Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 118:29 TLB
Yes, Father, I am more than thankful. Indeed, words can’t begin to express my gratitude for all You have done, are doing, and will do.
Thank You for my family and friends, for my home and health, for freedom to worship and serve You . . .
Thank You for 34 years of ministry and for providing a new vision and new home for the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. And thank You for the added blessing that Dock Mennonite Academy is only ten minutes from my home!
Thank You for the wonderful staff at the YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado. Bless John, Brenda, Lori and their teams for how they go the extra mile, and then some. Thank You for the thousands of writers You have enabled us to encourage and equip in our 20 years of ministry there. 
Thank You for the opportunity to direct the new “Write to Impact Lives Conference” with The Munce Group in Lancaster, PA, February 9-10. (The Munce Group offers numerous marketing programs and services to help bookstores target their customers and to simplify their job as independent Christian retailers. Conferees have the option of staying for one or more days of the Munce Christian Product Expo February 11-13.)
Thank You for the critique groups that meet in my home and for the joy of editing Becky Toews’, Between the Lamp Posts, 365-day devotional, and Louise Looney’s, The Best of Days for The Rest of Your Days.
Father, keep us mindful of Your blessings not just at Thanksgiving but throughout the year. And “make us a blessing.”
Write His Answer 
Marlene, I am grateful on your behalf for the open doors the keep a conference in the Philadelphia area. I know many will be blessed by this conference’s continued impact on the lives of writers. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Michael Gantt
Hi, Marlene,
Happy Thanksgiving!
I pray and hope all is well with you and your family.
I finished my rough draft of Marissa and edited (I’m amazed at how many mistakes I can find on the seventh reading! They’re still there after the first six! (or whatever number it is. I really haven’t counted but that’s a close guess at going over for changes.)
But I have one very frustrating problem. I’ve got the tremendous number of 39,240 words. I was going for a little over twice that as a minimum. I’m still trying to figure out what to do next. I feel like anything I may add will be padding, not story.
Please pray!
Thanks.
David
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Depending on the age group you’re writing for, this may be long enough. Or it could work for a publisher that is open to a shorter length. You’re right to not pad the story. Praying Father will show you what to do.