20 Random Questions

I was tagged by the lovely and charming Laurie Tomlinson to participate in this 20 random questions challenge. SO here you have it... some randomness. Good fun!

1. How tall are you?

I’m 5’5 and ½”. Quite specific, I know. I seemed to have had a growth spurt in the past few years because all through high school and college I had topped out at 5’4”, which made me the serious runt of the family since both my dad and my brother are 6’2” and my mom is 5’7”. Sigh… I’ll never be tall and statuesque but at least I can wear sky high heels and be the perfect height for smooching. ;) Priorities!

2. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?

Everyone pretty much knows I was a singer/songwriter in my early years, so that’s not really hidden. Hmm… Oo! I can speak flawless jibberish! Fascinating, I know. :)

3. What’s your biggest blog-related pet peeve?

I’m with Laurie. I’m not a huge fan of the daily-blogging by one author just for the sake of keeping a schedule. I’d rather read one truly inspired post than weeks of uninteresting chatter.

4. What’s your biggest non blog-related pet peeve?

I guess lack of manners probably bothers me the most. Like when, for instance, you are juggling a baby, wrangling toddlers, carrying bags, and someone lets the door slam right in front of you without bothering to at least push it open behind them or check to see if someone is coming. Or say, when you have all those kids and bags and you hold the door for someone else and they just breeze on past without a glance. Grr. Good manners equate to common decency. It takes almost no extra time and very little effort and it makes a big difference. If I do anything right, it’ll be teaching my kids about manners and respecting others.

5. What’s your favorite song?

Good grief, that’s like asking me who my favorite child is! Let’s break it down like this…Favorite classic: Stormy Weather by Billie Holiday. Favorite oldie: Telephone Line by ELO or Crystal Ball by Styx. Favorite worship song: Saved Me Deep by my uncle Kent Henry or Song 54 by Jim Stern. (I come from a very musical family.) Favorite contemporary music: anything older by Lifehouse or Keane, anything sung by Michael Buble, and Secrets by OneRepublic.

6. What’s your favorite Etsy shop that isn’t yours?

I’m not on Etsy, and honestly, the past several years I’m not much of a shopper (Gasp! Shocking, right?) But I have made a few gift purchases on Etsy. Beautiful stuff!

7. What’s your favorite way to spend your free time when you’re alone?

Reading, writing, and taking really hot baths. J

blog.mocha.uk.com

 

8. What’s your favorite junk food?

Dessert. Pretty much in any form. From shortbread cookies to triple chocolate fudge cake to mocha cheesecake. I don’t discriminate and I LOVE to bake!

9.  Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind and what are their names?

My hubby is lobbying for a dog, big time! And while I would absolutely love to rescue one, I’m thinking we will have to wait until our own puppies are potty trained and toddling around.

10.  What are your #1 favorite fiction and nonfiction books?

I’ll say it again, Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series single-handedly turned me into a reader. I was so captivated I didn’t sleep for days. Lately I’ve been into some self-pubbed writers like Kate Perry, Amy Matayo, and Inglath Cooper. Great style, meaningful stories, and some spice. (Warning: Some more than others.) Truly addictive reading! I have a reallllllly hard time reading non-fiction. Puts me right to sleep.

11.   What’s your favorite beauty product?

I’m really low maintenance when it comes to this kinda stuff. Like I tend to use dial hand soap on my face and buy $3 hairspray. Strong perfumey scents tend to give me a headache so if I use a product it’s usually a sugary vanilla type scent or something citrusy. Right now I LOVE coconut oil. Fresh out of the bath I smear a little dab just about everywhere. Smells like summer and sunshine. Mmm.

12.   When were you last embarrassed? What happened?

insideout.topshop.com

Might as well ask when was the last time I went to the grocery store. For some unknown reason it is the site of all my embarrassing moments from the past year (and let me tell you, it takes a lot to embarrass me.) From my skirt blowing up in front of a line of senior citizens waiting to load their bus from the neighboring nursing home, to a topside wardrobe malfunction due to the baby carrier, and last but not least, the rather unfortunate train-wreck of events surrounding a rather riske purchase… let’s just say I should never show my reddened face there again.

 

13. If you could drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Coffee. No question. Creamed and sweetened. I might be an addict. ;)

14.  What’s your favorite movie?

Another tough one. Who has just one favorite movie? Alright, fine… If I had to pick I’d probably go with a tie between It Happened One Night and Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley/Matthew MacFadyen version.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.  What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep?

High school was a bad time for me. I did a bit of everything. Got straight A’s, did a year on the dance team, photography classes, show choir, drama and I have always been quite social but I was actually a bit of a lone wolf. Most of my closest friends were older and graduated, and my high school boyfriend had left for college. They were pretty lonely years.

16.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Right here in St. Louis. I grew up here. All of our families live within 45 minutes of each other. And as much as I would LOVE to live by an ocean, I think I’d always long for home and family.

17.   PC or Mac?

PC, but with my iPhone and iPad I can certainly see the appeal.

18.  Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse?

He’s not a big romantic gesture kind of guy, but for my anniversary I did get a bouquet of wildflowers and a card with a hand written note. The notes are always the best part. <3

19.  Favorite celebrity?

I’m not much of a celebrity follower. Honestly, I haven’t seen a new movie that wasn’t animated since, well… I can’t even remember. I will say that I think Will Ferrell is hilarious and much more multi-faceted than people give him credit for. He was brilliant in Stranger than Fiction and a hoot in The Producers. I love Simon Baker’s acting in The Mentalist and pretty much anything with Reese Witherspoon is a win for me.

20. What blogger do you secretly want to be best friends with?

Pepper Basham. Oh hey, look at that! Secret’s out. ;)

 

Well, there you have it! More than you ever wanted to know about lil ole me! I'd love to hear about all your quirky randomness. Anyone have a similar answer for any of these questions? Post an answer to any one of these for yourself... I'd love some dirt on ya'll! ;)

OR

Take the challenge and be sure to tag me so I can read all your fun answers!

Raising my coffee mug to ya! Cheers!

 

xo

Amy

Throwback Thursday: Meet the Parents

In honor of Throwback Thursday and a very special Halloween 8 years ago, I thought I’d share a funny story about how my husband met my parents, my brother, and all my friends for the first time.

Dressed like this!

So 8 years ago—college years—it all began when I became this baseball player’s math tutor. It didn’t take long for me, even with my jaded, on-the-mend heart, to see that my preconceptions about this jock named Rick had been way off.

After weeks of tutoring sessions that had also become bible studys/coffee dates, Rick finally asked me out on an official date. (I was about ready to give up on the lug. Apparently driving me crazy was all part of his strategy to win my attention.Pretty sharp--not sure he even needed a tutor!) 

But since he’d asked me out the day before Halloween, and my brother was throwing this big party for our friends and family and a lot of his youth group kids, we decided we’d attend and have our date the next night.

Imagine my surprise when my date (and possibly my new “boyfriend”) struts in to meet EVERYONE I know, including my DAD in a push-up bra, a dress, a wig, jeweled sandals, five-o’clock shadow, and some impressive guns!

Talk about an ice-breaker! My mom gave me a mouthed “Wow” and a thumbs up the second Rick turned his back, btw! (Love my mom!) And I’m happy to report my awesome dad actually laughed (And made no mention of his gun collection.)

Do you have a fun meet the parents story? Or Halloween story? I’d love to hear!

An Announcement and a BIG prayer request!

For the past several months I have been guarding a secret. A big one---one that has to do with something very little in need of some BIG prayer.

This summer we found out I’m pregnant! 

Yeah, yeah… a lot of you called it with my coffee strike. That was actually the day I found out. The likelihood of me being pregnant was soooooo slim, I’d been discounting all the signs. IMPOSSIBLE!

Well, God likes to work in the business of all things impossible. This baby had a .8 (point eight) percent chance from the start. If you all remember my miscarriage/pseudo-heart attack/kidney failure last year (You can read about it here) you might remember that they advised I NOT get pregnant to protect my one very unique kidney from shutting down---as it would have had I not lost the last baby. Without getting into all the nitty-gritty personal details, they expected I might lose this baby too.

But… this little fighter survived. They ALSO told me, that on top of the less than one percent chance of conception, and the subsequent possibility of another miscarriage, the medication I was on for my kidney (A BIG no-no for pregnancy---and the reason we were using such sure measures of prevention) should have also ended the pregnancy.

All that to say, this baby is a MIRACLE!  

You can plan your life down to the detail, you can do all you can to be in control…. But the plain, and AMAZING truth of it is, God is BIGGER! His plan is bigger.

And we are trusting in that plan, and in the miraculous work He started first when He saved my life as a baby, and again when He spared my life by taking my child home last year…

And NOW… since this pregnancy poses a lot of dangers for my life.

LONG story short and simplified---We’ve made it into the second trimester now. And we’ve been advised that we need to keep me healthy and get this baby as far along in the pregnancy as we can before my blood pressure rises too high and my kidney starts to fail, which could happen at any time. At that point, they will have to deliver the baby. We are already 16 weeks, and viability is 26. The longer we wait, the better it will be for the baby, and the higher the risk becomes for me.

So, we could really use some prayer in the coming weeks. We are not afraid. We know that God’s got this. That He doesn’t do things halfway. And we are standing on the promises in His word and the power of our testimony. We can’t wait to see what He has in store for this little one!!!

Warriors: Some specific prayer needs

-For the baby’s kidneys to develop normally and remain unaffected by the medication that was discontinued late.

-For my kidney function to remain in the black until at least 30 weeks or more.

-For my tolerance to the medications as they tend to have difficult side-effects.

-For my blood pressure (which is already on the rise and will naturally spike more as the pregnancy progresses) to be controlled by the meds and manageable until it’s safe for the baby.

-For wisdom for my team of docs.

-For peace to take it all in stride.

-For energy for me to continue to care for my rambunctious kiddos.

-And maybe.... for a girl!

Thank you! We love you!

Rick, Amy, Kael, Rafe, and Baby Simpson.

Welcome to the 18th Stop of the Perfect Clouds Virtual Book Tour

I am thrilled to be able to host these lovely ladies and am always excited when I get to give a boost to talented writers with amazing stories. Perfect Glass is on my TBR list for sure! But having already read Raj's debut I thought I'd preface this post with my personal recommendation. :)

This is not your typical light, summer peruse but Swimming Through Clouds is a spell-binding and somewhat terrifying story about a young girl tiptoeing around her father's abuse, trapped in a world where small mistakes have devastating consequences. Though an intense read, Paulus weaves a beautiful and charming tale about kindness and love covering even our deepest scars.This heart-rending YA novel for all, will suck you in, bond you irrevocably with the incredibly resilient Talia and the boy, Lagan, a Christ-like hero, whose patient friendship coaxes her out of her misery and into a world of hope with something as simple as post-it notes. A wonderful reminder that even the smallest pebble of grace can create a ripple strong enough to change someone's life. Even save it. 

Don't miss out!

Throughout the tour, you’ve learned a lot about Rajdeep Paulus and her debut novel, Swimming Through Clouds, and Laura Anderson Kurk, and her new novel, Perfect Glass.

Let’s get started with Laura Anderson Kurk’s “Behind the Scenes” for today---

Tennyson’s Closet

I love friends who invite me into their closets and tell me to wear whatever I want. Especially the ones who walk away while I linger and shop, giving me a gift with their detached acceptance and privacy.

In college, borrowing friends’ clothes was equal parts delirium and fear. My mother frowned on the age-old girl habit of loaning and borrowing clothes. It was kind of a sticking point at our house.

So when a friend would ask to borrow a specific shirt or dress, I would have a psychic war going on upstairs, finally handing over the item, but laying on the guilt. “Do NOT get anything on it!”

And when I worked up the nerve to ask a friend if I could borrow something, I would pick, say, a shirt, quickly and then spend the next twenty-four hours obsessing about protecting it.

This could be why, in Perfect Glass, Tennyson became a character who shares her funky clothes freely. Her mother is a bit of an out-of-control shopper, so Tennyson’s closet is stuffed with formal dresses, quirky outfits, and rack after rack of shoes. And she WANTS Meg to enter her magical world and spend hours finding perfect dresses. Nothing gives Tennyson more joy, to be honest.

For Meg, introverted and private, with a thirty-foot buffer of personal space, this is new territory. I like how this sharing between two friends, represents their friendship at-large. Tennyson is an open closet herself—as giving with her clothes as she is with her advice and her loyalty. Meg is the girl who must be coaxed inside and plied with pretty, shiny things to keep her from dashing away.

Are you the open closet loaner or the reluctant borrower?

Have you been keeping up with the Secret Letter of the Day for Perfect Glass? Here’s today’s letter:

Perfect Glass Back Cover:

Things get messy when Meg Kavanagh gets involved—first with Jo Russell, the eccentric old artist, and then with Quinn O’Neill, the intriguing loner who can’t hide how he feels about Meg. Her senior year isn’t turning out like she planned it, but sometimes the best parts of life happen in the in-between moments. And Henry will be home soon, right?

He commits to one year in an orphanage that needs him more than he ever dreamed. Thousands of miles from Meg and the new punk who has fallen for her, and absent from the ranch that’s in his blood, Henry Whitmire finds out what it means to trust. When you’re so far from home, it’s terrifying to realize you’re not who you thought. But the perfect glass of calamity makes the best mirror.

From YA author Laura Anderson Kurk comes the sequel to Glass Girl, a lyrical, multi-generational story about love that teaches, loss that haunts empty rooms, and reunions that feel like redemption.

Find Laura here—

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

And now, let’s take a look at Rajdeep Paulus and her debut Swimming Through Clouds!

Fun Fact from Rajdeep:

On Rain...

Rain is an ongoing metaphor in Swimming Through Clouds, often in reference to Talia’s tears or the weeping willow. I actually love the rain, the smell of the earth after a rainfall, and I remember this one summer rain on Northwestern’s campus when a bunch of us ran outdoors in front of Hinman Dorms and spun in circles. Till we were crazy dizzy. In the rain. Good times.

Random side note: When I was a freshman at NW, I had a friend shave the Swahili word “Mbura” under my hair at the back of her head. It took quite some time to etch the word, but my artsy BFF met the task with scissors in one hand and enthusiasm in the other. Hours later, her hidden masterpiece was finished, only ever seen by the few I trusted with the secret. Mbura means “rain.” :)

Have you been keeping up with the Post-It note reveal for Swimming Through Clouds? Here’s today’s reveal:

Swimming Through Clouds Back Cover:

I live in the in between. Between what if and what is. It’s how I manage. It’s the only way I know. Everyone has their way. This is mine.

When high school, cell phone disruption forces a classroom ban, the words on a Post-it note spark a sticky romance between two unlikely friends. Transfer student Talia Vanderbilt has one goal at her new school: to blend in with the walls. Lagan Desai, basketball captain and mathlete, would do just about anything to befriend the new girl. One Post-it note at a time, Lagan persuades Talia to peel back her heart, revealing her treasure chest of pain—an absent mother, a bedridden brother, and an abusive father. In a world where hurt is inevitable, the two teens search for a safe place to weather the storms of life. Together.

Come Hang out with Rajdeep Paulus on:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

Pinterest

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Extra, Extra! Review and GIVEAWAY for Candace Calvert's Rescue Team

If you’ve ever read a Candace Calvert novel you know that there is just something insatiable about them. With a supporting cast of characters that are always quirky and fun, to heroes that I would challenge any living-breathing female to deny to love, all wrapped up in gripping stores that will keep you glued to the pages late into the night.

As I have come to expect from one of my favorite authors, Calvert dishes up a Texas-styled medical drama in Rescue Team that puts Grey’s and ER to shame.

Jaded Kate Callison, interim ER director at Grace Medical, is running from her past and desperately seeking a place to belong. She might come off a little stiff at first but Kate’s journey of redemption will have you in tears.

And then there’s Wes Tanner. Insert swoon. Selfless and tender. Macho and funny. This guy is the hero you want fighting through the woods to rescue you. The guy you want to dance with you under the stars. He’s almost too good to be true, despite the wounds that keep him from being truly free of the past. And if I can picture him with that twinge of a southern accent I just melt into a happy little puddle.

What I love most about Candace Calvert, aside from her obvious talent for weaving descriptions, points of views, and storylines with a seamless and effortless elegance, is that she not afraid to tackle tough issues. Rescue Team will challenge your view of forgiveness, inspire you with the astounding truth about grace, and literally entertain your socks off!

Don’t miss out on this irresistible read by real-life trauma nurse Candace Calvert. And if you haven’t read book one Trauma Plan drop what you are doing and run to your nearest bookstore! It’s my favorite! Though, I suppose, since the hero looks almost exactly like my husband I might be a teensy bit partial!

Well, what do you think? If you're not sold read the book. :)

I can not wait for the next installment in this series. Fair warning: If you pick up a Candace Calvert novel prepare to get hooked!

YOUR TURN: Since there are so many good looking books hitting the shelves, what's on top of your to be read pile? 

Maybe it should be Rescue Team!

Leave a comment AND your email address before 12 P.M, CST on Friday May 3rd and you could win a copy of this fabulous read! 

I Can't Get No Satisfaction

As I’m certain all of you know by now, life is, well . . . hard. Busy. Hectic. Stressful. Exhausting.

There are countless distractions that steal my time and my focus away from my Source. And often enough, my Source starts to feel like a side dish, and then maybe a dessert, or just an occasional splurge. It’s much more difficult to notice just a pound or two. Most often it’s only when you’re completely out of shape that you start to realize how horrendous your diet has become.

As a mother of two wild-child toddlers, most days when I catch my reflection in the mirror I have one of those “Whoa!” moments. As in “Whoa, sister, what the heck happened to you? You used to be kinda cute and, well, skinny, with unlined skin and an almost perpetual grin. 

When did I lose my focus? When did I become complacent? How did I get so out of shape?

With everything in me I want to be desperate for God. But am I? And how, with the kids and the bills, and a marriage, and relationships, and writing, and blogging, and facebook, and church, and missions, and . . . (you get the idea), do I find time to indulge in Him?

In my heart I’m not trying to simply perform or look good on paper so that others might commend my holiness. Ick! Even just thinking that makes me all itchy with the hypocrisy of it all. Legalism. Empty works. Going through the motions.

That is not how I want to glorify the God that is my very breath. The God who has blessed me with this wonderfully exhausting home and family. The God who has never abandoned me even in my darkest, desert nights.

So why do I feel like a snail wiggling inch by inch up an endlessly long and treacherous mountain when, in reality, I know that I will never reach that ideal peak. There is no perfection to be had here. There is no earthy destination where I will have done everything God has for me to do and then I can just dust off my hands, kick up my feet, and wait to see his Glory face-to-face.

Since my efforts very often fall short and leave me filled with frustration, am I bringing Him any glory at all?

A few weeks ago at church my uber-awesome Pastor said something that stuck all over me like winter static. He said:

God is most glorified in you when you are satisfied in Him.

Man, it really got me thinking  . . . Am I satisfied? My life is great, but am I so caught up in my daily struggles that I’m left wanting more without the energy to even cry out for it?

This profound thought has been tooling around in my brain for a few weeks, and yet, I'm not convinced I know how to be fully satisfied with where I am at. Every day is a battle. From the unique struggles that we are facing with our children, to the constant financial battle of getting ahead, and the challenges of my husbands dreadful job, I feel like we are simply pushing through the junk in hopes of the day when things won't be quite so difficult.

But that really just means that we are missing out on what God is trying to teach us right now. Missing out on time that we will never get back. And failing to see that regardless of our circumstances, we are called by God to be a light today. To show his love, joy, grace, and compassion today. To seek him with everything we have, not tomorrow, or when life finally settles down (as if that will ever happen), but TODAY.

What do people see when they look at me? Do they see the snot-crusted mommy who hasn’t had a good nights sleep in almost four years? Or do they see a joyful servant of the Most High, blessed beyond belief and satisfied with the God that is always more than enough?

What about you? Are you shining with His Glory? Or are you so worn out that you can’t even reflect His goodness?

Regardless of your struggles, are you satisfied?

Ahhh-mazing Grace

 As Christians we all seem to think we have a handle on grace but very seldom live like we do. I have been on a journey these past two years and though I know I am just barely grazing the surface, I wanted to gush about what I’ve come to realize.

During this process, first I decided that I really had to tame my ego and humble myself—nothing I do can merit God’s grace, his love, his favor, or forgiveness. If I could earn it with good works and obedience, doesn't that belittle what Christ did on the cross? It is His righteousness that saves us… it really has nothing to do with me or how holy I am. How many commandments I can follow and how sinless I can be. 

 

The Bible very clearly states that we ALL fall short, and yet His love is greater than our sin. Pretty awesome right?

So the big debate on this is if we run wild with this idea of grace, what is to keep us from embracing sin and lawlessness… after all, he’ll forgive us. It seems like grace would give us a free pass to sin, but in fact, if you can grasp what that grace really means, it’s quite the opposite.

For example, because I grew up in the church and was saved very young, I didn’t really have those dark, wild years as a teen. My testimony isn’t a tale of great transformation, it is a love story about God’s faithfulness.

And my obedience wasn’t rooted in fear of the consequences. Let me explain…

I remember this one conversation I had with my dad. He told me, kind of out of the blue, that if I ever found myself out somewhere, drunk or otherwise compromised, that all I needed to do was call him—no questions, no repercussions—he would come get me and bring me home.

I have one heck of a good daddy! While to some this might seem irresponsible, but in truth it meant that . . . he knew me. Knew that though I wasn't the type to cause trouble, I wasn't above temptation.

None of us are.

This security, this grace that he showed me didn't inspire me to recklessness, it overwhelmed me with love. It told me that he cared more about my safety than the rules or his expectations.

True grace inspires us to obedience.

Never once did I have to call in that favor from my dad—not that I was any thing close to perfect. But I respected and loved my daddy enough that I didn't want to disappoint him.

How much more does God want to shower us with his grace to show us his love?

We're missing the boat when we focus solely on our conduct, because let’s face it—we are gonna screw up.  Probably daily. But following Christ isn't about the rules, our sin, and facing the condemnation for our failures.

And I’m not implying that there is no discipline. As a parent I am learning when my two little handfuls of insanity need a firm hand and when they need a big hug.

It’s just simply… no matter how much junk we just waded through, no matter how deep or numerous the stains, he still throws his arms around us, calls us pure and blameless. You see it isn't about my sin, it’s about HIS LOVE!

It is both a liberating and impossible concept to fully grasp.

If you reduce Christianity to a moral code, you are totally missing the point! His love isn't conditional. Let go of that bondage and get free! 

Talk to me: What have you been taught about grace? Do you feel like it is dangerous to embrace that level of freedom? And do you find it hard to not measure your faith based on how well you control your sin?

Hey Baby!

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a really bad pick up line?

I understand it takes a lot of courage for a man to cross a room and pay a woman a compliment. We women are generally the hunted. Sure, if we’re single we might send out the vibes, but very often our initial role is passive. A man has to not only traverse a room, but if he wants to snag a fish, he also must come up with a clever hook. (Something we know a little bit about as writers!)

 

Somehow the whole idea of a pick up line is hilarious to me. You hate to laugh at a guy for trying, but still, it’s funny. Whether you are available and on the prowl for a man, or happily married for thirty years, I challenge any woman to honestly say they don’t appreciate a little compliment, even from a complete stranger. Let’s face it, it’s nice to be noticed.

Last night I had a long overdue girls’ night with one of my closest friends. We went to the grand re-opening of our beautifully restored historic city library, and we had dinner at a quaint café downtown. The café is intertwined with campus life of the local university, so it was bustling with laptops and study groups—kids, as I now call them. Though I am not that far off in age, with two kids and a mortgage I felt like the oldest 27-year-old in the bi-state area.

So we are enjoying our dinner and conversation when a guy walks by. He makes a remark about my hair and goes outside to have a smoke. When he comes back in my friend is in the bathroom and he takes it as his moment to cast his lure.

I had to give him points for, umm . . . originality. Here’s how it played out.

Guy: “How’d you get that?”

Me with furrowed brow: “Um, pardon?”

Guy: “How’d you get that?”

Me: “My hair?” A tangly mess of wild waves. “It came this way.”

Guy: “No that.” Points at me.

Me: “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

Guy: “That face. So much beauty!”

Me: “Ha! Wow!”

Guy: “No really. You encapsulate me as a man, you’re so beautiful!”

Okay, now I am nearly crying! What on earth? Word confusion?

Encapsulate: Verb

1. Enclose (something) in or as if in a capsule.

2. Express the essential features of (someone or something) succinctly.

What does that even mean? Did I help solidify his sexual orientation? What a strange and hysterical curve ball.

Me mid laugh: “Not entirely sure what you mean, but I’m sure I’m flattered. Thank you!”

When my friend and I left we had a good laugh in the car about some of the funnier lines we've heard or been the victim of.

One of my favorites was this one…

“Is that a rhinestone jacket, or do you just sparkle?”

So, it’s Monday…. It’s a good a day as any for a hearty laugh.

What is your worst pick up line? And how did you respond?

Into the woods

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but the overstuffed feeling, the turkey coma, and the air of gratitude are lingering evidence of the holiday season now in full swing. I love this time of year. When the warmth and wonder of tradition and family grab on for a month-long ride. But this thanksgiving something else hopped on. Something other than leftovers and a few, unfortunate, extra pounds. Something like… fear.

Holidays for the Simpson’s are always a marathon of activities and family time. We try to hit each side of the family, which usually equates to at least three celebrations of each holiday and severely nap-deprived toddlers. Our Thanksgiving celebration with my mother-in-laws side of the family was particularly exciting this year.

My mother-in-law, Janet, my sweet teenage niece, Kaylee, and I ended up wandering a trail in the woods with my little young-ins and two of my nephews, Austin and Eli, who are five and nine. Problem was that my little guys couldn’t quite keep up and so Kaylee had the big boys with her farther ahead. Of, course, boys will be boys and Austin and Eli got a little too curious—a little too big for their britches and slipped out of sight. Kaylee ran back to tell us that she’d lost them and so we split up, started on a scavenger hunt of sorts for the runaways.

Having long ago been the path for an old railroad, the trail was clear and wide, several paths branched off to beautiful open meadows that made me feel like I was traipsing through the storyworld of Bambi with my two wild fawns. For a few moments it all felt very innocent. Surely if we hustled ahead, covered a little more ground, we would see the boys just around a bend.

Wandering further, I started to realize with each step just how far we had ventured from home. How difficult it was to wrangle my own curious little brood alone, on unfamiliar terrain.

As the sounds of Kaylee and Janet’s calls disappeared on the wind, the moment sobered, matured. Panic set in, and amplified even more when the Bambi parallel became much too real and dangerous.

Gunshots.

Fear so tangible and cold snaked its fingers around my spine. Someone was hunting—and two boys had run off through the maze of trees.

It’s moments like these when fear can run amok in your system, blot out your faith, your senses—blind you to everything, and swallow you whole.

How often do we feel like we are wandering through the woods? Our path unsure, the signs to look for unclear. Each trail appears the same and yet leads to a very different place. Which one is the right one? What might happen if we go the wrong way?

I tend to write a lot about fear, not only because I write suspense and they are inevitably intertwined, but because life is scary. Moments like these crop up when you least expect them, and even if we are firmly rooted in the truth, our faith can feel frail—wobbly when those mountainous doubts press down hard.

This little adventure had a happy ending. I ended up discovering the wandering troublemakers, squeezed the frightened breaths right out of them, and then gave them a firm talkin’ to.

Of course, then we had to find a way to track down the other two members of the search and rescue team, and finally make the long, exhausted trek back to Aunt Fran’s.

Life is full of uncertainties, sometimes even roadblocks. There may night always be a sign warning the dangerous curve ahead. But just remember, though the path may not be clear, there is a guide you can trust who knows the way.

When was the last time fear knocked you on your keester? And what do you do to navigate though all those doubts?

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! So thankful for you!

Celebration!

We break from our abnormally scheduled blogging for an announcement…

I am agented!

I’m so blessed, and quite frankly ecstatic, to now be among the amazing group of authors and writers represented by the brilliant, multi-talented, and hilarious Chip MacGregor. If you have witnessed the moronically happy grin that hasn't left my face for a solid week, now you know why.

Praising God, the author and finisher of our dreams, for the best of the best!

Dream BIG!

Anyone else riding high on good news?