Titanic Reads

I’m a history fan, one who has missed more than one writing opportunity because I was watching too much History channel. I’m also a reader that often goes through books by author or topic. With the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking coming up April 14, there is a lot in the news about this tragic voyage.

Guess what? There are a lot of books releasing where the famous ship is an integral part of the story. I thought today I’d share these reads, with thanks to fellow ACFW members who helped me compile this list. To learn more about purchasing, click on the link.

Our very own Yvonne Lehman has Hearts that Survive.

From Amazon:

On April 15, 1912, Lydia Beaumont is on her way to a new life with a boundless hope in love and faith. Her new friendship with Caroline Chadwick is bonded even more as they plan Lydia’s wedding on board the “grandest ship ever built.” Then both women suffer tragic losses when the “unsinkable” Titanic goes down. Can each survive the scars the disaster left on their lives?

Decades later, Alan Morris feels like a failure until he discovers he is the descendant of an acclaimed, successful, heroic novelist who went down with the Titanic. Will he find his identity with the past, or will he listen to Joanna Bettencourt, Caroline’s granddaughter, who says inner peace and success come only with a personal relationship with the Lord?

Will those who survived and their descendants be able to find a love more powerful than their pain?

Mindy Starns Clark, Echoes of the Titanic.

Janice Thompson, Queen of the Waves, to-be released. If you can’t get enough of the Titanic, consider joining her Facebook group, also called Queen of the Waves. Members choose either a real or fictional passenger and research outfits, customs, etc…for a virtual sailing to coincide with the anniversary. She’s encouraging teachers, students, and homeschool families to join her.

Cathy Gohlke, Promise Me This.

Rhonda Gibson and Stacy Baron, What’s in Your Closet? This contains a Titanic thread in her story.

Tricia Goyer, By the Light of the Silvery Moon.

Kathleen Kovach and Paula Moldenhauer will release Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal in e-book form April 15.

Tiffany Amber Stockton, Antique Dreams, to release later this year.

These were released prior to 2012, but contain Titanic themes and/or fascinating information:

Walter Lord, A Night to Remember.

Pamela Griffin‘s A Bridge Across the Sea. (Part of the Titanic Series)

Peter Chrisp, Explore Titanic with CD.

I was also delighted to hear that younger people are interested and writing about the Titanic. Jonathan B. Martin wrote The Titanic for Young Readers through Tate Publishers.

Image given to me by Jude Urbanski

I think this list has something for everyone. Go ahead and find a Titanic book today. I look forward to you sharing your favorite reads.

 

 

The Discount Store Lesson

Whether it’s normal or not, I’m the kind of person God uses the daily things of life to teach me more about Him and myself. Years ago I blogged about how my fear of the biscuit tube exploding reminded me of the Lord’s return. A trip through a gorgeous state park was a lesson on trying new things in faith.

Today, I thought I would share what God showed me inside a discount store.

This kind of store is only a couple miles from where we live and it has a reputation of being a convenient place to shop, but not in a great part of town. It’s not as clean as it can be, and there are some people employed there who will tell you to your face they truly don’t care about being there. Helping? It’s not assumed at this store among the locals. I know people who live in the same suburb who confess to driving to the same name store in another town because the store is bigger, cleaner, and filled with employees who will answer consumer questions. The one near me has such a negative reputation that when we first moved here a family flippantly shared that the best thing that could happen to that store would be for it to disappear.

Earlier this week I needed some items but didn’t have a lot of time. I forged into the store near me and saw something on the exterior. Scaffolding. The parking lot changed to accommodate the remodeling trucks and equipment.  Once inside I realized the products are in new locations and aisles shifted. This particular store is in total remodel mode, most likely with a plan to add sparkle and space.

Yet despite the equipment and the promise of transition, at the core of the this shopping experience, something was very much the same. The heart of those working there. Looking around, when someone asked for help, they were met with a blank stare and a shrug. I turned a corner to find three employees in a very narrow aisle talking, and not too happy that they had to shift a foot or two down so I could find and reach my item. Although I haven’t talked to friends about this, I suspect they would walk away as I did—thinking the more they change, the more they stay the same.

But in the middle of the narrow aisle where my mission was to get a protractor and get out of there, God whispered this profound thought.

“This is what it’s like when you dress up a wound without addressing it. It’s just a cosmetic change.”

Ouch. I realized there were many times when I set up the scaffolding against my heart and threw some band-aids on the cracks and gaps, but didn’t change the internal wounds that kept me from reaching my true potential.  Things looked pretty for a time, but no one was fooled. There was no true change. I had to address the core issues to experience true transformation.

If that discount store wants to experience an authentic re-model, like me, they need an organization bigger than them to lovingly confront the staff that they are too valuable to continue this way. They need a re-boot, removing toxic elements such as words and attitudes from the deepest place in the store.  There needs to be a commitment to find why the employees feel the way they do, what makes them choose their words and actions (or non-actions). Finally, everyone needs to unite and agree to change, knowing it’s a journey, but one worth taking. When these things come together, people will take notice and I believe they will flourish.

I remember grieving over how much time and how emotionally taxing it was to go through a true remodel of my heart, receiving healing from experiences I was allowing to rule me. Day by day I saw fruit come from the yielding those wounds, but it was hard work. I knew it was worth it, but the best confirmation came from my husband. He was talking to a young couple and identified me this way: the new Julie. To me, that meant he recognized the transformation. The old Julie was gone, and the change was in place. I’m so glad I stopped the band-aid fixes and allowed God to take care of me, inside and out.

Chances are right now you are thinking of someone throwing a coat of paint over the wounds on their heart thinking it’s good enough. Like the store, no one wants to visit a store filled with negativity and little by little as the paint cracks, people will stay away. The bigger question is, how about you? Is God pointing to a place in your life that needs a total rework? Would you trust Him today with a restoration process that doesn’t skimp on budget or time constraints because He has the best for you in mind?

Because just as a shopper that knows a product with good value, God knows you, loves you, and believes you are worth the journey.

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Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

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Being a Bridesmaid

Last week my schedule slowed down compliments of bronchitis, a sinus and ear infection. The day I felt the worst I laid low with the television remote by my side. First I watched The Proposal back-to-back, even though I’ve seen it multiple times. One movie I had not seen prior to my day in bed was 27 Dresses.

This movie starred Katherine Heigl as a woman who seemed doomed to be the eternal bridesmaid, and she had the 27 dresses to prove it. A writer named Kevin comes on the scene and asks how she can stand always being #2, sacrificing the attention and the best dress to the brides.

 

Kevin’s questions got me thinking. When it comes to ministry work and my writing, I’m the bridesmaid. Can you relate?

My husband I and shared our thoughts on the subject. We often are asked to substitute or lend a hand when a leader leaves, goes on vacation, or for whatever reason can’t be at their regular post. We’re both honored to be trusted and it’s important to us to serve with the same love, grace, and enthusiasm the original minister has. More than once well-meaning friends pull either my husband or me aside and ask if things changed, would we want the position? Or, if it’s already vacant, why aren’t we gunning for it?

Simply put, we like the #2 bridesmaid role. When it comes to leadership, bridesmaid types enjoy an end date to their duties. Bridesmaids keep the bride happy, plan a shower, purchase gifts, and help ensure the morning of the wedding goes well for the bride. They are standing up and saying they believe in the bride and the choice she is making. But when the reception ends, bridesmaids get to go home and forget the dress. Brides are just starting the biggest role of their life.

I enjoy knowing someone needs my help, but that I can return the reins back to them. I don’t make a great administrator, but I love being an encourager.  When I give my time and talents to ministry, subbing or helping the main teacher, I’m standing up and believing in the leadership, just like a bridesmaid. Whether for a few short hours or in my husband’s case, a month or more, we like helping out. We love serving and making a difference to forward God’s Kingdom. But we’re happiest returning to our second (or lower) in command role.

Is there a time when being a bridesmaid isn’t always desirable?

Honestly? Yes. For me,  as a writer.

I’m still the encourager, and I love passing on website links and article info to other writers. If I can catch dialogue that’s off in a critique or promote a book on my website, it’s a great feeling.

Until one year becomes three and the writers who asked me for beginner advice are now published authors. I’m thrilled for them, but there’s a part of me picturing myself in one of the hideous bridesmaid dresses. When, if ever, will I get to wear the big dress called author?

I’m blessed to have contributing author credits, but I now feel the itch to take my writing up a notch. This means taking classes, reading books, and implementing critiques on my own work.  In the bride scenario I’m still dating, but I’d like to think it’s a commitment. Once I finish editing and research the agent process, perhaps I’ll be engaged. But like the bridesmaid smiling at the altar, it’s true.

One day I’d like to be a bride.

For now, I’ll wear my bridesmaid status in all the work I do and not take it for granted.

While I wait for the author call, I’ll be thankful I don’t have to wear a canary taffeta dress.

 

http://www.juliearduini.com

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

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Hotter than Legwarmers and Sixteen Candles in the 80′s: Pinterest

I’m a Gen X’er who grew up with preppy collars and leg warmers. If you remember Sixteen Candles, the movie where all girls my age wanted Molly Ringwald’s pouty lips and the character Jake, you also recall how fast trends spread. Decades later if I hear someone screech “Jake”, it takes me back to high school where that was a key phrase. Samantha’s clothes were copied. The music group Spandau Ballet enjoyed extra celebrity thanks to their song highlighting a key scene. It wasn’t an Oscar winning movie but it was a trend setter.

These teen flashbacks occurred over the weekend when I returned from vacation. My husband and I enjoyed a few days to ourselves courtesy of Royal Caribbean. We weren’t gone that long, just  short of a week. Yet one word transitioned from a little whisper in the distance to a full roar I can’t escape. Whether online or with friends, this phenomenon is bigger than yes, Sixteen Candles.

What is it?

 

This newest form of social media propelled faster than Facebook and Twitter. Its potential for addiction just as rapid as the rumors Samantha liked Jake. Pinterest is by invite, but if you request free membership from the site you’ll receive one in a day or so.

Then what?

Pinterest is a virtual bulletin board. Where Twitter has Tweets and Re-Tweets, Pinterest has Pins and Re-Pins. I installed a bookmarklet for Firefox and pretty much anything on the web is available as a pin. Create your board, add your pins. Describe what your pins are about. It’s that easy.

Bulletin board ideas are endless. I’ve seen wish lists, home ideas, favorite movies, quotes, antiques, and so much more. You can follow boards similar to the way you accept Facebook friends. What I like about Pinterest is so far, it appears low maintenance. Authors are fond of this hottest new trend because they can pin their book covers and gain a new audience with little effort. Their pins can generate new boards for readers who re-pin those books for their wish list boards.

Steve Laube featured a link about Pinterest that I found interesting. If you’re thinking about trying the cyberspace cork board out, follow me.

I’ll be the one with a turned up collar and leg warmers screaming for Jake.

http://www.juliearduini.com

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

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It Really Is a Small World

This real life experience is so surreal that I thought I’d share it with you. I think what intrigues me the most, given how expansive our world is because of social media, God still gives those small world moments, too.

I recently joined the Women’s Literary Cafe and I participate in their networking opportunities to highlight authors, new books, and Indie reads. Most of the networking is through Twitter, and I’ve enjoyed meeting new authors and readers through this.  During Christmas vacation I learned I had a few new Twitter followers, and with low cell phone signal, tried to thank them.

One follower stood out more than the others. It wasn’t so much he was an author, but where he was from. He mentioned his area as the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. That’s pretty specific, and it had my attention because that’s where I spent 34 years. I thanked him for the follow and mentioned the shared location.

He sent a Tweet saying how funny that was, and that his hometown is a place I probably don’t know, a place called Geneseo.

Geneseo is where I gradated from college.

Isn’t that wild?

But wait, this isn’t finished.

He confesses he doesn’t just live in Upstate NY, he also sets his mysteries in Upstate NY. The Adirondack Mountains, in fact.

I tweet that my work-in-progress, a contemporary romance, is based in the Adirondacks.

Now we’re both seeing how crazy this is.

Yet, there is more.

He writes back, wondering if I know of Speculator, NY, as that’s where his story takes place.

My story, Spectacular Falls, is based on the Adirondack village I love so much—Speculator.

Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York/picture by Julie Arduini

At this point we’ve exchanged e-mails (my husband is aware and I’m keeping accountability as I often preach about the dangers for married people to correspond with the opposite sex and this author is happily married with a beautiful family) and the small world wonders continue. He had a book signing at the only grocery store in town and the staff helped him with accuracy.

Spectacular Falls has a store based on the real one, where the hero is the co owner. Many of my scenes center on that very store, or my version of it.

This author is Aaron Paul Lazar and the world is small enough that he was able to describe his home to a single intersection and I know exactly where it is.  He’s been kind enough to extend his upcoming release to me for a read, and offered to look at my WIP as well. Although our genres are different, already we both weave that unique Adirondack smell into our stories. It’s balsam and evergreen and is such a part of Speculator life, it’s impossible not to mention the fragrance.

Aaron isn’t the only Upstate NY and Speculator connection. I met Elaine Miller a few years ago when I was a Mothers of Preschoolers, MOPS, mom of a toddler and Elaine was our guest speaker. She’s a dear friend to the mentor mom we had at the time, and I remember Elaine’s book, Splashes of Serenity. I loved the book so much I ordered copies for friends. Years went by and I caught up with Elaine on Facebook. She wrote about Speculator. I told her my WIP is based in Speculator.

The Miller family has spent 30+ years in Speculator.

The writing life is isolated and one piece of trivia I put in Spectacular Falls is that there are no traffic lights in Speculator. It’s a small place, but the mark Speculator leaves on your heart is canyon wide. What I love about working through the story and connecting with others to learn the craft is how small the world is.

Do you have any stories like this? What do you think about all these shared events?

How to Create a Prayer Covering

In my last post about how to avoid great expectations that lead to disappointment in the new year, I promised to post today on what a prayer covering is and why I’m so passionate about it.

I’m not the first to think of the idea.

My inspiration came from Christian novelist RobinLee Hatcher. In an undated interview with Focus on Fiction, she explained her prayer team, and how she counts on their prayers. She noted it was intercession from prayer warriors that “carried her through.”

Before I put a word on paper or typed on my keyboard I decided I was going to do two things.

1. Commit my writing to God. Write as He leads. No more, no less.

2. Create a prayer team. 

I believe a prayer team is key for Christians, no matter what they do each day.

Maybe you’ve heard of the Presidential Prayer team. Perhaps you received updates from missionaries as part of a prayer coordination. Well, I think the prayer team should be expanded. I think if you have proclaimed Jesus Christ as your Savior, you should have a prayer team. I think you need a prayer team whether you are a pastor or a teacher. A banker or a real estate agent. A stay at home mom or a corporate VP.  Anytime you represent Jesus at home, work or ministry there will be forces against you.

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19-20, NIV

Having a prayer team gives what I call “intercession protection.”

Matthew 18:20 states,“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

I’ve read the missionary accounts where missionaries were surrounded by crowds filled with evil intent and suddenly the crowds disappeared. Turns out believers were praying at the exact time the missionaries were in peril. Later on one of the potential criminals reported seeing such a band of warriors surrounding the missionaries, they fled. Those warriors were angelic protection sent by God thanks to prayer.

Executives who committed to serve God in the workplace felt peace when budgets didn’t balance. Teachers learned strategies to share Godly principles in a creative way. These are byproducts of having a prayer team.

Here is my prayer team experience:

I promised God I would write for Him in fall 2006. I prayed and believed I was meant to create a prayer team.  Each fall I pray for names of believing women who might want to join the team. Since that first year, my writing ministry has seen crazy favor. Most peers seek publication. Months after making the commitment to write for God an author contacted me and asked to use my story in her book. By fall 2007 I was invited to a book signing. It took reading the invite three times before I realized I was one of the authors, not the one seeking signatures!

Before the prayer team my family was in the midst of chronic sickness and transition. Within months our daughter moved out of steady therapy to a pre-school program where she became a help to others with special needs situations. I can’t tell you the times I’ve been anxious and then I’m flooded with peace. I give God the glory for all these things.

Yet I believe part of the call on my life is to encourage you to build a prayer team.

There are a few things that I think set apart a prayer team for success. Please prayerfully consider starting and implementing these things with your team.

1.Pray about whom to invite.

It’s important you only invite people who have made a proclamation for Christ. Salvation is essential. Believing in God is not enough. As soon as one enters into a committed prayer ministry there is an element of spiritual warfare.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8, NIV

The Holy Spirit will guide you to the right person or people. I’ve never had the same amount of people to invite each year and not every person I invite accepts. I truly believe God leads and I trust Him through the entire process.

2. Only invite people of the same gender.

This is obvious and yet the articles I read on emotional affairs show me women are sharing too much with men who are not their husbands. Do not think you can keep boundaries by including someone on your prayer team that is of the opposite sex. Prayer is such an intimate act and this is a special ministry. Don’t play with fire.

 

3. Discourage those that want to invite themselves

I learned the hard way accepting an enthusiastic praying person into something so personal, private and with boundaries is not a good idea. I don’t discourage prayer by any means; I just don’t randomly allow people to invite themselves. If someone wants to pray but you don’tbelieve they are someone to invite, thank them and ask they pray for your general ministry.  For me, I ask them to pray for my writing. It doesn’t give specifics, and yet it is a true area I need prayer. By allowing anyone to join, even with the best of intentions, I believe boundaries will be skewed.

In my instance, the person felt they had the right to tell me what to write or not write and if I became in their eyes disobedient, they were angry. It’s not the way to have a prayer team. Learn from me and prayerfully invite your team members.  Everyone else, keep it general.

4. I send out invites in November and ask them to prayerfully respond before the end of December.

I emphasize them praying about it. Their praying is a ministry. I even suggest they create a prayer team.  I believe prayer teams need a domino effect. My first prayer team was hit hard in every possible way.  It was a battle for them and yet their prayers yielded so much fruit. I don’t want anyone to accept lightly. I’ve let the ladies know I’d rather they decline and be honest than think they have to accept to please me and take on a burden they were never meant to carry.

5. I outline the boundaries in the invite so they know what I’m expecting.

My guidelines are that my praises and prayers are confidential. I do give specifics on the writing ministry. It is a lonely life and sometimes I share personal details or specifics on a project that is not ready for public promotion. I let them know I have no expectation they be on their knees praying every day for hours on end. I think the most active intercessors are the busy moms praying during a diaper change or folding laundry.  I tell them as my name and writing pop in their heads, lift up a prayer.  Each month I send a list with praises and prayers for their use if they want it. If I’m able, I send each member a thank you, often a book.  So far, I’ve invited each previous team back for the next year. Most re-commit, but not always.

That’s it! It’s not complicated but I believe creating a prayer team is life changing for the intercessor and the person requesting prayer. You’re worth it. No matter what your vocation or status, why not take a leap of faith and start your team today?

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How to Avoid Great Expectations in 2012 by Julie Arduini

With Christmas behind us, the conversation of the week seems to be about resolutions. People are reflecting on their year and making goals for the new one. I giggled watching Live with Kelly as Kelly Ripa mentioned resolutions and how she avoids the gym for the first three weeks of the new year. Her observation is that new members with great intentions take over the facility those first three weeks. But day after day the numbers drop until that third week when it’s pretty much back to the regular members. I can relate to that.

I’ve read that it takes 21 days to form a habit, good or bad. When I talk with friends about resolutions, one thing stands out—they have great expectations. They place a huge burden on a single month, expecting immediate transformation. For those who have a personality like mine, all or nothing, this is a plan destined for disappointment.

My take is to prayerfully take stock of your life and see what God has for you. He knows you best of all, why not ask Him what He wants for you this year? His answer might surprise you. Whatever your 2012 goals are, why not implement this strategy into making these goals success stories—

1. Eat that elephant one bite at a time. I have a writing friend who received great news, but with her contract came a formidable deadline. When she looked at the end date and total word count, she grew anxious. The task was daunting and the more she looked at the big picture, the more she felt she would fail. After praying she realized to scale things down. She looked at how many words a day she needed to write to meet that deadline, and factored in days where life would get in the way and she might not get a lot of writing accomplished. Turns out she needed 1,000 words a day to meet that goal. That overwhelming task was now manageable. She’s well on her way because she took that elephant and as the joke goes, she ate one bite at a time.

2. Make it your job. This is for the all or nothing personality. I look at what I want to accomplish as a wife, mom, writer, and ministry leader and break each category down. Last year I wanted to lose weight but knew from previous failures just saying I wanted to lose wasn’t going to be enough. I researched methods and chose following Lysa TerKeurst’s Made to Crave online study. The principles in that book gave me the “want to” and I watched the weekly webinars for additional support. I knew I needed accountability so I started teaching the study in a small group study. I put in my Outlook calendar tasks for my goals, breaking them down to quarterly, monthly, weekly, and sometimes daily deadlines. I’m someone that needs to see small goals in writing, and I love checking them off when completed. Although I’ve slacked off during the holidays, I hit that initial weight loss goal. I got specific, set deadlines, researched methods, and looked at my strengths and weaknesses to implement the tasks. If you are a details oriented person, make hitting your goals  your job. Don’t just randomly announce your resolutions.

3. Pray! It’s so simple we miss it, I know I do. I’m someone who writes and speaks on all things surrender, so you’d think I’d pray first when starting something new. I’m a firm believer that prayer changes things and can make the impossible possible. I’ve had too many diagnosis and negative events that looked like obvious failure on paper turn into the biggest success stories of my life because I believed God through Christ. My next post will expand on this to explain why I’m a believer in creating a prayer team to cover you no matter what you do for the Lord. Prayer is the foundation of everything I do—writing, marriage, parenting, and everything in between. Start the new year right with prayer.

My goal is pretty much to keep on keeping on. I want to return to the high fiber eating I adopted in 2011 and remember regular exercise. I have this broken down and hope to start even before the ball drops.

I want to keep working on my contemporary romance, listening to the Lord’s leading as I wrap up sharing it with two critique groups. Perhaps this is the year I seek an agent.

I believe praying for others will be a big part of the new year, and I want to make sure I’m spending time with Him and His word so that I’m filled. I overextended myself this year and I don’t want to burn out again. The word I believe God has for His people this coming year is “Justice” so I’m reading up on that and want to be open for His leading.

How about you? Have you set yourself up for disappointment but creating great expectations for the new year? What are your goals for the year and how do you plan to implement them? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Beyond Rudolph by Julie Arduini

I grew up with the Rankin/Bass produced TV Christmas specials and with as many advances as I’ve seen in technology, nothing new in the Christmas special offerings can hold a candle to those first programs. One of my favorites was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

As a little girl I didn’t appreciate Rudolph’s entire story. In fact, I remember being indignant that the “Dad” reindeer, Blitzen I think it was, insisted Rudolph hide his nose and look like everyone else. Back then I was for the underdog, even when it was a cartoon. When a cheerleader mocked my shy friend, I couldn’t resist putting wads of paper in her shoes when she wasn’t looking. Did I mention the cheerleader was still wearing the shoes?

A quarter-century later, I’m still watching Rudolph. I’m not angry when I watch because there is something kindred in the characters I never paid much attention to the first time around. A band of toys that never see prime-time eye-level shelf space at Toys R Us—the misfit toys.

The toys live— where else—but on Misfit Island. Charlie-in-The-Box doesn’t just have the wrong name, but he’s an introvert. He’s most comfortable inside the box.

Spotted Elephant isn’t attractive like Barbie’s beloved horses the girls put on their Christmas lists.

“A Dolly for Sue” isn’t the model doll named above so she has a low esteem.

Bird Fish doesn’t fly, he swims.

The cowboy rides into the sunset on his ostrich.

Trainer doesn’t look like his famous train relative, Thomas. Why Trainer has square wheels on his last car.

The toy boat sinks.

The squirt gun is full of grape jelly.

The airplane can’t fly.

And then there is the scooter for Jimmy.

With adult eyes these misfit toys give me the permission to embrace the unique things that make me, me. I think even if I didn’t write I’d still be a Charlie-in-the-Box. My energy comes from peace and quiet, not crowds.

I want to hold “A Dolly for Sue” and tell her how beautiful she is. She’s made of quality stuff meant to last, not cheap plastic that will break at the first sign of distress. Our daughter taught me when she was three months old that God knew what He was doing when He chose parents for children with special needs. What I thought was a label was an open door to ministry that blows my mind every time my daughter smiles and engages with others. Isn’t that like Bird Fish who looks like one thing, yet acts like another?

While I watched these supposed throwaway toys I found such revelation, more than Rankin/Bass probably ever planned on. The biggest eye-opener of all was the island ruler, King Moonracer.  Like C.S. Lewis with Narnia, this lion symbolizes wisdom and love. King Moonracer flies each night around the world to rescue the unwanted toys. He lives in a castle on top of a hill, kind of a heavenly place, and has final say on who is able to stay on Misfit Island.

Okay, maybe I’m reading things too deep to see traces of heaven and the Gospel as an allegory in Rudolph with his friends, the Misfit Toys.

But, maybe not.

What I can say is I never felt I belonged, not when I was a chubby little girl that never wanted to be a cheerleader or as an insecure college girl that could have cared less to try to be a sorority sister. Living in my box and staying isolated was my happy place. It still is. Those misfit toys helped me understand I’m not like everyone else, and it’s okay.

I learned I’m not alone. While watching Rudolph I also had Tweetdeck enabled and tweet after tweet popped up talking about not the reindeer, not the elf rebelling against the denistry, not the reindeer’s peer pleasing dad, but the misfit toys. When I shared how much I related, others tweeted they felt the same. They embraced the same misfit call on their life.

Is today the day you do the same?

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*Some of my Misfit Toy information came from Wikipedia.

A Pleasant Surprise: Rejection

I enjoyed a lot of nice surprises this month. My sister delivered a beautiful baby boy the day before Thanksgiving, erasing the memory our family held for years where that day was always the day our baby nearly died. Talk about redemption. He is a keeper and I’m thankful I had the opportunity to take a quick trip to my hometown to meet him.

Another pleasant happening was the thankful series I mentioned in my last post. There were so many new guest bloggers this year and the topics were inspiring. I looked at the stats and over 24,000 people took a peek. One day I had an open spot so I decided to share my own story, and the theme definitely drew attention. After all, not everyone can say they are thankful when they say they are thankful for rejection.

You read it right, I’m thankful when I experience rejection.

That doesn’t mean I enjoy it or look forward to it, but I’ve finally reached the place that I understand it isn’t just part of life, it’s necessary and an opportunity for me to grow. A few years ago I read Becoming Lovers: From Disciple of Christ to the Bride of Christ and I believe it was in those pages Joy Chickonoski talked about rejection meaning promotion.

Yep, you read that right, too. Rejection means promotion.

That took me a long time to understand. Not so long ago I went through a season of personal rejection that if it were possible, could have turned me inside out because it felt so brutal. It was consistent and one of the most painful times of my life. But when it started I clung to the Lord and asked for His help. I relied on His strength and became a true picture of the person being carried in the “Footprints in the Sand” poem. The more I surrendered my hurt and fears, the stronger I became. I received step-by-step direction on how to lovingly respond that I believe was Holy Spirit led. When that season reached the apex I was able to deliver truth with a peace that absolutely passed any definition man could have. I knew whatever happened next, it would be okay.

Fast forward and everyone involved in that season is better for that rejection. It was a valley experience that refined me. Since then I’ve faced writing rejection and things of that nature that I feared for decades. After thriving past that true rejection, the other kinds didn’t seem that daunting anymore. If anything, I licked my wounds, laughed, and moved on.

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I read a lot and I interact with a lot of people in different circles. As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach I’m observing so many people battling rejection. Perhaps it is marriage related and custody or perhaps in-law issues. Family wounds with parents or siblings. The unemployment rate is a big factor this year to families across the country and although most of the time a layoff or job loss isn’t personal, it sure feels that way. Friendships or relationships that are barely hanging on or ended. Rejection is the understudy in a play praying the lead gets sick so they can take over.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. When I write things I’ve either recently come through it or am going through it right now. If you can relate to rejection, are you able to embrace it?

Turns out from reading the feedback, few thought about being thankful for such a thing. If you’re unemployed, can you be thankful for that “no thanks” on the job hunt? Perhaps it’s a no because something even better is ahead. Are you thankful for relationship troubles? Who knows, that adversity could be a refining fire to change your life for the better. Writers—rejection is part of the process. Are you thankful for it?

Try it. You just might find a pleasant surprise through your thankfulness.

http://www.juliearduini.com

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

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Thankful—It’s a Choice

It seems the week before Thanksgiving through Christmas runs at full-speed. For the most wonderful time of year it can be full of stress. Given our economy the financial strain on families can make us forget finding the smallest thing to be thankful about.

I live in a city that has been designated the top city for poverty (or something to that affect). It’s easy to forget the positive things and people that impact our lives.

Perhaps this is the first round of holidays where one “celebrates” without a loved one for the first time. I know even a few minutes ago as I slid across a wet deck and landed in a split it felt like the latest of cruel jokes to come my way. Once I shook it off I tried to think of something positive to focus on because so much has felt wrong.

Thankful? It’s a choice. Even as I sprawled across the deck in a heap I realized my knee didn’t dislocate. For that, I’m very grateful.

One way I celebrate Thanksgiving and try to highlight how life-changing being thankful can be is to open my blog to guest posters who share their thankful thoughts. I’ve been doing this for 4 years and it is a favorite tradition for me and readers. Whether the posts are a few sentences or a two-day post, they are inspiring, challenging, funny, emotional, and yes, thankful.  The bloggers are published authors, bloggers, friends, family, and those who stumbled on my invite that I do not know.

The guest bloggers this year chose to be thankful, most in the midst of trying circumstances. I thought to encourage you I’d share snippets of some of the thankful posts. May their words bless you beyond measure as you enter into Thanksgiving.

Lee Carver—In the year 2000, a few weeks before Darrel and I were moving to the Brazilian Amazon as missionaries, I fell down the rickety basement stairs at our son’s home. I screamed during the fall, hoping to call the family to my aid because I knew in midair that this was going to be bad.

The pain was so overwhelming that I retched and almost passed out. My left leg was strung out behind me on upper stairs. Darrel and our son, Quinn, and his wife came running. Darrel and Quinn came to my side while Sue watched in horror from above. I reached back and, with both arms, lifted my leg and placed it on the lower step beside the other. The leg wobbled in my hands, and I felt the grinding of loose, broken bones. Words fail to describe the pain.

Darrel and Quinn began to pray, begging the Lord for help, resting their hands gently on my shoulders.

After the amen, Darrel suggested we call an ambulance. They discussed how best to get me back up the stairs. I said, “Wait, let me see what I can do.”

Pulling against the one weak board on the right side, using my right leg as much as possible, I was able to stand. It didn’t hurt as bad as I expected. I turned around with their help, and looked up all those stairs. What would happen if I put weight on the left leg?

It held. Unbelievable. Slowly, I climbed with the good leg and braced with the other and even walked to the car.

The doctor illuminated X-rays against the hospital lights. There were no breaks. Not one. Tears of joy slid down my face, because I knew we were looking at a miracle.

Becky Frame—How do I give thanks for Dad’s death? I don’t. I can’t. But Christ in me can. Gratitude for something like this, that breaks so many hearts and alters so many lives so completely, requires nothing less than a miracle performed by the powerful God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

That God, my Abba, does miracles every day.

Abba, from the bottom of my crippled, broken, bleeding heart, in the name of Jesus Christ, I give You thanks for my dad’s death. Glorify Your name.

Jennifer Slattery—Now, sixteen years later, my hair’s streaked with gray, laugh lines fan from my eyes, and it’s harder to find clothing to compliment my not so complimenting figure, and I’m thankful for ‘till death do we part. I’m thankful that even when I’m at my worst, lying on the couch with hair frizzed out and nose swollen red with the flu, my husband still looks at me with fire in his eyes and says, “You’re beautiful.”

Because over the years, we’ve learned that beauty extends far beyond the exterior, heightened by a love that penetrates so deep, no amount of wrinkles, bald heads, pot-bellies, or gray hair, can distinguish the passion we have for one another.

But most importantly, I’m thankful for my Bridegroom who holds my husband and I together and shows us, through His death on the cross, what it truly means to love with passion.

Ada Brownell—As a result, I’ve written a book, several years in the making, Swallowed by Life: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal, which will be on Amazon in November 2011. I discovered medical science shows we are much more than a body—and scripture proclaims it loud and clear. I found Jesus was the same Lord when we lost our beautiful daughter as He was throughout my life and the Holy Spirit is the Comforter.

Holly—I met Jesus today. He was about 6’2″, slender and walked with a slight limp. He’s has 3 surgeries to repair his broken back, but everyday he experiences excruciating pain. He’s got a beard speckled with grey, auburn and black hair. While we talk he nestles his hands under his chin and plays periodically with his beard. He holds a cigarette in his left hand, which is mostly ignored. His eyes speak volumes, as do the dark circles under his eyes. He wears a black hooded sweatshirt, jeans and work boots. A former Hells Angel, I see the tattoos on his hands and neck testifying of a past life. He’s been sober 17 years now.Not exactly what you hand in mind was it? Ya. Well, me either.

I’m thankful for this blog, and that Vicki obeyed God to create it. I’m thankful for you. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

http://www.juliearduini.com

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

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Where You Get to be the Judge

American Idol. The Sing-Off. X-Factor. Dancing with the Stars. America’s Got Talent. So You Think You Can Dance. I’m probably forgetting some but these are more than reality shows. Watch any of these and chances are you’re sitting in a chair or on the couch doing the same thing as the panel on the show: judging.

Like it or not, television moguls tapped into our arm-chair judging fascination. I see it on my Facebook wall during an American Idol performance, the posts from friends who agree or disagree with the actual judges. The comments regarding contestant highs and lows. None of us get paid for our thoughts and for the most part, our critique doesn’t change the outcome of the show. It’s our “guilty pleasure” to watch and believe we should have a say for every contestant, every time.

There is a website that caters to those who like having a say after a performance of sorts and it benefits readers and writers. Clash of the Titles, COTT, offers readers the opportunities to read anonymous excerpts from two clashing authors and choose the one they feel should win that clash’s theme. Authors enjoy readers’ encouraging feedback, are interviewed by COTT staff, and receive a badge for their website saying they participated and/or won a Clash of the Titles event. Readers have a say in the voting process and are eligible to receive prizes. Everyone wins, right?

Clashes are a two week process.

Week One

Monday—Anonymous excerpts posted.

Wednesday—Focus on the Clash’s theme

Thursday night–Poll closes

Friday—The authors revealed and matched with their books.

WEEK TWO

Monday–Author A’s interview and book focus

Wednesday–Author B’s interview and book focus

Friday–Winning author and two drawing winners announced

COTT is near the end of their first anniversary celebration. They are having a Tournament of Champions where winners from previous clashes go up against each other. You guessed it, readers have the opportunity to vote and judge their favorite. Only ONE author will take home The Laurel Award. So far the Tournament of Champions finalists are:

HEARTS CROSSING  by Marianne Evans

THE ROAD TO DEER RUN  by Elaine Marie Cooper
A TAILOR-MADE BRIDE  by Karen Witemeyer

PARTICIPATING AUTHORS AND THEIR BOOKS

Ann Gaylia O’Barr, Singing in Babylon

Anne Patrick, A Familiar Evil

C.S. Lakin, Someone to Blame

Christine Lindsay, Shadowed in Silk

Clare Revell, A Season for Miracles

Delia Latham, Destiny’s Dream

Elaine Marie Cooper, The Road to Deer Run

Erin Rainwater, The Arrow that Flieth by Day

Gail Pallotta, Love Turns the Tide(ebook)

Karen Witemeyer, A Tailor-made Bride

Lena Nelson Dooley, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico

Margarget Brownley, A Suitor for Jenny

Marianne Evans, Hearts Crossing

Naomi Musch, The Green Veil

Rosslyn Elliot, Fairer Than Morning

Shellie Neumeier, Driven

COTT also has a blog alliance where COTT staff writes a guest post each week for the bloggers to use. The authors receive additional exposure and bloggers earn a place on the COTT website, a chance at prizes, and their own interview. I’m a COTT blogger alliance member and it’s a thrill to watch the clashes come through and know our votes matter. Instead of judging a la Simon Cowell, we can be encouragers in a lonely industry. I love being a blogger that can count on quality content from the COTT team each week. Again, everyone wins.

I encourage anyone that enjoys reading, encouraging others, and yes, being that arm-chair judge that wants to make a difference to bookmark the COTT site and vote during the clashes. After the Tournament of Champions ends upcoming clashes will be Amish and LOL—Make Us Laugh.

*I received COTT details from their website.

I invite you to check out my website this month as guest bloggers share their thankful thoughts. You’ll be inspired by their stories.

http://www.juliearduini.com

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

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Oh, The Places You Can Go with NaNoWriMo by Julie Arduini

Mid-October. It’s marked by the crunch of colorful leaves on the sidewalk. The smell of MacIntosh apples and autumn night air. It’s also the time of year anyone who has that novel all figured out in their head to sign up the November challenge called NaNoWriMo.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. What started as a group of wanna-be novelists from the Bay Area in 1999 through the power of blogging and social media turned to over 200,000 participants last year. These novelists sign on to write a 50,000 word novel throughout the month of November. They have to start from scratch and submit their document for word count verification by midnight Pacific time November 30. Stats from the “NaNo” website show writers penned over 2 million words and that 37,000 “won”.

How do they win? They hit the word count or go over it. Winners get a badge to display on their blog/website and of course, have bragging rights. The point is just to get the story out. All the typical writing rules and usual traditions of self-editing need to go out the window for NaNoWriMo. The plan is to write, write, write, and then write some more.

NaNoWriMo has evolved over the years and their site offers forums for ages, genres, plotting questions, research, and even cover art for those that want a design for their NaNo page and e-mail signatures. There are also regional get-togethers where people meet at places like Panera to work on their novels with other who understand the obsession. Computer gurus design word count widgets for blogs, websites, and signatures.

Are you joining?

There are also pep talks that make their way into weary writer inboxes.

Many participants are not full-time writers by day so this is their once a year time to  enjoy “thirty days and nights of literary abandon.” For some, writing is their life and NaNoWriMo gives them a tight deadline to put a story together. Published authors like Rachel Hauck and Amber Stockton use NaNoWriMo this way. Amber hopes to use this year’s NaNo to put together her latest, Stealing Hearts.

What’s an extra benefit of finishing NaNo? Some projects turn into (after several drafts, editing, and polish) a published book. Amber Stockton wrote parts, if not all, of Promises, Promises (2006), Deceptive Promises (2007), and Patterns and Progress (2008) as part of that year’s NaNoWriMo project. Linda Yezak admits Give the Lady a Ride was a “NaNo fail” because she didn’t meet the word count in time because she spent too much time in research. However, the book by the same title was published in March. Precarious Yates has a December 2 release date for her 2010 NaNoWriMo story, The Elite of the Weak, and is the first book in the Revelation Special Ops series. Her series is in the YA (Young Adult) genre. Lisa Grace has her 2009 work, The 15th Star, out as a self-published e-book in November with publishers expressing an interest. Delia Latham‘s Yesterday’s Promise was a NaNo, now White Rose Publishing, book. Traci Tyne Hilton‘s NaNo novel, Foreclosed: A Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery, sold 8,000 copies.

The drawback of NaNoWriMo is it’s easy to become obsessed. Amber Stockton gives wise advice.  “Too many put too much pressure on themselves, seizing their ability to let the words flow. And the biggest piece of advice is turn off your internal editor. The goal of NaNo is NOT to write great, but just to write. Even if you think it’s awful or needs to never again see the light of day, that’s all right. Write as much and as fast as you can without caring about content, structure, order, or polishing. There is time to edit later. Get the words down first.”

Last year was my first attempt and although I hit the goal with my contemporary romance at 50,300, I let the numbers define me. I withdrew from family and let a lot of my life slack, including quiet time with the Lord. I’ve heard from a lot of writing friends who do this each year that competitive personalities will struggle with being consumed. This year I plan to try another Adirondack based contemporary romance but put the goal on writing each day, not hitting the 50K. I also confessed I haven’t quite told my family I’m giving it a whirl in case they put me on that Intervention reality show.

There are NaNoWriMo helps out there.

My Book Therapy-–Susan May Warren heads up the MBT gang and this year Beth Vogt is the MBT team member in charge of all MBT NaNo activities. They have a forum, resources, cheerleading, word count and other NaNo related prizes.

NaNoWriMo Cheerleaders from the Sidelines-–There are a lot of Facebook NaNoWriMo related groups out there but I recommend this one because I know it is Christian based. There are facilitators involved not in NaNoWriMo this year but understand the chaos it brings. They’re already on board cheering writers on.

NaNoWriMo Regional Groups—The list this year seems bigger than ever on the NaNo site. Most try to have weekly meetings to encourage each other on at a public place with affordable food and proper Internet connections.

NaNoWriMo Forums—Again, anything to do with the NaNoWriMo month is bound to be in the forums. There is even a forum for NaNo rebels who aren’t doing fiction or perhaps are taking the month to edit instead. The caveat is to watch your time management on the boards or you’re eating up writing time.

Other participants— Whether it’s finding a buddy through the forums or approaching friends you know that have done it before, they can be a great source of wisdom and encouragement. Julie Jarnagin, whose NaNoWriMo story Canyon Walls published earlier this year with Barbour/Heartsong Presents, advises:

“Stay up until midnight on the 31st to get a head start. You’re more excited the first day than you will be in the middle of the month. Set your daily word goal and stick to it even if your cumulative word goal puts you ahead. The extra words that build up will help later. Don’t let yourself spend too much time on the NaNoWriMo message boards. They’ll suck you in. Find a NaNoWriMo buddy and cheer each other on.”

So, now you know about NaNoWriMo. My question is, are you in? If so, where do you think this experience will take you? By the way, if you are part of it, my NaNoWriMo user name is JulieArduini. Like Facebook, you can friend each other, and you’re welcome to add me. As Delia Latham says, “Keep the coffee percolating.”

More than I Bargained For by Julie Arduini

Now that I have a Kindle, there is yet another facet to my reading life. As a writer I read to learn. Although I’m looking at the story my focus is on the “back-end” of things such as the plot, POV, characterization, and dialogue. Reading other fiction and writing how-to books sharpen my skills.

I also read to review. I enjoy participating in Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program where bloggers receive a free book, read it, and both blog about it on their site and post a commercial review. I’m also a part of many Litfuse Publicity Group blog tours so I do the same thing with them as BookSneeze. Although it is relaxing and fun this form of reading feels like it is in a category of its own.

Most readers do so for the fun of it. It’s a hobby, relaxing, an escape, and sparks our imagination like nothing else. This is my favorite aspect but the more I write, the less I read for fun. My escape is fiction, mostly contemporary romance, but anything geared for women is game.  I learned something earlier this year when I picked up a couple books for escape and found something completely different:

The books made me look inward at my past and what issues I was stuffing. By the end of those reads I enjoyed them but it wasn’t an escape, it was an experience. I finished wanting to make positive change in my life.

These books rocked me to the core. The characters and their conflict was a word created mirror to reflect my heart and the issues I needed to take a look at and give to God. Where some might have found a book sounding too close to home distracting, I felt it was a little nudge from my Heavenly Father. I didn’t just read those two books; I devoured them.

What were they?

Kathryn Cushman’s Another Dawn

(From Bethany House Publishers/back cover)

What Would You Give for a Second Chance to Make Things Right?

When life gets complicated, Grace Graham runs. She’s left romantic relationships, friendships, and even her family after the death of her mother. But now her sister, Jana, is giving her once last chance: Come home and help care for their father–whom Grace still blames for her mother’s death–or never show her face in Shoal Creek, Tennessee, again.

With her son, Dylan, in tow, Grace returns home from California. But is she returning for the right reasons? And when costly decisions from the past suddenly put her son’s life and the lives of other children in town at risk, will she have the strength to stand strong and await Another Dawn?

The issue with the children at risk was a compelling one but that wasn’t what got to me. It was Grace’s recollection of her childhood and her adult choices because of them. Her walls are up and she’s made a vow never to return to her hometown. Although my circumstances weren’t that dramatic I remember making a vow when I moved 300 miles away from everything I knew and everyone I loved. My vow came from a potpourri of past experiences and current devastation.  When it came to relationships I was classic to walk away first to avoid what I thought was inevitable. Reading Another Dawn forced me to look at my vows and behaviors.

Christa Allan’s Walking on Broken Glass

(From Amazon.com)

Leah Thornton’s life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice in the supermarket shatters the façade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears. When her best friend gets in Leah’s face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make an agonizing decision. Can she sacrifice what she wants to get what she needs? Joy, sadness, and pain converge, testing Leah’s commitment to her marriage, her motherhood, and her faith.

This book had funny dialogue but the reality that Leah has a problem and needs more help than her husband and friends can give hit so close to home I realized more than once I was holding my breath. I don’t want to give away spoilers but I know the environment she describes. I understand her roller coaster of emotions as she is forced to face her feelings. I’ve been the best friend and I’ve needed the best friend.

Did I finish those books thinking what a respite, I’m so relaxed now that I got to read? No, and that’s okay. Something even better took place in between those pages.

I received God’s love and  His direction.

How about you? Was there a book or two that you thought would be a fast read and in turn flipped your world upside down because it addressed the condition of your heart?

http://juliearduini.com

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate