By the Fireside

The Homeschool Convention is Over Already!

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The Homeschool Convention is over. Wow, it went fast.

My sisters and two friends went with me on Friday morning and by the time we were finished setting up, I had a lovely booth! Between navigation miscommunication, a wrong turn, and a looney GPS, we did manage to get lost and arrived rather later than I had planned, but nothing dreadful resulted and we were set up and ready in good time for the exhibit hall to open. I really loved the added aspect of the bookshelf and the ice cream set we did this year. Having only been a Young Entrepreneur with a little booth before, I had no idea how large my space would be this year! My fears of being crowded were very unfounded.

I had some great booth neighbors, who truly kept me laughing the entire time. I doubt if I entertained them much, as I can rarely be accused of being funny, but they were a blast to be around. They kept even the slow hours from being boring.

Second day, I decided for various reasons, to try a different setup. I admit, I was sceptical about the outcome, since I went into a change more from necessity than anything else, but it actually turned out far more lovely than I expected!

The day felt both short and very long. I had some great conversations and enjoyed reconnecting with people I had met in previous years, as well as meeting new ones. We handed out a ton of flyers and toward the end of the day I drew a winner for the giveaway. A highlight of the day definitely had to be the two young ladies who, at separate times, found me, recognized my books, and got super excited. They each had gotten one of my books the year before and loved it. I hope they enjoy their new books this year, half as much!

Even when there weren’t many people around looking at my books, my sisters were around when they weren’t wandering about, and I had several friends in and out of my booth. I even got to hold and play with little people a few times.

At the end of the day, I had lots of help and we got my booth packed up quick and efficient. I had several lovely helpers and they did a great job!

Overall, it was a good convention. The LORD has blessed me! I’m already looking forward to next year!

To the KING be all the glory!

~I’m Planning a Book Booth!

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Three different years now, I have had the pleasure of hosting a book booth at our state Homeschool Convention. I’ve loved being a part of the Young Entrepreneur’s program in the past, but this year is different. I’ve aged out of Young Entrepreneurs, so I’ve saved and planned, and for the first time ever, I have been accepted as a regular exhibitor!

The convention is in July, so I am busy preparing and beginning to pull things together. I’m planning a big book order, possibly a new banner, updated fliers, pre-order forms, and a new batch of business cards.

I’m also planning a new design for my booth space, which should be lots of fun, if I can pull it off. I’m leaving the details as a surprise, but I might share some clues as I get things ready. I am so excited!

I was hoping to have Presumption and Partiality finished by the convention, but it looks like I will be needing a bit more time. I am planning to have it available to pre-order signed copies, LORD willing.

It should be a fun weekend – and only seven weeks away! Oh, my! I had better get working!!

To the KING be all the glory!

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~End of Intermission

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My blogging voice has done its level best to desert me and go on a frightfully long intermission. I had grand plans for posting when this year began, which, as you can easily see, have not reached the fruition of their potential.

Still, I really do miss keeping up with my blog. It’s been a long time since I’ve been consistent, I know, but LORD willing, from here on out, the intermission has reached an end.

Since I last posted, Presumption and Partiality has been moving along – slower than I wanted, but moving. It has proven a challenge to write, but challenges, in the end, are very good for us, and so I hope this one will prove to be.

I’ve haven’t ever written a book in full Historical Fiction genre before – only one story-line in Grandmother’s Letters and after that, a short story set in England during WWII – so that aspect has been fairly new. I have enjoyed the research, however. I’ve learned a great deal about Arizona during the 1930’s, which has proved to be quite fascinating.

I have also come to love the characters that I am working with, though it took awhile, since I struggled at first, to separate them merely being cardboard echoes of Miss Austen’s originals, on which they are based. I do believe that I have shifted from that difficulty though. Sidney still doesn’t talk enough and Eloise simply jumps to conclusions too quickly, but I am quite enjoying moving on to the next page right now. God willing, this book will be released in the shortly coming months.

As this book progresses towards publication, I hope to post updates, sneak peaks, and I even have a new cover to reveal soon, as the last one needed a bit of remodeling. Besides that, I have other posts planned, including some book reviews, an article featuring Kylo Ren, a poem or two, a long-coming paper on death in films, and, if I can get it going, a serial story that I’ve thought up.

In the meantime, I’ve added a few new buttons on my sidebar, where you can see my Pinterist, Instagram, and FB pages. You can find clips from my works-in-progress, a folder of ideas as I build part of Sidney Dennison’s library, and some of the things that happen in my day to day!

“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3

To the KING be all the glory!

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~Farewell, 2016. Welcome 2017.

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– – –
2016 is an era of the past. Though, I suppose, that really doesn’t come as a surprise to most of you, since January also an era of the past, as well. I always do seem to get to my New Year’s posts rather late.

For me, 2016 was shrouded under a cloud of confusion, marked with hesitation, and haunted by flashbacks to the darkest time of my life. And yet…

– In May of 2016, my beautiful, sweet, darling niece made her appearance. I know I am just her auntie, but I had no idea how much I needed this little girl in my life. Her smile is enough to make one forget about a difficult day, snuggling with her is the best, and she is just absolutely precious.

– Also in May, just after my niece arrived, I reached my twenty-sixth birthday. Every birthday to which I attain, nay every single day, minute, second, is a testimony of God’s grace, goodness, and protection in my life.

– In July, I was blessed to man a booth at our state Homeschool Convention. It was a blast, as usual, and I loved seeing my friends, reconnecting with previous book buyers, and meeting new people. The booth, too, was a success!

– Also in July, our dear friends in Colorado came for a visit. We had a lovely week reconnecting, laughing, playing games, and enjoying life together.

– In August, the LORD showed me His ability to provide and brought to a head, that His directions are there to be obeyed. I stopped transcribing, and He brought me to two families, who I now nanny for, much to my enjoyment and delight.

These are the events that stand out the most. That and the Christmas season, which was a combination of haunting memories and rediscovering the absolute joy of celebrating the birth of my Savior.

Now, the new year is not only upon me, but already turning on its wheels. The LORD is good. He is faithful. He is majestic, sovereign, and beyond my comprehension amazing. Yes, I still have fears that try to assail me, regarding the coming months. Things that, for the most part, I have absolutely no control over. Yet, the LORD has provided and taken care of me thus far and He won’t change that. 2017 is no foe; it’s a tool in the hand of the Creator, to be used for my greater good, no matter the events that come to pass.

I pray that this year is a year of growth, faith, trust and excitement – excitement in the adventure that is awaiting me. Because, isn’t that what life is? It will be difficult at times, there may be seasons when the sky is so dark, that I don’t know what to do or think, but there will also be days, when the rain is pouring and revealing rainbows, and the sun is shining in a bright blue sky. There will be days of battle, where I’ll be weary and ready for the end to come, but there will also be days of rest, when the path is easy and bright. What kind of adventure would it be, if everything stayed the same?

Welcome, 2017. I’ve got my armor and my God is in control of every detail, so I welcome you. I am ready as a handmaiden of the LORD and a warrioress of my King.

To the KING be all the glory!

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Climbing Mount Difficulty with Shouts of Praise

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I had so many aspirations for posting on my blog in 2016. I was going to start in January and be quite consistent. I even wrote out several posts, but never typed them.

Then, before I knew it, May had arrived and my blog still hadn’t been touched since December. Granted, I’ve been really busy with things… Still, it’s time I resurrected this silent, sad place. So, here’s my New Year post… Just five months and twenty-four days late.

What did I say last year, when writing about the Longest Year of My Life? That I wanted my year-end post to reflect the LORD and what He was doing in my life – and not just focus on myself.

I have commenced this post many times, only to tear it out of my notebook and toss it aside. The primary reason was that I couldn’t seem to get my focus right. It just kept coming back to me, not what the LORD was doing through, in, and around me.

Borrowing from John Bunyan, I have called 2015 my climb up Mount Difficulty. Much like Christian, who, as he trudged over rocks and avoided cliffs, began focusing on his trials and the weariness that he felt, I have wanted to focus on the circumstances and trials that made this last year so difficult. Even when my rocks were silver and the cliffs showed sparkles of gold, I wanted to notice the rough edges or the scrapes and bruises that I’d accumulated.

Still, the LORD is gracious. He keeps reminding me and convicting me of the importance of praise and focus on Him. All year, He kept reminding me, and while I often failed, the LORD kept pushing me toward giving those shouts of praise, while I struggled on.

So, as a belated good-buy to 2015, here are a few works of the LORD from those twelve-months:

-I became a sister-in-law, when my younger sister, Bethany, got married in May.

-I am an auntie! And I have the chance of sharing my birthday with my nephew or niece. We’ll see. (As of this month, I have the most precious little niece outside her mama’s tummy. No, we didn’t share a birthday, but it was close!)

-I typed, edited, and finally published 24 Days Before Christmas. I never would have finished without the LORD’s help. Certainly a project beyond my human abilities alone.

-I got to stay with the Marr family for three different visits, including around the birth of their little Susannah in March. Always a blessing.

-Lastly, the LORD brought me so far this year. I may expound in a later post, but it was in the later part of the year, when the LORD reminded me where He had brought me from in a year. Despite the trials and struggles of 2015, despite the climb up Mount Difficulty, I have come so far from what felt like the Valley of the Shadow of Death in much of 2014. The LORD has been so good to me. So good. I still have much to learn, I am still anything but perfect, but he has brought me so far! I stand amazed.

-Fear and trust. The LORD has convicted me much on these two. They’re opposites. Fear doesn’t allow trust. Trust kicks out of fear. Fear of man, life, circumstances. Trust in the God of the Universe.

Do I have any idea what this year will be like? No, not really. A move and the arrival of my nephew or niece. [Well… The move happened. Wow, that’s a long story in and of itself. My niece is here too! Still, I still have more than seven months that could bring all sorts of things.]

Prayerfully, I’ll grow closer to the LORD. I have a new book to write. And maybe some short stories or a serial. I could give into fear. There are several things that I could list, that could easily fill me with rather more apprehension.

Still, I’m learning. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

That last is what I’m doing. Committing this year to the LORD of Hosts. After all, He does know what He’s doing. He has my life in His hands. I can trust Him.

Maybe I’ll move beyond trust and actually get excited. Because, if the God who made the Universe is in charge of 2016, who knows what He has planned?

To the KING be all the glory!