Thoughtful About . . . Looking

Thoughtful About . . . Looking

by | Nov 29, 2012 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized

The Prayer by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
 Two weeks ago I brought up callings. And in the responses I got, I realized that I probably should have used different terminology, because while what I’ve been thinking about does encompass that lofty idea of “my Calling,” it’s not just about that. It’s about wherever we are right now.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the kind of society we’ve become. Everything is so instant these days, isn’t it? From mashed potatoes to messaging. We expect answers fast, we expect results fast. And so when things take time–as in, pray for years and years kind of time–we often give up. A disconnect has formed between our input and our output–we see things all the time on the news that makes us go, “Wow, something should be done!” … But we don’t really know what to do about it. 
As I’ve pondered this and looked to history (as we all know I always do, LOL) for answers, I really think the key is to change our perspective. It needs to start with our prayers–and I’ll be honest, this is a tough one for me. I say prayers on the fly as needs are presented, but so rarely do I find a quiet time to seek the Lord before I hear the needs, independently of specific requests. Which I need to fix. Because let’s face it, who wants to be in a relationship where you only talk when you need something? Sigh. Not me.
So I’m making an effort. And as I do, I’m adding a new prayer. It’s pretty simple. It just says, “Show me how to serve today, Lord.”
Now, this hasn’t resulted in any crystalline echoes of “Go here and do this life-altering thing.” To be expected. Because if I want to help a change come, in my life or my church or my community, I have to start with the little things, the inside things. I have to listen to those whispers that show me first how to be a good wife, a good mom, a good me.
And then…then I have to look. Look for the path He wants me trodding. Look for ways to help. Look for ways to serve. I can’t expect to just go on with my everyday life until some perfect opportunity to show the love of the Lord appears before me. Oh, those will come every now and then. But if I go out seeking? If I go through each day looking for ways to help others? If I think about that before I think about me? If we all do? 
Hmm. Doesn’t it just make you wonder what might happen?
I’m going to be thinking a lot about this over the next few months, and I’m going to be talking to people far better at it than I, people who have made a real, quiet difference in the lives of others. I’m going to be sharing these stories in a monthly column in Book Fun Magazine, and I’m going to be praying. Praying that we all push the “pause” button. Praying that we blink away the haze of instant-this and immediate-that. Praying that we finally look. Not just at what needs done. But at what we can do.
Remember When . . . The Culper Ring Hit the Small Screen?

Remember When . . . The Culper Ring Hit the Small Screen?

by | Nov 28, 2012 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized

Okay, this was not what I intended to blog about today, but a friend shared the link, and now I’m too excited to write about anything else. =)
In a recent press release, AMC (as in, awesome channel that has Mad Men and The Walking Dead and those other hit shows…) has ordered the pilot of a new series called Turn…based on the exploits of the Culper Ring as told in Alexander Rose’s Washington Spies.
Now, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, then you know that Washington’s Spies is the book I used as my primary research for Ring of Secrets. So the fact that a TV show will be based on the same…well, that’s pretty cool!


It looks like production of Turn will start in 2013, which means Ring of Secrets will be out well before the show. My gut-reaction to that is that this is good–it’ll be clear that my book isn’t a spin-off of the show, but if Turn takes off (as AMC’s series have done lately), then anyone looking up similar books will find mine. Sweet! 
Curious as to my take on this book that has inspired a series? Well, I posted a review last year, which I’m happy to share again.
~*~
Originally posted on 5/17/11
Would you believe I haven’t read
any fiction in the last week-plus? Primarily because I’ve spent my free
time doing research for a story idea. So I figure, eh, might as well
talk to you about that! =)
I’ll
confess it from the start–I don’t read much non-fiction. Why? Because I
read so much of it during college that I just got burned out on it. But
apparently it’s now been long enough since then (where did that time
go, anyway?) that I can read it again without feeling at all put out
about it. Handy, since in looking up info about the subject of my newest
idea, I came across a very interesting-sounding book that I knew would
be helpful: Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose.
My
Library didn’t have this one, but thanks to the wonders of ILL, they
had it for me in three days, and I cracked it open with genuine
enthusiasm. I haven’t read any non-fiction on the Revolutionary War
since college (and then it was more political treatises of the era, not
history of the war), so I found this to be a wonderful refresher on the
history in general. Better still, it focused entirely on the use of
espionage in the war, by both sides. And really, what could be more fun
than that? 😉
Rose
doesn’t follow a strict chronology in this–he follows stories, usually
about the particular people, and uses those to take him from point to
point. Which means you know exactly where to flip back to if you need to
remind yourself about where someone was born, or who his father was,
but locating a date for a particular action of his requires the help of
the index.
The
writing of this book was never dry and at times downright witty. I
actually chuckled at several places. And at several others I found it
necessary to interrupt my reading to share a particularly interesting
factoid with my hubby. Mr. Rose found many ways to integrate
little-known facts from the day that only had the smallest thing to do
with the main subject; and he integrated them in such a way that you
knew without doubt he had submersed himself fully in this era as he
wrote the book. Something I, as I writer, certainly appreciate.
I
did find a few typos in the dates given, like saying something happened
in 1778 that happened in 1780. Typos which I understand, but which
confused me endlessly, LOL.
Overall,
if you’re a history buff who loves reading about lesser-known portions
of well-loved times, this is a fabulous book. It presents a fair, honest
picture of what life was like from 1776-1784, not embellished by
glamorous ideas or romance.
But no worries–I plan to embellish with plenty of romance when I write a novel set in the time. 😉
Word of the Week – Snack

Word of the Week – Snack

by | Nov 26, 2012 | Word of the Week

I hope everyone (at least those of you in the U.S.) had a lovely Thanksgiving! Ours was great and led into a wonderful weekend. The best part of which was that I didn’t have to cook since Wednesday, what with all the invitations to share leftovers. 😉
L’enfant avec les raisins, Antonio Rotta, 1884
So in honor of the feast of leftover food, this week’s word is snack. It sounds a bit modern, right? But in fact it traces its roots back to the 1300s, when snack was solely a verb which described a dog biting or snapping. It took it 400 years, but by 1757, it had become the noun we know, meaning “a bite or morsel to eat.” Fifty years later the verb followed suit and meant “to have a small amount to eat,” in 1807 (in case you haven’t had your coffee yet and don’t wanna do the math). Snack bar came about in 1930.
And there we have it!
For those of you who are really observant, you might notice that I updated my blog over the weekend. It now matches my website, and also has new tabs and pages, the old ones for the Annapolis blog tour finally going bye-bye. Do please check out the page for Ordinary Heroes, a series I’ll be starting in 2013. I need stories! =)
Remember When . . . The Prayer Was of Thanks?

Remember When . . . The Prayer Was of Thanks?

by | Nov 21, 2012 | Holiday History, Remember When Wednesdays

The First Thanksgiving by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, 1912
It’s my day on Colonial Quills, and in this busy week of pie-baking and turkey-thawing and dressing-making, I thought I would give everyone, both here and there, a quick, beautiful prayer from our forefathers to help us all reflect on the holiday.
This prayer comes from a volume of Puritan prayers entitled The Valley of Vision, compiled by Arthur Bennett, which I quote several times in Ring of Secrets. He doesn’t say who wrote each one, but I am always struck by the sincere, heart-wrenching faith of those who penned these words. I pray this one speaks to you today.

Praise and Thanksgiving

O my God,
Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admired, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding,
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language
to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time
and eternity.

Amen

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving tomorrow!

(And look, look, I redesigned my website! Whatcha think? www.RoseannaMWhite.com)

Word of the Week – Water

Word of the Week – Water

by | Nov 19, 2012 | Word of the Week

Water as a–ahem–living force 😉
Getting down the basics, aren’t I? 😉 
I had actually looked up water to determine when “water closet” came to be used for a bathroom, but there were some other interesting entries too.
And it starts with the beginning. Did you know that there used to be two words for water? One began with ap- and the other with wed-. The first was for water as a living thing, meaning “animate.” A force of life. (And fire most likely had the same thing, though they haven’t traced it so clearly.) The second was for the inanimate, regular ol’ version.
Then we get into the fun phrases. =) “To keep one’s head above water” in the figurative sense surprised me by being from 1742. I would have thought it slightly newer than that. Also surprising is the one I looked the word up for–“water closet” is from 1755.
In 1818 they were introduced to “water-ice,” a confections…like a snow cone, I should think, right? “Water cooler” joined the club in 1846, and “water polo” in 1884.
And as we’re entering Thanksgiving week, allow me to wish everyone a wonderful holiday. I know I’m super-thankful for each and every one of you!
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