Where Do Strangers Become Family for You?

Rose McCauley hosts what was supposed to be the last day of The Familiar Stranger's blog tour, but I think we'll continue a day or two more to fit in a few of the latecomers. :) What I really like about Rose's post, besides her blatant promotion of my editing services and compliments concerning my appearance, is the story of how we've grown to be friends. My life is immeasurable richer because of my writing pursuits.

In a way, it's almost scary how alike such a diverse-in-other-ways group of people can be. I've never experienced it anywhere like I have in the writing arena, but I'm young and inexperienced, so that might be more an indication of my world than anything else.

Do you have the instant commonality occur in your circle of life? At work? With parents of children the same age as yours? At church? Tell me where you connect with others the best!

Who I Am Now Is Defined by Who I'm Not

The chorus of Brandon Heath's song I'm Not Who I Was keeps running through my mind.

I used to be the go-to parent volunteer. Now I'm working in the schools.

I used to be the stay-at-home mom. Now I'm the barely-home mom.

I used to be the wife with the perfect house and the smile and open arms for her husband at the end of his hard day. Now I manage the house as best as I can and save my smiles and hugs for my children ... at the end of my hard day.

I used to bake and cook meals with multi-step recipes. Now I put the healthiest thing I can on the table using the least effort and money.

I used to pay the bills. Now I make the money or the bills don't get paid, but I still have to find the time to pay them.

I used to leave "the providing" up to my spouse while I provided the comfort and support and love to the family. Now I do both.

I used to submit and serve. Now I lead and decided and bear the responsibility.

It hit me the other day--the enormity of what I'm doing. What I couldn't be doing without my family and friends supporting me.

None of what I'm doing is inherently bad. I find joy in a lot of it, like substituting. The changes happening in me are refining and honing me, but the stakes are so much higher now.

I realized that the kids will always have a different mother. I am not the same woman I was a year ago, nor the same woman I would have been at this time without the divorce. But God knew that was coming, which means I'm closer to the woman He is making me to be.

~~~

My friend, Angela Breidenbach, who TRULY is the current Mrs. Montana, blogs a bit about The Familiar Stranger. She encourages us all to follow our dreams!

Persistance Pays Off

Very near the start of this whole blog tour, I "met" a wonderful woman named Mariska. She has since followed almost every single day, leaving comments on blog after blog. When I did the first drawing, I was more worried that she'd win multiple copies than anything else. But she didn't win even one. Which statistically stunned me.

But she persisted and finally won a copy on Kristen Johnson's recent interview post. A huge congratulations to you, Mariska! I hope it lives up to your expectations after all that work. :)

AllWrite Sisters posted an interview with me on their Writer Spotlight. Leave your comments on this page for your chance at winning a free copy of The Familiar Stranger.

If you enjoy either mystery, intrigue, romance or inspiration, you will certainly enjoy this book. And if you love all four, you will be thrilled beyond expectation.

Jean Kinsey

Pretty cool quote!

Two Quotes I'm Liking Lately

First, I'm doing The Purpose Driven Life again, this time with a neighbor. It's only been a decade since I did it last, which is pretty impressive considering it only came out seven years ago. ;)

God doesn't owe you an explanation or reason for everything he asks you to do. Understanding can wait, but obedience can't. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you will never understand some commands until you obey them first. Obedience unlocks understanding.

Obedience has been on my mind a lot recently. Could have something to do with having a three-year old. ;) But I'm searching my heart for anything disobedient, and seeking to make decisions I know I should without waiting for full understanding.

The other quote came from a divorce book I've been reading called ...And Marries Another by Craig S. Keener.

If all of us who love Jesus can become sharers in his pain--feel the pain of his body torn by racism, divided by unshared wealth and unalleviated poverty, rent by secondary doctrines which may be worth believing but not worth breaking fellowship over--if we can feel his pain, the pain of a love so great it drove him to the Cross to reconcile an alienated world to himself--then we will have the pain of the ultimate rejection. Because as Hosea so eloquently witnessed, the pain of a broken marriage is but a shadow of God's pain, the testimony that no one has wounded any of us as much as all of us have wounded God, that he pleads day and night for our hearts, our lives--and so many of his people give him so little, absorbed by all their other loves. If WHATEVER pain we experience helps us to feel the pain of others, if his comfort to us enables us to comfort others, then it will have been enough.

Carla Stewart, over at Carla's Writing Cafe, says The Familiar Stranger is "a love story ... of astonishing grace." Check out the whole review!

The Wonders of a Critique Group

Better than a golden ticket to Wonka's Chocolate Factory ...

More fun than a room full of distortion mirrors ...

More heart than the fullest box on Valentine's Day ...

Its the Redeemed Writers Critique Group!!

For almost six years I've been part of the same critique group. These wonderful women--though we have had a male participant in the past--have pushed me whenever I grew lax, brainstormed whenever I got stuck, reworked whenever I was stumped, commiserated whenever I was rejected (in life and in writing), and celebrated whenever there was the slightest cause to.

I love each and every one of them.

Kristen Johnson, a talented writer of historical fiction not-yet-published and longtime member, interviews me on The Adventures of History Girl.

Here's a sample question with a teaser answer:

Another thing that seems to come easy to you is talking to people. You are one of the most friendly, easy-going people I know. Do you have any advice on approaching editors and agents for any Nervous Nellys out there like me?

I used to be a shy, quiet, self-described nerd until ... Read the rest on her blog and leave a comment! Only six more days until the 10-book giveaway!

Are "Wii" Fit?

Is there anything quite as depressing as making time to do a Wii Fit exercise session and it popping up, "It's been 74 days since your last workout" ...?

Really? How could that much time have gone by? But I'm sure it's right. And frankly, that only makes me want to work out all the more ... because what if I don't get back on for another 74 days? I've got to make every minute count!

I've also decided I'll start answering with my Wii Fit age when people ask how old I am. (It's only six years less.) That would be okay, right?

Brenda Jackson interviewed me on Arizona Inspiration.

Also, Deena Peterson reviews The Familiar Stranger on A Peek at My Bookshelf. She has many compliments for the book, but also gives an area for me to work on. There's been recent discussion on my writers' loop of how to give an honest review and I think she does a masterful job of specifying what she enjoyed and what she didn't. What do you think?

Stage Fright?

The kids and I went to Forever Plaid, the (50s music) musical, tonight at a local theater. The kids enjoyed the whole performance, but they were disappointed at one point. The actors interacted with the audience frequently, making us hold props, or answer questions. At one point, when one of the quartet was playing Heart & Soul on the piano, he asked who in the audience knew how to play the top or bottom part, which another character used as a segue into one of the only "adult-themed" jokes of the night.

Next thing we know, they're looking for someone with a hand up because they want the person to COME ON STAGE and play it in front of everyone!! I've known how to play that song for at least twenty years, but my brain froze and this was the only thought circling in the frigid void--What if I say I can play it, but then I get up there and don't remember a note????

Even though an actor was directly in front of me at that point, searching for the hand that had only a short time been waving in the air, I steadfastly refused to make eye contact and they eventually turned to another part of the auditorium.

Whew! Yet the kids have said a few times how much they would have loved to have seen me play the piano with the cast, which turned into an entire song and dance number. You know, I agree with them. Maybe I should have taken the risk ...

Because as soon as I got home I picked the part out on the piano right away!

Want to read another review of The Familiar Stranger? Jude Urbanski, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in Denver at ACFW this year, explains how her personal experience of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) colored her reading of TFS.

Note: if you do not have a blogstream account, you may leave a comment about her blog here and it will still gain you another entry in the 10-book giveaway.

Personal Assistant?

Did you hear about the college sophomore who advertised for a personal assistant? He wants to pay $10-12/hr for someone to do his laundry, drive him to and from work, schedule haircuts, and so on.

I'm looking into this ... I'm pretty sure I need a PA to read all the books in my To-Be-Read (TBR) pile and organize them according to awesomeness. Plus, like today when we found out a potential buyer is touring our house tomorrow(/today really), my PA could scrub some toilets and sweep the porch. Most of all, I could have my PA write a witty post when I'm exhausted from cleaning for almost twelve hours, watching my To-Be-Slept hours shrinking below five, and planning ahead for a sparkly clean house in the morning when I leave earlier than usual to sub a full day again.

At least it's Friday, the last day of Homecoming Week, and I've got a wonderful surprise to take the older two children to after school. :)

Trish Perry posts an interview and gives away one book, and Kelly Moran is giving away THREE copies! I especially enjoyed answering #1 and #5 on Kelly's blog.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Apparently you send her to an older widow's house to take care of his seven children so she--and he!--can find true love. Yes, I've been another round with The Sound of Music, one of my favorite, favorite movies.



I'm doing a lot of problem solving in my life right now ... getting many uncertain things pinned down for the first time in months ... but I like the way things worked out for Maria and the Captain. ;) Harder to watch a love story at this point in my life, but well worth it. The desire for love is universal, but I "amened" in the movie when the Reverend Mother tells Maria that loving a man does not take away from her love of God in the least.

The kids and I had been waiting for a chunk of time to watch the whole thing, but eventually had to settle for spreading it out over three evenings before bed. At first my son, who sings constantly, said it would be boring 'cause it's all music. What?!? He, of course, loved it. Last night, as he was falling asleep, he called from his bed for me to play "that song in the hills when she's late" on the piano.

Watching Andrea's face when the oldest daughter, Liesl, gets her first kiss, I was swept back in time to when I was her age and I thought that was the most romantic part of the movie. Nowadays, I find the Captain and Maria's first kiss far more romantic because it represents a promise and a future.

Anyhoo, today's blog posts for The Familiar Stranger come from Lynette Sowell at Slices of Life and Jeanette Levellie at Audience of One.

Turning Green ... and Not from Jealousy!

Had a great night enjoying various generations of my family. Took the kids over to my grandparents' house after school. Did homework there and brought dinner--which is not agreeing with me right now and I have a full day of subbing tomorrow. Better go to bed and see if I feel better in the morning ... I cannot afford to have the flu!

Here's the stop for the Blog Tour, by the way:

Margie Vawter's The Writer's Tool

Leave a comment to gain another entry in the 10-book giveaway!

Blogging with Beautiful Blondes!

Tammy Bowers starts off her blog tour post for The Familiar Stranger with this picture and these words: INTRODUCING MY FRIEND AND DEBUT AUTHOR, CHRISTINA BERRY. ISN'T SHE PRETTY!!!


Frankly, there hasn't been a day when I needed to hear that as much as today for a looooong time, but I would argue that it's her beauty rubbing off on me.

In the interview on Write Steps, she asks (among other things) what the biggest blessing of doing foster care is. Also, what the biggest challenge is. There are a few completely fresh Q&As, so please come read it and leave a comment. I'd really be interested in hearing your answers to #9. Oh, almost forgot! She's got a short video of me reading the first few paragraphs of the book! 

My friend, Beth Wiseman, just signed a contract for more books with Thomas Nelson. In less than two years of publishing, she has contracted THREE novellas and TEN novels! Unbelievable!

I am so happy for her. She reviews The Familiar Stranger on her blog today, as well. 


Here's the beginning of her fabulous review:

"My deadlines are so tight, I don't have time to review as many books as I would like.  However, Christina didn't hesitate to review Plain Perfect when it released, and I wanted to return the favor.  The 'favor' resulted in a book that I couldn't put down and didn't want to end ..." 

OCW One-Day in Portland ... Good Times!

 This is a rare sighting, indeed! Two of The Familiar Stranger's endorsers sitting together: Eva Marie Everson, who spoke at the conference, and Randy Ingermanson, who taught a few workshops.

 

Eva was our first coaching class teacher, OCW Summer Conf, 2003(?). So good to see her again and be challenged to, in the tradition of Nehemiah, rebuild the wall with our tools (pens and computers) while holding our swords (the Word of God) in the other. To drop either is to fail.

Do you ever wish you could go to a writing conference for free? Like maybe attend the national ACFW conference without leaving your home or spending a cent? Well, I think buying the MP3s of the conference would be well worth your money, but here's a little bonus for you non-ACFW members: The 2009 ACFW Afictionado E-zine, chockful of informative articles. I am partial to the recap of Workshop 21, and I'm sure you will quickly see why. :)

A woman who lives in Ridgecrest, CA knew she'd be having surgery soon, so went into the Christian bookstore to load up on reading material. She asked the salesperson for any recommendations.

"Here." The person handed a book over. "We don't know anything about this author, but we've been getting great feedback on the story."

And Barb, my parents' friend from when Mom was pregnant with me, found herself holding The Familiar Stranger. :) How cool is that?!?

DCB and Seabird!!

Today's tour stop is at my friend Susan J. Reinhardt's blog, Christian Writer/Reader Connection.

I had the most fabulous time at the David Crowder Band concert tonight and will let the pictures speak for themselves as I have to be up in five hours to leave for the OCW one-day conference. It was a fun, worshipful, adrenaline-laced, laugh-inducing time and I was thankful to have a new friend to share it with.

This evening was brought to you by a sponsor who shall remain nameless, but I thank her for the free tickets all the same!

 

 

 

 

This is me with the opener, Seabird. I have found a new band to follow! They were amazing live, with unreal vocals and energy.

 

I haven't figured out which song is my favorite yet, so I randomly chose this youtube video to point you in the right direction. Hopefully you'll explore their other songs and find a new fav yourself. :)

My First Book Club Appearance

Before I get to the surreal moment of going to a bookclub that read my book and answering questions, I've got to show you what a pumpkin killer looks like. Isn't he the cutest squash murderer you've ever seen?

We scooped and carved 2 1/2 pumpkins this afternoon: an owl, a  Scooby Doo, and a "Tric." We'll finish that last one up tomorrow--the wording was too complicated--and make a full "Trick or Treat."

Queen for an hour!

A few years ago a book club that met near my old house asked me to visit and talk about the publishing process. Three of the members returned tonight with many new readers, and we chatted about The Familiar Stranger. One of my favorite things was hearing the different perspectives from various belief systems and backgrounds. The group is not a "Christian" book club, and since The Familiar Stranger is not labeled as inspirational or Christian fiction on amazon or in the LOC info in the front, the Christian content caught a few of them unaware. It truly was eye-opening to hear a non-Christian perspective on a Christian book. (If you're popping in, ladies, I'm so thankful you read my book ... and liked it!)

Today's post is Deborah Vogts' Country at Heart. Enjoy!

When Are We Going to Kill Our Pumpkins??

We went to the pumpkin patch on Sunday and brought pumpkins home--kind of the point of going to a patch, I guess--but have yet to scoop their brains out and carve their faces because we're too busy. Today was work at home, foster care visits and paperwork, dance class, dinner, dance class, babysitting for Andrea, and into bed. Maybe tomorrow ...

Today you can stop by Jodie Bailey's to read our chat. She has a unique look to her blog!

One of my endorsers, Jill Elizabeth Nelson, posts her review on Artistic Blogger. She was amazingly nice to me for years before I was published ... and she's a great writer. Look her books up and then read them. :)

I LOVE Small Group

I have not been to a Bible Study since the divorce. It wasn't a conscious choice, but I think I had to focus so much on surviving that I couldn't fit it in, and then all the groups took breaks for summer ...

Don't get me wrong. I've still been into my Bible on a near nightly basis, but I've never gone 8 months without being in some sort of structured study.

And so tonight I packed the kids up and went to the first one of the season. I'm SO glad I did.

It's rare that I have the weird "missing part of our family" feeling. Our new normal is mom and kids, but I did feel a tinge of that on the way to the study. The last time I drove to that particular house for small group was years ago as a happily-married woman. There was a pang of realization that I was now the "single mom" of the group.

Of course that feeling quickly went away as we ate and read the Bible and discussed together. Every single one of those people enriched my life tonight and I can't wait to do it again in two weeks!

Today tour stop is Mara Kim's Belonging to the Lord. I don't think any of the previous posts have listed my favorite verses, so come check it out.

And the Winners Are ...

Every single comment left on the blog tour between September 1 and my birthday, September 30, was placed in a random number generator--after I assigned numbers, of course--and the following winners popped out!

Cindy R. Wilson on Susan J. Reinhardt's blog Yep, it's the ladies with the middle initials who are feeling lucky :)

Rebecca Barlow on one of my blogs

Cherie Hill on The Mother Blog

Stamped with Grace on Being Gratefully Grounded

Georgiana Daniels on Sharon Ball's A Break from the Norm

Sherrinda and Lynda Schab on Cathy Bryant's WordVessel

Ernie Wenk on one of mine

CKHB and Beth on Jody Hedlund's On the Path

Congrats to ALL on winning a complimentary copy of The Familiar Stranger!!

Can I win something?? It took me a depressing 1 1/2 hours to track down all the links and inform all the winners of their good fortune.

Oh, I know, what a wimpy thing to whine about. "Oh, look at me! I have so many winners that it takes me forever to find them all!"

Buy Me Online ... In a WHOLE New Way!

I can hardly believe it!

Every now and then I cruise my amazon page to see if any new reviews have posted that I didn't know about, and then I saw The Familiar Stranger is available on the Kindle!!!

Under a minute to have a fabulous story in your cozy house for your reading pleasure!! Have any of you bought TFS in this format? Actually, any of you own a Kindle?

Today's blog tour goes to my pal Winter Peck's site. Read about how we got to know each other on Rodeo with a Twist of Suspense.

Double the Skating--Double the Fun

I lived.

I skated again today and didn't even feel that sore. Now for those of you picturing me zooming around the rink by myself, attach a child or two to each hand and then picture the unexpected yanking of my body in the direction of whomever is falling down then.

Today I feel well ... tomorrow I'm expecting paralysis!

Lil Duncan reviews The Familiar Stranger on her Cleveland Examiner page. She uses a ranking system of an edginess meter and more to categorize the book. Check it out!

A new friend in the blogosphere, Tamara Hart Heiner, posts an interview with all new questions and lots of back and forth. Fun!

The Skating Rink

I spent a few hours skating tonight and know that tomorrow muscles I didn't even know I had will be aching and crying out in despair. Fun thing is ... since there is ANOTHER party tomorrow, I'll get to do it all again!

Happy Birthday, Monkey! You are near and dear to my heart, little lady!

I have to share this picture of my cousin getting his geek on for a good cause.

Find out why here.

Today's blog tour stop is at Ann Shorey's Book Blog. Ann is an amazing writer. I reviewed her debut book The Edge of Light. Turnabout is fair play! :)

Emotionally Backlogged

While the majority of my journey through divorce--and then out of it--has been pretty even keeled, there are emotional ups and downs. But when those emotional moments do come, or even when I just have a bunch of conflicting thoughts bouncing around in my head, it helps SO much to have people I can talk to.

Considering the types of thoughts I work through, I will only talk to people I trust. Some of the issues deal with confidentiality of foster care. Or it could be that I don't want rumors going around about those who used to be in my life. Or maybe it's so early in my thinking about the "problem" that I really don't want to discuss it openly because I'm not sure where my thinking will land. (Similar to a roulette ball bouncing along the numbers!)

If I've gone a few days without bouncing ideas off someone, I start to feel an emotional backlog and the stress builds.

Anyway, a THANK YOU to all my friends who listen with soft hearts, clear minds, and godly wisdom. Love you!

If any of you are Duck fans, you can see the MY FIRST DUCK GAME album on facebook.

Today's blog your post gives you a choice of the same review/interview in two places.

Delores Liesner's blog or her Examiner.com page.

The Familiar Stranger is not just a well-written fast-paced drama. It also offers life-changing choices that both male and female readers can apply to their circumstances.

I Saw Something SHOCKING Today!

I would take a picture of it to post here, but I'm too tired and I'm writing this while warm and cozy in my bed. Guess what it was. I'll give you a couple of hints:

1) I hadn't seen it for months.
2) It's no longer a fire hazard.

Give up?

The surface of my desk in the office! Wow, I didn't even remember it was a brown wood-like surface, it had been so long.

Anyway ...

Lots of places to send you today, but I'll grab a one-liner quote from each to give you a taste of their posts for The Familiar Stranger blog tour.

Martha Rogers reviews TFS, saying, "Berry’s characters are finely drawn and evoke both sympathy and anger as they travel the path God has set out for them."

Susan J. Reinhardt finishes her review with this sentence: "Well written, emotion laden, and a powerful climax, The Familiar Stranger is the must-read book of the season." Yippee!!

Mara Kim's review starts off with a bang: "The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry is a page-turner."

Lisa Lickel asks bunches of new questions. I share about winning on the Family Feud, being a foster mother, and two mistakes I made as a writer.

What Builds Trust in a Marriage?

As a culture, we tend to focus on what tears marriages apart rather than what strengthens intimacy. Jaime Wright Sundsmo posted a review and interview and asked commenters to leave a tip of something that builds trust in marriage. I get to pick the one that touches me the most and that person will win a free copy of The Familiar Stranger. :)

Also, Tamara Hart Heiner discusses pacing and uses my book as an example. But was it a good or bad example?

We spent the first part of the day in court again. I'm not sure what I'm allowed to share or not ... it was a favorable ruling, but also a sad one. There were courtroom moments that felt like they came straight out of a movie. But these were real people with real feelings.

I wept for the one who was ruled "against" and for the effects our bad choices cause. Please keep all parties involved in your prayers, even though this is pretty cryptic.

Is the Government Getting Too Involved?

I know the title of this blog might strike a cord with a few of you, (I'm not mentioning any initials, S.I!) but try to keep your comment limited to the actual new ruling the Federal Trade Commission announced this morning.

Bloggers posting reviews of books will, as of December 1, 2009, need to blatantly and conspicuously announce, if it is the case, that they received a free copy of the book.

Here's a short article about how free books are now being viewed as compensation for the review. Two ways to get around it being seen as compensation is NOT to post a link to purchase the product or NOT to keep the book.

And here's the FTC's official release.

Seems to be that a lot of little puppies--like the people on my blog tour--are getting put in the dog house with the pitbulls. There are people, I'm sure, who receive products from a company and provide favorable reviews in exchange for further products, but I don't know a one of them who's blogging about books!

I'm also wondering how the FTC is going to enforce the rule.

So whadya think? Too involved? Or is it a necessary regulation?

Treading Water

I had the most fabulous weekend with friends at the Duck game and can't wait to find the time to upload the pictures.

And really, that's what this post is about ... my feeling of treading water. Of never getting ahead on the bill-paying and school papers. So much is going on right now that the only time I can relax is when I get away to do something fun. Then I return to the house that stays messy unless I work up the energy to a) clean it myself or b) have the kids help clean.

The sub days are wonderful money-wise and real-world-stimulation-wise, but they wreak havoc on my house and writing schedule.

And today we head to court for a very important day. Please, pray for us and God's will to be clear to all involved.

The blog tour continues!

Christa Allen tells the story of how we met before posting her interview about The Familiar Stranger.

Do My Characters Need Therapy?

Off to the Oregon Duck game tonight and wanted to pop in to point you all in the right direction for The Familiar Stranger's tour today. :)

Jeannie Campbell is a therapist, so what does she think about my characters issues? If you haven't been clicking to all the blog tours and are a little worn down by how long my tour is, I beg of you to go read this because she has an entirely different take on her review.

Laura Hilton also shares her views. What do the two posts both mention? The unique back and forth between the his and her points of view. :)

Celebrations

Home from celebrating a friend's birthday ... a nice dinner out with great company.

There's something so interesting about connecting with people, a reminder to my soul that we all need each other and we're on this journey of life together. To draw closer to each other and to our God.

Had the most wonderful sub day. One period I gave detention to a student, only to see it work as it's meant to. He buckled right down and got to work, concentrating better than anyone else in class ... and earned a paw for excellent behavior. May we all be so quick to take correction!

Patty Wysong follows up with more interview questions, and some are never before seen. :)

She asks about my perfect day, which character interests me the most, and one of my favorites I'll copy here:

Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?
Nothing. Especially not answering great interview questions because I want to be witty but then suddenly it’s the day the wonderful interviewer needs them and my wittiness is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

A Beautiful Bouquet

Subbing the whole day before the signing proved interesting. I used quite a bit of my voice up during the two classes of adorable kindergartners, but it did keep me from getting too nervous or excited.

After school, and my friendly school secretary shooing me out the door as quickly as possible, I ran home to change. And how do you pick what to wear at a signing? Something a bit dressy, but not too overdone. Warm enough if you're by the door, but not too hot. Womanly, but still safe to modestly bend over a table as you sign and such.

I'm sure Donald Miller simply throws on a shirt and off he goes ...

I've got pictures of the whole night on an album here of The Familiar Stranger's launch party.

I might never have smiled so much. Dear friends, both oldtimers and newcomers, stopped in and I wished I had more time to talk with every one. Before I knew it, more than an hour had passed and we were called up for the readings, then I went back to keep signing while Chris and Conrad played.

Buy their CD. They are amazing! And if they play close to you, you must go see them. Fabulous live music.

People brought me birthday present after birthday present; my take-home loot pile was huge ... and is still spread across the living room. Hug after hug. Support and love and excitement on my first birthday as a single adult.

And one of the highlights of the night? Coming home to find this gorgeous bouquet of flowers awaiting me!

 

(The flash washed it out a bit, but trust me that the pink roses are the perfect shade.)

But as I reflect on the evening twenty-four hours later, when my feet are just beginning to touch earth again, I remember how much Christian Supply and Shaun Stevenson and Kelsey and Jordan, and K-LOVE and Ana, and Chris and Conrad, and Robin Jones Gunn, and Chris McDaniel, every friend and family member who came by ... all these are unique flowers God has placed around me, adding beauty to the bouquet of my new life.

Thank you!

Rose McCauley posted this at the beginning of her blog:

The Familiar Stranger is one of the best-written debut novels I have ever read, so I am happy to be a part of its online blog tour this month. You can win a copy from me by posting any time this month on my blog, having a US mailing address, and leaving a way to contact you. AND you can have another chance to win a copy from the author herself by posting on my blog on October 31st which is the day her blog tour will stop in for a visit. Or you can visit any of the other stops on her blog tour (a different site each day this month!) to have an even better chance of winning because she will choose 10 winners on October 31st from all the comments left on her blog tour this month.

 Patty Wysong posted the first of a two parter on Patterings. She has been giving away books the entire month of September in a Back to School Book Bonanza, and will be giving away The Familiar Stranger by Oct. 8th, so leave a comment! In case you haven't read the book yet, she has the same excerpt posted as what I read at the signing.

Exhausted and Ecstatic

Can't handle more than doing the link for the tour tonight. So overwhelmed by the love and support of my friends. Long blog coming tomorrow. I love you all! And I mean that!

Cindy Loven's Review

I'm going to snuggle up in bed and fall asleep in about two seconds now ... zzzz