I've been thinking about 2011 for eight days now and what it's going to be for me.  No resolutions, just ways to improve my life. As I pack away decorations, I think of organization and finding things later this year.  I also think of ridding my life of excess and making things easier.  When I write, I thank God for my present and future successes.  It's been a hectic time with galley edits for one book and content edits for another but I made it through with His help.  I'm even thinking about a future proposal as I write my current book.  With my full time job, I think about the future and retirement.  I'd love nothing more than to have more time to pursue all my interests but that's years away and rather than wishing my life away, I need to focus on living each day to it's fullest.  Every day is time in my life I can't get back, no replays, do overs, etc.  It is what it is and I need to do more to make the days better.  In terms of my relationship with God, I know that needs to be strengthed.  I need to pray over my current church situation and determine what God would have me do.  I need to be more faithful in studying the Word. 
So as the days of the new year 2011 pass, I need to ask myself what will I do to make the year memorable?  Whatever it is, I'll do it with God's guidance and love.  Pray for me. 
And as always, happy reading, Terry

It's been a hectic Christmas season.  Either that or I'm getting old and I'm not about to admit that.  Seems I've been in slow motion and everything refuses to cooperate.  Failed lights, blow ups that won't stand up, a tree stand gave way last night and I had to put up half the tree again. 
But guess what -- none of that will steal my joy for I know the true meaning of Christmas.  Christ came to earth over two thousand years ago to deliver me from my sin and for that I'm thankful.  Last week our cantata sang about Emmanuel -- just one of the many names by which our Savior is called. 
This year as you gather with your family, take time to thank God for sending His Son. And if you don't know Him as your personal Savior, consider accepting the gift He wants you to have.

Merry Christmas to everyone and may 2011 bring the fulfillment of all your dreams.

At the rate this year is passing, 2011 will be here in the blink of an eye. I always look forward to Saturdays.  It's my day to do what I want.  I work five days a week and Sunday is God's day so I feel entitled.  Of course that pesky housework has a tendency to interfere.
So I stay up late on Friday and Saturday nights enjoying my time and knowing it will be gone entirely too fast.  Some of those evenings are spent writing or reading and others in mindless tasks that help me destress from a hectic week.
So while the cry has always been Thank God for Friday, I think maybe mine is Thank God for Saturday -- my favorite day of the week.

I've been back at work for over two weeks -- seems longer but that probably has to do with working my regular job and doing edits when I got home.  I got them back to the editor on schedule and now I'm working on the book that is due November 1st.
My mountain research trip was great.  I went to Biltmore and while I'll never know what it's like to live in a 250 room house, I hope to one day experience something so grand in heaven.
I visited Murphy (the site for With Not a Spoken Word).  It started to rain and I took this shot at the Hiwassee Dam.  I also saw Fields in the Wood and Chimney Rock.  There's an elevator that goes 22 stories up inside the mountain and climbed steps to the top of the mountain to take in the 65 mile view.  We could see Lake Lure which was the site of filming for Dirty Dancing. 
As always, the views were majestic and the time off was great. 

Well the birthday is past but the vacation is underway.  I'm looking forward to the next week.  I'll be taking a short research trip to the NC mountains for my new book, With Not a Spoken Word. We'll be visiting Biltmore House and I'm looking forward to seeing that for the first time.  

I'm also looking forward to being away from work and enjoying a different setting for a while.  I'm not enjoying the heat of summer. I worked out in my yard today until I ran across a small snake in my flower bed.  After that I decided he could have the bed and I'd come inside and cool off.  :) Nice of me don't you think?

Did you ever wonder exactly why it is you even mess with a computer?  I bought a new unit and I've been trying to get used to the bells and whistles.  I had typed 25 pages of my new manuscript and now I can't open the file.  I'm still trying but looks like I'mm have to recreate. 
I just got that last blog I wrote back in June published.  Had problems with my web server but it's there now.  I did get the manuscript in the mail in time for my deadline and I got my new contract.  That's the book I'm having problems with now.  Pray for me and this computer.  It's too new for me to toss it out the window.  :)

The first day of summer hasn't arrived yet and I'm ready for fall.  I'm not a huge fan of summer and it seems that this year has been even hotter.  I don't suppose it has -- maybe it's because I'm getting older and more conditioned to being inside.  I have all these major plans for redoing my back yard one day and then I wonder why since I find it too hot to spend much time outside in the summer.  Oh well, there's always pleasant evenings to enjoy.
I'm on deadline race.  I sat up late last night finishing a final draft that as all writers know is never final.  I can edit all the way to submission and still find something I wished I'd changed when the book comes out in print.  Pray for me as July 1st approaches.  It's my desire that this book be exactly what God wants it to be.
Happy Reading.

Did you know Barbie has a full name?  A history?  Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.  She's from Willows, Wisconsin and went to Willows High School.  Her boyfriend is Ken Carson.
Personally I think by now she should be Barbara Carson.  Who dates a man for more than fifty years?  And how many wedding dresses have been bought for all her Barbie clone sisters over the years?
I still have my Barbie.  She was well loved and played with during my youth.  One of my favorite childhood Christmas gifts was the wardrobe my mom sewed for my doll. She even crocheted little tops to go under the suits.  There was an evening gown with a crinoline and a fitted red strapless gown with a ruffled bottom. Only one dress survived and as an adult I look back with regret, wishing I'd valued the items as they deserved. 
Love went into that gift.  The same love that went into everything she did for her children. Her love for us was unending. My mom has been dead since 1991 and I miss her 
every day. 

Saturday I made the first of my annual treks to the nursery to buy plants for my pots.  I have a collection of plants I always buy but I'm often enticed by something new.  There will be more trips to add to the collection which I'll enjoy throughout the summer. 
This beauty is an iris I planted last year which bloomed for the first time.  Irises are one of my favorites.  I have one bed that will have hundreds of blooms if all goes well this year.  So far I've had about a dozen yellow irises so I'm thinking it's going to be a bountiful year. 
I also bought a yellow and a lavender columbine.  Those are the most fragile plants but I find their intricate design quite impressive. I'm always so impressed by the beauty of God's creations and thank Him for the joy he bri

Hard to believe we're basically four days away from a new month and less than a week away from the Easter holiday. This is a special time of year for me.  I love seeing new flowers coming up after the cold, bleak winter.  It's been a cold one here -- 52 days of below freezing temperatures which for us is strange.  We're near the coast.  Also the 10th coldest winter on record but forget all that -- spring is here and winter is nothing but a memory. 
Today we've been preparing for our Easter cantata -- Grace that Amazes.  When you consider what Jesus Christ did for us that truly is grace.  My favorite song in the program is A Picture of Grace which talks about the master's hand painting this picture of grace.  It's wonderful to think of the way God created me and has blessed me in so many ways I can't begin to thank Him for all of them.  If you think about me tomorrow night, pray God will bless my less than talented singing to His glory and if you don't have a church of your own, I hope you'll take the time to see one of the Easter programs in your community churches. It's an experience you surely won't forget.