New Bible Verse ~ Sunday, June 24th

New Bible verse posted as of Sunday, June 24th. Have a great week!

Romans 13:8 (NIV)

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.


God Bless!
T Denise Clary

Guest Blogger: Editor Jennifer Moody "Choose Your Words Carefully"

Choose Your Words Carefully
         

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word
is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
~Mark Twain

I read a lot of books (it goes with the territory). I’m open to pretty much any genre (except the really scary horror stuff … I’m a big chicken). Authors who have a true, molded gift for writing can blow me away with their work. Sadly, that doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. But oh when it does … I question whether I’m talented enough to read my Kindle while driving down the interstate. (I don’t, of course. Kids – don’t try this at home, er, on the road…)

My daughter makes fun of me because I often refuse to read books that everyone is raving about. Oh, I’ll read them … later. I don’t know why, but I don’t want to read them when everyone else is reading them. So I wait … and read them six months later when all the hootin’ and hollerin’ has subsided. (Twilight and The Hunger Games are two that come to mind.)

Then there are books that I know I will never read, no matter how much people rave about them. For example, I had NO plans of reading 50 shades of anything whatsoever. Everyone I knew was reading it and asking me if I had (um, no), but when will I (um, never). I didn’t care how well it was selling; I know darn well that sales don’t always have anything to do with the quality of work. It wasn’t until an Editor/Author friend asked me if I’d read it to give her my opinion (she wanted to know “what’s the big whoopin’ deal with this book?”) that I relented. By chapter five I could no longer take the horrible word repetition. I could not sit back and just read because every time she described something and followed it with “…oh my,” I thought … Ugh, she said it again! Why didn’t her Editor tell her she’s saying “oh my” too many times?!

It happens 72 times in the book, y’all. SEVENTY-TWO TIMES.

...Enough about that. The point here is, when you’re writing, choose your words carefully. Read, reread, write, rewrite. I know, I know, I’m always saying that, but seriously, think about the picture you’re painting. See if you can re-word it in a way that makes the reader form his own image, rather than always doing it for him.

“Don't tell me the moon is shining;
show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
~Anton Chekhov

The world needs more Anton Chekhovs. You’re out there. I’ve read your work (even if they weren’t talking about it on the morning show; in fact, especially if they weren’t talking about it).

Thank you, to all the wonderful writers out there, for sharing your gift with the world.

Jen

Jennifer Moody is a Professional Editor and the Owner of MoodyEdits. To learn more about Jen, visit her website at www.MoodyEdits.com. You might enjoy her take on living a happy life, on her blog “Editing My Life One Day at a Time” at www.MoodyEdits.blogspot.com. And if you wanted to be nice, you could like her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MoodyEdits.

My Summer Blog Series - "The Week of Non-Stop"

"SUMMERTIME SERIES"

The Week of Non-Stop

Last week was very busy for the family and I. Below is a glimpse of my week in a nutshell...

The Week...thru Wednesday

First and foremost I am happy to report that we actually finished de-cluttering our house. Yay!! It took us a full 7 days to completely de-clutter the house and get it in shape for the cleaning people. I'm still amazed that I lasted as long as I did and didn't give up on the daunting task. But I'm pretty sure my energy and motivation were continually fueled with the thought of having a clutter-free home! And to top it off, a cleaning crew (well, 2 little ladies) came in on Wednesday and cleaned and polished up everything! Wow, you talk about a major difference in the look and smell of our home. Take a look at the pics below... 

Last of the load to go to the donation center. Wow!

I finally organized all the closets. No more clutter!

The cleaning ladies polished up everything!

Wednesday Continued...

Our home was cleaned just in time to welcome our out-of-town guests that came in on Wednesday, just as the cleaning crew were finishing. Our friends Jason and Heather, along with their kids and dog Reese, came to stay for the night as they were passing through our city. Our friends Jason and Heather (whom my husband and I originally met on a cruise years ago) were moving from Texas to Maryland. We'll miss them living close, but love the fact we have an excuse to visit them on the East Coast! I think we'll be planning a trip as soon as they get settled.  :-)

Below are some pics of Jason & Heather and my husband & I on the cruise where we first met them, and a pic of them leaving our home as they continue on their road trip to Maryland...

My husband and I with Jason and Heather on the cruise where we first met, 2008.

Jason and Heather and their family, leaving our house moving from Texas to Maryland.

Thursday ~ Friday

On Thursday and Friday, I attended the Annual Meeting for the State Bar of Texas. The Annual Meeting is a legal conference where attorneys from all across Texas meet every year in June.  I saw old familiar faces and attended a lot of good CLE (Continuing Legal Education courses). One thing that I distinctly remember taking away from the conference is an inspirational quote I heard in one of the CLE courses. I thought I'd share and hope you get inspired by the quote as much as I did. The quote is from attorney Linda Strite Murnane titled, "There is No Such Thing as Can't." See below...

There is no such thing as "can’t."

There is such a thing as "won’t,"

"don’t want to,"

"don’t choose to,"

"don’t adopt this as my priority,"

but there is no such thing as "can’t."

"Can’t" represents a lack of choice.

 And when we resign ourselves to a reality

that does not include individual choice,

we accept barriers others would impose upon us.

 —Colonel Linda Strite Murnane, Esq. 

Colonel Linda Strite Murnane, Esq. 

Saturday

Saturday was a day spent running errands and shopping. A mini-greenhouse that my son and I found on the Internet finally came in. We had ordered it for our little vegetable garden we started this summer. A very fun project that I will post about soon, but for now, here are pics of my husband (and 3 year old) putting the greenhouse together...

Father and daughter putting together the mini-greenhouse.

Finished!

Sunday

Sunday was of course Father's Day. After spending the morning in church, I treated my husband to a mini spa day (well sort of). I needed a pedicure, so I thought why not take my hubby along to get one too, LOL. We also brought our 3 year old daughter with us and it was her first time getting a mani/pedi. I got a kick out of watching how excited my husband was to get his feet and legs rubbed on. He was in heaven! And my 3 year old also was equally excited!!  After our trip to the nail salon, off we went to my parents house to enjoy dinner with the folks, followed by an evening of entertainment at a "Father's Day" concert featuring gospel artist Fred Hammond. Definitely a great day hanging out with the family! Here are a few pics from the day...

Father's Day pedicures!

Enjoying the rub-down, LOL!

My daughter's first pedicure...

...and manicure

Father's Day concert featuring Fred Hammond.

My parents with my 3 year old at the concert.

Whew! Last week was definitely a busy week, but I thank the Lord for continually giving me the energy and strength to get through the days...it also helps that He's blessed me with the best family and friends ever!! They are definitely a source of energy and strength.  :-)

God Bless!

T Denise Clary

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. - Hebrews 6:11 (NIV)

New Bible Verse ~ Sunday, June 17th

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

What better way to celebrate this Father's Day, by not only celebrating the fathers in our lives, but also remembering and thanking our Heavenly Father for ALL He has done, and giving us the ultimate gift...the gift of life! Happy Father's Day, have a great week!

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God Bless!
T Denise Clary