Moving skit

I dont know if I'm just emotional or what but this skit really flipped my tear switch. Sometimes it feels good to cry. Get out a Kleenex and enjoy

Rock the Desert

We are heading to Odessa, Tx to see Hawk Nelson, Barlow Girl and more at Rock the Desert. Click title for Utube of Barlow Girl. Visit http://www.hawknelson.com/ for our fave. see a video at MTV U websight.

In be “tween” the holding and the letting go

While cleaning out closets, getting ready for a new round of birthday presents, my almost 11 year old daughter decided it was time to pass down her collection of Barbies.
I wasn’t sure that I was ready to be mother to a girl who is “too old” to play Barbies. I tried to talk her out of it. But, with logic beyond her years, she expressed the same sentiment that was ruminating in my own heart.
“I want to be sad about saying good-bye, but I’m not.”

I looked back at the passing of each parenting season with melancholy longing, the memories were sweet. Sure I ooh and gooh over newborns. I love to reminisce over their baby books, but I have always looked forward to the maturing of my kids. What and honor to see the blossoming of my closely guarded prize rose crop. With much pride I parade all my visitors near to admire God's handwork He has so graciously allowed me to be a part of. I cant wait for the late night talks and the excitement of all the new things this tween season holds. Memories are sweet but the anticipation of the delights to come is sweeter still.
“Good-bye, you have always been my favorite princess. Fare thee well and Live long and prosper." She said, as she placed her Belle into the give away box...

Spectacles

Les Grandes Eaux Nocturns is the evening program around the gardens and fountains of the Castle (Chatau) of Versaille. So large it will take more than one visit to see all the grand statues and water features, music is piped in and sometimes even fireworks to enhance your enjoyment. After the tulips of Holland Rich was a little underwhelmed by the French formal gardens but for those who enjoy art, classical music and a nice evening stroll, this seems perfect.

Click on the title and follow any or all of the links for a taste of classic French culture.

Precious Pearls

Like a tiny seed, a child enters our lives, not much more than an annoyance and a promise.
You hold her, feed her and protect or as she grows bigger and stronger every day.
The seed pearl must remain inside it’s protect shell of the oyster in order to continue to grow as it is daily bathed and nurtured.
So must our daughters remain under the authority God has placed over her, inside the safety and protection of her home, daily bathed in the word and nurtured towards wisdom..
Parents of the precious pearls of the future,
we must make sure they are safe and protected
until the day comes that they are ready to emerge,
full grown with their own protected surface to guard them.

ICRS

Hello from International Christian Retailers Show in Atlanta. Maddy and I have met lots of celebrities (Her favs, Hawk Nelson, Casting Crowns)
I had my book signing yesterday, lots of great responses and comments. Who knows what God has for us now.
We went to a Faith Girlz mother/daughter event yesterday. It was fun. I met Nancy Rue, the author of on of the tween series I've been recommending. We had a chat later about the need for parent training and her possibly speaking at an event next summer. Good connections and a love for little girls hearts. She was especially taken by Maddy.
Maddy's favorite book is called "Paddywhack Lane" It is for a book and doll line of Toddlers, very sweet.

The passage of time

My husband, Richard, turned 39 This past week. I found it useless to tell people I was 39 because they would do something like, wink and say "oh, I get it, 39 and holding" and that greatly annoyed me. I'm not ashamed of my age but I am feeling it more. (especially in my joints) but I wonder if the passage of another biblical "Generation" of 20 yrs had made me more contemplative? Since I am 2 months and a year older than my sweet hubby, I always get to experience these passages first. Let's see how he process it. TICK-TOCK

Keys

This is a collection of all the keys that this one house used. I love them. deb

Black and White Night

The "Black and White night" was a hit as the Henderson, and Iserman girls, (and Josephine)put on the Ritz and went out on the town in Paris. We ate at an old private chapel, now 2 stories under ground, that is a traditional French restaurant run by a Cantonese family. We had a great time!

The problem with "Polution"

This is one of my favorite pics from our recent Paris trip. I am now a true believer in "Anti-Pollution" Aren't French signs fun?

Aurevoir, France

We had a spectaculare weekend in the French countryside , L'Oise river valley, in the village of Pierrefonds. Check out the quaint B and B we visited. It is around 150 years old and recently redone. The hosts are Elizabeth and Jacque Dandoy. I'll soon post pics. Check out their websight. See you back in Texas.

Tulips in Holland

Bonjour

Here we go again. Maddy, Wesley and I have been trying to meet Rich and Nathan in Paris for a week. First, the passports were late and yesterday our flights were canceled due to storms in Dallas. Now we are trying one more time. Hopefully by this time tomorrow we will be jetlagged in France. I'll blog pics soon. Blessings deb

Jawbone of an Ass

I told my son that I believe the true lesson of Sampson's story for me is that a lot of times, we make our own trouble. By not controling my own jawbone, I make an ass out of myself. (Then we get ourselves into a lot of trouble. We want to blame "bad guys" like Philistines but really, isn't it just reaping what we sowed and blaming the weeds? But,more on this later.)
"I thought the jawbone represented the Power of God?" my son commented.
"I think in Bible symbolism it does, but I also believe God is big enough to have known that "Ass" would mean multiple things in our culture today. Like in Shrek, when Puss-n-boots says "You still look like an ass to me." He's saying he still looks like a donkey, but also that he thinks his is a metaphorical ass too. It means a person is full of themselves and makes a fool of themselves because of it."
"Oh, you mean like Oscar in A Shark's Tale?" my son asked.
"Exactly, you got it." I'm so impressed at how easily he understands when I explain it in terms he can relate to.

Wesley's Heart

Thanks for all the prayers for Wes's Heart. The Murmur and his spiritual heart. We received some good news. The blood pressure meds he's been on for 2 months is reducing the leak. He will continue on it for a year. He also asked Jesus into his heart on Easter Eve, while taking a break from viewing an movie on the crucifixion (cartoon) "Mommy, I'm so glad that Jesus gave His blood for me." This is a tradition in the Griffin Family, Uncles Howard Adam did the same thing and were baptized Easter Sunday. We'll give him a few more years to go for the wet part. But, all these prayers for his heart are blessing us all in many ways. THANKS SO VERY MUCH, Blessings, deb

Walk to Emmaus

As most of you know, I recently had the honor of attending a Walk to Emmaus retreat. I have know about the events and have sent numeral letters of blessing over the years. But this is the time God chose for me to participate, and we know, God's time is always right. My experience was much like what I felt at church camp growing up or other womens retreats since, but more personally intense. Like the crucible of pledging, or what I have heard about boot camp in the military, these experiences tend to bring up some of our dross(impurities in the the gold) For God is always at work to make precios jewels of us all. I layed it down and stumbled a bit, and my sisters in Christ were there to help me back up again. Please consider where God is calling you this Easter Season to allow Him to do His continuing work in you. I will be happy to sponsor anyone who feels it is there time to meet with the Savior on the road to Emmaus. Yours in Him, De Coloures, deb

Christian Book Club

Announcement:Want to read some great books and chat with the authors? Then check out the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book Club. The ACFW Book Club gives fans of Christian fiction the opportunity to communicate with each other, chat with ACFW authors, and discuss books.Book Club participants are invited to join an e-mail group set up to facilitate announcements and host discussions about the current reading selection. Members will be eligible for monthly free book drawings.
To join, send a blank e-mail to acfwbookclub-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acfwbookclub and click "join this group." You will receive a confirmation e-mail after joining. Follow the instructions given in the e-mail to complete your subscription to this e-mail list.
Each month, club members have an opportunity to participate in an on-line chat with an ACFW published author. Chats will be announced in advance so Club members have the opportunity to read the featured book. Book Club chats will be held on the ACFW website in the chat room at 7:00 p.m. CST on the first Monday of the month following the month the book is read.Currently, the club is talking about Rachel Hauck's Lost in NashVegas. And then it's on to Mary Connealy's Petticoat Ranch before tackling sci-fi for some variety. Previous authors have included: Robin Lee Hatcher, Tracey Bateman, Colleen Coble and Liz Curtis Higgs. Check it out.

Her Dormant season

Reaching the waters edge, she looked out upon the frozen surface. In the still frigid air this pristine world seemed lifeless. But she knew it only appeared that way. Under the ice, life carried on. A frozen, almost motionless shell that actually protects the vigor beneath. She knew life was never truly gone. Frozen, preserved, pressed down beneath, it was hidden for a season.
She breathed in the cold air and looked around. Frozen can actually be beautiful. The crystalline encasement of every minute detail. Leaves and branches, every grass blade magnified, like a thousand jewels sparkling beneath her feet. Hanging from every tree, crystal chandeliers. More rare than swavorsky crystals, theses jewels would soon be gone. Precious, delicate and then, a memory.
Looking down again to the lake, there stands a leaf upon the glassy surface, caught in a moment of vertical movement. Take warning, for the leaf scarcely knew this action would be the one preserved.
But what of the life below? Some dormant, some vigorous, no reproduction, but still life survives. Do they curse the cold or accept this season as part of life?
How much light passed through to remind them of a warmer season to come? At places on the pond seems almost translucent. Does the life below gather and jockey for a place to peer out the window? Do they even care what goes on above?
Delores laughs at herself, pondering such foolish things. But this did give her hope. Maybe her cold dormant season would soon be over. Only four more years and she would be old enough to marry without her parents permission.

Grace and Peace to you

Grace
I have known just of few women if my life who have been the true essence of grace to me. Woman who carry and express themselves in such a way that you are drawn to them in a mysterious nonsexual attraction. I have truly desired to exude this grace. I have prayed for it, looked for it, even studied it. Soon turning 40 and still believing it has eluded me, I have all but given up the pursuit. When, out of the blue, I was surprised my a compliment that totally stunned me.
"Well, you just have that kind of grace." was her comment.
"What?" I replied in shock, "I have prayed for grace, but I’ve decide it wasn’t a gift God wanted to give me."
"Well you have it." was her simple reply.
In my word study on Grace, the Old Testament word Strong # 2580 represents the classical Christian concept of the unmerited favor of God but also the concept from an objective point of view of beauty, pleasant and precious. It comes from the root word Strong’s #2306 -"to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior or a gracious act to someone in need" That is the kind of grace I want to exude, and encourage in my daughter.
Many times in the bible God changed the names of the people He moved in. My character I have been blogging about, Delores (a.k.a. brought forth in pain) Will be changed to Grace.

Christian Writer's Guild

The convention at the Broadmoore in Colorado Springs was great. I learned a lot, met some really nice people, got a break from work and got some article assignments from Christian magazine editors. More to come on that last one as soon as I move forward on this writer's journey. Liz Curtis Higgs, the keynote speaker was very funny, real and inspiring. She is definately the kind of speaker I aspire to be like. Blessings to you all. Here is Jerry B Jenkins, the head of the guild and co-author of The Left Behind books. Click on the title and you can check out the guild. Definately a good route to follow writing dreams.