On Saturday, Oct. 7, thirty-six of us were in a Dallas hotel, packed and ready to go to DFW Airport for our trip to Israel. Then, we heard the news which told of the Hamas attack in the Gaza Strip and south part of Israel. 
 
Our leader included us in a conference call with the man in charge at NAWAS International Travel. He said if the attacks stayed in the south end of Israel, we would be okay. Our leader also contacted our guide in Jerusalem. He was leading a group from Turkey on a tour of the Via Dolorosa. He said nothing had happened in Jerusalem, which is in the middle of the country. He also thought the problem would most likely remain in the Gaza Strip area. We needed to make our own decisions about going or forgoing the trip. A few cautious people in our group backed out. Most, including myself, decided to go ahead with the trip. We flippantly said, "If we die, what place could be closer to heaven than Israel?"
 
At 11 am, we semi-adventurous types boarded shuttle vans, went to the airport, and lugged our bags to the ticketing counter. Our fearless leader was just getting started when the American Airlines check-in officers received notice that all air travel to Israel was cancelled until further notice. God's timing is always perfect. 
 
Shortly, we went our separate ways. Some sought AA travel back to their home cities. Others made their own different plans. Two friends and I loaded my car, had lunch at Pappadeaux's Restaurant, and drove back to Amarillo.
 
The Israeli Jews had celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles last week, Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, followed by the Eighth Day of Assembly/Sabbath, Saturday, Oct. 7. Sunday, Oct. 8, was the Rejoicing of the Torah. The Hamas attack began on Saturday afternoon, a few hours before the end of Sabbath. 
 
The Israelites acted as soon as Sabbath was over. Shortly after 7 pm their time, 11 am in Texas, retaliation began. Israel also discouraged any travel into its country. They advised everyone, including their visitors, to seek "shelter in place." 
 
The Hamas attack was by land, air, and sea. Within a few hours, Hamas militants sailed through the Mediterranean Sea to Tel Aviv where the international airport is located. Militants attacked and gunned down civilians in the streets and after barging into their homes. They also took many captives including civilians and Israeli soldiers. 
 
Sunday, Israel's Security Cabinet formally declared "war," meaning the military campaign could be "lengthy, intense, and significant." While Israel concentrated on defeating Hamas in southern Israel and the Gaza strip, Lebanon's Hezbollah militants wormed their way into the battle by striking from the north. 

This Saturday, my book signing is at Goodin's Jewelry,
​3701 Olsen Blvd, Amarillo.
It will be FREE Coke Float Day, 11 am - 5 pm. Yummy!
Deals all day long.
COME ONE, COME ALL. 

Two dozen members of the Sanctuary Choir in First Baptist Church of Amarillo joined more choirs (two in Texas, one in Arizona, and one in Arkansas) for a Costa Rican trip. 

​What a joy to meet the friendly people of Costa Rica! We were in San Jose, Cartago, Alajueleta, and LaFortuna. We sang at World Alive, a park in Cartago, a park in Alajueleta, and at International Baptist Church. We visited a school where we painted a dozen classrooms and "loved on" the children with a carnival, balloons, games, face painting, and sweet talk of Jesus.

In three buses we headed for a day in the rainforest. Even when our bus needed emergency help, we stayed upbeat and ready for fun. My excursion was walking and climbing through the hanging bridges. Others enjoyed riding horses, waterfall hiking, sky traming, or ziplining.

Costa Rican food is delicious, but different enough to cause some problems to many of us. Oh, well.

We practiced patience and resignation when our AA flight leaving Cost Rica was delayed more than three hours, causing us to miss connecting flights in various places. In Dallas, we received vouchers for motel, food, and transportation to and from the airport. Throughout the next day, we trickled home. I got home at about 4 pm. Whew!

     ​I set my alarm and was ready to listen and learn. I had my ear buds/headphones, reading glasses, water, a quilt, my little dog, an open word document to take notes, and the email to click on the summit invite button,.
     I could not get the button to respond. I decided to forward the Amazon email from my tx email to my gmail. Got in right away. 3:02 AM.

     I’m on Amazon as a do-it-myself author in Kindle Direct Publishing and would like to learn more about marketing. But the speaker’s vocabulary and terminology were new to me and I did not understand her. She went entirely too fast. Print on the screen was too small for me to read.
     I was totally lost in “Optimize your Keywords faster with bulksheets” and could not find my “bulksheets.” I didn’t know where to find them if I even had any. But I have plenty of keywords. And a few other words!
     I could not figure out how to change to the other session offered. It might have been more helpful. I hope the follow-up information from Amazon will include other sessions and be helpful. I need to study it a bit at a time so I can absorb the information as I go.
     At about 3:30 AM, I remembered to plug my ear buds/headphones into the computer jack. (Sorry, Glenn!)

     Still lost. I gave up a and decided to go back to bed. 4:10 AM.
    I hope Day Two will have something I can learn. And use. The summit continues at 3:00 AM from England where it will be 9:00 AM. I just want one email and phone number from the people who set this up. I want to call and chat with that one person at 3:00 AM. Any 3:00 AM will do.

Have a great day!

     Seldom do pastors and others who teach and preach the Bible have the opportunity to read Biblical history in a work that is both accurate and accessible. Ms. Reeves has produced such a work in her latest book. The reading level is good for interested adults to read to older children and for teens to read for themselves. The introduction of joyful observers called glops give a soothing and happy response to  the narrative. 
- ​Reverend Doctor Ruth Fowler, Retired Pastor, Brownfield, TX

     This book is written in easily understood details of God’s hope for a united Kingdom of Israel following the path of God’s goodness and mercy and how it was divided by man’s evil and selfish ways. It is definitely a “must read” for children or any new believer who desires to learn and better understand the Bible.
- Juanita Sacco, Christian for 57 Years, Amarillo, TX

     The author has written about the period of time when Israel splits into two kingdoms, and then becomes restored, and made it understandable for younger readers. She has included the playful, insightful glops to make the types of comments that enlighten and mimic those of children reading or hearing the stories. Charts  and plenty of illustrations keep one’s interest and add to understanding. This book is quite large and will provide may hours of entertainment and instruction.
- Jeannie F Linzie, Retired Library Associate, Las Vegas, NM

You are the first to know that this book is written and in the final stage of review with my very capable editor and long-time friend from Amherst! Hooray! It seems that I have worked on this book FOREVER! It hasn't really been that long, though.

The previous one, Book 7 about Kings Saul, David, and Solomon, was published in March 2022. Hopefully this one, Book 8, will be ready for publication in April or May. As has been the case with each newer book of the "Glops" series, this book is for a more mature but still youthful audience, and is longer than the previous book. However, it is still "Christian Historical Fiction for Kids and Their Adults."

Maybe between books I can do some sewing. My husband gave me a wonderful sewing machine for Christmas 2021. I love it. It's my first brand new sewing machine, ever! It sews everything from satin and lace to denim and canvas.

This Christmas 2022, Glenn set up a photo shoot for the two of us. Fun! Fun! Fun! Dana Burgin in Borger is a fabulous photographer. See what I mean:

Wonderful ways to celebrate this Christmas are happening now!
I must, absolutely must, tell you about upcoming musical events. 

Tomorrow (Thursday):

This will be a Christmas concert to remember! Our program includes music from around the world in 5 different languages, one of which is a special tribute to our Ukrainian friends. See you at St. Paul's Methodist Church, tomorrow, December 1st, at 7:30pm.
Tickets are still available from AMC members, or you may purchase them at the door.

Amarillo FBC Youth and Children's Choirs have been practicing each week and are excited to share Christmas music with families, church, and community! Their program will be presented at 6:00 pm on Sunday, December 11. Expect lots of kids, lots of energy, lots of singing.                                            It's great! It's free!