Dean Koontz In Order & Book 1

If you've known me long at all, you know that I'm a huge Dean Koontz fan. In fact, I've set about getting all of his fiction novels currently in publication, and I'm getting pretty close to that goal. I've read Koontz enough now that I can see common themes throughout all his work, and I am curious to see how those themes developed over time. 

Here's how it will work:
- I will read/re-read all of Koontz's fiction in the order of publication. I'm not giving myself a time limit to do this - there will be 72 novels total by the end of 2014, and I have other things to do/read.
- I will track things like plot, opening sentences (Koontz has some doozies!), main characters, plot points, and style*; I'll also give my 'mini review' of each book.
*Koontz's books are typically categorized as "cross-genre," but I find many of his novels lean more toward one or two - this is what I'm calling the "Style."

Title: Shattered
Publication Year: 1973
Number of Pages: 289
Opening sentence: Only four blocks from the furnished apartment in Philadelphia, with more than three thousand miles to go before they joined Courtney in San Fransisco, Colin began one of his games.
Main characters:  Alex, Colin, & Courtney Doyle; George Leland
Basics of the plot: Alex and Colin set out on cross-country journey to join Courtney in San Francisco. They soon realize they are being followed by a mysterious maniac (Leland) bent on killing them before they get there. 
Style: Chase/Suspense
My review: This one goes along at a pretty decent pace, with sections of page-turning action. The story is told from both the perspective of Alex (the 'good' guy) and Leland (the 'bad' guy), which is a fairly common technique Koontz uses in his novels. The main theme is overcoming fear to save those that you love. A little more simplistic than some of his later novels, but still a good read. 

Cluedo Cows

Catching up on some posts here - back at the end of August the Doodle United theme was "Cows, Pigs, & Farmy Things." How could I resist that? I started two major new cow projects that week, but only one got finished. (The other one is still growing/in process).

Here are my Cluedo cows, based on my favorite board game.

Trust Fall

When I was a camp counselor, one of my favorite obstacles on our low ropes course was the Trust Fall. If you've never done one before, here's how it works: all but one person in the group face each other and make a 'net' with their arms - palms up, arms alternating next to each other. Then the one person climbs up on a small platform at the head of the group, usually about 5 feet or so off the ground. You turn around backwards, lock you arms across you chest, and scoot so your heels are hanging off the platform. Then comes the trust part - keeping yourself completely straight (if you bend at all, you greatly increase your chances of being dropped), you fall backwards into the waiting arms of your group. Once they catch you, they set you back on your feet, and the next person gets to go. Basically, it's several minutes of nervous anticipation followed by a few seconds of sheer terror followed by a huge rush of relief.

This is my life at the moment. After some complicated in-between years of soul searching and seeking, I've decided to turn my life on its head. I've spent the last 5 years after I graduated from college living in my hometown with my mom, working in the same company, going to the same church, and participating in a local college ministry. It wasn't perfect, and there were certainly days I was unhappy or wanted things to change, but it was safe. I am very much OCD and struggle with anxiety in general, so even when I was unhappy, it wasn't enough to push me to change anything. I don't know when that changed, but I finally decided it was time to do something. So up the platform I climbed.

Over the last few years of participating in a traveling worship team, I discovered I have a love for sign language. I had learned a little bit in the past, but more recently it became a way to share powerful and moving songs in worship. I started signing again because the music I wanted to share didn't have accompaniment tracks, so I couldn't sing it, and some songs don't lend themselves to mime or dance either. I started to wonder what life would be like if I actually decided to learn ASL (American Sign Language) in ernest. That's when God started placing things and people in my life to push me in that direction. I found a friend who knew others who had gone through an ASL program. I discovered references to it in my present life and even when I reminisced about things from childhood. I started taking those first few scary steps up the ladder.

My new home.

So here I am now. I've climbed the ladder, turned around, and leaned back. I enrolled in Vincennes University's ASL program. I quit my decent paying, good insurance providing job, and took a part time retail job 40 minutes away from the school. I said goodbye not just to my parents, but to my church family and my BCM family, including my mentor Roger who has helped walk me through so much of these last 5 years. I packed up a bunch of stuff and moved into a teeny tiny dorm room in an old building that has a lot of issues. I decided to become an RA, a reasonably tall order for an introvert like me. It all feels like falling, and I am trying my best not to try and fight it or freak out too much so that God can catch me and set me on my feet. He's made it clear this is where I'm suppose to be, no matter how many times I doubt it.

"'For I know the plans I have you for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

Crafting in Secret

Crafting in secret is exciting, fun, and mildly aggravating. I'm the type of person who likes to show things off when I complete them, especially if they turn out well. However, if you are making things that will later become gifts, you can't exactly do that! I've been making gifts and decorations for my best friend Amanda's baby shower, and now that the shower is over, I can finally share what I've been working on! If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you may have seen a few of the cryptic pics I posted as a tease. (I had to post something!)

Well, here's what some of those things became:

I found all of the ideas on Pinterest (of course!). Stroller butterflies Click here for the tutorial. 

plush blocks Click here for the tutorial.  A decorated bag for books Click here. a sign for the dog, and a shadow box. 

My favorite thing I made was this adorable plush bunny! It was my first time making a plushie from an actual pattern. It came from the book Storybook Toys by Jill Hamor. Which is an awesome book btw.

So cute!! And here's the one 'making of' pic I couldn't post to social media. 

Let's face it, those are clearly bunny ears!

My mom & I were also in charge of the decorations. 

The streamer 'rain wall' idea I stole from my fabulous friend Kayla Schuler who did a rainbow version at another friends shower. The block centerpieces were my own doing - I folded them using WeRMemory Keeper's Gift Box Punch Board and then cut the letters/borders on my Cricut. The name banner was also cut on the Cricut. The other ideas came from Pinterest. The chandelier is made of a metal ring, clear thread, ribbon, and lots and LOTS of punched butterflies. The alphabet book was a joint effort - mom & I created the blank pages and then the guests at the shower picked a letter to draw a picture for. We will eventually bind them all into a book. It all came together in the end and looked great! It was a labor of love for my best friend Amanda. I can't wait to meet baby Ellie!

God Moments in the Gulf

Our group (left to right): John, Zanosha, Kayla, Sara, Me, Tisa, Gabrielle, and Aubree.

    I just came back from my first-ever mission trip and all I can say is ‘Wow!” It was such a

great trip. I traveled with a group from BCM down to Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, Alabama, to work with a group called ‘Barefoot Believers.’ The week included serving pancake breakfasts to folks in the RV parks, beach outreach (passing out water/salvation bracelets, doing face painting/hair wraps, and walking the beach talking to people), and helping with a low income after school program in Aaronville.

Here’s a quick photo montage of some of the things we did throughout the week:

     While I could go on about all the things we did, the two biggest blessings for me probably weren’t as obvious to everyone else. God used the week to reteach me and remind me of the power of prayer and the blessing of community.

     Before we left, we were asked to find at least 3 prayer partners who would pray for us before and during the trip. We were given a list of things we should ask them to pray for (like safe travels, good health, unity, etc.), but we were also told to include any personal requests they could pray for too. Here are the exact words I sent to my prayer partners almost a month before even leaving for the trip:

My personal needs:

- Emotional/metal strength, and words! I am extremely introverted and I will need to be extroverted and willing to talk/share with people for the entire week.

- Rest/health/preparation. I am working the several nights prior to the trip and after we get back (12 hour night shifts). Pray that I am able to get rest when needed, and be packed/prepared to go on time.

Talk about answered prayer! I was able to get enough rest to keep me going, and even though we woke between 5:00am and 6:00am every morning (which would normally make me a walking zombie), I was alert and ready to go for whatever the day held. There was only one morning where I felt super tired. I might also mention that I was not only packed and ready to go on time, but arrived at the BCM house to find everyone else still waking up/getting ready to go!

As for my mental/emotional strength, it was also a prayer answered in a big way. Nowadays when I spend lots of time around people and am very busy, I feel drained by the time I’m actually able to get some ‘me’ time. I was also nervous about talking to random people - about anything, let alone approaching them and talking about spiritual things. Because of the prayers of my prayer-warriors, neither of those things was really a problem. Oh sure, I didn’t go running enthusiastically up to every person at the beach, or sit down with every person at breakfast and have deep spiritual conversations with all of them, but when I did talk to people I felt (for the most part) at ease. It was not perfect, but it went far smoother than I ever dreamed it could.
     The biggest blessing of all, though, was just having a week to hang out and fellowship with other believers, friends. Working a rotating night shift and being very introverted, it’s incredibly hard for me to develop close relationships with other people. My very closest friend lives hundreds of miles away. I’m also one of those people who tends to believe I can make it on my own; that it’s safer that way. It’s been a really, really long time since I’ve had a normal ‘friend’ relationship with anyone. So the biggest blessing of the trip actually came in all the in-between times, not just serving side by side, but talking in the van, sharing stories over dinner, laughing together, and sharing bits of my life/story (and listening to their stories too). Despite my life being very busy, it’s often a lonely one, and for a week I got to live and breathe and laugh and walk in real relationships with friends. That was the biggest blessing of all.

Christmas Illos

A couple of sketches inspired by our Scripture readings the last two weeks at church. We've been camped out in Luke 2.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." 

- Luke 2:8-20

Christmas Shoeboxes

Some of the OCC boxes collected at BCM.

At our house we follow the rule of no-Christmas-stuff-until-the-day-after-Thanksgiving, but there is one big exception. Operation Christmas Child. click here to read more about it. Basically, you pick a gender/age group (2-4, 5-9, 10-14 & boy or girl) and fill a box with all sorts of things from hygiene items to school supplies to toys. The boxes are then collected and shipped around the world to kids in need. I think this is our 4th or 5th year participating, and we always have lots of fun with it. Mom & I usually go shopping for the boxes together and have fun picking out stuff. I enjoy it because I get to pick out school supplies (some of my favorite things!) and buy toys, which I normally don't get to do because I'm the youngest in my immediate family. There's also the fun challenge of seeing just how much stuff you can get in that one little shoebox!

All the stuff to go in the boxes! I chose to do 2 boxes: one for a boy & one for a girl, both 10-14.

With the help of Pinterest, I made up
a little fishing kit for my 10-14 yr old
boy box.

I put in a custom note for my kids.
Maybe one of them will write me back.
Find a similar template HERE.

This year I found even more ideas of what to put in the boxes thanks to Pinterest - if you search for 'Operation Christmas Child' it comes up with all kinds of stuff. I also ran across this blog Clip with a Purpose that has the motherload of ideas and info about what to put in the boxes, as well as tips for buying stuff year-round (when it's on sale) so you can get even more stuff to put in the boxes! I will definitely be doing that this coming year. Of course it's awesome to know that somewhere the box I pack is going to make some kid's day. This will be the third year I've put special tracking labels on our boxes, and I can't wait to see where they end up this year. Last year our boxes went to the Dem. Republic of Congo, and the year before that they ended up in Ukraine!

If you've never participated in Operation Christmas Child, I encourage you to do it in 2014. It's easy and super fun, and it blesses a child who really needs it!

Ready to go shoeboxes! Where will they end up?!