Learning from the best...

About three weeks ago, I attended the Christian Writers Guild Craftsman residency as part of the course I'm taking with them at the moment. This year-long Craftsman course follows the two-year Apprentice and the one-year Journeyman courses, both offered through the Guild, which is owned now by Jerry B. Jenkins. There are ten of us in this first of all Craftsman courses and it was a real pleasure to meet the others and get to know those who have the same dreams I do--to write for the Lord and to write to the best of our abilities. We bonded immediately and are looking forward to seeing one another again in February when we attend the Writing for the Soul Conference in Colorado Springs.

Another fantastic aspect of this five-day residency (aside from the wonderful lodgings, great location, and scrumptious meals) was meeting Jerry B. Jenkins, John Perrodin, James Scott Bell, Chris Fabry, and McNair Wilson. Sitting down one-on-one (on three separate occasions, no less) with the author of the Left Behind series (as well as over 150 other books) was a humbling, thrilling, fun, and learning-filled experience. Who'd think that I would be trading opinions, jokes, stories about our kids and grandkids, and ideas about the plot of my novel with the man who authored the greatest Christian fiction series of all time? Certainly not me. But there I was. The individual meetings with Jerry, and other great authors--Jim, McNair, Chris, and John--gave me memories to last a lifetime (I know, it's cliche) and enough knowledge to ponder for the next fifty years. Learning from the best places certain expectations on my work. I have no excuses now.

Until the next time...

Settled in...

It's been several months since I've written anything here. We moved safely (albeit not without our problems) to Anchorage, Alaska, in early August. We're now living on Elmendorf Air Force Base in a beautiful home. My son-in-law has been in Korea for nearly three months now, so the clock is ticking on that year-long tour.

Winter sets in early up here and this year was no exception. Our daylight hours are limited now to about five per day and that will continue to decrease until the first day of winter. After that, it's all downhill to spring! It began snowing earlier this afternoon and is still coming down lightly. Although this wasn't the first snow of the season, it did come in time to cover up some of the dirty stuff along the side of the road. There are outdoor Christmas decorations appearing here and there on base and the new fallen snow is a beautiful, fresh backdrop to the glowing lights.

I'm afraid Christmas may be a lonely proposition this year for my daughter and me. With her husband in Korea and the rest of our loved ones living in Michigan, Kentucky, and Florida, we're looking at spending the holidays in a quiet way. I'm still looking for a church up here and I'm hoping to find one before the holidays. Perhaps I'll find some friends there who are interested in celebrating the birth of our Lord in our home. I'll keep praying.

Today is also my daughter's birthday! She was born on Thanksgiving Day and I can't think of anything I could be more thankful for than another precious child!

Until the next time...

Old Home Week

I do believe that if I never see a cardboard box again, it'll be too soon. In the past week, we've packed dozens of boxes of our belongings and frankly, I'm beginning to think we have too much stuff.

The past few days have been eventful in other, more pleasant ways, too. I reconnected with an old friend, one I haven't spoken to, nor seen, in years. We talked for a long time, exchanging news of our families and mutual acquaintances, what we're up to now, and how life has treated us for the past few years. It was a wonderful way to touch base with someone who was a very important part of my life and who, though distance and circumstances may keep us from ever speaking with or seeing one another again, remains an important part of my past.

I also wrote a lot this week and was blessed with God's guidance about something that's been bothering me for a long time. I love it when I find His direction in unexpected places, when He speaks to me through others--oftentimes repeatedly, in case I don't get the message the first time! I believe He wants me to be patient and to rely on His timing, rather than on a timeline I feel is appropriate. So my goal for the next few weeks is to exercise patience, watch for His guidance, and read His Word.

Until the next time...

The clock is ticking...

The time is near. Soon we'll be bidding farewell to Mississippi and traveling on to Ron's next base. Anchorage, Alaska, here we come! Although packing up our belongings and moving from the house that's been our home for the past three years is wrenching, and leaving our loved ones in Michigan, Kentucky, and Florida is tough on the heartstrings, we're nevertheless anticipating our new home and the adventures that await us with high hopes and great expectations.

We're driving cross-country, then traveling the Alcan Highway into Canada for a couple of days, and back into the U.S. when we cross the Alaskan/Canadian line. I can't imagine the scenery that awaits us as we travel westward, then turn north toward our 49th state. We lived there before moving to Mississippi and it is truly one of God's greatest masterpieces.

This time, rather than living in the middle of the state near Fairbanks, we'll be on the coastline. Over 60% of the state's population lives in Anchorage and many of the same restaurants and stores that exist in the lower 48 can be found there as well. Although I'll miss seeing the northern lights as often as I did the first time I lived in Alaska, I'm sure the lower part of the state has enough beauty to delight me constantly.

I also look forward to continuing to write for the Lord, to greater inspiration and a renewed sense of responsibility toward fulfilling the purpose of my life. God has moved me (literally) in directions I never dreamed of when I was younger. I've seen more places, had more adventures, and been blessed in ways too numerous to list. I can't understand His generosity, but I will do my level best to live up to His expectations.

Until the next time...

Mission Impossible? Never!

Who am I? What am I doing here? Do I have an assignment in life, a mission to perform? These and other questions are ones that, sooner or later, all human beings begin to ponder. I'm no exception.

My sister, Shelley, and I had an interesting email exchange today on that very topic. One of the characteristics I've always admired about my younger sister (younger by a mere thirteen months, mind you) is her drive. Shel has an enduring sense of direction; she sets a goal and attains it by literally writing down a list of things that must be done in order to reach that goal--and then doing them, one by one by one. It doesn't matter if it's as mundane as writing a shopping list or as complex as creating her own web site. It gets done because she gets it done. Despite a grueling painting schedule in her own art studio and gallery exhibitions of her work all around the country, multiple family fun-stuff occasions, her husband's heavy international business travel, a magazine-worthy herb and flower garden maintained strictly by the two of them, a huge house and no household help (other than her husband), three grown children (two in college, one married and forging her own career), and being in the late stages of developing an art residency along the rocky coast of Maine, she's also accepted a teaching position with Central Michigan University to teach art. I'd feel like Stretch Armstrong; she feels like the Energizer Bunny.

What does all this have to do with questioning who we are and what we're doing here? Everything. The point is, despite all the roles she plays in her life, Shelley knows who she is. Rather than being confused by the vigorous obligations of her busy life and getting lost in the drama and hub-bub of being so active in each one of them, she is instead invigorated by the pull and tug of the things she loves to do. She draws strength from what others might find exhausting; she grows and learns and stretches and succeeds because she dares to try.

Yes, she gets tired and there are times when she probably wonders if she'll get it all done. But she's made provisions for those times--she plans. She writes it down, reads it, does it, and then crosses it off her list. It sounds so simple and in theory, it is. The trick, of course, is in actually doing those four things and that's something Shel picked up on early in life. There's no way she could succeed as spectacularly as she has (and continues to do) if she didn't organize and then act on it. In order to do that, she has to know who she is and what she--with all her strengths and weaknesses, both her assets and her hang-ups--is capable of doing.

Successful writing is a similar proposition. We writers can dream and doodle and talk and participate in forums and form writing groups and read books and call ourselves writers all we want, but if we don't write, we aren't successful. If we don't know who we are, we can't do what we're supposed to do. And if we don't do what we're supposed to do, we're not fulfilling our mission or completing our assignment.

Bottom line: Knowing who we are + doing what we do best = fulfilling our dreams.

Until the next time...

The new and improved DeeTales!

This is the inaugural post of my newly-designed, highly-improved, class-act blog. Many thanks go to George and Ashley Weis of Tekeme Studios for all their help in creating a blog design that so accurately reflects my wishes and the "feel" I wanted for my blog. I asked for a "writerly and Christian" design and they hit it spot-on. Not only were they incredibly friendly and easy to work with, but their professionalism and creativity were first rate. I highly recommend them and their studio to anyone looking for anything remotely associated with a web site, blog, copywriting, or any other professional needs along that line.

Thanks a million, George and Ashley! I will definitely be a repeat customer and look forward to working with you in the future when I need my web site and business cards designed.

Until the next time...

Lazy days of summer

It's been a while since I've posted, but it's been time well-spent. Our week with 15-month-old Cannon is now behind us--aside from all our wonderful memories and tons of photos we need to have developed. Darice and Ron returned him to his mom this past Saturday and swapped him for his two older brothers. Dustin and Hunter will be staying for a full two weeks.

Already, we've had a blast. The boys have been swimming in their pool, played on the playground behind our house, ridden their bikes, had a movie and popcorn night, and had a little friend from down the street come to our house to visit. They played with our kitties, Maestro, and Mac the Bunny. Darice cleaned out the under-the-stairs closet so they can use it for their playroom/fort/toy stashaway. Frankly, they have it made. They're sleeping on a queen-sized inflatable mattress; they have lots of room and it's cushy and cozy. They've been very good about going to bed when we tell them to... and they're just as good about getting up in the morning. Early. Very, very early. But we wouldn't trade this time with them for any amount of sleeping-in time.

No, these are special days, days that will pass as quickly as water through a hose. At this moment in time, they think coming to visit Grandma and Aunt Darice and Uncle Ron is just the neatest thing imaginable. There will come a time, I know, when they will have little time for any of us. Sports, girls, friends, school, other activities, and just plain growing up will usurp the precious time we spend with them now. I will not forget a moment of it; I will keep these long, hot, lazy days of a Mississippi summer spent in the company of my grandsons in my mind and my heart for all time.

Until the next time...