Sunday, August 19, 2012
How annoying!
I love technology. I really do. The ability to reach out with nothing but a picture or some words and... make a connect across the country or across the world
But just trying to stick a Gooodreads widget on my blog took me about 45 minutes. And I finally just pasted the dumb thing on a post. *sigh*
You win, technology, for tonight. I'm going to go paint something. At least I can see what I'm doing wrong!
Have a wonderful week, all and stop by the Yankee Belle Cafe on Wednesday for some ugly food. :) (That's my day, if anyone is wondering if I'm making fun of Missy or Mindy or Jan or Ruthy.... )
Saturday, July 14, 2012
News, news, news.
Hello people!
Well, I have started a new gig over at Yankee Belle Cafe, which is a food blog run by Ruth Logan Herne and Missy Tippens (and Mindy and Jan :).
I hope I'll post there much mroe often than I do here because... it's food. And I like food. :)
Here's the link to the first post of mine. Be sure to browse their recipes. You'll never be the same!!
http://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2012/07/more-exciting-changes-another-new-face_11.html
My take is going to be fresh and healthy (no laughing!!) and food from the Northwest and West coast.
So, until I have mroe news on the writing front we'll tide ourselves over with some tasty treats.
P.S. The current WIP is being a problem child. I'm hoping it turns out to be one of thsoe kids that was a terror to raise, but makes your proud... eventually.
Well, I have started a new gig over at Yankee Belle Cafe, which is a food blog run by Ruth Logan Herne and Missy Tippens (and Mindy and Jan :).
I hope I'll post there much mroe often than I do here because... it's food. And I like food. :)
Here's the link to the first post of mine. Be sure to browse their recipes. You'll never be the same!!
http://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2012/07/more-exciting-changes-another-new-face_11.html
My take is going to be fresh and healthy (no laughing!!) and food from the Northwest and West coast.
So, until I have mroe news on the writing front we'll tide ourselves over with some tasty treats.
P.S. The current WIP is being a problem child. I'm hoping it turns out to be one of thsoe kids that was a terror to raise, but makes your proud... eventually.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
I am being VERY PRODUCTIVE! For some reason I hear Elmer Fudd's voice there... Anyway, I now have an author page on facebook (Virginia Carmichael Author) so look me up and like me. Or not.
There's a hot picture of Richard Armitage ready to plant a smooch on Miss Hale so that's at least worth a peek, right? I hope that's not too sensual for inspirational romance. They're obviously keeping their lips together. Should be okay. If not... Close your eyes.
Oh, also ignore my little profile that seems so stalkerish over his shoulder. *embarassing* Even though that would totally be me in real life, elbowing my way into that frame. Probably shoving that Hale chick off the bench, too.
Okay, off to bed. I would post writing news but the only thing I've got going on is 1) getting a rejection on a historical and 2) busting my keister on a contemporary. There you have it, in the proverbial nutshell.
Harrah for the weekend!
There's a hot picture of Richard Armitage ready to plant a smooch on Miss Hale so that's at least worth a peek, right? I hope that's not too sensual for inspirational romance. They're obviously keeping their lips together. Should be okay. If not... Close your eyes.
Oh, also ignore my little profile that seems so stalkerish over his shoulder. *embarassing* Even though that would totally be me in real life, elbowing my way into that frame. Probably shoving that Hale chick off the bench, too.
Okay, off to bed. I would post writing news but the only thing I've got going on is 1) getting a rejection on a historical and 2) busting my keister on a contemporary. There you have it, in the proverbial nutshell.
Harrah for the weekend!
Oh, I knew you wanted to see it but were too lazy to go to facebook. So here it is.
You're welcome...
Friday, March 16, 2012
News! News!
No, not just another blog post, but that would be thrilling as well, eh?
I've signed a contract with Love Inspired and will have a contemporary coming out in November 2012. Title is.... SEASON OF JOY! The exclamation is mine, not actually part of the title. :)
That's my news for today. Maybe tomorrow I'll post another two lines... WHEE!! :D
I've signed a contract with Love Inspired and will have a contemporary coming out in November 2012. Title is.... SEASON OF JOY! The exclamation is mine, not actually part of the title. :)
That's my news for today. Maybe tomorrow I'll post another two lines... WHEE!! :D
Friday, October 14, 2011
In Every Person A Universe
Well, that was quite a pause! The first cardinal sin of blogging, lack of posts, has now been committed. I repent and am free to blog again! HOORAY!
Tonight, my toddler told me 'Mama, I need a nuggle.' People are forever making nouns into verbs and vice versa, but I especially like how 'to snuggle' has become a noun that is needed. So, we crawl into the big bed and 'nuggle'. We face each other, eyes wide open. I know he's tired so I don't pretend to go to sleep. It will be just a few minutes until he's out.
He traces my eyes, my eyebrows, my lips with his little fingers. I'm not a touchy-feely person but I've learned that children are born touchy. They live for touches, strokes, cuddles and 'nuggles'. I hold perfectly still, letting him explore my face. It's been a long day. Who knows where those fingers have been since his bath. I'd really, really rather not have him rub his palms over my lips. I hold still anyway.
His eyes drift close. His hand moves to my throat. Now I feel positively claustrophobic and try not to laugh. How odd to have his fingers laying over my jugular vein.
"Mama, your heart is bumping," he whispers.
And then he is asleep.
I watch him for a while, thinking of an Elie Wiesel quote I'd read today. It struck me, as most of his words do.
"We must not see any person as an abstraction. Instead, we must see in every person a universe with its own secrets, with its own treasures, with its own sources of anguish, and with some measure of triumph."
How many people live their lives as abstraction? And it's more comfortable that way, sometimes. We want to be seen from a distance, with make up, in dim light. All our faults and foibles air brushed away. Marriage and parenting are some of the hardest jobs I've ever had, because there is no distance, no dim light. You are in sharp relief, every personality bump maginified on a daily basis.
What a gift to be seen and still loved. A long-suffering spouse offers us some refuge, but there are limits, even there. With a child, you are the 'universe'.
To be seen and loved perfectly is from Above. There are so many verses in the Bible about children and what a gift they are to a family. Some may argue that in Biblical times they needed numerous children to carry the burden of providing food.
But I believe the true gift is allowing us to experience a particular nature of God.
To be seen and loved.
To be forgiven completely.
To be recognized as a universe full of secrets, treasures, anguish and triumphs.
Tonight, my toddler told me 'Mama, I need a nuggle.' People are forever making nouns into verbs and vice versa, but I especially like how 'to snuggle' has become a noun that is needed. So, we crawl into the big bed and 'nuggle'. We face each other, eyes wide open. I know he's tired so I don't pretend to go to sleep. It will be just a few minutes until he's out.
He traces my eyes, my eyebrows, my lips with his little fingers. I'm not a touchy-feely person but I've learned that children are born touchy. They live for touches, strokes, cuddles and 'nuggles'. I hold perfectly still, letting him explore my face. It's been a long day. Who knows where those fingers have been since his bath. I'd really, really rather not have him rub his palms over my lips. I hold still anyway.
His eyes drift close. His hand moves to my throat. Now I feel positively claustrophobic and try not to laugh. How odd to have his fingers laying over my jugular vein.
"Mama, your heart is bumping," he whispers.
And then he is asleep.
I watch him for a while, thinking of an Elie Wiesel quote I'd read today. It struck me, as most of his words do.
"We must not see any person as an abstraction. Instead, we must see in every person a universe with its own secrets, with its own treasures, with its own sources of anguish, and with some measure of triumph."
How many people live their lives as abstraction? And it's more comfortable that way, sometimes. We want to be seen from a distance, with make up, in dim light. All our faults and foibles air brushed away. Marriage and parenting are some of the hardest jobs I've ever had, because there is no distance, no dim light. You are in sharp relief, every personality bump maginified on a daily basis.
What a gift to be seen and still loved. A long-suffering spouse offers us some refuge, but there are limits, even there. With a child, you are the 'universe'.
To be seen and loved perfectly is from Above. There are so many verses in the Bible about children and what a gift they are to a family. Some may argue that in Biblical times they needed numerous children to carry the burden of providing food.
But I believe the true gift is allowing us to experience a particular nature of God.
To be seen and loved.
To be forgiven completely.
To be recognized as a universe full of secrets, treasures, anguish and triumphs.
Monday, September 19, 2011
A 2 Z 4 U and Me Meme
All right, folks. I really hate how texting has sped up the loss of our ability to use homonyms correctly (there, their, they're). And I really, really hate all the crazy abbrevations people use in their texting. If I wanted letters in my sentences, I would be an Algebra teacher.
That said, I was following Patty Wysong's blog and she has a fun excercise called the A 2 Z 4 U and Me http://www.pattywysong.com/ . She gives the letter and we write a little bit about it. Since it's only 11:22 PM and I have a few hours before some baby or toddler or older kid wakes up (although nothing is for certain), I thought I'd participate!
R is our letter...
Last year I worked with a woman who had the craziest sense of humor. She would make odd sounds or put on an accent or give half a line of movie dialogue. And it just cracked me up. This letter makes me think of the way Lili would whisper, "Rage!" in a crazy, high-pitched voice, with a straight face, usually while getting up to help someone being too needy, or for a task that she'd done a hundred times already.
It NEVER failed to make me laugh.
And no matter how much I try to duplicate it, it's just not funny when I try.
Anyway, that was a side note. Here's what I really wanted to say...
It's raining. And I can't help but think of one of my favorite Bible verses, Matthew 5:45.
"He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good,
and sends RAIN on the just and the unjust."
Last Sunday the Gospel reading was the parable of the vineyard owner who brings in workers, promising them 'a just day's wage'. Some worked from early morning, some came at noon, and some came just an hour before the day was done. He paid them all the same, beginning with the ones who came last. The workers who bore the brunt of the day's labor and the heat were angry and jealous, asking why they did not receive much more that those who had only worked an hour. And the vineyward owner replies that they recevied what was promised and should not be jealous of those who received the same for less work.
What a beautiful parable that is! Even for those of us who have been Christian our entire adults lives, we delight in the promise that God waits for us ALL with open arms. Whether we come to the harvest in the morning light, at noon, or at the end of the day, he welcomes and rewards every one who responds to his call. He sends the rain to fall on the just and the unjust, his mercies fall freely to any of us willing to open our hearts to him.
That said, I was following Patty Wysong's blog and she has a fun excercise called the A 2 Z 4 U and Me http://www.pattywysong.com/ . She gives the letter and we write a little bit about it. Since it's only 11:22 PM and I have a few hours before some baby or toddler or older kid wakes up (although nothing is for certain), I thought I'd participate!
R is our letter...
Last year I worked with a woman who had the craziest sense of humor. She would make odd sounds or put on an accent or give half a line of movie dialogue. And it just cracked me up. This letter makes me think of the way Lili would whisper, "Rage!" in a crazy, high-pitched voice, with a straight face, usually while getting up to help someone being too needy, or for a task that she'd done a hundred times already.
It NEVER failed to make me laugh.
And no matter how much I try to duplicate it, it's just not funny when I try.
Anyway, that was a side note. Here's what I really wanted to say...
"He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good,
and sends RAIN on the just and the unjust."
Last Sunday the Gospel reading was the parable of the vineyard owner who brings in workers, promising them 'a just day's wage'. Some worked from early morning, some came at noon, and some came just an hour before the day was done. He paid them all the same, beginning with the ones who came last. The workers who bore the brunt of the day's labor and the heat were angry and jealous, asking why they did not receive much more that those who had only worked an hour. And the vineyward owner replies that they recevied what was promised and should not be jealous of those who received the same for less work.
What a beautiful parable that is! Even for those of us who have been Christian our entire adults lives, we delight in the promise that God waits for us ALL with open arms. Whether we come to the harvest in the morning light, at noon, or at the end of the day, he welcomes and rewards every one who responds to his call. He sends the rain to fall on the just and the unjust, his mercies fall freely to any of us willing to open our hearts to him.
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