Sweet Memories, Who Can Argue With These Guys?

November 6, 1998: Sarah went on a field trip to see Hansel and Gretel yesterday. She said the characters put on their jewelry. Murray asked if the characters were real people (as opposed to puppets), but Rebecca had different interests: "Was their jewelry real?"

 

We talked to the kids some about Mark McGuire (of the St. Louis Cardinals) and his record home-running while it was going on. One day Rebecca asked, "Does he get money for doing that?"

 

Murray picks Caleb up from school on Thursdays, so they won't be late for piano lessons. One Thursday afternoon I came downstairs, not expecting them home yet. I heard a child's voice, and asked, "Who is that?" "Caleb," he replied. For some reason, I assumed he'd come home on the bus. "I thought Daddy was going to pick you up at school," I said. Thoughtfully, Caleb answered, "I think he did."

 

One night we went to dinner at Denny's. As the lady came up to show us to our table, Sarah said, "I want to go to Shoney's."

 

One day Sarah told me about a bad dream she'd had. She said a wolf was trying to get in and attack us, so we all moved into the bathroom for safety. We had food and blankets in there, and, she said, "When we needed to go to the bathroom, it was easy."

 

One day when Rebecca didn't feel well, Murray told her that if she needed medicine in the middle of the night, he'd get it for her. She replied, "If you needed clown make-up at five in the afternoon, I'd get it for you."

 

Murray bought me a new rocking chair for Labor Day. When Rebecca was helping to take some of the parts out of the box, she accidentally poked a hole in the plastic bag. She showed Murray the hole she'd made, but assured him, "I did no harm."

 

We were eating animal crackers one day, and Rebecca named some of the animals she was eating. Then she said, "This one is somebody's bad idea of art."

 

November 7, 1998: The other day Murray was out with the kids and they told him, "You're older than Mommy, but she's smarter than you.”

 

Murray was having a slight gas problem, and Sarah ran out of the room and told Kathy, "It smells like those disgusting pizza rolls."

 

Tonight Caleb got a haircut, and Sarah told him, "Caleb, you look like a different boy with that big ol' haircut."

 

November 15, 1998: Yesterday all the kids were helping Murray put together a new bookcase. Caleb said, "Aren't we good helpers for Daddy? He needs lots of help."

 

November 15, 1998: We have all been sick over the last 4 or5 days, except Caleb. We asked Rebecca, Do you want doughnuts for breakfast? "No, I don't like doughnuts." Later: Do you want pizza? "No, I don't like pizza. I never want to eat again."

 

November 18, 1998: School days, Kathy sits with the kids by the door and reads to them while they wait for the buses. This morning, though, there was no new book to read. Rebecca asked, "Can we have free time this morning?"

 

At supper Caleb was talking about his friend who had muscular dystrophy and who died recently, and we said that now that he has gone to heaven, his new body works perfectly. Rebecca said, "And he can get both ears pierced." Murray said that is his idea of heaven, also.

 

November 20, 1998: A woman at our dentist's office said she had a daughter who rode the bus with both our girls, so we had asked Rebecca to try to find out who that was. Murray was talking to her while she was reading, and she said, "I asked Claudia where her mother worked, and Claudia said, ‘Rent A Cyclops' or something."

 

Recently Rebecca was looking at Kathy's mother's-ring, and said, "I want us to adopt more kids. I want you to have stones all around the ring." 

Guest Author, Penny Zeller

Thank you, Penny, for visiting with us today. This sounds like a fun story.

 

Blurb:

She builds websites. He builds houses. Together, can they build a family for two orphans?

Irelynn agreed two years ago to help raise her best friend’s twins should anything happen. When she is called upon to fulfill that agreement, there is only one problem—Irelynn must share the responsibility with the arrogant but handsome Quinton Gregory.

Quinton takes the role of raising his niece and nephew with all seriousness. He will do anything for the twins, even if it means putting up with the beautiful but stubborn Irelynn Brady.

When forced to be in each other’s presence far more often than is comfortable, things slowly begin to change. Will the unexpected attraction between Irelynn and Quinton become a love under construction?

Available for purchase:

https://amzn.to/3HZ86mN

Bio:

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics. Today Penny is a multi-published author of several inspirational books. She is also a homeschool mom and a fitness instructor.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, cycling, gardening, and playing volleyball.

She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her www. pennyzeller.com and her blog, random thoughts from a day in the life of a wife, mom, and author, at www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com.

Find Penny at:

Website: https://pennyzeller.com/

Blog: www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PennyZeller

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennyzeller/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/zellerpenny/

Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/pennyzeller

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/pennyzeller

 

Love Under Construction Mini Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 6:

Blog Tour Kickoff/Sneak Peek/Meet the Characters | Penny Zeller

Author Interview | Kristina Hall

Tuesday. December 7:

Book Spotlight | Joy Hannabass

Book Spotlight | Penny McGinness

 

Wednesday, December 8:

Author Interview | Vanessa Hall

Thursday, December 9:

Book Spotlight and Guest Post| June Foster

Friday, December 10:

Book Spotlight and Giveaway| Chat with Vera

Book Spotlight and Review | Madi’s Musings

Book Spotlight and Guest Post | Kathy McKinsey

Saturday, December 11:

Ebook Giveaway | Patti’s Porch

Blog Tour Wrap-up/Love Under Construction Quotables | Penny Zeller 

A Thoughtful Book

Let justice roll down by John Perkins.

This is the story of a Black man who grew up in Mississippi in the 30s and 40s. It begins when he was 16 and his older brother was killed by a white police officer.

 

After that John moved to California to look for a better life, and at 27, he became a Christian. He began to meet and work with white Christians. A few years later, his family moved back to Mississippi to try to help Blacks there have a better life, by teaching them about the Bible and Jesus.

 

As the Civil Rights Movement grew, Perkins searched how he could work social justice and the true gospel together to both Blacks and whites. Blacks needed to learn their true worth; hundreds of years of slavery and racist treatment had left them with a feeling of low self-worth.

 

In the 60s, he and his ministry worked with voter education and registration, then he began working for better housing and economics for Blacks. He felt this was all part of his Christian ministry.

 

Perkins talked of his peaceful boycotting and protesting in the early 70s, then of his and those with him being arrested and beaten by police officers. He told of his journey through the court system with appeals. He got to the point, due to injustice for Blacks, of wanting to turn away from the white Christians he had fellowshipped with and worked with. As he lay in bed with severe illness, he knew that hate could destroy him too. He found hope when he remembered Jesus, on the cross, asked God to forgive those who were crucifying him.

 

This book was originally published in 1976. When it was published as a classic many years later, John Perkins’s daughter added a post script, telling some of the things her father had done since then, including making friends with a white Mississippi policeman as they worked together for their neighborhood. 

Thank You, Father

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of being able to call you Father.

 

Thank you for my incredible family:

My husband Murray, who treasures me;

Five exciting children;

My sweet mother;

My three squirrelly brothers;

 

Books that make me smile;

 

This wonderful house which keeps us warm and dry;

 

Our new, sweet kitty;

 

Music that touches my heart;

 

Jesus, my Savior

 

Coffee;

 

Chocolate;

 

The abundant way you meet my needs;

 

Being able to call Jesus friend;

 

Remind me all year, Lord, to share the wealth you have entrusted to me. 

Two Sweet Christmas Stories

I recently found a fun Christmas book, The wish book Christmas by Lynn Austin. In 1951, two five-year-old boys have a lot of gifts they want to ask Santa for, after they see the Sears Christmas Catalog. Plus, they want to ask him for new daddies.

 

Their mothers work to teach them about Christmas as Jesus’ birthday, and the joy there is in giving gifts to others. God has a few lessons for the mothers, too, about the gifts he’s given them.

 

My children’s Christmas book, Millie’s Christmas, is available on Amazon again.

 

When my first publisher, Mantle Rock Publishing, closed down earlier this year, my two adult books, All my Tears and Gifts of Grace, went to Scrivenings Press, and Millie’s Christmas came to me to be republished independently.

 

My poor family put up with my grumbling and pressure and helped me get my sweet Christmas story out again. The process only made me appreciate my publishers more than I already did.

 

Millie’s Christmas was a precious gift to me from God. It can be shared with children four to eight, but adults enjoy it too.

 

Ruthie says Millie will love Christmas. Ruthie is Millie’s best friend, so she’s sure Ruthie’s right, but why does Millie keep finding Ruthie and her brother Jake crying?

 

Millie, an orange kitten, shares about her first Christmas. Her best friend Ruthie, six years old, teaches Millie about Christmas—food, decorations, music, presents, and Jesus!

Millie’s friend Bruce, the family dog, also helps her celebrate Christmas, and sometimes gets her in trouble.

When Ruthie’s big brother Jake breaks his ankle, Millie learns about sad things, like divorce, when Jake can’t visit his mommy for Christmas. Millie watches Ruthie’s family love each other through the sadness, and find joy in Christmas.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Millies-Christmas-Kathy-McKinsey/dp/B09HQBTL7J

 

These are both great books. 

Guest Author, Jodie Wolfe

Thank you, Jodie, for the encouragement of coming back to writing after a dry spell. And, I love quirky.

 

Writing in the Midst of Chaos

By Jodie Wolfe

I often have a hard time coming up with a blog topic, especially when it’s been a while since I’ve done much creative writing. While I have a book releasing today, I wrote it many years ago. I know, I’m a writer, so don’t I write a lot? It’s been several years since I’ve written a new book. I’ve had times where I’ve tried to start one, but I haven’t gotten any farther than a few chapters.

 

So, what happened to make me stop writing? I had an extremely stressful situation I went through that challenged me to the core of my being. My reaction was to close up and to do what was safe…not write. The longer I stayed away from it, the harder it was to get started again.

 

In 2020 I planned to get back up on the writing horse again, but then Covid hit. My husband started working from home and our lives became chaotic. I had gotten a book to read called Chaos Can’t by Allen Arnold, but I didn’t read it. I kept thinking that when things calm down, I’ll start writing again, and I’ll read that book. You guessed it; things didn’t settle down. In fact, 2021 has been more chaotic than 2020. Things I never imagined my husband and I would be facing.

 

In September, I kept thinking about my chaotic life. It had been a LONG time since I had any creative thoughts or words. I felt God was encouraging me to not fight against the chaos, but instead look to Him for strength and direction in the midst of it. I finally gave in and said, “Okay, Lord. Help me to write even when all I can see is the chaos around me.”

 

It wasn’t long after that prayer that I started having ideas for book three in the Burrton Springs Brides series. While the first two books were written many years ago, I now had an idea for the next installment. One morning I was awakened in the wee hours and was praying for our son who is going through a very difficult time in his life. In the midst of those prayers, God gave me an idea for the plot of the next book. Then a couple days later when I was walking and praying, He gave me the opening scene. I came home and started writing. The words flowed…the way they used to when writing a new story.

 

My question for you is this…is your life in chaos? What is God calling you to do in spite of it?

 

Blurb

After twenty years of living along the trail as a deputy U.S. Marshal, Joshua Walker takes a job as sheriff in Burrton Springs, Kansas so he can be closer to his sister. Only problem, she no longer requires his protecting so he's unsure of his next step.

 

Annie McPherson needs a change after the death of her father. She accepts a position as schoolmarm, hoping her past won't catch up with her. Life is good, except for the pesky sheriff who continues to question her ability to adjust to life in the west and creates confrontations at every turn.

 

When the irritating schoolteacher's past and present collide, dragging him into the turmoil, Josh has to decide who he's willing to defend.

 

Bio

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers, and COMPEL Training. She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

 

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jodie-wolfe

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

 

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/jodiewolfe

 

Purchase Links

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/protecting-annie-jodie-wolfe/1139707155?ean=9781522303763

 

https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_46&products_id=1544

 

https://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Annie-Burrton-Springs-Brides-ebook/dp/B097F5GZ47/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=protecting+annie&qid=1635627329&sr=8-2

 

 

Sweet Memories and Fun Thoughts

July 30, 1998: The other night the kids took invitations to a 5-day Bible club at our house to our neighbors. Rebecca said one neighbor boy handed it back to her and said they don't read the Bible. Ping-Hwei didn't understand that. He kept asking over and over, "Why some people no love Jesus?"

 

August 11, 1998: Benjamin drinks whole milk, which is sometimes called homogenized on the jug. This morning I asked Rebecca which milk I had, Benjamin's or the low-fat milk which the rest of us drink. She said, "That's hypnotized, or whatever."

 

Murray and the kids were in the car this afternoon, and Rebecca said that animals had to be the kind of animals that their parents were. Murray said, no, there were animals not quite like their parents. Rebecca said, "Yeah, aren't camels and donkeys the parents of llamas?" (we're pretty sure she was thinking of mules).

 

August 15, 1998: Murray and the kids were on the way to Branson, and Murray said, "We're almost there -- soon we'll see grandma and Morgan and Myles and maybe Dylan." Sarah said, "Don't get me so excited."

 

On the trip, there was some violin music on the radio, and Murray asked what kind of instrument that was. Sarah answered, "I think accordion."

 

We have decided that Caleb is the strangest person we know. Since he's had chicken pox, he's been taking baths in this oatmeal bath stuff. This morning we were talking about how you use oatmeal for itchiness, and tomato juice for skunk smell, and he asked, "But what if you went outside and ten million horses sneezed on you?"

 

August 27, 1998: Rebecca is showing Sarah a book about body parts, and she just showed her a picture of the brain, and excitedly, Sarah said, "Daddy's right! It does look like lettuce!" "Cabbage," Rebecca corrected.