I am in need of a pet psychologist. Anybody out there a cat expert? Our mama cat died earlier this summer and her daughter, Miracle (5 years old) is NOT behaving properly. Quick back story ... when my little lead dog died almost 3 years ago, my lab and llasa were lost. My lab was losing hair. Our three-legged, brain damaged cat finally (after 3 months) stepped up to the plate and became our lead dog. I'm not kidding! Well, now that Hershey has gone on to the Rainbow Bridge, her daughter is acting up. When Miracle gets irritated (especially if we pick her up -- she's never been super friendly), then she attacks our llasa. Our sweet Belle! So innocent! The cat pounces on her (Miracle weighs 6 lbs and Belle weighs about 25), slaps at her (no claws). Belle just trembles. It is the saddest thing. What do I do? How do you discipline a cat?

There wasn't actually a fire. Whew! And that's pretty amazing considering I was cooking. I have started fires when I cook. I'm also pretty good at cutting myself when I slice veggies -- think parody of Julia Childs on Saturday Night Live with blood spurting everywhere. Last night I was making a nice dinner for my hubby's birthday! I went to Central Market and bought HUGE rib-eye steaks, potatoes (white and sweet), asparagus, green beans, bread, bacon to top the salad and of course one of their beautiful chocolate cakes. Since the steaks were so expensive, I made my hubby cook them so they would turn out perfect. And they did. He's a fabulous cook. But I did something I've done before -- I grabbed the pan after he took it out of the broiler. Yep, broiled my palm. Ouch!

The funny thing is, I've done that before. One time we were cooking together, and my hubby grabbed the pan himself. He hollered out. I got him some frozen peas to put on his hand and aloe vera and then proceeded to grab the same pan with my own hand. LOL!

So today my palm is sore and very red. But thanks to frozen broccoli and an aloe vera plant I have growing in my kitchen window, it's not as bad as it could be.

I don't know about y'all, but just looking at the word 'yesterday' a song runs through my head. LOL! Anyone else that way? Where songs are triggered just by a word? Anyway, that wasn't the point of this blog. Thinking about how much Jen liked Sense and Sensibilities yesterday made me wonder what are some of your favorite movies of all time? When the movie starts, you know you will have to watch the whole movie, all the way to the end. No napping in between the opening scene and credits.

I need to start a list of movies I need to introduce to my daughter. Last year she learned at age 8 to love Pride and Prejudice (she even loves the 8 hour A&E version). We love to watch musicals too. So what are some that should not be missed?

My husband whooped when he opened the Sunday paper. "Football practice begins today!"

The Dallas Cowboys began football practice on Sunday. Which means football season is upon us. Which means on Saturdays college games will be going on television. Sunday will be NFL teams. Oh boy. (notice no exclamation point)

But my daughter was cheering too. Don't think she's a big football fan. Nope, she and I usually go to the other room and watch girlie movies -- Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibilities and any musical you can think of.

So maybe football season ain't so bad.

My son compares his brain to a computer. And his is efficient. Mine is more like a colander. But this week, as I've attended Latin camp with my kids, I've tried to make it work. Tried being the key word. I have learned a lot. A great teacher can make all the difference, especially one who is enthusiastic and passionate about her subject. I know Latin camp sounds kinda boring but actually it's been fun. And very challenging. In fact I think my brain is starting to malfunction and suffer a melt down ... I'm beginning to smell smoke as some fuse must have burned out.

Hearts are strange. They beat all on their own. No maintenance seems to be required. Well, they do need a good workout every now and then. They beat as we sleep. We need our hearts to survive. They're somehow tied into our emotions. They speed up when we experience fear or nerves or a good kiss. We say, 'bless your heart.' Well, we do in the South! Today, mine is heavy. Did it gain weight? I suppose it gained awareness. Of others' pain.

Do you ever feel that way? Do you ever feel as if you have taken on someone else's pain? And yet you know you're not experiencing half of what they are. You think about them night and day. It's how I know to pray for that person. As they continue to come to mind all day, I just keep sending up little prayers.

Anyone else ever feel that way?

My kids have learned to type. And now they're having fun writing ... typing their stories. My daughter sat at the computer for a couple of hours. I reminded her to save her work periodically. She acted like she understood. But alas, she did not. And it disappeared. Vanished. Poof!

What writer hasn't lost work at some time? Man, it's frustrating! But my eight year old daughter took it well and she started rewriting her story and said, "I think it's better this time!" I have to confess my attitude when I lost pages of a manuscript one time was not that sweet.

So, a lesson to all writers out there -- SAVE YOUR WORK!

Isaiah 11:6 says, "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them."

When I was a kid, I absolutely adored the movie Born Free. I had all three books written by Joy Adamson. I had posters of lions on my bedroom walls. So seeing these two videos was a joy. Check them out!

http://videos.komando.com/2008/26/christian-the-lion/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U

It makes me think what it must have been like for Adam and Eve to frolic with the animals in the Garden of Eden. The bible tells us this will happen again. So what animals would you love to frolic with? For me, I'd love to romp with lions and polar bears. What about you?

"There are things that are known and things that are unknown and in between are only doors." -- William Blake

I love that quote. Gotta use it in a book sometime. Today, I was thinking about doors as I was painting the upstairs hallway. There are eight doors that open to that hall. Eight doors I had to tape around. Eight doors to paint around. And boy, that sounds like a pain, doesn't it? Until I thought, there are eight empty spaces I don't have to paint! Love that!

So many times we think of opportunities as open doors and rejection (especially in the book biz) as closed doors. Those closed doors can be a good thing. Think of all those boyfriends you never married. Have you seen those guys lately? Remember what they were like. Really! Now, go hug your husband. Aren't you glad you didn't marry one of the others (a closed door!). What about the job you almost took or the path you almost went down. Did the door slam in your face? Was it really a bad thing? Or maybe, just maybe it was God protecting you from something and steering you toward something much better.

Open doors, closed doors, cup half full or half empty. Life is often how we choose to look at it.

That is sorta the question today.

I've been to many, many conferences since I began writing in 1991. 1991! That seems like yesterday but sounds like forever. Anyway, two years ago, Deanne Gist recommended I attend the ACFW conference in Dallas. Since I felt God was leading me toward the CBA (Christian Book Association), I took the plunge. I was actually very nervous about going. Now, I'd been to lots and lots of conferences, many larger than ACFW, flown to NY for RWA, Hawaii, Reno, Atlanta, I'd driven to Oklahoma, south Texas, Austin, etc... This one was in my own backyard (so to speak). But I was nervous because I feared God would tell me to quit writing. Fear doesn't come from God. Remember that!

ACFW is now my favorite conference. Why? Because of the spiritual element that you won't find at most other conferences. The praise and worship time, especially the last morning of the conference is absolutely my favorite part of the whole conference. Oh, there are other parts I like too, for example how easy it is to walk up to an editor and agent and introduce myself. Or the ability to secure a spot at a table with an agent, editor or writer I admire. I also love the prayer room. The first year I never made it there and I'm sorry. Last year, Cheryl Wyatt prayed with me in the prayer room and it was such a sweet, sweet time. I so appreciate how she shared her gift with me. I will definitely be spending more time in the prayer room this year.

If you haven't yet been to an ACFW conference, then I recommend you go. Go! What are you waiting for?

You can find out more information on the ACFW conference at www.acfw.com

Others blogging about the conference are:
Carla Stewart http://carlastewart.blogspot.com
Rebecca Germany http://editcafe.blogspot.com/
Rose McCauley www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com

I just found out that Elvis Takes a Back Seat was #8 on the Crossings Book Club Top Ten! Happy dance time!

Do you know what musical that song is from? I tend to think in musical lyrics. Just how my mind works. Anyway, Sharlene sent me this list of questions, so thought I'd answer here. Would love to have your answers to, so I can get to know YOU even better. Here we go:

1. What is your occupation? Wife, Mom, homeschooler and writer
2. What color are your socks? white and sweaty as I just worked out
3. What are you listening to right now? The kids watching SpongeBob Squarepants downstairs on the tv.
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Breakfast of boiled egg, toast and strawberries. Lots of strawberries!
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Not unless I have to.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Red
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? my sister
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? My oh, my yes!
9. How old are you today? 44
10. Favorite drink? Diet Dr. Pepper cherry vanilla or sometimes Diet Coke
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? whatever sport my kids are playing -- flag football, basketball, fencing ...
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? On occasion.
13. Pets? We have three: Liberty (lab), Belle (llasa) and Miracle (fiesty cat)
14. Favorite food? guacamole with good dipping chips
15. Last movie you watched? Pearl Harbor
16. Favorite Day of the year? Christmas!
17. What do you do to vent anger? exercise or clean and then I remember to pray about it.
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? dancing to music
19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Fall! Love the colors, love the cooler weather. Love the anticipation of all the approaching holidays.
20. Hugs or kisses? Both!
21. Cherry or Blueberry? Fresh blueberries! Love 'em! But also love fresh cherries! There's a big bowl in my fridge calling to me right now.
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes or blog or comment!!!
23. Who is most likely to respond? Anyone.
24. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday when I picked up a magnet that had fallen off my fridge. It was a picture of my cat, Hershey, which just recently died. But my sweet children hugged me till the grief washed away.
25. Favorite smell? My hubby's cologne.
26. What inspires you? Life. Music. Movies. Books. Friends.
27. What are you afraid of? Something happening to my kids when I can't protect them.
28. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? CHEESEburgers!!!!!

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU GET TO KNOW ME A LITTLE BIT BETTER! NOW IT IS YOUR TURN..... LET'S HAVE A LITTLE FUN AND GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

Does he still do weird pet tricks?

I was sitting in my office when I heard our cat, Miracle, crying. Down the hall, she trots, carrying something white in her mouth. It's a scrunched up sticky paper. She dug it out of the trash. She sat in the doorway to our schoolroom where the kids were playing on the computer. She wanted to play! My daughter threw the wadded up paper and Miracle chased it. She brought it back.

So my cat will fetch. But my labrador retriever (notice the word 'retrieve' in the name!) will not. If I throw a ball, Liberty will look at me as if saying, "Why'd you throw it over there? I'm right here." Our labrador retriever also cannot swim. Think we should get our money back?