Month: March 2016

A Quick Thought

A Volatile Force

deborahanndykeman

One more day and it will be that time of year again! For me, April 1st marks the start of tornado season in Kansas. Yes, I understand that they are possible any time of year, and we have had a few surprises over the twenty plus years we have lived in this area. One night in particular comes to mind. We were eating supper on February 29, 2012 when the sirens began their loud and long howl…scaring us all into the pantry. No, probably not the best place to weather a tornado with flying cans of food, but our best interior room! This same tornado went on to Branson, Missouri and caused extensive damaged.

I’ve always heard that the general tornado period for this area is April through June. Those are the months of greatest activity. So, I watch with dread as the calendar creeps to April 1st each year, and sigh with relief when July 1st arrives. If we had a basement, maybe the stress level would go down a bit. If we ever move to another house, that will be a HUGE criteria for me!

We have been very blessed in this little town where we live. Tornadoes come in from the west, usually, and then take a more northern route just on the outskirts of our little place on the map. I have been very thankful for this, many times over the years.

So, as the season commences, I pray. I pray for those that will be involved, for those areas that will be hit, because every year there are so many. I pray for patience and peace…and for the ability to accept come what may. In the bigger picture beyond Kansas…that prayer applies as well.

Stay safe and enjoy this exciting time to come. It’s spring!

A Quick Thought

Snow on Daffodils, etc.

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By now, most of the nation has heard of the wildfires in Oklahoma and Kansas. Yes, they were close to us…about an hour or so away. One day last week, the smoke was very bad from the fires, drifting northeast and blanketing many small towns. Thankfully, no fatal injuries have been reported, and with the snow on Easter Sunday, I think the fires are out.

Snow on Easter Sunday. Growing up in Colorado made this a possibility many times. But, it would always melt quickly and then we would be back on the road to spring. Yesterday morning brought more snow to our area than we had seen all winter. And it was beautiful! By the end of the day, it was all melted and back to the 50’s again, but it was wonderful and surprising while it lasted.

So, last  night after Easter dinner and all the candy, etc. we went on a walk. There is an area my husband likes to walk…mainly because it is more secluded, with trees lining the road and not so busy. I really do like those aspects of that route as well, but early in the morning, or close to dark is a bit nerve racking for me. You never know what may be lurking in the cover of the trees, be it animal or human. His preferred walking area is the rail trail about a block from our house. Again…not my choice for the above reasons. In the summer, the poison ivy is rampant and I only have to hear about it to start itching and break out in a rash.

These pictures were taken a week or so ago on our walk along the route my husband prefers. It was a beautiful spring morning, and I wanted to capture that. I love walking beside the lake. Each time we go, the lake is different, depending on the sun, time of day, and wind. Water is unique in that way.

And no, there was no candy for me. For three weeks now I have had no carbs or sugar and only non-fat dairy. Yes, the day was difficult…but I have felt so much better, it has been worth it. Now to just keep away from all the left-over stuff! Have a great Monday!

A Day to Remember

Happy Resurrection Day!

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Tomorrow we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection. Remember that it’s not about the bunnies, the eggs or how much chocolate you eat. It is about what He has done for us. This song I am sharing from libbyallensongs says it very simply. Tomorrow, as you enjoy your family and friends, sunrise service, egg hunt and way more chocolate than you should…remember what Christ sacrificed for us. Most importantly, remember that He rose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father!

No infringement intended. Only sharing a song. Please go to libbyallensongs for more of her music. Thank you!

Writing

Inspiration

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Every writer has a kaleidoscope of images sifting through their mind as they write. For me, reading and writing as always been as a sort of ‘movie’ playing in my head. I see the characters…their hair color and clothing, and the setting of the story. It could be a certain season or a city,  a house, or all of the combined. If music is mention, that song plays through my brain, the tune very clear. I would imagine that it is the same for most people, or books would not be so popular! Writers just take it a bit further.

I have known writers that keep pictures of their characters above their desk. It could be an actor, or just a picture that evokes that character. Sometimes they have pictures of the house, the town or whatever season it is pinned near their writing space to keep them in that ‘scene’. I personally do not keep pictures of my characters, but they are in my mind, very clear and precise. I DO keep many notes on each character. If there is a house, I draw a floor plan and either draw or find a picture that is similar to that house.  If there is a town, I have a layout of it.

So it was with Rubyville. I had a wonderful time taking lots of pictures of my ‘Rubyville’. I also had lots of help. Thank you to all my family that contributed their skills in this process. No, the town is not on the cover, and our youngest’s desire to have a horse in a paddock didn’t make it either. But it was a lot of fun creating it. I will have those pictures I painted, framed and put up in my office…and I will always have a visual of Rubyville for each season. And yes, that is an inspiration to me.

After writing the first two books in the series, Julia Ryan created the covers. Now that has been an inspiration to me! She has captured the Barton family women, the essence of each story. I see those colors, the flowers…and it inspires me to write. They make me feel happy and put a huge smile on my face. I think you will agree. www.DesignByJulia.com

Writing

A Place to Call Home

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Where do you call home? And is that a particular country, state, city or rural community you live in? This question has many answers…and here is a bit of academics thrown at you on a Monday morning…there are many sub-points. I used to groan and open up my notebook when the teacher made that comment when I was in school. You knew the deluge was coming!

Much to my very excited surprise…the new cover is here on my blog this morning!!! Yippee!!! I thought I was going to have to do something…but Amazon was one step ahead of me. Ta-da…and it’s done! And isn’t it just gorgeous!? I LOVE this cover and I am SO excited to see what Julia Ryan is going to do with the next three! Please be advised, if the back cover is still showing blue and white, rather than a continuation of the front cover, it will change. I am still waiting for that, and they said 3-5 business days. The back cover is just as gorgeous as the front cover. Julia did an excellent job! Thank you, so very much, dear friend.

I began the Rubyville series out of a desire to remember all the small towns across Kansas that sit abandoned and hopeless looking. It seems so very sad to me that these places are only remembered by the elderly and when they are gone, most of the memories will be as well. These towns dot the Kansas landscape and they were once vital, thriving communities. Many people called these towns home at one time. Their houses were there, they shopped and collected mail, went to church on Sunday morning. Sometimes, more often than not, generations of a family resided in this one town for all their lives. They called that town, ‘home’, and they were very content to live out their days there.

The Rubyville series follows the women of the Barton family. William Barton founded Rubyville in 1863. He was in the railroad business…very lucrative for some during that time period. The series of books follows his daughter, Annabella and the next three generations as they live their lives. The books concentrate on the strong women in the family, after all, this is Women’s Christian Fiction! Yes, they each venture outside the confines of Rubyville, but they always return…wanting A Place to Call Home, A Place of Refuge, A Place to Heal and A Place in My Heart.

So where is your place to call home? Is it only a location on the map, or a place in your heart with special memories of family and friends? I know mine is that special place in my heart…and it doesn’t really matter where it is on the map.

Be sure to check out Julia’s site here: Julia Ryan / www.DesignByJulia.com

You may purchase my first book, To Thee I’m Wed through Amazon, as well as Rubyville, A Place to Call Home. These two books are also on Good Reads. The second book in the series, A Place of Refuge, is coming soon! So be on the look out! Thank you to those that have been so supportive by purchasing my books and leaving reviews! Reviews are cherished by an author, and give them feedback from you, the reader. So PLEASE review! It is greatly appreciated. Have a fantastic week!

 

Gardening

Spring Has Sprung!

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Well, I did it! I finally made it out to the yard, to do some much needed trimming. With the help of our son-in-law, son and daughter, the hedge is trimmed. That is a big accomplishment for me…something that has been wearing on me for about a year now. The birds were a bit distressed for a couple of hours, since that hedge is their home, but they settled down again with the help of some quiet time, and a bird feeder filled to the brim.

I know many of you are thinking, “Trim the hedge, what’s the big deal?” The problem with this hedge is that it grows very quickly. I love that aspect of it, and it was the reason I decided on that hedge. But you have to keep on top of it, or you have trees before long. Our hedge was very tall and I loved it for the privacy, but it was getting a bit scary as well. When you have to trim with a chain saw…it is out of control. Now it is a bit short, but when the leaves fill out, it will be lovely.

The picture at the top is of our magnolia in the backyard. It is pretty right now, all blossomed. I liked the view of the trellis in the background. Come late summer, that trellis will be filled with grapes. You can just make out our garden beyond that. It used to be fairly big, but this year, it may be about half. I did notice a couple rhubarb poking out of the soil…so a few survived the trauma of a few weeks ago. Lesson learned…don’t ask your husband to till the garden when you are in writing. Plants like rhubarb and horseradish, that are not obvious in the early spring, may not survive the helpful husband.

So, with a sigh of relief and a few sore muscles, I write this post. I still have some raking to do and a bit more yard clean-up, but the worse is over. And as I said, it will be lovely in a month or so.

Spring Daffodils
Fountain Fish Pond
Gardening

Spring Is In the Air!

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And I am not ready for it! As I look out my back door, watching the cardinals, (three or four pairs at last count), and the other little birds at our feeder, I groan. My daffodils, tulips and crocus are all coming up, and even my rose bushes are putting on leaves. The magnolia in the backyard is ready to burst with flowers…and I sigh.

Yes, I do love this time of year and I LOVE watching all of the above take place. It is life renewing, and all is fresh and young. It is an exciting time of year…but I am NOT ready for it! The weather here in Kansas has been gorgeous the past week or so and it is holding. Every day in the 70’s, bright sunshine and birds singing.

Usually this time of year, you can’t stop me from being outside and working in the yard. I couldn’t wait to get my hands into the cool soil and start planting. I usually had orders lined up with shrubs and roses waiting to be put into the earth. I purposely planted the hedge of Siberian elm because I wanted a sanctuary for cardinals…and it worked. First there was a very faithful pair and now there are several. They arrive each spring and take up residence in the elm hedge…and I am thrilled. I have planted many things in the yard for certain reasons, to attract little creatures and grandchildren. The grapes on the arbor outside the garden are a popular spot in late summer when the grapes are ripe. Grandma’s yard is snack time…and I love it! I don’t know how well my rhubarb and horseradish will do this year…but that is another post!

Spring has come upon us in a hurry this March. And I am not ready for it! The yard beckons to be raked…again. Roses need to be trimmed, shrubs cut back, and new green sprouts uncovered from their blanket of dead leaves. My little pond needs a good cleaning so that it will be ready for another summer home for lucky goldfish. Usually spring comes with a burst of energy for me…and this year I am not feeling it. Maybe it’s because it IS early…I am a little afraid of some really cold weather still in our future that will do some damage to the excited sprouts of green in our yard.

So, I will be praying for excitement and energy to complete the tasks at hand. Say hello to the little guy in the picture at the top. This is from 2009, one of the baby cardinals of three that year. He was just learning to fly and he spent the day on our trailer in the backyard. It might be just hoping on my part…I don’t know how long cardinals live. But I like to think he is one of the beautiful, plump ones at our feeder everyday, watching from the Siberian elm hedge. His little body a bright splash of red against the bare branches of the olive hedge. Happy spring to all!

Our Christian Walk

Wise Use of Time

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I was just talking with a dear friend on the phone, sharing prayer needs in our lives. It is easy to become burdened with all the ‘stuff’ that is happening in this world today…but when a friend is hurting, it is even more close to home. We will never understand why certain tests are allowed in this life, not this side of heaven. So many things happen that I do not understand, and I can become very frustrated with them. Examples of this:

Why are so many children abused, neglected and just thrown away in this world today? Don’t people understand that they are a gift from God?

Why do some people seem to just be knocked down time after time? One kind of testing, or affliction is hitting them continually, never seeming to give a break. Cancer, financial problems, relationships with others.

Why are people so angry and full of hate? Trying to attack anywhere and anyway they can? Don’t they understand that they are loved with an unconditional love…with mercy and grace bestowed upon them?

My list could go on and on with all that I want answers for…but the bottom line is that we do not live in a perfect world and we are not perfect people. Where people are, sin abounds, and it affects us all on some level. If concentrated on, this could be a very depressing way of looking at life.

When the phone conversation was finished, this song, sung by Joey Feek, was on FaceBook. Many of you know that she passed away on Friday, of cancer. The words are difficult to listen to, knowing that she is gone, but I personally think she lived her life, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

 

This made me think about my own life. Have I lived my life is such a way, that I have accomplished the tasks that I was given? Have I been a good testimony, have I raised my children as unto the Lord, have I been a good steward of what I have? When I was younger, I always thought I had plenty of time to work on all those listed items. Now that I am older, I don’t have so much time anymore…and that’s a bit scary.

So, instead of concentrating on all that’s bad, reliving all the wrongs done, I want to accomplish the life God would have me to live. That means I need to abide in Him, continually and always. No, all the wrongs in this world today will not go away or magically become better. But my prayer life will become deeper, my actions will be more of a testimony…and that has the ability to change my little small corner. What are you doing with the time you have been given?

 

 

Writing

Yippee!!!

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I am so excited…that I just had to share it with all of you!!! My friend, Julia Ryan, who did the cover for To Thee I’m Wed, just sent me her designs for the Rubyville series. They are absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait to see them in actual book format! Thank you again, Julia for doing such a fantastic job! You can check out her site right here:

Julia Ryan | http://www.DesignByJulia.com

Writing

Want to Be a Successful Writer? Ten Ways to GO PRO!

deborahanndykeman

The post below is from Author Kristen Lamb’s blog. This post will definitely be more for the writers/editors out there, but I wanted to share it because there is SO much great information. All of us need a kick in the pants every now and then…to motivate, direct and know that there are others behind us. It works wonders. Thank you, Kristen for some great ‘kick in the pants’ posts! Enjoy…

But saying we want to go PRO is easier than knowing what one actually looks like. To be blunt, there are far more people “playing writer” than “going pro.” Even those of us …

Source: Want to Be a Successful Writer? Ten Ways to GO PRO!