Mid-month Mention: Another Scavenger Hunt

Lately, I've been encountering new Christian authors through promotional activities. Last month I shared an opportunity for a Christian author scavenger hunt including almost 30 authors. I subscribed to a handful of author newsletters, including one for Jaime Jo Wright. Wright has joined another new-to-me author to create their own small scavenger hunt as introduction to their newest books.

Jaime Jo Wright's newest release is The Bookshop of 99 Doors. It is a Christian dual-timeline mystery set in a Pennsylvania mansion with Civil War secrets. Like Wright's other books, it is atmospheric and suspenseful. Melanie Dobson's The Lost Story of Via Belle is also a dual-timeline historical mystery. It, too, takes place in Pennsylvania. A present-day screenwriter investigates the 1940s disappearance of a romance novelist. I am eager to read both of these novels and then pass on recommendations to my cousin, Karin, who lives in Pennsylvania.

If you want to participate in this smaller scavenger hunt visit this Storydoors website. You will find two portals into photos associated with the novels. Each book showcases four rooms to explore. Some of the images, when clicked on, will send you to informational sites tied to these stories. In each room, there is a hidden clue to copy down. Once you find the 8 hidden clues, you can enter the completed sentences to enter the giveaway (15 Christian fiction titles), which ends on April 29, 2026. There is also an invitation to join a Zoom call with the authors, held on April 30th, to learn more about these stories. The winner will be announced during that Zoom call.

I joined in the fun. A few of the sites held information about author Grace Livingston Hill. My paternal grandmother had numerous Grace Livingston Hill books on her shelves in her upstairs rooms (where my sister and I stayed during visits). I can remember passing time in those novels, although I did not recognize any titles I may have read, since it was years ago (almost half a century). Even if I don't win the scavenger hunt, it was interesting to visit these sites and learn more about these books.

Mid-month Mention #2: Bookish Things

I've been enjoying some great interaction with authors recently. I entered a book giveaway through Michelle Griep's newsletter and won a free autographed book, The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane. She also sent a small sticker and four bookmarks. I thoroughly enjoyed her Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series (the first three books highlighted in my compilation post of books about Victorian London).

When I learned, in Becca Kinzer's newsletter, that she was Indy bound, I wanted to connect and get an author signature on my copy of her outstanding debut book, Dear Henry, Love Edith. However, the fee for attendance at the Indy bookseller's event was $200. I sent her a quick email and she happily agreed to meet at a Barnes and Noble. Sadly, I forgot to snag a photo together. All the more reason to meet her again at some point, perhaps after her next book, Not What We Pictured. You can pre-order it prior to its April 2026 release.

Also, I wanted to remind people of a book scavenger hunt I only learned of this year (it made my April Mid-month Mention post). The Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt is coming again from October 23rd to 26th. Here's the blurb that provided a heads-up in Robin Lee Hatcher's newsletter:

"If you’ve never participated in one of the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunts, you are in for a treat. If you have participated, then you’ll be eager to join in again. The hunt runs October 23 - 26, from Noon (MDT) on Thursday until Sunday night at 11:59 pm (MDT). Follow the hunt, collect the clues, and enter to win books and prizes from 22 participating authors! "

You enter the hunt by visiting author websites. You can find more information on Robin Lee Hatcher's website. I highly recommend signing up for author newsletters (I never send any out, but I should remedy that - even though my newsletter subscriber list is very small). Opportunities abound. Plus, it is always interesting to learn more about the authors who write the books you love.

Added 10/24:

Mid-month Mention: Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

I went back and forth on whether to post this. Only my regular blog visitors will read in time to join in the fun. Yesterday, I learned of a scavenger hunt put together by Christian fiction writers. Their goal is to expose the reader to more Christian authors and expand newsletter participation. I am all for this! What a thrill to discover more authors writing wholesome books. I spent a good chunk of time yesterday morning pursuing a third of the scavenger hunt websites and clues. Now, I've signed on for a handful of author newsletters. I'm eager to explore more today, but the deadline for completing the scavenger hunt is very near. Complete the hunt by tomorrow (4/13/25) at midnight (Mountain time) in order to be entered for a chance at five top grand prizes.

Lisa Tawn Bergren, an author I had never heard of, is the first stop on the scavenger hunt. Once you visit this page on her website, you will find the instructions for participation and the first clue for the scavenger hunt. Making note of it, you follow the link to the second author on the scavenger hunt, Gabrielle Meyer, another new-to-me author. Of the first third of author participants, I had read 3 authors before. What a wonderful idea! You have chances to win prizes. If you sign up for newsletters, you even receive some free reading materials. This is a great introduction to authors (although, I fear I will sign on for too many newsletters and find my inbox inundated)! I had a wonderful time reading each entry (many full of tid-bits of historical details I'd never encountered).

If you participate in the scavenger hunt and find new authors to explore, let me know. I'd love to hear what authors you found enticing in this array of Christian writers. If you miss out on this current opportunity, don't worry. It appears the scavenger hunt is available twice a year. I assume if you visit Lisa Tawn Bergren's website and search for "scavenger hunt" you may be able to figure out approximately when the fall hunt is slated. I intend to keep my eye out anyway.

Mid-month Mention #2: Lew Wallace Author Fair

If you live in the West Indianapolis area and love to give books as Christmas gifts, have I got a deal for you! This coming Saturday, you can attend the Lew Wallace Hoosier Author Fair in celebration of Crawfordsville's Small Business Saturday. Here's a brief introduction from the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum:

"When Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ was published in 1880, Indiana wasn't known for its literary culture. In the following forty years, however, Hoosier authors became popular. During this Golden Age of Indiana Literature, more best-selling books came from Indiana than from any other state except New York. Writers like Meredith Nicholson, James Whitcomb Riley, Lew and Susan Wallace, Maurice Thompson, and others put Indiana on the literary map. The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum is proud of that literary legacy Lew helped create. We host the Lew Wallace Hoosier Author Fair to honor that legacy."

This author fair takes place Saturday, November 25th, 2023, from 5-8 p.m., on the 3rd floor of the Fusion 54 Coworking Space (101 W. Main Street, Crawfordsville). It is free and open to the public. I attended for the first time last year, selling and signing my book, Watching the Wayward: Psalms for Parents of Prodigals. (Also available from Amazon) Two authors seated to my right, Josh Brewer and Tony Brewer, offered a fascinating, unique opportunity called Poetry on Demand. For a small fee, they composed a poem for you, on the spot. How cool is that! You'll find a variety of genres available from nearly twenty local Indiana authors. Since I'm still in the stages of getting word out about my book, I'll be raffling off a free copy that night.

While in Crawfordsville, why not visit a historic home decorated for a Victorian Christmas?

Maybe you're more into fashion. Attend the Lew Wallace Holiday Tea & Fashion Show:

This December 1st fundraiser event is hosted at the Elston Homestead at 400 East Pike Street, Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Enjoy any of these three opportunities to jump-start the holiday spirit! If you cannot attend any of these, I direct you to a video or two of the lights in London. It always boosts my holiday mood! I often hook my laptop up to fully immerse myself by watching on my television screen. Welcome to the holiday season!

Mid-Month Mention: Book Giveaways

 

What better way to celebrate National Book Month than to link to book giveaways?

Book Riot is offering a few giveaways I intend to enter. From an e-reader, to a Kindle Scribe, to gift cards for booksellers, to a box of banged up books, they have so many to choose from in October.

I almost hate to mention this next book giveaway because I want to win for myself (wink, wink) and every extra entry lessens my chances - Ha! I discovered a website called Deeper Christian. I hope to explore it more intensely at a later date, but for now, I've entered his monthly book giveaway because October's prize is a copy of P.T. Forsythe's The Soul of Prayer (a book mentioned in several of the prayer books I have read this year). I know I'm close to wrapping up my 2023 Facebook Prayer Project, but still think it would make a beneficial read.

And in the spirit of October, I thought I'd mention an author page that runs an annual Halloween story contest. Susanna Leonard Hill (no relation) is a children's author running the 13th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest. Try your hand (pen) at it - the prizes include several different writing critiques and free books.

Mid-month Mention: Writers and a Writers Conference

I'm not a big subscriber to newsletters. I only subscribe if my interest in the author's newsletter is strong. Plus, I would say a deal-breaker for me is an author who provides recommended reading titles. Jordan Raynor gives one noteworthy recommendation to close his weekly newsletter. I may skim through the devotional, but I always take time to consider the book suggestion. Jordan highlights non-fiction suggestions. You can visit his website and sign up for his newsletter if you want a weekly faith and work devotional along with a Christian non-fiction book recommendation.

In February, I entered a giveaway and encountered D'ann Mateer. She lives in Texas, just a stone's throw away from my son, Bryce. Her blog posts must have reeled me in because I signed on for her newsletter. She offers extensive reading recommendations and regular giveaways. In fact, it looks like now, if you sign up for her newsletter, you receive a free short story from her. That was not the case when I signed on. In addition, I trust her to recommend clean reads. Since she often highlights World War II novels, I forwarded her information to my sister, but I don't think she was up for more mail in her overflowing in-box. A few days ago, D'ann sent a book recommendation for an enticing book on Lewis and Tolkien. This month's newsletter highlighted a blog post about things she has learned about writing.

Learning more about writing is always on my mind. I've taken on-line courses and read books. But, when I lived in DeKalb, IL, my writing group often tried to take an annual trip to attend the Write-to-Publish Conference in Wheaton, IL. This was, perhaps, my favorite educational excursion. Oh, the laughs we had on the shared drive over and back. I attended two or three times while we lived in IL and have been once since we moved to IN. The only other similar conference I attended, was a one day meeting of the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in a quaint town in Wisconsin (where I tried to pitch my rhyming children's book, Recipe for Stew).

The Write-to-Publish Conference is under new leadership, now owned and managed by the Christian Writers Institute. It takes place at Wheaton College from June 13-16, 2023. If you wish to get in on the reduced rates, you must register by May 31st. Of course, the best approach is to pay for full registration, which includes all sessions and meals, plus 2 one-on-one meetings with key editors/agents, and a Friday night concert by Michael Card. 

I can't afford to invest in the full experience this year. Last time I attended for one day, so I considered doing so again. The full fee is $600, while the daily fee is a little over $200. Instead of 2 meet-ups with editors/agents, you only secure one. Plus, in viewing the schedule, the sessions I am most interested in fall on the final day - Friday. This poses a problem. In the past (although I don't know if this is still the method), you signed up for the slots at the outset of the conference. This would mean, by arriving Friday, all the slots will be gone and I will not make my hoped-for connections.

The most important benefit to attending a conference is making connections. You can connect with publishers and befriend other writers who may become cheerleaders for your writing goals. The last time I attended for one day, I did not pay for the meals (then, a separate fee) and thus didn't have those prime opportunities to sit with and talk to other writers or faculty members. A conference is an opportunity to network, learn, and grow as a writer. But there are key things to do to improve these results.

The first thing I always do is review which manuscripts I wish to pitch to editors or agents. Next, I study the faculty line-up. I get to know them and their manuscript interests. Then I write a list of individuals who might show an interest in what I'm pitching. The truly hard part is snagging time to make an elevator pitch (a one to two-minute hook to grab interest). If you cannot secure a one-on-one session, you must seek other opportunities in a natural and unobtrusive way. This is where meals were helpful, yet four or five other writers may be there wanting to pull the ear of the faculty member as well.

Once my game plan is in place, I skim the sessions on offer. I try to select topics that will improve my chances of meeting my writing goals. For Friday's first workshop, I'm torn between "The Formation and Execution of a Publishable Idea," and "Writing with God: Creating Spirit-led Content That Resonates, Maintaining Healthy Expectations, and Building an Unshakable Faith for Your Journey." For the second workshop, I'm torn between "The Most Common Mistakes Authors Make When Developing and Pitching Their Book Project," and "Writing to a Felt Need That Publishers Will Want to Publish and Readers Will Want to Read." This year, the plenary speaker is Dr. Leland Ryken, father of the current Wheaton College president and my former professor (I love his wry style). The evening speaker is Jerry B. Jenkins.

I'm noticing many changes to the structure and execution of the conference. Instead of meeting in the Billy Graham Center, they will hold sessions in the Beamer Center. This will be different. In the past, they offered a manuscript critique included with the conference fee. One year, the initial pages of one of my young adult novels netted a request for submission. That was exciting. Now, instead of providing a critique, the conference fee includes a copy of this year's Christian Writers Market Guide. They also used to offer a time for fellow-writer critiques. These sessions occurred after the evening program and provided a chance to read a bit of your work aloud and receive feedback. It seems to me there are hundreds of attendees and limited numbers of faculty meet-ups (were those one-on-one sessions previously ten minutes long, to accommodate more people?). Surely, they'd all be gone by the time I arrived on the final full day, so maybe my plan isn't productive. Still, if this is just the thing you need to jumpstart your writing career, check it out! 

Book Giveaway: Pandemic Prayerbook

Prayer is always paramount, but especially so when hard times descend. This past year has been unlike any other I've experienced. Life has changed. Often it seems like the very fabric of society has shifted. We have all encountered uncertainty, anxiety, inconvenience, and difficulty. Perhaps, like me, you have cried out to God for His protection and provision.  

Several years ago, in an on-line writer's group, I met Darcy Wiley. She co-authored The Yes Effect: Accepting God's Invitation to Transform the World Around You. I subscribed to her blog. At the end of last year, Darcy posted about her Pandemic Prayerbook: A Pray-at-Home Guide for the Coronavirus Crisis. She offered two copies in a giveaway. Anyone who responded to explain what Scripture verses have carried them through this pandemic season received an entry. Yay! I won!

The Pandemic Prayerbook compiles 29 prayers for this specific time. Written by various writers, they cover topics like victims, nurses, physicians, first responders, essential workers, creatives, teachers, e-learners, etc. Each prayer reads like poetry and incorporates Scripture. At the end of the book, Darcy provides writer biographies, along with space to compile your own pandemic prayer. She encourages readers to post their prayer on social media and tag it #pandemicprayerbook.

Want to be a winner, too? If you live in the U.S., you can enter my giveaway for my second copy of the book in three ways: 1) by subscribing to my blog via e-mail (button on the top right), 2) by commenting on this post, or 3) by sending me an e-mail at wendy.hill0596@gmail.com to express your interest. The giveaway will be open for entries until April 15, 2021 (an easy deadline to remember - and, yes, taxes are due that day, no delays this year).

(Darcy's photo to accompany her prayer "As I Wash My Hands")

Coveting a Writing Space

I work at two different desks throughout the day. In the early morning, I head downstairs to my tremendously cluttered downstairs desk to have my morning devotions, do my Bible Study Fellowship reading/questions, and write my daily two pages of free-writing. Usually, at that time of the morning, my husband is upstairs reading his e-mail on the living room computer and so I have enough isolation to get my morning work out of the way easily.

After the boys have been delivered to school (and I've completed my treadmill time and any morning cleaning), I sit at a small desk in the dining room to begin the day's writing tasks. It is a pleasant enough location. The window in front of the desk overlooks the backyard sanctuary where my husband feeds the birds and other critters. For the most part it is quiet in the mornings, until my husband comes up to get himself a morning cup of tea and, around noon, comes to make his lunch (almost always, talking to me, while doing so). Once the boys return home from school, any work at this upstairs desk is out of the question and there is much foot traffic downstairs because the boys and John generally work out then.

In my head, I have long dreamt of having a special writing sanctuary - a small amount of space to work undisturbed. Oh, what joy when I stumbled upon a listing for this playhouse:

It is a 12 x 10.5 x 10.5 foot structure on 2x4 runners, listed as in decent condition (under a few pine trees for cover) offered for FREE. The inside looks sound, as well:

My mind whirred with possibilities: a small couch in the lower area, along with an easy chair and a book shelf. A small desk and chair in the loft below the window for writing. I didn't want to mention it to my husband until I had called a specialty shed-moving company to get an estimate of how much it would cost to move this small playhouse from the current location to ours, but he came up and noticed me perusing the photos longingly and my hopes spilled out to him.

He had plenty of arguments against my schemes: what if it leaks or is in really bad condition? - photos can make something look good, when really it isn't; what if you go to the trouble to transport it here and then you never use it? - realize, Wendy, it will be doggone hot in the summers and freezing in the winters; what if it falls into disrepair? - this FREE writing shed could cost us a bundle to have someone come tear it down and remove it from the property; where would you put it? - it would look horrible close to the house and yet a truck would rut the yard (especially in current ground conditions) in getting it to a further location; how would you get a fan or heater out there to make it more comfortable? - running electricity to it would cost money, as well; and, finally, why can't you simply move your downstairs desk to the guest room where there is less foot-traffic and fewer interruptions? I can think of another argument he left unsaid: why should we invest money in a writing shed, when nothing you write ever profits us a dime? Now, he is in a foul temper with me just for asking.

I went ahead and secured an estimate. The man I spoke with (very cordial and talkative) estimated it would cost $500 to move the shed, if the ground is level in their yard and in ours. He was literally shocked to find someone giving a playhouse like that away for free. He said they generally cost well over $10,000 to build. He declared, "there won't be longevity on that." I thought he meant the structure wouldn't last long, but he clarified: "someone will snap up that deal right away and, from the photos, it looks as if it is quite sound."

I listed my husband's arguments, and he admitted that my husband raises some valid points ("pictures talk pretty, but can hide a whole lot of ugly," the truck would certainly rut the lawn in these conditions, "FREE isn't always free"), but said he'd snap it up if it was his decision. He even mentioned some things that could be done to enhance the shed, should we buy it and hire him to transport the thing. To avoid rutting the yard, I suggested it might be positioned next to the barn (which would either mean a longer walk to use it or a drive to park by the barn gate, but would place it closer to access of electricity).

But, knowing my husband's fierce opposition, I decided to honor his opinion and his feelings on the matter. My bubble burst. To give the dream a decent burial, I wrote this post. The pipe dream lived in my head for a few hours and then dissolved. It was fun while it lasted. Now, I'm off to tackle the clutter atop my downstairs desk. We shall see if moving it to the guest room provides the isolation my writing requires. Then again, perhaps the clutter can stay. These famous writing workspaces aren't exactly immaculate. I can deal with the paper distractions, just not the people distractions.

What about you? If you are a writer, what would your dream writing space look like?

Blogging Giveaway: Called to Create

Calling all Christian entrepreneurs, photographers, painters, musicians, writers, artistic creators! If you are creative and share my love of books, then you will be familiar with the common dilemma of creative bibliophiles - too many books burdening limited shelf space. To please my minimalist husband, I've decided to pass along my copy of Jordan Raynor's Called to Create. If you wish to be entered in this giveaway, simply leave a comment expressing that desire or explaining what you feel God is calling you to create.

This contest will be open for entries for two weeks. On May 13th (a day wholly devoted to another creative venture), I will have one of my offspring draw one name from a hat. If you post about my giveaway on your blog and let me know in the comments, I'll enter your name twice.

Check back on Mother's Day for the winning name. As is the nature of creativity, sometimes we are hit with spontaneous ideas. This giveaway was just such an unplanned idea, and thus my copy has a few underlined key concepts. But hey, you have a far greater chance of winning this giveaway for Called to Create than I had in the original sweepstakes that prompted my purchase - ha!

Blogging Giveaway: The Quest

It has been a while since I've offered a blogging giveaway. Having just finished reading Bob Hostetler's novel, The Quest, I would like to offer it up to some lucky reader. You can read my review here.

To enter this blogging giveaway, simply leave a reply on this post with your name and contact information. I will allow for one week of entries and then will draw a name (from a hat) on next Saturday, February 4th. (Sorry, USA entries only.)

And the Winner Is ...

Today, we placed the Father's Day giveaway participant names in a bowl and my youngest son drew out the winning slip of paper.

And the winner is ... Shasta. Hope your husband enjoys his Father's Day read of Captain Dan Keating's fisherman's apologetic: Angling Life.

Thanks to everyone who took time to comment and enter the contest.

Blogging Giveaway: Father's Day Fishing Book - Angling Life

If you are looking for a Father's Day gift for a father in your life who loves fishing, have I got a deal for you! Leave a comment at the end of this post, revealing who you would love to give this book to and you just might be the winner of Captain Dan Keating's book about fishing and discovering the ultimate catch.

Captain Keating is a professional angler who has been guiding charter tours for over 27 years on the waters of Lake Michigan. As the waters surrounding his boat have not always been calm, so the waters of his life have been rough a time or two as well. He provides an honest look at his life and the lessons fishing has taught him. Tales of his own world-wide fishing adventures combine with tales of his discovery of the fisher of men. Even a non-fishing enthusiast will enjoy the story and the message it carries.

Angling Life: A Fisherman Reflects on Success, Failure and the Ultimate Catch can be purchased at Amazon or from Dan Keating's own website, http://www.anglinglife.net/.

This blogging giveaway will close for entries on Saturday, June 11th.

And The Winner Is ...

No, I'm not talking about the Oscars. I won't even watch them since I never have any time or convenience for taking in a movie.

Here's YS picking the winner of my book giveaway:



Congratulations to Allison Schneider! The link I provided will take you to her post on edible play dough, something I'm going to have to try with my little boys.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a comment as an entry. Several mentioned Karen Kingsbury and I must say I have enjoyed every Karen Kingsbury book I have read (especially the Red Glove Series of books). One commenter mentioned C.S. Lewis. I will have to admit that I have read more of his letters than his books. Still, he is a phenomenal Christian writer and well-worth a read. Allison suggested Dee Henderson and Terri Blackstock (I think I've read both of them). I'm also familiar with Beverly Lewis, even have a book which I received as a Christmas gift, but haven't read anything by her yet. I look forward to checking out Janice Holt Giles and Tamara Leigh.

Giveaway: Sands of Time

It has been a long time since I've offered a giveaway. Since my husband is on a mission to clear our entire house of every possible extraneous item (his daily mission and goal), I have decided to offer up my copy of Susan May Warren's Sands of Time. This is a fast-paced novel set in Russia. You can view my recent review here.

To be included in the random drawing, please leave a comment telling me the name of your favorite Christian author. If you aren't a Christian, or don't have a favorite Christian author, leave a comment sharing another author you especially enjoy. I will place all of the names in a hat on the evening of Saturday, March 6th. If you don't have a Blogger account, remember that you can easily comment anonymously and leave your name in the body of your comment.

If you post about my giveaway on your blog and let me know in the comments, I'll enter your name twice. Good luck and good reading!

Free Theatre is Back!

Last year, miraculously, on the day before ticket reservations opened, I read about the free theater initiative at http://www.freenightoftheater.net/. If you are a long-time reader, you will remember that I dragged my middle school son with me to downtown Indy to see a Shakespeare play. Despite, his reluctance (and his insistence that the only enjoyable part of the evening was our trip to Dairy Queen), we had a really nice time.

This year, I received an e-mail from http://www.indyarts.org/ informing me of the event. For the Indianapolis area, it looks like the ticket reservations are going to open up tomorrow at 11 a.m. on-line at http://www.freenightoftheater.net/. This initiative is available throughout the United States, so you would have to look for tickets in your own local area. When I searched for other locations, there were different opening times for the reservations but it seemed like they all become available on October 1st.

Here in Indianapolis, the options sound interesting. The Heavens are Hung in Black, is about Abraham Lincoln. I'm thinking ES might like to attend Scary Stories on the Canal: Disquieting, Disturbing & Dreadful Tales. Then again, my husband doubts ES will be interested in ANY theater. The two which sound most interesting to me are: The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie and The Elephant Man.

I guess you know what I'll be doing at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning! Wish me luck!

Free Night of Theater Ovation TV Spot from Theatre Communications Group on Vimeo.

Various and Sundry Good News

My German pen-pal, Katja, has had her baby. She, and her husband Martin, welcomed Kim Sofie into the world:



How I wish I could run right over to visit Katja and hold this precious baby girl. Sadly, it would be very difficult to run to Germany and very expensive to fly to Germany and near impossible to find someone to stay with my own small children. Ah well, I have purchased a cute little outfit and will send it off tomorrow. Still, I'm tickled pink at this grand news!

Then, last night I received more fantastic news from a member of my old writer's group back in DeKalb. I have mentioned and linked to Kyle White's blog here before. He has been working on a series of essays concerning Wisconsin and has just secured a publishing contract! His book, "Wisconsin River of Grace," will be released by Cornerstone Press some time this fall or winter.

I am so thrilled for him in this success. He is an outstanding writer and poet. Thankfully, I know that despite his new membership in that club I mentioned, he will continue to send encouraging words my way and will bring honor to the club! It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!

Finally, I wanted to mention that I entered another I-Pod Touch giveaway tonight. ES already has an I-Pod Touch, but I really wanted to help this cause. My blogging friend, Renee, is raising money to bring her down-syndrome daughter, Kellsey, home from an orphanage in the Ukraine. She already has a wonderful family with her military husband, Frank, and their four biological children (including a down-syndrome daughter, Kennedy). Now, they are opening their home and their good fortune to another precious girl. If you have $10 to spare and want to possibly win an I-Pod Touch, you only have a few more days to enter this exciting giveaway.

Sometimes When You Get What You Want, it Doesn't Work Out as Planned

This morning, as I was making my bed, I glanced out the window to see a FedEx truck backing into our driveway. I ran to ES's room and said, "Hey, buddy. I think Christmas just came for you again! There's a FedEx delivery."

It is amazing how expensive Christmas gets when your children hit the pre-teen years. Somehow, their wishes are more extravagent, more definite. ES had only three wishes this year - each of them were big-ticket items. He wanted a set of cymbals, Rock Band 2 (which only came out for Playstation 2 on December 18th) and Guitar Hero World Tour.

Thankfully, his paternal grandparents have always been interested in nurturing any musical interests, so they purchased him a beautiful set of Zildjian cymbals. The cymbals arrived before Christmas and we let him open them early. He has been like a crazy man ever since.

When the cymbals arrived, there was a special catalog tucked in the box offering a $20 discount on any $100 order. Hubby and I decided to spring for a bit more musical equipment and ordered a double-bass drum pedal for him.

What joy to watch his enthusiasm as he opened the box today. My joy gave way to amazement as I watched him figure out on his own (since it came with no instructions) how to put the thing together. I helped him carry the pedal downstairs to his drum set and left him to his revelry.

Unfortunately, amazement soon gave way to discouragement. I wish I knew how to nurture patience and temperance in my sons. Both my ES and MS seem to grow easily frustrated. MS tends to respond with tears and vocalization. ES, on the other hand, tends to pair "flinging" with his vocalization.

Soon, he was upstairs complaining that the thing was "a piece of crap!" I sensed the danger of his possible response and headed back downstairs with him. I tried to encourage him that perhaps he needed some assistance in calibrating the thing. I offered to take the pedal to a local music store and have them look it over to make sure he assembled it correctly. He pointed out his dissatisfaction (the pedal doesn't stay grounded on the floor well - perhaps he needs to put it on carpeting???). Then, he threw the drum key (a tightening device) across the room.

I sent him upstairs - away from the drums. I knew, even as I was praying for patience for him, that patience is only learned through experiences which require patience. He stewed for quite a while. I stewed for quite a while. Then, he came out and apologized for his outburst. I explained that I understood his frustration, but don't appreciate his present reactions to frustrations. I assured him that there was no way in the world that we were going to turn around now and buy him something else. We would have to figure out a way to get the drum pedal working properly. In the meantime, I expected him to avoid the drums and clean his room.

After spending most of my day organizing and straightening, I happily logged on to check my mail. There were quite a few CarePages and Caringbridge updates. In the midst of checking (and hoping to hear more concerning Coleman's recent struggles), I received an e-mail from Renee, telling me to check her blog.

Yay! Christmas came for me today, as well. My number was randomly chosen and I won one of the four recording ornaments. I have asked Renee to send it to Coleman's family and I'm praying that Coleman has enough feisty moments left within him to record a special message for his family this Christmas-time.

Continue to keep Team Larson in your prayers. When Renee wrote back, she informed me that Coleman was Life Flighted to the hospital Christmas Day and has been given 1 or 2 days to live.

I find myself wondering how God decides which kids with cancer survive and which ones join him in heaven. I don't want Coleman to die! I want a miracle. I want something to change for the better so he can walk out of that hospital and live a long full life with his precious family.

But, I know God, too. Sometimes that doesn't happen. Sometimes His will allows a child to succumb to the demon that is cancer. I think of the many people around the world, who are sharing my grief and the fears and intense feelings of all who count themselves one of Team Larson, a team that "Neva Divs Up!"

I want to scream, "Why, God? Why did you allow him to be born only to die? Why did you allow him to be afflicted? Why did you bring each of us to his CarePage to fall in love with these beautiful twin boys, only to feel our hearts break in two?" I don't want to think about the pain and loss Caden and Peggy and Scott are on the threshold of.

My mind keeps hearing the phrase, "Born to Die." Of course, that phrase is meant to describe Christ. We celebrate his birth, knowing full-well that from the outset he was born to die. His birth and death accomplished something miraculous on our behalf. He was born to share in our earthly trials and sufferings and He died to carry the penalty for our sins. How I pray that Coleman's life, however long it is lived, will bring great glory to God. How I pray that God would reach down and give Team Larson the strength to "Neva Div Up." I pray that God would let them know that He understands their pain, having borne the loss of His son, Jesus Christ. I pray that he would bear them along in this journey - carry them when the going gets rough.

Renee is going to try to next day air the recording ornament. I don't know if it will arrive in time or if Coleman will be able to speak even. For now, I celebrate the chance that I was given to walk alongside this family. I am grateful that there is more than just life and death. There is purpose and eternity. Life is precious. Tomorrow I will hug my two little boys again (they have been with Daddy at my in-laws) and will recognize the precious gift of my YS's second birthday. Children are a treasure from the Lord. Hold yours close tonight!

Not much time left for a great give-away

I popped over to Renee Garcia's blog tonight, wanting to look again at her wonderful Christmas surprise (her husband returned home from a 12 month deployment, in time to spend Christmas with the family), and then noticed that I had missed the news of a great giveaway she is hosting (because I read her news on her CarePage and figured it would be the same on her blog).

Head on over to Renee's blog, because she is giving away four special Hallmark ornaments which allow you to record a message. The random drawing will take place on Friday (which is only hours away). You'll also notice other exciting news they have to share. They will be adopting a daughter with Down's Syndrome this year, to add another K to her Special K's - Kellsey!

I'm hoping that I win so that I can send the ornament to Team Larson. They have suffered a bit of a set-back recently. Coleman woke up fine on Christmas Eve, but soon began showing slurred speech and a droopy hand. They rushed him to the ER and discovered another two spots on his brain. I am praying that this is a temporary set-back. It would be wonderful if they could record a Christmas 2008 message from Coleman to have on their tree every year. Please continue to lift Team Larson in your prayers. My heart is grieving for them.

No Winner for my Puzzle Giveaway

At the beginning of October, I posted about a rebus puzzle or frame puzzle ES had brought home from school for an extra credit assignment. This puzzle stumped me and my readers:

NEA$R
N$EAR
NE$AR

Then, a bit later I posted three easier puzzles, but nobody even nibbled.

O_ER_T_O_

HIJKLMNO

SICK BIRD

This past Wednesday, it was time for parent-teacher conferences. Thankfully, I had no concerns for ES's progress, but did want to mention his health issues to give his teachers (especially the morning ones) a heads-up. As I waited outside the math teacher's room, I noticed the puzzle answers hanging on the wall. Of course, the particularly perplexing one was on the side facing the board. Urgh!

So, after introducing myself, I asked if I could check the answers, since one puzzle had stumped us so much I had posted it on my blog. He chuckled, but graciously allowed me to turn the page over.

The answer was: Buccaneers! (buck in nears)

The answers for the other puzzles I offered were:

Painless operation

H2O

Illegal (Ill Eagle)

Unfortunately, this means I have NO WINNER for my giveaway. Thankfully, ES did win the 100 point bonus for getting the highest number of frame puzzles correct. Moreover, a few teachers informed me that ES had earned the highest score in the 7th grade (beaming as I write). However, it was a bit distressing to hear so many parents in the hall berating their kids for underachievement. I tell ES that I merely want him to give his best effort. He has given far more effort in middle school than he ever did in grade school, so I am guessing he is, by nature, a kid who is inwardly motivated by letter grades (and some schools want to do away with grades).

Puzzles and Links

For those still awaiting word about my recent giveaway, ES has yet to approach the teacher to discover the actual answer to that mystifying puzzle which continues to stump us all. He has promised to ask tomorrow. That particular extra credit assignment awarded 100 EC points to the student who solved the highest number of rebus puzzles on the page. ES scored the 100 points (although he did miss a few).

He also provided me with three more rebus puzzles. I will post them today, in case no one correctly answered the previous super-stumper puzzle. See if you can figure them out (although one of them is pretty easy)!


O _ E R _ T _ O _


HIJKLMNO


SICK BIRD


Don't look for the answers tomorrow, because tomorrow is a marathon day. I will collapse in bed without any blogging (but thankfully, I won't be the one responsible for taking ES and his friend to Indiana Beach the following day)! YS and I will arrive for a follow-up pulmonology appointment early tomorrow morning in Indianapolis. Then, in the early afternoon, I will head to a parent-teacher conference for MS's preschool class. I will round out the day with a trip in to Indianapolis to see Macbeth with my kicking-and-screaming adolescent (good times, huh?). Hubby thinks I should just go alone, but I'm determined to share some culture with my son, even if he hates every minute of it. (Really, I'm praying for a really well-done production that will create a wonderful memory for the two of us!)

In case, you find yourself with nothing to read tomorrow (since I won't be blogging, right?), you might visit my friend Michele's new blog (another mother of boys and a Sally friend - translated "Salvation Army friend"). I also have been meaning to link to My Three Sons because I recently found her blog, as well. Another Texas blogger (like BritGal Sarah), who does fabulous photo essays, is On The Upside. If you check hers out, be sure to read back to her "Interview with a Flat Girl," from last Friday! Absolutely hilarious!