Month: September 2015

Writing

The Secret to a Powerful Author Brand

deborahanndykeman

Wow! I read this post and was just so excited! It answered so many questions I’ve had about my platform and my author brand. So of course I had to share it on here! For those of you that are not writers, you probably won’t care too much, but I know there are several that would love to read this. You should check out her blog…lots of great information on there. Here it is:

I studied the neuroscience behind branding. What made content go viral? Was there something about content that the human brain reacted to positively or negatively? Was all content equal?

Source: The Secret to a Powerful Author Brand

A Day to Remember

With Honor and Integrity, a job well done

deborahanndykeman

Well, it has finally happened. Tonight, on my way home from work, I was pulled over by a policeman for speeding. This has certainly been an area of pride for me…never having been stopped  for anything in 35 years of driving. That doesn’t mean I haven’t deserved it in all those years, just never been caught.

police carI was in an area that I am usually very careful in. I was thinking of other things as we all do when we drive. I happened to glance down and saw I was going a little more than I should be, you know how it creeps up on you? Just as I did that, I saw the black and white SUV, sandwiched between two other cars. I glanced at my speed again and corrected it, not really thinking of it again until I heard the siren. My first thought was how I was going to pull over for the emergency vehicle on the rather unsafe road. Then I saw the lights of the same SUV. I knew it had finally happened.

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I slowed down and pulled over as soon as I could, and pushed the ‘down’ button for my window. A very nice man cautiously approached my vehicle and I gave him a smile. When he said I had been going a little fast, I nodded and admitted that I had. Then he said he would need to see my license and proof of insurance. That was the bad part.

My husband has told me over and over that I shouldn’t put my purse in the trunk in case I get pulled over. He said my license needed to stay with me. What does he know? He only holds a CDL and has driven a few hundred thousand miles in his career. So, I politely told the policeman, (with a smile of course) that my purse was in the trunk. He said I could step out and get it and then he moved away from my car. I told him he could get it if he wanted to. I think of that now and shake my head. Every blonde hair on my head is standing at attention. But all I could think of was that you are not to get out of your car when stopped. He told me it was fine and he followed me to the trunk while I explained, very politely of course, that my husband had warned me to not put it there. The policeman said it was probably the safest place after all.

I went back to my car and found my insurance and registration while the policeman looked up my information. Probably pretty boring!  I talked with my eleven year old and explained why I had been stopped. When he cautiously approached my vehicle again, he gave me my license and said he was giving me a warning to slow down and drive safely and told me to have a good day. I wished him the same.

This 50th year for me has been a difficult one. I wouldn’t want to live it again. So many changes, so many hard times. Now I can add my first ‘being pulled over by a policeman’ to the list! Someday I will look back on the year and see the growth in my life and the need for the things that have happened. Right now, I just feel buried.

All that said…I thought I would be in a panic when I was pulled over. Probably cry out of sheer terror, not trying to save myself from a ticket as I’ve heard women admit to. But I was strangely calm, panic free and just waiting to see what was in store. Thank you God, for your peace!

What stands out in my mind from this newest experience is the job these men and women do on a daily basis. That is why I wanted to write and share this post. As the policeman approached my car, he was cautious, almost hesitant and I felt badly for that. I would not want to be that person walking up to the vehicle. You would not know what to expect. Today, it was an older woman caught daydreaming. Tomorrow it could be a criminal or someone on drugs that pulls out a gun. We live in a scary, angry world.

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I have two son-in-laws that happen to be brothers that would like to be policeman. I keep telling them they are crazy. But I also admire them and those that do have this job. It needs to be done and it needs to be done with honor and integrity on their part, respect on ours. So, this is a big thank you to all those out there doing this job everyday. And a ‘thank you’ to the one that stopped me tonight and reminded me very nicely of what my responsibility was. I pray you have a good day also.

Our Christian Walk

Churches that Start in the Wrong Place (or Stop Trying to be like the Early Church)

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Source: Churches that Start in the Wrong Place (or Stop Trying to be like the Early Church)

Again, this post says it much better than I, so I wanted to share it with you. Gives you some food for thought. What kind of church do you attend?

Our Christian Walk

We all need a little Tigger in our lives.

deborahanndykeman

friends clipart.gif 2 It’s a Saturday morning, so it’s time for cartoons. How many of you were part of the generation that looked forward to this cherished time? No school, so you woke up early…even though you couldn’t the rest of the week. You crept quietly to where your television set was located, not wanting to wake your parents. Then you were in cartoon heaven for a few short minutes/hours until the sun came up and morning routine of dressing and breakfast began. Those years didn’t last very long for me, but I remember them well. No, Winnie the Pooh wasn’t one that was one the cartoon line-up then, but he’s just a cute little guy so I wanted to include him here. And after all…he’s a great friend! Just ask Tigger.

What’s a great friend for you? We all have a set of criteria in our minds for a true friendship. For me a list would include someone to talk to about ANYTHING. Someone that supports my endeavors, my dreams even if they don’t have those same ones. (No, I’m not asking anyone to jump out of a plane with me, but they should certainly be watching if I do!) Someone that encourages through difficult times and celebrates with the good ones. Someone that cares about me and wants to share my life, whatever that may entail.friends clipart

Am I that kind of friend? Do I fit the criteria that I require of someone else? Do I REALLY care if a friend is having a bad day, if they need to talk? Do I listen even though the topic is not my favorite? Am I there for the important times in their life, even if it means standing on the solid ground watching them jump from a plane? Do I truly have a desire to be part of their life and share in the ups and downs?

Examine these questions. Apply them to the people in your life that you call friends. For many of us, that group may be a select few. I’ve always said you can have many acquaintances in life. People you can enjoy being with, have fun for a time. But I think the people that meet the criteria for a true friend are much harder to find.

For me, I think that’s a good thing. I know I can’t even begin to be a true friend to hundreds of people. It would be an exhausting proposition for any of us. I can pray for many people. I can and do pray for needs of others, our country, encouragement when I know someone is burdened. I rejoice when I know a need has been met.

But a TRUE friend? I have several that come to mind. Those that have seen me through hard times and good. Those that have encouraged me, talked with me, given of their time when I know they have had better things to do. Those that have shown support in little ways, often not seen by others. I pray I have been and will be that person for others. friends-clipart 3

As a Believer, my friendship criteria comes from my relationship with God. Jesus Christ sets the standard and of course it’s a great one. If I apply what He has done for me in my relationship with others, I will be a true friend. Those ‘acquaintances’ will benefit as well. ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ is an old hymn, but it has some great words to live by. You should ‘check it out’ sometime. Remember it the next time you’re sitting on a log with a group of your friends. Thank God for those people in your life that make this road we travel a little easier to bear at times and just down right fun as well. Have a great Saturday!

Writing

Happy Labor Day!

deborahanndykeman

white 450x450It’s Labor Day…so today you RELAX. Go to the beach, the lake, the mountains. Have a picnic or just stay home and do NOTHING! While you are having down-time, please download a copy of my book from your favorite retailer for half-price, today only. Enter coupon code, QF79J at check-out. (This is NOT case sensitive.) Remember, today only. It’s available at https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/870/newest/0/5.99/full, (about half-way down the page), Barnes and Noble, kobo, Apple and Oyster. Thank you so much!

Gardening

I wish these for you…

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I wanted to talk a little bit about the header, (I think that’s what it is called), I put on here the other day. First of all, my eyes track to the cranky kitty each time I look at this photo. No, this is not our cat but a friend of our cat. They sit, a careful distance from one another and visit each day. I think the cat is a stray and our cat, Cassie, seems to attract many of them. It’s that or the bird feeder in our yard with 100 birds surrounding it each morning!

Our son took this picture of our side yard. This is part of our view out our back door. Those are olive bushes I planted a few years ago to block the view of the neighbors. I have a small pond I built out of limestone to the left of the picture. I usually have a trickle of water and goldfish in it, but not this summer. This summer it’s doing a great job of growing moss and holding wet leaves.

To the right of this picture is a fireplace I built out of the bricks that were part of the two chimneys in our attic. When we replaced our roof a couple summers ago, we took out the chimneys before they fell through the ceiling. I thought the fireplace was a great reminder of their use at one time. We haven’t used the fireplace very much. Just a few times to roast hot dogs and s’mores. Usually it’s too hot out to enjoy the fire and then too cold. It’s hard to sit outside in the snow when your back door beckons just a few feet away.

I also have a climbing rose on an arbor in this same area. Roses border the sidewalk. I love roses, the sweetest smelling ones. There is just something old-fashioned and pleasant that assails your senses as you pass by.

None of this may seem very amazing to all of you. But it is to me. When we moved into this house almost 11 years ago, that entire area was a driveway. With the help of my son, we transformed it into a pleasant place to relax, and someday, I WILL sit at the bistro table and sip my coffee, listening to the birds and the trickle of the pond as a flash of orange passes in the dark water. These are the moments that make life something to look forward to and relish in. The times when your thoughts are at peace and your body rests. I wish these for you too.

Our Christian Walk

What if?

deborahanndykeman

What does WAY to much Coke and theater popcorn do? Well, here I sit at four a.m. really wanting to sleep but my mind is racing around in circles. I mean it has been a crazy month, with more to go, but seriously?

My husband and I rarely go to the movies. We have Netflix, and that suits me just fine. I really don’t mind watching shows or movies at a later date. But every now and then, it’s nice to go to a real theater and sit in the dark with the sound booming from all corners. And eat popcorn, drinking Coke. It just has a special, kind of old-fashioned feel to it. When someone gives you the tickets to do it…even more special. Because we all know how much that popcorn costs and it isn’t cheap anymore!

Tonight we saw ‘War Room’. When I first viewed the trailer for it, I wasn’t really all that impressed. I have enjoyed the other movies put out by the same people, but this one just didn’t look that thrilling. Well, I was mistaken. No, it doesn’t have action-packed scenes or eye-catching scenery. But it does have a message, and it’s a good one.

I don’t want to spoil the movie for those that haven’t seen it yet. But some food for thought. What if each one of us started taking care of our own thoughts and actions?What if our daily goal was to pray for those around us, encourage them, seek their best and not our own? What if the relationships we have with the people in our lives were more important than our careers, our homes and cars? What if God’s word was the manual for our lives, the local church the shelter in the time of storm and those attending the family that encourages us, loves us and keeps us accountable? What if?

A Day to Remember

I am officially a published author!

deborahanndykeman

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View my book here:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/574005

Thank you to Julia Ryan for the beautiful cover and to my daughter Britta Ann for all her help with the technical stuff.  I’m excited to start this new journey in my life and would like you to share it with me.