Sunday Scripture

Speaking of wisdom and understanding:

Proverbs 3:15

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her

Links Saturday

Jean Fischer shared some great advice on becoming a writer:
https://jeanfischer.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/transitioning-your-writing-from-hobby-to-career-the-cold-hard-truth/

We Are One's Shares My Opinion post also shared a link to Single Dad Laughing's post about weight loss. I liked both perspectives:
http://weareone-ruth.blogspot.com/2016/07/shares-my-opinion.html

PTSD - Accepting, Coping, Thriving shared a list of phrases to help calm an anxious child but also works with adults:
https://ptsd-acceptingcopingthriving.com/2016/07/28/calming-myself-part-1/

For something light and fun, Donna Hatch shared the History of British Folk Music:
http://donnahatch.com/history-of-british-folk-music/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

My favorite books as a child were the Black Stallion series. The Golden Stallion was a spin off, if I remember rightly. Every short story I wrote was about a black stallion. I daydreamed about owning a black stallion. When we traveled my black stallion galloped along beside the car, splashing along rushing rivers and leaping canyons.

I've never lost that love.

Introduction...

...to a new regular post: Favorite Book Fridays.

I'm an avid reader. I've read thousands of books. I've mentioned I struggle with dyslexia. I miss entire lines, switch letters around. Short paragraphs are easier to read than long paragraphs. Reading is a battle worth fighting.

As a child, my favorite books were every horse story I could find. It was my love for horse stories that helped me learn to read. I was usually in the top or second to the top reading group, though I slid as the years past and the reading grew more difficult, i.e., more words on the page.

Unfortunately, I had a teacher who forbid me to read any more horse stories. My parents supported her decision. She demanded I read something else. I obeyed, at first. It wasn't long before I stopped reading altogether. It was too painful... embarrassingly slow.

Throughout the rest of elementary school, middle school, and high school, I only read what was required, except one book, which I'll mention in an upcoming post. I did take a science fiction reading class for one of my English requirements. I wasn't able to complete all the reading, though I finished enough to be able to take the tests. I discovered skimming, but there wasn't much joy in reading. It was a necessary but unpleasant chore.

I was in college when I started reading again. I chose science fiction/fantasy. A story for another day.

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

Jillian Chantal posts "Tuesday Tales." (I'm also stealing her Wordless Wednesday. Some of the other blogs I follow also do it.) A group she's involved in uses a single word to prompt their writing. I liked the idea, with a variation. I need to be accountable in my writing. Why it's been such a struggle over the past few months I don't know. It's frustrating. So, I'm trying a lot of new things. Posting every day is one of those things. On Tuesday, I want to share a tidbit of the current WIP. I'm taking a break from Knight in Disguise and writing a Holiday, USA novella, All or Nothing. Unedited, the last bit I wrote before preparing this post:
 

A knock at the office door dragged Angela back to the present. She returned Henry's smile. "You're not interrupting. I'm reviewing the schedule. What do you need?"

"Perfect. Belle and Vince are here and want to make an appointment to discuss a wedding cake."

"Good timing. Send them in." Words crowded her mind. Had God dropped an opportunity into her lap? Her stomach turned into the proverbial Gordian Knot. What did God want her to do?

Belle strolled in, a huge grin on her face. Vince followed. No grin, but his hand rested on Belle's back as he seated her. He made sure she was comfortable, moved his chair closer to her, and sat.

A glance passed between the couple that stole Angela's breath. Would a good man ever look at her like that?

Monday Quote

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." ~ Walt Disney

Sunday Scripture

Speaking of wisdom and understanding:

Proverbs 3:14

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

An experiment...

I'm attempting something new. Posting here to make myself accountable. I have a LOTR (Lord of the Rings) related mug in which I keep my dark chocolate Dove Promises. The mug was given to me by a friend when I missed an event. It sits above my computer, for the past five years.

Instead of chocolate... for the record, the chocolate has been moved to the frog planter that holds no plant. The change: I filled the mug with slips of paper. Each slip of paper has a suggestion:

Breathe ~ Slow 5-count inhale and 8-count exhale for 1 minute
Read a Chapter (of the current TBR {To-Be-Read})
Pray
PT ~ Physical Therapy
Bible (Read)
FB ~ Time on FB
Pinterest ~ Time on Pinterest
Sing

There are a few others I don't remember at the moment. Instead of choosing chocolate when I'm stressing, I'll choose a slip of paper and do the activity.

I'm not entirely sure what I hope to accomplish. Maybe I'll eat less chocolate. Maybe I'll be more aware of when I'm stressing more. Maybe I'll discover some other options for handling stress. Maybe I'll unearth other things to add to the options.

I've never done anything like this. The worst that can happen is nothing changes, except that's already beaten. Changes bring change. The only question is how much?

God bless.

Sunset

Inspiration From My Heart

It took me far too long to figure out: If your life is smooth as glass, you’re doing it wrong. Look at the world God created. It’s filled with mountains and valleys, glaciers and volcanoes, oceans and deserts, pine forests and rain forests, and that’s only some of the variety on this planet. Animals and plants and those yet undiscovered. Snow, rain, blistering sun, fog, the auroras, the moon, planets, stars, and numberless galaxies. Embrace the variety, every moment.

Saturday Links

Vincent Mars, over at A Writer's Path, shared "10 Ways to Overcome Writer's Block":
https://ryanlanz.com/2016/07/03/10-ways-to-overcome-writers-block/

Matthew Wright, over at A Writer's Path, shared good advice on scene writing:
https://ryanlanz.com/2016/07/13/how-not-to-write-scene-setters-in-your-novel/

Do you like writing lists? Jean Fischer shared a review on a book she liked for writers:
https://jeanfischer.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/lost-in-a-sea-of-lists/

A blogger shared a comment on coping with grief, found on another post. The internet is an amazing thing. So blessed to have so many amazing people connected and sharing their stories:
https://goodtimestories.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/coping-with-grief-and-the-shipwrecks-of-life/

God bless.

Change is coming...

I need to upgrade my computer. I love the one I have. I hate shopping for electronics. I want it over.

There's no going around, only through. There will be a learning curve.

A new computer also means a new modem, new surge protector/battery backup, and Word program. I have an old Word program that is no longer supported. I'll need to learn what's changed.

My computer is too old to handle some of the faster speeds. We won't say anything about me being too old to handle some of the faster speeds.

Blessedly, God has placed people in my life who understand these things and are happy to help.

I've traded out computers four times, now. Not one was a smooth transition. There was frustration and tears. I accept change is inevitable, but this does not mean I handle it well. So, God gives me an opportunity to learn. I'm not always gracious about the lessons He provides. Need to work on that, and I know He'll provide.

I trust God wants good for me. I will endeavor to embrace the good and give the frustration to God.

Sunset

Saturday Links...

"History Imagined" shared Agent 355 - A Patriot in Petticoats:
https://historyimagined.wordpress.com/2016/06/24/agent-355-a-patriot-in-petticoats/

A new to me inspirational blog by Denise Balog:
https://denisebalog.wordpress.com/2016/06/28/taste-and-see/

I enjoy Wisdom Wednesday over at Beholding Him Ministry:
https://beholdinghimministries.org/2016/06/29/wisdom-wednesday-32/
Comforting inspiration from Beholding Him Ministries:
https://beholdinghimministries.org/2016/07/02/now-you-will-see-what-i-will-do/

The Writer's Refuge shared a bit of valuable advice for writers on vacation:
https://thewritersrefuge.wordpress.com/2016/07/04/why-writers-never-take-a-vacation-but-how-to-benefit-if-you-do/

God bless.

Sometimes...

Life needs a series of pretty sunset pictures.

Grace's Possibilities quote...

The talented Donna Keevers Driver took the quote I sent from Grace's Possibilities, Book 4 of the Endless Possibilities series, and created this:

Independence Day

Independence Day weekend

Remember.