Half Finished
Page 26
“‘All this goes to show, you just never know what might happen. Again, thanks and see you one of these days.
“‘Blessings,
“‘George and Alice Nelson.’”
The applause burst out, along with a few hoots and whistles. Roxie held up her mike again. “As we have said, you never know what might happen when people get together to finish UFOs. We know there are groups in other places because they have read about us and asked for suggestions. We thank you all for coming and I hope you’ll take time to admire all the displays we have, including the scrapbook maintained by Judith, the pictures of all those who finished, and the yarn bin, of course. Our Supplies Swap was a huge success also, but all it did for me was add another project that I couldn’t resist. I have a feeling I was not alone. Anne, will you and Gary stand up?” She waved to them with both hands. “Our supper tonight was catered by Annie’s Fountain City Cafe. Didn’t they do a superb job?”
This time people stood to applaud.
Anne and Gary bowed and waved. Anne raised her voice. “MJ, you forgot the UFO group that meets early Friday mornings at the cafe. We have anywhere from four to ten in attendance, and since we are fairly new, I’m not sure how many projects have been finished but we sure have fun together.”
“Sorry.” MJ flinched.
“That’s okay.” Anne grinned. “This was our biggest event to cater and are we ever grateful for good helpers so we could celebrate with all of you. Thank you.”
“Thank you. MJ and I walk most mornings and stop at Annie’s for lattes and sometimes breakfast. I see more people there who are eating and often they have a project along with them. See, Amalia, what you have started.”
Amalia raised her hook and yarn again to more laughter.
“What an evening. Thank you all. And now Pastor Mike—his wife joined our group early on—would you please give the benediction?”
He stood at his table and smiled around the room. “What a gathering of unfinished objects. Good thing He has a plan to finish each one of us. As I look around, I see so many whose lives have changed dramatically this year, both for the good and the sad, but you people have stood by each other and offered whatever help you could give. So many unknown lives too have been touched by what you have been doing as God multiplies our efforts. Thank you.” He nodded. “Amazing.” He lifted his hands. “And now, may our good Lord bless and keep us. May His face shine upon us and above all, may He fill us with His peace. Amen. Congratulations, everyone. Keep it up.”
* * *
The next day, the four gathered at Annie’s to do some Monday morning quarterbacking. MJ sighed and leaned back in her chair, staring at the remains of the orange roll on her plate. “Anne, m’dear, you have done it again. You did a fantastic job catering the celebration supper last night and now…” She swept her hand to indicate the entire table.
“And now we have rolls to die for.” Roxie grinned back at the innocent-appearing Anne.
“Don’t you ever sleep?” Ginny leaned forward. “I mean, I would still be in bed if it weren’t for—”
“All your animals and chickens to feed,” muttered Amalia.
“Well, that too, but…”
Anne shrugged. “All I can say is magic, and yes, I did sleep, just not terribly long. As I have said so many times, we have an amazing group of workers here. They took care of last night from beginning to end. You saw them.”
“And who hired and trained them?” Roxie’s eyebrows tickled her half bangs.
“Okay, thank you, but let me remind you all, you are the ones who dreamed up and created the first UFO group and—”
“And then hung on for the ride.” Amalia looked up from the poncho she was knitting on big needles as a surprise for Addy. “Like Pastor Mike said, look at the lives that have been touched by such a simple thing. We had no idea this could happen…”
“All I wanted was to get some stuff out of my room.” MJ used both hands, elbows resting on the table, to sip from her latte. “Think back. Look at our lives, let alone all those others. Roxie and Rich met and are married, Loren and Nate are engaged…”
“Which was my dream.” Roxie’s head wagged. “Whoever would have thought this?” She looked at Ginny. “Your life had the hardest change but you made it through. I know you can’t say you are over the grief, but you have come so very far.” She reached across the table and patted Ginny’s hand, but when Ginny turned hers over, Roxie squeezed her friend’s hand.
“And now Amalia is sharing my house, the twins are back in school, and Addy is building a cookie empire. Can you believe she was featured on that cooking show?”
“And from what I hear, more creative kinds of things are in the works. Her dad is flabber-dusted.” Amalia chuckled. “He tickles my funny bone all right.”
Anne braced herself on the table and stood. “Thanks, ladies, for doing so much to increase our business here. I better get back to work. Can I get you anything else?”
“You and I need to talk. I am pushing for you to cater the Realtors event,” Roxie said.
“And Rich has scheduled a company celebration at his, er, your place. See what I mean?” Anne grinned at all of them. “By the way, breakfast is on me.” She stared at each of them. “And don’t bother to argue.” She headed for the kitchen.
“Thank you,” they chorused. Anne waved without looking back.
“Whoever would have thought that one woman’s frustration when some tubs of her unfinished projects hit the floor, I know, and her head on the way down, along with a play on words, would turn into this…this vehicle for blessings for so many unknown others?” Amalia nodded as she spoke. “And you know what? I kind of appreciate knowing I’m an unfinished object, à la Pastor Mike. There is freedom in that.”
Roxie blew out a breath. “What a year this has been. I used to wish I could see into the future but no longer. I’m grateful for right now, for all of us, and for all the UFOs ahead.” She raised her iced latte so the others did too. “Onward!”
Acknowledgments
From the very beginning of my writing career, I realized that some books take a bigger team than others but all books are a team effort. And this is before the manuscript gets sent to the publishing house.
Some years ago I heard of the term UFOs, that is, Unfinished Objects, in reference to handicraft projects and items. Mostly those I knew of focused on crafts or needlework, quilting, painting, woodwork, and the list grew. A few of us from our church decided to form a group to assist each of us (and anyone else who wanted to join in) to finish something. I’d have loved to offer a prize to whoever could guess the number of those kinds of projects in my sewing/laundry room, but to do so would have meant digging them all out and counting them: totally intimidating. Many of us are great starters but then we often get distracted and start something else before we finish. So my thanks to the core group: Pat, Diane, Judy, and also to the others who floated in and out.
When I mentioned this book idea to Wendy, my agent and encourager, she got excited. We talked the idea over with Christina, one of my editors, and she got excited: all of us because we have such UFOs stashed in various places in our homes and offices. I have talked with many people, always with the question: “Do you have UFOs?” (And then I add, “unfinished objects.”) Only a few have been able to say no. So, my thanks to all of those who took part.
When I was doing a book tour for The Second Half, another novel set in Wisconsin, I visited a Facebook friend in Fond du Lac to see her glorious gardens. Kathy Sable showed me around her gardens and her town, and introduced me to her family, and the story became more than an idea. Fond du Lac is a lovely town with lots of interesting places, especially her daughter Ann’s new Fountain City Café. Ann agreed that I could use her café as a location in the story. Actually, she got excited about it. So thanks to Kathy and Dick Sable, and Ann and Gary Culver.
Besides all these folks, my thanks go to my husband Wayne, who is a frequent sounding board, Sandy, my f
irst reader, and all the folks at FaithWords, who are the teams that continue on after I’ve turned in the manuscript. One of my mind pictures is of God sprinkling ideas over the earth from a mighty saltshaker. Some ignore the ideas, some start them and never finish, and some take the ideas and carry them out to the end. Through the years I have been all those. This one I did finish. So, thank you Father, for all those projects in my possession completed or not, and may they be used to bless others. But mostly for the idea and the people who helped Half Finished come about.
About the Author
LAURAINE SNELLING has been writing since 1980, with over sixty-five books published, both fiction and nonfiction, historical and contemporary, for adults and young readers. She received a Career Achievement Award for inspirational fiction from RT Book Reviews, and her books consistently appear on CBA bestseller lists. A hallmark of her style is writing about real issues within a compelling story. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons and live in the Tehachapi Mountains in California with a basset named Sir Winston.
Also by Lauraine Snelling
The Second Half
Someday Home
Heaven Sent Rain
Reunion
On Hummingbird Wings
One Perfect Day
Breaking Free
Praise for
Lauraine Snelling
The Second Half
“A beautifully written book about how things can change in a blink of an eye and how to deal with the unexpected changes.…Snelling is a talented writer and draws from real-life experiences for her novels.”
—RT Book Reviews
Someday Home
“The story is inspiring and hopeful. Snelling tells a wonderful tale of fresh starts, resilience, loss, and love in this perfect summer read.”
—RT Book Reviews
Heaven Sent Rain
“Snelling’s story has the potential to be a big hit….The alternating narrators make the tale diverse and well rounded. The premise of the story is interesting and the prose is very moving.”
—RT Book Reviews
Wake the Dawn
“Snelling (One Perfect Day) continues to draw fans with her stellar storytelling skills. This time she offers a look at small-town medical care in a tale that blends healing, love, and a town’s recovery.…Snelling’s description of events at the small clinic during the storm is not to be missed.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Snelling’s fast-paced novel has characters who seek help in the wrong places. It takes a raging storm for them to see that the help they needed was right in front of them the whole time. This is a strong, believable story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Lauraine Snelling’s newest novel will keep you turning pages and not wanting to put the book down.…Wake the Dawn is a guaranteed good read for any fiction lover.”
—Cristel Phelps, Retailers and
Resources magazine
Reunion
“Inspired by events in Snelling’s own life, Reunion is a beautiful story about characters discovering themselves as the foundation of their family comes apart at the seams. Readers may recognize themselves or someone they know within the pages of this book, which belongs on everyone’s keeper shelf.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Reunion is a captivating tale that will hook you from the very start.…Fans of Christian fiction will love this touching story.”
—FreshFiction.com
“Snelling’s previous novels (One Perfect Day) have been popular with readers, and this one, loosely based on her own life, will be no exception.”
—Publishers Weekly
On Hummingbird Wings
“Snelling can certainly charm.”
—Publishers Weekly
One Perfect Day
“Snelling writes about the foibles of human nature with keen insight and sweet honesty.”
—National Church Library Association
“Snelling’s captivating tale will immediately draw readers in. The grief process is accurately portrayed, and readers will be enthralled by the raw emotion of Jenna’s and Nora’s accounts.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A spiritually challenging and emotionally taut story. Fans of Christian women’s fiction will enjoy this winning novel.”
—Publishers Weekly
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Half Finished. Of course I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you found a takeaway from these characters in this story. I wrote the book out of a need of my own, to finish some of my UFOs. We started a group at our church and—thanks to getting together—we all finished our waiting projects, some very long-waiting. My dream is that you will find this helpful in finishing your own. I’ve learned the best way to get something done is to take a class or meet with some friends who agree to work on something, too.
Thus began our original small group, and after writing Half Finished, a new dream for me. What was good for us, and for my characters, might help other people, too. So, if you just happen to think you might like to belong to such a group, here are some very simple guidelines.
1. Invite creative people to meet with you.
2. Keep it simple: no board, officers or agendas.
3. Choose a day, time, and place.
4. Agree to bring a project to work on. Choose one and begin. Stay with that project until it is finished.
5. Refreshments are always enjoyed but not necessary. We do potluck lunch, our preference, since we meet in the morning.
6. Cheer each other on. Celebrate every finished project.
7. Choose the next one to do.
8. Have fun.
9. Be prepared for wonderful things to happen.
I would love to hear from any groups that start. You can contact me via my website: laurainesnelling.com, where I will be posting updates as we go—success stories, I hope!
Have fun turning UFOs into the item you had in mind when you started. Hmm, guess I’d better get back to the baby afghan I started to crochet when I went traveling and didn’t bring it along. Oh and by the way, people who stash UFOs are really good at making excuses.
Blessings,
Lauraine
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