My friend's doctor said this to her. How awesome. Two things that can help improve our health and well being and yet two things so easily forgotten!

Many of us have the bad habit of slumping our shoulders and most of us don't drink nearly enough water. Right? I'm guilty.

I'm so glad I heard this. I think of it nearly every day now and certainly as I sit for hours at the computer writing.

Not too much free in today's world. And things that are so good for us. Think on it.

Until later-I WISH YOU ENOUGH!

Jude

I wish I were a good blogger like my daughter in law. Her blog really rocks. No kidding-it is true. Not just because she is my DIL either. Check her out at www.nocleaninghere.blogspot.com. I know you'll agree!

But I'm not like her. I'm me. But some fun stuff HAS been happening to me this SUMMERTIME. We enjoyed our granddaughter's high school graduation the first of this month. It was a gala and we looked at our selves and said "Turn around and she's gone." I remember her first cry. It's off the college come August. The cycle of life.

I had a 'serious' article published by our newspaper. The title was "Recidivism." Wellll-I said it was serious stuff. Webster can help.

We helped a dear friend in North Carolina get ready for a family reunion. My husband did all the yard stuff and friend and I prepared three meals for 40 people! Talk about fun-- and work!

Two writer conferences are coming up and I'm working hard to be prepared for these. I'm just working hard period--you might say, but get to do what I want to do.

Some terrific books I've read so far this summer: My Sister's Keeper, The Glass Castle, Fieldwork and Peony. Great writers. Can't wait to get into Three Cups of Tea and Treehouse.

SUMMER TIME in my part of the country means Saturday's Farmer's Market, which I love; flowers,sun tea and having friends to share good food.

Need to get back to my manuscript. It won't write itself. I guess my blog doesn't either though.

Excellent blessings and I wish you enough.
Jude

Shadow of Danger
By Jeanne Marie Leach

This novel pulls you in from the start and keeps you reading! Rachel Ringhold as the heroine captures your heart not only with her quiet dignity and faith, but also her spunk and strength. She’s a special breed of the western woman dotting the pages of our country’s history. We’re caught up in her shadow of danger from page one and unable to be comfortable until the end.
Rachel flees her orphanage home in the face of an undisclosed danger. Her journey from Missouri to Leadville, Colorado is hard, but she’s headed to the only person with whom she feels safe—Seb Jameson. Their friendship began when Seb had also lived at the orphanage and had been strengthened with years of letter writing. Rachel’s young heart was captured, unknown to Seb.
Seb thrills to see his dear friend, helps her settle into new life in Leadville, but fails to see her disappointment when he reveals his engagement. He also fails to see the turbulence in that engagement.
Young Rachel longs for nothing more than to be loved and to have a home and family of her own. She’s managing to accept God’s plans for a single life, when danger surfaces again, bringing those she loves into its snare and causing her to flee once more with all thoughts of happiness dashed.
You can’t help wanting to ‘shake sense’ into Seb, who is way too slow in realizing his heart’s desire, but you’ll warm to a surprise, happy ending which unravels the danger sending Rachel away.
Leach does a credible job of creating memorable characters with strong Christian faith as well as crafting an entertaining story. Get Shadow of Danger today.

Contact Jeanne at http://www.jeannemarieleach.com

Sundowners and Mountain View Publishing
Divisions of Treble Heart Books
ISBN: 978-1-932695-68-7
193 pages
$11.95

I am reinventing myself. Yes, I have decided and so it will be. A favorite thought of mine is from Psalm 92 which says something like this "they will bring forth fruit in old age and remain fresh and green."

Well, I'm not exactly tottering on old age, but will confess a good friend and a good daughter in law, with their delightful blogs, have shamed me into getting back on the band wagon and reinventing myself, blog-wise.

I could say that since my last post, I helped my dear husband in a serious campaign for his first political office and hence, haven't had time to blog. Well, he did not prevail-sssoooo guess I'll have to get in the groove, huh?

Actually, I've been reading some really good books too. Jeannette Walls' memoir, The Glass Castle, entertained, fascinated and infuriated me all at the same time.

Haven Kimmel's memoir, She Got Up Off The Couch, affected me similarly. I recently became acquainted with her mother, the one who 'got up off the couch.' I told her she was a 'living sanctuary.'

Both books are well worth the money as is the latest read I've done-Jeanne Marie Leach's Shadow of Danger. I'm just going to do the right thing with this blog and review that book with my next entry. So check in!

Until then, I Wish You Enough.
Jude

Wow! It has been way too long since I've posted hasn't it? Let's say I took early holiday and stayed late.

Florida weather beats this -17 wind chill today. My husband and I are waffling on the 'snow bird thing' and today almost clinches our vote. Weather like this is good for getting to the things needing to be done (ie blogging!).

I have my Christian romance nearly 'polished'. Boy, has this been a journey-my first novel! I've written non-fiction, articles, poetry, grants, proposals, courses, but writing fiction is a hard blast. There, how's that? It's hard, real hard, but it's a blast too! I've learned so much with this book and have had help from so many generous writer friends. Thanks to each of you-you know who you are.

Late fall/early winter a local writer friend, River, had our illustrious group for her annual chautauqua. This was my first time to attend this favored event. We started by penning those things hindering our work, shared them and burned them, in the big bonfire in her back forty. Out there, we each painted a rock to signify what we wanted to accomplish in our writing. Our art work was wonderful-and hilarious. Next came an authentic Japanese meal served around the fire (River knows ALL things Japanese). Had we stopped here, our fun would have been sufficient, but the best was for last. The grand finale included gathering in the real, yes real, tepee in River's yard. Around a small fire in the tepee, we shared the stories painted on our rocks. (Just an FYI-5am everyday finds River in her tepee meditating, journaling and honing her writing craft. Awesome!) I loved being a part of this amazing group of women and my rock looks at me every day with expectancy. I won't disappoint.

Closing thought. On the Florida beach, I watched sea gulls feed. They take only one bite at a time. I pondered what would I do if after one bite, I never knew where the next bite was coming from? I thought of the children of Israel when they were fed manna from heaven. It was one meal at a time and faith for the rest. I felt I had learned a lesson from the sea gulls. They live.

I wish you enough . . .

Jude