Tag: Betty Thomason Owens

A Timely Delay

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens, faith, God's plan3 Comments

earringsI don’t have any sisters, but I have an older cousin named Norma, who is as dear as a sister to me. I thought about her one day as I was putting on a favorite pair of earrings I hadn’t worn in a while. When my grandmother was dying, I wore those earrings when I went to the hospital. My cousin Norma arrived from Illinois wearing earrings just like mine. I guess that means we have similar taste, good genes, or something like that.

I kept thinking about Norma, throughout the day. I’d not heard from her in a while, and she’s not on the computer, so I found a card with an appropriate message and wrote her a note.

“Do you remember when Grandma was in the hospital and we arrived wearing the same earrings? Well, they’re back in style, and I’m wearing them today. I’ll always think of you when I see them.” I finished with some news about the family and sealed the card.

The next day, I had the card with me at work, planning to mail it, but I’d forgotten to write the address on the front, and I didn’t have her information with me. She didn’t have a “land line” so her address wasn’t in the online phone book. I put the card back in my bag so I could mail it the next day. A few days later, I was looking through the bag and came across the card I’d forgotten all about. So I took it out, found the address, and put it back in the bag.

I finally remembered to mail the thing several days after I had written it. A few days later, I received Norma’s answer.

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Aunt Jen

“You are such a blessing,” she wrote. “Your sweet card arrived on Mama’s birthday.” Her mother, my favorite aunt, had died a little over a year before. Norma was feeling sad when she went to the mailbox and found my card.

I smiled at the memory of my forgetfulness, but after re-reading Norma’s note, I wondered. My delay in sending the card meant it arrived on Aunt Jen’s birthday (which I’d forgotten about). Coincidence? I don’t think so. I prefer to believe in a loving heavenly Father who cares about our every need. His plans for us sometimes include precious surprises that brighten our day and help us through difficult times.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  Psalm 147:3 NIV

Originally posted on Facebook, September 15, 2011

The Right Writers Conference

On By Betty OwensIn writer, Writing, writing dreams4 Comments

childrenpolaroidI was a daydreamer as a child. Actually, I haven’t changed that much–I’m still a daydreamer. My childhood wasn’t always easy, so I tended to find a happier place and hang out there. The place I found was usually in my head and possibly connected to the latest book I’d read, or something I’d watched on television.

As a stay-at-home mom raising three young boys, I found another reason to retreat to the happy place. I began to write stories. At first, it was a hobby. Then, as I wrote more and more, it began to be something else.  A calling. And I knew, even if no one ever read anything I wrote, I’d still write.

But others did read my stories. I entertained family and friends. They were impressed and encouraged me to pursue my interest. I took a writing class at the local college, and the professor encouraged me to keep writing.

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Jennifer Hallmark and me at the Atlanta Christian Writers Conference

This past week, I attended a writer’s conference. I sat in classrooms with accomplished writers and writers on the way. Men and women who’d found their calling, their niche, shared what they had learned along that way. I soaked it in and used my pen for the first time in a long time, taking copious notes. Because what they’d found, I wanted.

Many professionals must continue to educate themselves in order to compete in their field. Writers are no different and conferences–good conferences–provide those opportunities.

Possibly even greater than the knowledge we receive at writers’ conferences, are the connections we make. There’s nothing like face-to-face discussions with friends we’ve made on Facebook and Twitter, or sitting down with someone who looks familiar, only to find they’re a multi-published, award-winning author. Gee, she seemed so normal.

I’d like to finish with this thought, shared with me by a new friend:

What I think is so great about these conferences is–how giving these authors are–they all want you to succeed, as they have.

And here’s why they’re so ready to share their hard-earned secrets — at some point, someone did the same for them.

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Perception

On By Betty OwensIn Art, photography, scripture, Writing

Art. According to Webster’s Dictionary, art is something created with imagination and skill that is beautiful, or expresses important ideas or feelings.

You might be wondering what that has to do with perception. The best and most beautiful art inspires. It touches the heart, or spurs the imagination. But do we all perceive it the same?

_MG_0490 as Smart Object-1Photography as art can please the eye…

9a4ea-kalnik2b050stimulate the imagination…

cooking-chocolate-674508_1280even make you hungry.

oldhouseFor a writer, a photograph can spur a memory, and inspire a story. One person’s perception.

Because…

writing is also art. It is definitely something created with imagination and skill. The outcome can be beautiful, thought-provoking, expressive.

Poetic…prosaic…melodic…

These three words sound nice, but two of them can imply beauty. One of them means ordinary, commonplace, run-of-the-mill. Prose: ordinary language.

Why did I toss an ordinary word in there? To show how perception plays a part in everyday life. The most ordinary things become extraordinary on occasion.

bird-838735_1280Gaze at this photo for a moment.

What stirs inside you? Feral. Stark. Dangerous.

But quite ordinary, if you’re the bird.

My aunt lost her sight and had a difficult time adjusting. She lived in a rural area, bordered by several acres of woods. She lived in fear of stepping on a snake, or touching poison ivy, so she seldom went outside. Her world was dark. Feral, stark, and dangerous. A world haunted by memories of what she could no longer see.

A friend of mine also lost her sight. Perhaps it was her age, she was younger when it happened, and she adjusted to it. Her world was filled with light, but not the kind you see. We stepped out onto her back porch on a beautiful day.

I took a deep breath and exhaled, thankful for the gift of sight.

She touched my arm. “Isn’t it a lovely day?”

I said yes, but wondered how she knew.

She gave a soft laugh. “I feel the air, the warmth of the sun. I hear the birds singing, and I know it’s a beautiful day.”

We live in troubling times, often bombarded by shocking images and violent words. Your perception, when your soul is darkened by worry, fear, even weariness, or illness–any or all of these things–can send you into a panic. You may want to withdraw and stay inside your shell, where it’s safe. Until you can’t function.

But when your soul is full of light, your perception is enlightened also. You see beyond the ugliness of the images. It doesn’t make them go away, but your perception helps you deal with what you see. It’s not always easy. I start each day with prayer. It calms me and turns my thoughts to something or someone other than myself.

Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark.–the words of Jesus Christ, John 12:45-46 The Message

Perception.

 

Annabelle's Ruth FRONT final CoverI think you’ll like my latest release, especially if you’re a fan of the biblical story of Ruth. It’s inspired by Ruth, set in 1950’s rural West Tennessee. Annabelle’s Ruth is book one in the Kinsman Redeemer series, from Write Integrity Press.

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And I am one of several Write Integrity authors featured in the romantic novella, Unlikely Merger, just 99 cents on Kindle.

You can find all my books here: Betty Thomason Owens at Amazon.com

The Gift of Joy

On By Betty OwensIn joy, life, love, Memories

Friends

I made this meme for a dear friend who was going through a difficult time. Her name is Robin, and back in the day when we lived closer together, she was always the ray of sunshine in my life. Kicking up her heels and celebrating. So when I heard she was facing a tough challenge, I wanted to make her laugh, or at least giggle, and remember those times. So I made the meme.

You know the kind of person who always seems to rise to the top? I had an aunt like that. No matter how bad things got, she always found a way to lighten the mood. She sang a silly song, or danced a little dance. Before we knew it, we were giggling then joining in on the silliness. That’s probably why I was drawn to Robin. Or maybe it was her red hair and the way her nose crinkled when she laughed.

We raised our kiddos at the same time, so when we needed a break, we got together and let them all play while we visited. She’d never let me cower in the corner, she made me play cards, whether I wanted to or not. I got involved because she made me and I always enjoyed myself immensely. But I’d still rather be a troll. It’s my nature. I’m the owl in the tree. She’s a…well…a robin. Robins sing beautifully and flit about. They’re given to hospitality, always catching worms and working on their nests.

So Robin and I, back in the ’80s, used to exer-dance (aerobics) to Donna Summer’s She Works Hard for the Money, dressed in our 80’s exercise get-up with our sweatbands and legwarmers and all that. How we managed to keep a straight face, even part of the time, I do not know. The aerobic part was breathing through the laughter.

I’ve shared the ancient video here.

Is there someone in your life like my friend, who can always make you laugh? Or, maybe you’re the one who has the gift of Joy. I’d love for you to share one of those funny moments in the comments section. And if you do choose to share it, let me know if you’d like me to include it in a collection of funny stories I’ll blog about later!–Thanks for your help.

There are humorous situations in my latest release, Annabelle’s Ruth, sometimes provided by animals. If you love a warmhearted love story, I hope you’ll give it a try. It’s only $4.99 on Kindle and also available in print.

AnnabellesCollageBuy it at Amazon ♥   Buy it at GoodReads ♥ Thank You!

Unlikely Merger’s SAM List

On By Betty OwensIn #amreading, coffee, comedy, faith, family, fiction1 Comment

Caribbean Beach2It all started on a Love Boat Cruise to the Caribbean. You might wonder how Mercy Lacewell ended up on a cruise like that with her semi-invalid father…

Well, that’s the kind of thing that happens occasionally, even in real life. It seems like the wrong place, at the wrong time, when it could just be wrong place at the right time. Or right place, wrong time. Anyway, Mercy went on a cruise with her dad. She met a young minister named Brent Teague and something happened to her heart. The almost-romance softened her heart a little and prepared her for what was coming next.

What was coming next–

Back home, Daddy and his assistant, Madeline, decide Mercy needs more life experience. They send her out as acquisitions analyst for Lacewell Limited. Her job: to assess the companies and businesses they find, and decide if the businesses are a good investment for the company. Sounds like fun, right? Except that it’s something Mercy has never done, never thought about doing, never wanted to do. She’s perfectly happy in Denver, taking care of Dad.

First trip out: wouldn’t you know they’d end up in Texas during a freak ice storm? Mercy and Lacewell Limited’s other acquisitions analyst (Dustin Rogers) never actually make it to the destination, but they find something better, and are able to add it to the list. And Dustin gets added to Madeline’s SAM list. What’s a SAM? Single, available male (remember that).

Next stop, Watkins Glen, New York, to check out an inn. This adventure includes snow, sledding, and Landon Gates. Now we’re ready for a warmer climate. How about San Diego, CA? Nice, very nice. And once again, Mercy bumbles through her first meeting with the owner of Montoya Olive Oil–yes, that’s MOO for short. Enrique Miguel Montoya, “Ric” for short–doesn’t seem to mind. He makes her feel very much at home among his clan in their beautiful home. Mercy learns not to bite an olive fresh from the tree, no matter how ripe it looks. Ric is a welcome addition to the SAM list.

alligator-439887_1280Staying with the warmer weather, Mercy is headed to Titusville, Florida, and a gator farm. Yes, you read that right. Adventure. For this one, she takes Uncle Thomas along. I don’t blame her. Mr. Mann welcomes her–Gabe Mann. Great name, huh? After a full assessment and a medical procedure, she says goodbye to Titusville, but Gabe finds a place on the list.

Headed north, Mercy stops in Madison, Alabama for a quick look at Diana’s Burger Bistro. Will this be a good investment? She has a rather unfortunate first meeting with the chef, a surfer-type named Talon Hawthorne. But he makes a nice save by cooking a meal that pleases her palate.

Fourteen Quarters Repertory Company is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. And Douglas “Digger” Grant is the contact. Chemistry! Mercy learns all about small productions and develops a nice friendship with a man named Icky. You’ll need to read the chapter to understand that one.

Chapter Eight takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, where Mercy looks at McBride Mortgage. She feels uncertain about this one and tries her best to talk Uncle Thomas into accompanying her. But…ends up on her own with the formidable Mason McBride, until she meets IT director, Levi Shepherd. Mercy was more than happy to spend quality time getting technical with this guy. Another addition to the SAM list!

Great Barrington, Massachusetts is Mercy’s next stop, to look at a trucking company. Ahhh, New England in the spring. Rob and Steve LeClerc of LeClerc Trucking, at your service. Mercy falls pretty hard for Steve. Or 9cb57-shutterstock_40179583maybe his dog.

All the way back across this wide country of ours, Mercy lands at LAX and hits the road for Santa Monica, CA. She quickly learns there is no avoiding L.A. traffic, but that’s nothing compared to the crankiness of St. Andrew. She ends up trapped in a very small room with Reuben Miller. For three hours. Kind of a crash course, ending with Rube Miller on the SAM list.

So that brings us to the final stop on Mercy’s itinerary–in Lexington, KY–land of blue grass, beautiful horses, and Knight-Link & Associates. After a near head-on collision with someone she believes to be a handyman or plumber, she meets with Philip Knight, the owner of the architectural engineering firm. He introduces her to his nephew Daniel Knight, aka handyman/plumber, who turns out to be a designer of equine habitats. And his cowboy charm wins him a place on the list.

11112210_858579607541022_8504991036842170166_oFinal chapter, readers’ choice. One of the ten handsome, young fellows you met in the above summary has won the chance to woo Mercy. Our readers voted for their favorite. Who is it? Well, you’ll just have to read the story to find out. Today, and for the rest of the 4th of July holiday weekend, you can download it absolutely free. Don’t have a Kindle? Did you know you can get a free Kindle app on your phone or computer? Just go to Amazon Kindle and check it out.

If you miss out on the free download, Unlikely Merger be available through the remainder of July for just 99 cents.

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