Wornoutwoman

So, yesterday was voting day for many offices like County Clerk and Congress.   I always want to educate myself on the many issues and campaign trailblazers so I can make my voice count.  Voting is our God-given right which wasn't even acknowledged by our nation until the women's suffrage movement.  Many of our great-great-grandmothers met, marched, and went on strike to strive for the right to vote. When I hear anyone I come in contact with say that due the fact that they don't like anyone on the ballot they're not going to vote - it blows my mind!  We are blessed with that privilege!  And even if you don't like anyone, to not vote is still casting a vote because your voice isn't heard.   Think of it like this:   What if there was only a choice between peanut butter or jelly - and the popular vote would bring to light what we're allowed to eat.   If you say, 'Well, I don't like either, so it doesn't matter!'  Th...

So who has ever claimed to be normal?   Lord knows I'm not!  I have too many quirks to keep count. In fact, my brain is always running on two planes.  While I live in the real world, I'm seeing, feeling, and experiencing things through the eyes, ears, and hearts of my characters.  My day to day experience(s) lend themselves to my creative side, where I delve head and heart first into every detail.    I try to capture the feeling of every second so that I can remember every element. Even something as simple as driving in traffic becomes a scenario in which I create a storyline or imagine what different characters might be going through (while they're sitting in the middle of traffic!)  Really??   Who does that? Sometimes, whatever I've experienced creates a whole new story set for a brand new character that I file away in the back of my brain, where I store until I can dedicate time to writing.  While on other occasions, these da...

Every time I see a video like this one below, I'm reminded about the time my husband was asked to do a live on-air remote in a tank full of nurse sharks. As this was early in our marriage (prior to having kids), I was a bit more carefree.  Instead of hesitating at all, we were like, 'heck yeah!' If he'd been asked to do this today (after having kids which makes any momma more concerned for safety), I would have done a little more homework before letting him get into a tank full of sharks. Unknowingly, the night before his escapade, I fed him a huge crab dinner in honor of his big adventure the next day. Apparently - seafood seeps out of your pores for a couple of days so getting in the water with sharks is PROBABLY NOT a good idea. Those nurse sharks were so aggressive that I could hear my husband screaming underwater, as they banged against the cage trying to get at him.  The fact that it wasn't a steel or metal cage didn't help him feel very...

Take a moment to reflect on what the lives of fallen soldiers have done for you. Take a break from the negative rhetoric about today's current status and issues -and stay reverent to those who died in the fields to allow you to live in a free country. We all appreciate those that are currently serving - but today is about the fallen. They get their own day today. Take a few minutes between your grilling and cold ones to say thank you in your heart.

In life, we run across many people.  Some greet us and move on.  Some spend some time with us through a bit of thick and thin.  Then, there are others who truly take the time to not only see what and why we tick but to offer a bit of wisdom.  And by doing this, they help shape us.  These are the ones who are the most impactful.  These are the mentors, the educators, and the heartfelt friends who leave a lasting impression upon our past, present, and future. Professor Jim Wilcox was someone who fits this description completely.  He made everyone feel as if they were worth the time he invested in them.  Always patient, he took his time to not only communicate but to listen.  His students never felt like a bother or an afterthought.  They always felt like family.  For this, he will always have a special place in all of our hearts. Prof. Wilcox's funeral was today.  And, as I sat in on the hard pews, I felt his spirit encomp...

I've been contemplating writing about Prince for a few days, but it's hard to put in words how much one person affected so many without making it sound like you're idolizing that person. As a Christian, this is dangerous territory. Especially as I see so many traumatized fans around the world filled with grief, who never really knew the artist formerly known as Prince. However, people like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Prince live in our homes, ride with us in our cars, might be on our first date, or maybe encouraging that first middle school dance with the boy or girl whom you've crushed on from afar.  We, fans, feel close to those who can sing about our innermost thoughts or who can sing something that takes us instantly back to a moment in time. Music, and the artists, almost transport us to a happier place. A bond is created that transports us through time. I get why some get so attached. Especially since the songs of our youth are what shape us as ...

Lately, I've been asked about the order of which my books should be read, so I thought I'd do a quick post here on my blog. Although I do have four books in a series, it was an accidental series.  When writing Finding Kylie, I honestly had no intention of continuing the journey for the other characters in the book.  I thought I'd release Finding Kylie and see what else came my way as far as storylines. You see - Finding Kylie was my 'what if' in life.  It's been said we should write what we know,  so I did. Only I fictionalized my what if in life. After concluding Finding Kylie with a somewhat open but definite ending, I couldn't fathom putting myself in a position to write a story I wasn't emotionally or spiritually prepared for.  To continue Chastity's story with her father meant stepping into some shoes I wasn't prepared for. That was until I continued to receive emails from readers who were wondering 'what was in John's let...