#TuesdayTreasures 10 Things I Treasure

Good Morning Friends,

My scheduled guest could not be here today so I'm improvising.

In all of the spiritual growth books I've read, the authors are adamant about the power of gratitude and listing people, places, things we're grateful for.

Today I'm listing 10 things I'm not only grateful for, but I treasure....

The Family I was born into.....


And the one created for me by love.....



Those that have come forth from mine......and my honey....

          

Places I've been, people I've met, friends (too many to count!) 

I treasure mountains, and oceans, waterfalls and lakes, flowers and trees, beautiful sunsets, Bandera, TX and the Silver Spur Guest Ranch...

Guess you could just say I treasure LIFE.

Would love to know what you treasure!

Until next time, treasure every moment because we're not guaranteed the next one.

Something to think about!

"Inspirational with an Edge!"™

PamT

PS: Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

#TuesdayTreasures - My Favorite Things

Good Morning!

Since this is Thanksgiving week and I have a special guest on Thursday, I thought I'd share with you today.

There are a few things I treasure more than the Silver Spur Guest Ranch in Bandera, TX. The way the sun strikes over the hills as it descends from the sky, or reflects off the pond...breathtaking and I'm so happy and grateful to be here this week.!

One thing I can say I treasure and am more grateful for than anything is my family....

 

These group photos were taken in 2007. In 2009 we welcomed this little guy into our midst.


And we said goodbye to this wonderful husband, father and son.

In 2014 we said goodbye to both ladies in the family pic - my mother and mother-in-law.

No matter what life may throw my way in the future, I am forever grateful and will always treasure the love we shared and the strength these wonderful people imparted to me....

Strength to keep on, keeping on no matter what.

Their memories are what keep me going.

Hope your Thanksgiving is Blessed and Happy and that you'll check back with me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on The October Testament by Ruth Magnusson Davis

Good Morning Friends,

Well tomorrow I'll be heading to my home away from home...yes, Bandera, TX and the Silver Spur Guest Ranch!

I'll be there for the whole week, but don't worry, you won't miss a single Saturday Spotlight, Tuesday Treasures or Thursday Thoughts.

You know how much I love God and His Word so you'll understand why today's post is one I'm really excited to share.

Tyndale's New Testament for the 21st Century

Vancouver Island, Canada – September 2016 – This, The October Testament, is Tyndale's New Testament as it was published in the 1549 Matthew Bible, complete with the notes and commentaries of that Reformation Bible, and all gently updated by Ruth Magnusson Davis (published by Baruch House Publishing, octobertestament.com). 

The primary author of the October Testament is the English martyr William Tyndale. This is his final New Testament translation of 1535. Two years later, his friend John Rogers, also martyred,  published these scriptures in a little-known but very important Reformation Bible called the Matthew Bible, which became the first authorized English Bible under King Henry VIII. 

The wine-colored cover is symbolic of the blood with which this bible was bought. 

Ruth Magnusson Davis is founder and editor of the New Matthew Bible Project. Her work is to update the Matthew Bible: not to make a modern bible, but to keep the language of the original as much as possible, which she calls the real language of the faith.

Because the KJV New Testament was largely taken from Tyndale, readers will find much that is familiar here, and beautiful, but will find it easier to understand than the KJV.

In March 2016 the October Testament finally became available for sale, and was immediately well received. Ruth's fine editorial hand is almost unnoticeable. Tyndale continues to shine through. Rogers' style in his annotations is distinctly his. Readers comment repeatedly on both the flow and the clarity of the New Matthew Bible scriptures, and also on the beauty of the original style, which Ruth, with her delicate touch, has masterfully retained. 

 

Ruth, a retired lawyer, is a scholar of early modern English, the writings of William Tyndale, and the Matthew Bible. In 2009 she retired from professional practice in order to undertake this work full-time. In October 2015, she completed the New Testament, "The October Testament." 

BIO: Ruth Magnusson Davis is a retired lawyer with an undergraduate degree in languages, and a conservative Christian. She holds to the fullness of Reformation doctrine, with one foot in the camp of evangelical traditional Anglicans and another with the Lutherans. She presently resides in Canada.

Find out more about The October Testament, HERE. 

Purchase your copy, HERE.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight. See you next week!

Until then, take care and God Bless

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts Random Ramblings on Life, Work & Happiness

Good Morning Friends!

Today's going to be one of those random rambling days but hopefully something uplifting and encouraging for you will come out of my scrambled thoughts.

It's been a busy month and is not going to slow down. Last Saturday (the 5th) I attended the "Authors on the Bayou" event at Calcasieu Parish Library and had a blast! This coming Sat. (12th) is Bayou Writers annual Bridge to Publication conference and next weekend, I'll be getting ready to go to Bandera for Thanksgiving week! Can't wait to see all my Bandera peeps and Silver Spur friends.

The election is over (finally thank God!) and although many are thrilled with the results, just as many aren't. No matter your view on our new President, I pray we'll all gather in heart and mind and send positive thoughts and prayers to Mr. Trump and that he'll answer the call of the people and unite us once more. May seem like an impossible task, but if we all do our part, good things CAN happen!

Remember, with God ALL things are possible and nothing is impossible to them that believe. I saw something on Facebook the other day that said, "nothing is impossible, the word itself says Im-possible."

Definitely something to think about. And that's all I'm going to say about the election.

Recently I returned to the working world. Not that I didn't work from home. Trust me I put many hours into my self-employment ventures. However, many things conspired (finances being the main factor) that convinced me it was time to get a 'real' job. One reason I put that decision off for so long is because I love to travel and relish the freedom to do so. Tommy Curtis understands that very well and offered the perfect solution. For that, I'm forever grateful and want to share with you my excitement of working for Curtis Insurance / Curtis Associates in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Although Curtis is well known for auto insurance, I am very excited to announce that I am mainly working in the Life Insurance division. I sold life insurance several years ago and it always made me happy to help people in this way. Many folks don't like to think of life or burial insurance, but as we all know and have experienced in some form or another, it is imperative to  have some kind of policy or funds to take care of final expenses. If you're a resident of SW Louisiana (I'll be licensed in TX soon, too) and you've been thinking you need to get those details in place so your family doesn't have to worry, please contact me at: pamthib@suddenlinkmail.com. To find out more about Curtis Insurance, please visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter  We're also on LinkedIn.

                      

 


Another thing I'm still doing is representing Harvard Risk products, Legal Shield and ID Shield so if you're needing legal advice or representation OR are wanting to protect yourself and family from identity theft, contact me at: psthib.hrmc@gmail.com and we'll get those things taken care of for you too.

And last but certainly not least, I'm still working as the Marketing Associate for Pelican Book Group AND open to freelance editing/promotion projects as well as writing. Speaking of which, Keri's Christmas Wish is well on it's way to publication!

What, you may ask, does all this work have to do with life and happiness?

It's all about doing what you love and what I love is Helping People. All of these "jobs" I have center around others and that makes me happy.

Hope you enjoyed today's random ramblings and that you'll visit each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures Your Body

Good Morning Friends,

It's been so long since I shared something I treasure with you, I was unsure what to write about until I looked at a couple of pics from my recent trip to Bandera, TX.

How often do we think about our bodies with awe and appreciation?

I'd reckon not as often as we do with disgust or displeasure.

The Bible states that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that God knit us together in our mother's womb. Therefore, the human body is a miraculous machine and I've come to appreciate mine more over the last few years than I ever did as a younger woman.

Especially when it enables me to hike and experience a view like this one from Lost Maples State Park in Vanderpool, TX....about 35 miles NW of Bandera and deeper into the Hill Country.

So the next time you're tempted to complain about your body, take a moment and think about all it does for you, then praise and bless it instead.

You'll be amazed at how much better it responds and you'll feel.

Something to think about....

"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™

PS: Hope you enjoyed today's treasure and that you'll visit weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time...take care and God Bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Letter Writing~A Lost Art?

Good Morning Friends,

With today's technology, email, text messaging, face-time, Skype, etc many wonder if the art of old fashioned letter writing is lost.

For me it isn't.

In 2010 when I initially started working at the Silver Spur Guest Ranch in Bandera, Texas, I met a lovely couple from New Zealand who were our guests there for a few days.

They and I struck up a friendship and over the years have written to each other at least every few months.

Last month I received a letter telling me they were coming back to the states and would be flying into Houston...she wondered if I were close enough to visit.

My response....Yes, Yes, Yes!

And yesterday it happened...after 6 years of letter writing I drove 300 miles round trip for a 3 hour visit.

Some folks may feel that's a bit much, especially since we've kept in touch through letters, but for me/us it was worth every mile and minute.

Here's a picture of the three of us together.....

So if you ever get a chance to be a pen pal and exchange letters with someone, do so and when the opportunity arrives to have a face-to-face visit, no distance is too great.

Something to think about.
"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™

Hope you enjoyed today's thoughts! Drop by every week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time...take care and God bless.
PamT

ThursdayThoughts: Writers' Workshop Scheduled!

Good Morning!

My mind is whirling with so much excitement I can hardly contain it!!

I've scheduled my first (of hopefully many) beginning writers' workshops hosted at the beautiful Silver Spur Guest Ranch July 8 - 10th!

Here are the details.....

Calling All Writers!! 

Learn basic writing/editing/formatting/promoting

Gather your writing buddy for fun-filled, informative weekend!

Who: Pamela S Thibodeaux; Multi-published, Award-winning author

What: “So You Want to Write” Authors’/Writers’ Workshop

Where: Silver Spur Guest Ranch, 9266 Bandera Creek Rd; Bandera, TX

http://silverspur-ranch.com

When: Friday July 8- Sunday July 10

Friday – 5:00 pm meet & greet reception / 6:00 dinner followed by Historical hayride and campfire with S’mores OR kick up your heels & go boot scootin’ in downtown Bandera!

Saturday – Breakfast 8:30 / class 10:30-12:30 / Lunch 12:30 / class 2-4 / Dinner 6:00 / Enjoy the ranch or go into Bandera again to kick up your heels & scoot your boots.

Sunday – Breakfast 8:30 / Wrap, Rap & Review 9:30-11:00 / 11:15 Roping exhibition with world renowned Trick Roper Kevin Fitzpatrick! / Lunch

*All Inclusive Package $299.00 per person (double occupancy; single occupancy $359.00)
     Ø  Includes workshop and materials

Ø  Overnight accommodations (2 nights-Fri & Sat), ranch amenities and activities

Ø  6 Delicious home cooked meals, plus Ice tea, lemonade, coffee and snacks

*Saturday only $149.00

Ø  Workshop & Materials   

Ø  3 Meals plus Ice tea, lemonade, coffee and snacks

*Attendees get discounts on Horseback Riding & Healing Studio Sessions

*1 hour Private Consultations with Pam available for additional $25

Presenter Bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction and creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ http://pamelathibodeaux.com

For Reservations call the Silver Spur @930-796-3037 / For Questions on workshop contact Pam @ pthib07@gmail.com (that’s zero 7) 

Would LOVE to see you there!

Please feel free to share this post with your friends and family members who love to write and if you're so inclined, please use the share buttons to help spread the word and/or share the Face Book Event 

THANK YOU for your support!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures: Sunsets

Good Morning Friends,

This past weekend I went camping on Toledo Bend, a lake that is accessible from Texas as well as Louisiana and purported to be one of the best fishing spots in the nation.

While relaxing in a lounge chair I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I'd seen in a while. Gratitude welled up within me for the beauty, magnificence and grace of God to paint the sky in such wonder.

In The Visionary, Alex Broussard feels the same way about sunrise and/or sunsets on the lake. Of course he is talking about Lake Charles but here's the scene I'm referring to....

He settled on a bench at the south end of the Civic Center grounds and turned his gaze toward the east while the sun ascended into the heavens. Fingers of orange and yellow stretched gloriously across the sky and tinted the clouds into fluffs of pink and peach as the gray of dawn gave way to the brilliance of morning. Colors expanded heavenward then reached down to caress the water and added hints of orange and gold to the silvery waves.

No matter how much things change, this would always remain true: sunrise or sunset on the lake was one of the most breathtaking sights he would ever see.

So today I thought I'd share a couple of sunsets I've had the good fortune to experience beginning with this one from 4/8/16 @ 7:26pm....

I remember in vivid detail one sunset that turned the sky a brilliant mix of orange and cream it reminded me of one of those orange sherbet ice cream bars...only the cloud formation was shaped like a tornado....almost like a water funnel...like the sun was draining from the sky. Indescribable really and since I happened to be driving at the time - on Interstate 10 with no place to pull over and get a picture, I can only do my best to describe it in hopes you'll get a visual--I know, however, my words do not even come close to doing justice to its awesomeness! I even looked on the Internet and couldn't find anything close to that particular sunset.

Anyway....

Here are a couple of sunsets I photographed from the Silver Spur Guest Ranch in Bandera, TX taken 10/11/12 @ 7:03 pm....

And if I'm going to share sunsets with you, I might as well share at least one sunrise...this one also from the Silver Spur on 12/12/13 @7:21 am.....

I hope these photos bring you the same sense of awe they bring me!

Next time you get a chance, take a few moments to drink in a sunset (or maybe a sunrise) and thank the Lord above for showing us His grace and beauty in a painted sky.

Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™

Find out more about The Visionary HERE and/or purchase a copy at one of the following retailers...

Print @ Amazon http://amzn.to/1naYIRr

Kindle http://amzn.to/1vI1v43

Print @ B&N http://bit.ly/1POssML

Nook http://bit.ly/1Kn81cS

Smashwords http://bit.ly/16vCHl4   

Deeper Shopping http://bit.ly/1cxivVf

Hope you enjoyed today's treasure. Check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights.

Until next time...take care and God Bless!
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Random Ramblings

Good Morning from Bandera, Texas,

Today is one of those random rambling days. I don't have a guest post and for once in a long while, I've nothing to talk about.

I've been in Bandera at the Silver Spur Guest Ranch since Monday and enjoying my visit with the friends I've made over the last several years while living and working here off and on since 2010.
There's just something about this area of the Texas Hill Country that speaks to my soul....

Always has.

Even as a young child, I felt a connection with Bandera that is hard to explain.

As we grow and mature, it's important to listen to our soul, the deepest part of who we really are at our core. Though what we hear and feel may not make sense to our natural mind or to friends and family, we need to be aware and to honor that inner nudging.

For it is when we do, we find our deepest peace.

Something to think about!

"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™

#TuesdayTreasure: History

Good Afternoon!

Well it's been a busy morning for me (nothing unusual right?). It's also been a while since I shared with you something I treasure. But before I do, Authors Helping Authors a promo group I belong to (actually I belong to 2 of these of the same name -- like I need something else to confuse me LOL!--anyway, one is differentiated from the other by the acronym MYAHA) this other group is the one through which we do different blog hops.... Y'know the Eggcerpt Exchange, Rocking Summer Romance, etc... Well we are embarking on Spring Fling Romance blog exchange/hop. So watch for the hashtag (#SpringFlingRomance) and this graphic to discover some great authors and books in the coming weeks. 

Okay....now to something I treasure....

I've never been a big history buff but I do enjoy visiting historical places. This past weekend, a special friend and I visited my home away from home, Bandera, TX and toured a historic church I'd like to share with you.

St. Stanislaus was constructed in 1855 and, if I remember correctly, is listed as the oldest Polish Catholic Church in the Texas and the 2nd oldest Catholic Church in the US. This church is decorated with stained glass windows and wall murals the like of which I've not seen. The area behind the altar is absolutely gorgeous!

Upon entering the sacred building we were given a spiral binder with descriptions of every stained glass window and mural as well as the history of the church and the saint after which it is named.

As it was Easter weekend, the Blessed Sacrament (Eucharist) was exposed and set out for adoration.

Absolutely lovely! 

While walking through the building I could actually feel God's Holy Presence within the walls and it reminded me of a conversation between Katrina Simmons and Scott Hensley (the h/h in Tempered Dreams) as they toured the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, LA and how true those words are....

“God is in this place. Don’t you feel Him?”

Scott smiled tenderly, and nodded. He chose his words with care. “There’s no doubt the Holy Spirit of God dwells in special places of worship. Some more than others. But Trina, His desire is to dwell in here.” He touched her heart.

“Take what you feel in this place and carry it with you, knowing God is within. That’s when you’ll find your greatest peace, your greatest strength. The Bible says I will never leave you nor forsake you. Jesus said, ‘The Kingdom of God is within you.’ More than anything God wants to live in our hearts and minds. He wants us to know He’s there, to trust in that and to believe in His presence from the deepest part of our hearts and souls. Then and only then will you experience the kingdom of God on earth.”

This is definitely one trip and a piece of history I'll treasure forever. If you ever get a chance to visit Bandera, Texas make sure you take time out of your vacation to visit St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, a piece of history we, Catholic and non-Catholics alike should All treasure.

 And it goes without saying you should visit the Silver Spur Guest Ranch too!

**NOTE:** photos borrowed from Church's website**

Tempered Dreams can be purchased at the following places in formats mentioned....

Kindle http://amzn.to/1vJEqjk

Amazon Print: http://amzn.to/1q4Q8hV

Nook http://bit.ly/1b1jrNu

B&N Print: http://bit.ly/13l0LK4

Smashwords http://bit.ly/173ypSN

Well friends, I hope you enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure! Stay tuned for more great Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights.

Until later take care, God Bless and remember.... It is important to not only remember who we are but Whose we are and where we came from!

Something to think about.....

Pamela S Thibodeaux

"Inspirational with an Edge" ™

#TuesdayTreasure: Guest Post by Janet Elizabeth Lyn

Good Morning!

Well I'm off to Bandera, TX this moring and the Silver Spur Guest Ranch, my home away from home for a much needed visit so it is with great pleasure and not much fan fare I welcome back to the blog Janet Elizabeth Lyn with something she treasures....

South of the Pier was my first mystery novel. As I plotted the story, things just weren’t coming together. I had outlines, character studies, main plot and sub plots, but nothing seem right. Frustrated, doubt crept in. Was this the right novel to write? Then my single sister received word that everything was in order for her to pickup her adopted baby…in Guatemala.

We had to be there in three days. Rushing to get thing together and fly south, I put the novel on the back burner hoping getting away would help me figure out what to do.

Nervous and excited we stepped off the plane anxious to see my new niece. At that moment the novel “hit me in the head”. The characters told me what had to happen. As we drove to Guatemala City all at once it became crystal clear how the story would unfold, with new characters, dialogue, arguments, and hand to hand battles. I felt like I was having stroke! That night at 9pm I started typing on my laptop. My fingers flew till 2am. Inspiration flooded my senses with each paragraph.

          The next morning, Jenny, 11 months old, was brought to the hotel by a loving foster family. Fifteen family members showed up to say good-bye with small gifts for her to take to America and her new life. They cried for 2 hours trying say good-bye.

Jenny was the most beautiful little girl in the world…and still is 8 years later. 

Wow what an inspirational story!

Find out more about Janet and her book at the following places....

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/janet.lynn.5477

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=nav_responsive_tab_home

Twitter https://twitter.com/JanetLynn4

Blog: http://janetelizabethlynnauthor.blogspot.com/

Website:  www.janetlynnauthor.com

e-mail: janet_lynn51@yahoo.com

South of the Pier is available at Amazon. 

Watch the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DznY4XBw-dY

Hope you enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure. Stay tuned for more Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights!

PamT