Hi, Friends.

I’m sorry I haven’t kept up with my newsletter. I’m going to try again to get on a schedule to write at least once a month. I hope you’ll stick with me!

How is your fall weather? Here in San Antonio, we’ve had a few cooler days. They revive me! 

About my writing journey . . .

I’ve spent the last few months editing and publishing books for others. Now I’m excited about buckling down to write my fourth BIZ book! It’s my first Christmas book—called All Wrapped Up in Christmas!

Some of you have heard how God really came through for me a year after my sweet hubby Greg was sent home from the hospital on Christmas Eve to die.

Tears poured down my cheeks as I watched a Christmas movie, and I asked, “God, will I ever love Christmas again?”

Immediately, the Holy Spirit brought a response to my mind: “Barbie, stop thinking about what Christmas was and think about what Christmas is!

What a difference that makes! Because of Christmas, we will see our loved ones again one day. Because of Christmas, we can have peace in our souls even when we walk through the dark valley of the shadow of death. Because of Christmas, we can celebrate God’s precious gift of his Son Jesus Christ and the salvation He has provided for us!

I turned a corner in my grief process during that heavenly conversation. 

That’s what my fourth Biz book is about—the power and gift of Christmas!

To whet your appetite, I’ve included a short scene below. 

Have a blessed fall and Thanksgiving!

We’ll talk again soon.

Barbie

The dry squeal of metal on metal sent my blood pressure soaring. I swiped my sudsy hands on my jeans and hurried upstairs. “Robert, don’t push my buttons!”

Too late. Robert had lowered the steps to the attic into the hallway and stood on the second rung in a sweatsuit with a wicked grin on his face. “Biz, I’m fine. Go away.”

“You’re not fine, you crazy old goat. You were just in the emergency room a week ago with that broken arm, and you’re back on a ladder again? Now, get down from there.”

Robert didn’t budge. “I just want to look around up there so I can tell Robby which tubs need to come down to decorate the outside of the house. I should have done a better job of putting everything away when we moved in.”

“Are the tubs marked?”

“Yes, but—”

“But nothing. I’m pretty sure Robby can read. Please get down. You’re going to spoil Christmas if you fall again and break a leg or your other arm.”

“Biz—”

The oven timer buzzed. “That’s the homemade rolls I worked on all morning for dinner.”

Robert climbed another step. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go take them out of the oven.” Again, that Cheshire cat grin.

Crossing my arms, I shook my head. “Not going to happen until you are down.”

He didn’t budge. Time for action. I grabbed the waistband of his sweats and yanked until they were curled around his ankles. I knew he could not pull them back up with one arm. 

“Is that the way you want the grandkids to find you when they get here?”

Robert leaned into the ladder, resting his elbows on a rung. “This isn’t funny, Biz. If I fall, it’s going to be your fault.”

I stretched out a hand. “Let me help you down.”

About that time, a cacophony of voices entered the back door downstairs, and our son Robby called out, “Mom? Dad?”

Transfer that Cheshire cat grin to my face. I called downstairs. “Vickie, will you please take my rolls out of the oven right away?”

I got the giggles as Robert begged me to hurry up and help him with his pants. As I did, I said, “Don’t you ever push me like that again, sweetheart.”

Robert’s grin returned. “Or what?”

I know. I know. Many of you think it’s way too early to start celebrating Christmas. But I’m on a roll and wanted to let you know.

November is often known to writers as National Novel Writers Month. This will be my third year to attempt to write 50,000 words in a new book in the month of November. I succeeded the last two years. 

I’ll be working on the fourth book in the A Second Wind series, and this one will be all about Christmas! I’ve wanted to write a Christmas book for years. 

Will you support my efforts? One way you can do that is by joining my email newsletter where I’ll give updates on my progress and occasionally ask for your opinion on scenes where I need some help. You can join my newsletter by visiting my website at www.barbarahaleybooks.com or by simply sending me your email address as a private message. I promise not to ever give your email address out or inundate you with emails. Ha- I’ll be too busy writing!

Before I close, I’ll let you in on a secret. There will be a character in this book who is grieving the loss of a dear one. I’ve been there. My sweet hubby died just days after Christmas seventeen years ago, and God has healed my heart in so many ways. One of the biggest is that I once again love Christmas.

The first Christmas after Greg died, I asked the Lord, “Will I ever love Christmas again?” 

Immediately the answer came. “Barbie, stop thinking about what Christmas was, and think about what Christmas is. 

Wow! I listened. And obeyed. I intentionally stopped obsessing on what I could no longer have and started creating new memories. Reframed the season, in a way. I’m not saying I chose to forget the past or stop grieving the loss. That would not have been healthy. But I didn’t stay stuck there. And now, all these years later, I can honestly say that I am very happy with my life. In fact, it’s like God has given me two lives to love … and that’s another book for the future. 

Anyway, I want to include experiences like the one above in my book and allow God to show His love to my character in the same way. And perhaps, somewhere, a reader who is aching inside will realize how much God loves her, too. 

Because that’s why I write.