Happy Thanksgiving!

For me Thanksgiving brings on childhood memories of going to my Grandparents' mobile home for a family dinner, sitting at the kids' table with my brother and two cousins, eating until my belly was full, and then sitting around and talking. Or rather listening. While my brother and cousins used to play outside I'd like to listen to the grown-ups talk. I was interested in their world, their stories.

Now I'm the grown-up. I'm the one in the kitchen. This Thanksgiving I'm making sweet potatoes for the first time. We're going to my sister-in-laws for the first time, and for the first Thanksgiving I can remember in my adult life I'm not making a turkey.

Times change, but the importance of family never changes. Telling stories is also something that we can count on.

This morning I read this verse, and it made me think of Thanksgiving:

Return to your home, and recount [the story] of how many and great things God has done for you. Luke 8:39

That's what I'll be doing--going "home" to the family God has given me and telling about the wonderful things He's done.

Those are the best type of stories, after all... the ones where God gets the glory! Stories, in my opinion, are the best part of Thanksgiving. I'm thankful to be able to share them, and to hear them!

How to Improve on a Blank Page

One of the most common questions I get from aspiring writers is “How do I start?” The ideas are in their heads, but the problem is getting them on paper.

Whether you are writing magazine articles, story stories, novels, or even homework assignments—here are some tips for improving on the blank page.

1) Sift Through Your Ideas. Realize some ideas will remain just that . . . ideas. When I first began writing in 1994 I wanted to use everything—every cute thing my children did, every Scripture verse that stirred my heart, and every flash of inspiration. I soon realized that although my ideas were good ones, I didn’t have enough time in the day to use them all. So what did I do instead? I began keeping a journal. It’s just for me, and I don’t worry how it looks. I use regular, spiral-bound notebooks, and I have them on hand to write down my prayers, favorite Scripture verse, to-do lists (I always start these on a clean page in case I need to tear them out), and writing ideas. Sometimes the words stay in there as just ideas. Other times I’ll go back to them, ponder them, and jot down more notes. Then, if I can’t shake it, I know it’s time to take a closer look, and I ask these questions:

• Is this something God wants me to write?
• Who is my target audience?
• What are the needs of this audience?
• What would be the best format for my message?

As much as we don’t like to think of “publication” in these early stages, this is an important step. To be effective as writers, we need to mold our message into a medium that will reach people. Many times I think of two or three different venues such as how-two articles, personal experience articles, or books.

The next step is to prayerfully consider where God wants me to share my message. And when. I still have ideas that God gave me years ago that I hope to use some day. Some, perhaps will “come to life” after a long hibernation. Others may not, and instead they may just be message that God speaks to my own heart.

2) Open the Page and Start Writing. Once you know that you want to write—or have to write—the next step is to begin. Yes, that means opening a blank page and just starting. Once I start typing I’m often surprised how much is already in my head. I refer to this first step as “cleaning the pipes,” and I pour everything in my head and heart onto the page. For articles or non-fiction these might be paragraphs of writing mixed in with various ideas. For fiction, it may be character description, story ideas, research notes, or any combination of the above.

Most people want “perfect writing” from the moment they start typing. This just doesn’t happen. Instead of striving for perfection, give yourself the freedom to “play around with the words.” Your first draft will NOT make it to publication. You don’t need it perfect when you begin. Don’t think about grammar, about your theme, about crafting perfect sentences. Instead, just let the ideas take you where they will.

3) Write Fast. Once you allow yourself to start writing, keeping going and don’t stop! I find my best writing comes when I let the ideas flow. I don’t stop to read what I’ve just written. I don’t pause to think. I don’t worry what an editor would think about my grammar. I just let the thoughts continue on uninterrupted. The funny thing is . . . this fast writing usually ends up as my best stuff!

After you get all your thoughts on paper. Close your document and give yourself a break. Refuse to go back and read what you just read . . . instead carry around your notebook or journal and write down any ideas that you can add to your work-in-progress. Think of this as a pot of soup simmering on the stove and add in whatever ideas come to you during the day.

I get ideas when I’m in the shower, while I’m driving, or when I’m cooking dinner. The ideas will do their own work in your head. Just make sure you’re ready to jot down further thoughts. (This also means keeping a notebook and pencil beside your bed!)

Ideas from other writers:

Tamela Hancock Murray

I write from start to finish myself, but here are some techniques I've seen offered by other writers: 1) Write down the theme of her book. What is your overarching message? Then go from there. 2) Write the climatic scene and go backward from there. 3) Another way is to begin with the characters themselves, then work on putting them in the situation that will be your story.

Rachel Hauck

Start with a good synopsis, character sketch, backstory and timeline. Maybe start with a setting description. Begin by getting to know you setting and characters.

Pamela Hatheway

Natalie Goldberg wrote a book called Thunder and Lightning about “writing practice.” She suggested doing timed writing practice on a variety of subjects. For example: write fifteen minutes about school lunches, twenty minutes describing your first kiss, or ten minutes describing the way your grandmother's kitchen smelled.

Personally, I have a book where I write a verse of Scripture at the top of the page and write about it for 15-30 minutes. I allow myself to go whereever I feel like going with the thought. I am surprised sometimes at what comes out.

I suppose it is journaling of sorts . . . but more than that, because there are some real gems that may actually become an article.

Nikki Arana

I found a book that really helped me called Beginnings, Middles and Ends. It helped because it made me think of my book in three parts. I could do that. I could think of the beginning of my story, and then began to lay it out. Just the beginning. And of course, before long a middle started to emerge.

Eva Marie Everson

My “getting started” typically comes from a single line. That opening hook line just comes to me out of nowhere. I have an “idea” in my mind for plot and character . . . but wait on the first line. That's how it works for me.

Looking for a market to write for? Interested in writing for a Christian magazine? Check out the theme list for Lookout Magazine. They might just have a topic that's perfect for you to write!

13 Tips for the Overcommitted, Overloaded, and Overwhelmed part 2

Read part 1 here!


First Things First: God
When it comes to setting priorities any Christian will tell you, “God first, then family, then ministry, then everything else.” But in day-to-day living how often do we see this practiced?

As a young mom, I’d been convicted at my lack of time with God. I knew I should read the Bible, and I always felt better when I did. But the problem came in matching my desire with the practicalities of daily living.

Searching for a solution, I realized my only quiet moments occurred before my family awoke. Determined, I set my alarm at 5:00 a.m. I was tired the next day, but also spiritually nourished after a time of prayer and reading. That’s not to say that all quiet times must be in the morning or off in corner of the house.

My friend, Janet McHenry—author of Prayerwalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength, and Discipline (Waterbrook)—has developed time with God in her own way. Janet struggled with setting correct priorities. She was depressed, had gained weight, and lacked quiet time with God. Janet decided to tackle all three by praying while she walked the streets of her town.

“I could never claim that verse, ‘The joy of the Lord is my strength,’ because I never knew what joy was,” Janet says. “Now I know that joy is being totally centered on God. And I get that daily center as I prayerwalk.”

As Janet and I have discovered, taking time to seek God and to ask His opinion about daily duties helps us to rearrange priorities to fit His agenda.

“God will tell you what is front and center today,” says author Jill Briscoe. “Are you listening?”

Cool!

The Portuguese edition of Life Interrupted has been nominated for an award!

Check it out here!

And for those who need a translation (me) go here

Big Book Giveaway for Chapter a Week!

Christmas is just around the corner! (yep - it's true!) So Chapter-a-Week is giving away another ten-pound box of autographed Chapter-a-Week books to one Chapter-a-Week member.

Chapter-A-Week is a group for those who love Christian fiction and want to sample a chapter a week from some of the finest authors writing in the genre. Those who sign up will receive a free chapter excerpt each week along with information about how to order the book. So sign up ... and get your friends to sign up. If you get a friend to sign up (and they mention your name in their email) you'll be entered twice! The more friends you sign up the more times you'll be entered!

To sign up for chapter a week go here.

To enter the contest - simply send an email with "Chapter-a-Week Christmas Giveaway" in the subject line to cawcontest@gmail. com and you'll be entered in the drawing. Do NOT reply to this message. We'll draw the winner November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving so the books will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas!

Gen Xers

Does this sound like you or your spouse? Do you agree or disagree with these statistics?

The Facts:

• Gen Xers consist of “41 million Americans born between 1965 and 1979 plus the 3 million more in that age group who have immigrated here.”
• Gen Xers are serious about life. We don’t just take life as it comes, but give great consideration for critical decisions about our present and future. And when it comes to parenting, we want to know how to do it right. We take parenting seriously because we remember the latchkey existence with too much free time and too little parental involvement, and we want to give our kids more.
• Yet Gen Xers are also stressed out. We want to do it all … now. And when we do, we often find ourselves overwhelmed. Work, family, techno-stress. We’ve bought into following our dreams, and finding our purpose. And to do it all, we struggle as we balance kids, ministry, work and service. (We love to volunteer, to give, to help, to see we’re making a difference!)
• In addition to that Gen Xers are self-reliant, yet high spiritual. We’re skeptical, yet what we do believe, we want to apply to everyday life. We’re realistic, not idealistic. Our faith has to be true lived-out, or we don’t buy into it.
• According to George Barna, only 28 percent of Gen Xers (ages 20-37) attend church compared to 51 percent of Builders (58+). Yet, according to a Special 2001 edition of Newsweek, “Eighty-one percent of Gen X mothers and 78 percent of fathers say they plan eventually to send their young child to Sunday school or some other kind of religious training.”
• Finally, because of the loneliness and alienation of splintered family attachments, “experts” have claimed that the strongest desire of our generation is acceptance and belonging. Unfortunately, as parents we often don’t find the companionship and acceptance we long for. We believe in giving the best to our kids, we really do. Yet we question we we’re doing it right, question if we can do it at all. Is something wrong with us if we don’t follow our parent’s parenting footsteps? Is it okay to do it our own way?

The Problem:
According to Reach Advisors’ 2003 survey of 3,020 parents (supplemented by their analyses of government data) they found that twice as many Gen-X mothers as boomer mothers spent more than 12 hours a day “attending to child-rearing and household responsibilities.” Roughly half of Gen-X fathers devoted three to six hours a day to domesticity; only 39 percent of baby-boomer dads could say the same. Who would have guessed that the supposed cynical drifters of the 1980’s would be complaining about too little time with the children?

Breaking It Down:
Gen Xers are great parents, who provide tons of time with their kids, yet the problem arises when:

• They’re overwhelmed, wanting to give their children everything now.
• They’re tired of trying to do too much.
• They’re unfocused, wanting their children to experience everything . . . instead of focusing on their child’s unique personalities and gifts.
• They’re on their own—many times living hundreds or thousands of miles from family support.
• They are curious about spiritual matters, but often don’t know how to connect.

In Their Own Words:
“I feel most parenting books or articles give unrealistic steps that promise perfection, if only I'll follow their exact formula. I've realized I won't hit ‘perfect’ this side of heaven and the guilt from those parenting books is something I don't need. I would like to see parenting advice that encourages me to deal with my heart and my child’s without unrealistic steps that seem to promise perfection. It’s so discouraging to be given two or ten steps that I don't understand how to apply, and then to be told how well the steps work if I'd just do them right and on a consistent basis.” Amy Wallace, born 5-21-1970

Do you relate? Which of these statistics struck a cord in you?

For more info check out Generation NeXt Parenting and Generation NeXt Marriage

Guest Blogger ... Ben Whiting!

Show Me - Lessons from Screenwriting

This semester at school I’m taking a class on screenwriting. As a detail-person, I hoped the class would help me get better at pulling back to see the big picture of a story. It has done that, but I’ve also learned some things that I think the primarily visual medium of film can teach novel-writers.

First-Person Perspective Can Be a Crutch

When we covered introductions, several people in class had the tendency to give a summary of where a character was in life or a habitual activity they engaged in that revealed more of who they were. For instance:

Jim, a 39 year old construction worker, bends over a table in his garage with a piece of wood and sanding paper in his hands. The wood-carving is a small statue of a mermaid. It is a gift for Sarah, the fifth one he’s made in the last two weeks. He’s loved her ever since college, even though she continues to reject his advances.

A lot of these things translate easily onto the screen: the character’s age, occupation (just put him in uniform), what he’s doing, and so on. But Sarah isn’t on-screen, and neither are the four other statues. Or his repeated attempts to capture her heart. Those details tell me more about Jim, but only if I can see them.

Novelists have the luxury of being able to put these types of things into a scene when writing from an intimate POV by having the character remember them, but I think this method can quickly become a crutch. Yes, you want to get the reader inside the character’s head, but you don’t want to relay all information to them this way.

It comes down to Show vs. Tell again. There are certainly things you can and should give the reader through flashback or a character’s thought-process, but try to take full advantage of the power of images. Get creative and push yourself to reveal more of your story and your characters visually.

Internal Conflict Is Insufficient

Another place novelists can fall back on first person POV is in the realm of internal conflict. In film, with few exceptions, you don’t have the ability to go inside a character’s head. Voice-overs rarely work. Internal conflict is fantastic, but you have to come up with a way to make it visible.

The method my instructor recommended to us is projecting the internal conflict a character feels onto a relational conflict they have with one of the other characters.

For instance, in the short film I’m writing for that class right now, my hero stumbles upon a great deal of money. Being poor, he’s immediately tempted with the idea of keeping it. He’s poor and struggling to put food on the table for his kids. His hesitance to act can reveal some of his indecision, but not much.

That’s where his wife comes in. She pressures her husband to keep the money. In her mind, it is the answer to all of their problems. She won’t have to beg store owners to give her just one more week to pay off their debts. The couple’s argument ends up representing the inner turmoil he’s feeling over the decision, but in a more powerful and immediate way.

Try to find ways to do the same thing in your story. Find ways to make the internal conflict tangible, so that each side is represented visually and the audience can see the back-and-forth, blow-by-blow battle between the two of them.

~o~

Ben Whiting is a full-time English student at the University of Texas at Arlington and co-general editor of the award-winning collegiate publication Marine Creek Reflections. He recently completed the rough draft of his suspense novel, Penumbra.

13 Tips for the Overcommitted, Overloaded, and Overwhelmed

The day had spun away faster than the last squares of toilet paper on the end of a roll. The clock announced my children’s bedtime, and I couldn’t be happier.

“Mom, can I quickly do something?” Leslie, my ten-year-old daughter, asked.

“Make it real quick.” I sighed, scanning over my endless to-do list, wondering if I could squeeze a few more things into the end of the day.

A few minutes later, Leslie placed a hand-drawn grid in front of me. The days of the week were written in perfect, fifth-grade cursive. “This is my schedule, and I’m stressed out. I have no free time.”

It was my daughter’s voice, but did I hear her right? Did she use the phrases, ‘My schedule?’

‘Stressed out?’ ‘No free time?’ Did these words come from a child?

Leslie ran her fingers over the squares. “Look. I have basketball two days a week and piano lessons on Tuesdays, not counting daily practice.”

As she continued on, I realized her brothers’ schedules were not much better. No wonder our lives had become hectic. Attempting to mesh my kids’ daily activities with my own was like attempting to squeeze another dirty pan into an already full dishwasher—no matter how things were rearranged, they just weren’t going to fit! My daughter and I discussed what could be cut.

“Let’s wait on swimming lessons,” I said. “And cut out art class altogether. That will free up Wednesdays and Fridays for just hanging out.”

I noted relief on Leslie’s face as she erased those items off her page.

“Thanks, Mom.” She scurried off to bed. “I feel better already.”

With the sound of her feet padding to her room, I turned to my own calendar, recalling something I’d read earlier that day: “We spend ten percent more than we have—and it no longer matters if one is talking about time, energy, or money,” wrote Richard A. Swenson, M.D., author of The Overload Syndrome. “We work hard, play hard, and crash hard.”

Seeing the relief on my daughter’s face at the thought of free time made me realize how far I’d let all our priorities get out of hand. It was time to stop the insanity.

I'll post more about this on next week - about what God has taught me about priority - but what about you? Are you Overcommitted, Overloaded and Overwhelmed? What are you doing about it? Or what do you need to do about it?

What I Am Not

Becoming a mother is a complicated thing. Not only am I trying to negotiate a relationship with my child, I am trying to negotiate a relationship with myself as I attempt to determine how I mother, how I feel about mothering, how I want to mother and how I wish I was mothered. ~ Andrea J. Buchanan, in Mother Shock

Sometimes the easiest way to discover who we are is to know who we are not.

• We are not our children. We all know mothers who go overboard trying to make themselves look good by making their children look great. I saw one woman on the Oprah television show who had bought her preschool daughter more than twelve pairs of black shoes just so the girl could have different styles to go with her numerous outfits! Just as we -don’t get report cards for mothering, we also -don’t get graded on our child’s looks or accomplishments. While you want your children to do their best and succeed in life, your self-esteem -shouldn’t be wrapped up in your child.

Life as I See It
My individuality will never end. There will be no one exactly like me, not even my child. She will be like me in some ways, but not at all in others. I -wouldn’t have it any other way.
 — Desiree, Texas

• We are not our mothers. I remember the first time I heard my mother’s voice coming out of my mouth. The words “because I told you so .  .  .” escaped before I had a chance to squelch them.

It’s not until we have kids that we truly understand our mothers—all their frets, their nagging, and their worries.

It’s also then that we truly understand their love.

Since you are now a mother, it’s good to think back on how you were raised. If there were traditions or habits that now seem wise and useful, incorporate them into your parenting. You also have permission to sift out things you now know -weren’t good. Just because you’re a product of your mother, that -doesn’t mean you have to turn out just like her. Repeat after me, “I am not my mother.”

• We are not like any other mother out there. Sometimes you may feel like the world’s worst mother. After all, your friend never yells at her son — and sometimes you do. Then again, your friend may feel bad because you have a wonderful bedtime routine that includes stories and songs. In many cases, the moms you feel inferior to only look like they have it together. All moms feel they -don’t “measure up.” Instead of feeling unworthy, we should realize that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The key is where we place our focus.

The Bible says, “Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without .  .  . comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we -aren’t” (Romans 12:5 – 6, MESSAGE).

The problem with comparison is, we always measure our weaknesses against the strengths of others. Instead, we need to thank God for our strengths. We can also ask God to help us overcome our weaknesses — not because we want to compare ourselves, or look good in someone else’s eyes, but because we want to be the best mom out there.

Have you struggled with this?

Helpful Hearts

Nurturing Helpful Hearts in your children (from toddlers to teens)!

1. Read a story about people who have helped each other (try Mark 2:1-5). Point out to your kids how kind and loving behavior is appreciated.

2. Make one evening a week "Share-the-Load Night." Tackle household projects together like washing the dishes, stacking wood or helping the children clean their rooms.

3. When you find litter in a public place, encourage your child to help you pick it up. Explain that you're providing a clean area for others to enjoy.

4. Make helping each other fun. With younger children, take turns buttoning each other's coats. Let older children rake the yard together and jump in the leaves all they want.

5. Have a "Big Helper" contest. Make a simple chart and keep track of family members who have helped each other. At the end of the week, reward all helpers with a family prize such as an ice-cream outing.

6. Help your child create "Serving Coupons" to give as gifts. A younger child could include coupons for helping Mommy sweep. An older child could offer coupons good for walking the dog or reading a story to his little sister.

7. Each morning, encourage your children to think of one way they can help someone else during the day. At bedtime, talk about their acts of service and thank God for the specific ways they helped.

8. Remind your child that praying is also a form of helping. In situations when we can't physically assist others, we can ask God to help in his own special way. Teach your child that God is the best helper of all.

FIT TO BE TIED by Robin Lee Hatcher

Who says a woman can’t do a man’s job?

Cleo Arlington dresses like a cowboy, is fearless and fun-loving, and can ride, rope, and wrangle a horse as well as any man. In 1916, however, those talents aren’t what most young women aspire to. But Cleo isn’t most women. Twenty-nine years old and single, Cleo loves life on her father’s Idaho ranch. Still, she hopes someday to marry and have children.

Enter Sherwood Statham, an English aristocrat whose father has sentenced him to a year of work in America to “straighten him out.” Sherwood, who expected a desk job at a posh spa, isn’t happy to be stuck on an Idaho ranch. And he has no idea how to handle Cleo, who’s been challenged with transforming this uptight playboy into a down-home cowboy.

Just about everything either of them says or does leaves the other, well, fit to be tied. And though Cleo believes God’s plan for her includes a husband, it couldn’t possibly be Sherwood Statham. Could it?

About FIT TO BE TIED, the Library Journal said: "A master of lively historical romances, Hatcher demonstrates an expert ability to craft spunky, unlikely heroines who go against the tide of the times in which they live, making for fun, exciting stories. She also pays close attention to historical detail. This second series entry (after A Vote of Confidence) is highly recommended for readers of inspirational and historical romances and women's fiction."


BIO
Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. She makes her home in Idaho where she enjoys spending time with her family and her high-maintenance Papillon, Poppet.


About FIT TO BE TIED, the Library Journal said: "A master of lively historical romances, Hatcher demonstrates an expert ability to craft spunky, unlikely heroines who go against the tide of the times in which they live, making for fun, exciting stories. She also pays close attention to historical detail. This second series entry (after A Vote of Confidence) is highly recommended for readers of inspirational and historical romances and women's fiction."

A Note from Robin
The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series sprang from the question: Who says a woman can't do a man's job? And I can't fully express just how much fun I've had looking for the answer through the eyes of my heroines in this series. Although I have no favorites among the novels I've written (each were special to me at the time I wrote them), I do have some favorite characters. Cleo Arlington is one of them. I love her for her strong faith, for her quirky turns of phrase, for her confidence with horses and her lack of confidence with men, even for her impatience with Sherwood, the English aristocrat that she's supposed to turn into a cowboy. I've been so delighted that readers have taken her into their hearts the way they have. I hope you'll feel the same way about her.

Spiritual Role of Moms!

I was checking my email this morning when I came across an interesting email from George Barna (www.barna.org).

Here is a short excerpt:

May 7, 2007

(Ventura, CA) - Mothers inhabit many roles inside and outside the family. Within the household, they are often counted on to be the emotional compass, organizer, and multitasking manager of the family. Add to that list another common function: spiritual energizer.

According to a new Barna study, women who are raising children are among the most faith-minded and spiritually active segments of the American population. The study explored faith-related activities, commitments and perspectives, relying upon nationally representative interviews among more than 10,000 adults and nearly 2000 women who are currently parenting children under the age of 18.

The study shows that more than three-quarters of moms identify "family" to be their highest priority. At the same time, a majority of mothers strongly agree that their faith is very important in their life. In contrast, fathers also tend to list family as their top priority in life, yet they are much less likely to equally attribute importance to faith.

You can read the rest of the article here.

I am blessed that my husband has grown as a spiritual leader over the years. I think there are three major reasons for this.

1. God convicted me years ago of my tendency of being John’s “Jr. Holy Spirit.” God reminded me that He can and will speak to my husband ... Thank you very much.

2. I’ve allow John to "do" spiritual leadership his way … not how I think things should be. I have my ideas of the types of family worship or Bible Study I’d like to try, but my way does not mean the only right way.

3. I pray for my husband’s success. I pray that He will listen to God’s leading. I pray that I will follow and be an encourager.

Also, I thought of something else that ties in … as parents its our job to raise our sons to be the spiritual leaders of their future homes.

In fact, just this morning I was talking about this with my 17-year-old son. I told him, “You know what? The type of girl you’re looking for will be more attracted to your spiritual maturity than anything else. So the more time you spend with God, the more you’ll attract a girl who has a heart for God.”

I’m also excited because of a new resource I just bought. This weekend I was super-blessed at a women’s retreat that featured the speaker Sheri Rose Shepherd. Sheri is a fellow Multnomah/Waterbrook author.

One of Sheri’s books that I bought is Preparing Him for that Other Woman. I can wait to start reading it! With two teen sons I need all the encouragement I can get!

Oh, and if you haven't read Generation NeXt Parenting yet, then make sure to check it out. I give more ideas about how to train our kids while also being a helpmate to our husbands.

previously published on Generation NeXt Parenting blog. Like this? Want more? Check out Generation NeXt Parenting or Generation NeXt Marriage.

Veteran's Day: A Blast From the Past

By Diane Hale Moody

In early October, my dad received a phone call inviting him to be the special guest on a media flight aboard the Liberty Belle, a restored B-17 which would be making a stop at an airport near Nashville. My sister and I eagerly accompanied him to the airport on October 5 and soon basked in the joy of watching our 86-year-old father treated like a rock star.


It had been over 64 years since Glenn Hale flew in a B-17. He considered himself a “draft dodger” of sorts, enlisting in the Army Air Corps when he was 18, thereby able to choose which branch of the military in which he would serve. Dad wanted to fly!



He reported for service in February of 1943, shipping off to Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas for boot camp. Later he would pass the necessary qualifications to become a pilot and head for Stockton, California where for two months he learned to fly multi-engine planes in Advanced Pilot Training. His graduation ceremony was filmed for a scene in the 20th Century Fox movie, Winged Victory, which was released in late 1944. (Later, Dad got to see the movie in London with his brother Harold who was on leave from the Field Artillery. Harold quickly spotted his younger brother on the big screen.)

Stationed at Framlingham, England, Second Lieutenant Glenn Hale served as a co-pilot in the 390th Bombardment Group, 570th Squadron of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Dad flew 14 missions between December 1944 and July 1945, all to German targets. Ironically, records from the 390th indicate that he once flew aboard the original Liberty Belle on December 30, 1944.

But the flight he remembers most took place on March 2, 1945. From the beginning, the crew knew their B-17 had engine problems. Five hours into flight, Pilot Dick Alberts dropped out of formation and headed for Poland so they could bail out over Russian-occupied territory. Dad had never jumped before. In the moments before he exited the aircraft, he remembers making a deal with the Lord, promising to read the entire Bible if he survived. “He kept his side of the bargain in 10 minutes,” he recalls. “It took me many years later.”

And then he jumped. Scared at first, once his chute opened he said he actually enjoyed the descent. He landed near a farmhouse near Turek, a small town in central Poland. He and his fellow crew members were then transported by train to Odessa, Ukraine on the Black Sea. Two months to the day from their bailout, they landed back in Framlingham—the same week the war ended.

While bailing out of a B-17 left an indelible imprint in Dad’s memory, it was the next mission for which he is most proud. As part of Operation Chowhound, he and his crew had the privilege of making a food drop over German-occupied Holland. The Dutch were starving, forced to eat tulip bulbs to survive. Dad was so gratified to be part of a mission that saved people rather than destroy things.

Glenn Hale began his journey home to the states in late June of 1945, his last flight as part of the Flying Fortress. He arrived on American soil on July 4th, and yes, with heartfelt emotion he knelt down and kissed the ground. “I entered the service as a boy, and I came home a man,” he says, the unmasked pride twinkling in his still-blue eyes. Thanks to the GI Bill, he completed his education at the University of Iowa where he also met the love of his life. Glenn and Anita Hale were married for 58 years until cancer took my mother’s life in 2007.

As the restored Liberty Belle took off on that Monday in October to the familiar deafening roar of the plane’s engines, Dad sat just behind the co-pilot’s seat. “It’s like being back with an old friend,” he told the reporters clustered around him. “Every time we took off on a mission, I always had the thought in the back of my mind, ‘Will I be back tonight?’”

It wasn’t until 1983, when he saw an article in his hometown Tulsa newspaper about the 390th looking for veterans for a reunion, that he reconnected with many of his old war buddies. He and mom attended the reunions for over 20 years. This year’s gathering was held in Nashville where Dad now lives. The Liberty Belle’s visit to the area was in honor of those remaining vets. And Glenn Hale will tell you his invitation to ride on that B-17 was one of the highlights of his life.

This Veterans Day, I thank God for my father and all the others who have willingly fought for our country. As he so often reminds us, “Freedom doesn’t come free.” May we never forget that lesson, Dad.

7 Tips for Smart Shoppers

You may have the post from last week on Savvy Shopping ... Here are a few ideas for shopping SMART!

1. Call to see if any grocery stores in your area accepts their competitor’s sale ads instead of running from store to store in search of sale items. Some stores honor price-busting!

2. No time to clip coupons? You’re not alone. Less than 3 percent are ever redeemed, says Paco Underhill, author of Why We Buy (Simon & Schuster). Instead, look for the coupons found on the store aisles.

3. Fast forward through the floral, bakery and gift sections that are directly in the main path. Ellie Kay, author of Shop, Save, and Share (Bethany House), calls these the “money-draining traps.”

4. If possible, leave the kids at home or with a friend. “You’re less likely to give in to their desire to buy on impulse,” says Kay. The longer you shop the more you’ll spend — about $1 a minute!

5. Beware of signs. Handwritten ones don’t always point to sales and those stating LIMIT 10 aren’t placed there because stores are worried about running out of stock, but so customers will buy more.

6. Don’t assume an item’s on sale just because it’s on the end of the aisle. Grocers put items on endcaps to catch your attention, not to necessarily to give you a good deal.

7. Take cash and leave your credit cards and checkbook at home. You’ll be forced to stay on budget.

What about you? Do you have your own tips? I'd love to hear what works for you!

(reprint from MOMsense article by Tricia Goyer)

Writing Hero Stories part 3

Fictionalizing Real People (read posts one and two)

All the heroes in my historical fiction novels are modeled after the men I interviewed. I took many of their stories, and I used them in my novel. I can literally flip through the chapters and think: This is Pete’s story. This is Charlie’s story … Not only did I use some of their experiences, I also used a lot of their emotions, feelings, thoughts, and internal struggles to make the story as true-to-life as possible. The men I’ve modeled my stories after aren’t well-known, but their stories were important for me to capture.

One cool thing about connecting with real people is the fact they help with everything—even military jargon. I asked the veterans to give me the correct terms of things I was describing throughout the book. For my WWII novels that take place in B-17 bombers and pursuit planes, I had former pilots give me specific details. I find this helps the story ring true!

One of the best things about writing these novels is getting notes from readers who tell me that they better understand history because of my work. It makes me feel like these fiction stories are honoring the men who served! I also love the fact that even though my first WWII novel was published in 2003 people are still reading the books and enjoying them. Just a few months ago I got a note from a woman who read (and loved) From Dust and Ashes. Even though the veterans are passing away I am thrilled their stories live on.

I’m continually getting emails or letters from readers who ask me when my next WWII novel is come out. You’re in luck. The Swiss Courier (co-written with Mike Yorkey) came out last month, and I’m working on ideas for future books.

Lately I’ve seen a lot of historical romance novels in print. I hope the trend will continue to involve WWII. It’s such a fascinating time in history! We need to know these stories. We need to honor the heroes by understand what they lived through, and served for.

Love In Action (part 2)

Grab the Moment! (read part 1 here!)

Don't limit your service to home. Take your caring attitude wherever you go. Hold the door open for strangers, offer your seat on a crowded bus or help the church nursery teacher clean her room. Whenever possible, encourage your children to do these things as well. Point out how nice it feels to help someone. Later in the day, remind your child how kind it was of him to hold that door or give up that seat. You can even talk about the experience with others, Dad, Grandma, Aunt Cathy, to further reinforce your child's kindness.

To help turn these experiences into true character development, you'll need to spend some time talking about what your child is discovering through his acts of cheerful service. In 7 Things Kids Never Forget (Multnomah), Ron Rose says, "Work with your children on a service project, any kind that helps other people. Take pictures during the project. Then use the pictures to review the time. Ask what questions such as, What was happening here?' and What were the people feeling?' The goal is to focus on a shared experience of caring for other people."

While your child might find plenty of opportunities for showing kindness to people in your community, even the most caring child can struggle to be kind at home. Help your child understand that serving others includes family. Find projects you can do together to help other family members. Have her help you pull weeds in the garden, take out the trash or bake cookies for a special treat. Talk about how special it is to be part of a family and how working together and helping each other make a family stronger. Reward your child with hugs and praise for a job well done.

The Impact of Encouragement

When your kids do show evidence of kindness in their actions toward others, you can reinforce these characteristics through encouragement. In his book Hugs for Mom (Howard Publishing), John William Smith illustrates the importance of encouragement. He says, "Watch your children's backs straighten, their eyes brighten, their work improve, their lives change and their love deepen all because you have imparted courage to them by your words."

Let your children know their efforts also please God. Look up Colossians 3:23 and read it with them: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Explain that when we do something kind for others, it makes God glad and shows him how much we love him.

Remember, kind and loving behavior does not come naturally. Be patient with your children as they learn to see the needs of others. Help them learn to serve with a cheerful heart through your own loving attitude. Whether you're ironing shirts or making peanut butter sandwiches, let your children see that your actions are based on love. And before long, you'll see them putting their love into action, too.

(reprinted from MomSense article)

Guest Blogger ... Candy Arrington

Beyond the Pain By Candy Arrington

Several months ago I discovered an ancient cardboard box wedged in the back corner of my father’s closet. Inside were the remnants of his military service: ribbons, a 1943 Christmas menu from headquarters in Fortaleza, Brazil, good conduct and air medals, his wings, his war department ID, an aircraft spotters’ guide, and the letter notifying my grandparents that my father was missing in action and presumed a prisoner of war.

My father served in the Army Air Corps during W.W. II. During the last year of his four-year tenure, he was a prisoner of war. In a daring endeavor, he eventually escaped through the Underground.

When my father returned to America, he did not talk about his war-time experiences. He packed away the pain in a mental compartment similar to the cardboard box that housed the history of his military service.

In the early 1970s, my cousin, Wesley, came to the U.S. from Africa, where his parents served as missionaries, to attend the United States Air Force Academy. Our home was his home and during the summer before his freshman year, my father bought him a pair of military dress shoes, took him out to our driveway, and taught him to march.

“I want him to be a step ahead of the other boys when he gets there,” Daddy said.

After dinner each night, Daddy hauled out a war story, dusted it off, and told Wesley about his experiences. Mama and I looked at each other in amazement as we heard never-before-told tales. I think my father identified with some of the challenges Wesley faced in the four years ahead.

Often when we go through difficult life situations, we swallow the hurt and consign the pain to a private corner of our minds and hearts. Some don’t grow from the experience; they remain frozen in grief or anger. But 2 Corinthians 1:4 reminds us that we are to minister to those around us with the same comfort we receive from God.

My father never talked much about this military experience until my cousin embarked on a similar journey. Perhaps someone in your sphere of influence is facing a difficult situation. Although it may not be identical to your experience, your wisdom may prove of great benefit. Emotional pain may result as you dredge up uncomfortable memories, but be available to help someone learn to march down the difficult road ahead.

~

Candy Arrington’s writing provides Biblical insights and practical advice, often on tough topics. Her publishing credits include hundreds of articles in periodicals such as Focus on the Family, Today’s Christian Woman, Marriage Partnership, Encounter, The Lookout, The Upper Room, Advanced Christian Writer, CBN.com, The Writer, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s stories have appeared in the Chicken Soup and Cup of Comfort series. In addition to When Your Aging Parent Needs Care, she is coauthor of Aftershock: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide. Candy serves on faculty for two national writers conferences, is on staff with The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service, and is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Visit Candy's Website!

Married with Children ... conclusion

(read part one and two)

“Nothing ever lasts forever,” sang Tears for Fears (remember them?). “Everybody wants to rule the world.”

The cool thing is that as parents, you do. For a short time you and your spouse make up your child’s entire world, for better or worse.

You’ve witnessed how our generation was affected by what happened in our world as we grew up. Well, your marriage—you and your spouse working together—will have the same impact on your kids.

There is so much I could talk about when it comes to raising kids…and in fact I did, in Generation NeXt Parenting. But overall, here is our top twelve list of the best things a married couple can do TOGETHER for their kids:

1. Spend time working out a philosophy of discipline and child training.

2. Read the Bible together…and let your kids see you do it. Read the Bible to your kids, too.

3. Study Christian parenting books.

4. Talk to people whose children you admire.

5. Have daily “couch time” where your kids see the two of you talking about your day. It will give them security to see their parents communicate. They will know all is well in their world.

6. Never disagree about discipline in front of the children. Children know how to play one parent against the other.

7. Be loyal to one another and stand by each other, even when you don’t think the other person has handled the situation correctly. It’s better to work it out afterward, in private.

8. Let loose once in a while. Life doesn’t always have to be serious.

9. Pray together as a family.

10. Love one another and show your loyalty to each other.

11. Let the kids see you handle disagreements and resolutions respectfully.

12. Trust that God chose you and your spouse specifically for this job. He placed you together in this time in history, with these kids, for a reason.

(repost from 4/08)

Writing Hero Stories part 2

What’s a Montana Mom doing writing war stories? (read part 1 here)

The truth is, when I first started writing military fiction my passion for WWII history confused many people. You see, before that I wrote mostly parenting articles. But then everything changed.

In 2000, when I was on vacation, I heard the stories of twenty-three American soldiers liberating Mauthausen and Gusen concentration camps in Austria. The story compelled me so much that I contacted the 11th Armored Division and asked if any of those men were willing to be interviewed. They were! I was invited to attend their annual reunion and I interviewed dozens of men--six who took part of the liberation. I also interviewed many others soldiers who’d arrived with 24-hours. They also helped the former prisoners.

When I started writing about them, these men were thankful that there was someone interested in THEIR stories. I spent five days with them at their reunion, and then I kept in touch with them through letters, phone calls, and email. These men helped me every step of the way. They still do!

I also received help from the archives on their division’s website. You can read more about the history of the 11th Armored Division here: http://www.11tharmoreddivision.com/

In addition to the research from the men and the archives, I read dozens and dozens of books and articles about this time in history. I also read the memoirs that many of the men had written themselves.

After that, I visited Austria the following year and attended the liberation celebration at Mauthausen Concentration Camp, where there were tens of thousands of people in attendance. At the liberation celebration I also interviewed people who’d lived around the camp during the war. I even spoke with survivors.

I've continued to keep in contact with the veterans—those who are still around--and I consider them my dear friends. Some of the men have even read my novels prior to publication to make sure I got it right. They were very pleased with the result and heartily endorsed my books!

I went on to write more historical romance novels and with each one I connected with WWII veterans and veterans from The Spanish Civil War. I feel honored to write their stories. And although my characters are fictionalized, many of their experiences are true experiences from the men who served.

Food for Thought: Supermarket Savvy

Beep. Beep. Beep. That’s the sound of food being rung into the cash register at my local grocery store. I’m exhausted from another busy day, and I can’t wait to get home and eat.

Okay, I’ll admit it. What I’m really looking forward to first is the chocolate bar I picked up for the drive home!

While counting my cash, I watch as the last dozen items pass over the computerized scanner. The cashier hits the TOTAL button and smiles. “That comes to $48.39. Will that be cash today?”

I look at my wad of money again, glance at the red-numbered total and stammer. “No, uh, make that credit card.”

On the drive home, I attempt to justify spending $50 instead of $15. There were great sales, I tell myself, an, it’s food. I may be a little over budget, but we need to eat, right?

For many these days, spending tons of money is not an option. Yet the truth is I feel out of control in the grocery store and I’m not alone.

“Supermarkets are places of high impulse buying for both sexes–fully 60 to 70 percent of purchases there were unplanned,” says Paco Underhill, author of Why We Buy (Simon and Schuster). And Underhill ought to know. His research and consulting firm has followed more than 50,000 shoppers through their retail experiences in stores, banks, and public offices. Maybe those shoppers also feel out of control in the grocery store. Maybe they too think... What’s one candy bar?

A recent study by M&M Mars, Inc, proves I’m closer to the truth than I thought. Gum, mints, candy and magazines are the most popular checkout items with almost two-thirds of shoppers purchasing gum or mints at the checkout once a month or more and 56 percent purchasing candy. (Boy, that ‘just one candy bar’ sure adds up!)

Out of those surveyed, two-thirds of consumers agreed: These items are not needed. Yet they continue to find their way into our grocery sacks.

Ever wonder why milk is always in the back? Grocers want shoppers to cover territory. The longer we spend in the store, the more tempting items we will pass en route to the necessities — and the more money we will spend.

Love that cheerful music? Of course. It relaxes us and causes us to slow our pace. Peanut butter on the cookie aisle? I’ve scratched my head over this one, only to learn that placing a regularly bought product next to impulse items like cookies boosts sales.

“In the end, it’s not enough that goods are within reach of the shopper,” Underhill says. “She must want to reach them. And having reached them, she must then wish to own them, or all this effort goes for naught.”

Uh huh. My “unspoken inclinations and desires” — internal emotions — definitely motivate my impulse shopping. I don’t know about you, but I shop when I’m tired, or bored, or need a little ‘pick me up.’ And those are only a few of the reasons.

Let Underhill count the ways: “We use shopping as therapy, reward, bribery, pastime, an excuse to get out of the house, a way to troll for potential loved ones, as entertainment, as a form of education or even worship.”

Worship? That’s going too far, isn’t it? Maybe not.

In one of my favorite songs titled I Choose You, Point of Grace talks about the fact that everyone’s worshipping something... and they choose to worship God.

According to Dictionary.com, one of the definitions for worship is: “Ardent devotion; adoration.”

Hmmm, that sounds like me when I’m strolling through the grocery store aisles, staring in awe of all my food choices. Can you relate?

Of course, I can’t wait to deal with the problem until I’m pushing that cart up and down the aisles of my local supermarket, though. It must start before I even enter the store doors. Or more importantly at the beginning of the day when I’m on my knees.

This confirms what my grocery bill has been saying all along. I’ve been looking to food for satisfaction, as a way to bring me some sense of pleasure after a busy day. Focusing on the Father instead of food I don’t really need may take a little more work, but it will save me money — and from having to explain to my checkbook my “necessary” purchases with candy bar-breath.

What about you ... what are you impulse buys? Have you been successful at saying NO to the urge to spend impulsively? How so?

(reprint from MOMsense article by Tricia Goyer)

A Liberation Story

Veteran's Day is this month. In honor of the many Veteran's I know, I'd like to share a story with you from one of my Veteran friends who was part of the division that aided the liberated Mauthausen Concentration Camp prisoners when WWII ended. I met Colvin Caughey while researching for my WWII novels. He recently passed away and I am honored to have known him.

Liberation Story by Colvin Caughey

Some have encouraged me to write of my personal experiences as a witness to the Holocaust. After 40 years the memory is faded, but still very vivid.

I was Private Colvin Caughey, from Minnesota, age 20—machine gun squad—2nd Platoon—B Company, 21st Armored Infantry division, part of General Patten’s 3rd Army. Early in April we departed from Bayreuth on the final drive to victory. I will not go into the various combat experiences along the way, but we followed a course between the Danube and the Czech border until we passed the City of Linz, Austria.

FIRST SIGHTING OF PRISONERS
One day, I guess it was about the 1st of May, as our armored column proceeded down the road, we began to see dead bodies in the ditch. Perhaps every couple hundred yards. They were all emaciated and wearing striped suits, like pajamas, white and blue or white and gray. To see dead bodies anywhere was not all that unusual, but soon we came upon a column of these prisoners, about a mile long. I would estimate there were 1,000 of them, men and women, being marched and guarded by about 20 German soldiers. I do not know if they were S.S. or not, but they probably were.

Our column was halted due to some action up ahead which we could not see. The prisoners surrounded us saying, “Thank you, thank you,” with tears running down their cheeks. Others were pleading, “Essen, Essen,” German for food. In our half-tracks we usually had enough rations for about five days. The men gave them some of the food. One gave a C ration can of hash to a prisoner. The can was opened around the circumference by a key. The man had nothing to eat with, but he ravenously ate it from the can and soon was bleeding from the corners of his mouth. Cuts made by the rough edges of the can.

Sometimes a package of biscuits would fall to the ground and there would be fights over who would get it. Our column moved onward and now we were in sight of the German soldiers who had been marching the prisoners. It now was apparent that the dead bodies along the road were prisoners who could not keep moving, and were then shot by the guards.

There was a mass rage among our men that filled the air. It could be felt. This happens occasionally in war and produces extreme violence. On this day it was apparent that no prisoners would be taken alive. The German soldiers had two choices; fight to the death—small odds against a powerful armed column, or feign death and hope they would be overlooked.

A PERSONAL STRUGGLE
My personal experience was very emotional. During the war I had become a Christian. I read the New Testament several times and had come to the conclusion that as a Christian I could not kill. I must only love, even my enemies. I was a conscientious objector with no place to object.

From our half-track, I saw one of the guards lying on the ground about 40 feet from the road. I had seen enough dead men to recognize death when I saw it. He was not dead, only pretending. I was standing in the machine gun turret of the half-track. We were stopped. I (the conscientious objector) picked up my carbine, took careful aim at his head and fired. At fifty-feet one could not miss.

As I pulled the trigger it felt like someone had grabbed my rifle and moved it. The bullet struck the ground only a couple of inches over his head. I felt God had moved the gun to prevent what I was about to do. I was so shocked by the experience. I put my carbine back in the half-track and never looked back. But I always remember that in a moment of anger, I had been willing and intended to kill a man in cold blood. We never really know what we are capable of doing. I’m thankful to the Lord that I did not kill him.

The men vented their rage on the next few villages by destroying and burning them. Those villagers probably never understood why the American soldiers were so violent and destructive. By the end of the day, having vented some of their anger, the GI’s were closer to normal. They would never forget what they had seen, but this was only the beginning.

Read the rest of his amazing story here!