Rebekah Speaks

The February 2010 edition of " aabb NEWS ," a monthly publication of the American Association of Blood Banks, ran an article about yours truly. In the section entitled "AABB NOTES," it highlighted my efforts out there on the trails. It's exciting to see non-runners get stoked about extreme efforts. Hopefully, someone will get off their couch and start moving as a result.

Can't you see it now? A coach stands before her team at the front of the season. Last year, they were the talk of the town--and not in a good way. Her gaze shifts from one to another. Rhonda, a tall, lanky girl, has a hard time walking and chewing gum at the same time. Jen has boundless energy but little talent. Shy and reserved, Erin finds it difficult to come out from behind her classmates' shadows. Sheri, Kathy, Ann, Melissa, and Emily Dawn, ED for short, are decent athletes but too easily distracted by the newest movie or a hot new tune. What's a coach to do? What can she say to make a difference? Break away. Try this. Patty is nearly fifty and just a little plump; the pudge sneaking up ever-so-slightly over the years. An athlete in her high school and college days, she could have been a stand-in for the Energizer Bunny. She strove for excellence in everything: school, sports, her faith. But that was then. This is now. With the kids gone, the world screeches to a hal...

Things are very strange around here! The dead live again and the alive just die. Let me explain. . .or at least try. We’ve had a rash of huge possums visit our recycling bins right outside our back door. With their long pointy snouts, beady eyes, and razor-sharp teeth, it's unsettling to have an unexpected encounter. And these are not babies. They are huge animals much larger than our cats. Just last week, I opened the door to toss out a plastic bottle and came face to face with the creature. I was obviously more scared than him. He chose to bare his teeth and then continue with his rummaging. “Gary,” I called out. “A beast is out here. Come quick.” “Well, we sure don’t want that thing coming in the kitty door. I’ll get the .22 and take care of it.” Country living at it's best. With gun in hand, he shot it in the head. Did it die? One would thing so but. . . A couple more shots did him in but not before it thrashed around in dramatic fashion. Finally, his body stilled. T...

I am happy to announce that "Pace Yourself: 366 Devotions from the Daily Grind," has been accepted for publication by CrossHouse Publishing. The book is expected to be released in May 2010. I am very excited at the prospect of sharing this with all of you! Here is your first taste, taken from the Introduction: "Pulled from the recesses of a tiny closet tucked under the stairs, the simple cardboard boxes showed their age. Each, encrusted with a deep layer of dust, held valuable treasures unfitting such a humble hiding place. Choosing one, I gently blew the surface clean and pulled open the box flaps. Not yet wanting to disturb the contents, I sat up straighter in my cross-legged position and took it in before reaching to open the remaining boxes. There before me were hundreds of letters still in their faded envelopes, most written in the mid-1940s.  Each had been meticulously opened, none carelessly torn. Gingerly, I pulled one from a box and began to read. Hours pa...