tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17480684561167498942024-03-05T18:14:55.976-08:00WordwiseNelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-71095238207226571562022-12-11T11:33:00.001-08:002022-12-12T13:34:22.681-08:00His Shop<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBbksGYQSo7teJ-Ap62xsoJmL7MOXSy6BeVJE0HGO7-jZTzqS4lYs2zTnHdDdrtpGUeHg155E0a6dyOZG6xrgRczeYOyittJhpEnecmU6zYA1jJsvrEUYIjPgP_GOlXBRQXmyCIe6jKOX0O1DjT6q0zralVSWPPIOGEAhredr0UlTlX95KXIJiYCB6A/s4000/Dad%20in%20his%20shop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBbksGYQSo7teJ-Ap62xsoJmL7MOXSy6BeVJE0HGO7-jZTzqS4lYs2zTnHdDdrtpGUeHg155E0a6dyOZG6xrgRczeYOyittJhpEnecmU6zYA1jJsvrEUYIjPgP_GOlXBRQXmyCIe6jKOX0O1DjT6q0zralVSWPPIOGEAhredr0UlTlX95KXIJiYCB6A/s320/Dad%20in%20his%20shop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">My dad passed away on October 24th at the age of 86. For over thirty years he found joy, purpose and sanctuary in his shop. He created over five hundred individual bird carvings, not to mention feather pins, ornaments and other carvings. </p><p class="MsoNormal">On the day after he died, I went into his shop and breathed in the essence of my father: meticulous, organized, creative, prepared. There were boxes of feather blanks, all cut out, ready to detail and paint. The same was true for various bird shapes. There were at least three birds in process, which tells me that my father was going to carry on. He was still doing what he loved so well, almost up to the day he passed. As I took in the tools, the sketches, the aprons hung on their hook, the plans and preparations for ongoing creativity, I cried. What happens now? The words started forming, and although it took weeks, this is my answer to my own question.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>His Shop</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4NG-dC1VK-QrggOfAONk3x_ORzgW_SE5dMzheKOKGqJ2FqaAe4OAy5ddveWWFhk3BJpuWkvBjxeIPHLQlkeSfAwCwjF4yp5zSmrSTKA82ZZ50AcAg_jrzXLkr2LGxEuTi-UHeoMb6lpDSiG0fF9AJqHuUrOpNE3snyEAY6vWXio5Itno_e0oVA7fDnQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="418" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4NG-dC1VK-QrggOfAONk3x_ORzgW_SE5dMzheKOKGqJ2FqaAe4OAy5ddveWWFhk3BJpuWkvBjxeIPHLQlkeSfAwCwjF4yp5zSmrSTKA82ZZ50AcAg_jrzXLkr2LGxEuTi-UHeoMb6lpDSiG0fF9AJqHuUrOpNE3snyEAY6vWXio5Itno_e0oVA7fDnQ" width="319" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The shop is quiet now.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>His tools, which under his nimble hand<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>served their highest purpose,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">laid aside.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: courier;"><i> </i></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: courier; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwPWqaaZC2T3pyinMNd4Q30wH0KWs0BdrPHkRfMRGyt-xAzN55UceaMIPWik9Z2ZaL_SlFzS9hW1DsiE5T-kDvC5BtteDk4y3qCNgQ3G5Suh5351tCHQSlxCTeWAEb1iE53wkMkmn2w7DPSaZb8Bzy7g4pY-5gkmzmMFzRI5STIVbvsk8rCf1XstkFqg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="344" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwPWqaaZC2T3pyinMNd4Q30wH0KWs0BdrPHkRfMRGyt-xAzN55UceaMIPWik9Z2ZaL_SlFzS9hW1DsiE5T-kDvC5BtteDk4y3qCNgQ3G5Suh5351tCHQSlxCTeWAEb1iE53wkMkmn2w7DPSaZb8Bzy7g4pY-5gkmzmMFzRI5STIVbvsk8rCf1XstkFqg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-family: courier;">Like his Father, he could see </i><i style="font-family: courier;">within the cold heart of </i><i style="font-family: courier;">wood,</i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>a warm living creature.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>And like his Father,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>gentle strokes removed what need not be,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">and shaped and smoothed what should...</span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifZeXvbNHYc0Ck7T9uY7bRknP0Da_uTZnuMS1E2I5QKa5QM6Ivd2D4znyYEzgusk9Rd2WwGtUYaEpr5P4uDJGIagye8mQDnOY71Rgg_NhyoELAjfnBIgEKBveSMQk3PL1Pvp72yGD3-RtjK83ptWe4s3O_yxmPXfOb8YiG6VK7CZCms357DvcLDq-uXg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="262" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifZeXvbNHYc0Ck7T9uY7bRknP0Da_uTZnuMS1E2I5QKa5QM6Ivd2D4znyYEzgusk9Rd2WwGtUYaEpr5P4uDJGIagye8mQDnOY71Rgg_NhyoELAjfnBIgEKBveSMQk3PL1Pvp72yGD3-RtjK83ptWe4s3O_yxmPXfOb8YiG6VK7CZCms357DvcLDq-uXg" width="180" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><br /><br /></i></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>To the finest curve of feather,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>the poise of a wing beat,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">the readiness for flight.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: courier;"><i> </i></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>For those unfinished, half-born creatures,<br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>awaiting
a further touch, what now?</i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheSVHEfcSxysRqWfAxEpQVt_xal1jlV7M15Ya03mj1VvkruFEYPKxsddqTPUQeBzsbcyd402hX4a24uEkAyRHzq1Xm85UTFlY589NI_iqeTfgTZBn3l6csCOZpSWaIh5eP86oUy1TbZK4qDINnZRCYdiRIGu44fYgglCvGEEkPHK00prDjIDAGWw39vw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheSVHEfcSxysRqWfAxEpQVt_xal1jlV7M15Ya03mj1VvkruFEYPKxsddqTPUQeBzsbcyd402hX4a24uEkAyRHzq1Xm85UTFlY589NI_iqeTfgTZBn3l6csCOZpSWaIh5eP86oUy1TbZK4qDINnZRCYdiRIGu44fYgglCvGEEkPHK00prDjIDAGWw39vw" width="179" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: courier;"><i> </i></span></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>Not for a moment do we believe his task is finished for
good.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>After this rest – but a moment for him -<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>when his soul is restored,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>he will waken, stretch and </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>scan the skies – <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>Flush with birds, song, color!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>He will lift his ready hands,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>and there find wings.</i></span><span style="font-family: Bradley Hand ITC; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-19892364323033422392021-03-11T05:23:00.001-08:002021-03-11T07:23:48.561-08:00Here It Is!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm so excited to show you the cover for my book, Essay of the Weak. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Simple, evocative and beautiful! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Essay of the Weak is now available for pre-order now on Amazon. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Follow this link: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YFH1VV4">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YFH1VV4</a></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP8npr9QKx67XFRqSHp6hlIwYw7vDZnEFdSX_hLqtzVpvl30xuXyItD03L_HWFC3ozZ_kHKWs_QAtPrV5ReRlCVC7vNBM0qFuBJT5QyiO7md6gO_YbyGutJ62-wC92puc0Wzy4l2SQsaK/s2048/NoelleCoverFinalForEBook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP8npr9QKx67XFRqSHp6hlIwYw7vDZnEFdSX_hLqtzVpvl30xuXyItD03L_HWFC3ozZ_kHKWs_QAtPrV5ReRlCVC7vNBM0qFuBJT5QyiO7md6gO_YbyGutJ62-wC92puc0Wzy4l2SQsaK/w400-h640/NoelleCoverFinalForEBook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although the paperback version isn't ready for pre-order yet, I can give you a sneak peek at the back copy. I will post updates about the paperback as soon as I'm able. I'm still planning for its release on March 18th.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJUntlXbDkWo73mXu3WWZxFe16GSfmrne28NLBahGmaEMPUZGwENY2q_qCJcQMl3VKmbnMBwTR5QLLL6C1Um6W3oduHGaWFUE0DjKlcqt7KxJ8Lo-Mp2qaVTOpIdtAPlsytsqFhrFbaXj/s1350/EssayWeakBack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJUntlXbDkWo73mXu3WWZxFe16GSfmrne28NLBahGmaEMPUZGwENY2q_qCJcQMl3VKmbnMBwTR5QLLL6C1Um6W3oduHGaWFUE0DjKlcqt7KxJ8Lo-Mp2qaVTOpIdtAPlsytsqFhrFbaXj/w426-h640/EssayWeakBack.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p></div>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-80411758227625763232021-03-04T05:52:00.000-08:002021-03-04T05:52:21.291-08:00Book News!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">What have I been up to? I'm glad you asked! Besides child care, home keeping, locking down </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">and working</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">, I have finally finished my fourth novel. I know!!! It's been a long time coming, but I'm so happy to announce that on March 18th, </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><i>Essay of the Weak</i></b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">will be released on Amazon.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">BUT...before that, I will be revealing my cover for <b><i>Essay of the Weak</i></b>, designed by my creative and talented sister, Sandy Flewelling of TrueBlue Design. Watch for it on March 11th...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I will also post information about preordering.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4moaaayjMgmDcmdnckgBn307QZmENF2LtEkxz0DPbmJ25dXPp04Ot-QRGrOJL1M5E-ZgLJDxkWrzYKHGia8XDU_CnW2qb32RIVY6C37o-6IzOsnVG9Q79IPinMC4MHd0Q68pTxcI2_Vc/s2048/EOTW+original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1383" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4moaaayjMgmDcmdnckgBn307QZmENF2LtEkxz0DPbmJ25dXPp04Ot-QRGrOJL1M5E-ZgLJDxkWrzYKHGia8XDU_CnW2qb32RIVY6C37o-6IzOsnVG9Q79IPinMC4MHd0Q68pTxcI2_Vc/w432-h640/EOTW+original.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-47346647608587346152021-02-11T07:14:00.004-08:002022-01-20T04:23:32.185-08:00Rosary<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbNHqBRrVywSLYYWPHvM77UZXR4rNaOhxjrs743gkd5NgRe5NJY6vEwpqd5JQEaoAE2miFw01nxZOMU92LOhhLo3ZeieICPo_hAOvASOTGXCaJbbng82Y6jyIoX2SIQSabi39dHTttOSw/s2048/Rosary.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbNHqBRrVywSLYYWPHvM77UZXR4rNaOhxjrs743gkd5NgRe5NJY6vEwpqd5JQEaoAE2miFw01nxZOMU92LOhhLo3ZeieICPo_hAOvASOTGXCaJbbng82Y6jyIoX2SIQSabi39dHTttOSw/w300-h400/Rosary.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Although I'm not Catholic, I purchased prayer beads a while ago. I find them helpful for structuring my prayer life, but don't use them every day. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently, in working on a poem I had started many years ago, I found a connection between the rosary and footprints in the snow on the lake. Here's what I came up with...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">ROSARY<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt;">I
still can see his</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">footprints
in the white expanse of snow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">that
lies between the shore and the island.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt;"> For a
bird riding</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">the
north wind,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">this trail
must resemble the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">beads
on a string,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">a
rosary;</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">even,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">measured,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">a
circle around the tiny ledges<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">and
back to land.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> How
could one know if <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">each
step was weighted<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">with
cares<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">that
pressed him against the ice,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">or
threatened to stop him in his tracks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> Perhaps,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">as a
rosary, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">each one
was a prayer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">lifted
and held up,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt;">every
move a cry for grace,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">a
march in the twilight of the world,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">to
find where the light is best.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> What
I see is a steadfast path<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">that
led away,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">and
then,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">returned<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">to home
again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-16603645969491108502020-07-05T10:50:00.001-07:002023-08-12T11:52:05.762-07:00Letting Go and Leaning In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><div class="o8kakjsu rpm2j7zs k7i0oixp gvuykj2m j83agx80 cbu4d94t ni8dbmo4 eg9m0zos l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb q5bimw55 ofs802cu dkue75c7 mb9wzai9 l56l04vs r57mb794 kh7kg01d c3g1iek1 buofh1pr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; overflow: hidden auto; overscroll-behavior-y: contain; perspective-origin: right top; perspective: 1px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform-style: preserve-3d; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; z-index: 0;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t buofh1pr" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; font-family: inherit;"><div class="l9j0dhe7 ss3p3tc4 cbu4d94t j83agx80" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; min-height: 155px; position: relative;"><div class="ll8tlv6m o6r2urh6 j83agx80 buofh1pr datstx6m l9j0dhe7 oh7imozk" role="presentation" style="align-items: flex-start; cursor: text; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; font-family: inherit; height: 658px; position: relative; width: 500px;"><div class="rq0escxv buofh1pr df2bnetk hv4rvrfc dati1w0a l9j0dhe7 k4urcfbm du4w35lb o0xt3n8b" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex-grow: 1; font-family: inherit; height: fit-content; max-width: 480px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; position: relative; width: 480px; z-index: 0;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="gcieejh5 bn081pho humdl8nn izx4hr6d rq0escxv oo9gr5id t5a262vz jq4qci2q b1v8xokw datstx6m a3bd9o3v lzcic4wl ecm0bbzt rz4wbd8a sj5x9vvc a8nywdso k4urcfbm o8yuz56k" style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--primary-text); cursor: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-weight: 400; height: 658px; line-height: 1.3333; outline: none; padding: 4px 0px 8px; width: 448px;"><div class="rq0escxv datstx6m k4urcfbm a8c37x1j" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; height: 646px; width: 448px;"><div class="_5rp7" style="font-family: inherit; height: inherit; position: relative; text-align: initial; z-index: 0;"><div class="_5rpb" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-left: 0.1px solid transparent; font-family: inherit; height: inherit; position: relative; text-align: initial; z-index: 1;"><div aria-activedescendant="100051943396321" aria-controls="jsc_c_lh" class="notranslate _5rpu" contenteditable="true" role="textbox" spellcheck="true" style="-webkit-user-modify: read-write-plaintext-only; font-family: inherit; height: inherit; outline: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: initial; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0"><div data-contents="true" style="font-family: inherit;"><div data-block="true" data-editor="1l5ii" data-offset-key="5geqn-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5geqn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div></div>THEY
There is no limp when they walk,
<span> </span>no cast or brace to shore up
<span> </span><span> </span>their wounded souls.
No scar, no mark to trace
<span> </span>the change, the primal shift
<span> </span><span> </span>when you were torn away.
But there is this -
<span> </span>fault lines have settled in,
<span> </span><span> </span>where cares before unknown
<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>trace patterns of sorrow.
Fragile shells now easily broken.</div><div data-contents="true" style="font-family: inherit;">
And this - hands open, still releasing,
<span> </span>hearts swelled,
<span> </span><span> </span>still longing for hope to be enough.<br /><div data-block="true" data-editor="1l5ii" data-offset-key="54q4i-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">
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<div data-block="true" data-editor="1l5ii" data-offset-key="cintp-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cintp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="cintp-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">WE
We have let go.
You asked us, each one,
to loosen our grip,
to love enough to release a soul to you.
We have let go.</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cintp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="cintp-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">
But see,
our open hands,
ready for what
You promised.
See, our upturned faces.</span></div>
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Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-58360464842076790162019-12-25T09:56:00.000-08:002019-12-25T09:56:12.610-08:00Merry Christmas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0gmFPwE4pF9rUtN_ocnQ4WJPqBL5ZtvtS1zi3SlUodx9i8m26K4e9upjkwY0sIW3xly6auO7jFQmYxgGlePm0_ATg5K86q_AN7ZF7opg_kunXwIsJoiWi5XyK-fJdZSRdkdKOCrkJ48h/s1600/SomeSmallerGraceCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="771" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0gmFPwE4pF9rUtN_ocnQ4WJPqBL5ZtvtS1zi3SlUodx9i8m26K4e9upjkwY0sIW3xly6auO7jFQmYxgGlePm0_ATg5K86q_AN7ZF7opg_kunXwIsJoiWi5XyK-fJdZSRdkdKOCrkJ48h/s200/SomeSmallerGraceCover.jpg" width="124" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through December 27, pick up a free copy of my ebook</span>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Some-Smaller-Grace-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B004V5I4MG">https://www.amazon.com/Some-Smaller-Grace-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B004V5I4MG</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And free thru midnight, December 25th:</span> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Light-Over-Water-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B009NJ7692">https://www.amazon.com/Light-Over-Water-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B009NJ7692</a>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-85102345363316024462019-05-16T14:04:00.000-07:002019-05-16T14:04:04.914-07:00System Restore<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Restore Point</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 Samuel 12:20</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“You
have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord
with all your heart.</span></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7abb2_H4Rj_LQj6Tra5x4mhDC_42TV4vW66gwFS23T2985haBOyrNkj3ft_euPeVJL5rpEdlNUARESfHs-pzdY6M1fbtPvDWbGQsLMwqFxIJNARZ0pX7disAK8yG1E-7tzxGPppsB1Qsd/s1600/Blogpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7abb2_H4Rj_LQj6Tra5x4mhDC_42TV4vW66gwFS23T2985haBOyrNkj3ft_euPeVJL5rpEdlNUARESfHs-pzdY6M1fbtPvDWbGQsLMwqFxIJNARZ0pX7disAK8yG1E-7tzxGPppsB1Qsd/s320/Blogpic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Computers have a handy dandy function called System Restore. Its purpose is to “undo harmful changes to
your system and to restore its performance and settings.” This set up provides an easy fix when
you’ve upset the mysterious critical balance inside a computer. It takes you back to a restore point, a time
previous to the change. In effect, it’s
as if that change had never happened.
Somehow the slate, or hard drive, is wiped clean of the mistake.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I wish we had a restore point. I wish somehow we could go back to just
before we said that mean thing, or did that spiteful, selfish or reckless</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> deed, and restore our
performance and settings. I’m not
talking about time travel, because that’s much too complicated and the time/space
continuum is too easily disrupted. (I
know that from watching Star Trek.) When you perform a system restore, <i>you
don’t lose your recent work.</i> Somehow the
computer figures out the critical error and only makes an adjustment in that
area. I’d like to reset my spirit
without losing all my experiences and work, to the time just before I’d
sinned. I’d like to be clean, innocent,
unburdened, and unashamed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our instinct is to turn away from God when we know we’ve
sinned. Adam and Eve tried to hide
because of their guilt. Several years ago, during a visit with our eldest son and his family, my youngest granddaughter, not
yet three, came to me crying. She
lisped, “Sorry,” as she looked everywhere but at me. I took her little shoulders, turned
her to me and asked her why she was saying sorry. She cried out, “Broke...lamp!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We all know how she felt.
When we’ve deliberately played with temptation and been carried away, out
of control, the last thing we want to do is talk to God about it. It’s easy to put off or forget time with the
Lord, when we know that confession must come first. We find excuses for not praying, or we let
our work consume us. Our performance and
settings do not function properly. In
other words, we turn away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In chapter twelve of 1 Samuel, the old prophet is giving his farewell
speech. He leans quite heavily on the
Israelites and speaks convincingly of the enormity of their sin in requesting a
king. He reiterates how faithful God has
been from the time he brought them out of <st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place>, through the conquest of the Promised
Land until now. They have taken their
eyes off God, and think a king will save them.
Samuel has them persuaded of their sin, and evidently their shame is evident - for he tells them, yes,
you’ve done all these evil things...but don’t turn away from God. Rather, <i>jump in wholeheartedly and serve him
again.</i> Even with a king, even with the
evidence of their sin in front of their eyes, he asked them to try again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How can we do this?
Only because of mercy, and by grace.
Forgiveness is akin to a system restore. Here is the promise: If we confess ,
he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all
the wrongs. In other words, He takes the critical
error off our hard drive and wipes it clean.
And it isn’t even kept in his memory so he can bring it up later and remind
us. I think God knows that between us and
Satan there is enough memory to go around. My husband says it well - Guilt is the gift that keeps on giving. But truly, our sin is remembered no more by the only one who has the right to
forgive it. With confession, System Restore becomes a reality and we emerge clean, innocent, unburdened and unashamed.</span></div>
<br />Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-85274986975945184542019-02-18T07:49:00.000-08:002019-02-18T09:34:44.403-08:00Hope Persists<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJbPV96YemjYaMEGu_85Synwl7NJiqvzOCdMiU414KH7_1f-JCR_CNpRXSHhfb0E8-D-vaUEro-li7SV-0dVlhhiwRecXljqo3dtkaXdD1S4qxyiYgL6rPX3r4dT6AhDDgK9t6zgOfpXE/s1600/six+sibs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJbPV96YemjYaMEGu_85Synwl7NJiqvzOCdMiU414KH7_1f-JCR_CNpRXSHhfb0E8-D-vaUEro-li7SV-0dVlhhiwRecXljqo3dtkaXdD1S4qxyiYgL6rPX3r4dT6AhDDgK9t6zgOfpXE/s320/six+sibs.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had a family birthday party a while ago, celebrating three birthdays that all occur within three weeks or so. We met at Neal and Tracy's house: all my siblings, my parents and some of the grand kids. Picture taking started, and it wasn't long before someone said, let's get all the siblings. They counted off six, and said, you're all here. And in my mind I thought, <i>no, we are seven</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I talked with Russell about it later, telling him I didn't want a picture without Neal. There were only two brothers there, not three, and even though I've navigated some of this journey through grief, I still have a tenuous sense of reality sometimes - how is it possible that Neal is not here?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm old to be starting Grief 101. Many have been acquainted with it far longer and at an earlier age. I'm learning, taking baby steps, just like my four year old grandson, whose counting and alphabet are perfect one day, then all over the spectrum the next. I'll think I've turned a corner, and then I'm crying every day again. I hear a song and feel like I've been punched in the chest. I read a book and dissolve into a tangle of questions. I speak boldly about trusting God and his goodness at the same time that I'm wrestling with niggling doubts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think grief may always be there, like a bad sunburn, just below the surface of each day. At birthdays, reunions, anniversaries it will flare up and hurt again, for a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My big-hearted husband held me, and cried with me, then gently said, <i>this is your family now. This is the new normal.</i> And I know he's right. The picture has changed, and it will change some more, probably many times. But hope persists, and we will be seven again someday.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-14692489934437422082018-12-19T10:09:00.000-08:002018-12-19T10:09:40.783-08:00Christmas 2018<br />
<br />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Christmas 2018</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">God has made so many promises to us and has
proven himself faithful time after time. In a year defined by upheaval,
uncertainty, adjustments and grief, those promises are bedrock. The world
changes, but he never does!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4C9hgD76TqV3CGS8T7PyPhnY-7Wyki7-GRKozhaBflahFCEYyzWzbCmWRmiRu12cdDj1EYJ0hPwr-7dW-A_Ft_Z_p4KELTFA3x13ez4LDOQJ7YpnXxwnrytiSe_M3479M9rGe8-roQc7/s1600/Mill+pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4C9hgD76TqV3CGS8T7PyPhnY-7Wyki7-GRKozhaBflahFCEYyzWzbCmWRmiRu12cdDj1EYJ0hPwr-7dW-A_Ft_Z_p4KELTFA3x13ez4LDOQJ7YpnXxwnrytiSe_M3479M9rGe8-roQc7/s200/Mill+pond.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We moved to Maine in April
where Russell is now pastor at the Goodwins Mills Advent Christian Church. Incidentally,
Noelle’s grandfather pastored here in the 40s. Our first Sunday here, Noelle’s
beloved brother Neal, passed away from esophageal cancer. Thankfully we were
able to see him two days before, and we know he is with Jesus now. But this
loss has been difficult. Other family illnesses and struggles have occurred
that made us thankful to be close to Noelle’s parents and siblings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our church family has been kind and gracious
as we’ve settled in. Our new home is in a lovely spot and we’re delighting in
an abundance of water, woods and (sort of) winter! (Our blood got so thin in
Oklahoma…we’re really feeling the cold!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_zas_SSBQQLzuAlLyGsJpYD2m2LTdYJlb7SeUAFrhgFxEQbanGUZkP3Fc9ix29wlP0M1PAQ_FNOJnAOvYEp0xwhg-08BNg8Bq5E1UFGHc2Nr6Zn-rn8JmlQ2RG_u3bBBkOb8jB0ndevT/s1600/Snowy+morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_zas_SSBQQLzuAlLyGsJpYD2m2LTdYJlb7SeUAFrhgFxEQbanGUZkP3Fc9ix29wlP0M1PAQ_FNOJnAOvYEp0xwhg-08BNg8Bq5E1UFGHc2Nr6Zn-rn8JmlQ2RG_u3bBBkOb8jB0ndevT/s200/Snowy+morning.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Russell is enjoying ministry in southern
Maine, and apart from his work at the church, he serves on the Ministerial
Board for the state conference. He still lifts weights, enjoys video games, and
plays Scrabble and Words with Friends and chess with his favorite gamers! We
were thankful to be able to visit his mom in Florida recently for her 90<sup>th</sup>
birthday! We adopted two middle-aged cats in November – 7-year-old siblings
named Gooseberry and Moose. After their own adjustment, they have enhanced our
lives by sleeping and eating!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Noelle finished book number four this year
and is actively working towards finding an agent for this one. She cares for
Owen and the whole family, and enjoys reading, writing and other crafts in her
spare time. It’s a blessing to be so close to family and to see many of her
siblings quite routinely. We had twenty-five here for Thanksgiving!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Emily was in the middle of classes for
radiography when we moved, and she wasn’t able to get into a similar course
until next fall, or later. So now she is pursuing a slightly different course
beginning in January. She is going to be certified in massage therapy and be
finished by the end of July. For now, she’s working part time at Target and is
caring for Owen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiBoy_5CEeXzdHHFOYuHjnaF6DVmu4zZ3f9ByFajvHW6n5N8yA9fQVQsR64-QCQYPKUWUnd34XdKMdERH3sQJLMWvU_aRHrNgyHJErZrkATrwfgcRzG7spvgrpw9WNhHnT47ToAgHLTWT/s1600/Big+Mouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiBoy_5CEeXzdHHFOYuHjnaF6DVmu4zZ3f9ByFajvHW6n5N8yA9fQVQsR64-QCQYPKUWUnd34XdKMdERH3sQJLMWvU_aRHrNgyHJErZrkATrwfgcRzG7spvgrpw9WNhHnT47ToAgHLTWT/s200/Big+Mouth.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Speaking of Owen, he
started preschool in October and has transitioned to a new routine fairly
smoothly. He keeps us all busy and laughing and frustrated and enamored every
day! At four, he is articulate, loving, funny and has a great imagination. We
are also reaping the benefits of helping with Owen: according to several
studies, caring for grandchildren staves off Alzheimer’s and dementia!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Peter has one semester until he finishes his
next degree in Cyber Security. He is looking at working while doing his masters
and is pursuing several options. He has integrated into our new church at
Goodwins Mills and is beloved by many!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21oDpS1iK_zyURKTsM087X-6M6T1dpUkSf5ztp7fgvuyy0zjTfr06e1RqdDdc-4kKwWF4_yDWix4S98OdfQz6Qg8hpPzc-IsO69XvzSu3hI-ZVbBrtumZ_bXfTNlp4Wx4VzmVmxP1BD5S/s1600/Little+Carles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1310" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21oDpS1iK_zyURKTsM087X-6M6T1dpUkSf5ztp7fgvuyy0zjTfr06e1RqdDdc-4kKwWF4_yDWix4S98OdfQz6Qg8hpPzc-IsO69XvzSu3hI-ZVbBrtumZ_bXfTNlp4Wx4VzmVmxP1BD5S/s200/Little+Carles.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our Texas kids are busy and
growing: this year they got a new dog, several chickens, a lizard and a
hedgehog, in addition to their two dogs and two cats, and three kids. Gracen is
fifteen and has her driver’s permit now. Zoe, at fourteen, is active in cross
fit training and dead lifted 185 pounds! Naomi will be twelve in March and she loves
all the animals and cares for them and her family. Ryan and Crystal minister at
Open Door Church apart from full time work and homeschooling.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We’re
grateful for our home, our family and friends, and we pray that you can see the
blessings around you, and know the depth of God’s love, especially now in this
Christmas season.</span><span style="font-family: Modern No. 20, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Love from all of us Carles and Storeys </span></span>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-27713114323052212962018-11-02T13:03:00.000-07:002018-11-02T13:03:00.811-07:00Slow Fall<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zCHqgm1NvIOOVTX6QUUilkUgq2NWLZW9kJjf6yL7kFA27nQ2hVv3ArmlVZyq9Q3HrB2yk-jisl4YiPnysQ8eTJpDnSjJROZ8gig7Gskogn2GCBMckBw9MU7YsoTjnSviYdBeroqzpV7t/s1600/Tree+roots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zCHqgm1NvIOOVTX6QUUilkUgq2NWLZW9kJjf6yL7kFA27nQ2hVv3ArmlVZyq9Q3HrB2yk-jisl4YiPnysQ8eTJpDnSjJROZ8gig7Gskogn2GCBMckBw9MU7YsoTjnSviYdBeroqzpV7t/s400/Tree+roots.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Go now.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: FangSong;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> You<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>say there's nothing for you here -</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: FangSong;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but look - the black vault of sky,<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the still earth preparing, to hold </span></span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">its</span></div>
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Go now.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: FangSong;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> You<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>see - it's only a slow fall,<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>revealing and baring<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their stark and lovely forms, to</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> stand </span></span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">for a </span></span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">season,</span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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Go now.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: FangSong;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> You<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>miss the iron rising,<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>still and frosted over -</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: FangSong;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stars spilled to earth, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> alike for these
days,<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in moonlight</span></span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div>
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Go now.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: FangSong;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> We<br />
are buttoned up, protected,<br /> and in wonder, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> sparing little thought </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> for the day we must - </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> no
doubt,<br />
go too.</span><span style="font-family: FangSong;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-69071885554964313272018-07-06T09:47:00.000-07:002019-02-05T11:03:56.099-08:00For Neal <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgx401QgbCjtuUecsf7qz_-9MfxKzjqh9MBi5JjzA_IrE9Ex_cWqiEJiLs4WszkCQbX0dWaswcLImdJW67GQzN2_M0LgDn2xiEHWOaNZzhPtYiaWz4NlPNRqLepBYqinRt-8Bfvio0ign/s1600/Joyful+man.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgx401QgbCjtuUecsf7qz_-9MfxKzjqh9MBi5JjzA_IrE9Ex_cWqiEJiLs4WszkCQbX0dWaswcLImdJW67GQzN2_M0LgDn2xiEHWOaNZzhPtYiaWz4NlPNRqLepBYqinRt-8Bfvio0ign/s400/Joyful+man.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is the book you never wrote.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are the secrets you couldn't suppress.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is the heart of what we needed to know.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is the song you never composed,</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the poem in its infancy, tiny bones just unbending.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's the joy a man has, you said - with joy! - </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">even in a broken world.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The joy in coaxing music and grace from a thing once dead...</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The joy in a simple life lived with purpose...</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The joy in loving one so well and so long that love returned</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">staggers you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Joy in faith.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Joy in the unknown.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Joy in beauty and truth and hope...</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Even in sorrow and pain and doubt.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You, with your crooked smile - laughing at yourself, shrugging - said, </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I want to write about joy,</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">but I don't know how.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh my brother, your heart...</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your heart,</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your laugh,</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your song.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your love, your mind, your faith, your great soul...</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh my brother, your heart...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You <i>are</i> the book you never wrote.</span><br />
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<br />Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-52874934516890730492017-11-11T14:43:00.000-08:002017-11-11T14:43:38.813-08:00You Be Okay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He placed his chubby hand on my chest, looked into my eyes and spoke gravely. "You be okay. You be okay." Owen, my three year old grandson, was pretending to pierce my ears with his Nerf dart gun. I was pretending to be nervous. So, he soothed me in a way that he obviously has been soothed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">His momma rocks him and holds him when he's hurt, upset, or afraid. She knows that his boo boos will heal and that his frustrations will pass. She realizes that his fears really won't harm him, (barking dogs, moving curtains) and that he can sleep in peace. So she tells him, even if he can't see it yet, that he'll be okay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes I still feel like a kid. I am irrational, fearful and nervous. I know that life is unfair. I've seen it countless times. Yet I still expect fairness, and feel the sting when I'm disappointed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know that hurting happens. People get hurt, loved ones are lost. Grief must be endured. Yet I still reverberate with shock and surprise at the pain that comes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been disappointed, disillusioned and disenchanted, and still fear that my plans may fall through, or my great idea will be rejected. See...a little kid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My daughter has suffered with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, for half her lifetime. It is an anxiety disorder which manifests itself through repetitive behaviors and obsessive thoughts. The workings of her mind are hidden. I can't see the fears that burden her, although I see what they do to her. She herself can discern how irrational her anxiety is, but that doesn't make it any less real. Once in a while she'll ask me, <i>is everything going to be okay</i>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a reason that I always say - <i>yes, everything is going to be okay</i>, even when sometimes I ask that question myself. It's because of these words which are a balm to me, not just because they sound good, but because I know there is truth behind them. For every time I've been disappointed, hurt, sorrowful and anxious, there has been comfort, courage, hope and love in the words that I hold in my heart. Words like - </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>When my heart was anxious within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. (Psalm 94:19 )</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. (Matt. 11:28)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1).</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:14)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or these words from men and women of integrity who attest to the truth of God's presence and help - </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgF_GQcvw46kvGR8GrL5dBnSo_d3pt1CqgtOcXSxxPzdtVx-W4tobHFquRlolpIh4BSafHqDv_KwKNh0CpezGVCwGn-UXnWwrqSeMXKPMCavLaCEitn1xt6FqbrLwoFUbz2eFkgsj8ubL/s1600/IMG_20170620_075405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgF_GQcvw46kvGR8GrL5dBnSo_d3pt1CqgtOcXSxxPzdtVx-W4tobHFquRlolpIh4BSafHqDv_KwKNh0CpezGVCwGn-UXnWwrqSeMXKPMCavLaCEitn1xt6FqbrLwoFUbz2eFkgsj8ubL/s200/IMG_20170620_075405.jpg" width="112" /></a></div>
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When we choose deliberately to obey him, then he will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with his almighty power. (Oswald Chambers)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter, truer and more beautiful burned the Word of God. (Corrie ten Boom)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sometimes fear does not subside and one must choose to do it afraid. (Elisabeth Eliot)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because I know that God is <i>LOVE</i> himself, that his timing is always perfect, that he knows our needs and that he cares about every little detail of our lives, because I trust that he has the answers even when I can't see them yet, and because he's promised to take all my fears, I can know, like Owen with his chubby little hand and his fathomless blue eyes, <i>You be okay, you be okay.</i></span><br />
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<br />Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-66686788613966496272017-11-03T10:15:00.001-07:002019-12-28T11:15:04.884-08:00The Only Thing That Counts<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It only took about two years for me to finish the nine-week Bible study, "<i>Believing God</i>" by Beth Moore. I actually started it over five years ago, took a hiatus for a while, then began again. I found it helpful and appropriate five years ago, in very different circumstances, and now in changed circumstances and environment, it is still helpful and appropriate. The challenge then and now is to live the faith I claim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you've gone through this study, you probably remember the five points on which the study is based. If you haven't, here they are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~God is who he says he is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~God can do what he says he can do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~I am who God says I am.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~God's word is alive and active in me.<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Faith is easy to talk about - harder to practice. Hebrews 11:1 says, <i>"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." </i>The point about faith is the "not seeing" part. We are talking about things hoped for, but not realized yet. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Time moves slowly when you're in "hoping" mode. The needed funds, a job, physical healing, emotional restoration, the change that is expected but a long time coming: these are the things which tempt us to lose heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think of Abraham and Sarah waiting eons for the promised child. They are both listed in the hall of fame for faith in Hebrews 11, even though they tried to take matters into their own hands a couple of times. That gives me hope, since I've done the same thing. <i>God seems to be having a problem getting this one worked out, but I have a great idea!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I'm taking away right now, from <i>Believing God</i>; what I'm pondering and processing is something the author said in the very last study, almost the very last day. She pulled out a little scrap - part of a verse that I know I've read a hundred times - and asked, <i>"What about this?"</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here it is: in Galatians 5:5 - the only thing that counts is faith expressed through love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wait. How did I not see this before? <i>The only thing that counts?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It seems pretty straightforward, but think about it...faith expressed through love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I like to think I'm pretty faith-filled. I've got this. I know about God's faithfulness. I've experienced and seen great moments of faith in my life and others. I feel confident that my faith is placed in Christ and he has forgiven me. I trust the promise of resurrection and eternity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's the more nebulous areas where I falter. There's always the muddy question of God's will versus my will, and the fact that God sometimes says no. I tend to practice my faith kind of like I practice piano - when the mood strikes, or when I must play for some event and I desperately need practice. But the truth is, I desperately need to practice faith every day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And now this verse adds a whole new dimension to faith. I couldn't connect the dots without a little help from Beth. She does the math where faith is an exponent of love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have a hard time with love. GASP!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know a few exceptional people who appear to have genuine love and compassion for mankind in general, and for the unlovable in particular. I'm not one of them and...admit it. You struggle too. That doesn't make it right - for me or you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I struggle to love the relative who caused me pain. I struggle to love people who have hurt my children. I struggle to love the mother who sent her kids to an outdoor church event in 40-degree weather in dresses, or the neighbors who routinely let their dogs out in the middle of the night for the sole purpose of barking. The takers, the stalkers, the people who use over and over, who show more sense of entitlement than gratitude. The guy who pawned my husband's guitar for drug money, or the couple who "bought" a car from us but somehow managed never to pay for it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To quote Beth Moore, God has called us to love even when - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~We don't want to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~We don't feel like it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~We get nothing obvious in return.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~They don't deserve it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~They're not worth it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~They don't even know it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ~It makes no difference.<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Petty? Cynical? Justified? You may be thinking, <i>well, nobody can love everybody</i>. Except that somebody did - and he places that call on my life, if I'm going to be his follower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The truth is, I can't. And that's where faith enters the equation. If I want to be like Jesus; if I want to reflect him in my life and my actions, then I need to trust that he will help me to love when I ask him. I must believe that I don't need to work up or even pretend a love I don't feel. Rather, I trust the truth that </span><i>I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.</i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Phil. 4:13)</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> On this journey where I am challenged to practice faith every day, and realize my own weaknesses where love is concerned, I cling to the Source of love and trust him to fill me with his limitless supply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For me, that's a leap of faith. For all of us, it's the only thing that counts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Bibliography:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1. Moore, B. (2004) Believing God. Nashville, TN: LifeWay Press. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Pg. 9</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">2. Moore, B. (2004) Believing God. Nashville, TN: Li</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">f</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">eWay Press. Pg. 214</span>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-32636967072473925192017-07-28T12:36:00.000-07:002019-02-05T11:14:49.468-08:00These Were NOT My Vows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Our marriage ceremony was simple and traditional. Except for a little glitch<br />
which resulted in me forgetting to say, “for richer, for poorer,” we made all<br />
the usual promises to each other. (Thankfully that richer, poorer thing has never<br />
been an issue.) And I’m incredibly blessed to be able to say that we’ve kept our<br />
promises almost thirty-nine years now.<br />
<br />
But lately I’ve been rethinking our vows – not out of doubt or want, but because<br />
of the growing realization that there has been so much more; beyond love, honor,<br />
and faithfulness. So...these are some of the things I’ve thought about – things<br />
we’ve done with and for each other, which maybe could have been part of our<br />
wedding ceremony.<br />
<br />
I WILL LISTEN TO YOU<br />
<br />
I have listened to you preaching for over thirty years. You say I could preach some<br />
of your sermons myself, but I doubt it. Those words have your heart behind them.<br />
<br />
I’ve listened to your talks with your brothers and cousin, and my siblings. I’ve heard<br />
you faithfully talk with your mother, and your friends. I see how important these relationships are to you.<br />
<br />
I remember you singing and reading to our children; your prayers for them have been<br />
part of a rock-solid foundation since before they were born. And I still hear as you<br />
sing and read to and bless our grandchildren.<br />
<br />
I listen as you rhapsodize about God, about history, about politics. And you listen as<br />
I read you books I love, even if they aren’t your favorite, or words I write even when<br />
they need polishing.<br />
<br />
Somehow, we haven’t run out of things to talk about. I think that when we do, we’ll<br />
still be really comfortable in silence, for all of our words have revealed our hearts.<br />
<br />
I WILL PLAY WITH YOU<br />
<br />
It started with Scrabble, then we played so much we stopped keeping track. Cribbage, Hand and Foot, Bupkiss, Chinese checkers, ping pong, Settlers of Catan, Pandemic,<br />
Phase 10…I think we will always make time for games. Even when we hadn’t the<br />
money for a movie or dinner, we have been together…a little competitive, sometimes helping, sometimes not, but together nonetheless. Even now, in the electronic age,<br />
when you hold up your phone and raise your eyebrow, I will say yes to Scrabble.<br />
<br />
I WILL SHARE YOU<br />
<br />
We adopted the phrase, “I am for you,” from Star Trek. But you are not just for me.<br />
You are a father, a son, a brother, a grandfather, a shepherd, a friend, a leader, a<br />
student. Sometimes others have needed you more than I. Sometimes you have needed<br />
to be away; for work, for play, for necessity, to have time with God, or time with a<br />
video game or time to retreat. I will not complain even while I miss you, and I will go where I need to go, so you can share me too.<br />
<br />
I WILL NOT BE YOUR GOD<br />
<br />
This one took a while to figure out. We are two very different people, and while you<br />
do enrich me, encourage me, comfort me, care for me – you do not complete me. And I do not complete you. That job is reserved for God. And with that knowledge is great<br />
freedom and relief. I don’t have to fulfill your dreams, direct your path, or comfort<br />
your soul in grief or disappointment. I don’t have to be your Holy Spirit, or your light<br />
in the darkness. I cannot be sufficient for you. I can point to Christ who is all sufficient. I can walk this path with you, and will continue to do so gladly; but I can’t be what<br />
makes you whole. You have filled my life with deep joy, lots of laughter, contentment<br />
and adventure, but you are not my god. We have failed each other sometimes, we’ve disappointed and hurt each other sometimes, and in those times, comfort and help<br />
and strength had to come, not from ourselves, but from the lover of our souls.<br />
<br />
I WILL REMEMBER TO BE GRATEFUL<br />
<br />
I thank God for you. You’ve been the best life companion for me. You’ve provided for<br />
me, and taken care of me. You’ve sought to serve me with a humble heart. I’ve joked<br />
that your headstone will say, “He lived to serve.” But it’s true. That has been your<br />
motto.<br />
<br />
There are so many things to be thankful for about you, but these are just a few:<br />
<br />
YOU STILL LOVE ME<br />
<br />
YOU TELL ME I’M BEAUTIFUL<br />
<br />
YOU ASK FOR MY OPINION<br />
<br />
YOU RUB MY FEET<br />
<br />
YOU TRY NOT TO WAKE ME UP<br />
<br />
YOU CALL ME WHEN YOU’RE AT WORK…THREE MILES AWAY<br />
<br />
YOU MAKE ME LAUGH<br />
<br />
YOU LIKE MY COOKING<br />
<br />
YOU LOVE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY OURS<br />
<br />
It is possible that we’ll be married for thirty-nine more years…not probable, but<br />
possible. And I will no doubt realize that there are more promises we could have<br />
made and should have made. But the most important thing for me is that we<br />
discover<br />
them together.</div>
Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-75005988821101275022017-02-10T07:12:00.002-08:002017-02-10T07:12:58.227-08:00Valentine's Day Kindle Giveaway - Enter to win!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuIpohWdayrGPrCPIvCT3MOOvLo3FsTyzNasXOTLRYxZdrCnGGik5yguj-kvBO1Tfdf4nIhbnwDTOspbQ2yJFyhA0IO0zsGqCblAGKNui7G6SY9X4c3wFbIvrZ2Rrgd9gkxKUfn2g8OHG/s1600/SomeSmallerGraceCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuIpohWdayrGPrCPIvCT3MOOvLo3FsTyzNasXOTLRYxZdrCnGGik5yguj-kvBO1Tfdf4nIhbnwDTOspbQ2yJFyhA0IO0zsGqCblAGKNui7G6SY9X4c3wFbIvrZ2Rrgd9gkxKUfn2g8OHG/s200/SomeSmallerGraceCover.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>
For one week, I am helping to sponsor a Valentine's Day Kindle Giveaway through Spirit-filled Ebooks. You will find both of my books on sale for $.99 through this week. If you follow this link you can enter to win!<br />
<br />
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ee0965c7137/&source=gmail&ust=1486825549027000&usg=AFQjCNFsjeQ06VnUomkyfWnop5VvmXGC_Q" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ee0965c7137/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">http://www.rafflecopter.com/<wbr></wbr>rafl/display/ee0965c7137/</a><br />
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Follow the second link to see some other great books that are either free or $.99!<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b><u><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://spiritfilledebooks.com/?p%3D1224&source=gmail&ust=1486743187552000&usg=AFQjCNEQw1bBh53xSrwNJ6PEWwupR37O6g" href="http://spiritfilledebooks.com/?p=1224" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://spiritfilledebooks.<wbr></wbr>com/?p=1224</a></u></b></span></span>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-79279675134301750192016-10-13T14:31:00.000-07:002016-10-13T14:54:29.804-07:00Out of Print<div class="_2cuy _3dgx" data-block="true" data-editor="fuqqc" data-offset-key="dg5cp-0-0" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d2129; margin: 0px auto; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 700px; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvqpESTXon0asVQNjmNlINAeBZISQ7CWS8iRQdHzwusoymMzqa0FpIRa1WrwocUzq2Bh2reaBTn-820OhFYciirhv1BkHmnWIYH_zEq6-sL2P9BT8jUJxf9JKgmX_Th2XTl_B5AFg736Y/s1600/14037344_10154309902298700_176860148_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvqpESTXon0asVQNjmNlINAeBZISQ7CWS8iRQdHzwusoymMzqa0FpIRa1WrwocUzq2Bh2reaBTn-820OhFYciirhv1BkHmnWIYH_zEq6-sL2P9BT8jUJxf9JKgmX_Th2XTl_B5AFg736Y/s200/14037344_10154309902298700_176860148_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">It pains me to write this, for it feels like an admission of failure. My book, Waiting for Wren is officially out of print. What does this mean? The publisher hasn't sold enough copies to warrant keeping it in print. For two years my royalty reports have been dismal, and I knew that something wasn't working.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Understand, this is my choice. The folks at Deep River Books didn't make this decision although they agreed with it. It's not cost effective for them either, to keep printing copies and have them sit in the warehouse, unread and unloved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">To what is this poor performance attributed? Not my writing, they assured me. The judges loved it enough to choose Waiting for Wren above three hundred plus novels submitted that year. No one knows, the president of Deep River told me, why one book sells and another does poorly. Wrong timing, slump in the market, lackluster marketing, another book with the same name released the same month. I was advised, two years down the road from the release date, that I should try to establish a fan base, which I've been working on. Too late at this point? I can't say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">I know in my heart that I wrote and rewrote and wrote again to make Waiting for Wren something I wanted to publicly put my name on, and something I hoped would glorify God. I still feel proud and thankful to be an award winning author, and I continue to love this book. If you're one of my fans, friends or readers who bought the book, and especially if you took the time to leave a positive review, I thank you, and love knowing that you read my words! The good news part of "out of print" is that the publishing rights revert back to me so I'm free to do what I want with it. Watch, sometime in the future, for a new and slightly improved Waiting for Wren.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">In the meantime, I have a few copies available, which I'd be happy to sign if you're interested in the original. And I'm working on my next book which examines our weaknesses and how we let them affect our lives every day. Ironic? We'll see...</span></div>
</div>
Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-21003649145599648512016-06-11T14:41:00.002-07:002016-06-11T14:41:32.020-07:00Excerpt from Light Over Water, now at a reduced price for a limited time! Link is below...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From Chapter Ten - Beyond the Pale of Law</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_wuOoLAZqLWn9URtSpuSx1ByUatffY5-zglN40xRWYXYKAmSW410gn4OKChRmAh1oixqOyFPyH2sEKxK-ouWiBSSZI5LGzGjQwOe0DHt87MFPy7DuqgbPtKCiOyS1BgiRUObaMY47Ful/s1600/LightOverWaterCover+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_wuOoLAZqLWn9URtSpuSx1ByUatffY5-zglN40xRWYXYKAmSW410gn4OKChRmAh1oixqOyFPyH2sEKxK-ouWiBSSZI5LGzGjQwOe0DHt87MFPy7DuqgbPtKCiOyS1BgiRUObaMY47Ful/s400/LightOverWaterCover+%25281%2529.jpg" width="250" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Off to their right on a high rise stood
the crumbling fort, settled like a patient bovine on its haunches. Another partial brick building stood closer
to the woods, thought to be either a barracks or a powder house. Down a gentle slope, closer to the shore, lay
a jumble of granite rocks. These were
supposed to be the foundation for additional battlements connected to
underground tunnels from which guns could be fired without being seen. The project was abandoned sometime after the
Civil War and the granite stood untouched; seemingly forgotten and definitely
too heavy to be taken.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> It
was to these rocks that Aubrey led Alison.
He went to the one farthest from the fort and brought her around to see
its end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> “Look,”
he said, grinning and pointing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Alison
peered at the rock and gasped. Chipped
away from its end was the clearly defined head and shoulders of a man. She could see the rock chips and dust
scattered around its base on the grass, attesting to the hours of time spent
here. “Oh my, Aubrey!” she
exclaimed. “It’s…it’s amazing!” Kneeling down she examined it more
closely. Despite its rough surface, the
head was rounded and shapely. She could
make out features; the eyes downcast, the mouth unsmiling but somehow
determined, the jaw strong. “When did
you do this? Where did you learn how to
do this?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> He
shrugged. “I’ve done it since I was a
kid. Just takes a hammer and chisel and
some good stone.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> “But
this must have taken months!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> “Oh,
aye. Granite’s hard,” he nodded. He was studying her as she ran her hand over
the shape of it. “I tried to make it
look like Sam, but his face seems kinda distant in my mind.” He smiled apologetically.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Alison rose, stepped back from it
and brought her hands to her heart in a stricken gesture. She turned to Aubrey, searching his face and
whispering, “You did this for me?”</span><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Light-Over-Water-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B009NJ7692">https://www.amazon.com/Light-Over-Water-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B009NJ7692</a></span></span>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-11388967389108093122016-06-04T07:42:00.001-07:002016-06-11T14:15:00.112-07:00Excerpt from Some Smaller Grace... Link is below<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Questions at Her Grandparents' Funeral </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8kplvgzlRj_zuSb7Yym7UWgpExfdJ6vArQFKNkbIJL5aJytLv63oLBqc8VvZRPapgaFKIrZeI9vecFTli7vcZ3bN3pCJ2EQNhpt7z0PgbzAm7D0a_jkF0uU4vkDD6HMrTvSiUx1USLi3/s1600/SomeSmallerGraceCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8kplvgzlRj_zuSb7Yym7UWgpExfdJ6vArQFKNkbIJL5aJytLv63oLBqc8VvZRPapgaFKIrZeI9vecFTli7vcZ3bN3pCJ2EQNhpt7z0PgbzAm7D0a_jkF0uU4vkDD6HMrTvSiUx1USLi3/s320/SomeSmallerGraceCover.jpg" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> It didn't take a trained ear to realize the organist was abominable. Yet a veiled glance about the church suggested to Jill that no one was paying particular attention to the music. There was a low undertone of voices, which gradually died down as Pastor Thomas took his place at the pulpit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> "They should have gotten a better organist," Jill whispered to her mother at her side. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Marta lifted one side of her mouth contemptuously. "Their musical taste is about like their taste in food. They probably think she plays like Bach himself!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Jill leaned away from her mother and fiercely willed herself not to cry. Again she chewed the inside of her cheek, which was beginning to feel raw. She told herself over and over that they would care about the music, seeming unable to shake the thought from her mind. She held her bunched up handkerchief to her eyes to catch the tears forming there. Jill hated her mother at this moment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> The music died away at a small nod from the pastor. He asked them to stand and sing together from the words printed on their program. As they began the hymn, Jill was carried back to her grandmother's kitchen. She closed her eyes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She could see the sunlight filtering through the maples that encircled the farmhouse. As it shimmered across the cupboards in the early morning, her grandmother hummed and sometimes sang, <i>"There is sunshine in my soul today, most glorious and bright."</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> She would beam at Jill as she flipped pancakes on the griddle, or dipped homemade bread into French toast batter. She remembered the question, "Is there sunshine in your soul, Jilly?" and her grandmother's husky laughter as a sleepy seven year old answered, "I like it dark." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Now the words caught in her throat like dust. Her soul felt like charred blackness, as though the best in her life had been consumed. At this moment, with the music flowing around her and the memories it brought crowding her mind, she thought nothing mattered. Her grandparents had worked hard all their lives, with what to show for it? The spoils of a farm to be squabbled over by a daughter who despised them. Would her own life yield up such dubious results? Her career seemed a pipe dream, music a waste...</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Some-Smaller-Grace-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B004V5I4MG" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Some-Smaller-Grace-Noel…/…/B004V5I4MG</a>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-22713046486883522282016-06-01T09:10:00.000-07:002016-06-01T09:10:04.492-07:00Summer Kindle Fire Giveaway from Spirit Filled Ebooks<a class="e-widget" href="https://gleam.io/iPYi9/7-kindle-fire-or-50-cash-giveaway" rel="nofollow">7" Kindle Fire or $50 Cash Giveaway</a>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://js.gleam.io/e.js" async="true"></script>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-60733314631402438652016-05-06T12:45:00.002-07:002016-05-06T12:47:45.966-07:00Alphabet Soup<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">These words of mine,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This alphabet soup of sounds and letters, <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stirring in my mind,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now <i>meat</i>, now <i>mate</i>, now <i>team</i> or <i>tame</i>?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A word grab of changes or<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Flurries, as snow, each its own.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How can these nourish, fortify, or sate <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When, so like a virus, they assault my tissues</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and grow
there,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Teasing me from the soundest dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With their fevered now!…own…won!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-60430957228358917102016-01-08T10:34:00.000-08:002016-01-11T13:27:50.770-08:00A Year in the Life 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiG1NvLvVPJ7JkbpU_fBdtb0V9LDeikN0i5t2YJeyim7-oELpo9vuANto973qqW2fdt74UMhpY8GA1kg8qn_CwJ3aa7xzPTh3BWEmfEmXE9McJp03IwqukKLV18lhZWlP5mwRvSDe4nJn/s1600/IMG_5731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiG1NvLvVPJ7JkbpU_fBdtb0V9LDeikN0i5t2YJeyim7-oELpo9vuANto973qqW2fdt74UMhpY8GA1kg8qn_CwJ3aa7xzPTh3BWEmfEmXE9McJp03IwqukKLV18lhZWlP5mwRvSDe4nJn/s200/IMG_5731.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A year ago we had a baby here who got from place to place by strategically rolling over and over. Now that kid stomps around here like the big friendly giant - looking over whatever is on the table or counter that he might be able to confiscate or play with: keys, phone, glasses of water, cutting implements. Owen is so tall that almost nothing is off limits! For him it's been a year of growth and change and development. For us it's been an adventure - all the joys and challenges of an in-house hurricane! If I make it sound like he's wild that's not true; he just swirls around leaving trails of toys, cars, alphabets, books...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxPOduL1Sr16-NWCpyHym7GNv1yo6zgJmBXKvTgMllIHypXLGs3MLO-adoi4WFeadrGaB4jLZv-ZugNxeM76k3ElqqVBVYkNG2FKBW7033xKtWdzYNe_QmE6PiZFX0NR6n_CY83vW9o4X/s1600/20150217_203113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxPOduL1Sr16-NWCpyHym7GNv1yo6zgJmBXKvTgMllIHypXLGs3MLO-adoi4WFeadrGaB4jLZv-ZugNxeM76k3ElqqVBVYkNG2FKBW7033xKtWdzYNe_QmE6PiZFX0NR6n_CY83vW9o4X/s200/20150217_203113.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Russell has contentedly carried on as pastor at Bristow Advent Christian Church where he enjoys a rapport with young and old alike. We are blessed to be here where the people show us grace and encourage us with their generosity so often. Besides shepherding the flock, he is Vice President of the Bristow Ministerial Association, which involves monthly meetings and community activities. He helps care for Owen on his days off, and he tries to fit in weight lifting and a never ending honey-do list. He's been actively working at staving off diabetes and weighs about what he did when we lived in Rhode Island...eons ago! That's down about thirty-five pounds. In February he went to Florida to visit his mom, and in October he went home to Big Lake Township to prepare our house to sell it. It was listed in late October but no takers yet.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC8ZvFeb6uhLtTwiEuddDhD6_OqHdng9OdA4ythR4vzytO33hte8V2eSeJ0ftDXO-FhFfLL-7ZnGNqLjvpOwYrqd0JN3HqVlfo8VIPtwV341LqNCuQs0HWz9CrYFNaBYHCwK3-enK3dQ0/s1600/20151230_161328_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC8ZvFeb6uhLtTwiEuddDhD6_OqHdng9OdA4ythR4vzytO33hte8V2eSeJ0ftDXO-FhFfLL-7ZnGNqLjvpOwYrqd0JN3HqVlfo8VIPtwV341LqNCuQs0HWz9CrYFNaBYHCwK3-enK3dQ0/s200/20151230_161328_resized.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I spend my days caring for Owen, working as secretary for the church and fitting in some writing between cooking, cleaning, laundry and reading. I've toned up a bit from a healthy regimen of lifting (Owen), walking (Owen), chasing (Owen) and bending and stretching every day! I am working on my fourth book. I had a goal last year to finish it by Christmas. My goal this year is to write a page a day, and as of January 3rd I was managing that 50% of the time! I'm not giving up :) I had two poems selected for the Goose River Anthology, a collection of stories, essays and poetry published by Goose River Press and released in November. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have settled in here in Oklahoma and are maybe even getting acclimated. The consensus was that this past summer was a mild one, and we found it blistering but not unbearable - probably mostly due to air conditioning. We had family visits from Russell's cousin Simon and his wife Mary, and my sister Robin and her husband Brian. Both joyful occasions and proof that Oklahoma is more than "on the way to somewhere"!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-PFcvXp1U0ebiu3pAPRmnAg0F7SxlKC8itnqaSblRtK4tuyrSH0bhLh0QS-TuYds5gvjmV38q-6G5mh30Kr-3XIvaS0TqoaZs89e16DKgwv8Cpa4gmSH47bn9iO1vjSLv-hgUWXP6NrT/s1600/DSC00711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-PFcvXp1U0ebiu3pAPRmnAg0F7SxlKC8itnqaSblRtK4tuyrSH0bhLh0QS-TuYds5gvjmV38q-6G5mh30Kr-3XIvaS0TqoaZs89e16DKgwv8Cpa4gmSH47bn9iO1vjSLv-hgUWXP6NrT/s200/DSC00711.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsC6m1Y-toNXWy4lp0-IwKcmQ-4ZXbeTVk5z00I4sfE1RvY4ObXYIQSeAQtN8eg7tRXcKAQUh394t4F4Fn88JQ_ahZGG_N6Jp2rfzYP_-rxdABfYaRoZH7wvBYnE-ovkzyhW6vRxJ0TVK/s1600/DSC00507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsC6m1Y-toNXWy4lp0-IwKcmQ-4ZXbeTVk5z00I4sfE1RvY4ObXYIQSeAQtN8eg7tRXcKAQUh394t4F4Fn88JQ_ahZGG_N6Jp2rfzYP_-rxdABfYaRoZH7wvBYnE-ovkzyhW6vRxJ0TVK/s200/DSC00507.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being in Oklahoma means being close enough to Texas to see the little Carles, which we managed to do two or three times. Ryan changed jobs this year and is now a field manager for U-Haul in northeast Texas. No more nights. Crystal has a variety of medicines that she's taking for lupus which help her cope with the various symptoms. She home schools six children and cares for a toddler (the child of a church friend) and manages to maintain a cheerful and patient demeanor. Gracen will turn thirteen this year, Zoe will be eleven and Naomi nine. They are happy, imaginative and fun children to be around. Our Christmas with them was postponed because Crystal got pneumonia and then everyone proceeded to get the flu. We still have our celebration with them to look forward to. (Added 1-11-16) I forgot to mention that Ryan is now pastoring a church plant and has performed several baptisms in this new church. He's a busy man!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkp7SyA4KE9aAc45rg4ago425QpMNHllcetfmGQZHx8dMizuehc3uCHFiwekGmefgrs7dPnrunOgvOvJLN6VLqSMtTjGlsd_FNQdEXAWXaROJ9Xq5naaZozJaHjhnzUU6KJT-U7FxUtIK/s1600/DSC00492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkp7SyA4KE9aAc45rg4ago425QpMNHllcetfmGQZHx8dMizuehc3uCHFiwekGmefgrs7dPnrunOgvOvJLN6VLqSMtTjGlsd_FNQdEXAWXaROJ9Xq5naaZozJaHjhnzUU6KJT-U7FxUtIK/s200/DSC00492.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlMlpF8uSYJ6__s1b1N7R4Xm8jTm1J2bgouvpr3gwh5dsWRnEsTR_hyphenhyphenK_7Ai6AMOyhhxlQ8ZGmStbgnGUG0CjDRPq7d1VK1eVyBSFNJak9BSaLt8Nm1BoQBCzn98VWTMT0Q3XVgXar5eF/s1600/AsUAre_45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlMlpF8uSYJ6__s1b1N7R4Xm8jTm1J2bgouvpr3gwh5dsWRnEsTR_hyphenhyphenK_7Ai6AMOyhhxlQ8ZGmStbgnGUG0CjDRPq7d1VK1eVyBSFNJak9BSaLt8Nm1BoQBCzn98VWTMT0Q3XVgXar5eF/s320/AsUAre_45.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Emily has juggled work, home, baby and the adjustments of moving </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">quite well. She does bookkeeping for the owner of the Subway and Pizza Hut in our town. He is good to her and doesn't mind if she has to take Owen for a doctor appointment or come home early so I can go cook for our Wednesday night Celebrate Recovery meeting. She has been considering going back to school as she doesn't want to do books for always...so maybe forensics, pathology...who knows? She has begun cutting out a quilt for Owen and WILL learn to sew!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Peter is back to college at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. He has been able to save enough from working to finish his degree without any more debt, which is an amazing accomplishment. He is majoring in network security. He worked nights for a long time, but no more. He actually ate supper with us last evening!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm including a poem I wrote recently that might help explain the general sense of the past year. And I will just add that I read a couple of months ago that when grandparents are actively involved in raising their grandchildren, they are 30% less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Yay!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We love you and pray God bless you in 2016!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Juggler</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wanted to learn how to juggle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The smooth arc of balls</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The nimble hands - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The steady balance of high and low,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It drew me so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then there was you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And eventually them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The cries of babies in the night,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hungry eyes, messy meals - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Breakfast, lunch, supper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And there was Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Start here, go there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pack up, unload.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make a home and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make it again, and again...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Add the call of words,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The sound of song, the joy of friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Talk, laugh, cry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Write, think, sigh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And now again,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Starfish hands and laughing eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">at my clumsy tries</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">with three balls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do over</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't get it right,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I guess by now,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I really do know</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">how to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">juggle.</span><br />
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<br />Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-86233297505718412462015-10-16T08:51:00.003-07:002015-10-16T08:51:50.128-07:00Bargains on E-books at Amazon!<br />
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<img height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgNxCv9J37XuKdRptv_AY77JhjQeRJ4Qz7OAosttWUw22v0FR6dN7Wj0eb5S2WKwwmFVpe_GV-GVlMbtM_fpEdqXw0_JaKB9RwYVrrV4VOtBt6a8dXl0nAFYILpT1f8IH0tBtNdC-7gHTiGRRA5RYfpj2OdGXISGWT0QQhxkXkj4lPi4V7642VgAgFfvtg=" width="125" /></div>
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This weekend get e-book Light Over Water for just .99 and Some Smaller Grace is free! Follow this link - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NJ7692">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NJ7692</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC7NXdDgo7GlF0qu10pcRa2v5IgXDM3h82Wx3RSX423oSNK0YOvcfrBdp2iyrp2pQcSVkE-Ckm0uDJwI6fJi5vmijvfoGeBNWwO-6L9gxSHuyNyxogqcRK9aSKZSgBGSqPwjoO0f1OBTU/s1600/SomeSmallerGraceCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC7NXdDgo7GlF0qu10pcRa2v5IgXDM3h82Wx3RSX423oSNK0YOvcfrBdp2iyrp2pQcSVkE-Ckm0uDJwI6fJi5vmijvfoGeBNWwO-6L9gxSHuyNyxogqcRK9aSKZSgBGSqPwjoO0f1OBTU/s200/SomeSmallerGraceCover.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3;">I’m going to start a blog, my sister told me. Good, I answered. I will be your follower. She continued, if I’m going to write, I need to be out there on all the social media sites. True, I said, my heart sinking. She is right and I know it well.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3;"> </span></div>
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My brush with the publishing world has convinced me of the importance of that mystifying other world called the web. If her name is going to become well known, she must put it in places where people will see it. Not in bookstores, libraries, bookseller conventions and editors’ desks, but on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter and book reviewers’ blogs.<br />
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I’m reading a collection of short stories published in the 1950’s. So marked is the difference between the writing in these stories and what I’ve seen endorsed by the largest bookseller on earth that I am perplexed and disheartened. Authors like Willa Sibert Cather, James Hilton, Kenneth Roberts, Donn-Byrne, Flannery O’Connor and Paul Vincent Carroll contended with knowledgeable and critical editors, publishers and peers, and their work stood up to the scrutiny. Now, <em>who</em> decides what is good has changed.<br />
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I’m not trying to imply that there aren’t currently any writers of quality work. I love the creations of many contemporary authors. But for those of us who aren’t established, who have promise but not a following, trying to rise above the “popular” work that inundates the web is akin to thrashing out of quicksand with gumboots on.<br />
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Compare this descriptive paragraph by Willa Cather with a book I read recently. The premise of said book was compelling, but the author described many of her characters by comparing them with celebrities: <em>he looked like a young Harrison Ford.</em><br />
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This is how Cather describes one of her creations: ‘Olena, too, was rather inconveniently plump, handsome in a smooth, heavy way, with a fine color and good-natured, sleep eyes. She was redolent of violet sachet powder, and had warm, soft, white hands, but she danced divinely, moving as smoothly as the tide coming in.’ I aspire to that kind of writing.<br />
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There used to be writers who had a firm grasp of grammar and a familiar and easy relationship with language. Clearly that’s not universally true anymore. Somehow one fellow has a book, <u>Unforeseen</u>, that became the top seller on one of the lists at Amazon at one point. His grammar is appalling, punctuation is hit or miss and I’m not sure if English is his first language.<br />
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Here are some of his more memorable lines:<br />
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<em>It was lucky for Gregory my cell phone rang, or he would have ate his next slice of pizza through a straw.</em><br />
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<em>He didn’t, but I could have sworn I glimmered the salient shadow of a stern amid the high waves.</em><br />
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And my personal favorite – <em>In the dim light reflecting off the lens I witnessed Alex’s delicate features form into complete aghast.</em> I can feel my own delicate features doing the same!<br />
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This self-published volume has sequels, most of which have hundreds of favorable reviews. I couldn’t make myself read another, but perhaps he found an editor (other than Spell Check) who taught him how to use a dictionary and respect the language.<br />
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Here is the struggle: good writers without a voice or a platform or a following, working to make a name in a place where excellence, beauty, depth and heart are no longer important. My sister, a masterful writer, will work hard. I will keep writing myself, and we’ll both strive toward quality and distinction among the teeming masses who believe mediocre is the new brilliant.</div>
Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-26804294154909379192015-07-03T08:58:00.000-07:002015-07-03T08:58:06.268-07:00Free on Kindle<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoying "The Crimson Field" on PBS as much as I am? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Download my book - <b>Light Over Water</b> - to learn more about World War I. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Free July 4-6, 2015 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Light-Over-Water-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B009NJ7692">http://www.amazon.com/Light-Over-Water-Noelle-Carle-ebook/dp/B009NJ7692</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MW30pjSZL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MW30pjSZL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a>Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1748068456116749894.post-73244467874337039682015-03-25T06:14:00.000-07:002015-03-25T06:14:17.665-07:00New Marketing!<a href="http://www.christianebookstoday.com/">http://www.christianebookstoday.com/<a href="http://www.christianebookstoday.com/"></a></a>
Nelliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154890436314916249noreply@blogger.com0