Nashville, Indiana-- His Book Shop and The Cornerstone Inn

I didn't post last weekend after a three day trip to Nashville, Indiana with a longtime friend. I had never been before, but my friend Jane goes every year. And now I can see why she enjoys it so much!

We stayed at a lovely Christian B&B named The Cornerstone Inn. (see picture above of me and jane in the swing in front of the Inn.) The rooms are decorated mostly Victorian style, and each room has an open Bible. There are also Bible verses on lovely pictures throughout the building. They already have expanded to another building where they have a floor of suites called The Upper Room! And they are in the process of building cottages next door to the original Inn. Even if the rooms weren't so nice, I would stay there again just for the delicious food! They have a wonderful buffet breakfast each morning with at least two hot dishes and a table full of baked goods. Then each afternoon and again in the evening they put out several more snacks and sweet treats. Plus tea and coffee are available all day and night.

From the Cornerstone Inn you can walk to anywhere in Nashville. We went to several stores and watched a lady play 35 bells all by herself on Thursday night before closing time, then went to a very professionally done play presented by the University of Indiana players. On Friday we made our rounds to the rest of the shops. Nashville has three scrapbook stores where I bought some unique papers. I had looked thru one of the travel guides and saw there were two bookstores in town, so I told Jane we had to go to them. My favorite was called His Book Shop. When we walked in, I said, "I could stay here all day." I meant it literally. We did stay for over an hour, browsing the well-stocked bookshelves and chatting with the owners, Terry and Rusty Caldwell. They had recently purchased the shop and have many old classics as well as new books on the Christian best-seller list. See picture above of Jane in front of the store. Check them out at www.hisbookshop.net

Friday evening we went to a fun patriotic show called America, the Music. Nashville is definitely a family place. Several of the shop owners and workers were Christians who spoke of how their town was becoming better all the time. If you have ever visited Nashville, I hope you will list your favorite places. I certainly plan to go back again and encourage you to visit also!

25 Great Bits of Advice and Guest Blog

I was already planning on blogging today to let everyone know that I am guest blogging tomorrow on Kaye Dacus's blog at www.kayedacus.com about the top 10 things I have learned at ACFW writers' conferences. Kay is having guest bloggers this whole next month as a build up to our annual Christian writers' conference in September, so I hope you will check it out and leave a comment there or here. Remember that anyone with an address in the US who leaves a comment on my blog during the month of August is eligible for the book drawing. (See last week's post for more info on that.)

Also I received an email today from a special "Forever Friend" from my college days--Judy Alexander from Ohatchee, Alabama. I usually don't post email forwards here (I don't think I ever have!) but this one was too good not to share. I'm gonna print out a copy for my frig and suggest you do the same. Thanks, Judy! ps. Perhaps everyone can tell us what their favorite bit of advice is or one they are going to start doing every day.

Subject: 25 bits of advice ~ so good!
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. 5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries,wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. In stead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. Please send this to everyone you care about.

Book Contest winner and a chance to win Sweet Forever by Ramona Cecil

Happy August everyone! Diana is the winner of the drawing for Mustering Courage by Lynn A. Coleman. The first number my hubby picked belonged to Tiff (Amber) Miller Stockton, but she re-donated the book as she had already read it. Thanks, Tiff, for your generosity! This month's contest will be for an autographed copy of Sweet Forever by Ramona K. Cecil. Ramona has generously offered to sign and mail a copy to our winner chosen from all those who leave a comment this month. So, let me tell you a little about this wonderful book and its author.

I met Ramona at one of the first ACFW conferences and we have kept in touch ever since. She lives in the neighboring state of Indiana, and she and I and our dear hubbies spent the day in Madison, IN a couple of years ago, touring the town where her debut novel is set. She is the proud mom of two daughters.

If you like historicals , especially one set on a riverboat and river town, then this is the book for you. Here's the back cover copy: "A notorious riverboat gambler killed Rosaleen Archer's husband and has taken her captive, forcing her to do unspeakable things. Convinced God hates her, Rosaleen looks to luck for help as she attempts to escape when the riverboat explodes. She awakens in the arms of a stranger who carries her from the riverbank to a new life and a fresh start, outwardly free of her past. Reverend Jacob Hale senses Rosaleen's innate distrust of God, but as she reveals her past to him, he understand. He finds himself irresistibly drawn to this lovely creature, but can love survive between them despite their differences? Can Jacob convince Rosaleen that God loves even her? Can Rosaleen ever escape the pain and shame of her past?"

To find out, order this book from http://www.heartsongpresents.com/ or leave a comment with your email info to have a chance at winning a copy. It is book # 792 on their site.