THANK YOU!

For the many cards, prayers, well wishes, CDs, meals, free rides, phone calls and more that all of you--friends and family alike--have showered on me (and Mark too!), thank you! Your encouragement, advice, and concern have carried me many a day. When I was asked at the Victory Center about support systems they offer, I passed them all up. (Except, of course, the free massages!) I told them my support system was so overwhelming that others could benefit from what they offer--while I bask in the beauty, humility, and grace of faithful people who live lives of generous love. Thank you all again. I cherish each of you. SDG from whom all blessings flow....

Double Talk?

When Jesus talks with Martha just before He resurrects her brother, Lazarus, Jesus says,"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26, NIV). Is this double talk?

If we go back a few chapters in the book of John, Jesus said that whoever hears His word and believes God the Father who sent Him has eternal life and won't be condemned because "he has crossed over from death to life." (See John 5:24; emphasis added.) If I put these few verses together, I come up with one conclusion.

Those who died in Christ before His resurrection will live, even though they died. Lazarus, John the Baptist, and the rest of the Old Testament saints did die, but now they're very much alive. As for the rest of us?

It might look like we died when we do die physically on this earth--just like Lazarus and those others. But actually we died when we became believers. So we really have already passed from death into life. Awesome truth that's not double talk.

Or, as Sergeant Joe Friday would say, "Just the facts." SDG.

Of October, Chemo, and Books

October brings some startling colors and fragrances. I'm wondering if our remaining, struggling tomatoes on the vine will ripen. We have homegrown, hothouse tomatoes: they redden only after plucked from the vine and plunked in the window sill.

To business: Paramount Craft Show FRIDAY, OCT 7 at PARAMOUNT HEALTH CARE, 1901 Indian Wood Circle in Maumee, Oh. Time is from 9 am until 2 pm. Lots of MADE IN USA quality gifts and good food too. I'll have all my books in print available to sell below market cost. New ones are anthologies with fun stories and fun devotionals. The titles are Heavenly XOXO for Women and Heavenly Humor for the Teacher's Soul. I still have copies of past favorites including Little Whiskers of Wisdom, as well as devotionals for stepmoms and the popular Snakes, Snails, Puppy Dog Tales for animal lovers.

If you can't make it to the Paramount Show, the Swanton Craft Show is scheduled for Saturday, December 3 from 10 am until 4 pm at Swanton High School.

All will happen for this author as long as my chemo hasn't got me curled up in a recliner whining about who ever came up with IV NAPALM as a cure for anything. I'll be donning an appropriate head cover and have some fun stories to tell from this summer's breast cancer journey. There are laughs along the way, believe it or not.

Shameless Advertising

Okay. One more piece of shameless advertising.

Heavenly Humor for the Teacher's Soul has been released by Barbour Publishing. All you teachers out there will enjoy these funny true stories and words of encouragement. You might even think someone's been reading your mail. This book makes a great gift for teachers come (dare I say it?) Christmas. Copies available in stores, on-line, and from yours truly. Thank the Lord for good teachers; some of them take a real hammerin'.

NEW BOOK RELEASE

HEAVENLY XOXO FOR WOMEN has been released by Barbour Books. I have two stories in the collection, and two friends and fellow writers from the NW Christian Writers also have stories in this hardbound gift book for women. I think you'll enjoy this collection.

No Princesses Here recounts the true story of my Aunt June. Born a Japanese princess, she eventually left all she knew to come to USA. What a Great Idea! chronicles the antics of my husband in our 30+ years of marriage. For those of you who know Mark, none of this will surprise you. For those of you who don't know him, you're in for some laughs.

HEAVENLY XOXO FOR WOMEN is available from bookstores, or a copy can be ordered on line.

Flower Power?

Our hibiscus tree produces big, beautiful blossoms as pictured here. They're huge things and brighten up the whole room. The bad news? We get one bloom at a time. I think we're on #3 for the spring. But the real kicker? They're big and beautiful for all of 24 hours. That's it. We enjoy them for a day and then they fold up, hang down, and land on the carpet in a shrivelled up lump.

Does it make me think of a verse of scripture? Mais oui!

"The grass withers," Peter wrote, quoting Isaiah, "and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." (See 1 Peter 1:24 and Isaiah 40:8.) The emphasis isn't on flowers, but on the mighty Word of the Lord. Earthly beauties come and go, falter and fade. But the Word of God?

It's got staying power. SDG.