Thank You, Father

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of being able to call you Father.

 

Thank you for my incredible family:

My husband Murray, who treasures me;

Five exciting children;

My sweet mother;

My three squirrelly brothers;

 

Books that make me smile;

 

This wonderful house which keeps us warm and dry;

 

Our new, sweet kitty;

 

Music that touches my heart;

 

Jesus, my Savior

 

Coffee;

 

Chocolate;

 

The abundant way you meet my needs;

 

Being able to call Jesus friend;

 

Remind me all year, Lord, to share the wealth you have entrusted to me. 

Two Sweet Christmas Stories

I recently found a fun Christmas book, The wish book Christmas by Lynn Austin. In 1951, two five-year-old boys have a lot of gifts they want to ask Santa for, after they see the Sears Christmas Catalog. Plus, they want to ask him for new daddies.

 

Their mothers work to teach them about Christmas as Jesus’ birthday, and the joy there is in giving gifts to others. God has a few lessons for the mothers, too, about the gifts he’s given them.

 

My children’s Christmas book, Millie’s Christmas, is available on Amazon again.

 

When my first publisher, Mantle Rock Publishing, closed down earlier this year, my two adult books, All my Tears and Gifts of Grace, went to Scrivenings Press, and Millie’s Christmas came to me to be republished independently.

 

My poor family put up with my grumbling and pressure and helped me get my sweet Christmas story out again. The process only made me appreciate my publishers more than I already did.

 

Millie’s Christmas was a precious gift to me from God. It can be shared with children four to eight, but adults enjoy it too.

 

Ruthie says Millie will love Christmas. Ruthie is Millie’s best friend, so she’s sure Ruthie’s right, but why does Millie keep finding Ruthie and her brother Jake crying?

 

Millie, an orange kitten, shares about her first Christmas. Her best friend Ruthie, six years old, teaches Millie about Christmas—food, decorations, music, presents, and Jesus!

Millie’s friend Bruce, the family dog, also helps her celebrate Christmas, and sometimes gets her in trouble.

When Ruthie’s big brother Jake breaks his ankle, Millie learns about sad things, like divorce, when Jake can’t visit his mommy for Christmas. Millie watches Ruthie’s family love each other through the sadness, and find joy in Christmas.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Millies-Christmas-Kathy-McKinsey/dp/B09HQBTL7J

 

These are both great books. 

Guest Author, Jodie Wolfe

Thank you, Jodie, for the encouragement of coming back to writing after a dry spell. And, I love quirky.

 

Writing in the Midst of Chaos

By Jodie Wolfe

I often have a hard time coming up with a blog topic, especially when it’s been a while since I’ve done much creative writing. While I have a book releasing today, I wrote it many years ago. I know, I’m a writer, so don’t I write a lot? It’s been several years since I’ve written a new book. I’ve had times where I’ve tried to start one, but I haven’t gotten any farther than a few chapters.

 

So, what happened to make me stop writing? I had an extremely stressful situation I went through that challenged me to the core of my being. My reaction was to close up and to do what was safe…not write. The longer I stayed away from it, the harder it was to get started again.

 

In 2020 I planned to get back up on the writing horse again, but then Covid hit. My husband started working from home and our lives became chaotic. I had gotten a book to read called Chaos Can’t by Allen Arnold, but I didn’t read it. I kept thinking that when things calm down, I’ll start writing again, and I’ll read that book. You guessed it; things didn’t settle down. In fact, 2021 has been more chaotic than 2020. Things I never imagined my husband and I would be facing.

 

In September, I kept thinking about my chaotic life. It had been a LONG time since I had any creative thoughts or words. I felt God was encouraging me to not fight against the chaos, but instead look to Him for strength and direction in the midst of it. I finally gave in and said, “Okay, Lord. Help me to write even when all I can see is the chaos around me.”

 

It wasn’t long after that prayer that I started having ideas for book three in the Burrton Springs Brides series. While the first two books were written many years ago, I now had an idea for the next installment. One morning I was awakened in the wee hours and was praying for our son who is going through a very difficult time in his life. In the midst of those prayers, God gave me an idea for the plot of the next book. Then a couple days later when I was walking and praying, He gave me the opening scene. I came home and started writing. The words flowed…the way they used to when writing a new story.

 

My question for you is this…is your life in chaos? What is God calling you to do in spite of it?

 

Blurb

After twenty years of living along the trail as a deputy U.S. Marshal, Joshua Walker takes a job as sheriff in Burrton Springs, Kansas so he can be closer to his sister. Only problem, she no longer requires his protecting so he's unsure of his next step.

 

Annie McPherson needs a change after the death of her father. She accepts a position as schoolmarm, hoping her past won't catch up with her. Life is good, except for the pesky sheriff who continues to question her ability to adjust to life in the west and creates confrontations at every turn.

 

When the irritating schoolteacher's past and present collide, dragging him into the turmoil, Josh has to decide who he's willing to defend.

 

Bio

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers, and COMPEL Training. She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

 

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jodie-wolfe

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

 

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/jodiewolfe

 

Purchase Links

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/protecting-annie-jodie-wolfe/1139707155?ean=9781522303763

 

https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_46&products_id=1544

 

https://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Annie-Burrton-Springs-Brides-ebook/dp/B097F5GZ47/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=protecting+annie&qid=1635627329&sr=8-2

 

 

Sweet Memories and Fun Thoughts

July 30, 1998: The other night the kids took invitations to a 5-day Bible club at our house to our neighbors. Rebecca said one neighbor boy handed it back to her and said they don't read the Bible. Ping-Hwei didn't understand that. He kept asking over and over, "Why some people no love Jesus?"

 

August 11, 1998: Benjamin drinks whole milk, which is sometimes called homogenized on the jug. This morning I asked Rebecca which milk I had, Benjamin's or the low-fat milk which the rest of us drink. She said, "That's hypnotized, or whatever."

 

Murray and the kids were in the car this afternoon, and Rebecca said that animals had to be the kind of animals that their parents were. Murray said, no, there were animals not quite like their parents. Rebecca said, "Yeah, aren't camels and donkeys the parents of llamas?" (we're pretty sure she was thinking of mules).

 

August 15, 1998: Murray and the kids were on the way to Branson, and Murray said, "We're almost there -- soon we'll see grandma and Morgan and Myles and maybe Dylan." Sarah said, "Don't get me so excited."

 

On the trip, there was some violin music on the radio, and Murray asked what kind of instrument that was. Sarah answered, "I think accordion."

 

We have decided that Caleb is the strangest person we know. Since he's had chicken pox, he's been taking baths in this oatmeal bath stuff. This morning we were talking about how you use oatmeal for itchiness, and tomato juice for skunk smell, and he asked, "But what if you went outside and ten million horses sneezed on you?"

 

August 27, 1998: Rebecca is showing Sarah a book about body parts, and she just showed her a picture of the brain, and excitedly, Sarah said, "Daddy's right! It does look like lettuce!" "Cabbage," Rebecca corrected.