Goodbye to 2012

The Mayans were wrong. The world didn’t end, but 2012 will end shortly. I am excited for all the new things in my future even though I haven’t got a clue as to what they may be. Something I always do this time of year is to look back and name all the surprises, good and bad, that have happened in the past twelve months: births, deaths, books published, successes, failures, prizes and presents, unexpected changes, wonders and amazing things.

I have much to be thankful for in 2012. The top five are:

1) My soul-mate survived a heart attack.
2) A granddaughter was born beautiful and healthy.
3) My first YA book, EDGE OF ESCAPE, was published in Germany.
4) My scare with breast cancer was a false alarm.
5) My last YA book, SHELTERED, was featured on 70 websites.

What are YOU thankful for in 2012?

Most Popular Post of 2012: Soul-mate questionaire

According to my stats my post on the subject of the perfect match was viewed so often throughout the year that I think it ranks a second posting. Here it is:

My husband read to me a statistic on the internet that the chances of meeting your “soul-mate” were one in ten million. And if you do . . . he/she is probably already married. (Reminds me of the song lyrics “sad to belong to someone else when the right one comes along”.) Of course this statistic reveals that you may have as many as 600 perfect matches out there since there are 6 billion people on the planet.

Doesn’t everybody think they’re marrying their soul-mate? How did the researchers determine soul-mate status? I’d love to see their questionnaire. I can’t possibly imagine how they could verify soul-mate-ness when the people involved don’t really know. Because, after all, Suzy thought Bob was her one-and-only until it ended in divorce and Jim was shocked when his supposed soul-mate left him for someone else.

Here’s what I THINK the “experts” might ask in a soul-mate questionnaire:
1. Does he/she laugh at all your jokes?
2. Does he/she have the same religious beliefs?
3. Does he/she have the same political beliefs?
4. Does he/she have the same child-rearing strategies?
5. Does he/she have the same taste in movies/books/music?
6. Does he/she have the same interests?
7. Does he/she know what you want without asking?
8. Does he/she understand you?
9. Does he/she keep your secrets faithfully?
10. Do you feel the need to be with him/her above all other needs?
11. Do you have far more similarities than differences in your life experiences?
12. Are your goals, values and priorities the same?
13. Is there a 6th sense of perception between you?
14. Do you rarely disagree? (Arguing may even become a “laughing matter” because of its infrequency.)
15. Do you appreciate each other exactly as you are without desiring or expecting change?

Answer yes to all the questions and you have found your soul-mate . . . maybe. What other questions would you put on the list?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas, everyone. I'm taking a week off from this blog to celebrate Jesus' birthday. I know some of you are having a hard time this Christmas, saddened by the tragic event in Newtown or enduring your own personal loss. Just remember whose birthday we're celebrating and how much He loved you to die for you. Focus on the happy thought that we are always in God's hands. Enjoy your family. Eat chocolates and cookies, open presents, sing carols, go to church, give to the poor, and smile a lot. Hey, the Mayans were wrong and the world didn't end.

Here's a picture of how my table will look before the mess begins. Anticipation . . .

 

Even More Additions to the "Wonderful Book Blogger" List

 

 

Special Thanks to these Awesome Bloggers for recently promoting and reviewing SHELTERED:

 

Michele at Insane About Books  (4 star review)
Gina at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers   (book promotion)
Jenna at Coffee, Books and Me   (interview)
Celine at I Blog You Read (great review)
Taneesha (Tee) at Diary of a Book Addict  (5 star review)
Star at Bibliophilic Book Blog   (4 star review)
Ashley at Wholly Books  (3 stars review)
Michelle at Michelle Chew Writes Michelle Chew Writes  (3.5 star review)
Vy at Vy's Blog (excerpt)
Jennivie at My Home Away From Home (4 star review)


Paul's Letter - Take 2

2nd Thessalonians is the second letter that Paul, Silas and Timothy together wrote to the Thessalonians. Paul and his friends had received some feedback after their first letter had reached the church in Thessalonica. It seemed that the Thessalonians still needed someone to teach them about certain things and had not understood some of what was in the first letter. This second letter clears up some stuff.

Because they now trust in the Lord Jesus, the Thessalonians must expect some persecution. However, God has a purpose and a plan in allowing them to suffer. He will reward them.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy have written to give them strength and encouragement. The Thessalonians must have had some weird ideas about the return of Christ, though. In fact, it seems that some said that the Lord had already come. Not so. Let’s look at 2nd Thessalonians 2: 1-2:

 1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.

Looks like some thought that the Lord would come at any moment. The return of the Lord will be sudden, but there are things that must happen preceding His return. Here’s 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-12:

3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,
10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Some of these Thessalonian Christians were, apparently, lazy. They had given up their jobs. They thought that Jesus’ return was eminent and now they depended on their friends to keep them housed and fed. Paul had mentioned this in the first letter (1st Thessalonians 5:14) and now he tells them what they should do to these people who refuse to work: (2nd Thess. 3:10) No work, no food. That’s quite a warning against idleness! But at least it ends on a pleasant note (vs. 13): never tire of doing what is good.
(taken in part from CROSSING THE SCRIPTURES)

Pictured Short Stories, #3

Someday, my sweet one, your mother will tell you the facts of life. Oh, I don’t mean those facts. I mean things like Pay attention to expiration dates. Don’t tie the dog’s leash to your bicycle. Always send a thank-you note. And of course, never cross your eyes or they might stay like that.

99 Cent Nook Books for Kids

Nook is matching Kindle on my kids' chapter books.
These are just 99 cents:

A Tick in Time
Bigfoot Day, Ninja Night
and all 6 books in The Tunnels Series

or find all my books on Barnes & Noble if you have a Nook: Debra Chapoton

Paul's Letter - Short and Sweet

St. Paul wrote this little letter, the 'book' of 1st Thessalonians, shortly after he preached in the Thessalonian church.

The young disciples in this church needed additional confirmation in the foundational truths. He also exhorts them to go on to holiness and he comforts them regarding those who had died.

All of the great and wonderful doctrines of the Christian faith can be found in this little letter. In chapter 1 alone we find the subjects of election, the Holy Spirit and assurance, the Trinity, conversion and also the second coming.

In the chapters following he covers the believer’s walk, sanctification, and hope.
Paul packs a lot into his final instructions - some do’s and a couple of don’t’s:

1. Warn people who are idle or disruptive.
2. Encourage those who need it.
3. Help the weak.
4. Be patient with everyone.
5. Remember the Golden Rule.
6. Rejoice always.
7. Pray continually.
8. Always give thanks
9. Don’t ignore the Holy Spirit’s proddings. (Listen to that still, soft voice in your conscience.)
10. Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
11. Test the prophecies.
12. Reject evil.
(Taken in part from CROSSING THE SCRIPTURES)

99 Cent Kindle Chapter Books for Kids

Amazon is offering each book in the Tunnels series for only 99 cents.

Start with book one, Nick Bazebahl and the Forbidden Tunnels, and meet Nick and Samantha. These 12 year olds slide from one adventure to the next through mysterious time and space tunnels.

There are six books in the series and they can be read out of order if a child prefers.
Book two: Nick Bazebahl and the Red Tunnels
Book three: Nick Bazebahl and Wormhole Tunnels
Book four: Nick Bazebahl and Mining Tunnels
Book five: Nick Bazebahl and the Cartoon Tunnels
Book six: Nick Bazebahl and the Fake Witch Tunnels