writing wednesdays: meet new author rosslyn elliott

Don't you just love it when good things happen to people who are deserving?

I'm so pleased to introduce debut author Rosslyn Elliott to Peace Garden Writer this week! She writes Christian romance and has such great insight into what it takes to become an author. With her diligence, she's garnered a three-book contract through a major publishing house. The first is due out in April.

Read more about Rosslyn in her own words on Peace Garden Writer.

See you there!

PGM

mama mondays: daddy's home!

Daddy Troy has been gone on business since Wednesday. Our Sunday afternoon included a trip to the airport to retrieve him and usher him safely home. "Welcome back to reality," I said as we all drove home in the minivan, kids squabbling intermittently in the backseat. Things quieted down a bit when Daddy began emptying a bag of treasures from Texas, including some scorpion glow-in-the-dark necklaces, a beetle bracelet, a can of super-hot peanuts and an alien toy.

I know all too well the elusiveness of a smooth transition. I've been there, too, having escaped the bustling of family life for a bit only to arrive home to a life fully in motion. Serenity to chaos in one fell swoop; it can be a bit dramatic, to say the least.

Helping Daddy Troy transition was the radio announcer giving play-by-play of his beloved Vikings squabbling with the Detroit Lions. I knew then Daddy really was home, because you never hear sports announcers blasting plays in his absence. But it is good to have everyone in one place again.

The weather here certainly didn't hurt. This morning, he breathed in the hot humidity of Austin, Texas, while his home landing presented a pleasantly mild fall day. Oh, how we love our autumns around here!

On that note, shortly after arriving home, I went on a short jaunt with my oldest daughter, who's been working diligently on the infamous seventh-grade "Leaf Project." We looked up some of the leaves she'd collected online, happily identifying a few that had eluded her. Then, we went out in search of a willow tree -- something she was intent on finding for her project. We found it, as well as this gorgeous little maple, which stopped me in my tracks. I'm always amazed how one tree or bush can contain so many colors within it. I've affectionately named it "rainbow maple."


It's even better when contrasted with the blue-sky canvas above.


At this hour, I'm hearing few complaints from the peanut gallery. With Daddy home now and an adventure of my own on the horizon, life is looking pretty good.

Q4U: What goodness has walked into your world recently?

faith fridays: 7 quick takes friday (vol. 28)

Welcome back to “7 Quick Takes Friday,” an occasional feature that offers a glimpse of where my thoughts have been lately.

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STARTING THE DAY 7-year-old style:

A recent peek into my 7-year-old's backpack turned up a prayer that the class recites every morning. Sometimes, simple words say everything that is needed to be said.

My God, I give to You today

All that I think and do and say.

I’ll work and laugh, have fun and play

Jesus be with me all through this day.

Help me to shine like the sun.

Let me be good to everyone.

I believe in You.

I hope in You.

I love You.

Amen.

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APPLE CRISP DAY: This morning, I helped out at school. Mostly, I took pictures while my 5-year-old and his classmates turned the handles of the apple presses...

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Resulting in finely skinned apples...

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Which were later chopped and mixed with the rest of the ingredients...

Then turned into a tasty dessert...

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SHARING HISTORY: A while after leaving the kindergarten room, I headed to my daughter's fifth-grade class to give a presentation on my experiences growing up with and being connected to Native American peoples, in conjunction with what the class is studying. I shared some of my treasures with them, as well as some photos and videos from the powwow I attended with the same daughter in South Dakota this past summer.

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R.I.P., LITTLE DUDE. A few nights back our cats got loose and somehow got hold of a fluffy little bird from the great outdoors. I was up late, working, and heard what sounded like a squeak toy. The cats, playing with something in the hallway, I thought. A few minutes later, they brought it into the room where I was working, offering their treasure to me. I thought it was a mouse at first, judging by the color, but soon realized in horror it was a small bird, now lame. I tried coaxing it from them, but one of the cats ran wildly around the house with it in its mouth, finally dropping it. By the time I was able to see it up close, its beak was moving open and shut as if it was gasping for air, no sound was coming forth; its legs appeared broken. I knew that it was dying. Frantic, I laid it in a container with a soft towel and put it outside. I knew it would die but at least it could have a dignified death, dying in nature under a tree and not in the mouth of the enemy! Sure enough, by morning its eyes had glazed over and its breathing had halted. My oldest daughter, who is very compassionate toward animals, helped prepare its final resting place. I thought this was so sweet of her. I don't like seeing things die. And of course, the cats were only acting on instinct. But it was horrible to witness. My daughter's act of finality was the only bright spot in the tragedy.

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MISSING YOU ALREADY, PARK... Our family enjoyed a sub-sandwich picnic recently at one of our favorite parks. I sensed, while there, that it might have been our last visit before fall fades into early winter.

All good things must come to an end, but the sun is always shining somewhere!

For more "quick takes," visit Jennifer @ Conversion Diary!

Q4U: Where did the sun shine in your life this week?

writing wednesdays: changing up the scenery

What does this cartoon have to do with where I'll be heading in two weeks? Find out on Peace Garden Writer!

mama mondays: hey, where you going with those cookies?

It's been a while since I've shared a kid quote here on Peace Garden Mama. The increasingly refined vocabulary of our youngest, who used to be so generous with his contributions, is partially to blame. But occasionally I still catch one that makes me chuckle. Like this one from the other evening after dinner:



Nick, 5, swiping cookies off the cookie sheet: "What? Dad asked me to bring him three cookies."

Me: "Three?"

Nick: "Yeah. Why, how many are we s'posed to have?"

Me: "One, maybe two. Three if you’re a Dad, apparently."

Nick, upon heading out of the kitchen, cookies in hand: "Well I am a boy, and I’m gonna be a Dad someday!"

Ah yeah...someday...life will be great. Someday, taking three cookies will not be suspect activity. (They really were for his dad, who has a heckuva sweet tooth...)

And here's one for the moms out there. A mother friend sent me this link from GodTube.com. I'm keeping my post short today so you'll have time to peek at this brief video -- a visual of mothers who were asked this question: "If you could go back to before your first baby, what would you tell yourself?" These are their answers...

Q4U: If you're a parent and could go back the time before your first baby and give yourself some advice, what would it be?

faith fridays: inspired by tony blair

This week's issue of Parade, the newspaper insert that appears in Sunday papers across the nation, includes an article in its "Views" section called "Why Faith Matters." The article highlights an excerpt from former British prime minister Tony Blair's new memoir, A Journey: My Political Life.

Several things about the article struck me.

First, Blair talks about his father, a lifelong atheist who suffered a stroke at age 40, when he was a mere 10 years old. On the morning of the stroke, while his father was struggling for his life, Tony was at school, "frightened and bewildered." He sought comfort in his teacher, a priest who suggested the two kneel and pray for Blair's father. "I'm afraid my father doesn't believe in God," the young Blair said. To which his wise teacher answered: "That doesn't matter. God believes in him."

What a tremendously powerful thought! God believes in us, even when we don't believe in Him. God loves us, even when we don't love Him. God sees us, feels with us, adores us, lives alongside us, even when we are completely checked out. It is impossible to get away from God's great and abiding love for us! "There's no hiding place," as the spiritual we sang in college choir admonishes in a good way.

Blair's father never did come to acknowledge God, but his teacher's words stayed with him throughout his life, changing and forming him.

"Today, religious beliefs...are at the core of the lives of two-thirds of the world's population, giving them sense and direction," Blair notes. "And it is not only a matter of numbers -- faith matters because it inspires people to act and raise their sights beyond themselves."

Having spiritual beliefs does not immune us from having the capacity to do wrong or evil, he says, "But far more often, faith can be a force for good. I have witnessed its positive impact wherever I've gone in the world. I've seen it at major disasters in the incredible humanitarian efforts of the Red Cross, Islamic Relief, or World Jewish Relief, all organizations inspired by belief. I've also seen it in the central role of synagogues, churches, temples and mosques in helping the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged in every country. In every case, men and women of faith who are trying to put the idea of unconditional love into practice are leading these efforts."

Divisions happen nevertheless, Blair says, but we ought to focus "on the vast areas we share and not on the much smaller areas that separate us."

The article concludes with Blair saying, "By understanding one another, respecting one another, and acting with one another, we can show why humanity is made not poorer by faith but immeasurably richer."

Blair gets it, he really does. There is so much criticism of faith and religion in the media that we often lose sight of the tremendous amount of good it has done, and will continue to do. What would our world look like, truly, without religion? I submit that it would be even more of a mess than it already it is without the hope and love made possible through faith.

There's something to this faith thing. There's something about believing in something greater than ourselves, in recognizing we are creatures and not the almighty, in pulling away from ourselves and letting that greater power guide our lives.

I have discovered the beauty, joy and love of the faith life and I do not take this for granted. It is the most profound and wonderful aspect of my life. Though not everyone will believe in the God who created them in this life, everyone will believe in the next. And throughout all of time and beyond it, God will never quit believing in His beloved children.

Q4U: In what ways has faith inspired you to act and raise your sights beyond yourself?

writing wednesdays: september parenting column

Ahhhhhh...........isn't fall great?

I'm over at my writing blog today, sharing my most recent newspaper column, "Always Starting Over." Leap over to Peace Garden Writer, and if you enjoy my thoughts, drop me a note. Even if you don't, I'd still love to hear from you!

Peace to you,

PGM

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mama mondays: the heartlessness of hackers

[Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28288673@N07/]

On Friday morning, I woke to an urgent email message on my Blackberry. Sent from a friend's email address, it was purportedly from her. In it, she explained that she'd taken a brief trip to London and had been mugged. Everything was stolen, including her cell phone and all her credit cards. She ended the message by saying she was trying to figure out how to settle her hotel bills, that she couldn't leave until she did, and that she was "freaked out."

Okay...hmmm...well, I hadn't heard this particular friend was planning on going to London. Not that it might not be possible. She enjoys traveling. But London? I really think I would have heard something from someone.

There were some other oddities about the message, little elements of it that didn't ring true. My friend is articulate and doesn't tend to be lazy in her written expression. She uses capitalization when appropriate, unlike in the message. She doesn't say things like, "stole off." She might say "ripped off," but not stole off. That sounds English to me. As in Great Britain.

I was fairly certain the email had not been written by her, but what if she was panicked and not thinking right? There was that small possibility...

I went to her Facebook page. No mention of an upcoming trip to London there. In my half-sleep, I did email back, but no answer. So a little while later I tried texting her. She replied that she was fine, was not in London, and that her email and Facebook had been hacked into. The hackers had control and she couldn't access any of her contacts.

As the day went on, I heard from a couple of other mutual friends who were concerned. Thankfully, I was able tell them right off that it was a scam and our friend was fine. I eventually just picked up the phone and called her. I wanted to hear her voice and let her know that we were concerned and trying to figure out how we might help her resolve this issue. I also wanted her to know what the hackers had been up to. By that point, they were using her Facebook account to reach her friends, claiming, again, that they were her and that "she" needed money. They'd even tried chatting in real time with some of her friends.

I'm praying that no one fell for it. I really doubt they did.

If nothing else, it's an interesting study in how evil works. Evil always operates in the darkness, through deceit. I know my friend was feeling a bit like a victim on Friday, as well she should have been. I think all of us who are connected to her feel a little like we're all being used. It's an unnerving feeling to realize that some unnamed person or persons are pretending to be our friend, reaching out to those who love her, preying on their and her goodness. I feel ill at the thought of it. But even in this hackers' heydey, something good has occurred.

Throughout the course of the day, I had a nice email conversation with a girlfriend whom I hadn't talked with for a while, and I chatted by phone with another friend whose voice I hadn't heard in several decades. And even though she said trying to reclaim her accounts was the last thing she'd wanted to do with her Friday, the friend who'd been victimized admitted she'd been heartened by hearing from so many friends, too, and had enjoyed hearing their voices.

I readily agreed that it had been lovely talking with her and others, even if under strange circumstances. Even as evil churned and plotted, friends came together, made connections, tried to figure out how to help. Love existed within that scenario. It was nearly palpable.

These are childhood friends. Many of us have not seen each other for 20 years or more. And yet we connected again through hearing of our friend's misfortune. We know that it could have happened to any of us, and we can only hope that if it did, our friends would have our backs, too.

When I posted about this scam on my Facebook status, quite a few people responded that they know someone to whom this has happened recently as well. It's rampant. Evil is out there in cyberspace, alive...but not well. For while it is crafty, and sometimes even wins at its game temporarily, it can never claim the final victory. Love is much stronger than it will ever be.

My dear mother-in-law, who is always on top of technology issues and advancements, sent me a link to find out more about how to protect yourself from this kind of trouble, through the help of tech guru Kim Komando. Go here to learn how to stand up to these bullies.

And in the meantime...do everything you can to ensure that love will have the last say.

Q4U: What are some examples in your life of how love still rules?

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1.03.01

faith fridays: are you sure you want to arrive?

"The point of the journey is not to arrive." -- Rush

"Are you sure you want to arrive?!" I know this seems like an odd question, but since it's come at me several times recently, I decided I'm probably not supposed to ignore it.

It came to me first in thoughts that translated into a newspaper column, which I'll share early next week when it's published. The gist of said column is this: we're always starting over. We're never truly "arrived."

This may seem a negative approach, a "glass half empty" sort of thought. But stick with me here.

Today, I attended an "FM Power Lunch" gathering, a monthly event for local Christian business professionals. I try to make these each month and I rarely leave disappointed. This month's pastor presentation, which takes up the second half of the program, was about "the power of power," and how easily we can fall from grace when we reach our destination, when we've "arrived."

Innately we desire arrival. We are always seeking to go somewhere. We are all on a great journey, after all. Our life on earth is filled with goal-setting, adventure, and hopefully some sort of arrival, even if short-lived in this life. But as Pastor Matthew illustrated in his talk, using various kings of the Old Testament as examples, arrival can be dangerous to our souls.

"We can get complacent in our success," he said. "Our hearts can begin to change. The things we once yearned for can threaten to destroy us."

Sound familiar? Think of something you wanted really badly, something you strove mightily to attain, and when you finally got that desired thing, or position, or relationship, or...whatever it might have been...you began to lose sight of what, or Who, helped you attain it.

Pastor Matthew talked of long-ago kings who, once their rule was established, abandoned their faith. They became too comfy -- they no longer needed it.

Is having arrived a blessing or a curse? Do we really want to arrive if it's only going to make things worse?

I think it's tricky, and something of which we ought to be aware. Success isn't bad in and of itself, but it can easily lead to pride if we don't stay close to God and His plan for us. As we all know, pride can cause a slow, steady erosion. Maybe even a fast one.

Again using the old kings as an example, Pastor Matthew came up with several red flags -- things we should watch for that could, if left unchecked, lead us to ruin on our way to success:

1) Using faith as expedience toward becoming successful. If we do this, our base will be thin and our faith no longer necessary once we've reached the top.

2) Listening to the counsel of unsavory advisers. It's easy to veer off course if we rely too heavily on the wrong sources to help us see our path clearly. "Don't surround yourself with 'yes' people," Pastor Matthew warned. It's too easy to lose sight of the important things when we can't see our own flaws.

3) Seeking legitimacy through inappropriate alliances. We need to be discerning in what we reveal and to whom. Not doing so could compromise our goals.

4) Ignoring opportunities to build upon what God has already done in our lives. It's so easy to forget who brought us to where we are, to forget each blessed step along the way.

5) Believing a tenure is about us and not the Lord and His legacy. It's easy to do in this culture of "it's all about me," but dangerous if you're aiming for the ultimate destination.

So these are some things to watch for, five reasons those who have arrived have gotten there only to fall a short time later. We see it all the time on TV, and we see it in our own lives and relationships around us as well.

But I love how Pastor Matthew ended his talk. One of the best combatants to pride, he said, is to "remain teachable." Only those who are lifelong learners are capable of being servant leaders. The ability to accept this mindset of lifelong learning leads to humility. And since humility is the opposite of pride, living a life filled with it will lead to true success.

This speaks to me, particularly as I look at some of my "failings." When examined in this light, I realize that they may not have been failings after all. They may have been the very thing I've needed to avoid arriving prematurely so that I might arrive when it counts the most.

And this, my reader friends, should be of encouragement to you. It says to me that there is hope amidst suffering.

Hang on. Your time has not yet come, perhaps, but that's okay, because it will come!

Q4U: Have you ever sought a destination and found, upon reaching it, that it wasn't exactly what you'd expected?

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1.03.01

writing wednesdays: punching the clock freelance style

So, just what have I been doing all day, now that the kids are all in school? Catch a glimpse of the freelance life in my newest post on Peace Garden Writer!

By the way, readers, have I told you lately how much I appreciate you? Alright then, let the record show...

Thanks for being so faithful. I appreciate you all immensely!

PGM

mama mondays: labor day and tennis

Happy Labor Day 2010!

Labor Day has always carried special meaning for me, having been born on Labor Day in 1968. Yes, my mother took the holiday very literally and labored through much of it, and because of that, my birthday typically lands around this day set aside to celebrate...labor, of all things.

Our priest wrote an interesting reflection about Labor Day in yesterday's church bulletin. Fr. Paul's contention is that the Labor Day holiday has lost its meaning in our part of the world. He referenced various passages in the Bible in which labor is mentioned, and noted how valuable labor is when put in its proper perspective.

"Through our labor we build things, take care of things, help them to grow and protect them," he says, "...But there's also a flip side that's just as true: through our labor things are 'done' to us, too. Our labor affects us."

Fr. Paul wrote that good, hard work makes a person better, and that one of the great causes of human deficiencies is when people become lazy and don't work. "Work is one of those things that the Lord God knows can help to re-form us again in His image. And His image is one of love -- and love can be both the cause and effect of our own labor in this life, if we make it so."

I enjoyed thinking about labor in these terms, of stepping back to reconsider what labor is and how our work can bear great fruit -- fruit that has eternal significance. I consider mothering and writing my two main areas of labor, and I love each, but neither are easy. Nevertheless, they do challenge me to be a better human being, even on the hard days. And they no doubt re-form me as well, just as Fr. Paul says.

Fr. Paul also mentions the need for recreation -- another gift God gave us. I hope that your Labor Day, however you spend it, allows chances of replenishment so that when you return to whatever it is you labor over on a regular basis, you'll have a greater appreciation for the labor rhythms of life; those things that, though only after much consternation some days, bring us closer to the One who created labor for us. Labor, after all, keeps our world humming and provides opportunities for us to better serve one another.

This Labor Day weekend has brought our family out onto the tennis courts, where we've been spending a lot of time recently. Our oldest has been playing both JV and varsity tennis for his school this season...

Set to serve...

Holding spare ball while hitting the other
("Get that boy some pockets!")

...while his little brothers enjoy their own sport at the park near the courts (photos courtesy of my friend and fellow tennis mother Kristi F.):

The first clue: acorns!

Squirrel hunting begins...

Charging ahead to capture the squirrels!

Finally, a shout-out of love to my dear friend Mary A., who is celebrating her birthday today! If you can, do stop by Mary's blog, Play off the Page, and wish her a happy birthday.

Q4U: How or when have you been transformed by labor?

faith fridays: 7 quick takes friday (vol. 27)

Welcome back to “7 Quick Takes Friday,” an occasional feature that offers a glimpse of where my thoughts have been lately. My last Quick Takes post was in May. At that time, I was recapping my middle child's 10th birthday and preparing for summer. This time, I'm going to be sharing a summary of my 42nd birthday week.

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LAKE WOBEGON: As part of my birthday gift, my mom, who has been here visiting for a few days, bought tickets to the Garrison Keillor "Summer Love Tour," which included his tour guest, fiddler and singer Sara Watkins. The concert took place at the new Trollwood Performing Arts Center main stage near the Red River in Moorhead, MN (just over the bridge from Fargo).

Clouds began to hover not long before the show, and though it wasn't canceled, the rain did eventually come.

That said, Keillor carried on and we enjoyed watching and listening to this legendary writer and performer share tales of small-town Midwest. He even walked up toward where we were sitting and was just feet from us at one point.

(To hear a sampling of Keillor and Watkins performing, click here.)

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ON MY BIRTHDAY IN 1901: Speaking of Garrison Keillor, I receive his "Writer's Almanac" newsletter daily by email. After sharing the poem of the day, Keillor states various facts about writers and/or other historical figures. Today, Keillor revealed:

It was on this day in 1901 that Theodore Roosevelt uttered his famous words "Speak softly and carry a big stick." He was vice president at the time and was giving a speech at the Minnesota State Fair.

Less than two weeks after Vice President Teddy Roosevelt uttered these famous words..., President William McKinley was assassinated, and Teddy Roosevelt found himself the youngest person ever to serve as president of the United States. His Big Stick diplomacy, as it came to be known, served as the centerpiece of America's foreign policy under his administration.

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BIRTHDAY INDULGENCE #1: I really did have a lovely birthday. I like even numbers so I know it's going to be a good year! Seriously though, it started with a morning walk with a friend, followed by coffee and pastries at a fine pastry shop. I had an almond croissant that had a creamy custard filling, and a fresh-brewed cup of coffee. A great way to start the day.

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BIRTHDAY INDULGENCE #2: Later in the evening, our family enjoyed a birthday dinner at Kobe's Japanese Steak House. Kobe's is one of those places where they cook the food right in front of you.

Most of the chefs are Asian, but ours called himself the "Caucasian Sensation." He was quite talented, drumming with his cooking utensils and flipping eggs and other items up into the top of his hat.

(For a sideways glimpse of the Caucasian Sensation in action, click here.)

Needless to say, the kids and we adults all enjoyed our entertaining meal!

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INDULGENCE #3: We came home from Kobe's to a Cold Stone Creamery specialty cake -- coffee and toffee bar with dark chocolate icing. I didn't hear any of the kids, nor my mother, nor Troy complaining about this flavor of cake, which I had dropped subtle hints about when I saw it in a Cold Stone freezer a few weeks back. No one attempted to find 42 candles or a lighter. We just dug in and enjoyed every last messy moment.

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WORDS FROM THE POPE (ON ART):

My friend Maria, moderator of a list serve to which I belong, shared this with our writing group the other day:

“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art. Art must make perceptible, and as far as possible attractive, the world of the spirit, of the invisible, of God. It must therefore translate into meaningful terms that which is in itself ineffable. Art has a unique capacity to take one or other facet of the message and translate it into colors, shapes and sounds which nourish the intuition of those who look or listen. It does so without emptying the message itself of it transcendent value and its aura of mystery.”

— Pope John Paul II in his Letter to Artists, 1999

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WHAT'S NEXT: Rescheduled tennis game, soccer practices and games, dance and piano lessons, homework details, and mounds and mounds of paperwork for Peace Garden Mama to go through...this is what will permeate our coming days.

May your weekend be filled with Labor Day merriment!

Q4U: How are you planning to spend your Labor Day?

For more "quick takes," visit Jennifer @ Conversion Diary!

writing wednesdays: the kleinsasser connection

Why is my husband's grandfather holding an autographed football and cap by professional football player Jim Kleinsasser in this photo from 2005? And what does this have to do with my writing life? Find out on Peace Garden Writer!

I'm off to head into the day in which I'll hear Garrison Keillor in person. So until later, after I've been duly entrenched in Lake Wobegon tales, ta ta!

PGM