There are many times when I think about my family and friends who mean so much to me. I tend to hold them close to my heart.
My little boys would pull away from me when they were toddlers and feel that I was holding them too close. I just wanted to keep on squeezing them and breathing in their 'little boy sweetness/toughness'. There was nothing like it.
I had to release them and let them go on their way to their next adventure as well as let them grow up. As a mother, it is challenging to allow the kiddos to grow up. The hardest part is that sometimes they grow away as they grow up and move on.
The hope is that when they come home for visits, they find love, home, and happy memories. I hope they find a mother and daddy full of the love of God.
I pray that they see that love pulls them into our heart from their first breath and after it is planted, it never goes away. It doesn't matter how many miles or ideas separate us.
I have to admit that I still feel like that young mother who wanted to squeeze tightly and make them submit to my will. Only now, I have to watch as they don't just toddle off to their adventures, but as they make decisions that affect their eternal destiny.
May they always realize that my heart has never let go and my prayers are squeezing them closer. My love is strong, but God's is stronger.
Today I would like to introduce you to another author friend of mine. Meet Aileen Stewart. She has written a delightful children's book that reminds me of the Uncle Wiggley series my boys loved reading years ago.
Aileen Stewart ~ Children’s Author ~ Fern Valley ~ http://aileenw4bobbyg.tripod.com
1. How long have you been an author and when did the desire to write (the writing bug) bite?
I had my first taste of writing when I was in fourth grade and won honorable mention in a poetry contest. This and the fact that my father was a freelance writer for hunting and fishing magazines and both my parents were great story tellers helped form my love of reading and writing. I spent many years writing poems and short stories, which I occasionally entered in contests, before I actually became serious about writing. It was while watching cartoons based on books, with my daughter, that I imagined myself writing a book. My husband was instrumental in encouraging me to follow my dream and FernValley-A Collection of Short Stories was born.
2. Why did you choose the genre you write in? Are there plans to write in another genre?
Basically I never outgrew my enjoyment of children and young adult books, so it seemed natural for me to choose to write a children’s book. To me there is something fresh, innocent, and joyful about writing for children. It is also a way to revisit my childhood and the memories I have from that time and incorporate them into modern day stories.
3. Please tell about each title here:
Let children discover Fern Valley, and they will step back in time to a place where a nineteen fifties small town feel brings a sense of peace and security. A place where no one locks their doors and everyone knows everyone else. A place where above all, the characters know they are loved and supported by their families, friends, and even the surrounding community.
Told through the eyes of youthful farm animals, this work is a series of short stories about children, their feelings, and how they deal with life. Characters such as Roberta and Mildred Cornstalk, two ordinary but imaginative chickens living on a small farm with their parents and brother, display the resiliency of children even when faced with issues such as the loss of a loved one.
A plethora of other colorful characters from goats to rabbits are sure to entertain with their antics and insights. As the readers find out what happens to Roberta and Mildred’s brother Edward when he goes fishing, what birthday surprise is in store for Betsy Woolrich, or what lesson Kimmy Curlytail learns when she keeps something that is not hers, they will be drawn in as surely as if they themselves were present.
4. Do you do speaking engagements? Tell about your subject matter.
I speak at schools, libraries, or clubs to which I am invited. With children, I speak about my book, reading, and writing. With adults, I generally speak about the writing process and my publishing experiences.
5. What has been your most rewarding experience as an author?
I did a book signing at the local Barnes and Noble in my area and shortly thereafter, I received a call stating that they had a mailing tube for me that someone had dropped off at the store. I stopped by the next day to see what it contained and was pleasantly surprised to find a large pencil sketch of my daughter sitting on my lap reading out of my book. With the sketch was a letter from a retired grocery worker who was also an amateur artist. He stated that he had seen a picture of me and my daughter in the news paper and had decided to use it for sketch material. He went on to say that his father had written many books but had never been published and he wished me much success.
I also received letters from two young girls who had read and enjoyed my book. These pieces of fan mail are so special and most humbling. I still have a hard time believing that people are sending “ME” fan mail.
6. Where can your books be purchased?
My books can be purchased almost anywhere online:
Amazonhttp://amzn.com/1617395277
Barnes and Noblehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fern-valley-aileen-stewart/1100074715
Parable Christian Bookshttp://www.parable.com/i.Fern-Valley-A-Collection-of-Short-Stories-Stewart-Aileen.9781617395277
Tate Publishing http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61739-527-7
7. How can readers reach you through twitter? through facebook? through your blog? through your website?
My website is “Fun For Kids” @ http://aileenw4bobbyg.tripod.com
I blog @ http://www.AileenWStewart.blogspot.com
My FB Fan Page can be found @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fern-Valley/109736815756550
My Twitter Name is @AileenWStewart
8. What was your biggest surprise at being an author?
Although I have a degree in Business and a Certificate in Sales and Marketing, I think the biggest surprise authorhood has brought me is the realization of how difficult marketing really is in practical application.
9. We all know that writing can be a lonely occupation, what do your family and friends do to lift you up when you are down?
Generally speaking, I am an optimistic sort of a person and don’t get down too often; but when I do, my family reminds me of how far the Lord has already brought me in the writing process. Looking back, I can definitely see a pattern of the Lord blessing what I put my hand to and this is usually enough to cause me to shake off any doldrums and be encouraged once again.
10. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I’m not sure that I actually had a favorite toy, but some of my most memorable toys were my Barbies, my Holly Hobby Colorform Country Store, and my Light Bright Set. Not only did my brother and I love our Light Bright, but our cat did as well. She would take a peg and carry it to the top of our staircase and drop it, watching it roll all the way to the bottom. She would then run down, collect the peg, and start all over. Watching her play was very entertaining. When it came to outside toys, I would have to say that the sandbox my dad made out of an old tractor tire was number one on the list of fun toys.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Sounds of Comfort
It is almost Christmas and I have awakened early for the day. It is easy at this time of year to be flooded with memories of days gone by. Triggers to those memories come in many different forms.
I live in a house that was built in the 1920s. It is far from perfect. It reminds me of a mother in the way that it offers comfort and character but is not perfect. That is the kind of mother I had as well as the kind of mother I am.
One small thing brought me back to age three or four this morning. I had enjoyed two cups of coffee and was headed for the kitchen for my third when stepping across the old hardwood floors, I heard a creak and then another.
The sound wrapped it's imperfect arms around me and took me to the 'dime store' Mama and I frequented when I was little. It was huge! It had creaky old board floors and smelled like roasted peanuts.
McClellan's was the name of the place. We called it the "Old Dime Store" because Woolworth came to our little Texas town when the Wheatheart Shopping Center was build. We referred to is as the "New Dime Store."
The new place had a charm of its own. It was more like a cousin than a mother. It was new and modern while the old place was creaky and comfortable to me.
One specific memory of the place was when my brother, Jim, who is thirteen years older than me, took me there. He had already told me "no" to riding the big plastic coin operated horse in the front of the store. We were headed to the back where the toys and 'good stuff' was when I saw the dress of my dreams.
There is was...purple with black pin stripes and black velvet ribbon down the sleeves from the shoulder to the wrist. The buttons had real diamonds down the front. (rhinestones) It had crinoline sewed as an underskirt, (a painful addition, I might insert here.) and my four-year-old heart fell in love with it!
I pleaded with my then sixteen-year-old brother to please get it for me. I don't know how it happened, but he bought it. That was a big surprise to me because I was a real bother to him. He was trying to be grown up and I was trying to make him play with me. It caused many little conflicts. On this day he was my hero. (I have that dress displayed in my bedroom and see it every day.)
Every time I went into that store, that memory came to my mind. This morning, in hearing the creak of the floor, the feeling of love from my brother flooded me once again.
I wouldn't have heard it if the house hadn't been quiet. The creak of a floor, tick of an old-time clock, memories of Mama singing "Away in a Manger", the crisp rattle of onion skin paper turning to the next page in the Bible and the sound of the stout winds take me back.
Mama used to sing "Away in a Manger" year round. I think the reason was that it was one of my favorite songs. She told me the Christmas story and some of the terms confused me. The one thing that stands out is that Mary and Joseph slept in the straw. In my mind's eye, I saw a huge drinking straw and them climbing into it. Never had I seen that element in a Nativity set. I remember asking how they got in the straw. Mama just said, "They climbed into it." In my head, they slept in a big clear tube while baby Jesus slept in the manger with hay. (Can you tell I wasn't a country girl?)
I need to remember to turn off the background noises of the television, radio, and other distractions to listen to the sounds of comfort. To me, when you peel away all the outside stuff, you find the things that really matter.
The "Old Dime Store" as well as the "New Dime Store" are gone now, but the memories of creaky floors, fresh roasted peanuts, crisp crinoline, and the big plastic coin operated horse will live forever in my mind.
I live in a house that was built in the 1920s. It is far from perfect. It reminds me of a mother in the way that it offers comfort and character but is not perfect. That is the kind of mother I had as well as the kind of mother I am.
One small thing brought me back to age three or four this morning. I had enjoyed two cups of coffee and was headed for the kitchen for my third when stepping across the old hardwood floors, I heard a creak and then another.
The sound wrapped it's imperfect arms around me and took me to the 'dime store' Mama and I frequented when I was little. It was huge! It had creaky old board floors and smelled like roasted peanuts.
McClellan's was the name of the place. We called it the "Old Dime Store" because Woolworth came to our little Texas town when the Wheatheart Shopping Center was build. We referred to is as the "New Dime Store."
The new place had a charm of its own. It was more like a cousin than a mother. It was new and modern while the old place was creaky and comfortable to me.
One specific memory of the place was when my brother, Jim, who is thirteen years older than me, took me there. He had already told me "no" to riding the big plastic coin operated horse in the front of the store. We were headed to the back where the toys and 'good stuff' was when I saw the dress of my dreams.
There is was...purple with black pin stripes and black velvet ribbon down the sleeves from the shoulder to the wrist. The buttons had real diamonds down the front. (rhinestones) It had crinoline sewed as an underskirt, (a painful addition, I might insert here.) and my four-year-old heart fell in love with it!
I pleaded with my then sixteen-year-old brother to please get it for me. I don't know how it happened, but he bought it. That was a big surprise to me because I was a real bother to him. He was trying to be grown up and I was trying to make him play with me. It caused many little conflicts. On this day he was my hero. (I have that dress displayed in my bedroom and see it every day.)
Every time I went into that store, that memory came to my mind. This morning, in hearing the creak of the floor, the feeling of love from my brother flooded me once again.
I wouldn't have heard it if the house hadn't been quiet. The creak of a floor, tick of an old-time clock, memories of Mama singing "Away in a Manger", the crisp rattle of onion skin paper turning to the next page in the Bible and the sound of the stout winds take me back.
Mama used to sing "Away in a Manger" year round. I think the reason was that it was one of my favorite songs. She told me the Christmas story and some of the terms confused me. The one thing that stands out is that Mary and Joseph slept in the straw. In my mind's eye, I saw a huge drinking straw and them climbing into it. Never had I seen that element in a Nativity set. I remember asking how they got in the straw. Mama just said, "They climbed into it." In my head, they slept in a big clear tube while baby Jesus slept in the manger with hay. (Can you tell I wasn't a country girl?)
I need to remember to turn off the background noises of the television, radio, and other distractions to listen to the sounds of comfort. To me, when you peel away all the outside stuff, you find the things that really matter.
The "Old Dime Store" as well as the "New Dime Store" are gone now, but the memories of creaky floors, fresh roasted peanuts, crisp crinoline, and the big plastic coin operated horse will live forever in my mind.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Revamping This Blog
When I began blogging, I thought that I would create a blog for each book that I write. I had no idea that I would have the opportunity to write as much as I have been. In February of 2012 I hope to release my sixth book which will be the first book of the new series.
The new series is RESCUED...A SERIES OF HOPE. This series intersects the books of the Nan's Heritage Series. It focuses on the girls who were rescued by the Young family in the first series.
I took the National Novel Writing Month challenge in November of 2011 and wrote the rough draft of the first book in this series, "Some Happy Day". I am very pleased with the way it has turned out so far. I am in the middle of edits. The story is filling out nicely.
Because I am hoping to write many books in the future, I have changed the name to the names of the series that I am writing. You will see the name change with added series in the future.
I appreciate every one of you who takes the time to look at my blogs and also comment. It is my desire to do a good job at this. Merry Christmas and Happy 2012. God bless you richly.
The new series is RESCUED...A SERIES OF HOPE. This series intersects the books of the Nan's Heritage Series. It focuses on the girls who were rescued by the Young family in the first series.
I took the National Novel Writing Month challenge in November of 2011 and wrote the rough draft of the first book in this series, "Some Happy Day". I am very pleased with the way it has turned out so far. I am in the middle of edits. The story is filling out nicely.
Because I am hoping to write many books in the future, I have changed the name to the names of the series that I am writing. You will see the name change with added series in the future.
I appreciate every one of you who takes the time to look at my blogs and also comment. It is my desire to do a good job at this. Merry Christmas and Happy 2012. God bless you richly.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Desolate
Webster's New World College Dictionary defines the word 'desolate' like this: to leave alone, forsake, stip of inhabitants, to make lonely, solitary, uninhabited, deserted, laid waste, in a ruinous state, forlorn, wretched, abandoned, lay waste...
This year, the panhandle of Texas has seemed like a desolate place. I have lived here all of my life and have never seen anything like it. I live in the country so we cannot water all of the grass around our house. We have managed to keep the trees alive by directly watering them. Our clay soil is powder. The buffalo grass crunches under our feet. We have had a streak of over two hundred days without measurable rain.We have broken old records in temperatures. Our high this summer has been 114 degrees.
I look across our pasture at the sunburned grass and thank the Lord that we were not part of the wild fires that have plagued our area. In all of the summer God has not forsaken us, so we are not truely desolate.
I have found it difficult to not let the dryness of our land creep into my spirit. I look forward to a time of refreshing, but right now, like the durable buffalo grass, I am sinking my roots deeper into my Source of life. It appears that there is no nourishment for my weary soul, but when I dig deep into the Scriptures and perservere in prayer, I find the strength I need both physically and spiritually.
Being a writer, I depend on this relationship with God for inspiration. Without Him, all of my creativity is gone. The words ring hollow. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, I depend of Him. As His child, I depend on Him. The lesson that I have gleaned from this 'desolate' summer has been that when it all shakes down, He is the only One we can depend on. He is our Source, our Shelter, our Refreshing, our Everything.
Elaine Littau, author of Christian Western Fiction
This year, the panhandle of Texas has seemed like a desolate place. I have lived here all of my life and have never seen anything like it. I live in the country so we cannot water all of the grass around our house. We have managed to keep the trees alive by directly watering them. Our clay soil is powder. The buffalo grass crunches under our feet. We have had a streak of over two hundred days without measurable rain.We have broken old records in temperatures. Our high this summer has been 114 degrees.
I look across our pasture at the sunburned grass and thank the Lord that we were not part of the wild fires that have plagued our area. In all of the summer God has not forsaken us, so we are not truely desolate.
I have found it difficult to not let the dryness of our land creep into my spirit. I look forward to a time of refreshing, but right now, like the durable buffalo grass, I am sinking my roots deeper into my Source of life. It appears that there is no nourishment for my weary soul, but when I dig deep into the Scriptures and perservere in prayer, I find the strength I need both physically and spiritually.
Being a writer, I depend on this relationship with God for inspiration. Without Him, all of my creativity is gone. The words ring hollow. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, I depend of Him. As His child, I depend on Him. The lesson that I have gleaned from this 'desolate' summer has been that when it all shakes down, He is the only One we can depend on. He is our Source, our Shelter, our Refreshing, our Everything.
Elaine Littau, author of Christian Western Fiction
Friday, June 17, 2011
"Miracles Come In Cans"
This summer the grands and I are going through the 12 Power Thoughts suggested by Joyce Meyer in her book, "Power Thoughts". Week #1 we are thinking: "Miracles Come in Cans." What this means is "I can." should be our thought instead of "I can't." or "I shouldn't even try."
The Scripture that goes with this is, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Maybe the task or whatever is daunting, but with God on our side, we can do...
Things that we have little strength for...
Things we don't feel smart enough to do...
Really big tasks that seem too hard...
We can reach the finish line.
The grands are catching onto this thought and so am I.
Next week I will disclose the next thought.
Please read this wonderful book. It will be a great encouragement .
Oh yes, the zip line is done. Terry and friends and grands are having so much fun zipping along. It turned out even better than expected.
The Scripture that goes with this is, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Maybe the task or whatever is daunting, but with God on our side, we can do...
Things that we have little strength for...
Things we don't feel smart enough to do...
Really big tasks that seem too hard...
We can reach the finish line.
The grands are catching onto this thought and so am I.
Next week I will disclose the next thought.
Please read this wonderful book. It will be a great encouragement .
Oh yes, the zip line is done. Terry and friends and grands are having so much fun zipping along. It turned out even better than expected.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Up, Up, and Away
Last Wednesday I flew to Denver to see our oldest son and his family. I have to admit that I was somewhat nervous about the flight. The tornadoes at Joplin and Oklahoma City had me a little jumpy. It was no help at all that the panhandle winds were brisk.
My flight from Amarillo was delayed for 45 min. because of high winds. The flight was fine, bumpy, but fine. I spent Wed through Sat afternoon in Denver and brought back my 5 yr old granddaughter with me. It was fun to hear her giggle when the plane took off. At first, she asked if the plane was going to drive all the way to Texas. We were on the runway a long time getting ready for the take off and getting in place. (Kids are funny.)
When we landed in Amarillo, our 4 yr old granddaughter was on hand to welcome her cousin to Texas. You should have heard the chatter from one car seat to the next on the way to Cracker Barrel. My daughter-in-law and I just eves-dropped and laughed at how clever they were.
The 4 yr old had just returned from staying with her other grandparents in the Oklahoma City area. She was explaining what it was like to go into a storm cellar. "We went into the storm cellar because a big tomato was coming."
When you put it like that, it takes some of the fear away doesn't it.
Speaking of the recent tornadoes, I would like to recommend a place for giving to the victims of the tornado in Joplin, MO. The Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, KS is taking donations to help those who lost their homes in this terrible storm. I recommend them.
This is the Bible College that Terry and I attended when we met in 1974. They will give 100% of the donations to the victims.
Mail to:
AFBC Joplin Tornado Donation
P. O. Box 110
Baxter Springs, KS 66713.
Terry and I will be welcoming our grandsons for a summer visit in June. They will join their little sister for a summer of fun...and work... at the Littau place. I lovingly call it "The Almosta Ponderosa Ranch". (7 1/2 acres isn't really a ranch.)
My flight from Amarillo was delayed for 45 min. because of high winds. The flight was fine, bumpy, but fine. I spent Wed through Sat afternoon in Denver and brought back my 5 yr old granddaughter with me. It was fun to hear her giggle when the plane took off. At first, she asked if the plane was going to drive all the way to Texas. We were on the runway a long time getting ready for the take off and getting in place. (Kids are funny.)
When we landed in Amarillo, our 4 yr old granddaughter was on hand to welcome her cousin to Texas. You should have heard the chatter from one car seat to the next on the way to Cracker Barrel. My daughter-in-law and I just eves-dropped and laughed at how clever they were.
The 4 yr old had just returned from staying with her other grandparents in the Oklahoma City area. She was explaining what it was like to go into a storm cellar. "We went into the storm cellar because a big tomato was coming."
When you put it like that, it takes some of the fear away doesn't it.
Speaking of the recent tornadoes, I would like to recommend a place for giving to the victims of the tornado in Joplin, MO. The Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, KS is taking donations to help those who lost their homes in this terrible storm. I recommend them.
This is the Bible College that Terry and I attended when we met in 1974. They will give 100% of the donations to the victims.
Mail to:
AFBC Joplin Tornado Donation
P. O. Box 110
Baxter Springs, KS 66713.
Terry and I will be welcoming our grandsons for a summer visit in June. They will join their little sister for a summer of fun...and work... at the Littau place. I lovingly call it "The Almosta Ponderosa Ranch". (7 1/2 acres isn't really a ranch.)
Friday, May 6, 2011
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