A special kind of Miracle

I’ve been waiting for my miracle. For over two years. Ever since my husband lost his job. I even wrote my latest WIP about it. I knew it would come for Christmas. Then when it didn’t come then, I knew it would come by the end of the year, before 2010.

I’ve had my share of miracles in the past. A store bought for one dollar. A child conceived after two years of tears and trying. An inheritance enough to pay my daughter’s last year of Christian school. I figured when my next miracle came to save us it would be similar. A great paying job. A large check from a family member. A government reform to extend our health benefits. An offer to buy my book and enough of a payment to see us through a few more months. Something of such a magnitude that I’d know it was from God. That He’d come through for me again.

Surely it would happen soon.

But as Christmas came and went and no check arrived to cover our expenses. And when the rejection letters continued to come about applied for jobs and queries, I started to figure I was on my own. A miracle as I’ve had before wasn’t going to magically appear.

Then last night I stumbled upon my journal from 2001. The year we sold our home, left everyone we knew and packed up and moved to Florida. A scary time for sure. We were alone, low on funds and facing an uncertain future. But filled with countless blessings.

Nine years ago. But facing the same fears as today.

That’s when I understood about miracles. They don’t always come in neat packages or Christmas cards or phone calls. God has a way of giving them in measures we sometimes can’t always see.

Like blogger friends who offer to pray for my sick mother. Or husbands who still love me despite my stress about money. Or a daughter who listens to me even though I know I bore her to tears with my worries. Like friends who care enough to let me cry. Or neighbors who watch my home when we need to be away.

The list goes on . . . As do the miracles.

I’ve been saying that 2009 was one of the worst years of my life. I’m thinking otherwise now. It may well have been the year I learned best about how God takes care of those he loves.

Happy New Year!

Update

I haven't been able to post lately due to being out of state with family. I can't wait to get back into the loop when I return.Thank you again for your prayers!

If you get a chance though, I'm the guest blogger over at Author Culture today and would love to have you stop by. It's the first time I've been asked to post anyplace else and feel really blessed for the opportunity. Thanks!

Blogger Bits and Blessings

I've been so busy getting ready to take my hike north that I haven't had a chance to give a few updates.

First: Thank you to Janna for coming up with my new header. She recently redid hers and I asked her how and she offered to do mine. Isn't she talented?

Second: I haven't posted an update about the work I have out. Still awaiting word from one publisher about my romance. It's been three months--that means a rejection is making its way toward me or maybe...maybe...they are considering it or busy with the holiday! And an agent asked for a few months. Well, that time is closing in fast--so might be sad news or glad but either way--I'm okay with it.

Third: I want to thank everyone for the prayers, calls and offers of help for me as I go through this with my mother. I have not felt such love and support in a very long time. It amazes me each day how something technical like a blog and the Internet can bring so many people to another in a time of need. I hope I can be there for you if ever you need someone.

I'll put some posts up when I can depending if I can find the Internet. I'm not sure if they have one in a senior citizen highrise!:))

Blessings!

Blink

In the blink of an eye.

I never liked cliches and like them even less now.

Yesterday, in the blink of an eye, my world changed.

Two days earlier, I noticed on my caller ID that my mother had called. Since she didn’t leave a message, I figured I’d call her back on Saturday when I had more time. After all, we’d talked on Thanksgiving. At three o’clock, with half the day gone, she called me again.

For the first fifteen minutes, I rambled on about my job search, my husband’s hernia surgery and our hunt for health benefits. We haven’t seen each other in more than a year and a half and so our calls have taken on the nature of lengthy updates. Then it was her turn.

“I had a CAT scan on Thursday and they told me I have cancer.”

When she spoke, her voice shook with fear and tears. As one of three remaining siblings from a family of thirteen, all who died from cancer, she knows what her doctor’s recent pronouncement means. So do I.

“Why didn’t you tell me right away?” I asked as the seriousness of her condition sunk in.

“I wanted to know if you got that job,” she said. “I know how much you need it.”

Yeah I did. But if I had gotten it, I wouldn’t have been able to say my next words. “I’m coming up.”

In the blink of an eye, my life has changed. My mother is my rock, my confident, my best friend. I live in Florida. She lives in Pennsylvania. 1200 miles away. We’ve driven it only once but because of a few other not-so-good blinks in the past two years, we will probably be driving it again. It’s not how I want to do life right now. But sometimes we don’t get choices.

Blink.

Sometimes we don’t get to fix those blinks. Sometimes we try to ignore them—hoping they’ll go away and not affect us. Sometimes we are the blink in another person’s life. But the fact remains—they happen.

For me it comes down to this: God promises only today. Seconds, minutes, hours. How many blinks is that? How am I going to make the best use of them?

Have there been any blinks in your life lately?

Let's Get Personal

Where's the fine line between writing about yourself and writing informational blog topics? How much does a reader want to read about your life? Your hobbies? Your dog or grandchildren? Or that new pair of shoes you fought for on Black Friday?

Have you thought about that when you blog?

I have and truthfully I struggle with it each time I write a post.

I love learning about everyone who comes here to visit. I wish I could sit down and listen to each and everyone one of you share about your dreams, your writing and what makes you tick.

But do you honestly want to read about me on my blog?

That's what I thought. Most of you come here for writing information. To see where I'm at in the journey and maybe take away something you can use to further yours.

What I try to do when I write about me is show you how it relates to my writing or show what God is changing in my life to grow me.

Balance.

I don't want to give you just the facts but the questions and results about the facts.

Am I doing it? Do I need to make some changes?

How are you balancing your personal telling with your blog purpose?