A while ago, my son got to try maple syrup for the first time at a school campout. He asked me to get him some more. Now I suspect he had the "fake" maple syrup that is only 2% maple syrup, but I bought the stuff that said 100% pure maple syrup.

My son didn't like the pure stuff, but I loved it. I have never been much of a pancake fan. But 100% pure maple syrup makes me crave pancakes and look for a reason to make "breakfast for dinner." I have never cared for things that taste too sweet and maple syrup gives me natural sweetness without all that sugariness. 

A few weeks later, one of the kid's shows on PBS had a segment on some Vermont farmers who go out in the winter to tap the trees for  maple syrup. As I watched the men trudge through the knee deep snow to gather the syrup, I was struck by how God not only provides but he always gives over and above.

The early settlers  who didn't have a seven eleven to run to for ding dongs and twinkies  probably could have lived through the cold winter on wild game and whatever they stored up, but God gave something extra. There, in the dead of winter, he left something sweet for them to find.  Over and above. It may have been the Native Americans who first realized those huge trees held a special treat. I don't know the whole history. But I can picture the first person who found the sweet gift. Stuff like that makes you feel like God is thinking about you. Like you are on his mind and he is thinking about what would make  your day even more special.

Where I grew up, there was a tree called a honey suckle whose flower provided a quarter teaspoon taste of sweetness in the summertime. All these provisions, all this sweetness, all the extra and unexpected gifts. Something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.     

Sharon Dunn is at work on another romantic suspense novel. You can read more about Sharon and her books at www.sharondunnbooks.com.  

Stuff—I have too much of it.  I’ve spent the past two weeks moving my mother from one apartment to another, a larger space to a smaller one.  And now everything that didn’t fit in that new apartment is in my garage, filling my husband’s parking spot.  I’ll go through it, of course, and condense, toss and have a charity truck pick up the rest.  But then there’s the rest of my house.  At home I have books and magazines I haven’t read.  Things to clean, repair and use.  Former and future projects to work on.  Food I’ve purchased for recipes I’ve since lost.

We rent a fully furnished summer lake cottage and everything is there—dishes, bedding, towels, cooking utensils.  I bring nothing but clothes, food and work when I go there—and it’s wonderful.  I get along with a fraction of what I think I need at home.  I give myself permission to work in sweats all day long and sleep in them if I feel like it.  One or two decent outfits are all I need.  I only buy enough food for the recipes I want to cook.  I only bring one book project at a time to the cottage.  And my mind is far less cluttered. 

The lesson for me is that simplicity enhances creativity.  There’s not so much to distract the mind.  My gaze doesn’t snag on other things I need to do when I only have one project in front of me.  I work with more focus and sleep better.  Less is more.

Excuse me, I have to go now.  I need to throw something away—for my peace of mind.

Judy Baer

Camy here! I have recently gotten into a cute shoe kick.

It started when I visited my friend Tosca Lee in Nebraska. She is uber chic and gorgeous and she took me shoe shopping.

Tosca suggested that since I’m short, I need to wear heels to make me look thinner. Well, who doesn’t want to look thinner???

We found some fantastic shoes, and I bought three (which were on sale, even!). Tosca was a good friend and did not let me buy boring shoes!

I came home and discovered I needed more shoes. So my wonderful husband, Captain Caffeine, took me to Marshall’s and let me have at it. I bought six more pairs, and they are all beautiful!

Thanks to Tosca, I didn’t buy anything serviceable or plain or sensible. I bought what struck my fancy (and which I could wear—there were several cute shoes that just didn’t fit me right).

When I was with Tosca, there was a pair of blue shoes that were really cute, but I didn’t have anything in that color. Tosca said, “Who cares? With cute shoes, you can wear any color you want on your feet.” So I bought the blue shoes, and she’s right. The blue shoes are dazzling and fun and seem to go with whatever I wear.

So in addition to the blue shoes and several very cool black shoes, I also bought purple and pink and red snakeskin. I am currently looking for a nice green shoe.

So what do you think about my shoe fetish?

(Oh, and the heels really do make me look thinner! Hallelujah!)

Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she runs the Story Sensei critique service. Her humorous romance, Single Sashimi, and her romantic suspense, Deadly Intent, are both out now. She also gives away Christian fiction on her blog and her newsletter YahooGroup.

The Bible has so much to say about joy, and yet, some Christians are just so sour.  They look as if they've just swallowed pickle juice.  I want to encourage you today to find your joy in Him and spread it around.  Life is hard.  There is no question, but if you focus on all you have to be grateful for, this could be a fabulous day!

Rejoice!  This is the day the Lord has made!

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  So speak happy thoughts! 
(San Francisco makes me happy!)

www.KristinBillerbeck.com
Kristin is the author of over 35 novels and is currently working on a young adult series for Baker/Revell and a women's fiction.

Life is full of disappointments. So much so, we begin to identify with it, claim it as our own, just the way life is for "me."

We agree with so much negativity and lies in the course of our life. We declare failure and ugliness over ourselves. There's a difference between recognizing weaknesses, disappointments and failures, dealing with them head and agreeing with blanket condemnation.

When we do, we mire down further and further.

But God is a God of hope. He does NOT disappoint. A seasoned woman of the Lord said to me once, "I'm afraid to believe God, that I'll be disappointed."

Something came over me. "That," I said with force, "is a lie from the pit of hell."

Who are we going to hope in if not God. Who in this life can or will disappoint us less? Our own failures, the weakness of others is what disappoints us. Often not taking a close look at our lives, being honest with ourselves.

A friend wants to be an artist. But also wants a large family. His artistic endeavors are hindered by his growing family. His wants, in some ways, are in conflict. Both are valid. Both are honorable desires. But both require a great deal of time and effort.

He's frustrated. Angry. Disappointed.

God has a destiny for every one. The Bible assures us He created good works for us to walk in from before the foundations of the earth!

Open your hand, open your heart, desire God first, and He will unlock your destiny.

If you want to write, then write! Pray and write. If you have a heart for finances, then pray and study finances, and money! If you want to learn an instrument, pray and believe God, take lessons, practice, learn!

If you want to be a great parent, give yourself to your kids. If you want to know God, seek Him, give yourself to prayer and the Word. He will reveal Himself to you!

Believe in God. His hope does NOT disappoint.