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Julie Worthington

Circle of Life…

Have you ever watched a dog chasing its tail? It’s hilarious, until the dog actually catches its tail… then, if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s even funnier. The dog will look around in shock wondering who it was that bite him. I can’t help myself every time I see this happen I laugh, not that I don’t have the greatest sympathies for the animal, but we humans do the same thing. We run around in circles and when we finally reach our goal we look around to see who smacked us with it. We simply want what we want, and think getting what we want will make us happy. Sometimes we have to chase our tails many times to get to what we want… each time the trail ends with, at least, a bit of disappointment.

It’s only when we decide to do something different that we are finally able to achieve something different. In my book New Parish, Sarah spent her early twenties chasing here tail, dating guys that were all disappointments. Then she decided to do something different and got a very different outcome…

First couple of pages from New Parish:

“Chapter 1

Bad Date

            Sarah slammed the door to her apartment as she entered, then slowly let out a growl, she’d held the anger, embarrassment, and hurt in until she got home. She took a deep breath to calm herself. “Men!” she whisper shouted so her neighbors wouldn’t hear her aggravation. 

            The evening had been another dating disaster. Sarah always thought, or hoped with each new guy that there might be potential for the future, but each time she’d been completely disappointed. This evening she’d been out with an absolutely handsome guy, who was very sweet. She’d known him for only a few weeks. They’d met when he’d started volunteering at the same children’s center, where Sarah had been volunteering for several years – since she’d moved to Atlanta. When she saw him working and interacting with the kids there, he seemed very nice and obviously loved kids – that was a win-win, to Sarah. So, when he’d asked her out she’d immediately agreed, with a big smile, and great expectations. He wasn’t like the last guy she’d gone out with, all macho and Neanderthal, she’d sworn off that type of man forever. This guy was very nice, and she was naturally very excited to get to know him better.

            They met at the restaurant he’d suggested, and things were going really well. The ambience of the restaurant, the conversation, the food – everything that evening was just about perfect, perfect, until a well coiffed young man came to their table and started shouting at her date for cheating on him… The very loud accusations included information that Sarah really didn’t want to know about the guy that she’d wanted to think of as being nice, and exciting, and having potential. The man shouting at her date revealed that he and her date had made commitments, and he took those commitments very seriously. Things went downhill from there. Her date tried to explain to his “friend” that he wasn’t really cheating on him because Sarah, as he pointed out, was a girl. That didn’t float for either his friend or Sarah. Instead of staying in her seat and waiting for the drama to unfold even further, Sarah stood, and gracefully left the restaurant detaching herself from the episode…  she never looked back. The embarrassment of that date would live with her for a very long time.

“How am I supposed to know which guys to go out with and which ones to not go out with?” she groaned within herself.

            She pulled her long brown hair back into a ponytail and looked at herself in the mirror as she pulled on her pajamas. She scanned her bangs hanging over her forehead while some of the layered strands fell loosely around her face. The events of the evening were flashing through her mind like an old movie, as she thought to herself, “I’m not ugly… why can’t I find a good man? I have curves in all the right places, with ample endowments.” This had been a source of a pride with her as a girl and more especially as she got a little older. Sarah thought it was fun how boys would stutter and stammer at times if she wore a low cut blouse. Her five foot seven, somewhat athletic frame carried her very well, she thought, as she scanned for flaws. She looked at her face to check out what others would see when they looked at her. She had always thought her nose was a bit small but it looked okay, her brown eyes were a little big but they were okay too. “What’s wrong with me?” she asked aloud in frustration. 

            Sarah’s mind went to something her new friend Mary had said when they were working together at the children’s center. Mary had mentioned her home, a place called New Parish in Arizona. Sarah had known her for a few months. Mary was only going to be there for a while longer, just until she finished her degree in early childhood development with the work study program she was involved in at the children’s center.

Sarah thought about the day she’d been complaining about the poor dating prospects and her dream of being a mom floating away from her, when Mary revealed to her that in the community she came from, the people did plural marriages. So, any girl could get a good man and not have to worry about missing out on being a mom. Mary’s descriptions of her home made it sound like a little piece of heaven, where people lived happy lives, and found their happily ever afters.

Sarah sighed, thinking of the small rural community Mary had described, “Maybe…””

New Parish Available Now!!!

https://www.amazon.com/New-Parish-Julie-Worthington/dp/1732224005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530921759&sr=8-1&keywords=new+parish+by+julie+worthington

Status…

Status seems to be something we’re all concerned with, (and sometimes obsessed with) these days. Whether it’s our own status or the status of others, whether it’s social media, at work, at school, or in our families. Status has become the word we use to measure our own worth in many ways. We stress over it, we try to improve it, we even get insecurities over it.

In relationships, status, can be a complicated issue, and sometimes confusing. We can wonder if we’re just dating, or is this an exclusive relationship? Even after marriage the status of the relationship can still be complicated. Insecurities can arise and we can wonder how strong our relationships are, or if they will last. In New Parish Sarah finds insecurities and wonders about her status in her marriage and if maybe her marriage is a lesser marriage…

 Excerpt from New Parish:

“Sarah gave words to her insecurities and fears and asked, “Do you love me as much as you love them? Am I a lesser wife to you because we haven’t been married very long or that we haven’t had children together yet?”

            Max softly and gently answered with his charming cowboy drawl, “No, my darling, you’re not a lesser wife, the feelings of love I have for you and Myra and Del are within me, those feelings are the same for each of you. My love for you is for eternity… Each of the days of our lives is part of eternity so each of the days you are in my life I will love you. I will tell you I love you, and I will show you I love you, that’s how eternal marriage works. It’s an everyday thing not an every now and then thing, you’re my wife, every day, and for everyday from now on through eternity. Even if you never have any children you wouldn’t be a lesser wife. Nor would I love you less for that or any other reason like how long we’ve been married. I’m fully and completely committed to our marriage and our future, my heart is full of love for you.”

            Sarah smiled as Max gently wiped a tear off her cheek, “I love you so much.””

Do you want to find out for yourself what happens next? New Parish is now available on Amazon.com

Simply search New Parish by Julie Worthington or follow the link below…

https://www.amazon.com/New-Parish-Julie-Worthington/dp/1732224005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530209993&sr=8-1&keywords=new+parish+by+julie+worthington

 

Life’s Journey

Life’s journey takes us to many places… some are happy places that we completely enjoy, while others are places we’d rather not have gone to. On life’s journey, even when it’s those rather not places, we learn things that make each of us a better person, a stronger person, and a wiser person. Sometimes we find out that what we thought was, wasn’t. We discover new truths that change how we see things, and what we want.

In Sarah’s journey to New Parish she had a moment when what she thought was, wasn’t… she was sure Max was a self centered jerk, but life’s journey took her to a place that definitely gave her a very different perspective.  

Excerpt from New Parish:

 “Sarah stepped carefully into the barn watching out for what she had heard Uncle Alex refer to as horse apples – she smiled a little thinking of his wording. He’d used it in a very negative way toward Albert, “Why am I thinking of that?” she thought to herself then sidestepped some of those apples and smiled again. She suddenly realized she heard crying and looked up from the floor, watching to see what was going on.

            Max emerged from Princess’ stall and put his arms around Leah, “She’s just in some pain baby,” he said, with the most kindness and gentleness Sarah had ever heard in anyone’s voice.

            “Dad,” Leah said through sobs, “Is she going to be okay?”

            “I’m going to do my very best to help her,” Max reassured her, then he hugged her close and whispered something in her ear that Sarah couldn’t hear.

            Sarah remembered the conversation at the dinner table about Princess and how much Leah wanted to be with the mare when she gave birth. Her thoughts lingered over that conversation and that night.

            She walked a little closer – Max and Leah returned inside the stall, she could see Leah kneel down at Princess’ head and begin stroking her gently as the horse repeatedly gave labored grunts. Sarah could see tears escaping Leah’s eyes, and her heart felt like it would break for the little girl she had only met a couple of nights ago.

            “Dad!” Johnny shouted.

            “It’s okay, just talk to her real gentle like and rub her back,” Max spoke gently to his son from somewhere inside the stall.

            Sarah inched around further into the barn so she could get a better look. The grunting of the mare was almost rhythmic now. Sarah could see that not just Alex, Johnny, and Leah were in there with Max and the mare, there was also Joseph, Jake, and Sam. Alex was back near Max who was removing wet blankets and replacing them with dry ones. The floor of the stall had a very thick layer of straw which the mare was laying on, they were using the blankets to absorb the wet and keep the area clean and dry for the foal.

            Princess gave a loud whinny and jerked, Max spoke to her, “Easy girl, easy, it’s gonna be okay.” He stroked her haunches and began to sing to her.

            Sarah saw him nod to his boys and they began to sing with him, Sarah knew the song, it was the one he’d sang on the hay ride. She watched him stroke the mare and listened to his smooth voice, it was the most calming thing she’d ever experienced in her life. The mare returned to her rhythmic grunting and Sarah saw two small hooves emerging from her.

            Sarah had to make herself stop biting her bottom lip, she didn’t know she was doing it until it became quite painful. Her mind was totally captured by what was happening in that stall. She saw Max take hold of the little hooves when the mare tensed up, he pulled as she pushed. Sarah’s eyes went to Leah, the tears were still streaming down her face but she was singing along with her brothers and stroking the mare lovingly. Sarah could see the beads of sweat forming on Max’s forehead, his dark curly hair was disheveled, but he looked as though he were as calm as a summer’s morning.

            “How could he be?” Sarah thought to herself. “He had proven yesterday that he was a hot head, easily stressed, frustrated, and angered. How could he be this calm and gentle today?” After what she had seen yesterday this didn’t fit. Then what Mary said after the park altercation started returning to her thoughts:

“I know you don’t understand but we just don’t date or anything like it here, Albert knows that, but he’s been sort of taking advantage of you because you’re new here. Dad and Uncle Alex and some of the other church leaders have talked to Albert and told him to stop, when he continued. Max went to talk with him and told him to just back off until you’d decided. But he wouldn’t stop, I guess it got on Max’s last nerve…”

            Sarah’s thoughts were returned to the stall when the mare gave another loud whinney. She could see the contraction happening and once again the mare pushed and Max pulled. The little hooves had grown into little blonde legs. Sarah watched breathless as the process was repeated over and over, Princess pushed, Max pulled, the kids sang to her and stroked her gently. She saw Max patiently help the mare and encourage his children, her brain started to piece together the events that had happened since she first met this cowboy. His words started to enter her mind, she could hear his voice talking to her just as if he were standing next to her.

The time when she and Mary had listened in on a conversation between him and Brother Michael came to her mind first:

“Oh, dear,” Max had said when Brother Michael had first told him about the match…“I’m afraid she doesn’t like me too much…This could be a real problem…” then near the end of that conversation she remembered him saying, “Yes, I’m willing to do what it takes and to love her. I’ll do all I can to make this work out.”

Then when they were on the Ridge the other day his words reached the depths of her soul:

“I know you’re struggling with everything that’s happening. I want you to know that whatever you decide to do, I’ll do what I can to help and make things work out for you.”

Next she heard what he said when he walked her to her car after dinner the other night:

“I hope you’ll think about what the church leaders have suggested and pray about this… I know you think you might not be happy married to me, but I promise you I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you are.”

            The memories of Brother Michael teasing her about being attracted to Max came next, she inadvertently put her hand to her face remembering she had blushed. Then her mind went to the night Brother Michael had asked her to pray about the name the church leaders had received before he would tell her who it was. She remembered the complete peace she’d felt…

            Another loud whinney jarred her from her thoughts and memories, she looked to see the head of the foal emerging from the mare, more labored breathing, more singing, more pushing, more pulling and the foal finally slid out. Princess looked as though she completely collapsed, Leah wept openly as she stroked the mare’s head. Max was working quickly to wipe down the foal then handed it off to Alex and Johnny to finish the cleanup. Max moved over the abdomen of the mare massaging and pushing and the rest of the stuff that needed to be expelled emerged from her. He used the blankets to soak up the stuff and cleaned the area, he was in the process of putting the blankets in a large basin when Sam shouted, “She’s not breathing!”

            Sarah jumped, everything had been very quiet for the last little while and the shout had pierced the barn like a lightening strike.

            Max went to the head of the mare and knelt down putting his face very near her nose, “She’s breathing,” he sighed. “She’s just plain worn out,” he explained to his children. He stroked her gently, “She worked hard, now she’ll need to rest. Why don’t you boys go in and tell your moms that that little fella’s here?”

            Sarah saw them begin to smile, they ran out of the stall, waved hi to her, then ran on to the house. Leah stayed near Princess, still stroking her gently as Alex and Johnny gently played with the baby. Max stood and came to the door of the stall where there was a bucket of water and some hand sanitizing soap, he bent over the bucket quickly washing his hands and arms.

Sarah realized that he didn’t know she was there, she also realized that the reason she was there no longer existed, that was a strange feeling. She thought, “Maybe I can just sneak out so he won’t see me,” but at that moment, he turned to get a towel to dry his hands, and their eyes met, he looked somewhat like he’d seen a ghost.

            “Oh,” he said quietly. “Do we need to talk?”

            “No,” Sarah replied. “Excuse me, I need to go talk to Brother Michael.””

Get your copy of New Parish on Amazon –

https://www.amazon.com/New-Parish-Julie-Worthington/dp/1732224005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531585256&sr=8-1&keywords=new+parish+by+julie+worthington&dpID=51rk7fFJ-LL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

 

New Parish!!!!

New Parish –

It’s a fun story about a feisty southern girl that goes out west to find a new way of living in a small community on the Arizona strip. It’s got loads of real life, comedic situations, and some strong emotion. A romantic comedy that’s clean, with no bad language or other stuff.

Get your copy here –

https://www.amazon.com/New-Parish-Julie-Worthington/dp/1732224005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531160447&sr=8-1&keywords=new+parish+by+julie+worthington

Last Page First…

There are several different types of readers. There are fast readers, slow readers, skimmers, deep readers, and those who read the last page first. I’m more of a deep reader who takes the whole journey with the characters. I look for the deeper meanings to what is being told, the symbolism, the metaphors, and the connections to real life, that’s what draws me through the story… No matter what type of reader you are I’m sure you’ll enjoy Sarah’s journey to New Parish. I believe there’s something for everyone in her story.

I do have friends who always read the last page of a book first… I don’t understand this, but I accept all people for who they are. So, for them and all of you who read the last page first here it is…

The last page of New Parish:

“Okay, what’s wrong,” Sarah asked noticing her sister’s lack of enthusiasm for finishing school.”

            “Nothing really,” Hannah replied. “School is fine. I’m done now with all my assignments. I don’t think I’m going to hang around here though. They can send my diplomas to me in the mail, I don’t want to walk at graduation.”

            “What?!?” Sarah asked in complete shock, “Why not?”

            “I’m just really done with being here,” Hannah stated flatly.

            “What’s happened?” Sarah demanded to know.

            “Well, you know that guy, the returned missionary with potential, I told you about?” Hannah started.

            “Yeah,” Sarah said, trying to encourage Hannah to continue.

            “He turned out to be just another self centered jerk who only wanted one thing,” Hannah explained.

            “Sorry,” Sarah sympathized.

            “I’m so disgusted with men!” Hannah growled.

            “I’ve been there,” Sarah sympathized again.

            “Yeah I know you have,” Hannah acknowledged, then continued, “I’ve had my last bad date! I’m not giving any more jerks the opportunity to make me feel this way.”

            “I’m sorry Hann,” Sarah tried to console her. “I wish I could help, is there anything I can do? You should come out here for Christmas, you’d love it. You could ride horses and stuff.”

            “I think I’m ready to give what you did a try,” Hannah said slowly. “I don’t want to date and I don’t want to wait for years like you had to until you can get married and have a family. What’s the process to get married down there?”

            Sarah sighed, “Well, like I told you before, it’s a return to the old ways, a return to the basics, a return…”

New Parish Available Now!!!

https://www.amazon.com/New-Parish-Julie-Worthington/dp/1732224005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530921759&sr=8-1&keywords=new+parish+by+julie+worthington

New Parish!!!

Do you want to know what happens when a feisty southern girl meets a true west cowboy? I’ll give you a hint, there’s cows, hot chocolate, and red punch involved… along with anger, embarrassment, and –

Excerpt From New Parish:

            “Brother Michael smiled and said, “Max I’d like to introduce you to, Sarah, from Georgia.”

            Max pulled on the reins of his horse and stopped a few feet away, he smiled and drawled, “Howdy, ma’am.”

            Sarah was completely captivated by this cowboy, she thought his smile was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, his deep blue eyes sparkled – she felt like her head was filled with something sweet and gooey which was slowing her thought processes down. Her brain was stuck on, “Oh my gosh, he’s so gorgeous…”

            Before she could reply to the cowboy’s greeting she heard someone shout, “NO!” ”

If you want to know what happens next get your copy of New Parish on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/New-Parish-Julie-Worthington/dp/1732224005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530632057&sr=8-1&keywords=new+parish+by+julie+worthington

 

The Long Wait is Over!

Have you ever heard of the Marshmallow test? It’s where you put a marshmallow in front of a little kid and tell them they can have that now, (yeah, a lot of them cram it in their mouths immediately before you can finish saying), or you can have lots more later, if you don’t eat it now, and wait a while. Life is like that test in many ways. We get so many opportunities to take instant gratification or delayed gratification. We can get a job right out of high school or go to college and work our way through that. We can buy a new car with a huge loan or save up and get one later without a loan. We can rush into many situations that will give us instant gratification, they’re not all bad, or even wrong choices. But, we usually get much more gratification when we wait that little while to get the more candy instead of eating the one in front of us…

Sarah waited, she waited and waited for the right guy to come along. She could have taken instant gratification and settled for just any old guy but she wanted more… she wanted someone to be the man she needed for always, not just for a little while.

Excerpt from New Parish:

“The cool air and busy sidewalks were almost enough to distract her mind from the pervading thoughts of how much this plural marriage thing could go wrong. She wanted to believe that things could be as wonderful as Mary said they were, but she knew how people could be, especially men… Her thoughts went to, “Maybe I should just drop the whole thing.” Then the idea of dating again entered her thoughts, which almost made her nauseous. Then the thought of giving up on her dream of having kids and a family came to her mind. A tear rolled down her face, which she quickly brushed away, that thought was the saddest one she’d ever had…

            Sarah looked up at the sky and saw a plane flying west, she knew she would be on one soon… flying west. She breathed out a sigh and with a new resolve, walked back to her apartment.”

Do you want to find out for yourself what happens next?

New Parish is now available on Amazon.com

Simply search New Parish by Julie Worthington or follow the link below…

https://www.amazon.com/New-Parish-Julie-Worthington/dp/1732224005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530209993&sr=8-1&keywords=new+parish+by+julie+worthington