If you are on my newsletter list, you know I finally got around to sending out some news. No big news. No book sales although I have noticed lowered prices on a few of my books on Amazon and perhaps other online booksellers. So with nothing much going on except spring dragging its feet about showing up here in Kentucky and plenty of other places too, I just shared how I got the inspiration for my upcoming book, River to Redemption. If you didn’t get the newsletter and think you’re on my list, check your mailbox. If you aren’t signed up for my newsletter, but would like to receive this one, just let me know and I’ll send one out to you. It’s easy to sign up to be among the first to get the news. Sign-up forms are in the right hand column here on my website.
Newsletter Giveaway
Of course I have a giveaway in the newsletter. Always have to give something away to reward people for reading. I have two prizes besides books. First prize winner can choose either the purple Amazing Grace journal or the box of Modjeska candies made right here in my hometown along with his or her choice of one of my books. Second place winner gets the prize the first place winner didn’t choose and that choice of one of my books. Third place winner gets one of my books (winner’s choice) and a grab bag book by a different author. All you have to do to enter is send me an e-mail from my Contact Page or leave a comment here. You must be at least 18 years old to enter and the deadline for entries is midnight EST April 14th. The contest is open to USA and Canadian readers.
Spring Stories
For fun, I asked if those entering wanted to share a spring story or tell me what they liked about spring. Of course, the feeling of rebirth as everything turns green and starts blooming was a favorite part of spring for many of you. Easter was in there too with it coming early this year on April 1.
A few of you shared more about spring like this from Leann.
Spring here in the desert southwest is so very different from the ones I knew growing up. I used to live where Bluebonnets were everywhere come March and April and for a very long time I silently grieved the loss of that experience. We have lived here in El Paso now for 20 years and it was not until around 2003 that I felt a bit of wildflower joy when the northeast side of the mountains that runs through my backyard exploded with Mexican Poppies. It was such an amazing display that we have not seen since that year. It happened to be a very wet year with lots of rain in January and February and that is what caused the amazing display. We get some poppies every year but if we have dry winters it is harder to find them. Mexican Poppies are such a lovely part of this part of the world and I have grown to love that part of our springs here even if they are not covering the mountains. I start looking toward the beginning of March in anticipation each year now. The spring winds here are harsh but the poppies make it all worth it. LOL
Thanks, Leann for sharing about the Mexican poppies that made you appreciate spring in a new environment.
A Different Kind of Springtime Story
Elaine has a story of change too. Winter to Spring and how the Lord can use any season to increase our faith.
There was a brutal winter some time back. My heart was as cold as the weather. I was beaten down emotionally. Guilt, remorse, frustration and isolation seem to surround me. But God never leaves us where he finds us. He is always in the process of changing, transforming, restoring and redeeming. Spring finally came that year. God used that Winter to grow me up in faith. It might not sound like a good story but it was.
The Lord is ever ready to lead us to better places. Thank you for sharing your story, Elaine.
As always, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the spring stories I shared. I have more on the way.
What do you love about spring?
Comments 20
I almost forgot to enter your giveaway…..please add my name to the list 😊
Summer is my favorite season, but, Spring is a close second.
I love to see, hear, and smell the Earth coming to life after a, sometimes, dreary Winter.
The Sun in Spring gives me a feeling of joy…..even when there is snow on the ground.
PS I received the bookmarks and bookplates….thank you so much.
I’ll share some of the bookmarks to promote the new book
❤️ UR 📚
Author
Hi, Marji. I entered you, but alas you weren’t one of the winners. I did like your signature emojis. Very cute. We had spring here for three days. Going back to winter tomorrow with snow and everything, but then it’s going to really spring to spring. Positive thinking!!
I am on your newsletter. Enter me
Author
I’ll do it, Jane.
Spring this year…. has started off a bit irregular… All that cold and snow. Still I am sure it will show up soon. My hostas and other plants are peeking up and out of the ground… and the greening/flowering is what I enjoy the most about spring.
Author
The greening and blooming are things I like too, Johannah. I’m always sort of amazed each spring at how fast the leaves come out when it warms up. So far it hasn’t been that warm around here. Today was great but winter returns tomorrow and then freezing temps again. My hostas are up and my peonies grew six or seven inches last night, I think.
Thank you for the giveaways! Would love to be entered.
Author
Great, Mindy. I’ll throw your name in my giveway drawing hat. 🙂
Thank you for the encouraging words; yes, spring will be here eventually! I’ve always wanted a couple of white dogwoods and actually found some yesterday. Can’t wait to get them planted!
Author
I hope you have many blooms with your dogwood trees. I have a tree in my yard but it’s got some kind of blight, I think. However I do have wild dogwood trees scattered about the farm that bloom beautifully. Happy planting, Karen. I’ll enter you in my drawing.
I remember spring in Kentucky in the mid 70s near LA Grange. I dropped off my four preschoolers with the daughter of my friend Jo. Then she and I would drive the back lanes to the residential home where we worked the afternoon shift. As we slowed at the corner to turn, the apple orchard was in glorious full bloom. Startled by the car, up flew a whole flock of bright red cardinals, whirling up through the white branches into the blue, blue sky! I lived in Kentucky only from 1975 to 1980, but the countryside holds my heart.
Author
What a beautiful picture that must have been, Midge. I can just imagine it. The cardinal always look so pretty here against the snow, but I hadn’t thought about them or seen a flock of them in an apple orchard. Kentucky is a beautiful state. So green in the spring with blooms everywhere. I’ll enter your name in my spring giveaway. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your spring memory.
What I like about spring is the spring flowers. When the lilacs pop up we say “oh, the little people are up.” Thank you for the giveaway.
Author
That’s cute for the lilacs, Tammy, but I’m wondering if I’m thinking of the right flower. Our lilacs are bushes that bloom. I’m hoping they will still bloom after all our cool weather, but it’s not quite time for them yet. I’ll enter you in the drawing.
I like it when the lilacs start to bloom and the tulips and daffodils fill the flowerbeds!
Author
So do I, Paula. I love tulips in the spring, but never seem to get any planted in the fall. I have to enjoy everybody else’s hard work planting them.
Spring is my favorite time of the year! The days start getting warmer. Color is everywhere from the flowers, the new grass and the blooming and leafing trees that have stood so bare for so long, and everything that comes with that. And Spring is also the time of year I made some very important decisions many years ago. I had been making bad choices and living a life that wasn’t me. Then God put a woman in my life who became my friend at a time when I didn’t have any women friends, and used her to get me back in church, after a long absence. I think about that poem of two people walking along a beach and one looking back to see only one set of footprints. I think of that beach in Springtime. It is a lovely place to be.
Author
What a lovely story, Maria. A perfect one for spring and new beginnings. Sometimes the Lord does put the perfect people in our paths to steer one to a better way. So glad you found such a friend to bring you back to church and the Lord. I’ll enter you in my giveaway drawing.
I have one of your books in my to be read pile but haven’t read any yet,would love to win one though,as well as the other prizes. Thank you for the chance.
Author
I hope when you get a chance to read that book of mine in your to read pile that you will enjoy the story, Lisa. I’ll pitch your name in my giveaway drawing hat.