Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day

Today we celebrate Memorial Day. Many of us have forgotten or do not know the significance of the day. General John Logan named Memorial Day as a day to honor military soldiers who were buried at Arlington Cemetary by placing flowers on their graves. For many years the day was recognized on May 30th until 1971, when congress passed an act that changed the day to the last Monday of May. It is a day for us to reflect on the lives of all service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for their country and fellow citizens. To the parents, spouses, children, and other family members who have have current or past servicemen and women in their families, I say thank you, and I love you and appreciate you. God Bless America.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Live To Die


We all hate to talk about it, but we all fall prey to it eventually.  I'm talking about out mortality and death.  We have just seen the Kennedy family struck with another tragic loss.  Disco diva Donna Summers has recently passed, along with Robin Gibbs of the 70's sensation the Bee Gees, Davy Jones, and Whitney Houston.
My best friends husband also recently suffered a loss.  Her husband lost one of his friends, due to a sudden tragic event.

The friend lived out of state in New Jersey, so my friend and her husband traveled about 11 hours to attend the funeral.  The funeral was a graveside one, in which only his parents, his sister, my friend and her husband were in attendance. When my friend told me this I was surprised.  There were no other relatives that paid their respects, no fellow parishioners, and no other friends. I then began to feel sad and that's when the phrase "Live to Die" came to me.

With everyone coming up with a "Bucket List", we see that people are trying to truly experience life before they die. And its not just the elderly that are creating bucket list.  I read recently where a mom of two young boys had a list, there was also a story of parents that had created a list for their dying baby girl and another set of parents that created a list for their dying toddler son.  These people were trying to live life to the fullest, so that when they died there would be no regrets.


I thought about the guy whose funeral my friend had attended, and I began to question if he had lived life to the fullest where he had no regrets.  Had he done everything he wanted to do?  Had he ever experienced true love?  Had he ever given of himself to others expecting nothing in return?


When we heard about the deaths of Davy Jones and Whitney Houston, we were inundated with their musical library and movies.  We heard about their charitable givings and heard from individuals speaking about the impact the singers had made on their lives.  


So I challenge you today to "Live to Die".  Live each day as if it were your last.  Don't miss your opportunity to impact the life of a youth or someone in need of guidance, friendship, or love.  Stretch yourself.  Do things that you have always wanted to do, but have been putting off or were afraid to try. Live with a mission.





Thursday, May 17, 2012

THIS IS YOUR YEAR

With the end of every year, we often hear preachers, evangelist, newscasters, and entertainment shows look back at the current year and possibly predict what is ahead in the year to come. 

We look at upcoming elections and newcasters make predictions of who the front runners will be and who they think will win.  Entertainment shows and talk shows show us what will be the "in colors" like yellow or pink being the new black.  We look back on those that have passed away. We also hear inspirations or motivational speakers telling us that the new year will be our year of success and growth.  We also often hear this from many evangelist.

Many of us frown our faces and tune anyone out that makes this proclamation over themselves, much less us.  How dare anyone tell us that our present state or condition can or will be improved. Yet we tell our friends and family constantly that something has to change.  We play the lottery in hopes of winning millions.  We go to bingo weekly looking to win the big jackpot, but how dare someone tell us that the new year can bring us success.

I use to think and feel the same way, but with the changing of the guard from 2011 to 2012 something was different.  I was tired of living my life by the rules pre-established for me by society. They had said I need to finish high school and go to college, so I did.  They said I needed to get married and start a family, so I did.  They said I need to stop renting and own my home, so I did.  They said I need to get a job and stay with the company for 30-40 years and then retire. So I did, or at least I tried.

I went from one field to another; from one company to another.  From city to city, but I could not be satisfied clocking in day after day; month after month from 9-5.  I knew that there had to be a better way of working and finding fulfillment, and I was determined to find it.  I pulled out all my old Home Business,Small Business Opportunities, and Entreprenuer magazines, and in the trunk I discovered something else.  There with those magazines were old issues of The Writer and Writers Digest. I also found numerous colored folders with a separate story in each one.  I started to read over them all and something magical began to happen.  In going over each story in every folder I was taken back to what had inspired me to write each individual one.  I recalled the year the story came to me and what my story plot was for each one.

After pulling out the folders I wasnt able to put them back.  I had to finish the ones that were'nt complete or improve the ones that I felt had pretty shaky story plots. And then it happened.  I had rediscovered my passion.  My calling.  I told my husband and surprisingly he encouraged me to follow my passion.

So this year 2012, I've done it!!  I have taken the plunge and have become an indie author.  Not because I had been rejected by publishing houses or editors, but because I was looking for a career that would allow me to be accountable to me.  A career that would allow me to speak my voice.  A career that would allow me to pursue my passion.

So here we are now in the month of May. Coming up to another holiday and the season of indycar and summer. I have just released my first book A Hand To Hold, and am optimistic about its future and what the future hold for me.





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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Caterpillar Metamorphosis from A Hand To Hold

Just like in my book A Hand To Hold, the caterpillar has been changed into a beautiful butterfly!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Happy Mothers Day

I trust that all you mothers, and mothers-to-be had a glorious Mother's Day.  I hope that you all received just what you were wishing for.  Here in Indy the weather was great!!

When I think about all the blessed mothers I know I think back to a recent article that I read about Serena Williams.  In the article Serena stated that she was giving up on relationships for a very long time.  The reason being, is that she states that she gives too much of herself and the end result(a failed relationship) is too draining both physically and mentally.  I can say I truly understand where she is coming from, but would also add that she should remember that "You Cant Hurry Love like Phil Collins Sang, and focus less on asking "Where Is Love", sang by Justin Timberlake.

Like officiators over most weddings state: The institution of marriage is not a casual one, and should not be taken lightly.  I think that anyone that finds out  they are not compatitble with someone else after dating them for 6 months or even a year, should count themselves fortunate. They have spared themselves what could be a sloppy and expensive divorce.

Like anyone who is married will tell you, marriage is a job and requires constant work on the part of both parties.

Speaking of jobs I see in the current political arena, the talk has been about jobs creation or lack of jobs created in the steel industry by Romney.  I read the blog of author Jeff Bennington today and in it he discussed how Indie Authors help/can help the economy.  He stated that we help the economy by creating jobs.  We hire artist to design our book covers, contract proof readers, and individuals or small susinesses to design our websites and host them.  After reading his article I felt good.  I was happy when I read and realized that I too could make a difference.  I could help psitively impact our economy.

So in my quest to help our econmy, I have been researching how to improve my writing as well as help drum up more attention for my latest release A Hand To Hold.  I hope that you will purchase a copy or two, and encourage others to do the same.  Remember in helping me you are helping America.
 

Sunday, May 6, 2012

A Hand To Hold

Well I have finally released my first book, A Hand to Hold.  It is a novella and can currently be purchased through Amazon.  You can also purchase it by clicking on my link here for the book of http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080426SC.  I hope that you check out my book and let me know what you think about it.

I thought that this would be a good time to release A Hand To Hold, with Mother's Day coming up and all. I think that it is the perfect gift for any mother or mom-to-be.

Although my mother is no longer here, I have fond and priceless memories of her that I think aboout often and will cherish forever.

I recall the day my big brother left the nest.  He had recently graduated from college at the time and had taken on a postion with the government at Langley Airforce Base in Virginia.  Of course he had been away from home before. We lived in Cincinnati and he attended college on campus in Dayton..  My mother was use to him being away, but to her him being away in college was only a temporary departure from our house, and besides he always came home on the weekends.

My mother had assumed that once my brother had graduated, he would come back home to Cincinnati, find a job and all would be well.  But when my brother came home after graduating, he was not able to an opportunity that could offer him a career.  He began searching outside of the city and state and was offered the opportunity with Langley. 

My mother began helping my brother prepare for the new phase of his life.  She helped him shop for kitchen items, and ensured that he had all the basic necessities (like a sewing kit). She helped him pack up all his clothing, books, music, and other personal items. He was finally ready for his move.

My mother was fine that day until my brother began saying his goodbyes.  My mother got extremely emotional.  She was not crying because my brother was lacking any of the basic necessities; she had made certain that he had everything he needed to get him started in a new city.  My mother wasnt crying because she feared for his life. She wasnt crying because she had'nt taught him nor trained him to live life as a successful independent young man.  No she cried because she knew that she had done such a good job in raising my brother, her son, that he was able to take on the adventure of a new life in an unknown land (okay he was still in the US, but we had never been anywhere near Virginia).  She cried because she would not be able to see his smile everyday.  She cried because she would not have his little hand to hold anymore.  His hand had now grown into the hand of a young man that was ready to take on the world.  He was confident and self-assured.  He was prepared.

A Hand To Hold is a novel about a woman who just when she thinks she has it all together, life happens.  She finds that we can never totally protect our children from the world and the dangers that it has to offer.

I hope that you will  tell others and that you too will check out my new book A Hand To Hold at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080426SC

God Bless