Cinderfella and the Furry Godmother

Drum roll please.

TA DA......

My fifth children's book Cinderfella and the Furry Godmother has been released today from Guardian Angel Publishing.

Samantha Bell is the illustrator. I met Samantha at a Write2Ignite Conference in North Carolina. Children will love her whimsical art.





I also learned that my next picture book Stilts the Stork will be released in January. K.C. Snider, the artist who illustrated my Christmas picture book Baby Jesus is Missing is the illustrator.

God is sooooo good,
Dixie

Blessed

Paul and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary on Thanksgiving Day this year. God has been good to us and given us thankful hearts, but since Paul's kidney transplant on June 12, 2008, we are even more grateful. We realize that each day is sacred and choose to seize the precious moments - every single one - that God grants to us.



This year was Easton Paul's first Thanksgiving and Tristan's second. If you think our hands are full, you should see our hearts. =-)



With an attitude of gratitude,
Dixie

Forward...... March.....

I recently heard about Captain Jeremiah Denton, who returned home on February 11th, 1973, after years of captivity as a P.O.W. in North Vietnam. When the media asked him to comment, he said, "We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances."

I was deeply moved by his quote and couldn't help but wonder about those of us who are called to serve in the Lord's Army. When Jesus asks us to take up our Cross or make a sacrifice, I wondered if we shared Captain Denton's attitude - "We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our God under difficult circumstances."

Lord, help us to "endure hardness as a good soldier...."

Forward....... March..... Hup, two, three, four....

Grammy Award

I have so many precious memories of my grandmothers. Both my paternal and maternal grandmothers loved the Lord. They came from two completely different doctrinal backgrounds, but each had a vibrant faith. (This probably explains why I am a Heinz 57 Christian.) There's no doubt about the permanent and eternal "footprints" they have left in my heart. And not a single day goes by that I don't think of them and remember some tidbit of wisdom they gave me.

My maternal grandmother loved music. She enjoyed singing while she worked around the house. I have her to thank for knowing so many timeless hymns. She sang the glory down while scrubbing pots and pans. She never skipped a verse of a hymn. So that means all of us, who were fortunate enough to be in her home, learned all the verses, too. Grandma also had a large stack of gospel records that she played every day. When I was a little girl I never realized the impact her music had on me, but yet to this day when I hear one of "Grandma's" songs, my eyes fill with tears.

Grandma often sang about heaven and how Jesus grew sweeter each day. I remember the Speer Family singing one of Dad Speer's old classic - "Sweeter Each Day."

I have a Savior who loves me I know.
He guiding and guarding wherever I go.
He walks beside me along the bright way.
His love grows sweeter each day.

Sweeter each day.
Sweeter each day.
His love grows sweeter along the bright way.
Sweeter each day.
Sweeter each day.
His love grows sweeter each day.

If you are burdened with sin's awful strife.
Just come to the Savior, He'll give you new life.
Then you can say as you travel the way.
His love grows sweeter each day.





I'm a grandmother now of two of the most precious little boyzz - Tristan and Easton. We are expecting our third grandchild in May. I had the wonderful opportunity of babysitting our grandsons today. As I rushed around, tending to the wee ones, I had a blast from the past. I remembered being at my grandma's house when I was a small child. In my mind's eye, I could see the kitchen table, Grandma's favorite chair and my special drawer. But most of all I remembered my Grandma's soft, silky hands and how she prayed for me.

As I rocked our little men today, I had a greater understanding of my grandmother's love and her prayers for me. I closed my moist eyes and thanked the Lord for giving me such wonderful grandmothers and adorable grandsons. They are priceless! And I pray that I can mirror the love of Jesus to our grandchildren like my grandma did to me.

Mirror Mirror Off the Wall

Bezalel made the bronze washbasin and its bronze stand from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Exodus 38:8 NLT

These women made a great sacrifice giving their bronze mirrors to Bezalel. For some, it possibly meant never being able to see their reflection again.

There are days I feel Jesus is asking me to give my mirror to Him. There seems to be a “Call” from Heaven, pleading with me to look at myself less and to fasten my eyes upon my Savior more. This simple token of my love is not as easy as it seems. Giving my mirror to Jesus means that I can’t always be looking out for “me.”

There are days I fail. I clutch my mirror like a toddler clinging to his favorite blanket and insist on peering at my reflection and making sure I'm watching out for myself and all that concerns "me." Those are the days I am most miserable.

But there are other days, I take the mirror off my wall and offer it to Jesus. A miraculous transformation takes place. Heaven changes this earthen vessel as I gaze into His face and begin to reflect His image. Looking at Him helps me see from Heaven's point of view. I have learned all the mountains I face are just small hills from Heaven't point of view. My eternal vision becomes so keen I minister to the needs of others.

I can't help but burst forth into song when my eyes are fastened on Jesus. I begin to sing a song my beloved grandmother taught me when her eyes had been anointed with the Spirit's eye salve. –

Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus.
I’ve lost sight of all beside.
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Looking at the Crucified.

I will begin today by taking my mirror off the wall and giving it to my King. Maybe there is someone that I can love for Jesus today.

“Mirror, mirror off the wall.
Today I give to Christ my all?”