Heaven's Accent

When I first met and fell in love with my husband Paul, we had a communication problem. He was from the deep south and I was a northern gal. His thick southern accent and my Yankee tongue sometimes gave us problems. There were quite a few -

"What did you say?"

"Could you repeat that?"

"Pardon me?"

We've been together now for over 31 years. I'm glad to say our communication is much better.

Today, as I sat in the Lord's presence, I wondered if I had Heaven's accent on my tongue and His light upon my heart. As I live my life before my family and community, I pray they would desire the One whom my soul loves. Now that I am west of 50, with more years behind me than ahead of me, I don't want to speak my own words or think my own thoughts. My heart burns within me for Jesus to increase in my life. I pray every day He will stamp His image on my heart.

When I speak with my natural, fleshly accent, I soon discover a very self-absorbed person, but when I speak with Heaven's accent, Jesus is first. His Holy Spirit leads me give the Living Water to those who are thirsty and to bind up the broken hearted.

Yes, Heaven's accent is best.


Y'all come back now y'hear,
Dixie

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

Miss K.C. keeps cranking out the pictures and I can't help sharing them with y'all. Baby Jethuth is Mithing will be available this fall. A little guy named Josiah is the main character and he speaks with a lisp. His parents get a little materialistic during the Christmas season, but God uses little Joe to help them find Baby Jesus.

Only seven months until Christmas...... :-)

Dixie

Baby Jethuth is Mithing

I am so excited about the illustrations being created by K.C. Snider for my newest children's book Baby Jethuth is Mithing! I just had to share the first page with y'all. If you want to see more of K.C.'s amazing artwork just go to her link below.

Snider Art Studio
http://www.kcsniderart.com

Writing for little ones,
Dixie

Baby Jethuth is Mithing

**Drum roll please!** Ta da! Here it the cover of my children's book - "Baby Jethuth is Mithing!" K.C. Snider is the illustrator and her work speaks for itself. This humorous Christmas story will be available through Guardian Angel Publishing this fall.

Writing 4 little ones,
Dixie

Another Children's Book

I am happy to announce that I have another children's book accepted by GAP. Just had to share the good news with all my blogging buddies.

I'm also very excited because K.C. Snider has begun illustrations on my fourth children's book - Baby Jethuth is Mithing. I'll try to post some pictures as she sends them to me.

Thanks to all of you for your loving support.

Forever friends,
Dixie

A Father's Prayer

My husband Paul has three brothers. Since their parents passed away several years ago, they have planned a fishing trip every May. This year they met in southern Iowa.

Their daddy was a wonderful man. He was a deacon for many years and served the Lord faithfully. Before Paul and his baby brother were born, his daddy was a P.O.W. in WWII. He lost over 40 pounds and was very sick. At his lowest point, he cried out to the Lord. He promised the Lord if He would bring him safely back to America he would take his two little boys to church and teach them about Jesus. (These two boys would be Paul's two older brothers.) The Lord spared his life and Paul's daddy came home and kept his promise. Two more boys were born - Paul and his baby brother Don. Both Paul and Don are pastors. For over thirty years, they have proclaimed the "Good News" from their pulpits. They are tremendous fishermen, but even better fishers-of-men!

Our Baby's Getting Married

Today was bittersweet. It was our baby daughter's first bridal shower. She and her high school sweetheart - Isaac Wendland will be married on June 27th. It hardly seems possible that the youngest of our four children will be married. (This makes three weddings in eleven months and also throw our son giving his daddy a kidney a year ago in there, too.) We are too blessed to be stressed!

I just thought some of you might enjoy seeing a few pictures of our special day.

Until we meet again,
Dixie

One Lovely Blog Award

Thanks to my new "eternal friend" Jean, I have been the lucky recepient of the Lovely Blog Award! God bless you, Mizz Jean!


Now it is my honor to present this award to five other blogs.

The Lovely Blogs Award goes to:

Rachel at www.thenoltfamily.blogspot.com Thank you, Rachel, for you authenticity and transparency! You are truly a breath of fresh air.

Kristi at http://www.kristibutler.blogspot.com/ God bless you, Kristi, for your words of grace. The best is yet to come.

Amy at http://thevirginiascribe.blogspot.com/ Amy, you have the gift of encouragement. Thank you for letting your light shine for JESUS!


Beka at http://bekafox.blogspot.com/ Thank you, Beka, for helping us realize that life's simple pleasures are the best. You make me smile.

and last but not least...

Cari at http://adayinthelifeofcari.blogspot.com/ Cari, thanks for being authentic in your faith. It is refreshing!

Intense applause to each one for you!

Dixie

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom turned 77 last month. In my mind's eye, she's still just 36. **grin** I feel very blessed to still have my mother. Many of my friends have already bid a final farewell to their mothers in this life. I guess I feel especially blessed to have my mother because for many years depression tried to steal my mom from my two older brothers and me. But when I was 16, JESUS passed by our house. My mom gave her broken heart to Him. He did just as He promised - He mended her shattered heart. People who meet my mom cannot believe she was ever suicidal or severely depressed. She's always spreading SONshine to others and telling JESUS the rest. Yes, I am blessed and I know it. Thank you, Lord, for giving me the best mother in the whole world.

Story Wins Honorable Mention in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Storytime Writers' Contest

I am pleased to announce that my story about homeschooling was given an "Honorable Mention" in The Old Schoolhouse Storytime Writer's Contest. My new friend - Samantha Bell's story was chosen, too. Samantha and I will be joining hearts and hands for our book - The Furry Godmother, available through Guardian Angel Publishing later this year.

I've cut and pasted the announcement on The Old Schoolhouse webpage below.

I'm gonna keep on singing,
Dixie


The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Storytime Writers Contest

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is very pleased to announce the winners of our Storytime Writing Contest!

Grand Prize Winner Adult Division
Emma Spoon

Congratulations also to our Runners-Up and Honorable Mentions!
Adult Division
Second Place - Gayle Peterson
Third Place - Martha McLean
Fourth Place - Gail Kappenman
Fifth Place - Tom Rountree

Honorable Mentions
Adult Division
Lisa Coburn
Lisa M. Jefferies
Samantha Bell
Rebecca Gutschow
Julie Baron
Dixie Phillips
Liane Clark

You'll be able to read the winning stories in our Summer Issue. Also be watching for them to combine with our eleven honorable mentions in an e-book that will be published and available for sale in the Schoolhouse Store. Thank you to everyone who participated and many thanks to our distinguished panel of judges who selected the winners. We received many excellent entries this year!