Cued for Q

Now, for this week's installment of our a 2 z 4 u & me meme,

the (formidable) letter Q.

Okay, so the letter Q is one of those letters that I've been anxiously waiting for since we began this meme. See, in my family, there is NO competition over Q. No dithering, no pondering, no head banging. If asked, our Q would be unanimous.

Quilts

But not just any Quilt. Grammy Quilts.
Not feeling well? Get his Grammy Quilt for him.
Over tired? Go get my Grammy Quilt, please?
Camping out, hospital stays, military life, moving out of a bedroom for a visitor... each thing requires grabbing the Quilt then going.

Camping with all 3 of his quilts!

My mom began Quilting in '87, right after I graduated from high school. She made me a Quilt for my college dorm room. Guess what colors she chose? Pink and purple. (Mom loves purple, too.) *grin* I still have that Quilt and don't plan on ever letting go of it. (Forget it, Abby and Esther, it's MINE!! hehe)

Over the years, Gram has made a Quilt for each baby as they've been added to the family (that's a lot of baby Quilts because now she's working on the great grands!) and for each one of us, and at last count that's 29. Not only that, but we all have more than one of her Quilts, and each one is treasured.

Thank you, Mom. 

YOU are the real treasure behind each of your Quilts.

If you're joining us for the a 2 z 4 u & me meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter Q, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

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Unanswered Questions Keep Readers Reading

Not too long ago I was able to read A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson and I really enjoyed it. Right away I was snagged by a question the heroine, Fannie Rousseau, wondered about.

When you pose a question and neglect to answer it right away, your brain will be on the alert for the answer until the question is resolved. Using this in a book is way to keep readers turning the pages, looking for the answer. Even better than simply stating the question, though, is to invest lots of emotion in it.

The opening scene in A Most Unsuitable Match is in a graveyard. Here's the first sentence:

Kneeling before the tombstone, eighteen-year-old Fannie Rousseau retrieved the scrub brush from the water bucket she'd just settled in the grass.

This sets the stage for an emotion-packed opening where she ups the ante with Fannie's inner turmoil, making us anxious to discover (with Fannie) what's the at the root of it.

Here's how Whitson did it...

There it was again, the increasingly frequent tinge of annoyance that always mingled with Fannie's grief. What good did a stone angel do? It was too late for Papa to know how Mother felt about him. And now it was too late for Fannie, too. Any chance she might had had to understand Mother was forever lost.

Lately, all Fannie's doubts and questions over the years seemed to have rolled themselves into a fast-growing, ever-darkening cloud of emotions she didn't quite know how to handle. This morning that cloud had been especially dense. And so, feeling confused and guilty about every negative thing she'd ever felt against Mother and not wanting to face the people at church, she'd come here. Tending a grave was something a good daughter would do, wasn't it? Something a daughter should do. She glanced up at the stone angel. Was Mother feeling just this way after Papa died? Did she have regrets? Had ordering the angel made her feel better?

“I want to plant rosebushes on either side of the tombstone,” she said abruptly. “Yellow ones.”

“That'll be nice,” Hannah said, “but Mr. McWilliams will be happy to do that. You don't want him thinking you're displeased with his caretaking.”

Fannie swiped at fresh tears. “I want to plant them myself. I need to do something.” She gestured toward the new grave. “Something for her. Yellow roses were her favorites, and Papa never seemed to remember. He always gave her red ones.”

More than just a simple question, I was caught by Fannie's inner turmoil and feelings. I sensed that there were missing pieces inside her—pieces that were just vague shapes to her—and I wanted to know what they were, just like Fannie did. I wanted to know why she felt that way and I wanted resolution. I needed resolution and that need kept me turning the pages.

Sprinkled throughout the book were slivers of this puzzle, a hint here and a glimpse there, each bit adding to what I already knew. It drove me onward.

Woven in with the inner turmoil and questions, was a lovely thread of friendship—old and new friends, and we see Fannie growing and maturing and reaching out and contributing to others' lives in meaningful ways, and being blessed through it. It was both heartwarming and convicting. Am I reaching beyond my personal life and contributing to others or am I so caught up in myself I don't even see them?

A Most Unsuitable Match is full of twists and turns for both Fannie and Sam which kept me interested and wondering just how all the pieces would come together, but come together they did, with smiles and tears as I read.

Looking for a good read? Don't miss A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson. It's a book you can read for pleasure and learn about the craft of writing while you read. You can't beat that! =)

A Most Unsuitable Match

An unlikely attraction occurs between two passengers on a steamboat journey up the Missouri River to Montana...

She is a self-centered young woman from a privileged family who fears the outdoors and avoids anything rustic. He is a preacher living under a sense of duty and obligation to love the unlovable people in the world. She isn't letting anything deter her from solving a family mystery that surfaced after her mother's death. He is on a mission to reach the rejects of society in the remote wilderness regions of Montana. Miss Fannie Rousseau and Reverend Samuel Beck are opposites in every way . . . except in how they both keep wondering if their paths will ever cross again.

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What's Your Job?

At work the other day my husband heard someone complaining. “They want us to what?! We're set up here and working over there for a day is unreasonable...” My husband was amazed. The company they work for is a subcontractor and they're on the job to serve another company. It appeared the worker forgot that.

It reminds me of myself, unfortunately.

Many times I think “You want me to what?! That's an unreasonable request, Lord.” I quickly forget that I'm not here to be served, that life doesn't center around me—as much as I want it to. My role here is to serve and to work for my Lord. His requests aren't unreasonable and He has a purpose for everything, regardless of whether I see it or understand it or not.

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. ~John 4:34

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." ~John 5:30

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." ~John 6:38

I don't know about you, but I need remember what my job is—obedience—whether it's convenient for me or not.

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Living by Grace

Facebook is almost the equivalent of the modern well, or even the proverbial water cooler at work—it's the gathering place for people worldwide, so what better place to build a community to dig into God's Word together for refreshment, encouragement, and fellowship?!

My Tuesday night ladies' Bible study group is one of my cherished gifts from God and for a year I've mulled over and prayed about an online study group because attending a local Bible study isn't always an option. Well, God has answered prayer and I've had to use duct tape to keep from broadcasting this before all the pieces came together. Seriously. I'm that excited! And the excitement hasn't dwindled, it's grown and grown and grown. God is so incredibly good!

Living by Grace is a modern day well. It's a Facebook community we can stop by throughout our days. We'll post a daily devotional and use it as a spring board for faith-filled and faith-building discussions. A place you can stop in and be among friends and leave strengthened, encouraged and refreshed.

One of the reasons I'm so very excited about Living by Grace is what we're doing on Sundays—memorizing Scripture together. It's something I used to do, but haven't been recently. Something I really want to get back into and I'm looking forward to the fun and accountability of memorizing with friends.

One of my favorite things about Bible study is the discussion. Others always see things I missed, or hadn't thought about as they did, and their perspective brings a greater understanding. I love that dynamic and really look forward to the discussions.

In the two weeks the Living by Grace team has been together, God has brought our hearts together, leaving me strengthened, encouraged and refreshed—and I'd like to introduce you to the team:

MONDAYS: Joanne Sher is Jew by birth, a Christian by rebirth, and a writer by gift. A native Southern Californian, she now lives happily in West Michigan with her husband and two school-aged children. She is a blogger and writer, of both true-life stories and fiction, attempting to ride God's grace over rough roads.

TUESDAYS: Maria I. Morgan is an inspirational/devotional writer, whose passion is to share the truths of God's Word with today's generation. She is a regular contributor to Around About Cumming, and Cumming Patch. You can visit her on the web Mondays and Wednesdays for a life lesson you can relate to. Maria resides in Georgia with her husband, Steve, daughter, Riley, their 2 dogs and 1 cat.

WEDNESDAYS: Jessica R. Patch grew up in southern Illinois before attending Central Bible College, where she majored in Missions and Bible. She is devoted to her local church, having served as a Biblical Studies teacher, Women’s Ministry leader, Regional Women’s Representative, and volunteer co-pastor with her husband of the Young Adult Ministry. She’s taught workshops and frequently spoken to Women’s ministry groups. Her heart is to help women step out into deeper waters of intimacy with Jesus Christ.

THURSDAYS: Lynda Schultz is a "never-married." She has served in church ministry as Director of Christian Education in several Canadian churches. For the past thirty years or so, she has been a missionary with a Canadian Baptist mission and haS served in Colombia and Venezuela, as well as on home staff. She is currently Director of Christian Education/Spiritual Formation in Timmins, Ontario, and still works part-time with the mission in the area of communications. Lou Lou Belle and Abby are her Venezuelan cats who have returned to Canada with her. She likes reading, writing, but definitely not arithmetic, as well as cooking and plants.

FRIDAYS: Patty Wysong is an ordinary girl living the good life, the life God gave her. A home executive with over 20 years of experience, she homeschools three of her five children, but don't let that fool you. Much of her time is spent working on what God has placed in her hand: her keyboard. From the corner of her living room she writes inspirational fiction, devotionals, blog posts, and teaches online blogging workshops. You'll also find her drinking kool aid from her china cup, preparing for the ladies Bible study she leads, and helping at their church. Through her writing, Patty has found the extraordinary God in her ordinary life.

SATURDAYS: Jennifer Slattery is a transformed child of God who writes for Christ to the World Ministries, the Christian Pulse, Samie Sisters, and Afictionado and loves seeing broken lives saturated by life-changing grace.

SUNDAYS: Word of the week: posting of a weekly memory verse



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Monday is opening day. 

Won't you join us at Living by Grace?

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Patty's Ps

Now, for this week's installment of our a 2 z 4 u & me meme,

the letter P.

• Party
• Purpose
• Planning
• Procrastinating
• Praying
• Potential

It's been a busy, productive week, followed by a fun week end. It was fabulous all being home together--a rare treat we all greatly enjoyed. We played together, worked together, ate together, and just plain had fun.

And it was cool enough that Gracie, my precious Pyrennes, came out from hiding in the cool shadows, and played with us and with Puppers. Jim and I had a good laugh watching Puppers protect us from an attack leaf the breeze moved just enough to convince her it was dangerous.

So tell me, what was the highlight of your weekend?

If you're joining us for the a 2 z 4 u & me meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter P, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

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Fair Days

Have you seen my sister?
Seriously.
You need to check her out at Sea Level 320. Cheryl lives part-time on the coast of Puerto Rico and her bottles of shell and sea glass are beautiful--I know because she's shared some of her minis and glass with me. They hold places of honor on my shelf, right where I can see them when I'm thinking and procrastinating.  She's doing a giveaway you don't want to miss--scroll down to September first's post. You'll love your scrolling stroll. She's a photographer. *wink* It ends soon so don't delay!

Going to the state fair is one of my favorite things to do in the year. This last weekend we went to the DuQuoin State Fair and it was wonderful. Loved it! I blogged about the highlights of our evening at the fair at The Barn Door today. All my favorite fair things. Can you guess what they are? Here's a sneak peek that didn't fit at the Barn Door...

The girls and I took a side trip while the boys hit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources tent on the pond for some casting. We went to the horse barn and look what we got to see:

The horse barns are one of my favorite places to visit at the fair. I remember going through the animal barns with my mom, as a kid. It's a big part of the fair for me.

This man saw us admiring a foal in a stall and he brought her out for us. What a treat!!

He told us all about the foal and her mother and the girls were able to pat her. They were in love.

Oh! My news! My favorite writing blog, Seekerville, hosted a Read Me! Contest and I entered--but I almost didn't. Sure am glad I did! I was a finalist! Not only that, but I was invited to send a partial in to my target, Love Inspired. Let me just say, I'm thrilled. I spent a very busy couple of days and I'm happy to report that my partial (first three chapters and synopsis) is in the mail. =)

So tell me, what your favorite part of the fair?

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Barns and Blessings

One of my favorite sites is Jewels of Encouragement. That group of ladies is truly special. And they PRAY! Yowza. Do they pray! I've been so blessed to be a part of them!

Today it's my joy to be posting at Jewels of Encouragement about something I learned from an old barn before it came down. I know those old barns have to come down sometime, but many of them last far longer because... hehe. Well, why don't you join me at Jewels of Encouragement and find out? ;-)

Last month our washer was coming to a grinding death, which in this family is life threatening. For me. I can do laundromats and have done them. But with the work my hubs and son do, I'd be in there every single day, not to mention the amount of quarters I'd go through. *shiver* So, we invested in a sweet new washer. And yes, it is sweet. It can handle the dirt and the volume we give it. I'm so very thankful for it. And even better? God's provided the work to fill the gap it created. Isn't that like God?! Now we're juggling sleep like hot potatoes. ;-)

There's also a couple really cool things that I'm dying to tell you, but I can't yet. Sunday for one and Thursday for the other. sigh. I'm gonna need duct tape. ;-)

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