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Damien Hathaway, clergyman, is no stranger to scandal. Unfortunately, this last scandal could cost him his life’s calling–ministering.
When heiress Lindsay Phillips takes an interest in spiritual matters, Damien has no objections to teaching her. Even though his heart is becoming attached to the woman, his disability keeps him from acting on those feelings. After all, no woman, rich or poor, would be interested in a cripple who couldn’t protect her.
The author, Ruth Axtell Morren, puts a new twist on the marriage of convenience in her regency romance put out by Steeple Hill‘s inspirational romance line. Enjoyable read.
So, I’m a sappy person. I went with “the girls” to see the Hannah Montana movie last weekend. My poor son, age 14, went because he didn’t want to be left out. He was hoping noone from his school saw him in the theater. He managed to go undetected, I think.
Anyway, I’ve always liked the premise of Hannah Montana–at school she is a regular girl. No one except her closest friends knows the secret that she is a pop star. The conflict in this story is to keep her true performing identity a secret so she can live a “normal” life without the poparazzi and be able to experience all the things a teenager goes through.
There really is no point to this blog, I just wanted to post that I like Hannah Montana and I like Miley Cyrus.
Rule 405 requires the person registered within the securities industry to “know your customer”. By knowing your customer you can make suitable investment recommendations and also protect yourself from money launderers in illegal businesses.
In the writing world you must apply this rule–“know your character”. After all, it is your character making decisions throughout your story. What your character decides carries the plot. You must know what your character would do in certain situations — scream and run, stay and fight, etc.
Sometimes though, you must get your character to act out of character. In Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, Donald Maas asks a series of questions and then instructs you apply the answers to your story:
What is the one thing that your protagonist would never, ever say? never do? never think? By adding those things to your story you are certain to add conflict which is a key element in story.
In my story, Absalom’s Beauty, my character has just recovered the horse that was stolen in the violent murder of her father. What is the one thing she’d never do? Give up that horse again. What does she do? She gives up the horse. Why? Because a little girl is more important to her than the horse.
In our darkest hours we see just one piece of the puzzle. That piece is mottled with colors that make no sense all by itself. For some, that one piece is so hard to bear. That piece may contain pain or a broken heart, but when connected to another piece and then another it starts to take on shape until we get the final picture. God sees the final picture. He sees that it is beautiful–that it can be beautiful. Hold on as your life’s pieces are put together. It may not make sense now, but hold on.
Here are words I penned while reading about Lot leaving Sodom and Gomorrah:
Don’t look back.
That day is gone.
What’s left behind are ashes and rubble.
But up ahead, there are glories unknown.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (New International Version)
12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Note: I borrowed the puzzle illustration from my Sunday School lesson today.
My favorite fiction reading is regency romance. I just completed reading Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard.
The author writes with rich detail(something that is sorely lacking in my own writing) similar in style to Georgette Heyer.
Miss Ariana Forsythe is resolved to the fact that her lot in life is to marry a clergyman–even after the young rector moves away and is replaced by a man older than her father.
Ariana seems a little silly as she pines for this older man who seems to have no other redeeming qualities other than he is a rector. Her parents feel the only solution is to remove her from the situation by sending her away to her aunt’s who is to sponsor her in her first season in society.
She is told to stay away from one eligible bachelor, Mr. Phillip Morney, because he has been known to destroy the social chances of other young women by his indifference to them.
A great story. Read what happens when she meets Mr. Morney at a picnic on his estate. Let’s just say she doesn’t end up marrying a Rector.
Miley Cyrus was on Racheal Ray last Friday and she really impressed me.
Rachel asked her to give three things that would make her relatable to everyone in the audience.
One of her responses:
“I just learned how to color my own hair. I’m going to save so much money you have no idea.”
My question is why is she concerned about saving money? She’s sixteen and is worth more than a billion dollars.
I see people not making what she makes in one minute, spending money they don’t have on stuff they don’t need.
About her song-writer boyfriend she says:
“I’ve never been closer to my Lord since I met him.”
She reads her Bible first thing in the morning.
My father has this recurring dream that while standing he can bring his feet back(at the same time) against the back of his knees and fly through the air upright. So I guess he is more like a hover craft.
Sunday before last my family discussed the poor woman who found out years after the fact that her husband’s legs had to be cut off to fit him in his casket. Apparently, she had ordered the right size but the funeral home got it wrong.
My father is 6’2″ tall and, well let’s just say he is frugal. Okay, Okay he’s cheap. So I told him that if the 5’5″ casket is cheaper than the 6’2″ casket, then we might just have to cut off his legs. We could bend them back just like in his dreams and we’ll play I’ll Fly Away at his funeral.
By the way, my Daddy will probably outlive me. He is extremely young at heart– he has the energy to play hide&seek and ball with his grandchildren.
Charles Billingsley is a vocal genius, is he not?
I have terrible memory and I believe it is because the blood is not getting to my brain efficiently or maybe sufficiently.
So, I’ve discovered that if I need to remember somebody’s name, I need to turn upside down. Yes, upside down.
Believe it or not, it has worked for me several times.
Once, I used my exercise ball to sprawl backward until my head dangled off. I remembered the person’s name I was trying to think of within seconds. This was not a person I was around a lot–more of a passing acquaintance. But by turning upside down I was able to remember.
Another time while with my extended family on a Sunday afternoon, I was trying to think of a person’s name that just moved to Durham. I’ve never met the person, but have spoken about him a couple of times before with my colleagues and for the life of me couldn’t think of his name –which is very unique. So, in front of all my family, I touched my toes and was able to remember his name. They, of course, thought I was a nut. They’ve thought that all along anyway.
Next time you’re struggling to remember something, touch your toes and see if it doesn’t come to you.
Maybe teachers should try a “touch your toes” session just before taking major tests.
1 Corinthians 15 (New International Version) : 20-25 & 54-58
20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
***
54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[g]
55“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[h] 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
My posts have been few and far between. I apologize. Life sometimes gets in the way.
Anyway, my previous posts have been about my son’s medical condition.
After his appointment it was time to refill his prescription. Fortunately, I called my insurance company before calling the Doctor’s office.
His medicine went up from $60 for a 90 day supply to $600 for a 90 day supply. How’s that for inflation?
Now that a generic version is available the insurance company will not pay as much for the brand name. Understandable–it makes smart business sense.
My son, though, didn’t want to try something new. He was afraid the generic version wouldn’t work.
So far, though, it seems to be working fine–and it only costs $5 for a 30 day supply–making that $15 for a 90 day supply. That saves me $45 at the old brand name price and $585 at the new brand name price.
I love a bargain.
Put A Ruffle On It 
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