Top 10 Things About She Speaks, 2009

***This top ten list is really in no particular order as that would require WAY more mental energy than I can churn out right now. All I can say for sure is that number 1 truly is number 1. :-)


10. The introduction of the "Just Hangin' Out" track. Melissa Milbourn executed perfect role modeling for aspiring chillaxer-encouragers.

9. Riding through the rain in a certain someone's (very P31 high profile...think presidential, even) Chick-fil-A-mobile with my homey. Holly GOOD lives up to her name--what a sweet, dear woman.

8. Our front desk man Shawn ensuring our hotel guest needs were not only met, but exceeded expectations.

7. The hotel room! Why, oh why, did we not take pictures. It was SUCH the bomb.

6. Missy's late night concert via computer. I heard some amazing songs from this friend I never knew existed. The prayer meetin' rocked too. ;-)

5. Lunch with Wendy Pope as I watched her become indoctrinated into the "just hangin' out" track. She's now its biggest fan and promoter.

4. Getting to speak with four publishing professionals about my book and series idea! Three of them expressed that there is a definite need for this work. Nobody sugar-coated anything or made pie-in-the-sky promises, but they all left doors open for submission when I get it to that point. (And in this publishing season of NO unsolicited submissions, that is huge.) I was also able to introduce myself to the acquisitions editor at Revell and tell her I have devotions in two of their books coming out this fall. We chatted and she was so excited about the finished products--that was way cool and I really can't wait to see them now!

3. Reconnecting with buddies! There was Lisa Morrone, who blessed me by praying over me right before a meeting with a publisher. I met Lisa at my very first She Speaks in '06 and we've been friends ever since. And there was Sanya who was in my speaker evaluation group two years ago. Sanya, it was truly a blessing having dinner with you. You ministered to me as we broke bread together.

2. Seeing Mary DeMuth every time I turned around and helping her distribute her book Daisy Chain to all the lucky ladies in her session, AND receiving a copy myself! WOO HOO! Utterly stoked about reading it.

And the Number One thing about She Speaks, 2009 is...

1. Being continually amazed by God in about 1001 different ways as He showed me gift after gift. The main sessions were stellar and humbling. The breakout sessions were informative and practical, while tapping into heart matters. Lord, this simple little two word phrase can't being to capture the humongous feeling in my heart, but please accept it as a sacrifice and act of worship: THANK YOU. Thank you. Soooo grateful...

I Wish I Had a Devotional Book That...

A book packager is looking for some ideas with regard to theme for a devotional series. The demographic is women, ages 30 to 50 (ish). So if you've ever found yourself saying, "Man! I wish I could find a good devotion book that focuses on _______" now's your chance to say it with the possibility that it could actually materialize!

How would YOU fill in the blank?

See My Wordle? Thanks, Nicole!

image designed at www.wordle.net

My Talk at Bella Rosa

Hi All! Some of you were interested in seeing the video from the banquet on Saturday. It runs about 20 minutes, so grab a cup o' joe and put your feet up. :-)

Pretty Cool

Exciting news! Below are listings for two devotional books that will be coming out in October. I was blessed to be able to contribute ten devotions to the first one and four devotions to the second one. If you click on the title of each one you'll be able to see what the cover looks like and read a description.

I hear the photography throughout them will be really beautiful. When I was working on this project, writers were asked to provide a description of what they "saw" as a fitting visual for each devotion submitted. It'll be neat to see the finished products! Just wanted to share--I'm pretty stoked! :-)

Coming Soon
Quiet Reflections of Hope
120 Devotions to Start Your Day
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1928-9
Price: $12.99
Format: Hardcover
Publication date: Oct. 09 Division: Revell

Coming Soon
Quiet Reflections of Peace
120 Devotions to End Your Day
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1929-6
Price: $12.99
Format: Hardcover
Publication date: Oct. 09 Division: Revell

Farewell to the Vine

Bad news! The Vine is no more. (sniff, sniff)

Those of you who've been out to the Lay house in the past year or so have no doubt heard of the vine and have probably even been invited to swing on it. An endless source of entertainment for our kids, the vine was perfectly located. It hung from a high tree on the top of a pretty steep hill in the woods by our house.

When it was first discovered by our three junior explorers, it was rooted in the ground AND secured somewhere at the top of the tree. So they'd make a run and swing out in a wide circle over the drop off and back. Good times!

But the bottom attachment broke pretty early on, which opened up a whole new world...now the kids could grab on, make a run for it, and swing clear out over the little "valley" below where there'd be about a 20 foot drop if they fell before making it back to the top of the hill. Even better times! (Cuz ya know riskier is more fun!)

So yesterday the kids had been begging me to video tape them swinging on the vine. I was finishing up a few things so I told them to go ahead and start playing on it and I'd be there shortly. Videographer Maisie of course took the cam with her and just happened to catch the vine's final swing on film...

(**Video is supposed to go here--apparently this computer is too slow to upload a 30-second video as it keeps timing out! I'll try to get it up somehow!)



You really can't judge the height of the hill from the video, but I PRAISE GOD that the vine broke before Lexi and Skylar had gotten out very far. Though we'll miss the vine, better a broken vine than broken bones, AMEN?!

We Are Marshall

In case you missed it on the news...



Thanks, Marshall Lions! It's been an AWESOME ride! ;-)

Cue John Mellencamp's "Small Town"

Okay, so I'm sitting here working away at work (seriously) and out of my second floor window I hear squealing brakes followed by a crash. I fly to the window to see a white car stopped in the middle of the intersection. There's some denting on the front passenger side, but nothing major. A man gets out and I see him talking to someone I can't see because the gazebo is obstructing my view. I move to another window and see another car. This one is in worse shape as the whole front hood is buckled up into an "A" shape.

As I was considering who to call or whether I even should (both drivers had cell phones), I watch a police car pull up. (It's not often you see what goes down in an accident unless you're directly involved!) I see an officer--who happens to play bass guitar in a certain praise band--step into the situation and take control of things with a smile on his face.

Seems like a weird train of thought, but that little scene made me think, "Man, I LOVE livin' in this small town." Crazy, huh?

But I love that the officer who was there to help is not only a praise band bass player, but also an elder at church and a coach and role model to many.

I love that his wife will teach my girls next year. And that one of their sons used to go to the same baby-sitter my kids did.

I love that I see my daughter's teacher out running every evening and setting a great example of being fit to all the kids she influences (and their families!)

I love that my son's teacher has been a dear friend for years, that her older son is the same age as my girls, and that we'll be attending the same sporting events until they graduate.

I love that another dear friend is a co-worker who I've looked up to and loved since I first met her. My whole family loves KK and Marty and given the choice to play anyone at UNO, they'd choose Marty first. ;-)

I love that we see our dentist at 4-H functions, our chiropractor at church, and our doctor's nurse at basketball games.

In fact, I love that I can walk from my desk at work and BE at my chiropractor's in less than 120 steps.

I love that our youth minister is also a coach and that our bank teller gives the kids piano lessons. And the list could go on an on.

I guess that's what it means to be part of a community. And I'm so grateful to be a part of this one. (And Officer Sisson? Where in the Sam Hill was your coat?! It's 14 degrees out there!) ;-)

Here ya go, Gretchen! I think I posted one like this awhile back, but it might've been a different one? Anywho...
1.What is your occupation right now? Administrative Assistant to the Chief Judge
2.What color are your socks right now? Blue
3. What are you listening to right now? The clock ticking out the seconds until 4:00!
4. What was the last thing that you ate? string cheese
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes and I kinda miss it!
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Secrectary at an attorney's office.
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? YES!
8. How old are you today? 39 (won't be able to say THAT truthfully for much longer!)
9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Illinois Basketball
10.What is your favorite drink? cappuccino (iced when it's hot)
11.Have you ever dyed your hair? Yeah, and I think I'm starting to regret it because of maintenance.
12.Favorite food? My current favorite food is Ichiban sushi, but who knows when I'll have it again! $$
13. last movie you watched? Madagascar at home for family movie night
14.Favorite day of the year? Any holiday that I'm off work!
15.How do you vent anger? Cry
16.What was your favorite toy as a child? Weebles and inchworm
17.What is your favorite season? I'm always ready for each new one.
18.Cherries or Blueberries? Both
19. Do you want your friends to e-mail or blog you back? If they want to
20.Who is the most likely to respond? I think they already have!
21. Who is least likely to respond?
22. Living arrangements? Live with Hubby, three kids, one chocolate lab, one hermit crab, a minnow, and there might even be a few creatures in Maisie's room I'm unaware of.
23. When was the last time you cried? at church
24.What is on the floor of your closet? shoes, a special neck pillow, and a few bags
25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to?
26. What did you do last night? laundry
27.What are you most afraid of? missing the call
28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheese (and some spice doesn't hurt)
29.Favorite dog breed? Labrador retrievers
30. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
31. How many states have you lived in? two (Illinois, Texas--for a summer)
32.Diamonds or pearls? Both?

Rick Warren' Inauguration Prayer

I was very happy to read that Rick Warren was chosen by Barack Obama to deliver the inaugural invocation on January 20th. The article focused on what reactions the prayer will have if Warren "offers up the prayer in the name of Jesus." Apparently, Franklin Graham and others who have prayed at past inaugurations have drawn criticism for "invoking Christ."

The article says, "Warren did not answer directly when asked whether he would dedicate his prayer to Jesus. In a statement Tuesday to the Associated Press, Warren would say only that, 'I'm a Christian pastor so I will pray the only kind of prayer I know how to pray. Prayers are not to be sermons, speeches, position statements nor political posturing. They are humble, personal appeals to God.'"

I love his answer because I think it basically assures Christians (have you ever heard him pray?!) that the Lord will be given authority in the prayer. But I think it's interesting and heartbreaking that there are people ready to lash out in negativity if the name of Jesus is mentioned.

I see it like Franklin Graham, who had this to say: "For a Christian, especially for an evangelical pastor, the Bible teaches us that we are to pray in the name of Jesus Christ. How can a minister pray any other way? If you don't want someone to pray in Jesus' name, don't invite an evangelical minister."

Amen.

Pray for My Friend?

You might remember my Minnesota email friend, Tammy, from my Oct. 7th post. (I tried to put the link here but I guess with no title it doesn't work?) Anyway, this sweet young mom and 3rd grade teacher--who was being checked for something else--was told she has some blood on her brain. She will see a neurosurgeon to get more details, but I can tell you her faith is an inspiration. Please intercede and pray that God will render it all harmless. Thanks, guys.

You Might Be a Redneck If...

You might be a redneck if...

...you drive a muddy Ford F150 with deer remains in the back to work because the Mercedes is in the shop. (The Benzo is just a cover anyway.)


...you're belting out country songs with the radio while you and your daughter grind the meat of two deer that have been hanging in your garage for too many days now. (Thank goodness it's been cold!



Seriously. That's how Maisie and I spent this evening. Basketball Coach Dad had a 4:00 and a 6:00 practice with each of the other two kids, so it was up to Mais and me to get the venison in freezer-friendly form. Shane had gotten everything set up for us so our system was practically up and running for us. We just added the elbow grease. :-) Now that's country, y'all!