Lynn's Corner

 

The following is a brief essay from my nephew, Rayce.  Rayce has been chosen as a Youth Ambassador to Australia as a part of the People to People program.  Now he has to raise the money for his trip.  To help out, I am donating $5 from every book that I sell from now until February 28, 2010, to Rayce’s Australia fund.

People To People will benefit me, my community, and my school. One of those ways is the extra collage credits. Another reason People to People will benefit me is learning about a new culture. The last way I’ll list on why people to people will benefit me is the chance to meet new friends.

People to People is a great chance to get collage credits for the future. I feel collage is very important. People to people would give me the chance of getting in too a good collage. Especially while I’m young earning collage credits is a very good thing.

People to People is a learning experience, I would get to learn all about Australia and the cultural differences. I believe People to People will be a huge learning experience.

Since the People to People program will contain more than just me it will give me a chance to make new friends. I feel it is very important for me to make new friends.  People to People will give me a chance to make some more.

I cannot remember a time when I was not telling stories.  As a little girl, I used to gather all of my dolls and stuffed animals together for story time.  At night, I annoyed my sisters by whispering my stories until I fell asleep.  In fifth grade, I met Mrs. Sue Niedzielski.  Mrs. N. fed my creativity, encouraging me to write down my stories.  Her excitement and support fueled my desire to be a writer.  Twenty years later, she is still one of my biggest fans—outside of my family, of course!

                In high school, I began entering writing contests.  It felt good to see my work in print and to know that others were reading it.  As much as I wanted writing to be a career, for years it was a hobby.  Between working, being a wife, and being a mother, I didn’t have the time to focus on my writing.  If God wanted me to write, He was going to have to show me how and when to do it.  Too many other responsibilities crowded my life for my writing to be a priority.  Slowly, my dream faded into the background as I struggled through “real life”.

                Things changed after the birth of my third child in 2007.  It was like a switch was flipped inside me.  I felt I had to write.  God gave me the stories and showed me how and when to work on them.  By the end of the year, I had completed my first novel and sold my first short story.

                My published books are Forsaking the Call (December 2008) and Summertime (May 2009).  The Ladies of Faith, the first in a three-part series, is scheduled for publication later this year.

                I live in Jackson, MI with my husband and our three sons.  My family is very active in our church, Cascades Wesleyan.  When I am not writing, I like reading to my boys and scrapbooking.

                God has been very good to me and to my family.  I praise Him daily for his many blessings.  My favorite scripture passage is Joshua 1:7-9

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.