What is your favorite Christmas Carol?

I love Christmas music.  The old carols bring back wonderful memories.  Of course, the way they were sung when I was growing up isn't the same way they are sung today.  Progress is great, and I know there's a new generation of kids we need to appeal to, but some of us who've been listening a long time would like a couple of carols done the way they were written using the tempo the author intended.

I will say one of my favorite Christmas albums is Repeat the Sounding Joy by Phillips Craig and Dean. (1996)  Okay, it's a little old, but the songs on that album still resound with joy and glory.  The song I love the most is Come, Oh Come Emmanuel.  The song touches my heart every time I heard it.
O come, o come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mours in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears

O come, Thou Dayspring come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to fight

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanual
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, Though Wisdom from on high
And order all things far and  night
to us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanual
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease
And be Thyself our King of peace.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanual
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.

Christmas Eve 2013

Merry Christmas.  This will be the most unusual Christmas I've spent, but it will be very joyous.  I have finished all my chemo for the lymphoma, and things look good. I have to thank my wonderful doctor, and the nurses and staff of Texas Ontology in McKinney.  They have faithfully worked with me and taken blood, given chemo and never once was anyone down or less than encouraging.  They are truly angels in uniform.

Now, I'll admit, I don't feel so hot.  I'm not going to wrestle any alligators in the coming weeks, but I am looking forward to writing again.   I haven't been writing because I'm in that stage of chemo where you get 'chemo brain' and can't think too clearly.  But my editors at Love Inspired have given me extra time to finish this second book in my Rodeo Heroes series.

Unfortunately, my numbers are too low to go to Christmas dinner with my family, but my husband will bring home a plate from the dinner. We have done a smaller version of decorating. My daughter

and husband brought us small tree so my husband doesn't have to go into the attic and get the big tree.  It works and I am thankful.
And here is my new cover for my March 14 book.

The Final Stretch

On Tuesday I finished my 8th chemo, which leaves on 4 more to go.  I can see the end, for which I am grateful.  It will be nice to be able to get in my car and drive myself to the grocery store (something  I never thought I'd say) and buy groceries.  During chemo, my red and white blood cells count has been so low that I can't go out and be in public.  The last time I went out in public was May 18th.

Of course, all sorts of things come with the chemo as you go on.   Mouth sores, things that taste strange or can't have at all--pizza (tomato sauce), and swollen feet,.  My feet haven't been that puffy since I was pregnant with my oldest, which was a few years ago.  And losing eye lashes and eye brows.  I was okay with the hair on the head, but--

While I am on this journey, I am reading the book Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler.  It is a devotional and letting me explore the different aspects of His character.  Elohim-Creator, El Roi - the God who sees me, El Shadday- God Almighty. I am only a third of the way through the book but look forward to learning more about Him, for He has been El Roi- the God who sees me.

Happy Labor Day

I hope you've had a wonderful Labor Day.  This is the official end of summer, which has been a trip though wonderland for me, as I've gone through my chemo treatments for the lymphoma.   The body has responded well.  Most of the lymph nodes behind my ear are a normal size.  I am in awe.

Next, I will say that all the nurses at the center where  I go are amazing.  They work their hearts out, taking care of their patients.  I'm sure that there are days when they go home exhausted and discouraged.  I do appreciate them.

After this last round out chemo, my numbers all dropped, but again the nurses have helped me through the situation, letting me know about Ensure and giving me fluids.  My doctor has been great, too.

We can wonder and question why this type of thing happens.  That hasn't been my reaction.  What I wonder is what I need to learn in this situation.  God is walking with me, so  I need to pay attention.  I've order the book, Praying the Names of God, by Ann Spangler.  I am looking forward to learning how to walk closer with God.

I want to thank all the friends and family that have provided meals and prayer.  Y'all are a treasure.

PS.  A good friend, Mindy Openhaus has her first book out this month.  She is blogging at http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/
Please go and take a look.

A New Adventure

On May 22 of this year, my husband and I celebrated our 42nd anniversary.  (Mind you, I was 5 when I got married.)  It didn't go quite the way we planned.  Instead of "Star Trek" and a nice dinner I was in hospital having a brain tumor removed.  My neurosurgeon said to my hubby, "Happy Anniversary.  I got it all."  When we went to have the staples removed from my head, we expected her to tell us that the tumor had been benign.  Well, it wasn't.  It was Hodgkin's Lymophona.  So now I am in the chemo stage of this experience.

In the midst of this madness, God has been there a steady source of peace.  And our friends and family have come around us and lifted us up in prayer and provided meals and prayer.  The out- pouring of love has amazed me.  I have been humbled by the actions of my friends, family and church.  Sometimes we don't know what seeds we plant until the harvest.

I am in in the midst of shedding my hair, (I'm out-doing my daughter's lab and her shedding) and discovering all the side effects of chemo, but my God is greater than any cancer and I take each day with joy. 

 Well, my Iris are almost finished blooming.  Next, we'll go onto Gladiolus.  It is fun to go out in the morning and see what has bloomed.  I want to wish all the mothers a early Happy Mother's Day.

This is my favorite shot so far this season.  My peach colored Iris are next to bloom so stay tuned.  I've put together a board at Pinterest if you want more.
 http://pinterest.com/leann78/garden-shots

Spring and the Last Big Push.

I am on the second draft of my WWII book even if the flowers in my garden are calling my name.  I really do want to go out and dig in the dirt, but this draft is to smooth things and sharpened those scenes.  But I run about on my breaks and take pictures.  Enjoy.

Spring is here in all it's glory.  I love going out each day and seeing what has bloomed this morning.  With Iris, you have to 'dead-head' them to make your stalks look sharp.  Some of my Gladiolus are pushing through the soil, but I have more I want to plant.  I find gardening relaxing and all I'm responsible for is planting them.

The Hope of Spring

These are pictures of my Iris ready to bloom.  See the buds, the yellow and purple edge Iris. Those buds hold the hope of beauty.  Soon I will see a beautiful flower.

 

For me writing is that way.  You come up with a proposal, that bud you send to your editor and then when you write the book, it becomes that beautiful flower.  I am working on the WWII book, and wanting that flower to bloom.  There are other stems on my bush that are beginning to bud.  I’ll be excited to see those stories bloom, too.

Please check back daily this Spring, 

because I will post pictures of the latest blooms.

 

Easter

For me, this time of year is the most special.  As we celebrate the Lord's death and resurrection, I am humbled and awed.  Good Friday has always been a somber day for me.  A time of reflection on the sacrifice made.  What love to endure so much pain.

The joy of Easter morning is so special.  It touches my heart.  After the darkness come dawn, and a glorious one at that.  It is my prayer that you will read the Easter story in any of the Gospels and reflect on what was done. 

Have a blessed Easter.

Texan Independance Day

A couple of Sundays ago (3/4/13) over breakfast and before my husband went to church I asked him, a native Texan, what was special about the day before.  He looked up at me and said, Texas Independence Day.

Okay, he got that right.  "And when did that happened?" I asked.

He thought and said, "March 2, 1836."  Well so much for trying to fool the native.

Not being a native Texan, I didn't study it in school,  but Saturday when I read an article by Brooke Rollins of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, I was in awe of what those men and women did.

The Texians didn't have a lot of success in fighting Santa Anna and the Texians were of all nationalities and backgrounds.  And these men and woman fought against the odds.  The day they declared Independence in a little cabin on the Brazos River, their army lost at Agua Dulce.  On March 8, they lost at the Alamo.  They lost at Coleto (17days later), Copano (19 days later), Goliad (25 days later.)


Now anyone with good sense would've given up, especially after the massacre at Goliad.  There were arguments and doubts, but fifty days later, on April 21st, 1836, Texas won at San Jacinto.

That was the final victory.  Their determination is astounding. I am touched and humbled by people with such determination. Happy Independence Day, Texas.  You're 177 years old.

(This is my post @http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/)

In an attempt to promote Christian authors.

      In an attempt to promote Christian authors Julie Cosgrove @ Where Did You Find God Today? http://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/2013/03/05/in-an-attempt-to-promote-other-christian-authors/  asked me to participate in promoting other Christian authors,  so here’s my answers of the questions.  Also, check out her devotionals @ the hyperlink above.

 1.    What is the working title of your book?  The Final Forgiveness is the book I am just now finishing.  It is set in WWII Amsterdam and London.

2.  Where did the idea come from?  Corrie Ten Boone.  I read her book The Hiding Place,  and heard her say she was preaching in Germany after the war and at the end of  meeting, a man walked up to her.  It was one of the guards from the camp where she and her sister were.  God convicted her that she was preaching forgiveness, now she had to practice it.
 

  3.  What genre does your book fall under?  This would be classified as a single-title.    

  

  4.  Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 
       I don't have a clue.

5.  What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? How do you forgive someone who has betrayed your family resulting in their deaths?

  6.  Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

The book is represented by an agent and will be published by B&H Publishing next summer.  My book will be one of a series that takes place in different countries in Europe.   Look for the tag line and more information here or on the B&H website.  The countries will be Ireland, France, Italy and The Netherlands.  The authors involved will be Cara Putman, Anne Green, Tricia Goyer, Jeanne Dickson, Sara Sundin just to name a few.

  7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  All together it took  3 months.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  The other books in the WWII series from B&H.

  9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?  answered in 2.

  10.  What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?  What would happen if your fiancé turned in your family to the Gestapo? 

So, now I invite five other Christian authors who have blogs to step forward and do this as well.

Anne Green- http://www.annegreeneauthor.com/

Beth Shriver - http://www.bethshriverwriter.com/

Marji Laine - http://marjilaine.com/

Richard Mabry - http://www.rmabry.com/   

Patricia Carroll - http://patriciapacjaccarroll.blogspot.com/2013/02/love-it-when-plan-comes-together.html

Mention me and my blog as your inviter and spread the word! Here are the instructions:

1. You write a blog answering the ten questions and post it on your week,March 10, and include links to the blogs of the five writers you invite http://leannharris.blogspot.com/ You also credit me as your inviter and include a link to the blog I post..   

2 . The five writers you invite answer the questions; each one puts that blog up the week after yours goes up, and each one credits you as the
inviter and includes a link to your blog.

3.They, in turn, tag five other writers, and the cycle continues.

NOTE: Blogger is acting up.  It looks uniform before I post.  I've done everything except stand on my head.