So can you tell what big changes I’ve made here? You shouldn’t notice any changes, but it’s a lot more manageable for me. I did a lot of “virtual” spring-cleaning.

I don’t have any news on Contingency. Right now, I’m editing the follow-up to it called Indemnity. (One of these days maybe I’ll post a chapter or two from that one. What do you think? Any interest?)

Finally, I did some advance work on Contingency, so when a publishing contract DOES come my way, I’ll be able to hit the ground running.

Again- you can now get the posts by email with a simple sign-up. I always welcome your comments, and appreciate you so much!

Just quick update post:

• The blog has a new look. I'd love to hear your comments. I think it's a little easier on the eyes. Not sure how I feel about the pink, though 
• The April newsletter went out Wednesday. If you didn't get one, you can read it here. (Sign up in that blue box on the site, or send me a note, if you'd like to get the next one.)
• You can now receive these posts by email. That's what the other email box is for on the left is for. (Or you can sign up here.)

On a personal note: Sunday is my anniversary. Jon and I married eighteen years ago. It has gone by SO fast. Jon figured out in 2000 that if you add the numbers for the date of our anniversary, you get the number of years we've been married. (April 4, 2010 means 4+4+10=18) Runs ten-ish miles every Saturday morning, even when its frigid cold. He has a deep, life-governing faith. He is a tremendous father and example. I cannot communicate what he means to me and he becomes more precious to me each passing day. What a gift God gave me in Jon! 

Now I'm taking the rest of this weekend off!

Celebrate the hope and joy that is the resurrection. Remember, not matter how things look right now… Sunday's coming!

Writing update – I am holding my breath right now. The publisher asked for the full manuscript, and he should receive it tomorrow. It’s anybody guess how much time he will need to read and decide whether he wants the book.  (He’s read it before, but I made several revisions, and tightened it up a bit.) I will certainly let you know. Should he offer to buy the book (and hopefully its follow-ups!) we will be ordering a new laptop, a Blackberry and a Lego Death Star (fulfilling a promise made to a little boy years ago). Just for the record, I started working on the book July 28, 2005, the date the story opens. However, I had to drop the year from the text as later books have put us some twenty years in the future. I’m not into writing future stories.

Other stuff – Jon was gone this week, but made it back safe last night. SPRING! It is warm enough to run again. I was so sore after Monday’s run that I didn’t get back out til this morning. Such a wimp. Picking up my bifocals today and we’re closing on the refinancing of our house. Even when I’m not busy, I’m busy.

Techie stuff – No new stuff this week except that links to my posts are not getting shortened when they post to Twitter. I haven’t figured out why yet.

What I’m reading – Justinian’s Flea. It’s a history of the Plague that hit during the reign of the Emperor Justinian and nearly wiped out Europe. More devastating than the Great Plague, but yet it receives less attention. I love histories that focus on the personalities and the interconnectedness of the events. Next up for school, The Golden Compass.

What God has taught me – I blogged Monday about getting out of the boat, about being where Jesus is and not relying on what seems to me to be the best course of action. Now that I’ve been made aware of that in theory, in abstract, I expect a ‘practical’ test soon.

Writing this week: I made all the adjustments and corrections to Contingency and just completed what I hope I the last read-through. Proofreading. I hate it. Probably because I’m not very good at it. Part of the problem is I know what it’s supposed to say, so that’s how my brain reads it- with a built-in auto-correct. I don’t catch my mistakes.

Writing this week: I made all the adjustments and corrections to Contingency and just completed what I hope I the last read-through. Proofreading. I hate it. Probably because I’m not very good at it. Part of the problem is I know what it’s supposed to say, so that’s how my brain reads it- with a built-in auto-correct. I don’t catch my mistakes.

The reader doesn’t have that advantage of reading my mind. (Except Amanda- She’s worked with me on this for so long, she reads what I ‘meant’ not what I typed.) To all of you who have read for me in these early stages, I can’t thank you enough for helping me out. You assured me that the ideas were coming across, that the emotions were being touched and connections were being made.

My plan is to submit it all on Monday. (The 8th. It’s a good day- divisible by 4. Yeah- it’s my biggest superstition. Born on 8-24, married on 4-4… The manuscript is 428 pages… Monk has 10. I have 4.)

Reading: Finished Doubting by Alister McGrath. Quick easy read, but some profound statements and observations. I need to go back through it and soak it in a little more. I also read Jacob Have I Loved for school.

No nerd stuff this week. Jon has a plan to scan ALL (yes, ALL) his mother’s family photos so we’ll have a digital record of everything. He got a kickin’ hi-res scanner to do the job. I’ll let you know how that progresses.

Other lessons: God IS there. He DOES listen. I knew that anyway, but I LOVE it when He shows Himself.

The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

PS: My mother got home from the hospital yesterday evening. Amazing.

Earlier this week, I noticed that things seemed to be clicking along well. I was working on a query letter. My income taxes were filed. I got a great report from a doctor’s visit. I thought to myself, “This can’t last.” I’m not especially pessimistic, but I know things run in cycles.

Sure enough- My mom is in the hospital with what may be another heart attack. The doctors are still evaluating what type pf damage was done and how much. We were supposed to head out to visit today, but Jon was up sick all night. He thinks he can still make the 8 hour trip. We’ll see.

No matter what happens in life, it comes along because God has determined He can use that situation for my good and His glory. He’s never surprised and He’s beside me, not waiting on the other side.

Hebrews is my favorite book in the Bible. I’ll close out this quick post with some verses from chapter 13. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

He himself said… I will NEVER leave you… Never…

Have a great weekend- I’ll be back Tuesday.