Excerpt from The Fudged Up Murder . . .

   Here's a sneak peak into The Fudged Up Murder - Coming in late November!

    . . . Instinct said to call the police, but Jessaca Anderson hesitated. If she went down on record as the person that found the body, things could get messy. If she just walked out of the cafeteria, no one would know. Someone else would find the body, and she could stay in the clear.

      It was too late to do anything for the man. He was obviously dead. Jessaca took one last look to survey the scene. The man was older, probably in his fifties. It could just be a heart attack or something, but . . . well, even if it wasn’t murder, she couldn’t get involved.

       With every fiber of common sense screaming against her, Jessaca headed for the front exit. Glancing out the glass of the front door, she spied two figures approaching. The elderly Martin sisters held hands as they moved along the icy sidewalk of Middle Ridge, Minnesota.

        Jessaca backed up and glanced both ways. The back entrance would have to do. Besides, then she could stop by the superintendent’s office and leave the papers with him. That’s why she’d come wasn’t it?

          Jessaca shook her head and tried to think straight. Why was this bothering her so much? Swallowing hard, she knew that it wasn’t the body; it was the fact that she couldn’t get involved. She’d always fought for the truth. The truth had to be known, but . . . could she risk it?

       The clacking of her heeled winter boots echoed down the empty corridors as she half-ran down the hall. Reaching the superintendent’s office, she paused. It was empty. He’d said he would be there. Could he have something to do with the death? The room was void of any Christmas décor that usually creeps into offices the week before Christmas, and his chair was pushed back like he’d left in a hurry. She took a step into his office. Should she investigate why he wasn’t here?

      “Stop it, Jessa,” she whispered to herself. “You’ve got to forget about this! Forget you ever saw the body!”

       She dropped the files on the desk and left. . . 

Book Trailer!

COMING SOON in late November/Early December is the . . . FUDGED UP MURDER!!!!

Would You Rather . . .

So . . . I came across a list of 'would you rather' questions and thought I'd answer them for you.

   1. Would you rather be ten minutes late all the time, or twenty minutes early all the time.
   My answer - I'd rather be twenty minutes early ALL the time! (Unless of course. . . I'm dreading the event . . .)

    2. Would you rather be famous when you're alive, and forgotten when you're dead, or ignored in life, and famous after you die?
    My answer - I'd rather be famous when I'm alive! When I'm dead, I won't much care, and Heaven is going to be WAY cooler than ANY fame this world could offer.

    3. Would you rather go to jail for four years for something you did NOT do, or get away with a horrible crime, and never be caught, but live in fear of being caught?
     My answer - I'd rather go to jail for four years knowing I was innocent.

   4. Would you rather live in the wilderness far from civilization, or live on the streets of a big city as a homeless person?
   My answer - I'd rather live in the wilderness!

   5. Would you rather the general public think you're a horrible person, but your family be very proud of you? Or your family think you're a horrible person, but the public be very proud of you?
    My answer - I'd rather have my family be proud of me!

  6. Would you rather be alone for the rest of your life, or surrounded by annoying people?
   My answer - I'd probably rather be surrounded by annoying people . . . I like alone time, but I'm pretty sure I'd go CRAZY if I was all alone all the time!

   7. Would you rather never use social media, websites, or apps for the rest of your life, or give up all movies and tv shows?
   My answer - I'd rather give up social media etc . . . I enjoy old movies WAY more than social media . . .

   8. Would you rather be invisible for a day, or be able to fly for a day?
   My answer - I'd rather be invisible!

   9. Would you rather have unlimited sushi for life, or unlimited tacos?
   My answer - Well, seeing as how I've never tried sushi . . . I'll go with the tacos!

   10. Would you rather not be able to eat meat, or vegetables?
       My answer - Vegetables!  I don't hate them but . . . I LOVE chicken . . . and fish . . . and sausage . . . and BACON!!!

    11.  Would you rather look stupid, or be stupid?
    My answer - Look stupid! (I mean why do you think I bundle up in the cold!)


  What do you think? Are there any of these that you'd like to answer? Go for it in the comments!

The Beginning . . .

  Last fall, I wrote a post about The End, of my fall, with pictures of fall, and a bit about an average fall. I didn't want to repeat that post, although much of it is the same this fall. So, instead of looking at the end of my summer/fall, I'm looking at the beginning of winter.

The snow's been coming down pretty hard all morning.

So much for a walk in the crunching leaves!

While I don't know if this snow will stay all winter or not, and it's kind of hindering with some of the harvest, I'm still thankful for it. Thankful that God can cover the mud with clean snow. Looking into my own life, I'm glad God covers my 'muddy' sins with his clean snow of righteousness. The AWESOME part? HIS whiteness doesn't melt!!!! And it not only covers the mud, it completely removes the mud!

I don't know what my future holds. I'm not sure where I'll be a few months from now, and honestly, I don't really care. Oh, I have dreams! I have hopes, and I have fears. But I know that wherever HE takes me, it will be an adventure.

Each day is the beginning of the rest of our lives. Today's decisions will determine who I am ten years from now. Today's choices, will determine how committed I am in the future. So, take the time today, to be in the WORD of GOD. Make choices that will help you be a strong christian in the future. God has provided us with the armor to fight and WIN! But if we sit back, and wait to put it on till we need it, more often than not, when we need it, we don't want it. Keep it on! Keep allowing God to 'temper the steel' and keep pointing others to HIM.

This winter, I have dreams and goals . . . I'm planning on having The Fudge Up Murder published by Christmas. I'd like to attend a few homeschool conventions with a vendor booth. I'd like to do more memorizing, writing, piano, and a dozen other things! But as this winter begins, I want more than anything, to stay focused on God.

 It's far too easy to let Satan lie to us. It's far too easy to sit back and be apathetic. As this winter begins, DON'T let Satan discourage you! God is working. We can be a part of it. We can have victory in Jesus! 

FUN FACT - We made Jewish Tabouli in pocket bread the other day. (We hadn't done this in a REALLY long time.)

FIRST TIME - I had someone at the maze talking about the author of my books with me, and they had NO idea that I wrote them!

  FUNNY STORY - (at least, I thought it was funny at the time.) On Sunday, at church, during Scripture reading, I was following along, in Revelation 19. In verse seventeen, I zoned out for a bit, and I heard the part about an angel calling . . . ". . . for the supper of the great God . . ." And then into verse 18, "That you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captaains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great." WHAT!?!?!?! I couldn't believe it! I thought we were still talking about the marriage supper of the Lamb!!!! I did a double take, and went back. As it turns out, the angel was talking to the birds. . . And how the BIRDS are going to clean up after the battle of Armageddon. 

    MORAL to the story - DO NOT zone out while reading Scripture! It can give you a TOTALLY WRONG view! When I realized my mistake, I almost laughed. 

   Pastor pointed out that it listed kings to slaves, and how in the end, all of their fates were going to be the same regardless of their rank, wealth, or social status. It doesn't matter what position we are in life, what matters, is do we know Jesus as OUR personal savior? If so, then we've got a LOT to look forward to! If not . . . well, the birds will do their thing.

Trauma Drama vs. Peace

  So, I came across this poem the other day . . . At first, I laughed at it, and thought it was humorously morbid, but then, as I thought through it,  it struck me as a good example, of James 1:2 ". . . Count it ALL joy, when ye fall into divers temptations. . ." and 1 Thess. 5:18 "In EVERYTHING give thanks, for this IS the WILL of God in Christ Jesus concerning YOU." And Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in PERFECT peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because He trusteth in Thee."
     When trials happen, and they do...  1 Peter 1:6 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:" Sometimes, we NEED manifold temptations and discouragement to make us lean on Christ. The important thing, is how do we deal with this heaviness?
    I'll share the poem, and then, some personal stories about situations in my life where God's been teaching me this.

HOW DID YOU DIE - By Edmund Vance Cooke

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way,

With resolute heart and cheerful? 

Or hide your face from the light of day

With craven soul and fearful?

Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,

Or a trouble is what you make it.

And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,

But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?

Come up with a smiling face!

It's nothing against you to fall down flat, 

But to lie there - THAT'S disgrace.

The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce!

Be proud of your blackened eye!

It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts;

It's how did you fight and why? 

And though you be done to death, what then?

If you battled the best you could;

If you played your part in the world of men,

Why, the Critic will call it good.

Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,

And whether he's slow or spry.

It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,

But only, how did you die?

    I feel a little bit silly sharing this, because I know that I don't have it all together, and I DON'T live this way as much as I should, but the truth is the same, whether I live it perfectly or not.  Trials are going to come. But how do you take it?

   When I was twelve, there was this skirt. It was my FAVORITE skirt, and I lived in it. One day, the zipper broke. I cried. I came storming downstairs mad at the world, and made sure everyone at home knew how awful my life was! (I remember the day clearly because it also happens to be the day that I found out about Aaron and Naomi.) 

   On Tuesday, my phone died. Like dead died. If you know me, you know that while I think 'living on your phone' is wrong, I do have tendencies to be on there WAY too much. So, when my phone conked out, I had two thoughts. One - I'm going to die! But it was quickly followed by thought TWO - It's OKAY! "My God SHALL supply ALL your needs!" If I don't have it, I don't need it! I had total peace about it because I knew that it was God's timing. My phone could have busted a week earlier, or a few weeks later, but it didn't. It happened JUST when God knew I needed it. He ALWAYS gives us what we need! 

   The difference between those two scenarios? Simply my attitude. Both situations were similar. Both times, something was wrong in my life, and I had two different responses. One, I looked at the situation, and how it ruined MY plans. The second response, was to look up. When our focus is on HIM and HIS plan instead of our plans, our dreams, and our lives, HE gives us peace!!! Isaiah 26:3 says "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on THEE, because he trusteth in Thee." If our perspective is right, our attitudes will be right, and our day, though still filled with heaviness through manifold temptations, we can have the peace of God. We DO NOT have to let the devil control our lives! GREATER is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world!!! 

The poem put it so well, if you're going through trouble, a ton or an ounce, it's what you make of it. It's not the fact that you're licked that counts, but how did you fight? "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:" Proverbs 24:16

    So, my encouragement? Don't look at the circumstances! Look at the God who's going to be with you for ALL eternity! He IS the GREAT I AM!!!! Not the great I was, or the great will be, HE IS THE GREAT I AM!!!! GOD has got this!!!! He CAN and WILL handle your problems, if you let Him.

Flying in a Cloud

    I don't understand life. There are problems that I can't fix. Pains I can't heal. Sorrows that I can't mend. Questions that I can't answer. Decisions that I can't make. And a future that I can't see.

    I had a long conversation with my 'brother' the other day, about how hard it is to do the right thing when you don't know why things happen. When you don't understand what's happening in your life.
      We talked about people in the Bible. Job, and the pain he went through, with no understanding of why. Joseph in prison, with every right to be discouraged, depressed, and unhappy. Abraham, who picked up and moved without knowing where he was going. We have an awesome view of their lives, because we have the whole picture. We see where God led them, and what He did in their lives. But we often forget that they didn't know what God was doing at the time. They felt just like us. Lost, discouraged, unsure of the future, doubting their decisions. Yet, in the end, they did the right thing.
       How? How did these ordinary people end up where they did, when they couldn't see where they were going?
      My 'brother' compared it to flying in a cloud. When you're flying in a cloud, you can't see where you're going. Sometimes, you can't even see the tips of your wings. Your feelings get out of wack, and instinct, will make you respond wrongly. Make you send the plane into a Graveyard Spiral.
     In our life, we can't see the future. We can't see the big picture. Instinct makes us want to make decisions sometimes that can leave us with regrets. Leave us like David, with a lifetime of consequences from our sin.
       When flying in a cloud, you can't trust yourself. You can't trust your instincts. You HAVE to rely on the instruments. No matter how wrong it feels, you have to forget your instinct, and trust your instruments. They will help you get safely through the clouds. They will help you land without crashing. They will help get you to where you need to go.
     In life, we have GOT to trust our instruments if we don't want to end up in a Graveyard Spiral. Our instruments? The Bible. We may not be able to see our wings, or the future, or the end of our nose, but we can trust our instruments. The Bible is a light to our feet, and a light to our path. It gives us commands, and when we don't know what to do, we can always do what we know. The obvious commands, like being thankful, and the other gauges will fall into place.
    Whether we have a Mayday call, Pan-Pan call, or just need to talk, God is our ATC. We can talk at any time, and He will help. We have HIS WORD as our instruments to guide us, and free access to Him at ALL times. We NEVER have to worry about being on a wrong frequency, HE ALWAYS hears us!
    So, if you feel like you're in a cloud right now, like you can't see your wings, and you can't see any purpose, or end in sight, and like the big picture isn't ever going to show up, relax. Trust your instruments. Focus on them, not on the clouds. Talk to God, and follow your instruments. Don't let the clouds distract you and make you do things that you'll regret. Follow your instruments.

Apart from good conversations, I've been kept busy with corn maze season. In the 'Granary' gift shop, Mom lets me display my books.

Despite the corn maze season, I still manage to spend a little time on my computer with some writing.

I have no idea what I'm talking about in this picture, but our church had our 25th anniversary this year, and we had a banquet meal. It was REALLY awesome to get to see everyone and share a 'family style' meal together.

Standing in line and visiting with my family in Christ is always a blessing!

Us young people sang a few songs during the service and it was such a blessing to think on the words of the songs. 

Back at the maze, I don't normally get to talk very much to people at the maze, but once in a while, I get a second to grab a selfie with a friend! I LOVE our workers, who also happen to by my best friends. It's AWESOME working with them!!!! :):):) (And if we look bundled up, it's because it was REALLY cold! We had snow off and on.)

And while working in the Granary, I often get visited by cousins!

Our church had a campfire service at the maze, with a time of s'mores, hot cider, hot chocolate, hayrides, and fellowship afterwards. It is ALWAYS so encouraging to see people coming out in the cold and singing together to praise God. We had a prayer time, and Dad shared a devotional on Proverbs 27:1-2. It reminded me of a devotional he shared not to long ago. One that I think is crucial to understand in the Christian life.

     Satan wants us to blow it spiritually. He wants us to live with regrets. He wants us to sin. If Satan tempted us with outright sin, we'd probably be able to resist a lot easier, but he doesn't normally say things like . . . "Go kill someone." "Go rob a bank." "Go commit adultery." "Go dress immodestly." "Go burn your Bible."

     Instead, he tempts us by saying things like . . . "A little bit won't hurt you."  "Just one lie isn't a problem."  "You can handle looking at one bad picture."  "You can hide one lie."  "If you miss your Bible reading today, it's okay."   "If you forget to pray for a few days, it's okay."   "Talking back this once won't hurt."  "Wearing something a 'little' immodest isn't a problem." Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

    He follows these lies, with his second lie. "You've already blown it, so why try?"   "You've already lied once, why not again?"   "You've already disrespected your parents in secret, why not in public?"    "You've already broken your commitment of a pure mind, why keep a pure body?"    "You've already blown it, so just give in."

   WATCH OUT for these lies! A little sin DOES hurt you!!!! And if you do sin, it's NEVER to late to get forgiveness. You're NEVER beyond God's love. You will never be able to blow it so bad that forgiveness isn't possible. Consequences may follow you forever, but God's love will also follow you.

   My challenge to you, and to myself, is to keep your instruments in focus, not the clouds. Don't let Satan convince you that a little sin won't hurt you, and don't let him convince you that you've gone to far for forgiveness. Don't make soft choices. Make the hard decisions that will bring you through the cloud, and to a place where you can look back and say "I have fought a GOOD fight, I have finished the course, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH!"

     Look down the road. Ten years from now, where do you want to be spiritually? Are you doing things today to get you there? Are you saying no to the easy choices to slack of in your prayer life, and in your devotions, and making the hard decisions to seek God, and trust your instruments? Are you doing things that will help you down the road glorify God?
    Until next time, this is Priscilla J. Krahn reminding you to stay STRONG in the LORD, and weak in self. We don't get life, but God's got it. He can get you through.