#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes... Me Again!

Good Morning,

I pray your Valentine's Day was blessed and happy and that your Mardi Gras celebrations are safe and fun-filled! Did you know the King Cake tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870 and the colors (Purple for Justice, Green for Faith and Gold for Power) were chosen to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany? I thought that bit of trivia would interest you, especially since Mardi Gras is right around the corner.

Earlier this month I mentioned that I was cleaning and decluttering my room and creating space for a new bed and desk. Since that's all done now, I thought I'd share the results with you. You may (or may not) know I've been living in a tiny home (actually a 12x30 shed that was fashioned into a small efficiency house) since 2018. When I first moved in, the place was furnished with a double bed, and a huge dresser which I asked the landlord to remove so my desk would fit in its place. I also had 2 book cases all in an 8x12 bedroom. Talk about crowded, but I made it work. Here's a quick video of the house (forgive the darkness photography is not my strong point LOL!) ...

Well in the past few weeks, I've gotten a new (single) bed onto which my Honey built a bookcase headboard. I bought a smaller desk and rearranged the room and it looks and feels a whole lot bigger! It's funny how such a simple change can make a huge difference in the energy of a room and give renewed life to the entire place including its inhabitants. Take a look....

Here's a short video...

I appreciate all the feedback on Circles of Fate cover last month. I put the entire issue on the back burner for now because no matter how many times I looked at them or who said what, none really spoke to me on an intuitive level. I'll look at them again and let y'all know what/when I decide on changing that cover. 

Not much else happening in my personal life. As for the writing.... Love is a Rose audiobook is out and I have FREE codes for anyone who'd like to listen and review the book. 

Email me or leave a comment with your request and I'll send one right over to you. Don't forget, I still have codes for Lori's Redemption, Tempered Truth and Keri's Christmas Wish too! 

I'm still doing writing sprints and now have over 14K words on Women of the 9th Circle, and I've got my edits back on Kyleigh's story. I discovered a new publishing company, Magnolia Blossom and like what I've seen of their current releases so I may submit this book to them. Either way, I'll keep you informed as things move along with that book.

I’ve got a new short romantic story up on my website for newsletter subscribers so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe today!

That's about it for now, friends. Hope you enjoyed catching up as much as I did and that you'll check back each week for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasure: Guest Post by Lynn Austin!

Good Morning and Happy Mardi Gras!

Yep, it's Fat Tuesday...the day when we eat, drink and be merry too much then settle in for the Lenten season leading up to Easter. I pray whatever you do to celebrate today, you do it safely and consciously so that everyone involved will have a happy and fun time.

Today I am pleased to bring you a guest post by Lynn Austin.

Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago.

Find out more about Lynn and her books by visiting her website.

Now on to her treasure.....This little clay bowl doesn’t look like much, but it’s one of my favorite treasures and sits on display in a place of prominence in my office. It’s an ancient oil lamp, more than 2,700 years old! I traveled to Israel to research Keepers of the Covenant (the story of Ezra), and my other biblical novels, and even worked as a volunteer on an archaeological dig there for a month. These are just a few of the finds I unearthed and was allowed to keep.  

The pottery and jar handle are from Ezra’s time. The glass is from Roman times. And the little jug is a reproduction that I brought home for my children—it came in pieces as a “junior archaeology kit” and my kids had the fun of piecing it back together.

When I worked on the dig, I was researching Gods and Kings, the story of King Hezekiah, and I wanted a souvenir from his time period. I bought this oil lamp from 700 BC in an antiquities shop in Jerusalem that was licensed to authenticate and sell artifacts.  What amazes me is that the lamp has survived intact for so many centuries! Jerusalem was completely destroyed at least two times during those centuries—once by the Babylonians in 586 BC and again by the Romans in 70 AD. Yet this simple oil lamp, made from fired clay, managed to survive. It has also survived my three children and at least 3 moves that my family has made!

My treasured oil lamp sits where I see it every day and reminds me of Jesus’ words:  “You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).  Like my lamp, I hope I can keep on shining through all the good times and the bad.

Find out more about Gods & Kings and other books in Lynn's "Chronicles of the Kings" series HERE.

Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure!

Tomorrow begins the annual EggCerpt Exchange but before that, I'll have one more Rocking Romance read for you on Thursday in place of our normal Thursday Thoughts. 

IMW, as we prepare for the Lenten season where most people incorporate fasting, praying and almsgiving into their life, I pray you take time to really consider what you're going to give up or do extra and make this Lent/Easter a true celebration!

Until later...take care, God Bless and Remember: What you believe in your heart & confess with your mouth you create in your life! 

Something to think about....

Inspirational with an Edge! ™