Hello, blog friends. It has been a hectic four days, but finally I have found a chance to open my laptop, check email, and think about blogging.
Thursday I left home around 5:15 am. My two flights were both uneventful (the best kind). From Salt Lake City to Orlando, I sat next to a nice young man who was a Christian, and we had a pleasant conversation for the first hour or more of the 4 1/2 hour flight. Then we both opened our laptops and did some work.
Friday and Saturday were spent with about 60 other novelists, some I was meeting for the first time, others who have become as close to me as any other person this side of heaven can be. For those two days we shared and learned, laughed and cried, and worshipped God together. It is one of those sweet foretastes of heaven that we get every so often.
Last night I went to the Christy Awards banquet where a number of my writing friends were up for awards. My roommate was one of them. Well, she was my roommate until Saturday afternoon when she moved to the hotel where her publisher’s block of rooms are. I was so delighted when she (Tamera Alexander) won the Christy for Best Romance for her book, Remembered. I was whooping and hollering in excitement for her. But I know the other talented writers in that category and would have whooped and hollered for them too. That’s what is so great about the community of Christian fiction writers. We want to support one another and cheer everyone on because we are all on the same mission.
This morning’s worship service was particular sweet as we shared struggles from the past year and praises from the last year. And what we saw again and again was the beauty that God brings from ashes. Glory to his name.
The photo I’m including is from the Christy Awards. From left to right is the warm and witty Mark Mynheir; the lovely and tenderhearted suspense writer Terri Blackstock; yours truly; and my dear buddy (who has prayed me through so much) Sunni Jeffers whose personality is just as sunny as her name. (Click for larger photo)
Tomorrow “The Show” begins. Back when I can be.
-rlh-
