When did it happen?

I want to know when it happened that I became old enough for my youngest child to turn eight years old? Who gave her permission to grow up? I certainly didn't, she was supposed to stay my baby forever, well at least until I told her she could move beyond that stage when I was good and ready. But she didn't ask permission at all, she just did. And now she is going to be baptized and she is so excited about it. But what is even better is that she can't wait for her oldest sister to come home and share in the celebration with two of her brothers who have birthdays over the next 30 days.

Fun you say? Sure! Especially when you consider that from Sept 16th until Oct 17th it is one birthday after another, it isn't hard to imagine. Some how we managed to have 4 birthdays 10 days apart...one on Sept 16th, then Sept 18th, then Oct 6th and then to big finale on Oct 17th. Then to round all the fun off we have Halloween.

But the worst part of my baby turning 8, is that her older sister will be turning 21. I cannot allow that~! It isn't supposed to happen, especially since I refuse to believe I am old enough to have a daughter who is 21! Why you say? Because I still feel like a teenager! I still feel just like I did when I was a teenager, and don't feel like I am any older. So when did it happen?

I think instead I will take a page from my hubby's book of life, where he says, "I refuse to grow up and grow old! Age is only a state of mind, and I choose to stay young!" I am 100% on board with that ideology!

So my kids may grow up and older, but I refuse too. I will still dance around my house and sing at the top of my lungs to the top 40 songs, I will still get in tickle and wrestling fights with my husband and kids, I will still be goofy and funny, just for the sake of making some one laugh. And talk in funny accents until my kids roll their eyes. Why? Because it is way too much fun not too!

Life is too short to take too seriously! So let the party begin! The month long celebration of four of my eight kids! WHoo Hooo!!!

Check out this Contest for Fall By Jennifer Hurst

Yesterday I posted about how much I loved FALL a paranormal romance written by Jennifer Hurst. Today I want to give you the fun and exciting details of the contest itself and how you can win some pretty fun things.

Here's How It Works!

In conjunction with this blog tour, Jennifer is holding a contest. It will involve any of the blogs that Jennifer visits or where her book is featured and will close on December 31st, 2011. The entrants have to answer three questions about the book they’ve read (bought, borrowed, or stolen - shame on you) and post a link to Jennifer's website on their Twitter, Facebook, or blog (need link for verification). Then the names will be entered in a random name picker generator (http://textmechanic.com/Random-Line-Picker.html) and announced on Jennifer's website (http://www.fabulousreads.blogspot.com/www.jenniferhurst.com) on January 31st, 2012. The winner will receive a gift certificate for a night’s stay at the actual bed and breakfast where the story takes place. Other prizes include an autographed copy of FALL, and she will randomly select 3 contestants’ names to use in the sequel to FALL. Plus, they will receive a free copy of that book when it is published. Each blog that Jennifer Hurst visits will have a different set of questions people can answer, and they may enter as many times as they want - but they can enter once per blog site that they visit. So the more sites you visit, the more you can enter your name, thus increasing your chances of winning the gift certificate, a copy of the book FALL, and your name in the sequel.

Get the book, read the book, and then read over the questions below. Once you have your answers, e-mail them to Jennifer. fall.jenniferhurst@gmail.com

Your privacy is respected and your email address will NOT be used for anything but the contest. Once the contest is over - your email address will be deleted from the database.

Here are the questions for you to answer:

What kind of bird did JD eat for Thanksgiving?
What did the delivery man forget when he delivered the office trailer?
What did JD take with her to go camping with Matthew?


If you would like to visit the other sites, go here for the master list of all participating sites: http://fallbyjenniferhurst.wordpress.com/

Best of luck, and thanks for participating!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your self a copy of Fall ~details and links on my previous posting and get to it! Don't miss out on the fun! Cuz believe me when I say, I am all over this contest!

Book Review: Fall By Jennifer Hurst

Synopsis of Fall By Jennifer Hurst:
Women and construction shouldn't mix. At least, that is what the client, Mr. Blackwell, thinks when Twenty-one year old Julia Dayle Halstead is promoted to project manager to remodel a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse into a bed and breakfast. However, the schoolhouse contains a secret. And it wants out.

Construction is in Julia's blood, so when she is promoted to Project Manager to renovate a turn-of-the-century school house in a bed and breakfast, she has high hopes of proving herself in the male-dominated construction industry.But Julia discovers there is more to managing a construction project than just contracts and budgets - especially when she meets Matthew Rigo, the demolition contractor who seems bound and determined to cross the lines Julia has imposed. Vandalism and other unexplainable occurrences beset the project, leading Julia to believe there is much more to the school house than she first realizes. Something is inside the hundred year old school house, and it wants out. Is Julia the key to its release? And are Matthew and Nathan what they appear to be?

My Thoughts:
I am so excited to review FALL a clean paranormal romance By Jennifer Hurst. If you love gorgeous brooding men and amazing strong female characters who know how to use power tools, then you will love Fall! I loved this book from the moment I read the first sentence. It grabbed me by my boots and took me on a wonderful roller coaster ride, that left me begging for more. I could not put this book down. I was so drawn to it. As a matter of fact, I tried put it down half way so I could attend to other matters and it pulled me back, and before I realized it, I finished Fall! The only thing that I could say could be better about it would be that there was more to read. I was so sad to see it end. But it makes me super excited for the sequel!


Jennifer's characters are strongly developed, and three dimensional. She knows how to weave a story filled with unexpected twists and turns that are unpredictable. All the subplots bring your curiosity level high and leave you anticipating what happens next. I loved how distinct and rich the characters feel. It was as if I was watching a live action movie and dreading the closing credits.


I want more of Matthew, more of Nathan, and more of JD. I loved the pull of good verses evil in this story and felt the fight for JD'ssoul as brothers Nathan and Matthew choose sides and use JD as the pawn between them. I thought it was clever to renovate and make it a central hub for otherworldly activity. I felt that all the story arcs were fun and brought new depths to the story.


I highly encourage you to get your copy of Fall as soon as possible. I know you won't be disappointed, I am shouting it out to all my friends that they have to check this book by Jennifer Hurst. She blew my socks off and I applaud her fun, skillful, and unpredictable story tell, and anxiously look forward to more Matthew, Nathan, and JD, I am dying to know what will happen next!


Hurry, click here to get your own e-copy of Fall, or go here for other purchase options. I promise you will NOT be disappointed. Click here to see my review on Amazon.


Click here to access Jennifer's web page to learn more about all things Jennifer and put your answers in for the FABULOUS contest she is running. Check back tomorrow for the questions and rules for the contest.


Disclaimer: while I sometimes receive books to review, my opinions will always remain my own.

Book Review: All Diets Work By Jen Brewer, RD

Today I get the great chance to review a wonderful book by Jen Brewer, called All Diets Work. For me, being in the health field and researching and going off and on a ton of different diets, I was wondering what this book might hold if anything important. I am a certified group exercise instructor and I have helped lots of people lose weight. And let's be honest, I have lost my fair share of weight my self, who hasn't?

But as I read through this book, I found that is was easy to understand, not like some books where the chemical process of how your body works on a macrobiotic level becomes so scientific it is beyond understanding unless you have a degree in Chemistry. There is so much good solid information in All Diets Work that I encourage everyone to be sure they have a copy to use for their families, if not for themselves.

I loved they way it was structured and how Jen takes you by the hand and helps you understand everything and the ease of it all in simple terms. I enjoyed the basics, the reasons your body does what it does, all the common sense and amazing strategies as well as the personal success stories and charts to use on your journey. There are 25 tools she gives you to help you stop dieting and start losing weight for good. She even included recipes to help along the way.

I was amazed at how fast I read this book and found that I loved it. I highly recommend that anyone who is struggling with those last few pounds or a hundred pounds to lose, to pick this book up and utilize it. It will help you to achieve your goals in a way that makes sense and can be fun. I encourage you to also to click here and visit Jen's website where there is more information and tools and recipes to use and you can get your own copy. Or click here and get your copy at amazon.com I promise you it will be one of the best purchases you will ever make, and you won't regret it!

Disclaimer: While I do at times receive copies of the books I review, my opinions are and will always remain my own.

Book Review: The Latter Rain by James M Conis

The Latter Rain by James M Conis is a great book for those who want to gain a better understanding of the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. The full full title, The Latter Rain Using the Book of Isaiah as the Key to Unlock Bible Prophecies That are Relevant Today explores the types and symbols in Isaiah and strives to bring better understanding of what they mean for us in this day and age and how we can apply those teachings into our lives.

The word rain in the title of the book, is used to symbolize God's communication with man. Traveling through the rich rains of the Old and New Testament times when God's prophet's were prevalent on the earth. Then moves to the time of drought when there was no communication through a living prophet,up to today with the Latter rain or communication.

Through out the book, Mr. Conis invites the reader to utilize the tool of prayer as they go through the book to ask about the things taught. This way the reader has their own testimony of what is being said, and doesn't go by Mr. Conis's words alone. This helps the reader to learn to listen to the communications of the spirit and teaches them to recognize what that sounds like to them. And brings to mind one way God interacts with his his children today.

Mr. Conis walks us through many different aspects of The Old Testament beyond just Isaiah as well. Working us through the Old and New Testament teachings and bring it to relevance for us today.

I enjoy reading the scriptures and learning from them, but I will admit that Isaiah has left me stumped a time or two. I really liked the easy way that Mr. Conis presents his points about Isaiah. I felt as if he was in the room with me, kicking back on the couch conversing and explaining his take about the scriptures of Isaiah with me. The points that were made were easy to understand and I could see what he wanted me to learn, and although were a few things that his view differ from mine, I felt that the over all message was clear and would help anyone understand the difficult to understand teachings of ancient prophets. He broke down symbols and types and explained them in a way that any one could understand. And showed why they were important and what it meant for us in today's world.

I really liked that the scriptures being referenced to were included in the book itself. It made it so much easier to know what was being talked about with out having to look it up or pull my scriptures out and search for the references. They were already there, which made the flow of reading and understanding that much better.

I am grateful that Mr. Conis would share his insights and knowledge which makes the sometimes difficult task of understanding ancient scripture that much easier to grasp. If you would like to get your own copy of The Latter Rain click here to visit the website and type in the promo code Tour when you check out and receive 20% off. Pretty sweet deal!

You can also purchase your copy here at Amazon.

Disclaimer: While I do at times receive copies of the books I review, my opinions are and will always remain my own.

Book Review: Double Deceit By Stephanie Humphreys

Today I get to review Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphreys. It is a LDS suspense novel with plenty of twists and turns that keep you wondering if what you think is going to happen actually will.

Back Blurb:
Someone is watching . . .
As a young widow, all Elaina Bryant wants is a fresh start. Determined to put ten painful years behind her, she returns to her hometown and moves in with her sister, Natalie. Elaina soon accepts a job working at a small bookstore owned by the handsome Ryan Hill and his mother. Despite her reluctance to become romantically involved with anyone, she is drawn to Ryan and finds herself falling in love.

But someone isn’t happy with Elaina’s new life and is watching her every move. Her tormentor seems determined to destroy her sanity and her future, but Elaina can’t convince anyone the threat is real. Natalie is preoccupied with her own blossoming romance, and their friend Peter, a police officer, seems to believe the threat has been manufactured in Elaina’s own mind as a result of her guilt and grief.

Now Elaina’s plans for a new start are crashing down around her. She knows she will have to find the answers before she can overcome the past and enjoy love and happiness again. But how can she protect those she loves when she doesn’t know whom to trust?



My thoughts:
Double Deceit is one of those books that when you pick it up you know that you are going to want to know the end right away. The challenge of course is not to peak to see if all your guesses and deductions are correct. For me I will admit that I succumbed to the temptation. And wanted to see what happened, but it didn't ruin the story for me. I still had to find out how things got to the final conclusions.

Stephanie does a great job of building suspense and leave you guessing, and wondering if what you think is the truth is actually the truth after all. I was surprised along the way to find how certain characters reacted in certain situations. And at times I wanted a different outcome, but still it was fun to see how all the little plot twists and turns culminated in the end.

I like watching Elaina's growth through the story as she found that she could be stronger than she realized and take her life back and control the outcome. I liked that she realized how important it is to rely on others and that she learned how to reach out to others when she needed them. I liked that the other characters in the story had their flaws they had to overcome as well, and weren't just there to support the main character.

I also enjoyed how well Stephanie could make the images jump from the page. I had a clear picture of what was going on in my mind the entire time, from the forests to the city and even the details of the little book store was vivid in my mind.

I felt for Elaina and the difficult experiences she faced to the point that she even began to doubt herself. I wanted to comfort her and tell her she would make it through her trials.

Double Deceit is a book I would have not issues with my children reading. It is appropriate for ages 12 on up. And it is a clean read. There is plenty of mystery and a bit of fun romance along the way. To get your copy of Double Deceit click here.

Stephanie is running a really fun contest on her blog to go along with her book tour. Please click here to see what all the excitement is about and to learn more about Stephanie and her other accomplishments and books.

Disclaimer: While I do at times receive copies of the books I review, my opinions are and will always remain my own.

My 23rd Anniversary and Goal Results

Here is a super quick flash on how I did this month with my goals! It is my Anniversary after all and so I need to be about celebrating it with my honey!! But first a brief check in on how my goal results turned out.

So I got in 3 posts a week for a month, counting this one~ since I started on the 4th of July, I think that's fair. It was fun to post so much!

I got my writing goals accomplished. I even slightly modified I achieved what I set out to do! Yahoo!

And as for adding followers, I got 25 plus new followers this month but fell short of my goal of 100 by 16. But that is ok, I plan to get them soon enough. If any one has any cool ideas on how to do this, please I am all for hearing them.

I ran out of time to work on my blog that way when I spent a week visiting my family. They wanted a lot of my time and were jealous of my computer and on line time either on my blog or on my WIP or on email. OH well!! No biggie.

So I need to devise some new goals for the month of Aug and when I do, I will let you know what they are! If you have any goals that you are looking to achieve, let me hear about them and we can spend the month of Aug working on them together!

Road Trip!!

So I am off, in my huge Van...no not mini van, my 15 passenger with 3 kids, to drive across country for 8 plus hours today. And no it's not as laid back as the car's van. Wish me luck, that there will be no arguing kids, and no crazy drivers ( oh, wait, that's me) and that I make it back in one solid piece with my sanity still intact.

It's a beautiful day, and I'm hoping to not get too tired since I have a tendency to lull to sleep in a car. I have ever since I was little. And with no relief driver, I will have to hop my self up on unearthly amounts of caffeine and sugar to keep awake... but then the screaming kids should help out too, right?

So time for great adventures across the continental divide! Colorado here I come, see ya in a while Utah! But either way I look at it, I still have the mountains!

Come Check out my Friend Tristi's newest book!!!!

I have something very fun to share today! My dear friend and author Tristi Pinkston is excited to announce the release of the third novel in her Secret Sisters Mysteries series.

Titled Hang ‘em High, this novel takes place on a dude ranch in Montana. When Ida Mae’s son invites her to come for a visit, of course she brings Arlette and Tansy along with her. They are expecting to spend the week looking at horses, avoiding the cows, and making amends in Ida Mae’s relationship with her son. What they don’t expect is to be stuck on the ranch in the middle of a blizzard and to be thrust headlong into the middle of a mystery.

***

Help Tristi celebrate her new novel in two ways. First, come participate in the two-week-long blog contest, where you can win a book nearly every single day! All the details are up on Tristi’s blog.

Second, come to the book launch!

You are invited to an

August Authorama!

Saturday, August 13th

Pioneer Book, 858 S. State, Orem

12 – 4 pm

Games, prizes, balloons, face painting,

and Dutch oven cobbler

prepared by world champion cook

Keith Fisher.

Authors Tristi Pinkston, J. Lloyd Morgan, Cindy Hogan,

Nichole Giles, and Heather Justesen

will all be there to sign books.

This is one book launch event

you will not want to miss!

Fun and Games

Who would of thought that being silly with your kids and acting like one would revive you so much?? The other night when I was sure I would drop dead of exhaustion, and all I wanted to do was go grab a few Zs I was dragged with my oldest daughter to her friends house for a study session at 11 o'late thirty at night, with my two littlest in tow.

I tried to get those Zs like I wanted, and it would only be a 5 min side trip to drop us off, but noo, we all had to go along for the ride.

So while my daughter and her friend studied for their test, my littlest girls did the Wii just dance game and were racking up the points while my other daughter recorded them on her computer's camera.

"Mom has to do this" all four of my daughters and their friend demanded.

"No", I said, "I haven't done this game before and I'm tired."

"You minored in dance in college Mom, you will be fine, and who cares if you are tired?!"

So I dragged my super tired rear out of the seat and set my wii mote and went for it against my littlest daughters. I was gonna show them what I was made of for sure!

It was pretty dang fun!! and I beat both of them, maybe I should of let them win, but umm nope, they insisted I play and my competitive nature sprang to life, and revived me. And they weren't getting off that easy. I had to win

I took them by 1000 plus points and won!! Ya. Then my youngest daughter said to me ever so sweetly, "Mom, you can't play against us anymore cuz you smashed us!" she said with a laugh.

well, she told me didn't she??

I was wide awake after that, but what fun!

I'm thinking we need to go and get our own just dance wii game and have more dance offs and maybe one day, she and her sisters will be good enough to smash me instead!

checking in late late late

A quick little blurb to check in and be accountable to myself. So this week counting this posting, I got in my 3 blogging posts that I was aiming for. But I still have three to do by Tues this coming week. I will do it! Just you wait and see.

As for extra followers I was able to add another, leaving me with 17 left to meet my goal. I hope I make it.

And for writing, with all the traveling and demands from my family and some minor crisis's along the way that rose up, I wasn't able to get my numbers in like I wanted to, but I did write non the less. I wrote about 7 pages. Only half of what I was aiming for, but grateful that I could get them in. At least I was writing and that is all that counts.

Considering that I haven't even had the chance to exercise and I feel like a major slug since I got here early sun morning even though I planned to get to it at least 3 times while I was gone, and have yet to get out beyond basic walking in the grocery store, which isn't walking but really walk pausing; I'm amazed I got more than two words strung together at a time.

This all being said, I do have the remainder of this week and into Tues to get things done. I plan to get at least another 7 pages written, since I will be driving most of Sunday, and meeting the demands of my family on vacation( my hubby is not with me, and neither are my two oldest boys, if that tells you anything) I think that will be a stretch, still, I don't want to end up not writing enough for next week and facing Karaoke.

So three more posts, and 7 more pages and 17 more followers is the goal, I hope i make it!!
well, off now to try and meet them! Cross those fingers for me once again!

Whoever said being on vacation was, well, a vacation?

I'm out of town. I left being an exercise instructor behind, but only after about 6 hours of work looking for a sub. I have my youngest kids with me, and my husband stayed home. I have to make sure I meet all my family's expectations and what they want me to do. I feel like I am working more now, than when I was at home in some ways.

What ever happened to the lazy days doing what ever you wanted? OH ya, I forgot. Just because I'm on vacation, doesn't mean that I get to do what I want unless I leave the kids behind. But then leaving the kids behind means leaving some of the fun behind too. At least I don't have to teach. So that is a huge old plus in my book!

But I am having a good time seeing good friends, and trying to catch up on stuff I have fallen behind on. Like an extra post for the week. So tomorrow I am going to do my accountablity post. I get to take fun pictures of my kids flipping out and have a great time being silly. So even though I know I will be super tired from my vacation later, it will be worth it all in the end.

Things may be planned out, but some times just sitting back, relaxing and chatting without a firm schedule is pretty great too!

Accountability

For me accountability to just myself seems to be a problem. I really need to have others to be accountable to, other wise I find every excuse in the book to not do something and procrastination and I become tighter friends. Sometimes you just need that extra little push, that kick that gets you moving in a forward direction again, even if it is the smallest of steps forward, at least it is progress.

Checking in once a week on my goals has made me more productive in more ways besides the goals I have outlined in my blog. Weird how that happens, but I'm glad it has.

Just so you know, I have made great progress in my outlined goals, in all three of them I have made great strides so far. And it is sort of funny how events that have transpired have gone a long way in helping me to achieve those goals.

So First of all I give huge props for Ali cross at alicross.blogspot.com for her amazing blog fest that I joined in at the last minute. It helped me to accomplish the last of my posting goals for the week making it three in all. Not to mention how it helped make great strides toward my goal of reaching 100 followers by the end of July. I have 18 more to go. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I reach it. Cross your fingers and send up a few prayers for me too. That might just give me a little extra help in meeting that goal.

And last the very real, very worrisome threat of singing Karaoke if I don't meet my writing goal of 15 pages a week has me moving forward with a steady clip for my story. I got in 20 pages even, and surpassed it. I think I was just making sure it was obvious I had reached my quota. And alas, I blogging, texting or face book couldn't be used toward that goal even though I still say it is writing. I tried and it was shot down in a micro second. Oh well! You can't say I didn't try!

So now I am half way there toward my goal. This week and next week to go and I will end the first of Aug, and let you know my total standing. So now I am off to be sure I meet my goals.

Once more they are : 3 postings a week, 15 pages of writing for my story and 100 followers for my blog.

What are you goals that you have set for your self and what are you doing to be sure you are achieving them? Let me know, I'd love to hear them!

It's Independence Day and Something Unexpected Happens...Flash fiction

I'm participating in Ali Cross's Flash Fiction Blog fest. So here goes my 250 word story, let me know what you think!


It was the party of the year. Fireworks burst in an explosion of color across the inky black sky and hung in the air. Alyson’s excitement added to the chorus of oohs and aahs surrounding her.

It was the most magical Fourth of July of her entire life, but she hoped the best part wasn't over yet.

Gabe, the hottest guy in school, with his fathomless dark eyes and matching wavy hair invited her to be his date for the night. She pinched her arm once more to be sure it wasn't all a fabulous dream. She was sure she was in love.

“Are you up for a walk?” Gabe asked.

“Sounds fantastic.” Alyson smiled as Gabe reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. Electricity pulsed through her body on contact.

Did he feel it too?

The flare of emotion flash across his eyes told her he did. His goofy half smile made him even more adorable.

The only thing left to make this the best night of her life would be if Gabe kissed her. She sent up a silent prayer and crossed her fingers that he would.

He drew her into the shadows of a nearby building.

“Come here.” He said in a soft voice. As Gabe pulled her into the warmth of his embrace Alyson’s heart beat faster. His head leaned slowly toward hers.

This was it.

Her eyes closed in anticipation and screamed as his sharp teeth sank deep into her neck.



Well there it is, let me know what you think! Go here to read the other participants entries. A special thanks to Ali Cross for putting togehter this fun blog fest! Thanks Ali!! You Rock!!

Star wishing and Checking in!

I'm wishing on a star, or maybe it's really a nebula or a plant either way, I'm wishing and I hoping my dreams come true as I reach for them, one goal at a time.

So a quick little blurb to be accountable to my writing goals.

So as to writing blogging three times this week! I did it Wha hooo!! Yay for me!

As to adding more followers, I was able to add 2 more. Any one with suggestions on how to be more outgoing in the blogging world would be welcome. But hey, I am working toward my goal still! Just 30 more to go!

And then getting 15 pages of my WIP accomplished was a huge YES!! I got more than 15 even, and tightened up my plot , characters and researched my story lines and learned more about writing too!

It feels so amazing to get to say I did it! I feels wonderful to have a fourth of my goal for the month of July accomplished successfully! I am looking forward to reporting back next week on how I did for this weeks continuing goals... 15 more pages, 2 more blog postings and hopefully adding a few more followers too.

I know I can, I know I can.... to coin a phrase from The Little Engine that Could. Accomplishing those goals sure makes me feel like I can do what ever I set my mind to, it's all about making the decision to do it and then sticking to it with the following through part until it is finished. And sometimes that can be the hardest part of all!

Well off to get some writing done, and maybe surpassing my goals once more!! Keep your fingers crossed for me, since I can't do it myself. Why not you ask?? well, how can I type and let my fingers fly across the keyboard if they are crossed??? I guess I could, but it would take a whole lot longer to do it! So please, will you cross yours for me??? I really appreciate it!

Let it Rain!!

Currently, in the fine state of Colorado, where I live, we have had a few gushing rainstorms, and I have wondered as the rain blew sideways and hit me with the gale force of a monsoon soaking me to the skin in a flash, am I in the right place or did I some how get transported to some tropical island where things like this are the norm? They have truly been a sight to behold, magestic in their power and awesome in thier abiltiy to transform.

But it is Colorado after all, an extention of the desert. Sure there are mountains and we have snow, but lots of rain and flash floods with water pooling in some places five feel high has never happened in the years I've lived here. Not that it doesn't bring its own brand of excitement and entertainment. My kids have soaked their clothes and played in the rain thoroughly exhilarated at the prospect of running through the gutters at the side of the road splashing to their hearts content loving every minute of it!

But I have to admit that seeing the trees blow sideways and and the rain pour off my roof and then later my car as I was driving, I was surprised by the power behind it all.

But the thing is, no matter how hard the rain storm, there is always a rainbow at the end. A beautiful portrayal of color splashed across the sky. Signaling new beginnings and things washed clean and turned new once more. It is a beautiful thing to know that there is renewal in the rain. A chance for a fresh start, or even a hint of some new beginning that lets you grow and brings a resurgence of life. The birds sing sweetly in the air, the sun sends its golden rays down to dispel the darkness and the water brings life both to the world and in as sense to our spirits, refreshing us and reminding us that everything gets a chance to start over again.

I like the idea of fresh starts and new chances. When life weighs you down, it can pick you up when you least expect it and send a resurgence of hope and faith and excitement for what life may hold for you right around the corner. I have decided that sometimes it all really boils down to a decision. A choice to make your life better, to believe it can be. To turn from the old and embrace the new opportunities and creative expressions waiting to be discovered. That sometimes all we need to begin again, is make the decision, to begin again. It's that easy. And as with the rain bring refreshing moisture and cool breezes and even sometimes a raging storm, they all work to bring a cl easing, whether of the earth or the soul, it can be one and the same it relates to the decisions to move forward and embrace the future with all the excitement it can bring.

So I say, let it rain. Open the heavens and let it pour on down, because in the cleansing comes the new beginnings, the fresh starts and then creativity on so many fascinating levels!

Today is a Marvelous Day!!

Why is today so darned marvelous you ask?? Why indeed!!! There is one very important reason, and that is today is the day I get to see my daughter Danielle! Big deal you may think to your self. But it really is a big deal, at least it is to me and her Dad and her brothers and sisters. Today is the day that she comes home from being gone after being practically unreachable for the last seven weeks while she has been on her study abroad program for school.

But with today's modern world and all the technology around us, it would be easy to keep in touch with her even with her being half way around the world right?? But you would be surprised! Even though our cell phones have unlimited texting, they are useless in Europe, so two forms(text and calls) of communication...GONE! Unless I want to pay a million dollars and call long distance the old fashion way.

Ok you say, well, there is always Skype. That is better than texting anyway, because you get to see the person you are talking to and it's like they are right there with you. And yes that is very true, but if your computer is older than dirt, and your laptop doesn't have that capability, then in essence you are screwed! So, another option bites the dust!!

Email, you say!! Use it, that is a great way to keep in touch! And your right, it would be, if she ever answered my emails!! UGH!!

And Snail mail! Not enough! I got one post card the whole time she was gone!

Then there is facebook. Thank Heavens for social media options! It saved my life, and kept me from going crazy! I was able to IM her!! Yahoo!! But wait...there was a huge hitch! That was trying to catch her when she was on, and adjust for the 7 to 8 hour difference. But she did put pictures up, and I got to see her still form having the time of her life. And I could leave her a post to let her know I missed her.

And the thing that kept me sane of all, was her daily assignment to post on her blog! With a required 5 pictures to be posted. I got to read where she went, and see what she did, and her friends she made and keep up on her adventures in England, Ireland, France, Spain and Italy. I got to see the beauty of Europe and know she was having a wonderful time and was very very happy. I am so glad that her professors made this a requirement,and I believe it was more for us, at home, than for those on Study Abroad.

But tonight is best of all! She gets off the plane at 9:30 and I get to hold her and hug her to death. I get to see all the millions of pictures she took and hear about the stories not posted! I am sooo excited I can hardly stand it. I am just so glad that she didn't go to Europe back when all these communication options were just a thing of the imagination, and letters and super expensive phone calls were all that was available. Thank Heaven for all that modern technology brings to us!!

Well, I'm off to do a happy dance and hold my anticipation in check! She comes home today!! It is the most marvelous day of all!!

blogging and writing goal

I must make a confession. One that I think was a long time in coming, and quite frankly one I need to admit to myself. My daughter Danielle has out blogged me! She has laid down the gauntlet and shown me up quite a bit!

Not only is she having the best fun of her life traveling through Europe, but she also started her blog in May and has written in it just about everyday since then all while traveling all over Europe. Sure it is an assignment while she studied abroad this summer,and ya it's required, but really that doesn't matter. She has blogged her heart out! What I have I done while she's been gone? Well, read her blog of course http://aportraitofdanielle.blogspot.com How could I not?? But certainly not blogging myself.

Dani has had some pretty great adventures and have to say she has shown me that I have been making blogging way harder than it needs to be. Maybe it's because so many of my Friends are soo good at it, that I feel like it's tough to keep up at their level, but really now I see it was just an excuse. That if my amazing daughter can show me up in a heartbeat, then maybe I need to get on the ball, and show her that I can keep up. Or at least make an attempt...an honest attempt.

I used to wonder how all my friends managed it, how they were able to blog so much, but now I think I am going to challenge myself to blog like they do! I am going to take the month of July and blog it like I've never blogged before! OK, not everyday, but I will commit to at least three times a week! I will attempt to blog everyday from here out, but since July started um 3 days ago, I sort of missed that particular boat. But blogging I will do from here on out.

I hope to gain a few more followers and I hope to learn something more about myself and what I can accomplish, because I am also going to add a writing goal for my novel here too. I will write at least 15 pages a week. No less and I will come back on Sunday to report my results of blogging and writing.

Hey I have to be accountable to myself somehow, and since I have been a pretty big bump on a log lately, not motivated to do much more than find ways to avoid everything I love to do, I am kicking my own butt. And giving all my friends to kick it along with me!! If you want to add your butt kicking motivation to the comments... please please go for it!! Heaven knows I really Really REALLY need it!

I need to get back to the land of the living instead of wallowing in the land of the forgotten and feeling lost all the time while I wander aimlessly(metaphorically speaking) all over the place getting absolutely nothing accomplished. So here I go, with the first entry! Keep your fingers crossed that I will accomplish what I am setting out to do! I think it will be really cathartic and get me back on track, and moving forward like I need to!!

So here it goes!! Let the fun begin!! The Official Goals for July : 1) blog at least 3 times a week, everyday if possible 2) Increase my followers and maybe break 100 if really lucky! 3) write 15 pages of Into The Crimson Sun every week! 4) Report progress on goals truthfully every Sunday.

Writing is Life

Sometimes when I am frustrated or just need to figure things out, I find it helps to write. Writing anything at all, it doesn't seem to matter what it is as long as it is something. It has a cathartic ability to release stress, help manage anger, hurt or pain. It can even bring about a sense of accomplishment, joy, or a sense of euphoria . . . especially if you get published. Maybe being published isn't necessary to feel that happiness, but it doesn't hurt either. And it fills a deep seated need to create.

I find that when I am working through something important in my life that writing it out helps a lot. And what I am finding now, is that I can get a lot accomplished if I just write. I feel more settled and ready to hit things head on, well maybe not head on, but at least I take a step forward.

I write about my family, my kids and events around me and most of it is in a private journal not meant for other's eyes. I would feel to vulnerable writing my deepest thoughts for all to see, and judge me. I would feel too exposed and raw. Those things I write out long hand in a spiral notebook, that I share with my husband, sometimes my children, and once in a while a few close friends.

I write adventures, and stories and fantasies that bring a happily ever after -- most of the time. Sometimes I write the gruesome and scary, to see what dark road it winds down.

If I don't write, don't get my feelings out some how, I get restless. Sometimes it is hard to identify what is causing it, but when I finally get that pen in my hand, or the computer in my lap to write, I settle down. Then I write and write until the words no longer speak to me, no longer call me to head what they want me to say. Until emptiness is all that remains and I am purged and then I feel so much better. Emotions spent and words played out how they may.

Then there are the times when I write and all my dreams and yearnings pour out on the page. I can be free then, say what I wouldn't in real life. To have courage and conviction. To wish and hope and soar to the skies and back as I make wishes come true with a swish of a fairy wand or a bit of magic. Things that real life doesn't always grant, I can with my pen. It is exciting, fun, and wonderful to escape within the words of my own making.

I am forever grateful to have found my voice, to have freed it. To use it how I will to push me forward in my dreams for the future.

I will write always, for the rest of my life and in that writing I can release who I really am. And at times, I share that part of me no one else knows about when I write with others. When I create I live in freedom. I write life, because to write for me is to live.

So I turn it to you now and wonder, what do you write and why? Have you ever thought about it? Maybe you should and then you can discover what writing really means to you.

Book Review: Depth of Deceit by Betty Briggs

The Depth of Deceit by veteran author Betty Briggs is a dynamic story about Stephanie Saunders, a young attorney assigned to take on the indigent cases that come through courtroom and defend them. Stephanie has worked hard and long to garnish respect, but her beauty queen good looks, makes it hard for people to take her seriously as a legal representative.

She is assigned by the judge to handle the case of Josh Durrant, accused of assault. A man with long blond hair, a thick beard, a barbed wire tattoo across his bicep, and amazing green eyes, who seems to be following her all over town. She isn't sure whether to be annoyed with him or worried.

Not that it matters that much to her when she has Todd Saxton for her boyfriend looking out for her. He is loving , charming, handsome and sweet to her. But when devastating secrets are discovered, Stephanie's whole life tumbles out of control.

The only place she finds true comfort is at the stables with her horses. She finds a kindred soul in the battered and abused mare, Riskie Business whose gentle soul and sweet disposition is a balm to Stephanie's shattered soul.

There are difficult decisions that will affect the rest of Stephanie's life that must be made, and in turn Stephanie must learn how to save not only herself in the final showdown, but one who relies on her the most. There she must learn to trust those who can't be trusted and discover courage and strength she never knew she possessed. And find a way to make the ultimate decisions of what is right and what is not.

I was drawn instantly into the story and couldn't put it down once I got started. There were so many mysteries and questions I wanted to know as layer upon layer was uncovered to reveal the final answers at the end of the book. Depth of Deceit made me laugh out loud, it made me cry big tears, and it made me wonder what would happen next. I kept turning page after page to discover secret after secret. I felt as if I was right beside Stephanie Saunders the entire time. Her anxiety pulsed out of the pages, her love and compassion and even when snarky frustration rose with in her were so real and tangible. I knew how she felt about those she loved and those she was annoyed with. Her suspicious nature about everything that appeared to be truth leapt off the pages. It surprised me how deep those emotions became as they welling up inside of me.

Betty Briggs really knows how to pull the reader into the world of words she creates as it runs like a movie inside the readers head. I was held captive until the very last words and found myself surprised with the unexpected plot twists and turns through out the book.

The way the horses played such an important part in the dynamics of the story made me wish I was at the stabes right along with Stephanie. I loved how Betty wove the legal dynamics of being an up and rising attorney into the plot, and how Stephanie's struggles were so real to life as I wondered who, if anyone was trustworthy.

I completely loved reading Depth of Deceit. I loved the rich characters portrayed, from the rude secretary, to the little old man who lived in the mountains. I felt each character was well developed and helped propel the story along with their insite and lively conversation. I felt a deep connection with many of the characters, and was surprised by the culminating events in the end.

I completely enjoyed my journey into the Depth of Deceit. Get your copy of Depth of Deceit by Betty Briggs, here, you won't be disappointed. Take the time to stop by Betty's web site and learn more about her and her other books go to http://www.bettybriggs.com/ there you will find additional information on horses and other short stories as well.

Disclaimer: While I do at times receive copies of the books I review, my opinions are and will always remain my own.