Greetings!

I just told my fiction editor at Bethany House that if I had an audio version of the theme song from Rocky, I would be playing it now. Why is that? I just hit “SEND” on the final revision of my second novel.

ONE LITTLE SECRET is officially completed, at least on my end. For those who know what this is like…I’d love to hear how you celebrate this momentous occasion, and for those to whom this kind of deadline is foreign, what do you suggest? ONE LITTLE SECRET will release in summer 2007.

I’m heading out on Friday to speak at the BOOKS ALIVE! Event in Jefferson, Texas, sponsored by the PULPWOOD QUEENS, if you live nearby come see us! I’ll be sharing my debut novel: A STITCH IN TIME. This is a fund-raising event for Hurricane Katrina survivors and there are almost one dozen authors on the roster. Check out the Press Release to find out more.

Our Guest Blogger for November 6-12 is Author and Speaker Nancy C. Anderson. Nancy’s book, AVOIDING THE GREENER GRASS SYNDROME was featured on the Montel Williams Show where Nancy and her husband appeared as guests. You’ll want to visit her web site to find out more about her and make sure to stop here daily to read her posts and share them with friends!

I think I’m going to take a hot bubble bath and read a good book! No more computer work for me today, if that’s okay with ya’ll?

That’s what’s on my mind today,

Greetings!

Okay, I’m done feeling sad and sorrowful. One of the blessings of having a blog is the ability to share yucky feelings with folks who care enough to post a comment or send a private e-mail to tell you to hang on…or to let you know you’re not alone…or to simply say, “I’m praying for you.”

It’s hard to believe how many folks have dysfunctional adult children and/or grand-children that are lost. I cannot begin to comprehend the collective pain of countless parents and grand-parents who struggle with feelings of blame, shame, inadequacy and fear. There are numerous resources available to help the adult children we love—if only they would reach out. Yet little exists to speak to the hearts of those of us who struggle daily trying to understand what we should or shouldn’t do, what we did or didn’t do, and what we can or cannot do NOW to help.

We want so much to help.

I spent most of yesterday with my oldest step-son. He came to help me do yard work in preparation of the upcoming Minnesota winter. He brought Lucy with him, his first born daughter, to play with Grandpa (my husband) while we worked. That’s Lucy feeding our chickens. Cutie-pie, eh?

But that’s not all, my step-daughter also stopped by to visit a bit, as did my younger step-son. My birth child may be missing, but the Lord wanted me to be aware that I have three lovely adult step-children who are walking with Him. I couldn’t help but feel that in my own son’s absence, God sent my family to teach me a lesson.

Sometimes…the pain, anguish and anger we feel over a dysfunctional adult child can keep us from seeing the joy and love that still exists around us. God is good…all the time. He is in control. Yesterday was a good day. Seeing my precious grand-daughter was a blessing. Spending time with my God-fearing step-son was encouraging and uplifting. Watching my husband play with his first grandchild filled my heart with joy and thanksgiving.

Thank you…to all of you who sent messages to help pull me up from the pit of despair I allowed myself to fall into this past week. Thank you. God bless you.

And that’s what’s on my mind today,

Greetings!

Meet CJ, my only child. This precious photo was taken when he was less than a year old. We were living in Cleveland, Ohio and I was a divorced teenage mom of 17.

This Friday my son will be 35-years-old. This is hard for me to believe, considering that would make me over 50. Even harder for me to believe is how much has changed over the past 35 years...in my life, in my son's life, in the lives of my family, and in the world.

Yet one thing remains the same.

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

I'm sure this birthday holds particular meaning for me because I was 35-years-old when I left behind a life of sin, shame, desperation, and lonliness and made my U-Turn toward God. Until then, I had been trying to fill the empty places in my life with everything and anything except a relationship with God.

Unfortunately, CJ was a casuality of my aimless search for happiness and meaning during my lost years.

My son was 17-years-old when my eyes were finally opened to the Truth of the Gospel. The very day I asked the Lord to change my heart, CJ was behind bars in a juvenile detention facility...the first in a long and painful history of incarceration.

Why am I sharing this today? It's cold here in Minnesota and a light snow is falling. I'm feeling melancholy and a bit adrift because as my son's birthday draws close, I have no idea where he is. Once again, we are estranged, and the pain comes like a wave and knocks me off my feet. I know I'm not alone in weeping for my child, many of us suffer in silence from choices our adult children make.

I guess I just decided not to suffer in silence today.

So I pray for my son, for other hurting parents, and for the lost children who wander the land seeking...may God give us all strength of heart and soul. May God protect us all as written in Psalm 121:7-8

"The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

God's peace to those who read this today.

Greetings!

I'm back from a whirlwind trip to South Carolina where on Wednesday the 4th I taped the TV program: A TIME FOR HOPE with Dr. Freda Crews. The program will air internationally on Wednesday, November 22, 2006.

You can visit their web site to locate the broadcast schedule for A TIME FOR HOPE to see where you can view the program in your area.

I really hope you'll tune in. :-)

Here we are on the set...sitting in plush chairs by the roaring fire. This was my first time meeting Dr. Crews and she was truly a delight. A licensed psychologist, this precious woman of God has a heart to help those in pain. She interviewed me about my non-fiction book: "I CAN'T DO IT ALL," co-authored with best selling author Tracie Peterson and Dianne O'Brian. The interview went very well and afterwards I found myself thanking God for the ability to share this book with an ever increasing audience.

A high point of my time at the studio was to meet author/speaker SHAUNTI FELDHAHN. The author of For Women Only and For Men Only (as well as a host of other books and a nationally syndicated column) we shared bagels and coffee in the green room before our respective tapings. That's us on the set, Shaunti's in red. Shaunti's interview will air on Wednesday, November 29th.

I went from the TV studio on Wednesday the 4th to a fabulous event at the First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Thursday the 5th. Stop by later this week to hear about this incredible group of women who invited me to speak at the opening event in honor of their 20th Birthday Celebration!

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

And that's what's on my mind today,

Greetings and God's Peace!

I'm off to South Carolina to speak for a lovely group of women at the First Baptist Church in Spartanburg. This event is open to the public so if you are in the area, please stop by! The info is at the bottom of this post.

Please check out the October issue of Christian Women Online for Heather Ivester's interview with me regarding my debut novel, A STITCH IN TIME. Heather's interviews are always pretty in depth, so make sure to read some of her other interviews in the CWO archives when you visit Christian Women Online.

This online publication is first rate, folks, so if you don't currently subscribe to Christian Women Online pop on over using this link and check it out now! You'll love the publication that founder and editor Darlene Schacht has developed.

Have a blessed week and I'll talk to ya'll after the 9th of October when I return home!

COME SEE ME IN SPARTANBURG!
And Bring a Friend!
Thursday, October 5, 2006

Ladies First Thursday
20th Anniversary Celebration
Date: Thursday, October 5, 2006
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Venue: First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC
250 East Main Street in Spartanburg, SC
Keynote Speaker: Allison Bottke
Open to the Public: Registration Required
For More Information: Call the Church