Sep 28 2007
I knew you would love to see your last name in print (have you got use to it yet). If you have not got a chance to see her honeymoon pictures, they are awesome!! Congrats Amy, email me your snail mail and I will get the book and journal off to you.
Thank you so much for reading Nicole’s interview, and if you did not win her book you can purchase it here.
Sep 27 2007
to enter the drawing for my book giveaway here. I will announce the winner Saturday.
I know I have not been blogging much this week, I think I took a bit of an unexpected break. A lot going on, many things that need prayer, and just life in general.
Did you hear about the woman that put her children up on Ebay “live my life for two days”? I promise it was not me….even though I called my Dad and asked if he wanted one teenager since he did such a good job with me and my siblings, I would even pay the airfare. For some reason I heard hysterical laughing on the other end…I don’t quite get it??
Winner announced Saturday morning =))
Sep 27 2007
paper and elements by Miss Mint Party Pants and Foxy LadyDid you know that my friend Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage is hosting Thankful Thursday this week while Iris is enjoying a much needed break. Don’t forget about my giveaway on the post below. Have a great Thursday, it has been a crazy week for me so I am keeping this short and sweet.
Sep 24 2007
This is now closed,winner will be announced tomorrow….good luck.
Many of you are gearing up for Katrina Fall Into Reading 2007 can I strongly suggest adding this new, awesome author to your list. You can see a review of her book here in my Book Buzz column. I would love for you to get to know her a little better, because let me tell you she is a gem!!! So without further ado…. (be sure to read all the way down for a giveaway)
Please tell us a bit about yourself and your family.I don’t know why, but this is always the hardest question for me! It’s so difficult to sum up my life and my family… But I’ll try! I grew up in a small town in Iowa and had a beautiful childhood and adolescence. God blessed me with wonderful parents and a brother who I am very close to. I graduated college with degrees in English, Spanish, ESL and Secondary Education. The day after I graduated from college I married Aaron Baart. He is so cool and so funny and I so do not deserve him! J Aaron and I moved to Vancouver, British Columbia a year after we got married so that he could go to seminary. During that time we switched roles: I worked fulltime and brought home a paycheck, and because of his sporadic, student schedule he cleaned the house and did all the typical domestic things. I taught full-time for four years and then substitute taught part-time for another four years. When my gorgeous son, Isaac, was born I began to work less and less. He is now almost four years old. And last year we adopted Judah as an infant from Ethiopia. I gotta tell you, you haven’t seen beautiful until you’ve seen my baby! Now I stay home fulltime because I wouldn’t dare to leave my two tornadoes with anyone else! They are both so filled with energy and life. Yikes. I get tired just thinking about what they can get into on a daily basis. But I love them to death and I can’t wait to have more. I think it’s time for a daughter in this testosterone-filled home!
I love the name of your main character, Julia. Can you tell me how you came about choosing that name?
I have always loved the name Julia. When I started writing After the Leaves Fall, I was pregnant with our second baby, and Julia was what I hoped to name the baby if she was a girl. Unfortunately, I miscarried just after the twelve-week mark. Somehow it felt wrong to “save” that name for another baby. But Julia felt very right for the main character in my novel–I almost didn’t have a choice. Julia just had to be Julia, I couldn’t have named her something different if I tried. Also, Julia is my grandmother’s name. Anyone who reads the book will discover how I feel about my grandmothers! And, consequently, Nellie (the name of Julia’s grandmother in After the Leaves Fall) is the name of my other grandmother. I didn’t really mean for the book to be such a literal tribute to my grandmas, but it sure did turn out that way!
What kind of reader did you have in mind when you wrote After The Leaves Fall?
Honestly, I didn’t have a particular reader in mind when I wrote After the Leaves Fall. I had hoped that it would be a universally appealing book, though now when I look back on it I can see that all of the strong female characters probably make it a book primarily for a female audience. However, I think that many of the themes addressed are not gender-specific. And the sequel, Summer Snow, introduces some really neat male characters that I think will earn a wider readership. I think both books are also well-suited for high school or college age students.
What type of research did you have to do for this book? Or is the setting of the book similar to where you grew up?
The only thing that I researched for this book was the world of engineering. I have a close friend (a woman) who has her degree in biomedical engineering and we sat down for an afternoon to chat about her experiences. Other than that, the book came pretty naturally to me. I grew up in Northwest Iowa and much of the setting in After the Leaves Fall is taken directly from my memories. Although Iowa is thought to be boring and flat, I think it is incredibly beautiful, and I tried to give people a glimpse of the pastoral beauty of the Midwest in my book.
After The Leaves Fall is book one in a series, how did you come up with the story idea?
I wish I could say I had some lightning inspiration like J.K. Rowling sitting in her coffee shop. But the idea for Julia’s story was a slow evolution. First of all, Julia De Smit formed as a character in my mind. I loved her instantly and kept drawing different aspects of her person so that she would be as real to others as she was to me. Then, other characters came into the picture. From there, Julia’s story sort of wrote itself. I’d throw an obstacle at her and imagine what she would do to overcome it and how she would feel in the middle of battling it. I guess there were lots of little experiences in my life that played into Julia’s story, but none of the things that happen to her in After the Leaves Fall are autobiographical.
Will we see any more of Parker? Or do I just have to wait and see =)
I’m going to exercise my 5th amendment right and keep my mouth shut! J Sorry!
(she caught me I was trying to find out information, hehehe!!)
Why do you think it took Thomas so long to figure out his emotions?Love in any form is a very complicated thing. You may dearly love someone, but just below the surface there is often a whole host of other emotions: insecurity, jealousy, fear, desire, hope, lust, and the list goes on and on. And in the midst of all this confusion you have to decide if you are in love, or if it’s just friendship love, or if it was never really love at all. I know people who divorced their spouses because they “loved them but they were not in love with them.” Give me a break. Love is a choice. Thomas does not have that figured out at all, and I made his character so waffling and indecisive because I wanted to show people how seriously you can hurt someone by playing with the idea of love. I don’t think Thomas is a bad person, but I do think that he has given in to cultural expectations (or lack thereof) about what love should truly be. He’s waiting for Hollywood romance and fireworks instead of making a commitment and sticking with it through thick and thin.
What advice would you give any first time novelist who may be sitting and writing right now?
Keep writing! Write and write and write. And then ask yourself this question: Am I doing this because I love to write? Or am I doing this because I think it’s going to get me fame or fortune or notoriety? I truly believe that the Lord has called each of us to a specific task in this world and I believe that there is supposed to be much joy in it for us. If you love writing and you do it with a joyful heart, you are already fulfilling a part of the calling that the Lord has planned for you. Who cares if no one else ever reads it? It is your act of worship, it is your offering, and your Lord takes delight in you. Of course, as with any job there are going to be times when writing is a chore. But if it is a constant uphill battle, if it is something you do because you feel obligated to do it, or if you are writing because you want to be the next big thing, I think something is off. Go and find something you love. Go and find something that makes you feel fulfilled and whole and then go and offer it at the feet of your Creator.
Is there anything you’d like to share with my readers that I haven’t asked you about?
Hmmm… I don’t think so. Other than: Thank you so much for reading this! And thank you, Laurel, for being such an encouragement to me. I am so incredibly grateful that the Lord made our paths cross. You are a blessing!
I have to say one of the many things I like about After The Leaves Fall are sentences that pierced my heart. After reading the first sentence of Nicole’s book, “Waiting is a complicated longing,” I literally stopped and chewed on that sentence for a bit. This is so true in our own lives, we are excited for the future, but fear the unknown; we wait for change, but dislike being changed. Sometimes we know and wait for something better, but fear it may never come. Waiting IS complicated, and what an excellent way to open up this wonderful story. Another powerful piece that pierced my heart is on page 255, second paragraph….oh I guess you will just have to read the book to see it. But I have good news YOU CAN WIN THE BOOK.
Nicole not only has a passion for writing, but her and her husband have another passion. Go to this post and come back and leave me a comment giving me one fact about the post.
Out of the people who comment about that post, I will (or random.org) will select one person for me to send them the book After The Leaves Fall, and a book journal via amazon.com. You have to be willing to give me your snail mail for me to order it and have it sent to you.I will be announcing the winner Saturday September 29th, be sure I am able to get ahold of you via email, etc.
You are not required, but I would love for you to grab the button below and announce the giveaway on your blog.
Sep 20 2007
Thursday I was the cat. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day…..
Kids did not bring home the best progress reports (not sure whose kids they thought they were, where they thought they could get away with NOT turning in homework, even after Mom asked if they had some EVERYDAY). But alas, your sins will find you out.
I am coming to the place where I have to say my youngest has a reading disability. I detest that phrase, I struggle and fight against it. But the reality that it may always be a struggle is hitting me hard. And truthfully I am at the point I don’t know what to do more, except just push through it and pray one day it will click. We are doing specialized tutoring, he is getting extra help at school, but even after a year or so….he is still struggling. I won’t give up, just frustrated right now.
And to top it off, I am excited hubby is back home but I am just plum worn out.
So you all have a great weekend. I will see you Monday with an interview of a very special lady in my life and a giveaway.
God loves you!!
But before you go…..Check me out here on Friday.
Click on picture to head on over there…..
Sep 20 2007
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name
Psm 100:4
I have so much to be thankful for today!!!
1. First and foremost…my sister in law, who WAS in Iraq is now safely back in her own bed!!! What a relief.
2. I did not want to announce to the whole world wide web until he was back home, but hubby has been gone a week. And taking care of three boys by myself is HARD. Single Mothers, you are my hero. I know it is one day at a time, and one step at a time, but being a single Mom has to be one of the toughest jobs on this planet. Praise God hubby is back home. And the good news is all three of my boys lived through the week…. (sheepish grin).
3. This has been a tough week spiritually, I think God is working on my heart. But I praise God for friends who offer encouragement at just the right time; they allow themselves to be used by God to uplift a fellow sister in Christ.
4. Did I tell you how excited I am hubby is back? Oh and I am thankful for Chocolate ice cream and chocolate chips that sustain me while he is gone =) Yes now it is diet time, heheh.
5. I am thankful that I have a give away this next week and so does another friend of mine (I won’t ruin her surprise) but come back Monday to find out all the details for my surprise.
6. Also, even though this is not a thankful item I just want to apologize that I did not get around to all the “In Other Words” participants and I am sure it will take me 5 days to get to all the TT’s…but I do enjoy reading them. Just give me a few days to catch up with hubby =)))
Have a great Thursday!! Remember God is crazy about your girl, no matter where you have been, no matter what you have done….he loves you with a jealous love.
Head on over to Sting My Heart for more Thankful Thursdays.
Sep 20 2007
This is a verse that has stuck with me this week, “in its season.”
For more Wordfilled Wednesday, head on over to 160 Acres Woods
Sep 19 2007
Lizzie at A Dusty Frame said:
Laurel Wreath encourages women to walk with the Lord. I enjoy reading her perspective and am always encouraged.
To be honest I could not have a higher compliment that I help encourage women with their walk with the Lord. That is my passion. Thank you Lizzie.
Let’s see I will pass it along to (and goodness knows I should just point you to my blogroll I have under People Who Inspire Me) but I won’t torture you like that so:
Molly at Molly-Coddled is someone who blesses me nonstop. I love the big heart she has, the love of her family and her love of FOOD. (who does not need to respond to the meme, just wanted to let you know you bless me girl!)
Nicole at A Gauntlet with a gift in it there are a few people who I feel a “God connection” with, some of them I may not meet in person this side of heaven, but I have to say with Nicole from day one it has been that kind of connection. I would tell you more but you are going to have to come by next week as I talk more about her, and I will have a free gift (there is your teaser =))
Terri at In His Hands has been such a blessing to me. And this is one girl I PLAN to meet this side of heaven one way or another =) How do I even put into words how you have touched my heart in many different ways. Even if you do have a racecar kitchen =)))
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OK (the people all above make me smile but in an effort to tell more people how they bless me I will give this award to three others).
Terri at In His Hands said:
Laurel called our rental house kitchen the “racetrack kitchen” and every time I think of that I laugh my head off. She is very thoughtful and quick with the cards. LOL She always finds the perfect e-card to send at the perfect time and she makes me smile.
Angie at The Knightly News is someone who blesses me with her words and her heart, with every comment, email, etc… This is a girl who has picked me up when I was down. And whenever I chat with her she always makes me smile.
How could I talk about smiling without mentioning Deedra at Nspired By Faith, this girl cracks me up and always makes me smile. Girl I am praying for two just so you know =)))
Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage has such a gift with words. She always uplifts you, encourages you and is a faithful prayer buddy.
And you guys know I probably would not still be blogging if it were not for Iris at Sting My Heart, she is my rock and keeps me sane =) Enjoy your break next week. And she is probably going to kill me that I gave her this award….
There are so many more that make me smile and who I love their blogs, that is why I sometimes cringe when I receive these awards. I am so blessed by everyone that visits me here, and when I visit you. Your time is valuable but yet you chose to spend some of it with me. Thank you.
Sep 17 2007
“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” (Psalms 118:22, KJ)
I know the words rejected and refused pretty much mean the same thing, but to me the word refused shows more of a deliberate action taken by the builders. When I looked up in Strong’s what each word means I got:
The stone which the “established” “rejected” is become the “chief” of “rulers.” Psalms 118:22
I came home from an event one day last week and all the way home I was saying to the Lord, “Father, I just don’t fit.” It is a group I will remain around because of my kids involvement, but as an adult it is hard.
Then I got to thinking, Father did you feel like that? Here He was there to save every person on the entire planet, but yet he felt like a stranger in a strange land. I can not compare my feelings to what Christ went through, but we all have felt rejection in some form or another. And no matter what the degree, it still hurts.
Did people only seek out Christ because of the miracles he was able to perform or the healing he was capable of? Did they only see what He can do, not who He was? When in reality Christ wanted them to see deeper; to see Him for what he was, the Savoir. Just like he asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Many saw Him as a prophet or Elijah returned, but Christ desired to be known for who He was, “the Son of the living God.”
When I was driving home I kept saying, I have the feeling these people see me as a Mother who is not very active in the scheduled functions (even though I make sure my kids are). But part of me wants to stand up and say, “Please see me for who I am, a mother of three boys, going in three different directions, trying to have God lead and direct my life. Should I be more active in front of people instead of the computer screen, possibly…… but right now this is the ministry Christ has led me to. Personally, it has been an answer to prayer, I wanted to make a difference for Christ, to get his word out but also be able to physically balance my household and be there for every homework assignment and or emergency.
Being misunderstood, feeling not accepted, even among your own kind of people. Why should I expect to feel any different, isn’t this a very small account of what Christ said we should expect?
“They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses?” Dr. Martin Luther
You can get the CWO icon here. Head on over to Sting My Heart to read more wonderful takes on this weeks quote.
ALSO!!!
What is that I smell? Is it coffee? Then that must mean one thing….INTERNET CAFE!!
(Mom click on the pretty picture and you will find me)
This is a story not even my parents know about yet…..
Sep 16 2007
So what do you get when you mix Pizza, cake, ice cream, an arcade, and go-karts to race……
TONS OF BOYS IN THEIR GLORY!
(pictures from my middle son’s birthday party that was a week ago).
These are the type of testosterone parties you get to have being a Mom of boys =) It was a great time.
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