January 29th Newsletter
Monday, January 29, 2024 by Cindy Sproles

I Told You It Would Happen

I knew it! Yep! Told ya! Our schedule has been changed on us. When I spoke with the Cove last week, they had changed the times on our schedule. I will tell you this. The early bird classes have NOT changed. They will start at 1 as scheduled. Supper time will change. But honestly, all you need to worry about is showing up at 1 on Friday. As the schedule gets nailed down with the Cove, I'll let you know so you can print for your Saturday times. I know you'd like to know the exact times for everything, but we have to work with the Cove and their schedules for meals. If they change their meal times, then it changes our schedules. And they changed our meal time. It is frustrating, and, truthfully, my only complaint about the Cove is that there are more folks attending the Cove than just us.

As a reminder, you don't have to sign up for classes at the conference. You simply go to the classes you wish to attend. And early bird classes are included. There is no additional charge for early bird classes.

Bear with us as we make changes. If you wanna feel bad - feel bad for Terri who has to re-do all the appointment schedules.

Below is your link to the blog for your week of extended learning. A special thanks to Andrea Merrell for putting this together for us.
This week she is guiding you into how to SHOW, NOT TELL. This is very important for those writing novels. Well, I kinda think it's important across the writing board all the way around. So, read Andrea's post and take a look at your work in progress. Learn to show, not tell.
Click here for your assignment.

Coming down to the wire -
Denise and I sent out invoices for final payments last week. You should have received one if you only paid a deposit. Check your trash and spam. Sometimes, your browser will think the invoice is spam. If you did not get one and you know you owe money, please let me know, and I will send you a link to pay. Our bill for the Cove is DUE! So, I ask that if you owe, please take care of that immediately. I must make a payment.
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Keep a check on our newsletters tab on the website. You will find these letters there. Also, watch the CONFERENCE UPDATE tab, which will give you all the information about check-in.

The Kingdom Devotion contest is closed now and those devos are being judged. Sarah is working hard on the Sparrow Contest, getting those judged. The wheels are turning as we count down to conference day. We only have a few mentoring slots (and by that, I mean one or two), and there is still room for paid critiques. If you want to take advantage of these, contact Terri ASAP at [email protected]. Terri will put you in touch with your mentor or critiquer. These appointments are golden, and we hope you take advantage of them. Also, they entail a great amount of extra time on behalf of our faculty. If you have a paid appointment, please be sure to follow up and send that payment where Terri requests you send it. This helps our faculty, who has to live with us paying them peanuts. Remember, they are giving up four-five days of their work schedules to attend. Flights don't bring us together quickly anymore, and sometimes our faculty has to fly in early and fly out a day later. Please take care of this obligation for them quickly.

REMINDERS:
PLAN AHEAD

PRINT BEFORE YOU COME: Remember to print before you come. We do not provide a printer, and the Cove cannot make copies for 119 people. So please print the items you need before you come to the conference.

MP3s - Our MP3s will be available to purchase. We are charging $45 for the full conference. But that does not cover the cost of producing them. This money goes into our scholarship fund. When you purchase them, know that you are helping provide an opportunity for someone else to attend who may not be able to come otherwise. We thank you in advance. MP3s can be ordered at our bookstore and will be ready sometime in late March or early April. We will contact those who purchase them as soon as they are ready for you to download to your computer. We ask that you not share these with non-conferees. You have paid to attend this conference, it is not fair to you or our faculty for their copyrighted materials to be handed out without their permission.
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UPDATES will come as we receive them. This includes which hotel we are in, when and where to pick up your packets and badges, etc. These final details come down to the wire, so I ask your patience.

So You Think You Have It Hard

I'm fortunate to live in the same town as Billy Wayne Arrington. Billy is who will be leading our worship, and trust me, you will ENJOY his music and his amazing, kind heart. I believe fully that God placed Billy in my life for a reason - just like He has placed you.

I texted Billy today and asked if he was going to be at the theatre that his ministry runs out of. He texted back and told me yes, come on by. So I did. For the next two hours, Billy and I talked, laughed, and shared some heartfelt life things. At one point in our conversation, I told him I felt like I'd been in a desert (not to be confused with dessert) over the last year. As I listed some of the things that had happened, I jokingly said, "And we think we have it hard!" That's when Billy said, "It is hard, isn't it? Life is not easy, no matter what or who we are. It's just hard." And how right he was. He understood the desert I was talking about.

On my way home, I had this conversation with God. I told Him, I'm not going to complain. Instead, Abba, I'm going to look at all the hard and find the good. Here's what I found.

1) My prince nearly died in July - But I AM said Nope. And Tim pulled through after two weeks of hospitalization.
2) I had a cancer scare. Oddly enough, the same cancer my prince had. But I AM, said Nope. And restored me.
3) My niece was diagnosed with an unusual Leukemia. She, too, had a rocky, rocky road, but I AM said, Nope. And though she is still in treatment, she is in remission.
4) The prince's meds are over $900 a month. Nearly 2/3 of our income. But I AM said, nope. And UT Medical Center got him approved for a program where his meds are free through the company.
5) A large medical bill showed up the day before Christmas Eve. Our insurance declined to pay. But I AM said, nope, and when I called UT Med, the insurance had noted they should have paid and cut a check for the full amount.
6) Last Monday, an early morning call informed me that my brother's house had burned to the ground. He and my sis-in-law got out safe, but the house and everything in it was a total loss. TODAY I AM, said nope. You will experience my presence and provision through strangers. And gift cards, cash, and checks began to pour in. All above and beyond what the insurance will provide.

What does this lengthy note have to do with your writing? Well, a lot. Billy was right. Life is just hard. But we have Abba Father, the Great I Am, looking over us. There will be times when you don't feel as though you can sit down and pen a word because life is just hard. But you are to remember this: I AM said, Nope! And you find the good in the sour because I promise, even in the midst of the fire, we have found the good.

Our writing is a gift, and the peers you will meet at this conference will become dear friends. Just like Billy has become my dear friend. These are folks that you can call provision because God always knows what and who you need at just the right time.

I can't wait for your heart to be touched by Billy's music, but more so, I can't wait for you to see just who I AM has placed next to you. You think you have it hard? Nope. I Am is present.

Much love,
Cindy