New Things

Greetings from the Wet, West Coast.

Canada's international reputation is of a land of snow and ice, but here on Vancouver Island the grass is green; red, yellow and gold leaves still cling to the trees.

We are also home of the famous Butchart Gardens http://butchartgardens.com/ and that's the prize in today's draw If you comment on this blog and leave your e-mail address, I'll enter you in a contest for a calndar and packet of seeds from Butchart's I'll draw the prize on Wed. Nov 18 and contact the winner by e-mail.

November is associated with the dying year, but for me this has been a time of new things. This blog for one. I've never blogged before so I've lots to learn.

On things technical, I'm updating my websitehttp://alicevaldal.com/ -- another skill set to add to my repertoire.

We're renovating the bathroom, although that is getting old! The two week job has now stretched to four and counting. Anyone remember the old Murphy Brown show on TV? Her house painter, Eldon, became a permanent fixture in her home.

I've also started rehearsals for the Christmas musical play at our church. This is a writing gig not of my choosing but one that has resulted in great rewards. I conduct a junior choir at our church. for several years we did a spring musical. Then, when the choir numbers fell, we expanded to include some adults and performed Once Upon a Christmas by Marian Rettke and Owen Hatch. This photo is my husband and I as Martin and Marya. The performance was so well received that I've been pressed into mounting a production every Christmas. Since the plays that suit our needs are few to nil, I've ended up writing my own. Stretches my imagination and my writing skills -- no room for telling. Everything must be shown. The play also stretches my faith. When rehearsals go badly -- as they always do -- I remind myself that I'm not in this alone. If I'm following God's plan, He'll provide what I need.

Another new thing is a Bible study I've joined. We meet in people's homes. I love the intimate setting and the chance to learn from each other and to ask any question that comes to mind. We're discussing evangelism in a pluralistic and relativistic society.

Joining International Christian Fiction Writers is new for me as well. I've been published in historical romance and contemporary romance, but directing my work toward the Christian market is a new path -- although it feels like I've come home. At present I have two completed manuscripts sitting in the figurative stew pot. I've learned over the years that stories that sparkle and shine and leap off the page at first blush turn dull and tarnished and flat when viewed from a distance. Rather than have an editor point out that fact to me, I hold onto the early version for a while. Then read and revise, hold again, read and revise until I'm satisfied it is the best I can do.

So there is my month of new things. Tell me about the new things in your life and let's hope along with poet Robert Herrick that new things succeed, as former things grow old -- Ceremonies for Candlemas Eve.

http://alicevaldal.com/