Are Nightmares a Problem?

Nightmares and night terrors are a significant issue for many people. Not only their own, but for their children. I'd like to share some tips on dealing with our subconscious dreams that have worked for me and my children over the years.

Reprogramming the dream. As a child, I woke up in sweats from horrible night terrors. One brought on by a friend because my black kitten jumped in her lap. She ran out the glass sliding door screaming because black cats were bad luck. The glass slider slammed and fell off the track over wooden steps. That night, at 6 years old, I had my first night terror of pirates killing my family. And they'd gotten in through the broken door!

That dream recurred several times over my childhood. The same dream. The same fears. I began fighting it. I'd force a new dream. That didn't work but had some solace. So I tried taking the old dream and spinning a new ending in my waking mind.

I learned how to put new images in my mind and redream the dream over the years. It changed and morphed until finally succumbing to the new scenes. As I entered my adulthood, I became so good at it that I could begin reprogramming the dream before fully awake. I do that still to this day.

Comfort. Everyone has a bad dream. But when a child wakes crying or screaming from it, they need help learning the skill to reprogram. I began working with my kiddos as they woke. I'd ask them to tell me about the dream and then I'd help them think how to change it into something pleasant. I never said it didn't matter. I also never told them to just go back to sleep. I'd hold them, calm them and then start telling the dream back to the kiddo with that child as the hero combating whatever they feared in the dream. I'd give them tools or weapons in their dream world. It's really a case of using your imagination until theirs takes over.

Recognizing key stress times. Being aware of events that cause a fearful reaction can help too. If your child is expressing fear verbally, help them talk it out well before bedtime. Then come up with some fun, fanciful things to dream about as you tuck them in. Stay a few minutes after lights out. Chat about those fanciful ideas and then walk out leaving the little one to muse. Use children's books or make up your own. Put the child into the story. Now if he wakes up with a bad dream, you can easily slip back into that story too or weave it into the dream to help overcome the fears. Make sure your child becomes the lead character. It fuels the imagination into overcoming the obstacle they fear.

Music. Sing! If you really can't sing, there are tons of great CD's. Let your child help pick it out. Make it an adventure.

Speaking of adventures, check out Adventure in Odyssey stories on tape or CD. You can get them from Focus on the Family online. We love these fun stories with unique voices. (Truthfully, I'm excited to start on the next generation with these fun adventures!)

Hopefully this helps :-)

Sweet Dreams,
Angie

If Tomorrow Never Comes by Marlo Schalesky

Summary:

Childhood sweethearts Kinna and Jimmy Henley had simple dreams—marriage, children, a house by the sea… Everything they needed for happily ever after. What they didn’t plan on was years of infertility, stealing those dreams, crushing their hopes.

Now, all that’s left is the memory of young love, and the desperate need for a child to erase the pain. Until…

When Kinna rescues an elderly woman from the sea, the threads of the past, present, and future weave together to reveal the wonder of one final hope. One final chance to follow not their dreams, but God’s plan.

Can they embrace the redemptive power of love before it’s too late? Or will their love be washed away like the castles they once built upon the sand?


Angie's Take: I love this book. I love the author's ability to give distinct voice and cadence to each character. The personalities have flavor and quirks. I can believe they inhabit my world. Marlo Schalesky has an easy grace that echoes in our own experience so that we can see, hear and think like the Kinna and not even realize how closely we relate. Kinna is easily every person who can be tempted to solve their own deepest desire and Jimmy is everyone of us that feels unworthy. A very worthy book.

Author Bio:

Marlo Schalesky is the author of several books, including Beyond the Night and Empty Womb, Aching Heart. A graduate of Stanford University, Marlo also has a masters of theology with an emphasis in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Married over twenty years, she lives with her husband, Bryan, and their five children in California.

You can get a copy here.

Thank you for visiting with me today.
Angie

My favorite writing teacher, Margie Lawson, offers a class tomorrow!

How-to Author Interview!

Margie Lawson’s High Energy Interview Series

Wednesday, March 25th -- Features Lee Lofland, author of POLICE PROCEDURE & INVESTIGATION: A Guide for Writers

* Writers Digest Bestseller
* Macavity Award Nominee for Best Mystery Non-fiction

Drop by Five Scribes Blogspot on March 25th, read the in-depth interview, and ask your police and crime related questions: http://fivescribes.blogspot.com/

Lee Lofland's fact sheet includes:
* Former police detective
* Nationally acclaimed expert on police procedure and crime-scene investigation
* Consultant for bestselling authors, television, and film writers
* The Graveyard Shift, Lee’s uber-popular, informative, entertaining blog -- www.leelofland.com/wordpress
Beware – Lee’s blog is addictive!

Post a comment on the Five Scribes Blog for a chance to win:
-- A signed copy of POLICE PROCEDURE & INVESTIGATION: A Guide for Writers
-- A 300+ page Lecture Packet from Margie Lawson.

Questions?

Want to recommend a how-to author to be interviewed?
E-mail: Margie@MargieLawson.com

See you Wednesday, March 25th, on the Five Scribes blog: http://fivescribes.blogspot.com/

All smiles...............Margie
www.MargieLawson.com

A chance to win 10 books!

Do you read Christian novels?

Do you buy Christian novels?

Glass Road PR is conducting a research study and wants to know more about you!
If you would like to participate, go to http://tiny.cc/G4IsN to take an anonymous survey about buying Christian fiction.

At the end, you can enter to win a library of TEN Christian novels!





Rebeca Seitz

President

Glass Road Public Relations, LLC

Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth

Angie's Take: This book opens up my heart right away. Two young people, not quite grown, meeting in innocence. I was drawn into the story right away. Daisy goes missing and it haunted me. I felt like I was left holding the shoe as if I was the character in the book. That is talented writing! Pick it up and you won't want to put it down.

Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth is published by Zondervan, March 2009


Summary: The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance from a small Texas town in 1973 spins three lives out of control—Jed, whose guilt over not protecting his friend Daisy strangles him; Emory Chance, who blames her own choices for her daughter’s demise; and Ouisie Pepper, who is plagued by headaches while pierced by the shattered pieces of a family in crisis.

In this first book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper has a sickening secret: He’s convinced it’s his fault his best friend Daisy went missing. Jed’s pain sends him on a quest for answers to mysteries woven through the fabric of his own life and the lives of the families of Defiance, Texas. When he finally confronts the terrible truths he’s been denying all his life, Jed must choose between rebellion and love, anger and freedom.

Daisy Chain is an achingly beautiful southern coming-of-age story crafted by a bright new literary talent. It offers a haunting yet hopeful backdrop for human depravity and beauty, for terrible secrets and God’s surprising redemption.

Get your copy here:

Don’t Let Me Go by David Pierce

Summary:

The true story of how a father and his teen daughter connected through an ice axe and well-worn running shoes.

One day after reading a book about a wilderness adventurer, David Pierce’s fifteen-year-old daughter Chera announced that she wanted to climb a mountain. What David heard behind that wish was a bold declaration: “I’m growing up, Dad—what are you going to do about it?” A few weeks later they bought matching backpacks.

Over a three-year period they climbed five mountains and ran in two marathons. Together they suffered sore muscles, bitter cold, sprung knees, shin splints, and broken spirits. But they also reveled in blazing sunsets, glissaded on a glacier, and celebrated numerous victories great and small. And in the process, they built an unshakable father-daughter bond that will stand the tests of time.

In Don’t Let Me Go, David Pierce—the husband of popular Christian comedienne Chonda Pierce—offers a down-to-earth, funny-yet-serious book for parents with the same universal appeal as Bob Carlisle’s heart-tugging song, “Butterfly Kisses,” only with well-worn running shoes and an ice axe.


Beyond a father-daughter relationship, this book is filled with humor and insight. You’ll discover ways you too can create strong, loving relationships with the important people in your life, as you make your way through the valleys and over the summits of life together.


To purchase the book online:
- www.Amazon.com
- www.ChristianBook.com
- www.FamilyChristian.com

Michal by Jill Eileen Smith

As the daughter of King Saul, Michal lives a life of privilege--but one that is haunted by her father's unpredictable moods and by competition from her beautiful older sister. When Michal falls for young David, the harpist who plays to calm her father, she has no idea what romance, adventures, and heartache await her. As readers enter the colorful and unpredictable worlds of King Saul and King David, they will be swept up in this exciting and romantic story. Against the backdrop of opulent palace life, raging war, and desert escapes, Jill Eileen Smith takes her readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride as Michal deals with love, loss, and personal transformation as one of the wives of David. A sweeping tale of passion and drama, readers will love this amazing story.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing

Michal





Revell (March 1, 2009)

by Jill Eileen Smith

Get your copy here.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Eileen Smith is the author of several articles, poems, and stories, and her unpublished novels have placed in five writing contests in the past five years. A children’s story, which she wrote for her church led her youngest son to faith in Christ several years ago; much like a gospel tract led her to the Lord at a similar age.

That story, “Seeking Treasureland,” is now available. Jill is a member of several online writing groups and helps promote fellow authors’ works through monthly interviews on the "Spotlight" page of her website. She, along with her husband and children, are active members in their local church. A stay-at-home mom, she homeschooled the couple’s three sons for twelve years through high school, seeing them go on to higher education.

In her spare time, Jill teaches piano, reads, does picture scrap-booking, and enjoys trying out new recipes, especially those that include dark chocolate. Jill and her family make their home in Southeastern Lower Michigan.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Can their epic search for true love survive a father's fury?
The daughter of King Saul, Michal lives a life of privilege--but one that is haunted by her father's unpredictable moods and competition from her beautiful older sister.

As a girl, Michal quickly falls for the handsome young harpist David. But soon after their romance begins, David must flee for his life, leaving Michal at her father's mercy in the prison that is King Saul's palace.

Will Michal ever be reunited with David? Or is she doomed to remain separated from him forever?

Against the backdrop of opulent palace life, raging war, and daring desert escapes, Jill Eileen Smith takes you on an emotional journey as Michal deals with love, loss, and personal transformation as the first wife of King David. Jill Eileen Smith has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has gathered acclaim in several contests. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

Angie's Take: I am really enjoying this book. I feel like I'm getting detail that's filling in the old Bible stories for me and opening up my understanding of those people, that time and place. I really enjoy the imagination Jill puts into the story to help us experience it.

What Guides Your Personal and Business Choices?

For me, it is adding value to the lives of others in any way I can. Whether choosing a jewelry designer or writing the first book in the Gems of Wisdom series, I am driven to make my decisions based on the effect and reach that choice will have on the future and my life's legacy.


I have been working with Pamba Toto Jewelry to design a specific line for Gems of Wisdom. I asked lots of questions, but ultimately chose this company because of the effective change they are creating not only in Kenya, but around the world. Yes, I wanted unusual pieces. Yes, I wanted to provide quality and value. More important though, I felt the pull toward making a choice that would involve adding value to the lives of others.

These are children in the Mathare Valley Slum in Kenya. The volunteer is on a mission with an organization that leads a group into this area every summer.

Pamba Toto Jewelry came out of hearts of two women wanting to make a bigger imprint on the lives they could reach. The children in Kenya and Third World single moms trying to keep their kids. These moms may live in Greece, hill tribes of Thailand, Ghana, Kenya, or any other under developed nation with less than fair situations for women in the workplace. Many are starving and either watch their children die or have to give them up. Fair Trade companies now teaches ceramic bead making, sterling silver workmanship and how to run a small family business so these women receive honest pay for a day's work. And I get to be a part of that mission as well as draw lovely others into being a part of that by supporting the sales of Fair Trade and the Sanctuary of Hope orphanages in Nairobi.


Not only do they take the children into a home with a mother and father,but they are encouraged to make that their home. (I know one couple is a local Kenyan pastor and his wife who accepted the call as their mission field. They could have pastored a church, but they chose to raise up the next generation!)The second orphanage was only able to start because of the profits Pamba Toto earned. And that excites me!

These kiddos are often orphaned in the slums. Pamba Toto has already established two orphanages from the proceeds of their jewelry sales with more planned. Ten or so children per home complete with real parents and not overwhelmed staff as in state run orphanages. More to come? That's a mission I want to be part of with Gems of Wisdom.

By using a company that has an amazing impact on the lives of Kenyan orphans and single moms paid through Fair Trade bead making, I am able to provide a superior gemstone line of necklaces, earrings and bracelets to my customers.


I could have chosen anyone, any company based on price. Sure. But I choose the company that can provide the essence of life to people around the world. Now I have a small ripple effect too. My choices add value to other people's lives.

One other tidbit: All Pamba Toto jewelry is one of a kind and numbered for collectors. You can visit their site and see the samples that your pieces will closely resemble made with a myriad of real gems and creative artisan workmanship. It's spectacular.

I'm proud to announce Pamba Toto is my new supplier for the Gems of Wisdom premium line of jewelry. I'm working hard with my web guru to create links on my website www.AngelaBreidenbach.com (due for public release in April) as he works on an entirely new website for the Gems of Wisdom business. I am so excited! The new website's target date is July 1st.

What guides my personal and business choices? The long term goals that seem to be built into my DNA. I measure each decision against those parameters. If the choice would take me off on a tangent, I don't do it. I think about the legacy I want to leave behind.

Have you determined the legacy you want to leave behind?

Do you measure your choices against that yard stick?

Angie

Every Sunrise by Tricia Goyer

Angie's Take: I am enjoying Tricia's book so much. I identify easily with Charlotte and her friends. She's a young grandma with lots of responsibility and a deep love for her grandchildren that comes out across the pages to touch hearts. This book is also one that reaches across generations because of the varying ages of the characters. Nice work, Tricia!

About Every Sunrise: The bleak winter days make February on Heather Creek Farm a test of endurance, and as winter wears on, Sam becomes more and more withdrawn and unhappy. Bob is busy planning a surprise for Charlotte, and Christopher is excited about a local writing competition, while a Valentine’s Day flower from a secret source lifts Emily’s spirits. But when Sam disappears from the farm one night, chasing a memory of the father who abandoned them all, Charlotte and Bob need all the help—and prayer—they can get to bring him home safely. This broken family needs God’s help like never before, but their trials remind them all that every sunrise brings a new beginning.

About the Home to Heather Creek series: Charlotte Stevenson's world is turned upside down when her daughter, Denise, dies in a tragic car accident. She ran away at eighteen and Charlotte has never forgiven herself. Now, Denise's children, abandoned by their father, are coming from California to live on Heather Creek Farm in Bedford, Nebraska.

Charlotte is uncertain about her ability to care for three grandchildren who are not thrilled to give up the beach and sunshine for snow and farm chores! But she sees a chance to make amends and will do whatever it takes to keep her fragile family together. Feel the courage, strength and commitment of this family as their lives unfold in the Home to Heather Creek series.

Link to buy book: http://www.guideposts.org/heathercreek/linked_pages/book7.html The books come in a series and you can order those at the link. However, if you just want to order Every Sunrise you must call the customer service number (1-800-431-2344). Please include this information in your post!

About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of eighteen fiction and non-fiction books, including Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. Tricia writes magazine articles for publications like Today's Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia also enjoys speaking. She and her family makes their home in Montana.

Contest: Okay…this book is loaded with yummy food: strawberry cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, baked chicken with cornbread, chocolate cake, pancakes with homemade syrup, French onion soup, parmesan crusted chicken…well you get the idea! So the contest for this tour will be the EVERY FOODIE contest! Leave a comment on the blog tour post (http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2009/02/every-sunrise-blog-tour-and-contest.html) at Tricia’s site with your favorite meal and a recipe (feel free to post more than one recipe!)! She’ll choose the one that most tantalizes her taste buds to receive an entire set of the Home to Heather Creek series (books 1-7)! Five runner’s up will win a copy of Every Sunrise (or another Tricia Goyer book of their choice). Let the mouth-watering commence!

Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK!

Welcome L. Diane Wolfe as a guest blogger today (and Part 2 of her guest post from the Faith Girls Writing by Faith blog today.) At the end of this post, remember to read an excerpt from chapter 8!
Angie


Diane: "Sometimes Christians appear to have more problems than others. But through it all, God wants us to maintain a positive attitude. No matter how bad things may appear, be must remember that we win in the end!"



Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk: The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting
By L. Diane Wolfe

Break through your barriers with SPUNK!

Are you ready to break through the barriers obstructing your goals and move into a position of leadership? Then do so with SPUNK! Learn the steps required to overcome obstacles and become an effective and dynamic leader. The five Keys guide you through:

v Developing a positive attitude
v Learning people skills
v Raising self-esteem
v Overcoming fears
v Setting goals

Joined by authors David Ambrose, P.M. Terrell, Darlene Wofford, Jocelyn Andersen, Bob Johnson, C. Denise Sutton, and Bill Wilson, Wolfe’s “Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting” will energize your passion for life!

A professional speaker trained in a top motivation education system, Wolfe helps individuals develop passion, confidence, and an image of success. Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” the author resides in North Carolina with her husband and two cats. “With a positive attitude, any goal can be achieved!”

Available March 17, 2009, $13.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 176 pages
Non-fiction/Self-help ISBN 978-0-9816210-2-9 / 0-9816210-2-3
Links for purchase:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Publisher direct



Excerpt from “Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting”
– Chapter 8: Problems and a PMA

If possessing a good attitude attracts positive, why do problems continue to occur? As a Christian, I personally believe there is an evil force controlling life on earth that delights in creating problems for everyone. Regardless of what you may believe, we can chalk it up to the fact that life is not perfect. Despite a positive attitude, high expectations, and careful planning, some things simply go wrong without rhyme or reason. Life is not fair. The sooner we realize this truth, the sooner we can move forward.

Even if you possess a positive outlook, there will be times when barriers arise and thwart your progress. These obstacles and delays are frustrating. It is perfectly acceptable to feel frustrated, though. Since emotions in of themselves are not wrong, and we are only human, we all feel discouraged and baffled now and then. Short-term frustration happens to the best of us.
The real trouble begins when we allow frustration to stop us in our tracks, though. A moment’s pause as we regroup and form a proactive resolution is acceptable. Unfortunately, too many people allow their frustrations to halt all forward progress. Feeling defeated, these individuals lose sight of their goals and slip into depression. Do not fall into this trap! Remove your eyes from the obstacle, refocus on your destination, and do not give in to the urge to quit.

Problems are incredibly discouraging when it appears the path is completely blocked. Every goal or ambition boasts many trails leading to its attainment, though. How many times have we heard that when one door shuts, another will open? Almost to the point of annoyance? Yet, there is great truth in that statement. It basically means that an alternate route to our final destination exists if we do not abandon our quest. After all, few ventures proceed exactly as originally planned. Columbus was seeking another route to India. He eventually accomplished this goal, but not without discovering America first. Talk about a situation not proceeding according to plan!

If the idea of your carefully planned route abruptly colliding with a brick wall disturbs and frightens you, then broaden your view on the situation. There are many opportunities for success open to those who possess optimism and determination. If there’s more than one way to skin a cat, then there’s certainly another means by which to overcome your obstacles. Employ a little optimism when facing your challenges. Go over, tunnel underneath, or simply batter that wall in front of you!
When all else fails and you are faced with an impossible situation, you simply need to trust and believe circumstances will improve. It requires a measure of faith on your part, especially when there is no evidence. This is the true test of a positive attitude. Cling to hope and stay focused on the goal. Proverbs 29:18 states ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish…’ Without hope and belief, you will not succeed. Control all within your capability to master and do not allow your attitude to slide into despair.

L. Diane Wolfe
Author & Professional Speaker
www.spunkonastick.net
www.thecircleoffriends.net

Your Guide to the Grand Canyon: A Different Perspective

I love this little book. It has lots of photos and tidbits that made me want to go to the Grand Canyon right now. I loved reading about the train ride, the trail rides and the ancient peoples. I loved seeing pictures of unusual animals and plants.

I shared this book with my dad and he immediately schedules a trip with my niece and nephew based on the information in this pocket guide book. One of our family traits is to travel and explore the world. Based on the information in Your Guide to the Grand Canyon, I think I'd need several days to a week there!

But in addition to those interesting touristy things, Your Guide to the Grand Canyon does give a different perspective. It teaches in simple terms how the Grand Canyon was formed. None of that zillions of years mumbo jumbo that you can't wrap your mind around. Nope. Simple, matter-of-fact scientific detail that is actually fun to read that makes sense.

I like the fold out pages with trail maps, flight overviews and answers to questions on the outside page. What a great way to educate your kids! The little hardback book creates a natural curiosity akin to Trivial Pursuit or one of those game shows where the guest answers simple questions that build to more difficult. One surprise question: Which animal is the most dangerous in the Grand Canyon? (Not telling, you have to get the book to find out.) ;-)

It's small enough to take along on the visit too. Hmm, how soon can I go?

If you'd like your copy of Your Guide to the Grand Canyon: A Different Perspective, visit www.masterbooks.net or call 870.438.5288 or www.nlpg.com
Angie

Preparing for the Journey

I'm heading out tomorrow to Denver. (Hmm, I mean today as it is 2 a.m.) One of the things I do in preparation for travel is to stay up late at night. I can only say that my house gets really peaceful in the middle of the night and I seem to remember more and leave behind less this way. For all my plans, I'm sure something will not be perfect. It never is. Can anyone else relate?

This particular journey has many business parts as well as social joys. I've taken notes to keep it all straight. But who knew I'd find some thrilling, unexpected opportunities along the way?

Because planned meetings never confirmed, I will meet with the jewelry designer of Pamba Toto jewelry as we create the new line of Gems of Wisdom. So cool! I'll also get to go flying in a home made airplane owned by my friend's husband. (He even said I could try my hand at the controls!) My heart is jumping up and down at this extra blessing. I feel like, holy cow, I am going to fly in a way I never have before! A way I have dreamt about!

I think life is so exciting. Surprises keep popping up in ways I couldn't imagine even a day ago as I felt frustrated by the loss of one expectation. We plan, begin to pack, and execute the plan step-by-step. But we don't know how it will ultimately unfold. We must be willing to flex to take advantage of sparkling adventures that present themselves once--and only once--because things didn't go as planned.

Every trip I've ever taken has had numerous misadventures like missing a plane because a crazy guy drove the wrong way on the highway in Georgia. He stranded us for four hours outside of Atlanta with hundreds of others. We convinced the driver of another stranded vehicle to open a breakfast bar! The Dolly Madison delivery truck agreed to set up shop in the middle of a huge freeway and we ate breakfast right there with tons of other people stuck between on/off ramps. We even started a craze for shopping in the Dolly Madison "store." We've had a blizzard with -20 degrees Farenheit before the wind chill factor in Canada! That led us to explore the crime and mounted police museum in Calgary. We had the most amazing time when the management opened it up just for us and our six kids to explore. We were actually locked inside for 2 hours, all by ourselves, playing detectives! A most excellent misadventure thanks to an arctic blizzard!

You just never know how things will pan out when you are willing to flex in the face of failure.

So what do you do when things go sideways?

Plan, pack and prepare for the best with a willingness to punt. Bring your curious side out and indulge in wonder.

I tend to learn a lot about where I am going ahead of time. I have a voracious curiosity. I can explore in case the intended falls through. I figure there's too much of the world to see to worry about minor issues. It's probably God's redirection anyway. Maybe he wants me to learn something totally different. Who am I to say, "Um, God, I'd rather . . ."

Uh, not. I'd have missed out on the most beautiful and emotive singer in Turkey if I had pouted instead of punted. Twenty-Four years have passed and she still stands out clearly in my memory as a spectacular misadventure!

The jewelry designer and the impromptu invitation to fly were not in the original plan. But I jumped on them when they were offered. Ah flexibility is a joyous way to celebrate the gift of life. I feel confident that when I close my eyes to this world that I will not regret indulging in those unexpected moments.

Will I get to fly a home built small plane? That's now the plan. Will I meet with the jewelry designer? That's now the plan too. But if something odd happens, I'm sure it is in God's plan regardless and I have too many options to be disappointed :-)

And if I do get to fly, I'll be sure to tell you all about it!

Tell me about some of your excellent misadventures.

Angie

Transitions

I spent a lot of time on Friday working with Debbie Lee from www.pambatoto.com creating a new line of gemstone jewelry for the Gems of Wisdom series. We brainstormed ideas for how to meet the need of anchoring memories and paradigm shifts as my readers experience change through the first book, Insanity Rules: Gems of Wisdom.

One of the issues we dealt with is all the unknowns in beginning a new business venture. We started with website interactivity and connectivity and realized that those are exactly the words that describe human relationships. It's those concepts that drive us both to want to help others. A wonderful realization for the two of us.

But this whole new business venture comes down to managing the transitions. Little details, small moments and maximum focus to transition from here to rolling out the grand opening next fall with my life coach certification. There are milestones along the way from connecting our websites, training, creating tools like gemstone affirmations and the companion journal as well as writing material for online classes and speaking engagements.

Can I just say, "Holy Cow!" I felt like I peered over the edge of the Grand Canyon as we visualized all the things we would need to do to make our business arrangement work for both companies. From new designs for a premium level line of jewelry to photography and building websites only scratched the surface of all I would have to accomplish in the next six months. I almost stepped back. Almost. Instead, we prayed and my heart is now filled with confidence that this is the right step.

That Grand Canyon feels overwhelming when I stare with my toes on the brink across the wide chasm to the other side, but as of last night, I'd gotten up on my little burro for the trek down into the experience. I'm ready to conquer the adventure.

I even started on that trail ride! My website www.AngelaBreidenbach.com needed some updating. So I did the best I could until my web guru can get a hold of it next week. There are more photos, descriptions, and references to the Gems of Wisdom. I'm excited I could do that on my own! I'm also thrilled that I can hire someone I trust to do the bigger updates and fix a few of my unknowns until we can get an entirely new website built around the Gems of Wisdom.

I am focused, yes, but I'm taking a step of faith. For my Lenten Discipline, I'm taking each step and waiting. I tend to be a person of action. I decided that I needed to be a person who listens to God's plans before I act on my own. So I take one step and stop. I wait. I listen. I pray.

In the last few days, I have felt more settled about this decision to move into my dream than ever in my life. It's like I've been blind to the way God made me and the purpose He infused inside my every cell, my very DNA until now. Settled. Excited. Driven! I recognize I've been given the responsibility to become the person God intends me to be.

I mentioned Gems of Wisdom several days ago on a previous post. I just had the exciting first meeting toward making it a reality. How cool is that! I'm about to explore the Grand Canyons of dreams for me. It's huge and full of wonder. Although I can see so much of it (like standing on the ledge of cliff astonished at the view) I'm sure there are hidden challenges as well.

Do you have a dream that is so big you have to step back from the edge, take stock, and walk up to it again?

Do you have a dream so big only well planned actions can help it come into being?

Angie

Dinner With A Perfect Stranger

Summary Dinner with a Perfect Stranger:

You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth. . .

The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched.

The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.

Angie's Take: I read this book in a very short time. I found a few things that struck me so hard that I began sharing with my friend what I'd read. Not only that, I felt like one point was so important that I actually whipped out the book and read a couple of pages to her out loud. I haven't done that before!


…………..

"You’re bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You’re worried about God stealing your fun, but you’ve got it backwards.… There’s no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe." He leaned back off the table. "And your first mission would be to let him guide you out of the mess you’re in at work."
………….

As the evening progresses, their conversation touches on life, God, meaning, pain, faith, and doubt–and it seems that having Dinner with a Perfect Stranger may change Nick’s life forever.


Dinner with a Perfect Stranger:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569052&ref=externallink_wbm_dinnerwithaperfectstranger_eaj_0129_01



Day with a Perfect Stranger:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400072422&ref=externallink_wbm_daywithaperfectstranger_eaj_0129_01


Summary Day with a Perfect Stranger:

What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself?

When her husband comes home with a farfetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through.

On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment.

As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?


Author Bio:

David Gregory is the author of the best-selling books Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger, and coauthor of two nonfiction books. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning graduate degrees from The University of North Texas and Dallas Theological Seminary. A native Texan, David now devotes himself to writing full time.

Lifting Arms to Daddy

My grandson is snuggled here as a newborn. As he's grown, his newest ability is lifting his arms to be picked up. He lifts them up toward us with a beaming smile. His little eyes shine and as grandma, I am inexplicably compelled to reach out to him

I love him with my whole being.

When my son, his daddy, walks into the room, little Jude wriggles all over the place in animated bliss. His tiny arms push out to his daddy. He lifts his face and waits with anticipation for that amazing love.

It really struck me the last few days how I want to be like that with my Father in Heaven. I love how God can use a small child to show us how we should reach out in anticipation for Him.

But what really hit me was the absolute joy and desire to react to my grandson. I think God must be like that with us, compelled to hold us in His loving arms. I think He must be filled with intense joy and can't hold back the silly grin when we lift up our arms to Him.

What do you think?

Angie

The Deuteronomy Project

Author Richard B. Couser has gone Home to the Lord. But part of his legacy is the work, this book, that he was led to write. One of the reasons I decided to join this blog tour was to honor the legacy because it is what I would want done for me too, to have the work of my heart continue to reach out beyond my life and help others. How wonderful to have that opportunity to do for someone else what I would like done for me.

Sometimes a small thing turns into a very potent moment. In The Deuteronomy Project, a nudge starts off a mentoring relationship like that we all wish for--guidance and direction when we don't know where we are going or what we are supposed to do with our lives. It also helps us to understand through a story some of the things that we get frustrated with about ancient tomes. How do you know what cultural significance certain laws have? And how do the relate to us today? I love great teaching that explains the mysteries of culture from thousands of years ago compared to today. I get fascinated figuring out all those tidbits that open up a whole new world of comprehension.

Yes, unraveling the ancient is really cool. But when someone can help make it real, well, that's a special gift.
Angie

For your copy click here.