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Thursday, May 27, 2021

100-for-100 Writing Challenge

 





















Are you a writer who has been struggling to get those words down on that paper? Who has been sitting in that chair hour after hour painfully trying to cause those words to come but to no use? I know I have been. I want to write but the words just won't come, or maybe the words are coming but I just have so many other things needing done that I push writing to the back burner.


Is this how you're feeling?


If so, then I have just the thing for you today.


I want to present to you the 100-for-100 writing challenge done by the awesome people over at Go Teen Writers! I don't know about you, but this writing challenge is just what I need to jumpstart my writing this summer and stay focused to get a lot done. Writing just 100 words a day for the 100 days of the challenge will give me - and you! - 10,000 words at the end of the challenge! Now is that motivation or what?


If you're interested in joining then check out this link to read the guidelines and sign yourself up! I'm definitely more pepped about my writing with the excitement of this challenge and I hope it has done the trick for you as well.


So, with nothing left to say, see you at the finish line, my friend!


Blessings,

Shay

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

DIY Wax Seals

 

















Hello there, everyone! I hope that the name drew you in and made you want to learn how to make some awesome wax seals without having to buy a kit from the store. This is a fun and easy craft to use on letters or cards the next time you go to send one to a friend. So keep reading to learn the 3 easy steps!


What you will need:

  • hammer
  • tape
  • a quarter
  • crayons
  • a lighter
  • paper
  • a creative spirit!





Step 1:
Take your tape and fold over a small piece to fit on the end of your hammer. Pick a quarter that you like (a quarter with a pretty picture on a side makes for a nice seal) and stick it to the tape on the hammer. Set this aside where it will be easy to grab quickly.






Step 2:
Take your paper you're practicing on or the card or letter you're using and pick the place you want the wax seal to be. Pick a crayon color, grab your lighter, and melt the crayon onto the paper. Be careful not to get the crayon directly in the flame. It will be very tempting because it will melt the fastest there but it will also turn the crayon black as it drips onto the paper. Keep it in the blue underneath the flame and you will be all good!






Step 3:
As soon as you have a big enough area of melted crayon you will need to immediately set aside the lighter and crayon and grab the hammer with the quarter on the end. The crayon will dry fast so press the quarter into it as soon as possible. You will want to press hard but not too hard (I've had the seal come up off the paper before, you don't want this to happen). Leave it there for a few seconds but not too long or it will get stuck to the hammer. This step can be a little tricky so it may take a few times of doing it for you to get it figured out and confident in it.
















And there you have it! You now know how to make your very own wax seal! Wasn't that simple? This is one of my favorite ways to seal a letter to a pen pal, it's so much fun with such a cool result.


As a side note, in case any of you are a curious soul like myself, you can also use a stamp as the design to press into the melted crayon. I tried this last time because I've been curious for awhile if it would actually work or if it would just ruin the stamp. But it didn't! I mean, a little crayon did get stuck up in the crevices of the stamp but it wasn't bad, nothing a tooth pick couldn't get out. 😜


Also, don't forget to actually take the quarter off of the hammer when you're done, especially if you're borrowing the hammer like I did... Yep. True story. Last time I was doing wax seals I borrowed my sister's hammer and completely forgot to take the quarter off. Thankfully she saw it before she began pounding it on the floor! Funny how she knew to come to me to ask why there was a quarter stuck to the end of her hammer... (I may or may not be a bit of a prankster 😆)


I hope you enjoy making your own wax seals and that this blog post was helpful for you!


Blessings,

Shay

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Looking For Rainbows | A Short Story

Hello everyone and welcome back to Shay's Scribbles! Today I wanted to share with all of you a short story I wrote quite a few years ago. It's a story of a girl's heartache and pain through a difficult time in her life and her best friend's life. But, before I give it all away, here it is for you to read yourself!



Looking For Rainbows


The sky rumbled as lightning flashed, rain poured from the heavens with deafening might. Dark clouds covered the sun and blocked out its usual cheery rays. It was a depressing, gloomy afternoon, especially for the lone figure sitting next to the window, staring out at the sheet of rain.

“The sun will come out tomorrow, Sunshine.” her dad, passing by, stopped to say.

“I know, but right now that just doesn't seem soon enough.”

He walked over and sat across from her. “Sometimes the best way to get our mind off the situation at hand is to think of or do something else.”

“But what if I don't feel like it?”

“Then you should do it anyway.”

The girl thought for a minute before looking up with her decision made. “We could all play a game.”

“That sounds more like my little sunshine.” he smiled as they joined hands and walked out of the room to find the rest of the family.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


5 years later...


“Your move.” thirteen year old Rosalina Hartford said for the third time.

“Oh, sorry.” Adette Rollins turned her attention back to the chess board in between them and precariously moved a piece.

“I wouldn't do that.” Rosalina warned, but her friends attention was already elsewhere. With a shrug she captured Adettes queen and put her in check mate all in one move.

“How did that happen?”

“Face it, Adette, your mind hasn't been on the game.”

“No, I guess it hasn't.”

Rosalina pushed the game aside and focused on her friend. “What's wrong?”

Adette sighed. “I have something I need to tell you but I don't know where to start.” She drew in a raged breath as a couple tears fell down her cheeks. Rosalina waited as she gathered the courage she needed to begin. “I went to the doctor the other day and, well, I'm not well, Rosalina.”

“You're beginning to scare me, Adette. Surely it can't be that bad.”

Adette stared at her through misty eyes as the tears now fell freely down her cheeks and she didn't make a move to stop them. “I have cancer.”

Rosalina sat there in a daze. She slowly felt herself comprehending the situation as unbidden tears fell down her cheeks. Getting up, she walked around the table and silently hugged her friend. The two of them sat there for a few minutes, holding each other and crying. No words were necessary to express the sorrow they felt.

Finally they released each other and attempted to wipe the tears from their eyes. “How bad is it?” Rosalina asked.

“The doctor says it's a bad case.”

“But you'll be okay, won't you?”

“We're hoping so.” she managed a small smile. “And we're praying. Please pray, Rosalina, I'm scared.” tears clogged her voice. “I don't want to die.”

Rosalina hugged her again as their tears began to flow anew. “I'll pray, Adette, I promise. I don't want anything to happen to you either.”

Please, God, don't take my best friend.



Later that day Rosalina told her parents the news.

“The sun will come out tomorrow, Sunshine.” her dad said against her hair as he held her crying form.

“I know, Dad, I know,” she sobbed. “But right now that just doesn't seem soon enough.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


2 months later...


The two girls sat on Rosalinas bed with a card game between them and an unspoken fear over them. It was as if ignoring Adettes illness would make it go away, but they both know that that fantasy wasn't true.

“Rosalina, can we talk?”

“Sure. About what?”

“My cancer.”

“Adette, I cry just thinking about it – don't make me talk about it.” She swallowed hard to force the already forming lump down.

“Then just listen.” she replied. “Look, I don't know if I'm going to survive this or not, but if my days are numbered then I don't want our last months together to be like this.” Silent tears fell down their cheeks. “Our relationship has become strained to where our conversations are seeming forced. We need to talk about,” she paused, “it.” All Rosalina could do was nod. “I've come to peace with it, I'm ready if it's Gods will for me to go.”

“Don't say that!” sobs shook her body.

“I want to know how you're doing with it.” Her only answer was continued sobs. Adette went to the other side of the bed and wrapped her arms around her friend. “Give it to God, Rosalina. You can't go through this without Him.”

“I know, but I'm too mad at Him. He's the one who made you sick in the first place!”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I know, but we have to trust that He knows what He's doing.”

“How can you say that when it's very possible you won't even live to see another year?”

“My life was never mine to begin with – it's His to do with as He sees fit. I have faith in Him that He knows what He's doing and that my death will be for a reason, though I may never know what that reason is. You need to have faith, Rosalina.”

“But its hard.”

“I know, but those are the times when it matters most. I want you to come through this made better for having experienced it and not crushed down. Can you do that for me?”

Rosalina turned and wrapped her arms around Adette. “I'll try.”

“That's all I ask for.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The next six months passed in a blur. Rosalina took it day by day, praying and staying encouraging for her friend. Adette had ups and downs, some days she seemed to have never changed while others she couldn't get out of bed.

Late one night, while Rosalina was sleeping, she began dreaming of her and Adette. It was as if she was watching their life from a far as she saw them graduating together, she smiled at the party they were having and how glad they were to be done with school. Then the scene changed and they were having a double wedding then it changed again and they were celebrating the birth of their first child. They were doing it all together and they were so happy.

“Rosalina. Rosalina, wake up.” She opened her eyes reluctantly, not wanting to end her dream, and looked at her dad groggily. “Rosalina, honey, Adette's taken a turn for the worse, she's on the way to the hospital right now.” She saw the unspoken message in her dads eyes.

She tried to push the sorrow aside and focus on getting dressed, not letting herself think about what would most likely happen that night for fear of breaking down in tears. On the way to the hospital, however, she let them fall freely. She began to think over what Adette had told her so many months before, it felt like centuries ago. Her heart breaking, she bowed her head. God, I know I can't go through this without You. Please be with me tonight. Help me to come out of this stronger, like Adette said 'better for having experienced it'. Please, God, help me – my heart is breaking. Amen.

When they arrived at the hospital they immediately rushed up to Adette's room. Rosalina stood beside her bed and tried to control her sobs, tried to appear strong for her friend. Taking hold of her thin hand she drew a shaky breath and managed, “Thanks for being such a good friend.” Adettes only response was a weak smile at her, but it was enough.

It wasn't long after that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The funeral was held a week later.

Rain drizzled onto the sad occupants of the graveyard as they came to pay their respects. Rosalina watched through tears as they laid her best friend to rest and covered the coffin with dirt. It was the hardest thing she had ever endured. The preacher said a few words but she hardly heard them, all she could focus on was the empty feeling inside of her.

The funeral ended and everybody left but Rosalina continued to stand there, unable to take her eyes off the fresh mound of dirt in front of her. Her heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces.

She felt more than saw her dad appear beside her. Without looking up she asked, “Why, Dad? Why?”

“I don't know, Sunshine. I don't know.” he replied with a deep sigh and they stood there in comfortable silence before the small grave marker.

As they stood there the rain finally stopped and the sun began to poke out from behind a cloud. They watched as a rainbow began to form above them and spread across the sky. It was a beautiful thing to behold. “After the flood,” her dad broke the silence, “God made a rainbow so that whenever we see it we'll remember that He promised to never flood the world again. But when I see a rainbow, with all its bright, cheery colors, it makes me feel as though God's smiling down at me and patting my shoulder saying, 'Everything will be okay'. He didn't promise life would be easy, but He did promise to be there with us every step of the way. That's what I remember when I see a rainbow.”

Rosalina wordlessly turned into her fathers embrace and wept out all her sorrow all over again. “It'll be okay, Sunshine – you'll make it through this.” he whispered in her ear. “Lean on the Lord, He's your strong tower in times of trouble. And, most importantly, always look for rainbows. Even though the sky may be gray and rain is pouring down, they'll still be there, you just have to look for them. God will never leave you nor forsake you.”

She sniffled before saying, “Thank you, Dad.” And, with that, she knew everything would be okay. The road ahead would be hard and trying, but, with Gods help, and maybe even her dads, she would make it through.


The End


Let me know what you thought of it in the comments below!


Blessings,

Shay

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Anything Release Tour

 





















I am very excited to bring to you a new book titled "Anything"! In it are thirteen short pieces written by thirteen Christian women who wrote heartwarming stories about anything. Keep reading to find out about the book, the authors, and where you can buy your very own copy!


He was willing to do anything.

Talk about anything, they said.

She hadn't ever done anything.

You can do anything.


In this heartwarming collection, thirteen Christian authors weave tales both historical and contemporary in a variety of imaginative settings. Anything features characters stretched to their limits: a pencil and a crayon who are best friends, a Tea-Dragon with a mischievous and mysterious habit, a terminally ill child with a lovely wish. In these pages, you'll discover an eccentric gentleman who never stops reading, a foster boy who makes up in appetite what he lacks in conversational skill, and a single mother with a fault-finding mother-in-law and five rambunctious children who haven't learned respect for a living.


Watch as a couple sacrificially prays for a lost and dying sister-in-law, a young lady tearfully talks her best friend through a coma, a courageous brother offers to lay down himself for others, a camera-shy teenager faces her greatest fear, and a music camp applicant struggles mightily with writing an interesting bio. Warmth, hope, and encouragement pervade the pages, echoing the theme of "anything" from a refreshing variety of angles both insightful and entertaining, spiritually profound and eternally valuable. These short pieces will delight and encourage the whole family.


About the authors:


Rebekah Morris is a homeschool graduate, an enthusiastic freelance author, and a passionate writing teacher. Her books include, among others, Home Fires of the Great War, The Unexpected Request, Gift from the Storm, and her best-selling Triple Creek Ranch series. Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn’t writing, include reading and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. The Show-Me state is where she calls home.
Connect with Rebekah: readanotherpage.com
 
An avid reader and incurable story-spinner, Angie Thompson also enjoys volunteering in her church’s children’s program and starting (but not always finishing) various kinds of craft projects. She currently lives in central Virginia near most of her incredible family, including two parents, six brothers, one sister, and five siblings-in-law—plus four nieces, six nephews, and several assorted pets!
Connect with Angie: quietwaterspress.com/music
 
Jaybird Summers lives in a rural town in Southern Tennessee. She enjoys reading, baking, and writing stories that bring joy to others. When not spending time with her friends or reading, she is most likely to be found in her tree where she comes up with all her good (and sometimes not so good) ideas!
Connect with Jaybird: instagram.com/DreamyJaybirdCustoms
 
Jae Fisher currently lives in Upstate South Carolina with her family. She likes to read and write in her free time. She hopes to publish her novel series, The Dares Chronicles.
Connect with Jae: instagram.com/the_sapphire_writer
 
Courtenay Burden is a homeschool graduate, an unconquerable bookworm, and a Victorian enthusiast. She is passionate about good and great literature—writing that embodies both literary and spiritual excellence. She believes that good and great books are a powerful tool in Christ’s kingdom and she seeks to use that tool for His glory in her vintage-style fiction.
Connect with Courtenay: sawpublishing.com

 

Tiffany Michele fell in love with the written word at a young age. Following God and this passion, the next thing she knew she was writing a book! And another and another. Working from home in the lovely state of Oklahoma, Tiffany is surrounded by three dogs, a flock of chickens, and a small pride of cats. She can be found writing or doing some form of art with a dog at her feet and a blanket or two on her lap.
Connect with Tiffany: TiffanyMichele.com
 
Brianna Burden is a homeschool graduate, graphic designer, part-time teacher, and on-the-side writer. She loves all things musical, and her hobbies focus themselves around friends, singing, chocolate, and creating beautiful things. You’re sure to find a smile on her face if all her hobbies have a chance to converge in one event!
Connect with Brianna: sawpublishing.com
 
Chelsea Burden is a homeschool graduate, a first-generation Anabaptist, and a passionate word-lover who enjoys dabbling in etymology (not entomology!) and routinely adds bona fide words to spellcheck. She loves books, people, and Jesus—and chickadees, hymns, snowflakes, and having a good time with friends. She lives in Canada and spends her days writing and doing whatever else comes to hand in her three-generational home.
Connect with Chelsea: sawpublishing.com
 
Hannah Foster has enjoyed journaling and blogging since her teen years and discovered a love for penning her own stories in her mid-twenties. Hannah’s desire is that the words she writes would bring hope, joy, and light in a dark world. If you don’t find her reading or writing, you will probably find Hannah in the kitchen baking.
Connect with Hannah: instagram.com/coffeebooksandteatime

 

Sarah Susanna Rhomberg is a young writer who lives in Europe and is fluent in both English and German. When not writing, you will often find her reading or working on the organization of a camp for children—always with a mug of herbal tea at hand. Sarah wants to live her life for Christ and writes to glorify Him.
Connect with Sarah: sarahsusannarhomberg.mailchimpsites.com
 
Erika Mathews writes Christian living books, both fiction and non-fiction, that demonstrate the power of God in ordinary people, transforming daily life into His resting life. The author of the kingdom adventure fiction series Truth from Taerna, she’s passionate about encouraging others to intimately know Jesus. She enjoys playing with her children, editing, anything outdoors, being organized, autumn, apple crisp, and sunrises.
Connect with Erika: restinglife.com
 
Born and raised in Texas, Andrea Renee Cox turned her fascination with reading into a career of two varieties: writing and editing. Her articles have been published on her blog, Writing to Inspire, and My Book Therapy’s Weekly Spark, and she’s copyedited for award-winning authors and several publishing companies. Additional short stories may be found on her website.
Connect with Andrea: writingtoinspire.blogspot.com.
 
Mary Polyakov is an extroverted book devourer whose childhood adventures in milking goats, growing whatever fit in a handy container, picking nettles, getting lost in forests and books, and exploring with her siblings gave her a love of story and adventure, which led to a combination of the two. She strives to write what honors God and celebrates the things about sibling relationships and friendship that build up instead of tear down.
Connect with Mary: instagram.com/ive_seen_a_new_world

































Coming soon to a retailer near you! Anything, a King’s Daughters’ Story Collection. Release date: April 26, 2021 #AnythingKDWC


Buy it on Amazon here!






















I hope you enjoyed this blog post and will buy your very own copy of "Anything"!


Blessings,

Shay

Author Interview | Kristina Hall

  Author Interview What made you want to start writing? I’ve always loved stories and have been a big reader of Christian fiction since I wa...