Good to Know

Hi. I'm here. I'm still alive...just in case you were concerned.
I've been wanting to post for what seems like a year. Life.

Life can grab you by the heels and swing you into a ride of your life. Sometimes you just need to hold on and enjoy. Other times you hold on and give yourself a high five for landing in one piece. I've, also, been terribly busy stalking my missionary daughter's facebook account...but I'm getting ahead of myself....

There are so many things I've wanted to tell you. So, hold on tight because it may be a bumpy ride as I weave in and out of traffic and stop at rest areas (aka...off topic) and get back on the main road.

Books:

Let me start at the beginning which is always a good place to start, eh? (no, not from Canada but sometimes one just needs to say "Eh?".) I have been reading posts over at Big Mama for a number of years. She.is.hilarious.and.she.and.I.need.to.become.friends.in.a.nonstalkerish.type.of.way. Her first book hit the shelves and ereaders early February. To say I was anticipating this book with glee is a grossly understated. I.could.not.wait for Sparkly Green Earrings to arrive on our ereader the day of the books release.

I read it in two days. Yes, two. I laughed, I cried, it moved me, Bob. (oops, Veggie Tales days flashback...) Melanie, yes - I think if you laugh, cry and are moved by a book you can call the author by her first name...all in a nonstalkerish type of way, of course - is real in her writing. And, did I mention funny? Oh my word. My family was starring at me like I had just lost my mind when I would burst forth in laughter during a basketball game my family was watching on TV while I was reading Sparkly Green Earrings in the same room. The book revolves around her & her family life. Melanie has a way of making the smallest situation into a rip-roaring, bust-a-gut hilarious situation. Trust me. Get.the.book.and.I'll.stop.putting.periods.between.each.word.

Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund is coming out sooooonnnn. Eeeee. Not that I'm excited or anything. Jody is a writer who can make you feel like you are physically in every scene of the book. Seriously. Plus, the Nobel Groom is one fine lookin' dude. Seriously. Look at him! Huba-huba...does anyone really ever say that anymore? I say we bring it back...or not.

And, this incredible author has another book coming out in the fall. Yay!! Follow the link above to find all her books!

Kiss Me Awake by Julie Momyer will soon grace shelves. A few years ago, she was a runner-up in the Christian Writers' Guild First Novel Award. I had the privilege of reading a portion of her book and it was fabulous. Here is an excerpt.

Organizations:

Sevenly. Have you heard of them? Oh my word. You have to visit their facebook page and their website! In a nutshell, Sevenly is an organization that helps charities. A charity submits a request to become Sevenly's charity of the week. Each week Sevenly will feature one charity. Through purchasing t-shirts or sweatshirts, you are helping to fund that particularly charity. All you need to do is purchase a one-of-a-kind shirt. You can read more through the links I provided above on how it all works.

We purchased a t-shirt from last weeks charity that helps rescue trafficked children from brothels in India. Since our daughter was in India until just a week ago (hence the facebook stalking her account to see/hear what was going on while she was over there...see, that doesn't sound nearly as bad as you first thought at the beginning of this post...or maybe so. Hey, I was a desperate mom in need of seeing her daughter in pictures, status updates..anything!), we quickly purchased a shirt. It came in the mail the other day and the quality was terrific. I was expecting a thin t-shirt. Nope. I was totally wrong. Plus...and a big plus this is....they are a fun company. From the moment you receive your first email of confirmation to the packaging they are fun and funny. This week...hurry, ends in 3 days...the charity is Mercy Ships. Seriously, go check them out.


See...look at that fun packaging!

Okay, I'm totally over my word limit here so I better reign it in.....until next time....

His Master

I better add this to the list before I forget it I thought as I pulled into the parking space. As I scribbled down the item on my grocery list (my next stop), a truck pulled in the space beside me.

I noticed the driver get out and go into the store. I started to get out of my car when I noticed someone in the passenger seat of the truck staring at the door of the store. This someone turned out to be a cute-as-could-be older German Shepherd dog.

A dog person at heart, I, of course, started a conversation with this lovable dog as soon as I opened my car door. Funny thing was, this dog would hardly look at me. Instead, he looked over the top of my head to the door in which his master disappeared.

With a smile on my face, even though I felt a little dissed by this dog, I strolled inside the store to purchase dog and cat food. Ironic, isn't it?! Purchase complete, when I went outside the truck was still parked beside my car and the dog was in the exact spot I left him, still giving the door of the store the ole stare-down. The dog was just watching and waiting for his master to come back to him. (or her?)

I believe the dog realized my purchase consisted of dog food for he watched me as I threw the bags in the trunk and watched as I took the cart back inside. When I came out, again, he couldn't keep from watching the door of the store where his master disappeared.

He was waiting. Waiting with an intensity to suggest great love for his master. He was focused on the task - to wait, to watch.

I puttered along wanting to see how this faithful, loving dog would truly act when he saw the first glimpse of his master. However, time was short. I left wondering how the dog and master reunion would unfold.

Would the dog become so excited at first sight of his master he'd bounce around in the truck until the door finally opened and his master returned? Would he cover the master with kisses and love? Or, would the dog just sit, watch and not react with excitement?

As I drove away I began to compare the scene to that of when I see my Master. When I finally see Him face to face how will I react? I imagine great joy, awe, and crying if I know myself! Perhaps I'll be in such awe, I'll just sit and stare.

No matter my reaction, it is important to watch and be ready by allowing myself a relationship with Him. Then, when we see our Master face to face, what love, grace and mercy will radiate from His Glorious face!

Mark 13:26-27   At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.  And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

Mark 13:32-37 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back - whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.  If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.  What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'