Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Hope you're having a great holiday weekend.

Have you discovered FaithWriters blog yet? It's encouraging and informative. Today I've joined them to discuss what shoes have to do with rejection. Hop on over and and join the discussion.

Who Loves Books?

Me! Me, I do!!

Since I can remember, I love books. I love the feel of them. I love the smell of them. I love their weight in my hands.

I love the worlds I've explored in books. I love to read about people whose lives are totally different than mine. I love to read about people with issues and ideas different than mine.

I love to read historical fiction and travel through time to experience events I've learned about in history class. I love to read books that deal with day-to-day life at a time before electricity was invented and a time before the Revolutionary War and a time before Columbus sailed the ocean blue and a time when Bible characters walked the earth.

I love to read books that let me sample different careers like fashion, banking, being an astronaut, working in a funeral parlor, being a teacher, running a bait shop, being a maid, and owning a publishing empire.

And because of my love of books, I love to write books. I dream of readers joining me on a journey with my characters and learning about the character -- and perhaps learning something about themselves.

What about you? What do you love about books?

Writing a Novel = Journey of Discovery

“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.”

~E.L. Doctorow

They say writing a novel is a journey of discovery, and that’s been true for me.

As I work through a plot and explore a theme, I have to refine my opinions and beliefs. It’s an interesting process, and in the end I always seem to grow a bit with each book I write.

At this point I’ve written nearly five books. The process always changes me, but I never imagined how writing my wip (work in progress) would affect me. I’m discovering more than I ever imagined.

My character Margaret travels through time. She doesn’t know when she’ll travel or even why turns up at a certain time and place. In a moment of introspection she thinks about her journeys: Surely her time travels changed something, like ripples in a pond. How might she change the future by living in the past? By being the tiny pebble tossed into the distant waters of a past time?

I’ve never had to research for a novel like I’m researching for this wip I’m tentatively calling The Journeys of Margaret Caruso. I’m more fortunate than most authors because I have the blessing of being assisted by two genealogists who have shared some amazing information. What’s even more amazing is that they are distant relatives whom I have never met.

This past weekend I realized that Margaret’s journeys are a personal map of my spiritual heritage. I’m finding commonality with people I had never heard of before—people who lived on another continent over three hundred years ago.

I’m on the edge of a discovery. I’ve had an insight into my journey of writing Margaret’s story that has stunned me. Writing this novel means something to me, something more than tapping out an amusing tale. The exciting part is that I’m not even 100% sure what that something is.

But don’t worry. One day I’ll share this epiphany with you. 

Sometimes writing = jogging through jello

I'm struggling with the novel I'm writing. That's okay. It's happened before, and I've survived.

I think this is part of my writing process. When it happens, my solution is to keep writing--even if it's only 250 words in a day. Just keep pushing forward. And then as if by magic, something clicks, and my fingers fly over the keyboard.


I think I figured out my dilemma about writing this book--my time travel historical novel--while I was on my walk last night. When I zap my character into a different time and place I have to come up with an entire new cast of characters and storyline that will mesh with the overall plot.

Duh. No wonder I'm struggling. Understanding that, I already feel better.  Last night I wrote the scene where my character enters the home where she'll be living in 1845.

A thin woman stood over a washbasin, wiping simple ivory crockery clean with a dishrag. Nance O’Hare looked up, brushed a wisp of auburn hair off her forehead, and smiled. “Ah, alannah—my child. Take yourself down the hill and check on your sister Noreen. I expected her here by now. I’m worried about her.” A frown creased her lovely face. “She’s not feeling well, carrying this babe. If she needs a rest, bring little Bridget here for the afternoon.”

Yes, I jogged through jello to create that simple scene, but now the character of Nance is firming up in my mind. She's a gentle mother who doesn't think anything is impossible. And now the next several chapters will come into focus. 


I'm glad I'm not a quitter. I believe it's always better to persevere. It's better to try and know for sure than to quit and never know what could have been.


How do you keep yourself motivated when you run into a snag?


Isn't that photo lovely? I found it here.

Have you found Pinterest yet?

I joined Pinterest a few months ago. It's a new social networking site that's more visual than text.

I really like it. The trouble is that you can get lost paging through Pinterest -- but I say that in a good way. The material you choose to view can be very specific to what interests you. Decorating? No problem. Pinterest has pictures for every kind of decorating you can imagine. Fashion. Food. Art. Design. Fitness. Pets. Kids. Holidays. Humor. Books. Just about anything that might interest you. You select the type of board you're interested in or select a friend who pins interesting items, and you're set for hours of happy browsing.

It's like a big, beautiful magazine with all the articles I'm interested in. But lately I've found another great way to use Pinterest: Books!

Authors I know are creating boards for the books they're writing. It's wonderful! You can see how they invision their characters, what kind of house their character lives in, what flowers are blooming in the book, what interests the character.

I liked this idea so much that I've started a Pinterest board for my WIP (work in progress). It's not finished yet, but then neither is my novel. But soon . . .

Inspired by Nature

The photo on the left is a few of the branches on the shrub alongside my lounge chair where I work outside in the warmer months. It's called a burning bush, and in the autumn the leaves turn a beautiful shade of scarlet.

In the spring there are clusters of these beautiful little pale green blossoms. When I see them, and they're so tiny and perfect, I think of little fairy flowers.

This makes me happy because while I'm writing one book, I'm marinating the next one in my busy little brain -- and my next book will feature house fairies. I can imagine them picking these small clusters of flowers in their tiny fairy hands.

But alas, I'm still finishing my time travel novel, so now I'll get back to work.

Do you also see a nature scene and let your imagination fly too?

Just released: Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

I love to tell friends about new novels. Wildflowers from Winter, Katie Ganshert's debut novel is fresh off the presses and has just released today! Read on to find out how you could be in the drawing for a copy of this book.


Isn't the cover art gorgeous? Here's what the book's about:

A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built a life far removed from her trailer park teen years. Until an interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. Determined to pay her respects while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan. 

Katie has graciously agreed to visit by blog and chat a bit. 

What would you like to tell us about Wildflowers from Winter?I like to call it Co Ro Wo Fi. I’m declaring it an official genre. Contemporary Romance Women’s Fiction. Wildflowers from Winter is definitely a mingling of the two. In a nutshell, it’s a coming-home love story set in small town Iowa about the bonds of friendship and God’s ability to bring beauty from the barren seasons in our lives. 

What’s your favorite season and why?

Summer! I’m sure some of it has to do with being a kid and a teacher and forever associating summer with freedom. But I also love it because I hate wearing shoes and socks and makeup, and I love playing squirt guns with my sun and sitting on the porch swing out back, reading a good book while he hunts for bugs. You just can’t do that sort of thing in the winter.

Which compliment related to your writing has meant the most and why?

Ooo, that’s tough! So far I’ve been very fortunate to receive a lot of encouraging reviews and feedback, all of which mean the world to me. I love hearing that readers couldn’t put my book down or stayed up all night to read it. That always makes me smile.

But if I had to pick the one that has meant the most, it would have to be this: Overall, my favorite element of the book was the glory it brought to the Author of creation.

It reminded me why I’m doing this. Not for my glory. But for His. I’m humbled that God would choose to use little old me and my little old story to draw hearts nearer to Him.

Katie, what's your favorite chore?

I feel like this question should be an oxymoron. Is there such a thing as a favorite chore? Okay, if I had to pick one, it would be cleaning our kitchen. There is something so satisfying about having a clean, crumb-less kitchen. And also because it’s the only time I get to watch TV. We have a very small kitchen TV and I like watching reruns of favorite shows while I sweep and sanitize.

How can readers find your book on the Internet?

Very easily! They can check out the Wildflowers from Winter page on my website, which has links to various online retailers and a lot of fun extra bonus features for those who enjoy the story. For those looking for a quick link, you can find Wildflowers on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Christianbook.com.

Katie has kindly agreed to give a copy of Wildflowers from Winter to one of my readers. Leave a comment for Katie, and I'll draw a winner over the weekend. 

Congratulations, Heather Kopp! You won a copy of Wildflowers from Winter.

Dreaming, Creating, Writing

I've loved Madeline L'Engle since I've been a little girl. Actually, I first loved her novel, A Wrinkle in Time. Now I love her non-fiction. She speaks to me as a dear, old friend whose wise counsel is calming.

This year A Wrinkle in Time is celebrating it's 50th anniversary. I may have read it as a new release. (!) The cover is familiar to me, and I still remember how I was transformed to another world while reading it -- bliss.

These days I'm enjoying her non-fiction book, Walking on Water, Reflections on Faith and Art. 

Today's reading discussed dreaming, creating, and writing. "In the creative act we can experience the same freedom we know in dreams. This happens as I write a story. I am bound by neither time nor space. . . When we are writing or painting, or composing, we are, during the time of creativity, freed from normal restrictions, and are opened to a wider world, where colours are brighter, sounds clearer, and people more wondrously complex than we normally realize."

I totally get what she's saying. Sometimes while writing, the fictional world becomes more real to me than actual reality. Once I was writing a winter scene, and when I looked out my window at a white flowerbed, I actually saw it as snow on the ground. Of course in the blink of an eye the snow disappeared, and summer's white flowers came into focus.

Madeline's book has a place of honor on my bookshelf. Perhaps I've started reading it again  because I'm also writing a time travel novel. Her book gives me courage to create something otherworldly, and I like that.

What about you? Does the creative act free you to enter into a new dimension? And also, did you read A Wrinkle in Time as a child too?

Denver Writing Examiner

Have you heard of Examiner.com? It's an online magazine that caters with stories having both a local slant and national coverage.

A few years ago I was accepted as one of their correspondants, the Denver Writing Examiner. I am proud of the many articles I published. Unfortunately, life got busy, and I let it fall by the wayside -- that is until this week. 

I've revived my column!

I'd appreciate it if you'd take a look and perhaps subscribe to my page. It's got a lot of good articles and advice on writing. Also, I publish writing news and information in general. If you have any story ideas or know of any writing news that should be put out there, please contact me and let me know. 

Movie Re-Makes -- Dark Shadows!

There are some stories that are retold to a new generation and are true to the original, yet updated for modern tastes. How many versions of A Christmas Carol have you seen?

Recently I saw both the newer and the original version of True Grit. I enjoyed both and was amused that the script was nearly word-for-word identical. Honestly, I liked the newer version. 

Now I'm awaiting the May 11th theatrical release of Dark Shadows. While the title may not mean much to many people, if you were a teen girl in the years between 1966 and 1971, you remember rushing home from school to catch the latest episode of the soap opera.

I had even convinced my mother to have the TV on when I breezed in from school. And if I was late, she'd watch the first few minutes and report to me so I could keep up with the story. 

So are you from the 60s and 70s? Did you watch Dark Shadows? Are you going to check out the movie version?

In other news, the actor who brought Barnabas Collins to life, Jonathan Frid, passed away two weeks ago today. I wonder what he thought of the upcoming movie.

Writing in Limbo

My first two (published) novels were contemporaries, meaning they are set in the present time. Mostly, I wrote about stuff I knew, and that didn’t require research.

Right now I’m in a crazy in-between place in the writing process. A place I’ve never found myself before. A crazy, limbo-like writing situation—and limbo is something the dictionary calls a region on the border of heaven or hell. Yup, that sounds right.

Lately I’ve been wondering about the delirium that gripped me when I decided to write a historical novel. Actually it’s worse than that—I’m writing a time travel historical novel, so I have the pleasure of researching more than one time period for this book.

And thus I find myself wanting to plug away on my word count instead of doing research. I just want to push ahead with the story, but those pesky little historical and geographical details are screaming to be accurate.

If I don’t write, I feel unproductive. But I need to research to be able to write. I’m stuck in a region on the border of heaven or hell: limbo. Good news—I trust I’ll survive.

The photograph above illustrates where I'm going in my research. Can you guess where/when that is?

Another NEW Titanic novel!

In keeping with my Titanic novel theme this week, I'm delighted to introduce you to another new Titanic novel, TITANIC: Voyage of Intent by Mary Davis. Mary is a Colorado author who I've known for over a decade.

I've already read this book, and I'm thrilled to share it with you. Actually, I had a very late night because I didn't want to stop reading. Yes, it that's good!

TITANIC: Voyage of Intent is about a young woman who follows a murderer to save her brother.

Will trying to save her brother's life cost Brenna her own?

Brenna Kelly's brother has been accused of a murder he didn't commit and sentenced to die. Brenna follows the real murderer aboard the luxury liner Titanic to find the proof to save her brother from the gallows. Little does she know that her fate is as tenuous as her brother’s.

Cliffton Statham is charmed by Brenna and sets out to help her and win her affections. But his flimsy relationship with his uncle puts his future in jeopardy, and he must decide between Brenna and saving himself. Can Brenna find the proof she needs in time? Will love be a help or a hindrance?

Will the icy waters of the Atlantic be the end of them all?

***

Mary, tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

That’s hard to say. I think maybe all my characters might be an offshoot of myself, in one warped way or another. I pour my heart into them and feel what they feel. Some might be an aspect of myself. Others are the opposite of me and are how I might imagine I would be if I were like them. For instance, Marty in Marty’s Ride: Marty is brave and races after danger to save her nieces. I’m more like Piglet. “I-I’m j-just a little bit af-fraid.” Also, Brenna in my latest book that is set on the Titanic: She follows a murderer to save her brother. I would love to think that I could do something like that, but more likely the Piglet side of me would come out. But I can live vicariously through my characters and do things I never could or would do in real life.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I have written over a dozen books both historical and contemporary romance. My first published novel is a romantic comedy. This most recent one is a historical romance. Several of my books have been put into compilations. You can see all my published books on my Web site. The one’s you don’t know about are the unpublished ones. I have half of written WWI novel, the first of a trilogy, I still hope to get published one day and a story set in the future but not sci-fi. Both are romances. And in the next few weeks, I’ll be self publishing a historical novella set in Colorado I wrote many years ago that never found a publishing home. I also have a time travel that is looking for a home as well as a historical novel.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Many ways. I use a baby name book and go through the same pain I did in naming my children. I collect names from movie and TV credits. Someone else went through the pains to name their children. And some times my characters name themselves. It’s nice when they let me know. Some times a character will keep it a secret and make me figure it out. But I can’t write a story about a character until I have a name. The right name.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Dyslexia. I don’t know that I have overcome it, I don’t think I can. But I have learned how to cope with it. I have learned how to do things my own way, but don’t ask me what I do different from you non-dyslexic types. I have been asked how I do things different, but that would mean I understand how the rest of you think to know how I’m different. Maybe you can tell me how you think different from me. One thing that is difficult is spelling. I swear my Spell Checker is going stop telling how to spell the same words over and over and over. I swear some times I can hear it saying to me, “If you don’t know how to spell that word by now, I’m not going to tell you.” Also, if I can’t spell a word close enough for Spell Checker to find the right word for me, I think of a synonym that I can spell and look that up in my thesaurus. And in that word’s synonym is the word I want.

How can readers find your book on the Internet?

The Kindle version is available on Amazon. Soon TITANIC: Voyage of Intent will be available for Nook and other eReaders as well as a paperback version.

This week: new books featuring the Titanic

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster was commemorated on Sunday. The Titanic movie's been released in 3-D, there was a Titanic mini-series on television last weekend, and to continue satisfying our Titanic curiosity, there have been new novels written that feature the tragedy.

Today I'm pleased to introduce Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal by Kathleen E. Kovach and Paula Moldenhauer. (I bought the eBook on Friday and have only read a few pages. I'm absolutely intrigued and can't wait to get back to it!)

A secret. A key. Much was buried when the Titanic went down, but now it’s time for resurrection.

April 1912 - Olive Stanford boarded the Titanic determined to protect all she held dear. Her secret will go with her to the grave—but how can she face the afterlife carrying the burden of her actions?

April 2012 - Portland real estate agent, Ember Keaton-Jones distrusts men, with good reason. Ever since her great-great-grandfather, Thomas, deserted the family after the fateful sinking of the Titanic, every Keaton male has disappointed. Ember is on the brink of a huge sale when a stranger shows up with a key to a century-old secret challenging everything she believes. She meets forward-thinking Jeff Dawson who is working in the family’s musty antique shop and finds an unexpected ally in unlocking the mystery of her past. But can they undo the legacy of Thomas Keaton's betrayal?

Carefully researched, this engaging tale includes true stories of the Titanic embedded in historical fiction.

***

Both Kathy and Paula are good friends of mine, and I'm honored that they agreed to stop by my blog for a visit.

Paula, what is your favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or movie?

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but this one from Jane Austen’s, Persuasion, is one I treasure, “I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.”

I see myself in it, especially in my spiritual walk. A while back I was in a difficult season and felt angry with God. Then I struggled with the guilt of those emotions, which hurt just as much. As I wrote out my struggles, the Holy Spirit helped me process. Suddenly those words spilled upon the page, “weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.” It was like the Lord showed me my heart. Sure, I was human. I’d been weak and resentful, but I’d never stopped loving Him, and He knew it. It was very comforting.

Kathy, when did you first discover that you were a writer?

I have told stories all my life, even before I knew how to write. My mother would ask, “Now, Kathy, is this a real story or a made up story?”

Once I learned how to put words on paper, I wrote a poem about a fat cat in a black hat. I sold hand-written copies of that poem to my friends, complete with a drawing of a fat cat in a black top hat that looked more like a dusty snowman with whiskers. I charged a nickel and I made 25 cents. This, in my mind, made me a published author. After that, I wrote poems, short stories, I even became an award-winning author when I won the 9th grade writing contest with my entry, “I Was A Female Dog, An Autobiography By George.” It was a true story—about my female dog named George.

Paula, how do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I’m not sure I do, but this seems a very important question! Besides writing and serving as ACFW CO coordinator, I’m mom to four, ages 14 – 20, two of which we still homeschool. Right now they are all living at home. What keeps me sane is Jesus, Jerry, and my prayer group!

I also crave quiet time and the beauty of nature. It shows when I don’t take enough quiet hours to curl up in a soft chair and prayer journal or read with a cup of hot tea close by (lady grey in the morning, white pear in the afternoon, chamomile in the evening). If it’s a cloudy day or dark, I light candles. Sometimes I listen to classical or worship music—something without words. I need to smell the flowers—literally. I do better when I take time to walk in the sunshine with my husband. (I need to get back to that. He’s worked up to walking/jogging 3 or 4 miles a day while I’ve sat at the computer eating dark chocolate. *sigh*) The jokes of my teenage boys, the delight of my daughter, and the hugs of the whole family also ground me. Two months ago I started a gratitude wall. So far I’ve recorded 116 blessings in colored sharpie. I try to write three a day. It’s too easy to focus on the problems or the stresses instead of the moments of joy and beauty we’re always surrounded with.

Kathy, what makes you feel alive?

The Colorado Rocky Mountains. My husband and I love to camp and fish, and I feel energized when I smell a crackling fire, or cast a line into a mirrored lake. Odd that I love the mountains when so far the books I’ve published are set in Florida, San Francisco, and Southern Oregon. My first book was set in Colorado, but it hasn’t been published. I cut my teeth on that piece, and it shows. lol

Please tell us about the collaborative writing experience.

Paula: The story brought out our strengths. Kathy loves to plot while I tend to do a really rough skeleton and fly by the seat of my pants. We plotted carefully at first. I learned a lot, though I kept teasing Kathy saying, “Can we start writing now?” But our writing styles and personalities blend very well. We’re both pretty easy going and have similar passions, so most of the time we found collaboration only strengthened our original thoughts. I think it strengthened my understanding of story structure and plotting. It also gave me some good “friend” time with someone I already adored.

Kathy: And I could say the same thing. (Hugs to Paula!) I wouldn’t write with just anybody. But Paula exudes so much grace that I knew if we had any misunderstandings they would be resolved quickly. Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal is a contemporary story with a historical frame. She started writing the contemporary heroine’s point of view and developed her while I worked on the hero. But she was also researching the historical. When that storyline started to become more than we had originally planned, she asked me to take over the contemporary so she could concentrate on the historical. We essentially wrote two different stories, and I like that better.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

Paula: We’re super excited about the story. It feels like a high-concept idea with lots of intrigue and a strong romance thread. We’re also excited about writing a story that is a little outside the traditional Christian publishing market. We wanted to tell a story that might help someone who doesn’t know Jesus consider who He is. While we hope our Christian readers follow us, we tried to write in such a way that someone without faith will find it believable—and maybe even wrestle with God’s place in his or her life. Much of it explores the idea of generational bondage—how the choices of those who’ve gone before us affect how we think about life.

Readers can find Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal on Amazon, and will be coming soon on Nook. There will also be a physical edition. We’ll post information here as it becomes available.

Writers, you can find some wisdom from Paula, Five Tips for the Publication Journey, on The Inkwell Blog.

Please stop back on Thursday--I can't wait to introduce another Titanic novel to you!

Another good book: Wish You Were Here

In the past year I've become acquainted with another local author, Beth Vogt. I'm delighted that my occupation has allowed me to meet so many interesting and talented people. Beth's a down-to-earth, fun lady, and I'm honored she's my friend.

Her debut novel, Wish You Were Here, releases May 1st. An especially fun part of the novel for me was that it was set in Colorado, in places I'm familiar with.

I read the book and was delighted to offer my endorsement:

One kiss can change everything! Wish You Were Here takes the reader on an emotional journey with Allison Denman as she struggles to find her place in this world. Allison comes to grips with the truth that playing it safe is not the same as living to the fullest—a good lesson for all of us. Beautifully written, Wish You Were Here is a lovely debut novel by Beth K. Vogt that illustrates the plans we make may not be God’s choice for us. A fun and satisfying read!

You can pre-order it on Amazon now! And you can learn more about Beth at her website.

Dear auto manufacturers: Where's the common sense?

Occasionally I'll see or hear something and wonder what's happened to common sense. So today I'm offering you a rant . . .

Lately I've been hearing about the amazing touch screen displays that will be commonplace in new cars.

Do we really need another distraction? Another reason to take our eyes off the road? Aren't enough tragedies caused by something other than driving capturing the attention of the driver?

Here's another touch screen I found online. It does so much, it's amazing. Or is it? I like push button radios in cars. You can feel the button you want to push. You don't have to take your eyes off the road.

With texting and talking on a hand-held phone being the cause of so much misery and death, why are the automobile manufacturers eager to put another distraction into our cars?

Snow on Tulips and God's Gifts

This is an encore post, one I wrote in 2010. This past Tuesday's spring snow brought it to mind. It's a good post to ponder -- timely for me in so many ways.

I hope you feel the same . . .

The past few days have been lovely -- warm and sunny. People have been breaking out their sandals and wearing T-shirts without jackets around here.

I've been delighted to see my tulips pushing through winter's barrier. I noticed them springing from the rock-clad earth in their emerald majesty, asserting their desire to grow and bloom. But now they've hit a snag, or so it seems. The cold and the snow has cloaked them in a chill that will temporarily suspend their growth.

Life can be like that, and sometimes we can feel a bit like those tulips. Things are clipping along, we're accomplishing what we need, and then we're emotionally or spiritually covered in a dusting of snow.

Perhaps the path we'd been on seems troublesome to follow. It's not difficult to assume all is lost, our goals are slipping from our grasp.

But for the tulips, the late-winter snow is a blessing. My dad used to call a late snowfall poor-man's fertilizer. Turns out that expression is more than folklore. Snow has nutrients and, of course, moisture. What seems like a hindrance is actually beneficial. Snow that falls on thawed earth penetrates into the soil, delivering nutrients and moisture that promote growth and health.

So if you feel like you've been stuck or hindered by the unpredicted, don't stress. Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4 (The Message)

Fifty-Seven Truths I've Learned in my Fifty-Seven Years, part 4

Thank you for joining me on this journey of presenting some of the truths I've learned in my lifetime. I hope to keep learning and growing.

I'm not sure how old I was in the photo on the left or why I looked so serious. Perhaps even then my intuition told me life is a roller coaster. One day can be fabulous and the next a heartbreak. Fortunately I'm one of those gals who brush off the dust of bad circumstances and move forward.

Here's the final installment of my 57 truths learned in my 57 years:

1. Take care in sharing personal information. Some people actually care, but the others are just curious.

2. For your health, shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Buy and eat fresh, not processed, foods.

3. Remember the 1^st rule of etiquette: Never make someone else feel uncomfortable!

4. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Finish a job you’ve started. People respect people who follow through.

5. Do the right thing.

6. Don’t hold on to your regrets. Move forward with lessons learned.

7. It’s okay to put space between you and someone who tears you down. You don’t owe allegiance to anyone who doesn’t have your best interest at heart.

8. Use things, not people, and love people, not things.

9. There is room for both holistic and traditional medicine in your life. Be wise with your health.

10. Do unto others as you would have done to you.

11. Speak the truth in love.

12. Don’t worry and fret about growing older. It’s better than the alternative, and each decade has its own appeal. It is true that with age comes wisdom.

Please feel free to share some of your truths! I'd love to hear them.

Fifty-Seven Truths I've Learned in my Fifty-Seven Years, part 3

To celebrate my 57th birthday, I decided to share 57 truths I've learned in 57 years. This is the third installment. I'm posting it in sections because I don't want to overwhelm--after all, a list of 57 is quite long. :)

The photo on the right is a picture of the house I grew up in. My parents bought it new, a few months before I was born. I think it cost them $12,000, and it came on a half acre of land. My mother would die if she saw an AC unit in the upstairs front bedroom window. We always put it in the side window.

1. Floss daily, and get a yearly check-up. Your good health is a gift you give to your loved ones.

2. The most egregious human rights violation in the world today is abortion.

3. When someone shows you who they are, believe them! ~Maya Angelou.

4. Beware of people who are incapable of experiencing joy for others’ accomplishments. They’re petty and jealous and would love to see you fail.

5. If you’re about to open a canned good and the lid is bulging, don’t! It’s got botulism. Toss it out.

6. There are big moments in life, but the most important seem to be the little things: a shared laugh, a shared cry, a hug, a kiss, and kindnesses. Cherish the moments.

7. Trust Jesus, and even in your darkest moments you’ll never be alone.

8. As much as you can, plan ahead. Never let your gas tank go below ¼ full. If you’re expecting a snowstorm, stock up. Don’t be caught by surprise and have to run out without gas in the tank or during a blizzard. Some hassles can be avoided. Avoid them!

9. Be generous in giving grace to others. My dad often said this statement: There but for the grace of God, go I. You never know what your tomorrow holds. Be kind.

10. Some people aren’t trustworthy. If you’re like me, you want to believe the best of everyone, but be realistic, and guard your heart.

11. Find someone who gives you butterflies in your tummy, shares your values, and makes you laugh every day—then marry him/her!

12. Make your bed every day. You’ll feel better when you walk into your room, and it’s so nice to slip into crisp bed sheets at night. This is one of those simple luxuries you can give to yourself.

13. Beware around people who are desperate to be “little miss (or mister) front and center.” People are only rungs on their ladder to success. They’ll step on you and crush you after you’ve given them your friendship.

14. Mistakes are never wasted as long as they either make you humble or help you learn a better way.

15. Just because someone says (or writes) something doesn’t mean it’s the truth. Learn to be wise and discerning.

Fifty-Seven Truths I've Learned in my Fifty-Seven Years, part 2

Last week I celebrated my 57th birthday and began a blog series about fifty-seven truths I've learned in my fifty-seven years. I hope you go back and catch up on truths one through fifteen.

I was born in 1955, square in the middle of the boomer generation, ten years after World War II ended, and at a time when our nation was prosperous and looking toward a bright future. I graduated high school in 1973, the year Roe vs. Wade overturned the ban on abortion, the Watergate scandal was coming to light, and the World Trade Center (NYC Twin Towers) open to the the public.

The photos are my hospital bill from when I was born. My mother gave them to me when I became an adult. The total cost of the birth and hospital stay for both my mother and me was $115.50. The photo below is the back of the bill which details how the hospital accounts for the cost.

Here's another installment of the 57 truths I've learned in my 57 years:

1. There will be sorrow in your life. However: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

2. It’s best to forgive, no matter how long it takes or how difficult it is. Forgive.

3. The truth is always the easiest and best “excuse.”

4. Eat a good breakfast, with some protein, every day. Your body will thank you.

5. Take time to enjoy nature. Breathe in the fragrances, listen to the sounds, it will soothe your spirit.

6. Read something every day, it will expand your world.

7. Be generous with compliments, you just might make someone’s day.

8. You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you can change your attitude—and sometimes that makes all the difference in the world.

9. Remember, you can never make the same mistake twice because the second time you make it, it’s not a mistake—it’s a choice.

10. Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other’s gold. Yup, I remember that tune from my days as a Brownie.

11. Offer a sincere apology, and then don’t ruin it with an excuse.

12. It’s always best to err on the side of compassion. You don’t know what someone else is going through.

13. Nurture your dreams, and do all you can to make them come true. Don’t be sidetracked by naysayers.

14. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Find out what you need to do, and learn how to do it.

15. A smile really is your best accessory.

I hope you stop back on Thursday for the next portion of my list.