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So, last week I gave you a peek into one of my geek sides. This week, allow me to indulge that geek side of me even further. (Wow. There are a lot of -eek words in these two sentences...)  The Realm Makers Fantasy Writing Conference!
First of all, a little background: I have been wanting for YEARS to attend a fiction writers' conference, but due to expenses and travel, I was never able to work it out. I set a goal for myself that by the time I reached the age of *muffled voice* I would make it. And time was running out. OK, a few years back, I did make it to a small conference in Cape Girardeau (Does anyone else have to always look up the spelling for this city?? Or is that just me?) And it was a pretty good experience and I walked away with some good tools. But, because it wasn't a Christian conference, I felt a bit empty. I couldn't help but wonder, what was the point of writing a good story if it didn't reflect in some way (directly or indirectly) the greatest story ever told? The presenters and attendees were nonchalant about profanity, sex scenes, etc. etc. I decided I didn't really want to be a part of that. So, I determined to immerse myself in the Christian writing world. And this year, it was going to happen! The American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Association was holding their conference in...wait for it...St. Louis! Practically my back yard! I was so excited. This conference is a big deal. I would get to rub elbows with some great authors and even discuss MY story with a few experts in the field. A writer's dream. And then...COVID 19 happened. And the conference was cancelled. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. My ONE chance, and it was taken from me. But, that wasn't the end. I found out that Realm Makers was going online! What's Realm Makers? Hold on. Let me back up first. In my own writing and research, I found that there was very little market for Christian speculative fiction. (Speculative fiction being fantasy, science fiction, dystopian, etc. Anything paranormal.) And there were very few agents and publishers willing to represent them. At any rate, it was hard to find them. For a long time, the Christian market was not quite ready for speculative fiction. And, unfortunately, I LOVE fantasy. Enter Realm Makers! My sister, Emily, introduced me a few years ago. This is a place where Christian lovers of the speculative writing genre can meet and support one another. Here we could find resources to improve our craft and the best publishers, agents, editors, etc. All with a Christian perspective Of course, their conference this year was also interrupted by the pandemic, so they went virtual. Which meant I could attend! This was PERFECT! And even though I missed the opportunity to be a part of it physically, it was SO worth the time and money. OK, now that I've given the back story, let me get into my 5 reasons why I loved it. 1. It was virtual. There's a couple reasons why I loved this. First, I could be a part of it, regardless of where it was based. Otherwise, I would've missed out. Again. Another reason is that I am EXTREMELY introverted and reserved. I don't do well in new, crowded settings and it's hard for me to open up to strangers. This was the perfect opportunity for me to get my feet wet, while protecting myself. 2. I'm a geek. (There's that word again.) I have friends who enjoy fantasy/sci-fi movies. But they're not really big fans. Or they're fans of watching this genre, but not necessarily reading it. This weekend I was surrounded (virtually, of course) with people who loved it all: books AND movies. I mentioned last week that I never watched the current hit shows when I was a kid. Well, I still don't. So, when I get together with co-workers or friends who all discuss the latest blockbuster movie or series, I rarely had anything to say about them. But these were people after my own heart. These were people who had visited Narnia and Middle Earth. They had cheered the EPIC sword fight in The Princess Bride. They flew through a galaxy far, far away. They spoke a language I understood. Sigh... 3. The positive attitudes The very first night, when the keynote speaker was supposed to start, there was a glitch in technology. Of course. They did get it up and going for that speech, but continued to have a few issues throughout the weekend. And I never heard (or...read, actually) one word of complaint. Everyone-attendees, hosts, presenters, technicians-was SO patient and encouraging. It was wonderful just to sit back and watch all the wonderful and fun conversations happening on chat while we waited for things to start rolling. That would be hard to find in other programs. 4. The Christian aspect In the Cape conference I went to, the people were friendly, yes. They were helpful. And I don't regret going. But it was not unusual for a curse word to slip. Or for a crude plot point to be discussed or even read out loud. It just didn't settle well with me. I didn't dislike these people, and they certainly have the freedom to believe what they want. But in THIS conference, people prayed. Scripture was quoted. People were encouraged and inspired to live out their faith and present it (subtly or obviously) in our writing. Prayer requests were given. Attendees openly talked about their churches and their faith. Without fear of being attacked or ridiculed or "cancelled." It was wonderfully refreshing. 5. It was inspiring! From the opening keynote speaker's description of this real world being God's beautiful, fantastical story and we are all privileged to be a part of it. AND we get to write our own versions of His story, hopefully in a way that would inspire other people to want to be better people in this world. To the closing keynote speaker's account of being told (by a teacher!) to find another dream, because she would never be a real writer. Despite that discouraging start, she persevered and years later was able to look us in the eye (I'm telling you, she looked right past that webcam into my eyes!), declared her name, and state that she was a REAL writer. And then finished with, "And so are you." And to every presenter in between. Their encouragement. Their patience. Their knowledge and experience they were willing to share with us. The authors who built us up and believed in us that we, too, could see our dreams fulfilled. I walked away inspired! My faith in myself was renewed. My drive to resume my writing, believing that I could do it, was recharged. I wanted to be among these people and share my own story. And someday, I will! OK, I know I said five reasons, but I have to add one more. 6. It was FUN! Can't wait to do it again sometime! Hopefully in person, because now, I'm ready to take that risk. By the way, the ACFW conference was also moved to online streaming, so I will get to be a part of THAT one in September! That's two conferences before my *muffled voice* -th birthday! Which means, I will have met my goal twice! I wish I could share pictures, but, unfortunately there are none. But I hope this gives you a little taste of what I felt this weekend. And now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta get back to writing. In the meantime, stay safe and happy... In His Grip! Crystal
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As a young teen, I never watched the hit teen dramas and sitcoms. (Okay, I watched a few.) But I did watch Power Rangers! In all fairness, it was my brother's show, but I rarely missed. And to all my teenage friends who would roll their eyes at me for watching a silly kid's show, they didn't know what they were missing! What do I mean? Well, let me just put it this way: I didn't watch it for the rubber monster suits. 😉 But to be honest, I didn't watch it for the guys, either. (Though many of them rivaled any of the heartthrobs of their day!) It was a good show. Lots of fun characters. Some good storylines. A nice "lesson of the day" for each episode. Inspiration to be your best and take care of yourself and your friends. And of course don't forget to save the world. And I loved watching those kids fight! (Martial arts continue to be my favorite form of self-defense.) I'm gonna let you in on a secret: I continued watching this show well into adulthood. With no guilt! (Though not as much recently. I'm not going to go into my opinion of hot it has declined in recent years, even as a kid's show. 😔) But, let me be honest. I'm just a big geek when it comes to super heroes. Superman. Batman. Captain America. Power Rangers. Etc. Etc. I love them all. Why am I going on about my geekness? Because Saturday I spent the day reveling in it. First, I had the opportunity to meet Austin St. John, the actor who played the very first red ranger. (And one of my all time favorite Power Rangers!) He was cool and friendly and spent a lot of time talking to us. Okay, he spent a lot of time talking to my brother about his drawing. (He'd created a collage of Austin's power ranger days and the guy was thoroughly impressed!) And we got pictures!
In addition to all my geekness, I'm also a bit of a nerd who happens to enjoy history. We stopped by the historical site of Fort Massac, just off the Ohio River. Here, George Rogers Clark (brother to William Clark, of the famous Lewis and Clark) won an impressive victory without firing a weapon during the American Revolutionary war.
All in all, it was a fun, memorable, and tiring day. (And yes, we did wear our masks and practice social distancing, with lots of hand washing and sanitizing!) It was nice just to get out of the house for a day.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. Have you been on a trip lately? Jot a comment about it down below! In His Grip! Crystal So, I was reading my Bible one day and a particular piece of a verse stuck out to me. I mean, it really hit me. Let me show you what I found.  Did you catch it? Don't see what I mean? Look a little closer...  What about now? Still no?? Let me help you out.  Now that's all blurry and out of focus, do you see it? Love your neighbor as yourself. Now, usually when I hear this verse, it's from the angle of thinking of others before you think of yourself and putting others' needs before your own. And Lord knows we need that message, especially in these times. But I noticed something. Love your neighbor. Like you love yourself. Love your SELF. Wait, was Jesus saying we should love ourselves? That can't be right! What about John 13:34? "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Or Philippians 2:3 and 4. That's a good one! "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind, let EACH ESTEEM OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." How could I possibly be implying that Jesus is telling us to love ourselves? Because it says so. Love your neighbor as yourself. Why did this grab me? Because I've always had trouble loving myself. I've always compared myself to others and found myself lacking. This one has the perfect hair. That one has a sunny disposition. The other one is flat-out beautiful. And still another is quick to learn. I always fell short. I had trouble loving myself, or even liking myself. But this verse made me stop and think. The Lord WANTS me to like myself, to even love myself. He made me on purpose. He wanted me here. So, He must have loved me. And if I'm worth His love, isn't that enough? Here's another thought. If Jesus wants me to love my neighbors like I love myself, how am I really going to know how to love my neighbors if I don't even know how to love myself? (Make sense?) We all have shortcomings. We all have things we don't like about ourselves. But let's go back to John 13:34. "...as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Jesus loves us the way we are. And He wants us to love others the way He loves us. We love, because we're loved. (Love your neighbor as yourself.) But what about verses like that one in Philippians? My uneducated answer is this: Be humble, of course. Put others first, yes. Think of others, sure. But there's nothing in there that tells us to dislike ourselves. I don't claim to be a Bible scholar and I'm sure some people smarter than me could explain how I'm taking these verses out of context. Maybe I am, a bit. But it still felt like an eye opener to me. He wants me to love myself so that I can love others. And He wants me to love others the way He loves me. That's a lot of love. Maybe you have trouble liking yourself, as well. If so, I hope you can see this verse a little differently, like I did. I hope you can learn to love yourself the way Jesus loves you. May we all experience His love for ourselves and our neighbors. In His grip! Crystal International tensions. Political war. Death of a sports legend. Worldwide pandemic. Celebrity sex scandals. Record stock market fall. Media bias. Nationwide lock-down. Churches closed. 2020 Olympics postponed. Unemployment rates skyrocket. Riots in the street. Looting, vandalism, murder. And that's just America. And that's just the first six months. The joke's been running on Facebook that we're ready for our mommas to follow through on their threats to slap us into next year. 2020 has been too much. Too much unrest. Too much fear. Too much division. Too much hatefulness. A year ago, I was writing a post about how rough a year 2019 had been so far. Little did I know what 2020 would hold, not only for our family (financial woes, relationship struggles, health concerns), but for our country and the world! I'm ready to go back to 2019. I would say let's fast forward to 2021, but do we really want to risk a new year? Look what happened to the last one! In all seriousness, times are hard. Our nation is broken. So much fighting and anger and blame. We've lost our ability to disagree and respect one another's differences. These days, if someone says something we don't like, we blow it up on social media until they've lost their job, received death threats, and have their reputation smeared across the country. Really? Are we that childish that we can't just "agree to disagree" and walk away? Are we really so sensitive that we can't just let others' negative words and actions fall by the wayside? Do we really need the support of a million busy-body strangers on Facebook to avenge us from someone who was rude or mean? In March, when the pandemic was starting to sweep across the nation and states were starting to close, I sensed a shift in the community. Even in our nation. We were all in this together. We were literally ALL experiencing the same troubles. Grounded at home, trying to get the basic necessities, and keeping our families and communities safe. For a while, if not for the thousands falling ill and dying, it seemed something good could come out of something scary. This pandemic was drawing us together. And then, it was tearing us apart. Everyone stood on this side of the line or that one. And there was no meeting in the middle. Insults were hurled. We laughed at others' fears or scorned their beliefs. We tore down our leaders. What happened? It's sad. Through the last several months, this could have been a time of growth, a time of unity. And our country missed it. (To be fair, I know there were communities and neighborhoods who did experience unity during this time, so I don't want to pretend it NEVER happened!) But through it all, I am SO glad to know that God holds us safely in His grip. These last few months, despite the growing unrest and hysteria, I had peace. Oh, I won't try to convince you that I never got concerned or nervous. But in the very deepest part of me, I rested in the assurance that none of this scared Him. None of it took God by surprise. He can handle it all. And He can see me through it. Even when finances are a bit uncertain. Even when my Facebook friends have gotten spiteful. Even when the country's leaders are more interested in their own agenda than my well-being. Even when morals and ethics are being thrown out the window, while thieves and killers are being hailed as heroes. God's got this. He's got me. And He's got you. Do you have Him? Do you rest each night knowing that if you got COVID-19, you would be safe in His arms? Do you sit in your homes, petrified of the violence outside your window? Do you dread the coming election, hinging our country's survival (and yours) on the government leaders? A local pastor likes to repeat in church, "Don't look to the left or to the right. Don't look down and DON'T look to government. But look up, for your redemption draweth nigh." Followed by a hearty "Give JESUS a hand clap of praise!" But it's true. I can rest at night, because I know I'm not relying on my state and national leaders to get everything night. I rise in the morning, because Jesus has His hand on me. I can shut out the noise and roar of the world, because my hope is in Jesus. And if it happens that I do end up with a virus or job loss or property damage or terrorized by a murder hornet (yeah, there's that, too!), then I will still rest in His goodness and His care. Is it easy? Not always. Is it for the best? ALWAYS. If you're living in fear, please, put your trust in Jesus. Let Him fill you so you have no room in your heart for fear. Fill your mind with His word. As a wonderfully dear friend of mine used to say, "It'll be all right!" And it will be. Because we are all safe.... In His Grip! If I could describe this year in one word, I'd say tough. I don't mean to complain, especially since it's only July, but it seems every time Holly or I turn around, we're getting hit with something else. Here are a few examples:
Car woes...we all have them. But since 2019 started, I'm starting to believe that my F-150 and Holly's Explorer are out to get us. Seriously. Both of our vehicles have been in and out of the shop for the last several months. Indeed, we barely have a few weeks go by when we didn't have to have something else checked. And at one point, BOTH of our vehicles were out of commission! And of course, with the inconvenience of not having our cars up to par, is the cost of getting those issues fixed. We're still not out of the woods, yet. My truck still has a mysterious shaking going on, and every now and then, Holly's car doesn't want to stay running when she starts it. Both are getting up in years and we're having to face the fact that we're eventually going to need new ones. But for the moment, (say a little prayer, knock on wood, cross our fingers!) they are both running. Moving on... Holly started experiencing some health issues this spring. Racing heart, dizziness, blurred vision. And she could not stop eating! Always hungry but losing weight. (I know, that sounds like a wonderful problem to have, but it wasn't really!) She felt crummy. In fact, she said she'd rather have strep throat. To make matters worse, this was before grocery day, so she didn't have a lot of options. (Just to clarify, NO, we were not struggling to stay fed. We had plenty of meats and dinner foods. We were just getting low on snack and other options to eat throughout the day.) In the end, she ended up with a trip to the ER (which lasted HOURs) and a couple extra visits with her specialists to get everything straightened out. Turned out that her hyperthyroidism was acting up again. No surprise. So she got put back on her meds...and then on another med...and then upped her other meds...and now she's ALMOST back to normal. :) Then I found out that I am pre-diabetic. Not a terrible diagnosis, but an inconvenient one, all the same. I had been experiencing a lot of heart palpitations recently. So, I got MY thyroid checked, just to be safe. Nope. Thyroid is fine. Just have to watch the carbs, cut back on my sugar, and eat lots of veggies. Now, the funny thing here was the timing. By this time, I had gotten my paycheck and restocked my fridge and cupboards... of things I couldn't eat. But, I can't complain. It could've been worse. And I generally enjoy eating healthy anyway, so I took this as a challenge, though it was a little rough my school kept giving out treats and having potluck lunches to celebrate the end of school! So, basically, Holly has to stay on meds to keep from starving to death (to put it lightly) while I have to change my diet to keep from diabetes. Then our house was struck by lightning. No joke. OK, the lightning did not directly hit the house. But it still did its damage. And scared Holly to death! A tree took a direct hit, and has been slowly dying every since, sent huge splinters and pieces of bark through the yard. Some of those splinters driven into the dirt and were sticking up, even. But no one was hurt. Unfortunately, the hit killed our underground fence, which is a MUST to keep our knucklehead dogs in the yard. The base and outlet were fried inside the house. (Holly smelled the smoke.) And our phone and router were done for, too. The phone plug and router box literally popped into pieces. Breakers were tripped, knocking the power out for bit. Our surge bar was charred. And a light bulb exploded right out of our ceiling fan in the kitchen, where Holly was sitting. But no one was hurt. Not Holly or any one of our dogs. But they were all shook up! However, we still haven't been able to get our fencing fixed yet. Which means our poor dogs have to spend every night on a chain. (Until Friday, hopefully) Let's continue. Sales at the store this year have been short of disappointing. OK, maybe downright disappointing. OK, fine: this year has been slow! And if you know anything about retail, you know a slow year spells out low sales. And low sales aren't very good for the bank account. Especially when you have to continue paying the bills. Now let's add to this the day-to-day ups and downs, like colds and flus (I completely lost my voice in the last few days of school.), on-the-job difficulties, and strained relationships. And add to all that the drama and division that has exploded in recent months in this country. I don't know about you, but I am so troubled by what I am seeing in the media, entertainment industry, and politics. The heartbreaking trends in abortion. The attacks on Christian business owners. The breakdown in immorality. The hatefulness and pettiness of political parties. It's not been pretty. So, yeah. I'm not a fan of 2019. I realize our problems may seem very trivial, compared to others'. But they're ours, and they're doing their best to knock us down and keep us down. And the year's only half over! So, forgive me if I seem a bit...grumbly. But, (here come the good part) one thing has remained constant. God sees us through every setback. I may not always feel Him, but I KNOW He's there. Like so many small business owners across the country, I don't know what the future of our store will be. But God has managed to provide what we need to pay our bills now. We may have to watch what we eat or take our medicine, but God kept our health from being any worse. Our vehicles may go in the shop tomorrow, but He's kept us safe on the roads. And we may have lost a few things in a lightning storm, but He kept it from harming any lives. I know we're not the only ones going through difficult times. It's frustrating and discouraging, sure, to feel like you can't get a break. But, it's a comfort to know that we're not alone. He's watching us. He loves us and provides for us. And He keeps us In His Grip! Crystal PS: But I still hope the rest of 2019 turns out better! PPS: How's the year going for you? I have a confession. This year has been rough. There were a lot of new babies born in 2018. LOTS of babies. I keep a prayer journal where I can list special prayer requests. At one time, I had written down 13 names of friends, family members, co-workers, or acquaintances who were expecting babies. And every time I crossed one off, it seemed another was added. And then there was the wedding of a very dear loved one. I watched the plans taking place throughout the year. The excitement spilled over into every detail shared. Before I go on, let me emphasize that I never, for one second, begrudged any of these individuals their happiness. I was truly happy to watch the stories that God had written for each one play out. But it was hard, too. I shared my testimony a few years ago about how God helped me to accept my singleness and even be happy with where I am. I found contentment and blessings in my present state. And I still do. But that doesn't mean I don't slip. I'm human and I have bad days, too. I know part of the problem is my own fault. I've let my times with God fall by the wayside. I don't mean I turned away from Him, or even that I wasn't praying anymore. I read my Bible every morning and evening, and I talk to God constantly throughout the day. But I neglected those intimate times with just me and Him, talking to Him, listening, studying and meditating on His Word. I made excuses instead. Too busy. Too tired. Weeks or even months would go by without those intentional prayer times. As a result, I found myself growing more discontented, stressed, and frustrated about life in general. When I took a step back to evaluate my attitude, I was reminded of what I had been missing. As with any relationship, if you neglect to spend time with someone you love, that connection will fade and the relationship will suffer. However, I am thankful for what hasn't changed. God is still there. He didn't leave me while I was floundering. He stayed there, waiting for me to come to my senses. And I still know that the restlessness in my spirit would not have been fixed by planning my own wedding or awaiting my own baby. Oh, sure they would've added joy. But that deep, inner part of me can only be filled by God's presence in my life. He is still all I need. That doesn't mean I won't have bad days. It doesn't mean that I won't feel a bittersweet pull on my heart when I hear another wedding or birth announcement. But I know that the Lord is still there, wrapping me in His love. Filling me with His peace. Keeping me... In His grip! Crystal "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Hebrews 13:5 Okay, I admit it. We're doing a terrible job keeping up with this blog! I (Crystal) take a lot of the blame for that, since I recently started back in the classroom again. The last couple months have been busy, busy with classroom preparation, trainings and meetings, and lesson plans.
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