I hate to admit this but I've had to buy reading glasses during the last year. Which has led to buying more, because I can never find them when I need them.

Now I remember when my mother went through this stage. She had 'granny' glasses, as we called them. She wore a chain around her neck so she always had them available. Now she has tri-focal lenses. That thought makes me dizzy.

But I've finally figured out God's great plan in all of this, why our eyesight starts to fade as we get older. That way we don't see the wrinkles forming. It's like watching a Doris Day film -- everything in soft focus!

How sweet the sound! I've been wanting to see the movie, Amazing Grace, for a long time. Last night it arrived in my packet of Blockbuster.com movies. Yea! After cloroxing my house yesterday to get rid of any remaining germs, I took a break and watched the movie with my kids (9 and 8). It was a fabulous movie! Very well done. Very moving. Powerful message. It is now on my 'to buy' list.

Cued up next is Hairspray! (thanks Jennifer for the recommendation!)

well, not Christmas! We put our tree up a week ago, before Thanksgiving as we usually do. First the lights on top didn't work. So before putting all the ornaments on, I started searching for more lights. Couldn't find any that blinked the way the bottom half of the tree lights blinkety blinked. Sigh. Finally found some. But then my son and I came down with a virus. As the laundry piles up and I fall further behind with my writing and line edits, it could be New Years before I get around to decorating the tree. Bah humbug! (which is sooooo not like me!) Think it would be bad to have the tree up at Easter? Or maybe through the 4th of July?

for great movies to be coming out. My kids have been anticipating several movies that are coming out soon, like National Treasure 2 (Book of Secrets) and The Water Horse. We LOVED the first National Treasure movie. It was lots of fun, full of interesting historical information and combined with an intriguing but appropriate story. So we are really anticipating this one (Dec. 21)! The preview for The Water Horse just made us salivate it's so charming and the cinematography looks fabulous (Dec. 25).

Over the holiday weekend, we saw Enchanted. We couldn't wait to see this movie from the first moment we saw the preview. And it delivered! My family really enjoyed this one! We also saw Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. My daughter loved this movie but my son and husband were bored. It did move slowly and there wasn't as much story. But it was interesting. Tweaking the message, belief comes first. I've been doing Beth Moore's study on Believing God and it's pretty powerful to realize we see God move when we first believe. Power! Shazaam! So as a parent, if appropriate, you could dig a little deeper in this topic and move it into a spiritual realm rather than simply the secular version of believe in yourself.

Anyhoo, any other good movies out there that you've seen lately at the theater or at home?

I got hit by Lynda Schab to write 10 things I'm thankful for, so here goes:
1. God. He has so blessed us. I've learned so much about him this year.
2. My husband. He is so supportive and helpful. Such a great man!
3. My kids. They are so wonderful! So amazing to watch as they grow and learn.
4. My parents. I especially glad my dad is still here this year.
5. My friends! I have so many friends and am so blessed. It's been great meeting more friends through Shoutlife.
6. My kids' school. It's been an adjustment, but I'm grateful for the ability for my kids to attend, for their teachers, for the school and what it stands for and how they believe school is a true partnership with parents.
7. My husband's job.
8. My sweet little pets that give us so much love and pleasure.
9. Homeschooling. Boy, it changed our lives and has so blessed our family.
10. My writing. Which keeps me sane and yet makes me crazy all at the same time! :)
11. Prayer. Praying for so many friends in need right now. So thankful for the ability to enter God's throne room and place burdens at His feet.

Sorry, I went over. I could go on. So much to be thankful for. I hope all of you had a blessed Thanksgiving!

One of our local Christian radio stations keeps broadcasting, "We're leaving the 'thanks' in Thanksgiving and not playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving." What's up with that?

Okay, I will confess here in the open that I listen to Christmas music all year long. Now, I don't listen every day. But if I need a pick-me-up or if it's too hot to breathe here in Texas then I turn on, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" Joy to the World just fills my heart with hope. I will not tell you how many Christmas cds I have in my collection. It's embarrassing! When I got married in June 1995, I wanted the organist to play Joy to the World as we left the sanctuary. My to-be hubby said, "No." Come to find out twelve years later, he thought I meant, "Jeremiah was a bull frog ..." Sigh.

Anyway, let it be known as I shout it from the rooftops of blogland that it's okay to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving! It does not take away from Thanksgiving or giving thanks!

Sorry for the rant (aren't you glad they're few and far between!) and God bless you and keep you this holiday season!

Every year since my kids could talk, we have traced our hands and cut them out of construction paper. On each handprint, we wrote what they were thankful for. Then we put the hands on a wall and made a 'tree' with the handprints as leaves. My son has written things like: cheese, Liberty (our dog), Green Bay Packers. My daughter has written things like: chocolate, dance, Miracle (our cat). I keep the old handprints in our photo albums. It's fun pulling them out, seeing how small their little hands were and reading what they wrote. In 2001, there was a lot of 'our country' and 'President Bush.' It's 2007, so what are we writing this year? My son is grateful for: "my family, my dog, my sister's cat." My daughter is grateful for: "my family, God, this time of the year to get together and give thanks go God, Miracle, Mommy's books." So what am I grateful for? My husband, my kids, our health and safety, my husband's job, the kids' school, the opportunity to write ... so many things, too many to name. What are you thankful for?

My daughter is eight. She loves to sing. Always has. She not only sings in the shower but as she’s doing schoolwork. I’ve even heard her sing in her sleep. She has a good voice, powerful. She can be upstairs in her room, I can hear her throughout the house belting out some song. It’s a gift.

She knows she can sing. Not in a proud way, just she knows. She doesn’t question that as I often question if I can write. This is her first year to take voice lessons. At first she was nervous, but she loves her teacher, loves to sing. It’s a perfect combination. For the last three or four years, she has said she wanted to be a singer, that God wanted her to sing. But now she has this fear of getting in front of others to sing. It’s natural. It’s also an age thing. But it’s ultimately a battle. If the Evil One can convince her the fear is HUGE and insurmountable, then he’s won a battle.

If the Evil One can get any of us to not use a gift that God has given us, then he feels victorious. It’s a temporary victory, but a victory nonetheless. Are you giving the Evil One power over you? Are you crumbling before gigantic fears?

I see so many writers doing this. I certainly have. I’ve questioned why I’m writing. I’ve wanted to quit in a fit of rage or frustration or depression. But if we feel called to this writing life, to whatever gifts God has given us, then shouldn’t we fight the battle of fear. Fear is not of the Lord.

Over the last few months, I’ve had to face many fears in this writing life, having to do things that I am not necessarily comfortable doing, like speaking, being in a video, traveling, etc… Fear. It’s disabling. Can it also be disobedient to what God has called me to do? I’ve had to make a practice of recognizing fear when it springs up before me, and I’ve had to remind myself that fear is not of the Lord.

My daughter has seen this. I’ve been very open with my kids about my fears, about having to do things that are way out of my comfort zone in order to be obedient to the Lord. I hope she’s learning. Because my daughter loves to sing. She loves to perform. But she has this fear…

What about you?

I'm going to Amarillo this weekend to speak at the Panhandle Professional Writers group. If you're in Amarillo, come to the Amarillo Senior Citizens Center and say hello! I'm really looking forward to going. I'm going to see a couple of friends I haven't seen in a while. I have to remember to take the camera and snap some pics.

Yesterday, we had our front door painted. It needed it! Direct sunlight pours onto it daily and the paint and sealant had suffered and was peeling. So after it was sanded then painted, we had to leave the door open all day. Which is somewhat disconcerting in this day and age. We live in a nice, safe neighborhood but I don't leave my windows or doors open. Ever. I grew up in the city. This just wasn't done.

I remember stories of my grandparents and aunts and uncles and how they left their doors open, their windows open. They never locked their doors. It was definitely a different time.

But I've been thinking of this concept of 'open' and 'closed.' Monday I saw a bumper sticker while I was driving my kids to school. I jotted it down and have been pondering it: "If only closed minds came with closed mouths."

Hmmmm...

I was at Starbucks yesterday indulging in my favorite drink, a Peppermint Mocha which they only have at this time of year. For three and a half hours I sat there, sipping and working on my manuscript and a speech I'm giving this weekend. Eventually, I had to use the facilities. In the restroom, there was a large framed poster drawing of a tree. Along the roots were words like community. Can't remember more of those, sorry, because my mind drifted off as I contemplated the saying at the top of the poster. "The Deeper the roots, the higher the reach." I started thinking about the word picture it gave me. The deeper we dig into scripture, the Word of God, the higher we can reach up toward our God. If we only skim the surface of biblical truths, then we only have a superficial understanding of God and all He has done for us. If we dig deep, our understanding deepens, our awe grows and our hands lift toward our Heavenly Father.

Did that title catch your attention? LOL! I really meant, catching up. I haven't been as diligent lately on my blog because I've been working on my current WIP (work in progress). Also, my son has a history project due this week. So I've been busy with school stuff.

This weekend, a friend invited me to a women's conference and the speaker was Jen Hatmaker. She was both enjoyable, funny and thought provoking. It was an enjoyable day. I bought one of her books and look forward to reading it soon. She has several bible studies out, so check 'em out.

What am I reading right now? Lolly Winston's Happiness Sold Separately. It deals with some difficult subjects like infertility and infidelity. I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen but hopefully I'll finish today. This is my first book to read by Ms. Winston and I like her writing. So what are you reading?

It's turned chilly in Texas. Okay, 50s and 60s may not seem cold to those of you further north but to us in Texas it's cold. And it's great! I love this weather. Love it! Really feels like fall now. It's my favorite time of the year. Not sure if it's because my birthday is in the fall or if it's the anticipation of all the holidays coming up. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of family and football. Christmas ... well, with kids there is just not a better time. So, what's your favorite time of the year?

On the 'book' page of my website, there is now an excerpt of my book, Elvis Takes a Back Seat. Check it out! Enjoy.

Click on the 'book' page of my website and you will see a link to an excerpt of my book, Elvis Takes a Back Seat. Enjoy!

Another quote came in over the weekend. Love Inspired author, Lenora Worth, graciously read Elvis Takes a Back Seat and gave it a fabulous quote.

"I loved Elvis Takes A Back Seat. This book is gritty and real and full of hope, faith, and redemption. With Elvis Takes A Back Seat Leanna Ellis raises the level of contemporary faith-filled fiction by showing the struggles that we all face in our own faith journeys. All I can say is "Thank you. Thank you very much, Leanna!"

Lenora Worth
Warmhearted, Wholesome, Worthwhile
Books by Lenora Worth ( http://www.loveInspiredauthors.com )
http://www.lenoraworth.com
September 2007--Secret Agent Minister
January 2008--Deadly Texas Rose


If you haven't seen all the quotes so far for my book, check out the 'books' page on my website.

I don't mean a goblin or ghoul. My 9 year old son has always had a creative bent. Of course, he's grown up around me, watching me write books, send out proposals, cry when something was rejected, cheer when something sold. He's seen my books on the bookshelf in my office and seen foreign copies arrive in the mail from my publisher. We've always read, read, read books from day one. I took The Grinch Who Stole Christmas to the hospital with me so I could read to him when he arrived. So he's been surrounded by books hiw whole life. For a long while, he wanted to be a director of movies. And he probably still does. But at the moment, he's busy writing stories. Story after story, page after page. He jumped in the car after school yesterday and said, "Mom! Guess what? I'm writing a new story." Then he babbled on about it for the next ten minutes until my head was spinning. Suddenly it got quiet in the back seat. He was busy writing. He's forgetting about doing his chores, because he's busy writing. Part of me wants to discipline him for that. And the writer part of me cheers him on! He gets up in the morning and the first thing he does is start writing. I should take a lesson from him on that! So, I've created a writing monster. And I love it!