Housekeeping

Hey guys! A few house keeping items here in Betsy-Blog-Land...  ;)

1. Where's my winner???? ANGIE WEST, you never claimed your prize the other week. If you don't email me your info so I can send your free autographed book, I'm going to have to draw again :) 

2. EXCITING NEWS - I'm in the process of revamping my blog and will be doing a big launch day with giveaways, prizes, interviews from other authors, and a reveal of my new focus that God has given me. I'm so excited and can't wait to see what you guys all think. It's going to be GOOD! :)  Stay tuned for that in a week or two. (based on how web-savvy I can become! ha)

and 3. I've discovered a secret. THE secret, if you will, to dieting success. Not kidding. Are you ready for this? I should write a book on it, because then I'd be quite wealthy. THIS SECRET WORKS. Are you ready for it??

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This is epic.
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READY????
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The secret to dieting IS......
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Bring your trainer a Cadbury egg too.

Just a scribblin' chick

Visit me today at www.scribblechicks.blogspot.com and learn more about my 2012 ACFW Conference experience - have a profound thought I picked up in a class that applies to not only authors but all Christians. Love it!!!  :)

Just a few pictures...or okay, 140.

ACFW CONFERENCE 2012! Dallas, Texas (and trust me, we were SO in Texas - steak and potatoes every meal. Even breakfast. No, not kidding!)  :)

Here's the link to my FB album of pics. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151049689731701.418394.513656700&type=1&l=13b778bbf0

And come with me next year! (www.acfw.com) It's in Indianapolis September 14, 2013.

Labels....

I posted today on LABELS at www.girlsgodgoodlife.blogspot.com   Come visit me and read a profound quote by JIM RUBART (awesome author!) that inspired it.

When it piles up...

I've had a breakthrough, ya'll.

(And I can say ya'll, because I live in Louisiana.)

I've had a breakthrough, and I want to share it with ya'll. (hehe)

Seriously - you know that overwhelming feeling of stress you get when you're just DONE? When everything is piling up and you can't see the way out, and you think, man this SUCKS. How is any of this ever going to get fixed? Maybe its financial issues. Maybe its parenting issues. Maybe its marital issues. Maybe its this test you have coming up that's consuming you, maybe it's a job promotion that's just out of reach. Maybe it's frustration over your weight or a missing goal or a deadline.

Or maybe it's like me - all of sudden you look up and realize you just got laid off one of your at home day jobs that paid the most money, you have a conference coming up in 2 days and haven't even located your suitcase yet, have piles of laundry begging for attention for said conference and said left behind family, you just paid bills and saw a somewhat grim outcome of the immediate future if the part time job you interviewed for last week doesn't come through, you've got 3 deadlines for the newspaper you write for due TOMORROW, you have a fundraiser to attend tonight and an appt in the morning and snacks to bring to a bunch of preschoolers tomorrow night at Cubbies, an approaching book deadline, a bunch of stuff needing to be mailed at the post office and your computer is running slower than molasses and your car AC is making a really funny noise and the lawnmower and weedeater broke simultaneously and...

it's okay.

Yep. It's okay. I'm not stressed. And no I'm not lying, either. The above would  have normally had me running for chocolate and hiding and crying and making everyone around me miserable, but I'm GOOD. This isn't a peace bubble that will pop. This is lasting.

And you know why?

I'm seeing the bigger picture.

Please hear me. This is not to brag on me but to brag on God. And what He is capable of doing in your life. He is changing me in this area so completely, and it's the most freeing thing in the world. If something in the above list doesn't get done, oops. My bad. I'm going to try my best to knock it all off, and I probably will. I usually do. God made me good at multi tasking and organizing and made me very productive.

But if something doesn't get done - it's OKAY.

Seems really simple but I struggle in this area, guys. It doesn't come natural to me.

Yet in the past few weeks I've had something come up in my life that has literally MADE ME stop and seek God on a new level and realize - not a whole lot matters outside of Him. Outside of people and His Kingdom.

Have you had that wake up call?

I even stopped the above list to write this blog and share with you. :) Because I want to encourage you. When life is messy and chaotic and overwhelming, stop. Breathe. Seek Jesus. Get HIS perspective. And suddenly all this big stuff gets really, really tiny.

Heads up

I leave later this week for the 2012 ACFW Conference, so my blog posts will be sketchy! I'm going to try to post until then but I've got packing to do and work to finish beforehand. Who is coming there with me??? :)

Never fear, I will be back next week in all my blogging glory, and will bring pics ;)

And the winner is.... ;)

And the winner is...
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ANGIE WEST! :)


Congrats! Please email me your mailing address to betsystamant@yahoo.com and I'll get your autographed copy of ADDISON BLAKELY, CONFESSIONS OF A PK, in the mail ASAP ;)   Please also let me know if you'd like it signed to you, or to a different name.

Thanks for signing up, everyone! I'll do another contest after the ACFW Conference!

Happy reading!

Whatcha reading?

I just started reading Susan May Warren's upcoming release (I'm an influencer so I got an early copy, YAY!) YOU DON'T KNOW ME, and already a few chapters in, I'm thinking WOW. Love it.

What are you reading? Or what have you just finished reading? In non fiction worlds, I'm reading The Resolution for Women, and again - wow.

Do you have a wow book today?

Visit me at Scribble Chicks!

Visit me today at www.scribblechicks.blogspot.com where we are talking about conferences! :)

Under the radar

Sometimes, flying under the radar so to speak can be a good thing. Like, when you're in the Fire Academy. My husband said you wanted to be invisible there. Blend in. Don't show off, don't stand out, because then you're the guy running extra laps, doing more pushups, or otherwise being abused ;)

Good advice!

However - I think we can often be tempted to fly under the radar in our spiritual lives. We hide and think if we just blend in, the devil won't notice us. We won't be targets. If we're bland, neutral, off the map, we won't be attacked and things will be smooth sailing.

Well, maybe that's true. But maybe not. Either way, how is that attitude living an abundant life in Christ? How is that effective ministry? How is that furthering the kingdom or drawing others to the Lord? And isn't THAT what it's all about, truly? It might be easier to stay hidden and be subtle so we don't get drug through the mud of faith-testing. The past few weeks, I've been tempted to cover myself in a camo-print blanket and just.not.move.

But I'm moving. In bright orange hunter's gear. Fighting back with Scripture and prayer and faith, and knowing that the harder things get and the more they flat out suck (pardon my French), the more God is at work. The more things are happening in the unseen world. The more it's WORTH IT.

You've heard the catchy little phrase about "Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says 'oh crap. she's up."

That's clever and quirks a smile, but it's seriously a good way to live. Not in a challenge mode. Not in "bring it on devil"  mode because OH that's not where you need to go either! But in a sincere "Here I am Lord. Use me" kind of Isaiah way. The faith of a mustard seed kind of way. The mountain moving kind of way.

I'm here. I've got my little seed. (and not much else) and I'm huffing and puffing in faith. On the radar, on the map. Not hiding. Because He who is in me is greater than He who is in the world. Amen.

What do YOU think?

Visit me today at www.girlsgodgoodlife.blogspot.com :)

Weak in the knees...

Giveaways and Discounts and Prizes, OH MY!

So I'm in a good mood, because:

1. God is good.
2. God is good.

and

3. ACFW Conference is in two weeks from today :)

and

4. God is really good.

To share my joy, I'm going to GIVE AWAY a signed copy of my YA novel, ADDISON BLAKELY, CONFESSIONS OF A PK based on a drawing from the comments left on this post. To enter simply leave a comment (on THIS blog post) telling me a blessing in your life from God that you are thankful for!! :)

AND

Because conference is so soon, from right now until Monday morning, for my writer friends, I'm offering an in depth critique of a novel proposal (including proposal elements, synopsis and first three chapters OR up to 8,000 words) ....for $20. This is a huge discount!

A one sheet critique for your conference pitch appointment is only...$10!

Take advantage folks!

And spread the word.

If you're interested in the critique, please email me privately at betsystamant@yahoo.com or contact me via my website www.betsystamant.com

Happy Thursday!!

Scribble Chicks

Visit me today at www.scribblechicks.blogspot.com   :)

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!

It's September. YES!! I can FINALLY quit feeling guilty about the candy corn I saw at the dollar store that is lurking in my pantry...already opened...and mostly gone... (hey in my defense, the 4 year old eats most of it!)

Even if it's still technically summer and the official debut of Autumn isn't until another, like, 3 weeks, it's okay. Because the calendar page has turned, September is considered by all to be a FALL MONTH, so I only have one thing to say.

Let the candy corn abound. :)

And the long sleeved, flowing shirts.
And the dark skinny jeans
And the knee high boots.
And the leather jackets.
And the crimson and golden leaves.
And the hectic school schedule.
And the crisp, brisk wind at night.
And the S'mores on a bonfire.
And the brass and gold jewelry.
And the smell of burning leaves.
And the butternut squash soup.
And the new wreath on the front door.

And...THE ACFW CONFERENCE!!! Woot woot! Less than 3 weeks and I'm in Dallas conferenc'in it up! Oh, Fall, how I love you. Let's do this!

Happy Labor Day!!

Good & Bad?

Check out my new article for my monthly column ON GOOD GIRLS, featured at Nicole O'Dell's teen ministry site CHOOSE NOW....I'm discussing when bad things happen to good girls.

http://nicoleodell.com/betsy-st-amant-on-good-girls/

Would love to see your feedback!