Matters of the Heart

February has colored us red. Blogs and emails hint at what many celebrate with great delight. Valentine's Day is hard to ignore as it beckons from shopfronts and TV commercials.


In our household, a different 'matter of the heart' is remembered. On this day last year, our daughter Sophie was wheeled into theatre for a small procedure to correct an arrhythmia of her heart. The doctor promised us it was a straight forward process and one he was confident would restore her heart and blood to its normal beat and flow. After many prayers and assurances of love, I watched as the smiling nurse closed the door to the operating room, taking with her my firstborn child. Yes, she was 16 then, but I saw a toddler, a 6 year old and a 12 year old all rolled into one. And they were going to fiddle with her heart.


At church the day before,  Barry, one of our faithful saints had encouraged Sophie to read Psalm 27 as she prepared for her hospital visit. This was a chapter he often shared with cardiac patients as he ministered to them during times of sickness and ill health. Armed with such well used scripture, I found a quiet spot in the visitor's lounge and under the shadow of God's wings of protection, I began my 'mother's wait'. 


Psalm 27:14 says:
Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and
He shall strengthen your heart:
Wait I say on the Lord.


I read and re-read that chapter all morning, as I prayed and sat poised to hear news of Sophie's surgery, confident that all would go well. This was a routine procedure. The doctor had done it countless times before on patients of all ages. Maybe he was slow in getting started that morning, or an earlier surgery had gone overtime. I looked at the clock on the wall and compared it with my watch, cross checking with the time on my phone to be double sure. Yes, more time had gone by than what had been promised. They should have been finished an hour ago yet the theatre doors I surveyed from my seat in the lounge, remained shut like sleeping eyelids.
Back to God's word and more praying. Should I go for a wander and ask someone? Text messages were coming through asking for news. I had nothing to report. Just keep praying I told them, and myself.


And then she appeared, in a flurry of activity as nurses wheeled her into Recovery, eyelids too heavy to lift.
I had to step back as the ensemble of patient and nurses was swallowed behind another door.
No Admittance poked its tongue at me once again. 
But a deep voice drew my attention as the doctor arrived and wasted no time in telling me where things stood.
I wasn't ready to hear it. The word complication was not on our 'to-do' list that day. Nevertheless it snuck in, demanding to be dealt with.


"We had a little complication to start with. The route to her heart we thought would be the best, turned out to be quite difficult for us to navigate. Our probe came too close to the wall of her heart and we were afraid if we continued along that pathway, we would pierce right through. So we had to take all our instruments out, call another specialist to do an ultrasound and determine a new pathway to get to the area we needed to treat. In the end we used a major artery and unfortunately this delayed our progress a little. She's in Recovery now and you can see her when we've stemmed the bleeding. It may take some time, but she is going to be ok," He patted my shoulder. "She will have a longer recovery than we anticipated though."


So it was all good. Somewhere in all that he was telling me it was all going to be ok. My legs which had held me up so well, decided it was a good time to turn to jelly, and I wobbled my way back to the lounge. 
Thank God she would be ok and sometime in the next 24 hours we would discover that her heart would now march to the beat it was meant to. I could finally call people and tell them it had ended well. A detour had taken the medical team in a different direction but we had eventually reached our destination. We had waited on the Lord and he had indeed, strengthened out hearts in more ways than one.


Twelve months later, I can look at the heart shaped chocolates in the supermarket and thank God for healing Sophie and holding us all through her week of surgery and recovery. There is a lot of love to contemplate when I think about February. 


So how do you know that your teenager has woken up well from heart surgery? Her first question is the best clue. 
She - "Did the doctor say I can go to Wednesday's drama rehearsal?" 
Me - "He said you need to rest for the whole week. No drama, no school, just rest"
She - "Oh no....." 
Me - "You'll survive. And your heart's going to be fine too!"

Congratulations

I am thrilled to announce the winner of the Ink Dots book giveaway. 


Raymonde, today is your 'lucky day'!  You will be receiving your very own copy of Amanda Deed's The Game, and I know you will not be disappointed!


Thanks to Amanda for generously offering a copy of her book for our winner, and to my beautiful daughter Sophie for randomly choosing the winning entry. 


It's been a pleasure introducing you to Amanda and I hope you will keep an eye out for more of her fabulous work in the future. I can't wait to see what she has to offer her readers next.


I have never won any prizes myself. It's not really a sad thing, don't feel bad for me. I hardly ever enter competitions. I did send a short story to a women's magazine when I was 15, and my 'prize' was $50. That was a very exciting experience, and I have had some favorable results in other writing competitions. But I am yet to win a Christmas hamper or sports car.


Have you ever won anything? I would love to know if you have been 'lucky'.


I say lucky but I really don't believe in luck so much. I know God is in control and brings about His desires in our lives when we commit ourselves to Him. I know for myself I would rather have the plans of God fulfilled in me than some random chain of events fall upon me. I am secure in the knowledge that nothing can thwart His plans for His people when they submit to Him.


I am encouraged by the words of Psalm 37:4.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Not that God promises me everything on my wish list. But rather, He places desires in my heart according to His will for me as I delight myself in Him. 

And I know Raymonde delights herself in God. Today He has blessed her with a precious gift, using one of His other children, Amanda, to make it happen.  

Maybe you have received a special gift from God like this too. I would love to hear about it!

What makes you happy?

One of the blessings of blogging is the many new friends I have made in the last few months. We chat about the things which are important to us or just interesting, and encourage one another in our writing and in our walk with God. The greatest gift has been those who uphold me in prayer, and whose prayer requests have in turn, been shared with me.

One dear friend,
Raymonde from Every Day I Walk With You

has generously awarded some of her blogging friends a Happy 101 award. I am one of the blessed ones to have received the honor of being her friend and award recipient. Raymond loves life and uses her God given gift of photography to capture the beauty of God's world around her London home and abroad. She has made a list of ten things she loves, and encourages me to do the same. So here goes:

1    The Lord Jesus and His Word
2    My beautiful family
3    Reading
4    Writing
5    Researching history
6    Rain
7    Baking
8    Massages
9    Hugging Babies
10  Antique Shops

Thanks Raymonde for encouraging me to draw the curtain back on my little world here in Melbourne. If only there had been 11 things to list. Then I could have added chocolate covered licorice! I hope you have enjoyed this peek at some of the things which put a smile on my face and make my day a happy one!


Perhaps you might like to discover something about my dear friend Jalana Franklin. It's her turn next, as she is my recipient of the Happy 101 Award.


Don't forget to enter my book giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Amanda Deed's new book The Game.
You can do this by scrolling down to my previous post. Entries close whenever the sun sets last on Feb 1. 

The Game by Amanda Deed

My First Book Giveaway  

 The Game by Amanda Deed

Some of the books I took away with me to the beach this year have come back with signs of having been well loved. They are the sort of book you don't want to put away when the rest of the family is splashing around in the water or digging huge holes along the shoreline. These books return to the real world with the marks of summer - tiny grains of sand in the spine and droplets of watermelon juice stains on the pages.
One such book is The Game by Melbourne writer Amanda Deed.  

It's my pleasure to introduce Amanda, a new Australian fiction writer. Amanda's debut novel The Game was released in August 2009 by Ark House. Set in Colonial Australia, it caught my eye instantly with the promise of romance and the tussle of love verses faith. I was hooked before I even opened the front cover. Here is what the back cover has to say:  

 Mr Jonathon Fordham, the most eligible bachelor in Sydney and heir to a noble title in England, treats matters of the heart like a game. Living in the newly forged Australian Colony in 1844, Jack Fordham buries his past beneath an indifferent facade. In spite of his rakish reputation, Jack’s dashing smile and suave flattery would melt any woman’s heart. Any that is, it seems, except for Miss Margaret Wingrove. The beautiful governess is strangely unmoved by the nonpareil’s many attractions, nor his beguiling charm. When Meg does not fall into his arms as he presumes she will, his game of pursuit begins in earnest. As Meg continues to resist his advances, Jack’s determination to win her intensifies.  But can he risk exposing his true heart to find the love he desires before his game unravels? And can he embrace, or will he simply deny the obstacle which stands between them…her faith?

I've had the privilege of getting to know Amanda over the summer, and hearing about her writing journey.  She's a kindred spirit who loves the Lord and wants to encourage others through her writing to know Him too. It doesn't hurt that she loves all things old world!

What prompted you to write this book?

I wanted to write about sexual purity - the benefits of abstinence vs the consequences of promiscuity. I wanted to encourage people to think carefully about their choice of a partner as well.

What made you choose the setting?

At first I had set it in modern society. The leading man was a rich executive with a penthouse apartment--very elligible but a bit of a womaniser. When I woke up to the fact that I have a deep respect for the old-fashioned, I quickly shifted the whole story back 150 years or so. Sydney, being the earliest settled, seemed the logical place to start.

What do you want readers to take away from this story?

As mentioned earlier, I hope they take the message about sexual purity and relationships. I also hope they have a great time reading it and, perhaps for some, hear the gospel for the first time.

What’s the most interesting historical fact you unearthed while researching?

Hmm. Now I have to think! Probably it would be about a revival in 1840 in Paramatta which I didn't even use in the book. Thinking back, I could have used poetic license and messed with the space/time continuum a little and used it anyway. I read it in the autobiography of Rev. John Watsford, entitled Glorious Gospel Triumphs: as seen in my life and work in Fiji and Australasia. Here is a quote: "I prayed, and then my two friends prayed, and oh! the power of God that came upon the people, who were overwhelmed by it in every part of the room! And what a cry for mercy! It was heard by the passers-by in the street, some of whom came running in to see what was the matter, and were smitten down at the door in great distress. The clock of a neighbouring church struck twelve before we could leave the meeting. How many were saved I cannot tell. Day after day and week after week the work went on, and many were converted." Fascinating stuff!

What’s the next project for Amanda Deed?

I have just completed a manuscript retelling Ezekiel 16 as a medieval romance and am aiming to see this published soon. I am also working on a couple of books centered around the Victorian gold rush.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you now? He is teaching me to step out of my comfort zone (which is to hide behind my computer!) and also to leave everything in His hands. Learning to trust and be patient in His timing is always a challenge too.

Are you intrigued by this new writer? I am. Amanda has an enthusiasm for life, and the Giver of Life which comes out in her storytelling. Like me she believes in happy endings, but the twists and turns she will take you on to get to the ending are nothing short of amazing. 

To be in the running to win a brand new copy of The Game simply leave a comment below and I will draw one lucky winner on Monday 1st February. This is my first ever book giveaway at Ink Dots and I am so excited to be showcasing a talented and promising writer such as Amanda Deed. 

Home Again

It's time to brush the sand away, buy school shoes and dead head the summer roses. In less then 2 weeks schools will reopen and most Australian families will be back to familiar routines. It takes me some time to move on from holiday mode. Sleeping in is a luxury we have all enjoyed as well as catching up with friends. And I couldn't neglect to mention the wonderful weeks we spent at Phillip Island enjoying the sun and water. While I am sorry to see the summer holiday routine come to an end, I will be glad to see my children enter another school year with all the possibilities and adventures ahead. When routines are re-established, we know we are Home Again.


Famous 19th century Australian painter Frederick McCubbin painted a scene in 1884 he called Home Again. The painting depicts the return of what could be a miner to his family home. While the dog appears happy enough for his master's return, the wife strikes an interesting pose. Is she happy her husband has returned? Did she ever expect him to? There are many layers to this story if you look at the picture carefully.


On a quick trip to my local shops this week I came across a copy of this painting. Displaced from the wall where it once belonged, it sat upside down in a cluster of orphan prints in a dusty thrift shop. And it called to me. For a few dollars I made it mine and it will hang in my study along with other 19th century treasures I am in the habit of picking up along the way.

I'm drawn to it because it shows the inside of a home in the time period I love to research. And there is a love story somewhere in there too. Do you think this homecoming will go smoothly? Is the wife happy or stunned to see her husband return? How long do you think he has been away?


My homecoming, back to blogging, is something I return to with anticipation! One of my writing goals this year is to continue to write here and maintain the relationships with my wonderful blogging friends. The other is to complete my manuscript by the end of May. Yes, there we are. I have said it, out loud now. My self imposed deadline is the last day of May.

I know I have a little catching up to do with all the blogs I follow. There are many writing goals being worked on right now and I'm sure I will read about them all as I make the rounds of my favorite blog sites. My 2010 has been slow in getting started, and I'm ok with that. January means holidays here, and there's a real need to unwind and soak in the sun. But as for me and my house... we look to 2010 to do our best in achieving the goals God has set before us and to bring Him glory in all we do.

Joshua 24:15     As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Celebrating Christmas  
Australian Style

In 1957 Australia issued its first Christmas postage stamp. The image that slipped into millions of letter boxes around the world that year was one of worship and awe as the praying girl knelt in an attitude of reverence. Since then there have been many stamps depicting the Christmas season and the way Australian's celebrate.

One of my favorites is the 1986 collection of stamps which show a kindergarten class preparing to tell the story of Jesus' birth, complete with angels, shepherds and Wise Men. There is something about children telling the Nativity story which never fails to capture the heart of a grown up audience!


As the years have passed and with the shift in cultural mood there has been a spattering of Australian animals and even surfing santas, but overwhelmingly the Christmas stamp images have reflected the real reason for the holidays - the celebration of God sending His son into the world to fulfill ancient prophesies and bring to completion the work of love and sacrifice which the Lord Jesus was to carry out.

The shepherd's on the hillside near Bethlehem knew something amazing was happening as the angels filled the night sky with hosannas. The Wise Men who travelled many miles sought the baby and worshiped Jesus when they found Him. And Mary quietly pondered all that she saw and treasured it in her heart.


This Christmas, will you let the pictures on Christmas cards and stamps pass you by in the business of the season?  Or will you take a moment to consider the wonder of the Lord Jesus' birth,  as God himself came to dwell among us.


Some will sing hallelujahs, others will bow and worship with gifts only they can offer, while others will quietly treasure in their hearts the love of God through His only son Jesus.

If you have found Him, like the Wise Men long ago, you will already know there is no gift better than the Savior. If you are still looking, I pray this Christmas, God's message of love will shine into your heart through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Kindred Spirits in the Classroom

How God blessed me in 2009 - Part 3

How do you make a writing dream come alive?
I had a story idea, and wonderful historical details. I had a first draft outline (of sorts) and character charts with lots of scribbled and highlighted notes. I even had a collection of 1870s photographs of my location and its people. But where do you start and how do you know if you're heading in the right direction? In His perfect timing, God drew me to a cyber-classroom, and I gladly slipped into the back row.

Like anybody learning a craft, I needed to come alongside those who were also honing their skills in the same area. This is where the world of writers' blogs fits into my story. I began to follow and listen to what others were saying about their work and life as a writer. I was inspired and encouraged by those on the same path as me, only they were miles ahead and I had just opened the gate.

I discovered so many generous writers who take the time to share what they are learning and achieving. One pointed me to another and then another until I had a list longer than the hours in my day. Writer blogs and websites opened up a vast library of information, and one of the best was a link to the ACFW. 

My membership fee was worth every cent and then some, as I read the questions like minded people asked, and the well informed and thoughtful answers that followed.

From one link I jumped to another until I found -  a gold mine. All the lectures and seminars from last year's ACFW conference were mine to buy and download onto my iphone. Instantly!  For weeks I went around 'sitting' in on writing workshops and discussions. Every household task and car trip I made was accomplished in the company of respected writing teachers and their students. More about that here.

I signed up for an article writing course which introduced me to new friends and something I hadn't done for a while - homework. I joined mailing lists and e-loops which fed me information daily. Suddenly my inbox was bombarded by writer 'speak' from all over the world - and I loved it. With such inspiration and wisdom how could I not be motivated to grow the craft of writing?

Along the way, there were some who showered me with the affection of 'kindred spirits'. Their friendship and leadership have stood out as true gifts from God. Like the best of classroom friends, they came beside me and showed me around by offering help and motivation. They held out their hand and drew me along, cheered for me and whispered secrets they had already discovered.

I knew God had brought me to His choice school for learning. And I am honored to have these people in my life.

To honor them, I pass on this award of appreciation and gratitude, and as a reflection of my thanks to God for the writing friends He has brought into my life.

Lee Franklin's blog 
and her website

Maria Morgan's blog

Lynda Schab's blog

Raymonde Newman's blog

Jalana Franklin's blog

Treasures from the Sea


How God blessed me in 2009 - Part 2


When I opened my birthday card from John in May this year, I was delighted to receive the top request on my 'birthday wish list'. I had asked for 'time' and in my hand I held the promise of a week of uninterrupted writing at Mum and Dad's beach house, while John the Generous One offered to do the Mr Mom thing and keep the home fires burning.



My destination was Phillip Island,  just off the southern coast of mainland Australia, where my family has holidayed for more then 30 years, and the setting for my current writing project. Although my story takes place in the 1870s, there are still many places where 19th century island life  remains preserved for history buffs to explore and enjoy. Instead of writing, I found myself collecting information and talking to locals from the Historical Society about life during the early days of settlement on Phillip Island. I spent a day exploring the nearby Churchill Island with its original homestead built in the 1860s, and another day at Coal Creek Historical Village. My week of writing and researching flew by, but in that short time I discovered lots about my setting and the people who brought it to life in the first place.


Characters and plot began to take shape. Farm and village settings came alive in my mind as I stopped to talk to locals who were eager to share what they knew about their island. In the evenings, thanks to the absence of the internet, I read old newspapers and books detailing the daily life of the pioneers who braved the wind blasts of Westernport Bay, and made their homes on this remote volcanic outcrop. It was a birthday present unlike any other and I savored every moment, as my imagination played with the many elements of my developing story.


I had always wondered about the brave families who  turned an isolated island into a welcoming rural community. My first holiday experience at Philip Island was when I was 9 and my fascination with its history has only grown with the passing years. Now, after many months of research and writing,  I have an even deeper connection.


I came home from my retreat by the sea, with bucket loads of ideas and historical details. Some were destined to find their way into my wip. Others remain threads to be picked up at some stage for layering as my story develops.


Six months into my writing adventures, I was now armed with information and the emerging tale of two very different people, destined to meet and fall in love during this exciting time in Australia's history.


Thanks to my generous husband who pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, and 'run away' from home for a week, I was moving in the right direction. Like a diver returning from the deep, I surfaced with treasures and remnants from the past - the essentials of my story.
But how do you take all that information and imagination and turn it into a novel? This was no short story anymore. Thankfully, God had another classroom for me to join in the months to come!




I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

How Four Seconds Changed My Life

How Four Seconds 
Changed My Life 


How God blessed me in 2009 - Part 1

The first full week of the Summer holidays began today. Even though my children finished school last Thursday,  Friday whizzed by with many errands and commitments, followed closely by a weekend of Christmas service rehearsals and performances at church.  The pace didn't really slow down for us until this morning, when the luxury of sleeping in ushered the true meaning of school holidays. No timetables to follow or bells to obey. No lunches to make at 7am, and no school uniforms to iron. Delicious and Bliss. I could add more words but I like those two the best!
Now that we have almost come to the end of another year, it's natural to think ahead to what's 'round the corner. A dear friend was asking me today about my writing goals for next year, and that's coming up in a blog post later this week. But for now I'm looking back with thanksgiving to the steps God guided me to take, so I can stand where I am today.

This time last year, I was reading The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers, one of my favorite writers. Ticking away in my heart, the life long ache to actively pursue my writing dreams, was making noises too loud to ignore. Each page I turned made me want to learn more about the craft of writing.  
Enthralled by Francine's work, I wanted to discover more about her. (I think I secretly wanted to be her.)  I never expected, the four seconds it took me to google her name, would change my life and turn it upside down in the best possible way.
Francine's website is a generous showcase of the author and her work. There are photos and book announcements, as well as Francine's amazing testimony and updates on her life. Like a heat seeking missile, I honed in on the Writing Tips link, where an explosion of information lit up my world. And following Francine's advice, I made a list of recommended books to hunt down,  to get me started.

There was no shortage of Summer reading last year. Armed with library books on writing as well as a speedy package from Amazon I was more then set with beach books and by the time we got back from our holiday, I was itching to get started.
The first thing I did was join my neighborhood writing group. I also joined an online writing community, FaithWriters. Just as my children were starting back at school in February, I began my education in the craft of writing.  I practiced by producing two short stories each week. One as homework for my local class and one as my entry for the FW Writing Challenge. This meant I was writing for an audience, with a given topic, working to a deadline and keeping to a word limit.  I also started receiving positive and constructive feedback.  One of the best encouragements I received was from a fellow writer who wrote, "I was disappointed that this story could only be ...750 words. Would grab a book of this story in a heartbeat, beautiful." I think I cried happy tears that day!
My excitement intensified when I won first place in the Beginners' category and moved up to Intermediate. My husband John wanted to know when he should quit his job and look after the family so I could write full time! (Ha!!)
From Intermediate I stepped up to Advanced, by this stage happily addicted to my online writing competitions and learning so much from the many talented writers I was reading and getting to know through online forums and blogs. 
By April I had my routine set. Housework in the morning, and writing in the afternoon. Each week I worked on my stories and took small steps toward my ultimate goal of writing a novel. Bit by bit, and chuck by chunk, little portions of writing got done. 
Perhaps it's because I like baby steps, and I happen to have married a man who loves to take giant leaps,   I found myself pushed on from the comfortable tip toe routine I enjoyed, to a new and unbelievable place by the man I love the most. By May, thanks to the best birthday present I ever received, (more about that tomorrow) I had moved into a new phase of my writing adventures.



In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

A Work In Progress

Yes, I disappeared a bit in November.  I've been writing madly. Not blog entries, but words which went towards my tally for the NaNoWriMo competition. The National Novel Writing Month has grown to become an international machine which grinds its way through the month of November, as thousands of competitors scribble their way to a writing goal of 50,000 words. Lasting the entire month of November, and not a second more, the goal of writing so many words loomed insurmountable at first. But with many friends attempting the challenge, and the encouragement of my wonderful family and those who have done it before, I soldiered on...... and finally made it to the finish line!
With 50,179 words in total, I have a better feel for where my story is going, a clearer picture of my characters and their motivations, and a stronger desire to see this project through to the end.
I know now more than ever before, how much work awaits me before I can bring my story to completion. But I have plans for my work in progress. Plans for my characters to grow and unfold as the story takes shape, plans for secrets to spill out and hearts to be broken by man and mended by God. My plans include days and days of rewriting and editing, rewriting and editing ... and rewriting some more. But even though there's lots to do, I'm excited to continue and finish what I've started.
And I am encouraged to know my creativity is a reflection of the Holy God I belong to. He is also working on a project of character development. Me. As His child I can rest on the promise that the work He has begun in me, will one day be brought to completion, according to His will and purposes for my life.


When Paul wrote his letter to encourage the people of Phillipi, he reminded them of God's hand in their growth and direction as believers.

 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion

 until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6

This is the same promise which encourages me too. I'll have to wait and see what happens with my writing and where it will go from here... but I am sure of one thing. God's hand on my life is a given. And the spiritual work He has begun in me will reach a perfect conclusion one day. 


What about you? Are you encouraged to know you are one of God's works in progress?