Rosey Dow

We all love tender stories. Some love to sigh and sink deeper into their soft armchairs, others love a good cry. Think of best-selling authors who have that ability: Nicholas Sparks, Francine Rivers, and Janette Oke.

But where does that ability come from? Writers who stir our hearts are brave enough to reach into the hurting corners of their own souls. Instead of shying away from the pain, they explore it and embrace it and articulate it in great detail. Every aspiring writer would love to have such a soul connection to their readers, but they don’t have the courage to go where you have to go in order to have that happen.

Many times I’ve wept as my fingers swept across the keyboard, yet those pieces are the best I’ve ever written. It is from our own pain that we have a chance to reach other hurting souls who need so desperately to hear from us. (2 Corinthians 1:4) Every one of us has places in our hearts that only God can comfort. What amazing joy it brings when He allows us to share that comfort with others—people we will never meet and yet we can move so profoundly.

What hurting corner can you explore in your next story?

This Christmas, Here’s a Gift that will Bless All Year Long!

Order for your family and friends today at imprbooks.com

Penny Pinching Meals presents a thrifty lifestyle as an exciting experiment. It will have you asking, “How far can I stretch the contents of my cupboard today and still have my family smiling?” The answer will be: “Further than you think!”

This is not about skimping and portioning and leaving the table hungry. This is about transforming and reusing and economizing to provide plenty. These recipes are simple and streamlined, but this is far more than a cookbook. It is a manual of tips and techniques and creative ideas that will leave your family happy and satisfied.

Party invitations, decorations, entertainment, and food are all
essential to a traditional Independence Day celebration. While visions
of stationery stores, caterers, and a band come to mind, the sound
ka-ching resonates through them all. Fortunately you can have a great
time with friends and family while spending much less than you imagine.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

Invitations
1.    Record yourself and maybe a friend or
two, singing an off-key made-up tune inviting your friends. If you
aren’t opera star material, and you don’t mind
laughing at yourself, this will make the invitation all the more fun.
Send these audio clips out in emails, sort of a singing telegram in
cyberspace.

2.    Use your color printer to print the
invitation, roll it up with the print side out, and slide it into a
clear water bottle. Size the paper so it will release and become
readable one it’s inside. Tighten down the lid, fix a stick
label to the bottle and send it through the mail. Make a sample and
take it to the post office so you can get the proper postage for these
and mail one to yourself so you can see how long it will take to
arrive.

3.    Video yourself with a webcam and post
the clip to YouTube with a private setting. Send your friends the
YouTube link or Embed the video into a web page invitation if you are
computer savvy.

Decorations:
1.    Dig through your Christmas and
Valentine’s Day decorations for generic red or white items.
Add some blue items from the thrift store or dollar store and
you’re there.

2.    Check the Dollar Tree. They have
seasonal decorations at amazing prices.

3.    Check thrift stores for vases and
other items that you can spray with a $1 can of paint. For example,
spray the item white and stick on stars in red and blue.

Entertainment:
1.    A boom box and a stack of your
favorite CDs. Or borrow some CDs from a friend who is a connoisseur.

2.    Give a student experience at playing
for a live audience. At 15-25, whether the first chair at a recital or
a master’s student, students need places to play and the fee
would be minimal compared to a professional.

3.    Barter with a friend who plays. If
she’ll play for your party and you’ll help set up
for hers.

Food
1.    Spend time creating a beautiful table
arrangement with items you have or from the list above, then keep the
food simple: veggie trays, cheese and crackers, chips and dip.

2.    Ask key people to bring their best
dish. “I love your cheesecake, Aunt Jo. Would you mind
bringing one to the party?” Just 2-3 of these contributions
can make all the difference. And Aunt Jo will be flattered, too.

3.    Eliminate alcohol, lightly spike the punch, or make the event BYOB.

4.    Watch coupons and sales. Combine the 2 and catch great deals. Begin in April and save those jars of dip and cans of nuts for your party.

With a little imagination you can host a party and hardly feel it in
your pocketbook. After all, the fun comes from the jokes, the laughs,
the fun. And those are all free.

For more than 40 pages of ideas, check out Summer Party Ideas and Plans Collection.