Thanks for the wonderful feedback

I have been so blessed by the comments that have come in this week, and thought I'd post some here.

I am reading your book Quilting Patches of Life, and it has been such a joy. I always look forward to the next story. What an awesome idea! We are traveling...and it is fun to have such great reading material along. - D.S.

Your book is wonderful and our librarian has added it to our reading program. - D.C.

I did so enjoy your program. One of the best. Thanks. - J.A.

Liked the way she worked music and singing into the program.

Your stories were so touching and I enjoyed them. - L.F.

I copied your article about chocolates and mailed a copy to my friend, along with a bag of chocolate truffles and a little note...Anyway she took the article to work with her at the hospital...and the chocolates to share them with her friends there. She loved the article. I also let the lady that I take care of read it and she wanted a copy too. She said she was going to mail it to her friend in Spain! I loved it! - B.C.

I was just blown away to get so much positive feedback in one week. Thank you. Thank you, and may God richly bless each one who took the time to write, and those who have taken the time to read.

"Bachik the Birthday Kiss" is ready for printing!

Much of yesterday was spent in Grand Rapids with the very hospitable and efficient folks at Heule Gordon. It was quite an experience watching Tiffany bring Andrea's warm and wonderful artwork together with the story of Bachik the Birthdya Kiss into a beautiful book. And Carl Heule has been so helpful in lining everything up, making the decisions necessary to see this project through to completion.

It looks like it will be about three months before I receive the first shipment, but it will be worth the wait. This company puts out a quality product that I can't wait to share with everyone, especially my Armenian friends and family...and the new people I will meet at the Armenian ladies retreat I was just booked to speak at on June 6.

Out of the Blue

For those who don't know my history, you may think this next project is completely out of the blue, and to some degree, it is. My first husband (deceased in 1997), was Armenian, and also a twin--very artistic, too. Before he got sick, we often traveled out East to visit his family where I experienced much of the Armenian culture: food, language, music, etc. My mother-in-law played jumping, clapping games with my little girl, and I've recently relived many of those memories when my younger brother-in-law brought a new little boy into the family.

So...here comes a new book! Following are one of the pictures painted by the very talented Andrea Kalajian, my niece and the daughter of my deceased husband's twin. There's a bit of copy from the back cover, too.

A delightful, interactive book, Bachik the Birthday Kiss engages young and old in its mingling of Armenian and English. This vibrantly illustrated, lively work is sure to be a favorite among children and educators, Armenian and non-Armenian alike. A pronunciation guide is included, and children will clap, jump and count along with the birthday boy as he celebrates his big day—a special time with family that ends in a double-cheeked birthday kiss.

For anyone interested in Andrea Kalajian's artwork, she has a blog: www.andreakalajian@blogspot.com.

Books will be available soon. Check back for more info.

Mary Moments in my Maniacal Martha World

I admit it. I'm so easily distracted. My mind is like a butterfly flittering here and there. Well enough, I say! Today, I am in Alexandria, Louisiana, for the Because of the Times prayer conference.

You should see me at home, though. Here's a typical scenario: Working on a book I walk into the kitchen for coffee where I begin emptying the dishwasher, but notice something on the counter that needs to go upstairs. Before I know it, I have half the laundry out of the dryer (yes, I have upstairs laundry and it's wonderful), but then the phone rings...and if you look back over my trail, you will see the unfinished projects in my wake.

Three hours later I notice the dryer door is still opened, my coffee cup is still in the microwave cold as anything, and the bottom rack of the dishwasher was never emptied. But I probably did go back to my desk and get some writing done. It's my passion! And if you want to know what real passion is, consider this: passion comes from a root word that means to suffer. Passion (true love) suffers. I guess that makes the phrase "the passion of the Christ" make sense, doesn't it? Jesus certainly loved us so deeply He was willing to suffer for us.

Anyway...I am so excited. I left all my books and brochures behind, my writing work, too, to turn away from distraction and responsibilites and submerge in the presence of God. Yes, I'm on my computer today, but it is getting turned off in the morning and I don't plan to get back on for the next three days. Praise God!

While I was here I received a wonderful message from someone who gave her 81-year-old neighbor a copy of Quilting Patches of Life. Her quote follows:

She commented on the comfort she received while reading your book last year as her husband was in his final days.

I also received a note from another saying:

...your ministry to me became a ministry of restoration. I began to feel hope...The more you poured out from your unselfish life, into my very wounded life, the more healing took place...

Folks, it just doesn't get any better than that. Hearing I've impacted the lives of others--well, it's just awesome and makes all the hard work worthwhile.

That's what Affirming Faith is all about: encouraging everyone, wherever they are in their walk with God, to have hope--and also to share the good message that there is always more in God. I know you probably thought I had all this Christianity thing all wrapped up, but no (just kidding BTW). The man or woman at the highest pinnacle in their spiritual walk with God can still learn more and be more for Him.

Sure, I'm hoping for a nice contract on my latest novel (feel free to add that to your prayer list), but the joy of impacting lives for Jesus is far more valuable than earthly gain, and I thank the Lord for the many wonderful opportunities He's given to me.

God's Gonna Shine in 2009!

Don't you believe it? I do! I was sitting at my desk working, and the phrase came to mind... Yes! God's Gonna Shine in 2009! And we are His little lights!

I'm an upbeat person, but also a realist. As I shared breakfast with my husband this morning, in celebration of our anniversary, we talked about our goals and concerns for 2009. There is much going on in our world, but as I looked across the table into his sparkling blue eyes, I realized something.

"I feel happy," I said.

Bill smiled, and we held hands across the tabletop. Although we scaled back on expenditures this holiday, I'd still been so busy I didn't really take the time to "check in" with my emotions, but I realized I was happy.

"Sometimes I'm almost afraid to feel happy, because I know life is going to smack me down again," I said.

"If you're happy," he replied, "or your miserable, the devil's still going to try to smack you down even farther. You might as well choose to be happy."

Sage advice...Thanks, Bill! Now, remember...let your little light shine for Jesus!

Josh Groban's Oh Holy Night/Nativity Video

I know we're all busy, but the four+ minutes it takes to experience this video clip of Jesus' birth is something you won't regret.