Wednesday, November 28, 2018

5 Habits of the Wise

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7

My husband and I played a game called Wisdom of Solomon last night. The rules state that the wisest player is to go first. Since it may not be wise to debate who is the wisest between you and your spouse, I opted to roll a die instead. But, this has me thinking, what makes one wise? Let's take a lesson from the wisest man in history and the inspiration for our game, King Solomon.

The word "wise" appears 66 times in the book of Proverbs, the word "wisdom" another 54 times. I'm not going to talk about all of those, but we are going to glean from them some key insights as to what we should do to cultivate wisdom in ourselves.


1. Listen before you speak

This might be the most obvious, but Proverbs has a lot to say about the wisdom of listening before we voice our thoughts. How many arguments could we avoid if we would really listen to what the other person is saying and take the time to understand their point of view before jumping to conclusions? When we do speak, we should speak from a place of love and understanding where the other person is coming from .

Key verses:

Pro 10:19 - In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Pro 12:18 - There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Pro 14:3 - In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Pro 15:2 - The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Pro 17:28 - Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Pro 29:11 - A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.


2. Be correctable

It can be a battle to keep our pride in check and receive correction and instruction, but the fact is, sometimes we are wrong, or sometimes we just don't know the answer. It is wise to know when to admit that, accept it, and adjust accordingly.

Key verses:

Pro 8:33 - Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Pro 9:9 - Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 

Pro 10:8 - The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

Pro 10:14 - Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Pro 13:1 - A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Pro 15:31 - The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

Pro 19:20 - Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Pro 21:11 - When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

Pro 22:17 - Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

3. Be diligent 

Giving up is so easy, but according to Proverbs the wise will persevere. If we are to be successful in life, we're going to need to stick with some things and see them through. 

Key verses:

Pro 6:6 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

 Pro 10:5 - He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Pro 14:1 - Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.


4. Seek the best for others

Wisdom isn't a hoarder. Share the joy you have in Christ with others, not out of pride or a need to be right, but out of love and a desire for their greatest good.

Pro 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Pro 25:12 - As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

Pro 29:8 - Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.


5. Seek counsel 

If we shut the counsel of others out we are in danger of creating our own doctrine within our own four walls. Without checks and balances it is very easy to be wise in our own eyes. The fact is, sometimes we are the last ones to see our own faults, let alone know how to correct them. The wise will seek counsel from those they respect and can trust to give a hard but honest opinion. Without this, we will not grow.

Pro 1:5 - A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Pro 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Pro 13:20 - He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Pro 15:12 - A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

Pro 18:15 - The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Pro 24:6 - For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 26:12 - Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.


As I was doing this study it occurred to me that all of these attributes of the wise have one thing in common: humility. Pride is the enemy of the wise and we need to keep a sharp eye out for it, because it is a subtle enemy indeed. I don't pretend to be the wisest of all- well, okay, sometimes I do pretend to be, but I don't presume to be. Sometimes my wisdom falls short, and at such times I'm grateful for the manifold wisdom of the proverbs. 

I hope you found this week's 5 list encouraging as well. Until next time, have a blessed week.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

5 Bible Passages to help us Stop Worrying

For many, the holidays are a stressful time. For some, life itself is stressful enough with its cares and burdens, with or without the holidays.

So, during this time of celebrating peace and thankfulness with our friends and family, let's refresh our focus, commit our cares to God and purpose to rest in His grace.

Here are five passages from scripture which I hope you will find encouraging, wherever you may find yourself today.


1. Psalm 29:11

"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."

The famous poetic book of Psalms is no stranger to the word "peace". Translated from the Hebrew "shalowm", this word "peace" has rich meaning, beyond its more two-dimensional view in English. The word means completeness, soundness, welfare, peace. It is God's blessing to us, and our blessing to each other. To this day "Shalom" is a common greeting among Jews and even some non-Jews. You could say it's the Hebrew equivalent of the Sanskrit "Namaste", but for those of us who believe on Jesus Christ, it goes beyond a mere greeting and serves as an invigorating reminder of our Prince of Peace, and the price He paid to bring us freedom from bondage to sin.


2. Matthew 6:31-34

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

This passage from Jesus' "Sermon on the mount" is rich with reminders of God's "shalom" blessing to us. Completeness. Here, too, we find the key in the answer to the question, "How do I stop worrying?": "Seek ye first the kingdom of God..." While it's not wrong to work so that you can provide for yourself and your family, our number one priority is to be seeking the kingdom of God- if our focus has derailed then we've probably found ourselves in the midst of catastrophe. Take a moment to reset your mind. Get back on track, find peace with God through prayer and meditation on His word and you will begin to see God's hands at work.


3. Luke 10:40-42

"But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Here's a practical example of seeking the Kingdom first, and a passage particularly befitting the holiday cares. Martha was miffed that her sister wasn't helping her serve their guests while Jesus taught in their home. She takes the issue to Jesus who reminds her of where her focus should be- invest your time in the eternal, not the temporal cares of life. It wasn't wrong of Martha to serve their guests, but Jesus knew His time to be there and teach would be short and Mary wanted to soak that teaching up while she had the opportunity. Martha could have done the same- their guests weren't there to eat and drink, they were there to listen to the Son of God. Don't forget to take your moment each day to be still and listen to the voice of God. Yes, we have responsibilities we should not neglect, but peace comes when God comes first.


4. Philippians 4:6

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

The phrase "be careful" here is from the Greek "merimnaƍ" which means "to be anxious". There is a difference between planning and thinking about something, and being anxious about something. When you find yourself overwhelmed and responsibility becomes anxiety, turn to God and ask for His help in the situation. After all, one of His many names is Jehovah Shalom. The Lord our Peace.

5. John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Finally, here is the promise left us by Jesus: "I am giving you peace, do not let your heart worry." No matter what is going on around us, no matter what evil reports we are faced with, no matter how much work needs to be done, no matter the state of our bank account- let not your heart be troubled. May we remember this always.

I hope you found these verses encouraging. There are many others I could have shared, but what are some of your favorites?

Until next time, Shalom.




Wednesday, November 14, 2018

5 Cozy movies to watch when the weather chills

This crisp weather makes you want to grab grandma's afghan and crawl onto the couch with a warm cuppa and a cozy movie. While Netflix will undoubtedly play host to an invading hoard of sappy Christmas love stories (which I will watch without shame or remorse), here are some not-necessarily-Christmas movies that I like to pull out when the cold weather attacks.


 1. You've Got Mail (1998)



If you haven't seen this movie, stop whatever it is you're doing and go watch it. You've Got Mail is the I Ching. The sum of all wisdom. The answer to any question (if you haven't seen it, then you don't get that quote, but don't worry, you will, because you're about to watch it, right? Riiiight?). This movie abounds in coziness because why? A) It's set in New York city, and somehow the movie industry manages to make the yuckiest city in the country cozy; B) Thanksgiving AND Christmas take place during the movie; C) Coffee and books. D) Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. That is all you need to know.



2. Little Women (1994)

You could watch any of the wonderful Little Women films that have come out over the years, but the one I grew up with that is most dear to my heart is the Winona Ryder version, even if it got some things from the book wrong. This film makes you feel like you're wrapped in a warm sweater by the fireplace darning socks with "Marmy". You will not find a cozier wintertime cozy than Little Women.



3. Emma (1996)

Winter probably isn't the first thing you think of when you remember Gwyneth Paltrow's matchmaking mayhem in Emma, but Jane Austen is for all seasons. I chose this one because there is a scene in which the coziest feathery snow falls during a memorable Christmas party. This little gem deserves more attention than it gets with it's hilariously quotable moments and memorable characters. 



4. The Holiday (2006)

After watching The Holiday for the first time I re-watched it immediately afterwards. It was surprisingly fresh and so, so good! You don't get much cozier than a snow dusted English cottage and Christmas fettuccine! Not to mention, anything with Kate Winslet automatically makes you feel at home, though I chose this film over Titanic because we don't typically associate freezing to death with cozy...

I do need to throw a caveat out that this is the one PG-13 film on my list so there are non kid-friendly moments, though nothing too explicit. 



5. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

The  Disney cartoon, not their live action atrocity. I would argue that this is probably the coziest of all the golden era Disney films, if only because Beast has a fireplace bigger than my living room. And the scene where they drink porridge? And the library when the sun bursts through the windows! Snowball fights! Yes, if one cartoon makes the list, it's this one.


Obviously, there are so many films I could have put on this list, but I limited myself to just five. And these are simply my five, you may not agree- but that's what the comment feature is for! What are your favorite wintertime cozy movies? Remember I'm not talking specifically about Christmas films (perhaps that will be a list for another day), but movies that sort of set the tone for cozy wintertime snuggles. 

Until next week, stay warm!

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

5 Fun, Easy Games for Book Lovers

You knew I had to talk about games sooner or later! Here is a list of 5 great games I think anyone who appreciates books might enjoy.


1. Bring Your Own Book

This game has been a huge hit with everyone I've introduced it to. If you've played the game Apples to Apples it's similar, but gives the plays more freedom because of one awesome twist: each player is using their own book to find the answers to the card prompts. So, I might flip a card that says "A superhero's catchphrase", then all the other players would scramble to look for the best word or series of words they think match that prompt. Once all answers have been read, the current judge picks a favorite answer giving the player who gave it a card, then game play continues with players rotating turns as judge. The game ends once a certain number of cards (depending on how many are playing) have been won by a single player. 



What makes this game great is that you can use any book- cook books, children's books, Shakespeare, and create a unique experience every time.


2. Knit Wit (bonus: this is also a great game for knitters!)

Most people are probably familiar with the classic party game Scattergories, which is a good game in its own right, but for this list I wanted to choose titles you might not be familiar with. The only downside to Scattergories is that, after playing it most of my life, the lists are over familiar to me, even thought they've added a few over the years, whereas in Knit Wit the list of words you create are going to be a little different each game.



Here's how it works: players are given loops of colored string attached to a clothespin, and a numbered spool. During a round each player will draw a card with a word on it, this card will be attached to their loop with the clothespin and laid out on the table so that it intersects, in some way, with a string that has been previously placed, then the player will place their spool within any loop created by the strings. In the end, each numbered spool will be associated with several different colored strings with different words attached to them, so because spool 4 has the words "tired, yucky and beautiful" attached to it, you need to write something down that you think is "tired, yucky, and beautiful". Answers are compared and, if identical to other players' answers, crossed off, or scored if unique. It sounds confusing but it's the type of game that makes sense as you play it and once people see how it works a good time is had by all!


3. Once Upon a Time: The Storytelling Card Game

A hilarious storytelling card game in which players are given a hand of cards and a secret End card. One player starts the story by laying a card on the table which will depict a thing or an action which they must include in the beginning of their story. Other players can interrupt the story by playing the right card at the right time and try to direct it toward their own personal ending. The first player to play all of their cards and end the story with their "Happily Ever After" card wins the game. 



This game can get out of hand, but in a good way. It's not the sort of game you should play if you want the most skilled player to win, it's more of an activity you do when you want to have a good, silly time. It also plays quickly, so there's a good chance you'll play several times in one sitting!


4. Hardback (or Paperback)

In Hardback you're writers competing to finish your books and score the most points! You do this by playing cards with letters on them to make words, which will score you points or help you earn money to buy more cards, to make better words. Each player will start the game with their own deck of 10 cards. From that deck they draw five cards each turn and play those cards to make a word. As you acquire new cards your personal deck gets better and you are able to create higher scoring words.



Hardback is actually the sequel to a game called Paperback, but since Hardback is the one I've played, it's the one I wanted to talk about. If you are new to this type of game, then Paperback might be a better one to start with because I've heard it's the easiest to play of the two.


5. Rory's Story Cubes

Story Cubes are more of a fun activity than a game, but I wanted to mention them here because you can buy them just about anywhere. These are dice with each side showing a picture. Players roll the dice then tell a story based on what is rolled. There are different ways to play and lots of different sets of dice you can buy, so the potential for hours of silly fun is high. There is also a board game that uses these dice called Untold: Adventures Await, which I haven't played yet, but it looks great! 



What about you? What are your favorite "Writelicious" games? Have you played any of the games I mentioned? Let me know in the comments! 

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

5 Tips for Editing Your Book

There are two types of editing: story editing and technical editing (I don't know if those are the official terms, they're just my terms). Story editing is when you go over your work and make sure the story makes sense- cut scenes, add scenes, clarify scenes, fix dialogue; it's likely you'll do that step several times before your book is ready for technical editing. By "technical editing" I mean going over the grammar, spelling, layout, etc.

For our book, my buddy and I did our own editing and self published. Next time, we might hire someone to do the technical editing because, while we're confident in our writing, we're not pros when it comes to grammar. Even after reviewing things multiple times, typos still made their way through.

But whatever editing you intend to do on your own book, I've learned a few tips that I hope you will find helpful. Here they are:


1. Just dew et!

Editing is like the cleanup after the party. You had your fun writing the story, and now it's time to get your hands dirty. Not so fun. But it doesn't have to be a terrible experience, and if your book really is good, you might even enjoy re-reading your scenes a dozen times (or at least not get too sick of them). But the bottom line is, it needs to be done. You need to make sure this story makes sense. It's easy to put this step off because it's not the fun part, so I'm going to tell you right now, don't do what I've been doing with one of my novels for the last few years-- JUST EDIT.

2. Decide whether you want to do technical editing yourself or hire someone else to do it

I can tell you that after realizing how much work it is to self-publish and polish that final draft, it might be worth it to pay for an editing service or hire a friend or professional (depending on your budget) to do it. So decide what you want to do, and if you decide to do it yourself, it's still a good idea to have a friend (or several friends) look it over in case you missed something, because it's easy to overlook things when you're familiar with the story. Not comfortable sharing your work with others? Refer to tip 5 below.

3. Triple check, then check again

After you've fleshed out the details, get out your fine comb and check again. You will be surprised how many times both of us missed an obvious typo. We're all human and perfection isn't easily achieved, but try to be as thorough as you reasonably can.

4. Work as you are able-- make the most of your time

I have found that for me, I can get a lot done if I just leave my project in plain sight and chip away at it as I am able, but I can get even more done when I sit down for a day and focus. The point is, always try to do something- remember what I said in the writing article? Anything is better than nothing. Your goal should always be to progress, whether it's a few steps or a few miles. It's okay to miss a day now and then, but don't give up, you worked hard for this, now see it through!

5. Let others read your work

Writing comes from our souls and bares a part of us that is vulnerable. As such, it can be difficult to share this most precious piece of ourselves with others initially. But if you intend to share this book with the world someday, it's a good idea to share your finished (or semi-finished) work with a peer first. See how the book makes them feel, get their thoughts. Your first readers don't have to know how to write or what makes a good book -most people don't know why they like or dislike something, so find out how it makes them feel. Take feedback with a grain of salt, of course, because we all have differing opinions, but do consider all criticism and accept it. If you want to be successful you have to be able to take negative opinions and use them constructively.

Whatever you do, enjoy the journey, be true to yourself, and dream big.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

5 Ways to Improve Your Writing

I've decided to start a series of "5 lists", in which I will list 5 items related to books/writing, movies, board games and whatever else my fickle little heart fancies. Why fives? Well, five seems to be popular among us humans, probably because it's as many fingers as we have on one hand. At least most of us... Right. Well, here we go!


5 Ways to Improve Your Writing:

I don't pretend to be the authoritative voice on the matter, but you don't spend almost twenty years writing (albeit, sometimes sporadically) without learning something. So here are five things I learned from my own research and experience... and mistakes, as a writer. 



1. Don't bore me on the first page!

I don't know how many times I've picked up a book, read a couple sentences on the first page, and immediately put it down. Why? Because it was BORING. "Janice was sitting at her desk waiting for her client to arrive. She opened her e-mail and sighed when she saw the first one. It was her mother. She and her mother had a precarious relationship at best. It hadn't always been this way. When she was a little girl she remembered the trips to the ice cream store and the park. Then her parents divorced..." 

And... what were we talking about? I was half zoned out while I wrote that. Why??? Because nothing's happening! Some lady is sitting at her desk thinking about her past while waiting for her client to arrive. All of that stuff in the past? That should be woven into the story itself like a beautiful thread to help create the texture of a robust plot. Don't throw it all at me in the beginning- get on with the story, let me learn about the character as it comes out naturally through the story line and interaction between characters. Of course, this rule, like so many others, does have exceptions. So ultimately, stay true to your style, but also keep me engaged in those first pages. Remember, that's where you want to hook the reader! So if you do have a lot of backstory, make it interesting and fresh.



2. Be yourself

Obvious, right? Well, not really. There was a time when I was learning and I found myself imitating whichever authors I was currently reading. Now, I will say that's not a bad thing for the learning process. In fact, it's a fun creative challenge to imitate another author, and chances are we have to go through a little bit of mimicry before we find our own voice. But when it comes to writing a sparkly original story, just be yourself, don't try to be somebody else. Take a little inspiration from a book or author you like here and there, mix it with a lot of your own zest and huzzah! You have a unique voice people will like. Or hate. Depends. Either way, be yourself. Don't know what "yourself" sounds like? That's okay, just write a bunch of fodder until you figure it out.



3. Learn a little

Take the time to do some basic research about the places, practices, people, etc. in your book. And take the time to learn about writing in general. If you have a great idea, then definitely write it down, but before you solidify it into a real, concrete story, make sure you get the obvious facts right.



4. Don't learn too much

Bouncing from the last point, it's great to research, but don't live in research land forever. It's just a stop along the way to the finish line. At some point you actually do have to start writing, otherwise those great ideas and all that head knowledge won't really benefit you much. There's a time to move on. Know enough to sound like you know what you're talking about, but you don't necessarily have to be pro. Note that I'm talking about fictional writing here, if you're writing a how-to or a biography, then yeah, you probably do have to be a pro.



5. Even if it's c#@p, just get it on the page!

My dear BFF and co-author got me a shirt that says this, because in our own writing journey we learned the value of riding the waves of inspiration. Yes, you want to learn your stuff, yes you want to write well, but when those first raw surges of inspiration strike, write them down! Also, when you have a story to write, make yourself sit down and write it- you can go back and edit later (maybe I'll do 5 tips on editing later! Hmm...). Writing ANYTHING is better than nothing. Say it with me: Anything is better than nothing.  Books are made of chapters, chapters are made of scenes, scenes are made of sentences and paragraphs which consist of words. Write ten words a day, or a hundred words a day, or a thousand- just write! If there's one thing I leave you with today, it's that.



Did you enjoy this list? Would you like to see more? Welp, you'll be seeing more from me every Wednesday, so keep them little eyes peeled. And, hey, if you have any suggestions for a "five list" you would like to see from me, let me know in the comments! Maybe I'll condescend from my lofty perch as wisest of wise of everything and write about it. 

Until then, keep writing, keep living, keep happy.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Humans and their Hobbies

Long before the earliest chess boards were carved, humans were already playing board games. A game called senet, for example, was played in ancient Egypt as early as 3000BC. Sports, too, have been a favorite diversion for many centuries: ancient cave drawings in France depict wrestlers, the first Olympics included four different running contests. Music, painting, dance, and poetry have been intertwined with human existence, it seems, since the dawn of our race.


We as humans have always striven to grow, to challenge our minds and bodies and imaginations, and hobbies have long been a method of doing so. While some might brush off hobbies as a waste of time, others, like myself, believe they are an integral and necessary part of who we are. Hobbies provide us with a way to relax that is also productive, because they engage our muscles- either those in our mind or those in our body. Studies have even shown that participating in a hobby helps reduce stress.

So, if you haven't found a hobby yet, I want to encourage you to start looking for something that interests you. Or maybe several things. A lot of people say they don't have time for a hobby, but I challenge that sentiment. How much time a day do we spend browsing the internet, playing with our phones, watching TV? Or even working when we don't need to be? Sure, it's nice to just check out for a little while sometimes and turn on the TV- there's nothing wrong with that, but what if we moved just a little bit of that mindless time to restorative time? 

What if we lessened our stress by doing something we enjoy, with people we enjoy being with, rather than spending time on unnecessary or fruitless tasks? 

I'm a firm believer in getting things done, but I'm also a firm believer in taking time to enjoy the richness of life, whether it's reading books, playing games, climbing rocks, or painting yard gnomes. Do what makes you happy, what drives you to be better and do better, and you might just start finding more drive in your overall life as well. 

For me, hobbies are just another way I come to understand myself better and recharge my batteries. What about you? Do you have a hobby? What makes you love it? What could you do to make that hobby even better, be more inclusive and productive? If you have thoughts you'd like to share, feel free to comment below!

Until next time, keep growing.


Resources and additional reading:




Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Healthy Mind, Spirit and Body

Much of what I do involves the mind-- writing, gaming, reading. I love a mental challenge, I love knowledge, I love learning new things every day. I think that such challenges are healthy and even necessary to keep us in a state of growth. Indeed, we are all familiar with the adage "Mind over matter", but I do believe that matter matters too. We will enjoy life most and be most productive when we are healthy as a whole. This means tending our spiritual and physical self, as well as our mental self.

I also find that I am most creative when I am active. I used to run nearly every day, and when I ran I did some of my best story plotting. I don't run anymore, but as a family we try to walk a couple times a week, and I've recently started doing yoga and love it. All of this gets your blood pumping and fuels your mind. And of course, if we're going to build up the outer body, we should also build up the inner body by eating right and taking care of ourselves. I admit, I don't always eat what I should, and sometimes eat what I shouldn't, but I have found various products that have helped me with energy and overall health. 

And, of course, most crucial of all, we need to tend our inner spirit. It is the spirit that is the inner well of a human, and when our spirit is healthy, the words we speak and the things we do will be healthy. I gain my spiritual nourishment from the Word of God. I believe in it's timeless power, I believe it is not just a book written by men, but the living word of God, relevant for today. This, more than anything, is my lifeblood. Were it not for God's word and the power of Jesus Christ in my life, I would be dead- not just spiritually, but physically. I try to remind myself of this often. We owe God more than we could ever give-- thankfully, He only requests one simple thing: to love us. But letting God love us means we must also love ourselves enough to make the choice to shift from a selfish in-the-pleasure-of-the-moment mindset to a "for-the-greatest-good-of-all" mindset. Christianity and salvation through Jesus Christ is more than a tired trope for an expired generation, it is a real calling and a real seed planted in all our hearts that just needs the living water and light of the Word to prosper within us. And when we allow that, we ourselves will prosper in all our aspirations. 

How many times have you been in line at the grocery store or scrolled through Facebook and witnessed negative remarks? Life doesn't have to be so negative! There is beauty and hope and life and love if we would just reach out and take it. Please, please, ask me about this. If you do not have a personal relationship with our divine Creator, why? What holds you back? I have found so many times that people's views on religion have stemmed from a sad failure by misguided churches and so-called Christians. When we shine the true light of God's word on these matters, the darkness scatters and we are set free.

What about you? What is your purpose? What drives you? What are your goals? How can you get closer to those goals? Are you happy? If not, remember that you have the power to change built into you, that is the power of choice.

Just wanted to give you something to think about today. Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, I hope you find joy.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

My Other Passion

I have another confession to make...

One of the reasons I stopped reading as much is due to my other hobby. These days I often spend my precious spare time playing board games. That's right, folks. Board games.

"You mean, like Monopoly?"

Well, not exactly. While I've been known to sit down for the occasional game of Monopoly, there is a whole niche out there that most of the world is unaware of: a thriving designer board game industry.

I always enjoyed board games when I was a kid, but I also felt that there could be more to them. There didn't seem to be many games that gave players real choices or control over the outcome of the game, while immersing them in an interesting and thematic world.

As a writer and a reader, I like to be submerged in other worlds, I like doors that open my imagination. And like a good book, a good board or card game can do that. Not Monopoly, not Risk, and no, but the beautiful, well designed, works of art that we call modern tabletop games. 

Image source: https://boardgamegeek.com/image/1325252/takenoko

These are games that will entertain you again and again, challenge the intellect, stimulate the mind, and, on occasion, grind the gears of your brain to powder. They come in all shapes and sizes, tailored to many different tastes, personalities, and age ranges. In fact, if you know someone who doesn't like games -or you yourself aren't crazy about them- just tell me a little bit about the person in question, and I will find a game they will most likely enjoy.

Another thing I like about this hobby is that you don't feel you're wasting time by indulging in it, because -like writing- you learn a lot while doing it, whether it's a historical fact about the era a game is set in, or simply how to implement strategies. As a gamer I'm always growing and learning, and I can honestly say it's made me look at life differently. Plus, it's a great way to spend time with others!

Now, I'm not saying playing games is this amazing breakthrough that will cure all of the world's problems-- then again, if people just unplugged, sat down, looked each other in the eye over a beautiful array of cards, boards, bits and dice more often, maybe the world would be a better place.



When I see what other board gamers say about how they got into the hobby, again and again it goes something like this, "My family hardly watches TV anymore and we actually spend time together now that we play board games!" And it's so true. Before games, my husband and I struggled to find a hobby we could participate in and enjoy together, so we'd just end up watching a movie in the evenings instead. We rarely do that now. And, while my husband is still more of a video gamer than a board gamer, we've come to cherish the time we can spend together while playing games, especially if it's a cooperative game we can work through together.

I'm not saying this hobby is for everyone, but I do think if most people were aware of the wide array of tabletop games available to them, beyond just what you see on the store shelves, they would look at gaming as a whole in a much different light.

What about you-- do you like playing games? If not, what would it take for you to enjoy it more? Feel free to comment below. Perhaps in the future I'll showcase some fun games that are BOOK themed!



Thursday, August 2, 2018

Love's Sacred Song by Mesu Andrews

The Biblical Fiction of Mesu Andrews continues to draw me. This is one of her earlier books and I received it from my lovely mother, along with her newest book, for my birthday. I was thrilled because those were the only two I didn't have! While I knew I would enjoy the books, it took me a while to crack one open and start reading. Recently though, my husband and I read through the books of Samuel in the Bible, then moved on into Kings, so when one day I was hit with a sudden need to read something good again, I reached for this one.


While the writing was perhaps not as refined as some of Andrews' later books, this one held me captive and I blazed through the first half in handful of days. But when the book didn't go the direction I thought it would, I slowed down, though didn't lose interest altogether. Even as I write this I am a little torn... Did I like it?

I think my issue is that when I read the story it was not what I pictured behind the book of Songs of Solomon. The portrayal of Solomon particularly, was frustrating to me. The King who was blessed with all wisdom from God was too blind to see conspiracies right under his nose. I really would have liked more examples of Solomon's wisdom in the book, because for most of the story all we get is his foolishness. Yes, he was a man. Yes he made mistakes... But I feel like this portrayal was a little too flawed. Mostly, though, I did enjoy the characters, they were well rounded and well written, with some unique twists, even if the villains were a little cliche.

The story made no secret of its allegorical intent, which is fine, but there were times when I thought perhaps it felt a little forced.

Songs of Solomon itself is a much debated book, so I respect and admire Andrews for taking on the feat of writing this. I was even more impressed when I read her end notes (she always has the best author's notes-- the only ones I bother to read!) and the amount of research, study and time she poured into this book.

So, despite my nitpicks, I did mostly enjoy reading Love's Sacred Song. It nearly brought me to tears many times and frustrated me a lot-- which I do not like in books, but as a writer I know how authors glory in tormenting their readers, so bravo Mesu.

Anyway, I'm sorry this isn't more succinct, but I prefer to write my reviews when the story is fresh on my mind to capture the feelings the book gave me more than anything. Thus I leave you with a mixed jumble of thoughts on a book about which I have mixed feelings.

Good, but not as ageless as Solomon's Wisdom itself.

Monday, July 30, 2018

I'm baaack!

So, I have a confession.

I've not read many books during the past year. My silence on here cries evidence to that. There were so many contributing factors-- moving, having a baby, my husband changing jobs... But fear not, dear reader (or readers... you know, all 5 of you)! These tappity little fingers have not been idle. All of these changes have been good and life is good. I've just been going through a bit of a metamorphic stage. I think, maybe, finally, at last, I'm back to normal-- or at least, the new normal. I'm even reading again! So hopefully you will be seeing more reviews soon.

But the biggest news of all-- as far as writing is concerned-- is the publishing of a book which I co-authored with my best friend! This happened back in December, but I realized how negligent I was to not even whisper of it here on my sorrowfully neglected little corner of the internet.

To learn more about this long overdue "child" of ours, keep reading and feel free to click the link below! Writing this book was a fun and challenging journey, one which we hope will not end for quite some time as my co-author and I are in the finishing stages of the sequel and have many, many plans for what is to come after! We just need to balance the rest of life and find our swing again as writers-- which, I believe, we're beginning to do.

A Song Without Words 
by Andrea M. Grafton and April Rose Wilson



We would love for you to join us in a small Virginia town torn by loss during World War I. Meet Lavender and Lenna-- best friends despite opposite social statuses, Johnathan, their kind and faithful friend, newcomers Victoria and Tip, and other characters who have become dear to our hearts.

Writing this book was a special experience, not just because I got to do so with my best friend, but because we had the unique joy of writing a character who is mute and relies mostly on sign language to communicate. We tried to remain mindful of that every step of the way while allowing for the dialogue to flow naturally. This, coupled with historical research, was a wonderful learning experience.

Our book is not currently available in digital form, but we do plan to make it so in the future.

I have so much more I could write about and do indeed plan to write about, but for now, I will leave you with this brief yet significant update.


Until then, farewell.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

To the Farthest Shore by Elizabeth Camden

To the Farthest Shore by Elizabeth Camden

I've meant to review this book for a while now, but got swept up into so many life changes these past months!

To the Farthest Shore was an engaging read and I found myself drawn into the story. I also found the characters to be refreshing- not just stock copies of some overdone cliche. The story was well written, but I did feel a bit of a lag in the second half of the book. The first half felt fast paced and exciting, then the pace slowed and it almost felt like a different book. That said, it was still an enjoyable read and I would read more books my Elizabeth Camden in the future.