JUST PRAY

Have you ever been discouraged, felt stretched to the limit? Yeah? Well I guess we have lots in common, at least today. Some days, that's where I am too. Joylene Nowell Butler, author of Dead Witness, suggested on her blog the other day, to try to make your mind just stop for a few moments. In other words, clear your thoughts. I suppose I do that every morning during my prayer time. Be still and listen for the words of God. I heard a sermon recently where the pastor said she heard another pastor say we should spend at least five minutes a day in prayer. She said, "I think there might be five minutes a day I'm NOT in prayer." I have to agree with her. I start in the early morning, before the sun comes up. Be Still and Know that I am the Lord your God. It is then, during those times I feel at peace. During those still, quiet moments when HE and I are alone. I am also practicing Ms. Butlers approach to "clearing" my mind. A little while ago a situation arose which upset me. Instead of praying, or "clearing" my mind, I tried to fix it. Because that's what I do. I'm a fixer. Maybe that's why so many people come to me. I'm a fixer. A friend came over for coffee a few days ago and she reminded me that I can't "fix" everybody. I can't take everybody under my wing. Maybe that's the reason for this blog today. I can't fix it, but I know how to help you fix it. Just pray. When someone says to me, "all I can do is pray," it always amazes me. Do they have any idea of the power of prayer? I've just spent the past hour "casting all my cares on the Lord and HE will sustain you, HE will never let the righteous fall." (Psalms 55:22) I'm not sure who the Lord intended to read this blog today, but if you would like email me and let me know. We'll pray together. The rest of you have a blessed day. Let me know how you're doing.

WE WON THE LOTTERY

I don't know about you, but in the past few months my in box has been flooded with "free offers". We have received free lunches, dinners, shopping sprees at Walmart and Home Depot. They want me to fill out a short survey to tell him how they are doing. Not to mention the latest scam, we are millionaires. I don't know how many emails I have received telling me, all I have to do is give them my phone number, my address, my full name and I can't remember what else, so that they can deposit 200 million dollars into my account. I learned that I have relatives I didn't know I had in another country who also want to deposit 10 or 15 million dollars in my account. Unfortunately I am also hearing from people who present themselves as the Pastor of a church, telling me one of the parishioners has passed away, and found me, a long lost relative, and they will be depositing hundreds of millions of dollars into an account in my name. Another one just today said Fed-Ex would deliver an ATM card from Africa. He also told me the President of "my" country had authorized me to be one of the recipients of this windfall. Well, don't call me asking for a loan, because we didn't really win the lottery. We're still like everyone else on the block, just happy to be alive and well.

KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD

Imagine my surprise when I checked my email and learned author Joylene Nowell Butler (Dead Witness-2008) nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger award. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I read her words about me. Katt's Komments. Ever heard the saying that God secretly places angels on earth to make our lives better? I know it's supposed to be a secret, so let's keep it that way... but I'm pretty sure Katt Perry is one of those angels. I've chosen Katt for the Kreativ Blogger Award because of her innate ability to leave you feeling better off than you were before you read your blog. Her creativity, her love for life takes shape in her prose, those delicious little antidotes of everyday life that are food for the soul. Here's to you, Katt for making blogland a better because of you. Thank you Joy, for this amazing award. You made my day. I would like to return the favor and in turn nominate one of my very dear friends who has been an inspiration to me. WomenofFaith.blogspot.com by Linore Rose Burkard, author of Before the Season Ends and The House In Gosvenor Square. Taken from the jacket of her latest book, "Linore is a writer whose love of God and the Regency period shines throughout her work." She is and has always been an inspiration to me. My faith is stronger because of her. Blessings to you my sweet Linore. Once again, Joy, I thank you for this honor, and more importantly your friendship.

SERVICE DOG

Well, it didn't take him long. Or should I say it didn't take me long to adjust to him. The newest member of our family weighed in at 4.5 pounds this morning. I had to leave him alone last week and the entire time I was gone he cried. When I got home after being gone about two hours his little face was wet, his chin was wet and it looked like someone had shoved his face into a big bowl of water. He chases Bailey all over the house. Bailey loves to sleep with a stuffed animal. The second day Meko was here, he and Bailey played for a long time chasing each other. When Bailey got tired he found his toy and tried to snuggle with it on the couch, ready to take a nap. Meko isn't able to jump up on the couch yet, but when Bailey started to fall asleep, the stuffed animal laid on the edge of the couch. Meko jumped up and jerked it away from Bailey and took off running. The two of them seem to love each other most of the time. This afternoon we were invited to a birthday party. We were getting ready to go. Meko was at my feet, but Bailey was sound asleep. As we were walking out the door, I leaned over and picked Meko up. My husband said, I don't think you can take him inside, can you? I said don't worry, if they ask I'll tell him he's a service dog.

I'm Just a Phone Call Away

We live in a hurting world. I met several people this morning who are looking for jobs. In this economy, that's quite a task, trying to find a job. I think even if you are skilled, the task is difficult. I read an article regarding the publishing world. It seems that field is not exempt either. I talked to a mother this morning who has been driving her son around trying to find a job. She said I have become the chauffeur now for both my sons. One of them had to move back in with me. She continued, "he lost his job, he couldn't pay the rent, he has two babies. What could I do?" I know it's hard to stay upbeat and positive when everything looks so bleak. It has to get better. One of my friends was having a difficult time. It seemed as though not much was going "right" in her life. I told her, "remember when we were six years old and our bike had a flat tire?" That was a big deal. It just about ruined the day. Today, a flat tire on our bicycle would make us laugh!!!!! And it could be taken care of in no time. Problems today just keep on coming. Until you feel like you can't handle one more thing. Even though problems keep mounting, don't forget you can always count on your friends. Pick up the phone, share your concerns with them. They'll be there for you. One of my friends always reminds me, "I'm just a phone call away." I try to be that kind of friend too.

Hope, Peace, and Love

Over the past two weeks we have learned four of our friends have been diagnosed with some form of cancer. There were a few days when I was afraid to open an email or pick up the phone. Who will be next? One of the reasons I'm sharing this with you, and maybe as a reminder to myself, that we need to live each day to the fullest. I need to change my mind set that, maybe I'll do it tomorrow, or next week or next month. One of our friends, who is fighting for her life, had planned a beautiful vacation with her husband. They were supposed to leave in just a few weeks. When I learn about my friends serious health issues I realize the problems I have are nothing. My issues can be resolved easily. A dear friends Mother told me one time, "if the problem can be resolved with money, it's not a problem at all." When she first said it I didn't really understand what she meant. But now I do. I am praying for my friends with cancer. I am praying that they will find peace and comfort during this very stressful time. I am also praying for their caregivers. If you know someone who is hurting, make sure you send them a note today just to tell them you love them and are thinking about them.

VACATIONS OVER

I spend lots of time reading other peoples blogs. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. One of the comments in her blog was that we need to write everyday. I've been away from my office for a couple weeks,so when I sat down to write, I had to clear cobwebs from my brain. Not my computer, but my brain. While I was gone, I didn't have my lap top. I thought it would be a good idea to rest. My mind is constantly "writing". If I'm working on a plot, that's where my mind is. If I'm updating my blog, it's the same thing. So my mind is constantly in the "ready to write mode". I just wanted some time off. Now, I'm having trouble keeping my seat on my seat, if you know what I mean. I can think of a hundred reasons not to open my latest WIP. I can do it tomorrow.I've got laundry to do, I've got weeds to pull in the flower beds or I've got to clean the house. However, there is a little voice inside my head that says, "go sit at your desk and write, write, write." It sounds a little like my Mother. Maybe I better listen to this one.

Speakers Beware

While we were away this past month someone hacked into a few of my accounts. What a joy to know that someone else could be me! The other thing I was upset about was the fact that I couldn't do anything about it. I didn't have a lap top with me. One of my friends computers had a virus, another had dial up, which took months to access, and another friend told me he hadn't logged on to his computer in about three months. I received several emails to my account telling me my password had been changed. And of course all of that was after the fact. As if that wasn't enough, I was also "scammed." A man impersonating a minister invited me to speak in London England. The "red flag" was the fact that they needed me there "on such short notice." I Googled him and learned there were ten other speakers who had gotten the same letter, and they were waiting for credit card information from us so they could process our UK work permit. I suppose all of these things could have happened while I was at home, but it wouldn't have gone on for almost a month. One lady received an invitation from the "other me" and she sent me a nasty gram! Please lady, it's really me now. I suppose the moral to this story is don't ever leave home without your lap top, or better still don't leave home? Computers and the Internet are great tools and I don't know what I would do without either one. However, these past two weeks were an experience I won't soon forget. I hope it never happens to you. In fact, I hope it never happens to me again either.