One Year Later.

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A year ago I wrote extensively about my dog Maisie and her last week with us. She was my girl in so many ways, and a complete sponge for affection. Her place in my heart is secured for eternity. Sickly as a puppy, she had a rough life healthwise for all of her days. In the end, she was skinny, arthritic, and in a lot of pain. But she was the most beloved dog I’d known in my life. She owned me.

Her favorite perch.

Her favorite perch.

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I think it’s safe to say that her death kicked me pretty hard. A lot of the joy in my life vanished with her, and it’s been a struggle some days to smile in the wake of that death. People without pets won’t get that part of the emotions, it’s something you have to experience. Those animals are part of your family and they are mourned just like any other death.

Less than a month after Maisie died, and a lot of tears later, Stormy came to live with us. I’ve written often of her previous life and travails. She was twice adopted and very reluctant to interact/love when she came to our house. It’s taken a lot of trust building in the last 11 months to get to where we are today. Still no licks on my face, but she’s comfortable enough with me to sleep on the bed and sit on the couch with me. I’m in love, she’s in love (the wagging tail tells the tale her other actions won’t.)

With that being said, today is an anniversary that I don’t dread. I remember Maisie fondly, still tear up for a moment when I think about her, and feel a clutch at my heart regarding her death. But Stormy is waiting every morning when I get home from work with anticipation. She circles the room and then sits at attention in front of me, quivering with joy as I rub her snout.

God heals our wounds. Stormy is a rescue dog. Yet the question is: who rescued whom? I suspect the answer is the fat guy with the beard was the one who was saved. Thanks, God. She’s a perfect fit for the hole in my heart.

Stormy

Stormy

Today I Am Thankful For Amish Vampires In Space.

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Yes, you read that correctly. Amish Vampires in Space. It’s a book by Kerry Nietz.

Stolen proudly from http://www.nietz.com/

Stolen proudly from http://www.nietz.com/

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Amish Vampires in Space is kind of an “inside baseball” joke among Christian authors. Jeff Gerke, a man with serious mental issues (he’s brilliant – that’s an issue) came up with the title a few years back in response to the glut/profusion/dominance of the Christian market by Amish inspired stories. The foreword to AVIS (Amish Vampires in Space) talks about it in detail.

One of Jeff’s authors, Kerry Nietz, had already written a few books for Marcher Lord Press. He knew Jeff’s joke about the title and trying to break into the Amish market. One day he contacted Jeff – well, buy the book and read the forward.

So, down to the nub: why would anyone read such a book and why is it the topic of your Thanksgiving Day post? The answer is simple: I am thankful for my fellow Christian authors. I love the prolific ones, the once-in-a-while ones, and the just plain nuts ones (me.) God has blessed me with the ability to travel to different worlds, different eras, and different cultures with the books I’ve read. I have been blessed with an imagination – and now I’m writing and not just reading.

AVIS is extremely well written. Whether you’re looking for an Amish book, a science fiction (speculative fiction) work, or a Christian work with a light touch this book will probably tickle your interest. Kerry takes a very honest look at the problems that confront the Amish in regard to technology and it’s place in their society. He also looks at the need to bring The Word of God to the world as commanded in the Gospels versus the isolated world the Amish inhabit. He’s just set it in outerspace.

But that wasn’t enough for Kerry. Nope, he had to throw vampires into the mix. He pulls it off nicely. If you’ve ever watched a Dracula flick, or read the book Dracula by Bram Stoker, you will get it immediately. For those who have read the book, there are some awesome parallels that will make you glad that you read the original. It’s not a paradoy, more of an homage to the genre. You can keep Twilight – I’ll take Amish Vampires in Space. The reason? AVIS presents vampires as evil – as was Stoker’s intention.

I read it in a few days. It was fun, witty, great characters, great use of technology, and a timeless story of how we have to consider our beliefs in light of change that threatens our lives.

That’s two great books by authors in the Christian field in this past month. Which reminds me: Amy Matayo’s book, The Wedding Game, is getting great reviews and is for sale right now on Amazon.com. Head on over and get her book while you grab Kerry’s work.

The Wedding Game (Photo stolen from amymatayo.com)

The Wedding Game
(Photo stolen from amymatayo.com)

****update!!!***(etc., indicating excitement) Amy’s Book is $.99 for the Kindle version today! What a great reason to go download it and see what I’m talking about.

Some good reading out there for Christian fiction fans. For any kind of fiction fan. For that I am thankful today.

Might I also add a Happy Hanukkah to all my brethren in the Tribes of Israel.

My First People Event Is Done For 2013. Already Scheduled For 2014.

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Some things you do as Santa are so utterly delightful that you can’t wait to schedule them for the coming year. Some events as Santa are so heart-melting that you have to steel yourself in advance. Some events are the reason you are Santa. Cookies With Santa and my time each year with the Hope Kids is the latter kind of event. Happy Santa

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This year was my eighth year with Cookies With Santa. It all started in an attempt to put my highly expensive photographic suite to good use. We had a very simple event with Spare Key where I asked them to pick up the materials cost and I’d provide the photographic printers and all the smiles. They provided the cookies. Thus was born my favorite event of the year: Cookies With Santa.

That event had just a handful of families turn out. The following year we moved it to a bigger venue, more families, and I decided that running my own photo studio was too much work.

Ah, but that third year… We hooked up with Hope Kids and they provided a venue, cookies, the photographer, and so much more.

I won’t do the stories that so often appear at this time of year when it comes to Hope Kids. They are kids. Period. Kids who love Santa, have a good time at the event and have all the needs, wishes, and dreams of every other kid. I love those little ones. And their parents. I go a lot of places and do a lot of things as Santa each year. This event, traditionally my first “people” event of the year, is one that I cherish. I fill up my tank and start the praying at Cookies With Santa.

You see, my goal is to pray over every child and adult who takes a picture with me. And I pray for the people behind the camera, the ones who won’t come on my side of the lens, and the tearful ones standing in the shadows. All of them get a blessing in return for the huge pile of blessings I take away from the event. I am so honored that they let me be a part of their lives. I am humbled by the love and smiles that I get each year.

I truly would love to share all of the photos with you. But I don’t put the child photos up on any of my sites anymore. All of the ones I display had been used with permission but that’s such a hard thing to do anymore. Instead I just show the adults: if you’re over 18 you’re fair game for the blog.

Today’s photos, displayed below in a montage, are of some really fun people. The big guy in the blue shirt is the Manager at Sky Deck at the Mall of America. The young man and young woman are also employees of Sky Deck. The older couple are grandparents who came for the event and gleefully took photos with the lunatic in the red suit. The blonde lady and bearded fellow are two of my photographers – and very good at what they do! My friend Dick is invisible, he won’t let me have his picture – but he masterminds the photographic set with his lovely wife. I wish they’d consent to a photo. Finally, the really silly women in maroon and gold are all from the University of Minnesota – volunteers who helped out with the event.

I cannot say enough nice things about everyone who participated – families and volunteers alike. If you have disposable income burning a hole in your pocket, head over to Sky Deck and patronize them. They’ve hosted us for three years now and are a fine outfit in every respect.

Now, without further ado, the photos. I am so blessed.

[fgallery id=8 w=450 h=385 bg=ffffff t=0 title=”Cookies With Santa 2013″]

God Has Other Plans For You, Young Lady.

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Much has been said in the past few years about Facebook bringing people together who had been lost to each other for a long time. Sometimes it brings people together who’d never met.

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In the case of new people meeting, few tales could be stranger than an elite group of veterans (the cryptologic community) taking a new recruit under their wings. Spooks (that’s what we call ourselves) are not generally all that outgoing toward newcomers. I very distinctly remember one old salt ripping my Cryptologic Technician ball cap off of my head. He threw it down and said that I had to earn the thing, I couldn’t just buy it in the store. He was right. I did have to earn it.

That’s why it seemed so bizarre that a new recruit to the Navy was accepted with open arms on one of the spook sites of Facebook. The members gave her advice, encouragement, and some remote parenting. When she went off to boot camp she probably had the largest bunch of Top Secret cleared cheerleaders of any kid ever.

It was with sadness that we found out that she’d been medically discharged from basic training because of migraines. I have migraines but didn’t know that’s what they were until just a few years ago. Medically disqualifying. Good thing nobody ever diagnosed me or I would have missed out on my life as it is right now. Then again, what else would God have put before me? And was his allowing me to be ignorant of the cause of those “eyeball headaches” a blessing that He simply didn’t pass on to this young lady?

On the odd chance that she’s reading this blog today (I hope she is,) I have some words of advice that apply to her situation. They apply to everyone who has had a disappointment of any major magnitude in their lives.

Today you’re feeling pretty bad about failing. You’re young (or old) and you’ve never had a kick in the teeth quite like this one. It hurts. Physically. You probably feel like life is over, you’re not going to amount to much.

I’ve been there myself. I’ve failed spectacularly in more than one pursuit. Sometimes with lasting consequences. Sometimes with a shrug. The simple fact is that God had something else for me to do in this life. The path I’d chosen wasn’t the one He had in mind. He wanted me to get some more seasoning. He wanted me to be humbled. He wanted me to pick myself up, dust off the filth of failure, and move on to a new goal.

In the course of those failures I’ve learned a lot of good lessons. I’ve become more compassionate. I’ve learned new skills that have paid my mortgage and gassed up my car. I’ve written books and fought for my life. I’ve loved and been loved. And, most importantly, I’m not done failing yet.

All of us fail all of the time. Anyone who claims to be immune from failure is lying to themselves. It’s what you do with that failure that matters. Do you improve your skills? Do you help others who have failed? Do you isolate and die or do you strike out on a new path and flourish?

It’s all up to you. Today seems pretty dark. I know that and you have my sympathy. But you’re alive and have another shot at the whole world. Take some time to heal. Pray for guidance. And get up tomorrow morning and take a walk around the neighborhood. It’s pretty much like you left it a few weeks ago. You have changed, hopefully for the better. You have one more significant life experience than you did before you got on the bus for Great Lakes.

Notch that belt. Think fondly of your fellow recruits and pray for them. Write a letter to your bunkie and encourage them.

You are a new creature in Jesus. Enjoy that sense of renewal and move on to the new you.

That is all.

Of Mice And Men.

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John Steinbeck was one of my favorite authors when I was younger. There is an elegance and edge to his style that no other author has even come close to in my life. I’ve visited Cannery Row. I’ve travelled the roads through Salinas. I’ve studied the dustbowl. But I’ve lived Of Mice And Men in my heart.

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Many of you have read the book, but I’d wager that it was a long time ago and somebody made you read it for a class. That can suck the joy out of any book in the time it takes to say, “First ten chapters due tomorrow.”

So, if you’re not of a mind to grab a copy and read it again, I’d heartily endorse your watching the movie version from 1939 starring Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney, Jr. The modern remakes are good, I’ve seen them as well. But this version will bring you to tears with the drama of the story. There are lessons abundant throughout the book on how to write a great story with sparing words. Authors will dig into it with gusto as a lesson on the craft. But anyone who loves a great story and a great movie will sit in rapt attention as the film version tells the tale almost as well as the book did for me.

It’s not a family movie. It’s not a Christian movie. It’s not a pretty movie. But it’s a great movie. Each and every actor turns in a superior performance. The individual roles are all relatively small in comparison with Burgess Meredith as George, and Lon Chaney, Jr. as Lenny. But the stories they bring to the stage are timeless. They are tales of lonely men, outcasts, sad and damaged people just trying to get on to the next day so that some day they may realize their dreams.

Part of what makes this story, and the movie, so special is that it captures a world before my time. A world where many of the themes in this movie must have shocked audiences. The ugly nature of prejudice is shown for the cruelty and false front that it truly is by Steinbeck. The role of lust in our lives, for things and other people, and how it ultimately destroys us. And the quest for happiness that seems to forever be just out of our reach.

Take some time to watch the film. But as one reviewer put it, bring Kleenex.