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  • ramble

    106 Things About Me

    I’ve seen this list quite a few times recently. It got me thinking about how often (especially in the middle-age years) we dwell on what we haven’t yet done. My perspective changed when I went through and marked these for myself. Huh, it turns out I’m not as boring as I thought. My challenge this year will be to remember all the wonderful opportunities I’ve had and to be open to having more, while remaining content right where I am. Afterall, the bible says, “be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

    Feel free to copy this list to your blog and asterix the things you’ve done and add a few new things. Leave a comment here and tell me about some of your adventures or leave a link to your blog.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    *1. Started your own blog
    *2. Slept under the stars
    *3. Played in a band
    *4. Visited Hawaii
    *5. Watched a meteor shower
    *6. Given more than you can afford to charity
    *7. Been to Disneyworld
    *8. Climbed a mountain
    *9. Held a praying mantis
    *10. Sang a solo
    11. Bungee jumped
    12. Visited Paris
    13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
    *14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
    *15. Adopted a child
    *16. Had food poisoning
    *17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
    *18. Grown your own vegetables
    19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
    20. Slept on an overnight train
    *21. Had a pillow fight
    22. Hitch hiked
    23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
    *24. Built a snow fort
    *25. Held a lamb
    *26. Gone skinny dipping
    27. Run a marathon
    28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
    *29. Seen a total eclipse
    *30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
    31. Hit a home run
    32. Been on a cruise
    33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
    34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
    35. Seen an Amish community
    36. Taught yourself a new language
    *37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
    38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
    39. Gone rock climbing
    40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
    41. Sung karaoke
    42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
    43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
    44. Visited Africa
    *45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
    46. Been transported in an ambulance
    47. Had your portrait painted
    *48. Gone deep sea fishing
    49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
    50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
    *51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
    *52. Kissed in the rain
    *53. Played in the mud
    *54. Gone to a drive-in theater
    55. Been in a movie
    56. Visited the Great Wall of China
    *57. Started a business
    58. Taken a martial arts class
    59. Visited Russia
    60. Served at a soup kitchen
    61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
    62. Gone whale watching
    *63. Got flowers for no reason
    *64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
    65. Gone sky diving
    66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
    *67. Bounced a check
    68. Flown in a helicopter
    *69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (book!)
    *70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
    *71. Eaten Caviar
    *72. Pieced a quilt
    *73. Stood in Times Square
    74. Toured the Everglades
    *75. Been fired/laid off from a job
    76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
    *77. Broken a bone
    *78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
    *79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
    *80. Published a book (in a few months anyway)
    81. Visited the Vatican
    *82. Bought a brand new car
    83. Walked in Jerusalem
    *84. Had your picture in the newspaper
    *85. Read the entire Bible (I’m not sure on this one.)
    *86.Visited the White House
    *87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
    *88. Had chickenpox
    89. Saved someone’s life
    *90. Sat on a jury
    *91. Met someone famous
    *92. Joined a book club
    *93. Lost a loved one
    *94. Had a baby
    95. Seen the Alamo in person
    96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
    97. Been involved in a law suit
    *98. Owned a cell phone
    *99. Been stung by a bee
    100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
    *101. Learned to play an instrument
    102. Kissed the Blarney Stone
    103. Ridden a camel
    *104. Ridden an Elephant
    *105. Petted a cheetah
    *106. Eaten Opposum

  • ramble,  reviews

    Friend’s Thanksgiving

    On a recent Sunday, we marked the ninth annual Friend’s Thanksgiving dinner. What a blessing to have 61 of my closest friends all together, squeezed in really, in my home. We cooked two turkeys, one smoked and one roasted. Friends came bearing ham, potatoes, pumpkin pie and all the other Thanksgiving treats including Kristin’s fabulous Sweet Potato Surprise.
    I find myself thinking about these relationships often this time of year. The base of the group formed in college. I lived at Azalea House, a co-op on the campus of Oregon State University with about fifty other women. My husband lived next door at Avery Lodge with a bunch of guys. As time went by, we Azalea girls found ourselves marrying the boys next door, literally. After graduation, we went our separate ways but over the years many of us have returned home to Corvallis were we live near each other, raise and in many cases homeschool our children together, and attend church together. We are a family.
    More friends have come into the group, some through marriage and some through acquaintance. Yes, a few of us actually married outside the original herd and I am so grateful. As I write this, I find myself grinning. If you know Lisa, you probably understand why.
    I have just finished Uncharted by Angela Hunt. A group of friends from college are reunited after many years of lost contact only to find themselves stranded on an uncharted island. Let me tell you, I am so thankful that my life didn’t follow that course. If you’re looking for a good read, pick this one up. I found myself convicted but strengthened by the story. Oh, and if you do read the book I assure you that none of my friends share the same secret as Mark.
    I think.
    I pray that you will all have a blessed Thanksgiving.
  • ramble,  writing

    How Do You Find the Time?

    People often ask me how I find the time to write while homeschooling, taking care of our home and farm, and all the other things that amount to life. The answer is simple. I write at football practice, soccer practice, gymnastics, stoplights (only when I get an idea I can’t risk forgetting), and even while I make dinner. Isn’t multi-tasker one of the greatest descriptions of a mother?
    My friend, Shannon, walked into my kitchen a couple of weeks ago and laughed at the scene. I had one hand stirring dinner and the the other on a print out. Rewrites are very mobile. So for all of you who are wondering, I do not get up at 5am and I do not stay up all night. Okay, sometimes I do, but not regularly.
    If you’re a mom I’m sure you can think of the things that you love so much that you fit them in somehow. For me those things are my God, my husband, my kiddos, and my writing.
    Have a great week and take time to enjoy your passions.
  • ramble,  writing

    ACFW Conference and a few great reads

    Well, I’m home from Minnesota and I after a few weeks I’ve adjusted to life again. The trip was great. The conference was exceptional. I can’t begin to tell you how much my writing and my life was impacted by those four days. I’m already looking forward to next year in Denver.

    One of the things I was thinking on as I traveled home was the real lack of Christian Fiction we have available here in our area. Yes, the CBA has other genres outside of Romance and historicals. The following list is the winners of the ACFW book of the year contest. Check them out. You should be able to order any of these titles from Amazon.com.

    If you read any of these books please post a comment and let us know what you thought.

    2008 ACFW Book of the Year Winners

    Contemporary Novella

    First
    Finally Home
    by Deborah Raney

    Second
    Moonlight & Mistletoe
    by Carrie Turansky

    Third
    Remaking of Moe McKenna
    by Gloria Clover


    Debut Author

    First
    Sushi for One?
    by Camy Tang

    Second
    Bayou Justice
    by Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll

    Third
    In Between
    by Jenny B. Jones


    Historical Novella

    First
    Love Notes in Love Letters Anthology
    by Mary Davis

    Second
    Beyond the Memories
    by DiAnn Mills

    Third
    The Spinster & The Tycoon
    by Vickie McDonough


    Lits

    First
    Splitting Harriet
    by Tamara Leigh

    Second
    Sushi for One?
    by Camy Tang

    Third
    One Little Secret and The Book of Jane
    Allison Bottke and Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt


    Long Contemporary

    First
    Within This Circle
    by Deborah Raney

    Second
    Like Always
    by Robert Elmer

    Third
    Autumn Blue
    by Karen Harter


    Long Historical

    First
    Veil of Fire and Where Willows Grow
    by Marlo Schalesky

    Second
    Fancy Pants and Then Came Hope
    by Cathy Marie Hake and Louise Gouge

    Third
    Courting Trouble
    by Deeanne Gist


    Mystery

    First
    Your Chariot Awaits
    by Lorena McCourtney

    Second
    Death of a Garage Sale Newbie
    by Sharon Dunn

    Third
    Sticks And Stones
    by Susan Meissner


    Short Contemporary

    First
    The Heart of Grace
    by Linda Goodnight

    Second
    Heart of the Family
    by Margaret Daley

    Third
    Wedded Bliss
    by Kathleen Y’Barbo


    Short Contemporary Suspense

    First
    Caught Redhanded
    by Gayle Roper

    Second
    Pursuit of Justice
    by Pamela Tracy

    Third
    Nowhere to Hide and Her Christmas Protector
    by Debby Giusti and Terri Reed


    Short Historical

    First
    Canteen Dreams and Golden Days
    by Cara Putman

    Second
    A Wealth Beyond Riches
    by Vickie McDonough

    Third
    A Time to Keep
    by Kelly Eileen Hake


    Speculative

    First
    The Restorer’s Son
    by Sharon Hinck

    Second
    Demon: A Memoir
    by Tosca Lee

    Third
    DragonFire
    by Donita Paul


    Suspense

    First
    Black Ice
    by Linda Hall

    Second
    Coral Moon
    by Brandilyn Collins

    Third
    Abomination
    by Colleen Coble


    Women’s Fiction

    First
    Remember to Forget
    by Deborah Raney

    Second
    Watercolored Pearls
    by Stacy Hawkins Adams

    Third
    A Promise To Remember
    by Kathryn Cushman


    Young Adult

    First
    In Between
    by Jenny B. Jones

    Second
    Sara Jane: Liberty’s Torch
    byEleanor Clark

    Third
    Saving Sailor
    by Renee Riva

    Overall Book of the Year Winner

    Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble