Bestselling Author Shares 3 Tips for Building Your Blog Audience.
I know I identify with Rachel and her situation. I moved across the state of Iowa five years ago and still have not found a BBF in this area. My husband is my best friend, but I still need that female friend with whom I can share and do things with that my husband does not care to do. Even the ladies at church whom I dearly love seem to gather in their cemented long-time friendship groups.
Our legislature asked for ideas and many teachers offered their concerns and insights. One issue dealt with technology. To compete with the world, teachers suggested online classes would benefit both traditional and alternate education students due to all the updated information available through the Internet.
Charter schools and vouchers surfaced again as alternative options where parochial and charter schools receive the same amount of state funding support per student as public schools. Out of state private companies specializing in particular products or business types offered to fund some of these private schools. Discussion and voting on these proposals occurred, and legislators planned to pass this education bill soon.
Overall, teacher performance-based pay dominated the conversations at the state house. What are your thoughts as educators and parents about performance-based wages for teachers? Are you familiar with schools that offer home based online instruction using computers and other technology? Do your children attend a charter or private school? Please share your ideas and experiences with me where it says, “Leave a reply.” I plan to write my own thoughts about these ideas. As always, thank you for honoring me with visiting my website and reading my blogs.
It is incredible to me how faithful the Lord is! The changing of the seasons is evidence of that attribute.
No matter the type of winter I experience in the midwest, Spring always follows. The past winter sheds its cold temperatures and white blanket and retires for another year. In its place, buds appear on the bushes and trees, and flowers of various kinds and colors poke their noses up through the brownish soil. Robins greet me in my yard with their pronounced red-orange breasts, and flies as well as Japanese beetles knock against the windows and screen doors. Gusty southerly winds as well as chilly rains and thunderstorms remind me of changes that are naturally part of springtime weather. Yes, Spring is knocking on my door, promising of warmer and sunnier, longer days ahead.
I’m amazed at the faithfulness of my Lord. He is dependable even in nature so why would I doubt His faithfulness and reliability when it comes to me, His daughter? People deny God exists, yet these same persons witness the order of the seasons occurring year after year. They notice the same stars and constellation patterns early explorers and mariners cited in ship logs and books long ago. The sun always appears in the east every morning and sinks in the west each evening. Life cycles of people and animals, birds and fish continue in the same pattern throughout their lifespans.
How marvelous is our God, and how awesome are His ways! So who is man who God with such infinite power and knowledge would even care about us? With all of His creation, He seeks fellowship with us – weak, reckless, self-centered, prideful, unreliable people. Yet He loves us, and wants to commune with us – daily and throughout our lives.
How am I doing in this area of faithfulness to God? Miserably most of the time. Yet, there He waits, patiently and willingly, to hear from me, His mere creation who loves Him dearly and with all of her heart, with all of her short-comings. He knows, though I am weak, I am willing to serve Him in any way He leads. For this vessel knows that He is always faithful and willing, and performs His greatest work through weak people because His strength is sufficient.
I can come boldly to the throne of grace to find help and mercy when I need it, but more remarkable to me, I can go there just to talk with Him and listen to Him when I want or need. He tells me this in His word. The Creator desires to fellowship with me … and you … How awesome our God is, and how faithful and dependable He is! In this world, there is no one like Him, or will there ever be. Blessed be the name of our Lord!
What about you? Do you marvel at God’s faithfulness? Do you see His work in creation, or in your life? Do you need reassurance that He loves you and desires your fellowship? I would love to hear from you and your perspective. Thank you for reading my blog. Please comment on what’s on your heart.
Early last Saturday morning, my husband and I said goodbye to Reese, our beloved black labrador mix. She was almost eleven years old. We adopted her when rescued by our veterinarian’s assistant at six weeks old. Reese had the saddest eyes, and we treated her with all the love we had and gave her a secure and happy life.
Earlier that afternoon, we took Reese, her twin sister, Hershey, and Nestley, a Chocolate Labrador-German Wire Hair mix with us across the state. When we arrived at my sister’s home, Reese seemed fine, but within an hour she just wanted to lie down and not move. After a while we noticed heavy breathing and white inside her mouth. When her breathing worsened, I called a veterinarian and took her to the office for an examination.
No improvement occurred after an hour or so of procedures by the vet. The x-rays showed Reese’s liver or spleen enlarged and pushed her rib cage and heart into an elongated position, and her intestines shoved into a straight line across her backbone. Due to her age, stress level, and a 30-50% chance of recovery if operated on, we chose to put her down.
My husband and I held her and told her how lucky we were to raise her and enjoy her so much for these past years, We prayed and asked the Lord if he would to restore her in heaven to see again when our turn arrived to join Him. Reese calmly and peacefully drifted off in our arms at 1:30 am, Saturday, March 3. The vet cried with us and said her remains would be ready later that day. When we paid the bill and picked up Reese’s ashes, the vet saw us and came over, hugged us and offered her condolences again.
In all our sorrow, the Lord reached out and cared for us. He provided us with a person who cared for Reese as if she knew her. She was gentle as she attempted to determine Reese’s problem, and she answered our questions honestly. Her compassion toward us and Reese was amazing since we never met before that morning. Owen and I both believe the Lord placed her in our path to aid us in a most critical and sorrowful matter.
Have you ever experienced the same type of blessing in a horrible situation? Please share it with me. I would appreciate it very much. Thank you for visiting my site.
I love music and enjoy cheering for people competing for recognition. What I dislike is the filthy language coming from the “professional musicians” doing the judging. Anything that steals the purity and innocence of a child angers me. Pedifiles and molesters of babies and children most people agree are hurting children. But what about those who constantly spew out offensive language on television? These abusive words cruise across the airwaves on radio, television, and anything in print.
On The Voice, Blake and Adam use awful language weekly. On the The Sing Off, the same abusive language rolls off the judges mouths, too. Children watch these shows. How is this not hurtful to their innocence and purity?
As a teacher of twenty years, I strove to educate children with vocabulary to empower them in communication skills. Anyone can use gutter language, but is that the aim of those in positions of influence? Our state legislators worry about our educational standings in the world, but it seems the norm is to use sub par language to communicate our feelings, frustrations, and even our excitement!
Am I the only one who cares about the abusive language to which we as well as our children are subjected? Let me hear your concerns, too. Maybe together we can find ways to improve language standards for our children. Thanks for stopping by today.
Every story requires a problem. This problem causes conflict for the protagonist (main character), and this conflict arises from self, other people, or the world (environment). Most stories contain more than one problem, but authors resolve the major one usually by the end of the book. Some minor problems linger for the reader to figure out on their own.
In my second book, Mystery at Connecticut Cove, the main problem originates from the environment; however, other problems arise between people. Being a mystery, it required a major problem beyond the secondary ones. I researched the history of the setting and found some interesting information that created an eerie atmosphere and conflict. I included several surprises along the way to intrigue my audience.
I hope to publish my book so students can enjoy a suspenseful and exciting read!
What type of conflict do you prefer? Do you like the problem(s) resolved by the end of the story? If you are an author, how do you choose your story conflicts? Thanks for interacting with me!
Sharing a favorite pasttime!
First Fish!
One of my greatest joys involves spending time with my grandchildren. Two live in Kansas City and the other three live in Virginia. Obviously, I don’t see them everyday, or every week or month. However, this grandmother needs her “grandchildren fix” as often as possible.
My hubby and I look forward every summer to spending vacation time with our sons and their families. This is when “making memories” takes place. Christmas or Thanksgiving is another making memories occasion. An invitation to spend a week with Grandma and Grandpa finds its way to both Kansas City and Virginia each summer. Last year three grandsons caught their first fish with Grandpa! Spending time with these five precious gifts fills my heart with hope and excitement every time an opportunity arises.
These occasions seem fewer lately as the boys participate in sports and scouting. Soon one joins the “junior high” phase, and I know I’ll see even less of him then. Friends become more important than family eventually. It’s part of the social nature of junior high students.
So how often do you spend time with family? Do you see these times as “making memories” opportunities, or do you dread joining together with family? Time flies quickly as “life is a vapor” says James in the Bible (4: 13-15). For this grandmother, I plan to buy up all the opportunities I can to impact and enjoy my grandchildren’s lives. Let me hear from you on this topic, please. Thank you for coming by.
For me, writing is a personal matter. Readers gain insight to my heart and personality. I risk revealing my true feelings and
vulnerabilities, my hopes and dreams as well as my weaknesses. It was the same in writing music. As a teenager I wrote love song lyrics, and though I couldn’t write the notes, I put these songs to melody. Very few people ever heard any of these. Why? I feared humiliation and rejection.
I write from experience and include genuine passion hidden inside. Yet, I know some criticism lurks nearby waiting to pounce on my works. Still I feel compelled to write – children’s books, blog posts, articles – I wish to encourage and uplift my readers. In doing so I open myself up, but instead of bracing for rejection as I did with the songs I wrote, I embrace the opportunity to touch a soul in a positive way. To me, the rejection by some is worth the attempt to brighten someone’s day in a world where much darkness surrounds us daily.
Did you ever do something that made you vulnerable? Did you create something special that came from deep within? Was your creation dismissed as foolish, worthless, or even ridiculous? Or, did you receive praise and encouragement for the sharing of your passion and talent? Either way, what have you done about it since?
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