DON'T GIVE UP

 
Did you know you have to get permission to use song lyrics in your novel? You do and trust me, while you’re writing the first draft of your Great American Novel, you better start the process. It takes time. In my case, six months.

           Yes, half a year to wonder if or when I’d hear the good news (or bad). When I typed the words to On the Road Again by Willie Nelson in my novel, I had no idea getting permission would take so long. But now that I have my novel in hand, the process seems worth jumping through all the hoops.

Writing is similar to getting the okay I needed to use the song. I had to do SOMETHING. And as writers, we need to sit down at our desk or easy chair to begin writing. If we don’t, nothing will happen. We can hope, hope, hope that words will appear on the page, but until we take the time to write them, they'll stay in our head.

What if I hadn’t taken the time to contact Willie Nelson or Sony ATV? What if I’d given up when Sony sent me to another division and I had to fax in countless forms? What if I’d thrown in the towel when Sony sent me to the Hal Leonard Corporation right before Thanksgiving?

Again, nothing would have happened. I’d be sitting here, manuscript in hand, unable to send it out because I didn’t get permission. Or worse, I would have decided it wasn’t worth the trouble and taken the words out of my novel.

I would have settled for mediocre instead of being able to say, “Glory Hallelujah” when I received the email with permission to use the song.

My advice: Don’t give up. Do the ‘something’ you need to do. In the end the Lord will bless you beyond measure. 
Love ya!
Janetta
PS: If interested in ordering my book, click on link: https://goo.gl/qCkT45 

2015 - More "On The Road" Adventures

            Ray, Maggie and I have returned to Ft. Myers, Florida again this year. As we told our family and friends when we visited Colorado in mid-September, “First sign of 40 degrees and we’re out of here.”

October 4^th, the temperature dropped to 43 and as promised we left the next morning. We hit the road to the Sunshine State, stopping to see more family along the way.

But before all of that occurred, let me tell you what else happened in 2015. It has been a fun-filled year and one which broke our hearts.

I spent May in Herington, Kansas. My mom went into a nursing home after a serious fall. She could no longer get around by herself. While there, we chatted about anything we could think of. And watched the Kansas City Royals on TV. Mom loved her boys in blue. Especially Lorenzo Cain.

In June I traveled to meet up with Ray and we took our RV up to see the Pacific Northwest. If you’ve never been—GO! Another of God’s masterpieces.

(Mt. Hood, outside of Hood River, Oregon. Only 18 miles from KOA)

 Ray found us a workkamping job in Cascade Locks, Oregon. For 2 ½ months we worked at a KOA – four days on, three days off. A fun gig and we met lots of wonderful people (ones we worked with, as well as guests).

While employed with KOA, I received the call that Mom passes away on July 9. Expected, but still heartbreaking. She will be missed. Ray stayed behind and continued to work at the campground.

After Mom's funeral, I flew back to Oregon and we finished our job the end of August. We left Cascade Locks and traveled to the far reaches of Washington state and beyond (Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia).

Here’s where more fun began. Ray’s license expired the end of August (not enough room to explain the reason why. Take my word for it—I wasn’t a happy camper). Since his license wasn’t valid, I had to DRIVE to Canada if we were going to see it.

 I'm sure the border guards are still talking about the lunatic behind the wheel who, when asked, doesn’t even know her name or where she and the other occupants in the car are staying while in Washington.

Not to worry, they didn’t haul me in, but I almost got out and kissed the ground when I drove back into the United States. Ray sat over in the passenger seat, enjoying every moment of my out-of-the-box experience.

OH HA! HA!

After our visit to Canada, we headed south. A dear friend of ours, who lies in Texas, told us to drive down Hwy. 101 from Washington to California. We did and we witnessed spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

Along the way we hiked to see the redwoods, drove over a bridge I don’t ever want to go over again (see attached photo) and looked at quaint shops near the beach. If I picked up something to buy, Ray reminded me that we lived in a tiny abode now. "Nowhere to put it, honey."

 

(Here is a picture of the bridge. Scary!)

We hit the road again and arrived in Colorado. Always a joy to catch up with family and friends.

Yes, 2015 was filled with lots of fun, but also bittersweet. But as always the year was filled with love for each other, our families and our friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone and we hope you have a BLESSED 2016.

Love ya!

Ray, Janetta and Maggie

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

 

BEES, BINGO and BLESSINGS

Who knew…

1. A sound you hear, coming from the back of your truck, is telling you something is all abuzz.
2. An invitation to play Bingo could save people's souls.
3. An army of God's children and some curb appeal can bless lives.

Let me explain:

As we travel on the highways and byways, we’ve met interesting folks along the way. But the other day we met one of God’s creations from the animal kingdom neither one of us wants to encounter again.

We parked and are setting up the RV. Ray leans into the back of his truck and motioned me to come over. He told me he heard something, but couldn’t figure out what it was. Since I have sonar ears I listened and heard the humming sound.

Without much thought I started moving things around in hopes of finding the cause of the noise. At one point Ray said it was probably a tool that got turned on and the battery was whining. I agreed and dug a little deeper to find the culprit.

All of us have heard the saying, “Bee in your bonnet.” Well our bee wasn’t in a hat—ours was stuck inside a gallon-size baggie. And from the incessant buzzing he was making he was none too happy in his circumstance.

 

My hero (Ray) took the freezer bag from my outstretched hand, opened the “double zipper seal” and released the angry bee. Thankfully he flew off to freedom and didn’t return to take revenge on us.

The question we still have—how did he get inside the bag? A mystery!!!

Yes, our bee might be (no pun intended) a mystery, but what isn’t is the importance of sharing our faith with those around us. In the case of my second “Who knew…” sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ can happen in the most unlikely place—a Bingo hall.

That exactly what happened to David and Kathy, a couple we met while we’ve been parked at The Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. David and his wife (who were unbelievers at the time) invited his brother and sister-in-law (also non-believers) to Bingo. David’s sister-in-law sparked up a conversation with a woman sitting next to her. They became fast friends.

Over the next two years their friendship grew and she asked David’s brother & wife to go to church. Within a short time they accepted the Lord. Later on so did David and Kathy. Oh, and did I mention they were Jewish too?

So, the next time you have the opportunity to share the gospel. DO!!! Four lives are now written in the Book of Life because they went to play Bingo. Location doesn’t MATTER. All that DOES is we’re faithful in sharing the Lord’s message of love to those around us.

Isn’t that what the Lord called us to do over 2000 years ago?

And that brings me to my last “Who knew…”. Blessings. At almost every stop we’ve made in our journey from Florida to Arkansas, we’ve found blessings in one form or another.

Volunteering at The Passion Play has been a true blessing. We’ve met a great group of people who are out working for the Lord. While here we’ve gotten our hands dirty and our hearts filled. Funny what a little teamwork and curb appeal can do for your soul.

Bees, Bingo and Blessings – who knew those three things went hand in hand.

Love ya!

jm