Day two of Cover Reveals XD Today, I'm sharing about a book I am currently reading and am fast falling in love with!

So glad to be a part of sharing this exciting and heart-tugging series! And can we just appreciate that epic cover??? I hope she does print copies!

Have a blessed day and God bless America!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Isn't it beautiful??? Design credit goes to Megan Mccullough.

Thank you so much for attending this reveal party. Watch Erika's Instagram this month for celebrations, or hop over to restinglife.com/signup for all the updates plus a free short story. And don’t forget to preorder the EBOOK and SIGNED PAPERBACK!
 May the blessings of the Lord be upon you today!
God Bless America!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello and welcome to my Spring Writing Update! I’m happy to report I have made some progress even if I have been terrible at keeping my updates page up to date *facepalm* sorry! But anywho! Today, I’m here with an update! And I’m actually excited! So let’s hop in!

The Battlefield is Silent ||

Things do always go as we’d like. I’d hoped to be in the final editing stage by now and announcing that it’s ready to go to press next month. But that’s not how things worked out.

As some of you know, I’ve been suffering from acute mental block 😉 I finally broke out y’all! I’m writing again and it feels so good! Yesterday, I got in over 6K in the draft! I’m now in August of 1865, closing in on September! The story is coming to a couple of climaxes and I’m so excited to share this book with y’all!

Here’s a snippet for your patience!
 
“With Malice toward None, with Charity to All…”

“I wish,” Timothy whispered. He elbowed Jordan as the crowd applauded President Lincoln’s inaugural speech. “I’ve half a mind to wave at him and say, ‘Hey! I’m a Confederate!’ and see how far that goes.”

Jordan snorted and shook his head. “I wouldn’t. Everybody knows it’s just politicking.”

“True.”

Jordan listened to the endless chatter of the ceremony as it droned on, and took in the faces surrounding him. Most were enraptured, though to be sure, not everyone was happy with the winner of the 2nd term president and warmonger. Those dissenting frowned in disapproval, but applauded politely and occasionally nodded when something was said that they agreed with.

Except for a gentleman close to the stage. He scowled fiercely at Lincoln, quite obvious that he didn’t agree with a single word the Neanderthal said. His eyes flashed and he gritted his teeth. Now there was a person that hated Lincoln.

Jordan studied his face. He had seen the fellow before, middling height, dark hair, thick mustache and sharp, piercing black eyes that snapped like a blade when aroused. Jordan couldn’t place him though.

He wasn’t sure why or what it was that made the fellow stand out, but he did know one thing; that fellow was not to be trusted. And he certainly bore watching. Perhaps their feelings of contempt for the evil man addressing the crowd were mutual, but there was no reason in flaunting it and drawing attention. No, this fellow was a rash sort. Best to keep a distance.
 
Do you know how hard it is to find a snippet that doesn’t have spoilers??

As far as stats go, I’m at 93.5K and 333 pages O.0 Yep, gonna have to edit 😉
 
Secret Project ||

It’s plotted and I’m working on chapter 2. And that’s all I’m saying *halo*

You’re welcome!
 
As for my other projects, they are still under wraps, but I have hired an editor for one project and am looking into a cover designer. And that wraps things up!
 
Are you writing a book? Share your update in the comments! Reading any good books lately? Feel free to share as well! What books are you most looking forward to for 2021??
 
God Bless and God Bless America!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hey, Y’all! Welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner! I’m so excited to share about this particular Missions Spotlight because I knew someone whose family was from Guyana! It’s fun when you have some kind of connection! Anyways! Time to get into our spotlight! Hope you enjoy!

Country: Republic of Guyana

Continent: South America

Population: 782,766 (2019)

Capital: Georgetown

Largest City: Georgetown

Motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny

National Anthem: Dear Land of Guyana of Rivers and Plains

Current Leader: Ifraan Ali

Language: English

Bordering Countries: Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela

Religions: Pentecostal (22.8%); Seventh-Day Adventist (5.4%); Anglican (5.2%); Methodist (1.4%); Jehovah’s Witnesses (1.3%); Roman Catholic (7.1%); Christians (Not sure what all they consider Christian) (20.8%); Hindu (24.8%); Muslim (6.8%); Other (2.6%); None (3.1%). Approx. 79% of the population is involved in false religion, and probably more have never heard a clear Gospel presentation from the Bible.

Animals of Interest: Jaguars, Arapaima (freshwater fish), Harpy Eagles, Giant Anteater, Giant River Otter, Black Caimans (alligator family), and Capybara, just to name a few!

Famous Foods: Curry (chicken, beef, lamb); Metamgee (a dumpling dish made from cornflour, yams, plantains, eddos root and cassava, cooked in coconut milk and grated coconut); Pepperpot (a stew famous for its hot peppers and spices, cooked with Beef and yucca); Garlic Pork; Plantain Chips.

Fun Facts: Guyana is home to the rarest type of Otter, the Giant River Otter! It’s also the home of the largest scaled freshwater fish! Guyana is the only South American country with English as its official language!

Missionaries: (Subject to Additions!)

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation. FBN has been heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Guyanese people will hear the Gospel. And above all, pray for laborers to go and serve!

Don’t forget to check your list of missionaries at your church for Missionaries to Guyana! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn

Hello All! Hope you are having a lovely weekend, preparing to worship the Lord with fellow believers tomorrow! Today I am sharing a short story (as requested/promised)! Since there is a side plot involving the Mennonite, I want to go ahead and state that this story is NOT intended to look down on the Mennonite people. It is meant to show the tension between those who believe in pacifism and those who do not. I will go ahead and state that I do not believe in pacifism and I do have scripture to back that up (if you have questions about it, feel free to contact us!), but I respect each persons' choice to believe how they want on this matter ;)

This is a longer story, so I will be releasing it in parts! (Also note, this is a part of a WIP, so it is subject to change.) I wrote this story last year as a part of a writing challenge several of my writing buddies were doing! It was so fun!

So, without further ado, let's hope into the story.

Charlotte tugged at my sleeve and said, her voice trembling, “Christina, please take this customer. It’s…a soldier, and I’m scared.”

It killed me. My uncle's family were Mennonite, and as such, they didn’t understand the Biblical and moral reasons to maintain a military to defend their right to pacifism. But I’m not Mennonite, and I’m not gonna turn my back on a soldier.

I hurried out, my denim skirt swishing as I rounded the counter. “Hello! Welcome to Schnyders! What can I get you, sir?”

At first, He didn’t realize I was talking to him, and I laughed. “Sorry, I forgot you don’t ‘sir’ Specialists.”

A smile split his face, and he said, “I’d like a Ruben, side of sauerkraut and a cup of coffee, black, decaf, please.”

“Coming right up! And,” I held out my hand. “Thank you for your service, sir. My brother was Army. Lost him in Baghdad.”

His eyes clouded, but the look disappeared in a blink. “Thank you for standing by him. And thank you for your support, ma’am. I…I almost lost a brother in Iraq too.”

“He’s all right?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Thank God. Let me get your coffee.”

I didn’t even know what had happened to his brother, but I wanted to cry anyway. I wiped my eyes and straightened the bow in my hair, and faced him with a smile. He smiled back and took the coffee, turning his attention to a letter in his hand.

Moments later, I interrupted his reading with his food. “Okay, I have to ask. Do you speak German?”

He looked up at me. “I do. Why?”

“I noticed your accent when you ordered. I grew up speaking it, so I notice it when an ‘outsider’ speaks it around here.”

His eyes laughed. “I was born in Germany. My family moved here when I was eight. Thanks for not getting creeped out by how I talk.”

“Oh, yes, I get that too. Too bad, though. It’s a lovely language.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I refilled his coffee and turned away.

“Uh, ma’am?”

“Yes?”

“Could I ask for your advice?”

“Shoot!”

“Okay, so I have a younger sister. And I… well, I’m deploying in about a month. I’ve had two, and both times, I’ve had close calls, and I know this is gonna tear her up. How would you suggest I tell her?”

I let out my breath in a rush. More than likely, he was heading to Iraq. It was horrible over there right now. “I…” how would I have wanted Stanley to tell me if we could redo it? No, I wouldn’t change it. “Find a restaurant where you two can talk, with food that she likes. And order dessert.”

He laughed. “So our family isn’t the only one that doesn’t normally do that.”

I smiled. “Then take her somewhere special, and break it to her gently. And tell her…”

I swallowed. “Goodbye isn’t in the Dictionary.”

I expected him to ask what I meant and I wished I hadn’t said it, because I didn’t want to explain. But he didn’t. He got this look in his eyes… and nodded slowly. “And get her one to prove it?”

I nodded. Lucky guess.

***

I figured I’d never see him again. But I was surprised when three evenings later, he opened the door and entered. He wasn’t in uniform, but he had an Iraq War T-shirt and jeans. His sister was about nineteen, older than I had expected.

I greeted them and took their orders. She talked softly, but loud enough for me to hear, about how beautiful the place was and how good the food was. “How did you find this place? It's so quaint!”

I smiled and quit eavesdropping. I looked over the evening’s dessert menu and made a guess at what they might want. I got right to work on it. This needed to be extra special for them.

As they were finishing, I walked up. “I hope you don’t mind…I made this for y’all, my treat.”

The girl looked up at me, and her eyes brimmed. He thanked me and accepted the two fried Apple pies with frosting, spelling out “Army Strong” on each one with stars. “Oh, wait! This is my sister, Becca. Becca, this is…I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

“Christina. It’s nice to meet y’all.”

“And this is Randy,” Becca laughed. “He never remembers to introduce himself. I tell him it’s because he’s SF now.”

“Airborne?” I asked eagerly.

“Airborne Ranger Infantry,” Becca said, clearly proud of her brother. I couldn’t help smiling, or the tear that ran down my cheek. “Oh, dear,” she whispered. “He told me about…your brother. Oh!” She jumped to her feet and hugged me. And I hugged her, a stranger. How had I not seen his wings the other day? Or maybe I had but didn’t want to.

How long we stood there, I don’t know. Finally, I dried up and let them enjoy their dessert. Randy laid something on the table and paid their bill. Then they left.

I cleaned up the table, my heart aching for Becca, and the news he was about to give her. I found tucked under his cup a wad of dollar bills, $10 in all, and a note. “Thanks for caring. Lead the Way.”

And I sat at the table and cried.

Interested? Want to see more of the story? What is your favorite part so far? Any ideas about what will happen next? Recognize any of these people? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Have a blessed day and God Bless America!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22