2009 has been a year of trials and hardship. Rather than dwelling on the bad things, I wanted to take a bit of time and reflect on the things I'm thankful for this year. (Thanks for the idea, Wendy!)
*My family. Through all the things that have brought me to my knees in tears and in prayer this year, my family has been the one constant in my life. Brian works hard to support us (without complaining), and I have just the best kids. My parents, too, are always here for us, and I'm so thankful for them each and every day.
*My friends - both in real life and the online ones I've never met. I've been blessed with many new online friends this past year (thanks to my work with the Homeschool Crew), and I'm so grateful for them all! I can't even begin to list them all by name - if you're reading this, you know who you are (wink!)
*My job. What a privilege and honor it is to work for a Christian company, especially one that's all about one of my passions - homeschooling. Work doesn't really seem like work most days - it's more like fun!
*My house. There have been times in the past when I've complained about my house or have desired to move to a bigger/better one. Currently, I'm "at home" here and satisfied. I'm thankful for the simple things - like a coat of paint (or 2, or 3) that have made the house more homey this year. Earlier in the year, we were able to renovate our attic into a bedroom for Ashley, which has been a blessing on so many different levels.
*My health. Walking through this scary road called "cancer" with my very best friend has taught me to treasure every day and to be thankful to God for my present health because we just don't know what tomorrow holds for us.
*My church. Even though it wasn't in our plans to switch churches this past year, it must have been in God's plan. Sometimes it's hard for me to accept His plans, or I'm resistant to change, or whatever. Though it was a rough road, we are at a place where we're comfortable.
*My salvation. Even if I die tomorrow, I'm sure of where I'm going, and that's DEFINITELY something to be thankful for.
I know there are so many more and this is probably just the tip of the iceberg, but it seems to be the most important things.
We'll be enjoying lunch with my family tomorrow. Later in the afternoon we'll visit with Brian's family, where we'll plan our family get-together. Wherever you are, whatever your plans are . . .
A father denied his daughter dating privileges with a certain young man. Typical teenage behavior might have included pouting, a bad attitude or perhaps even a yelling match. Never in a million years would Terry Caffey have suspected it would involve murder. Yet, in the early morning hours of March 8, 2008, Terry’s whole world turned upside down. His wife and two sons where brutally murdered and burned in the house they lived and Terry was shot twelve times…by his daughter and her friends.
Terry Caffey and James Pence reconstruct this tragic yet strangely beautiful true story of God’s sovereignty, forgiveness and grace in Terror by Night. As if the story of Caffey’s family wasn’t enough, readers will be captivated by the way God ordained the meeting between the Blind Sight author and Caffey with a burnt page from Blind Sight found at the crime scene.
About Blind Sight:
No one plans for bad things to happen. No one plans on losing their family. No one knows how to move on after horror strikes. No one. Not even Thomas Kent. After receiving a strange phone call from a long-ago friend requesting Kent to pick up a package at the airport, Kent begins a spine tingling, suspense filled journey in which he hopes to reunite the package (his friend’s children) with their mother, Justine, a traitor in the Fellowship for World Renewal Cult. Twists and turns in this page turning drama make Blind Sight not only a journey of extreme action and thrills, but one of discovering the sovereign plan of God.
James H. Pence is a full-time professional writer and editor living near Dallas, Texas. James is a multi-talented writer who has been published in both fiction and nonfiction. His publishers include Tyndale House, Kregel, and Osborne/McGraw-Hill. James holds a master’s degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in creative writing and journalism from Dallas Theological Seminary. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Dallas Bible College.
James is also a vocalist and gospel chalk artist, and he regularly uses his talents to share the gospel in prisons. James is the author of Blind Sight, a gripping novel about mind-control cults and coauthor (along with Terry Caffey) of the new book: Terror by Night: The True Story of the Brutal Texas Murder that Destroyed a Family, Restored One Man’s Faith, and Shocked a Nation.
An Interview with James Pence:
1. You've dabbled in a little bit of everything career-wise. Give us a brief summary of your journey so far.
I have definitely had a colorful background as you've already mentioned. I guess the one unifying thread that has run through everything I do is the service of God. I knew when I was 14 years old that God had called me into the ministry, and I've never wavered from that. And even though that ministry now includes such things as teaching karate to homeschoolers. I consider that as much a part of my calling as anything else.
Since finishing Bible College back in 1978 I have been a youth pastor, a camp director, a pastor, a prison evangelist, a gospel chalk artist, a speaker, a singer, a Web designer, a writer, a karate teacher, an art teacher, and a writing teacher. Amazingly, I'm still active in most of those things. I'm not pastoring anymore, and I've long since left directing summer camps behind me, but everything else I still do.
It would be a book in and of itself if I were to try to go into the details of all of those different things and how I got started doing each of them. Suffice it to say that I've always believed that the talents that we have are stewardships. Thus I've always felt that if I have a talent in an area I have a responsibility to develop and use it for God's glory. And that's why do so many different things. I wouldn't have it any other way.
2. There was a tight deadline for Terror by Night. Tell us a little bit about how you interviewed Terry Caffey and the timeline you had to submit your book.
There was definitely a tight deadline for Terror by Night. I had a total of 12 weeks in which to write it and that included doing all the interviewing with Terry. I'm very happy to say that I was able to meet that challenge, but there were times when I wondered if I could get it all done.
Terry and I got together every Wednesday for several hours and I would interview him. Our first few interviews were just for getting the layout of the book planned. I had to get an idea of the different aspects of the story that needed to be pulled together, sort of like a plot outline. And then I actually had a plan the storyline based on my discussions with Terry.
It was sort of a cumulative thing, because as we talked each week more questions would come up and I would make notes on those and we would discuss them in subsequent weeks.
I recorded all of the interviews with a digital voice recorder and then transferred them all to my computer. After that I edited the interviews down into soundbites of two to three minutes all according to topics. Then I put them all on my iPod and would listen to them at every spare moment. My goal was to be familiar enough with Terry's voice so that the book would sound natural and that it would sound like Terry was doing the speaking or writing.
3. Because of the intensity of this book, how did you deal with the emotional side of writing? Did it ever become more than you or Terry could deal with at one sitting?
This was a very difficult story to write and it was very stressful for both of us, but in different ways. As we went through the interview process Terry began to struggle with depression and had some rough moments. Once or twice we had changed the topic of our discussion because it was just getting to be too hard on him.
For me the stress came from the deadline more than the storyline. The fastest I'd written a book before was 20 weeks, and writing this one in 12 weeks was like running a marathon. Near the end I was exhausted, but still had to get that word count out every day. There were times when I would just become overwhelmed with the size of the task. But there was nothing to do but keep moving forward.
So we were both very happy when this project was complete.
4. You enjoy some great ministry opportunities outside of your writing. Share how God is using your other gifts to reach others for Christ.
As I mentioned earlier, in addition to being a writer I am a gospel chalk artist and a vocalist. I've been doing that for over 30 years now and really enjoy being able to use art and music to bring a message to people. For about the last 15 years I've been going into prisons with my art and music and sharing the gospel with inmates. That's been a huge blessing to me. In fact, I often say that after a prison service I've been far more blessed than the inmates. And recently God has begun to open up more doors both in prison and out. Over a six-week period, I'll be drawing in Florida, Iowa, and Alabama.
One of the great things about chalk art is that even if the people who see a drawing don't remember everything I say, they will remember the picture and the scripture that the picture represented. I've had people write me who saw my pictures 20 years ago and came to Christ through them, and now they are serving Christ in churches and other ministries. That's one of the great joys of this ministry.
5. With the re-release of Blind Sight, it's almost like two books releasing at once. What message do you hope readers will take away from reading both books?
I was so excited when Tyndale decided to release Blind Sight a second time. It's rare that a novel gets a second chance at life. And it's especially satisfying that both books were released simultaneously. And even though one is a novel and the other a nonfiction book, the message that people can take away from the books is really the same. God is sovereign.
So often we are confused when difficult circumstances come into our lives and we wonder why God would allow that. Sometimes we even get angry with him and demand an explanation like Terry did. But the message of both Blind Sight and Terror by Night is that while God doesn't explain himself to us, we can trust in his goodness and sovereign grace. We know that he is working all things together for our good and we can trust him in that. Blind Sight communicates that message by way of a novel; Terror by Night communicates the same message by way of a true story.
CONTEST:
Leave me a comment telling me what appeals to you about these books.
You'll have a chance to be entered into a drawing for an awesome gift basket,
which will include: Angel by James Pence Blind Sight by James Pence Terror By Night by James Pence
Quality 8.5 X 11 in printing of the scorched page
DVD of Chalk Art Illustrations from James Pence
Sometimes you just need to take some time to pamper yourself. Today, I thought I'd share a few of my more recent pampering favorites:
Fall is here and one of my favorite things about fall is the scents associated with the season - baked goods, spices, etc. I don't always have time to be baking (and I'd weigh about a million pounds if I did!), so I like burning candles to get those yummy-smelling aromas in my house. At a local craft shop, I found a really neat brand of candles that are poured in regular canning jars - what's neat about them is that they all look the same - the jars are covered with a bumpy brownish paint, some gauzy fabric, and a brown paper label. This is cool because you don't have to buy candles based on color anymore - these fit any decor and you don't even see the candle inside. Plus, they are long-burning. Alas, I don't see a brand name listed on it anywhere, so I can't share a link with you (if I had a camera, I'd take a picture).
Another great candle product that I've been enjoying is the Sugar Cookie Soywax pint-sized candle by Homestead Originals. These are available in various sizes and fragrances, are hand-poured by my friend and co-worker, Lisa Barthuly, and smell awesome!
Another awesome product from Homestead Originals is their Handmade Lavender Wheatberry Heating Pad. I ordered mine without the lavender because I'm not a fan of the flowery fragrances, but this thing is just so wonderful! Lately, I've been having a good deal of back pain and this feels so good when I heat it up and put it behind my lower back on the couch. Also, after a long and tiring day, this feels great around my neck! The website recommends using it as a bed-warmer, and I am SO going to be trying that this winter. Talk about some major pampering!
With the cooler weather, comes dry skin. I haven't had much trouble in the past, but this year my hands have been unusually dry (right around the knuckles). Just when I thought I was going to have to break down and purchase an expensive lotion, they started getting better. I had recently opened a new container of dish soap - and it's been a lifesaver. Dawn Hand Renewal has been surprisingly effective. The bottle says that it improves the look and feel of your hands in just 5 days, and I'm here to attest to that fact. It sounds kinda silly to consider dish soap something of a pampering product, but I'm sold on this stuff - it's a miracle worker. On Wednesday, my knuckles were like sandpaper; today they're soft and smooth.
Winter is the time for long, hot bubble baths, so I also ordered some of my favorite bubble bath from Avon. Curling up in a hot tub filled with bubbles, reading a good book, and smelling a yummy candle - sounds pretty great to me.
What are you doing to pamper yourself? Any great products you can recommend to me?
I saw this over on Debbie's blog and it was too good of news not to pass along! We own and love all the previous movies from Sherwood Pictures (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof) - so we'll be anxious to add this new movie to our collection as well. Sounds like it'll be another great one!
OK, I admit it, I'm a total school supply junkie! I'm a sucker for notebooks, folders, pencils, etc. We don't even have to need them - sometimes we just WANT them. Yes, I say "we" because I've passed this fascination/addiction with school supplies on to both my girls, who are constantly begging for new pencils, notebooks, etc.
Carolina Pad is one of my favorite school supply companies! I can always count on them to have great-looking products that are fun to use. One of my personal favorites these days is the Kendall Collection. I've got this lapbook bag (which I think is just too fun!) and these folders and dividers (which make my homemade organizer for work and home look very put-together). Another favorite pattern/collection is the Hot Chocolate collection. I've got several notebooks from this collection, and Ashley has a binder.
I was recently asked to help Carolina Pad celebrate the 13th birthday of their Ghostline products. I received a selection of Ghostline products to review and was beyond thrilled! You see, in addition to my obsession with school stuff, I'm also a stickler for neatness (otherwise known as a "paperwork perfectionist"). I so wish these products would have been available when I was in high school and was making posters for pep rallies! Why? Because the Ghostline products have very faint gridlines on them, making it amazingly easy to write and keep things straight!
I used the large display board kit to make this memory board for Ashley's 16th birthday:
I think it turned out really cute and you can't even see the lines unless you look very closely. I would definitely recommend the Ghostline products to anyone needing posterboard or display boards for school or work-related projects.
Carolina Pad is having a contest this month, in honor of Ghostline's birthday. Go here to enter. You need to leave a comment in order to be eligible to win. So, be sure to head on over and say "Happy Birthday" to Ghostline!
NOTE: I received free product from Carolina Pad in order to write this review. I used the products in my home, and the thoughts shared herein are definitely my own, based on my personal experience.
It's so hard for me to believe that I have a 16-year-old! Wow - time really does fly when you're having fun - and we've had 16 VERY FUN years with this girl! I don't mean to brag, but she is just THE BEST and has put so many smiles on my face over the years.
I'd love to share pictures, but they're all saved on the other computer. If you want to see them, check out my Facebook page - I've loaded several of them up there. (If you're not already my friend, just request and I'll accept! )
We had an all-day Open House (on Sunday from 1-8). I thought it would go in spurts with the guests, but we had a steady stream of visitors during the entire day. There wasn't one time, during the 7 hours, when there wasn't someone here. It was so nice to see all the people who love and care about Ashley and to be able to spend some special time with them. (I'm still eating leftover dip, though - and am sure I'm going to turn into a bowl of dip by the end of the week!)
I realized, after all the festivities were over and the gifts were put away, that we didn't get a single picture of Ashley with Brian & me. We took her picture with all of her guests, but none with her parents or siblings.
Now, she is looking forward to a visit from a good friend from NY this weekend!
A few weeks ago, my friend Jodi posted on her blog about a "postcard from God". She shared it because, not only was it special to her, but she felt that God was prompting her to share it with someone who needed it. I felt that it was meant for me - I needed it right then - and I need it right now.
Jodi was sweet enough to share the postcard with me so that I can share it on my blog:
I thought I'd share some of the things that are making me happy these days - along with some new discoveries that have made our lives simpler (and/or more fun!). . .
First off, I bought this blanket at Wal-mart this past weekend (because I was returning this couch cover, which I would NOT recommend). The website lists the price at $29.88 - if you're interested, you might want to check your local store - I got mine on sale for only $25. Even though we have a queen-sized bed, I bought this blanket in the king size. It's big enough and attractive enough to use as a bedspread. It's light-weight but very warm and cuddly. I love it! (Maybe I'll actually take a real picture to share - once I get my bedroom painted and some new curtains on the windows!)
We're getting ready to do some painting at our house. I've chosen a honey-colored paint for the dining room walls. My mom and I went curtain shopping on Saturday. I have these tie-back curtains in my bathroom and I love them! I wanted something similar, with the same country-feel, in my dining room; but I didn't want the same pattern (thyme). After looking at several, I decided on the saffron print this time. I'll be going with the tie-backs again, but will also be adding valances to the top (our dining room windows are very long and the tie-backs alone won't cover them). Again, hopefully I'll have pictures to share one day soon.
Do you have children with allergies? Gracie has pretty much outgrown her asthma problems, but she still has times when she needs some allergy medication. In particular, when she spends too much time with my parents (it seems she is allergic to their cat). I've purchased the melt-in-your-mouth Benadryl for her and she seems to be fine with that. Recently, though, I've discovered ZYRTEC® PERFECT MEASURE™. This stuff is awesome! Ordinarily, I wouldn't go for a liquid medication for her, simply because I have to worry about finding a dosing spoon or something to measure it out with. This is already premeasured in single-serving "spoons" - I just need to break off the seal and hand it over to her. Perfect Measure is for children ages 6 years and up, is sugar and dye-free, and available in most major retailers. They are grape-flavored and Gracie gives them 2 thumbs up! If you'd like to try it, I have several $3 off coupons - shoot me an e-mail and request one (be sure to include your full name and mailing address). NOTE: I receive this product free as part of a Bzzz! campaign. My thoughts on it, though, are honest and true to our experience.
A few weeks ago, I realized that I had a sensitivity in my teeth (I'll admit, I was gritting my teeth while snuggling with my dog!) I was glad when I got an offer to test some Sensodyne Iso-Active toothpaste. I admit, I was a little skeptical at first. How could a toothpaste help that? But, after just a few days of trying it (once a day - I still use my regular toothpaste at night), I see great improvement. It works! If you have a sensitivity to heat or cold, or to gritting your teeth while you squeeze your dog or baby, you should seriously check this stuff out. It comes out as a gel, but quickly turns into a foam with LOTS of great suds-action. I'll definitely be buying more of this stuff!
And there's one more favorite that my kids have been enjoying lately (two, actually). It is the Life on the Farm games by We R Fun. We have both the original and the preschool versions (thanks to my work with the TOS Homeschool Crew, who will be reviewing these games here). Though I find the original version to be a bit long and tedious, Gracie just LOVES it. And we're all impressed with the preschool version! Ian is constantly saying "how about I set up my farm game for us to play?" Too cute! If you're looking for some high-quality, educational games for your family for Christmas, do check these out as options!
The Janviers have the idyllic life - a beautiful home, great jobs, two wonderful kids - and surrounding it all is the proverbial white picket fence that protects them, offers them a serene sense of security . . . and hides all their secrets.
When her black sheep brother disappears, Amanda Janvier eagerly takes in her sixteen year-old niece Tally. The girl is practically an orphan: motherless, and living with a father who raises Tally wherever he lands– in a Buick, a pizza joint, a horse farm–and regularly takes off on wild schemes. Amanda envisions that she, her husband Neil, and their two teenagers can offer the girl stability and a shot at a “normal” life, even though their own storybook lives are about to crumble.
Seventeen-year-old Chase Janvier hasn’t seen his cousin in years, and other than a vague curiosity about her strange life, he doesn’t expect her arrival will affect him much–or interfere with his growing, disturbing interest in a long-ago house fire that plagues his dreams unbeknownst to anyone else.
Tally and Chase bond as they interview two Holocaust survivors for a sociology project, and become startlingly aware that the whole family is grappling with hidden secrets, with the echoes of the past, and with the realization that ignoring tragic situations won’t make them go away.
Will Tally’s presence blow apart their carefully-constructed world, knocking down the illusion of the white picket fence and reveal a hidden past that could destroy them all–or can she help them find the truth without losing each other?
Susan Meissner cannot remember a time when she wasn’t driven to put her thoughts down on paper. Her novel The Shape of Mercy was a Publishers Weekly pick for best religious fiction of 2008 and a Christian Book Award finalist. Susan and her husband live in Southern California, where he is a pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. They are the parents of four grown children.
Two of my favorite things in life - fiction books and history - and Susan Meissner has an amazing talent of tying them together in the pages of her books. I previously had the opportunity to review The Shape of Mercy, which I absolutely adored; and I've been waiting (rather impatiently) for the opportunity to read another of Susan's books.
How many of us live our lives behind white picket fences? We want the world to see us as "normal". In White Picket Fences, we are introduced to the Janvier family who, like the rest of us, wants to appear normal to their friends; but what's going on behind closed doors is heartwrenching and painful. They are facing issues that challenge them to the core. Amanda and Neil are both struggling over an incident involving their son, Chase - should they confront him? Chase is struggling over the same incident and wondering why his parents keep so quiet about it; so he sets out on a soul-searching adventure to find the truth. His sister, Delcy, struggles with typical teenage-girl-issues; while Tally is dealing with the loss of a grandmother she barely knew and not knowing where in the world her father is when she needs him most. In the midst of it all, an incredible story about World War II, the Warsaw Ghetto, and Treblinka, is being interwoven into the storyline.
I am impressed, once again, with Susan's ability to share about a true historical event, while sharing a fictional story. So far, both of her books have left me longing to know more about these stories of our history, and sent me in search of further information. Since I'm a researcher at heart, these books are right up my alley!
If I've left you wanting to know more, how about reading the beginning of the book for yourself? Click on the box below to bring up a larger screen and start reading. (warning: you might want to be prepared to go purchase the book!)
NOTE: This book was provided to me, for free, from Waterbrook Press, in exchange for my honest review. The thoughts expressed herein are my own.
A father denied his daughter dating privileges with a certain young man. Typical teenage behavior might have included pouting, a bad attitude or perhaps even a yelling match. Never in a million years would Terry Caffey have suspected it would involve murder. Yet, in the early morning hours of March 8, 2008, Terry’s whole world turned upside down. His wife and two sons where brutally murdered and burned in the house they lived and Terry was shot twelve times…by his daughter and her friends. 
No one plans for bad things to happen. No one plans on losing their family. No one knows how to move on after horror strikes. No one. Not even Thomas Kent. After receiving a strange phone call from a long-ago friend requesting Kent to pick up a package at the airport, Kent begins a spine tingling, suspense filled journey in which he hopes to reunite the package (his friend’s children) with their mother, Justine, a traitor in the Fellowship for World Renewal Cult. Twists and turns in this page turning drama make Blind Sight not only a journey of extreme action and thrills, but one of discovering the sovereign plan of God.
James H. Pence is a full-time professional writer and editor living near Dallas, Texas. James is a multi-talented writer who has been published in both fiction and nonfiction. His publishers include Tyndale House, Kregel, and Osborne/McGraw-Hill. James holds a master’s degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in creative writing and journalism from Dallas Theological Seminary. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Dallas Bible College.
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The Janviers have the idyllic life - a beautiful home, great jobs, two wonderful kids - and surrounding it all is the proverbial white picket fence that protects them, offers them a serene sense of security . . . and hides all their secrets.
Susan Meissner cannot remember a time when she wasn’t driven to put her thoughts down on paper. Her novel The Shape of Mercy was a Publishers Weekly pick for best religious fiction of 2008 and a Christian Book Award finalist. Susan and her husband live in Southern California, where he is a pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. They are the parents of four grown children.
Two of my favorite things in life - fiction books and history - and Susan Meissner has an amazing talent of tying them together in the pages of her books. I previously had the opportunity to review 
