I found myself back on Determined Drive today, remembering the difficulties of a brand new writer. The questions, insecurities, doubts and fears. A particular situation stands out in my mind where I arrived at a crossroads. I felt inadequate, overwhelmed, and about this high in my confidence level.

But there rose up within me such a determination to write, no matter what anyone else thought or whether I ever reached publication and saw my name in print. A time when God slanted my stubbornness to a good purpose : ) He provided so many friends and mentors along the way as I found my own Determined Drive. I would like to return that favor to others. 

If you are a new writer, what would be helpful to you on Lovely Lane?

Writing opportunities? Cheerleading? Discussing writing genres? Book recommendations?

Have you taken a moment today to give thanks? 

How often we pray and pray and ask and ask, then when God answers our prayer, we toss off a casual, “thanks” and go about our day. I know I’ve done it.   I bet you have, too.

Lately, I’m trying to put as much effort and passion into my giving of thanks as I do in my constant requests and pleas for help. And I am feeling the difference. The joy that comes from my gratitude and heartfelt worship to the Creator of all.

I challenge you to list five things that you are thankful for this week. Truly and deeply thankful for. I’ll start with one – I’m so grateful the snow is gone and fall is back! Yippee! Let’s build up a good “Thanks Deposit” this week because next week we may be going down Rejection Road…and it won’t feel quite as rocky if we have paved the way with thanksgiving.

“For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain,and to the great rain of his strength.” Job 37:6

Of course the word “snow” would be found in the book of Job, a book of troubles and woe. From a disgruntled New Yorker who dreads winter, I was not happy with the snowfall that came yesterday, in OCTOBER. Way too soon. It is still supposed to be golden leaves and pumpkins, we haven’t even reached Halloween yet, not to mention Thanksgiving. 

I think perhaps a newly trained angel pressed the wrong button.

But it’s pretty, you say. I tried to focus on the beauty of it this morning. As I attempted to wheel the trashcans to the road for pickup, I realized they needed snow tires. And I did admire the pine trees coated with clumps of heavy flakes as they drooped way, way low, hopefully not cutting off my phone line. I noticed the long stretch of suffering hedges, weighted down with mounds of snow, coating all the leaves bravely trying to flaunt their color, now just a blur of stark whiteness. Do you sense I’m having a bit of a problem with this?

So on Word Trail today, I need your help with the word “snow.” Please share with me your positive thoughts on this word. Any good memories? What do you do in winter when it snows? For days on end? Till you lose power? Positive thoughts, please! Hot chocolate, anyone?