Dani: Could you take a minute and introduce yourself? Chris Ann: Sure! I live in a southern suburb of Minneapolis, MN with my husband, Todd. We have 4 kids. Our oldest kids are in college and we have a high schooler and middle schooler at home. Besides being an entrepreneur, I love to travel, garden, decorate, and paddleboard. I am also recently a new puppy mom.

Dani: How did LoveFeast get started? Chris Ann: I started LoveFeast, in 2008, with my best friend, Kristin. We first launched a lifestyle blog, LoveFeast Table(www.lovefeasttable.com) with the dream of having it grow into a platform that would help us reach an audience we could inspire to live a beautiful life. That blog helped us launch our first online shop with our favorite, velvet pumpkins.  About a year ago, I opened the first LoveFeast storefront in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

Dani: What’s your inspiration for LoveFeast? What keeps you going on the hard days?

Chris Ann: My inspiration for LoveFeast is found in discovering unique, artistic and beautiful things to curate in both the online shop and my local LoveFeast boutique. I love the connection I have to the LoveFeast shopper and how much they appreciate quality and something special to give or for their home. Finding enough time to do all the things I want to do with my business is the biggest challenge.

Dani: For years you were solely an online boutique, now you also have a brick and mortar store. What’s that like? Do you enjoy seeing customers on a daily basis? Decorating the shop? Having a concrete place to welcome folks?

Chris Ann: I love having a brick and mortar store. It is one more space to fulfill the vision I have for LoveFeast. It's wonderful to get customer's feedback face to face. And, to help people choose a special gift for special events. I love helping people mark their occasions with something thoughtful, even if it is a special gift for themselves. It's nice to be a part of making someone's day.

Dani: LoveFeast focuses a lot on hospitality and inspirational items of beauty. How do you decide which items to carry, and do you design any of the pieces yourself?

Chris Ann: I choose items first of all that I like, or would want to give or have myself. I love a handmade item, in soft neutral tones, that is high quality and therefore can be enjoyed for years. Sometimes it's nice to have something whimsical thrown in the mix for some fun. I don't design any of the pieces myself, but it is something I think I might like to try someday.

Dani: What’s your favorite part of owning your own business?

Chris Ann: It's a part of who I am; to create, dream, and start. Owning my own business has given me the opportunity to see my creative idea, hard work, and determination create a tangible space where other people can experience finding beautiful items. Having your own business doesn't mean you work less, but it does mean you can work on your own time.  Like anything that has value, there has been sacrifice and hard work.  I look back in a bit of awe at how, one step after the other, the vision of LoveFeast has continued to grow.

Great questions! It's fun to reflect on where I started and how far the LoveFeast journey has taken me!

We would love to give your readers 15% off their purchase at LoveFeast Shop using code: 17DP15

LoveFeast is a boutique of filled with unique, high-quality, hand-crafted and artistic items to inspire the giver and charm the receiver. Shop our hand-picked selection of home decor, tabletop, and gifts, such as our beautiful velvet pumpkins, bedding & pillows, artist-created jewelry. These beautifully curated finds will make thoughtful gifts and inspiring additions to your beautiful life!

The store: www.lovefeastshop.com

LoveFeast Instagram: www.instagram.com/lovefeastshop

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovefeastshop

Happy Monday, friends!

I'm embarrassed to say I clearly forgot my ABC's last week by putting R before Q. Thank you to everyone who emailed to let me know. I appreciate it. It was such a nice encouragement to know how much you are all enjoying this series. I blame my oops on my recent hospital stay, but really my forgetfulness was far more likely due to my hectic schedule right now. I'm juggling a lot,  and in all honesty I believe God used my hospital stay (for low sodium of all things--doing well now, thanks) to remind me of the importance of slowing down and simply being still.

In our rush around society we often forget to take a deep breath, to look out at the horizon, to soak in God's majestic creation surrounding us. To listen to our babies or grand babies (in my case) laughter, to watch a butterfly fluttering around the bush in the back yard, to enjoy the scent of fresh tomatoes and spices wafting off the stove from our cooking dinner. There are so many nuances in the quiet moments of life I fear we miss (I know I do) because we are racing around trying to check things off our To Do List for the day. But even more frightening, is....

Without quiet, how will you hear God's whispers? 

God says in His Word:

"After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." ~1 Kings 19:12

God came in a gentle whisper. A gentle whisper. How often are we quiet enough and still enough to hear that whisper? I admit in my case, not very often. And I worry what am I missing by staying so busy? What could God be whispering to my soul if I just slowed down long enough to hear Him?

I don't know about you, but it is in my quietest moments in which I hear God the loudest--during my quiet time with Him in the morning as the sun is rising in the sky, as I'm still and writing, as I sit and watch the ocean tides. He comes and calms my soul in a way I can't describe when I take time out and simply listen.

How about you? When do you hear God speak the loudest?

I pray you have a blessed Monday and I challenge you to take five minutes after reading this (and printing out your coloring page, of course :)) to simply sit and be still. Shut off your phone. Close your computer. And, just listen.

Download today’s Coloring page

“Q” for Quiet

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

Save

Save

Save

Dani: Hi Sarah!! I'm so excited to have you share with us today! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sarah: My name is Sarah Detweiler and I live with my husband and 3 kiddos in PA. I am a coffee lover, a DIY enthusiast and a painter of anything that doesn't move. My decorating style is a mixture of Industrial and Farmhouse, and my favorite color is Navy, as it pairs well with any other color. Jewelry as well as power tools are always on my Christmas wish list.

I am a transplant to PA, having grown up on a small farm in a beautiful, Southern TN valley. After falling head over heals for a PA boy, I married him and moved up north in 2005.

Dani: What’s the story and inspiration behind Church Street Designs? How did you get started?

Sarah: Church Street Designs really began as a hobby. After our second child was born and I had quit my full time job in the banking world becoming a stay at home mom, I realized I needed a hobby and something to work towards. I had always loved creating beautiful things and my house was full of DIY projects and re-purposed items, so I decided to start blogging about how I created them. My projects led me to create a few hand painted signs for my home, and I learned that I loved being able to dream up a design in my head and then actually create it into a decor piece.

After selling a few to friends and family I decided to open an Etsy shop to see if I could expand my audience. Over the years, my little hobby grew to include a shop of our own, www.churchstreetdesigns. com and God has blessed our business, expanding it from just hand painted signs into chalkboards, jewelry, digital art and more. It is now my full time job and our team at CSD is growing. 

Dani: Do you handcraft all the signs yourself?

Sarah: All of our signs, trays, and jewelry are all handcrafted by a member of the Church Street Designs Team. We believe there is still a place in this fast passed, cheaply made, world for quality items. All our signs are meticulously handcrafted, from the lumber we use to the attention to detail in our painting process, we want to create a product that will outlast us.

Dani: Do you view your business strictly as a business or also as a ministry?

Sarah: The motto of Church Street Designs is, "Life Inspired". We not only want to inspire people by the beautiful items we make, but also encourage them to be an inspiration to someone. Investment in people's lives is the only thing that will outlive us. Our prayer is that God will use Church Street Designs as a conduit to bring blessing, encouragement, and inspiration to those it reaches.

Dani: What’s your favorite part of sharing your beautiful artwork with the world and running your own business?

Sarah: There are so many things that I enjoy about running my own business, but my favorite part of the process is the designing aspect. I love coming up with new products and design layouts, and figuring out how to get what's in my head onto paper and then into an actual item. I also enjoy helping customers create one-of-a-kind pieces that fit their homes and office. My husband, Jamie, is also a huge part of the Church Street Designs Team.

As a "spreadsheet and numbers" kind of guy, he balances out my creative side, fixes all the tech problems, takes care of all the paperwork, business legalities and a little thing called, paying all the taxes on time. Several nights a week the clock may strike midnight and you'll still find us brainstorming new marketing strategies, fine-tuning our website design, or putting the finishing touches on a new project. The work is never done, but we love that God has given us a dream we can work on together. 

We are currently offering a FREE printable sign on our website as a thank you for connecting with us. We also have some great, new products that are coming soon, so stay in touch!

Use code: CSDinstagram10 to receive 10% off any item in our shop!

Save

Save

Hi, friends and happy Wednesday.

Today Becky and I continue to share a glimpse into the creation of a novel.

For me, it was Blind Spot, which just released October 3rd. If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, be sure to. Reviewers are calling it aa 'major thrill ride with some fascinating twists' (Romantic Times 4 Stars).

While Becky takes you through the creation of her latest True to You. So, without further ado, here's a glimpse into the trying and terrific stage of revisions.

[embed]https://youtu.be/m4NUgjlfGPo[/embed]

I hope you enjoyed today's vlog. Would love to hear how you feel about revisions? Fan or Foe?

Any tips or fun tools of the trade you must have with you? I always have my erasable gel pens, highlighters, and sticky tabs.

Oh, and yummy trail mix (walnuts, dried cranberries, and cocoa nibs) and coffee--lots and lots of coffee.

Until next week...

Blessings, Becky & Dani

 

Happy Monday, friends! This week I chose the word risk for our letter r. And, I truly believe the quote I shared above (partly because I wrote it, but partly because I sincerely believe it to be true. We all have a choice--view life as an adventurous or as commonplace. And, I don't know about you, but life is far from commonplace. Life is filled with moments--good moments, sad moments, happy ones, heart-crushing ones. Life is a collection of moments, but it's how we view and react to these moments which make up our life story. We can either fear the future and the unknown, or look forward to what God has in store for us.

God not only knows the plans He has for us...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Joshua 29:11

But He instructs us to boldly seek the adventure He has in store for us...

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9

The God of creation, the God Who knit us together in our mother's wombs, the One who knows the plans He has for us, tells us to be courageous. And, it's impossible to be courageous without taking risks.

Risks push us beyond our comfort zone. They make us take a leap of faith, to walk on water, to face giants. They require us to be dependent on God for our future and for His sustaining ability in the here and now. So, let's follow our Maker's instruction and follow our Lord's common to take risks, to be courageous, and to step out of our comfort zones.

Over the past two years, I've been accepting a number of speaking invitations, which really pulls me out of my comfort zone, but when I'm up there and sharing, I feel God with me in a special way. He meets me in that risk-filled moment when I fear I might forget what to say.

Where have you stepped out of your comfort zone in the last year? Is there something you've been wanting to try, but haven't found the courage yet? If so, what. And, if so, there's no better time than the present.

May your week and life be a full and rich adventure.

Download today’s Coloring page

“R” for Risk

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

Hi Friends and Happy Wednesday!

I have to apologize that this post got bumped back a week, but I'm extremely pleased to announce I've finished the revisions on book four in my Chesapeake Valor series. Yay! If you missed the fun cover reveal of Dead Drift, you can catch it here .

Now to the video covering the first drafts of Blind Spot and True to You. Hope you enjoy this glimpse into our process.

[embed]https://youtu.be/6OeU9a5zShs[/embed]

How about you? Are you a plotter, panster, or somewhere in between?

Blessings,

Dani & Becky

Happy Monday, friends!

I'm so excited to share today's P word with you--perseverance. It's kind of my life motto, and today I'm going to switch things up a bit and share a number of quotes that I feel deeply reflect the importance and motivation behind perseverance, as well as some wonderful Scripture verses to check out on perseverance.

If anyone mastered perseverance during His time on earth, it was Jesus. So many times he was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11) but he fought back with God's Word--sharper than a double-edged sword  (Hebrews 4:12). So many times he persevered when He was tired (John 4:6), sad (John 11:35), and unwanted (Mark 6:4). The greatest example of perseverance was His enduring the painstaking agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14 or Matthew 26) and on the Cross (Mark 15).

Anytime I'm struggling, waiting, or need to persevere I think of two people--my mom who persevered more than anyone I've met in life, and Jesus, who endured more He needed to persevere through than anyone.

I hope you'll take some time today to read about Jesus' time on earth. It can be found all throughout Scripture, but a great place to start is one of the Gospels. I, personally, love the Gospel of John. But some other verses to take a look at including the ones listed in parentheses above and these:

• Mark 10:27
• Hebrews 12:2
• Isaiah 53:5
• 1 Corinthians 15:57
• Ephesians 5:2

May the Lord strengthen you and His Holy Spirit fill you with endurance and perseverance to run the good race.

One more area where I find a lot of inspiration to fuel my perseverance is found in music. I have several songs which really inspire me. To me, it's amazing how a song can touch your soul and never leave. And, when you hear it again, it takes you right back to the first time you heard it. Here's one of my perseverance favorites. I hope you enjoy!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_KXsMCJgBQ[/embed]

What about you? Do you have a favorite perseverance Scripture verse, quote, motto, or even song that inspires you? If so, I'd love to hear. 

Download today’s Coloring page

“P” for Perseverance

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

This is a guest post from Amy at Bethany House.

It’s almost November, and for Christian fiction readers, that means that the Christy Awards are coming up! Yes, the awards are about recognizing and celebrating Christian novels, but it’s also a great excuse to dress up with other writer and reader friends.

As a two-time Christy Award finalist herself, Dani graciously agreed to host a fun quiz where we analyze your personality and reading style and suggest a dress you could wear to the gala.

Even if you can’t make it to the red carpet yourself, stayed tuned to the christyawards.com website for news about the winners! (And if you are interested in joining us in Nashville in person, read on!)

We’d love to see you at the upcoming Art of Writing Conference and Christy Awards! You can find out more about the event below, or if you’re already convinced, you can register here.

About the Art of Writing Conference

The Art of Writing is designed to bring Christian creatives and publishing curators together for a half day of intensive seminars that celebrate the creative life, provide practical tips for overcoming challenges in a rapidly-changing industry, and answer questions authors are asking.

The speakers represent a wide range of roles and areas of expertise. Andrew Peterson, young adult writer and founder of the Rabbit Room, will give advice on how to create and benefit from a vibrant creative community, while Wheaton College professor Theon Hill, Ph.D. will present a survey of the obstacles and opportunities of diversity in Christian fiction.

Authors will receive encouragement for the ups and downs of the writing life from blogger Carrie Schmidt and author, agent, and ACFW public relations liaison Cynthia Ruchti. Finally, a panel of representatives from major ECPA publishers will share insider information on where the genre has been, where it’s going, and the exciting changes they see in today’s market for writers. Learn more about the speakers and sessions here.

About the Christy Awards

The Christy Award™ is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. The award is named after Catherine Marshall’s enduring bestselling novel, Christy, published in 1967 and inspiring a continuing book series and a CBS television series starring Kellie Martin. The novel will be re-released in 2017 in a 50th-anniversary legacy edition by Gilead Publishing in partnership with Kregel Publications.

Hosted by award-winning author and radio host Chris Fabry, this year’s celebration gala dinner will feature New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury as well as musician and writer, Andrew Peterson. You can view the finalist list here.

Christy Award Celebration Blog Tour

Monday, October 9: Top Ten Writing Industry Issues at Seekerville Tuesday, October 10: Give Us Your Best Questions at By the Book Wednesday, October 11: Interview with Dr. Theon Hill at Reading is My Superpower Thursday, October 12: Celebrating the Christy Awards…With a Giveaway! at Bethany House Fiction Friday, October 13: Quiz: Pick Your Gala Dress at Dani Pettrey’s blog Saturday, October 14: Eight Reasons to Come to The Art of Writing at The Power of Words Sunday, October 15: Interview with Carrie Schmidt at Bookworm Mama Monday, October 16: Interview with Cynthia Ruchti at Just Commonly Tuesday, October 17: Christy Nominee Bingo and Giveaway at Faithfully Bookish Wednesday, October 18: The Unofficial Readers’ Choice Cover Awards at Singing Librarian Books

Amy, Bethany House

Happy Monday, friends!

I chose the word obstacles for our letter today, because let's face it, we all encounter our fair share of obstacles. Whether it's an issue with our kid's homework or teacher, an issue on the job, a family issue, a spiritual issue--life is full of issues and obstacles, but it's how we react to the obstacles that matters.

It's a great idea to just weave around the obstacle and smile about it, and honestly I hope that's my attitude the majority of the time, but often the obstacles are so big and heavy that instead of swerving around them, we're forced to climb them. To sweat it out. To scramble our way up with God's help.

I love this verse from Isaiah:

"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." ~Isaiah 41:13

No matter what obstacle we may be facing, and it may be a brutal one, we can rest assured God is right there with us. Holding us by His right hand and guiding us along the way.

I love Alistair Begg. He's an amazingly gifted preacher from Parkside Church in Cleveland, but he also has a ministry called Truth for Life. If you've never checked it out, you really should. I listen to a podcast nearly everyday and get the daily devotional. He's been gifted to preach the Word and does so verse by verse. If you're interested in some deep study, download a podcast.

Why do I bring this up? Not just because he's so gifted or because it's a ministry our family has supported for years, but because he often refers to Pilgrim's Progress and whenever I think of obstacles and enduring them, I think of Pilgrim. He faces so many obstacles and trials, but he manages to survive them all and you will to. God will carry you through. Maybe not in this life, but in eternity, and that's a beautiful gift to focus on when struggles are wearing on us.

May you find peace in His presence today and always.

For Further Study:

• Isaiah 40:31
• Isaiah 43:2
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Joshua 1:9
• John 16:33

What Scripture book, poem, inspirational quote, book or ministry has been a source of inspiration to you when you face obstacles?

Download today’s Coloring page

“O” for Obstacles

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

Save

Happy Wednesday, friends!

I'm so excited to share the first of a four-week long series that good friend Becky Wade and I did chronicling our 'Year in the Life of a Writer' though it could more aptly be titled 'The Creation of a Novel.'

We each picked a book we were about to start--Blind Spot for me and True to You for Becky, and then we made video diaries during four major stages of the creative process throughout the life of our books.

I'll be sharing a different stage each week for the next month.

It's really an exciting time as Blind Spot released just yesterday and True to You released in May! But you lucky ducks get to see the behind-the-scenes making of each novel. Lucky or brave? It could go either way. Ha! The writing life is always an adventure, but it isn't always pretty. It's full of highs and lows, and we really hope these videos will be a great way of inviting you into our process and friendship.

Becky and I have the joy and honor of being prayer partners, friends and fellow Bethany House authors. We both signed with Bethany House about the same time and we both visited Bethany House shortly after. We hit it off and have been buddies ever since. Having a prayer partner in your life, especially the writing life, is a tremendous help. Writing can be such a solitary act, that it's so good and heartwarming to have a friend praying for you who understands exactly what you're going through.

I hope you enjoy joining us along our Creation of a Novel and I'd love to hear from all of you at each stage about your writing process, or if you're a reader, if anything about the process surprised you or spurred questions. Without further ado, let's jump in and join the writing journey!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITdQhurwEiU&feature=youtu.be[/embed]

If you aren't familiar with Becky, you definitely should be. She writes enthralling contemporary romance that warms the soul. You can learn more about her here: www.beckywade.com

I've asked Becky to hang out each Wednesday for the next month and she's graciously agreed, so please give her a warm welcome, and feel free to ask both of us or either of us any pressing questions on your mind.

We'd love to hear about you? How do you go about planning your novel? Are you a plotter or a panster? Or somewhere in between?

Blessings,

Dani and Becky

Happy Monday, friends!

I'm a beach girl through and through. I want to live at the beach. In fact, it's one of the places that I really do live. Not physically own a house there, but a place where, when I'm there, I'm all there. I'm truly living. Do you know what I mean?

Living Distracted

We often go through life distracted. At least I do. So distracted. I'm always thinking of the things I haven't done or the items still awaiting me for the day. I hardly ever just stop and enjoy the moment. Enjoy the warmth of the sun on my skin or the feel of granules of sand slipping between my toes--but at the beach, I do. I stop and bask in the moment. I live. Really live. I enjoy my grand babies' laughter as their feet slosh in the sea's spray and feel the sand squish beneath my feet as I chase after one of them running headlong down the open stretch of surf before us. I sit with my daughter. Just sit and chat or stare out at the ocean.

I eat lunch in my beach chair. Have you noticed everything tastes better at the beach? Fresher? The flavors popping in contrast to the salt lingering in the air. Or, perhaps, I've just worked up a health appetite. I hold my husband's calloused hand as we go for a walk, the sun warm on our backs, the horizon never-ending before us. I love those hands that hold me close. I love him. And at that beach I slow down enough to realize the beauty of all the gifts I have before me.

Trusting God as We Navigate Life

I have a new gift. If you can look at Lupus as a gift. I just got diagnosed this week, but I know God doesn't allow anything in my life that hasn't passed by Him, that He doesn't have in His hands, that isn't for my best. How could Lupus be for my best? I don't know, but I'm not God. I simply trust. Trust that He has me through all that's to come.

Trust that the One who made the sand, the sun and the sea and keeps them in their space--the sun rising every morning and setting each evening, the ocean tides like clockwork, the sand--so lift and fragile--still lining the beach that I ran on as a child. If the God who controls nature, the rotating of the earth, the passing of each moment of time has me in His capable hands, I will rest in that. I will trust that the One who knows the hairs of my head knows exactly what's going on in my body and will carry me through this new path to navigate, and you can bet I'll be wearing flip flops the entire way.

Where are you most fully alive? In the woods, at the beach, or hugging your children tight? I'd love to hear.

Thanks for sharing your Monday morning with me. I look forward to it all week!

Download today’s Coloring page

“N” for Navigate

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

Life happens but when we have a calling, we need to make space to walk in it.

Often in my years since being contracted in 2008, I’ve had people ask me how do I find the time to write? They say their lives are so busy, it’s impossible to write. And I get it—times are rough. But the plain fact is that life will always intervene. It’s kind of like God when you tell him your plans. He’s all, “Really? Is that so? Well, let me show you . . ."

*Cue massive boulder rolling straight out of Indiana Jones to wreck your plans*

Okay, yes—that’s a bit facetious, but it’s true. Life is real. Life is raw. Life is ROUGH. But as a writer who is being published, whether indie or traditional, you have deadlines. A schedule that must be kept or that infamous domino stumbles and unleashes its chaos.

Right now, I’m doing edits on my eighteenth and nineteenth novels—both are content/macro edits, job and finances woes have hit hard, Irma hit my daughters, twins hit college and driving . . . blah blah blah LIFE. Blah blah blah. LIFE.

See? Life doesn’t quit.

And neither do I. As my husband always says, “What is there to quit to?”

So, I write on. Because it’s what I love and I refuse to let the stressors of life crush that passion. So, how do I do it? Nothing fancy. Just raw determination (which is a massive dose of that Irish stubbornness that says, “oh, yeah? Just watch!”), and a handful of things that I started doing this year:

1.     Lists

My husband is a notorious list maker. I’ve always taunted him over this and his intimate knowledge of spreadsheets. It’s a little obscene. Or so I thought, until life rushed in with floods of stress and deadlines. I had to get--*whispers* organized. I started with Mini Emergent Task Planner. It’s simple. And that’s what I needed—not another detailed, complicated thing. I had plenty of those already. This one breaks down what I have to do it into MAJOR tasks (only room for three) and “Got extra time?” tasks—with lines for four more. That’s what I use for my week. I prioritize, then GO!

2.     Planner

Yeah, remember that “not complicated” thing? Well, same thing happened when I saw amazing author Robin Carroll posting her Happy Planner pages. They were so pretty. And I wanted pretty, another way for my creativity to get unlocked. So, I opted for the week-at-a-glance pages for bigger projects and life events. At the end of the week, I rewarded myself for surviving the week and demands on my time by embellishing these pages with pretties and pictures.

3.     Be Ruthless

I’m not even kidding. Be ruthless—in protecting your time and energy. Social media can become a black hole of time, sapping energy. In fact, a research study found that people generally come away from social media less happy and less confident. Now, I limit my time online. However, I still hang out for a while because I have family in Ireland that I try to stay connected with through that online platform.

4.     Rewards

As you accomplish a task, assign a “reward” that is encouraging enough or refills your energy well. Maybe something small—watching an episode of a TV show, or reading a chapter of a new novel. Rewards should be equivalent to the task completed. One of my favorite new rewards is a bath with those delicious-smelling bath bombs. Ironically, thanks to the stunning Tamera Leigh, I’ve learned that lingering in the bath actually forces my mind to quiet down . . . and often unlocks secret pockets of creativity.

So go forth and protect yourself well!

Writing is a gift and a passion that needs a healthy, confident you.

Giveaway

I'm giving away a copy of Crown of Souls.

(U.S. only please)

All you need to do is leave a comment answering the following question:

What do you do to make space for what you love? Maybe it's writing, but maybe it's reading or creating in some other way?

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author of over fifteen novels. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband live in beautiful Northern Virginia with their children and a retired military working dog, VVolt N629. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters. Visit Ronie online at: ronie@roniekendig.com www.roniekendig.com FB: RapidFireFiction Twitter: @RonieKendig Instagram: @kendigronie

Save

Happy Monday, friends!

God's timing is always so perfect.  I'm sitting on my lanai in Kona, Hawaii. I'm here with my hubby celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. Talk about meaning and memories. This week has been abundantly blessed with both!

You don't need to travel so far to experience meaning and memories. Both can be found everyday in simple moments with your family, in daily activities with friends, and in still, quiet moments with God.

A Life of Meaning & Memories

Choosing to live a life of meaning and memories means slowing down long enough to really take in the joys and blessings God's given you. Nothing brings me joy like seeing my grand babies'  sweet smiles or their adorable giggles when they belly laugh.

Children are so good at soaking in the beauties of nature--the warm rays of sunshine on your face, the cool breeze swirling leaves through the fall air, the flash of fireflies on warm summer nights, or the squish of sand between your toes. Kids are so good at really appreciating nature with all five of their senses. They are filled with curiosity and enthusiasm. I wish I was more like my grand babies.

While we've all been blessed with the precious gift of life, too often we (myself included) are so busy rushing around that we forget to stop and savor the little moments, but it's these moments--some as brief of a bird's song on the wind that can fill our lives with warm and lasting memories.

Fill your life with memories and meaning, not stuff and things. 

God's Creation

I do, however, find that time spent outdoors in God's majestic creation is a special place for me to feel closer to Him. Whether we're kayaking through the rolling rivers, hiking the tall hills and mountaintops, or simply enjoying a picnic on a rock at the summit. It's in these activities and moments in which my mind slows down enough and all my senses kick in so I can just feel enveloped by the Lord's presence and bask in His glorious creation surrounding me.

Do you have a special place where you feel closer to God?

I truly believe that memories and meaning are deeply connected with one another. All of our memories and moments build upon another and result in the culmination of the meaning of our lives, especially our lives in Christ.  Our lives are journeys to Him, and we are blessed to experience so much beauty and joy in the smallest of memories along the way.

For example, I was a little girl, I had a cardinal that would perch on my windowsill every day and sing to me. Whenever my mom saw a cardinal, she'd say 'there's your bird' and she bought me many cardinal gifts over the years. Every time I see a red Cardinal, I fondly remember my mom and my singing friend, and I'm filled with comfort.

Do you have any special memories from your childhood that linger still?

Download today’s Coloring page

“M” for Meaning

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

If you enjoyed this post, I'd love if you'd share:

Click to Tweet: Fill your life with memories and meaning, not stuff and things. 

Click to Tweet: Memories and meaning are deeply connected with one another.

Praying today is full of wonderful memories for you,

Save

Happy Monday, friends!

I hope your day is off to a great coffee-fueled start. I'm dealing with jet lag. No fun. I'm going to be dragging and working on my deadline all week. If you could keep me in prayer, that would be wonderful, but we had the very best time.

I'll be sure to share some pictures on my Facebook Page this week. I've been struggling with health issues so it was such a blessing to be able to go and enjoy my time there. A great thanks to my friends who were praying me through! I hope you all have great friends in your life you love you and prayer for you, but I know you have at least one and the most important One--God.

Do you know God says:

"I have called you by name and you are mine." ~Isaiah 43:1b

The God of the entire universe and everything in it has called you by name. He knows you and he loves. And, most importantly, He is always with you. God says:

"...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b

God loves us and is always with us. I can't think of a better friend. Someone who loves us despite our flaws, our mistakes, our pasts. Someone who loves us because we are His. Someone who never leaves our side. Amen?

For further study:

• Deuteronomy  7:9
• Psalm 86:15
• Psalm 136:26
• John 3:16
• Romans 5:8

What about you? Do you have a friend who has stuck by you in thick and thin? God has blessed me with Lisa who has been my friend for nineteen years and man have we had some adventures. I smile just reflecting on them. Take some time to reflect on your friendships and on God today and let him love on your heart.

Download today’s Coloring page

“L” for Love

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

Happy Monday, friends!

I hope you've had a wonderful week! I can't believe it's September and while you're reading this I'll be off on an adventure celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary! I'm so excited I can hardly believe it. 25 years! I know many of you have been married a good number of years, some much longer and some not married yet, but today's letter and word are super applicable to marriage if you ask me. Kindness. It's hard to have a good marriage, near impossible if you aren't kind to one another. I love this verse from Scripture:

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3 NASB

Without kindness and truth I dare say you don't have a marriage, let alone any relationship. And, the thing about kindness is it costs you nothing, but it's a great gift to the receiver. So chose to be a giver. Bless someone with kindness today!

For further study:

Ephesians 4:32

Acts 9:36

Micah 6:8

Hebrews 13:2

Romans 12:10

What about you? Do you know someone who is always kind and truthful? How has that person impacted your life? 

Download today’s Coloring page

“K” for Kind

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

Save

Save

Hi ladies! So excited to have you both on Writerly Wednesday.

1)For my readers, could you both take a moment and introduce yourselves?

Hi! I'm Annie of Just Commonly blog. I'm a designer by profession, but reading and books are my loves. In the world of books, I'm a blogger and reviewer, sharing my thoughts on almost every book / story I read, along with anything remotely related to books. I'm a novice in bookstagramming, but hope to have more fun with it in the future. 

Hello! I'm Carrie (aka MeezCarrie) from ReadingIsMySuperPower. I'm an avid reader, book reviewer, story addict, KissingBooks fan, book boyfriend collector, and cool aunt. I love Jesus and THE Story a whole lot.

2) You amazing ladies have founded, along with Bonnie Roof, the Christian Fiction Reader’s Retreat. Can you share where the idea for it came?

(Annie): Well, it was really divine planning there. I remember chatting with everyone at the Seekerville annual New Year's Eve party and the authors were talking about author retreats or conferences. I then jokingly said, "what about readers' retreats? Why haven't I heard of those?" The wonderful Bonnie Roof chimed in and said something along the lines of that it's always been her dream to have one of those. And being the crazy booknerd I am, I said, "Lets do it!" Bonnie and I conversed a bit, and she found out that Carrie of Reading is My SuperPower also was planning something of the sort. And then, a beautiful and blessed friendship began.  God's timing is always perfect, don't you think?

3) Can you tell folks a little about how it’s gone the past two years, and maybe give us a sneak peek at what you have planned for next year?

(Annie) Personally, it's been such a blessing. It exceeded ALL of my expectations from the get go. My initial thoughts were like a 20 person type retreat at a cute bed and breakfast. God had other ideas. We hit about 115 last year, when our initial cut off was half of that! The feedback have been encouraging and supportive, as well as enthusiastic for the first one as well as this year's.

For this year, author registration sold out within 36 hours of opening. I was the one that posted the info and officially started the registration process. So once it's posted, I left to go back to work. Within hours I get FB messages (that I missed at first) and text messages from Carrie saying that we've hit more than half the author capacity we set. Needless to say, it was both exciting and a little scary!

This year, CFRR was a blast. We're still testing the waters in terms of activities and scheduling, hoping to find the right balance of everything CFRR stands for and hope to achieve.  We're still in the "debriefing" stage, where we take the next 2 months to pray about next year's CFRR. So we have NO idea what's happening. Though, we've lined up some amazing authors as our speakers, Liz Curtis Higgs, Tamera Alexander, Rachel Hauck & Jen Turano. All still tentative, since it will depend on location and dates. 

(Carrie) One thing that has been a highlight for me of the planning process has been all the times God has answered prayers almost before we started praying them. Time after time, when Annie or Bonnie or I were worried about how something would work out, He provided the answer nearly immediately. Seeing those reminders that it isn’t our event but HIS has grown my faith so many times the past two years.

4) What was your favorite moment of this year’s retreat?

(Annie) Would it be cheating to say all of it? OK, if I had to choose one, I've always loved our praise and worship time, as well as the prayer times at the end of the day. It reminds me that CFRR is about honoring God, and fellowship to connect with each other as a community. In the midst of all the excitement of books and fangirling our favorite authors, remembering how God's with us each step of the way, that calms and assures me.  

(Carrie) Praise & Worship & Prayer (and the stories we’ve heard of how God worked in each) is definitely my fave, but since Annie took that one (lol) I’m going to cheat and give two answers. 

The first fave moment from this year was the speaker sessions. Yes, I know that’s kind-of cheating again, but oh well. LOL. Cynthia Ruchti and Shelley Shepard Gray both had me in smiling-tears, and Dani – your and Becky’s video diary of the stages of publication was so well-done and heartfelt. I laughed a lot but I also came away with the conviction to PRAY more for my author friends as they write their books. And the activity y’all came up with was so creative! We hated that you had to miss, but we loved that you were connected to us via the wonders of technology. 

The second fave moment is the squealing and the fangirling. And not just readers over authors. But readers over other reader friends, and authors over other author friends, and AUTHORS OVER READERS. People bursting to hug friends they haven’t seen since last year’s CFRR and friends they are just meeting in person for the first time. 

5) You both run wonderful blogs. Could you each share a little about your blogs?

(Annie) My blog is Just Commonly and I tend to post mostly reviews or anything related to books, but I also will randomly post things that are not even remotely related.  Just Commonly started as more of a little outlet of what I thought of things and it just transformed itself to more of a book blog.  

(Carrie) My blog is Reading Is My SuperPower, and I review mostly Christian and ‘clean’ reads. On Tuesdays, I do a top ten list on some bookish topic and I head up a First Line Friday blog linkup on Fridays, plus some other fun stuff. It started about 2 years ago when I needed someone to talk to about all these great books I was reading!

6) What’s your favorite part about blogging?

(Annie) Favorite part about blogging is how blogging connected me to like-minded booklovers, like Carrie. This book loving community is so supportive, and it doesn't even necessarily have to be about books. I'm one of those introvert-introverts. My perfect "me time" is lounging around, reading a book and drinking tea or coffee. I don't actually have a lot of friends that enjoy reading as much as I do.  So having met so many through blogging have become such a blessing.

(Carrie) The relationships. I love interacting with readers and authors and other bloggers. Some of my most treasured friendships have come out of these interactions. I also just love getting to push books at people, let’s be honest 😉

7) How do authors who’d like to participate in either CFRR or be featured on your blogs contact you?

(Annie) Authors interested in participating in CFRR can sign up for our author newsletter on our website under, "2018 Interested Authors Newsletter" midway down on the right sidebar.

To contact me to be featured on my blog, you can use the "Contact Me" tab on my website.

(Carrie) To be featured on Reading Is My SuperPower, you can find all the info on my ‘Contact Me’ tab as well! 

8) Who are the authors you are most excited about?

(Annie) Dani, I think this is a very tricky question, since you might not want my answer to be too long!! *wink wink* OK, off the top of my head, I love Jen Turano, Kristi Ann Hunter, Julie Lessman, Ruth Logan Herne, Shelley Shepard Gray, Amy Clipston, Becky Wade, Tamera Alexander, Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Pepper Basham, Katie Ganshert, Rachel Hauck, Roseanna White, Lynette Eason, Cynthia Ruchti, Melanie Dickerson... OK, you see what you started (and there are more too)?! But there's always, always Ms. Dani Pettrey, that took my breath away with Still Life!

(Carrie) This is an impossible question, Dani!! I even tried to answer it … and my list lapped Annie’s by a couple dozen. And there were STILL MORE I unintentionally omitted. So… yeah. I’m excited about a lot of authors lol. 

9) What’s your favorite genre?

(Annie) It's a toss up between Contemporary and Historical fiction, but I've come to really enjoy suspense since I started last year. 

(Carrie) In broad terms, romantic suspense. Because that can span contemporary and historical. It doesn’t have to be technically categorized as ‘romantic suspense’ though – if it’s got romance, some level of suspense, and it’s not smutty? I’m there.

10) Lightening round: Coffee or tea?

(Annie) Can't choose. It depends on my mood and the book.  

(Carrie) Will you still love me if I say neither? Hot chocolate or hot cider, please 😊

Chocolate or is there anything else?

(Annie) Dark Chocolate!!

(Carrie) Milk chocolate BUT under the ‘anything else’ category I would submit strawberry Starburst

Paperback or e-book?  

(Annie) Paperback /

(Carrie) Either … but some books just need to be read in print.

Favorite city:  

(Annie) New York

(Carrie) Atlanta

Beach or mountains?

(Annie) Small Town with a Bookstore. =P

(Carrie) Mountains, especially if there’s a cabin filled with books! And a small town in the valley with a bookstore =P

Go-to snack: 

(Annie) Dove Promises in Dark Chocolate with Almonds

(Carrie) An apple with peanut butter… or strawberry starburst lol.

...

(Annie) Thank you, Dani for having us on your Writerly Wednesday segment! It's been such a pleasure and blessing to have met you!

(Carrie) Amen times 1000. Such an honor! 

Thank you, ladies both so much for being here. It was such a pleasure!

Giveaway

Annie and Carried have graciously offered to give away CFRR branded luggage grip and page flags.

I’m also giving away an autographed copy of Blind Spot as soon as I have my author copies along with some swag goodies.

To be entered just answer the following question in the comment’s section below.

Have you ever attended a reader’s retreat? If so, which one? If not, would you love to?

Save

Save

Save

Save

Happy Monday, friends!

I'm so glad you're here. Today's letter is J and what better word for J than joy. Joy is one of my favorite words because joy is such an amazing feeling and yet it's so much more than a feeling.

Joy is a Gift

Joy, I believe, is a gift of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). A gift that is given so that we may have joy despite our circumstances. Joy is different than happiness in that way. Sorrow can erase happiness, but it cannot eradicate our joy. We can have joy despite sorrow. Why? Because of 1 Peter 8:

^" Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 

Our joy is not a feeling, it is a deeply rooted gift inside our souls that rejoices because we are saved!

Do you know this joy? I pray you do. Here are some verses to study more about the joy that is or can be yours in Christ:

• Romans 15:13
• John 16:22
• Hebrews 12:2
• Galatians 5:22
• Nehemiah 8:10
• John 15:11

Live in the light of joy.

Download today’s Coloring page

“J” for Joy

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

In Christ's joy,

Save

Save

Save

Happy Monday, friends!

I'm so excited to share today's word with you. For 'I' I choose imagined.

God imagined the world and everything in it before it began.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ~Genesis 1:1

It's that amazing to think about?

God's Imagination

God imagined it all, and the Bible tells us He created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). God has got to have a great imagination to create the zebra, platypus, the human eye and the list goes on.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." ~Psalm 19:1

The beauty of God's creation and the expression of His imagination is everywhere, and being made in His image, we also have the gift of imagination. As a writer, it's critical. Without God's leading and an imagination, I'd never be able to create characters or tell a story. Artists need imagination. Moms need imagination. We all do. Think how boring life would be if you could never daydream, never visualize something new, never imagine a goal to work towards.

How are you using your imagination? What's your favorite way of expressing it? 

Download today’s Coloring page

“I” for Imagination

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

Save

Save

I am super excited to have the awesome and fabulously talented, Cynthia Rutchi, joining me on this Writerly Wednesday. If you don’t yet know Cynthia, you’re in for a treat.

Dani:

Hi Cynthia, thanks so much for joining me on Writerly Wednesday. Could you take a moment and yourself to my readers?

Cynthia:

I came into the publishing world through the back door. I worked in the medical field--in a chemistry laboratory of a large medical facility--for the first several years after I married my husband. When our first two children were little, I "retired" from that pursuit to stay home with the kids, grow a big garden, can or freeze everything we could raise or forage, sew, knit, make homemade bread, and watch Little House on the Prairie.

I also took correspondence courses in creative writing so my brain cells didn't stagnate. I didn't envision a career in writing or publishing, but thought I might gain enough skills to write an occasional magazine article, newspaper human interest piece, or put together decent devotionals for baby and bridal showers.

But God had other plans in mind. Two weeks after finishing the final correspondence course, I was handed the opportunity to write a 15-minute scripted broadcast for radio. That broadcast recently retired after 33 years on the air.

By the time the broadcast retired, I had published my first novel. I'd been writing fiction and nonfiction all those years, so it was far more natural for me to do both. Since 2010, I've been blessed to have more than twenty books published, with more contracted.

Dani:

You're a writer, and now an agent with Books & Such. How do you juggle the demands of both?

Cynthia:

It may seem repetitive, but I came into agenting through the back door, too! I hadn't been looking for that position. But after a few months in this role, I can tell that God had been grooming me for it. I love everything about agenting (except having to say no so often), just as I love everything about the writing, publishing, and marketing process.

I'm less a juggler than I am working a literary circuit--like the exercise gyms that rotate clients from station to station in order to get a full workout for all muscle groups. I spend time working on my own proposals, then as an agent tweaking my client's proposals. I flesh out ideas for marketing my latest releases, then brainstorm with a client about his or her marketing needs.

I move from fiction to nonfiction, from ACFW responsibilities to agent responsibilities to author responsibilities. They're not only related to each other, but inform and strengthen one another. I have just enough ADD in me to make me okay with jumping from project to project, from writing devotions to creating a press release to pulling together a magazine article to reading through a client's contract.

Exhausting? Sometimes. Like a good workout.

Dani:

How are you enjoying being an agent? What's your favorite aspect?

Cynthia:

My favorite parts of agenting relate to relationships with publishers and clients, finding a perfect match between an author's ideas and a publisher's needs, and interacting (aka, learning from) the other agents within Books & Such. It's energizing, too, to help a proposal go from good to polished.

Dani:

Why the decision to go into agenting?

Even though the invitation came as a surprise, it quickly made perfect sense. I've long cared about helping other authors succeed. I'm an encourager at heart and propelled by hope. God has given me unique opportunities to get a peek at many facets of the publishing industry--which makes me more informed as an agent and sympathetic to all sides of the equation, even while cheering hard for my clients.

Dani:

What are five fun facts most people don't know about you?

Cynthia:

• I used to play the bass drum in the marching band. (Most directors frowned on carrying a bassoon while marching).
• I was a baton twirler (majorette) in middle school and part of high school. (I know. Scary to think about, isn't it?)
• I've hiked the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska. (Okay, part of it.)
• I've been whitewater rafting in Colorado.
• I was paid for one of my first online writing projects in chocolate. That's right.

Dani:

Wow. How fun to be paid in chocolate. My kind of payment ;)

Cynthia:

Are you accepting submissions and, if so, what are you looking for and what is the best way to contact or query you?

Yes to accepting submissions. I'm focused primarily on nonfiction, but I'm interested in a few fiction clients. As any agent will say, whether fiction or nonfiction, I'm looking for strong writing skills, a significant built-in audience (platform), and a compelling story from writers who understand the power of a well-turned phrase and the importance of a fresh approach. Those seeking representation can send a short email inquiry to cynthia@booksandsuch.com or connect through the information provided on the Submissions page.

Giveaway

Thanks so much for joining us, Cynthia. In honor of her graciousness in visiting Writerly Wednesday, I’m giving away a copy of Cynthia’s latest release, A Fragile Hope.

Simply leave a comment or answer ask Cynthia a question, and you’ll automatically be entered to win. The winner will be contacted next week. Thanks again to Cynthia for joining us.

Bio:

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories "hemmed in Hope" through novels, novellas, nonfiction, devotions, and through speaking events for women and writers. Many of her more than 20 books have been recognized by key industry awards. Cynthia serves as the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) professional relations liaison and is an agent with Books & Such Literary Management. She and her grade school sweetheart husband live in the heart of Wisconsin.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Happy Monday, friends! Is there any word more beautiful than Hope?

Dictionary.com describes hope as:

the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best

No offense to Dictionary.com, but I totally disagree. Hope is not a feeling. It's a belief. Belief and trust in the One who is our hope. The One who is the anchor for our soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:19)

I love the reference to an anchor. While thinking on hope the following definition came to mind.

Hope is your beacon in the dark shoals of life. Let it shine! 

Again, I love the ocean imagery. If you don't know, I'm a beach girl through and through. I married a Navy guy who loves to dive. My girls and grand babies are all swimmers. I have a shirt that says Part-time Mermaid (though my puppy ate a whole in the center of it--though I digress...). Needless to say if it involves water or the beach, I'm there.

However, here's the thing about the ocean, you can never turn your back on it. As beautiful and majestic as it is, it can also be deadly with rip currents, strong undertows, and when the storms come, unbelievably powerful and destructive. But, God says we don't have to fear. He has given us hope (Jeremiah 14:22). He is with us through deep waters (Isaiah 43:2).

We don't need to fear the storms of life. God is our anchor, firm and secure. He is with us in deep waters. He is the light of the world. He brings light to dark places and we can too. God calls us to be a light on a hill (Matt 5;14). Our hope is our light in the dark places and times of life. Hold on tight to the light and let it shine!

Some further Bible reading:

• Romans 15:13
• Titus 2:13
• Jeremiah 29:11
• Psalm 3:2-6
• Psalm 147:11

Download today’s Coloring page

“H” for Hope

Download PDF       Download JPG

If you have not already, you can also download the front and back cover below:

Front cover        Back cover

To see all letters and download all coloring pages, go to the Alphabet for the Soul page.

Blessings,

Save

Save