Surprise! You didn't expect to hear from me so soon, did ya? Well, I'm posting tonight with some very exciting news that I just can't wait any longer to get to you! So without further ado . . .
Every writer (I think, though, I don't know for sure because I'm so new at this, but I'm pretty sure) wants their work to touch somebody. Maybe not always profoundly, but certainly no writer sits down to their computer or laptop and says, "Okay, I'm gonna write a mediocre story today!" Call me naive but I want to really make a difference. I always have. That's why I love teaching. And now I have the opportunity to make a difference with the stories I create, too. First and foremost, I always want to honor the Lord with my writing. Secondly, I want to honor my family, and I want to honor you and your loved ones.
But how? So I came up with an idea and, I couldn't believe it!, my publisher actually thought it was a good idea! (Not that my publisher wouldn't have because she's very open-minded, but I had a good idea!) I've decided to establish the "What a Difference You've Made in My Life" contest in honor of my daddy who has made an immeasurable difference in my life and to whom my first novel, The Heart's Journey Home, will be dedicated. Oh, and he was a Ronnie Milsap fan, thus the title of the contest! How does the contest work? Glad you asked!
This is where you, yes, YOU, come in. For two months, until September 7th, I want you to write me either by posting comments to this blog or email me directly (by clicking on my profile and then on contact me) and nominate a female (of any age) and/or a male (of any age) that has made a difference in your life. Let me clarify: you can nominate a male and a female or one or the other, but not multiples of one gender. Otherwise the contest will be lopsided and a lopsided contest is no fun. Tell me as much as you can about this person factually as if you were going to write an article on him/her and tell me why that person has made a difference in your life. That's it. That's all you have to do. On September 8th, I will take all of the nominations I get, separate the males from the females, and draw one name from each of the two categories (yep, the old-fashioned, fair-square way: out of a hat). I will write a special paragraph about the chosen loved ones in or after the acknowledgements section of The Heart's Journey Home and I will create a minor character in my book based on the information you've supplied me about your loved one! Karen Kingsbury did something similar to this and I just thought that it is a wonderful way to honor those that have truly touched your life.
Who to nominate? Anyone that has made an impact in your life. Just as an example, Stan and Alice-Lyle are friends of ours who has a child with Mitochondrial Disease. If they were to nominate little William and he were to be drawn out of the hat, I would write about how special of a little boy he is in or after my acknowledgements and I would create a minor child character who would be based on William. (Oh, and by the way, click on the Caring Bridge link under my blog lists and read William's story. They are a wonderful family.) My mother-in-law has recently lost three of her aunts. She may want to nominate one of them. A pastor, a friend, a teacher, a grandparent or grandchild, a sibling or cousin, anyone who you know you wouldn't be the same without - someone who you feel has helped make you a better person. I want you to be as touched by this as they will be when they see their name in print!
How am I able to do this? Because I am extremely blessed to be working with a wonderful Christian publisher who has given her writers a ton of freedom that other authors, even multi-published authors, don't get the luxury of having. I still don't know why she would want to take a chance on me, being so wet behind the ears and all, but I'm so very thankful that she has seen something in me, and I just hope that I don't let her down. Joan, just in case I haven't told you(in the last day or two), thank you for everything!
Okay, one last assignment for you: make sure everyone you know has a chance to nominate their loved one(s). Call, email, text, fax, or (as a last resort!) snail mail this web address (http://www.theheartsjourneyhome.blogspot.com/) to all of your friends and family. I hope you are as excited about this new opportunity as I am. I pray that this contest is a big enough success that I can do it again for the next book . . . and the one after that . . . and the one after that . . . I'll be looking forward to hearing from you and reading all about those that have made a difference in your life!
P.S. Update from earlier poll: I've decided, for a few different reasons, to write as Jen Stephens.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Roots + Wings x Faith = Independence
Happy Independence Day! I prefer Independence Day to 4th of July because the latter is really just a date. Independence Day evokes SO much more feeling. I never really understood what it was all about until I became an adult with babies of my own and I realized how much I, how much we all, have to lose, all the freedoms we take for granted. I am so very grateful for all of our military men and women who have fought and especially for the many that have died for those freedoms!
But have you ever thought that we (yes, you and I) fight for freedom everyday? We do. Freedom from a shameful past or a miserable future; freedom from addictions to drugs, alcohol, food, money, sex, etc., etc., etc.; freedom from illnesses - physical or mental; freedom from the negative thoughts, fueled by society, that constantly bring us down. Our weapons to fight this personalized "War of Independence"? Roots, wings, and faith.
Those of you who were at my wedding nine and a half years ago might remember the short homily that our pastor gave. She quoted one of her favorite authors (whose name I can't remember so if you recognize the saying, feel free to post a comment and let me know who it was) who said something to the effect of: the best gifts a parent can give their children are roots and wings. Roots will keep them grounded - help them remember who they are and where they came from. But here's the thing: have you ever noticed the older a tree gets, the deeper and stronger their roots are? Maybe it's because they NEED their roots more and more. Chris, the girls, and I just got back from visiting my step mom in East Tennessee. She thought, after reading my last post, that I might like to read more of my own poems and short stories that she had saved throughout the years and I thought I'd share a poem with you that I wrote when I was 13-years-old. Like the others that my friends from Ohio told me about, I don't remember writing this and now, 19 years later, it strikes me as very profound. So, here is a sample of my roots (at least as far as writing is concerned):
Two Lonesome Doves
The darkness was overwhelming, but the night was oh so clear.
As the birds cried above, the sound of water was all you could hear.
Jenny sat on the beach by herself, listening and loving where she was at.
When out of the sky flew a dove, and beside her it sat.
Jenny looked at the poor bird, she thought it looked so sad.
She could see what the dove felt, and that made her feel bad.
The bird was feeling lonely, how did she know?
The second weapon I mentioned is wings. Wings take you places, lift you up, and make you soar! Think about it: where would we be today without those individuals who have taken the leap of faith and soared to new heights in our medical and technology fields. Raise your hand if you can remember life withOUT the microwave. And now we could practically activate our microwaves from our cell phones or iPods or, hey, why not go with both and use our iPhones! Is it always a good thing, the head spinning rate that we're advancing? I don't know. It seems old-fashioned letter writing has gone the way of the woolly mammoth, and to me that's sad. But it is important to have a dream just like the colonists did 232+ years ago, and it's equally important for everyone to do our part to make this great country a better place. So whether it's finding a cure for cancer or simply helping a little old lady with her groceries at the Piggly Wiggly down the street, just spread those wings and fly!
The last weapon that I mentioned was not mentioned by the author as one of the greatest gifts you could give your child, and I wonder why. As a teacher, I can attest to what probably all of you already know, that WE NEED FAITH! I'm so grateful that I was raised in a Christian home. I know it must not have been easy to get four girls out the door in the mornings, but my mom diligently made sure my sisters and I were in Sunday school and church almost every Sunday. If I haven't thanked you for that before, Mom, thanks! And now that I'm a mother, I feel a level of satisfaction I've never known to be able to give my girls a Christian education in addition to being active in our church. The thing is that there is so much unexplainable yuck in this world that I don't know how a kid can cope without the hope found in the promises of the Christian faith. What's really cool about the weapon of faith is that when it's applied to a difficult situation, it's multiplied exponentially (thus my equation: roots + wings x faith = independence). Look at what it says in 2 Thessalonians 1:3 "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing." Isn't that cool?
General George Washington, our country's first commander-in-chief, led an army of ill-equipped farmers, many of whom trudged through snow-covered countryside with holes in the soles of their shoes so bad that their feet were left exposed in the bitter cold, into battle. Not only did they fight the British but they fought diseases such as small pox and scurvy. Seemingly impossible odds? Yes, but I personally believe that they had three very powerful weapons (in addition to their guns and cannons of course!) - roots, wings, and faith.
But have you ever thought that we (yes, you and I) fight for freedom everyday? We do. Freedom from a shameful past or a miserable future; freedom from addictions to drugs, alcohol, food, money, sex, etc., etc., etc.; freedom from illnesses - physical or mental; freedom from the negative thoughts, fueled by society, that constantly bring us down. Our weapons to fight this personalized "War of Independence"? Roots, wings, and faith.
Those of you who were at my wedding nine and a half years ago might remember the short homily that our pastor gave. She quoted one of her favorite authors (whose name I can't remember so if you recognize the saying, feel free to post a comment and let me know who it was) who said something to the effect of: the best gifts a parent can give their children are roots and wings. Roots will keep them grounded - help them remember who they are and where they came from. But here's the thing: have you ever noticed the older a tree gets, the deeper and stronger their roots are? Maybe it's because they NEED their roots more and more. Chris, the girls, and I just got back from visiting my step mom in East Tennessee. She thought, after reading my last post, that I might like to read more of my own poems and short stories that she had saved throughout the years and I thought I'd share a poem with you that I wrote when I was 13-years-old. Like the others that my friends from Ohio told me about, I don't remember writing this and now, 19 years later, it strikes me as very profound. So, here is a sample of my roots (at least as far as writing is concerned):
Two Lonesome Doves
The darkness was overwhelming, but the night was oh so clear.
As the birds cried above, the sound of water was all you could hear.
Jenny sat on the beach by herself, listening and loving where she was at.
When out of the sky flew a dove, and beside her it sat.
Jenny looked at the poor bird, she thought it looked so sad.
She could see what the dove felt, and that made her feel bad.
The bird was feeling lonely, how did she know?
The second weapon I mentioned is wings. Wings take you places, lift you up, and make you soar! Think about it: where would we be today without those individuals who have taken the leap of faith and soared to new heights in our medical and technology fields. Raise your hand if you can remember life withOUT the microwave. And now we could practically activate our microwaves from our cell phones or iPods or, hey, why not go with both and use our iPhones! Is it always a good thing, the head spinning rate that we're advancing? I don't know. It seems old-fashioned letter writing has gone the way of the woolly mammoth, and to me that's sad. But it is important to have a dream just like the colonists did 232+ years ago, and it's equally important for everyone to do our part to make this great country a better place. So whether it's finding a cure for cancer or simply helping a little old lady with her groceries at the Piggly Wiggly down the street, just spread those wings and fly!
The last weapon that I mentioned was not mentioned by the author as one of the greatest gifts you could give your child, and I wonder why. As a teacher, I can attest to what probably all of you already know, that WE NEED FAITH! I'm so grateful that I was raised in a Christian home. I know it must not have been easy to get four girls out the door in the mornings, but my mom diligently made sure my sisters and I were in Sunday school and church almost every Sunday. If I haven't thanked you for that before, Mom, thanks! And now that I'm a mother, I feel a level of satisfaction I've never known to be able to give my girls a Christian education in addition to being active in our church. The thing is that there is so much unexplainable yuck in this world that I don't know how a kid can cope without the hope found in the promises of the Christian faith. What's really cool about the weapon of faith is that when it's applied to a difficult situation, it's multiplied exponentially (thus my equation: roots + wings x faith = independence). Look at what it says in 2 Thessalonians 1:3 "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing." Isn't that cool?
General George Washington, our country's first commander-in-chief, led an army of ill-equipped farmers, many of whom trudged through snow-covered countryside with holes in the soles of their shoes so bad that their feet were left exposed in the bitter cold, into battle. Not only did they fight the British but they fought diseases such as small pox and scurvy. Seemingly impossible odds? Yes, but I personally believe that they had three very powerful weapons (in addition to their guns and cannons of course!) - roots, wings, and faith.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Summer Fun!
How can summer be half over already?!? (We go back to school in early August.) We just got back from a fun-filled trip to visit all of our family and some of my close friends in Ohio. We fished with Papa, visited a horse farm where my niece and nephew take riding lessons, and had three (yes, THREE!) birthday parties for my "baby", Alison. (She's 7 today. Not quite a baby anymore, but I tell her she'll be my baby until she's 84!)
One thing I was reminded of during this trip (besides what I've known all along and, more often than not, have taken for granted - the importance of family) is exactly how long I've been writing and exactly how much I've written. I got to visit with two of my really good girlfriends from high school and they both told me about poems I'd written for them that they still have and that I don't even remember writing! It just reinforced in me, in my brain and my heart, that writing is as much a part of who I am as being a wife, a mother, and a teacher are, and it's something that I have to do . . . no matter how much sleep I lose in the process! :)
Here's a pic from our vacation - our annual Maple tree picture. Chris planted this tree in his parents' yard when he was in grade school and it was just a sapling! It's fun to see our family grow in it year after year.
One last thing: please pray for my best friend from high school, Patty Smith. She has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is getting ready for chemo in about 4 weeks. Add her and her family to your prayer lists - at church, at work/school, at home, where ever you have one, and I'll keep you posted on her progress. There is power in prayer!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Farewell, Tim
This afternoon, as most of you know, it was announced that journalist Tim Russert died at age 58. I never paid too much attention to Tim as he was always covering the political scope of our world and, well, politics bore me. But Tim's death has touched me today and this is why: he was seemingly untouchable. Tim Russert had reached the pinnacle of his career. He was greatly respected by his peers and feared by many that he interviewed because HE WAS THAT GOOD.
People always say that, "When it's your time, it's your time." To me that phrase is almost identical (and just as useless) as the infamous, "Because I said so." Neither one gives me any answers and, oooo, that drives me nuts! But Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." I'm learning that sometimes I have to be satisfied with the things I do know and let go of the huge, haunting questions that will never be answered in our lifetime - the whys.
So, in closing, according to statements provided by his colleagues, this is what I do know about Tim Russert: He was a hard worker and he loved his job. He was an excellent journalist. He sought out the truth, the facts. He had a ton of friends in a dog-eat-dog career, which speaks volumes for his character. And I know that while life will go on without him, it won't be the same.
Please, say a prayer for his wife, Maureen, and his son, Luke, today.
P.S. Happy Father's Day, Daddy! I miss you!
People always say that, "When it's your time, it's your time." To me that phrase is almost identical (and just as useless) as the infamous, "Because I said so." Neither one gives me any answers and, oooo, that drives me nuts! But Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." I'm learning that sometimes I have to be satisfied with the things I do know and let go of the huge, haunting questions that will never be answered in our lifetime - the whys.
So, in closing, according to statements provided by his colleagues, this is what I do know about Tim Russert: He was a hard worker and he loved his job. He was an excellent journalist. He sought out the truth, the facts. He had a ton of friends in a dog-eat-dog career, which speaks volumes for his character. And I know that while life will go on without him, it won't be the same.
Please, say a prayer for his wife, Maureen, and his son, Luke, today.
P.S. Happy Father's Day, Daddy! I miss you!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
What's in a name?
In my previous post I mentioned that I would occasionally ask for your feedback on various topics and this is one of those occasional moments!
See, I'm having a bit of trouble deciding what my "name" should be - "Jennifer Stephens" or "Jen Stephens" or something all together different. For example, my dad always liked "Jenni Lynn". Those of you who know me know that I'm not too crazy about Jenni (with an "i" or a "y" - in any form). Or maybe J.L. Stephens. Or perhaps Jennifer L. Stephens. Or I could use my maiden name - "(Jennifer, Jen, or Jenni) Dominick". Etc., etc., etc. The only rule is that you BE NICE! :)
So . . . I guess I'm giving you input as to what name will appear on the cover of my books! I do have a favorite, but I want to know what you think. Leave a comment at the bottom of the page and cast your "vote". No, I can't promise that it'll be a completely fair outcome, as I do have the final say, but I can tell you with certainty that there will be NO RECOUNTS! :)
See, I'm having a bit of trouble deciding what my "name" should be - "Jennifer Stephens" or "Jen Stephens" or something all together different. For example, my dad always liked "Jenni Lynn". Those of you who know me know that I'm not too crazy about Jenni (with an "i" or a "y" - in any form). Or maybe J.L. Stephens. Or perhaps Jennifer L. Stephens. Or I could use my maiden name - "(Jennifer, Jen, or Jenni) Dominick". Etc., etc., etc. The only rule is that you BE NICE! :)
So . . . I guess I'm giving you input as to what name will appear on the cover of my books! I do have a favorite, but I want to know what you think. Leave a comment at the bottom of the page and cast your "vote". No, I can't promise that it'll be a completely fair outcome, as I do have the final say, but I can tell you with certainty that there will be NO RECOUNTS! :)
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