I know, I know, I’ve been remiss in blogging. But this morning, I sit here with my coffee enjoying all of the lights and decorations around my house and feel it is time to blog. The only thing missing right now is our tree. And, that’s because our sons enjoy helping with it. The tree will go up in its corner today, but it won’t get decorated until this weekend sometime when we have the chaos of family here.

Our tree is a memory tree. While on our honeymoon we bought an ornament and decided it might be fun to get an ornament every vacation. Thirty-six years later, our tree is definitely creative. There are rocks, shells, crafts, ornaments that were gifts and others we inherited. I also have a vast array of things the boys made when they were young. We have a collection of rather creepy-looking paper-mache Santas that some call the ‘axe murderers.’ Few of our ornaments actually look much like Christmas, but each one is a memory, a story. As we decorate we share the stories. Decorating the tree can take a long time.

When our four sons were teenagers, they created an additional tradition. During Christmas they find VERY obscure things and hide them on the tree. If I don’t find them before the tree comes down, the item then becomes a new, strange ornament. Needless to say, my tree is quite a conversation starter.

Sometimes I am asked how I get my story ideas. The inspirations for my manuscripts are about as varied and unique as the ornaments on my memory tree. Sometimes it’s a sentence or something I see in nature or something a dog I’m training does. Even overheard conversations can become stories.

My favorite is the night my great-great-great Uncle John Edward Davis dreamed about his future bride. The next day he got dressed in what he wore in the dream, rode his horse to the house he saw in the dream and introduced himself to a total stranger as the man who came to court the farmer’s daughter, Elizabeth Everett. They were married four months later. (This story is not a published manuscript yet, but soon.)

Stories are the fabric of my faith. Tuesday I get to enjoy the most wonderful birth of my Savior, which of course, is the most beautiful story of all, crafted by the Creator of all. I bet He thrills at the things He sends to us as inspiration. And I wonder what His memory tree of all of the stories we write for Him would look like.

Sometimes you write something that comes from the heart and you don't give it much thought. Then later when you read it back to yourself, it has a profound affect.
    That happened to me last week. In the CR Step Study I am currently leading we are in book three and the lesson is ADMIT. The question was about change and the difference between recognizing the need for change and accepting the change. As I read my answer during our session, I realized it was one of those moment.

    Here is what I wrote: " Seeing the need for change is a first step, a tentative step. Seeing and acknowledging the need is not the same as making the change. Seeing the need is like standing in the middle of a thunderstorm and knowing I should take cover but not moving. Being entirely ready to accept positive change means I am no longer procrastinating. I'm not even trying to do it myself. I'm reaching my hands up and accepting the change, allowing God to guide me out of that storm and into His shelter!"

For today's blog pot go on over to:

https://www.acfw.com/blog/with-whom-do-you-write/

See you next week!

Today is an exciting day! My second book, Turtle Box Memories, essentially went to press! Amazon says it will take up to 72 hours for it to be available. That means in just a few days you may go to Amazon and purchase Turtle Box Memories, in Kindle ebook, Kindle Unlimited, or paperback! Stay tuned for more information. For now, here is the cover!

I admit it, I have been more than remiss in keeping up with my blog. I shall endeavor to do better. After a week of heavy rain and high water everywhere, they tell us the sun will return tomorrow afternoon. However that will not happen before we get more hours and inches of heavy rain dumped upon us.

I'm not even sure this weather is preferred by the Canada Geese goslings that hatched last week. It's a bit much! Watch next week for more photos of them! Stay dry and stay tuned for more posts, photos, and exciting news about my soon-to-be-released novel, Turtle Box Memories.

A week ago our nation once again became victim of internal hurt and hate. I watched with horror as the story unfolded. I felt profound sadness at some of the hateful comments I heard or read. They might as well have been real salt in open wounds. I also watched with great pride and joy as the stories of those who stepped in harm's way just to help others unfolded. Folks, that is what our nation is about.

We do have a history that has moments of which we can be proud and others not so much. Yet, in the tragedy last week we saw our fellow humans reaching out and helping each other. And, for that I am very proud. A few years ago I snapped this photo of a sunrise in our back field. As I watched darkness become dawn, I said this prayer : Dear Lord, Don't ever let me doubt in the darkness of life the things I know to be true in the light. And when the darkness pulls me always help me remember that Your Light holding me is far greater than any darkness trying to pull me. Amen.

So, I added the caption to the photo when I posted it on Facebook.
In these difficult times I pray we never forget the True Light holding us is always greater than anything we face.

In response to all of the hatred, anger, venom, and evil being blasted all over the media, I say this:

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

I learned a long time ago that in India my name means 'moonlike.' I pray that as the moon has no light of its only but what it reflects from the son, I want to have no light on my own but what reflects from the Son.