The Friday Five - With Betsy!

Today I have the honor of hosting Betsy St. Amant!

This week marks the debut of Betsy's Love Inspired title Return To Love.

Back cover copy: "I'm not the man I used to be!" - if only Gracie Broussard could believe that. Years ago, Carter Alexander broke her heart and betrayed her. Now, just when she needs him most, he's back -- asking her to believe he's changed. But this time, its not just Gracie who'll be hurt if he disappears. A penguin keeper, Gracie urgently needs to find a new home for her beloved birds. Carter is the only one who can help. He promises that she can trust him, that he's not the rebel he once was. And that he needs Gracie as much as her birds do.

About the Author: Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Her contemporary romance RETURN TO LOVE is under contract with Steeple Hill Love Inspired for a July 2009 release, and the sequel A VALENTINE’S WISH is contracted for a February 2010 release. Betsy has also been published in the Christian Communicator magazine and Praise Reports: Inspiring Real Life Stories of How God Answers Prayer. One of her short stories, Kickboxing or Chocolate, appears in a Tyndale compilation book, and she is also multi-published through The Wild Rose Press. Betsy has a B.A. in Christian Communications and regularly contributes articles to Crosswalk.com. Betsy is a wife, author, new mother, and avid reader who enjoys sharing the wonders of God’s grace through her stories.

You can visit Betsy on the web at: http://www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com/

and at: http://www.betsystamant.com/

If you'd like to purchase Return To Love, click HERE.

I've known Betsy for a couple of years. I was so excited when she got her first book, Midnight Angel, published, and when she signed with her agent. And then came the fabulous news that she'd signed with Steeple Hill's Love Inspired line. Celebrations galore! Then there was the news of her baby girl's birth and all the exciting things that have come along since. Betsy has a heart for the Lord, for writing, and for shoes!

Because it's Friday, I asked Betsy if she would post a Friday Five for us. So without further ado...HERE'S BETSY!

Here is my Friday Five, in honor of the setting of my release!!!

Five Things That Have Happened To Me In New Orleans (over various trips of my life)

1. Sang with my youth choir in front of Jackson Square and attempted witnessing to a pyschic at their booth in front of the Cathedral.
2. Shared ONE hotel room with my parents and my boyfriend! (haha, memories!)
3. Watched the penguin feeding time at the Aquarium of the American, and touched a baby shark.
4. Ate a beignet from Cafe Dumond and had white powder sucked up my nose.
5.Was proposed to on the back of the Steamboat Natchez (hence the reason my parents were on the trip with us - chaperones, so he could propose and spend a fun weekend with me! They came along and were in on all of it! Good times.)

Routines and Goals

Routine. According to Dictionary.com this word can mean:

-- a customary or regular course of procedure.

-- commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly or at specified intervals; typical or everyday activity

This morning I'm trying to get back into my routine. Actually, I'm trying to forge a new routine. Those customary procedures and commonplace tasks that were routine last week are no longer routine.

Since today is July 2nd, I thought I'd outline my goals for July.

1. Finish Lily and the Lawman, the writing and editing. This past month has played havoc with my writing. This afternoon I hope to re-read the first 40K words of Lily and the Lawman and get back into the groove, remind myself where I was in the story, and where I'm going.

2. Complete whatever edits on pending books with Heartsong as may arrive this month. There are several books in the pipeline in various stages of edits. When one hits my inbox, it becomes the priority until it is returned. Content edits, copy edits, galley edits.

3. Piece together two proposals, one for another Heartsong series, and one for a trade-length series. I have an idea for each. It's a matter of fleshing those ideas out and getting proposal packages together before September's ACFW conference.

4. Begin work on Maggie and the Maverick. I'm really looking forward to this story. The hero, Cal, is a favorite of mine. The story is in my head, but it's time to get it onto the plot board and onto the page.

5. Attend ACFW Denver. The counter continues to click down. Less than three months. This will be my third ACFW conference, and I'm surprised at how much I'm looking forward to it each year. I can't wait to see people, attend workshops and appointments, and soak up the worship. Still need to decide if I'm flying or driving. Should decide that soon, huh?

6. Finish up my responsibilities regarding the ACFW Genesis Contest for 2009. The final round scores are trickling in. As soon as the last scores are received, I'll tabulate them and get them sent off to Camy Tang.

7. Enjoy some summertime activities with the family. We'll be making some day-trips to see local sites, and hopefully taking a bit of a family vacation. The options are open right now: A trip to Chicago to bask in the museum air there, a circular route of Lake Superior to enjoy the rugged coast and the isolated lighthouses, or a drive across South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore, the badlands, the black hills and the frontier forts along the way.

How are you doing on your summer goals?

The Power of Prayer

Thank you to the many people who have been lifting up my family in prayer. God's peace has been upon us, bearing us up, giving us strength, and making this journey easier.

I've received so many kind and caring words and gestures over the past several days. Thank you all. The Vetsch family has a couple of tough days ahead, but we know that the prayers of the saints surround us and that God knows our needs.

You are all a comfort to me. I am blessed.

This past week I prayed for something very specifically, and God answered me in an amazing way. I wish I could share the details, but suffice it to say, He had a mighty narrow window of opportunity to answer that prayer, and as always, His timing was flawless.

Have you ever had a very specific prayer answered in an amazing way?

Also, I'm sending birthday greetings to my SIL, Linda. You are my friend, my co-conspirator, and a sister of my heart. Though we're walking through some tough times now, we will set aside some time to celebrate your birthday soon.

Could it be????

This photo is from flickr. A very clever photoshop job.

Word has it that Brett Favre will announce he's signed with the Vikings over the Fourth of July weekend.

Oh, man, I hope it is true. I'm getting a purple #4 jersey. :)


And birthday wishes to the girl. Many happy returns of this day. I love you, sweetie.

In Memorial

Lorraine Elizabeth Vetsch – Rochester

Lorraine Vetsch passed away peacefully June 26, 2009 at her home and in the presence of her family after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 70.

Lorraine was born April 22, 1939 to Pete and Hilda Behselich of Ipswich, SD. An only child, she grew up on a farm south of town. She was the 1957 class valedictorian of Ipswich High School. In the fall of 1957, she moved to Huron, SD to attend secretarial school. Upon her graduation from Northwest College of Commerce in 1958, where she was again the class valedictorian, Lorraine moved to Rochester to work at the Mayo Clinic.

Lorraine married Allen Vetsch June 4, 1960. They recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. She devoted her life to caring for her husband and children and working as the company bookkeeper for the family business. Lorraine loved gardening and had a particular fondness for flowers. She and Allen had many travels together, driving across America, and even made a trip to Alaska in 1973. An avid crocheter, Lorraine especially enjoyed making baby afghans to mark the arrival of a new grandchild.

She is survived by her husband, Allen, and her four married children: Linda Ambrose and her husband Michael of Stewartville, MN, Leonard and Nanette Vetsch of Elk Mound, WI, Peter and Erica Vetsch of Rochester, MN and David and Jodi Vetsch of Stewartville.

She took special delight in her ten grandchildren: Joe Ambrose, Heather Vetsch, Tim Ambrose, Troy Vetsch, James Vetsch, Jacob Vetsch, Karlie Vetsch, Madeline Vetsch, Nathan Vetsch, and Nicholas Vetsch. Other beloved members of her family include two sisters-in-law, Gladys Vetsch of Winona, MN and Katherine Vetsch of Houston, MN, and eleven nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their special thanks to the caregivers from Seasons Hospice, and to Dee Smith of the Mayo Clinic, who all gave their love and support, assisting the family to fulfill Lorraine’s wishes to remain in her own home. The family would also like to thank the many friends and family who visited and made her last days so happy.

A viewing will be held June 30, 2009, at Macken Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church of Rochester, July 1, 2009 at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Kevin Sorensen officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens with a luncheon to follow.

Memorial gifts can be made to Mayo Clinic Cancer Research, The American Cancer Society, or Seasons Hospice.

The Friday Five

As I'm munching on a Twizzler, I got to thinking that Candy would make a fine Friday Five.

So, my five favorite candies (today)

1. Cherry Twizzlers. Pull and peel preferably, but the regular kind will do in a pinch.

2. Snickers. The second greatest candybar ever.

3. Reese's Peanut Butter cups. The GREATEST candy ever.

4. Peanut M&M's.

5. Watermelon Jolly Ranchers.

My favorite candies of yesteryear:

1. Marathon Bars.

2. Candy necklaces.

3. Pop Rocks.

4. Cherry Mashes.

5. Almond Joy.

Iconic Characters

In keeping with the topic yesterday of characters like MacGyver who live on in our memories, I was trying to come up with a list that stands out for me. Some characters that are so well known they are almost a stereotype.

1. Ebenezer Scrooge - everybody has an idea of what he was like, and we know what someone means when they say "He's such a Scrooge."

2. Indiana Jones - now there's a character people remember!

3. Little Orphan Annie - Comic strip, books, broadway musical, Movie.

4. Rooster Cogburn - in our house of John Wayne fans, this one lives on.

5. Darth Vader - The ultimate bad guy.

6. Shrek - he's complicated...he has layers...like an onion... :)

7. Kermit the Frog - a great character.

How about you? What names come to mind when you think of iconic characters?