Good morning, friends, women, and countrymen. Lend me your ears – oh, no that’s something else. Well, you can see that I’m doing quite well. As my father-in-law would say, I’m in pretty good shape for the shape I’m in.
Update on my brother Ken Horn – he woke up from his seizure-induced sleep. He’s not talking much and when he does, he mumbles. But he is alert and eating now. Praise the Lord! We weren’t even sure he would wake up. Our God is full of surprises! :-)
And here’s another praise – My step-by-step cancer book has moved to the next phase! My friend Hope Flinchbaugh completed my Manuscript Review, and I now need to make some changes and decide on a title. Then, HigherLife and I will be negotiating a contract to get the book published, create an e-book from it, and develop a website for cancer caregivers to use as a reference and source of encouragement.
It looks like God is orchestrating my new career. I’m so excited about being able to help those in the same situation I found myself in just a short time ago. Guess that’s why He helps us through tough times – so we can be a blessing to others.
Something interesting I came across in Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Notice that it says “when” and not “if” these things happen. God knows all the rotten stuff we’re going to face, and assures us that He’ll be with us through it all. It’s been my experience that He prepares us ahead of time, whether we realize or not. We’re never alone.
Thanks for your support during the past couple of years. God loves you and so do I.
Debbie
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Green Eggs and Ham with a side of Joy
Hello, friends and loved ones-
I trust you all had a very happy Easter. Mine was great, spent with family. I decided to make deviled eggs with blue food color added to the yolk mixture, so we had “Green Eggs and Ham” for dinner. My 8-year-old twin granddaughters looked at me like I was crazy and refused to try them, but the adults loved them!
I finally mustered the courage to send my manuscript to HigherLife Publishing for a manuscript review. That’s where my friend Hope Flinchbaugh is an agent and editor. Their team of editors will look at it and give me feedback. Then, if they decide it’s a book they can sell, maybe we’ll talk contract. I’m so excited and nervous all at the same time. God opened this door last year, and I finally got around to walking through it. If this isn’t a good fit, there’s another publisher in town interested. I’ll let you know how it works out.
My son Brian Harmon and his wife Sarah announced that they’re expecting their first child, due September 24th. They’re even more excited than I am, if that’s possible. I believe that when a couple is pregnant, instead of saying they’re expecting a baby they should say that they’re expecting a teenager. After all, kids are teenagers for seven years and babies for a much shorter time!
My younger son Tim Harmon will be graduating from college in June. I never would have imagined that, watching him struggle to get through high school. I guess God still works miracles!
At church this Sunday, our pastor John Martz was talking about joy, which is what I have chosen for my attitude. John said, “Joy is idealism that has been through the fire and got purified. Cynicism is idealism that has been through the fire and got burned.” That’s me. I’ve been burned and burned and worked my way past the cynicism. Finally got a lot of dross burned off, so I hope I’ve been purified. At least I feel the joy is real.
We’re coming up on 18 months since Bryan’s death, and I never dreamed I would make it this far. Now, I just need the courage to begin speaking to groups, so I can share with others how to maintain a positive attitude in spite of life. Let me know if you hear of a group that needs a speaker, especially in the Denver area.
Thank you for all your support, love, and prayers.
Love to all-
Debbie
I trust you all had a very happy Easter. Mine was great, spent with family. I decided to make deviled eggs with blue food color added to the yolk mixture, so we had “Green Eggs and Ham” for dinner. My 8-year-old twin granddaughters looked at me like I was crazy and refused to try them, but the adults loved them!
I finally mustered the courage to send my manuscript to HigherLife Publishing for a manuscript review. That’s where my friend Hope Flinchbaugh is an agent and editor. Their team of editors will look at it and give me feedback. Then, if they decide it’s a book they can sell, maybe we’ll talk contract. I’m so excited and nervous all at the same time. God opened this door last year, and I finally got around to walking through it. If this isn’t a good fit, there’s another publisher in town interested. I’ll let you know how it works out.
My son Brian Harmon and his wife Sarah announced that they’re expecting their first child, due September 24th. They’re even more excited than I am, if that’s possible. I believe that when a couple is pregnant, instead of saying they’re expecting a baby they should say that they’re expecting a teenager. After all, kids are teenagers for seven years and babies for a much shorter time!
My younger son Tim Harmon will be graduating from college in June. I never would have imagined that, watching him struggle to get through high school. I guess God still works miracles!
At church this Sunday, our pastor John Martz was talking about joy, which is what I have chosen for my attitude. John said, “Joy is idealism that has been through the fire and got purified. Cynicism is idealism that has been through the fire and got burned.” That’s me. I’ve been burned and burned and worked my way past the cynicism. Finally got a lot of dross burned off, so I hope I’ve been purified. At least I feel the joy is real.
We’re coming up on 18 months since Bryan’s death, and I never dreamed I would make it this far. Now, I just need the courage to begin speaking to groups, so I can share with others how to maintain a positive attitude in spite of life. Let me know if you hear of a group that needs a speaker, especially in the Denver area.
Thank you for all your support, love, and prayers.
Love to all-
Debbie
Monday, March 1, 2010
"Seasons of Solace" by Janelle Shantz Hertzler
Good Monday morning (or afternoon, if you're in the Eastern time zone)-
I'm one step closer to publishing my book, thanks to a Saturday-night answer to prayer. But that’s not what this e-mail is about. I want to share with you some information on a book I'm reading that may make a difference in you or in someone you love.
Janelle Shantz Hertzler, a friend and writer, sent me a copy of her latest book, "Seasons of Solace, A Story of Healing through Photos and Poems." It's wonderful!
Janelle and her husband John had been working thru a Mennonite organization in Thailand, assisting with economic development, helping AIDS patients, and teaching English. Her husband was killed by a drunk driver, leaving her alone in Thailand with their 18-month-old son Micah.
When Janelle started working thru her grief, she expressed herself in poetry for the first time since high school, and began taking photos of nature. These two creative arts have been combined into a beautiful hardcover book that is helping me in my grief journey as well.
Here is one of my favorite poems from Janelle’s book:
True Me
I know well the me I’m told to be
but I don’t know the me
that was given me to be.
The true me, the inner me,
the deepest me remains unknown.
When I live the me I’m told to be,
I fail, I disappoint, I hurt.
When I show only the me I’m told to be,
I feel shallow and deceptive.
I make promises I cannot keep.
Will I choose the risk
of turning inside out?
What will I find as I get to know the me
I am made to be?
Incredible! Janelle lets us see her deepest hurt and watch as she begins to heal. I especially love the one where she swore at God, then "waited for the proverbial lightening bolt. / But I heard, / 'I've been waiting for you to be real. / Now we can move forward together.'"
In addition to the poetry and photographs in her book, Janelle also provides a list of Recommended Reading, so you can explore and do necessary grief work in your life. These include books on Grief, Reflecting on Loss, Poetry/Writing for Healing, and Photography for Healing.
You can get information Janelle’s book from her website, www.journey-through-grief.com and from there click on the link to Amazon to purchase it. You may consider buying an extra one as a gift.
Thanks for letting me share this with you. Let me know how you like the book. You can also e-mail Janelle thru her website and tell her as well.
I'll keep you posted on my book, "Stepping Thru Cancer, A Step-by-Step Guide for the Journey," and when I'm starting my speaking ministry. Looking forward to seeing you and hearing from you.
Love to all-
Debbie
I'm one step closer to publishing my book, thanks to a Saturday-night answer to prayer. But that’s not what this e-mail is about. I want to share with you some information on a book I'm reading that may make a difference in you or in someone you love.
Janelle Shantz Hertzler, a friend and writer, sent me a copy of her latest book, "Seasons of Solace, A Story of Healing through Photos and Poems." It's wonderful!
Janelle and her husband John had been working thru a Mennonite organization in Thailand, assisting with economic development, helping AIDS patients, and teaching English. Her husband was killed by a drunk driver, leaving her alone in Thailand with their 18-month-old son Micah.
When Janelle started working thru her grief, she expressed herself in poetry for the first time since high school, and began taking photos of nature. These two creative arts have been combined into a beautiful hardcover book that is helping me in my grief journey as well.
Here is one of my favorite poems from Janelle’s book:
True Me
I know well the me I’m told to be
but I don’t know the me
that was given me to be.
The true me, the inner me,
the deepest me remains unknown.
When I live the me I’m told to be,
I fail, I disappoint, I hurt.
When I show only the me I’m told to be,
I feel shallow and deceptive.
I make promises I cannot keep.
Will I choose the risk
of turning inside out?
What will I find as I get to know the me
I am made to be?
Incredible! Janelle lets us see her deepest hurt and watch as she begins to heal. I especially love the one where she swore at God, then "waited for the proverbial lightening bolt. / But I heard, / 'I've been waiting for you to be real. / Now we can move forward together.'"
In addition to the poetry and photographs in her book, Janelle also provides a list of Recommended Reading, so you can explore and do necessary grief work in your life. These include books on Grief, Reflecting on Loss, Poetry/Writing for Healing, and Photography for Healing.
You can get information Janelle’s book from her website, www.journey-through-grief.com and from there click on the link to Amazon to purchase it. You may consider buying an extra one as a gift.
Thanks for letting me share this with you. Let me know how you like the book. You can also e-mail Janelle thru her website and tell her as well.
I'll keep you posted on my book, "Stepping Thru Cancer, A Step-by-Step Guide for the Journey," and when I'm starting my speaking ministry. Looking forward to seeing you and hearing from you.
Love to all-
Debbie
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