ANNOUNCEMENTS: WAITING

To hear my agent's (that feels awesome rolling off my tongue!!!) thoughts on the proposal I sent her. When she's satisfied with it, she'll mail it on the the acquisitions editor who requested it.

Contests:
Didn't final in the Maggie and desperately wanted to for personal reasons. Didn't final in Lone Star and wanted to because that was one of the contests I came in last when I began entering. It will interest me to see if I moved up in the que though. One thing's for sure...I have no possibility of moving down since I came in dead last! ROFL!

However, I am one of three Noble Theme finalists in teh Contemporary Romance category (did I tell you this already?) for ACFW's contest. Winner will be announced at the conference in September. I'm very sad for my friends who didn't make the cut. It convinces me all the more that contests are SO subjective. But one thing not finaling is good for is preparing writers for editor and agent rejection. Persistance is key in this industry. I can't think of a single author I know who didn't go through a season of rejection either before selling or afterwards. It's just something we all have to go through. I don't know why I was so naieve as to think I would be an exception to that. I know it wasn't because of pride because I didn't know any better. So ignorance of the system was probably why I assumed that. Plus the fact that a lot of writers don't talk about or share their rejections until you get to know them.

I'm praying about who to meet with at that conference as far as editors. I can't really pitch to a SH editor since I already have a story with them. So I'm thinking about getting an appt with an editor who only takes proposals/submissions from agented or previously published person, or from folks who've attended conferences. Don't need an agent appt. unless mine plans on attending and wants to meet with me. She's awesome, and did I mention I love her books? You can obtain them at Walmart, K-mart, and Target in the inspirational section under the Heartson Presents. Or get them from Amazon. To see her new or upcoming releases, go to www.Tamelahancockmurray.com and you'll see the titles and covers of her books there.

Nothing else new in the way of announcements except I am now agented. YEEEE!

Also, I clicked the blogger button that said, "Next blog" and read one girl. She was from St. Louis County, and her blog was chemical something. Now I can't find that blog. She posted that she might close the blog bc she thinks no one's reading it. I wanted to tell her I'm reading it. Hopefully I can find it again in this huge blogosphere.



Squirrel

That Man & Dream 

Squirrel and Mr. Squirrel 

Deb Giusti TBL winner and Mae Nunn 

Cathy Marie Hake & Squirrel 

Squirrel and Cathy Mann 

Suzanne Brockmann and Squirrel 

Just ONE load of books I got from the booksigning!!!  

Jaen and Kacie 

Marta 

Margaret and Squirrel 

Squirrel and Rita Winner Shelley Bates 

Bottom left to top right: Dana, Cynthia, Dream, Squirrel 

LIFE WITH GOD--writing related.

Yesterday at church we were talking about what it means to be a true disciple and having the right foundation. The thing that stuck out in my mind the most about Sondor's message was John 16 when Jesus said, "In this life we will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world."

Here's the deal: I don't like to hear things like this. I automaticly go into fret-mode. (The worst scenarios possible come to my mind.) Then I start picking and choosing in my mind the bad things that I'd like it to be instead of the worst bad things that it could be. Children abducted, husband gets brain injury and loses the capability of his mind, that sort of terrible aweful thing. So I think, well, a house fire would be aweful but not as aweful as the above. Like Natalie's mom not knowing where she is. Stuff like that. A parent's worst nightmare. So then I go into secondary bad thing thoughts. House fire, loss of income, death of child or other family member, lawsuit, etc, etc.

I'm trying to surrender this to God, so just hold on to your horses. I admit to God that I'm scared to death of what will come. And trouble will come. Bleck. I almost mistyped that verse up there as, "In this trouble, life will come..." I'm thinking that also has an element of truth in it.

Why do I torture myself when the underlying issue is trust? Don't I trust Him enough to know that even if something worse that the worst possible thing my mind can think up (I'm a writer, guys, my mind can think up some pretty aweful stuff) that He would not abandon me in the midst of it? Don't I remember the other things I've gone through in my life? The things He got me through that I never thought I'd get through? So why would I fear what's to come? It could be stuff as simple as difficulty with relationships. Why do I always imagine the worst anyway? Ugh. I hate that about me. I really do and pray God would heal my mind and heart of all this fear.

So if you struggle with stuff like this...just know....no matter what comes...He will never leave you. He hasn't promised that trouble won't come. He's warned that it will. It rains on the Just. It rains on the Unjust. And sometimes....it just rains. He'll be there with you. I learned last night that my best days with God are not behind me but ahead of me. Lord Jesus, help me to saturate myself with you, so that when trouble does come, I'm not tossed overboard...into the depths without hope or help. I will ride the storm out because you love me and refuse to leave your post beside me in this rocky boat called life. You are faithful. I'm sorry for forgetting that. Perfect Love casts out all fear. Deal with it, Lord. Get rid of the junk in my heart. The things in my mind that reflect a lack of love for you and for others.

Another thing: why do I feel like I'm the only person in my life who knows how to apologize first and really mean it? I've apparently deeply hurt some people very close to me. (Surprise! Thought I was perfect, didn't you?) Well guess what? I'm not. The difference between me and some other people (no one I know) is that I know this about me. I freely admit that I have faults. I'm severely flawed. I think awful things in my mind and I say awful things and do awful things. But God knows my heart. I'm not saying that in a vindicative way. I'm saying it in this way: Yes. God knows my heart. He knows the evil that I'm capable of. The evil that I think and do. And He loves me anyway.

He also knows that I know it and that I'm sorry for it. He knows that I know that I can't change myself. He also knows how I beg Him in secret to change me because I don't want to be this way. I don't want to hurt those around me. But you know what? As long as there's life in me...I probably will. Not because I want to, or intend to, but because I am not perfect yet. He loves me the way I am but loves me too much to leave me that way. I don't want an obstinant heart.

Guess what? You're not perfect either. You do awful things and say awful things and think awful things. But guess what else? He still loves you anyway. This unconditional love is not exclusive to me no matter how spiritual you think I am. Like my stories, I am a Work In Progress. The thing I want you to get from this is His sustaining love doesn't just apply to those of us who know Him and love Him. In fact, He loved every one of us first. When we had no thoughts of Him. When we outright ignored Him. When we were in willful disobedience...He died for us. Not after He knew we'd choose to love and serve Him. He went to that cross without any guarantee that it would make a difference. But it did. So I hope this love arrests and captures you. I hope He becomes real to you. The person of Jesus. Not religion. Not what the church said or did that hurt you. Pure Jesus.

So if He's drawing, don't harden yourself to Him over and over. Please. That is a very, very dangerous place to be. Disobedience will petrify your heart, people. In case you haven't figured this out yet: people will always disappoint you. Especially me. So don't put your hope in people. Put your hope in God. He will never disappoint you. Never. And He'll help you deal with difficult people in your life who intentionally or unintentionally hurt you. One of those people would be me. But God and I...well, we're working on it. So instead of fearing what will come in this life, maybe I should be more concerned with the response of my heart to the trouble that will come. To the trouble that's here. I don't want my heart to be hardened. I want to see my faults. All thousand ugly of them. I don't want an adultrous heart against God. I want to stay soft, moldable, teachable.

To make this writing related: Like my story wips, God is still editing me. Editing is hard. You have to take things out, and put new things in. You have to let go of things you love. You have to hear hard things about your writing (and yourself). But in the end it will all be worth it because it will make the story (and your heart) better for it. Something beautiful. Like gold. But gold only shines after it's gone through fire. Submit. Obey. Root and center yourself in Him so that when He edits you through trouble or discipline, the foundation of your faith will not be shaken.

May my heart stary tender to His discipline and my faith stay strong and authentic in the storms. I pray that for every person reading this right now, too. Let us know yo better through it so the suffering becomes a treasure on the other side of the pain. Sometimes the other side of the pain doesn't come until Heaven. But we are safe in suffering if we remain in You. So help us God to remain in you. Help us to learn everything we're supposed to learn through the hard things we go through. Because it's occurred to me through something someone said once that you can't really fail the tests of God. He's one of those teachers who lets you take the test over and over and over until you pass it. Death is the only thing that will halt your chances. So I pray for you and for me, that we can learn the first time. So we don't have to take that test again.

Squirrel

THAT MAN

Okay, so I admit I pirated that term from my dear friend Danica. When her husband does something not to her liking, his name is not "dear" or "Randy" or "Hubby," it's "That Man."

Since I find great humor in that, I'm glad my snickering husband got to hear me refer to him that way. Just now. Three seconds ago.

As I was posting that last blog entry, he walks past the puter, stops, reads the caption to my blog, "Squirrel's Treehouse," and proceedes to snicker and say, "Shouldn't that be called Squirrel's Nuthouse?"

"THAT MAN!" Thanx Dream, I feel better.

OH....Oh!!! And do you know my man has a mistress? Dream has a mistress. It's her computer. When her husband tries to touch it, she says, "are you fondling my mistress again?"

Since my husband was present when that was said, the next time I pick up the phone, I can probably expect to hear, "Are you feeling my mistress up again?" Yes. My husband's mistress is the phone. Oh..and something else....he has more than one. Yes, at the same time. I'm serious. He'll be talking on the home phone (mistress #1) then when his cell phone rings, he talks to that person with his other mistress...cell phone (AKA Mistress # 2)

I might be a nut, but at least I'm screwed onto the right bolt. Plus, I rest my case that living with him would send anyone teetering over the edge of sanity.

Squirl---who really does love her man.

BLUSH AND CRINGE and My BIGGEST PRAYER

The fact that I thought today was Sunday instead of Saturday down there. So oh well, it's my post and I can cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I want to.........

So tomorrow, the REAL Sunday, I'll do LIFE WITH GOD....which, according to my obsessive compulsive schedule....was supposed to happen today.

I'll do a verse tomorrow, too. In fact, I'm chewing on one right now that I heard in church tonight.

Got to see some dear, dear friends who left to go on a church plant elsewhere in the US. I can really understand in the Bible when Paul and the others said things such as, "my heart longs to be with you again, but I must go where God tells me, and you must go where God sends you...." type scriptures. Man, the heartache. I miss them so badly. That's all part of the alluring hope of Heaven though. There will be no more separation or painful losses there. No such thing as missing because (hopefully...if you've asked Jesus to be your God and meant it for life) there will be no more goodbyes and we'll all be together forever. I think the worst part of Hell is going to be the eternal separation from God. No way back once that bridge is burned. It rips my heart and guts out to think of my friends and family not being there with me. Or my children. Biggest prayer of my life, biggest desire of my heart...if I could ask you to do anything, it would be to BE THERE. Please be there. Jesus is the only way. He loves us and have himself up to give us the chance. And like we want to be with our loved ones, we are his loved ones, you, me, the person next to you, and he longs for us to be with Him.

Thank you, Jesus.

Whatever comes, don't let us run....away. Hold us forever. I love you.

Cheryl "Squirrel" Wyatt

WORLD TRADE CENTER TAPES--REMEMBER.

Most of you know I write Inspirational Military Romance. If you didn't, you do now. So I have a special place in my heart for those willing to sacrifice for freedom.

I listened to a few of the newly released World Trade Center tapes yesterday. I also read some of the first hand paramedic, EMT, and firefighter accounts of that day. I can tell you it really helped me get over my niggling frustration with our troops still being in Iraq.

I'm not ashamed to say I love our President and think he's a great man of God. Still I had questions in the back of my mind like, "will this war really make a difference in the face of history? Or when we pull our troops out of there, will things just go back the way they were?"

This is my blog, and I'll always be honest. You may agree with me, you may not. But one thing I think we've lost sight of in all of the anti-war media: evil men chose to infiltrate our country for the sole purpose of planning and exacting those attacks. They came on our turf and started this fight. They killed thousands upon thousands in a matter of minutes then rejoiced over it. Children lost fathers and mothers. Wives and husbands, girlfriends & boyfriends lost the loves of their lives. Fathers and mothers lost children. Not to mention cousins, aunts, uncles, coworkers, friends.

It affected every single person in our country emotionally. So as you sit in your easy chair annoyed because one more American soldier died today, I ask you to do three things. Pray for our troops and allied forces. Pray against the evil that delights in terror.

And remember.

Remember.

Remember.

Remember the lives lost when those planes blew through those towers. Remember the horror of that black, gaping hole right before the buildings collapsed, taking all life with them. Remember the people who had to choose whether to burn to death or jump. Remember people running for their lives from the wall of toxic ash. Remember the broken Pentagon. Remember the passengers who died while thwarting the plane that didn't make it's mark.

Remember why our soldiers are over there. For freedom. For those who died. For those who have to live life missing their loved ones.

Remember.



Since today is Sunday, here's my prayer. Borrow as you wish.


BORROWED PRAYERS

Lord, help us to stay the course of our purpose on this earth. First and foremost that is to love you with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Show us what this means exactly. Give us unquenchable desire for you. Be with our soldiers and the allied soldiers. Please help them catch the terrorist leaders like Osama Bin Laden and the others still at large. Take down in other realms the instigators of terror, Lord. Show them who's God. Protect our troops. Give grace to the loved ones. Bless their sacrifice. Bless the little children. Draw those people to yourself. You are Truth, and bless the warriors who've left their homeland to chase this terror because they know freedom is worth fighting for. When they get discouraged or homesick, be with them. Draw near to them. Grant strength emotionally, physically, spiritually. Help them remember why they're there. Help them remember. In Jesus' name. Let it be.

BLOGANIZATION

Okay. Any one of my close friends can tell you I'm an organizational freak. Sooooooo I'm organizing my blog. Here's the deal.


Mondays: ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tuesdays: PRACTICAL HELP FOR WRITERS
Wednesdays: ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WRITERS
Thursdays: BLUSH & CRINGE
Fridays: RANTS & RANDOM THOUGHTS
Saturdays: LIFE WITH GOD
Sundays: BORROWED PRAYERS & VERSE

Under announcements I'll put things like Market updates, contest notices, finals or wins, and once I get published, upcoming releases for books.

Practical help for writers will include craft tips, editing tips, organizational strategies, etc.

Encouragement for writers will be something I pray about from week to week, as I ask God to tell me what to say here. I'm trusting Him to reach through this blog to minister to your needs. This won't only apply to writers but anyone chasing after a dream or waiting for God's promises.
I'll also add words of advice from pros here.

Blush and Cringe: If you're not familiar with this, I admit something embarrassing about myself. This is one of the most popular things that brings folks to my blog. So if you're in need of a chuckle, stay-tuned.

Rants and Random thoughts: Well, just what it says.

Life with God: Stuff God's dealing with me on, or answered prayers. I call it life with God, but actually God is my life so of course I can't leave Him out. He simply is.

Borrowed Prayers and Verse: Where I pray something and encourage you to use the prayer in your time of need. Verse, a random verse


Now, after a month or so I may rearrange things if I find I'm missing things or need another slot for something else I think up to do. My prompt contests will fall under announcements.

Later,

Squirrel

HELP FOR WRITERS: PERSISTANCE PAYS OFF

I'm going to post some things I heard editors say at the recent conference I went to. I find it strange that I heard this same thing from five different editors, nearly word for word. It deals with persistance through rejection and scathing contest scores.

They said, "It's not the most talented that end up making it (becoming published) but the most persistant."

BORROWED PRAYERS and Pouring my vial of words over Him

Father God: thank you that you are a giver of dreams. Help us to commit our gifts and talents to you, to be used by You for whatever purpose. Whether that's to entertain, to provide a temporary reprieve from the reality of life, or as a means for you to reach through the works of our hands to take the hand of someone hurting and draw them unto yourself. Just as you lavish us with good gifts, help us lavish you back. You are worthy, Lord God of praise and honor and thanksgiving. You are worthy of worship. You are worthy of everything that is in us. You are worthy of first place in our hearts. Come now, take up your rightful place in our lives and in our hearts. In our gifts, talents, abilities. As the three kinds brought you gifts, baby Jesus, so let us bring our talents and callings to you as an offering of love.

I speak before the world that I believe you've called me to write. It's not a career, but a calling. I beleive you cause these characters to speak to me. Even when I don't want to hear because of a hard critique or scathing contest remark. Even still, the voices whisper. Because someone out there needs to hear, needs to know that your heart is to them as it was to that character in my book.

I release the guilt of sitting me butt in this chair when I'd rather be playing with my children. For you spoke directly to my heart this weekend. (Thank you, Debbie Macomber. You have no idea how God used you. Your heart for God is evident and beautiful and inspiring. I'm sorry I missed your knitting session, but actually, your words stringed my heart back together where harsh words and doubt had ripped holes in the fabric of my spirit. God used you to heal that in me.) I now know that I am not neglecting my children. I'm teaching them that it is okay to chase a dream.

And mostly, the Giver of those dreams. Praise you, Daddy God. Praise you. Please lift those up who've been wounded in battle on this bloody road to publication. A road that I'm finding is paved with disapointment, rejection, but also, friends who will stick it out until the end, pick you back up and tug you along. Sometimes it feels like I'm crawling over broken glass on my hands and knees for miles. And why? Because God asked me to write as worship to Him. Don't write to get published. Don't write to minister. Don't write to win contests or to gain an editor's attention. Write for me. Published authors who in the only industry I've found where the mothers and fathers don't eat their young. The spirit of mentorship is awe-inspiring. I long to get to the point where I can help the little ones along the road. But I have much to learn and suspect I always will. The learning never stops, or your writing grows stale.

So for this reason, I say to the world, I pour my vial of words over you, Lord Jesus. As Mary broke the vial, and that gift meant so much to you. May my writing minister to your heart. May I always be faithful with this gift that you've entrusted me with. May I never compromise.

Receive, Lord. For you are worthy. Worthy. Worthy.

Squirrel

ADVANCED IN NOBLE THEME

Well I made it to the second round of Noble Theme Contest. I think I'm all contested out for the year though. One thing contests have taught me is that judging is highly subjective. You might final three times in a row, then bomb in the very next contest. It takes a while to figure this out though and can be very confusing and disheartening. My advice? Don't pay attention to scores, or even placement. Pay attention to consistancy. What I mean by this is look for comments that are repeated about paricular parts of your story. If three judges say they have a problem believing your hero would say a certain thing...then you may want to consider reworking that part. If one judge says they love your heroine's name but the other four say they can't stand it..by all means, you should probably consider changing it. Now if you get two comments that totally contradict one another, then don't mess with it unless you have another person (either a contest judge or critique partner) point it out as an area of concern. Above all, it's your story, not theirs and if you don't have peace about what they're saying, it's probably best to leave it alone. But stay teachable. I think that's the main thing. Hope this helps. Oh, and by the way? The first five contests I entered? I came in DEAD LAST. Now I'm finaling consistantly just one year later.

Why? Because I looked for the diamonds in the rough with contests and critiques. My diamonds were things that got consistantly pointed out by two or more judges. I paid attention to those things and pretty much ignored the rest. . .until another score sheet arrived or another critique bobbed in my inbox citing the same concern. Those are the diamonds in the rough. The things you can use. I've been a contest judge...for published authors no less and let me tell you guys, it's HARD! Not something I take lightly. The thing I try to remember is for the most part, judges are out to help you and not discourage you. If it seems they're being tough, it's probably because they see something promising in your work. Don't let it make you want to curl up in a ball and quit. Put the entry away for a few weeks. Pray a lot. Cry over it. Stomp around the house. But don't quit. Don't ever quit.

The only reason the Isrealites didn't get to see the promise land was bc they stopped believing too soon. Don't give up. Good news might be just around the corner.

I also have a feeling someone's reading this who has had a secret desire to write but you doubt yourself. Many of the desires God gives us are for things we're destined to be or do. So come out of your cave and chase that Dream if you feel a nudge in your heart by God to do so. Don't worry about what others think. The only person's opinion who matters is God's. And we have a God who is also a giver of dreams. He delights in these things, guys. So whoever you are, stop hiding. No reason to be ashamed of who He's made you. This may not only apply to the calling of writing.

Squirrel

EDITOR REQUEST!

One more thing....

My pitch resulted in a request for OC--the first story in my PJ series. YAAA! ME from Steeple Hill was SOOO nice. I forgot I was talking to an editor. I had the privelage of meeting DD, too who has a lovely shade of hair and a great sense of humor. Also got to see KS again...who burst out laughing as I tripped over a piece of cheese in front of her at the FHL banquet. Sigh. Leave it to me. (Yes. A piece of cheese. Don't ask. I don't know how it happened either.) I didn't realize it was a piece of cheese until I tried to pick it up because it looked like a dinner napkin. (Gross!) Same size, shape, color.

Squirrel

AGENTED!!!!!

I came back from Reno with some great news. The agent I've been under consideration with for has agreed to represent me! YEEEEEEEE!

Squirrel

RENO RWA 2005

I'm back from Nationals. WOW. I'll post other highlights but I'll tell you, the best piece of advice I received was from Diane Love Snell in the registration line, and from my roommate, Danica. They said, "Only pick one thing you want to learn then focus on that." (Diane) chose tow or three workshops a day that I wanted to go to and blew off the rest and bought the CD of the entire conference. One of my regrets was that I didn't attend the PRO retreat but I was torn between that and another workshop that I didn't think was being taped. Sicne many of you who read this may be attending your very first conference, I'll post some tips and highlights at a later time. I'll also post some pictures.

Squirrel.

OFF TO SEE THE.....

Wizard, the wonderful wizard of...

Wait. No. Going to RWA in Reno. So if I don't post for a week, I didn't get electrocuted on a power line...dratted squirrels.

C U all in a week. I'll tell you allllll about it when I get back.

In the meantime, you can send me thousands of emails to check when I get back.

Ugh. I'll dread checkign those. My inbox scares me. I have to get prayer for the trauma maybe...

LOL!

I'm sure I'll do a lot of goofy things to contribute to my blush and cringe. Hopefully not at my editor appt though. Yikes. An entire ten minutes to make a complete fool of myself.

Later,

Squirrel

SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER FOR AUGUST

Integrate each of these words and phrases into a scene. I'm looking for high action here and maybe a dash of humor thrown in.

Bite (bitten, bit okay too)
Squad car
Gucci
"Drop the bag!"
Handcuffs
Storefront
Trailer
Dark
"I can't find my poodle!"
Sidewalk
Jerk
Shriek
Chase
Flailed
Pantyhose
Wig
Off duty officer
Spoiled Heiress
Fancy Restaraunt (Name it)
Kiss
Blush
------
To enter: Write a 500 word scene following the prompt directions then paste your story in the body of an email (no attachments please) and send it to me at Cheryl @ CherylWyatt dot com (no spaces, replace "dot" with ".")
Please be sure to put "August Prompt Contest" in the subject line.

Thanks to all who entered July's prompt. Every entry was outstanding and I had a very difficult time choosing the winner.

HAPPY WRITING!!!

Contest will end August 25th, winner notified by August 30th.

Congrats to July's winner SAM!!!

SQUIRREL

CONFERENCE PREPERATION WOES

BLUSH AND CRINGE

I got lighty up shoes on clearance (Wal-mart or K-mart maybe?) for 4 dollars. They look like a little glass slipper (plastic) and the heels light up when you step. I thought they'd be perfect for the awards ceremonies.

Then I went to the store to look for a pair of those undies that squish your belly in. All I could find was a pair the color of murky mudpuddle water. We're not talking black lace or white satin here. So of course I flung them at the beginning of my line of items so the cashier would ring them in first in case anybody came behind me and saw the hideous (and gigantic) things. The evil woman let everything else pass by first and wouldn't you know it...two good-looking guys and three people I know came to that line behind me. So then she holds them WAAAY up, turns them around for the world to see, says, "Can't find a tag." Calls for a manager to do a price check so now there are like fifteen people in line behind me because it's late and we're the only lane open and Evil Cashier is STILL holding those murky tan-brown girdle panties up. Manager's busy so of course it took forever for me to be able to flee the wretched scene. M-barrassing!

SO then I get home, wash them and try them on......

Ugh. Have you ever tried to stuff an elephant into a rubber band that is oh, say TEN sizes too small? So then after sweating to death, jumping up and down six hundred times and using a pair of vice grips to tug them on...realized I'd never be able to get them off to go to the bathroom. Not only that, but they were cutting off the circulation in both of my legs and you can clearly see the line even with my skirt on where they're attempting to severe your legs at the top of your thigh. So much for the girdle-grannypanties. Six bucks and I had to go through the embarrassment of calling dh to come cut them off with his razor knife, all the while he's snickering and asking me, "WHAT were those. . .those. . .THINGS?" and looking at them as if they'd been dipped in Anthrax.

Oh well. I guess it's back to the old sit ups. Or in my case. . .sit up.

I keep telling my size 1 neices, "Don't be anorexic, but don't let yourselves get to be a blimp either because this is the sort of trauma you have to deal with." LOL! Squirrel

Better hurry up and get well soon...looks like they're bringing your suppository!!! 

CONDOLENCES, LONDON

My prayers go out to London, and specifically those affected by this tragedy. Father, I ask that you bring those responsible to their knees voluntarily or otherwise. Break the power of evil and terror in our world today so that our children may live in peace and not fear. We look to You. Set your hand against your enemy and thwart the plans of terrorists before tragedy strikes. You can do this, Father we have no doubt. We cry out for the children who've lost parents, for parents who've lost little ones. Please give them a strong sense of your presence and comfort. Help them look to you for healing for their hearts and land.

Please go forth, Father as a man of war and settle this once and for all for your glory and for goodness to break forth in the world. Give our leader wisdom, as well as other leaders who love you and follow you. For those who go against you, Father I pray you bring confusion and chaos on their mind to the point they cannot function. Disable the enemy, Lord. Be glorified and magnified in the hearts of your creation. We love you and trust you. You are our help in time of need. You are our strong tower. Let those hurting in London run to the refuge of love under the protection of your merciful wings.
==========================
The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. Psalms 37:40 NIV Bible
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Your enemies will be clothed in shame and the tents of the wicked will be no more. Job 8:22 NIV
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The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. Deuteronomy 28:7 NIV
==========================
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4
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With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies. Psalm 60:12
==========================
...To rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear. Lk1:74
==========================
The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in truimph on my enemies. Psalm 118:7 NIV
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BORROWED PRAYERS
Go up and pray those scriptures. God's word is His will and He always answers prayers that are according to His will.


Blessings,

Squirrel

SERIOUS WITHDRAWALS...

From eharlequin boards yesterday. Their new site's up today! Check it out at www.eharlequin.com click discussions, then Steeple Hill boards to see the main place I "hang out" online.

Squirrel

WRITING TIP FROM LENA NELSON DOOLEY

I'm blessed to be in a wonderful critique group filled with outstanding writers, one of whom is multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley www.LenaNelsonDooley.com
who writes for Barbour and Heartsong Presents. This tip of hers has helped me tons. She says to use your character's proper name every third or fourth pronoun because it personalizes them to the reader more. I think it truly does. Example:

She'd promised herself she'd never come here. Yet here she stood on the edge of the water, trying to make sense of it all. Was this the spot where he met death in the water? Or was it closer to the bridge where the current was swifter? She stepped off sandy banks until her enemy kissed her feet in rhythmic motion. She scanned the deceptive calm, the aqua blue and stepped further out. She let the waves wash over her feet, gently lapping as hot tears flowed down the planes of her face. He's not out there. Peace engulfed her. Sobs wretched forth as she dropped to her hands and knees, liquid grief mingled with the salty sea water. . .the water which pulled her husband from her arms one year ago today. 365 days of torment washed away in His powerful presence. Anger for never having found a body rolled off her heart like the waves off sand. Cleansing joy flooded her.

"He's not in the water." She turned her eyes to Heaven, finally resolved with his fate. . .and her tattered faith. "He's in the clouds, with You."

======
Stella had promised herself she'd never come here. Yet here she stood on the edge of the water, trying to make sense of it all. Was this the spot where he met death in the water? Or was it closer to the bridge where the current was swifter? Stella stepped off sandy banks until her enemy kissed her feet in rhythmic motion. She scanned the deceptive calm, the aqua blue and stepped further out. She let the waves wash over her feet, gently lapping as hot tears flowed down the planes of her face. Stan's not out there. Peace engulfed her. Sobs wretched forth as Stella dropped to her hands and knees, liquid grief mingled with the salty sea water. . .the water which pulled Stella's husband from her arms one year ago today. 365 days of torment washed away in His powerful presence. Anger for never having found Stan's body rolled off her heart like the waves off sand. Cleansing joy flooded her.

"He's not in the water." Stella turned her eyes to Heaven, finally resolved with his fate. . .and her tattered faith. "He's in the clouds, with You."
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Okay that was a bit rough, because I typed it really fast and no doubt it has POV violations but you get the jist.
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Blessings,

Squirrel

I FINALED IN NOBLE THEME!!!

Congrats to all finalists!!!! For those of you who did not final...big hugs and prayers, and I know EXACTLY how you feel right now.

Blessings,

Cheryl

CONGRATULATIONS TRAFFIC JAM WINNERS!!

Heather Tipton
Michelle Rodgers
Laura Hilton

Have made it through the traffic jam!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are still two prizes left.

Pamela James is in the runnng with 35 points at post # 385
Jeanie Smith Cash is in the running with 20 posts at # 385

Keep going girls!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have until Oct. 1, 2005

Squirl

WRITING TIP

When you're going through line edits, do a word search for these words because *most* of the time they can be deleted without changing the meaning of the sentence. This tightens your writing and cuts down on wordiness.

Just
That
Kind of
Always
Seemed

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BLUSH AND CRINGE
Once at a family reunion, my sister-in-law came up behind her husband's father, thinking he was her husband. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his back, bringing her mouth close to his ear and saying, "Hey, Honey. Whutcha doin?" in one of those deep, throaty voices. . .then jerked away, morbidly embarrassed when the man turned around and was NOT her husband but her father-in-law.

Shew! It's nice be able to tell on somebody else's goofs for a change!
=============================================
VERSE:
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 NIV Bible
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BORROWED PRAYERS:
God, thank you that you hear us. Help us to know if we have done something (or neglected to do something) that could hinder You from hearing our prayers.
=============================================
Blessings, Squirrel

PRESIDENT AND LAURA BUSH

I just want to say how thankful I am that the leader of our country has a close relationship with God. His faith is evident and I wish he could be president for the next ten terms. God bless the USA and I pray the USA blesses You.

I'm saying this one day early: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMERICA AND TO FREEDOM.

I pray for the service men and women and for their families. God, protect them, help them win this war and come home soon to their families.

WRITING UPDATE:
I'm preparing for two writing conferences. You have to sum up your story in one to four sentences so that's what I've been working on. Preparing my things for that. Got my business cards (that I designed myself) last week. Can I just say THEY ROCK!!!!!!!

I love them. There's a soldier on the front with weapon aimed at camera. The caption says, "Aiming for Excellence."

I'm getting to know my characters more. The comments for the TARA were extremely helpful.

Have a safe 4th of July.

Blessings,

Squirrel

CONDOLENCES FOR KELLI GOOCH...

....a gal I went to nursing school with who lost two of her four precious children this weekend in a car accident. Kelli, if you're listening....I cannot imagine the crushing grief of this tragedy. Please let God hold you and carry you through this. He loves you, and I pray the hope of Heaven that comes through the son of God who loved you and gave Himself for you will take root in your heart, in Jesus' name. I'm so sorry for your losses, Kelli. You, your remaining children, and your entire family are in my prayers.

Squirrel (Cheryl Wyatt)

JULY PROMPT CONTEST

SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER FOR JULY:

Write a story scene from a man's point of view, beginning with this sentence:
He never guessed in a million years he'd see her show up at the funeral.

Now, write a follow-up scene from a woman's point of view, using this sentence somewhere:
She knew he'd probably never speak to her again, but she needed closure.

PS: you can use proper names in the place of "he" , "she" , "her", and "him" up there if you want, although sometimes not putting a name down hooks the reader because they want to know who "she" is.

Happy writing! Contest ends 7/20/05 and winner will also be announced by 7/23/05.

TARA FINALIST!!!!

Another story finaled in the TARA (formerly First Impressions) contest!!!

So here's the tally:

AMBIENT BETRAYAL: First Place Where the Magic Begins 2004
AMBIENT BETRAYAL: Touched by Love finalist 2005
CODE YELLOW: Finalist winning Second Place Heart of the Rockies 2005
COVENANT SEAL: Finalist in the TARA (formerly First Impressions) 2005

SEVEN STRANDS: Short story won Flash Competition-Steeple Hill Message Board 2004

It sure feels a heckuva lot better than coming in DEAD LAST, I'll tell you that much. By the way, if you've never entered a writing contest, you are only a number and not a name so don't worry if you come in last. No one will know it except for you, and possibly an extremely gentle and confidential contest coordinator (who would never, ever tell on you in a million, gazillion years.)

Squirrel

WHOOOPS!!!!

Can you guess what I forgot? To post June's Prompt winner yesterday. BIG congrats going out to A. D. for her entry.

I'll post July's prompt shortly so stay tuned and thanks for your patience.

Squirrel

TO DELETE OR NOT TO DELETE.....

...THAT is the question. Bleck. My favorite scene in a book...and I might have to let it go due to point of view issues. So I'm in mourning over it, but I'm praying for strength to do what needs to be done with it in order to make the story better.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(That was NOT your town's tornado siren...it was me, wailing in agony.)

BUT...(you knew there was going to be a but, didn't you?) every time I've had to endure the pain of letting something go, something much better has returned in it's place. This doesn't only apply in my writing, but in life. Wrong relationships, careers, motivations, goals, even dreams. Some things you give up for God, the rewards of that may not show up until you get to Heaven, but you can rest assured it's there, waiting for you.

BORROWED PRAYERS:
Father, help us to open our hands and release things to You that hinder us. Especially since it's going to hurt a lot worse if You have to pry it from our hands. So what ever it is, help us to relinquish control to You, trusting You know what is best.

VERSE:
He will be used for special purposes, because he is dedicated and useful to his Master, ready to be used for every good deed. 2 Timothy 2:21 TEV

BLUSH AND CRINGE:
Once at work I was chewing a blue pen and about the time I tasted the (permanent) ink, several coworkers gasped, pointing to my face in horror. My entire mouth-- tongue, teeth, gums, lips, EVERYTHING, were stained bright blue for days.

JUNE PROMPT CONTEST OVER

Winner will be announced by June 25th. Thanks to all who entered! July's prompt will be posted this week.

Squirrel

BEWARE OF THE....

BLOG.

Specifically my blog if you're a stickler for typos. I promise, I really DO proofread these things before I hit "send" but I'm one of these people who doesn't proofread well by computer monitor. My advice if you're like me? Print your ms out. Most people tend to pick up more errors by paper than monitor. I recently viewed an author's blog (sorry, can't recall whose it was...it may have even been an editor's blog) that stated, "Edit-free zone." I really like that.

BLUSH AND CRINGE
I am in a writing course where you email your instructor assignments and they send them back critiqued. I was trying to multitask (another thing I don't do well by computer) and I had two different e-mail accounts open. One I was responding to a family member and the other was my instructor. Well, I also had three people IM'ing me, so those three windows were open as well, plus I had a word document open, critiquing for someone.

You can imagine how confused I got.

I was trying to wrap up the email to my family member-who was coming for a visit after just having back surgery and wondered if we had extra sleeping space. I typed in, "you can come stay at my house anytime, you can even sleep in my bed." Then MEANT to type, "Love, Cheryl" but hit send before I looked at the screen. When I looked back up at my monitor, I saw the unfinished email to my family member still staring at me from the screen and realized with a gasp of horror that I had tacked the last sentences (meant for my family member) onto my intructor's (who is a well-known editor in the writing industry) email. Frantic and hyperventillating, I pulled the "sent" message up, and nearly fainted with dread and embarrassment when I realized that not only did I write the wrong message in the wrong email, I must have hit the "r" as I hit the "e", ending my message (to the editor/instructor) "Here's assignment number 26. You can come stay at my house anytime, you can even sleep in my bed. Lover, Cheryl."

Yes. I immediately sent an explanatory email, apoligizing all over myself. He not only got a good chuckle out of it, he sent the message back proofread and edited. LOL!

I know. What a dork I am.
=====================
VERSE

God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:8 NIV
=====================
BORROWED PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for sending us your spirit to teach, help and comfort us. Help us to know Him, know you. Help us to bless you as much as You bless us.
=====================
That's all for now.

Lover, Squirrel
**snicker**

I

ROMANCING THE.....

Phone.

Pardon me if you're a telemarketer. I'm sure you have issues of rejection having heard, "put me on your no call-back list" hundreds of times. BUT.....I don't call YOU at home and I WISH you'd stop calling me at home.

It never fails. Every ten minutes, the phone rings. I hate it most when I have a family member who is ill, or I know any day some coordinator from some contest is calling finalists and I entered. When I see "Unavailable" or "Unknown" or "Private" on caller ID and he's home, I let my husband answer the phone.

Then I spend the next sixty seconds giggling as he torments the caller.

One time a long distance phone company called (for the THIRD time that day) asking us if we wanted to switch our long distance to them. My husband replies, "No thanks. We don't have a phone." The telemarketer says, "Oh, Okay. I'm sorry to bother you.....wait...if you don't have a phone, how are you talking to me?" Hubby answers, "Give me your name and home number and I'll call you back this evening and tell you." Telemarketer says, "I'm sorry, Sir. I cannot give out my name and number." Husband says, "Well you got mine, didn't you?" Telemarketer: "Click. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ."

That leads me into the BLUSH AND CRINGE
Groggy from napping, phone rings, I answer it without looking at caller ID. I hear a voice asking to speak with me. I automaticially assume the woman is a telemarketer. Now, my brain wakes up thirty minutes after my body, so at this point I sit up, but am not completely coherent. Wanting to go back to sleep and get the rest of my nap in before my kids get home, I interrupt her mid-sentence, saying, "I'm not interested. Please put me on your no-call back list." One second of silence and three muffled giggles later, she informs me she's a contest coordinator, calling to tell me one of my stories finalled in a contest.
=======================
VERSE
"All of my prayers for you are full of praise to God." Phillipians 1:3 TLB
=======================
Speaking of the Living Bible, the man who translated it died this past week.
=======================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Lord, help us to trust you with everything. When things seem out of our control, help us remember you are always in control.
=======================
WRITING TIP:
Begin and end chapters with a hook. (A sentence that will immediatelly draw the reader in, "hooking" them---making them want to read on...and on....and on....)
=======================
That's all for now!

Blessings!
Squirrel

ATTACK OF THE KILLER...

COMMAS.

I've figured out commas are one of the biggest grammatical speedbumps I trip over. I tend to leave too many in the sentence. And speaking of sentences...another weakness I have (I'm sure you've noticed if you know me) is that I write EXACTLY like I talk...so I have tons of way-too-long-complex sentences. I'm working on it. The other thing I'm studying as far as the craft of writing at the moment is about goal, motivation and conflict. If you are a beginning writer (more beginning than me I mean) your fictional characters need to have something driving them (motivation) toward something they want (goal) while creating obsticals (conflict) throughout the story to keep them from attaining that goal.

Even though I always write romantic tales with happy endings, when I write a story I set out to do everything in my power to make the reader think there's no way everything could possibly work out for the good for the hero and heroine, and create such havok that it seems impossible that they'd actually end up together.

See what I mean about my loooooooooooooooooooong sentences?
=========================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
That long sentence up there.
=========================
VERSE
With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
(Even Cheryl learning to write short sentences.)
=========================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Lord, help us to commit our works to you. Help us to use the gifts you've given us. Help us to teach others freely.


That's all for now.

Blessings,

Squirrel

May Winner and Squirrel's Story Starter for June:

The winner for May's prompt contest is Tracie P! Congratulations, Tracie!
==================
June's Prompt by Cheryl Wyatt


Pick a character ( or two or three :-)) and for each character, pick one attribute and one quirk for that character. Use any combination, or you can do what I do: put them in three separate jars and pull one out of each jar. . .matching that character with a quirk and attribute.


Characters:
A waitress
A teacher
A toddler
A business owner
A body builder
A single father
A daycare owner
A Captain
A dental assistant
A priest
A neighbor (fictional-ha-ha)
An elderly person
A judge
An Eagle Scout
A flight attendant

Attributes:
Compassionate
Faithful
Prankster
Peacemaker
Organizer
Leader
Courageous
Dishonest
Overbearing
Hearing impaired
Lonely
Driven
Charismatic
Controlling
Strong-willed

Quirks
Snaps gum
Always wears plaid
Can't stand to touch peaches
Sings when nervous
Never uses elevators
Faints when embarrassed
Always opens doors with a napkin
Eats out every Tuesday
Flips hair
Smokes imported cigars
Always drives in passing lane
Compulsive shopping of checkout line items
Sticks old gum on top of cups for recycling
Gives flowers to strangers
Can't stand Christmas carolers
======================
Featured Blog:
Flogging The Quill
======================

That's all for today---I'm beat!

Blessings,

Squirrel

SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER

...for May is officially over. Winner will be announced by 5/25/05. June's prompt will also be posted at that time. Thanks for taking time to enter! I'd dearly love for one of the scenes fashioned from one of these prompts to be turned into a full length piece.
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BLUSH AND CRINGE
I used to love to shop. That was B.C. (Before children.) Here's a scene from our last shopping excursion.

In the grocery store, I have the baby in the front of the cart and the two toddlers in the back. . .now let's see. . .am I forgetting anybody. . .no, we're good. Anyway, I'm pushing the kart full speed ahead, maneuvering expertly around stragglers, memorizing my shopping list perfectly proud of my expert multitasking, thinking THIS TIME the shopping trip won't cause me to need counseling like the last few have.

At the exact moment my 4 yo opened a LARGE bag of pinto beans, my 3yo preoceeds to hold a glass jar of olives over the side of the kart. . .and. . .

Yes.

Drops it.

So now I'm trying to skid to a stop, but the forward momentum doesn't let me stop in time to prevent running over the large, green defenseless olives. So now, we have several large olive hit & run's in progress, hundreds of hard, brown beans klinking through the little square holes in the bottom of the kart and coming to rest in a pool of green olive juice. I'm not sure if it was the sound of a thousand beans bouncing off the floor tiles, the nerve-jolting shatter of broken glass, or the horrible smell of escaped olive juice, but every customer in the store ventured over to...

Stare.

I snatched my kids out of the kart and headed for the doors with the "clean up in aisle number. . ." hitting me in the back.
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VERSE
Your love, Lord, means more than life to me. Psalms 63:3

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BORROWED PRAYERS
Father, when our day is hectic and things fall apart, help us look to You for strength and comfort. Most of all, help us to be able to laugh at ourselves. Thank You for the gift of humor, and incongruient-with-the-circumstances-joy that only comes from You.

========================
Blessings,

Squirrel

FINALIST IN TOUCHED BY LOVE

I'm awed and humbled beyond belief!!!!! I got a call today that one of my wips (works in progress) finaled in touched by love!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATS TO ALL THE OTHER FINALISTS!!!!!!!

For those of you who didn't final....I know EXACTLY what you're feeling right now, too. Been there, done that more times than I care to count and I'm sure I'll be there again faster than a speeding comma. So I'm sending great big cyber hugs and lots of cyber chocolate your way. I feel your pain and disappointment.

In fact, here's today's BLUSH AND CRINGE: the first few contests I entered in. . .I came in DEAD LAST! Thank goodness they don't list your name, you're only a number. Shew!!!!!!

BUT, because of the judges' comments, I began to learn (learning never stops, even when you're pubbed) what some of my weaknesses are as a fiction writer. In addition, I learned how to specifically improve particular entries. So I encourage you to keep at it and I promise it will more than likely happen to you one day. Hang in there. Remain teachable. Look for consistant comments...and don't be afraind of the DELETE or EDIT keys. Persistance pays off and God has a plan for your life. If you commit your works to Him, whether that be writing, or something else He's called you to, he will lead you and guide you, and best of all, encourage you and strengthen you in times of struggle and discouragement.

PS: Both entries that are now finalists in two different contests? Those were the ones that came in dead last when I began entering contests just last year. I know judging is subjective in nature, but you can glean from consistant comments despite scores that are all over the place.
===========================
VERSE:
"I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you," Isaiah 46:3-4 NIV

============================
Father, when disappointment comes our way, help us run your way. No matter what comes, don't let us lose faith. Use these situations to make us more like your precious Son.
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Blessings,
Squirrel

"WHO DREW ON THE BABY'S....

....HEAD WITH A DARK BLUE PERMANENT MARKER!!!???"

It's been one of those frazzled mommy days. The veins in my eyes are bulging, and my face hasn't stopped twitching since noon. Probably from doing the "mommy look" too many times today. Don't know if it's because the end of the school year is approaching or what, but SOMETHING has caused my children to strive to hurl me over the edge of sanity....

Short trip.

Too bad they're so adorably cute, otherwise I'd have to put them up for sale.
=======================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
At a department store yesterday, I was looking through the clearance pajamas. When I turned around, my baby had a silky leapard print bra over her head, each cup covering her ears like winter ear muffs. Of course I didn't notice it until a myriad of nearby snickers from the group of department store trainees alerted me that her tiny lightning-fast fist had snatched it from a rack...somewhere.
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CONTEST NEWS

SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTERS
One more day for the deadline for Squirrel's Story Starters--my monthly prompt contest. Scroll down to see May's Prompt contest. Get those entries in!!! I have a great selection of books for you to choose from this month.

TRAFFIC JAM...
in motion. There are four in the running as we speak and here are the tallies so far, count ending at post 109:

Pammer: 34
Heather: 39
Jeanie: 18
Michelle: 11

This contest goes 1. Until Oct. 1st, or 2. Until one of you send 100 people to sign the guestbook on my website. The first five people who send 100 people to sign my guestbook at www.CherylWyatt.com by Oct 1, 2005 will win one of my prizes (each valued at $200.00). For more information, email me at Cheryl@CherylWyatt.com and ask for information about the Traffic Jam, or sign up for my newsletter (The Acorn Connection) where the details will be emailed to you.
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VERSE:
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13
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Lord Jesus,
Help us guard our simple devotion to you.
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Blessings,

Squirrel

CODE YELLOW WINS SECOND PLACE

In Colorado Romance Writer's Heart of the Rockies Contest. Thanks judges!!! Yay me!!! Now I wait until I get the judges' comments back and edit any needed changes.

BLUSH AND CRINGE
One day in nursing school, we had a mock disaster drill where we were assigned injuries and had to pretend to be whatever our injuries were. My friend was "unconscious" so all she had to do was lay on the gurney and feign sleep (only she REALLY fell asleep). The slip of paper I got said "compound fracture of the right radius and ulna bones, multiple contusions and bleeding lacerations of the forehead and right cheek." So I sat there in the chair while my instructor and fellow students put red makeup all over my face and drew bruises and cuts across my face with various colors of eyeliner. We'd had kentucky fried chicken for lunch. I was one of the most injured. The VA nurses and doctors had to figure out what was wrong with us without the use of the "injury slips" we got. So my makeup artists cut my shirt sleeve, taped four broken chicken bones to my arm, making it look like both bones in my right forearm were broken and poking through the skin (yes there was fake blood and all) and poured ketchup all over my shirt sleeve. After the disaster drill was over, my instructor wanted to take pictures back at school so she asked us not to fix our injuries just yet. So yes, I had to drive home like that. Fake bruises and blood covering my face, and those ridiculous stinky bones on my arms. I had parked in front of the national guard armory. When I got back to my car, there were about two dozen soldiers standing on the sidewalk. I had to walk through them to get to my car. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, two of them were sitting on my car hood when I got to my car. I politely ignored the snickers and stares and tried to get my key in my lock. After several attempts, my face is red without the ketchup. One soldier slips off my hood, walks up and asks if he could help me. "No. I've almost got it," I say. To my horror, he keeps standing there.

Laughing. "Are you sure you don't need help getting into this car?" he asks as the soldiers behind him laugh in chorus.

"No. I'm fine." I really wish he'd leave me alone. I mean, what does this guy think, that just because I'm blonde and female that I'm not capable of unlocking a simple car door? But then again, I wonder, why won't this stupid key work? And of course EVERYONE is STILL staring at me.....and snickering.

That's when I notice there is a ball cap on the dash that doesn't belong to me. Just as I begin to wonder whose cap is in my car, I wonder where the stack of papers, books, and various other clutter that should be in my car. I realize this car does not look like Sandford and Son's.

I realize this isn't my car at all. Now I'm about to cry because I'm so shy and these men are all laughing at me and I feel like a complete dork, not only because of the car but because I have Kentucky fried chicken bones growing from my arms like leeches, dried ketchup on my Dokken shirt and all over my face, smeared makeup because it sprinkled on the way back to my car, and a very bad hair day. (GImme a break, it was in the 80's. Every day was a bad hair day.)

Once more, the soldier asks, "Are you sure you don't need help getting that door open?"

With face, flaming red, I turn to face him, mortified. He steps over and opens the door.

"It's your car?" I ask. He nods. I turn on my heel and franticly search for my car, finding it three cars down, identical to his, exept for the license plate and the fact that mine could use a good washing.

=================

VERSE
For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. Ps 5:12 NIV

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BORROWED PRAYERS
Dear Lord,
Infuse us with a hunger for time with you. Strenghten the bonds of our communication and communion. Help us to love you like you love us.

Blessings!

Squirrel

GOD's WILL/EDEN's GARDEN

Thanks for the comforting posts, guys. I've always used poetry to release stuff inside me and I was really, really mad at Death and the devil that day. Couldn't you tell? LOL!

Regarding baby's name. If the baby had been a boy, his name is Will. So he's God's Will. If the baby was a girl, her name is Eden since I had a dream the night I found out she'd died in my womb, that she was dancing in a garden with Jesus. It was so vivid and the greatest source of comfort for me. I tend to think the baby was a girl, but my children insist it was a boy. I guess we'll find out when we get to Heaven, huh? :-) Thanks for your suggestions, guys.
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BLUSH AND CRINGE
When I was in the middle of miscarrying, I began bleeding so heavily my sanitary pads wouldn't hold everything, so in desperation, I grabbed one of my baby's diapers and used it in place of a pad. Then my doctor, concerned about the amount of bleeding, instructed me to come to his office immediately. I forgot to remove the diaper and when I shimmied my trousers down. . .there it was! I shrugged, ignored the urge to snicker and said to the nurse and my doctor, "Dont' worry. I changed my diaper right before I came here so you wouldn't have to." Even though the situation was sad, the moment was hilarious. I wish you could have seen their faces. They were trying so hard not to giggle. Then when I started laughing, they couldn't help it.

BORROWED PRAYER
Dear God, THANK YOU for the gift of a good sense of humor. Thank you for the blessing of laughter and supernatural joy. You are amazing.

VERSE:
Prov 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine.
Ecc 3:4: ...there is a time to weep and a time to laugh...

THANKS for stopping by! Come back often!!!

Squirrel

SOMEDAY--HEAVEN

Someday Heaven

By Cheryl Wyatt 5/9/05



Death-merciless thief
stole life
left grief
Haven
of a mother's womb
became a baby's grave
Left in its wake
empty arms
they ache
To hold
what will never be
Until Someday--Heaven
Eyes strain to see
through tears meant to be
Joyous as you emerge
But it was not meant to be
forever
This life is a blink
compared to Eternity
There--
Do you hear it?
Hope breathes
For when Jesus hung from that cross of pain
Death dangled
lifeless from a skipknot rope
Its vicious neck broken
Its gloating power not strong enough
to hold King Jesus in its clutches
He rose
Hope breathed
Life surged
Death screamed in agony
of defeat
beat
by the power of His resurrection
We believe
what will be
has already happened
though we cannot see
Someday
it will manifest
Life won
If you believe
you will see--
Someday--
Heaven.

I SAW IT!!! Now see what I'm gonna do about it. . .

I know, I know. More typos. Cheeks are mighty red here. As I've told you before, I do not proofread well by computer monitor.

So I know my "it's" should have been "its" and "invested" should have been "invented."

And since it seems that me getting through a post without a single typo is something of a rarity, I'm going to have fun with it and polish your proofing/editing skills at the same time.

At the end of every month, anyone who wants to can try to find ALL the typos, misspellings, grammatical goofs, or just plain horrid sentence structure for the blog posts for that month. At the end of the first week of the new month, the person who finds the most errors will win a free book. For ties, I'll draw names to pick a winner.

Squirrel

HOUSTON! WE HAVE A . . .

TOOTH!!!

My precious grumpy bug finally cut that stubborn thing. She's been so miserable. Thank God for the person who invested Orajel. Or is that Oragel?

Forgive if this post seems a bit muggy. (Now let's see. . .is that the right word?) My pain became so severe today I took a half a pain medication and my brain is running in slow motion.

No. Make that REVERSE.

In fact, that leads me to my next question.

BLUSH AND CRINGE
OK, not really a question but the other word that was meant to go there escaped the memory of my recess. Or is that recess of my memory?

I miss recess.

Any way. . .here is the blush and cringe. At least, well, it's funny to me....but then again, I'm sort of on drugs at the moment, so pretty much everything's funny at this point. Let's try this one more time:

BLUSH AND CRINGE. . . TAKE TWO, CLICK!

Tonight, as the half a Vicodin began to seep it's way into my "not at all used to narcotics bloodstream," I could NOT think of common words. So we get home from the grocery store, and I had one of the two baskets of strawberries we'd purchased on the counter by the sink. I'm trying to wash them, and bat away dd2's hand as she's swiping the ones I'd just pitted and washed.

Wait. Hold everything...do you pit strawberries? Well, you know, when you pull that green leafy part out and scoop that remnant of a stem thingy out of the middle. So I did whatever you call that, then went to finish putting groceries away. I *thought* I asked my older daughter to please dump the freshly cleaned and *de-leafed* strawberries into the food processor so I could blend them up with some Splenda and make some strawberry milkshakes. She looked at me with a doubtful expression and politely refused to do it. So with a firm, "mommy look" I said, "please do it." Daughter number two begins to cry as daughter number one gives me a strange look and procedes to dump the strawberries DOWN THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL. She turns the switch on before I could stop her. Now my kitchen is filled with one gurgling sink, one very confused mother, and two very unhappy campers grieving over lost strawberries that both girls claimed I said to put down the garbage disposal (instead of "food processor.")

Peacemaker, enter stage left: So my loving husband waltzes in, pushes me away from the blender thingy as I'm dumping the second basket of strawberries in and bans me from the kitchen, saying "you're not supposed to be operating dangerous machinery while medicated, it says so clearly on the bottle." (even though in my mind, "dangerous machinery" is a forklift or front end loader). So I whip my head around, sure they're all mistaken about my verbal blunder which apparently caused the violent demise of a perfectly innocent basket of strawberries, and say, "I'm perfectly capable of using this garbage disposal!!!" and flip the switch on the food processor.
==============

VERSE OF THE DAY
Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it. Hebrews 4:16 TEV

==============
BORROWED PRAYERS
Father, this Mother's Day week, be with and comfort all those who've lost their mothers. Help those of us who still have ours, to be thankful and never take them for granted. Thanks for making such a thing as family. Help us be the mothers and fathers that our children need to be nurtured into the destinies you created for them. . .to love you with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Help us model it, live it.
===============

Have a great day.

Blessings,

Squirrel

GOD IS VERY NEAR. . .

To the broken-hearted.

Found out this week I've miscarried my baby. Very sad, but all in all, I see God's hand of comfort. He prepared me through Sondor's sermon last week. He talked about how everyone needs to have a "Good Life Crisis." One thing I just reread in my notes that's having a profound effect on me is "People in pain are in a perfect position to experience God." The first night I found out, I have several very comforting and vivid dreams of the baby in Heaven with Jesus. I also had an extremely strong sense of God's tangeable presence. I pray this for everyone going through loss or grief or disappointment. When I called a good friend to tell her the sad news, seh asked me, "Do you feel guilty." (This pregnancy wasn't exactly in our plans.)

And I could confidently say, "No." I know that even though the news of the pregnancy was unexpected, children are a blessing from the Lord. When I told a friend before I'd taken the test I suspected I was pregnant, they'd said, "Oh no. I don't think God would do that to you."

The fact of the matter is, God didn't DO anything to me. He LET it be. I know that I know that I know that I wanted and loved this baby with all of my heart and soul. During the ultrasound, when I couldn't see anything moving, nor the heartbeat, I felt God whisper the tempo of a beat in my heart...these words over and over: "This one's mine."

So today, I praise Him for renewed patience with the children He's blessed me with. Though they are His, too, He's letting me borrow them for their time on earth. Sacred, precious gifts are they and you can bet I've hugged them a lot more often and a little tighter every day since we got the sad news. So this baby had a purpose and I know part of that purpose was to help me not to take my others for granted. To be thankful for every single day. A reminder that I'm triple blessed.

And. . .I am safe in suffering because I have a God who knows exactly what it feels like to have to watch a child die. So this baby reminded me not only of the sacrifice of Jesus, who willingly gave Himself for all of us, but of the sacrifice of God, who sent His only son to die for us instead of sending the globe spinning off its axis and forgetting about all of us.

I watched the surreal life today. I'm heartbroken at China Doll. Now, granted, I know "Reality TV" is often staged, but this woman cried and was heartbroken because all she wanted was for her ex boyfriend to tell her he loves her. So one of the other dudes on the show goes in to the closet where she's hiding and treis to comfort her and she automatically begins to latch onto him with her hope and love.

She's no different than the rest of us. We are made to need love. But the only perfect love is God's and I pray someone tells her there is a man who will never stop loving her. I pray He reveals Himself to her in a profound and life-changing way. Jesus is the only person who will never disappoint us and he will never, ever stop loving us.


I also found out the same day I didn't final in another contest. This business of writing is sort of like the process of grief. I mean, when a story you've poured your soul into to create, gets rejected, it feels like a profound personal loss. There's teh normal stages of grief. Anger, despondency, denial, depression then eventually acceptance. I admit I did have a fleeting thought, "Why am I doing this to myself?" Pursuing publication is a painful process and honestly, I have a full life, so why bother? Why slash my veins and bleed my heart over the pages just for someone to say they hate my story. Yes, I entertained the thoughts to give up for about half a day.

Then the characters in my heart started to speak. God whispered, "you can't quit because you're doing this for me. It's worship unto me."

I'll tell you, I got right on my computer and pounded out another chapter.

Why?

Because God has given this to me and somehow, it blesses Him when I give it back to Him. So if I never get published, I'll whine and moan and probably yell and cry.

But I'll never give up because I know now that I'm doing it for all the right reasons. To know that somehow through all the heartache of rejections, and contest losses, that God has managed to purify my heart and my motives...makes it worth every slice of pain.


=========================

"It's part of a new meme that is travelling through the blogosphere. The idea is if you're tagged, you need to choose 3 (or more if you like) occupations from the list below and then finish the sentence for each that you've chosen.
"You then tag three more people who must do the same. You can add more occupations to the list when you pass it on but you must choose your 3 from the list provided by the person who tagged you. You're also asked to trackback to the blogger who tagged you if you know how."
Here's the list:
If I could be a scientist…
If I could be a farmer…
If I could be a musician…
If I could be a doctor…
If I could be a painter…
If I could be a gardener…
If I could be a missionary…
If I could be a chef…
If I could be an architect…
If I could be a linguist…
If I could be a psychologist…
If I could be a librarian…
If I could be an athlete…
If I could be a lawyer…
If I could be an innkeeper…
If I could be a professor…
If I could be a writer…
If I could be a llama-rider…
If I could be a bonnie pirate…
If I could be a service member…
If I could be a photographer…
If I could be a philanthropist…
If I could be a rap artist…
If I could be a child actor…
If I could be a secret agent…
If I could be a comedian/comedienne…
If I could be a priest...
If I could be a radio announcer...
If I could be a phlebotomist...
If I could be Paris Hilton's stylist...
If I could be a movie producer...
If I could be the CEO of Microsoft...
If I could be an accountant…
If I could be a scientist,

I'm choosing the one that cheered me up when I read it:

"If I could be a gardener. . .all the flowers wouldn't tremble when I place them in my cart at the garden center as if they'd just been sentenced to death row, and my mother in law wouldn't have to show me for the hundredth time which green thingies are the weeds and which ones are the flowers.

I'll add to the mix:

If I could be a Mime. . .
If I could be a Spec Ops solder. . .
If I could be an Ambassador. . .

I'm tagging Margaret Daley, Brenda Coulter, and Mae Nunn.


Squirrel

BLUSH AND CRINGE

Okay. Everyone knows that children mimick what they see. So tell me. WHY would I think my children would be immune to this? *Cough* Confession time here. I, sort of, well, sometimessmackmyhusbandonthebuttwhenhepassesbymeinaroom. There. I said it. AAAAAND... sometimes I happen to do that when my children are present in said room. Ahem. Yes. I know. BAAAAAD Mommy. So anyway, tonight we're coming out or church and my four year old runs after our pastor, catches up with him and...

Yeah.

Smacks him right on the caboose.

If there was ever a time when I wished the asphalt would open up and swallow me, that would be it. (Sondor', if you ever read this--you have no idea how embarrassed I was.)

So. Moral of the story? When you pat your honey's patootie...make sure the children are not gawking.

===========
KINGDOM CONCEPT
The Bible says "and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make (or set) you free.
The cool thing about this is...truth is a person.
Jesus is The Truth. He called Himself The Truth, The Way, The Life.
Pretty cool double meaning, huh?
==========
VERSES for your viewing pleasure:
Jn 8:32
Jn 14:6
I Ti 2:4
Jn 16:13
=========
Borrowed Prayers
Dear God, help us to cling to your Truth. . . in every sense of the word.

Love,
Squirrel

ANNOUNCING APRIL CONTEST WINNER

Congratulations to M.R. for winning "Squirrel's Story Starters" for April!!!! She penned a delightful story.

Congratulations also goes out to K.M. for honorable mention.

Both of these stories ran neck and neck and I had to have outside help to decide a winner. Congratulations, girls!!!!!!!!!!!


BLUSH AND CRINGE
When I was at ACRW conference last year, Kathy Ide's parents drove us to a four story bookstore in Denver. The story I was working on at the time features a S.W.A.T. officer for the hero. I found a S.W.A.T. magazine there and bought it, not realizing it had a picture of a very intense individual aiming a machine gun on the front cover. That issue was all about weaponry. Also during the conference, they gave these floating hand things away. So I switch flights at St. Louis and of all the people in line, guess who they pull out to go through their suitcase in front of all the other people?

Yep. Me.

So the nice, tall, latex-gloved security officer places my suitcase on the table and proceeds to unzip it. What's the first thing he sees? That S.W.A.T. magazine and that floating body part. He just stops what he's doing, lifts the magazine with two fingers, and his left eyebrow as he's staring at me. I giggle when I get nervous. So I begin to giggle. And I can't stop. And he's holding this magazine up, his questioning gaze turning from me to it and back. Then he picks up the severed hand with his other gloved hand. I'm giggling uncontrollably now and have hives all over my neck, back and arms because everyone around us is staring, wondering what the hold up is. I finally figure out he's waiting for an explanation. I look at him, shrug, smile sweetly and blushingly, and say, "You don't want to know."
Brow lifts higher and brow number two joins it, he says, "Oh yes. I do. And you're going to tell me."
I realize he's serious. But I feel another wave of giggles erupting as I envision my husband having to come rescue me after I've been apprehended by security, and interrogated in some dark airport boardroom by the FBI and CIA. (You have to remember, I have a writer's imagination.)
I tell him, "Well, I bought it at the Tattered Cover."
He blinks exactly three times and I can tell this answer is not going to get me through security. This is St. Louis, MO. And the Tattered Cover was the bookstore in Denver.
"I'm a writer. I just came back from a writer's conference and I bought that for research."
"Hmm-Hmm," he says. Now there are three, count them, three security guards going through my stuff and a LOOOOONG line of irritated, yet curious onlookers behind me who are about to miss their flights because of the delay caused by this fake severed hand and this magazine.
He dug through my dirty clothes (How embarrassing) and lifts up my Bible. Shew. I see the grin erupt over his face and the sparkle glimmer in his eye.
"Am I going to find any other severed body parts in here?" he asks, a smile tugging one side of his mouth higher than the other.
Relieved, because I now realize he's kidding with me, in my nervous state, I blurt the first thing that comes to mind, "No, sir, you certainly won't. I hid the rest better."

He chuckled, closed the suitcase and waved me through while the stream of passengers behind me zoomed past in all their glaring glory. At some point on the flight home, I stopped trembling and began to chuckle about it.

VERSE
You, God, created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created. Revelation 4:11 NLT

BORROWED PRAYERS
Dear God, as you have delighted yourself in us, even when we had no thoughts of you, please help us to delight ourselves in you. Let nothing take your rightful place in our hearts. Be first. Help us love you laps ahead of everything and everyone else.

SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER for MAY:

Set up:
Hero's background: His mother was controlling. He thinks a wife will control him, therefore he avoids commitments at all cost. Has always been tought that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you want something, go after it. Has to feel like he's in control at all times.

Heroine's background: Shy, sweet, tought never to make waves. Don't pursue things, let them come to you. Avoids situations of control at all costs.

She catches his eye and he determines to "Chase her" even though he's never had to chase a woman in his life. A mishap causes them to meet.

Write a 500 word or less scene. I'd like you to use at least the hero, or heroine above, preferrably both in your story.

This sentence, or variant of it, MUST be in the story somewhere, preferable the Hook.

"As the slow heat from the blush of mortification crawled up her chest and neck, Murial cringed at the mess she'd made, and prayed for the sidewalk to open up and gobble her this instant."

Blessings!

Squirrel

One more thing...

This month's prompt contest has officially ended. Winner will be notified by 4/25 via Email, and their initials posted in my blog. There were an extraordinary number of entries this month and all of you sent in such great entries, this one is going to be HARD to judge. Thanks to all who entered. Nothing would bless me more in regards to this contest than to see some of you take the scene you crafted from the seed of a story, and turn it into a full-length salable manuscript.

Blessings!

Squirrel

SLACKIN'

Wow, it's been too long since I posted! BUT, I've actually been writing. I'm about twenty pages away from finishing my next wip-the first in my new Spec Op series. Wooooo Hoooo.

BLUSH AND CRINGE

We had a couple over for dinner who'd visited our church. The gentleman picked up the salt shaker and shook. Nothing happened. My husband tried to shake it. Nothing happened so he tapped the bottom and a few grains of salt broke free. Then he taps it again and here comes the salt. So he hands it to the man, who proceeds to salt his food. As a few of the clumps of salt (that had been blocking the last few holes) tumbled out onto his grilled chicken, I commented, "I guess steam from the water I boiled earlier must have clogged it." One of my preschoolers says, "No, mom, Eno licked it when we were setting the table and that's what clogged it." Our dinner guests chuckled. I was mortified. And you know, now that I think of it, that man didn't eat a bite of that chicken breast after that.......

BORROWED PRAYERS
God, when we are drowning in pain, whether it be emotional or physical, and there is no medication or balm to help or soothe us we are at Your mercy, which is the best place to be. We trust in You. You love us and hear our prayers. Thank You that the same compassion that compelled you, Jesus, to reach out to that hurting one in the crowd still flows with abundance from Your heart of love and mercy. You still heal today, and we are trusting you to do great things in our midst. Be magnified in our suffering, Lord. Be magnified.

VERSE:
He will not leave us orphaned. He will come to us.
Psalms.

MORE OF A CRINGE

Instead of a blush and cringe: My daughters decided to unfurl an entire roll of toilet paper and stuff it in the toilet. Not so bad. I could have dealt with that. They've put worse in the toilet. (Remind me to tell you the day my favorite candle went missing) So I am doing my typical "why did you guys do this, it makes no sense" rant and I hear the toilet flush and daughter number two going, "Uh oh! Mom! It's overflowing!" So now I'm launching into my "why did you flush it? I told you not to flush it!" rant, and trying desperately to get the childproof lock thingy off the cabinet door so I can get the plunger. "I flushed it because I had to poop and you always tell us to flush after we poop," she says. So now I'm watching the one foot in diameter, water-logged mountain of toilet paper slowly rising to the top of the toilet rim, looking like a billowing mass of whipped cream, only those little brown pebbles are NOT cherries on top. I ask the four year old to help me get the childproof lock open. She's succesful within seconds. I grab Mr. Plunger, skid across bathroom floor and realize the water stopped about a hair's length from the top of the toilet. Good news, right? Wrong. If I put Mr. Plunger in the water, it's going to overflow. Then I hear a gurgle, and another gurgle and realize that somehow, the water is s-l-o-w-l-y moving down. I wait an eternal five minutes, then lift the plunger, ready to insert, only to realize it's inside out. That's what I get for buying it at the dollar store. I don't know about you, but I'm not touching that thing with my bare hands to turn it back the way it's supposed to go. So I dash to the other bathroom, grab another plunger and race back down the long hall to bathroom number one where I am now hearing the unmistakeable sound of splashing. And laughter. "Dear God, please let that be the sink they're playing in," I pray and round the bend to find my older daughters (ages 3 and 4) cheering the one year old on as she has both hands in the toilet, squeezing a pebble with one tiny hand and swirling the mass of toilet paper around like a whirlpool with her other hand.

It could have been worse I guess. Usually everything she gets her hands on goes directly in her mouth. I know, gross, and yes, I scrubbed her hands with antibacterial soap for a half an hour.


VERSE
Search me, O God and know my heart...lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

BORROWED PRAYERS
Help me to have an insatiable passion for your words. Let me devour them as if I knew I'd never get to read the Bible again. Help those in other countries to be able to have your Words without being caught and persecuted.

NEW WITH MY WRITING
I'm working on a new series, the special ops military ones. I'm two thirds of the way to finishing my first draft. I wrote a scene today that made me bawl my eyes out. My husband walks in, looks at me like I'm a loon, and walks past, shaking his head while I continue sniffing, blubbering, and tapping away at the keyboard. He's slightly worried about the fact that fictional people, whom I've created with my own mind, have the ability to send me into crybaby mode. So I either wrote an incredibly emotional scene today, or my pregnancy hormones are a bit out of control! LOL.

MY NEIGHBOR'S CHICKEN ATE MY DOG

Not really, but since I have your attention, let's get started with all our bloggyness.

BLUSH AND CRINGE
This entire month's blush and cringe will be didicated to my husband. Tee-hee, or at lest written at his expense. (Shhhh! Don't tell him!)
My husband runs sound for a lot of bands. When MXPX first started out, my husband had never ran sound for a punk or ska band. He was used to running sound for Pantera-like bands. Anyway, after the first song, (MXPX tuned low) my husband stops the show, walks up to the guitarist and asks him if he needs to borrow a new string. The guy stares at him as if he's from another galaxy, looks at his guitar and says, "uh, no." So my ever helpful husband says, "well, you need to re tune your guitar or get a new string then because that sounds horrible." Dh (Dear hubby) then goes about looking to see which sound cable was causing the "terrible screeching." That's when the guitarist informs him that's how their music is SUPPOSED to sound.

VERSE
He covers the Heavens with clouds, sends down the showers, and makes the green grass grow... Psalm 147:8 TLB

BORROWED PRAYERS
God, thank you for providing for us. You are faithful. Help me know and believe it no matter how the circumstances look.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE INFLUENCED MY LIFE PROFOUNDLY:
Fellow friends and previous coworkers Patty Hall and Tammy Stubblefield. I got an email from Tammy and saw Patty at church and it reminded me of something both of them said to me right after I got married. Before I got married, I wasn't all keen on the idea of having children. BOTH of them spoke into my life, telling me what a joy motherhood is and what a wonderful mother I would be. Years later, as I look into the cherubic faces of my beautiful children, I remember those words and can hardly contain the tears, thinking how they've enriched my life. So thanks Patty and Tammy, for booting my caboose, and for being wonderful, Godly examples of how a mother should love their children. I aspire to be like you. Thanks for influincing that aspect of my life. I bet you didn't even realize the power your words of encouragement would have. You may not even remember speaking those words, but I remember for it was a pivotal moment in the span of my life with each of you. God used you to turn my heart towards the desire to be a wife and mom-something I wouldn't trade for anything.

CONTESTS
Dont forget about my Traffic Jam and my prompt contest. If you'd like a free book but aren't a writerly type, send me an email telling me exactly why you think you deserve a book. The story can be true or made up. The story that makes me laugh or cry the most, will win a free book. My email is Cheryl@CherylWyatt.com

Back to my website www.cherylwyatt.com

Thanks for stopping by.

Squirrel

TRAFFIC JAM IN MOTION!!!!

If you've received my newsletter, The Acorn Connection, you know the Traffic Jam has officially begun!!! So far, Pamela James is laps ahead of the rest of you, so what are you waiting for? Send people to sign my guestbook! Don't forget to tell them to mention who sent them so you get credit! These are some great prizes guys and you don't want to miss this opportunity.

Don't have any idea what I'm talking about? I'm running a six month long contest, from April to October, in order to increase traffic on my website. Grand prize is your choice of 1 of 5 things valued at $200.00. There is no catch other than in order to win, you have to send more people to sign my website guestbook than anyone else. For more details, go to www.CherylWyatt.com click the newsletter link and sign up for it, or simply send me an email at Cheryl@CherylWyatt.com telling me you wish to enter Squirrel's Traffic Jam.

Don't forget about my monthly prompt contest, called "Squirrel's Story Starters." Prize is a free book.

BLUSH AND CRINGE
Once while working night shift at the hospital, I needed to page housekeeping to come clean a birthing room so we could move my other actively laboring patient in there. The stupid phone system was messed up and somehow, no matter what numbers you pushed, it dialed speed call numbers randomly. It's 2:00 in the morning and *housekeeping* picks up. "Hello?" a groggy voice answered. I'm squishing my eyebrows at the phone, thinking the housekeeping dude fell asleep on his shift. Anyway, so I go, "Yes, I need for you to come mop birthing room three as soon as possible." There was a pause, then groggy voice says, "Excuse me?" I repeat myself, "I need for you to come mop a birthing room. We're swamped and we need that room pronto." Next thing I know, groggy voice says, "Cheryl? Is that you?" I realize with a start the voice belonging to groggy person is NOT the nightshift housekeeper. It's the physician of my patient who was NOT on call and whom I had just wakened IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. No longer groggy, very awake and slightly annoyed voice says, "Cheryl, you're calling me at two am to tell me to come back to the hospital to help you clean a birthing room?" "B-b-but, I didn't call you. The phone did!" I say. Likely story. He had a hard time believing the phone system was the one with microchips shorting out.


VERSE: