A Novel Creation www.WatersWords.com

  “You are exactly where I want you to be.” Those words trigger a powerful memory for me. Mike and I go to Stable Faith Cowboy Church in Brooksville, Florida. And yes, it is a true cowboy church, rooted, if you will, in agriculture.  A church devoted to planting seeds and reaping crops…both literally and figuratively.  Stable Faith Cowboy Church Back to this past Sunday. I was sitting in church. The music was, as usual, wonderful. A thought came to me. Almost audible. It was a thought I’d had before. More than once. It was as if God was speaking directly to me saying,  “You are exactly where you need to be.” The first time this happened was in India. My youngest daughter and I traveled with a group from her church to work with young women who had been rescued from human trafficking. I say “women,” but the truth is, some of the girls we served were mere children. Kendall asked me to take this trip with her the spring after I lost my husband. Tom died in late October o...

March brings with it the beginning of Spring. I love that. And as I write this, it brings to mind the celebrations surrounding St. Patrick’s Day. I must admit, though, growing up I had no idea why we wore green on March 17 and why we would get pinched if we didn’t have a smattering of green somewhere on our person. Meet Author Cindy Thomson And yes, that's me with my granddaughter. One teacher I had in elementary school handed each of us not wearing anything green a piece of green construction paper. We traced around a plastic pattern and cut out shamrocks. We pinned them on our clothes before lunch or recess to keep us from getting pinched.   I had no idea why anyone would pinch us, but  that was the concern. I didn’t learn anything about St. Patrick or the  day celebrated in his honor until third or fourth grade. And then as an adult, I met Cindy Thomson.  Cindy is an author living in Ohio. Cindy writes books set in Ireland. Her books are so well written, you ...

  Overcoming Second Guessing and Self-Doubt I’ve always said you know you’re on the right track when the Evil One works hard to mess with you. In early January I sent a manuscript to a publishing house I respect. I started in on another story while I prayed and waited to hear if they accepted my book. I waited. And waited. And waited some more.  I didn’t expect an answer right away, but there was always a part inside of me hoping to see something from the publisher every time I opened my email. It’s the way of things.  February came. February, even in Florida has a gloom to it. I started second guessing myself and my ability to craft another novel. I submitted a couple of short stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul and a children’s story to Clubhouse Magazine.  Now I was waiting for more than one publisher to respond. I was waiting for a response on the book, two true stories, and a fiction piece for children. I wasn’t hearing anything from anybody. Midway through Feb...

  Can You Inherit a “Green Thumb?” My grandmother had a green thumb. She could grow anything. My mother has always been able to grow beautiful flowers and colorful vegetables.  My oldest daughter is like that. Allison can start a plant with a seed or broken stem or bit of root. I’m not kidding. She can grow anything and has a houseful of plants to prove it. The bulk of that innate ability to grow anything and everything obviously skipped a generation. Mine.  I am not a “plant whisperer” like my daughter or grandmother. I generally require seeds and directions. I’ve planted many a garden and grown vegetables for my family. I’ve managed to do well with outdoor plants.  Particularly those that live on neglect. I surprised myself when I saw a beautiful shrub outside a hotel in Kissimmee, Florida. I told Mike I wanted to grow one like it even as I pinched off a sprig of the greenery.  I wrapped it in a damp napkin and we headed home. Back at the house, I found a jar,...