Category Archives: Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs

Another Step in the Writing Process

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An update on my writing.

After a month of NaNoWriMo, I’m back to work on Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs, the story of the shepherd children bringing the Christ Child gifts.

Last Saturday, I had the wonderful opportunity to take pictures at the dress rehearsal of a children’s Christmas Program to use as the working cover for the first book of the Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs series.

If I had written this two days ago, I would have told you about the fun of working on this book for children and the sequel to Shattered Trust, my second in the series, at the same time.

But that changed yesterday. I had lunch with a dear writing friend. Over lunch, we thought up and developed the storyline and several fun details to include in the third book about Logan Taul and Margaret Martin. so, I’m now working on a set of children’s books (Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs), the sequel to Shattered Trust with a working title of Healing Shards, and the sequel to Healing Shards.

I really need to find something to do in my spare time (she said sarcastically).

I wish this was one of the pictures I took Saturday, but I do not have all permissions necessary to publish the pictures of the children. I hope to publish the temporary cover of the children’s books on the third Friday in January.

Not Sure What to Post

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I’m really not sure what to post this week because it is the fifth Friday of the month. When I started this blog, I had a solid plan for four Fridays in a month.

First, one of the stories that holds a special place in my heart from my trips to Israel. Second, a fun story about food. Third, how things are going with my writing, especially about my book(s) about the birth of Jesus called Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs. And fourth, a special item for sale in Israel. But I wasn’t sure about the fifth Friday and I’m still not.

One suggestion is to do a give-away box of some of the interesting items from Israel, but I don’t have that possibility put together, largely due to cost. Another idea is to create some of my short stories, framed and suitable for hanging.

I’m still working on other ideas so I’m open to suggestions. Please send me your ideas and I’ll come up with a special gift for the originator of any I use.

My Book Overview

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This picture from Unsplash.com portrays how I feel as I research.

Work continues on my book, Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs. So today, I’m sharing the plan for this “book.”

Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs has become too long for a book aimed at young readers. Therefore, I’m reinventing the chapters and making them small books that are easy to hold and within the attention span of younger readers while it is interesting to older readers. I’m planning on at least fourteen of these little books.

The first book, subtitled At the Well, is close to completion. It is approximately 3,000 words. The general theme is sharing, sharing our possessions, sharing our history, and sharing our faith.

In addition to the story, features in the book include:

Common Hebrew and Aramaic words with their meaning and pronunciation.

Information about the culture at the time of Christ’s birth.

The story of the founding of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Family structure.

Biblical history.

My biggest challenge is learning the skills necessary to put the book into a format where potential publishers and beta readers will see my vision for the books. I’m also being challenged by all the rabbit trails the research takes me on.

I’m looking forward to sharing the results with you.

Impressions of Israel – Seeing the Bible come alive

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I continue to work on my book, Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs. One of the stories, Hannah Brings a Basket, is about the basket Moses was placed in before being set afloat on the Nile River.

Cattails I walked past today

Today, as I walked near my home, I spotted an area where cattails grow. New thoughts about the story bounced through my mind. Now I know cattails and bullrushes are not the same plants, but they are similar. Both are used to weave mats to sit or sleep on, baskets, sandals, etc.

Bulrushes are a better choice for a basket that needs to float on water because its spongy center is designed by God for that purpose. When Jochebed wove the basket to save her son, she covered it inside and out with tar and pitch. I think the purpose was more to keep the water from seeping in than to keep the basket on top of the water.

The inspiration of the cattails and the writing and editing on the story reminded me of how close God is to me at all times. I didn’t need to travel thousands of miles to remember His presence. It is right here and right now.

Halleluiah!

This story of Moses is in Exodus 2:1-10. More information on the differences between cattails and bulrushes can be found at https://www.askdifference.com/cattail-vs-bulrush/.