Author: deborahanndykeman

Writing has always been a love of mine. Except for school reports! I didn't cherish those moments. I began with poems in grade school, and short little stories that I illustrated. I created something for each family celebration and probably wore my family out. But I graduated to a longer 'book' by the time I was 18. Following traditional romance novel writing, I pounded out a pretty cheesy story on a Royal typewriter I had found at a garage sale. You didn't worry about your nails when using one of those! When four of our five children were still young, I wrote my first full-length book back in 1998. I followed it with three more in that series. Those are my current WIP, needing many updates and editing. I'm happy to say as of this writing, the fourth in the Love Defined series is written and waiting for edits! I can't wait to get this final book in the series into my reader's hands! Currently, I have published twelve books, creating the covers on most of them. The cover work is something I really enjoy! Stay tuned for more on that. My husband and I have been married for forty-one years, and we have five children and nine grandchildren. I've been a homeschooling mom, Sunday school teacher, AWANA director and a pastor's wife. I've worked as a CNA and an Activity Director. When I'm not busy writing...which I love, BTW, I'm working on home projects, marketing and attending events, where I love to meet you...my readers!
Yummy Food!

Tasty Thursday!

deborahanndykeman

Farmer’s Markets this time of year are wonderful! The fall harvest is at hand. Pumpkins and squash of all kinds are available. When we were a young couple with two toddlers, we lived just a block or so from a farm stand. It was located in a beautiful valley in upstate New York. It was lovely to walk there with our wagon, and fill it with squash of all sizes and colors. During that time I became familiar with varieties of squash I had never heard of. Most took a machete to cut up. But they were delicious! My favorites are acorn and butternut, but I usually made spaghetti squash. It was generally cheaper, and the children didn’t really think of it as squash.

Here are four recipes that looked yummy! That first one was wonderful…until the eggs were put on it. Don’t know if I could go for that. The last one was the way I generally made it. Will be trying those others! Happy squash-eating!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXuNaKShob0

Bible Verses, Our Christian Walk

Wednesday Verse

deborahanndykeman

So many times as Believers, we think a little bit of complacency with our Christian walk is just fine. Dabbling here and there in sin is no big deal. I know, I’ve done it myself…many times. None of us walk a perfect path in our day-to-day lives. We slip up, we make wrong decisions, we continue on in bad situations. We are human, and this will happen. The key is to get back on track as quickly as possible. ( I John 1:9) This verse in Philippians is always a check-point for me. When you apply it, it sifts out a lot of stuff that we think is okay…won’t hurt this time. Fill your life with this verse, use it as a ruler for your day-to-day walk with the Lord.

Philippians 4:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Our Christian Walk, Writing

Tuesday Teaser

deborahanndykeman

We humans are a prideful lot. If our feelings are hurt, we can stew for days, simmering just like a pot on the stove. Pride can keep us from forgiving a wrong done. Sometimes, this can take us a lifetime to get over. And then it may be too late.

There is a reason we are told not to let our anger go past the setting sun. Forgiveness heals our soul, is a balm to past hurts and injustices. It takes away the bitter taste of ‘being right’. It only takes you.

Tuesday Teaser - A Place to Heal

Just For Fun!

Monday One Liners

deborahanndykeman

My husband is on the roof – only a few inches away from an insurance claim that could completely change my life.

( I feel the need to add a disclaimer to this one. I have a fairly sarcastic sense of humor. My husband is afraid of heights, and I really do love him and want him around as long as possible.)

Our Christian Walk

How Long Has it Been?

deborahanndykeman

Jim Reeves is one of my favorite singers. His voice flows over you, deep an melodic. Have a beautiful Sunday. I pray your time with the Lord has been recent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe_kllNKXE0

Just For Fun!

Friday Trivia

deborahanndykeman

This trivia is for the birds. All you bird fans out there should give this a try. Some of the answers had me smiling. I guess everything has a name for a reason! (The answers are below the grumpy owl. Take a look at those eye brows!)

 

  • What is the proper term for a group of parrots?
  • The Passenger Pigeon, now extinct, was endemic to which continent?
  • What is a group of owls called?
  • What is the fastest bird in the world when in its hunting dive?
  • What is a baby swan called?
  • What is a flock of crows called?

owl-1019062_1920

 

  • Pandemonium
  • North America
  • A parliament.
  • The Peregrine Falcon
  • A cygnet
  • A Murder

swans-2441210_1920

Yummy Food!

Fall Baking

deborahanndykeman

October…that time of year when my mind wanders over recipes and what to bake. The cooler weather puts me into a baking mood. I absolutely love the smell of apples cooking on the stove, warm cinnamon and nutmeg drifting through the house. The air cool enough that I’m not dripping.

The beginning of October signals the start of three months that I really love. I have warm, happy memories of baking as a child, helping with the preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. As I’ve said on here before, my mother went all out for the holiday season. I’ve never taken it that far, but these next three months hold a special place in my life. Not to mention several birthdays coming, including another grandchild in late November.

My husband and I were married on October 20th. At the time, I wasn’t thrilled with that because I had always pictured a spring wedding and all those colors. Autumn had always had those oranges, yellows and reds that I didn’t really want for wedding decor. But now, it’s just a nice time of year to have been married. Everything seems to slow down a bit.

Back to the smell of apples simmering on the stove. This recipe made me think of that. The wrapping of apple bits into dough looked a bit time-consuming to me, but I think the finished product would be delicious! I’m not much for the tedious processes. More like mix it all together quickly so you can get it into the oven. But I really appreciate those bakers that are willing to take that time. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbGqztFaet0

Bible Verses

Wednesday Verse

deborahanndykeman

This is another verse that I used often when our children were small. It was the first verse I had them memorize. And with all the verses our children memorized, I tried to do the same. My memory skills were never great, and they have become worse as I grow older, but I tried. If nothing else, having five children learn them, helped to put them into my mind and recall them when I needed to.

I will make an exception to the statement I made about trying to memorize all the verses they were learning. By the time our children were in AWANA, they were learning them so quickly and so many, that I kind of gave up! Even after working with AWANA children for almost 15 years, hearing them recite the same verses over and over, I still did not have them completely memorized. But I did generally know where they were to be found in the Bible, and the general idea of the verse. At least enough for me to look them up and get them into context! Someday, if I am ever without my Bible, I pray those bits and pieces come together.

Psalm 56:3 King James Version (KJV)

3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

And here it is again:

Psalm 56:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 [a]When I am afraid,
[b]I will put my trust in You.

Whenever possible, I had our children memorize a verse in the King James Version. I think it has a certain flow to it, and it is beautiful. I would use the New American Standard Bible to clarify if they were stumbling over a certain word. Which is why I like to include both on here.

The picture above and below made me think of this verse. You follow that boardwalk for the first time. You don’t know where it’s going, or what you’re going to find along the way. Our lives are rather like that much of the time. So, you head out, and when the path becomes twisting and dark, and you become afraid, you put your trust in Him. He will lead you through.

fall-1432252_1920Have a wonderful Wednesday!