Kaylea Hutson's Blog, page 37

Photo Flashback: Baby Grady's Photoshoot Nov. 2010

Flashback photos - moving photos from my photo blog to here.....
Scenes from Baby Grady's first official photo shoot - four days old! Nov. 2010!

Blog Tour: Always the Designer, Never The Bride (Review)

Sandra Bricker calls her fiction "LOL" or Laugh Out Loud Romantic Comedy for the Inspirational Market. I believe with the third installment of the "Always the... Never The Bride" series, Bricker has struck laugh out loud literary gold.

The novel, Always The Designer, Never The Bride, joins the others in the series - set at the The Tanglewood Inn, a wedding destination hotel in historic Roswell, Georgia. The novel continues the humorous adventures of Emma Rae and the crew (as previously published in Always the Baker, Never The Bride and Always the Wedding Planner, Never The Bride.

This time, the novel follows Audrey Regan - a wedding dress designer - who finds herself at the Tanglewood Inn, designing a dress for her best friend, Carly.

The laughs ensue as Audrey tries NOT to fall for Carly's soon-to-be brother-in-law, J.R. Hunt - the most unlikely candidate for a prince charming.

Always the Designer is a light, "make you laugh" book. You'll find yourself cheering for Carly, Audrey, Fee and the entire cast of characters at the Inn. You'll even love the cameo made by Emma's eccentric aunt.

In all, this novel is a solid four on the laugh scale. It's a great third book (four book series), but you can also read it as a stand alone novel. I'm looking forward to the last book:Always the Baker, FINALLY the Bride!


More About The Book
*From The Publisher
It's taken Audrey Regan years to establish herself as a wedding dress designer, and to date she's been roped into creating dresses for nine of her girlfriends. Request #10 follows her vow to "Just say no!" and comes from her very best friend. She can hardly turn Carly down!

Audrey arrives in Atlanta early to perform all of her maid-of-honor duties along with final fittings for a one-of-a-kind dress. But Carly's wedding is nothing short of an event, complete with Prince Charming, and the festivities make Audrey question whether there's a prince of her own anywhere in her future.

Enter the groom's brother and best man. Shaggy-haired, tattooed bad boy J.R. Hunt couldn't be any more different from Prince Charming if he rode in on a Harley Davidson. Oh, wait. He actually did ride in on a Harley!

About The Author
For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles and, while writing in every spare moment, worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars.

Since then she has written three novels for middle-grade readers and several romance novels, including unWANTED: Husband, Change of Heart, Sins of the Past, Wish I Weren't Here, Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas and The Big 5-0h!.


Online Resources

Visit Sandra on the web at www.sandradbricker.com.
Follow Sandie on her blog at http://sandradbricker.blogspot.com.
Pre-order it on Amazon.com: 
Pre-order it at Cokesbury
Excerpt from Always the Designer, Never The Bride

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through Net Galley's blogger program. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

OLW Blog Hop: February in Review

Welcome to the March 1 One Little Word Blog Hop!
This hop highlights different projects completed by students in Ali Edwards' One Little Word class at Big Picture Scrapbooking. The entire hop will be live as of 8 a.m. PST on March 1.

For this month's assignment,  Ali challenged us to take nine photos that highlight our One Little Word. My word for 2012 is Rest.

I'll be honest. I'm not doing so great with my word right now - which has become painfully obvious in the last week or so.

I'm learning - the hard way - the importance of rest, and in my world, taking a sabbath to recharge and renew. Without this time away, I become ineffective not only in my personal life, but also in my ministry. (And if I am truly honest with myself, I become a wee bit grumpy to be around.)

But back to the assignment. I'll admit, trying to determine the nine photos that represented my word left me stuck. Frozen. Unable to take photos.

Last week, I finally posted on the OLW forum for advice.One of my fellow classmates challenged me to take a few pics of things that recharge my soul.

Because I was at a conference in Nashville, and a bit out of my "everyday" schedule, I decided to take her advice, "unplug" and try to rest.

Eventually this collage will be part of my nine pictures.

The pictures represent (from the top left corner):

The hotel bed - sometimes you just need sleep.

What I'm reading - I love spiritual memoirs and Lauren Winner's Still is my current read.I'm not "speeding through it, but rather savoring it.

Clock - to remind me that sometimes you just need to go to bed.

Tea - my drink of choice, especially since I'm weaning off of soda and have given up lattes for Lent.

A self portrait - because sometimes when you rest, it helps you remember to look at life half-full.

I'm still struggling with my word - and what it represents in my world. But I'm finding that this class makes me keep my word front and center in my thoughts. It seems I just need to stop, rest and be open to what God wants to teach me in 2012.

Thanks for coming by and checking out my progress in the OLW class. Have fun checking out the other posts on the tour.
 
-----> You Probably Came From Here:
Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com

-----> You Are Here:  
Kaylea http://www.myscrappylife.com

-----> Go Here Next: 
 Dawn G www.sunshineandcreativity.com

The Full Tour: 
Click here for details
Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com

Melissa S http://blog.mshanhun.com

Sharyn http://LaVieEnChic.com

Kimberlee http://scrapsandsass.blogspot.com

Jill http://jillconyers.com/

Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com

Cindy www.cynthiacrysdale.com

Jenn www.studiojenn.blogspot.com

Monica http://scrapinspired.com/

Catherine  http://myview-catherine.blogspot.com/

Naomi http://poeticaperture.com/

Jamie jmpgirl.blogspot.com

Coley http://coleybelle.blogspot.com/

Melissa C www.smudgetime.com

Donna http://holimess.blogspot.com/

Monica B http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/

Veronica www.veronicanorris.typepad.com

Heidi D http://mommy.heidimdavis.com/

Lisa http://backtoallen.com/category/one-little-word/

Nikki www.inkyart.com.au

Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com

Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com

Brooklyn www.everysnapshot.com

Kristina http://hrinspirationfromthe403.blogspot.com/

Jen R http://jenritchie.com

Kara http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com

Eydie www.whatwecreate.net

Ruth http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com

Missus W http://www.mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/

Marilee http://rose-brier.blogspot.com

-----> You Probably Came From Here: Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com

-----> You Are Here: Kaylea http://www.myscrappylife.com

-----> Go Here Next: Dawn G www.sunshineandcreativity.com

Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/

Becky www.becky-handforth.blogspot.com

Orange Gearle orangegearle.blogspot.com

Katrina www.katrinasimeck.com

Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com

Nicky Www.seejanebake.blogspot.com

Beth www.thesingularlyordinary.blogspot.com

Kelly http://mindingmynest.com

Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

Note: As a freelance journalist, I am often provided stuff by publishers. However, I paid for my entrance into the One Little Word class. This post was not influenced by anything except my efforts to do the homework - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Learning from my students

This spring, we've been emphasizing different aspects of service during Tween Time, either through Bible studies focused on the subject or personal testimonies.
.
This week, I introduced them to Erica Hill (a former student of mine) to learn about her upcoming (and previous) mission trip to Uganda.

Because of some scheduling glitches, (and a college stats test), Erica needed to "Skype" in to the session, rather than travel to Little Rock.

Honestly, I think the kiddos listened better because she was on Skype.

They asked great questions. They were engaged.

She definitely intrigued them by her experiences. They also told her about our Lenten Challenge - to raise $ to purchase items for care bags she can take to the orphans.

Tonight is one of the reasons I'm in the ministry. I got to see their eyes open up to infinite possibilities for service - regardless of their age.

It also gave me a chance to see how a former student has grown in her faith in amazing ways.

Erica's story not only inspired the tweens tonight, she also encouraged me with her passion and enthusiasm. Her perspective on life has definitely changed because of the things she experienced last summer in Uganda. Finding that her heart desire may lead her to live there full time after graduation was well, mind blowing.

Tonight I'm thankful for Erica and her willingness to share her experiences with the tweens. Who knows maybe one of them will venture into an unexpected ministry because of this experience.

The students with Erica via Skype.You can read more about Erica's trip here.

Photo Flashback: Palmer Christmas Card 2007

Moving pics from my "photo blog" to this one....a flashback photo post...

For my friends Denni and Carl, their daughters - the 2007 Christmas pictures.

Quotable quote: Faithfulness

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. - Mother Teresa.

I know Mother Teresa probably didn't mean the small things we give up for lent.

I'm sure she meant acts of mercy, grace and charity; along with our service to God.

But today I'm being faithful in my decision to fast from Starbucks (because my students asked) and from Cokes (and Dr Pepper) because I felt convicted that I was drinking way too much of them when stressed.

Today, I am faithful in the small things. Because honestly, I really wanted a soda today.

But instead I'll pray for my students - and hope they are being faithful in their own fasts.

Scenes of Worship

Just a few pics of today's worship. A baptism (beautiful sacrament); amazing music (fourth grade bell choir) and watching one of my kidz diving into his "action" graphic Bible.

The service, the first Sunday in Lent engaged my "brain" AND my heart in lots of ways.

Quotable Quotes: Service

Click here for sourceJust something to think about.....as I work on the stuff for the spring break mission trip......

"The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve." -- Albert Schweitzer

Something To Think About.....

One of the images I've been struck with from the Children's Ministry Forum is how sometimes God calls us to enter into a time of renewal or rejuvenation, especially in the face of adversity or trials.

It's kind of like how a caterpillar morphs into a cocoon. Without going through this stage, a caterpillar would just stay a "wiggly worm" crawling on sticks and leaves.

But by taking time to stop and rest, and by following God's plan for its life, the caterpillar transforms into a new and amazing creation.

Sometimes before we can move onto the next period of our lives, God calls us to enter into our own form of chrysalis.

It might just seem like we're hibernating or even pulling away from the world. But I kinda think the cocoon is like being wrapped in God's warmth and love.

This time of renewal gives us a source of strength and endurance, which we can use to get through the times of trials and struggles. So ultimately we emerge as an amazing new creation soaring in the wind.


What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly. ~ Richard Bach

"Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time." ~ Deborah Chaskin

"Everyone is like a butterfly, they start out ugly and awkward and then morph into beautiful graceful butterflies that everyone loves." ~ Drew Barrymore

Marking Ash Wednesday

Today was Ash Wednesday - the first day of Lent.
It's a day of prayer and reflection.
One of the images I'm left with from today's service is how lent is like a cocoon,

that we can wrap ourselves in it, to emerge as a new creation on Easter.
Dear God, help me truly feel your presence, wrapped around me like a cocoon wraps around a caterpillar, during this Lenten Season.
Show me what you want me to learn in this season of reflection and prayer. 
Create something beautiful - just like the butterfly - that will emerge on Easter Sunday.
Amen.