Hello, my friend!

I hope you’re doing well and that you had a lovely 4th of July! My family and I were split up for the very first time: my husband Ben was with my six-year-old, Isaiah, up in his home state of Nebraska, and I was with my mom and two youngest kids at the beach in Port Aransas.

I’m so glad Ben and Isaiah had a Father/Son getaway, comprised of daily excursions and two mini camping trips, but man did I miss them! Since they’ve been gone, my eight-month-old is properly crawling, and my toddler is speaking clear, complete sentences (though her potty training has regressed significantly *sigh). She also received her very first, and hopefully last, jellyfish sting after being in the ocean a grand total of five minutes – not a fun experience!

I hope you enjoy this week’s Top 4!

 

 

“As to methods, there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The person who grasps principles can successfully select their own methods. The person who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” – Engineer Harrington Emerson

 

MORE SERVING, MORE JOY

 

“I slept, and dreamed that life was joy;

I woke, and found that life was service.

I acted and behold, service was joy.”

• Poet Ellen Sturgis Hooper

 

H.A.L.T.!

 

I heard this tip in a Charles Stanley sermon and was recently reminded of it in a podcast, the episode of which I’ve forgotten!

 

Anyway, the tip is, when you notice yourself feeling irritable and/or being short with others, think of the acronym H.A.L.T. and ask yourself, “Am I Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired?”

 

Those four things are common, everyday stressors that can be easily addressed with, say, a snack, a few deep breaths, a phone call or cuddle on the couch, or a 20-minute power nap. The H.A.L.T. question works beautifully for children, too, many of whom are able to experience all four stressors simultaneously! 😉

 

The key here is having the self-awareness to pause, reflect, and honestly answer which one — or two or three — stressors could be the culprit of your grumpy mood or sour attitude.

 

 

UPCOMING NOVEL SNEAK PEEK

 

 

 

Here’s another excerpt from my forthcoming contemporary fantasy novel, Ring of Wishes:

 

She is very tall, has perfect posture and olive skin, and wears a long white dress that looks like something one would wear to a toga party, or maybe a beach wedding. Shiny gold, Greek-style sandals adorn her feet. Thick bracelets inlaid with pearls and multicolored gems dangle from both wrists, and around her neck is a long gold chain from which a fringe of pendants hangs, like a row of tiny arrowheads.

A hazy white veil covers the woman’s face. Rosalind can just make out a large pair of eyes and the outline of a nose and cheek bones. She doesn’t have to see the woman’s face to know it’s just as beautiful as the rest of her.

“You must be Aphrodite,” she says, sure that the new Aphrodite-bearing bling she’d been studying so much lately was to blame for this fantastical new twist in her dream. “Although, I must say you don’t really look like the version of you that’s on the coin. And that’s a good thing,” she adds quickly, careful not to accidentally offend the Amazonian figment of her imagination.

The woman lifts her hand and opens it, revealing the ring, which glows with a warm, supernatural radiance. “My home away from home.” She crosses the room to Rosalind, who forces herself not to throw the covers over her head like she did to escape the boogeyman when she was young.

Aphrodite sets the ring on the bed beside Rosalind. “Forgive me for the little zap a few moments ago. Divine skin can be quite…shocking to a mortal the first time they feel it.”

Rosalind shakes her head, as if doing so will help her process what she’s just heard. “Did you just call the ring your home?”

“Does that surprise you? You just saw me inhabit lightning shortly before materializing into this anemic human form.”

Touché.

“I am a goddess, Rosalind,” the woman continues. “The physical laws of your world do not bind or limit me in any way. I can be as small or as sizable as I choose. I can even…”She snaps her fingers, instantly transforming herself into a golden apple. Halfa second later, the apple morphs into a dove, then a swan, and then a short, black, thick-haired goat.

“You’re Aphrodite?” Rosalind asks the goat. It rears onto its hind legs, then stretches to the woman’s full height as she returns to her human form.

The woman gives a modest bow. “As you live and breathe.”