Exciting News!

I'm thrilled to announce that I am joining
the Seriously Write blog team.

Our mission is to encourage and equip Christian writers along their writing journey.

What an honor and privilege it will be to work with talented writers
Annette Irby, Ocieanna Fleiss, Dawn Kinzer, and Angie Arndt.

Beginning October 1, I will assume responsibility for This-n-That Thursdays.
No worries, though. I'll still post here at 

Heart racing, God-gracing Romance.

This is one of the crossroads I alluded to on Monday.
I admit I wasn't this enthusiastic when first presented with the invitation. I might have even groaned. You see, I write slow, and the prospect of writing a weekly blog post terrifies me. It's a commitment, another priority, in an already packed calendar.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 
1 Thess 5:11 NIV

How could I refuse the sweet ladies who encourage me so much on a daily basis? 
Where would I be if other writers hadn't offered their instruction and support along my journey? 
God loves to present His children with perfect gifts. It didn't take long for me to realize this was one of them. Tucked inside the beautifully wrapped package ~ 
four precious friends and a blog.

What about you?
Do you wrestle with decisions you already know the answer?
How do you handle adding another commitment to your already bulging calendar?

Thank you for sharing in my exciting news!

Big Things Come in Small Packages

by Dawn Kinzer

As a little girl, I learned one Christmas that special things don’t always come in big packages. Like the Christ child, they can arrive in what may at first look small and plain.

Relatives gathered to celebrate Christmas at my aunt and uncle’s large Wisconsin farmhouse. Later in the day, while the adults sat back and enjoyed their coffee, thirteen children were called together to play “Bingo." We were shown a display of prizes wrapped in boxes of various sizes. Sensitive to feelings, my aunt made sure there were enough for each child to win one.

Younger than most of my cousins, and quiet by nature, I was still just as excited as the rest about the prospect of being able to choose from the pile of colorful packages.

But as we played, one child after another won the game before I managed to get my circular pieces in the required straight line. Packages were eliminated from the pile, and as the supply dwindled, my heart began to sink as the larger boxes disappeared.

It seemed to take forever, but I finally shouted, “Bingo!”

It was my turn to pick from the remaining few packages. I tried to guess what could be hidden inside each one. I made my decision and reached for a large gift, wrapped in bright red paper. There had to be something wonderful inside.

“Big things come in small packages,” my aunt whispered in my ear. She pointed to a gift, barely noticeable, wrapped in plain white tissue paper.

I trusted her and picked the smaller gift. I carefully unfolded the delicate tissue and discovered the silver ring hidden inside. The setting held a round, cut piece of glass that reflected all the colors of the rainbow. The ring had to be inexpensive, but to me it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. In my eyes and heart, I held a treasure in the palm of my hand.

In our pursuit for what we think may be better, it’s so easy to overlook anything that might appear insignificant. But what are we missing? What are the blessings, or everyday gifts, that we take for granted?

I don’t ever want to lose appreciation for a cool breeze blowing through the window on a hot afternoon, a comfortable bed after a tiring day, or a beautiful sunrise reminding me of God’s presence.

Wonderful, exciting, beautiful . . . and even life-changing things can be found in small packages. After all . . . didn’t the greatest gift bestowed upon us come in the gift of a small baby by the name of Jesus? And He gave the biggest gift of all. He gave us the gift of eternal life.

This Christmas, may you find great blessings in the small things.

  

Dawn Kinzer is a writer and freelance editor. Her writing has been published in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Backyard Friends, and The One Year Life Verse Devotional, and featured on the radio ministry, The Heartbeat of the Home.

To learn more about Dawn and her work, please visit:

Website and blog www.dawnkinzer.com

Editing services www.faithfullywriteediting.com

Blog for writers www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com

She co-hosts and writes for the blog, Seriously Write. Learn more at her editing site: www.FaithfullyWriteEditing.com

A Holiday Recipe contributed by Dawn Kinzer

Cranberry Bars

Ingredients

2 eggs (beaten)

½ cup butter  (softened)

1 ½ cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ cup chopped nuts

2 cups cranberries  (fresh or frozen)

Steps

1) Beat together eggs, butter, sugar and vanilla.

2) Add flour and baking powder and mix well.

3) Fold in nuts and cranberries.

4) Spread into greased 9x12 cake pan.

5) Bake 350 degrees 40-45 minutes. Cool.

Can top with powder sugar glaze or lightly sifted powder sprinkled on top.

Dawn Kinzer is a writer and freelance editor. Her writing has been published in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Backyard Friends, and The One Year Life Verse Devotional, and featured on the radio ministry, The Heartbeat of the Home.

To learn more about Dawn and her work, please visit:

Website and blog www.dawnkinzer.com

Editing services www.faithfullywriteediting.com

Blog for writers www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com