Monthly Archives: December 2023

The Best of Realm Central 2023

December 29, 2023 By in Realm Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Well, Realmers, here we are at the end of 2023! I don’t know about you, but it’s been an exciting year, and I’m thankful for the many blessings Adonai has bestowed upon me and my family. Since I’ll be keeping Shabbat and celebrating New Year’s with family, I thought today would be a good day to reminisce the past year.

My debut novel Realm launched in April. After all the writing, editing, beta reading, editing, more beta reading, professional editing, choosing a launch date, ordering and sending invitations, planning the party, and then going forward with the book launch party, all I can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making my dream of publication come true. I couldn’t have done it without all the love and support I received along the way.

One of the neatest experiences I had with promoting Realm was the creation of an unboxing video, book trailer, and scene re-creation with Heath and Michelle Smith. Be sure to check out the videos on YouTube at HL Gibson.

In May, I held a successful book signing at Thirty-two 8 Inspired & Co. where I made a new friend in baker and chocolatier, Michelle Kostich of Shell’s Confections. What a privilege and pleasure it has been to support each other in our chosen professions, but our friendship really is the icing on the cake, cupcakes, and cookies.

Another amazing book signing took place at Therapy Ice Cream & Coffee Bar in June, and several more people became Realmers that day. Many wonderful beta reading and editing sessions took place at Therapy. Lots of ice cream and coffee were consumed at Therapy. And it is with a heavy yet grateful heart that we bid a fond farewell to Therapy and wish the owners a happy retirement. You will be missed.

I kept writing during this time, but it was mostly blog posts regarding what I mentioned above. One of the best things to occur was the large amounts of positive feedback I received about Realm. I produced a decent amount of monthly marketing by creating my own ads for social media, which were well-received. Then there was a bit of a break for the summer, and I worked a bit on writing toward my current WIP.

My next event was my first multi-author book signing at Kern’s Home & Garden & Christian Bookstore. I coordinated with nursery owner, Heidi Flack, and the authors who participated, to create some lovely advertising for the Fall Open House. The weather was perfect on both days of the event, and the customers enjoyed having us there.

So, we did it again in December for the Winter Wonderland Open House! This time, in addition to lovely headshots, the advertising included a short bio about each author. Again, the day was perfect, and customers picked up some great reading material for themselves and as gifts.

Since I found my groove with creating my own ads, I finished my year with social media advertising because I wanted to focus on my family during the holidays. I also threw myself into working steadily on my current WIP, and while I’m cautiously optimistic, I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel for this one.

The big challenge regarding my current WIP in the coming year will be to stay focused and on track with concluding the novel. “What’s vying for your attention?” you ask. Well, it’s faithful fans and followers who keep asking when the next book in the world of Realm is due to be published. I must admit that I honestly did not expect that to occur quite so soon, and I’m going to have to look at my schedule to decide the logistics of publishing the next book. It’s all rather exciting and scary.

Stay tuned as I manage things here at Realm Central. If you haven’t already become a Realmer, be sure to pick up your copy of Realm today. You’re going to require the info in Realm as a foundation for the next book.

As always, I make the plans, commit them to Adonai, and He gives the go-ahead or adjusts the details as needed before I move forward. This is my secret to success, and it’s worked every time.

Wishing you and yours a Blessed New Year in 2024!

Quotation Station

December 22, 2023 By in Quotation Station Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Sometimes, when we’re so overwhelmed by events that we cannot find the words to express the many emotions we experience throughout the day, it’s good and acceptable to consult the wisdom of those who came before us. Consider King David, a man after Adonai’s own heart, who wrote down his words and organized them into the prayers we can access today.

Many are taught the freedom of expression that comes when speaking with Adonai, and yes, it does exist. But what many are not taught is the awesome benefit of praying “the prayers” as they are recorded in the Bible and elsewhere. Imagine, people all across the world saying the same words at the same time. “But how can we actually be praying them at the same time unless we coordinated beforehand?” you ask.

Because Adonai is outside of time. Shabbat Shalom to those seeking rest and peace.

Avinu Shebashamayim

“Avinu Shebashamayim, Rock and Redeemer of Israel

Bless the State of Israel, the start of flowering of Redemption.

Shield it with Your love; spread over it the shelter of Your peace

Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth.

Establish for them Your good counsel.

Strengthen the hands of the defenders of our Holy Land

Cause them to inherit, our G-d, deliverance

Place the crown of victory upon them

Give the land peace, and everlasting joy to its inhabitants

And visit all our Brethren of the house of Israel,

in all the lands where they are scattered,

and bring them rapidly to Zion, Your city,

and to Jerusalem, where Your name lives,

as it says in the Torah of Moses, Your servant:

‘Even if your dwelling is at the end of the sky,

G-d will congregate you from there, and bring you from there,

and will bring you toward the land that Your forefathers inherited

and you will inherit it and G-d shall benefit you

and multiply your numbers greater than your forefathers.

Then the LORD your G-d will open up your heart

and the hearts of your offspring to love the LORD your G-d

with all your heart and soul, in order that you may live.’

Unify our hearts to love and worship Your name and to keep all that is in Your Torah,

and send us the son of David, the Messiah of Your justice,

to redeem those who wait for Your salvation.

Appear with the glory and the pride of Your strength,

in front of all the inhabitants of the Universe,

and all those who have breath will say:

The G-d of Israel is the King,

and He reigns over everything.

Amen, forever.”

(Courtesy of Sefaria)

Strike That Spark!

December 18, 2023 By in Writing Advice, Writing Toolbox Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

The eight days of Hanukkah celebration this year were amazing as we filled them with love, laughter, and light! Read any of my posts from the past week, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

We also had the pleasure of extending our celebration an extra day when we dined with our dear friends, Doug and Jeanette Nelson, for Erev Shabbat. What a lovely evening that led to a most peaceful and restful day of attending services and coming home to relax.

Naturally, Havdalah followed, and as I extinguished the candle in the poured-out wine, I thought to myself, “Okay, what’s next?” Surely, I need to be baking bread, mulling wine, or at the very least, making a grocery list! But no, everything had come to a glorious, satisfying conclusion.

My husband and son were out of the house, so I sat down at my laptop and whiled away the time creating an ‘80s playlist on YouTube. It may sound like a terrible waste of time, but I love the memories that are attached to my favorite songs, and I dredged more than a few that night. Besides, music is the backdrop of my life for just about everything I do.

The next morning is when it really hit me that I was free to resume daily life. Allow me to rewind a bit at this point to say that I set aside my writing during Hanukkah because trying to maintain both would be impossible, and I was devoted to making Hanukkah great this year. We really needed the light and still do!

Permit me to go back even further to say that depending on when Hanukkah begins, my mother and I begin planning elaborate celebration about two to three weeks prior that require lots of shopping and preparation. Not that we mind because what follows is terrific, but I mention this because now that it’s over, I need to find a way to slip back into my good habits of writing.

I’ll start slowly with something easy like the “Thank You” notes I need to write. The little notes may not seem like much, but it’s important to express gratitude at every opportunity. I love to ponder mine for a moment to make sure I’m conveying my deep appreciation in the small space provided, using the very best words this writer can conjure to do so.

Then I dig deeper and write a blog post such as this one. It’s a great way to organize my thoughts into intelligent, interesting comments that I hope my followers will enjoy reading. There’s a story here but also tips for my writing friends on my method of jumpstarting the creative juices, tapping into my writing muse, etc.

As mentioned, music is an important part of my life but very much so when applied to my writing. Classical music wakes my brain and provides a general soundtrack, so to speak, until I reach the point where I’m ready to dig into my current WIP.

A specific inspirational playlist must be cued, preferably a long one, as I pull up the last two or three chapters of my WIP and the document titled Next Chapter Notes. I start by re-reading what I wrote, never assuming I remembered everything perfectly, and then I edit a titch and/or double check my notes to make sure I included everything in the past chapters before I set my face forward, open a black document, and place my fingers over the laptop keyboard.

Sometimes more notes come out, which will be transferred to the main note-keeping document, and sometimes the actual writing flows, whether as dialog or prose is anyone’s guess. In either case, I’ve successfully resumed writing.

Three to five cups of tea will be enjoyed during however long I give myself toward the day’s writing. I’ll complete a few chores when I need a physical and mental break. I graze until I need to make dinner. And mostly importantly, I thank Adonai for whatever amount of writing I achieved for the day.

I’ve written upward of a thousand words in one session that lasted an hour, and I’ve fought for a mere three hundred over the course of the entire day. Both are deserving of praise not because I did something miraculous but rather because I was afforded the opportunity to create in imitation of my Creator.

There are obstacles to overcome during this process (for me the biggest are guilt over not doing something I think might be more important than writing and playing on social media), but the understanding of what I’ve been given by Adonai, as mentioned above, and my dear husband (time to write without having to work an outside job) places me squarely back on track. I will not squander this precious gift.

And so, dear followers and writing friends, I offer this simple advice on how to relight the spark of your writing, or any task, and I bid you farewell as I return to my own endeavors.

Quotation Station

December 15, 2023 By in Quotation Station, Writing Toolbox Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

In a speech to the Senate on January 22, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson called for the European war to be brought to an end through “a peace without victory.” This, he argued, was the only sort of peace that could produce a lasting settlement: Victory would mean peace forced upon the loser, a victor’s terms imposed upon the vanquished. President Wilson was mere a politician who would spew whatever he believed people wanted to hear and who clearly did not understand that peace will never be achieved without victory when you face an enemy hellbent on destroying you. And that is why we ended up with a second World War.

Israel, unlike America who, although buffered on two sides by vast oceans still felt the touch of the enemy on both coasts, is a country about the size of New Jersey, surrounded by enemies, and virtually land locked. Israel does not have the luxury of stopping until her enemies are vanquished. Still, in the face of great adversity from all sides, Israelis came together to fight as one.

My prayer for Israel is peace ~ the peace that can only be achieved by victory with the help of Adonai. My prayer for Israel is that they will enjoy a day of rest this Shabbat. My prayer for Israel includes blessing:

Misha & Marty Goetz – The Aaronic Benediction

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The Thing About Candles

December 14, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

How do you make a candle last forever?

As I reflect on the past nights of Hanukkah, the first thing that comes to mind is the light. We start by lighting the shamash (servant) candle that is placed in the middle of the hanukkiah, and then we use the shamash to light the other candles. The first night, it’s just one candle and the shamash, but each night another candle is added until they total eight. What starts small grows into beauty and brilliance.

I know many menorahs and hanukkiahs are fashioned with the shamash at one end, but there’s a reason why it belongs in the middle. At most, maybe slightly raised or set in front of the other branches.

It’s all about balance.

Read Torah to see that Adonai Himself designed the menorah, and because He did, the menorah is perfect. Hanukkiahs, created with two extra branches because of the eight-night miracle of oil, followed suit.

Yes, the menorah and hanukkiah reflect light, which is a picture of HaShem, but they also represent balance, which is an equally important picture of the one and only living God. If branches on either side were lost or broken off, the menorah/hanukkiah could not stand in balance. The same is true of us, who are also pictured by the menorah/hanukkiah. If we go too far to the left (a picture of the physical) or the right (a picture of the spiritual) we will be out of balance, and everything we do diverts from Adonai’s perfect path.

That’s not to say that one side is more important than the other. However, don’t be so physically/worldly minded that you become an animal, but by the same token, don’t become so spiritually minded that you’re of no earthly good. Maintain balance.

Remember Who gave you your light!

The shamash, or servant, candle represents HaMashiach, who belongs in the center of our life so we can maintain balance. The beautiful thing about Yeshua is that His light never diminishes within us as long as we keep Adonai’s commands.

Again, in HaShem’s perfect, infallible Word, we see the Light that has been there all along, waiting for us to discover Him in this dark world. King David said as much in his Psalms, and he understood that Torah is the lamp, the Word is the Light. His direct descendant, King Yeshua, confirmed the declaration, and it is recorded by His disciple, John.

Everyday miracles.

The story of the Maccabees happened to Israel, but there are many reasons why everyone would benefit from keeping Hanukkah.

First, it is a time to rededicate yourself to Adonai. Repentance is so important to Our Father, Our King. His grace is all over Torah, and one doesn’t have to dig very hard to find it or see that He didn’t quickly invent grace for HaMashiach’s arrival. It’s been there all along.

Second, consider the miracle performed by HaShem on behalf of Israel. The simple commodity of oil was required to keep the command to light the menorah. But the oil had to be pure. We, too, in order to reflect Adonai’s Light, need to be pure. And just like the miracle of the oil, when we conduct ourselves purely, the simple things in our life extend until we realize they are blessings.

Third, Adonai’s truths are all over the story of the Maccabees and Hanukkah! I believe my favorite has always been the tremendous victory by HaShem as He used a small contingent to do so. Our Creator always works with tiny percentages and remnants from which and with whom He does amazing things.

Better than physical light.

So how does one make a candle last forever? By lighting it.

I’ve studied physical light in school, and although I’ve forgotten much about wavelengths, photons, particles required for light to travel, etc., etc., what I remember the most is that light goes on forever. What I’ve learned by studying Torah is that spiritual light possesses many of the same qualities but in a better way.

We are the candles through which HaShem’s Light shines brightly, and even one of us can scatter the darkness. But we must remain lit from within by the Servant Candle. This is accomplished by returning to the source of all Light, i.e., Torah. Get your recharge daily.

We should stand tall, shoulder to shoulder, with the other lights on Adonai’s menorah all year long. By doing so, the Light in us will attract other people to our Light. Equally important is how we may need to shine more brightly when a loved one’s flame seems to flicker or go dim. Don’t forget the necessity of shining Light to other candles.

Like a physical candle, you may have times when you feel absolutely spent. Like spiritual light, when you know where to find the fire to relight yourself, you will shine more brightly once again. That is the type of Light that continues forever.

Great things are coming.

In the past, I’ve experienced post-Hanukkah melancholy because once the eight nights were completed, I quickly found myself between the millstones of the daily grind. This year, I’m going to work harder on me to ensure that my Light stays lit.

Yes, things look hopeless in the world right now. I see the nations coming against Adonai’s people. I heard, dare I say it, that people are calling current events World War III. I’m not fazed by any of this because appearances are deceiving, people love to label everything, and Adonai is still on the throne.

The eighth night of Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight. Eight represents new life. Will you begin your life anew with us?

See you at sundown.

~The Gibsons

Coming to You Live from Hanukkah!

December 13, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

It’s no coincidence that during Hanukkah the Torah readings included the portions of Vayeshev and Mikketz. Of all the stories in Torah, Joseph’s most closely parallels that of Messiah.

The beginning stages are set in Vayeshev, there’s an unexpected digression in the middle of the tale that, if you miss it, will leave the story incomplete, and the portion ends on what appears to be a hopeless situation. On the other hand, we see Joseph’s fortunes take an upward turn in Mikketz and the tests of repentance, humility, and forgiveness expertly woven into the narrative.

I’ve often imagined myself as a casual observer, perhaps a maid in Joseph’s house, watching these strange events unfold. Or sometimes, when my imagination explodes, a time-traveling reporter with the powers of invisibility who inserts herself into the scene. But even as a modern-day reader of a story with which I am very familiar, I find that every time I read the tale, I am no less excited as Adonai brilliantly crafts the scene and what I lovingly call “The Big Reveal.”

Genesis 44:18, where Judah speaks, always thrills me. In that small break between verses 17 and 18 hangs the fate of Joseph’s brothers and the world. I encourage you to not rush from one verse to the other without considering everything that came before and everything that will follow. It is in such pauses that Adonai can be found.

Circle back to Joseph’s situation at the end of Yayeshev. The cupbearer may have forgotten Joseph, but Adonai did not. In another read-between-the-lines moment, HaShem is making Joseph wait. Why? We have no idea what took place during those two years, and yet . . .

How many times has HaShem made us wait for something, seemed like He was beyond reach, and our hope began to wane? There’s your answer: never give up hope because Adonai is always in the middle of your situation, whether it’s illness, financial loss, attack by genocidal maniacs, or being sold into slavery by the hands of your brothers. It’s in the waiting that we grow and mature. We don’t require the specifics of Joseph’s situation to know that this applies to us.

Unless you live as a total recluse, you know we’re living in dark days wherein the battlefronts change daily in a war that is rarely, if ever, well defined. But the Light still burns as strongly as ever, and it will not be extinguished. Again, it’s by design that we’re celebrating Hanukkah—a time of miracles, light, truth, and victory achieved by small numbers with the assistance of Adonai—right now!

The next Torah portion is Vayigash, and it reads like a reporter’s dream scoop. What a story to give a world in need! Pay attention to the important key that Joseph only revealed himself when all the brothers were present. Chew on that for a moment before rushing toward the exciting conclusion, which, in truth, is a glorious beginning.

I’m praying for Israel and the world during the eight nights of Hanukkah, that sacred time when hidden things will be revealed (John 10:22 – 30), when strength in small numbers does amazing things, when Adonai’s hand is in the middle of the situation up to His elbow!

Take this time to pause, reflect, and rededicate yourself to Yeshua HaMashiach. We’ll see you at sundown for the seventh night of Hanukkah celebration. Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai!

~The Gibsons

But Wait ~ There’s More!

December 12, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Just when you thought Hanukkah couldn’t get any better, we rolled out the fifth night of food and fun! And before you ask, Realmers, yes, I remembered to take pictures of our meal before we scarfed it as well as our beautiful hanukkiah.

My parents and our son, Joshua, joined us this evening for a lighter meal since we all needed to recover from the previous evening’s meal, which was extremely delicious but also very heavy.

We opted for Grilled Chicken Tenderloins with Shallots and Portabella Mushrooms served over jasmine rice and green beans with tomatoes. Of course, Hanukkah treats from Shell’s Confections and my dad’s outstanding fruit cake were on hand for dessert.

Will’s tealights continue to please, and if you’re not sure why we have them in addition to our hanukkiah, read the story in Lights in the Realm.

Three more nights to go. It’s a lot of work, but then anything worth having requires positively challenging work that ends with blessing(s) far beyond one’s expectations. Baruch HaShem for the bounty with which He has blessed us and the opportunity to express our gratitude to Him.

Time to reload the hanukkiah and prep for tonight. I’ll see you at sundown.

~The Gibsons

Hanukkah ~ Not for the Weak!

December 11, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , 2 Comments

As I reflect on the past four days of Hanukkah, prepare for the fifth night of celebration, and rejoice in the miracle that took place for eight nights in a row, it’s the strength of the Maccabees that I’m drawing on right now! Seriously, eight food-, wine-, and dessert-filled days of partying are not to be taken lightly. But I believe I’m up to the challenge.

Last night, we enjoyed a gold star meal of brisket and roasted vegetables prepared by my mother; cheesy potatoes, apple pie, and eggnog with bourbon supplied by my brother and sister-in-law; and Basil Haydn Punch and Hanukkah-themed goodies courtesy of Will and me.

One highlight of the evening was when Dad broke out his famous fruitcake. He lets it sit for at least one day to allow the flavors to meld before serving. I swear, my dad gets better every year at making this cake. His recipe is a closely guarded family secret, so if you want it, you’re going to have to marry into the family or become a close friend!

I do have pictures to share, but again, we all laughed at not having pre-dinning photos of all the beautiful food or our hanukkiahs with four nights-worth of candles. We’ll try again tonight as we light five candles with the shamash.

Praying Adonai’s blessings on you and yours. We’ll see you tonight at sundown.

~The Gibsons

Festival of Lights

December 10, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey, Realmers! I’m back after two days of amazing Hanukkah celebration. Since I don’t work on Shabbat, I need to catch you up so you’ll know what’s going on.

The second night of Hanukkah was also Erev Shabbat, and Will and I had the pleasure of dining with Grant and Robin Luton. Making the evening even more special was the honor of celebrating the birthday of Robin’s mother, Jeanne Anderson, who is a dear friend. This beautiful lady is eighty-two years young, and I am so glad Adonai brought her into my life.

Jeanne is the very essence of strength and grace. She is a pillar of wisdom who has shined a bright light into my life. My only regret is that I didn’t meet her sooner, and so I cherish every moment I get to spend with her.

Also present were Lindsay Luton, Grant and Robin’s daughter; Jim Anderson, Jeanne’s husband; and Ron Anderson, Jeanne and Jim’s son.

Robin made a delicious meal, we enjoyed lovely discussions on topics ranging from hilarious to serious, and best of all, we prayed together expressing gratitude for the many blessings Adonai has bestowed upon us and requesting his divine guidance into our lives and regarding Israel.

For the third night of Hanukkah, we were back at my folks’ home for another delicious meal, mulled wine (Mulled Wine Recipe), and dessert from Shell’s Confections! If you’ve never had anything from Shell’s, just let me say that not only are her creations absolutely beautiful, but they are also incredibly delicious.

I made a special request of Hanukkah-themed treats, and what I received far exceeded my expectations. Spice cake with golden raisin cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting, sugar cookies with buttercream frosting, and minted white chocolate covered Oreos all in Hanukkah-themed colors and decorations have kept us happy for three nights, but I don’t see them lasting past the fourth night of Hanukkah!

As requested, I finally remembered to take a picture of Will’s tealights, but I forgot to take a picture of our hanukkiah with candles for the third night. Mom and I laughed because we’re always so in the moment that it’s a wonder we remember to take any pictures at all.

That wraps up the past two days. Tonight is the fourth night of Hanukkah, and we’ll see you at sundown.

~The Gibsons

Quotation Station

December 8, 2023 By in Quotation Station, Writing Toolbox Tags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Today’s Quotation Station includes a Hanukkah report from last night’s celebration, which was a smashing success. It always is, though, when dining on pizza and wings from our favorite restaurant, Gionino’s. It may not be typical Hanukkah food, but when my husband, son, and I worked Thursday, well, takeout it is! Besides, in the past, we tried to consume all the fried food the celebration usually calls for and just about killed ourselves.

We joined my parents at their home, lit all the candles Will required in his desire to shine extra bright this Hanukkah, and had a great time visiting, laughing, joking, and just generally basking in Adonai’s light. You know, I just realized I forgot to take a picture of all the extra tealights, but I can tell you they were gorgeous! The house just glowed with true shalom.

The hanukkiah always looks a little sparse with only two candles (the shamash and the first night candle), but like hope, as each successive candle is added, the light grows, and grows, and grows!

One lesson I have learned with Hanukkah is that patience is key. Isn’t that true with most things in our lives? We want success, rescue, answers, and basically everything immediately. That’s the beauty of Hanukkah: the Light, like wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and discernment, builds over time. And if you’re paying attention, you gain some maturity along the way and realize this is how it should be.

I’m offering tonight’s prayer while lighting your hanukkiah as today’s quotation:

Praised are you, Lord our G-d,

Ruler of the universe,

who performed wonderous deeds for

our ancestors at this season.

Tonight is also an extra special night of Hanukkah because it’s also Erev Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom! Don’t forget to light your Shabbat candles, too!

See you at sundown when we add a little more Light to an otherwise dark world.

~The Gibsons