Ordinary Life: I'm Here For It

 

Love this quote by Laura Ingalls Wilder:

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

When you think back over your life, it's the daily little happenings that stick in your mind.

For example, I smile thinking of my childhood home and my dad saying, "Pass the rabbit food." (His term for a lettuce salad.)

My heart melts when I remember little things my children did when they were little: Lissa telling her daddy, "I gotta go home and cook," when she wanted to play with her new toy kitchen; Janae saying, "I too," when told "I love you," and Malia declaring, "Ever'thing good happens on a Sattaday."

I absolutely love recalling the grandkids sweet little voices singing happy birthday to MiMi and helping me blow out the candles on the birthday cake. 

I wouldn't take a million dollars for those memories!

In my book, I use Sister Clara's dining room table as the setting for a lot of scenes in my character's lives. There's just something about being at a table, whether having a meal, or sipping hot beverages, that embodies love and comfort. Words of understanding are expressed here. Open bibles and notepads often adorn the table as ideas are discussed. Sometimes both tears and giggles happen here.

Ordinary life happens at the table, and I'm here for it!

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Do you have favorite ordinary memories? We'd love to hear about it!

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This is Day 21 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Five Minute Friday.

Experiencing faith even when there's a problem

Here's a true story of a time when things looked bad.

 It was 2021 and my husband, Jim, was having heart surgery to replace a valve aneurysm. We felt some apprehension because heart surgery is major.

I felt like the Lord had highlighted the last part of Matthew 9:29 for me:

“According to your faith let it be done to you.”

I kept standing on that scripture as I prayed all day. And everything went well. As I drove the 25 miles home that night after seeing him tucked into bed in the ICU unit, I felt good about everything. 

He was in the hospital for 5 days, then was released to go home. We arrived home just before a snowstorm hit on Friday.

We were snug in our home, no need to go anywhere, yet felt like we should have someone come clean out the driveway for us. I am glad we did, because the next day Jim was experiencing problems. I knew I should take him back to the hospital. How thankful I was for the prompting by the Holy Spirit to get that driveway cleared. I was able to get out and take him back to the hospital.

It turned out that Jim was in A-fib. He was given medication for it but instead it just made him sicker. By the next day, he was having tremors and unable to make sense when he tried to talk.

I was scared! What if he never got better? How could I take care of him at home? But then I remembered Matthew 9:29 and told the Lord I had faith for Jim to be healed. 

Doctor decided Jim needed an ablation. It was late evening when they wheeled him to surgery. I stayed in Jim's hospital room staring out the window at the dark. I felt pretty alone, actually. But then my Pastor called and said God had laid us on his heart and he prayed with me. I shared about Matthew 9:29 and we agreed together in prayer that we had the faith for Jim to be healed.

The nurse came in and said surgery was a success and that I might as well drive home because it would be very late by the time Jim was out of recovery.

The next morning, before I was even out of bed, Jim called me. "Come get me," he said. "They are releasing me."

I could hardly believe it, but Jim was back to his old self! He has never had a single problem with his heart since that day.

Faith moves mountains. 

"I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart." Mark 11:23 NLT

Dear reader, pray about everything. And if, after praying, you can believe God for something, you, too, can stand on scripture, and pray the prayer of faith.

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You might ask, "Jerralea, what does this have to do with you birthing your book?" This story of faith encourages me because my characters in my book experience real problems and need a saving faith. How can I write about faith when things look bad if I have never experienced it?

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This is Day 20 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Let's Have Coffee

Can I ask you something?

As I work on learning what readers want, some questions come to mind. It would mean a lot if you could give me some feedback.

• How often do you read a novel? Daily? Weekly? 
• Do you love reading a series? Or would you rather read a stand-alone book?
• What is your favorite series so far?

It's not fair to ask you to do something I haven't done; so here are my answers to those questions.

• I love novels and for big parts of my life, I'd read a full novel at least once a week, often reading on my lunch hour. Nowadays, the schedule is too full to read as much. On my recent vacation, I was able to read 5 full novels in one week. I was excited!
• I love me some series. I get highly invested in book characters and I always want to know more. I'm here for the next book delving into each character's story. That being said, I will read a stand-alone book as well. Shout out to Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. A character like Theo is unforgettable.
• I love two different series that are my favorites and have reread them multiple times: The Father Tim series by Jan Karon, and The Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.

What do you think? I would really appreciate your feedback!

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This is Day 19 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Let's Have Coffee

Knowledge is Never Wasted

One thing my readers may not know about me is that I and my husband were once Amway Distributers. Yes, we once sold soap. No, we did not make any money during those years; but perhaps the lessons we learned were more valuable.

We attended a lot of conferences that included some great teaching that not only applied to the business but to life. The downline distributors that we were involved with believed in motivating their people. So, as young twenty-somethings we learned about organization, positive thinking, reading to always be a learner, dressing for success, and never giving up.

We did wash out of the soap business, but many of those lessons stuck. 

After all, a writer that needs to also work a day job must be organized. Any creative must think positively when outside forces are constantly whispering words of negativity. I've mentioned before that writers need to be readers; and we absolutely must learn to never, ever, give up.

All those books I read and motivational speaches I heard are still in my brain and the knowledge shows up at the most surprising times. Learning is priceless, and knowledge can open doors.

What is something I don't know about you? Inquiring minds want to know!

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This is Day 18 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Let's Have Coffee

Tools for the Job

 Are you a digital  or an analog person?

I'm both! As a wife, mom, MiMi, ministry assistant with 2 churches, and bible study leader, I live by my to-do lists. There are just too many details whirling around inside my brain to rely on memory. I must write it down. In fact, I have 2 to-do lists that live side by side on my desk - one for work and one for everything else.

But, as a writer, my favorite tool is a word document and a portable hard-drive. I carry them around with me wherever I go in case inspiration strikes. Because my handwriting is so atrocious, once it gets cold, I can't read it anymore, so I must type the thoughts that are most important.

Something new I've learned to do is to use Voice Memos App on my smart phone while I'm driving. I have Siri send the Voice Memo to myself. (Does anyone else get mixed up in telling Siri or Alexa what to do?)

It's great to live in 2026! I have the best of both digital and analog worlds.

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This is Day 17 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at InstaEncouragements Link-Up

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy

Music to Type By

Are you like me? Sometimes, I need a little inspiration. I need some music to type by, something calming and soothing and faith-building. I usually open up my Spotify app and play some music. 

Lyrics can be distracting, so if I really need to concentrate, I will play instrumental music. I'm crushing on Josh Snodgress and his worship guitar music currently. You can click on the link and download for yourself, if you would like.

But there are times, when I need enthusiastic worship songs to build my faith and help me remember who my God is! Here is the writing playlist I've created. (I also have to be real - I play this in the car when I'm on my way to work and I'd rather be home writing!)

I call it my Warfare Playlist. Go check it out!

What do you like to listen to when you are working?

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This is Day 16 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy

Grandparents make memories

Memories are priceless.

Most of my character, Morgan Ford's, childhood memories are sad, but a few stand out like a shining light. Here's one:

... I saw myself as a skinny, scraggly-haired kid, jumping with enthusiasm and talking a mile-a-minute. My grandma Rose was always encouraging me.

"My Morgan, you are SO smart," she'd say. "You are going to do something awesome someday. I just know it!" Her beautiful brown eyes would sparkle with delight every time she looked at me. Even though my ice-blue eyes and almost-black hair looked out of place next to her glamorous auburn curls, she seemed to think I was so adorable. 

She would hug me so tightly and kiss my cheeks until they tingled. I loved it because I sure didn't get affection from anyone else.

 

Grandparents can make such a difference in the lives of their grandchildren which is why I chose to create a special bond between my characters, Rose and Morgan, in my novel.

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In my own life, I remember my Granny Violet standing in her driveway, waving good-bye to us with tears in her eyes, as my dad backed the car out and we headed home to Florida. There was no doubt how she felt about us, and we knew she would always welcome another visit from us.

Do you have a special memory from a grandparent? Please share in the comments and uplift grandparents!

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This is Day 15 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Let's Have Coffee

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy