I never did before

New to blogging, I lost an interim post, but hope to be here more.

My house is walking out of its old layers. Spring decluttering. Like a snake sheds skin in the spring, my house has to rid itself of collected things. Too bad its not a natural process. I coax it along.

This past week on April 19th, I did something I've never done before. I signed a book contract. The agreement is for ACU Press/Hillcrest Publishing to publish a collection of my newspaper columns, formatted devotional style, into a book. Working title: The Stained Glass Pickup.

I'm most excited about sharing how I learned to pray in the name of Jesus, not tagging his name to the end, but actually praying in his name, in the way he life-supported me through the day. Today, I awakened at 3:30 AM and got up to be productive until drowsiness returned. Through that two hours, Jesus became my model for early Sunday rising, but he had the grandest purpose on Resurrection Sunday. My tasks were mundane, but needed.

Thinking about him, keeping my eyes on him is one of my goals. Watching with his eyes for today's opportunities to make God look good to others. My actions have the power to make God palatable or distasteful to my acquaintances, since they know I'm his child. Of course God doesn't need me to enhance his character. He can ably bring about events to bring him notice or glory.

One scripture stood out in my Bible reading this week. It's been the mull-over one, keeps bleeping back into my thoughts. Before his cross, Jesus tells his disciples to go into the city and untie a colt, and when they are asked why to tell the questioners, "The Savior needs it" (Luke 19:30-35). What things do I need to loosen my grip on before I may be of real use to the Savior? Jesus said, "Untie it and bring it here" (NLT).

A column for newspaper will arise out of that. Any readers may subscribe to the e-mailed version at

http://hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list-v6/Cathys/

Until later.

New Beginnings

I am a writer who keeps random thoughts about life in margins of my Bibles, on gum wrappers and bazillion scraps of paper. So, here I go. I plan to keep track of my thoughts in this blog. Rein them in so I have fodder for my newspaper column, appearing on Fridays in The Courier, Conroe, Tx.

I also want to jot down new insights about life or God or good wording that I read from other writers who sometimes cast lovely thoughts my way. Refreshing the gray areas. I'll probably post my goals, attainments and failures. Hmm. I'll see which list fills up the fastest.

This evening, I'll try to get this rebellious house under control. If only the dust bunnies would go on strike for a week. Mom and Dad have needed extra help this week due to her surgery, so the scum level here has risen.

For the next few weeks the traditional spring cleaning will take place. I feel quite brave. During this homemaker ritual, my daughter Sheryle talked me into throwing out my wedding gown several years ago. The 37 going on 38 marriage is vitally intact, so feeling rather gutsy the lace and tulle went to Goodwill. We'll see what I can disentangle my emotions from this spring. I want to throw out things in order to have more time to spend with people and writing.