Thursday, November 30, 2017

Just in Time for Christmas

This Christmas book is on sale!  It is reduced to less than 1/2 price. Now that's a deal. It went from $2.99 to .99! What have you got to loose? Try it. Sarah will make you laugh out loud.

I just reread it a few days ago, and even thought I wrote it, I enjoyed reading it.  How about those apples?  I didn't remember a few of the phrases or incidents, and when I read them, I chucked out loud.

Sarah, the klutzy angel, is off on another adventure! I really enjoy the Sarah stories, and this tale did not disappoint. Not only was it full of the lighthearted, slapstick humor that has made me a fan of the series, but it was also full of commonsense advice. I love how the story demonstrated that the worst day of a person’s life can actually lead to incredible blessing. I had lots of fun reading this story! -- By Rocky Mountain reviews, Amazon

I love the antics that Sara finds herself in, truth to be told it would probably happen to a lot of us! Sweet Sara always keeps us either laughing or wondering what mess she is going to get into again and this book had both. Another great Angel story Ms Lewis.--A Kindle customer, Amazon
Here's a blurb.

Emily experiences the worst day of her life and leaves Dallas for Austin. At a convenience store, she meets a granny who asks for a ride. The "granny" is really Sarah, a mishap angel. Sarah's task is to comfort Emily and introduce her to a Texas cowboy. Sarah has no idea what a cowboy is, but she's on the job. It's Christmas, and Gale of the Four Winds, (another angel) blows in a bizarre Texas blizzard. After removing a few doodads from the engine, she strands Emily and herself. Josiah, the Texas cowboy sans his horse, comes to the rescue and takes them to the ranch. Sarah manages to create romance between the two but wonders how she'll return to the Heavenlies. Oops! She forgot God answers prayer. She calls on Him for assistance, and He sends Tomas, another angel. Tomas arrives as a tottering old man, driving a muscle car. The two angels drive away from the couple and leave the humans with eyes as big as salad plates. 


Who can resist a sexy, rich, Texas cowboy?   You'll fall in love with Josiah. 


Now Only .99

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Tree Is Up


The tree is ready for gifts now. How about yours? Are you an early gift buyer? I'm not.

So, my tree is hanging out, all alone, expecting more. The thing reminds me of the long ago years when people waited for the Messiah. They were hoping, but not expecting. 

And then a baby came.



The gifts we give to each other are often not the ones the receiver wanted, requested, or expected.

God gave His Son in an unpredicted manner. The people were anticipating a Super Hero, wearing a crown, blazing out of nowhere and riding into their midst on a white horse. At least that's the image most imagined. 



The best gifts are the astonishing ones.

Accept with Awe.


Friday, November 24, 2017

Waiting for Christmas


My favorite holiday has come and gone.

Mine was good and not so good. How about yours?

Do we expect too much?

Probably.

The good news is that we survived.

We'll go through the same varied, mixed emotions in another month. Why?




Because holidays do that to us, and Christmas is near. We want Hallmark moments, and sometimes we get them, but like pink and purple sunsets, they're rare.

Cherish the good and discard the bad.

Blessings.


3.99 now on sale for .99

Monday, November 20, 2017

Pardon My Turkey


I'm pardoning my turkey this year. No chopping block for him.


Just couldn't do the ax thingy. Poor little guy. He looked at me with those eyes of his and I melted as fast as snow in Houston.


My pig tried the eye thing too. He didn't succeed. Sorry Porky, you're headed for the Thanksgiving oven. You'll soon be on the table.

Friday, November 17, 2017

More on the Plate Than You Can Eat


Lots of food. Delicious, but sometimes the restaurant serving is too large and I bring it home in a take-out box.

Do you ever feel like is like that?  Too much to chew at one time. Where's the box for leftovers? Could we shove some into a refrigerator for a later date?


I'm not just talking about Thanksgiving here. That's a meal we overload our plate. I'm talking day to day living.

Circumstances don't always give us a doggy bag. Sometimes we must finish what's on our plates, all those busy, stressful details, whether we're full or not, like it or not.

About the time I think my plate is ready for the dishwasher, someone piles more food on it, and it's items that must be finished.

You probably feel the same way. Stressed and stuffed.

But we must keep eating.

Remember that old adage? God doesn't give you more than you can handle?  Or in my analogy more on my plate than I can chew.





Thursday, November 16, 2017

I Took A Selfie



After looking at my selfie, I realize I should have started my diet sooner.  With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, I'm in big trouble.



The heroine in this book is a beauty queen but her hubby tells her she's fat and she believes it. She goes into great lengths to be fit and not fat. My hubby never says an unkind thing to me, but I know some who do. We all have days when we feel yucky. Right ladies? We're hard enough on ourselves. We don't need help from others.

Blurb for Clue into Kindness

Georgia loves her husband, Alan. She shows him kindness with actions and words, but Alan responds in a heartless, selfish way. To receive respect and admiration from people, he believes he must have a perfect wife—so he criticizes Georgia at every opportunity—even tells her she’s fat! Alan’s best friend Ken and his wife Jana reassure Georgia that she remains the gorgeous beauty queen she was during her college days. Who will Georgia believe—her friends or the mysterious, handsome stranger who comes into her life?

Circumstances bring a change to Alan’s attitude. But is it too late to save this marriage?

Monday, November 13, 2017

How's Your Bed?



Beds.

Marriages.

They often display where a relationship stands. Or lies.

Beds are a part of life. Day and Night. Beautiful, made-up beds might show orderliness. No chaos. Neat. Clean. No fuss. No mess. That can be good. 


On the other hand, the classy, beautiful, bed might represent a cold, boring, marriage. One where the partners don't care about delving deeper deeper under the sheets.


Bed, Sheets, Pillows, Bedroom


How about a messy bed? Maybe an untidy arrangement of linens. As if the couple explored all there is to know about each other and loved every minute of it. 


Of course it might be the other way around, They went to bed angry with each other and tossed and turned all night.

Mattresses can be too hard. Too soft. Too squeaky. Too hot. Too cold.  Too lumpy. Too painful. Some of this sound like marriage? If so, you're getting my analogy.

Personally, I prefer a sagging bed...you know, the one where the mattress sags in the middle? 



Bed, Heart, Love, Peace, Lie, Honeymoon, Bedroom

I believe a couple can meet in the middle of most issues
 and solve their differences.


You can't solve issues in separate beds.

Marriage takes work.
And a good night's sleep.
With two people sharing the bed.


Break, Rest, Relaxation, Recovery

Goodnight y'all. Sleep tight.

Faith and Humor

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Thank You Veterans



We honor all our service men and women today. Thank you!

In Mattie's Choice, Mattie and her family remember WWI and fear WWII. 
Since those days, other wars have happened.

Korea.
Vietnam
Afghanistan
Iraq.
Gulf Wars.

The statement, "War is hell," described it well, but still the words are inadequate.

The United States has been involved in several conflicts. Before and since Mattie's day.
 Wikipedia has a list.


The sacrifices.
Lives.
Families.
Countries.
Destruction.



Mr. Tom Moore

I'm thankful for all our veterans, 
but two have a special place in my heart.

I especially thank Mr. Tom Moore. 
A WWII Veteran who was a POW in Germany. 
He left us this past year.


And my dad.
Edward Earl Morton.
He also left us too soon.





Thursday, November 9, 2017

A Bumbling Angel




I was recently asked this question. Why do you believe readers will love your work?


Wow! Interesting question! Back in the day, I was struggling to understand my brand—my marketing tag. I asked a group of authors what I was known for and the overwhelming answers were, “Faith and Humor.” Bingo! That’s what I enjoy, and I believe my readers do too.  I write for the Christian audience, and I'm thankful my fans tell me they like what I offer. 

My new book,  a historical novel, Mattie’s Choice,  doesn’t have much humor but Mattie and her friend, Ella,  both live with a lot of faith. There were times during the Great Depression when faith was all they had. I sprinkled humor in the book too, but Mattie is more of a thought-provoking read. 


Mattie’s Choice is the first book I ever wrote, but it’s not the first one to be published.


Sarah: A Mission of Love has the honor of being my first published work. Sarah, a bumbling angel, is whimsical and fantasy. She’s also funny. God gifted me with a generous sense of humor, and Sarah makes my readers laugh out loud. My husband often hears me chuckle as I write of Sarah’s goofs and he says, “What’s Sarah done now?”

The idea of a dyslexic, bumbling, chaotic, angel came to me out of the blue. Or was it a God thing? I believe He had a lot to do with it. I relate to her blunders. My first year in Houston, I had nine wrecks. Yes, you read correctly. Nine. They weren’t funny at the time, well, some were.

One morning I drove my car into a body shop with the passenger side caved in. The man fixed it and returned it. A few weeks later, I wheeled my vehicle in a second time. Identical scenario—the passenger side crumpled again—the car appeared as it had in its previous condition. 

The manager scratched his head, “Ma’am, may I ask you a question?” 

I nodded.  

“Where did you learn to drive?” His eyes were the size of salad plates.

I sort of learned to drive after that. Until we moved from Houston, that is.

A few years after the body shop incidents, my husband was called as senior pastor to a Baptist Church in Central Texas. We’d been in the county seat town for two weeks when a group of people outside the town invited me to speak at a nightly Bible study. I wrote down the directions to the country location and left early. I’m always lost. I give myself time to make wrong turns. Or have wrecks.

In the heart of town, I read where I was to go left.

Uh-oh! You’re not gonna believe this, but as a brand-new citizen, right then and there, I stranded my car on a railroad track in the middle of that city. Yep. I did. Well, it was dark. Does that count? I thought it was a street when I signaled and turned. Boy! Was I surprised. It wasn’t a road at all—it was a choo-choo track.  

What was I to do? I drove forward, backward, nothing, nada, zip. I was stuck. I jumped out, left the car and ran to the nearby police station. I tried to be calm as I reported what I’d done. The officer was also calm when he said, “We could have a major fire if that coming engine plows into your car.” 

I bit my nails as I waited for him to notify train officials. I imagined the newspapers across the country with the headline. “Pastor’s Wife Burns Down Texas Town.”

While I waited, I did what most wives do, I called my husband. He didn’t say much. He’s used to it.

 An officer took me back to the scene of my almost crime. As we exited the patrol car, my husband, two additional police cars and a wrecker converged on the scene in chorus. My husband exited his car, gazed at mine, and then turned to the officer, “Sir, did you test her to see if she’d been drinking?”

I left him with the damages, hopped into his car, and made the meeting. I was late, but I got there. I was the talk of the town for days. I was just happy I wasn’t the toast of the town. Literally.

“Poopty doopty.” That’s one of Sarah’s favorite phrases. It’s a nicer phrase than a string of naughty expressions, don’t you think?  I use it often.

Many of Sarah’s incidents actually happened to me.

In Mattie’s Choice, a historical novel, many of the incidents occurred to family members. Authors write what we know. Sometimes the events are humorous, and sometimes they are sad. I don’t know the number of fans I have, but I believe they all enjoy Sarah. Mattie’s Choice is a serious offering from me. I think they will like it too. 

Faith and Humor. That’s me.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Will I or Won't I Decorate?


By this time every year, I have my house decorated for the fall season. 




Trick or treaters at Halloween often comment on my hall tree.

Alas. Oh Woe. I'm not going to put up Thanksgiving decor this year.  Sad, right? Well, to me, it is. I love my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. 

We've been too busy to decorate. We're moving our daughter from Austin to Columbus, Texas and getting her house ready to sell. The painter is coming Saturday, and we still have stuff to move.

These are sad days for my family, but we continue to express gratitude for the blessings we have. Now to be honest, we're looking under rocks to find those blessings, but they are there.

I'm sure many of you have been in this spot. We love our families and we are prone to grief when illness and death comes. Depression can be a close companion. And sadness honors no holidays.


My scarecrows will appear next year.  They'll remain in the attic for now.




Saturday, November 4, 2017

An Amazing Fan

Fans!

I love them. They make air go around.
There's all kinds. 
Old ones. 
New ones


Ceiling ones


Hand-held ones. 


Ladies carried pretty ones in purses.

These fans were seen often in churches as preachers dripped sweat and yelled out sermons. Perhaps they thought the hot weather needed a loud lecture.  Men used a sturdier variety.

They wafted the air with one provided by a local business and usually left in it in the pew, ready to use the next Sunday.

People are fans.


 Groups gather to cheer for a team.

 I have a big fan. 


She buys my books and sends them to me to sign.
Even encloses a self-stamped addressed envelope.

She's bought and sent me every paper back novel I've ever written. I'm always thrilled to have someone want my autograph.

That's my favorite kind of fan.


Meet Dawn Heitman Southard

I wish I had more just like her. She's a special lady.

She included a little poem in the package.

It's finally arrived
And I'm ready to read
As soon as you sign
I'll be happy indeed.


She sent Mattie's Choice



Thanks Dawn. You are a true inspiration. 

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Astros Brought Title to Houston!


Can you believe the 2017 World Series?

Sorry Dodger fans. Your guys were amazing, but you've won the title before. Houston hasn't. 

Until now!!!

Hubby and I wish we could have won it back in the day when Houston was in the National League. But hey, we'll take it now that the Astro's are in the American League.

In one of my books, I have the heroine and hero attending a game at Minute Maid. The KissCam features them and they share their first kiss. The guy, William, wants the KissCam to return so he has an excuse to kiss Bonnie, the lady, again. Isn't that just like a man? They'll manufacture all sorts of ploys to get their arms around a beautiful woman.

I love going to Minute Maid. It's fun and exciting. We've enjoyed many games there. Several of the team players have found their way into my books. My editor wondered if the women readers would like to read about baseball stars.  I said, "You kidding? Most of us do. If we don't follow the game, we can admire and imagine the athletic bodies." She laughed and included the guys.



A double wedding? Was it possible? 

The Superiors want Jessica and Robert to marry, but they throw in a twist--while seeing to their wedding, Sarah, Heaven’s Little Love Angel, must also find a mate for Bonnie, Jessica’s mom. Her orders are to bring about the two weddings simultaneously. Can Sarah pull it off? Or will her clumsiness destroy two romances in one shot?


Here's a review.


Review

Reviewed by Tshombye K. Ware for Readers' Favorite

Sarah and the Double Wedding Woes by Gay N. Lewis is about an angel's task to bring romance to a selected group of people. Sarah, the angel, is faced with a heavenly assignment. After completing missions of relationships in the past, her new task is finding a match for Jessica's mom. The charge seems difficult, counting the fact that Sarah is still working the ins and outs of Jessica and Robert's romance, which will falter if Bonne, Jessica's mother, doesn't find a companion. After talking with her close friend, Gabriella, Sarah musters up the courage to tackle her heavenly task.

Where to begin. Overall, this is a wonderful story of romance. I loved it. The characters are so believable. The portrayal of Sarah, the angel, was wonderfully done and her personality was captivating. Her eagerness to help in any way she can forced me to continue reading, just to see what she will do next. I started reading and couldn't stop until I finished it. This is one of those books where you become lost in the creative story. It is written in such a way that one may think they're watching a movie or reading a screenplay.

Some Christian fiction books are drowned in doctrine and can make a reader cringe with the "continuous preaching." This book is nowhere near that category. The angel characters add hope, knowing that our lives are being governed and watched from "The Heavenlies." From the beginning to the end, Sarah put a smile on my face. The ending will not only satisfy you, but also will compel you to grab the author's next book. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves inspirational stories of clean romance. You'll even be delighted to see an elderly woman run like a cheetah. Sarah is a character that will stay with you long after you finish this book.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Odd and Ends



I'm featured on Fay Lamb's Newsletter today. I hope you'll stop by and read what I had to say.



I've also written an article for The Texas Hill Country. You'll find it here. Columbus, Texas is an old, small, Texas county seat town. I visit that city often.  It's a good place to take a vacation or a day trip.



Our daughter is quite ill and we found a lovely assisted living place for her in Columbus. We moved her there this past Monday. This sweet city is about 45 minutes from us. We'll be able to oversee  her easier now. Austin was 2.5 hours away. 



We spent this past Monday and Tuesday settling our daughter into the new place. She was upset and cried. She'd received a great shock.  I understand how she feels. I also was astounded at the treatment she received this past Friday. We had to jump through hoops to move her out of her own house. It's one thing when a sick person doesn't receive good care from a provider, but the emotional hurt from a best friend's betrayal is far worse. I think she'll get good care now. 

After leaving Columbus late yesterday afternoon, we went to a neighbor's house to watch the Astro game. Unfortunately, the Houston Astros lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  I'm hoping Houston wins tonight. It's  the final game of the World Series. 

Our neighborhood hostess who'd invited us over loves Halloween, and last night was Trick or Treat time. Her house was decorated with black cats. Stuffed, artificial cats were everywhere! She doesn't have real ones. 

The wonderful thing about her cat figurines is that they don't poop all over the house. I wouldn't allow an animal to do that, but I know someone who did. I saw it recently.  Is that normal? I know dogs can be trained to go outside. Do most cat owners allow cats to poop wherever they please?  I see litter boxes advertised, but I've never owned a cat, so I don't know what's normal. I think going inside on a whim from an animal is nasty and unhealthy, but that's just me. 

I'm sorry I haven't been writing more uplifting blogs these days, and we all need heartwarming and inspirational tidbits. I needed to vent my frustration on my last couple of blogs, and I thank you for listening. 

We're all going through something in our everyday lives. In my book, Mattie's Choice, kind Mattie lived with her share of heartache but came thorough with flying colors. She'll be my inspiration for today!

 Stay tuned. I promise to bring more humor and inspiration in future blogs.  In the meantime, check out all the links I've noted on today's blog feature.

See you tomorrow!



PBG Insider: Gay N. Lewis Introduces her "Sarah" series

Sarah at Christmas