Real Reasons Change on a Dime - Thoughtful Thursday

Hey, y'all! Caryl McAdoo here! :)

I recently returned from Nashville where I attended the Christian Fiction Readers’ Retreat (CFRR) and the American Christian Fiction Writers’ (ACFW) Conference’ Marketplace. Carting my books, forever optimistic me hoped to sell enough to offset the cost of the trip; I drove, too. It’s so funny that after all these years, I still carry way too many and barely sell a fraction of what I fully expected to.

But you know what, I like that about me. Was I disappointed? Not for a minute! I was having way too much fun hugging necks and making face-to-face contact with so many Friends I’d met on Facebook over the years!

Joy & me

One of my eVALUaters (that’s my group of influencers who help promote my novels) Joy Gibson drove over three hours to have lunch with me. She’s been a wonderful supporter and fan of my writing for two years, but we’d never met in person! Her dear husband drove her all that way because she can’t drive anymore. What a blessing for me. Joy has a wonderful testimony! I love her! The lunch at Cracker Barrel was perfect!

Susan & me

On the first night in Nashville with the CFRR the next morning, a reader, Susan Lindsey Rogers got in touch with me through my phone’s facebook messaging, and we went to Panera Bread for supper together! It was such a great time visiting and getting to know one another!

Bonnie & me

That next morning, one of my dearest supporters, Bonnie Roof—she founded the CFRR with two others—came in and I could not wait to hug her neck! I’ve loved my Bonnie for years. She’s been such a blessing in my life!








Connecting with authors who are good friends I’ve met and seen the last three years at ACFW and others I’ve met on Facebook but never seen face-to-face thrilled me yet again!

I met bloggers, too, from blogs I'd visited!



My Thursday Thought : In the end, the amazing time that I had didn’t have a
thing to do with books, but the blessings God has brought to my life in this one-of-a-kind community I’m a part of…the Christian fiction authors and readers.

They hugged my neck and we visited! Truly such a divine appointment. I pray you all have the opportunity to go to such an event and have as good a time as I did! catalyst to get me      

GIVEAWAY* GIVEAWAY* GIVEAWAY

I love to give books away, so if you’ll leave a comment here on how God’s blessed you recently, I’ll put your name in the hat to be gifted a print copy of VOW UNBROKEN, book one in my historical Texas Romance series!

Hugs and blessings, y’all!

BIO: Caryl McAdoo loves God, and currently writes four series: the historical Christian ‘Texas Romance’ a family saga; a contemporary ‘Red River Romance’; The Generations, her Biblical fiction, and the newest Days of Dread Trilogy for mid-grade readers. Known as the “Singing Pray-er”, she loves praising with new songs the Lord gives her and prays her story gives God glory! In 2008, she and high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty-plus years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings, believing all good things come from the Lord. Besides glorifying Him, she hopes each title also ministers His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. The McAdoos live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons.

THE BEDWARMER'S SON (New Release Available for pre-order)  Author Page 

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A FUN PUZZLE for you!          

He Who Has a Friend . . .

A friend is one who doesn’t walk in front of me leading me to wherever they go.

A friend isn’t one who follows me, no matter where I may lead.
But it’s a person who walks beside me, sometimes arm in arm, other times with a small distance between us, giving me room to make my decisions, supporting me whether they agree or not, encouraging me in my endeavors, laughing and crying with me. Yet that invisible link connects us as friends and sisters.

I’ve had, and have, those kind of friends:

My mother who has listened and let me have her sandwich anyway even after I said, no, I didn’t want one. She’s the person who’s cried with me and laughed and shared and been there forever.

                                                                                                                   Walking Beside Me
My husband who vowed to love and cherish me, who’s supported and encouraged and walked beside me when I’m afraid and nervous and lonesome. His love and friendship is deeper because he’s shared some of the same burdens as I have.

My friend Dreama. We may see each other once, or twice if time and circumstances are convenient, but the laughter and shared confidences are priceless. We laugh over silly arguments with husbands, our grandchildren, and life in general. Our friendship is solid, and I know will continue through the rest of our years.

Connie, my sister-in-law, who’s love of children and of family and her husband--my brother--are two values high on my list. She understands and is supportive because she’s been there in certain circumstances. She’s generous because she knows what it feels like to be chosen as second best continually. She’s understanding because of the years of our connection and because she’s just made that way.

I could go on and on.
Those with whom I’ve lost contact but have recently reconnected. Those who I see occasionally. Those whose lives have taken different roads than I’ve traveled upon, but who share some instance in the past with me. Some I only know online and have never met. Generous acts, small or big, make them valuable.

And God. The best friend a person could ask for. One who goes far and above what we could ask. The one who understands us better than we do ourselves; the one who loves us best.
                         Best Buddies

May I be there for a mother who’s suffering from dementia now, to understand and love and share with her as much as she has me. May I support my husband’s projects and walk beside him every step of his journey. May I continue friendship with people like Dreama and Connie and all the others who’ve walked beside me. May I laugh and rejoice with them as they have me. May I be as faithful of a friend as they have been to me.

And may I most of all, be the kind of friend who trusts and believes God knows best for my life, and support his decisions for me as he has for my desires and life.

Friendship and the Ritual of Tea

Do you long for a simpler time? Do you ever dream of a slower lifestyle, one where you have more hours in your day?

I do.

I love the opening lines in the header of this blog…

 "Whether it's a conversation with a friend, a word that is penned, or a craft that is made, everything we do leaves a stitch in the fabric of time…"

These words evoke in me feelings of an era gone by, a simpler time.

There are pleasant ways in this busy world of ours to carve out quality time and return to days of yesteryear.

Many years ago I was introduced to the ritual of tea, served in a teapot on a tray with dainty cups and saucers. I was mesmerized with the grace and elegance of my hosts, Denley and Ann Caughman, my pastor and his wife. They had no idea of their impact on my life at the time. They do now, but this small town girl had never been exposed to such finery.

I.  Was. Hooked.

It was more than the tea itself, it was the hospitality displayed and shared. I soaked it in and decided then and there, I wanted to pattern my life after them. Their spiritual influence continues to this day.

Hospitality doesn't have to be complicated. A cup of tea, a piece of bread, warm conversation with friends, and relationships are deepened and flourish.

Kim, Stacy, and Dawn

Recently, I shared tea in my home with three friends preparing for a Bridal Tea. We pored over recipes and sipped different tea blends as we decided which ones we liked best.

One thing I love about the ritual of tea is you can't hurry when having tea. Typically, it's hot and you must sip. This causes you to slow down, or stop altogether in your mad dash and ponder life. Also, a cup and saucer are dainty china, so this too, forces one to be easy, gentle.

Anytime you sit around the table facing people, the natural flow of lively conversation begins. Hearts open to whatever is happening in our lives. It's the way we were created…for community.

Time…we all have the same amount. We choose how we spend it. We make our lives complicated by our choices and the choices we make for our children. I don't want to get to the end of my life and wish I'd used my time better.

Investing your life in others is never a waste of time. You will reap the benefits through lifelong friendships. When all is said and done, people are the only thing we can take to heaven, metaphorically speaking that is.

My dear friends Denley and Ann are still serving people. If you want to experience true southern hospitality and be served the finest food and tea in the south, they own a bed and breakfast in Marion, South Carolina.

How do you unwind and carve out the simple life? I'd love to hear in the comments.



You can find Cindy O'Brien at her blog  My Little Corner http://www.cindyobrien78.blogspot.com.

He is Risen...

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6

Jesus Has Risen

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them,“Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Enjoy this Easter with your family and friends...