A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts--The Interview

Today I'm hosting our Christmas Blast Out Blog Tour! Leave a comment to be entered in our drawing for a free copy and that $200 Christmas Basket.

A SCRAPBOOK OF CHRISTMAS FIRSTS

(Leafwood Publishers, October 2008)

A wonderful new gift book, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts, is available in October for Christmas giving. Today, I’ve invited the six coauthors to share their unique story of how they came together to publish this exciting book full of stories, recipes, tips for simplifying the holidays and so much more (click on bookcover to see the trailer!).

First, let me introduce Cathy Messecar, Leslie Wilson, Brenda Nixon, Trish Berg, Terra Hangen and Karen Robbins. Thank you for being here today, ladies.

Karen: Thank you for the invitation.

You are from three different areas of the country—Texas, California, and Ohio. How did you all meet?

Terra: We all six joined The Writers View, an online group for professional Christian writers. Trish and Brenda met in person in 2004 for lunch, I understand, and on 9/18/04, after reading a post Brenda sent to TWV, I sent an email to Brenda, asking if she would like to join with me and walk alongside each other, as a Barnabas group. Brenda said yes that same day, and suggested Trish too. Very quickly Cathy, Leslie and Karen joined in and our stalwart band of six was formed. Living in California, I was so happy to find 5 Barnabas writers in other states so we could bring together a wealth of different viewpoints and expertise

Brenda: Actually, We haven’t met. We’re all great colleagues and friends via the internet. Four years ago Terra and I formed a dyad to support each other as Christians who write in the secular markets. Along came Trish, Cathy, Karen, and Leslie (not necessarily in that order) and we formed a close knit bond of support, creative energy, and professional accountability.

Karen: I met Trish through an online forum called The Writers View and she invited me to join the group.

Trish: Although we belong to the same Yahoo writing group, we met one by one online. Eventually, the six of us decided that since we all write as Christians for a secular market through magazine articles and newspaper columns, we could support and encourage one another.

Leslie: Though we met virtually through The Writers View, I have been blessed to give and get hugs from Trish (at a MOPS conference), Cathy (in the area on business) and Karen (in town for a writers' conference). I can’t wait to meet Terra and Brenda face-to-face, though I feel as though I already know them!

How did you come up with the idea to do a book together?

Brenda: The book is Cathy’s brainchild. She mentioned the concept of telling stories of events that happened for the first time at Christmas and sharing holiday historical tidbits and recipes and each said, “If you need any help, let me know.” That offer morphed into each of us equally contributing and co-authoring A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts.

Trish: Yep, Cathy came up with the idea and the title, and asked us if we wanted to join her on this project. Of course, we said Yes!

Terra: Cathy mentioned the idea for a Christmas book to the group, and someone (I think it was Leslie) suggested that maybe our group could all write the book together. Cathy agreed to lead the way on the project. The earliest email I have on this is from 9/7/05, which shows that this has been a three year collaboration from idea to publication.

Karen: (Chuckling) Terra is a librarian and keeps our historical records by saving our e-mails.

Leslie: Actually, Terra, I wrote that comment (in a group e-mail) kind of tongue-in-cheek. Cathy, the ultra-sweet person she is, took my joking at face value and here we are. However, I believe God prompted the passion and ideas we all bring to the project and that He will do mighty things as a result of our collaboration!

Why did you decide on a Christmas theme?

Brenda: It was Cathy’s concept to write a book centering on Christmas.

Cathy: For several years, I’d been thinking about Christmas as a threshold to introduce Jesus to folks who aren’t familiar with him, and I love a simpler Christmas with the emphasis on family, friends and doing for others. I knew of some families who had experienced “firsts” at Christmas—reunions, losses, special surprises—and I wanted to collect those stories.

Terra: Cathy’s idea immediately resonated with me because Christmas books are “a way past watchful dragons,” as C. S. Lewis wrote. Many people won’t buy a book about being a Christian, but will buy a holiday and family fun book, thus the “past watchful dragons.” People who want to grow in their faith, and people who have no faith but celebrate Christmas will buy our book and hopefully be led to put the focus back on Christ for the holiday, and for their lives.

Leslie: Though Cathy birthed the idea, the rest of us quickly hopped on board. Not only is Christmas special to me—especially now that I have a family of my own—but also that particular holiday cries out to be simplified, to return to the meaningful aspects of celebration, and to lose some of the hype and commercialism.

Tell me a little about what is in A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts? What is your favorite part?

Cathy: I like that you can read one chapter in about 15 minutes and, with all the different suggestions, it feels like Christmas Eve. Makes you want to set up the nativity! Many of the suggestions for family activities can be adapted for any family get-together.

Karen: There are heartwarming stories about things that happened for the first time at Christmas. For instance, one of my stories is about the first Christmas with our adopted children. And the book is pretty. When I first saw the colorful pages and drawings, I fell in love with the illustrator’s work.

Brenda: I don’t have a favorite part – I love it all!

Terra: I like the way the parts are woven into a seamless whole, like a patchwork quilt, that is stronger and more beautiful than the parts.

Trish: It’s like everything you ever wanted to know about Christmas, all the best tips and recipes, and neat stories all wrapped up in this perfect little package.

Leslie: I love reading the special stories, hints, recipes—whatever—and imagining the precious family time that precipitated each moment. Plus, the book is gorgeous, beautifully printed, truly something to be proud of. And we are.

I’ve heard that the book is really a nice gift book; can you tell me a little about the format?

Cathy: Yes, it’s a hardbound book, full color interior. The layout makes it easy to read. It has a definite scrapbooky look on the interior. Different logos identify sections, such as an oilcloth-look Christmas stocking appears beside the “Stocking Stuffer Tradition” (help for connecting family members), and the “Cookie Canister” recipes are on a recipe card, and the back ground of “A Gift For You” is a gift box with bow. It’s a classy gift that they can be placed on a coffee table or in a guest bedroom during the holiday season.

Brenda: I like to describe it as a Starbuck’s sorta gift book. It’s high quality, crisp, and practical.

With six different personalities and areas of ministry, how did you manage to put this all together and still remain friends?

Karen: We pray a lot for each other and it helps that none of us have an over-inflated ego.

Cathy: There were no squabbles. Surely, we had differing opinions, but we knew that any of us could suggest an idea for this book and that each idea would get fair reviews from others. We actually voted on some aspects—everyone in favor say, “Aye.” If you’ve ever watched women at a Dutch treat luncheon when they divide up a meal ticket, it can be intense as they split the ticket down to the penny. As the project came together, I was in awe of my gracious coauthors, unselfish women who respect each other.
For some decisions, we did a round robin—things like book title and chapter titles and what categories to put into the book. Then, as compiler, I’d send out a list of needs to The Word Quilters, that’s what we call ourselves. For instance in a section we call “Peppermints for Little Ones” (hints for children’s activities), I’d put out a call, and the WQs sent in their hints, and then I put them into appropriate chapters.

Brenda: (Smiling) Are we still friends? Seriously, we each have our own platform, ministry, and family life, and those interests kept this project in perspective – it was important but not the only thing on our plates. No one was so enmeshed in this project that she campaigned for her own way. We never had a bitter disagreement or insistence to be “right.”

Terra: We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders.We offer support and ideas for our separate writing projects and for personal prayer requests. I love these ladies, and I have only met one of them in person. So far, Karen is the only one who has met each of us, and one day we hope to meet in person, in a circle of friendship and love.

Trish: I think we are all very flexible and forgiving. We do have a variety of personalities here, but God has worked amazing things through our little group.

Leslie: Though I have seven non-fiction projects in various stages of completion, I could not be more thankful that this is the one to reach publication first. I am truly blessed to have worked with these women, learned from them, watched as they’ve poured heart and soul into crafting a product that will impact lives for the Lord.

Where can my readers get a copy of SOCF?

Cathy: The coauthors will all have a supply, plus our publisher, Leafwood Publishers, will have plenty of copies and discounts for buying five or more. Or they can be ordered at most online stores or by your local bookstore.

Karen: And anyone who leaves a comment here can be entered in a drawing for a free book and a gift basket worth $200! For a list of its contents, check our blog, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts. And while you're there, leave another comment and increase your chances of winning!

Tell me more about your blog.

Karen: We started our blog in July and it is accumulating a wealth of information about Christmas. Each of us posts one day a week following the theme for that week. Watch for new recipes, tips, ways to simplify, stories, etc., similar to what is in our book.

Leslie: Ooh, ooh, let me answer this one. I’m probably the newest to blogging among the group, but I LOVE it. I’ve enjoyed posting and receiving comments back from readers. What an amazing adventure having an online voice can be! This blog will focus on a different theme each week—anything from tips to avoid overeating during the holidays to how to give a guest room special touches—and expand on the material in the book. I think readers will get to know the authors’ individual personalities and connect on a more personal level. Plus, they get that many more ideas, information, inspiration (!) at no additional cost.

WQs: As an added bonus for inviting us to your blog, we’d like to pass along this Christmas tidbit to you and your readers:

Enjoy a blessed Christmas this year! And thanks for inviting us to share our book, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts, with you.

How will we remember?

Several years ago, Bob and I went to New York City to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Perhaps the most important thing I wanted to see in NYC next to the parade was Ground Zero at the site of the World Trace Center. We spent the afternoon in the financial district being awed again by the immensity of the tragedy that took place 9/11/01. The rubble is cleared but the empty space is enormous. The subway station is open again and right across from it is St. Paul's Church. This little church with a big heart was central to the rescue operation providing shelter, food, and encouragement. There are display areas set up with remnants of the memorials and the rescue effort for visitors to see.

(For more impressions of 9/11 see my earlier posts: Ground Zero, Ground Zero 2, Ground Zero 3.)

It will not be long before the gaping hole that is in the middle of the financial district of NYC will be filled in with. . .what? How will we remember the day that changed our world? The people that lost their lives? Somehow I think that no matter what the structure, it will be something remembered more in our hearts than in stone.

New and Old Country Roots

While my husband came from small town roots (see my Monday post), my family came from two distinctly different areas. My mother's side of the family was southern although Mom never really defined that except to say that my grandmother sure knew how to make Southern Fried Chicken. It has been rumored that the roots for that side go back to John Hancock although I have never seen the proof.

My father's side of the family came from Prague in what was then Bohemia, Czechslovakia. My grandfather came on a ship with his parents and nine siblings and passed through Ellis Island like so many other immigrants did in those days. The story was always told that they lost one daughter in the crowd and confusion. Then they found her years later in Detroit but I never heard what became of her after that. The truly interesting thing was that all of the siblings eventually changed their names to a more Americanized version and none of them were the same.

When we are children and young adults we often don't appreciate the roots we have. I wish I had paid more attention. But the stories are still mine to retell--true or not, they are what were told to me.

Small Town America

This weekend we made a trip to where my husband's family roots are in a small town in south central Ohio. My mother-in-law narrated as we took side streets pointing out the house where she grew up, the homes where some of her siblings and aunts and uncles lived. The homes are a lot smaller than what Bob remembers but then we decided he was a lot smaller back then and his perspective would have been a little different visiting grandma and grandpa's house.

We drove through the center of town and marveled at the detailed brick and sandstone on the buildings that still stood strong. It seems that small towns aren't in a hurry to knock everything down for a modern mall or shopping strip. Those things were there but they were situated closer to the interstate.

Small town roots are good. They go deep and they grow strong and they produce some great families--like my husband's.

FAIR food fare

Who can resist a big fluffy cotton candy on a stick. Nowadays it mostly comes in bags but I still prefer the paper cone and watching the maker twirl it around as the sugar spins out. Cotton candy dates back to the late 1800s. There are four people credited with the recipe but only two, John C. Wharton and William Morrison obtained the patent for the machine in 1899. They premiered it in 1904 at the St. Louis World's Fair.

The cotton candy machine heats the sugar which is then spun by centrifugal force and forced into the center of the machine through tiny holes that form the fine strands of the sweet stuff that is collected on a paper stick.

My favorite fair food is a candy apple--the real ones with the crunchy red coating. I don't mind the caramel ones but in the heat of summer they can get really gooey. And of course it's a serving of fruit so it's good for you. Right?

FAIR Game

When we were at the fair we walked past the all the carnival games with their "barkers" goading us to come and play. I always look for the milk bottle booth. I remember as a really young child my grandfather giving me a beat up old baseball. I learned later that it was from the booth he ran as a "Carnie." I know now that it was a tough life for him and my grandmother. I can't imagine trying to live on what they made on the carnival circuit.

Someone once told me that it wasn't necessarily how hard you hit the milk bottles but where you hit them that counts. I did a little research and found a few places on the internet that support that theory. You need to aim at the base and the space between the two bottom bottles.

For the balloon dart throw booth I found a hint that says the best prizes are often hung under the balloons at the edges since most people aim for the middle. Also the balloons are a bit under-inflated so throw hard.

On the ring toss game, you need to snap your wrist as you throw so that it spins and if you're going to test your strength, accuracy is more important than how hard you swing the mallet. Aim for dead center.

Finally, it's always been my philosophy that if you really have to have that plush animal, it may be cheaper to just go buy one.

It was a FAIR day

This past Saturday, we took advantage of beautiful late summer weather and ventured out to one of the many county fairs held in Ohio, the Geauga County Fair. This fair is one of the largest and certainly oldest fairs not only in Ohio but in the nation. It dates back to 1823 and has been held yearly ever since despite the Civil War, the Spanish American War, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and the more modern conflicts after them.

While that first fair was called "Fair and Cattle Show" and prizes were handed out for the best bull and heifer, there were also prizes handed out for fabric arts. Since the mid-1800s the fair has been held in Burton--equally well-known for hosting the maple festival in early spring.

The fair has certainly grown and offers exhibits for every kind of farm animal imaginable including llamas and alpacas. We strolled through the produce building and admired the beautiful harvests and stood amazed at the size of the large gourds and pumpkins. The largest pumpkin was just under 1200 pounds. Buildings (some listed on the historical register) held fabric arts, crafts, antiques, flowers, paintings, photographs, homemade bakery. I'll stop there as the image makes my mouth water. We just missed the apple pie auction.

This is what makes living in the Midwest so great and Ohio especially. While the Ohio State fair is huge, the county fairs bring more focus on local areas and add to community.

A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts--Cookie Recipe

Okay, so when we started this book and the call went out for recipes, I panicked. They were asking a gal who can't make Jello. Here's one of my favorite recipes for the cooking challenged at A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts blog.

O-H-I-O !

I had no idea those folks in the late 1800's were so rowdy. Apparently, according to all that I could find on the matter, that's when the O-H-I-O cheer began.

Now there are several ways it is done. At the beginning of the game, the Horseshoe is divided up into four sections and each one yells out a letter in turn, round and round, until the ball is kicked.

Then there is the shout, "O-H!" answered by, "I-O!" Often this is shouted back and forth between the closed end of the Shoe where traditionally Block O sits and the South Stands where faithful alumni who can't afford better seats sit.

O-H! I-O! has become a recognized greeting among Buckeye fans--true Buckeye fans. As we travel we often see someone wearing an Ohio State shirt and we immediately yell out "O-H!" We can tell if they are wearing the shirt with pride if they yell back "I-O!" So, a word to the wise: If you're gonna wear the shirt, know the right response!!

By the way, O-H-I-O is showing up in some strange places. Take a look here.


Hang on Sloopy and let's go Bucks!!

The Shoe--the Ohio State Football Stadium

With all of its expansion and remodeling, The Shoe still resembles a horseshoe and is the center of all activity on football Saturdays in Columbus, a city that lives and breathes Buckeye football.

Back in 1913, when OSU joined "the big nine," officials at the university began to talk about replacing the old Ohio Field that fronted on High Street. It wasn't until August 3, 1921 that ground was broken for the stadium after a quite vigorous campaign to raise funds.

At the same time as the building of the stadium the bridge over the Olentangy River which many fans cross today to get to the games was also constructed.

The site chosen for the stadium was subject to flooding so there was a seven foot high earthen wall made along the Olentangy. Eventually the river was also straightened some and a dike built along the east bank.

The stadium was completed in time for the 1922 football season at a final cost of almost $1.5 million. Expansion projects have included field and box seats and the addition of the south stands which brought the seating capacity to around 89,000 from the original 66,000. Lowering the field and adding onto a few other places brought seating capacity to 98,000. But on football Saturday, more than 100,000 usually pack the stadium.

My husband's fondest memories of the Horseshoe--aside from the wins over that school from the North--are of the ham radio club that had their equipment in one of the towers at the open end of the Shoe.

O-H!

Brutus is Back!!

It's just about time to unpack Brutus and set him up again. The first Ohio State Buckeye football game is August 30 against Youngstown State. Our neighbors know us as the people who put that inflatable in the front yard during football season. Most of them are intelligent enough to know that it is the Ohio State Mascot--except for the Michigan fan who lives down the street.

The real Brutus has been around since 1965. Originally he was just a big buckeye made of paper mache (obviously not a good choice for outdoor weather) with holes cut for the student's arms and legs. The next year he was made of fiberglass. Eventually his appearance was updated to a large head shaped like a buckeye with a face and the scarlet and gray outfit with the block "O" cap.

Brutus had the honor of being inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007. As it says in his bio there, "As a nut, he of course, is the life of the party, and loves being with people – especially fellow Buckeyes!"

Go Bucks!!

A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts--

Today I'm posting at A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts. This week's theme has been all about money saving ideas for Christmas. Find out how to make your packages look beautiful for less!

New Book Trailer for A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

I was playing on Animoto.com again and this time made a longer version of our book trailer including some of the pages from our book. Have a look!

The Handwriting on the Football Field

When Ohio State University Coach Tressel first arrived, it was rumored that he had a difficult time explaining what TBDBITL meant. Somehow saying "The Best Darn Band In The Land" doesn't have the same impact. That band however, impacts the football season as much it seems as who are chosen as starters in the game.

Tressel has strongly encouraged the football players' participation in tradition and part of that is showing up for the band's pregame Skull session at St. John's arena. He also gathers the team at one end of the field postgame to meet with the band and sing the alma mater.

One thing the football team does not participate in though is Script Ohio. It is a tradition that has been around for 72 years now. Begun back in 1936, the band's original formation had a trumpet player in the last position who strutted out and dotted the i. It didn't take them long to realize that a sousaphone would be more visable from the stands. The honor goes to a different senior sousaphone player each week and has been surrounded with great fanfare including "My son dotted the i" tee shirts.

While the team may read the coach's handwriting on the wallboard in the locker room, the handwriting on the field belongs to the band and is read by over 90,000 fans on a football saturday in Columbus. Can't wait! Go Bucks!!

Seahorse

In all the years (9-10) we've been diving at Grand Cayman, we've never seen a seahorse. . .until now. This little gem was posed so perfectly in front of a blue sea fan it made us wonder if it was real or something straight out of Disney World.

Daddy Long Legs of the Sea

On our recent dive trip to Grand Cayman, my husband snapped some great pictures. Here is one of an arrow crab. He looks like a daddy-long legs spider and moves much the same way except that he swims too. It always amazes me how some of God's smallest creatures can live so far under the water's surface. We were diving around 60-70 feet here I think.

Caribbean Road Signs

Spending ten days in the East End, Grand Cayman Island, has been, well, grand. But several times we have passed two signs that just make me chuckle each time I see them.

One sign is at the approach to the "old folks" home on the island. I blogged about it last year when we were here but if you missed it, here's the photo.

The other sign is a new one we noticed this year. It is in front of a local bar/carry out:

"Buy one Jerk, Get one Free!"

They mean jerk--as in spicey spicey chicken or pork or fish--I think. Maybe I should go back and ask next year.

The Writing on the Wall

My monthly grandparenting column has been posted at Positively Feminine.org and displays the artwork of my talented grandchildren.

Beijing--"on a stick"

Our olympic athletes and visitors will experience many tasty treats, I'm sure, while they are in China. And perhaps they will even be brave enough to try some of the delicacies we found our first night in Beijing. Here's another excerpt from my China journal:


After dinner, a short walk from the hotel leads us to a pedestrian mall a couple blocks away. Just a block from our hotel, we pass a Catholic church (St. Joseph Cathedral). Lots of people stroll through the gardens in front of it and take pictures. I am surprised to see a church here that has obviously been extablished for quite some time.

The mall has lots of shops located in buildings but we find an alleyway that looks interesting. It is crowded and narrow but lined with all sorts of booths selling food items. This looks like the “real” China. There is everything you can imagine on a stick and fried. I literally gasp as I see seahorses displayed on a stick—obviously a delicacy. There are all sorts of meat products, raw and ready to be fried. Next we pass bugs on a stick, scorpions, and trays of other things we can’t identify. The one thing that looks appetizing resembles small apples on a stick with a clear candy glaze over them. Lots of people are munching on them. I’m afraid to try it.

The farther into the alley we walk, the more awful it smells—a mix of hot cooking oils and exotic foodstuffs including many seafood products like squid. Past the foodstuffs, there are booths like a flea market but this is all new product—mostly cheap souvenir items mixed with clothing and handbags and small electronics. It would be more fascinating if it wasn’t so crowded and we weren’t bumped along. I clutch my purse under my armpit.

Dodging cars and buses we cross the street successfully again on our return to the hotel. Thankfully, at one corner there is a traffic control person. I think the word oxymoron fits here. There is no control of traffic. And pedestrians are low on the food chain.

Our Beijing Visit

Last October, we did an eight day precruise tour of China including Beijing, Xian, the Yangtze River area, and Wuhan. This is a little excerpt from my journal on our first morning in Beijing as we boarded a plane for Xian. Is it any wonder that many athletes showed up wearing masks for the Olympics?

Our group boards the buses for the airport. There are three buses for 78 of us and our bus, #2, has only 18 on it making it nice and roomy. Our local guide, Maggie, introduces herself. She warns us of pick pockets and teaches us some Chinese words: zao—good morning, ni hau (pronounced nee-how)—hello and used like “How are you?”, xie xie (pronounced shea shea)—thank you.

We arrive at the airport about 7:30 a.m. Our tour guides, Fred and Duan, have already checked us in and pass out our tickets. We board another bus that takes us out to our plane. Even though the sun is coming up, the fog is too thick for it to penetrate. We board the plane and begin our wait. We cannot see the plane sitting next to us.
Maggie had explained to us that Beijing is nestled between mountains and they not only hold the smog in but cause the fog to roll in often. The smog she said is from industry (they burn coal for energy) and is a sign of the improving economy.

As we wait, the question we ask each other is “Will they take off in this stuff?” It’s a frightening thought. What are their safety standards? Are their margins less defined than ours?

We are served a meal while we wait. It is some kind of bean and rice dish and very hot. I pass. It smells a little funky. There are a few other things in the box that look interesting and I nibble on some as I watch the plane next to us reappear slowly and then fade again into the fog. I test the black egg. One bite is enough. Although it doesn’t taste horrible, it doesn’t taste good. There is a salad under some kind of meat, a carton of yogurt, something that resembles a cinnamon roll, and a container of water.

Gradually the shape of the plane reappears and I begin to see more lights beyond that plane. At 11:05 a.m., we finally take off for Xian. Because we waited on the plane, we are among the first flights to escape the fog on the one runway that is open.

At 12:45 p.m. we arrive in Xian. It is foggy here as well but not as bad as Beijing. The smog is nasty though and it smells. Three buses await us for the trip to the Terra Cotta Warriors.

An Irishwoman's Tale

Surprises come in all sorts of different ways. I had the most outstanding and pleasant surprise when I agreed to read a new fiction book by Patti Lacy, her first, An Irishwoman's Tale. There was a lot of buzz in some of my writers' online forums about the book and since St. Patrick's day is my birthday, I thought it would be fun to read a book about an Irishwoman and Ireland.

One of the most intriguing things I heard about this book was that it was based on a true story. Patti had said it started with a story told to her by an Irishwoman. But, it is her first book. How good could it be, I wondered? The answer: REAL GOOD!!

From the very first chapter, I fell in love with Mary, the Irishwoman whose story is touching, revealing, inspirational, and heartwarming. I smiled. I cried. I learned. I even traveled to Ireland through Patti's beautifully written words.

This is the reason I read. To find books like this. Great storytelling. Good characterization. A place to lose myself for a few hours and find refreshment in between pages of wonderfully scripted words.

Pelicans, Ibis, and Shells, Oh My!!

Just wanted to share a few shots from our recent visit to the Fort Meyers area.

Don't Feed the Pastor?

I love reading church signs. Some of them have made me think. Some have made me laugh until I cried. Others, well others sometimes are just hard to figure out.

For the last several weeks, each Sunday on our way to our church, we pass another with a sign that has read:

Do not feed the Pastor chocolate.

Do not feed the Pastor Donuts.

Do not feed the Pastor French fries.

And this week:

Honk if you see the Pastor exercising.

Curious? I sure am. Can't decide if it's a new diet strategy for their Pastor or if he's cleverly come up with a series of messages about. . .hmmm. Diets?

Police Officer Remembered

We have had a rash it seems of police officers being killed. Just recently another young husband and father lost his life in a senseless shooting while only doing the job he was hired to do. I heard the following poem read by another police officer and it touched my heart:

Judgement Day for a Police Officer

. . .author unknown

The policeman stood and faced his God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, Policeman.

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To my Church have you been true?"

The policeman squared his shoulders and said,

"No, Lord I guess I ain't,

Because those of us who carry badges

Can't always be a Saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my work was rough,

and sometimes I've been violent,

Because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny,

That wasn't mine to keep,

I worked a lot of overtime

When the bills just got too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place

among the people here.

They never wanted me around

Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was silence all around the Throne

Where the Saints had often trod.

As the policeman waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, policeman,

You've borne your burdens well.

Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell.

After reading the poem, this patrol man left to do traffic stops--the same kind of job being done by his fellow officer who was gunned down.

Pray for them. Every siren you hear, pray for them.

The Flight of the Bumble Bee

Outside in the cool refreshing morning air, I sipped my second cup of coffee and finished my devotional reading. Instead of getting right up and going inside to my computer, I took a few minutes to take in my surroundings.

We have a beautiful backyard full of trees with a lake that sits on property behind us. The sun was filtering through the trees casting its bright and dark green patterns on the grass. The flowers I have in pots on the deck (to keep them out of the reach of our neighborhood deer) were lifting their dewy faces to the morning sun. And in one pot, there was a bumble bee already busily at work.

This was not a honey bee, so I knew it wasn't gathering pollen for manufacture. It was going from blossom to blossom doing the job God gave it--pollinating, spreading the pollen from one flower to another to insure that there would be more blooms in the plant's future.

God has given believers a job as well. Like the bumble bee, He wants us to spread His love, His word, His plan, His grace. Like the bumble bee, He has given us many blossoms in our flight path. So, don't just stop to smell the roses, do a little pollinating too.

Big Walker Lookout, Blue Ridge Mountains

Big Walker Lookout is the starting point for the Toland's Raid Civil War Trail that ends in Wytheville, VA. It's about 20-25 minutes from Wytheville along Rte 52. We arrived at the Lookout just in time to watch a glorious sunset behind the mountains across the valley.

The Lookout is situated on an outcropping that allows you to view one valley to the west and another, the one where the raiders entered the town, to the east. There is a Country Store there that sells all sorts of handcrafted items and the literature says there are artisan and craft demonstrations scheduled periodically. We arrived too late to shop. There is also a 100 foot tower for those not afraid of heights and stair climbing (a $5 charge, so be sure you're up to it).

On our way back to Wytheville after our stay in Raleigh, we took a little side trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway. We exited at Meadows of Dan and found a country store and a rustic restaurant. Our policy is always to choose a place that has plenty of cars in the parking lot and this lot was almost full. Inside was a bustling lunch crowd--a mixture of locals and tourists I'm sure.

We paused for a moment when we entered and looked around. A lady standing at the cash register to pay her lunch ticket smiled at us, waved a hand toward the tables and booths and said, "Y'all find yersef a place." I love Southern hospitality. We relished homemade chili and hamburgers to die for. No wonder the parking lot was full. If you're ever in that area, it's on Route 58 just off the Parkway. Y'all pull up a chair and enjoy!

Wytheville, Virginia

On our way to Raleigh, NC, last weekend, we stopped for the night in a small town called Wytheville, VA (pronounced, we learned, as with-ville). We were very impressed. So much so that we canceled one night in Raleigh and spent another night in Wytheville on our return trip. And made reservations to eat at the Log House Restaurant which had a distinctive Williamsburg flair to its menu.

Besides the beautiful backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town has a fascinating history. The Battle of Wytheville, or Toland's Raid as it is also known, took place along Tazewell Street in town. Toland took 872 Union soldiers into the town to destroy the railroad bridge and disrupt the flow of Confederate supplies. He was shot and killed in the raid.

Wythe County is named in honor of George Wythe, the famous Virginia lawyer and signer of the Declaration of Independence. The town was originally called Evansham but the name was changed in 1839 to Wytheville because it was the county seat.

Wytheville is very proud of its history. There are blocks of homes that all sport an historical placard out front--most of which date back to the days of the Civil War. The homes appear to have been restored at least on the outside and are private residences. It is a beautiful walk or drive as we did it because of the heat.

In the downtown area, there are several placards and signs describing significant landmarks in the little town. The Millwald Theatre was built in 1928. The basement of the building was a bomb shelter in the 1950's. The other more recent historical building is the one pictured with Skeeter's hot dogs on it. Originally it was the law offices and upper residence of the Bolling family. Edith Bolling was born in the upstairs flat and later became the wife of Woodrow Wilson and one of our country's first ladies.

The giant pencil is not historical (I don't believe) but I did think it was. . .unique.

(Coming next: Sunset at Big Walker lookout)

Second Star on the Right

This weekend we traveled to Raleigh, NC, to see our niece, Tracy Wholf (Morr) as Tiger Lily in the musical, Peter Pan. It was a great time and worth the long drive. Nine members of the family made the drive and her new husband, Eddie, flew in from NYC for the show. We had dinner before the show in a place called The Pit specializing in BBQ but as the hotel concierge put it "an upscale BBQ."

The theater complex in Raleigh is beautiful and sits near the convention center. They have a wonderful venue to showcase their productions. One of the perks to being related to someone in the show is the backstage tour. The scenery was amazing. It's actually see-through but from the audience you would never guess that. Unfortunately, my sister-in-law, Shelly, was a little disappointed she wasn't allowed any pixie dust to try out her wings with the flying mechanism.

Captain Hook (Ira David Wood III) was still in costume as we toured and posed with Tracy (who was still in her war paint) for a picture. He is a local favorite in Raleigh and is the founder and executive director of Raleigh's Theatre in the Park.

The production was classic Peter Pan and the star, Gail Bianchi, came with lots of experience for the part. She was the understudy to Cathy Rigby on the national tour of Peter Pan.

Along the way to Raleigh, we discovered a wonderful little town called Wytheville in the mountains of Virginia. But more on that later.

Children's Chatter

(Apparently when I copied and pasted this little essay into my JOURNEYS newsletter this month the puntuation marks got all skewed with other characters. So for those who had a difficult time reading it, here it is again.)

CHILDREN’S CHATTER

When the door of the van slid closed and the last wave goodbye to anxious parents was finished, our three young grandchildren began to chatter as we headed off to Put-In-Bay, OH, with them.
“Are we going to the butterfly house?”

“Will we ride the ferry?”

“I have big girl pants!”

It was music to an empty-nester’s ears. Once the kids leave home and begin their own lives and start their own families, the nest they came from can get pretty quiet. We have two sons who regularly check in with us. One is Donny, who knows that Wednesday is his laundry and home-cooked meal day and calls to be sure we haven’t forgotten. It’s a welcome call since Don is developmentally handicapped and it is another opportunity for us to know all is well with him.

The other son is Rob who calls almost weekly on Friday. It’s a habit he established at his mother’s request when he went off to school in Miami, Florida, more than fifteen years ago. While it is more likely he will talk to his father (Bob has the toll free line), it is still good to hear news of what is happening in his life. And now that he has children too, it keeps us informed of our grandchildren’s development.

When our kids were young, they were eager to tell us of how their day went at school, what kind of problems they may have encountered, and what their plans were for the next day. We could discuss their activities, lend support and encouragement for the difficult days, and rejoice with them in their triumphs.

It’s not too different now that they are grown but on occasion, we have to initiate the conversation. Lives become busy, schedules are filled, and agendas beg for attention. When that happens, we have to contact them—get their attention—to find out how things are going.
Now, after two and a half fun filled days, the house is quiet again. The grandkids are home eagerly chattering to their parents about their trip with Grandma and Grandpa and experiencing the wonderful communication that bonds child to parent—the communication every parent longs for.

All of this is a reminder to me. When was the last time I made contact with my heavenly Father? When did I last chatter on about the exciting things in my life and thank Him for them? Will He somehow have to get my attention for me to communicate with Him, or will I cultivate the good habit of talking to Him daily?

God, as Father, longs to hear from his children. He has sent us out into the world but He longs to know how things are going from our perspective and then He’ll share His if we’ll listen. Have you chatted with your heavenly Father lately?

“And this is the prayer he taught them: "Father, may your name be honored for its holiness…” Luke 11:2 (TLB)

©Karen Robbins 2006

Weeding the Garden

When we built this house and landscaped a little over 6 years ago, I was gung-ho to have lots of flower beds to plant beautiful flowers and flowering bushes. Yes, the saying, "be careful what you wish for," applies here.

I spent the day outside pulling weeds from all those lovely flower beds. No matter how much the flowers grow and how many I plant, the weeds still find room to fit in. Worse even is the fact that the weeds are at times like a chameleon. They seem to take on the color and shape of whatever they grow beside. If you don't look carefully, you miss the weed while it's small and then before you know it, it's grown to enormous proportions and is even harder to pull out.

I don't think it's any accident that God/Jesus used gardens so often in the stories of the Bible. When you use the analogy of weeds and sin, you can understand how the little sins of our lives can take hold and grow out of proportion if we don't take care to garden our lives and pull out the weeds.

Well, maybe there was a reason God allowed me all these flower beds. It gives me lots of time to think, to pray, to examine, while I garden my yard and my life.

I Remember

Funny how things sometimes just pop into your mind for no apparent reason at all. It happened to me Sunday morning in church. I don't know what triggered the memory chips but I suddenly remembered a customer I used to have when I owned a flower shop.

The gentleman was in his 70s maybe early 80s and was a retired dentist. At first when he came in for what became his weekly visits, he would only choose a small bouquet of flowers or a small arrangement. I imagined he was courting someone. He would say things like, "She likes yellow flowers," or "She'll like the smell of these."

As time went by, some personal information was exchanged. That's how I learned he had been a dentist. It was in March when we were talking that I learned the truth about his lady. It was his wife. We shared a birthday--St. Patrick's Day.

One day he phoned to say he was not going to be able to make it into the store to pick up his flowers. I don't remember the reason. I believe he might have been ill. He asked if we would deliver them. I was excited to think I would finally meet this lady who was so adored she received a weekly bouquet of flowers. When he gave the address, my heart stood still a moment. It was a home for Alzheimer's patients.

The secret out, he said sadly, "She won't know who they are from even with my name on them, but I know she will enjoy them."

There is probably a wonderful love story there but I think Nicholas Sparks may have written one already--The Notebook. I fondly remember the dentist. May God richly bless those whose love goes beyond what life may cruelly hand to them.

New Note-Taker

I try to get in a 30 minute walk every morning. It gets me out in the fresh air for a few minutes of the day at least and helps with the calorie-burn problem that sitting in a chair at a computer most of the day creates. While I walk, I use the time for prayer, reflection, plotting (novels--not crimes, unless of course they are in my novels), planning, praising, listening to the birds sing. I always get a few good ideas. Sometimes they stick. Sometimes they are forgotten by the time I've arrived at the mailbox, pulled out the morning newspaper and poured my second cup of coffee.

This morning I had at least three good ideas for blog posts. Pithy stuff that I was sure everyone would benefit from reading. I'm sure those ideas are stored somewhere in the gray matter but I've lost the file. Anyway, I got a brilliant idea. Since it defeats the calorie burning issue to stop and jot notes with pencil and paper and talking into a tape recorder just looks a bit ridiculous, I thought I would carry my cell phone with me from now on. No one ever calls on it. I use it mainly for emergency purposes. Perhaps it's time to put it to good use by calling home and leaving myself a message when my creativity is sparked.

I can see problems there too though. While everyone who sees me will just think I'm having a conversation (talking into a phone is more commonplace than a recorder when you're walking), what happens when my husband gets home and plays the messages? I can see him calling a therapist to make an appointment for me. "She's not only talking to herself, she's calling herself on the phone to talk!"

All brilliant ideas have a few kinks to be worked out.

Wading into the retail waters. . .

The distributor for A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts is beginning to list our book on retail websites. Amazon and Target are two already. I didn't even know Target sold books online. They are being made available for preorder. The listings are a little rough yet. We haven't resolved how you get six author names on a site that only allows for three. And the picture of the cover is the old one but we're probably the only ones who would notice since the changes were minor. Also, it's listed as paperback when it is really clothbound.

As I post here, the book is being printed and hopefully the first copies will be in our hands to see by mid-August or so. It's kind of like that last month of pregnancy and I'm sure just the calm before the storm as our marketing kicks into full gear and the "baby" grows.

Our special Christmas blog will start on July 6th but more about that later!

Grandma, Read Me Jesus

As I tucked my granddaughter into bed last week, she surprised me with her choice of a bedtime story. Off of her shelf of books that contained stories of childhood wonder, she pulled out a children's Bible and handed it to me.

"Grandma, read me Jesus," she said. "when he died for me."

Now try and keep a dry eye on that one! I quickly found the place and read of His crucifixion and then of His resurrection. I wanted to be sure she knew that not only did Jesus die for her but that He lives for her as well.

It reminded me of the times I sang her father to sleep with the hymn, "In The Garden." The words always give me encouragement and I wanted my children to grow up knowing that "He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own." It is true joy to be shared.

Meet the Man

So where would you take your parents for lunch when they come to visit? How about an old automotive garage under a freeway?

When we recently visited our son and his family out in the Seattle area, he took us to the place where all the Microsoft geeks get together, Dixies Barbeque. It's actually a very popular tourist attraction and known for it's very, very. . .did I say VERY hot barbeque sauce.

When we pulled into the place, I figured he was just turning around because he'd missed the restaurant. But no, he parked the car and we all got out and ambled past the back porch--or maybe it was the front porch--that stretched across the facade of an old automotive garage. The porch had a couple of long tables covered in vinyl cloths with an eclectic collection of chairs including a rocker, some computer chairs, and various wooden kitchen chairs. Could this be where they put together the idea for VISTA?

We entered a tiny room brimming with smells of barbeque sauce. The limited menu included pulled pork, pulled pork over sausage, BBQ chicken, and side dishes of beans, beans and rice, and corn bread. You could purchase plain or sweetened tea or go to the vending machine near the exit door to buy your soda.

The lady I assumed was Dixie sat at the end of the serving counter pouring tea and taking money and all the while kibitzing with the customers. But the big question of the day was "Do you want to meet the man?" The man is how they refer to their hottest BBQ sauce. My acid indigestion was churning up just smelling it but my son said he couldn't go back to his office without "meeting the man."

Only a few drops on a small section of his sandwich was enough to redden his face, cause his neck to sweat, and send his father back in to get a second glass of tea hoping that would cure him. Once he could talk again, we sat back and enjoyed our sanwiches which, by the way, could have fed an army of computer techs, and wondered how in the world anyone would think to come here to eat. It just proves the power of word of mouth advertising and finding the right mouths to spread the word--that is if they can still talk after meeting the man.

The International Youth Beach Project

Yesterday we visited a beach on a lake near where our grandchildren live in Washington. The weather was sunny but a little chill was in the air. It didn't stop several kids who were in bathing suits from wading waist deep into the cold water. I shivered to watch.

What was truly fascinating however was the international beach project that took shape in a matter of minutes. I say international because there were Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian, and Indian children involved in the rather spontaneous construction of a river that began at the edge of the grass and ran through the sand about 50 feet to the lake. Several children started the dig and curiosity drew others. As the project escalated, some became dredgers, some supplied water (they owned buckets), and still others banked the sides to keep the water from flooding over.

One enterprising young lady formed a square with her fingers and proceded to interview the others on the project. Questions such as "What is the importance of this river?" were tossed at the workers who answered with surprisingly intelligent responses like, "It will help the lake."

One young boy must have been the ecologist of the group as he shooed the ducks away to keep the project from injuring them. The ducks obviously thought it was a feeding trough.

As the dozen or so children worked for a good hour on keeping the river running, I saw what gives us hope for our future--young people who can come together and work so well to "improve" the beach will certainly grow into adults with the same capabilities to improve our world. I pray no one spoils their enthusiasm.

Word Origins--White Elephant

I'm not sure where I picked up this book, Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions, maybe at the Friends of the Library book sale (a place I need to avoid like I do the Godiva chocolate shop). But on occassion I pull it out and have a look at some of the common phrases we banter around. I opened it to "white elephant" this morning. How appropriate since we have a "white elephant" Christmas story in A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts.

The saying or phrase usually refers to costly but useless possessions--some of those things you get as wedding gifts, perhaps, that are non-returnable. White Elephant has it roots in Siam. It was the custom for many centuries that a captured rare albino elephant would automatically become the property of the emperor and thereafter be sacred to him. Only the emperor could ride or use the elephant and it could not be destroyed without his permission. Because of that last caveat, whenever the emperor wanted to bring about the ruin of someone who had displeased him, he would gift the elephant to him. The cost of feeding and caring for the huge animal that he could not use or destroy would usually lead to his financial ruin.

Apparently Charles I of England received such a gift once and it so severely cut into his budget that the queen had to forego her usual spa treatments as a matter of tightening the purse strings. The keepers claimed that the elephant, in addition to his usual feed, also needed a gallon of wine a day.

Are you clutching any White Elephants?

New Website for A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

Our publicist at Leafwood Publishers, Larry Fitzgerald, has put together a website inspired by our book! It has a few excerpts and lots of recipes with much more to come. Check it out at

http://www.christmas-scrapbook.info/

The book is now at the printers and will be available in September. Check back with the website for preordering. Also, it should be up on Amazon and/or Christian Books.com in the near future for ordering.

Give Me A Break!!

It's baseball season and I love going to the Indians' games a few times during the summer. Our first game tickets were for an afternoon game this week. It was interesting to see the new name "Progressive Field" displayed just about everywhere it could be. While I understand the name comes from an insurance company, it could well describe the prices for food at the ballpark.


Everything was up in price at least a quarter. Now I'm sure that all had to do with the price of gas or the fact that houses aren't selling well or maybe because some mouse in a lab didn't make the right turn and find his cheese. It amazes me that we can buy a huge bag of carmel corn on our way to the game for $3.50 but inside the ballpark a small one-serving bag costs $3.75. For the cost of one ballpark hot dog, we got a Subway sandwich that fed both of us.


What really got to me though was the cost of a bottle of water. The ballpark does not allow you to carry in your own drinks--unless you are under 4 feet tall and it's in the form of a drink box. Bottled water is now selling for $4 and it's not in a 2 liter bottle. Guess someone decided that if OSU could get that much they could too.


But wait! I'm not done. On the drink menu is also listed "Ice Water," tap water in a cup with ice. It sells for $3.25! Tap water! Essence of Lake Erie!!


Give me a break!

Alternative Reality

This weekend we were in Columbus, OH, for a wedding and stayed at the Hyatt downtown at the height of a Multiple Alternative Realities Convention. For those of you (like me) who have never heard that term before, MARCON is an annual gathering of Sci-fi buffs mostly of the comic book type.


The night of the wedding was also the night of the masquerade for the convention and when we returned to the hotel at midnight, we had to walk through a full lobby bar to get to the elevator. I thought maybe I was asleep and just dreaming that I was walking through some sort of surreal painting or was caught in one of those Twilight Zones.


It was a hoot sharing the elevator with such notable characters as Batman, Darth Vader, and several Death Eaters among others less familiar to me. But when my husband said out loud that he felt "underdressed," the poor woman in some costume from a Star Wars episode covered her face and said, "Oh God, I am so embarressed." Actually, I thought we should be. We weren't dressed for the occassion.


Hope they all had a good time. Weird as it seemed, it looked like fun and much better than a "reality" TV show.

It Pays to Advertise?

Last week I had a speaking engagement out of town. It was a great a time of fellowship with some truly wonderful ladies and I learned a little something about advertising as well.

There were about 160 coming in the doors for a light supper followed by my talk (My Ship's Come In But It's An ARK!). Many came up to me to say hello and I thought it was because I stuck out in my bright peach suit. I chose it to wear so that I would look "springy" and fit in with their theme. But then one lady allowed for a much better explanation.

"Hi!" she said. "You must be our speaker. I recognize you from the ladies room."

"The ladies room?" I hadn't been there yet.

She nodded. "Yes. Your picture has been on the back of the stall doors for weeks."

Guess it pays to advertise.