Invitations…

In the old days, when one had guests, they might stay anywhere from several days to indefinitely. People who practiced this usually had large enough houses (or estates) to accommodate them. Traveling was harder and took longer in those days, too, and some people traveled so far away they were never heard from, again.

Many of the working classes had long-term guests as well. But they were more along the variety of relatives that needed a place to stay (most of history actually happened without government help), or friends of friends who were down on their luck. These type of guests almost always pitched in with the family workload, making them an asset even if things were a little more crowded around the house.

These days, even though we can get places quicker, we are much more isolated. TV has helped with that, because not only is it a great babysitter, it keeps the adults pretty quiet, too. At the same time, there has never been so much freedom for individuals to do exactly as they please, without having to explain themselves to anybody. Which is why I so thoroughly enjoy living the way I do. I can be gone for months at a time, and still come back to my splendid little hideaway, here, for all the peace and quiet I need for writing my adventure stories. Oh, but I absolutely love guests, and even though it is far off the beaten track, you'd be surprised how many make it a point to come for regular visits. My dearest friends, especially.

So it is that I am inviting a very large crowd for the entire month of October, in honor of my book GOLD TRAP which is to be launched this very next Saturday. Fellow time-travelers, some of them, not to mention several interesting adventurers, and even a few of my author friends. I'll be introducing them all month long. There will be plenty of interesting discussions to join in on, delicious food and beverages, and a number of lovely spots to slip off to for anyone that simply needs to be alone with their thoughts for awhile. So, I hope you'll stop by as often as you can to join us, because you're invited, too.

Heavens, it just wouldn't be the same without you.

Now, off to work on PANDORA...

Looking for Serendipity…

Dictionaries define the word serendipity as "an unexpected pleasant experience." And do we all need more of those! Well, it just so happens one has come my way, and I have a feeling (just a feeling) that it is trailing a few others along with it, like a big kite with a long tail.

Now, if it were a kite (and it would have to be a giant kite for this scenario), I could do one of two things. First case, I could look up at it, note its size and wonder as it passes, and enjoy the moment. Second case (and I'll tell you, right now, this is the one I am choosing), I can grab onto that tail -- even if I have to chase it, first -- and hold on for an exciting adventure. Grab your hats, dear readers, because here comes the description of my kite…

I and my book are going to the FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR, October 12-16 in Germany. To meet and "hob-nob" with other industry professionals and artists from

around the world. While I have never been there before, I have ancestors who have, so I might have to do a little "time traveling" at some point along the way (think Mary Poppins jumping into a chalk drawing -- it actually happens more often than you can imagine). At any rate, I am going to be reporting all, right here on the blog, so stay tuned for some details I guarantee you won't be able to get anywhere else. And some opportunities (because I always share -- things taste better when you do) you won't find anywhere else, either.

So, while I have a million things to do before departure (like a BOOK LAUNCH, for heaven sake!), let me leave you with this…

Wherever you are today, may you look up and catch a glimpse of the many serendipities that are passing over your own head (at this very moment!), and grab hold of one of them for yourself. If you do… then we are kindred spirits.

So, now, I am off to work…

Mad Things…

OK. A little bit of a blog-writing challenge from Isis Rushdan (thank you, fellow campaigner) about "the maddest things to happen to me" over the last two days. Well, my goodness, what did we let loose here? Because -- as if right on cue -- the craziest "mad things" began flying at me, as soon as I read those words…

It all began with an electrical glitch (hmm… could there be some connection?) that effected my computer. Which in turn tangled up my responses while trying to set up a Facebook page to link up with my website. Mostly because I wanted to like so many of you out there who have become my friends. But did you know that not just anyone can push one of those "like" buttons? No, you must have a Facebook page, yourself, in order to participate in that sort of thing. But -- speaking of sorts -- it turns out they don't even allow my sort to have one of those pages.

Which rather made me mad, in another sort of way (and this kind is worse than the first, I think) because I began speaking a piece of my mind to the powers that be, over there. Having absolutely no idea that the "record" button was still on. Faith and Begorrah! Now, everything I said and did, yesterday, is plastered up all over my dear sponsor's news feed (not to mention her walls). And that after she so kindly agreed to share her space with me, under condition I would mind my manners. Now, we are stuck in a terrible quandary of whether she should sacrifice her reputation over the whole thing, or I should. Good grief, and I only just got there!

Now, I've had to call in the cavalry for help (better than waiting till they come after me), for the entire blow-up has gone way beyond both of us. Mad, indeed! Still, all this has led me to wonder just how much control one actually has over these little "mad things" that plague all our lives in the first place. So, if you've had any similar experiences, dear reader, pipe up and share some of them, will you?

Then I won't feel so alone out here.

And, now, to work for the day...

What's it Worth?

And so back to our discussion on adventure. I have met few people who do not desire to have an adventure of their own. And while most of us live ordinary lives within a few miles of our regular circles, there are those that manage to break out every once in a while and actually embark on one. They can be disasters or delights, depending on the personality. Either way, true adventure (either good or bad, for there are both kinds) changes you, and you walk away with something of value, no matter which kind it is.

One of my favorite passtimes is browsing through Gutenberg looking for personal experiences of just those types of adventures. You find them in the oddest places. And along with such accounts, there are always gems. Life secrets that you can take away and use for your own if ever the need comes up. I think I just might share one of these every Friday, starting with this one here, which takes place after a harrowing journey through war-torn Europe that would have killed most of the rest of us. Here it is:

"I was at last about to arrive at my goal, and was in a state of wild excitement at the idea of seeing once more all my beloved ones. I should have liked to have gone to sleep. My eyes, which had grown larger with anxiety, traveled through space more rapidly than the train went. I fumed each time it stopped, and envied the birds I saw flying along. I laughed with delight as I thought of the surprised faces of those I was going to see again, and then I began to tremble with anxiety.

What had happened to them, and should I find them all? I should if—ah, those "ifs," those "becauses," and those "buts"! My mind became full of them, they bristled with illnesses and accidents, and I began to weep. My poor little traveling companion began to weep too. Finally we came within sight of Homburg. Twenty more minutes of this turning of wheels and we should enter the station. But just as though all the sprites and devils from the infernal regions had concerted to torture my patience, we stopped short. All heads were out of the windows. "What is it?" "What's the matter?" "Why are we not going on?" There was a train in front of us at a standstill, with a broken brake, and the line had to be cleared.

I fell back on my seat, clenching my teeth and hands, and looking up in the air to distinguish the evil spirits which were so bent on tormenting me, and then I resolutely closed my eyes. I muttered some invectives against the invisible sprites, and declared that, as I would not suffer any more, I was now going to sleep. I then fell fast asleep, for the power of sleeping when I wish is a precious gift which God has bestowed on me.

In the most frightful circumstances and the most cruel moments of life, when I have felt that my reason was giving way under shocks that have been too great or too painful, my will has laid hold of my reason, just as one holds a bad-tempered little dog that wants to bite, and, subjugating it, my will has said to my reason: "Enough. You can take up again to-morrow your suffering and your plans, your anxiety, your sorrow and your anguish. You have had enough for to-day. You would give way altogether under the weight of so many troubles, and you would drag me along with you. I will not have it! We will forget everything for so many hours and go to sleep together!" And I have gone to sleep. This, I swear to.

Miss Soubise roused me as soon as the train entered the station. I was refreshed and calmer. A minute later we were in a carriage and had given the address, 7 Ober Strasse. We were soon there, and I found all my adored ones, big and little, and they were all very well. Oh, what happiness it was! The blood pulsed in all my arteries. I had suffered so much that I burst out into delicious laughter and sobs.

Who can ever describe the infinite pleasure of tears of joy! During the next two days the maddest things occurred, which I will not relate, so incredible would they sound. Among others, fire broke out in the house; we had to escape in our night clothes and camp out for six hours in five feet of snow, &c. &c."…

These words were penned by Sarah Bernhardt, better known as "the most famous actress the world has ever known." Yet, here are a few of her own thoughts from the deepest recesses of her very own humanity. She craved adventure from a young age, and in her pursuit of it… usually found herself walking head and shoulders above most everyone else around her.

What an incredible thought that is! I have now put it on my "to do" list to read the rest of this amazing lady's memoirs, to see what else I can learn from her. Which convinces me, dear reader, that there is so much more available to us in this life than first meets the eye!

And now to work before a lovely weekend and a bit of rest…

A Visit From Friends…

Today I have had a wonderful surprise visit from my own dear writing family. All of them at once, and all with glowing things to say about my new venture. What's more, they even offered to pitch in and help me with the coming launch of GOLD TRAP (the first book with my name on it), even to the point of inviting friends from their own various circles to be present here on that special day. I couldn't be more pleased.

But there is so much to do before then, and we all sat down for one of our old brainstorming sessions to figure out best how to get everything done. Of course, I made it quite clear that it could not all be about me. There had to be something here for everyone to enjoy. Which is why I was absolutely amazed (and honored) that the Professor offered to bring an example of his new alternative energy invention. Which has little to do with gold or traps… but in a way, it does. It's certainly all a mystery to me. He plans on an actual demonstration that will…

Oh, but I'll let him explain all that when he comes back. He had to leave early because of an urgent call that the children had taken over the lab, again. Leaving the rest of us to discuss decorations and refreshments for the coming big day. All very necessary. Still… things tend to seem rather lifeless when he leaves a room.

A state only getting busy with work will help.

The Last Day…

Well, this is it. The end of my not-so-little experiment with adventures in prayer. It has been life-changing for me, really. Because while I have always maintained a "prayer list" of sorts to enrich my own spiritual journey, I haven't often taken it past the general God blesses, or prayers of agreement when people ask me to pray for them. And I have always been as surprised and amazed as everyone else when answers seemed to come from "out

of the blue."

But now I have found prayer to be a road which can be ventured out on much the same way as any other road, and with much the same results. Destinations are important (unless you have endless time to wander and are entertained by that sort of thing), there are hazards along the way, and sometimes even traffic jams. But the scenery can be spectacular. And -- as with other types of travel -- the trip is much more enjoyable if you share it with someone.

I have come away with some fantastic prayer partners, and feel incredibly blessed for having met these people. Besides the fact that results seem to come faster when more than one person is praying, there is that wonderful -- almost unbelievable -- scripture that states; "…if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." (Mat. 18:19). Quite the guarantee. I admit I've put that one to the test over and over, and so far, have been unable to prove it wrong. Which says a lot for this day and age. So I would highly recommend people try that one out for themselves.

Taking time each day for the past two weeks to purposely venture out onto the "prayer road" to specific places has strengthened my vision to be able to see more than just what's in front of me at the moment. It has made me more aware of who I am and how much more I am capable of doing. I had no idea. And it has made me witness to the kinds of things that produce a sort of joy and sense of well-being that you can't buy even if you are a billionaire.

So, would I ever do something like this, again? Would I set foot on that road even if I wasn't making a public confession, here? What -- are you kidding? At this point my plans are never to get off it. Life is beautiful here, and the more you share it, the better it gets. Which brings me to the door-prize (I said, yesterday, there might be one). For some reason, God is answering all the prayers I have prayed this week in amazing miraculous ways. So, if you have any requests, let me know so I can pray for you, too. I want you to get in on this. I will take your special request "on the road" personally. Then stand back and watch, because you will hear from heaven. Oh, yes, and don't forget to let me know how things turn out so we can share the joy.

Now for the refreshments (I promised some of those, yesterday, too). So here they are… "The Lord bless you and keep you, may He make his face shine upon you, and be very good to you. May He turn His eyes to you, right now, and give you a peace and refreshment to your soul that you can feel this very moment." (Numbers 6:24-26… Lilly's paraphrased version)

Thank you for traveling a little way with me.

The Thirteenth Day...

Nearly to the end of my two week experiment with adventures in prayer, where I promised to report all that was happening, and so I will. A scientist makes detailed notations even of mistakes in order to be more exact with proven outcomes. I think the same accuracy is required here. Thus, I must now touch on a subject that might be objectionable to some. So, if you are of the more genteel sort (whom I dearly love -- we need all personality types in this world) you may want to skip this post and come back on another day.

The American Heritage dictionary defines adventure as: "An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature" or "An undertaking of a questionable nature, especially one involving intervention in another's state of affairs." Which I also consider to be an accurate description when one sets out to discover adventures in prayer.

As mentioned before, one first finds themself on a particular "road" that is happily, and unhappily, populated with other travelers who are generally out for the same purpose. And while this road is not subject to time or place (in that it is instantly accessible from anywhere or any hour), it is a real road. More real, possibly, than all those others we travel on every day. I have pointed out that there are wonderful frequent travelers here who can be of great help to new or despondent ones, and the more often you travel there, the quicker you will get at recognizing them.

But there are other sorts here, too.

These are not so nice. They are enemies of your soul, really, determined to distract or waylay you from your true purpose here. They are not all monsters. No, if they were, there would be no problem identifying and avoiding them. Many are sweet and beguiling... offering pass times that are always quite acceptable and innocent on the surface of things.

But they are wicked underneath. And capable of such excellent disguise that they can often be hiding beneath the surface of your very own self. Those are the most dangerous kind. The ones who can convince you that there is something incredibly wrong (or unfixable) about you, yourself. Which automatically kicks you into survival mode, and you all but forget why you even came there.

That's why it is of the utmost importance that you make as sure of your travel arrangements for coming here as you would on any other vacation. You wouldn't head out without knowing your destination, would you? No, too many places to get lost in. Would you start without money, or other adequate provision? I should say not. And you would -- above all else -- steer clear of any known war zones where a person might become a casualty just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. These rules are just plain common sense. Still, it is amazing how many travelers pay no attention at all to them.

The most shocking discovery I have made during these spiritual traveling experiments is that this road is the most dangerous there is in all the world. But it is also the most exciting, the most modern, and the straightest path to any given destination on earth. It is not for the faint of heart, though. And it is not a good idea to go there naked (you'd be surprised how many think that's the very thing to do). Even though there are many good travel advisories posted all around if you look for them. The best is found in Ephesians 6. The whole chapter.

However, if you are the type that doesn't like wearing that sort of stuff, or discover you really have no desire to travel in areas of this kind in the first place, you really shouldn't worry about it. Just be careful to stay closer to home, maintain all your support systems, and not wander off alone by yourself. Because we are living in dangerous times, here, and need to be watching each other's backs.

Which is all I'm going to say about the subject, right now.

Tomorrow is my last public day for this experiment, and I intend to sum everything up and tell all. There might even be a door prize. At any rate, there will be refreshments. But now I'm off to do some work before this day is entirely gone...