ICRS - Staying home

July 8, 2008 | books, community, media interviews, mentoring, writing

It’s been interesting this week. I’m on several writing and speaking loops and the buzz is all about ICRS (International Christian Retail Show). They are talking about flights and shuttles and hotels, and interviews and book signings, and get-togethers.

And for the first time in eight years, I won’t be a part.

But it’s okay. I’m not supposed to be there this year, and I’m at peace with that. Other things are taking precedence and financially it just doesn’t make sense. I expected to nose dive when the buzz started. I love ICRS.

Last year I had two books coming out, one with Kregel and one with Harvest House. I had TV interviews, radio interviews, dinners and brunches and late night hang-out time with some of my favorite authors and speakers. I changed clothes at least twice a day, sometimes more as I jetted from one event to the next in the Hotlanta sun. I got to meet musical artists and hear their new songs and CD’s. I listened to speakers like Rob Bell. I perused the massive ICRS floor where publishers presented their new titles. I spent time sitting with good friends who LOVE the same things I do, like ministry and writing, and talked shop. I was one of the authors at the Personality party, an event where I got to meet some of my favorite writers.

But there was one moment that was better than all of those. A transforming moment.

I was in line holding a plate filled with delicious breakfast. It was a Harvest House Publishers brunch. Stormie O’Martien and her daughter sat nearby. Emilie Barnes and her sweet husband, George, were at the table behind me. Reps and media filled the room, waiting to visit with these A-list authors. Suddenly an arm slipped through mine.

“Sit with me,” the woman said, standing near me.

I turned. Kay Arthur.

“Yes, mam,” I replied. (more…)

The Road Less Traveled: Forgiveness

July 5, 2008 | faith

I was talking with two friends about forgiveness. All three of us have dealt with this issue. One friend’s dad was an alcoholic. The other was sexually molested as a girl.

These close friends, and I, have moved on from the past, leaving those memories behind to pursue life and all that God has for each of us. We are writers and speakers. We teach on healing and wholeness. We have solid marriages. Families that are close and loving. Faith that transcends the events of the past.

But as we talked, I realized that forgiveness was still an issue, just in a different way.

“It’s the small stuff that gets me,” one friend said. “I’ve forgiven my past. I can forgive the big things. But someone can do something little and it makes me angry, and I don’t want to let it go.” (more…)

Works for me: Five Ingredient Recipes

July 4, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller

I met a new bloggy friend in N. Carolina. Come to find out she’s an Oklahoma girl. This Wednesday she held a Works for Me recipe blast. Over 800 bloggers linked to her, posting recipes on their sites that contained five ingredients or less (excluding water, salt, and pepper).

My mouth watered as I scanned the list. I’ve been in a serious recipe rut now that the kiddos are out of the nest and it’s just me and Richard. I can’t wait to start trying some of these. Anything that takes five ingredients or less = easy for Suzie. Yay! Plus some of them were for desert. Mmmm.

I also challenged the Boomer Babes over at Allison Bottke’s wonderful site to join in. So, here’s my contribution for the day:

Grilled Turkey Tenderloin w/Stuffing

 Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. dried thyme or tarragon leaves
3 (12 oz.) turkey breast tenderloins
8 serving size amount turkey or chicken stuffing mix

Preparation:
Mix lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and tarragon in a glass baking dish. Add turkey tenderloins and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour but not longer than 24 hours.

Brush grill rack with vegetable oil and heat grill. Grease a 9″ square aluminum pan and set aside. Remove turkey tenderloins from marinade and place directly on grill. Cover grill and cook turkey 4-5″ from medium coals for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in large bowl stir stuffing mix together with amount of water called for on package. Spoon into prepared aluminum pan and cover with foil.

Add pan with stuffing to grill rack. Brush turkey with marinade and turn. Discard remaining marinade. Cover and grill 10-15 minutes longer or until center is no longer pink or internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F and stuffing is hot and tender. Let turkey and stuffing stand for 10 minutes before serving. Cut tenderloins into 1″ pieces and serve with stuffing. 8 servings

Happy eating!

Gliding down the Illinois River

July 3, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller

Richard and I bought a raft. We live just a few miles from the Illinois River. Rafting and canoeing is big business, and at $20 a person (up to $100 per raft) it gets pricey. So we invested in our own raft, paddles and life jackets. It costs exactly $1 for a pass from the Scenic River Commission.

On Tuesday we made a trial run. We dropped off one vehicle at an exit point, and then traveled down the highway to find a public access.

“Hey babe, what’s the odometer say?” Richard asked from the back seat. (The canoe was tied on in a gotta-make-this-work fashion and somehow neither of our front doors opened because of it - I climbed in the window. Richard took the easy way in, opening the door and taking the back seat.)

“Two miles. No three. Oh, now we’re going on four,” I said.

It was 7:30 p.m. We left the house earlier, but the raft flew in the air four feet, causing quite a scare. Which is why we went back home, found some rope, and tied it inside and outside the car.

At the River, we untied the raft and set it in the water, threw the jackets in and jumped in. The river is high because Oklahoma has had a huge amount of rain. We floated away. The fun began!

An hour an a half later, we were having a blast. Large fish swam nearby. A large crane-like bird followed us. It was peaceful. No one, and I mean NO ONE was floating. A few people swam in public access areas. A few watched us from decks nestled at river camps.

“Where do you think that bridge is?” I asked. Sundown wasn’t far away. The night noises were humming and buzzing. (more…)

Oops!

July 2, 2008 | family, just for fun

Have you ever done something and instantly knew it was a mistake?

Right before I traveled to She Speaks I thought it would be a great idea to add some highlights. My beautician had cut it but didn’t have time to do anything else. I went home, bummed, until I saw Melissa. She and Josh were visiting.

I ran to Wal Mart and picked up a highlighting kit that promised to be easy and fun. I couldn’t wait to tell Melissa that I had handpicked her to help me with this hair project. And according to the box, there was fun to be had as well.

“Don’t ask me to do this,” she said.

I was surprised at her lack of enthusiasm. Melissa loves hanging out with me (a total blessing), and usually she’s game for a challenge.

“I’m begging you,” she said. “You’ll regret this.” (more…)

priceless

books, community, ministry life

This is a repost from last year, just about this time. It was my story of a bookstore gone bad, gone good.

Yesterday I set up a bookstore at our community Independence Day celebration. One person picked up The Mom I Want to Be and turned it over, glancing at my pic on the back side.

“Is that you? Are you the author?”

“Yes,” I said, smiling. “But this is the red-faced, sweaty version.”

It was hot. Muggy. Searing sunshine, even under the forest-green canopy.

I have to be honest. I questioned why I had decided to sell books.

At the end of the evening I had only sold 10, netting a profit of about $30-35, minus the cost of the candy, time spent setting up, carrying books and books of boxes, the flowers to put on the table.

Okay, I made zero.

(more…)

Shameless Audacity

July 1, 2008 | faith

I’m on a word kick this week. Words that rock my world. Words that show me Jesus.

My friend, Kris Hammonds, is a twentysomething man and is an amazing teacher. (Hey, Kris!)

He ministered to some other twentysomethings nearly three years ago and the words he spoke stuck in my heart. They are still there today. The title of his sermon was Shameless Audacity. (more…)

Nevertheless

June 30, 2008 | faith

Nevertheless.

She was in jail, addicted to meth; nevertheless, today she is a godly woman, she has recaptured the love of her children, and ministers as a chaplain in the jail in which she was once imprisoned.

She had an affair and wanted to die; nevertheless, she found hope in Jesus, and now leads a flourishing ministry for women who walk in the shoes she once wore.

She was high, destitute, pregnant; nevertheless today she worships in the front row, her hands lifted high, her beautiful little girl receiving a different life than the one momma once had.

He was lost, couldn’t get past the hurt of losing someone he loved, unable to reach out for hope; nevertheless God reached for him and he opened his arms wide and today he knows the love of a Heavenly Father.

I love this word: nevertheless. Perhaps it is the word that most resembles salvation to me. Not rules. Not people’s expectations. But rather God’s abounding love that runs deeper than any river. God’s mercy that is wider than the Grand Canyon.

God’s transformation that happens in spite of our best–or worst–efforts.

Nevertheless.

The people I described are real. How many more are there that can point to the nevertheless experiences in their life. I know I can. Not just the encounter with God when I didn’t know Him, but today, every day.

I am angry; nevertheless I will trust you and ask you to soothe my heart and help me to respond wisely.

I am hurt; nevertheless you are my shelter.

I need direction; nevertheless I will trust you and seek your guidance.

I am happy and joyfilled, why? Because of you.

Because of nevertheless.

A free day

June 28, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller

I woke up at 9:51 a.m. this morning. Lazy, you say?

Yes, and I love it!

For today is a free day. The first Saturday that I’ve had with no obligations for several weeks. Between speaking, weddings, family events, graduation, and more it’s been a whirlwind.

Yesterday we moved Ryan and Kristin to their new apartment in Tulsa. I don’t know how these newlyweds acquired so MUCH STUFF! Heavy stuff. We were a convoy. Ryan in the U-Haul. Kristin driving behind him. His good friend, Ricky, behind her, his car loaded. Then my husband in a truck filled to the brim, and then me driving Ryan’s car.

And oh yes, I had a mishap. A TV sitting in the front seat blocked my view on the right so I pulled forward in the parking area to make a loop, rather than back up. I hit a small white thingy poking up out of the asphalt. I scraped Ryan’s nice car. Not a great moment for any of us.

But today they are snug in their new apartment and beginning their new life. . .

And today I have nothing to do. 

Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

But it’s raining, so we’ll see what the day holds.

I have high hopes. Richard and I invested in a raft about a month ago. We live 8 miles from the Illinois River and we want to float down it. Normally it costs big bucks to rent canoes and rafts, so our hope is to use this all summer and recoup our investment with just one or two floats.

I can see us already. Floating lazily. With a cooler filled with ice cold diet soda and water and snacks. Sun playing on our skin. Throwing a fishing line out if we want. Saying hello to all the other floaters and canoers and water seekers.

Guess what? The rain is slowing down. Gotta go bloggy friends. I’ve got some rafting to do!

Comments from She Speaks

June 27, 2008 | calendar, ministries, writing

At the She Speaks conference, I shared my normal working attire: blue jersey shorts, a tank top or T-shirt, barefoot, no makeup, and my hair in a ponytail.

I wish you could see me now. The only thing is that I’m not wearing a ponytail. Otherwise, dead on.

Some professional, huh? : )

But it’s the words that flow and the work ethic that matters, and I can dress up when I’m traveling to conferences, eating out with my hubby, or stepping outside the door into the real world.

Here are a few of the comments from friends made at She Speaks (who thankfully don’t care what I’m wearing right now). Love you girls!

From Tammy: Your workshop was outstanding! One of my absolute favorites! Thank you for your “tips” and your “transparency.” I smile as I sit here with glasses on, hair in pony tail, wearing sweat pants! (more…)