RV There Yet? (40 page)

Editor Natalie Gillespie, who cleans my words until they sparkle.

The creative team at WestBow Press: Allen Arnold, Jennifer Deshler in marketing, Caroline Craddock in publicity, Natalie Hanemann, the book cover creators, the copyeditors, the sales reps—all of you are totally amazing!

The friends I have made over the years. I am blessed to know you, and I thank God for your influence on my life.

Study Questions for RV There Yet?

1. DeDe had a real struggle with temptation during much of the story. Knowing she had that temptation kept her filled with guilt. She finally learned that temptation in itself is not wrong, but rather it's the “giving into it” that many times brings about sin. Have you experienced temptation in your life? How did you handle it? Do you wish you would have handled it differently? Why or why not?

2. Lydia found herself starting over without her husband or her children. Have you ever felt lonely? How did you deal with it? Did it help?

3. Millie experienced great disappointment in her life when her husband left her. Maybe you've been through a divorce and understand that pain, or maybe you've had another type of disappointment. What got you through the struggle? Do you know others who might be experiencing disappointment? What are some ways you might reach out and help them?

4. DeDe had been involved in a relationship that was wrong for her. She knew it was wrong; still, the thought of starting over almost brought about panic. Do you struggle with letting go of someone or something that has a hold on your life? What are some steps you might take to make a fresh start?

5. DeDe turned to chocolate, Millie turned to whipped cream, and Lydia cooked for comfort. What kinds of things calm you during your crisis moments? Do they truly comfort you, or are they just temporary fixes? Can you think of what might offer more than a temporary fix?

6. DeDe and Millie faced new job challenges. DeDe needed different strategies, and Millie had to enter the computer world. Does your job require you to rethink some things? Are you closed to new ideas, or do you insist on doing things the way you have always done them? Can you think of ways you might stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone?

7. Lydia struggled with fear on many levels and finally surrendered her fears to the Lord. Do fears plague you? Have you taken them to the Lord? How has He helped you?

8. Though Millie has not accepted Christ into her life by the end of the story, her girlfriends have planted the seeds. Did a friend tell you about the Lord? How did you react? If you have accepted Him into your life, have you told other friends about your experience? Have you led them to the Lord? If you have not accepted Him into your life, what are you waiting for?

9. DeDe, Lydia, and Millie had their occasional tiffs, but all in all they had a great journey together. Can you think of friends who have made your journey through life easier? Have you ever told them how much you appreciate them? In what ways did you let them know? If not, what can you do to show them?

10. Friends are among God's greatest blessings to us. It's a blessing not only to have friends but to be a friend. Are you a friend to others? What are some ways you can be a better friend than you have been in the past?

11. DeDe, Lydia, and Millie had been friends for years. At one point their contact had dwindled down to annual Christmas cards. Do you have friends in your life who have meant a great deal to you, but with whom you have lost contact? Can you think of steps you might take to renew those relationships? What are they?

12. DeDe didn't always have the best attitude. Do you ever have days like that? What do you do? Lock yourself in a padded cell? Eat chocolate? Go shopping? What might you do the next time?

13. Life is a journey filled with roadblocks, detours, breakdowns, and wrong turns. Still, DeDe, Lydia, and Millie found that the journey was sweeter with friends. Who are the people in your life who help you through the difficulties of life? Who are the people you help through life's struggles?

14. Sometimes the vehicle in which we travel isn't all we had hoped it would be. Think Waldo the aging RV. What are some ways we can come to terms with our changing bodies?

15. Are you satisfied with the road you've taken up to now? Do you wish you had traveled another way? Just as DeDe, Lydia, and Millie discovered, it's never too late to start over. The choice is yours. You can go it alone or make the journey with the Friend who sticks closer than a brother. What will you do?