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!
Our Christian Walk

What if?

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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!

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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.

Just For Fun!

Treasured Moments

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River Forest Stream in Summer Have you ever meandered along a meadow brook like the one pictured here? The trees would clasp their branches over your head, sheltering you from the noon day sun. You could rest beside the slow-moving water, your back against the trunk of an arching tree. Maybe take off your shoes and dip a toe in the cool water before ‘going all the way’ and standing barefoot, the clear water rippling against your ankles. You could lean your head back and close your eyes, listening to the gentle gurgle of the stream, the birds singing in the shade of the trees. A breeze would whisper through the green corridor and you could sigh with contentment and peace.

Mountain StreamOr maybe you’ve hiked along a mountain trail, climbing over the occasional rocks until the rush of water grew louder in the trees. You pressed on, following the sound until you brushed past the edge of the woods and stood at the brink of all that roaring water tumbling over the smooth rocks. You could breathe deeply of the wet earth and pine trees in the spring sunshine. All that water would beckon you to cool your tired feet. A boulder beside the stream would be your chair as you slid your toes into the frigid, sharp depths. Tiny stabs against your skin as you adjusted to the spring flow.

What about the night air, crickets chirping to one another? Fireflies flicker in the dark trees, tiny lanterns spaced in the meadow. The silvery light of the moon stretches across the navy surface of the water, pulling your gaze to the heavens above. What sweet peace fills your soul as you revel in all that has been created. These are the treasured moments. The ones that come far and too few between. Remember to enjoy them this summer, either alone or with those that are special to you. I know I will be looking for some!Mountain Stream at night

Marriage

The wife I want to be when I grow up…

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CinderellaIt may start out with Cinderella. A little girl wants to wear the frilly, flowing gown and the sparkly, glass slippers. And, “Oh yeah, I need a Prince to go with that pretty dress!” The husband of her dreams is actually an accessory.

Summer SceneI moved on to the cottage perched daintily in a grassy meadow, pink flowers sprinkled here and there, a rose covered white picket fence guarding the little house. I would have lots and lots of children skipping through the meadow, laughing and playing together in utter enjoyment of one another’s company. I don’t know where they all slept in that tiny house, but dreams don’t make sense a lot of the time. A husband and father…he was around…somewhere.

As I grew older, I thought more about the kind of husband I actually wanted to be married to. Of course he would have to be handsome and love me immensely. Yes, I would love him and I still wanted the little cottage and a couple of children. They would still frolic in the meadow, loving one another and never arguing. I don’t know why I thought this, I grew up the oldest of four. But again, dreams seldom make sense.

Thankfully, by the time I was old enough to marry I was thinking more about the attributes of a husband. I wanted him to be patient and kind, hard-working and willing to support a family. (Remember, I was down to two children by this time, not a tough job.) I wanted him to love the Lord as I did and live his life for Him. Of course I still hoped he would be handsome and funny and love me forever. I still wanted the rose covered picket fence and adorable house.

And what kind of wife was I going to be? I knew I could cook and clean and again, I was the oldest of four and had babysat…A LOT before I married. I could do all the everyday tasks of general survival and I was and am still pretty good at them. But what kind of wife am I?

Do I lift my husband up in prayer each day? Do I support him in his endeavors as he always has mine? Do I give him a smile even when I don’t wish to, a stroke of his back when I know he’s down? Do I prepare a special meal for him just because he means so much to me and I want to show him I care…even when my day has been lousy? Do I love him and stick with him even when there are times when I want to run from all the responsibilities of being a wife and mother?

Honestly…I can answer ‘no’ to each question above.

The wife I want to be when I grow up…is no longer a dream. I can make it my reality, my life. Not through my own strength, but God is there, showing me the way. The wife I want to be is loving and kind. Giving that pat and smile even when I don’t ‘feel’ like it. Being by my husband’s side even when I want to run. There is no honor or beauty in ‘having our own way’ or expressing our ‘rights’.

I am fortunate and blessed. My husband shows me daily how to be loving and kind. He always has been there for me, even when I haven’t deserved it or earned it. No, it’s not a special day for us…not an anniversary of any kind. But it is another day we have to be together and share our lives. God has blessed us abundantly over the past 30 years. And He is still working on me to become the wife I want to be when I grow up.

I pray the same for you.

Just For Fun!

Can you smell the flowers?

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Can you smell the flowers?For some reason I’ve been in a beach mood the past few weeks. I don’t know why. I’ve always loved water. The sound of a mountain river, flowing over smooth rocks or a meadow brook, gurgling gently in the heat of a summer day. Tall grasses growing to the water, tiny fish gathered along the edges. Lakes, pristine and clear, reflections of autumn on the surface. But the ocean really pulls me in. (Not literally of course, that would be dangerous!) I could stand on a beach, watching the waves roll in and pull the sand out for hours. Closing my eyes and hearing the rush of the waves puts me in a peaceful state of mind.

Water calms my soul. The picture I posted here really speaks to me on so many levels. I’ve also used it for my Facebook cover picture. The picture is maybe a little idealistic, more a painting really, but it makes me want to walk right into that scene. Smell the flowers blooming in the evening air, making it pungent with perfume. The little ‘ribbons’ of water would lead me to the ocean’s edge and I could stand there until dawn.

So yes, I’ve been in an ocean state of mind lately. Living in Kansas is about the furthest away I can be. Thank goodness for our local lake!

So look at the picture, really ‘step’ into it. What does it make you think of, hear and smell? Just a little bit of peace in a hectic day. I pray your day is wonderful!

A Day to Remember

Let Us Not Forget…

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So many wars, so many lives given, so many families with absent members. Let us not forget our freedom fought for at great expense. Pray for our soldiers, their families…the ones on the front lines still fighting for America and what it stands for. Remember our country, the leaders past and present that have made our nation great. Remember what our foundation is, what we stand for and most of all…remember that God IS in control. Have a happy, safe Independence Day!

Our Christian Walk

Oh America…where have you gone?

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AmericaI am battle sore and battle weary and it has only just begun. I know there have been many soldiers over the hundreds of years since battles began that know the feeling and emotions better than I. With Independence Day just around the corner, the timing seems just about perfect.

There has been so much on social media about the Supreme Court decision. Your mind goes into overdrive trying to sort through it all. Each of us has our own ‘take’ on it. Some are aggressively sharing their opinions, others take it all in and quietly pray about it. But we ALL have a mind-set concerning it. Even me.

For some of us, the decision hits close to home and family, for others it may not really change anything in their lives…they believe. But this will affect us all in one way or another, like nothing else has.

America was like no other nation. It was founded on Biblical truths…even our currency reflected that. Our presidents and leaders spoke of God and His leading and blessing for our country. Our schools started the day with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. People came from other countries, my paternal family included, not so long ago. They came to be a part of this great nation where you could work hard and generally for the amount of effort put into your life, you could reap the benefits. You could own land, start your own business, have a family and raise your children in the way that you as a parent deemed best. You could worship God the Father, praise Him and thank Him for the blessings given to each and every person no matter your color, your background or material status. You were proud to be an American, you learned the English language, you fought for America…you wanted to be a part of this great nation.

But somewhere along the line…our ‘rights’ have squelched our freedom. No longer can anyone speak of God the Father without facing retribution. You are called names, made fun of. You may not pray to God in school or recite the pledge. You are not paid a fair wage for a hard day’s work. Who would want to when your hard work is not recognized? When all are paid the same whether you work or sit? If you are able to purchase land or a business, you are taxed out of it. If you marry and have children, the government is now telling you/threatening you as to how THEY deem it best to raise them. Oh America…where have you gone?!

I am battle sore and weary. I don’t want to fight and constantly defend. I want the God-given freedom this nation was reared on. But sadly, it is gone. God’s word is no longer foundational to the workings of America. The media and celebrities are in charge. It’s all about who you are, your material status and your level of liberalism. We are now a weak nation…ripe for the picking of socialism and being led to the slaughter.

Yes, this greatly saddens me. I fear for my children and grand-children, pray they are stronger than I for the adversity to come. America has been granted her wish. Woe to us! ISIS and other groups have seen this as well and they are reacting. I pray daily for those that have suffered already for America’s decision.

My hope is not here. It is in heaven. The sadness and adversity on this earth are only for a season. I am so thankful that I can still worship God, hide His word in my heart and pray to Him. No government or individual can take that away.

Writing

Platform

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th[10]th[8]When I was a teenager, the only ‘platform’ I knew about was the one we stood on during a concert in choir and some rather uncomfortable shoes. Well, they were uncomfortable until you got the hang of walking in them. You had to rely less on actual ankle movement and more on setting your foot down and kind of rocking forward on your feet. The group, ‘KISS’ wore some pretty extraordinary platform shoes back in the day. I always wondered how they didn’t end up in traction.

They always say you should write what you know. Or write about what’s on your mind. Well, my ‘platform’ is on my mind today. From what I’m reading and researching, the days of writing a manuscript and submitting it, being rejected and starting the entire process over are covered with white out. They are gone. Now you have to find someone actually taking submissions…(good luck) and then you need to be ready to market your book. Oh, and have a platform.

I’m still researching this and I’ve found a lot of amazing advice through blogs and websites. What I’m extracting from all this reading and research is that you need to have a group of people you are targeting with your writing and you need a following. You need people interested in you and willing to support you in your endeavors. One article I read today said the building of your platform can and should take place before you write or submit officially. That is my paraphrase. In other words, start building a following long before you contact a publisher. Who knew? Certainly not me!

At this point, I’m still trying to figure out the marketing of something I don’t have. I’m also coming to terms with marketing and selling a book because I already have a following. I’m kind of wondering about needing a publisher when I’ve already done much of the ground work. But don’t attack, I’m in the learning process here! I’m still thinking this all through. I do well with something if I can put it into terms I can understand and then apply it. (Exactly why Algebra and I didn’t mix!)

So, if I buy all the ingredients for a cake, make it at home, bake it in my oven, decorate it and then serve it to my loving family and friends that already know me and generally eat what ever I serve them…I’m good? If I have all the notes, thoughts and dreams for a story, type it on my laptop, share it wherever I can, make it pretty and marketable, my loving family and friends will read it…and I’ll be published? Sounds good to me!

Seriously though, I would appreciate any advice or things you have learned in this process called ‘writing’. Please correct my ‘take’ on platform or add to it. I’m kind of in the middle of nowhere and having a hard time finding the bread crumbs.

Our Christian Walk

Stop Thinking Just in Terms of Past-Present-Future

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Stop Thinking Just in Terms of Past-Present-Future. In light of a wonderful evening service this past Wednesday, I have been thinking a lot on what our lives should be…what our churches should be. This post from Hope Stands says it all, in much better terms than what I could express, so I wanted to share it with all of you.

For any Believer that has said church is boring or I can worship God in my own way…you haven’t experienced the power of being with other like-minded Believers. God’s plan for us is to worship and learn from His word…learn about Him, with other Believers. This is His plan for the church-age. Yes, there are times when we pray alone, worship alone, study alone, but being with other Believers is HUGE. We are to pray for one another, bear one another’s burdens and keep one another accountable. We can not do that alone.

Maybe we should be more focused on what God’s plan is for the church and our lives, rather than our own plan. Maybe we should stop trying to entertain and match the world’s system of ‘bling’ in our church services. After all, if we want to go to a show, we can. God’s word, the place where we worship is not a ‘show’.

Thank you to all of you that were part of last Wednesday evening. It was a privilege to learn God’s word and lift our voices in praise and unity to worship Him and give Him the glory. It’s an honor to know that each and every one of you, ‘has my back’.

Parenting 101

Happy First Anniversary, Jon and Courtney…June 7, 2015!

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Life rushes by. We learn to walk as toddlers, skip through our teenage years, run through our young adulthood and now it’s galloping, me holding the reins for dear life. Anyone that has been on a run-away horse knows the feeling well. I want the horse to stop, (slowly of course and not dump me on the ground.)  I want to sit under a huge tree, munching an apple, the sun filtering down through the leaves, a breeze caressing my face and setting the grass around me to a nice sway. I want to lean against that tree, the rough bark gently scratching my back and I want to sit there…for a long time. Then I would replay all the wonderful moments of my life in slow motion, savoring the memories of them, the emotions that assailed me at the time. I would take each one and stroke it gently, holding it close to my heart and locking it there for the years ahead.

My early, growing-up years with my family, my grandfather whistling as he worked. The first time I saw my now-husband walking into church. Our wedding day, him standing so slim and tall at the front of the church…so handsome. The birth of each of our five children. That moment when you meet them for the first time…and your heart, just melts. Our times as a family at Silver Dollar City. The weddings of our two oldest daughters and the births of our three grandchildren. So many other memories as well, but those are the REALLY special ones that always come to mind.

I want to relive them…see them in full, vibrant color. Breathe deeply of each memories’ unique aroma. And I want to experience the rush of each excited heartbeat and little shiver down my spine, the warmth of knowing…you are loved.

Because this time…I would appreciate those memories, I would savor them and slow down, experiencing, reveling, wallowing in each emotion. Okay, probably not, but it would be fun to have a shot at it.

I wrote all of the above to say that I missed our second oldest daughter’s FIRST wedding anniversary. Yes, the first one! I planned for what I wanted to do and thought about it for the week leading up to it…and then I forgot all about it. It was a Sunday after all. Being a pastor’s wife gives me an excuse…right? Wrong!

So, Jon and Courtney, Happy First Anniversary! Know that you are both loved and not forgotten. But I’m riding that runaway horse and looking for the softest mound of dirt to land on. I pray for you a better second year of marriage. We have all been there. The first year is wonderful because you are together…finally. But the first year is a challenge because…you are together. I pray for you a marriage that is built on a strong foundation, each layer laid carefully and thoughtfully. I pray for you a marriage that blends your two worlds as it grows and flourishes. I pray for many wonderful memories. Savor each and every one! I love you both! xoxo