first time I'd left something behind. Greg is now in charge of the camera, except for picture-taking. 

God is so good.

It was nearly time to head down the road and I still needed to get inside the legendary honky tonk, Tootsies. An important scene takes place there. Claire will know Sean much better before they head to Savannah, Georgia.

We were told there'd be no parking anywhere close to Tootsies and by this time my back was hurting too badly to walk several blocks so we drove to the corner where Legends (another honky tonk) and Tootsies are located. Greg parked on the street and said he'd try to stay put while I went in. I hurried inside, clicked a few photos, tried to get a feel for the place and then hurried outside. Greg was gone. I figured he'd driven around the block and would be back any minute.

And then all of a sudden, there he was in front of me, wearing a big grin. The truck was parked right across the street. A parking spot "just happened to open up." God is sooo good.

We went in, found a seat at the bar and ordered a couple of Cokes. It was great! I was tempted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

A country singer, getting experience and hoping too be discovered was on stage playing her guitar and singing an original tune. She was good. I hope she makes it. It was fabulous to be there, soaking in the history and character of the place. I am SO ready to write the scene!

We left Nashville and headed south down Interstate 75. Driving through Atlanta was a thrill - huge freeways and wild drivers. We stayed in Jonesboro that night and then headed for Hinesville the next day.

While driving down Highway 16, my husband spotted a Dodge dealership in Macon. Our brakes had been acting funny, so we stopped to get them checked. One of the mechanics said it might take up to three hours to look them over and fix them. I was not thrilled. I wanted to get to Hinesville. But God's timing is always perfect.

We settled into chairs in the customer waiting room and chatted with another customer who was waiting, Anthony Butler. He turned out to be a terrific guy and as the time passed he shared some of his life with us. What he said impacted me, and his knowledge and experiences will make my story richer. We plan to stay in touch.

I have to mention my hero - my husband. While I've been taking notes, talking into my tape recorder, and typing scenes on my laptop, he's been driving. And every night when we stop and I'm resting my back he unloads all our stuff, which includes my writing paraphernalia and everything I need to make me more comfortable. And the next morning, while I'm giving my back time to unkink, he loads everything back into the truck. And tonight while I'm working on this, he's doing laundry. Thank you, Greg. I love you.

Tomorrow, we plan to make a trip to Savannah and to the beach where we will dip our toes in the Atlantic. It promises to be a special day."


More of our journey tomorrow.

Today's Question:   Do you have a hero or heroine in your life?

Today's Prize:         

A beautiful daily devotional

about a true hero.

I'll see you tomorrow. Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

The Cross-Country Adventure Continues - Day Four!

I'm so excited to share the next leg of our journey. These were some of my favorite days. If you've missed the first three days make sure to go back and check them out and don't forget to leave comments so you can be eligible for the prizes.

All Righty - here we go.

Saturday, October 7, 2006

Sadly, we left Branson Missouri yesterday. I wish we could have stayed longer, but "work" calls. We covered a lot of miles, driving throough Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. After fourteen hoours on the road we finally stopped to sleep in Lexington, Kentucky.

In Illinois I could feel and see signs of winter. The leaves had turned, fields lay fallow, and the air felt chill. It seemed as if the land were waiting for winter.

In spite of the long hours on the road I truly enjoyed our time as we passed through three states in one day and moved on to a fourth. The countryside was colorful, expansive, and restorative.

The landscape changed as we approached Kentucky. There were more hills and they were steeper and demanded Greg's attention as he drove. The reds, oranges, and yellows on the trees and foliage seemed to vibrate with life. And I don't know that I've ever seen fields as green, not even in Oregon during the spring. Horses and cows, confined by white fences, grazed in lush pastures. The forests changed too. They became dense, the trees were crushed against each other fighting for space.

After a night's sleep in a very comfy bed (Praise God!) we set out again, crossing the mountains and traveling through the Daniel Boone National Forest. I could feel the history all around me.

We stopped at a place called Paintsville Lake. One day I'll return. It is one of the most tranquil spots I've ever seen. 

Hoping to find a town called Van Lear, we wound our way through country roads where small farms rested in green meadows. It was quite isolated and sometimes the forest closed out the light and I must admit that my mind returned to an old movie called Deliverance. I was thankful for GPS.

It took a bit of doing, but we managed to locate Van Lear. It's a small town in the Appalachians and we felt as if we'd stepped back in time. Our ultimate destination was Butcher Holler, Loretta Lynn's birthplace.

We got lost a few times, but managed to find her home. We drove back roads, some only wide enough for one car and some areas weren't even paved, although that's not so unusual for us - we're Oregonians, after all. We weren't sure we were even in the right place and considered turning back but then we came upon a boulder with Butcher Holler and an arrow painted on it showing the way. We finally made it!

Loretta's brother, Herman, a real friendly fellow, was there and happily showed us around his childhood home. The simple old house was much as it had been when Loretta and her family lived there. There were few luxuries for the "Coal Miner's Daughter" and her siblings.

The original furnishings had been preserved and Loretta's grandfather's guitar rested on one of the beds. Herman told us stories about the old days, including Loretta playing that old guitar. He proudly showed us photographs of his family and many of the famous people who've visited there.

My visit was a moving experience, reminding me of the strength of the human spirit. So much can be accomplished if we will only believe in the One who can do all things.

Tonight we're in Nashville and plan to do some exploring tomorrow before heading south into Georgia. I'll be writing again soon."

Nashville was so fun! I can't wait to tell you about it tomorrow. In the meantime I have another question and another prize.

Today's Question:
In the book, To Dance With Dolphins, Taylor has aspirations of becoming a country singer, but the rest of the group doesn't much like country (at least not at first). What is your favorite music style and if you have a favorite artist, I'd love to know.

Today's prize - A poster I happen to love because I believe in using our imaginations and allowing ourselves to believe our hopes ad dreams can come true.

I'll be back tomorrow with  more of my journey. 

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

A Cross Country Adventure - Day Three!

Hello ... or welcome back. This is day three of my Cross Country Adventure Event. If you missed the first two days, make sure to check them out. We've already visited some amazing places and there are two prizes posted so far. I'll be adding an additional prize each day.

So, let's continue my cross-country journey.


Thursday, October 5, 2006

"We covered a loot of miles yesterday, traveling across the state of Kansas. I fell in love with the countryside. The gentle rolling hills and open prairies surprised me. It was so beautiful! I think the Kansas scenes from the movie The Wizard of OZ corrupted my mind, but thankfully it has now been refreshed. 

As we made our way across the state I felt as if I may have been born in the wrong part of the country. Kansas felt like home. I imagined myself growing up on a farm or ranch in the open country there where I could ride my horse through the deep grasses and wild flowers. I was taken by surprise because, to be honest many Oregonians, including me, believe that Oregon is the only place to live. It is a beautiful state, but I now see there is no "only" place to live. All of God's creation is glorious and worthy of admiration.

We made stops to investigate small towns and even lost our way a couple of times when our satellite navigation went on the blink. I was told by one gal that she thought the cause was approaching storms. Yikes - storms in Kansas? The Wizard of Oz is again on my mind.

In spite of our wandering I found a perfect hamlet for a turning point in my story - Salina, Kansas. I even managed to connect with two great gals, Carolyn a nurse and Amy who registers patients at the Salina Regional Health Center. They were both willing to answer lots of questions for me. Now I know just how the scene that begins in a local Walmart will play out. 

Poor Taylor. And we find that old grouch Tom can sometimes be extra grouchy.

By the way, I really like Salina. It feels homey.

We moved on toward Missouri and the winds picked up and thunderheads formed while the clouds darkened. I started to worry about severe weather. The open prairie didn't seem like an ideal place to be, under the circumstances. I tried to come up with practical solutions about how we could duck for cover in case of thunderstorms that might include hail, lightening, and tornadoes.

We managed to reach Branson without encountering severe weather, but there were some impressive thunderheads to the east. As always, I took lots of photos.

Branson's a great town, a mix of country and city. The surrounding countryside offers steep hills and dense forests of oak and pine. The most unusual thing here is that the city and country is mingled. It's quite remarkable.

We've had help finding our way around town. We're spending our time here at a World Mark Resort where members of the staff, Mairini, Becky, and Chuck have answered all our questions and told us about some of the great places to visit. I also met a gal, Joanna and her sidekick Roger, at the Christian Gift Outlet. They felt like instant friends. Joanna told us about a scenic route we ought to take just out of town and so we went (the picture at the top of the page is part of that). It was a great drive, showing off a lot of the beauty of the area.

Greg enjoying the view from our room.

I love Branson. It feels like a small town, but offers a lot and the people are friendly. it's also a wholesome place to have fun. There are over 100 shows to see, but we only made it to one, the Jim Stafford Show. It was great fun. He is a funny man and a terrific musician. 

The characters in my story will love it here. I'm planning some unique experiences for them in this special place.

Tomorrow, Greg and I will be heading for Lexington, Kentucky. We don't know what to expect along the way, but know God has the journey planned out for us. I'm sure it will enrich our lives and give me lots more story ideas. 

I'll be writing again soon to update you on our finds."


I can't wait for tomorrow. We discovered some really wonderful places for our soul and very cool sites for my story.

I'm giving away another gift. All you have to do to be eligible is answer a question for me. Today's gift is two movies that I always watch during the Christmas season.

And the question is:

What is your favorite kind of entertainment? Have you been to see a special program, concert, play or ...? Tell us about.

See you tomorrow. Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

A Cross Country Adventure Continues!

Welcome back to my Cross Country Adventure event. I'm loving living our trek across the USA a second time. I remember how excited I was and how I fell in love with our amazing country. 

If you didn't read yesterday's post make sure to have a look at the beginning of our journey and leave a comment for a chance at winning yesterday's prize. 

And so ... on with the adventure - Entry Two.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

"I'd hoped to write sooner, but the motels/hotels are set up for wireless computers. I'm definitely behind the times and in need of an upgrade. When we stop for the night I have to find a place to plug in.

We're making our way across Kansas and I'm writing like mad. There's so much I need to get from my brain to the computer - story ideas, notes on the terrain, interesting locations, and of course I've got to stay in touch with my readers.

I'm only four days out and already I'm in awe. Creation is amazing!

When I left home I thought I knew pretty much what I'd find. Wrong! So Wrong! I knew nothing about the uniqueness and beauty waiting for me to discover it. And it's clear to me that none of it happened by evolution or whatever reason "reasonable" people want to use. This country was hand-made by God.

I wish I could take all of you along so you could see firsthand what I've seen. There are no words that can appropriately describe it, but I'll do my best.

In Eastern Oregon, my husband and I wandered off the highway to have a look at the Painted Hills. It's hard to believe I've lived in Oregon a quarter of a century and have never heard of the Painted Hills. They are impressive to say the least. In the midst of the desert, at the John Day Fossil Beds, are hills that look as if a master artist painted them. There are broad vistas and striped hills of white, red, and green. It was a place of serenity - God's handiwork. (If you've read the book, To Dance With Dolphins, you know the adventure really begins here - no spoilers please).

Idaho offered interesting landscapes and historical locations. We spent a few hours at Three Island Crossing State Park, a place where pioneers once made their way down steep bluffs to the Snake River and then crossed the river by ferry. Those early settlers were truly courageous.

Utah had breathtaking vistas, and the fall colors were at their zenith. More than once I found myself close t tears as I thought about the day God created this earth and how He knew I'd be making this journey and that I would see what He had created. Wow!

Nothing could prepare me for the San Rafael Swell and San Rafael Valley in Eastern Utah. The panoramas took my breath away. I couldn't contain my joy. I kept exclaiming, 'Oh my gosh! Look at that! Look at that!' My camera came out and I filled an entire card.

A man we met at the vista point said the valleys and canyons are called "'The Baby Grand Canyon."' Baby my foot! It was an amazing place - deep canyons, rocks of all shapes and sizes and colors, and rock formations that looked like castles, giant stove pipes, swirling rivers, and one reminded me of the Parthenon and ... well there isn't enough room to describe them all. What an amazing God we have.

When we wound our way down out of these mountains I must admit to being a little frightened. The highway was steep - and winding and the canyons deep. Heights have always been a challenge for me and I think that might be where my character Taylor might have inherited her fear of heights. *Shiver*  

Taylor
(One of my travelers.)

Yesterday, we had a picnic in the Western Rocky Mountains and today we continued our climb over the mountains. At 12,000 feet we got out and played in the snow. Not for long, however. The air is thin at 12,000 feet.  

After our frolic, we made our way down to the prairies that lie to the east, and again, it was more than I expected - lovely rolling grasslands, and huge ranches and farms. 

All in all it's been great so far. We've met interesting people, seen extraordinary places and story ideas are flowing. I've had a few bad moments - I'm sleep deprived and my body is complaining, but I'm excited about what is to come. There is still so much country to see and people to meet.

Thanks to all of you who are praying for my husband and me. I hope to be back online soon with more of our adventure.

God bless.


That's the end of my second journal entry. I want to go back and see all of these gorgeous places again.

I have a second prize. And a second question. My character Taylor was afraid of heights and a lot of other things. What gives you the willies? Answer the question and leave your email address and you will be eligible for today's prize which is ... 

A one pound bag of Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses

all dressed up for Christmas.

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

A Cross Country Adventure

In September of 2006 my husband and I set off on a grand adventure. We made a trip across our great nation, 8,000 miles in three weeks.

I had a book in my heart, but before I could write it I needed to visit the places my adventurous characters would be traveling. I've never had so much fun, and as Greg and I made our way across the country I recorded the journey.  We discovered beauty and diversity beyond our imagination.

In honor of my new release, To Dance With Dolphins I'd like to revisit that special time and take you along with me. Over the next several days, I'm reposting my journal and I hope you'll join me as, once again, I travel across this fabulous country. 

At the end of each day I will have a prize to give away. Make sure to stop in, check out my latest travel entry and answer the day's question for a chance to WIN that day's prize.

This is a photo of Greg and I just before we set out.
We were sure a lot younger.

HERE WE GO ...

Friday September 29, 2006

"This is a great day! I'm launching my new website and setting out on a cross country adventure!

I've got a book that's screaming at me to be written, but first I've got to see the places my characters will visit. So, today I'm off. I'll be traveling from Oregon to Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, and then I'll head down to Georgia and Florida, travel across Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico and then cut through Arizona and finally head north into California and then home to Oregon. There's so much to see it boggles the mind.

I'm counting on meeting lots of fascinating people and I'll be handing out free copies of books from the Queensland Chronicles. I can't wait to discover the country. I know I'll find treasures that will fit perfectly with my story and that seeing the country will stir up all kinds of story ideas. If you know of a place I ought to visit let me know. I'll do my best to get there.

Bye for now. As I travel I'll continue to visit here and keep you updated on my latest adventures. It ought to be fun."


That was our beginning all those years ago, and today's question is, What U.S. location would you most like to visit? Make sure to leave your answer along with your email address so I can contact you. My first prize is a FREE copy of book one in the Queensland Chronicles, The Heart of Thornton Creek. 

I'll announce all winners at the end of the journey ... nine days from now.  Happy trails!

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie 

Your One & Only Life

Recently I watched a movie called Won't Back Down. In one scene a teacher asked a parent, "What are you going to do with your one and only life?"

At that moment, the action seemed to stop, the statement hung in the air, and then it reached out and grabbed hold of my heart. And I thought, what am I going to do? When my life comes to a close will I be content, certain I've done all I wanted to do and all God asked me to do? Did I live out my adventure, the one laid out just for me?

Living out my dream hasn't always been easy. My health feels like a stumbling block. But I'm not so different from you. We all have something that tries to trip us up and hold us back.

Recently, I've been especially discouraged about my physical strength (I'm not giving up) and how my disabilities make it so hard to do the things I want to do. Things like being more involved in my community and my church, enjoying special experiences with my children and grandchildren. And before I'm too old  I want to see more of our amazing world. I also want to write more books and encourage and teach young writers. And ... well there is so much I want to do. 

So the question remains:

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH 

MY ONE AND ONLY LIFE?

I don't know the answer, but I know this - I'm going to do all that I can. It doesn't have to be everything. Us humans want everything don't we.  

Here are some things I can do. I can leave lots of hugs and love as I go along my way. Read a story to a little one and cry with someone who grieves. I can write more books and sing more praises. Dream dreams and pass hope on to others. I can gaze at a glowing sunset and listen to my Heavenly Father's voice. And I can live and grow and bloom right where I've been planted, weak or strong, young or old.

And when the day comes when all the doing is done I can pray. And that is a powerful thing. 

What do you want to do with your one and only life?

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

The Power of Love

Lots of love among this bunch.

And notice who is at the center of it, down front.

That's where it began.

When I left my mother's home yesterday, I was awash with emotions. I knew that I needed to write what I felt ... but now that I sit here in front of a blank screen I'm not sure how to express the exquisiteness of our time together. How do you describe love - the pure and simple kind?

I stopped on my way to Mom's to get her a blended coffee mocha from Dutch Brothers. She loves them. When I walked in with the small gift, her eyes lit up. "Oh, a milkshake!" She held that treat between her hands as if it were made of gold then started drinking and between sips, commenting on how delicious it was. 

We didn't do anything special while I was there - talked about family and local events, how much she likes her new home and how thankful she is for the kindness she receives from the workers, and how blessed she is to have good and loving children and grandchildren. And we talked about a visit she had from her best friend Connie. How precious it is to spend time with those we love. 

.    

BFF's  

Then Mom and I turned too more serious topics of discussion, things like life and death and troubling dreams she's been having. We talked about the Lord and how great and deep and wide is His love and that there is no sin he doesn't cover. We talked about how much He loves us and that He never leaves us alone ... not ever, and especially not when we feel alone.

We clasped hands and prayed. When we were done, she held on to my hands and with her eyes full of tears she said, "I want to give you something."

I didn't understand and asked her to explain. "I just want too give you something special for all that you do for me. And how you take such good care of me ... and how you love me. I just don't have anything good enough." 

By that time, my eyes were brimming with tears too. I told her the best thing she could give me is one she already had - time to spend with her. She smiled in that bright way of hers and her eyes lit up. "Oh. I never thought of that," she said and placed her hands on my cheeks and gazed into my eyes. "You know how much I love you, don't you?"

Yes. I know. 

I gave her a kiss, and then I had to leave. 

The time I spent in her room that afternoon was more precious than any material thing she could have given me. I felt as if I were wrapped in a warm cocoon of love. Mom and I have had lots of wonderful times together, but some are more special than others and yesterday was one of the best. I will always remember being enfolded in my mama's love. 

Growing old is hard. It's a time in life when we've said too many farewells to loved ones, and a time when we need the people we love to be close by - people to share our memories, our fears, and hopes and prayers, our joys. And we need those close who will keep on loving us no matter how much our bodies or minds deteriorate. 

All through life we muddle through the hard times, embrace the beauty and joys of life. And we love one another. It all matters but in the end, it's love that remains ... always.

Love one another ... every day.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Book Giveaway & Guest Author Peggy Trotter

There has been a lot going on here in Roseburg, Oregon. It's been a time of heartbreak for our community, and so I'm startled that it's already Wednesday. I'm thankful we have a guest and a new book. Thank you, Peggy Trotter for joining us.

Peggy Trotter has been writing for over 30 years. The empty-nest syndrome set her seeking a new direction, and wow, did God answer! Year of Jubilee, a Christian Historical Romance set in southern Indiana, debuted in April of 2015 through Prism Book Group. A second Contemporary Romance entitled, Reviving Jules, is set to follow on Oct. 9th, 2015.

Peggy loves to reveal God’s miracles through the world’s underdogs and mix in a little love, a dash of romantic heat, and of course, a happy ending.

She took third place in the Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest in 2013 in the Inspirational Category, and won the coveted Genesis Award in 2014 from the American Christian Fiction
Writers (ACFW) in the Novella Category with her entry, Spun, a Historical Romance.

God blessed her with a wonderful husband who cooks and helps clean while supporting her crazy dreams. She has two incredible grown kids plus two fabulous in-law kids, and two rays of sunshine, commonly called grandchildren. Seldom does she stand still, but when she does, it’s to praise her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Creator of all gifts and Bestower of all blessings!

You can find Peggy at the following internet sites:
Website: peggytrotter.com
Blog: diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com
Personal blog: http://peggytrotter.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeggyTrotterAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Peggy_Trotter
Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/114013524674058453981/posts
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pegtrotter/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/peggy-trotter/95/29b/44a
Amazon:  http://amzn.com/B00UZ78ZUA
Prism Book Group: http://www.prismbookgroup.com/Inspired.html
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25294770-year-of-jubilee
Amazon Author’s Profile Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Peggy-Trotter/e/B00V15P2LU/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Good Morning, Lord:

For me, last year was a no good, horrible uber nasty, joy stealing year. Why? Lots of reasons. But let’s not get into that now. Have you ever had one of these years? Or months? Or week, or even a day?  I’m sure we all have, and they are not enjoyable. And it’s hard to remember to give thanks in all things when the bricks of your life are flying about your head.

And the thing was, well, I didn’t want to continue the no good, horrible uber nasty, joy-stealing cadence to the next year, or even the next hour. So I spent the summer in constant prayer. I wanted to find out how it all went wrong and how I could avoid such a disaster in future terms.

Amidst my prayer and meditation into God’s word, I saw a huge glaring problem. You see, I’d run out of daylight to accomplish all the things I committed to. So to scrape together every last shred of time in my day, I started leaving out my Bible study. I mean, it made sense, right? I had so much to do, so many deadlines, so many people to please and so forth. I just didn’t have time. Really.

Only ...

Once I’d cut it, everything seemed to take a slow slide south, dribbled over the precipice, and then catapulted into a complete huge quivering anxiety - laced puddle. How could such a small change make such a mess? I’ve been a Christian for some 35 years, and I figured, you know, I’d read the Bible through more than a couple of dozen times, and it hadn’t changed much from the year before. I’d get back to it ... eventually.

Only ... God revealed how much I desperately needed His words to ground me, help me love, forgive and trust. So, I made a huge change. I would start getting up early and read first thing in the morning.

Now, if you know me, you know I never, “get up early.” So this was huge. But I started doing it. Then the Lord revealed that I needed a, “facelift.” So I decided the make three little goals to freshen myself and lighten my outlook on life.

Be humble. Be quiet. Be nonjudgmental. 

That was it. Being a rather loud, talkative person, who quite frankly had gotten very good at fruit inspection, this was quite a powerful short list. It’s hard to live up to these goals each day, but I’ve seen a different side of life. A calmer side. A more blessed side.

Are you having one of those no good, horrible uber nasty joy stealing times? Soak yourself in God’s word first thing in the morning. Then seek God’s answers of how to invigorate your life, how to rejuvenate your joy. Maybe it can be as simple as a six-word daily goal.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on Him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6 NIV

Wise words, Peggy. Thank you.

Peggy's new book.

Jules Summers, a proverbial Jonah, runs from family, career, and neighborhood. Where's she going? To find a place of healing for wounds so deep, she shuts the door against the very One who restores. But God never abandons and a kindergarten angel arrives, towing her father, Rhett.

Rhett Carsen vows never to marry again. He redoubles his efforts to raise his motherless daughter alone, but runs into trouble when work sends him traveling. His daughter instantly bonds with the newcomer, Jules Summers, who in turn, assists him in caring for his daughter. She seems like the answer to his prayers - an instant live-in nanny. Yet, why does she captivate his every thought?

They work together as a team to care for Rhett's child. But is, "practicalilty" the only thing God has planned for these two? Or could there be a whole lot more?


Current Pre-Order Links for Reviving Jules:

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B015WVZO8E
Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reviving-jules-peggy-
trotter/1122718298?ean=2940152377422
Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/580978

Peggy is giving away a FREE copy of Reviving Jules. To be eligible to win just leave a comment along with your email address. I'll announce the winner next Wednesday.

We have a winner from last week. Kim Amundsen has won a copy of Susan Reinhardt's book Out of the Mist. Congratulations!

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Evil Will Not Prevail

For as long as I can remember, Roseburg Oregon has been a quiet little town, no more than a dot on a map to most, a place few had ever heard of. Our community rests in the midst of wild forests, sprawling ranches, and small farms, a place with old time values, close-knit families, and friendly neighbors. It is a community where people know one another and you can't go into town without running into a friend or two. And when a siren screams we pray for the hurting and the EMT's who will help. And we pray that the person in need is not someone we love too deeply.

Yesterday a great evil came to our small town. How could it have only been yesterday? How could such an unspeakable tragedy strike here? This was a place of safety ... or so we thought.

My husband and I were traveling when we got the news. The notice popped up on my Facebook page and I thought it must be a mistake. Soon I knew the truth. People were dead, underserving of such a fate. Others were injured and being air-lifted to hospitals. Lives were shattered. Stories of courage and heroism emerged. Our quiet hamlet was forever changed. But, oh, what an incredible community is Douglas County. We are struggling, but we shall prevail.

We need to talk about why this happened and what we should do about it, but not today. Today we mourn. We pray. We lift one another up. And we take one step forward - and then one step more. That is what we do here in our small town of Roseburg. And not just here, but across this exceptional and courageous country. I don't care what the naysayers proclaim ... America is special.

Today I have no answers, but I am assured that we will overcome. And we won't do it alone. I am certain that God is still in control, and He is a good and loving God who conquers evil.

We gather together - we are not alone. I pray for my family, my friends, my community, my home. I love you all. Love one another.

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie