1) Were you able to reach your weekly goal?  

I didn’t have a specific weekly goal, but I was able to get some writing done on “Amazing Grace” and have the prologue edited for “Be Thou My Vision”.  Considering VBS was this week and I was exhausted and brain dead by noon, I think I did pretty good.  What I won’t mention is the fact that most of my writing and editing was done on Saturday and Sunday.

2) Is this challenge encouraging you to write more often?

Yes.  I probably wouldn’t have even gotten as much done as I did if it wasn’t for this challenge and another challenge.

3) At what time of the day did you accomplish most of your writing? 

Between five and six-thirty in the morning.  Also between seven and nine in the evening.

4) Which musical tracks do you listen to most while writing? 

My three Pandora shuffle stations: Steve Green, Soundtracks, and Classical.

5)Share a descriptive snippet or two of your writing.

Keep in mind that none of the snippets have been edited and will go through many changes before publication.

Caleb stood at the front of the church with the nervous Miles.  He had to bite his cheeks to keep the grin off his face.  He closed his eyes for a few seconds to get the image of Anna’s dress back in his mind.  The dress was made of a pale blue lawn; at least he was pretty sure that’s what Anna had called it.  The pale blue background complimented the scattered, small, white flowers.  The corners of his eyes wrinkled as he failed to hide his smile.

Miles’ breath caught as the entry music started playing on the piano.  “Be Thou My Vision” was the song Anna had picked.  It was an unusual song for a wedding, but Anna didn’t care.  Caleb watched as James and John opened the doors in the back of the sanctuary for Iain and Anna to walk through.

Iain’s back was ramrod straight as he walked down the aisle with his daughter on his arm.  Anna’s bright smile showed her pleasure. The dress was even more breathtaking on Anna than it had been hanging on her wardrobe.  Caleb’s eyes flicked to Miles’ face and he finally let his grin settle onto his face.

Anna’s wedding dress was simple, but beautiful.  Practical, yet fashionable.  And it could be worn to church or other special occasions after the wedding was over.  Caleb took a deep breath to clear his thoughts as Iain and Anna neared the front of the church.
Iain struggled not to show any emotion as he walked Anna down the aisle.  She looked so much like her mother that all he wanted to do was run away and get some strong drink to hide the feelings and emotions that were coming into his heart and mind.  The further he went down the aisle, the worse his claustrophobia became.

6) Share three dialogue-based snippets from your week one writing.

These three snippets are also unedited.

1. “Who gives this woman away?” Pastor Noble asked.

“Her father does,” Iain said, his voice gruff.  He took both of Anna’s hands in his and looked deep into her tear filled eyes.  Iain whispered to her, “You know I’m proud of you, Anna, don’t you?  Even if you are marrying a preacher?”

“I know, Da.  I love you, too.”  Anna smiled through her tears.  “You will always have a place in my heart.”

Iain blinked his eyes rapidly to stave off the tears and put her hands into Miles’ waiting hands.  “Take good care of her or ye’ll be answerin’ to me, Preacher.”
Miles’ eyes met Iain’s.  “Yes, Sir.  I intend to.”

2. “Miles and Anna have decided to do away with the traditional vows and wrote their own.  When Miles first told me what they had done, I was skeptical.  And then I read the vows.”  Pastor Noble cleard his throat.  “I hope you get as much out of them as I did.  They each wrote a mini-sermon in their vows.”  He smiled.  “Now let’s get started.”

Miles repeated his vows after Pastor Noble:

“Anna, as we stand before both God and man, making public our commitment to one another, I wish to make it known that I recognize first of all God’s authority over my life which is exercised from His loving heart. He has chosen me to be one of His own, and He is now my life. I recognize also that He has blessed me and entrusted to me your life as a free gift that I have not earned. In recognition of these things, Anna, I purpose to love you with His love, to provide for your needs through His enablement, and to lead you as He leads me, as long as He give us life together, regardless of the circumstances; whether in sickness or health, wealth or poverty, and no matter how often we disagree on things. As Psalm 34:3 expressed my heart when I asked you to marry me, so it expresses my heart now: ‘O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.'”

When Miles was done, Anna, with tears in her eyes, repeated her vows after the pastor:
“On this special day, Miles, I am reminded of the verse James l:17 which says, ‘Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.’ With a gift such as you, I know that many new responsibilities face me. In I Corinthians, it explains ‘It is required of a steward to be found trustworthy.’ I cannot do this on my own strength, Miles, but by God’s grace and power working within me I desire to be trustworthy as your wife by following your leading submissively, even as unto Christ, loving and serving you in all circumstances as long as He give me life on this earth.  I pledge to come alongside you and to be the helpmeet that the role of a wife includes wherever God chooses to place us.”

3. Anna and Miles beamed and smiled their pleasure as the guests all left the church building.  When Mrs. Morgan stepped in front of Anna, she took a deep breath and prepared herself.

“Well, you’ve actually done it,” she said with a glint of anger in her eyes.  You’ve reeled him in hook, line, and sinker.”

“Yes, ma’am, she has,” Miles said, putting his arm around her waist.  “And I love her all the more for it.”  Miles winked at his wife and Anna smiled back.

Mrs. Morgan scowled.  “You two disgust me.  How can a pastor act like this toward a woman like her?”  She turned back toward the church and saw Pastor Noble standing in ear shot.  “Pastor Noble, surely you must see how things are between these two!  Doesn’t it disgust you?”

“Madam,” Pastor Noble said, taking a step closer, “the only thing that disgusts me here is your attitude.  I have had the opportunity these last couple of days to get to know both Miles and Anna.  In that time, I have found them both to be upstanding, Christian people who sincerely love the Lord and each other.”

“Well!” Mrs. Morgan huffed.  “It is obvious you do not know what they were like before.  Especially what Anna was like.”
“She’s told me what she was like before,” Pastor Noble said.  “But, that is enough of this talk.  Today is a happy day of celebration.  Whether you agree with the marriage or not, it is a happy day.  And if you didn’t want to be happy or approve of the marriage, you shouldn’t have come.  Good day, Madam.”

7) How are you going to move forward in this challenge? Are you changing your word-count goal or other plans?

This week I hope to edit at least 5 chapters in “Be Thou My Vision” and write at least 1,500 words per day.

Giveaway Announcement

For more information about what is in the giveaway, click on the picture.  Or if you just want  to enter the giveaway, click on this link: a Rafflecopter giveaway.  Be watching my blog next week for a review of Elaine Littau’s book, “Nan”.