Hi Jill, thanks for following my blog. I'm trying to build it a bit...and hope you'll share what's going on with you often.
Blessed Be,
Barb
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
A SURPRISE INVITATION!!
Shannon Taylor Vannatter Hi Barbara,
Two things. You're not too late for the Lyn cote drawing. Whatever book is up for grabs each week is up from Monday - Saturday and you can leave a comment on any post during that week. Hope that makes sense. I always list the deadline in the heading.
You always give tidbits about your romance and you're a wri...ter, so I was wondering if you'd like to share it on the blog sometime. You can do one, two, or three days. I am booked half way through January, but after that is open. Here are the guidelines: http://shannonvannatter.com/contact/share-your-story/ If you're interested, let me know.
See Moreshannonvannatter.com
Do you swoon over a good love story? The Inkslinger (Shannon's blog) shares love stories of real people just like you and fictional love stories of
- You like this.
- Barbara J Shelton
Shannon, I'm slightly and awesomely overwhelmed by your invitation!! You gave me an wonderful undeserved compliment by calling me a writer....that is my heartfelt hope right now...and I'm learning so much through kind and giving frien...ds like you encouraging me on. Thank you. Your invitation is very appealing to me and spurs me on toward being more creative and start writing that story seriously. I would like to pray on it before I give you a solid answer if you don't mind. I'd like to jump up and down, clap my hands and shout hallelujah....I can clap...and I can shout...but the jumping just won't happen!!! God Bless You my friend, Barb See MoreWednesday at 5:33pm · - Shannon Taylor Vannatter Your profile says you like to write, so you're a writer. Back when I started writing, I attended a conference and the speaker said if we don't think of ourselves as writers and call ourselves writers, we won't ever be writers. Just let me know. No pressure.
WHO IS THIS TREADMILL REALLY FOR ANYWAY?
The Dr's report on my x-rays wasn't surprising but it wasn't welcome news. Just a different response my body is making to the years of abuse and neglect through excess weight and overdoing the intake of spirits....not the spiritual kind. But, that was another day and time...only important to present day in the damage it continues to cause.
Jack and I were both working at our computers last Saturday evening and the phone rang. I noticed on the caller ID while Jack answered that it was Dr D and could hear his voice coming from the receiver when Jack held it to his ear. I listened to the conversational greetings and an apology for the late evening call waiting to hear what he called to tell us.
"I have the report on the x-rays Barb had taken, it's not real good news and explains the increased pain and discomfort she's had."
Jack's usual noncommittal reply..."Un huh...ok" ending the comment like a question.
Dr D continued, "she has severe arthritis in the lumbar spine and several compressed disks." I heard the 'several compressed disks' and wondered to myself how many were several..
I watched my husband's poker face while he continued to listen I heard something about "therapy set up with the clinic...exercise...no medication to prescribe to help.." Jack replying only with "uh hums and i see's"
"What am I...a lump sitting here...?" I asked myself as I listened to the conversation about my medical problems and what could be done. I watched my husband's left hand making notations on the back of a used envelope...one of his ways to save the trees. I heard myself do a brain chuckle about that and lost interest in the conversation and returned to my pc to scan my eyes over an email until the talking ended.
"Well, I could hear some of what Dr D said.....I guess I'll just have to live with this pain until I die." I mumbled as a fit of self-pity began to slip into my attitude. "The pain from the last sciatia attack was unbearable and I thought it was leftover pain from that. I wasn't expecting this and,"
Jack interrupted with his usual practicality that I'd just have to buckle down to the therapy and "the dr suggested aerobic swimming and the treadmill would be helpful. You can finally put that new treadmill that has set in the small bedroom to good use and get our money's worth out of it." Like I'm the one that bought the machine in the first place!
"Great." I thought. "I'm dying from pain and he thinks about saving money." I had another thought about how I had been begging for a treadmill for years with no results, UNTIL the newly adopted dog Riggs, gained weight after he came home with us and his former trainer/owner told Jack that Riggs used to get on her treadmill and walk to entertain himself all the time. A dog took precedent over my wishes when the vet said he was too heavy and needed to lose weight! I guessed I knew where I stood in the priority of things. Who is really the dog around here anyway?
Later that night we were in bed. Jack was softly snoring for the moment and I was reading from my Kindle. Pain and thoughts about pain kept interrupting my concentration with the book. My thoughts were stubborn about accepting all this and decided I would not go back to using the walker. I felt anger...but at who? My worst sins were only in not practicing moderation about some things during my life. But, God is allowing all the consequences to hit me regardless of how I had changed from all of that. I had been thin and sober for many years now...but my body broke anyway. I turned out the light and painfully turned over to face my husband whose snoring had increased in volume and was now snorting.
Closing my eyes I began my prayers which were more about complaining and telling God what I was willing to do and what not.... I remembered that Jack had repeated to me what Dr D had said about physical therapy. His nurse would arrange the therapy and I would receive a call soon with the details. Needless to say I didn't sleep well and limped around in pain preparing for church the next morning. I refused Jack's offer to get the walker out of the garage and put it in the truck. I couldn't believe this was happening after I had spent so many months learning to walk again after each hospitalization over the past eight years. I would not give in to this. I had many private tears in church that morning. I was in such pain that I wasn't able to stand for each hymn we sang or stand with the choir for the first hymns and affirmation of faith. I did stay on my feet to sing the choir anthem, but was so disconcerted by pain I wondered if the congregation could see my shaking legs and trembling hands holding my music. After the anthem, the choir always returned to sit with their families in the congregation. I was very grateful then and on other mornings that Jack also sang in the choir and would help me off the stage and back to our seats. We always had to race between the stampede of the kids rushing forward for the children's sermon.
During the sermon I had quite a hard time keeping my eyes open. The Tramadol medicine I had taken for my arthritis pain before church in addition to the sleepless night was adding up to not hearing anything the Lord would have me hear. When church was over, I was wobbly and off balance as Jack held my hand while we walked in slightly curvy patterns to the truck. I giggled to myself as I thought about giving the church members something to talk about. It would probably be a juicy rumor by Monday morning that I was drinking again. Ha, if only they knew how badly I wished I had.
(to be continued...)
Jack and I were both working at our computers last Saturday evening and the phone rang. I noticed on the caller ID while Jack answered that it was Dr D and could hear his voice coming from the receiver when Jack held it to his ear. I listened to the conversational greetings and an apology for the late evening call waiting to hear what he called to tell us.
"I have the report on the x-rays Barb had taken, it's not real good news and explains the increased pain and discomfort she's had."
Jack's usual noncommittal reply..."Un huh...ok" ending the comment like a question.
Dr D continued, "she has severe arthritis in the lumbar spine and several compressed disks." I heard the 'several compressed disks' and wondered to myself how many were several..
I watched my husband's poker face while he continued to listen I heard something about "therapy set up with the clinic...exercise...no medication to prescribe to help.." Jack replying only with "uh hums and i see's"
"What am I...a lump sitting here...?" I asked myself as I listened to the conversation about my medical problems and what could be done. I watched my husband's left hand making notations on the back of a used envelope...one of his ways to save the trees. I heard myself do a brain chuckle about that and lost interest in the conversation and returned to my pc to scan my eyes over an email until the talking ended.
"Well, I could hear some of what Dr D said.....I guess I'll just have to live with this pain until I die." I mumbled as a fit of self-pity began to slip into my attitude. "The pain from the last sciatia attack was unbearable and I thought it was leftover pain from that. I wasn't expecting this and,"
Jack interrupted with his usual practicality that I'd just have to buckle down to the therapy and "the dr suggested aerobic swimming and the treadmill would be helpful. You can finally put that new treadmill that has set in the small bedroom to good use and get our money's worth out of it." Like I'm the one that bought the machine in the first place!
"Great." I thought. "I'm dying from pain and he thinks about saving money." I had another thought about how I had been begging for a treadmill for years with no results, UNTIL the newly adopted dog Riggs, gained weight after he came home with us and his former trainer/owner told Jack that Riggs used to get on her treadmill and walk to entertain himself all the time. A dog took precedent over my wishes when the vet said he was too heavy and needed to lose weight! I guessed I knew where I stood in the priority of things. Who is really the dog around here anyway?
Later that night we were in bed. Jack was softly snoring for the moment and I was reading from my Kindle. Pain and thoughts about pain kept interrupting my concentration with the book. My thoughts were stubborn about accepting all this and decided I would not go back to using the walker. I felt anger...but at who? My worst sins were only in not practicing moderation about some things during my life. But, God is allowing all the consequences to hit me regardless of how I had changed from all of that. I had been thin and sober for many years now...but my body broke anyway. I turned out the light and painfully turned over to face my husband whose snoring had increased in volume and was now snorting.
Closing my eyes I began my prayers which were more about complaining and telling God what I was willing to do and what not.... I remembered that Jack had repeated to me what Dr D had said about physical therapy. His nurse would arrange the therapy and I would receive a call soon with the details. Needless to say I didn't sleep well and limped around in pain preparing for church the next morning. I refused Jack's offer to get the walker out of the garage and put it in the truck. I couldn't believe this was happening after I had spent so many months learning to walk again after each hospitalization over the past eight years. I would not give in to this. I had many private tears in church that morning. I was in such pain that I wasn't able to stand for each hymn we sang or stand with the choir for the first hymns and affirmation of faith. I did stay on my feet to sing the choir anthem, but was so disconcerted by pain I wondered if the congregation could see my shaking legs and trembling hands holding my music. After the anthem, the choir always returned to sit with their families in the congregation. I was very grateful then and on other mornings that Jack also sang in the choir and would help me off the stage and back to our seats. We always had to race between the stampede of the kids rushing forward for the children's sermon.
During the sermon I had quite a hard time keeping my eyes open. The Tramadol medicine I had taken for my arthritis pain before church in addition to the sleepless night was adding up to not hearing anything the Lord would have me hear. When church was over, I was wobbly and off balance as Jack held my hand while we walked in slightly curvy patterns to the truck. I giggled to myself as I thought about giving the church members something to talk about. It would probably be a juicy rumor by Monday morning that I was drinking again. Ha, if only they knew how badly I wished I had.
(to be continued...)
Friday, October 1, 2010
TRICIA GOYER'S GREAT QUESTIONS AND BARB'S ANSWER!
Tricia Goyer Working on a book proposal & need your input on these questions: Answer one or many!
Have you ever compared yourself to another parent? How do you stack up?
What type of things do you compare?
Do you ever turn to God to help with your self-esteem or security?
How do you model for your kids that what Jesus thinks is MOST important?
...How does deepening your relationship with God help you be more transparent with others?See More
2 hours ago · · Have you ever compared yourself to another parent? How do you stack up?
What type of things do you compare?
Do you ever turn to God to help with your self-esteem or security?
How do you model for your kids that what Jesus thinks is MOST important?
...How does deepening your relationship with God help you be more transparent with others?See More
- Nancy Williams Great questions to consider. Hope this moves from a proposal to publication.about an hour ago · ·
- Barbara J Shelton Need to get my thinking cap on if it still fits! Can I get back with you, Tricia? I've got total recall...I'd like to recall a lot of things I did as a parent! Just kidding...I'll think about these great questions seriously.
TID BIT I ADDED TO AUTHOR MICHELLE SUTTON'S BLOG, HEALING HEARTS
One of the reasons I want to learn to blog is that I can keep track of comments I make to giveaways, exceptional articles and those authors that I admire. I see this as practice for the real thing when I am doing the real thing and my mind dissolves in a "senior moment." I hope someone will look one day at all this disorganized chaos and let me know they enjoyed or appreciated my efforts. I wonder what my 92 year old mother would say? LOL
Fiction can be healing when it's used to open the eyes of someone who is blinded by their sin...
Jeannie Campbell, better known as "the character therapist" is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She wanted to share about how fiction can be used to help someone understand something that they simply weren't getting from an explanation in a counseling session. They needed to "see" it in a story to catch the full meaning. She says it best here...
"It's nice when I run across a book that not only speaks to me, but that I know will speak to my clients and the very situations they find themselves in. Michelle isn't afraid to "go there," which makes her books not only realistic, but page-turning. A lot of authors wouldn't touch the subject matter Michelle seems to thrive on, and her books definitely reach a population of readers who don't always end up with a happily ever after in their own lives. Showing characters dealing with various sins and their consequences is true to life.
I recently read a book of Michelle's and knew it would be a keeper for my list of therapeutic books to recommend to clients. Her bold approach to fiction is refreshing--and yes, shocking!--but life is shocking, is it not? I told a client that sometimes the allure of sin pales in comparison to the consequences. She was confused, and asked what I meant. I directed her to one of Michelle's books. The broken and guilty way she portrayed her character spoke to this women, and she realized that her own personal sin, much like the character's--no, exactly like the character's--was a barrier to achieving true, lasting happiness in the arms of a caring Savior.
Everyone should get a chance to check out what's so healing about Michelle's books. I know I'm looking forward to her new series!"
Jeannie Campbell, LMFT
the character therapist
( me and Jeannie Campbell)
I recently read a book of Michelle's and knew it would be a keeper for my list of therapeutic books to recommend to clients. Her bold approach to fiction is refreshing--and yes, shocking!--but life is shocking, is it not? I told a client that sometimes the allure of sin pales in comparison to the consequences. She was confused, and asked what I meant. I directed her to one of Michelle's books. The broken and guilty way she portrayed her character spoke to this women, and she realized that her own personal sin, much like the character's--no, exactly like the character's--was a barrier to achieving true, lasting happiness in the arms of a caring Savior.
Everyone should get a chance to check out what's so healing about Michelle's books. I know I'm looking forward to her new series!"
Jeannie Campbell, LMFT
the character therapist
1 comments:
- barbjan10 said...
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- Well said, Jeannie!! You have said so much about Michelle's grit and dedication to women's issues in a few succinct words. Michelle is capable of insightful writing as though she were looking into my mind and speaking to my scars, my problems and hurtful memories. She not only opens eyes to their own sin, she opens up the hurt created by the sins of others and exposes understanding forgiveness of self and others. A great trigger to healing is the truth of God's everlasting love and overcoming power. Trusting God in all crucial circumstances is her key that opens the healing doors. I congratulate you for using her books in your practice. She does write as though she is a degreed therapist, doesn't she? Sharing Christ's Love, Barb Shelton
Fiction can be healing when it's used to open the eyes of someone who is blinded by their sin... Jeannie Campbell, better known as "the character therapist" is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She wanted to share about how fiction can be used to help someone understand something that they simply weren't getting from an explanation in a counseling session. They needed to "see" it in a story to catch the full meaning. She says it best here... ( me and Jeannie Campbell) "It's nice when I run across a book that not only speaks to me, but that I know will speak to my clients and the very situations they find themselves in. Michelle isn't afraid to "go there," which makes her books not only realistic, but page-turning. A lot of authors wouldn't touch the subject matter Michelle seems to thrive on, and her books definitely reach a population of readers who don't always end up with a happily ever after in their own lives. Showing characters dealing with various sins and their consequences is true to life. I recently read a book of Michelle's and knew it would be a keeper for my list of therapeutic books to recommend to clients. Her bold approach to fiction is refreshing--and yes, shocking!--but life is shocking, is it not? I told a client that sometimes the allure of sin pales in comparison to the consequences. She was confused, and asked what I meant. I directed her to one of Michelle's books. The broken and guilty way she portrayed her character spoke to this women, and she realized that her own personal sin, much like the character's--no, exactly like the character's--was a barrier to achieving true, lasting happiness in the arms of a caring Savior. Everyone should get a chance to check out what's so healing about Michelle's books. I know I'm looking forward to her new series!" Jeannie Campbell, LMFT the character therapist Posted by Michelle Sutton at 8:07 AM Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz Labels: fiction, Jeannie Campbell, novel, testimony, therapy 1 comments: barbjan10 said... Well said, Jeannie!! You have said so much about Michelle's grit and dedication to women's issues in a few succinct words. Michelle is capable of insightful writing as though she were looking into my mind and speaking to my scars, my problems and hurtful memories. She not only opens eyes to their own sin, she opens up the hurt created by the sins of others and expose
Below is a comment conversation line on Facebook on the death of Tony Curtis that I was a participant. Interesting the different takes on a person's life. Just sharing in case anyone's passing by my blog today.
Comments are welcome.
Robin shared a post with TypePad
I was always fond of Tony Curtis as an actor. Hard to believe he was 85 when he passed away Wednesday. (But it's hard for me to believe I'm not still 32, too.) I loved Tony and his wife Janet Leigh (not to mention Kirk Douglas) in The Vikings. But I'd have to pick Some ...Like It Hot as my favorite Tony Curtis film. He pulls off a darn good Cary Grant in the movie, although that's not part of...
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