I WON!! Well…highly commended…. October 27, 2008

TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID SHORT STORY CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Tom Howard Books is pleased to announce the results from its 16th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest. Victoria Gouldthorp of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin won first prize and $2,000 for her story “All Things Considered”. Over 1,800 entries were received from around the world. See the press release announcing the winners.

Second prize of $1,000 went to Arthur Powers of Raleigh, North Carolina for “The Bridge”, a vivid account of a priest struggling to keep his emotional balance while ministering to a poor village in Brazil. Paul Garrety won third prize and $500 for “Romanos”, a romantic ghost story about a young girl and her violin instructor. Maggie O’Toole won fourth prize and $250 for “The Promised Land”, a tale of brotherhood and redemption along the Mexican border, where immigrants cross a harsh desert in search of a better life.

Most Highly Commended awards of $200 each were given to Karima Alavi, Russell Cera, Thomas Lee, Desmond Meiring and Judy Willman. Highly Commended awards of $100 went to Betty Jo Goddard, Dixon Hearne, Katie Kimbro, Connie Lounsbury, Paul Ponsiglione and Angela Posey-Arnold.

Read the top winning stories on our website, plus the judges’ comments and the complete list of winners and commended entries. Thanks to all of you who participated. The 17th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest is currently open for entries here through March 31.

_____________www.winningwriters.com_________

 

 

Sitting on the Front Porch

 

Holiday Baking–this is so cool!!! October 25, 2008

Just click on the name of the cake and bam the recipe appears!

‘Night Before Christmas’ Coffee Cake ‘Real New York Style’ Cheesecake Supreme

A Cake That’s Fit For A Queen Amaretto Italian Sour Cream Cake Amazing Tropical Fruit Cake
Apple and Nut Cake Apple Cake Apple Cake
Apple Sauce Cake Applesauce Fruitcake Apricot Nectar Pound Cake
Baby Cheescakes Baby Cheesecakes Banana Cake Barron Family Cheesecake
Baumtorte (Tree Cake) Becky’s Pumpkin Cupcakes Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake
Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake Broken Angel Cake With Chocolate Chips Candied Fruit Cake
Carmel Coffee Cake Carrot Cake with Hot Glaze Carrot-Pineapple Cake
Cherry Cake Cherry Cake Sauce Cherry Cheesecake Cups
Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake Chocolate Angel Food Chocolate Browny Cake
Chocolate Chip Muffins Chocolate Cookie Sheet Cake Chocolat e ?clair Cake
Chocolate Ice Box Dessert Chocolate Logs Chocolate Lovers Heaven Triple Threat Chocolate Di
Chocolate Sheet Cake Chocolate welington fudge pudding Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cake
Christmas Cake Christmas choclate cake Christmas Mixed Glace Fruit Loaf
Christmas-Comes-But-Once-A-Year-Chocolate Cake Cinnamon Morning Delight Coca-Cola Cake
Coconut Cake Cookie Pizza

Cream Cheese Icing
Cream Cheese Pound Cake Cream Puff Cake Creamy Chocolate Cupcakes
Creamy Chocolate Layered Cake Decadent Chocolate Cake Decadent Fudge Cake
Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars Dream Cake Dreamcicle Cake
Drizzle Cake Earthquake Cake Easy Cocoa Snack Cake
Easy Coconut Cake ?clair Cake Edie Ching’s Cherry Cheesecake
Eggnog Cake Extra Moist Coconut Cakes Festive Pumpkin Gingerbread
Flower Garden Cake Fruit Cake Fruit Cocktail Cake
German Chocolate Upside-Down Cake Golden Bacardi Rum Cake Gooey Butter Cake
Gum drop cake Heavenly Pecan Cake Hedge Hog Cake
Holiday Cake Holiday Poke Cake Holiday Rum Cake
Honey Bun Cake Honey Cake Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
Hummingbird Cake Ice-Cream Chocolate Roll Jewish Apple Cake
Johnny Appleseed Cake Lemon Cake Lemon Poppyseed Cakes
Lemon Pound Cake Linda’s Yule Log Mama’s Homemade Banana Cake
Mandy’s Cake Microwave Scottish Pudding Mini Fruitcakes
Miniature Cheesecakes Mississippi Fudge Cake Mississippi Mud
Mock Lemon Meringue Cake Neiman Marcus Cake No Bake Fruit Cake
Norwegian Gold Cake Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake Old Fashion Pound Cake
Old Fashioned Light Fruitcake Orange Date-Nut Cake Orange Slice Cake
Oreo Cheesecake Peanut-Topped Devil’s Food Pecan Icing
Pennsylvania Dutch Pastry Pineapple Heaven Plum-Nut Cake
Pound Cake Pound Cake Pumpkin Cake Roll Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin log Pumpkin Nut Roll Pumpkin Pie Cake
Pumpkin Roll Queen’s Cake Red Velvet Cake
Reese`s white cake Reese’s Brownie Cupcakes Refrigerator Chocolate Cheesecake
Russian Tea Cakes Russian Teacakes Santa’s Breakfast Cake
Self-Filled Cupcakes Shirley’s Chocolate Sheet Cake Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Sour Cream Pound Cake Southern Apple Cake Swedish Nut Cake
Tiny Christmas Fruitcakes Toll House Carrot Cake Triple Chocolate Torte
Turtle Bars Turtle Cake Warcake
Watergate Cake White Christmas Loaf World War I Cake
World War II Cake 

Angels October 25, 2008

                                             

ANGELS ON EARTH

                                                      

Scripture: For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways Psalms 91:11

 

My position as a Director of Nursing in a long term care facility sometimes required long hours. On this particular day in January of 2001, I was running later than usual on my commute to work. The day before, I had worked 16 hours and I almost took the day off because I was so late getting home the night before. But I really needed to attend an important meeting at 10 am.

 

I had sold my 1997 Mustang in order to get a bigger car with a smoother ride. I borrowed a car from my Daddy until I could get another one. So, I was driving what I lovingly referred to as, “the land barge”, a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis, built like a tank.

As I was driving to work, a day just like any other day, I stopped at a red light at a busy intersection. I remember thinking that I should pull up to the driver beside me and tell him that his hubcap was about to fall off. The next thing I remember is hearing a loud noise and looking to the left. I saw a huge truck on its side sliding toward me at a phenomenal rate of speed. Sparks flying I knew that it was going to hit me and it did. I only had time to say, “Lord, that is going to hit me!”. I grabbed the steering wheel as tight as I could. It happened so fast.

 

I never lost consciousness. I do not remember feeling the actual impact. Jesus and His mighty angels got to me before the truck did. I do not recall being knocked 275 feet into a gas station parking lot. I don’t remember being airborne. I do remember something else though. I remember an incredible feeling of awesome peace and love like I have never experienced before. I had a glimpse of heaven. The hedge of protection came between me and that huge truck. My car was crumpled into a heap of metal and I was trapped inside. But inside the car were angels. I saw them and I felt them. They were there immediately, and I remember saying to them to go ahead and take me if it was time. I had no fear of going with them. I wanted to go with them. Nothing else mattered. I did not hear any audible voices but I knew somehow that I was not going to die, not yet. Somehow they told me that. Jesus was there. He did not speak but I felt His arms around me. Even after the paramedics got me into the ambulance, the angels were still with me, I knew they were there and that was all that mattered. Their presence was overwhelming.

 

At the hospital I could hear all the nurses and doctors talking and scrambling while they worked with me. I knew that I was critical and that I was loosing blood. I could feel myself slipping away. I knew that the angels were there just in case. By the time I was evaluated in the emergency room the pain was almost unbearable. Again, I saw the light of the angels, small tiny brilliant lights circling around above me. Even through the pain I smiled and felt comforted by their presence. I talked to them, this time asking for them to take me because the pain was so intense. The things of this earth were “strangely dim”. The next thing I remember is seeing my husband and my parents. Then I started to cry. Doctors were rushing me to surgery. A surgical nurse leaned down and called my name, “Angela, in a minute you will be asleep and you are going to be fine.” Then she started praying for me so quietly and sweetly in my ear as the anesthesia took effect.

 

I woke up in the ICU and recovery began. The first thing I told my mother was about the angels. I continue to improve everyday and I have come a long way in healing since that day. My life will never be the same. I strive to never forget the feeling I had that day. I almost left this world, and in the process I was given a great gift from God. He offered to me the blessed assurance of His presence and His awesome power and love. I never want to forget this small glimpse of heaven. I felt the incredible love of God present with me in “the land barge”.

 

 

Lord Jesus. Thank You for Your awesome love and protection. Thank You Jesus for the angels that watch over us. Bring to our remembrance Your Words as You tell us “Fear not, for I am with you.”. In Your Holy name I pray. Amen

 

www.angelaposeyarnold.com

gracenotes1@bellsouth.net

Angela Posey-Arnold

 

 

Halowings? October 24, 2008

Halloween–Halos and Wings?

By Angela Posey-Arnold

Halloween, 1966, I was an angel and it rained. Now how can an angel spread her wings and fly wearing a rain coat? She can’t. But she can pick up her long gossamer gown and run to each door, even with corrective shoes on her feet. I begged my Mom, “Please don’t make me wear a raincoat, pleaseeeeeeeeee. It will mess up my wings”.

“Well, we can’t have that. I will pull the car up close and yall run to the door. We will have to cut trick or treating short, but go ahead, spread your wings and fly.”Momma said mumbling under her breathe, “I sure hope she doesn’t catch the flu.”

I didn’t catch the flu in 1966. Getting wet is not how people catch the flu anyway. So in 2008 let those little angels fly, even in the rain. They won’t melt. Take your children to the hay rides, marshmallow roast or trunk or treat. It is exciting to see all the things Christian families get to do this time of year through their church homes. As parents the things you allow your children to participate in will make a huge impact on their future and yours.

 It is amazing how much October 31st has changed over the last forty years. Or possibly I changed. Possibly I learned how the world was. I grew up in a small town in rural North Alabama, I thank God for growing up in a small southern town with Christian American values.

 The festive nature of October 31^st was different in Haleyville than in the rest of the world. I have many fond memories of Halloween and none of them involve anything evil or sinister.

Halloween was fun. It was all about costumes, candy, pumpkins, family and friends. There were spook houses, apple bobbing, pie throwing, festivals and parties all in fun. We did not have to be afraid, it never crossed our minds. Our parents did not have to be afraid to allow us to be free and have fun in our town.

I think I have lived long enough now to remember my own generation’s “good old days”. It is a blessing to see young Christian families raising children in 2008, creating their own generation’s “good old days.” I see the love of Jesus overshadowing the evil of the world and it is a joy.

 Back in 1966 my brother did have to come back into the spook house to get me out one time though. The ‘ghost’ made me put my hand in a bowl of ‘eyeballs’. I just stood there, crying, refusing to move. Everyone knew me, even the ghost. Someone went out to get my brother who was outside waiting on me. He walked in, took me by the hand and together we got out of there.

 He said, “What’s wrong, Angela?”

“That ‘ghost’ made me put my hand in somebody’s ‘eye-balls’”. I said, wiping my hands and eyes.

“That was Randy Johnson and those were meat balls.” He stated assuring me as always.

“Oh. Okay let’s go bob for apples.” I said as we skipped off to the next booth. No lingering emotional trauma. Nobody threatened to sue.  

It wasn’t that I was so afraid, I just didn’t like touching other people’s eyeballs. J

 My older brother and I got to pick our favorite character to dress up like. The picking out and preparing of our outfits was fun too. Usually my Grandmother, whom we called ‘Sweetthing’, sewed and made our costumes. They were always the best ones in Haleyville, to us anyway.

 We went trick or treating two times every year. On October the 30^th the youth gathered at the First United Methodist Church in costume. I wish I could find a picture of us standing in line waiting to get our little orange box shaped like a church building. The boxes were used to collect money. Our teachers helped us rehearse, “Trick or Treat for UNICEF”. I can still hear the tune of it in my head.

 It was a practice run for the next night when we knew we would be getting candy. It was important to teach us to give to others first. Masked children scattered around town going door to door collecting money for UNICEF, children learning a valuable lesson. Christian American children happy to be providing for children who would not be getting any candy.

The giving made me feel so good. It still does. I am so thankful I learned early in my life that giving to others is a blessing for us. God tells us to give, not because He needs it. He tells us to give because we need it. We need to give to others. It feels good. Then receiving is much more blessed and easier to accept.

           I didn’t know why we more blessed than other children in other countries but I knew it was important to help them. Gathering back at the church and counting the money we collected to send to UNICEF was joyful and exciting. Seeing pictures of the children overseas who would be getting the money made us so happy.

           It is more blessed to give than to receive and Halloween taught us that. It didn’t matter if we wanted to dress up like a ghost or like an angel; it was just all in fun and learning. The innocence of childhood and the love of a church bringing honor to the Lord had nothing to do with evil. No one thought it was bad to dress up like a ghoul on Halloween; it was all innocent fun, nothing sinister about it. It was all about love. Things have changed but the love is still winning.

 By Halloween night in 1966 we were ready to receive. We got all kinds of candy. Mother would drive us around to different houses to ‘Trick or Treat’. I never was much of a tricker. I was more the treating kind.J I remember the anticipation of going up to the door, little plastic pumpkin in hand saying, “Trick or Treat”. Our pumpkins would fill up very fast. We didn’t have to worry that someone would harm us. There was no fear. We went door to door as Mother drove along in the car. We started at the end of one street and went all the way down that street and back up the other side, knocking on every door. Kids were everywhere. At every door we got a warm welcome and hugs. Grandparents took pictures and everybody gave us candy or some great homemade goody.

 My brother would still have Halloween candy at Christmas. I ate all of mine and his too if I could find where he hid it. Halloween in our hometown was not about evil or anything like it. It was about costumes and candy—pure, simple and innocent.

 Childhood innocence fades with time but it is great while it last. When I read the Bible’s description of Heaven, I feel the same feelings as when I was a child trick or treating. Pure and simple innocent love, unconditional happiness and joy. Peace. It reminds me of the hymn writer who penned the words, “How beautiful Heaven must be, the home of the happy and free, fair haven of rest for the weary, how beautiful Heaven must be”.

There will be no need for rain in Heaven, so no raincoats. Angels spreading their wings to fly, while the redeemed sing a song of our own. The home of the happy and free. I am so glad there is a place there for me. My name is in the book. Is yours? If not, it can be.

From childhood Halloweens to songs we learned in Sunday school everyone has a choice to love Jesus because He loved us first or to reject His love. Remember the song, “Jesus loves me this I know?” Well, there is a new and updated version for times like these in 2008. “Jesus knows me, this I love.”

This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. (John 3:16-18 The Message—emphasis added by author)

Whosoever believes in Jesus won’t perish but they will have everlasting life, peace, hope, unconditional love, praise, rejoicing, and pure simple, innocent love. Nothing evil or sinister about it. Be a Whosoever. Happy Halloween. Kiss and hug and angel or a little ghost this year and tell them how much Jesus loves them. When they are 48, they will remember.

©2008 Angela Posey-Arnold

www.angelaposeyarnold.com

 

 

 

 

 

The Old Saying Goes……… October 21, 2008

The Old Saying Goes…..

By Angela Posey-Arnold

I get so many catalogs in the mail at Christmas time. I love looking through the wonderful decorations and gift giving ideas. I find myself dog-earing pages to go back and order this for Momma and that for Beth, but I never do it. I think it is the shipping that changes my mind. J

Beth and I have been friends since kindergarten. I guess if we counted all the gifts we have given each other over the last 43 years, the results would be astonishing. Since she  had children, I have gone broke. J

For the last few years we have bought each other a candle. She gives me a lavender scented candle and I give her a hazlenut scented candle. It has gotten to the point of being really silly. So this year on her birthday we decided we would do this differently from now on. It is the thought that counts, right?

Looking through a stack of catalogs I found the perfect gift for Beth’s  birthday. A pair of pink I Love Lucy pajamas. She would love them. They were $45.00—no way. I love Beth but….$45 is not in the budget. I cut out the picture of the pjs and sent it to her. As I do every year on her birthday I called her first thing that morning and sang my rendition of Happy Birthday. She said,  “Ang, I got the pajamas. I wore them last night. They are so cute. Thank you so much”.

Now I know everyone cannot get away with this with just anybody. But, Beth and I can, because without explaining, we understand. For Christmas she is getting a brand new 2010 Camaro. And she is getting me a Lincoln MKS,  2010, of course.

Well, if this don’t work for your friends then maybe you intend on crafting some items this year. I know I do. I have seen some of the most enduring sayings written on signs for the home. They could be used in cross stitch or painting, scrapbooking, where ever your crafts take you.

I want to share some with you……..

THANKSGIVING:

·         Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart

·         Gooble Til You Wobble

·         Take Time to be Thankful

·         There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. Always.

Blessings and God’s Love:

·         Just because you can’t see the air

·         Doesn’t mean you stop breathing…..

·         And just because you can’t see God

·         Doesn’t mean you stop believeing.

 

Then I saw this one on a pillow and on a wooden wall sign—

·         “Love You More”

 

·         “IT IS WHAT IT IS”

Some of these you may have seen before—

·         Having someone to love is family

·         Having somewhere to go is home

·         Having both is a blessing.

 

·         It is Never Too Late To Live Happily Ever After….

 

·         Enjoy the little things in life…for one day you will love back and realize they were the big things!

 

OH AND I LOVE THIS ONE!!!……

 

·         Live in such a way, that those who know you but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you.

 

·         God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain. But He did promise, strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

 

Loss/Grief/Death

Anonymous author

 

·         Do not stand at my grave and weep

·         I am not there, I do not sleep

·         I am a thousand winds that blow

·         I am the diamond glints of snow

·         I am the sunlight on ripend grain

·         I am the gentle autumn rain

·         Do not stand at my grave and cry

·         I am not there, I did not die

·         If you don’t understand this and think it a lie

·         Get to know Jesus, He will tell you why.

 

·         Family—forever, for always, no matter what.

 

And then this funny one—

·         I love you more today than I did yesterday…..cause yesterday you really ticked me off.:)

 

·         Life isn’t about waiting for the storms to pass, It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

 

·         Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

 

A funny one for an office door——I would like to make this for my brother—–

·         Nobody Gets In To See The Wizard-Not Nobody-Not NoHow! (remember in the Wizard of Oz?)

 

True Americana—better hang on to some of these—we may be loosing them faster than we think—

O Father—Help our nation to turn to You. In Jesus Name. Amen

 

·         “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go” Abraham Lincoln

 

·         “Be joyful always, pray continually.” I Thess 5:16-17

 

·         Live in such a way that if anyone should speak against you, no one would believe it.

 

·         “Whatever you are, be a good one.” Abraham Lincoln

 

·         He Who Kneels Before God Can Stand Before Anyone

 

·         God grants liberty only to those that love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.

 

·         The Grace of God Abounds In His Love

 

·         Remember dear child, when you’re in the midst of a storm. Hold fast. The storm will fade. The sun will shine. All in God’s time. Kairos.

 

·         I may not be rich and famous, but I do have priceless treasures.

 

·         We are so blessed.

 

·         Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections.

 

·         May God give you for every storm a rainbow

·         For every tear, a smile

·         For every care, a promise

·         And a blessing in each trial.

 

·         “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?” Thomas Jefferson

 

·         Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalms

 

·         Maybe I can’t stop the downpour, but I will always join you for a walk in the rain.

 

·         Families are God’s design on earth

·         Each person uniquely created, pieced and stitched together with different qualities and gifts

·         Most of all held together by GRACE.

 

The last ones are favorites:

 

·         *Always Kiss Me Goodnight*

·         *Good friends are like quilts, they age with you, yet never loose their warmth.

And my very very favorite for the year 2008…………………………………

·         JESUS KNOWS ME, THIS I LOVE

 

Hope you can use some of these in your Christmas Gift giving ideas this year.

 

 

Angela