Wornoutwoman

For those podcast listeners out there, I invite you to stop by A NOVEL THOUGHT . When 2020 imploded on the world, we all found ourselves with a bit of extra time on our hands. Some like my mom, picked up painting while I started a podcast. You can listen to the trailer here: TRAILER  I interview those in and outside the writing & entertainment industry for a comprehensive look at the world, highlighting people who are trailblazers in their fields. A Novel Thought focuses on a variety of topics, but all will be thought-provoking and uplifting. I'd love it if you stopped by! And if you're doing something NEW in your world, I'd love to hear from you. Maybe YOU would be a fit for my podcast. Here's to a NEW thing in the NEW YEAR.  Check out a short clip from my latest episode.

When our kids are little, it's all about getting them to sleep as every sound 'could' be Santa or his reindeer on the roof. It's pleading for a bit of shut-eye to get those last-minute gifts wrapped - the ones that were not under the tree the night before.  Each year, that Christmas magic wanes a bit as kids mature. You enter certain phases where they've outgrown toys and you struggle with what to get for them. You ask for lists, but half the time relatives don't understand what your kid has even listed. It's almost more work explaining what an Ocarina of Time is and why it's important than it is to just order it yourself and slap a "from Nana" label on it. The Christmas you never see coming is the one right before they leave home. The one where it's the last year before college and they've matured into this adult - this person who you always knew they'd be but just couldn't fathom it. It hit me today. With this being my kid...

Okinawan food brand ambassador, Diana Bishop talks about how her passion project is bringing Okinawan-American families together over the dinner table. It's an interesting listen!!! Check out my podcast A NOVEL THOUGHT at most any streaming service like Spotify, Apple, etc. Or you can find it here: https://anchor.fm/kimberly-mckay If you like what you hear - click the support button.

  Yesterday, I had the honor of sitting down with one of the most well-rounded creators I know. Jeff Vande Zande gave me insight into his background and tips for new writers. If you're an aspiring writer, author, or creative - you should check out 'A Novel Thought.' It's only 30 minutes of your time but well worth it. Here's a link to my PODCAST

July is coming to a close, bringing the first half of 2020 to a place where the world is ready.  Ready for the new normal - whatever that is.  Ready for things to settle down (cue the aliens).  Ready for a vacation that isn't taken with the nagging thought in the back of their mind of 'is this safe?'  Ready to NOT have to defend their decision to mask or not to mask. That's truly a good question, but I'm going to leave it right here ... and walk away from it. I think my biggest concern is how divided our communities and nation has become. I'll defend my right to wear a mask just as much as I defend your right not to wear one. Can you say the same? If you're an anti-masker, will you respect those who aren't? I hope so because the anger in our hearts has to stop. If you watch the national news, you'll see the outright childish behavior as people wipe their snotty noses on employees' shirts because they've been asked to don a mask.  I could get ...

I have to admit. I've not watched the news in a very long time, because of how the negativity has hit an all-time high. The few seconds it may be on stresses me out, and when we are stressed - we're not at our best. It's hard to be fair or kind when your heart is full of chaos. The below NOT a political debate, rant, or meant to start any heated conversations. You all know I stay far away from anything political when posting. This is purely an observation from the heart. So please, no comments that spur anger from anyone. My husband and I are not straight-party voters. We look at issues on both sides of the fence to see what is right for us and how we can vote to make our world a better place. This world has become SO 'us vs. them.' that it's harmful to the process of what our country was founded on. People can't even express an opinion without backlash or being polarized as a villain if it's against popular opinion. It is no longer possible to lear...

My father always said that when people use swear words, it's because they're not able to hold an intelligent conversation. I never understood how true that was until I grew up and became a mom later in life. First, let me state this loud and clear, I don't judge people if they do curse. In my younger years, I was known to let a few fly here and there - and as a military brat, I've heard my fair share. But, as a writer, I've learned that the truly gifted writers are the ones who can spin a story with wit, charm, and fantastic banter without using curse words as a crutch. And, that's what they are - a crutch - a filler and a crass one at that. The above scenario - the writing with wit and all that charm is what Designator Survivor used to be for its first two seasons. It was a great show I could watch with my teen and trust me, teens are not TV watchers. They're on Youtube or playing video games. Watching TV is the last thing on their agenda. For my guy...

Finally, Dangerous Visions is here! Many of you have asked when Anderson's story would be here ... wait no more!  For those who haven't read Endless Possibilities yet - don't worry. While Dangerous Visions is the second book in The Spiritual Gifts Series, it can be read as a standalone. For those unfamiliar with Anderson Evans - here is the synopsis: After awakening from a coma, Agent Anderson Evans struggles to see things clearly as visions plague him throughout the day. The only way to distance himself from his premonitions is to ride cross-country, where he is free from the intermittent flashes that appear from the occasional touch in the crowd. If only he could avoid the reoccurring vision of a woman struggling to survive, but she haunts him as if calling to him.   Savannah Miles never expected that by taking on another bridal client, she’d be signing her death warrant. She soon finds herself caught up in an elaborate underworld that has her fleeing...

Last night, I heard rustling in my bedroom by the bed when nothing or no one else was in the room. I'm not gonna lie. It kinda freaked me out. When I couldn't find the source, and it finally stopped, I wrote it off to a random occurrence. Then at two in the morning, my kid came to wake me up, saying there was scratching noise under his bed.  Again, I was a bit caught off guard. He said he wasn't scared and had even searched under his bed with a flashlight to find nothing. Man, at that age, if I were him, I'd have been screaming for my mom but not him. He said he told me only because he thought I'd like to know. I walked him back to his room, not because he was scared but because I was a bit creeped out. What was making noises in our rooms??! Then, tonight, my husband caught a squatter in our house. Yup, a squatter... but not the kind you're probably thinking of. This was the kind that hops and eats bugs. A baby frog was bouncing in his room inside ...

God's plans are so much bigger than what we could ever fathom. His vision extends further than our limited scope of what we want, need, or can comprehend. If there is something in your life that you're desperately praying for, do not give up hope or faith!  There have been so many times that I prayed for something without understanding only to be blessed ten to fifteen years later! When his answer finally came , it did so with perfect timing, the exact fit, and completed me in such a way that I was overwhelmed with peace. If he'd said yes to me years earlier, I wouldn't have learned half of what I needed to, gained the spiritual understanding/strength to handle it, nor would I have the same appreciation. His timing is everything, so trust that He has your best interests at heart... even if the answer is no. It may just be... no, not right now. Let him feed you spiritually, grow you, and move you to where you need to be to see the big picture.

In reading Luke 5 today - here is what hit me. When Jesus performed the miracle - the gathering of fish so abundant that the fishermen's net broke. The even was clearly overwhelming to those around him. After all, they had fished all night with nothing to show for it. Some days, I can relate to this - working so hard to yield little to no results. Then, when God glances my way with a miracle that is so effortless for Him, I'm humbled at the ease that it is given. Although thankful, my first thought is that I am not worthy. Just like the first disciples, then fishermen, who said, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man." Yet, Jesus loved and chose them anyway - just like me ... just like you. If you're working so hard that you're at a loss today, know He sees you, He loves you, and He has you.

May 2019 find you healthy and wise. Notice I didn’t say ‘happy?’ I chose to use the word - wise. Wisdom brings us all sorts of benefits, including the ability to find grace and peace through adversity. We can’t be happy one-hundred percent of the time. It’s an impossible goal. However, we can find peace through our ups and downs. This new year, I pray you to have more ups than status quo’s or downs. I also pray that when you do have a valley or a dip, you’re able to have peace and wisdom to guide you through.

Recently, my son got his learner's permit, which is enough to make any parent reflect on when they started driving. I'll never forget that period in my life. After I took driver's ed and was about to obtain my license, my father got orders that took us overseas where I had to learn how to drive on the left-hand side of the road and read signs in another language. As if driving on in our country wasn't overwhelming enough!   The rules of the road in Okinawa were quite a bit different than here. Over there, there was an unwritten rule that people jokingly referred to as the 'ten-car rule.'  As long as cars kept going through red lights - everyone else followed as if no one saw that it was time to stop. By about the tenth car in line, someone would eventually obey the traffic light. Then, there were other instances when you might have seen someone driving on the sidewalk to avoid a traffic jam - or driving down the bike lane. So, yeah, you could say my drivi...

As a brat, our military roots had us living in many areas.  The east coast is of them.  This photo is from the era when we lived at Cherry Point MC Base which is not now getting pounded by Hurricane Florence along with New Bern, Morehead City, Kitty Hawk, and many more areas.  A lot of our military friends still live in these areas along the coast. Our prayers go out to everyone affected by this monstrous storm.  I pray everyone had the foresight to evacuate, but I know not everyone will.  So, I pray for everyone's safety as they suffer through this crazy time in our world's history. I love our country and the people that make it up, but this hits home a bit harder as Hurricane Florence ravages a place where I've left a bit of my heart. Home is where the heart is, which is true as I have bits of my heart scattered throughout the world. And, the east coast has a big part of it. God, protect our loved ones and our first responders.  ...

When my son was about three - I realized that my life had become central to just being a mom and a wife.  I looked around at my relationships and realized my best friends were my husband, mom, and my sister. Don't get me wrong! Those are great best friends to have. They're all wonderful caring people who want the best for me. But ... sometimes a girl just needs a BFF who has no family ties. It was then that I looked at my life and realized what a vast hole was within as I had no friend to call and just 'talk' or bond with.  I had plenty of casual friends, acquaintances, and really close long-distance friends, yet there was no one at the same stage in life that I could bond with. I soon prayed and asked God to send me someone that was in the same boat as me - someone who needed a loyal friend and that would 'fit'.  That very next day, I sat next to a blue-eyed, blond, friendly face at my son's soccer game.  Although I knew who Susan w...

With only days until the new year, I think we're all breathing a sigh of relief to start a new chapter as 2017 comes to a close. This last year has been filled with so much negative press, political rhetoric, scandals, and media mayhem that I'm ready - like most people I know - to let it all go. So, I'm asking you to look toward 2018 with a goal in mind. Some call it a New Year's resolution, but I'm not a big believer in those. I think we should make our lives better EVERY DAY not just at the first of the New Year. Find within yourself three ways you can improve your life, the lives around you, and your community. Approach those three goals (whether it be letting go of anger, volunteering in your church or community, or supporting a cause) with the intent to make it a year-long campaign. Focus on what you can do to improve the world around you and LET GO of the negativity that others fall prey to. BE the DIFFERENCE to balance out the hate and the ang...

I found my first review on Goodreads today.  I was like - YES!  People are surprised and feeling - truly feeling - the emotion that I poured into every page. So far Amazon has four reviews - all 5-stars. From the day I started writing this one - God whispered in my heart, 'This is the one.'  I don't know the extent of what that means until all the chips fall, but so far this is starting out much better than the other books I've released! If you've never read any of my books --- YOU NEED TO START WITH THIS ONE. It's something special ...  the synopsis tells a bit of the story, but by no means delves into the whole thing.  There's not enough room on the back cover of a book to give readers a glimpse of what truly is between the pages. If you're able to read this one - please leave me a review.  Reviews are how other readers find me. So, I thank you in advance! AND THANK YOU, NELL!  I'm honored you like my books.

If you'd like a shot at receiving a signed paperback of ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES - CLICK HERE ! This contest is open to readers in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and Australia - and will run between the dates of Sept 12th - October 15th, 2017. Be the first to read this new book! Winners are picked randomly at the end of the giveaway. Once you've read the book, kindly leave a review on Amazon  and  Goodreads . Also, if you enter to win - I'd love to hear from you. Message me, tweet me, or leave me a message here.   Synopsis After the tragic loss of her husband, Alexis Mathers packs up her clairvoyant, seven-year-old daughter and heads for home only to find that her grandmother, Evelyn Bozeman, has died in a mysterious accident. As Evelyn’s life was an enigma before her marriage into the Bozeman family, Alexis makes it her sole mission to understand who her grandmother was and the kind of life she left behind. Although Tyler Jameson grew ...

How many of us are so attached to our phones or our games that we would have a sense of anxiety without them?  Studies show iPhone anxiety is a real condition, and, trust me, most of us feel it on some level every day. How many times do you wander the house when you can't remember where you put your phone? How about when your phone slips between the seats of your car?  It's a mini-panic attack in the making. Imagine this times a thousand if for some reason we lost access to power.  How would your world change?  How would medicine get sent to the pharmacy in a timely manner?  If computers were a thing of the past, how would we stay connected or get our jobs done?  It gives me chills to think of how our lives would change. Well,  a very smart group of people decided to write, produce, and make a series about this very thing with 'Our Daily Bread'. The show highlights two segments of groups - Millennials, whose concern is solely for themselves ...