2Dear Lord: Please help Jean with the life issues that face her. Guide her to use her time as You want her to. We will give You the praise when she can look back on this time and say "God was in that time." In the name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN

Jean,<br />Do what you need to do. We understand. We&#39;ll look for the day you come back.

Hooray for ideas that have sprouted wings in your imagination! I will continue to pray for the Lord&#39;s guidance in how to use your time. hugs to you!

Jean,<br />Sounds like a great experience. So glad you got to go. <br /><br />I love to meet new people at conferences. It is so good that we&#39;re not all alike, although we&#39;re usually more alike than different.<br /><br />Linda A.

It was a fun day! Thanks for going with me! I&#39;ve already put some of Hester&#39;s advice into practice. how about you?

Sounds like you had a fun, productive day! Happy for you and Carol. :-)

Thanks, LInda! I hope we meet at a conference again soon.<br /><br />Jean

That&#39;s right, Vonda.<br /><br />You have such a busy speaking schedule, do you ever get to just &quot;attend&quot; any confernces?<br /><br />Jean

That&#39;s right, Vonda.<br /><br />You have such a busy speaking schedule, do you ever get to just &quot;attend&quot; any confernces?<br /><br />Jean

You are so welcomed, Carol. See you soon at critique group.<br /><br />Jean

Jean,<br />Marvelous service. God is at work in you. It&#39;s good to reflect and celebrate these victories. Enjoy the memories! Keep &#39;em coming.

THANKS FOR this morning&#39;s inspiration. Love the pictures too! BTW, at one point you have &quot;tings&quot; rather than &quot;things.&quot; Here&#39;s my small contribution to your morning post!

Thank you for sharing this. Sometimes we don&#39;t realize how much God has done until we look back. That can be hard to do at the beginning of the journey, but seeing God&#39;s work in other&#39;s lives and in other areas of our own can give us courage to take the next step with Him.

About 2 1/2 years ago, God kept telling me to start a conference to train women to be Christian speakers. I argued that I didn&#39;t have time, but finally relented. Three conferences later, we have 61 graduates Christian Communicators Conference who are out there, spreading His Great Name. <br /><br />I had no idea what He was starting! Thanks for letting me share.

Jean, I also have those statements by A.W. Tozer on an index card sitting on my desk. I so appreciate your writing and photography, and the wisdom that you send out to us!

Thanks, Vonda. PTL for His ability to do great things through small individuals.<br /><br />Jean

Thank you, Cynthia. Looking back is always a cure for discouragement for me. God leaves such giant footprints in our small lives.<br /><br />Jean

Thank you, Carol, my faithful friend.<br /><br />I fixed it.<br /><br />Jean

Dear Linda,<br /><br />I think when we get to heaven we are all going to be surprised by how many God-sized things happened in our lives on earth.<br /><br />Blessings to you, too,<br />Jean

Jean,<br /><br />Biographies of great men and women inspire me. Many overcame great odds or accomplished much for the good of all, not just themselves. When I was a kid, I remember wishing I could meet George Washington Carver and run experiments with him. I was convinced that together we could come up with a cure for some disease using the blooms topped from tobacco plants.

I just put this up on FB, Jean. Great way to start my writing day. LOrd, let me not be a clod but a flame for your work!!

I consider these present trials not worth comparing to our future glory. Romans 8:18<br />Rejoice in the Lord always.<br /> <br />Blessings!<br />

You have given me a lot to think about. I can&#39;t answer your question right now. But I will come back to it.

Rejoice!<br /><br />Amen, Jan.<br /><br />Jean

Thank you, QS.<br /><br />Consider, pray, then let me know what the Holy Spirit tells you, please.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Thanks, Carol.<br /><br />I need to add a tweet button, don&#39;t I?<br /><br />Jean

That&#39;s wonderful, Linda. Thank you for sharing that.<br /><br />I didn&#39;t realize you were so interested in science.<br /><br />Isn&#39;t wonderful that, as kids, we&#39;re not afraid to dream such big dreams?<br /><br />Jean

Ooops! I DO have a button for twitter. Silly me!<br /><br />Jean

Jean,<br />I enjoyed hearing about your WIP. It&#39;s one I&#39;d like to read. <br /><br />Thanks for playing Tag and sharing with your readers. <br /><br />Sorry to hear that not all your Tag days were so much fun.

Fun pictures and insight into you and your WIP!

It was nice to read about the background of your WIP. Thanks for sharing with us.

Thank you, Linda!<br /><br />Jean

Yep, Carol. That&#39;s me - fun! fun! fun!<br /><br />Jean

Oooooh! I should have taged YOU, QS. Want to play?<br /><br />Jean

49Jean: It&#39;s been eleven years and I still get a hollow feeling in my stomach when I see the pictures. <br />Thank you for sharing them with us.We should always remember that day and how we felt.

I know what you mean, QS. Thanks for dropping in.<br /><br />Jean

Jean,<br /><br />Wow! Little &#39;ol me! I&#39;m honored. Thanks so much! What a wonderful surprise. Now, I get to award others. Thank you again. <br /><br />By the way, I start tutoring this morning. I&#39;m so happy.

Linda,<br /><br />You are just too welcomed!<br /><br />Jean

Jean, thank you so much!! What an honor!! You are so sweet!<br />Love you!

We&#39;re just a couple of old sweeties, aren&#39;t we?<br /><br />Jean

Amen. Lovely Jean.

Thanks for this first-thing-in-the morning post! TO God be the glory!

Jean,<br /><br />Lovely and refreshing. I especially enjoyed the simile about the deer longing for water from a stream.

And how about John 4:13-14? Or maybe you had that on your previous post. Lovely pictures and great connections!

Thank you, Carol and Linda, for leaving a comment. It is my hope that these little photo devos will lift someone&#39;s spirits and cause them to stop and worship with me.<br /><br />Blessings to you both,<br />Jean

Jean,<br />Thanks for the teen list. I plan to keep a copy as a guide. I&#39;m reading more for older readers these days.<br /><br />Sorry I can&#39;t make it to the writing workshop. Hope it&#39;s super!<br /><br />Linda A.

You are so welcomed, Linda. I sure wish we could pull together enough writers in your area to hold an event in your neck-o-the-woods.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Looks like a worthwhile event. Sorry, it&#39;s too far ways for me to attend. I&#39;ll be praying.

Thank you for the prayers! We need all we can get.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Happy sales to you too! You are right; it is never too early to think of potential gifts. :) <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day. It was great to see you!<br /><br />Have a great week,<br />Karen

Thank YOU, Karen. We bloggers/writers have to stick together!<br /><br />Jean

Jean,<br /><br />Lots to ponder here. This year, I entered a Christian picture book manuscript in the SCBWI Writing Contest. The first critique statement said, &quot;Religious setting will limit market.&quot; Should I change my setting? I don&#39;t think so. Should I let that stop me from submitting it? I don&#39;t think so. Do other areas of the manuscript need work? Yes. That&#39;s how

you pose good questions, Jean. I am consciously trying to weave the theme of truth speaking into my WIP with the hope that it points to the Lord. Remains to be seen though if I accomplish that. Hopefully you and other Christian friends will keep me on target for that. THis sounds like an excellent book. May I borrow it when you are done, or should I just get my own copy because you don&#39;t want

Good for you, LInda! <br /><br />We writers have so many opportunities to be salt and light without dehydrating or blinding our readers.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Me, too, Carol. We pray and write, and hope the light of Christ shines through.<br /><br />I have this book in Kindle on my phone, so I can&#39;t loan it to you. But you can get it through Lighthouse Publishing (NC) or Amazon.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Jean

These are great questions.If we claim to be Christian writers, we should not have to water down our stories. My latest venture in writing a novel seems to be bogged down with this thought:&quot;How much of the events of the life of this family can reflect Christian ideals?&quot;

Dear QS - <br /><br />How much? I understand that depends upon which publishing houses you are targeting.<br /><br />I say write the story and LET the family show the same level of &quot;Christianity&quot; that you yourself would show.<br /><br />Then search for a publisher.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Jean,<br />I think it&#39;s wonderful that you got to spend quality time visiting and learning from a picture book writer you love.<br /><br />I have a thought--why not join Pat&#39;s world now, not when you grow up? I bet she&#39;d love to have you as a playmate!

Jean, I totally agree! Meeting Pat Thomas was HUGE highlight for me. Thanks too, for putting my thoughts about picture books into words. Blessings, E

Hahahaha! I still haven&#39;t decided what I&#39;m going to be when I grow up!<br /><br />But yes, what a joy to meet Pat. She&#39;s an amazing writer and a precious person. Made everybody feel right at home with her. Hey, maybe that&#39;s what I want to be when I grow up--a great writer who puts everyone at ease. :-) <br /><br />Thanks, Pat! Thanks, Jean!

Thanks, Vonda!<br /><br />I think your new-found ambition is amazing. But, I&#39;ll let you in on a little secret. I think you&#39;re already there.<br /><br />Jean

You are so welcomed, Edie.<br /><br />We writers are such a strange bunch, aren&#39;t we?<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

I&#39;m trying to join her, Linda. But the &quot;umpires&quot; won&#39;t let me in the game yet!<br /><br />I still have some basic skills to learn, I&#39;m afraid.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Jean

When I grow up... I love that line, Jean! Thanks for sharing.

Love the summary of what makes picture books work. And yes, that interaction between adult and child is priceless!

Thanks, Joyce.<br /><br />ONE DAY I&#39;ll see my name on a shiny, colorful picture book jacket I pray!<br /><br />Jean

Thanks, Carol!<br /><br />My body is definitely a whole lot older than my heart!<br /><br />Jean

Beautiful shots, Jean. Thank you for sharing them!

Jean,<br /><br />Lovely photographs and message.<br /><br />Linda A.

Thanks for all the water passages and photos.<br /><br />Water is so healing. The perfect remedy for grumpy kids. Adults too.

Thanks, Joyce. All life is dependent upon water, it&#39;s true.<br /><br />God made all spiritual life to be dependent upon His Water, too.<br /><br />Thanks for commenting.<br /><br />Jean

Good morning, Linda! Furman is a beautiful campus. It&#39;s hard to take an ugly picture there!<br /><br />Jean

You are welcomed, Vonda.<br /><br />Thank you for dropping in to my blog.<br /><br />Jean

What a great way of showcasing the fountains at Furman!! Thanks for the blessing this morning.

Thank you, Carol. You were there with me. They were beautiful, weren&#39;t they?<br /><br />Jean

Jean,<br />Glad to hear that Alan&#39;s workshop gave you some pointers that you&#39;ll apply to your manuscripts. Sounds like this was a great event.

Thanks for sharing this, Jean. Particularly liked to hear what you learned in the social media workshop. SO does this mean that I&#39;ll see you on FB now? WHen you go there, friend me! And yes, make it about others (which you do so well anyway) and not just yourself. That is key.

Wow! Jean you&#39;ve provided a highpoint for me. I&#39;ve just been mentioned in the same post as Alan Gratz! I had a blast at the conference and think Pam Zollman did a GREAT job. Thanks for your kind remarks and for what you do through the conference you direct. Blessings, E

You&#39;re right, Linda. It was a day well worth the investment of time and money.<br /><br />Are you coming to the SCBWI-C conference in Sept.?<br /><br />Jean

Yep. I&#39;ve decided to join FB. Haven&#39;t done it yet. But I&#39;ve scheduled a day this week to join.<br /><br />I finally caved in.<br /><br />Jean

You are so welcomed, Edie.<br /><br />When it comes to social media I hear that you ARE the wo-man!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Jean,<br />I don&#39;t know if I&#39;m coming to the conference yet. I had a job interview today. This may determine things for me. If I get the job, I&#39;ll do my best to attend the conference. Cross fingers.

Jean: I have a FB page. I have had the fleeting thought to start another one just for my writing ministry. But, I have qualms about the time, I spend on there.

I&#39;ll be praying about that job! I hope to see you in Sept.<br /><br />Jean

I, too, have concerns about the investment of time, QS. I&#39;ll look you up when I get going.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Jean, so proud of you for taking the Facebook leap!! Edie has a way of talking us into things like that!! Friend me!!<br />Love you!

Thanks, Kristi.<br /><br />We&#39;ll see how happy I am about it in about a week. :-)<br /><br />Jean

that&#39;s a powerful quote, Jean. I have never read it until today. wow.

This makes me think, really think. She says some deep things here.

Dear QS,<br /><br />I know what you mean. And our thinking should be tied to our praying, don&#39;t you agree? God created us as rational beings capable of deep thoughts.<br /><br />I believe those thoughts should naturally point us to God, our Creator.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Donna,<br /><br />So, do you agree with L&#39;Engle or disagree?<br /><br />Jean

interesting quote, Jean. I&#39;ll have to mull it over. ...carol

Thanks, Carol. Mull away!<br /><br />Jean

Jean,<br />I&#39;m so glad you got to attend. It sounds like it was &quot;a must-do event.&quot; I look forward to each and every word of your coverage of the sessions. Thanks for sharing the highlights with your readers.

Glad you took the opportunity to post all this, Jean! The conference was well worth the time and money.

Thanks, Linda, for dropping in. It really WAS one of those little jewels of a conference.<br /><br />Jean

Carol, <br /><br />NOW the hard part -- putting all we heard into practice!<br /><br />Jean

Thank you Jean for putting words to our feelings. Each time I come away from something like this I realize how much I have to learn and how far I still have to go! <br /><br />Lisa

You&#39;re right--it was a great conference! I loved getting to meet new faculty members and seeing old friends--like you!<br /><br />Glad you got to spend time with Pat and Harold. Jealous!

You are so welcomed, Lisa. There is so much to learn about writing well, isn&#39;t there?<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Thanks, Vonda, for dropping in. I know you are one very busy lady.<br /><br />Editors and agents (and children&#39;s authors) really are just ordinary people for the most part.<br /><br />No fangs nor claws!<br /><br />Jean

Thanks for reporting on the conference. I wanted to go but just had too much going on to manage it. Your reports will make me feel like I was there. I&#39;m glad you got to meet my dear friend, Sally Matheny. Blessings!

You&#39;re welcomed, Cathy. I&#39;m looking forward to seeing you and your writing friends in September.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Wish I could have been there!! Maybe next year!! So glad for all the fun and fellowship you (and so many mutual friends) enjoyed!!

Jean,<br />I&#39;m so glad you&#39;re getting to go to &quot;The Writer&#39;s Plot Conference.&quot; It sounds great. I&#39;m glad you&#39;ll blog about it later. I look forward to learning about it that way.

Is this held yearly? I wish I had known in time, would have tried to make it there.

Jean: Enjoy your conference time. I have a commitment that I have to fulfill this Saturday,so I can&#39;t participate.

Can&#39;t wait to be there, and getting to see you just makes it even better!

Thanks, Linda! You want to go? You can drive to my house and ride with me from there!<br /><br />:-)<br />Jean

Hi, Sharon.<br /><br />This is the 3rd Writer&#39;s Plot Confernce. 2011 &amp; 2012 were held in August. This one July. At this point Pam intends to do it every year.<br /><br />Hey - don&#39;t forget about Write2Ignite next March 15-16 near Greenville, SC, too.<br /><br />Thanks for leaving a comment/question.<br /><br />Jean

Thanks, Vonda. What a nice thing to say! I&#39;ll see you soon.<br /><br />Jean

Thanks, QS! One of these days you and I absolutely MUST meet face-to-face.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Can&#39;t make it. But thanks for the offer.<br /><br />Linda A.

Here&#39;s to making a positive difference--and you do.

Or a letter. We need to write letters to one another-- a lost art!! Thanks for the post.

What a blessing to have a chance to make a difference with the words we write!

That is a beautiful quote... and so true. Even the smallest of ants can help move plate of food - one small piece at a time.

Amen to that, Donna!<br /><br />Jean

You are soooo right, Cheryl!<br /><br />Jean

Letters! ah, personal letters ARE a dying art form. To say what you mean transparently yet beautifully used to be common practice.<br /><br />Now, of course, we have much more convenient forms of communication.<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder, Carol.<br /><br />Jean

Thank you, Linda! You&#39;re a sweetie and you certainly have made a difference in my life.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean