Prayers appreciated...

Tomorrow (Wednesday) my Little Miss has an eye doctor appointment. It's her first one, but sadly its not just a routine check-up. I suspect she's getting a lazy eye, or at least the beginning stages of something similiar. When she looks at an object up close, like a spoon in front of her face, etc. one of her eyes goes in toward her nose a little bit farther than the other. And sometimes when she's sleepy, it does that too. It doesn't wander all over, its just that one contained motion, but still. Its something I need to deal with now while we have options, before it gets worse.

But dealing with a two year old in a "scary place" like a doctor's office is going to be interesting, especially since her well visit to the pedatrician (complete with shots) is still fresh in her mind from a few weeks ago. They told us to expect two hours for the appointment in full, as it has to go in stages and her eyes have to be dilated twice during the morning. Ugh.

I'm sort of dreading it, not just for the pending tantrums or tears, or attempts to entertain in a waiting room that long - but also because of the results. What if they say she needs eye surgery? (worst case) Or has to wear a patch off and on for a few weeks/months to strengthen the muscles? (best case) Or glasses??? How do you keep glasses on a two year old?? I guess there is the possibility they won't be concerned with it at all but I sort of doubt it. I'm trying not to worry, but I'm a mom, so that's what I do best. I know God will be with us regardless of the outcome, and really this isn't a HUGE deal...but big enough for me. Prayers appreciated for both of us! :)

I'll give a report Thursday...

Baseball & Brawn

This past Saturday was the 2nd annual Travis Duffy Softball Tournament in Alexandria, Louisiana. The Duffy family is a sweet family my husband met and bonded with during the weeks he literally lived in the ICU waiting room at the hospital after his mom's accident last summer. Their son, Travis, had a similiar accident on a four-wheeler and was in a coma almost as long as my mother in law. They held a tournament last year to raise money for his therapy and treatments, and this year, they did the same for my mother in law and another little boy in their city who needs a dog for his seizure issues.

This year, Travis got to play in the tournament. :)

His healing was a miracle, he's almost back to 100% and still in therapy to work out the lingering kinks.

My husband gathered a group of guys to play on a team, and despite rolled ankles, torn tendons, skinned shins, bruised heels, knocked off glasses, softballs to the head, and a variety of bumps, cuts, scrapes, and bruises...they won the championship. =)

(and gave the trophy to the guy on their team who hurt his ankle during the warm up yet stilll played all day long!)

I went with my friend Steph to cheer them on, and it was fun. The town really came together to play, raise money, raffle off items, and sell food all in the name of a worthy cause. It was really touching, and I'm grateful that my husband was able to meet such a caring family during the worst storm of his life.

You just never know when God will bring good from bad. You just have to look for it and trust He will. We have no idea why God healed Travis but hasn't done the same for my mother in law. We have no idea if her condition will ever get better or how long she will be trapped in this miserable state. All we can do is watch for the rainbow and trust its there behind the clouds.

So thanks, Duffy family, and the town of Alexandria for coming out despite the threatening thunderstorms. And congrats to our team - who kicked booty ;)

Any volunteers?

I'm going to be preparing a blog tour of sorts soon to promote my October 1st release, THE GINGERBREAD SEASON - a Christmas novella that's in a two-book compilation with fellow Love Inspired author Marta Perry. The compilation book is titled "Mistletoe Prayers".

Here's the cover blurb for my story:

Allie James returns to her hometown in need of a holiday job. Never did she expect her old boyfriend Jordan Walker to hire her as his secretary! Years ago Jordan shredded her heart like wrapping paper. Now he must convince Allie that all he wants for Christmas is her love...

And the blurb for Marta's story, THE BODINE FAMILY CHRISTMAS, is:

Left at the alter on Christmas Eve, Annabel Bodine has lost her holiday spirit. When her big brother brings home handsome Coast Guard buddy Travis McCall, can Annabel summon the courage to open her heart to love for the holidays - and maybe for a lifetime?

If you're interested in signing up to review this novel on Amazon and your blog and maybe CBD or other sites, please email me be privately at betsystamant@yahoo.com with your influencing plans (where you will be post a review) and your mailing address.

Please only volunteer if you really intend to follow through - I've had issues lately with people wanting to review and receiving their free book and never posting. Thanks!! =)

P is for Progress

Sometimes, accountability goes a long way in helping us stay motivated - especially in our writing!! Let's share our curernt projects today (as much plot detail as you feel comfortable sharing!) and list our goals.

Are you trying to get a proposal ready for the ACFW conference in a few weeks? Are you trying to reach so many chapters completed by a certain date? Want to have your book submission-ready to target a particular agent by a certain date?

Share here and let's help each other stay focused and productive!

For me, I'm working right now on my newly contracted Love Inspired story, set for an August 2011 release. My deadline for the full manuscript to be completed and turned in is November 24th. So I'm working hard, especially among my other duties (wife, mommy, part-time employee, freelancer, etc.) This story is about a fireman and a event-cooridnator, single mom who have a certain spark...despite the fact that the heroine is the widower of a fireman and has sworn never to marry a hero again! (dumm dum dummmm...) =)

What are you working on???

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