My Recent Comments

It's such fun to get reader feedback like this. What a useful pleasure to get so many points of view and words of wisdom. Thanks again to everyone for reading and participating in the discussion. Makes my job so much more rewarding. God bless!

Thanks for asking about the pub dates on the series books, April. Book 1, HIS SMALL-TOWN GIRL, is out now, of course. Book 2, HER SMALL-TOWN HERO, will be available in November, and the final book, number 3, THEIR SMALL-TOWN LOVE, will appear in February of '09.

Bookworm, you are a fount of information and experience. Wish I could have tapped your knowledge before I wrote SMALL-TOWN ROMANCE. I applaud you for caring for an aging loved one. Too few family members are willing to do that in this day and age.

I long ago made a promise to my grandmother that she would not end her life in a nursing home, and she let all of her children and other grandchildren know that she would be coming to me when she could no longer maintain her independence. Unfortunately she died in a car accident before her 72nd birthday, so I never got the chance to keep my promise. I've always felt a little cheated because she was absolutely the linchpin in my life and I could never repay her for the many ways she supported, guided and blessed me. Sadly, having gone through the experience with other grandparents and my in-laws, I know that many times nursing homes are the only true, best alternative, and that it is also often the more difficult decision and circumstance for the family. I would have considered myself blessed to have cared for my Grandma Violet, however.

But then I'm already greatly blessed by all of you, dear readers. God bless, 

All of these kind comments have bowled me over. I had such fun writing this entire series, but especially this on-line read. You'll get a few more peeks at Davis and Becca in the last of the Eden, OK series, THEIR SMALL-TOWN LOVE. If you read carefully (hint--during the Easter sunrise service scene), you'll find that Becca has moved forward. You will also see that Davis has built a growing ministry. As for weddings, well, I think that Becca preferred something small, simple and private.

Thanks again for your input and your wonderful, insightful comments, but especially for reading.

God bless!

I'm impressed by the wisdom I've read here and so very grateful for the positive comments concerning the story and characters. From one North Texas gal to another, thanks for contributing! God bless,

Time, which is growing short, will tell, so keep reading, my dears! God bless,

Becca is definitely easing out of her shell. At some point she's going to have to actually stick out her neck! That's difficult enough for those of us who imagine that we don't have shells to hide inside of, let alone those who only feel safe inside their shells.

How right you all are!

Davis is a nice man trying to do the best he can in an awkward and touchy situation while not always relying on God to the extent that he might wish to. Sometimes we want something so badly that we don't want to yield complete control of the situation to anyone else, even God. (Sometimes, especially God!)

Even as Christians we all need to be willing to stand up for ourselves at times, and I'm convinced that it can be done with grace, Christian love and the necessary firmness. Some of us, however, are more able to stand up for ourselves than others. Likewise, even Christians sometimes take advantage of others, usually because their personal perspective is badly skewed. We Christians are not immune to the emotional/mental failings of humankind, and we too often forget that our faith is a powerful tool for overcoming those all too human impulses. Also, when we feel helpless ourselves, we want someone else to do something. We can even feel that we have a right to take advantage of that other person because we are so helpless. Perhaps the guilt and fear can make us hateful, too.

It's also true that Becca must seem content with her lot in life to others. She's too shy and introspective to complain aloud, after all. Those of us not similarly afflicted may not realize that she is suffering in silence, especially if it is very convenient for us to do so. Obviously she's more comfortable enduring her discontent than doing something to change it. In defense of Becca's famly, I have to say that none of us really know what someone else is thinking. As vocal as I am, I'm sure that my adult children would be shocked by what I really think, feel and struggle with at times. The reverse must be true, as well.

What complex creatures we are!

Thanks so much for your comments and the discussion.

 

I can hope to express it better, but I'm constantly made aware of how poorly I actually communicate with some readers. I'm just glad you're enjoying the read. God bless,

Oh, wow. I'm learning so much from you guys. What a gift for an author. Thank you all for taking the time to comment.

Frenchie, you're correct. Just because something is normal doesn't mean that it's right. 

CathyP, you got it! This is Becca poking her nose out of her shell for the first time.

Crystal, I didn't take your earlier comment about Davis being sneaky as meaning that he was "bad." The analogy of taming a skittish horse (ahem, gal who grew up on a working ranch here) is an apt one, not that I would equate Becca with an animal. Nevertheless, sometimes you have to creep up on a nervous horse and distract it in order to catch and tame it. Just so, Davis has to ease up and distract her from her fearful, automatic refusal to engage with him in order to win her over.

CJohn, I think you are correct, too. Good parents draw out their timid children and take their natural inclinations into consideration. At some point, however, even a good parent backs off, and Becca is in her 30s. Adult patterns are long established by her age. I put her in her 30s for that very reason, and I gave her an outgoing sister who demanded, and continues to demand, the lion's share of attention. Otherwise, Becca's crippling shyness would be inexplicable. As it is, her personality simply does not appeal to everyone (but that's always the case, alas), so I had to give her as much "excuse" for such crippling, continued shyness as I could.

 April, you, too, have nailed it. Grandma IS being selfish. Her fear and self-pity have led her to be so, but she does have reason for that fear and some self-pity. Also, she doesn't have your wealth of experience to draw upon and give her wisdom beyond herself.

I know from experience that fear and self-pity can result in selfishness. After my mother-in-law died, my father-in-law's heart became so weak that he periodically blacked out. We didn't want him to continue living alone, and he certainly could not continue to drive! Yet, he fought us every step of the way and even wanted my husband to retire early and move into his old, falling-down house to take care of him. He wouldn't even consider coming to our much larger home, though he was very lonely without his wife. He was a loving, funny, kind man who never had a bad word to say about anyone else. He took care of his late wife's ex husband for many years, even built him a house of his own after he lost his legs to diabetes. He was not a bad man in any sense of the word, but he became angry, controlling and, yes, selfish in the end. It was heartbreaking, and even his own pastor said at his funeral that he would not have known another moment of happiness here on this earth. He could have made everything much easier for all of us, but his fear got the better of him, and we understood that even then and cut him as much slack as we could. Thankfully we have many wonderful memories of him to cherish and knew well his heart.

Again, I thank you all for following Davis and Becca's story and for taking time to comment and discuss. You are blessings to me! 

How prescient you all are to foresee this added complication! Yes, Grandma is controlling Becca to a large degree, but give the old girl a break. She is pretty helpless, has lost her anchor (Grandpa) and feels very much alone, a product of her distance from God--as I hope you will see. In her position, wouldn't you be terrified of being relegated to some dingy, impersonal facility and forgotten? Isn't that the fear of so many of our disabled elderly? Having been through the difficult process of caring for aging, disabled parents and grandparents, I know that sometimes the only option is skilled nursing care, but I also know that the specter of it hovers mercilessly over those who can no longer entirely care for themselves.

And yes, Becca's parents are taking advantage of her to a degree, but that's understandable, too. Look around and you'll see similar scenarios in real life.People are busy, especially if they run their own business and are married with family, as are Becca's parents and her sister. When a "less burdened" individual has shown a deep caring and concern for a disabled person, who is going to wind up the caretaker? It's all too easy to get on with life and forget that the caretaker's freedom has been severely curtailed. Besides, is it their fault if Becca's shyness prevents her from also making a life of her own?

On the other hand, to expect Becca to overcome her own handicap (extreme shyness) without support, encouragement and unconditional acceptance is not realistic. If she could do that, she already would have at her age. Something, or someone, has to spur that change in her. Enter Davis, whose wisdom and open heart allows him to see beyond the shyness to the lovely and talented woman beyond. In my mind, that wisdom, openness and loving heart trumps any behavior that might be deemed "sneaky."

But don't expect Becca to abandon what she accepts as her duty, anything that she sees as her duty. She has too much strength of character for that, despite her natural shyness, no matter how much she might be tempted to reach out for what she truly wants. Thankfully, she has her faith and the power of prayer to rely upon for guidance--and she's not the only one.

Thanks so much for reading and participating in the discussion. God bless.