A Big Day

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Hitting SEND on an email this morning was probably one of the biggest things I’ve ever done in my life – that is, of course next to getting married, having kids, buying and selling homes, graduating college, well…I think it’s big anyway.

Let me explain…it all started in 2010. (You might want to grab a cup of coffee and settle in because we’re going back to 2010!)

I was working at Harris Teeter in the deli department because it was a job that would allow me to work in the evenings and homeschool my kids during the day.  While slicing meat and cheese, cooking rotisserie chickens, and washing a TON of pots and pans, I began writing a story in my head. The story turned into a novel and I actually completed it in July of 2011. Exciting, right?

Then I  did absolutely nothing with it. I got a new job and life took over as it usually does. Before I realized it, 2012 was almost over and I hadn’t even looked at my manuscript for almost 18 months.  That’s when I set a goal – a God-sized goal. It would be published, as in a completely finished book that someone could order and read by June 1, 2013.

I knew it would need a ton of work and I would have to put the time into it immediately to make that deadline.  The manuscript was really so rough.  I dove back into the story, had a couple good friends read it and give me feedback, more editing, changes, re-writes. And then today happened.

Today I emailed the entire manuscript to my copy editor (Ms. Lorin Tinder!).  I still have a long way to go before June 1 – cover design, interior design, website, marketing plans…etc, etc, etc, but I feel like picking up a megaphone and yelling off the top of  a mountain:

After 2 1/2 years, this book is finally to the copy editor. This is really going to happen!

Just thought I’d share… thanks for listening.

Just a Great Book

Posted in Book Reviews by

In honor of Black Friday, I want to highlight a book that I LOVE. It’s not a new release, but it’s one I would highly recommend for the book lover on your gift list.

That book is:  A Trip to the Beach by Melinda and Robert Blanchard.

A Trip to the Beach: Living on Island Time in the Caribbean

This book was given to me as an anniversary gift by my husband a few years ago. (Yes, he’s that great!) I was quickly drawn into Melinda’s easy storytelling style, the amazing true story of the Blanchards’ move from the mainland US to the island of Anguilla (rhymes with Vanilla), and their quest to open a restaurant.  It’s filled with great characters, entrepreneurial creativity, and the adrenaline rush of natural disasters.

The best part is… it’s all real.  Everything.  Bob and Melinda, the restaurant, even the staff. If you don’t believe me, you can see them right HERE.  In fact, the friend of ours who told Mickey I would love this book has actually been to Anguilla and saw it all for herself! (By the way, thanks Wendi!)

Needless to say, A Trip to the Beach quickly found a place on my “do not loan out” shelf next to my dog-eared copy of Sidetracked Home Executives (But…that’s a long story for another post.)

Have I convinced you to pick up a copy?  I hope so. Let me know how you liked it when you’re done.

The Back Page:

Is it well written?  I couldn’t put it down.

Does it represent Truth well?  While Bob and Melinda don’t discuss faith in this book, the way they care for the employees of Blanchard’s who become like family to them and the ways that they support the community of Anguilla even today, shows great love.

Would I recommend it to a friend?  I hope I just recommended it to a good many friends.

Another book by the Blanchards you may like:

At Blanchard's Table: A Trip to the Beach Cookbook

Jennifer is an Amazon.com affiliate partner.

Power Kicks with Pointed Toes

Posted in About Jennifer, Random Thoughts by

 

So, I started taking Taekwondo.  No, not Karate, Taekwondo. Although the studio I take it at is called Coastal Karate. Go figure…

I got several – completely opposite – reactions to this from family and friends when I announced that I was going to start Taekwondo.

Some people looked at me funny and simply said “Why? Do you want to fight people?”

Others said “Like in a class with little kids?”

And still others said “Ummmm…..okaaaaaaay. That should be fun.” While I knew they meant it, most still seemed unconvinced.

I guess it did seem out of the blue for an “approaching 40 year old” to decide to start a martial art when she’s never done anything remotely close to that in her life.

But, I think it’s the perfect time to start something new.

I signed up for a Ladies’ class – not a class with 6 year olds.   While all 5 of the ladies in the class are older than me, all but 1 are black belts. No, no,no. That’s not intimidating in the least. Why do you ask?

They are all great teachers, especially the class instructor  Miss Laura. She’s a 5’1″ ball of fire. They call her “The Chihuahua.”  I feel for the guy trying to mug her in a dark alley.

My first class kicked my bee-hind. I guess my Taekwondo muscles are out of shape. Going into this, I thought my dance background would help me.  I quickly realized that dance experience would help me memorize the movements, but as my instructor told me “It’s not about how pretty the punch looks getting there, it’s about the power at the end.” Yikes. Never thought about actually hitting someone! But, apparently, I will be sparing at some point and a perfectly pointed toe at the end of my kick won’t cut it!

I haven’t tested for my white belt yet. That comes in a couple of weeks. I’ll let you know how it goes….

Until then, I’ll be nursing…EVERY muscle in my sore body!

NaNoWriMo is for the Whole Family Now!

Posted in Random Thoughts by

NaNoWriMo Logo

This will be my third year of participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). But, this is the first year that my daughter will be participating with me. Here’s the catch: She’s 10!

No, she’s not going to sign up for the 50,000 words and just accept what would most likely be a sure failure. She’s going to sign up for the NaNoWriMo Young Writer’s Program.  I was thrilled when I found this on the NaNoWriMo website. Has this always been available and I just never knew about it?

In the Young Writer’s Program, kids get to set their own writing goal for the month. Depending on their age and motivation, they can write a short story or a novella and still be a “winner” at the end of the month.

NaNoWriMo has gone family style and I can’t wait to be a part of it!

Are your children planning to take part this year?

Perfectly Unique in Every Way

Posted in Book Reviews by

The quote by Hillary Scott (lead singer of Lady Antebellum) on the cover of Perfectly Unique by Annie F. Downs is GLOWING. (Well, naturally, it is a cover quote, after all!) It reads:

“This book will touch your heart, encourage you, and challenge you to let your Heavenly Father pursue you as His daughter.”

As a seasoned book buyer, I have seen many a cover quote and none was ever less-than-glowing, so I tend to gloss over them. However, this is the first time I can remember where  the cover quote didn’t do the book justice.

No offense to Hillary, but her quote left out how Annie takes transparency to a whole new level in her deep desire to reach her reader. She tells unflattering (albeit HILARIOUS) stories about herself that drive home her points. As a mom of a pre-teen reading Perfectly Unique, I could remember times like these while I was growing up.  I honestly don’t know that I would have  ever thought to share them with my daughter. But Annie does, and she does it well. Very well. The I-can’t-put-it-down-kind of well.

Using the theme that your body is an instrument created to serve God, she works through all the lies young women believe and she does it in a respectful way.  She plays the role of an older sister as if to say “I’ve been down that road and I don’t recommend going down it yourself.” It is a very effective and attractional method. Annie has done a great job building a bridge to the younger generation.

The Back Page:

Is it well written?  Magnificently so.

Does it represent Truth well?  Yes.

Would I recommend it to a friend?  Yes. And then her friend and then her friend, and hers, and hers….well, you get the idea.

Jennifer is an Amazon.com affiliate partner.

When God Calls You Out For Being Soft

Posted in Fear by

Like much of the country, our family has struggled with finances in the last few years after my husband was laid off in 2008.  Many of you know that when I say struggles, I mean with a capital “S”!

I worried about everything. All the time. These worries kept me up at night and caused me to bite off all my nails. I worried about not having enough: enough to pay the mortgage, enough to keep the electricity on, or enough to buy food.

God and I wrestled over this concept of “enough” for two years.  We had many conversations about what my family and I really needed.  Well, let’s just say HE talked. I cried, screamed, pleaded, promised to be good and then ignored Him for periods of time (not recommended, but the way) when I thought I wasn’t getting what I NEEDED.  I wanted to share one of our many conversations on the topic of “enough” for your enjoyment:

Me:        God, we don’t have enough money. You promised to take care of our needs.

God:      What don’t you have enough money for, Jennifer?

Me:        Enough for the basic necessities, you know shelter, food?

God:      Are you sleeping on the street? Did you go without dinner last night?

Me :       (After looking down at my not-so-skin-and-bones frame) Well….no, but we are WAY behind on our mortgage and every day I struggle to balance the little we have to keep the electricity on and food on the table.

God:      So you are upset because it hasn’t been easy, not because those things haven’t been provided for you? Am I understanding you right?

Me:        Yes, I guess so. But I’m afraid we are going to lose our house. We are WAY behind.

God:      I know you are way behind and yes, you may lose your house. What does that have to do with me keeping my promise to provide for your necessities? I promised you shelter, but I didn’t promise you it would be at a certain address.

Me:        But God, if we lose our house, we may have nowhere to go! What if we end up in a homeless shelter?

God:      Wouldn’t that be shelter?

Me:        Yes, technically, I guess. But it would be uncomfortable…and embarrassing!

God:      OOOOH! I missed the asterisk on the shelter part of the promise, where it said I needed to take care of you in the manner to which you have become accustomed. What if I had a plan for you in that shelter? What if you met one of my daughters in that shelter? You know, the daughter of mine in there that REALLY has nothing?  What if my plan was to bring you to her so you can bring her to me? Would that be worth suffering the embarrassment and discomfort?

Me:        (Long pause.)

God:      My plan may or may not be to bring you to the point that you live in a homeless shelter, but my plan is to always work on your heart so that you are willing to be sent there if it will save just one of my children. They are as precious to me as you are.

Me:        (No answer.)

Ok, so I had no answer to that. What would you say if God called you out? If he peeled away the pride layers that revealed you to be soft and lacking strength of character? It’s a humbling moment.

God and I had many conversations like this. Most of them were as unattractive as this one. It took two loooooong years, but over time, God showed me that my idea of enough was really “enough to be what I considered comfortable”, NOT enough to be able to serve Him. I now strive to see what I have right now as “enough” and consider anything else Heavenly blessings.

Has God ever called you out?

Today is Thank Your Local Cheerleader Day!

Posted in Missional Communities, Random Thoughts by

There’s an old African proverb that says:

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito.”

I thought this was fitting as we, here in the South, teeter on the brink of mosquito season. This is the time we increase our iron supplements in an attempt to build up our blood so when half of it has been sucked out of us by the end of the summer, the other half is strong enough to keep us alive.

So…what does this have to do with cheerleaders, you ask? It’s simple. Most of us truly believe we are too small to make a difference. Too busy, too broke, too buried under kids, house, laundry, and work. It’s this belief that speaks the loudest when a tiny spark of an idea enters our heads about how to make a difference in our corner of the world.

How do these ideas get the oxygen they need to become a fire? Cheerleaders. You know who they are. They are the people who God has strategically placed in your life with the gift of encouragement. Their gift kicks into high gear when they hear your “idea.” They are the person that counters the lies in your head with the truth about the gifts that God has given us and how he will empower us to do whatever task he sets before us. We love our cheerleaders.

I am personally blessed with many in my life. If fact, I don’t think I use their God-given gifts nearly enough. When I have a spark of an idea, I tend to either let the idea starve from lack of oxygen, or just hide the small flame for days, weeks, even years. What if I used the gifts of my cheerleaders? What if I went to them – no ran to them –  and said “Here’s the idea I think God has given me. Tell me I can do it!”

How would this impact my impact? How would it impact yours? Because the truth is, none of us are too small to make a difference and most ideas that God gives us are sparks he wants to fan into a bonfire.

I know there’s a spark you’ve been suffocating. I know there’s a place where you long to make a difference but feel too small. I’d like to be your first cheerleader, if you’ll allow me. Please hear this: There is no idea too small and no person not qualified. If God gave you this idea, He will empower you and He will equip you. Take the first step in faith and watch with excited anticipation as He blesses it.

I want to be one who makes a difference in the world, but I’ll settle for making a world of difference for one.What about you? Run to your cheerleaders with your idea and let them do their thing.

Have you thanked your cheerleaders today?