The Big Picture by Jenny B. Jones

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Big Picture (NavPress Publishing Group April 15, 2008) by Jenny B. Jones


About the Book:Sometimes there’s a fine line between comedy and tragedy—and Katie Parker is walking it.

School is winding down for the summer but Katie Parker is having a bad day. After leaving the drive-in, where her imploding love life was the main attraction, Katie arrives home to a big surprise on the Scott's front porch. Her mother, Bobbie Ann Parker, a former convict and recovering addict, wants to take Katie away from her family, friends, and church. Now Katie's life will be changed by a series of dramatic choices as she struggles to understand what family and home really means.

Katie is forced to walk away from In Between, leaving behind a family who loves her, a town drive-in to save, and a boyfriend who suddenly can’t take his eyes off his ex. When the life her mother promised begins to sink faster than one of Maxine’s stuffed bras, Katie knows she needs to rely on God to keep it together. But where is he in all this? Can Katie survive a chaotic life with her mother—and one without the Scotts? And if God is there, will he come through before it’s too late?A Katie Parker Production series offers teen girls real-world fiction balanced by hope and humor. The The Big Picture helps us realize that the difficult chapters in our journey are only part of God's big story for our lives.You can read the first chapter HERE

About the Author: Jenny B. Jones is the author of A Katie Parker Production series. The other books in the series are In Between and On The Loose. Though now an adult, she still relates to the trauma and drama of teen life. She is thrilled to see her writing dreams come true, as her previous claim to fame was singing the Star Spangled Banner at a mule-jumping championship. (The mules were greatly inspired.)

Jenny resides in Arkansas, where, as a teacher, she hangs out with teens on a regular basis.

Find out more about Jenny at her website: http://jennybjones.com/





Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Christy Nominees for 2008!

Congrats!


The Christy Awards 2008 Nominees

CONTEMPORARY (STAND ALONE)
♦ Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)
♦ In High Places by Tom Morrisey (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing
Group)
♦ Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)


CONTEMPORARY (SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS)
♦ Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (Viking Penguin)
♦ A Time to Mend by Sally John and Gary Smalley (Thomas Nelson)
♦ What Lies Within by Karen Ball (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)


HISTORICAL
♦ Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker
Publishing Group)
♦ A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing
Group)
♦ Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing
Group)


LITS (four nominees due to a tie)
♦ Doesn’t She Look Natural by Angela Elwell Hunt (Tyndale House Publishers)
♦ Hallie’s Heart by Shelly Beach (Kregel Publications)
♦ Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
♦ Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire, a division of HarperCollins
Publishers)


ROMANCE
♦ Lightning and Lace by DiAnn Mills (Barbour Publishing)
♦ Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney (Howard Books, a division of Simon and
Schuster)
♦ Remembered by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing
Group)


SUSPENSE
♦ The Cure by Athol Dickson (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
♦ My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Moody Publishers)
♦ The Pawn by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)


VISIONARY
♦ Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
♦ The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress Publishing Group)
♦ Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)


FIRST NOVEL
♦ Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
♦ Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress Publishing Group)
♦ The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)


YOUNG ADULT
♦ Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson (NavPress Publishing Group)
♦ In Between by Jenny B.Jones (NavPress Publishing Group)
♦ Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman (NavPress Publishing Group)


The Christy Awards dinner will be held Saturday evening, July 12, 2008, at The Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida. Visit the Christy Awards online at www.christyawards.com for more information about the dinner and to make reservations.


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

You?

· What is your occupation? Writer and Mom

· What color are your socks right now? White

· What are you listening to right now? Brandon Heath, Don't Get Comfortable

· What was the last thing that you ate? Fudge bar :-)

· Can you drive a stick shift? Yes

· If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Goldenrod

· Last person you spoke to on the phone? Tara

· Do you like the person who sent this to you? Absolutely!

· How old are you today? 36

· Favorite drink? Coffee

· What is your favorite sport to watch? Basketball ... my kids!

· Have you ever dyed your hair? Hmm ... just highlights :-)

· Pets? 2 dogs, 2 hamsters, 2 birds, 3 kids

· Favorite food? Peanut butter, fruit

· Last movie you watched? The Game Plan

· Favorite Day of the year? Today!

· What do you do to vent anger? seethe between clenched teeth

· What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie

· What is your favorite season? Summer!

· Hugs or kisses? Hugs from everyone, kisses from John and kids

· Cherry or Blueberry? Blueberry

· Do you want your friends to email you back ? They better answer :-)

· Who is most likely to respond? Amy

· Who is least likely to respond? Lurkers

· When was the last time you cried? Zach's wedding. So sweet!

· What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes , clothes that need to be put away.

· Favorite smells? Food

· Who inspires you? Mothers ... all of them

· What are you afraid of? Not having the right priorities

· Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheese

· Favorite car? My Chevy Suburban. It's used, but I love it.

· Favorite cat breed? I'm not a cat person. They're too independent!

· Number of keys on your key ring? Too many!

· How many years at your current job? Trying ... 14, selling 10.

· Favorite day of the week? Sunday

· How many states have you lived in? 2

· Do you think you're funny? Yes!


Your turn!

Oh and check out the Meghan Rose books on the GenX Parents blog. Great for girls ages 6-9!

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Winter Haven by Athol Dickson

This week's CFBA pick is Athol Dickson's Winter Haven.





About Athol: Athol Dickson's university-level training in painting, sculpture, and architecture was followed by a long career as an architect then his decision several years ago to devote full time to writing.Athol Dickson’s writing has been favorably compared to the work of Octavia Butler(Publisher’s Weekly), Daphne du Maurier (Cindy Crosby, FaithfulReader.com) and FlanneryO’Connor (The New York Times).

His They Shall See God was a Christy Award finalist and his River Rising was a Christy Award winner, selected as one of the Booklist Top Ten Christian Novels of 2006 and a finalist for Christianity Today's Best Novel of 2006.

He and his wife, Sue, live in Southern California. Visit http://www.atholdickson.com/ for more information.


About the book: Boys who never age, giants lost in time, mist that never rises, questions never asked...on the most remote of islands off the coast of Maine, history haunts the present and Vera Gamble wrestles with a past that will not yield. Will she find refuge there, or will her ghosts prevail on...Winter Haven

Eleven years ago, Vera Gamble's brother left their house never to be seen again. Until the day Vera gets a phone call that his body has been found...washed ashore in the tiny island town of Winter Haven, Maine. His only surviving kin, Vera travels north to claim the body...and finds herself tumbling into a tangled mystery. Her brother hasn't aged a day since last she saw him.

Determined to uncover what happened in those lost years, Vera soon discovers there are other secrets lurking in this isolated town. But Winter Haven's murky past now seems bound to come to light as one woman seeks the undeniable and flooding light of truth.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

A Plumm Summer -- Plumm Good Movie!

Last night we celebrated my son Nathan's birthday by going out to yummy Mexican food (where Nathan orders chicken strips!) and then coming home to watch a movie.

We picked A Plumm Summer because:

1) I was one of the cool moms chosen by Mom Central to preview this movie and give my opinion.

and

2) I wanted a movie our whole family (three kids, two parents, grandma, and GREAT grandma) could enjoy.

It's not often that we find a movie that the entire family can enjoy (let alone agree upon!) but when I was asked to screen the new independent family film it was amazing to see every member of my family engaged in its wonderful story.

I think the first thing that drew our interest is that it's set in Montana. We love Montana movies although most of the time we're disappointed because most movies are Hollywood's vision of Montana and not the real thing.

Thankfully, A Plumm Summer was about the REAL Montana in 1968. In fact, we all agreed that it looked JUST like where we live! (And I remember reading inn our local paper about them filming it last summer.) Finally ... someone who got Montana right! Finally, someone who can small town themes of friendship and family right, too!

The cool thing about this movie is that it is one that can become a classic. Winner of the Audience Best Film Award at the International Family Film Festival, A Plumm Summer is based on a true story in Montana in the 1960's, where well-loved local TV legend and puppet, FroggyDoo, gets stolen during a live show. The families of Montana outcry at FroggyDoo's loss prompts an FBI investigation, but the children of Peaks View take the mystery into their own hands and it's a race to unravel the mystery (hint: those FBI agents are slow to catch on ...)!

Okay, one more favorite thing. The actors were really good and really cool! They included Henry Winkler, Billy Baldwin, Jeff Daniels and Brenda Strong as well as talented, up-and-coming child actors. I love the Fonz and even though my kids didn't know who he was, but the end of the movie they like him, too.

One last thing. It's often tough for independent films like A Plumm Summer to reach big theaters nationwide, which is why we'd love your help to spread the word. Would you consider attending the film's upcoming premier screenings beginning Friday, April 25?

As you know, a successful first two weekends for A Plumm Summer means that more families will have a chance to see the film in more locations and most importantly, Hollywood will hopefully take notice and start to invest time and money into making quality films with stories that appeal to families!!!

The movie opens April 25 (TODAY!), 26, and 27, in these 4 areas:

· California: LA and surrounding areas

· Alabama: Birmingham, Trussville

· Minnesota: Oakdale, Lakeville, Eagan.

AND .... Montana: Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell, Livingston or Missoula

Check the A Plumm Summer video trailer.

A Plumm Summer website for a complete list of theaters in your area.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Czech It Out!

My family and a group from our church are missioning off to the Czech republic this summer!

We'll be teaching English and sharing the good news of Jesus. Please pray for our group, our trip, and for the hearts of the Czech people to be open to the message of God. I'm super excited to see what God does in our own hearts and for the people we get to minister to.

If you would like to be added to our prayer team or would like to make a donation for our trip, please email triciagoyer@yahoo.com. We will be gone July 24th-August 11th, and the cost is $3000 per person. We're having an auction fundraiser in two weeks, if any of you have anything (books, services, gift cards) you'd like to donate to our silent auction, that would be rad! Shoot me an email.

Also pray for my two oldest kids. They will fly from The Czech Republic to San Diego to meet up with their youth group going to Mexico to build two homes for families. Pray for the added funds (and strength!) needed for Cory (19) and Leslie (16)!




Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Let's Do Grace!

Every Monday we have a small group that meets at our house. I count these people among my closest friends, and they love me for me--not for anything I've accomplished in life or anything I strive to accomplish. They are my cheerleaders and my inner circle. They also tell me what I need to hear even when I don't want to hear it! (Now those are good friends!)

For the last five weeks we've been going through the DVD study for What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey. It's a great study that has led to deep study and lots of commentary. It's also a study that stretches me. The truth is that in doing this study I've realized there are lots of areas that I need to work on being more grace-full. I do great with people who like me and believe the same as I do. I have a harder time with people who don't value my opinion or who actively oppose my point-of-views. (I know, it's hard to believe ...)

Yet, when it comes to grace there is only one place we need to look for inspiration. As the well-loved Bible verse 3:16 says, "For God so loved the WORLD that WHOSOEVER believes ..." Lately, I've been praying God will help me offer the grace of God to whosoever He brings in my path. And I'm also praying He reminds of this before I disgrace myself!

Here's a quote by George Mueller that compliments this thought.

A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks;
a heart through which Christ loves;
a voice through which Christ speaks;
a hand through which Christ helps.

That's what I want to be: mind, heart, voice, hand ... and pen.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Awesome Devo...and a chance to WIN books

Author Dena Dyer just sent this to me and said I could pass it along to you...

Do you love books? Do you like free stuff? Me too! So I'm really excited to announce a HUGE book giveaway. I've recently begun writing monthly devotionals, called "Faith Lifts: Deep Topics with a Light Touch." I'm having a lot of fun writing them, and I'd love to build my subscriber list. You can see the first devotional here: http://denadyer.typepad.com/faith_lifts_newsletter_ar/

So here's the deal: if you sign up for my devotional to come in your in-box once a month (just enter your email in the box on the top left of my website), I'll enter your name in the drawing for the giveaway. :)

I'll hold the drawing on May 25, and ship the books to the winner as soon as I receive their mailing address.

Here's what I'm giving away:

Non-fiction:

A hot-off-the-presses copy of Heavenly Humor for the Woman’s Soul by Martha Bolton, Anita Renfroe, Patsy Clairmont and others (including Dena Dyer)
Fueled by Faith by Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Facing Every Mom’s Fears by Allie Pleiter

Let Your Life Count by Donna Partow

Building the Christian Family You Never Had by Mary DeMuth

Naked Fruit by Elisa Morgan

The Woman I’m Becoming by T. Suzanne Eller


Fiction:

Come, my Little Angel by Diane Noble

After the Leaves Fall by Nicole Baart

A Whisper of Freedom by Tricia Goyer

Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson

Fair is the Rose by Liz Curtis Higgs

Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck


Children’s media:

Two books in “The Adventures of Bailey and Canteen” series: Lost and Found and Canyon Rescue by Eddy Bolton, illustrated by Jerry Pittenger (books with read-along CD’s, which include 6 original songs)

Veggie Tales DVD (Where’s God When I’m Scared?) from their “Classics” series

----


So, good luck--and please tell your friends!


Dena
www.denadyer.com
Encouraging Moms--and Other Groovy Chicks!

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

MyMy answers to the YouYou MeMe!

On the off chance that you've been waiting around ALL weekend for my answers! Wait no more.

1. What was your favorite pastime as a child? Reading books

2. Think about one special memory about each of your siblings. What was it? When my brother Ronnie and I played LIFE--the board game. When my sisters and I tried on clothes together at Ann Taylor Loft.

3. What was your favorite meal? My grandma's enchiladas.

4. What were some of the most memorable books you read? The Hiding Place., Corrie Ten Boom, The Mark of the Lion Series and Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

5. Think of one particularly memorable event. What was it? Feeling my babies kick in my stomach.

6. What scent or sound immediately takes you back to childhood? The feel and smell of playdoh and Crayola Crayons.

7. What meaningful advice did you receive from an adult? Jesus Loves You.

8. Think about someone who influenced your life profoundly. My first Sunday School teacher Margo.

She spent time with me. Told me about God. Showed me that other people beyond my family loved me, too.

9. Think about your proudest moment. What made you proud? When my son won the Christian Character award in Basketball.



Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Love stories!

Want to put a great big smile on your face?

Go read the "How I Met My Spouse" stories on the GenX Parents blog.

Go now. They're great!

Tomorrow is the last day to enter...what are you waiting for?

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Do Hard Things!

See...you don't have to be old and grown-up to make a difference!

ALEX AND BRETT HARRIS founded TheRebelution.com in August 2005 and today, at age 19, are among the most widely read teen writers on the Web.

The twins are frequent contributors to Focus on the Family's webzine Boundless, serve as the main speakers for The Rebelution Tour conferences, and have been featured nationally on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and The New York Times, as well as in publications like WORLD magazine, Breakaway, and Ignite Your Faith. Their first book, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations, will be released on April 15, 2008, by Multnomah Books.

Sons of homeschool pioneers Gregg and Sono Harris and younger brothers of best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye), Alex and Brett have a passion for God and for their generation. Their personal interests include politics, filmmaking, music, basketball, and soccer. And food. They like food.

When they're not traveling around doing conferences, Alex and Brett live with their parents and three younger siblings near Portland, Oregon, where they attend Household of Faith Community Church. They plan to enter college together in the fall of 2008 -- and continue to write, speak, and blog.

What is a Rebelution you ask? If this is all news to you, The Rebelution is "a teenage rebellion against low expectations." It is not just another youth ministry. Though it is not at all legalistic, it does not indulge teens in their usual laziness and consumerism. It is rooted in the Gospel itself and in God's eternal purpose in sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins. It speaks to teens as young adults who are expected to shoulder real responsibility for making their own family, church and nation godly and strong. It asks teens to stop living like guests in their own homes and instead take their place on the family team. It's battle cry is Do Hard Things. Think about that.

Win a copy of the book for yourself...or your teenager! Leave a comment on this post!



About the book: The next generation stands on the brink of a "rebelution."

With over 16 million hits to their website TheRebelution.com, Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge in a growing movement of Christian young people who are rebelling against the low expectations of their culture by choosing to "do hard things" for the glory of God.

Written when they were 18 years old, Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.

Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment and eternal impact.

Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of revolution already in progress challenges the next generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today. Read an excerpt.

Buy the book here

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Planning your summer vacation?

Check out this awesome new site called Family Tripster (http://www.familytripster.com/)!

My friend Lisa Bergren and her friends started this website after traveling with other families. They realized that because of their experiences they had MUCH to share with other families embarking on family adventures.

The site offers trip planning advice, a travel store, and first hand accounts of families who've been where you want to go! From their homepage, "We're working on making this a place for you to discover great ways to use travel to draw your family together. We invite you to participate and become a part of the FamilyTripster.com story. Share your experiences while you glean information from other "travelers." Enjoy the journey!"

Here are just a few of their travel tips:
• Invest in the plastic airless envelopes that you pack, roll, and squeeze out the air. You’ll get twice as much in.

• Leave 1/3 of your suitcase space for the return home. Between treasures and expanding clothes, you’re bound to need the room.

• AND/OR pack a smaller duffel bag inside the larger bag.

• Pack laundry detergent in small baggies. Many countries use front loading washers, which do best with low-suds detergent. You can also use this for sink washing.

• Take an extra memory card and extra batteries for your camera. Put an extra set of batteries in the camera case—it always dies when you’re hours away from being able to buy more!

• It works well to have a backpack for each person (can serve as plane bag and day bag) as well as a suitcase for each person.• A family traveling together can share shampoo, conditioner, lotion. Pack two sets in two separate bags in case a bag goes missing.

• Bring a box of Kleenex and an extra roll of TP.

• Put ALL liquids (sealed or not) in a gallon-sized ziplock bag; explosions and spills will be kept from crisis mode.

• Squeeze any bottles a bit before closing and packing them away; this will release extra air and keep them from expanding/exploding with airline pressure changes/altitude changes

• Going with Infants? Add 20% more diapers and wipes than you think you’ll need. Do not assume you can obtain suitable diapers abroad.

• For women, pack your favorite brand of tampons/pads with some extras—unless you feel very adventuresome and want to go shopping for these necessities in a foreign country! If you’re not due to start your period while traveling, still take enough to get you through a day and a night. Traveling can upset your cycle.

• For women, pack a light purse that can be worn across the shoulder like a messenger bag, which is more secure than a backpack for credit cards, etc. See FamilyTripster’s Safety Tips under TIPS for more ideas.

• For men, pack a money belt or neck wallet to carry can’t-lose-this items

While you're there make sure to check out the contest...Win our Spring Break Contest: Three year-long subscriptions to "Budget Travel" magazine! Enter by midnight, April 30, 2008. Each "Travel Advice" post gives you another chance to win in the Budget Travel drawing. Enter as many times as you can!

Oh and if you're thinking about traveling to Montana this summer, check this out!


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

YouYou Meme

Okay out with it...

1. What was your favorite pastime as a child?

2. Think about one special memory about each of your siblings. What was it?

3. What was your favorite meal?

4. What were some of the most memorable books you read?

5. Think of one particularly memorable event. What was it?

6. What scent or sound immediately takes you back to childhood?

7. What meaningful advice did you receive from an adult?

8. Think about someone who influenced your life profoundly.
Tell us about that person.

9. Think about your proudest moment. What made you proud?


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Healing Promises by Amy Wallace

Oh, what a great book! Run, don't walk to you get your own copy of Healing Promises! (And if you haven't read Ransomed Dreams yet, get that first. You'll need to read the book 1 in the Defenders of Hope series first.)

About Amy's book:
Facing a new threat
When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he's seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren't retreating into doctor mode...he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear
Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission--beating cancer when she can, easing her patients' suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but now the question of God's healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire
As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?
Visit www.DefendersofHope.com

You can read the first chapters of both books:
Ransomed Dreams first chapter
Healing Promises first chapter


About Amy:
I'm a wife, homeschool mom, writer, speaker, Bible study leader, and avid chocoholic. Those are the hats I love to wear, but who I really am is a daughter of the King learning to live and love with laughter. Find out more about her here

You can also sign up for Amy's newsletter here

Find out more about the book by visiting other stops on the blog tour here

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends! Last week's winner was Anonymous who said... "I think your story is so cute. I wish u the best!!!" on 4/9/08's Generation NeXt Parenting blog! Congrats! Send my assistant your mailing address and the book of your choice and we'll get that in the mail to you!

"I like to learn, but I don't like to be taught."

I'm writing a memoir, but I'm not famous. How can that be????

Winston Churchill said, "I like to learn, but I don't like to be taught." This is especially true for our generation.

As I've connected with, and have written books for Gen Xers, I've discovered they (we) learn through story. We don't want people/books/authors/speakers giving us a list of ten points ... we want to hear their stories. And as we collect these stories, we figure out ourselves a little more. That's why blogs are so huge. It's a little more truth, a little more story, every day.

Memoirs are like taking our readers on a date. We create a relationship as we respond to the readers' questions of who we are right from the get-go. Then, if they are interested, it's like a second date ... and third ... and fourth. Each time they pick up the book it's like being invited out again.

So, do you have to be famous?

People enjoy celebrity memoirs because we like to discover the real person behind the image. Yet, we are also joyfully surprised when we meet someone unexpected and unknown who has a story so good we want to know more. I love meeting someone at church or someone sitting next to us on a flight who has an amazing story to tell.

Anne Lamott is a great example of someone who was a nobody who dared to tell the truth. The truth about herself, her demons, her hopes, her angst. Her truth made her known.

I loved Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions and Patty Kirk's Confessions of an Amateur Believer. Oh, and I LOVED Kelly Corrigan's The Middle Place. Currently, I'm reading Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy, but it hasn't captured me like the other three. I like it, but I like the soul-baring, truth-telling, gut-wrenching memoirs better. I like hearing the truth, especially if it's not pretty. Of course being brave enough to write that way is another thing entirely! Hard stuff!

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Great Epitaph...

Epitaph of Benjamin Franklin.

(Format shown as written.)

........................................

The body

Of

Benjamin Franklin

Printer

(Like the cover of an old book

Its contents torn out

And stripped of its lettering and gilding)

Lies here, food for worms.

But the work shall not be lost

For it will (as he believed) appear once more

In a new and more elegant edition

Revised and corrected

by

The Author.


Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), U.S. statesman, writer. Epitaph on Himself, in Complete Works, vol. 10 (ed. by John Bigelow, 1887-88). Composed in 1728, when Franklin was 22, it was not used on Franklin’s monument.

Today is the last day of the blog tour...What fun it has been! Thank you to all of the bloggers who really went above and beyond in their posts. Thank you for sharing yourselves with us! What a blessing you are!

Melody at Slurping Life
http://slurpinglife.typepad.com/

Revka at The Porch Light
http://ourfamilyporch.blogspot.com/

Lauren at Baseballs and Bows
http://baseballsandbows.blogspot.com/

Allison at The Gentle Art of Ruling Your Husband
http://www.marriagehacks.com/

and if you missed any of the stops go here! The Love GenX Style contest will continue until the 15th...thanks to all of you who sent in your stories! Check them out here.


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

I love this...

“Some Christians seem to think all their Father in heaven wants to do is make them miserable. A Christian lady expressed how impossible she found it to say, ‘Thy will be done,’ and how afraid she would be to do it. She was the mother of an only little boy who was heir to a great fortune and the idol of her heart.

“Her friend said, ‘Suppose your little Charley should run to you and tell you he has made up his mind to let you have your way with him; that he is always going to obey you and wants you to do what you think is best for him because he trusts your love. Would you say to yourself, ‘Ah, now I shall have a chance to make Charley miserable. I will take away all his pleasures and compel him to do that which is impossible.

“ ‘You know I would not!’ said the indignant mother. ‘I would hug and kiss him and fill his life with the sweetest and the best!’

“ ‘Are you more tender and loving than God?’

“ ‘Ah, no. I see now I must not be any more afraid of saying, ‘Thy will be done’ to my Heavenly Father than I want my Charley to be of saying it to me.’ “

-- Hannah Whitall Smith, “The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life”

And check out today's stops on the Generation NeXt blog tour:

e-Mom at Chrysalis
http://chrysaliscom.blogspot.com/

Joy at Five J’s
http://fivejs.wordpress.com/

Mary at Owl Haven
http://owlhaven.wordpress.com/

Karla at Looking Towards Heaven
http://karlascrazylife.blogspot.com/

And don't forget to read the contest 'How I Met My Spouse" entries...they're GREAT!

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Blessed to be a blessing

Here is another quote that I stumbled upon while flipping through my old journals...

“ . . . It is not what I do that matters but what a sovereign God chooses to do through me. God doesn’t want worldly successes. He wants my heart. In submission to Him, life is not just a few years to spend of self-indulgence and career advancement. It is a privilege, a responsibility, a stewardship, to live according to a much higher calling—God’s calling. This alone gives true meaning to life . . . God forbid that someday I look back and realize I was too distracted by things of this world, too busy, too driven, and therefore my work was given to another . . . each one of us has a unique assignment in this world, given to us by a sovereign God, to love and to serve those within our own sphere of influence. We have been blessed to be a blessing; we have received that we might give . . . The world is ripe and ready, I believe, for men and women who will accept this calling, men and women who recognize they are not immune from the predicaments of the day, who are willing to accept the privilege of obedience, and who are ready to see that the providence of God may have brought them to a time such as this.”

~~“Crisis and Faith,” by Elizabeth Dole in “Finding God at Harvard.”

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Today is my anniversary.

I can hardly believe it. 18 years!!!

Because John has to work today we spent all of Saturday together. We went to lunch, a movie, shopping, played tennis, bowling, golf, even boxed ... on the Wii. We talked and laughed and remembered. We also thanked God for all these years together and praying for the next 18, and beyond, to come.

Truthfully, I can say that marriage is one of the hardest things and the best things too. It's also my (our) greatest accomplishment, and I'm looking forward to the years to come being even better!

Now I need to get back to work on my book, Blue Like Playdoh, due on Monday. Priorities, priorities, first celebrating and now WORK.

Dating in 1989.

Our wedding in 1990.

Us last year. :)

Oh...and make sure you check out the "LOVE STORIES" over at the GenX Parents blog! They're great!

And here's the last few days' stops on the Generation NeXt Marriage blog tour!

4/5
Pattie at Fresh Brewed Writer
http://freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/2008/04/generation-next-marriage.html

Marlo at Tales of Wonder
http://marloschalesky.blogspot.com/2008/04/gen-next-marriage-by-tricia-goyer.html

4/6
Christy at At Split Endshttp://christylashea.blogspot.com/2008/04/generation-next-marriage-by-tricia.html

Susan at New Every Morning
http://hisreadinglist.blogspot.com/2008/04/generation-next-marriage.html

Laura at Laura William’s Musings
http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2008/04/book-review-and-contest-info-generation.html

Christy at Christy’s Book Blog
http://christysbookblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/generation-next-marriage.html

4/7
Mellissa at The Adventures of Wonder Mommy
http://wondermommy.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/generation-next-marriage/

Deborah at A Cup of Joy
http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/generation-next-marriage-contest/

Stacey at Jamee Forever
http://jameeforever.blogspot.com/2008/04/hope-for-gen-x-girl-married-to-baby.html

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Check out the date on this before you answer it!

November 5, 1999

FULL NAME: Tricia Nicheal Goyer

NICKNAMES: Tonkie (gee, nice one mom)

BIRTHPLACE: Weed, CA

HOMETOWN: Columbia Falls, MT

CROUTONS OR BACON BITS: Bacon Bits (if they're homemade and fresh)

FAVORITE SALAD DRESSING: Homemade Poppyseed

DO YOU DRINK: Yes, water, tea, juice, soda, and milk

HAVE YOU HAD YOUR TONSILS OR APPENDIX REMOVED: No

SHAMPOO OR CONDITIONER: Both.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SKINNY DIPPING: I take the fifth! (Was I that stupid?)

DO YOU MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE: I try not to.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: Nope, really.

DREAM CAR: Jeep Grand Cherokee (but I really love my van)

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR: Tan 2-door yellow Dodge Colt. After I got married I found out my dad sold the car for $200 dollars! How could he?

FAVORITE TOOTHPASTE: Crest. Isn't this the official toothpaste of Generation Xers?

FAVORITE FOOD: Chocolate, cheesecake, fresh fruit, especially cheesecake and fresh fruit dipped in chocolate!

DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS: Yes.

FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT: Glacier Park, right by my house!

FAVORITE ICE CREAM: Big Ed

FAVORITE TYPE OF FAMILY GAME: Taboo

WHAT IS YOUR BAD TIME OF DAY: Afternoon. I want a nap!

ADIDAS, NIKE OR REEBOK: Huh? Do they sell these brands at Walmart? (Hiking boots!)

FAVORITE COLOGNE OR PERFUME: Anything Victoria Secrets

LEAST FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Science. (No interesting people, places, or events.)

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: English & Psychology

FAVORITE TV SHOWS: I'd rather read.

FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL TIME: Walk in the Clouds, Sense and Sensibility, Ever After (See a theme here?)

FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: None. Unless Olympic gymnastics or ice skating is on.

ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT YOU: My pets are two adorable finches!

SAY ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Julie C. is my
hero :-)


And today's stops on the Generation NeXt Marriage blog tour are:

Cara at The Law, Books and Life
http://carasmusings.blogspot.com/

Pattie at Fresh Brewed Writer
http://www.freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/

Janis at Dandelion Mama
http://www.janisrodgers.blogspot.com/

Marlo at Tales of Wonder
http://marloschalesky.blogspot.com/

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Hmmm...

The smallest things become great when God requires them of us; they are small only in themselves; they are always great when they are done for God, and when they serve to unite us with Him eternally.
-- Francois Fenelon (1651-1715)

Today, what would happen if I saw every small thing I did as great things done for God??? Maybe I should test this out.

More to come tomorrow.


Check out today's stops on the Generation NeXt Marriage blog tour:

Cindy at Still His Girl
http://www.stillhisgirl.blogspot.com/

Niki at My Journey
http://www.nikinowell.wordpress.com/

Deena at A Peek at My Bookshelf
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/

Karen at Sky-High View
http://www.sky-highview.blogspot.com/

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

God's work...

Yesterday, I wrote. I fried falafel. I cuddled with my niece. I played with my other niece and nephew. I signed my taxes. I filled out an application for a missions' trip. I answered email. I snuggled with my husband. I talked with my kids. I wrote more. I wrote letters to friends, asking for support for our missions' trip. Some things seemed like "God's work." Some things seemed like busy work. But in the end, isn't using our time, energy, love, and care all God's work?

I love this quote by William Law: "If we are to live unto God at any time, or in any place, we are to live unto Him at all times and all places. If we are to use anything as the gift of God, we are to use everything as His gift."

Lately, what "everything" have you been doing in your service to God?

Today's stops on the Generation NeX Marriage blog tour are:
Melissa at Grosvenor Square
http://grosvenorsquare.blogspot.com/

Paula at Grace Reign
http://www.gracereign.blogspot.com/

Rel at Relz Reviewz
http://www.relzreviewz.blogspot.com/

And don't forget to check out the "How I met my spouse" contest entries in the the "Love GenX Style" contest over at the GenX blog.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Adorable

Every Monday we have a small group. These guys are amazing and I love them to pieces. One of my small group friends has started a new venture. Check it out!

http://www.adorrables.etsy.com/

Also...here's today's stops on the Generation NeXt Marriage blog tour

Ronie at Craving the Super Natural
http://www.supernaturalcraving.blogspot.com/

Jeannette at Declaring His Marvelous Works
http://www.hismarvelouswork.blogspot.com/

Deborah at Books, Movies & Chinese Food
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/

Kelly at Scrambled Dregs
http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/

Mary at Home-Steeped Hope
http://homesteepedhope.com/

and to catch up on some of the GREAT posts you may have missed, go here

and you check out the contest entries (LOVE stories) over at the GenX blog...good fun!


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.