If you prayed

If you prayed for me to finish my book this week, please accept this "Thanks for Your Friendship" award from the bottom of my heart, the top of my lungs, and all organs in between. Post it on your blog, your face book page, wherever you like. I am proud to call you my friends. We accomplished this together.

God came through with some sweet surprises and last minute changes. I love when He pulls rank like that and shows off a little. He is so cool.

In the midst of all this craziness, I decided to enter the Erma Bombeck Humor Writers' Competition. The deadline is Sunday the 31st. They only offer it every two years, so I hated to wait...

Coming Monday Feb. 1st: A prize giveaway you will not want to miss: The 2nd Annual Office Products Basket Drawing. Woo Hoo and Yippee Dippee!!!!

With Love in the Lamb,
Jen

A Christmas Gift for YOU

In honor of all my blogging buddies and faithful followers, I bestow this blog award on YOU.

You don't have to do anything to receive it; you've already proven you deserve it by the blessings you've given me over the last year: Wisdom, laughter, inspiration, camaraderie, and love.

I applaud you. I treasure you. I am honored to be on this planet with you.

Post this on your blog with confidence. You have made a positive difference in one person's life. If not for you, I may have given up this arduous race. Because of you, I am still on the track. Thank you. My heart overflows with gratitude to you, and to the Lord, who brought you my way.

May Jesus, the King of the Ages, give you your heart's desires this Christmas. May 2010 be full of favor from His gracious hand and heart.

I love you dearly,
Jen

A God Moment/Thank Yous

I trembled as I read the subject line of the email: “Jeanette: I would like to offer you a contract…”

My voice cracked into wee fragments. “Kevin, you have to come see this, Honey.”

I wept and Kevin smiled his ever gentle smile as we read the email together. An agent contract! From my #1 choice, Diana Flegal of Hartline Agency, whom I met just two months ago at a writers’ conference. And on my birthday!

God, You are remarkable!

When Jody Hedlund, blogger and writer par excellence was offered representation by Rachelle Gardner a few months ago, I was elated beyond words for her, throwing my fruit-on-the-brim hat in the air and doing the Snoopy dance all over town! Not really, but it makes for a good story...

Now when my own dream comes true, all I can do is cry tears of joy and thankfulness. And trepidation. I want to do my best, to make it easy for Diana to represent writing she can be proud of. Mostly I want to make my Father proud. And make enough money to hire someone to mop my floors!

I know this is a God moment. I could not have orchestrated this if I’d planned for a lifetime. All I can do is get down on my knees and say “Thank you, thank you, thank you. And help me, please.”

I want you to know: I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU GUYS. I have nearly given up a zillion times, but you’ve all been there rooting me on with your kind encouragement and your nourishing blog posts. So in a very real sense this is an honor for you as well as me. Thank you for washing my feet again and again, keeping me in this race. I love you all dearly.

When you’ve had an answer to prayer and a dream come true, do you fall apart and cry like me, or jump around and scream? Do you run to the fridge for a Coke or the cupboard for a truffle? Who do you thank—besides Jesus—for helping you realize your dream?

Miracles Come in All Sizes

Well! I'm back from the Write to Publish conference with a "thank you" list a mile long for all your prayers while I was there. You guys are sweetness embodied! I bragged on you to many people.

I hope to find time to post photos later in the week, but for now I'll just list a few small and large miracles I'm so thankful for, of which you played a part:


One agent and two book editors are interested in my books! Woohoo and Yippee Dippee!! (this is why I'm so covered up this week; I have to revise proposals and sample chapters-- yikes! More prayer needed!)

I ate lunch once with Mary DeMuth and had dessert with Mary and Rachelle Gardener. They are both very gracious, godly ladies. We talked about kids, Mary's time in France and other ordinary stuff.


Jim Watkins agreed to endorse my books--- another Woohoo!!


God provided a ride home, so my son did not have to drive four hours to pick me up.


I purchased several cd's of sessions, as well as books to give away here. Stay tuned...

I made many new friends, and learned so much it's falling out my ears! God is faithful.


Again, thank you for all the prayers. I am so grateful (oops! passive verb!).


Love you, Jen