Monday, September 30, 2019

Radio Interview


 September Journaling

1.    We had a joint service with the Spanish and Mandarin sister churches that share our building. The preaching was in Mandarin, and translated into English and Spanish. Even the songs were sung in three languages. A foretaste of heaven. I wonder what language we’ll speak there? Finnish? Haha.

2.    Labour Day; it doesn’t mean much to me since I’ve been off work for almost five years. Tidying up and preparing for school.

3.    First day of JK for our grandson. They grow up so fast.

4.    First day of teaching my granddaughter nursery school featuring the letter Aa, the number 1, the colour green, circles, and the story of the creation of the world. She’s easily distracted and so we’ll probably be doing a lot more learning through play. Also my mom and aunt came for the afternoon.

5.    Chiro and massage.

6.    Errands. Dinner at a Greek restaurant. Ordered the tiles for our master bathroom renovation.

7.    My radio interview has aired. Here is the link. https://www.hopestreamradio.com/programs/author-interview Benaiah: Mighty Man of God by P.H. Thompson. It doesn’t sound terrible. He made me feel at ease.

8.    Church. Our evening services started up again.

9.    Home alone today as my husband is starting his next seminary course. Mostly getting ready for teaching school, Bible study, and the writer’s retreat.

10. More prep.

11. School day brought to you by the letter Bb, the number 2, the colour red, squares, and the story of the fall.

12. Back to leading women’s Precepts Bible studies, beginning in the book of Acts. Then heading to Guelph for a Christian writers’ retreat called Refocus which actually gives lots of time for writing.

13. I sold a few books I brought with me.

14. Coming home. It was a profitable weekend. I started working on my new novel, which is always exciting. I was on a roll since I had outlined and all I had to do was flesh out my scene cards. I finished 4-1/2 chapters and wrote 6000 words. I also had good feedback on my novel’s concept and first chapter at the critique corner. I had a good roommate, the food and fellowship was good. Hearing excerpts from everyone’s writing showed me there is a lot of great talent in the Christian Canadian world.

15. Church. I invited a few more people to my book signing at Chapters next week.

16. We’re improving our curb appeal by having our steps covered in stamped concrete. My husband started another course at seminary. Our renters are moving out.

17. School prep. Getting the word out about next Saturday’s book signing.

18. School day brought to you by the letter Cc, the number 3, triangles, the story of Cain and Abel, caterpillars, canoes, and Canada.

19. Scandal now because they discovered pictures of the Prime Minister in blackface. First of all, he should’ve known better. He was 29, and a high school teacher, setting an example to impressionable teens. Second, he knew about it all this time, but never brought it up because he was hoping it wouldn’t be discovered. Third, they will forgive him because he’s their man, and the media will help him spin it. Fourth, if it was anyone else in his caucus, he would have gotten rid of them right away. He is being hypocritical, just as he was when he was accused of groping a woman. He had his people hush it up, while he fired another member for a comment. Fifth, the media are trying to say there are factors to consider, whereas we know if it was the conservative leader, Andrew Scheer, he’d be calling for his resignation, citing this as proof of his racism.

20. Getting my things together for my book signing at Chapters tomorrow.

21. I had the book signing at Chapters. I had eighteen people come to see me; most were already at my book launch, but came to support me. I got 15 new signups for my author email list by having a draw for a $25 Chapters gift card. I sold four books, two to unbelievers. One is a Hindu lady, my pharmacist. The other saw my ad on facebook and came to buy a gift for a Christian friend of hers. My husband was there all day for support.

22. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I just got an email invitation to be a guest on the 700 Club Canada to talk about my book! It will be recorded in November in St. Catherines. Of course I said yes, but I’m terrified. The radio interview was scary enough, but t.v? The daughter of a friend at church works for the person who decides who comes on the show. She had read my book and here we are!

23. Dental appointment.

24.Pain clinic.

25.School day brought to you by the letter Dd, the number four, the shape rectangle, and dragonflies. My granddaughter can hear a song once and remember it perfectly. On her first day of school, age 2-1/2 she already can recite the days of the week.

26. Bible study. Renovations starting on the master bathroom. Our renters have moved out and we rearranged the furniture that’s there.

27. My husband is going on a men’s retreat weekend, so I’m going to spend the night at my daughter’s so they can go see the Downton Abbey movie while I babysit.

28.Brunch with the family at Cannon, then driving home. Nap and salad from Freshii for dinner. I just discovered this restaurant and now I’m trying all their menu items.

29. I’m two weeks into a weight loss program called noom, which tracks calories and exercise. It is sustainable because its sensible. It doesn’t make sense to cut out an entire food group. So far I’ve lost seven pounds. Also, great news! A man was saved this morning at the mens' retreat.

30. Home day alone. I bought food, did laundry, went for a walk, napped, worked on my Bible study homework, and worked on my novel research, which is basically listening to sermons on the life of Joseph. Allistair Begg has about twenty sermons on it which I mostly listen to while I walk. Fascinating. I’m so excited for this project. Movie night at church, watching the movie Breakthrough with the women’s ministry group.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Renovations Begin




August Journaling

1.    Grandkids visiting.

2.    Busy day with the kids, sidewalk chalk, kiddie pool.

3.    A relative from Florida came for dinner.

4.    Church then dropping off the grandkids in Hamilton and eating dinner.

5.    Simcoe Day; our daughter headed back to Ottawa. She starts her job tomorrow.

6.    This is a prep week as the next two weeks will be busy with DVBS at church, then the Carey Conference. Also need to get ready for teaching my granddaughter nursery school one day a week.

7.    Got some bloodwork taken, paid the mortgage, picked up a prescription and some groceries. Then nap time and making an easy dinner. School prep. Relax.

8.    Helping a friend plan how much food to buy for the meals for DVBS next week.

9.    We had our hot tub and half our deck removed and a beautiful cedar deck built in its place and sod put down.

10. We also replaced the toilet and vanity in our powder room.

11. A friend is visiting from Alberta. We hadn’t seen each other in 30 years, but easily picked up where we left off.

12. The beginning of DVBS. I’m helping with the food. Hot dogs today.

13. Busy work in the kitchen. Today we made mac and cheese.

14. The kids seem to appreciate the food. Pancakes for lunch today.

15. Today we made grilled cheese.

16. Final day; we made mini taco bites for snack and mini pizzas for lunch. Exhausted doesn’t begin to describe how I feel. Every day I need at least a two hour nap to recover. There were 50 kids and 50 volunteers. Packing for the Carey conference tomorrow.

17. First day of our 27th Carey conference. We are in the same trailer. Catching up with friends.

18. I have a book table set up for my novel. Getting good feedback from people who can’t put it down.

19. Our daughter came for the day with the grandkids. We kept them busy.

20. Great preaching.

21. To Paris for lunch.

22. Last day of the conference because we’ll be visiting my aunt in London tomorrow on our way home. I sold 24 books. But word of mouth is working as some read it during the week and started telling others.

23. Breakfast in Paris, lunch in London, dinner in Toronto.

24. Today we took my husband’s sister to the Tartan House Bed and Breakfast for High Tea. She just moved back into her house a year after a house fire.

25. Church. Lamb burgers, Greek salad.

26. Haircut, nap, dinner. Not very productive.

27. Pain clinic, then an appointment with my hormone doctor. Lots of changes. For some reason, I was hit with my first fibro flare in years, and I can’t even figure out what the trigger was. Frustrating.

28. Still in pain, but we had to go to get ideas for improving our curb appeal. Our back yard is mostly done, as is our powder room. I’ll post before and after pictures of the powder room. Prepared for our first school day next week.

29. Spent the day with the grandkids.

30. Choosing new vanities for our other two bathrooms.

31. Errands.