One of our favorite Sunday night shows is called Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EM:HE) hosted by Ty Pennington. We love to watch him as he leads teams of interior designers, contractors, renovators and volunteers tear down and rebuild new homes for worthy families. And did I mention they do it all in seven days? The sheer coordination of materials and manpower needed to pull off such a feat has to be something akin to arranging the choreography of seven majoy Broadway musicals at one time.

However, we just see the end of the journey for those who receive new homes made especially for them. The real feat for the deserving families involves convincing ABC and the EM:HE team that they are worthy of the effort. Most begin with a nineteen page hard copy  and video application mailed in with several stamps and more prayers. Several months and thousands of votes later, it comes down to the morning of the shooting when they may or may not hear Ty say, “Good morning, <name> family!” Being selected as an EM:HE family is nothing short of a miracle.

For the Woodhouse family, being selected by ABC is only one in a long string of miracles that God has seen fit to give them. Welcome Home! chronicles the day-to-day miracles and “God-touches” that define the lives of Kim & Jeremy Woodhouse and their two children who just happen to have severe, chronic health conditions. And I don’t use the word, “miracle,” lightly.

Their son, and oldest child, was a miracle child, conceived after several miscarriages. However their joy soon turned to horror when he was 21 months old and stopped breathing. After several visits to the hospital, they learned that he had respiratory issues and chronic asthma. Meanwhile, Kim has become pregnant with child number 2, a lovely daughter named Kayla, whose health issues soon eclipsed her brother Josh’s.

Kayla has a very rare condition that leaves her unable to feel pain, hot or cold unless it is 20 to 30 times greater than that one of us may feel. Imagine having a fearless toddler who feels no pain! This is complicated by the fact that her

Kayla wearing a cooling vest

body cannot adjust to heat or cold and must be kept at a temperature of 62 degrees. A few minutes outside on a sunny day could literally kill her. Added to all that is a brain malformation that required brain surgery by the time she way nine years old. Can you see why they live from miracle-to-miracle?

This book is an inspiring story of their journey to extreme joy through learning to trust and have faith in the Lord’s leading and provision. Through it all, God has blessed them with just the right medical advice or just the right person with just the right skills or even just the right verse to help them provide for their children’s needs.

As you read Welcome Home! be sure to have a box of tissues ready, because you will need them. This is definitely a two-hanky book because you’ll cry in both sorrow and joy.

I’m so pleased to post an interview with Kimberly Woodhouse today! You know from last weeks’ post that Kim wrote Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy! I contacted her through her publicist, Heather Diane Tipton, and Kim graciously agreed to answer a few questions.

Here they are:

• Having a fearless child who does not feel pain must be terrifying! How often do you have to “give Kayla over” to God each day?Until she was five – every second I prayed for her (and Josh’s) survival because she was such a daredevil. Now I give them over to the Lord many times a day, but it’s not quite as crazy as when they were little.
• I saw that Kay Arthur’s Precept on Precept studies have helped you meet each day’s challenges. What other studies would you recommend to someone facing such a great battle?I love Kay’s other books, and Elizabeth George’s A Woman After God’s Own Heart. Elizabeth has a series of Bible studies that follow that book, and those are some of my favorites as well. I’ve done them all. J  A Woman After God’s Own Heart is a book I return to often, I learn something every time I read it and love how it steps on my toes. Kay’s His Imprint, My Expression is another one I love to go back and read. I really enjoy in-depth studies – ones that dig really deep, so the Precept studies are my top favorite.
• As a speaker/singer/writer and mother of two children with health issues, you must have lots of organizational skills to do everything. What organizational tip can you give to those who are struggling with their schedules?The best tip I can give you is to take the time (could take 3-5 days) to organize everything in your life. Make a list of everything that needs to be accomplished, divide and conquer (who does what on which day), and cull everything that is unnecessary. I plan out our homeschool days, our “chores” (which we call service opportunities), meals, what I can delegate out, and what I need to get accomplished at the pool while my kids are swimming. Getting organized can be the hardest part, but once you’ve got it – things can run smoothly even in the midst of the chaos. J (The parenting book I’m working on has a whole section of ideas on how to get organized.)
• I’m sure that you and Jeremy must spend a lot of time with Kayla because of her health issues. I saw in your book that Josh is totally OK with that and loves her, but it must be a huge responsibility to be a big brother to a young lady with such severe medical problems. What are some ways you make Josh feel special?Josh is a very special guy. And we try to make sure he remembers that every day. He is so creative that he sometimes surprises me with a new story or creation that he’s built, so we really encourage that and his flare for drama. Josh likes one on one time, and so we try to give him that – but he also loves to just hang out with us for “family time.” We’ve always said that we are a family, and we stick together, encourage one another, and pray for each other. Josh is a huge support, and very protective of his sister – but Kayla is also a huge support and encourager of her brother. We have Bible study together as a family, but also with each of the kids separately. The kids swim together for hours every day, and they love to encourage each other and laugh together.
• On a totally unrelated note, I saw where your website says you are a “third generation Liszt student.” What does that mean?I’ve had a lot of people ask me what that means – I’m so glad you asked! That means that Franz Liszt (one of the most amazing virtuoso pianists of all time) taught my teacher’s teacher. Clear as mud, huh? The Liszt technique has been passed down through piano teachers taught by Franz Liszt himself.
• Congratulations on your second printing of Welcome Home! Do you have any other projects in the works? Have you written any fiction? Thank you so much!Yes, I have a parenting encouragement book and a romantic suspense that I am currently working on. I’ve written a lot of fiction – please watch my website for coming releases – www.kimberleywoodhouse.com Thank you!

Thank you, Kim, for answering our questions! ‘Wish you all the best!

Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 600 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, and Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER. Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, releases from Tyndale House Publishers September first. In addition to her non-fiction, she also writes romantic suspense and children’s books. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and two children in their truly “extreme” home.

Perform a web search of Claudia Mair (rhymes with fire) Burney and you’ll find pages and pages of information.

• Deadly Charm (Amanda Bell Brown Mystery, Book 3)
• Death, Deceit & Some Smooth Jazz (Amanda Bell Brown Mystery, Book 2)
• The Exorsistah
• Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man
• Wounded: A Love Story
• Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White
• Exorsistah: X Returns

“Claudia Mair Burney has created a genre all her own: sassy mystery. Burney’s engaging writing and interesting characters, coupled with a sexual tension unprecedented in inspirational fiction, put this novel in a league of its own.”– Lisa Samson, Christy Award-winning author of Quaker Summer and Straight Up

“Claudia Mair Burney knows how to make the most heartbreaking things funny as she stares down the truths we turn away from. Every Amanda Bell Brown mystery leaves me looking deeper into the mysteries of God and deeper within myself.”– Marilynn Griffith, author of Pink, Jade, Tangerine, Turquoise, and If the Shoe Fits

Unworthy servant, loved by God, amazed by grace. Wife. Mother. Godmother. Friend of sinners. Novelist.

But in her blog, Ragamuffin Diva, her latest post shares how she had plans to begin a safe house – a refuge for hurting women – called The Living Room. Its a wonderful idea: offering compassion, hope and help while utilizing her degree as a social worker to minister to victims of human trafficking.

But then things began to happen …

July 28th – The Burney’s car was stolen.

July 30th – They were served with an eviction notice (of their home, not the place where they were going to start the ministry)

Now, I don’t know about you guys, but when Satan starts moving that fast, then I think that maybe God was about to do a mighty work! And did I mention that she suffers from fibromyalgia, too?

Well, we all know how the story ends, don’t we? God is in control!

Pray for Mair, her family (disabled husband, children and her rabbit) and her finances. And if the Lord leads, click  here or on the little ChipIn widget in the top right corner of my blog.

The ChipIn button will take you directly to PayPal, put the amount you’re led to contribute and then log-in to your PayPal account. It may take more than a minute to show up, but be patient, you should see it appear in about fifteen minutes or so.

Let’s show this family some love …

ragamuffin diva: Will You Join Me in Love?

Tia McCollors, author of The Last Woman Standing

Meet the Author

Bestselling author Tia McCollors entices the taste buds of her readers with a sweet blend of faith and fiction in her inspirational novels. After leaving a 10-year career in the corporate arena as a public relations professional, Tia has emerged as a steadfast author of faith-based books.

In addition to being a novelist, Tia is an inspirational speaker and instructor for writing workshops. In 2006, Tia was voted as the Breakout Author of the Year by the Open Book Awards of the African American Literary Awards Show and was honored to be featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who In Black Atlanta.

As a founding author with the Anointed Authors On Tour, (AAOT) she has teamed with six other award-winning, best-selling authors of Christian fiction and non-fiction. Together, they have committed to write and publish integrity-based literature, touring as a testament to the power of using their gifts and talents for God’s glory. In addition to AAOT, Tia is a member the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina in 1996. A native of Greensboro, NC, she now lives in the Atlanta,

Win a Copy!

Georgia area with her husband and children.

To find out more about Tia, visit her at www.TiaWrites.com.

About The Last Woman Standing

After being married to their careers instead of each other for ten years, “Ace” and Lynette Bowers ended their marriage. Four years later however, it seems as though their love never ended – to both of their surprise and denial. Sheila Rushmore is Ace’s current girlfriend and a woman who is used to getting what she wants – except Ace’s commitment to marriage. When Sheila realizes Lynette may be the cause, she launches a plan to play the hand of God, instead of allowing God to bring the love they all desire in His way.

Read an excerpt.

THE LAST WOMAN STANDING BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

Tia McCollors is the author of four Women’s Fiction books. Read the question below to see if you can answer it and provide the name of the book in which it was featured:

In A Heart of Devotion, one of the main characters, Sherri Dawson, started her own line of clothing for petite women.

What was the name of her clothing line?

Leave your answer in the comment section. All post with correct answers posted to the blog comment sections will be entered in a random drawing for prizes. The more you post (with correct answers) the better your chances. Winners will be contacted via email and also posted on Tia’s Blog, “From Tia’s Pen”.

Contest prizes include:
1. $5 gift card to Smoothie King or Panera Bread (Winner’s Choice)
2. $5 gift card to Chick-Fil-A
3. $10 gift card for Border’s
4. Autographed copy of The Last Woman Standing
5. Autographed copy of The Last Woman Standing

(Comments are moderated so it may take a bit for the comment to show up.)

Follow the rest of The Last Woman Standing Blog Tour at:

http://bitly.com/TheLastWomanStanding

The South Carolina Writers’  Workshop (SCWW) presents a FREE seminar with author, Ray Blackston entitled, The Twisted Road to Publishing.

This FREE event will be held August 8, 2009 from 1 – 3 pm at the Main Branch of the Greenville (South Carolina) Public Library. (Click here for directions.)

If you live anywhere near Greenville, this is a great opportunity to hear a multi-published author discuss how he got published … and re-published.

Ray Blackston of Greenville, South Carolina, worked as a buyer and a broker for eleven years before cashing in his modest 401k and leaving his corporate cubicle to write full time. He serves on the missions committee of his church, has traveled to rural Ecuador on a summer missions program, and coaches his seven-year-old nephew, Action Jackson, in T-Ball.

Ray Blackston’s books seem to be a cross between Garrison Keillor and Kristin Billerbeck – funny and quirky (kind of a guy’s chick lit). He’s written six books, published under two houses, Revell and Hatchette’s FaithWords, so it sounds like he just may know what he’s talking about.

And, in case you were wondering about the SCWW, here’s the scoop:

Established in 1990, the South Carolina Writers Workshop is a literary arts organization serving both new and established writers. Nearly every type of writing is represented from poetry to mainstream novels to short stories to non-fiction. SCWW offers a supportive environment for people to become better writers.

SCWW membership is open to all writers, providing a wide range of opportunities to improve one’s writing, network with others, and gain practical “How To” information about getting published.

Sound good? It does to me. Did I mention it was FREE? Now where did I put my calendar … ?

THE AUTHOR

Eva Marie Everson grew up in a rural southern town in Georgia just outside of Savannah. She is married, has four children and five grandchildren, and lives in Central Florida. She taught Old Testament theology for six years at Life Training Center in Longwood, Florida and has written numerous articles for Crosswalk.com (including the acclaimed Falling Into The Bible series), and has had articles featured in numerous publications, including Christianity Today, Evangel, Christian Bride, Christian Retailing, The Godly Business Woman and Marriage Partnership magazines. Eva Marie has been interviewed by radio, television, newspaper, and Internet media outlets

In 2002 Eva Marie was one of six Christian journalists sent to Israel for a special ten-day press tour. She was forever changed.

She is married, has four children, five grandchildren and lives in Central Florida.

THE BOOK

Jo-Lynn Hunter is at a crossroads in life when her great-aunt Stella insists that she return home to restore the old family manse in sleepy Cottonwood, Georgia. Seeing the project as the perfect excuse for some therapeutic time away from her self-absorbed husband and his snobby Atlanta friends, Jo-Lynn longs to get her teeth into a noteworthy and satisfying project. But things are not what they seem, both in the house and within the complex history of her family.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Things Left Unspoken, go HERE

THE REVIEW

Cottonwood, Georgia could be one of a million small Southern towns dried up because of crop failure or swallowed up by sprawling suburbia. And Everson populates her fictional town with just enough “old folks” to recall “the way it was” (to quote the dearly departed “Uncle Walter“). As Jo Lynn works to restore her aunt’s home, you can almost hear the echos in the high ceilings, smell the musty closets that haven’t been opened in years and see the beautiful golden grain of the heartpine floors. They say that setting is a character in some books; Cottonwood could be called one on the main characters in this one.

And then there’s Jo Lynn: sacrificing all to her husband as a good Southern wife should, but losing herself in the process. But this is not a feminist, “I Am Woman” diatribe, it’s more of a coming-of-age novel about a middle-aged woman. And as she uncovers the layers of dust and layers of her life, she uncovers layers of long-kept family secrets.

Read Things Left Unspoken. The back cover quotes Ann Tatlock,

” … I didn’t just read this story, I lived it!”

I agree.

Today we celebrate the 233^rd birthday of our nation. I know you remember that July 4, 1776 was the date of the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress. In fact, most of us had to memorize or at least read it in our American History classes in school. Does this sound familiar?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

These days we take those unalienable Rights for granted, don’t we? But our forefathers fought hard to secure those rights for us. There were many battles fought, property destroyed and lives lost before those men finally saw the independence they sought as their God-given right. But they were willing to sacrifice that because they’d made a covenant with the people they represented when they signed that document.

Today we celebrate that independence with speeches, barbeques and family gatherings. With all the unrest in the world today, we pray that the only “rockets’ red glare” we see will be those of fireworks and sparklers. We have the freedom to say whatever we choose, whenever we choose to whomever we choose. Even in this economic climate, we are still one of the richest nations in the world.

Take the time this day to truly celebrate our Independence and thank God for allowing us to live in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Whoa, Nelly! Hang on tight once you start reading this one. Brandilyn Collins does it again!

Kaycee Raye is the Mr. Monk of her local newspaper. She’s afraid of everything – bees, roller coasters, dentists, confined spaces, and nightmares – especially one horrifying one that visits her night after night. But Kaycee also has a knack for words and parlays her fears into a nationally syndicated column that helps readers everywhere deal with their own fears.

However, everyone is not a fan of Kaycee’s. You see, she also believes she’s being watched. In fact, the police have been called out to her home many, many times.And each time, there is no evidence that someone is stalking her.

Paranoia, anyone?

In the opening scene, Kaycee comes home to find a digital camera on her table with a photo of a dead man in the memory. And again, when the police investigate, they find the camera, and the image inside, is gone. Oh, and did I mention that the same image was part of her recurring nightmare? And that the image has the words, We Are Watching, splashed in the corner?

Brandilyn truly takes us on a roller coaster ride as she weaves Kaycee Raye’s story into that of a child kidnapped from the same small Kentucky town. Then to make things really interesting, she adds a bank robbery – a HUGE one – in New Jersey. All I could think – besides the obvious, “Is Kaycee insane or is this really happening” – was how on earth will Brandilyn tie all of this together?

Well, she does and beautifully so. Be prepared to experience high tension and terror as you read Exposure. Brandilyn is a master storyteller and this story is one sure to shock, surprise and satisfy your need for suspense.

Read an excerpt …

For “official” blog tour information, see my New Releases blog.

Happy Reading!