Book Review: Finding Faith by Terri Ferran

Finding Faith  by Terri Ferran is about a girl named Kit who moved from California right before her senior year to Logan Utah. A place way different than what she is used to as far as culture is concerned. They have their own lingo and way of doing things that is foreign in many ways to Kit.

She takes part time classes at Utah State University where her father teaches, and is in high school part time. And finding friends isn't as easy as she thought it would be. Kit wanders around the mall and meet a girl with lots of energy, and then that leads her to meeting Janet. The girl who would become her best friend. And to make it better she sees a hot guy that she wonders about.

Things begin to look up when Janet invites Kit to her house. She learns that they are LDS and that they  have a deep belief and abiding faith in God. Kit isn't even sure God exists. But this doesn't stop her friendship with Janet from growing strong. At Janet's house a great discovery is made, Janet is related to the smoking hot guy she saw, and she is introduced to him. His name is Justin.

Justin and Kit hit it off and Kit finds herself spending more and more time with Janet's family. She feels like she belongs. As things progress in the story, Kit is challenged at every point in what she believes and learns that this faith that Janet's family has is hard to figure out. But in stages she begins to understand what it is that makes the Bridger family so fabulous.

Finding Faith is a story about new beginnings, learning how strong you can be in the most difficult and unexpected of circumstances and and finding faith. It is a love story that is sweet  and wonderful and a story of deep and abiding friendship. I found myself laughing, crying and wondering what Kit's decisions would be in the face of trials. It is about learning to trust and letting go.

Finding Faith, strengthened my own faith, just by the way Terri told the story. She was able to pull on the great strength having faith lends. I found myself wanting to write things down to remember the way the Bridger family helped Kit through the toughest times of her life. I found in many cases her lessons became my big reminders, and I felt comfort and peace and the spirit speak to me as my own faith grew. I am so glad I got to read this book that shows in such a beautiful way the depth and beauty of the gospel and how it changed the life a girl who did not have it in her own.

I know you won't want to miss the chance to read Finding Faith by Terri Ferran. I know that anyone who reads this book will have their own testimony strengthened in the truths of the gospel. I know that the spirit will testify to those who read this book, the truth of what it contains.

To find out how to get your copy of Finding Faith and  to find out more about Terri click on the links below.

Social Networking Links for Terri : here

Goodreads: here

when distractions get in the way

Ever feel like there are a million and one things to distract you from what you want most? That sometimes it is that very thing that ends up with the least amount of attention as everything else demands you to give it first priority?

I feel like that now. I want to finish my work in progress, to say YES!! I finally finished it, and to be honest, all I truly need is about 10 uninterrupted days to finish it. But right now, it seems like those 10 dedicated days of writing is a fantasy.

School just went back into session for my kids, so the last week or so, I have run to every store in the Denver Metro area seeking school supplies for my kids going to school here from elementary to High School. Then getting all the millions of forms filled out, not to mention helping with homework, lunch shopping and all the driving. And this year as an added bonus we get to have the benefit of school prep spreading from 5 am to at times 10 am. It is really quite insane, and that is just the getting ready and dropping off schedules. Pick up is just the opposite, and when games start... well, you get the picture.

Throw into the mix, teaching group exercise classes.... which is awesome!! But time consuming. And  trying to balance classes with my families always changing schedules, and then add in a dash of reviewing and editing and life can be very full. Oh and I almost forgot... trying to clean my house out. I think that is a lost cause and only a nuclear bomb will have any effect at this point. Ha!

But there are the distractions, when life gets even more harrowing. Little crazy stresses that can slowly drive you batty. Tugs on time and money and other resources like... um sleep. Since I seem to have only the time when everyone is sleeping now to write. But then I'm sleepy too, and my brain gets a little fuzzy.

But when I do get the time to escape into my own world, when I get to let my fingers soar across the keyboard as a story comes to life under my fingers, it is heaven. I love it. I feel free of all of the crazie little things that pull me away. It's just finding those minutes to truly create an entirely new world. It is worth all the distractions to get to that.

Now if I could just figure out a good way to manage my time. I used to be awesome at it when I was in college and before I had seven kids. I'm not quite sure what happened along the way.

Anyone out there have any ideas on how to get past distractions? I'd love to hear what you have to say about how you deal with them! =0)

Author Interview : Ashley Levering and Curse of the Beast

I am so excited. Today I get to interview author Ashley Levering who wrote Curse of the Beast. It is a paranormal YA and I am sure you will love it . Why you ask? Because it is a fractured fairy tale retelling of one of my all time favorite stories, Beauty and the Beast.  

First of all, I had the chance to meet Ashley at a writer's conference this summer and I we had a wonderful time getting to know each other. She is an amazing and talented person. Now I want to give you the chance to get to know her too. So I sent her some questions and she answered them for me.

So sit back, get comfy and learn a little more about Ashley and what inspired her to become  the great writer that she is.

 Me: How long did it take to bring it all together, pre writing and the actual writing?

 Ashley: With having small children and writing only part time, I finished Curse of the Beast in two years. However, I was able to use some of that writing for Star Cursed, book 2.

 Me: How do you find the time and how do you organize yourself so you can get your writing in when you have to work around your family?

 Ashley: That is a hard one. I find that I write a lot at night, and when I can find a babysitter. Sometimes when my girls are watching a movie I’ll sneak off to my bedroom and write. As to the organizing myself, I have a bulleted outline and a calendar. The calendar helps me keep the time frame organized and the moon cycles.

 Me: Are you already working on your next book?

 Ashley: Yes! In fact, I am sending Star Cursed book 2 in the Curse of the Beast Series off to my editor in September! Very exciting.

Me: What is your most favorite thing about being a writer?

 Ashley: I love being able to create my own worlds. It is great to have an idea and be able to mold it and then breathe life into it. It is the best feeling ever! And of course, to then share it with everyone.

Me: How did you come up with your cover?

 Ashley: I wanted the rose to be a big part of it. I also thought about the other elements that make up this first book. And Tayla and Beast came to mind. So with those three elements, I hiked up the mountain with my models and we started shooting pictures until I figured out what I wanted.

Me: I love the answers to these questions Ashley. I am excited for you to have your next book ready to go. That means we get to read it that much faster, which is a huge plus for us. 

 To make this all the  sweeter, Ashley is doing a huge giveaway on her blog for a signed copy of Curse of the Beast . So jump on over to http://www.ashleylavering.blogspot.com  to enter. And click here for your own copy of Curse of the Beast.

Book Review: The Recruit By Cindy Grantham Brown

The Recruit by Cindy Grantham Brown is a fictionalized story of a very real event in Cindy's life that will completely blow you away and keep you turning pages wondering how things are going to end. It is a story that stays with me even now along with amazing strength and ability to survive the harrowing life-threatening experiences Jess experieced inside  The Recruit. I still find myself saying Wow!

I even asked my husband do motor cycle gangs really do that kind of thing? And he said yes they do, they  take people who are kept in the dark to what they plan to do as a way of recruiting and intitiating members. It fascinating to see the events inside The Recruit unfold, you see it all unfold before you but know you can't stop it and then your mind wraps itself around the whole idea that this re. I was caught up in the story and the events that took place.  The book blurb is enough to get your interest as the story unfolds it is impossible to put the book down in the quest to discover how things end.

Book Blurb:
Jess Talbot has already seen sorrow in her young life. Now one bad decision will destroy her dignity – will she also pay with her life?

At the age of twenty-one she is recovering from the breakup of her marriage. In an effort to get back into the social scene she hangs out at a Memphis, Tennessee park along with other rebellious teens and young adults. Here she meets her newest friend, Lisa Burns, who likes to party and hang out with bad boy bikers. Vulnerable and naïve, Jess goes with Lisa to a Kentucky Motocross Rally for the weekend – which turns out to be anything but the fun, safe weekend she had imagined.

Unknown to Jess, Lisa is an initiate into a biker gang, the worst of its kind. Her job is to find that special girl who will be this year’s RECRUIT. Will Jess figure out what dangers are prepared for her? Will she be forever scarred by her devastating decision to spend the weekend with Lisa and her friends? Will she escape or will the results be deadly for Jess…

Through the Grace of God, Cindy Grantham Brown survived the devastating events that this story is based upon. She now tells the fictionalized tale in the hopes that others will never have to face the possibility she did – that of a horrible and painful death, murder at the hands of an evil biker gang.

My take again:
I found Jess's indomitable spirit remarkable in the midst of terror as she struggles to fully comprehend what happened to her. She starts to put peices together and stragegizes her escape, never letting the events unfolding around her drag her down.

I love Chad's inner conflict as he fights his rising feelings for Jess as they stand in direct conflict with the job he needs to accomplish as an under cover cop.  Cindy's wrote  ability  these events in such a way that the reader wanted to know what happened next.

In addition the romance that develops between Jess and Chad is sweet but becomes part of the puzzle if their growing feelings for eachother will survive the overwhelming events placed before them.

Inspite of a few  grammatical and editing errors easy to over look, the reader was drawn fully into the intrigue of the story. Decisions made with dire consequenses leave the reader on the edge hoping for the best.

I would highly recommend The Recruit as a fast paced absorbing read that will keep you wondering what happens next. To get your copy click here or here. You will learn things about motorcycle gangs and how they work that you never thought imagainable, and see how corruption can be layered  into  multi-levels of intrigue and how one girl finds the ability to rise above it all.

movie shooting too close to home

 Sorry no cutesy pictures or amazing images. I think solemn is better for now. Today I woke up to find that there was a huge shooting at the theater we frequent often, my kids more than me. It was crazy and so hard to understand how one man could create so much chaos and pain and then smile a calculating cold grin for his mug shot.

It affected me quite a bit. I found out that one of the girls who is a close friend to my kids was hit in the next theater when stray bullets punctured the wall and sprayed shrapnel into her face, along with two other people. She had to go to the hospital and is luckily now resting at home.  She is in my Sunday School class and she is one of the Young Women who I used to work with and she is the epitome of smiling through trials. One of her best friends and her sister were with her. I also teach her best friend and these girls are close with my older kids. I am so glad they are alive and will make it though with stronger faith.

My son found that one of his friends was shot in the leg, and another son discovered that 2 of his close friends from school were in the theater with the gun man and by some miracle escaped any kind of injury. But my son fears that one of his friends may not have been as lucky. And is trying to find out if he is among the dead.

There is a ripple effect to the things we do. We may think that it all ends in that moment and place but it doesn't. It goes beyond layer upon layer deeper and deeper as it reaches people beyond the scope of our imaginations throughout the world.


My daughters in Utah in college are trying to find out if any of their friends from high school were in the shooting and have been frantically calling and texting to be sure they are ok.

My boys coaches for football texted, wanting to know if they were safe. Family and friends  from back east and across the country called and texted and facebooked  to be sure we were ok.

We tell everyone we are fine. We say everyone is ok. But really, we are anguished and until the full disclosure of victims is given we will not be able to close this chapter down and still the nightmares will come. They will persist and sneak in when we least expect it and we will remember the fear and the turmoil that lasted far beyond a one minute senseless shooting spree.

I am grateful beyond words that my boys didn't go to that midnight showing that they were planning on a later time. I am grateful the girls in my class are ok and alive.

I am grateful for a nation who puts their flags at half mast and for police officers who don't care that their cars get bloody as they rush victims to the hospital because ambulances aren't there yet. I am grateful for Paris for pulling their showing of Batman in respect and solidarity to those of us here in Aurora Colorado. I am grateful for the way our world family pulls together at times like this to help each other through grief and devastation.

I cannot understand a mad man's rational. how could he ever think it was ok? But that being said, I am glad he is in custody where he can't hurt anyone anymore. I am glad for those men and women who are working around the clock to help those who were hurt and to try and puzzle through a mind demented and crazy enough to booby trap his own apartment in hopes of creating even more chaos.

My prayers for those hurt and for the families who lost members and for those who are traumatized just by being present go out to them and so does my love and sorrow.  And hope that sometime soon we can find our way back to whole and move beyond a crazy maniacal insane man's actions.

Book Review: Caribbean Crossroads by Connie E Sokol

What a fun light hearted book! It swept you right in and kept you turning pages throughout the story. I really enjoyed reading Caribbean Crossroads. It's about a girl named Megan trying to recover from a broken heart with the added layers of betrayal, deceit and manipulation. As a result she can't trust any guy who might try  to get near her without wondering what their motive is.  So her best friend Jillian convinces her that the best thing to do for healing is to go on a cruise ship with her as a dancer and singer for the summer.

After a bit of convincing she is in, and excited about the chance to get away from the pain and heal once and for all. But she nor her heart are prepared for Bryant. Sweet, outgoing, handsome... amazing. Then starts her battle. The battle to find a way back to being whole, and a battle to let Bryant into her life and the battle to find a way back to her old carefree self and learn how to trust again.  Caribbean Crossroads is about learning to let go of past hurts, and how to trust again. It's about finding a way back to self, and growing in the process and finding how to overcome and be stronger.

I love Bryant's patient gentle demeanor and how he works to understand what is holding Megan back. He has his own trials that he has to face and the cruise ship is his last hurrah. He finds himself pulled into Megan's life and finds she is worth all the hurtles she throws in his way.

Despite some editing issues that can trip the reader up in a few places this story is wonderful and one of my favorites. The chemistry between Megan and Bryant is written beautifully and through the book you are left to wonder what the ultimate decision will be. It is easy to root for these characters as they face life's tough challenges, and find their way to each other while overcoming huge obstacles.

An added bonus to Caribbean Crossroads is that it is a clean read, yet sparks still fly. I was drawn into the story and loved every minute reading it especially the unexpected twists and turns! .

 Here is the book blurb:
New college grad Megan McCormick just got dumped. Hard.

Swearing off men and relationships, Megan is coaxed into performing on a cruise ship where she meets the star performer, Bryant Johnson. Handsome and charismatic, he looks like trouble, but she can't deny the intense attraction between them.

Urged to find a wife and run the family lumber business, Bryant is torn between his family's expectations for his life and his own. However, when he meets spunky, but love-skittish Megan McCormick, settling down doesn't look so bad.

Just when Megan begins to trust again, and Bryant makes some big decisions regarding his future, her former fiance returns with a malicious surprise, taking Megan and Bryant to their own CARIBBEAN CROSSROADS.

Here’s some advance praise for this great summer read:

"Caribbean Crossroads is an entertaining read with a great plot and characters. I loved it! I got hooked from the very beginning...I highly recommend this book to all those looking for a very enjoyable and clean romance novel." Christina Tarbet, Book Reviewer

"Caribbean Crossroads is the perfect summer read. It's a story of love, forgiveness, and following one's heart. There is a lot of humor in the storytelling, and reality in the way relationships work. Connie Sokol captures this perfectly with a great cast of relateable characters who will make you want to keep reading late into the night."

Emily Cushing, Author of One Heart, Many Voices

Don't wait to get your copy of Caribbean Crossroads, so you can be swept away too. You can get your copy by clicking here for Barnes and Noble. 

Amazon Purchase Link here

You can learn more about Connie's by clicking on her website: here.

Connie is also on FaceBook  find her by clicking  here.

Book Review: Carnival Girl By Sonja Herbert

 

Carnival Girl Searching for God in the Aftermath of War by Sonja Herbert is a engaging story about a young girl growing up through the end of World War 2 and what it was like being a member of a family that traveled throughout the country setting up carnivals for different cities to make ends meet. All while her half Jewish mother hid from the Nazi's in both the circus and later in the carnival she and her husband ran with their children.

Carnival Girl is a story about Sonja and what it was like for her growing up in these circumstances with a family that didn't see the need for religion in their lives and felt it was a waste of time and unimportant.

But Sonja never saw it that way. From a young age she yearned to know she wasn't so alone in spite of her family. That even when she made mistakes she would still be loved and watched over. With the sometimes volatile atmosphere at home it was hard as a young child for Sonja to wonder what she had done to bring on her mother's wrath.

But along the way she found out about prayer and God and how Jesus loved her and she was able to find strength and hope through the tough times of traveling in a caravan with her family's carnival. She never felt like she had a place to call home until one winter when she had the opportunity to take English lessons which then lead her to find the missionaries which changed her life.

Carnival Girl is a story of hope and faith. A story of how to overcome and persevere and how to find the hidden blessings and the love of God mixed in with the hard and sometimes unpredictable times. That strength could be gained and when life seems to be falling apart to have that quiet knowledge that God was beside Sonja lending her the fortitude she needed to get through.

I liked the way each chapter takes the reader deeper into the lives of the carnival and what that was like. The descriptions of life where vivid and it is easy to feel as if you could step into the pages of Circus  Girl and have it come to life before you.  I thought it was nice to start each chapter off with a picture of now with Sonja grown and with a family of her own sharing antedotes of her Mutti's visit to America. It gave a glimpse into Mutti's life and beliefs now, and showed that she was still very much the same and to see Sonja's patience and love in dealing with her mother.

Many times I felt that Mutti took out her frustration with life on her family and because she had to hid who she was from the world they got the brunt of it. At times I felt she was just harsh with her children, and marveled that Sonja could emerge from her experiences with the strength to stick to her decisions about joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in spite of the obstacles her family place in her way. I loved her determination to hold to her testimony and never let go.

Carnival Girl is a fast read which pulls you into the lives of Sonja's family and the hardships of the life she grew up in, that shows how life triumphs when faith in God abound. It made me  wish I could glimpse further into Sonja's life as a Latter-day Saint and what happened in her later teen and early adult years in a rebounding Germany.

A little about Sonja:

Sonja Herbert and her five siblings were raised in a

caravan, traveling the carnival circuit from town to town in post-
World War II Germany.
Sonja converted to the LDS Church, later married, and immigrated
to the United States, where she received a bachelor of arts degree at Southern
Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, and a master of arts degree from
Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She also raised six children,
taught school and ESL, and is now a freelance writer.
Besides her childhood memoir, Sonja has also written many autobiographical
stories, which have been published in the Chicken Soup for the
Soul series and other anthologies. A biographical novel about her half-
Jewish mother’s experiences in Nazi Germany is almost finished.
Sonja lives in Provo with her husband and cat. You can find more
about her unusual life at germanwriter.com here.
You can get you copy of Carnival Girl by clicking here

Book Review: Million Dollar Diva by Tristi Pinkston

Million Dollar Diva  couldn't have come at a more better time. I felt as I read, that Tristi was right there whispering in my ear sharing her experiences and showing me that on some level we all go through the same struggles. I felt like I had a freind telling me how to recapture hope and a sense of serenity in a world spiraling out of control.

It was if she held my hand and walked me through exercises to help me move from where there was nothing but shadows, to where light burst through to show how to change.

Sure I had read all these things from various books before, but for some wondeful reason, this time, Trisit's voice was able to speak more clearly to me than ever before.  Along with her co authors Brett Kitchen and Ethan Kap I felt as if I had a team on my side. A team that gave me tools I can use now, and a place to go to see my progress and exercises to show me how to over come financial turbulance.

I love knowing that even though I may be finished with Million Dollar Diva, the authors are not finished with me. They have left a life line and a way to continue to grow and learn how to become more financially solvent, and to learn from past mistakes. Maybe not even mistakes, but recovery from overflowing medical bills and other unexpected debts and expenses piled so high you can't figure out how to work through them without burying your head in the sand and ignoring them.
visit their website and see all they have to keep you going beyond reading the book by clicking here.
I felt my heart lighten and a burden lifted and felt that this was an inspired book, meant to show others how easy it is to move forward to financial success and growth. I am so grateful that I read Million Dollar Diva and for the way it has helped me to see that I can move beyond and change my money standing. That I can become a Million Dollar Diva with the guidlines and helps given both from the book and the website. And more than anything to know I am not alone in my battle, that there are others helping me win the war.

 Do not miss out on this opportunity. You will truly be grateful for the information and knowledge you gain from reading Million Dollar Diva.
click here to get your own copy of Million Dollar Diva or click here   for a limited time to find out how you get a FREE copy.

Book Review: Altercation By Tamara Hart Heiner

First of all, I have to say, Altercation is so much better then the cover leads you to believe. So in this case don't judge a book by it's cover.

Altercation picks up where Tamara's last book Perilous ends. Jaci and her friends  are safe for now, but there is trouble brewing ahead. 

summary :

  The FBI promises Jacinta Rivera and her friends that they are
safe. Jaci wants desperately to believe them but weeks of hiding from
their kidnapper, alias "The Hand", have left her wary. Hidden from the
public eye in an FBI safe house, Jaci must reconcile both the mysterious
disappearance of her father and the murder of her best friend.

A betrayal lands Jaci back in the grasp of The Hand, shattering her
ability to trust and leaving her to wonder if she will ever piece together
her broken life.

My take:

I felt Atlercation kept you intrigued, wondering what next, and where they all really safe? Jaci and her freinds are trying to come to terms with what happened to them with out the support of their families. As they work through what happened they are told they are to be separtated adn this creates greater anxiety in them. Jaci, Amanda and Sara won't be together and neither will Sara's brothers Neil and Ricky.

Thinking everything is safe they find that they are anything but. And soon they are in precarious circumstances again, and it takes new found friends  along with the reuniting of old ones to find unseen answers.

I felt Jaci was strong in the midst of great danger. That she was smart in protecting herself. It was great to see her brother Seth take action to find his sister along with the help of Megan, the daughter of an FBI agent.

I thought Altercation kept you wondering if time would run for Jaci and Amanda. You could feel the  terror and horror they felt at being forced into certain circumstances and the despartion that those left to look for them as well. It was a quick read that kept you turining pages.

Altercation is definitely a book where the bad guys are really really bad, and the good guys risk everything to see that they don't win.


To take part in Tamara's celebration of the release of Altercation check out her website here

Prizes: EVERY DAY she will randomly select one person who made a comment on
that day's blog. The winner will then get to decide if they would like an
ebook copy of PERILOUS or ALTERCATION. There's just one catch: there must
be AT LEAST ten comments on that day for her to do the giveaway.

But if that's not enough, leaving a comment also gets you entered into the
PRIZE DRAWINGS. This won't be random; it's cumulative. Every comment you
leave counts as 1 point. If you are a follower on her blog, you get 1
point. Every time you tweet or share on Facebook about the tour, it's one
point.She'll even add it up for you; just include her in on the tweet
@tamaraheiner or on Facebook @tamarahartheiner (unless you don't trust her
math, and then feel free to tally it up and send it to her).


THIRD PRIZE: 50-page critique of something of your choice (if you're not a
writer, a $5 amazon.com gift card)
SECOND PRIZE: lot of five YA books
FIRST PRIZE: $20 gift card to Amazon.com

(You may also offer a giveaway, if you wish!)

You can get your copy of Altercation and fall into the suspense and action too by clicking on one of the options below
Altercation $15.95 link on Amazon: click here

ebook for $4.99: click here

Life's Unexpected Twists and Turns

I am amazed beyond compare how it is that unseen hands work in our lives everyday. How they save us from ourselves. I find I am humbled at the power they possess and the way they intervene when necessary.

As a mother you never want to get a phone call letting you know that your children are hurt. Usually it means a scrape or two or in some cases a band aid or a visit to the doctor's office for a little extra TLC. But last Sunday I got the call that my second oldest daughter, 20 years old was just home from the hospital where the ambulance took her in the wee hours of the morning.

She had been in a terrible car accident where the car she was traveling in smashed up against the mountain side. Where you ask? Logan Canyon of all places. That she was sleeping in the passenger seat upon impact may be the very thing may have saved her life.

She is scraped up, bruised up and battered. She is just now getting back to normal activities after a week of extra sleeping, painful eating and difficult moving. There wasn't anyway to ignore work so she returned four days after the accident.

But what amazes me most is that the driver who fell asleep at the wheel woke up just before impact and was able to turn the wheel so that the brunt of the force hit the left front corner instead of straight on. That she went to the mountain and crashed instead of diving head long into the deep frigid river that ran along the opposite side of the road. That no one sustained more than a few cracked ribs, and that only because that particular passenger didn't have on his seat belt. Funny how I can be happy that she crashed into the mountain, but the alternative is way worse.

I know  God lives. I know He watches over us, loves us and preserves us for the things we were sent to this earth to do. I know that the reason this accident wasn't as bad as it could be was because there are things I know my daughter must still do. That she was kept whole for a reason. That she has work to do on this earth. That she is needed by Heavenly Father.

I am grateful that my daughter could call me and tell me that she was injured and sore, grateful that it wasn't a doctor informing me she was in ICU or worse yet an officer of the law informing me that she had moved on to the spirit world. I am grateful for those guardian angels who watch over her when she 10 hours away from home in another state when I can't be there to protect her. I am glad that they do the protecting for me.

And I am so grateful for my oldest wonderful 21 year old daughter who upon hearing about her sister's accident while here in Colorado with us, decided that on her way back to Utah that same afternoon of her sister's accident, she and her dear friend would stop in Logan and pick her up and bring her down to Sandy where she could be watched over and cared for by my sweet wonderful daughter and my mother. 

Life gives us unexpected twists and turns. Things we don't anticipate, but at the same time there are silent guardians who guide us and nudge us and keep us safe. They create amazing miracles and show us that life is indeed very fragile, but there is a much bigger power that holds it in reserve and keeps us moving forward upon the pathways we take.

That through these events we grow and learn become amazing and truly great. I am so glad that my daughter called me today to tell me how much better she feels. So much so that she was going to try long boarding with her friends for the first time since she got hurt. I told her to be careful. I think she still believes she is indestructible... but at the same time has a healthy respect for life's fragile grasp on this world.

Book Review: The Most Important Catch By Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Book Blurb
Run or die!
She knew too much, and she’d seen too much.
And the police refused to help.
Knowing that she was to be the next scheduled death, Kelly Campbell hid under head to toe black leather and a tinted motorcycle helmet and ran for her life.
When the weather turned cold, she turned south.
She ended up in North Carolina, home to one of the most famed and eligible NFL football stars in the whole league; only she didn’t know that. She thought he was a businessman.  Not being a huge fan, all she knew was that he was incredibly attractive, kind, generous, and that she was safe with him.
 Or was she?
His brand of fame proved to be all but deadly, but his fame wasn’t nearly as lethal as his attraction. He kept her safe and protected. Except for her heart.


My take:

First of all the idea of a beautiful girl on a bike and in black leathers who is also kind and giving and strong was a huge draw for me. I loved the concept of it all. Then to pair her with a hunky built generous NFL player, kept me turning the pages.  The way their world's collide was wonderful to see, as they struggle to deal with their own personal insecurities. And growing feelings for each other while keeping important secrets from each other.

I fell in love with the characters instantly. I didn't want to put The Most Important Catch down, not even to sleep, I loved it that much! I felt the contrast of who they were on the inside and what they looked like on the outside played well with the challenge of trusting each other and then through that protecting one another, even when that meant hurting themselves to keep the other safe.

There are so many things in The Most Important Catch that will make you laugh out loud and make you appreciate that sometimes beauty and fame have an extremely high price tag. And that it isn't often you can find those who don't allow the world they are a part of be part of them.  Robby shows us how he manages to stay beyond the reaching effects of being a highly recognized wide receiver.

Kelly's deep abiding faith and strength help her handle the fact that she is being hunted. Through the turmoil of not being able to go back home, she learns to find the wonderful things life can offer even when faced with insurmountable obstacles. I found Kelly's ability to grow beyond the things she was faced with an inspiration.

To me, Kelly's incredible striking and very recognizable beauty worked perfectly in creating the need to hide it and to disappear, but the juxtaposition of that with the high profile life of Robby's position with the Carolina Panthers puts that in jeopardy because of the media following him. Out in public he was a camera magnet, and Kelly doesn't exactly blend in with the crowd unnoticed. I felt these character aspects were integral to the story line.

I am a huge huge fan of Jaclyn M Hawkes. I have read all of her books and find that I love each book more. The Most Important Catch takes it's place as my new favorite. She can't write fast enough for me. Her writing style pulls you into the story and you feel as if you know the characters so well, they could walk off the page and be real people. The sweet way in which she allows her characters to grow to love each other makes your heart warm and you feel their emotions as deeply as they do.

There is fun, laughter, adventure, intrigue, mystery, and evil villains all together. The character arcs are wonderfully written and the plots and themes weave together keeping you on your toes until the very last page, when you realize you don't want it to be over yet.

Don't miss out on this wonderful LDS romantic suspense! You won't be sorry you entered Robby and Kelly's world. I am confident you will love this book as much as I do.
You can get your copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and The Book Depository
e book depository. Visit Jaclyn's website here where you can also view a fun book trailer and learn more about her. The Most Important Catch will keep your heart singing long after you finish the last page.

Freedom from the Dark

It's been awhile since I have published anything on my blog but book reviews. But for the longest time it was all I could do. And sometimes it felt almost impossible even at that. But things are different now.

Do you ever look back on your life and realize that had a darkness about it? Kind of like you are just existing, but barely if even that? That is how I feel right now. For some reason, I'm not even really sure about the whys of it, I feel like I am emerging into the light. I am lighter of spirit, I feel excited about things, energized and my smile comes a little easier these days. But for what ever reason it is happening, I am so very glad for it.

I guess it's kind of like waking up out of a semi conscience state.

But the truly unique part of it all, is that while I was in those dark depths of my life, I didn't know it was that well,  soo dark. It just felt like I was getting through the days ok, but it was harder to just keep going, so I supposed I made it by on just existing. And that to me is ok, because by existing and not giving in, I feel more like myself in ages.

And I wondered what could have brought about the changes, subtle as they were until suddenly I looked back as if shedding a second skin, letting go of the gloom. And I realized a few things.

I had incredible friends who never let me stay down wallowing in my anguished state, they pulled me up to keep me from staying face down in the mud. That through the midst of an unexpected pregnancy, a miscarriage, and the unasked for physical consequences that come with just that, and being older, and it being my well, 9th pregnancy, let's just say emotions, hormones, and bodies bounce back to normal much more slowly. Then I found myself encased in a air cast for 5 weeks of that time, in which I dealt with more physical setbacks, and a major reaction to the pain killers I was given. Suffice it to say I will never ever take vicadin again, well not if I want to stay alive that is.

But I think this last week and a half has helped me to see the sunshine so much more fully. Partly because we named the little baby girl we lost. We are  calling her Carolyne. It fits so well. It is the name whispered to me when I asked what she called by in the spirit world. Her name lifts me and fills me with happiness. My youngest child who I won't get to know until a later time. Then her oldest sister, Breanna graduated from college, filling my heart with more happiness at her achievements. I got to see many dear friends that filled my soul right to the brim. And I was freed from my air cast, and even though it does hurt to walk without it, and I limp a bit, I feel like my soul can soar once more.

It is true that these few things aren't all that has helped me step out into the light again and feel the sun shine on my soul, chasing the darkness away, and it is also true that there are more factors that I am not consciously aware of that contributed to how I feel, but what ever it is, I am grateful! So very grateful to feel more like me in a long long time. Alive , happy and looking forward to what life brings with hope and not hiding or sleeping my life away.

So I am out of the dark. And it feels wonderful, and I am grateful to all my wonderful friends seen and unseen that have sustained me and helped me to crawl bit by bit into the light. Because believe me, it feels so wonderful! And I am so very thankful for the ability to see the difference. and even though the journey back isn't fully complete, it doesn't matter, because I am soaring and will only soar higher as I fly toward the warmth of the sun.

Book Review: Caller ID by Rachelle J. Christensen

Caller ID By Rachelle Christensen is a fast paced edge of your seat suspense romance. It starts with a bang and keeps you turning pages to see what happens next.

Book Blurb:
When twenty-three-year-old Courtney Beckham is abducted near her home, the search turns up more than just a kidnapping crime. FBI agent Jason Edwards investigates the ten-million-dollar ransom and stumbles upon something he wasn't meant to find. When Courtney catches a glimpse of the caller ID in her kidnapper's home, what she sees turns her world upside down. Even if she escapes her captors, something much more dangerous lies ahead.

My take:

I fell under Rachelle's spell right away as I read Caller Id. I found every chance I could to read this book. It was fun, fast paced and cleverly plotted. The writing was solid and the character Arcs well developed.

I will admit that I was disappointed when I found out who the kidnapper was so soon into the story, and thought for a minute "well that stinks, now I know who the bad guy is".

But curiosity won out when I wondered how in the world would things play out when both I and the main character knew who was behind the kidnapping. And what would happen to Courtney now? How far would the kidnapper go to keep their secret underwraps? Little did I realize that Rachelle used this as a tease, to lull me into thinking I knew the ending.

Boy was I wrong!

Caller ID twists and turns and just when you think you know how it is going to end, you find out how very wrong you were. I was completely caught up in Courtney's world and found myself wondering what she would do next. I thought the emotional roller coaster she experienced really made you understand her so much better as she worked through being seen as just another pretty face when she puts strategy and determination and pure guts on the line to find safety in her world once again.

I loved how FBI agent Jason Edwards also plays an important roll in his investigation into Courtney's disappearance. He is willing to find out who she really is and uses that information to help him trust his gut feelings. When they meet up, sparks fly and sweet romance ensues that leaves you feeling warm all over.

I truly didn't want this story to end. Rachelle's writing is so clearly mapped, her words invoke vivid images in your mind that you find you don't want to stop reading. You are pulled deep into the dealings of drug lords and ruthless killers and find yourself unsure of how it will end as your heart races along with Courtney's. You feel like you know both Courtney and Jason.

I loved reading Caller Id. I know that anyone else who picks it up will feel the same way. The plotting, twists and turns, and unexpected surprises along the way that will have you biting your nails in anticipation are not to be missed.

I would highly recommend this book for ages 11 on up. This is a clean read full of great adventure. Don't miss out get your copy of Caller ID by clicking here or here. You can also visit Rachelle's websites and learn more about her and her other amazing books here and here.

Disclaimer: While at times I do recieve books to review, my opinion will always remain my own.

Book Review: We Lived in Heaven by Sarah Hinze

We Lived in Heaven by Sarah Hinze is a compilation of various experiences dealing with before birth experiences. Accounts of families encounters with children yet to be born.

I strongly believe that this is something that happens more than is known. I have even had some experiences with my own children before they came to this earth. I even had some very wonderful experiences with those of my children I would not be privileged to raise at this time because they were too perfect for this world, whom I miscarried. All they needed was to receive their bodies and move on to do the sacred work of our Father in Heaven in the spirit world. I look forward to the chance to raise them later in my life when the Savior is on the earth during the Millennium.

I felt the spirit of Sarah Hinze stories as she testified of being privileged to know her children before they came to earth. To see that they come fully loaded with their own personalities. I have witnessed this very thing with my own children and they are very much the same now as they were when they revealed things about themselves to me before I was able to hold them and raise them. I felt my belief in life before life reinforced as the spirit bore witness to me once more of the truth of the fact that we lived before we came to live with our families here on earth.

In addition to her own stories, she lovingly brought other beautiful accounts of others who have also had the chance to know of their children and even at times their spiritual escorts as well. They help testify of the life we held so dear before we came for our earthly mission. They are meant to inspire and uplift and comfort. They are sometimes short and sweet other times longer, but still the spirit testifies we lived before through out the different accounts.

I too have had the privilege of similar experiences when I miscarried two of my nine children. My son nine years ago, and my precious little daughter just this past December. My heart swelled with love for them and the understanding that they love me as I love them and are waiting for me with other loved ones on the other side of the veil. That they lived secure in the pre-existence and have moved to the life beyond to reside with their grandfathers and others who have left this existence and reside in the spirit world with them.

My testimony of the premortal life was strengthened and reaffirmed from reading these stories.

You can purchase your copy here and visit Sarah's website here.

Book Review:Venom by K.C, Grant

Venom by K.C. Grant was a wonderful surprise when I read it. I was instantly caught up in the crazy life of Abby Sinclair.

Here is the back of the book blurb:

"Samantha Evans is determined to make a name for herself in the cutthroat world of advertising. Newly hired by a prestigious ad agency, she volunteers to work on location in Mexico City as a personal assistant to the beautiful and driven creative director Katrina Edwards. At first the association seems promising. But Ms. Edwards seems preoccupied in a way that makes Samantha increasingly uneasy. In fact, may in the group seem like they are not being completely open about the project--including David Ayala, the mysterious and moody photographer for whose attention the two women find themselves competing. After several strange accidents and numerous appearances by an unknown man, Samantha discovers the truth: not everyone on the team is in Mexico to create a stellar advertising pitch. When her sleuthing leads to her abduction, she is brought to the pyramids of Teotihuacan and comes face to face with the venomous evil of the South American crime boss known as 'The Serpent.' Now Samantha must not only fight for her life, but she must also discover if she can trust the man she's come to love."

Venom captured my interest and I kept wondering how were we going to be going to the depths of Mexico when Abby was just pretty much a gofer. A gofer who gets her credit card hacked. But quickly that changes and things take a turn for the more intriguing. As I read questions kept popping up and I kept reading so I could find the answers. I loved Abby, and her determination to not let herself become undone in the midst of turmoil, danger and uncertainty. She fights to do what is right and leans on her beliefs to help her find the comfort she needs while she is in unfamiliar circumstances.

I felt K.C. Grant brought her characters to life and wrote a tight story line that flowed amazingly. I liked that Abby grew in the midst of her trials and found that she was smarter and more observant than those with her realized. I thought the other characters fascinating and kept trying to figure them out, where they the good guys or the bad guys? I loved the strong handsome men who were also a part of the story line, and the villainous boss you loved to hate for so many reasons.

To tell the truth it was really refreshing to read a story that was written extremely well. In addition the author wove information about Mexico City into the story line, and for the most part if felt part of the story, and it helped bring that part of the world to life, and the history that came with it. I found my heart racing at parts, my heart breaking for Abby at times and my heart thrilled when the end revealed all the intricate secrets.

Venom is definitely on my recommend list. It not only was clean and a book that could be given to my teenage kids and I wouldn't need to worry. I loved the creativity and the vibrance of the story. Not to mention the hang on for the roller coaster ride as the story quickly heats up and unexpected chances are taken.

You can get your copy of Venom here . You will be in for a wonderful ride, and don't forget to visit K. C. Grant's website here, I for one am looking forward to reading more books written by K. C.

Disclaimer: While I sometimes receive books to review, it in no way influences my opinions. They are and will always be my own.

getting over miscarrying

In December my life changed, well more than the fact that I had a birthday. I found out I was pregnant, and then just as fast found out I wasn't anymore. What remained behind was a larger aftermath than I expected.

It's been two months now, and I am still working through the waves it left in my life. To everyone else, it seems as if my life never stopped being what it always was. No interuptions, a temporary upheaval already resolved with the loss of the baby.

But in reality, my life has completely altered. I think about that little child all the time, and even though I am a lot older, 43, and have 7 living children, this one stays in my mind, haunting me with her presence.

Maybe it isn't so much a haunt as it is an echo or a whisper, but it feels like if I blow really hard she will just wisp away and never even be real. And as silly as it may sound, that is the last thing I want. I don't want to forget her, or imagine that week of discovery and loss never existed, because it did.

It changed how my body is, and it changed my spirit. My body is still dealing with the aftermath of the miscarriage. The pain that lingers from the results of hormones raging through my body doing their job releasing relaxon and whatever else, my body is still in the process of undoing the 7 weeks of preparation. So it hurts to exercise and walk, and that stinks for me since I teach 4 or more exercise classes in a week, which means I just deal.

Emotionally and spiritually, I keep wondering why when my kids are spread from 21 to 8 did this happen now, so far away from when I had everyone else, and made me reevaluate what is important, and I am still trying to work through that, because suddenly things that had immense meaning and was high on my priority list now don't seem so almighty.

So while to the rest of the world it looks like everything is status quo on the outside, inside I have reminders, echos of a memory, wonders of what I have lost and what I am now to become, and hopes that I will figure out those questions and regain a whole body once again are something I am ready to have worked through.

So while nothing but book reviews have been up on my blog lately, these things have been part of me constantly and I have been wanting to say something about it, and finally the words have demanded it in spite of my trying to ignore it all . . . and well a lot of everything else.

I am getting better, but emotions are running a bit higher than normal this week. It's been two months now, but this weekend also marks two years since my dad died, so everything is more sensitive. But I am starting to feel like reemerging again, which is a lot more than what I my desire was up until a couple weeks ago.

Book Review: Retirement Quest by John Hauserman, CFP

Retirement Quest is a well researched book that opens up the way for those who want to know what to do to be prepared for when they retire. It is well document and will help guide with financial advice and investment decisions and how to go about knowing what is going to be solid or iffy as to determining the decisions with retirement. He shows how to understand all the difficult to maneuver options that sometimes seem overwhelming and hard to decipher. With his easy to follow style, John takes a lot of the confusion out of knowing which direction to go and helps to create a sense of ease when making such important choices on what the future holds beyond retirement.
 The author, John Hauserman, CFP is the chief executive officer of Retirement Journey, LLC.  His book Retirement Quest  is all about  recreating the full planning experience for the layman who has never heard anything about financial planning.  John has many awards and tons of experience that show he definitely knows what he is writing about in regards to the  strategies outlined inside Retirement Quest. If you take the time to follow the guidelines inside the book, you will be ahead of the game and on a more sure path to financial freedom.

I liked how he helps explain the differences in an easy to follow format for stocks, bonds, and various other options out there for investing. He makes the charts that he includes in his book make sense so that you can see what it is they are trying to show you, and helps you to see for yourself how to go about reading them. He educates you on how to decide what is important and what is our responsibility in caring for ourselves financially as we grow older.

It isn't an older verses younger book either, John has sound financial advice for those just starting out that can lead to strong portfolios later in life that bring about a sense of security that allows individuals to not worry about money. He teaches independence and solid financial practices.

I for one love learning about stocks and bonds and the market. For a long time it was a hobby of mine to know about options and spreads and the risks. I enjoyed refreshing my knowledge on these topics and could see how John helps you to see why it is so important to understand our finances and what our portfolios look like, whether they are through 401 K's, insurance options, stocks, bonds or long term investments. In addition to look at how to minimize and manage the risks, how to not allow the dollar signs in our eyes cause us to make emotional faulty decisions, and how to ensure our motives are sound and not made from those emotional decisions.

I feel that for those who are trying to sort it all out, that Retirement Quest is the book for you. It is written clearly and precisely with easy to understand language that helps the investor know what the choices are. I found it a fast read that for me was a great refresher and reminder of what I need to do to ensure my financial future.

Don't let your financial future pass you by get your copy of John Hauserman's book Retirement Quest by clicking here. Then take the time to visit his website and gain more great insight here, you thank yourself in the future for the small investment you make in your financial future later.

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

Book Review: Family by Design by Heather Justensen

Family by Design by Heather Justensen was a wonderful story about how two single best friends, Tucker and Rena come together to make a family work. With the unexpected news that Tucker's brother and sister in law are killed in a car accident, their children Derek and McKenzie left in Tucker's care, since there are no other living realtives on either side to do it.


They are both in their thirties, and Tucker being in the Marine reserves must find some one who can be his wife and a mother to the children before they can be adopted and kept in his custody. The concern being that the children have a stable home if he is called into active duty. So who else does Tucker turn to but his very best friend Rena.

But questions of eternity linger in their minds, knowing that if this marriage is going to work it can't be just in name only. But what about love... real love? Sure they love each other as best friends but as husband and wife? Would their deep friendship be destroyed in the process or grow stronger as a result.

So when Tucker proposes, not only does it take Rena by surprise, but the time frame of when they need to be married by does too. And it raises concerns for everyone with the speed of things. Not to mention if they love LOVE each other. But with a few of the toe curling, steamy, tingley down your spine kind of kisses Tucker gives Rena, she is sure the true love Tucker promises will come sooner than later and puts some of Rena's uncertainties to rest after all she has always wanted to have a family, and she does love Tucker.

And when the deal is sealed and the unthinkable happens, it puts this family to the test as each struggle to keep on top of the different mounting events that work to topple them, as Rena's strength is put to the ultimate test. Does she get pulled under by it all or does she rise like a pheonix in the sky? And can the tentative feelings between Tucker and Rena hold fast or crumble beneath the burdens?

I loved Family by Design. It was a great story of resiliance, strength, faith and trust and dreams come true sprinked with lots of humor along the way. I thought it was so well written with characters who felt real to me. They were struggling with real issues that result in different lives being interupted and then meshed together. The way they dealt with the different conflicts that arose through out Family By Design was great to see. Doubts, fears, frusteration, as well as joy, contentment and peace all find their place in this story as characters all grow through the difficult times. Even the children struggle with thier own issues in dealing with the loss of thier parents. Each character learns to rely on thier faith and Heavenly Father. And in the meantime they become stronger because of it.

And if that isn't enough then you have to check out this blurb and fall even more in love with the story premise:

Before he could think better of it, he blurted out, “I understand your concerns. I’m going to speak to my commander about getting an early discharge. My girlfriend, Rena, and I have talked about getting married. There just hasn’t been any rush.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wondered what he was thinking. Yes, they had discussed marriage, but not to each other! He and Rena had never even dated.

Tucker’s on his way to the biggest challenge of his life. Rena already has it all—except a family of her own. But neither one expected their friendship would take such a dramatic turn.

When Tucker becomes the guardian of his newly orphaned niece and nephew, he knows he can’t handle them alone, not when he might be shipped out with the Marines at any moment. Desperate, he turns to Rena for a major favor. His marriage proposal would give her everything she wants, but can she learn to live without the romance she’s always dreamed of?As time, prayer, and a life-changing kiss work a little magic in her heart, Rena wonders if someone up there has a plan for her that’s better than anything she could’ve come up with on her own. And though it seems crazy at first, this could become her chance for a marriage that will last for eternity.


Also, as a special promotion for anyone who buys a book before January 31, you can get a free ebook for her companion novella, “Shear Luck.” Once you buy a copy of her book go here (link) to get your free copy. http://www.heatherjustesen.com/shear-luck

As if that weren’t enough, Heather’s holding a host of giveaways on her blog http://www.heatherjustesen.blogspot.com/ throughout the next few weeks, see the rules at the bottom of this post to enter.


Chelsea Robison has never forgotten the older boy next door whom she crushed on as a teen, so when she runs into him at the restaurant he’s preparing to open, it’s a delightful shock. And learning he’s available again is more than a little tantalizing.

Vaughn Krenshaw had never seen his neighbor as more than a nice kid—but Chelsea had definitely grown up in the decade since they saw each other last. He’s attracted to the feisty red head, but still struggles over his wife’s death the previous year. And then there’s his five-year-old daughter, Molly, who really liked Chelsea—until she realized the woman was dating her dad.

As Chelsea starts to wonder if their love for each other will be enough to make things work, a specter from Vaughn’s past rises, making her question whether she really knew him at all.


You will fall in love with each of the characters in Family by Design as much as I did. I found myself wishing the story would go on longer. It was a great read. A clean read and great for 12 on up. Don't delay get your copy here now so you can get the copy of Sheer Luck before January has slipped away.









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

Book Review: Darkspell by Elizabeth Mueller

Darkspell By Elizabeth Mueller is a young adult paranormal romance, and let me tell you it is one to pick up and read!

Darkspell is about an average everyday girl named Winter who is looking forward to starting her senior year in high school. Then she dreams of kissing an amazing boy, and upon the rude awakening of her brother, she discovers that very hot, delicious boy named Alex has just moved into her favorite old empty house. And boy what a fabulous surprise. She finds every excuse to hang out there, and soon finds that her heart is fast approaching being lost to him.

Little does Winter know that along the way to losing her heart that there is so much more to Alex than she can imagine, that Alex is her protector, and that he wants to be sure that she is kept safe from the things she doesn't understand. That like Winter he is losing his heart to her as well.

But then niether Alex or Winter anticipate the way Alex's brother Jareth mixes things up. And if that isn't enough, Winter notices things about Alex and his family that are a little off the beaten path. Things that they shouldn't be able to do that they can, and she embarks on a path to discover what it is that makes them so different. But little does Winter know that along that path are dark and dangerous things that slide in to take her off guard and throw unexpected impossible events into her life. And most unexpected of all is what she discovers about herelf.

Darkspell wove a spell around me and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Who would be left standing at the end, and who would ultimately win Winter's heart. It was filled with sinister evil and extra ordinary events that took my breath away and at times made my stomache drop in anticipation. I loved how every character in Elizabeth's Darkspell was able to intice me to fall for them. Ok, all but one, but hey you aren't supposed to love the bad guy.

I loved going into the alternate worlds created in Darkspell and the way the characters evolved and expressed who they were so intrinsically that you felt you knew them. You knew their hearts, and their desires. I also really loved all the unexpected surprises. Not to mention the out of this world illustrations drawn by Elizabeth herself.

I found that I was waiting, wondering what would happen to the end, who would truimph ultimately, who would still be standing and who would rise above the ashes so to speak. I really loved Darkspell with all its glorious magic and mysterious mystical events. I didn't want it to end and once you pick up Darkspell and begin reading it, niether will you.

So what are you waiting for? Hurry and get your copy of Darkspell by clicking here and here and you can learn more about the talented and amazing Elizabeth by clicking on her website here. You can also find Elizabeth at Goodreads here and on twitter here.

And don't forget to keep your eye out for the sequel to Darkspell coming soon!

Disclaimer: while I do sometimes recieve copies of books to review, my opinions are and will always remain my own.

I can't believe it!

It is hard to believe that another year is gone and that it is time to start looking forward to a new opportunity of new beginnings.

I also want to say that with this post I have accomplished writing 50 entries this year in my blog. Now that may not seem like a lot to some of you die hard bloggers out there, but I am pretty impressed. I way surpassed the amount I wrote the previous year and I feel like I know more about the blogging world than I used to.

now that doesn't by any stretch of the imagination mean I am an expert. I still have a ton to learn, but I hope in the coming year to keep growing as a blogger. And more importantly a writer!~

Well off to celebrate what's left of this year with my family and with that said~

HAPPY NEW YEAR~!!!