Day of the Turtles

Posted by Cynthia Howerter on May 14, 2013 in Devotional Tuesday | 2 comments

Last May, I happened to be driving on I-85 in North Carolina on what could be called “Turtle Day.”  Seemingly every turtle within a five-mile radius of the interstate crawled onto the busy road.

Traveling at 65 miles per hour, I came upon turtles so quickly that there wasn’t time to swerve to avoid them.  Fortunately, I missed every turtle in my lane for at least 25 miles.

Then came the small turtle.  Cringing, I prayed that my tires would miraculously miss the little terrapin with a great desire to cross a high-speed highway.

But it wasn’t to be.  With a thump, I knew I’d run over him.  Heartsick, I looked in my rearview mirror only to see pieces of exploding turtle shell.  I had murdered my first (and hopefully my last) turtle.

Fast forward to this week.  Back on I-85 in North Carolina, I saw a small groundhog on the left berm, and hoped he’d stay put.  But this little guy had the heart of an adventurer.

Scurrying into the lane ahead of me, he stopped cold and stared at me.  Bearing down on the little guy at 65 miles per hour, I could not swerve without losing control of the car.  I prepared myself to become a double-murderer.

Then, little guy made an on-the-spot decision:  he bolted for the right side of the road as fast as he could run.  Just as he reached the safety of the right berm, my car passed him thump-free.

The turtles’ and groundhog’s approaches to adversity made me think of how people handle tough spots.

Some folks allow their problems to immobilize them.  They view some difficult situations as hopeless.  Usually it’s because they can’t see how God can deliver them out of their troubles.  Like a turtle, they pull in their appendages and shut their eyes to what God can do.

Other folks see their problems as overwhelming as the national deficit.  But rather than sit still, they, like the young groundhog, take charge of their situation.  By turning their problem over to God, they run the race the Lord puts in front of them and they keep moving forward.

Hmm.  Turtle or groundhog.  Which approach makes sense to you?

 For God did not give us a spirit of fear.  He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.  2 Timothy 1:7 (NLV)

Photograph by Andrea Bowling Perdue © 2013

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Mother’s Day

Posted by Cynthia Howerter on May 12, 2013 in Faith, Family | 2 comments

Happy Mother’s Day to you!

It’s the one day each year set aside to honor women who are mothers.  Why are we mothers?  The obvious reason is because we bore babies and birthed them into this world or adopted children in need of a mom, but the heart of the matter is that we are mothers because God gives us children.

It’s funny, but in all the hoopla surrounding Mother’s Day, I rarely hear anyone mention God’s hand in motherhood.  It seems like it would be obvious.

While science makes it possible to collect sperm and eggs and combine them in a test tube to create a human life, I know of no person or process able to create sperm or eggs except God.

This morning when I walked into the kitchen to find three beautiful cards and a bouquet of fresh flowers wishing me a happy Mother’s Day, I remembered immediately who really gave me those two beauties I call son and daughter.

Thank You, God, for my precious children and for the joy and love they have brought to my life.  Thank You, Father God, for my own mother, for her love, guidance, and Godly wisdom which, through your grace, continues at age 89.  Thank You, Lord, for my two grandmothers, Alice and Anna, now in glory with You, who brought such love and happiness into their family’s lives, with their eyes firmly and constantly on You.

Thank You, God, for Mother’s Day.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”  Proverbs 31:25-29 (ESV)

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Giveaway Winner for Return to Shirley Plantation e-Book!

Posted by Cynthia Howerter on May 8, 2013 in Book Review and Giveaway | 0 comments

We have a winner for the Giveaway!  Congratulations to Cheryl Baranski who has won the Giveaway contest and has a choice of receiving either a free e-book copy of Return to Shirley Plantation – A Civil War Romance, or a set of Shirley Plantation note cards designed by artist Clark Goff.

Cheryl, please contact me by clicking on the “Contact Me” tab in the top right corner.  Please let me know which gift you would like.  If you want the note cards, please give me your mailing address.  If you would prefer the free e-book, please provide your email address so I can have the e-book sent to you.

Thanks to everyone for leaving a comment!

“I cannot live without books.” -Thomas Jefferson

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Change in Giveaway for “Return to Shirley Plantation, A Civil War Romance”

Posted by Cynthia Howerter on May 3, 2013 in Book Review and Giveaway | 12 comments

Recognizing that not everyone has a Kindle or Nook, but that everyone likes to win something nice, I am changing the giveaway contest!  The winner will have a choice of either 12 beautiful Shirley Plantation notecards by the gifted artist Clark Goff or an e-book version (either Kindle or Nook) for Return to Shirley Plantation, A Civil War Romance.  Please see the contest details below.

For a person who loves chocolate and American history – namely me – living in history-rich Virginia is like having an endless source of chocolate.  Really good chocolate.

I recently toured Shirley Plantation – the oldest plantation in Virginia.  Located near Williamsburg, Shirley Plantation was founded in 1613.  It has been owned by eleven generations of the Hill Carter family, and continues to be their private home as well as a working farm.

Imagine how thrilled I was to discover that author Carrie Fancett Pagels recently published a Civil War novella that uses Shirley Plantation for its setting!  After pouring a hot cup of coffee, I settled into my comfy sofa with Kindle in hand to read “Return to Shirley Plantation, A Civil War Romance.”  Two hours later, I finished the book and realized that I’d forgotten all about my coffee.  Now that’s a page-turner.

Return to Shirley Plantation, A Civil War Romance is a well-crafted Christian historical fiction romance.  It’s obvious that Ms. Pagels did considerable research for the book at Shirley Plantation, deftly intertwining actual events and Carter family members who lived on the plantation during the Civil War with believable fiction.  For anyone who has studied Civil War events in this part of Virginia, the novel proves highly accurate.

If you’re looking for a Civil War story that will allow you to escape to Virginia’s beautiful Shirley Plantation, look no further.  In fact, enter Soar With Eagles’ book giveaway contest for a free e-book copy of Return to Shirley Plantation, A Civil War Romance.

For those of you who do not have Kindle or Nook (yet), we offer a set of 12 gorgeous Shirley Plantation notecards designed by the talented artist Clark Goff.

Please note:  “Return to Shirley Plantation, A Civil War Romance” is currently available only as an e-book for both Kindle and Nook.  It is the e-book version that will be given to the contest winner.

To enter the giveaway contest for either the Return to Shirley Plantation, A Civil War Romance e-book or one set of 12 Shirley Plantation notecards, you must:

1) be a subscriber to Soar With Eagles (subscription is free), and 2) leave a comment stating which side of the War of Northern Aggression you would choose to join.  (For those dear readers north of the Mason Dixon line, you will know this as the “Civil War”).

Drawing for the giveaway winner will be held on Tuesday, May 7 at 8:30 a.m.  The winner will be announced on Soar With Eagles. 

Winner will need to provide an email address where either Kindle or Nook can deliver your e-book copy or a mailing address where the notecards can be delivered.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

The Best Kind of Friend

Posted by Cynthia Howerter on Apr 30, 2013 in Encouragement | 4 comments

I looked at the kitchen clock and cringed when I saw it was after 7 p.m.  My daughter always calls me when she leaves work, but tonight, I hadn’t heard from her.  Something’s not right.  I took a second look at the clock and wondered what I should do.  I’d better call.

“Hello?”

The voice on the other end was in utter distress, and my stomach knotted.  “Meg?”

“Yes, Mom,” she sobbed.

“Are you all right, honey?”  My heart was in my throat while I waited for her answer.

My daughter’s voice disintegrated into gut-wrenching sobs and indistinguishable words.  “Meg, what’s wrong?  I can’t understand you.”

“It’s my friend Sarah’s dog, Winston.  H-e-’s d-y-i-n-g.”

I could hear Sarah’s grief-stricken cries in the background while Megan wailed as though it were her dog.  “Where are you, Megan?”

“I’m at Sarah’s house.  I left work and came right over.  Poor Winston is dying and we’re waiting for the vet to come here and put Winston down.  Winston is all Sarah has, and I couldn’t let Sarah go through this alone.”

Sarah and Megan work in the same office. I recalled how Sarah took my daughter under her wing when Megan began working there—so far from her home and family.  “No, you have to be there with her and Winston.  How is Sarah?”

“She’s devastated.  She can’t stop crying and neither can I.  Winston is such a good dog.”

“What’s Winston doing?”  The mournful cries in the background made me choke up.

“He’s just lying here looking at us.  We’re petting him.  Sarah’s telling him that she loves him.”  I swallowed hard, envisioning the scene based on the sounds.

“Oh, Meg.  Tell Sarah how sorry I am about Winston.  I know she appreciates you being there with her.”

“She does, Mom.  This is so hard.  I couldn’t let Sarah be here alone.  I wouldn’t want to be alone if this was my dog.”

“You are a true friend, Megan.  The best.  You’re doing what’s right, and I’m proud of you.  Call me when you get home.  And please give Sarah a hug for me.”

I hung up the phone and sunk into a chair.  Several tears ran down my cheeks.

When Megan took her first job and moved nine hours away from us, Sarah befriended her and looked out after my daughter.  I was relieved to know that my daughter had a nearby friend.

Now, after Megan spent a full day at work, barely taking time for lunch, she left the office late.  Skipping supper, Megan hurried to her friend’s house so Sarah wouldn’t be alone when her faithful Winston breathed his last.

The words from Luke 6:31 came to me:  “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Oh, Sarah, Meg, we all need friends like you.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Photograph by Megan Howerter © 2012