Gilligan Island Type Day!

Today I left home without a book to read, no laptop to connect to the internet with, and nothing for lunch. I felt like Gilligan's Island and their three hour tour:) I only had a doctor's appointment, which doesn't take very long and then pick up my medicines and go home. That's it. Simple day. Instead, I find out I have to wait three hours for an x-ray on my ankle. That meant I had to kill those three hours in town somehow.

I did, at least, have a cell phone that I can now text from. I also dug around and found some money so I could get lunch. Do you know that for $2.14 you can get a double cheeseburger and a large sweet tea at McDonalds? I took my lunch to our State Park so I could sit by the water and think and pray but the park was being worked on and there was no good place to sit. I did go to the amphitheater. It was pretty but the mosquitoes were so bad that I quickly returned to the car. I scrounged around until I found an old pen and note pad where I quickly wrote out this blog entry:)

Its just like our struggles in life. We can't see all the good that happens because of the pests that get in the way. Instead, we take cover and get in our survival mode. My Gilligan's Island type day did finally end. That's why this is now getting written (because I'm finally home) It was a pain but:

I have a friend dealing with her dad's recent death and having to say goodbye to her daughter and grandkids because they were moving.

Another friend who is knee-deep in fine arts camp at her church texted me and said she couldn't move her neck from side-to-side.

My day suddenly doesn't seem so bad. I had pen and paper, air conditioner in the car, and a cell phone. Really, what more could I ask for?

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Our Comfort

I got a call early this morning from my very good friend, Mari, from Washington. Her dad had died a couple hours before that. He fought a hard battle and after about four months, he was taken home to be with his Lord. It has to be such a relief to his family for them to know he is finally in no more pain but now they all have so much grief and pain of their own to go through.

The other day I was going through a rough time and was on the phone with Mari. We kept losing reception so I finally drug myself out of bed and went to our pool deck. I lay down and was looking up at the sky. In the clouds I saw what looked like an x-ray of a gigantic hand. I imagined it to be God's hand. It reminded me of how He is always here for me. He is here as each tear drips down my cheek. He is now there for my friend Mari and her family.

And He is there for all of you, too. He is our Comfort.

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Mixed Blessings!

We now have internet but it is definitely a mixed blessing. So far it is very slow. Ugh... It is storming, though, so hopefully it will get better. I won't say too many bad things about it yet. And with the storm, I got a powerful headache so it just isn't a very pleasant evening. But as in all things, "this too shall pass." I am thankful to be able to get online again. Jim worked on it during his lunch hour. He really tried to get me connected this afternoon but it just didn't happen.

And I got an email from my friend Laurie. Her son is flying home from Japan soon and she would like prayer about that. He's been teaching English in a high school there. It will be so nice to have him home again.

So, I am back online again, thanks to my talented husband and Skyway USA.

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So Many Questions

If anyone reads this that knows anything about writing for kids, I would love to be able to talk to you! I'm having trouble finding out what is an average word count for the different age groups. Do I just keep writing now and try to market it when I'm finished? Should I start now instead, while I'm still writing?

Maybe someone is reading this that knows someone that might know:) Is that sentence clear as mud? I really do want to finish it by the time summer is over. That gives me about a month. Surely I can get it done. But I have so many questions!

I would love to learn from anyone that has the answers or by anyone who has gone through this process. That would be awesome! So there it is, I've been reduced to begging! Please help me!!!!

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Random Sunday Thoughts

I have almost made it through the entire month of July blogging. That's pretty exciting and a big deal considering I've been on vacation for one week of it and then another week or two without the internet.

I know people who truly don't understand my pull to the internet. It makes me feel foolish to admit how much I really miss my internet at home. If I could pull out each friend I've made through Faithwriters, though, and through some of these Christian blogs I've found, and stand them up and introduce them to all of my friends from home, I'm sure everyone would understand. They are truly awesome, every one of them. So, I wouldn't say I'm addicted to the internet. I am drawn to my friends and the way to them is through the internet.

But, I do have to say, since my internet has been down, I've been writing on a project that I started through one of my challenge entries. I have over 4,000 words now. That is a really good chunk of a young teen book. I'm hoping to get it finished by the end of the summer. That is very exciting for me. To start something and finish it -- oh wow! what a concept!

And today, Kristen from Exemplify, said this about my blog:

Laury at In My Daddy’s Arms – Her blog is brilliant because of the rare glimpse she affords her readers into the real, raw, honest life of someone struggling with illness and aiming to live for His glory even still. Some days I read her words and am instantly reminded and encouraged of the eternal awesomeness coming for us.

The button to her blog is on the right side. You should go check it out. She is an awesome young writer. I just love reading her blog each day.
http://www.kristenschiffman.com/2008/07/brilliant-weblog-award-oh-me-oh-my.html

I pray for all of you who faithfully read my blog. I cherish your comments and prayers that you send my way. Hope your Sunday is mightily blessed!

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