THE MOON SHINES DOWN

A never before published children's book, "The Moon Shines Down" by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Linda Bleck arrived in my mail yesterday. I felt like a child with an unexpected Christmas gift when I gazed at the bright yellow moon over a Koala bear sailing down a river. I quit my tasks and read the book aloud.

It's been awhile since I read Margaret Wise Brown's books, but from the first rhythmic line, I recalled all the days with our children and grandchildren. Books like "Good Night Moon" and "Runaway Bunny." Brown had over a 100 books in print when she died suddenly in 1952. Her many unfinished manuscripts were all but lost.

"The Moon Shines Down" is a delightful story of how the same moon shines upon children everywhere and in every culture. I see this as a valuable book for teaching young children about race, animals, and God. The bright colors on each page will keep the youngest child entranced in the story.

"The Moon Shines Down" is a treasure from the front cover to the last page where a Koala bear sleeps in a tree. The publisher's introduction about the "story behind the lost manuscript" creates a teaching tool. A bit of history to help instruct our children on how old things are valuable and usable.

Thanks to the far reaching insight of Thomas Nelson--what a brilliant idea to seek the help of author Laura Minchew when the old sheets of forgotten words were found. I applaud Minchew for giving us Margaret Wise Brown once more. "The Moon Shines Down" promises to be a classic for children today.

Great fun, buy one or two....no children? Buy one for your neighbor's child.

CLASS -Life Extravagant!

On FCW someone asked, “How do I get into speaking?” Tammy answered the post with good advice, “Take CLASS Seminar or join a toastmasters group. ”

CLASS stands for Christian Leaders, Authors and Speakers Services.)
http://www.classervices.com/ http://www.classervices.com/lifeextravagant.html

I did attend a CLASS workshop given by Marietta Littauer at OCWC in 2004. Marietta is excellent at her craft—great teacher, educator and encourager. She talked about building our life and creating our own ministry presentation. A one page bio; something you can send as a press release for media use. Littauer’s four page brochuret is CLASSY.

Her slick printed presentation shares Littauer’s motto: LIFE Extravagant! Love, inspiration, freedom and entertainment. By the time you finish reading the four pages, you know the woman, the man behind the woman, the titles of her books and what others say about her.

Getting out her now outdated brochure inspired me to build my own one page or possible two page profile of me. I haven’t authored ten books, but my caregiver survival guide is about ready to go to press….but I’m so much “more than a caregiver.”

Here’s my goal list for the next few weeks:
ü Search for 2009 Bible verse for the year.
ü Get my Wordpress blog up and running properly.
ü Make a decision on WIP—get it published.
ü Bring my Lionhearted Kat motto and mission up to date.
ü Build a brochure before I teach workshop at IDAHope January 30, 2009

Think that's enough. What are your goals?

Brainstorms Are Work

I used to be extremely creative and kept even the young people going full bore. I came up with great parties. Had lots of ice breakers on hand and when I couldn't find cheap things to make at Bible School, I created ideas and prayed for more.

Now I work in medical billing and often feel too old to hob knob with the youngsters at work. My lunches are spent with the same women I’ve sat with over the last ten years. We are quite comfortable together, but my friends talk food, grandkids, and anything but writing. Sometimes I feel frustrated, maybe even a bit bored. Especially when the food scene is another recipe—with my allergies I quit thinking creatively about food.

This summer one of the young authors in my critique group asked for a brainstorming night. Wow, she inspired me. I felt the creative juices kick in—Yahoo. I’d have youngsters all around me. They could share about their new fangled computer expertise, the latest word fad, and I’d be inspired when they left.

I whipped together an idea starter and waited for the youngsters to arrive. You see them—four of us oldsters had the time of our lives. (The youngsters were tied up with kids, birthday parties and sickness.)

Joyce, Audrey, Karen and I learned there is tons of life left in us old gals and we are touching hundreds, if not thousands, for Jesus on a daily basis. Wow, what inspiration. Watch for the results of that night. (Audrey took this photo. Next post will show her smiling face.)

The Lion's Roar

After ten months of living with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP), my husband’s rare cancer, I came to the end of me and yelled, “Help. God. Help.” That’s when I realized the Lord created a strong person inside of me—but I felt like a wimp.

That day I told my co-workers, “I’m no longer Kathy, I’m now the Lionhearted Kat.” Within a few weeks I added forty cuddly, stuffed lions to my cubicle as a reminder of my strength.

It’s now six years later, and husband is doing right well. Me, too, as long as I remember I’m not strong within myself, but because God lives in me. I’m still fond of lions, especially cutesy ones like the mural.

Becoming the Lionhearted Kat changed others parts of my life, too. About then a PMP survivor, Brenda Williams, built a website: www.pmpawareness.org. She invited me to write for the Caregivers’ Corner. With no particular format in mind, I created “CAPSULE OF HOPE”, just stuff that I learned on my journey through cancer.

Those Capsules have now become a part of my first book. Don’t know when it will be published, but soon. “Capsules of Hope: A Survival Guide for Caregivers” is more than a memoir, its daily encouragement and resources for every caregiver in most situations.

Have a hope filled day, Kat

"REFLECTIONS OF GOD'S HOLY LAND" A personal Journey Through Israel

Eva Marie Everson and Miriam Feinberg Vamosh compel readers to enjoy every page of their personal journey through Israel.

Eva’s welcome shares an everyday experience of a fall. Yet even the mundane-can-happen-to-anyone-fall is an invitation to experience her thrill with new insight while on a visit to Israel. Everson wrote, “Today I fell into the Bible. Literally. And in love with God all over again.”

Although written by two authors,it is Everson’s fall that compels the reader to delve into the book, to consume each tid bit of fact on every page.

The photography is more than the usual family, “See my vacation snaps.” The reader can experience the realness of each location—you smell the salt brine of the Dead Sea, hear the water falls, and feel life as it exudes from the shops on the Via Dolorosa.

You sense the reverence needed to visit the cathedrals, you want to kneel to touch the mosaic floor of the “Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes.”

I cried when Everson reflected on her experience when she touched the Western Wall.“I press my face into the wall and begin to sob. I don’t understand this. I thought I knew so much about prayer—about God….”

When a reader spends time absorbing the “Did You Know?” and “Reflections” pages found in "Reflections of God’s Holy Land", you understand Everson’s statement, “Here, I realize, I know nothing at all.”

When I closed the book, I too felt enriched and changed. This is more than a coffee table book to display the beauty of Israel, it is a heart and mind changing experience, a must have for anyone interested in the life and times of Israel.

I invite anyone that desires to feel God through His chosen country to buy "Reflections of God’s Holy Land." One for their home and two for Christmas gifts.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Inc for publishing this book, and Everson and Vamosh for sharing their experience.

A Freelance Author's Office

A writers group talked about our office, where is it located? Door open or closed? File cabinets or boxes of files. Messy or clean.

I didn’t have an “office” until after my cornea transplant. In those months following my eye surgery, back when I couldn't watch TV or read, I struggled with depression and inactivity. One day I announced to husband, "I'm going to write a book."

Gary immediately set up a makeshift office for me in our family room. He seemed to understand my isolation wouldn’t be healthy. Where did I write? Anywhere. At the table/desk he created for me, on the front porch, or in the bathtub.

When I needed the "feel" of a small town for my novel scenes, Gary drove me through miles and miles of rural communities in Iowa. My happy fingers found lots to write while away from the confines of our home. Even the front seat of the car, or a picnic table in the park could substitute as an office space.

From the many posts about office space in our writers group, I'd say there is enough evidence to prove an office isn't four walls and a desk. An office is where the heart of the author finds peace and the power of the Holy Spirit flows through fingers—whether at the keyboard or a steno pad.

Just my last two cents.

JILL Hart--CWAHM

Connecting with other bloggers is important. Check out Jill Hart of CWAHM. Five years ago Jill made an executive decision to establish herself in a stay at home Mom business. And she did.

Jill is a go getter and a highly motivated young woman. Her desire is to help her family income and be a work at home Mom. Can everyone accomplish what Jill has done?
I don’t know, but I’m taking lessons from her.

This is what I’ve learned:

Find a hole and fill it—Jill was one of the first Christian Work at Home Moms.

Live, dream, and plan passionately—set short and long term goals.

You need an active, well-edited, and easy to read website

It’s important to connect with other ‘like-sites’ to generate more traffic your direction.

If you have a product to sell, sign up with paypal.

Does adsense generate more visitors? Maybe? Probably it helps generate money?

So what am I doing about this stay at home business? Learning the ropes for now—and praying for wisdom, a teacher, a built in web-helpee.

The good news is, a new website is on my goal list. That is a major start in the right direction. I’m also sitting on the sidelines and applauding my friends like Jill.

Excited about the future, how about you?

Kat