Random Dozen

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?
My favorite Easter treat, especially when they are a little stale

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?
Take my drugs, read a book, go to sleep. (I'm on a low dose of anti-anxiety medication, don't feel nervous too often)

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?
Yes as long as they don't get too violent

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?
Jesus, because he is my hero

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?
tattoo

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?
flying to Las Vegas for spring break (of course I will go to mass Saturday night for EasterVigil. He is Risen. Hallelujah.)

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?
Reese Eggs

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?
my daughter playing at the park

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?
 I am currently reading Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters along with The Revolutionary Paul Revere.

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?
Spring cleaning, never heard of it.


11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
two (can't really wear them because of plantar faceitis {spelling})

12. Which color makes you happiest?
purple

A review: What's In the Bible

Hey Myrria here. I'm not one to do much advertising, but Chris came across something that is really worthwhile. I think it is something you all should take a look at so I have copied her post from Angels Muse here so you can all see it. Take a look.
It is a review of  Phil Vischer's What's In the Bible. It is a really exciting DVD series that can get kids involved with the Bible.

REALLY!!! Look at it.

Review: What's in the Bible: by Phil Vischer




Phil Vischer presents What's in the Bible



Phil Vischer has done it again with his creation of What's in the Bible. With a cast of diverse characters, including a pirate, scientist and Sunday School teacher, along with ever knowledgeable Buck Denver, newsman and many others they take you on a journey through the Bible. The adventure begins information about what exactly the Bible is along with who wrote it and who decided what books should be in it and why and then the group begins exploration of each of the individual books starting in the beginning with Genesis.



For an adult watching this on my own, the DVD seemed a little corny and childish. My eight year old daughter saw me watching the video and decided to watch it with me. With her watching the video seemed to take on a new life. Watching it with a child opened my jaded eyes to the innocent understanding of a child. She loved the video and could relate to the characters and information presented.



When you watch the video with a child and I strongly recommend it, you will see the Bible in a whole new light and maybe even learn something. These videos are thouroughly enjoyable and a good learning tool. I give this video a five star rating and recommend it be used to initiate study of the Bible with children and adults alike.



My eight year old also recommends this for children. She enjoyed the characters and could relate to them as well as the message. It was easily understandable and she wants me to buy the rest of the series.



The 30th (thirtieth) follower to my blog will recieve a certificate for a free copy of In the Beginning the first DVD in the series.

The 50th (fiftieth) follower will recieve a certificate for a free copy of Let My People Go the second DVD in the series.





www.whatsinthebible.com and www.tyndale.com

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Mnq_sqMus)

6WS

Bible review, publication talk, revisions, family

For with God nothing shall be impossible

For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37)

My book will find an agent and publisher, our house in Pennsylvania will sell, my marriage will finally be perfect, my 8/9 year old daughter will bypass puberty and just be a wonderful young woman, my older children will find their way back to Christ.

These are my prayers and I must remember that with God by my side nothing is impossible.

At home in a volcano

This is a picture of my home. It was taken in early spring, hence the snow covered ridges. I don't mind the snow, of course I live in a cave deep in the mountain, where humans usually cannot go. But the snow and ice are good for me, they help to keep me healthy and functioning. I need both the extremes of the glaciers along wtih the extremes of the volcano to survive. Not all dragons are like that. Not all need glaciers, and not all need volcanoes. Most of the dragons I know live in the volcanoes in the Ring of Fire, but I'm sure there are many other dragons throughout your world and others that do not live in volcanoes. For me I am very content in Mt. Rainier.

Don't be discouraged

Hi Myrria here. I've been watching Chris become discouraged and depressed so I thought maybe I needed to step in  and talk a little.

The story we are working on talks a lot about God and encourages kids to follow Him, to be persistant in their faith and they are loved. Adults need to hear the same message and then share it with their children.
I borrowed and posted Chris's devotion from Angels Muse. Because I think it is a good message and something she needs to hear today.

I repeatedly tell Darby and Emmie along with my own offspring like Roethlys that God is always there and He loves them. All they need to do is remain strong in their faith and share it with others. Darby and her friends face many challenges in the book and because they are kids they struggle with decisions of faith, tolerance and forgiveness. Only with God can they overcome these obstacles and find the peace that so many of us strive for.

I love working with the kids, their issues are so much easier than that of adults. They still retain that innocence that is so often replaced by cynicism as we become adults. They see things that adults can't or won't, like dragons, and they willingly accept and almost crave the love that God gives them. Granted they can also be led down the wrong path for that same reason, but they are more open to the reasons not to follow that path. They are more trusting. If only us adults could be so trusting and open to God.

Anyway read Chris's post, embrace the message and become more like children, less prone to worry and more open to trust and love.

He is an Awesome God

He is an awesome God


My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. (Psalm 119:28)



I feel discouraged today, not sure why. It seems as if all I do is getting me nowhere. I keep changing paths to find satisfaction and yet none is to be found. I stay on the same path looking for results and see none. I feel overwhelmed and yet don't know which way to turn, what to do, which project to focus on.



Focus on God, let Him be my strength. Move forward and know He is with me. Let the world and my paths unfold in His time according to His will. Don't put earthly restrictions on it, but persist in working for God and my dreams will unfold beyond my wildest imaginings. God, you are an awesome God.

Some more changes

Okay had another critique group today. Everything is looking pretty good, only minor changes. Still looking for any suggestions on format, but will go with catchy chapter names if I can't come up with anything.

Update

Check out my previous post, it tells a little about how I got here.

I have started the rewrites on Myrria's Legacy. It will no longer be in letter form. I think Darby and Melanie will just tell the story in straight narrative, but I am always open for unique ways to present it. I'm currently reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but I don't think a diary format will work either, I also looked at some YA books done like text messages, but I'm not sure that will work either. So I keep coming back to the Magic Treehouse books done as narrative with catchy titles for each of the chapters. Anyway I'll keep plugging away and see what comes up. Maybe Myrria will come up with an idea.

Answered Prayers

About ten years ago, I had a job that I content with. You will notice I didn't say happhy or unhappy, just content, like going with the flow. There were things about the job that didn't jive with the way I felt about life, but it was a job and I was in the field that I had gotten my degree in. I had a nice family and home, my kids were almost grown, life was good or so I led myself to believe.


Then the rug got pulled out from under me. I got laid off. Now what, I tried the mortgage industry, thank goodness I don't like math and cold calling, that didn't work out. Then a couple of things happened, we got a foreign exchange student, our middle son went away to college and I was pregnant.

All through this time of change, I had been praying for God to show me the door He wanted me to go through, but I wasn't really listening for His answer, just still kind of going along with the flow.

So the year passed, I had a baby girl, the exchange student turned out to be wonderful and our son came home for summer break. Things once again seemed to be going smoothly, but I wasn't content. Something seemed to be missing.

I had had a taste of something more, however bitter that may have been, and felt that I needed something more. I took one of those writing tests you see in all the parenting magazines. I passed and they thought I would be a good candidate for the course. So I signed up and took the writing course at ICL. I was happy, I loved writing, I could be home, caring for my infant along with my teenage daughter still at home. I was content and happy, not ecstatic, but happy. All along I'm praying for God to keep opening doors and He is, just not the ones I expect.

After I finish the course, I try to write and submit to childrens publications. I am writing articles and fictional stories for kids. They are being rejected. Finally two are accepted, they are not for children, but about children and parents. Maybe I'm looking the wrong way, I pray for guidance, God points me to Young Adult and Adult, inspirational for women. I had been on the right road just not facing the right direction. I write more inspirational and focus on ya fiction. I have e-zines publishing my writing and am writing a ya novel. Now I am really happy and content. I'm not making much if any money, but I'm writing for God and that is what's important. Other things have happened in the years to bring my family to the point we are at today.Maybe we haven't taken the obvious or easiest path and we haven't gotten the rewards that the secular world feels are so important. However, God has answered our prayers and in return we have answered His call. We are finally following God's lead and I sense with Him big things will happen in His time.

No time for regrets

1.) If you had to relive a day in your life what day would it be?


There are so many, that it is hard to choose, but as weird as it sounds I think it would be the day I found out my sister, Cheryl died. Actually I think I would want to change the way things happened. Maybe never have her go on that last mmission, never shut the engines down, just not even have her on that plane at all. Her and I had so much trouble communicating with each other and with her early demise I missed having a very special relationship with my sister. There is so much we could have shared if we could have seen past the competition, the jealousy and just seen how truly special each of us was. 
The moral of this story is to never if you can control it let childish emotions and disagreements come between you. You never know how much time God has given you and you should not waste it.  Take advantage of the gifts God has given you. I should have spent more time loving my sister and less time envying her, comparing myself to her and wishing I had made the choices she had instead of my own. 
For the last twenty plus years and the rest of my life I will regret this, but I will not waste time making the same mistakes with the rest of my sisters or friends. 
 

6WS

Letting God take over

Critiques have started

Well the critiques were a little rough, but good. I just have to change direction a little bit and work on some word choices. My original plan was to have Darby tell the story in a series of letters with Melanie taking over, but I think now I'll drop the letter idea and just tell the story or let Darby and Melanie tell it. I may come up with some other way to attract the kids, but maybe not. If anyone has any ideas drop me aline here or at my email. I'm open to ideas.

Critiquing begins

Woohoo the Critique process starts today for Myrria's Legacy. It will be interesting to see if it gets the same response that FanStory has been giving it. Myrria is so excited, along with Darby. I'll let you know how it goes.

A little celebration

A little celebration. Today I sent off my first agent query for Aaron's Revenge. Now I wait. Hopefully not too long, we shall see.

Myrria takes a turn

Hi. I haven't visited in a while, but I see my blog has been getting some attention. I'll have to talk to Chris about this and see what's up.

Chris has just about finished up Aaron's Revenge and is in the process of querying agents and publishers. I think that is rather exciting, because now maybe her and I can spend some time together on some of her other work.

Of course as you already know I am Myrria one of the main characters in Myrria's Legacy. I work with the Creator (you call Him God) to bring new souls to the faith as well as fighting a little evil along the way. In doing His work I have travelled many places and seen many things.

In Myrria's Legacy I am living in Mt. Rainier, a volcano in the state of Washington in the USA. As is discovered in the book I have lived there for many years and find it a totally fascinating place. The combination of glaciers and volcanos is great for my complexion, although I don't focus on my looks a lot. Other dragons live there including some of my many offspring, like Fred and his wife and offspring. I live there with my longtime mate Alorn. He is a wonderful mate and provides the balance I need when dealing with young people like Darby and her friends, Bobby and Melanie. Did I forget to mention in the book I have a clutch of eggs and one of them hatches. It is my son Roethlys and he will prove to be very helpful in our adventures.

Anyways back to my home. Most dragons live in the bowels of mountains where humans cannot go. In fact there is a Ring of Fire, consisting of 400 and some volcanos most of which are inhabited by dragons of one sort or another. Not all dragons need glaciers and fire like I do, so like people we are varied, have different lifestyles, look different and behave differently.

Also like people we have some dragons who are bad and who turn to the devil instead of God. Part of Myrria's Legacy is about a dragon who did just that. His name is Bjorn and he is mated to my daughter, Alyrria. He has created a fine pickle for us to untangle, which will take us on a journey to Japan and two more volcanoes in the Ring of Fire, Mt. Unzen and Mt. Fuji.

I'll tell you some more later, just thought I'd pop in and make sure you hadn't forgotten me with all the other stuff on this blog.

Talk to you soon and remember with God nothing shall be impossible.

Love Myrria

Spring photos

5.) Share some photos and stories as well as what you love about spring.

Some birds roosting in the trees near my deck. So excited about the onset of spring and these little birds are one of the first signs.

My daughter and her best friend playing on the swing set. Of course it was the middle of February, but our seasons run a little differently out here on the west coast, either that or we have had a very mild winter.

Sunrise over Mt. Rainier. What a glorious sight, unfortunately once summer comes and the leaves grow on the trees we will not be able to see this from our house.

A few Friday Fragments

A couple of funnies from my Critique Group on Wednesday:

A line from my wip: Brandan screamed again and something pulled the hair out of his head as it spun around in ways that Aaron didn't think were possible.
So what do you think was spinning; his hair or his head? I was going for the head, but as you can see I haven't figured out how to arrange the words, so we see the head spinning and the hair being pulled up and out.

A line from one of the other author's wip: I don't remember the whole sentence because the words that caught my attention were one eyed, one eared... from there all I heard was flying purple people eater even those were not a part of the story.

One final note: My wip (work in progress) is finished except for some spit and polish. Now I have to find a publisher or agent. Myrria the Dragon is probably cheering because I can finally focus on her story and maybe next year at this time she will be in the same place Aaron and his Uncle Brandan are in now.

Bob the Gecko

Hi Myrria here, Just sharing a photo of a distant relative. His name is Bob the Gecko and he is the pet of Ana, who was used as a model for Darby. Bob has added a lot of excitement to the lives of his family. I kind of like watching him, I can't interact with humans like he does anymore, but I can certainly watch and enjoy.  Bob and Ana can't fly. It's kind of sad, Darby and I have so much fun when we fly.

Seven Days Seven Answers

Oh what a sight, cats and dogs flying about.
Where will they land no one cares, just put an end to the caterwauling and squealing. I hope they end this bitter diatribe soon for I fear my gecko will never return from his rock in the sun for fear that all will end in a very unpretty manner.

Random Dozen

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet? ten years

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety? Maybe I should list what varieties I didn't buy. Lemon Chalet and the shortbread

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to? No I don't and yes that would be fun.

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager? yes

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see? I'm not sure because I don't really pay attention to the Oscars.

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself? Never really thought about it, probably watching it done to someone else.

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why? Sunday, it's the day my husband is most likely to take time off and spend with me and our daughter I get to go to Church

8. Do you miss anyone right now? My kids and grandkids on the east coast

9. Do hospitals make you queasy? A little

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you. Borders

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items? Bounty paper towels, Charmin

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels? Both

Adventures of WannaBe SupahMommy: Post It Note Tuesday: What Will You Say Today?

Adventures of WannaBe SupahMommy: Post It Note Tuesday: What Will You Say Today?

Fortune

She sees dragons and princes from past ages coming to the future to save the world from evil

Myrria's updates

Things have been exciting around here. Aaron's Revenge is getting close to leaving home to visit agents and publishers. Everyone is excited but wary we know it will be a long ride once we leave home depending on what we decide to do. So Aaron is mature enough to leave home, but what of Darby and Myrria? The maturation process has begun and will take off in the next couple of weeks. They will begin the critique group rounds.

I thought I'd let Myrria tell you a little bit about Aaron's Revenge, so when some worthy publisher says yes, you will know some of the story. Look forward to installments in Aaron's story along with tidbits from Myrria and Darby's story.

Talk to you soon and God Bless.

New stuff to read

The newest issue of Extreme Woman is up. The theme for the issue is Luke 14:27 about bearing our crosses There are a bunch of great articles including mine Choose the Cross: Reward is God. The link is

http://extremewomanmagazine.com



You might also be interested in checking out my blogs at http://angelsmuse.blogspot.com and http://christina-weigand.blogspot.com