And the WINNER Is-----

We Have A Winner!!!

I was gone till 11:00 last night to our Portland chapter ACFW meeting, so couldn't do my drawing. I just picked a winner for a signed copy of my book and Stacey.... stacey_dale[at]yahoo[dot]com is the lucky winner. I've sent her an email to notify her.

Thank you ALL for taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you'll all be able to get a copy and take part in the ACFW book club discussion, as The Other Daughter did win the vote for June. I'm pumped!!

Win A Copy of The Other Daughter!

Hey everybody! My book has been nominated for the book club choice to read and discuss on the ACFW book club for June and is in the top three right now. I'm giving away ONE copy---so if you're interested in reading it and would like yours FREE, just leave a comment below. I'll be drawing the winners name and contacting the winner on Monday night. Be sure you leave a way to get in touch...you can do your email address like this....miralee at gorge dot net.

Here's a brief summary of the book in case you aren't familiar with it...and if you don't win, you can find it on Amazon, CBD or your local book store. Thanks and good luck!

The girl standing at the door took a deep breath, pulling her suitcase a
little closer to her trembling legs. "My mama's dead. He's my daddy."



Susanne Carson knew she could trust the love of her life-her husband,
David-until she discovered a strange, unkempt young girl on their doorstep,
claiming to be David's daughter.

Not that their marriage had ever been perfect-David's decision to embrace
the Christian faith had strained their relationship. Susanne may not have
agreed with his beliefs, but at least she trusted him. Had David been hiding
this not-so-little secret from his past? Her husband wanted Susanne to
believe in God, but believing hadn't done much to keep David out of another
woman's arms. What else could her husband be hiding?



As David confronts the truth of his past, Susanne must face her own moment
of truth as her marriage is taken to the breaking point and the life of one
young girl is left in her hands.

Trying To Get Life Right....

Ever just feel TIRED? I mean, don't want to do anything, can't seem to get moving type tired? A list a mile long, and you need to be writing two different books, and revising a third, and all you find yourself doing is staring at the screen, or playing solitaire?

That's where I'm at right now. I need to be three people, and I'm just not able to stretch to the extent I need to. I've always been able to before, so what's different now?

Hmm....let's see....maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm over 50 and it's hard for me to admit I don't have the intensely high energy level I used to have?

I'm leaving for a church retreat tomorrow at 2:00 in the afternoon, and returning home about the same time, and I'm kicking myself for signing up. I look at my house that needs cleaning, the laundry that needs done, the mud patch in the front of the house that needs lawn seed spread, the flower bed that needs weeding, and the book projects piling up...and I wonder how I can possibly take the time to go.

But then I think...can I afford NOT to go? Maybe God has something planned in this 24 hrs away that I need to hear. Maybe He wants to meet me in a way He's been unable to do at home, at the pace I'm running. Maybe....well, maybe HE set this as a divine appointment and I need to quit kicking myself, and go with an attitude of expectation.

Okay...I can do that, I think. I'm going to put aside the stress for 24 hrs and allow God to speak to me in whatever way He needs to. I guess we all need times like this. Time to slow down and allow God to get our attention. There might not be any huge revelation while I'm gone. I might not hear the speaker say anything I haven't heard a dozen times before. But if I connect with my Lord at an intimate level, it will be worth it all.

On the RUN!

Oh my goodness.....life seems to be racing past me at lightening speed this week! I can't believe tomorrow is Thursday and I haven't posted my personal impressions yet of Generation NeXt Marriage! And I'm not going to be able to now, until this week-end. OK, so you may not be holding your breath in anticipation, but I did say I'd do it within a couple of days, and I've dropped the ball. But I'm scrambling with a schedule change and an unexpected trip out of town...and I won't return to my keyboard until sometime on Friday....then will need to play catch up at home the remainder of that day.

Is anyone else experiencing the rapid passing of this year...? I realize it's only the first of April, and we've even still been getting hit with the last remnants of winter....but it FEELS like it's blasting past me way too fast. Although I do admit, I'm hungry for spring and even more so for the summer heat to arrive. But then I have to remember...following the awesome summer sun, comes the beauty and coolness of fall, and right on its heels is winter. Ugh! Ok, I'm jumping the gun here, but I don't even want to think of winter again for a long time, and it's already April! Sigh. I'll quit now and get some things done that I must do before I hit the road.

See you back here in a few days!!! Blessings to you all as your life swirls around you....

Christian Priorities---How Do You Keep Them Straight?

Wow! What a hard subject this is, and one that's hitting me hard at the moment. As you can see if you've visited here much the past two weeks, I've not been posting. It's not been because I don't want to, or don't have anything to say, but rather, because life seems to be running over the top of me lately.

The problem is (and I'll bet you can relate to this)...some of what I found myself doing past two weeks was very necessary, and some seemed to simply sweep me along without my consent. Ten days of company off and on, book revisions and proposal deadlines, not feeling well, and trying to keep up with housework and doing remodel work on a house, have all taken their toll.

Tonight I'm thankful that I had a full day at home. I didn't get everything accomplished I'd hoped for, but I stayed in my pj's till 11 a.m. (shhh...don't tell!) and then puttered on a couple of projects and felt I made progress. Oh...and stared out my window at the blowing snow that's NOT supposed to be coming down a full week after the first day of spring!

But I think this was supposed to be about priorities, right? Like, knowing what our purpose in life is, and keeping fixed in that direction, rather than veering off on a dozen other tangents. That starts with keeping our heart and mind fixed on the Lord...and that takes time and commitment. Time that seems to get eaten up by all the 'necessary' things in life that come at you from all sides. Sure, some of them you can't help, but others can be delegated and even set aside. Some we don't have to say yes to, and some we need to simply use self discipline to avoid (like the internet and playing solitaire, LOL!) that eat up time.

I'm finding that I MUST spend more time with the Lord if I'm going to get through the craziness that seems to hit each day. I need His strength, wisdom and creativity, not to mention patience, to make each day count.

Dealing with Change...Your Spouse and Their Dreams

I talked about personal change or the curves that life throws at you last time we chatted, but how about change that comes from those closest to you?

I don't know about you, but I've found that to be some of my most challenging moments. When someone who knows me better than anyone else tries to rock my 'life' boat with change, my hackles tend to raise a little faster than if it's just an acquaintance, or even a friend.

I've experienced this a number of times in my life. My husband, Allen, is someone who does NOT like life to be stagnant, and thrives on change. He's the man who's refurbishing our 51' sail boat so we can start traveling extensively, and he's stated he doesn't care if we 'never come back', LOL! Now I enjoy traveling, and sailing is fun, but I also very much enjoy my home, my yard, my kitties and my extended family. Oh...and somehow I don't think my horse is going to fit on the boat.

So what happens when two desires and two sets of goals clash? Does one have to give up their dream or their desire completely, and give way to the other? Not necessarily, although I'm sure we've all done that to one degree or another. That's where we begin to find out what our marriage is really made of. Are we willing to compromise and give for the sake of the other?

I know my hubby won't demand that I live on our boat forever, but nor should I demand that we only take it out for 2-3 weeks at a time, when he's longing to go for months. We'll both need to give to some degree, and I might just have to bend a little more than him, as I can easily take my laptop aboard, still do my writing, and keep in touch with my family by phone and email. We're not getting any younger, and I have to remind myself that we won't be physically able to handle a large sail boat in say, 15 more years. Once out legs get a bit wobbly, or our site isn't as sharp (you get my meaning...we get OLD, LOL!) I'll have plenty of time to curl up in my comfy house.

Do you have an area in your marriage where you find yourself in disagreement with your spouse on a regular basis. Are your goals and dreams in constant conflict? Ask the Lord to give you insight into your loved one's heart...that you might begin to see life through their eyes, and ask that He do the same thing for them, with you. Try to put yourself in their place, and at least for a time, believe in their dreams and help to attain them. Believe me, the rewards might far exceed what you expect!!!

Life Decisions Can Be Hard

Change. It's a word that can generate anticipation, fear, anxiety and excitement, to name a few. Life is never constant, but always seems to be in a perpetual state of flux and change. Sometimes it's emotionally satisfying, sometimes it's stressful. Thankfully, if you're a child of God and trusting in Jesus, you can know that He is in control of each change that life throws at you.

We've been struggling to make a decision the past couple of months concerning our new home, and the old one that hasn't sold. We realize now that we jumped the gun on building the new one. We listed the old house when the market was still somewhat strong, but just starting to soften. It didn't sell quickly, and we were already obligated to the construction loan on the new one. It was too late to back out, so we built, doing much of the finish work ourselves, and gaining a tremendous amount of equity. Plus, we'd owned the property for 4 yrs, and the land value had increased to over double what we paid.

We've been faced with a hard decision the past couple of months. Continue to try to sell the old house, or put the new one on the market. My hubby and I both loved the old house, and had done a lot of remodeling and yard work during the four years we lived there. The new house is lovely, truly my dream house, but it's huge. We overbuilt, and are now realizing what a big job it is to keep up with. Our grown kids have been urging us to sell, asking if we really want a house this big for the next 20 yrs...we're not getting any younger. The answer? Not unless I could hire a maid and a landscaper, and that's not an option right now. My hubby has never connected with this house emotionally and misses the old one.

A month ago we put the new house on the market, but I've still been struggling with letting it go. Yesterday we spent a couple of hours at the new house, starting to lay Travertine on the laundry room floor. Today, our daughter and her hubby came to help. The men worked on the tile, and she and I did yard work. And you know what? It felt like I was home. Truly home. I've poured so much time and energy into that yard, and it was starting to come together when we moved. Allen has promised me a brand new kitchen (we have the old 1950's metal cabinets in there now) if we sell the new house and move back, and we're going to replace a few other things inside, as well. The house is a 100 yr old Craftsman/Victorian style, with charm and character, and is SO homey. The updates we'll do will make it even more so.

I must admit, I'm beginning to feel a sense of excitement and joy about the possibility of moving "home" again. Will I miss the new house? Probably for a while. Will I love the feeling of freedom that selling it will bring? You bet! We'll have enough money to pay the new one off, and completely pay off the mortgage on the old one, as well. Mortgage free in 2008...a new beginning...that's our goal this year.

God is good. He didn't allow our old house to sell, and helped us build a large amount of equity in this new one. We'll get to return home to a house we loved, that will be remodeled, updated, and PAID FOR! It doesn't get much better than that!

The Wooden Bowl--A Life Lesson For Us All

This is a powerful little story that illustrates the need for acceptance and love, regardless of how well a person is able to perform.

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year - old grandson.

The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and

failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.

When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
'We must do something about father,' said the son.

'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.

Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.

Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.

He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?'

Just as sweetly, the boy responded,

'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.'
The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words struck the parents so that they were speechless.

Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.

Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason,

neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

A Pre-Easter Story

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His Resurrection?


The Gospel of John (20: 7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, and wasn't just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Is that important? You'd better believe it! Is that significant? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.

The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master had finished eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because he knew the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!".


May this truly bless you and give you peace...............
Life is Short, Live for God!!!

I'm Tired of Being Over Weight!!! It's Time to LOSE!!!!!!

I tried to find a pic of me taken recently that I could post, and can't find one. Guess I'll have to get brave and have my hubby take one. I gained 8 lbs over the Christmas holidays and was 20 lbs overweight to begin with. No, my profile pic doesn't look like it, but I don't show it in my face. Most of my excess goes to my midriff, LOL!


Sooo....I've decided to do what I've done before, go on a weight loss program. But this time is different. This time I have a PLAN!!! Rather than just try to be good and stay away from 'bad' food, I'm using the weight watchers diet. My goal is to lose 20 lbs total by our anniversary on July 1st.


I'm following the WW plan on my own, rather than joining a group. I don't have the time to spare for meetings, and found the quiz on line that tells how many daily food points I'm allowed. I also have the many pages of foods they list, with the food points allotted to each. I know that I can eat no more than 20 total food points per day if I hope to lose weight. I'm also doing a min. of 20 minutes aerobic exercise 3-4 times a week, which isn't too intimidating.


I started last Tuesday, one week ago, and have now lost 4.5 lbs!!! Yes, it may be mostly water loss, but it sure beats putting on 4 lbs. And recently, the scale has been doing nothing but creep up each week. That means I have 16 lbs. to go, which translates to less than 1 lb per week. From what I've been told, this diet (combined with some type of mild exercise plan) will cause you to lose 1.5 to 2 lbs per week...possibly more, depending on the amount you need to lose. I'm assuming the weight loss will get substantially less as I go along, but if I even lose 1.25 lbs more in the weeks to follw per week, I could potentially lose another 25 lbs!


Why am I sharing this, you might ask? ACCOUNTABILITY!!! I figure posting it on the internet where anyone can see it, makes me just a bit more apt to follow through, then if I didn't tell anyone at all.


So...you want to join me? If you'd like the link for the site that lists the food points, and the chart that tells you how many points you can eat, leave a comment on this post, with your email addy where I can send it to you. And if you want to help hold me accountable and I'll do the same for you if YOU want to try this plan, let me know that as well. I can use all the help I can get, and I'd love to do the same for you!!!!

I'll keep you posted on how I do!!!