Spring is Springing

Spring is in the air! 

This week is spring break for many of the schools in my area. No Bible study on Tuesday. No small group on Tuesday night. No youth group on Wednesday night. No preschool for my little man, B. The weather is great. And I’m in the middle of some very intense rewrites.

Which means….

I’m taking a break to enjoy my son, enjoy the weather, and enjoy these rewrites.

I’ll see you on Monday, March 19th. Giveaways for my debut novel will commence! 

Three Random Thoughts:

  • Even though I’m not blogging, I’ll still be hanging out on my Facebook Author page. I’d love to see you over there! 
  • While you’re there, don’t forget to vote for a name for my hero in book 2. So far, Ian is winning.
  • Who lives near Minneapolis? On May 18th and 19th, I’ll be signing books at Lifeway Christian Stores and would love to meet you!

Let’s Talk: Are you going anywhere for spring break? Are you doing anything for St. Patty’s Day? Have you read any good books lately? I’m listening to The Book Thief on audio and it’s so good!

Bubba’s Poo Back

Crazy things happen when you have a three-year old boy under your roof. Almost every day, I find myself saying (or shouting) things I never ever thought I would say.

For instance….

The other day, I looked outside and saw my son, scooping dog poo with a plastic shovel, transferring it into a sand pail, and piling it on the back of our black lab, Bubba. Who just stood there, wet nose turned up to the sun as if he were getting a really great massage. 

I promptly opened the screen door and yelled (loud enough for the neighbors to hear), “Brogan, stop dumping poop on the dog!”

And then there was last week.

Brogan’s become a little obsessed with chests. Female chests, to be more precise.

We were at the doctor’s office the other day when out of nowhere, he started pushing on mine. I kept moving his hands away, giving him those slightly psychotic mommy looks mothers are so good at giving when their children misbehave in public places, hoping the doctor wouldn’t notice. He’s an older fellow who wears a bow tie.

Anyway, I’m getting totally embarrassed, trying to have a conversation with a medical professional, when Brogan pushes on my chest again and says, quite loudly, “What do you have in there?”

Oh. My. Goodness.

A paper bag would have been nice right about then.

Needless to say, the boy and I had some words on the car ride home.

Let’s Talk: What weird or embarrassing things have your children done? What’s something you’ve said as a parent that you never imagined would come out of your mouth?

In other news, I’m holding a contest on my Facebook author page. Help me pick a name for my hero in Wishing on Willows (releases March, 2013) and you could win some books from my publisher! 

I’m a guest on Carrie Daws blog today and I’m talking about Changing Friendships, a pertinent theme in Wildflowers from Winter. I’d love it if you’d stop over and say hi!

The Long Route

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. -Exodus 13:17-18

When I came upon those verses the other day, I had to smile.

Because so often, this is my experience with God. 

I want the short cut.

I want the quickest route.

Yet God takes me on the long one. Through the wilderness. 

And while I tap my foot and drum my fingers and wonder what in the world is taking so long, He knows what I can handle.

He’s leading me to the Red Sea.

He’s getting ready to reveal His glory.

Let’s Talk: Is something in your life taking longer than you’d like? Do these verses encourage you?