J.J. Devine's Blog, page 10

Some shows really stick to you...

Good morning, everyone!!!

I spent yesterday afternoon relaxing for the first time in probably weeks. I was just plain exhausted and needed a bit of down time so I took it. 

While doing so I realized I hadn't finished 13 Reasons Why Season 2 yet. So I popped on Netflix and picked up where I left off. Back in the winter months I binge watched the first season. It had been a recommended show for me by my son and daughter-in-law and I'm really glad I watched it.

The first season (which I recommend watching this show in order, first season then second) kept you on the edge of your seat with wonder, but this second season really jolted me and took me to a level that I'm not sure I've ever felt before.

I won't spoil the show for you too much, however, the last episode did actually make my stomach hurt, literally. In a bad way, but not in a bad way like you would think. Not because the show sucked, no where close, but in an emotional realm that really touched my soul and brought an ache to my heart.

I watched some of the interviews done at the end with the writers and actors and I completely got what they are trying to do with this show. I'm scared to death of the next season because it appears they will go even deeper into this school violence and bullying to a place where it is uncomfortable for people to acknowledge.

With that said, I'm glad they are doing this. Society needs to feel this discomfort. Society needs to understand how bogus some of their thinking is and realize the deeper issues. 

Being a writer I saw where this was going just a few episodes into the storyline. What I didn't see coming was the 'over the edge' moment they put the character through to get to this 'over the edge' moment. My heart fell out of my chest and yes, I cried like a baby for this young man. I understood how he got to this point. And yes, I even understood why he felt the way he did.

I hope this show does what the writers intend for it to do, bring awareness, a much needed awareness to not only our school systems but our society as well. I am sure people are going to jump on the bandwagon and spew hate and negativity about the writers messages, but I hope I truly hope, that it does help in this area and people wake up and smell the coffee.

Today's society is full of self serving people today. I watch each and every day this mentality worsen only to shake my head and wonder how on earth we got where we are today. How do we get to a place where people don't care about other people?

Even those claiming to care are spewing negativity left and right, backwards and forwards, all in the name of their so called cause. Sadly, negativity will never stop negativity, it only feeds it. People feel they are so entitled these days no one is 'allowed' to have an opinion but them. This is trickling down into the mentality of our children. This is destroying our youth. This is destroying our societies.

It is one thing to stand up for what you believe in and another thing to bully your way into what you believe in. Just some food for thought.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!












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Look out Monday here I come...

Good morning, everyone!!!

It's not only Monday but also a new month. It's also vacation MONTH!!! Yes, in a few short weeks I will have a week off the day job, in a beautiful place, Hocking Hills, with hopefully NO alarm clocks :)

But until then, it is business as usual. I'm working the early early shift all week with the boss on vacation herself. So it's early to rise early to bed all week for this old girl.

Lately I've been working on finding stress busters. One thing I've found out about my birds is building their trust is not only rewarding, but also very soothing. It's not an over night process, it takes time to get those little feathered friends to even jump up on your arm. Okay, unless your feathered friend is named Lilli and then that's the exception to the rule :) 

Each night when I'm home alone (which is often), I spend a little time chatting with them, calling them by name, and resting my arm across their perches. They in turn chat back with me, Lilli of course hops right up on my arm, Rudy, Sunny, and Mr. Gray, however, usually hang out on the bars just listening, chattering, and watching. Last night was different :) As Lilli is walking up and down my arm, Rudy decided he would be brave and jump up on my arm too. Next came Sunny. 

Sunny is brilliantly colored, yellows, greens, blues, just a bright sunshiny bird. I keep long branches from the trees outdoors, inside their cage to give a tree like illusion for them. The last one I put in came down in a storm and has a ton of branches shooting off of it. Well, Sunny decided he would perch right beside my arm last evening. He watched as Lilli and Rudy took turns running up and down my arm. The next thing I knew he was perching on my arm as well. :)

Mr. Gray watched all of this from the other side of the cage, but soon felt brave enough to perch on the branches beside me. Still no checking me out any closer, but I'm confident he will soon join his feathered companions in accepting me as their friend :) 

One thing I've learned from this experience as a 'bird lady' as hubby and his friends call me, is how calm I get when hanging out with these little creatures. They have such amazing personalities. Lilli is the bold one. She knows very little fear :) From the very beginning she's just come right to me, hopped up on my arm, chattered with me face to face. She loves fingernails and cleans mine all the time LOL. 

Rudy has been a hard one to win over. From the very get go, he's been somewhat distant. Very cautious. He was like that at the pet store and one of the very reasons I picked him as my first bird. So when he was as excited as Lilli last evening to see me, well, it made me feel good. It only took four months LOL.

Sunny has come around a bit faster, only a few months and he's already curious as to who this human is hanging around their cage. He has such a bright and cheerful personality. Something that makes my heart smile when I see him :)

Mr. Gray has always been the most serious of the flock. Ever the cautious one. Don't get me wrong, he is very engaged in conversation and always pays close attention whether I'm interacting with them or just sitting in the same room chatting with someone else. He's always watching, always aware of everything going on around him :)

There is just something about having these feathered little friends that brings peace to my soul. Listening to them chat amongst each other, or with me, watching them fly (they have a very large 5 foot tall 4 foot wide fly cage), or how they use one of the water dishes as a bird bath and the other is for drinking LOL. It is just soothing for me. I believe because it's one of my favorite things about being outdoors. Birds are just relaxing to me and now I have them inside all the time :)

Shadow and Bear are used to them now, so they don't get so excited anymore when the flock goes on a chattering rampage. Even the cat, Lexi, seems to just enjoy them. She will lounge on the floor not far from the cage and sleep, lifting her head if the flock gets too quiet or exceptionally loud suddenly. Otherwise, she's just content residing peacefully with them :)

Well I better start motivating and get ready for this Monday.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!













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Let's catch up...

Good morning, everyone!!!

Well let's see, what have I been doing? Last week I had a campout/sleepover with the grandchildren. We slept in the camper, went to the park, and just enjoyed being together. We roasted hot dogs and smokies over the fire. Had ice cream cones and played in the creek. We took a walk and enjoyed good conversation :) We built a fire in the fire pit twice but sadly rain put it out both times.

Thursday evening I hung out with my sister. We discussed life in general. Checked into a few things that peaked our curiosity. Then discussed our Saturday plans :) We then hung out again Friday evening with another friend and we all made plans for Saturday.

The plan was there was no plan. Get in the car, drive, and see where we end up. We were originally going tubing down the river. However, with the rains and the water levels rising it was a no go. My philosophy is you can let it dampen your fun or you can make new fun. So, we made new fun. The three of us set out around 9ish Saturday morning. The only plan was to head toward Turkey Run State Park. 

We hit up a few rummage sales on the way. We stayed off the big main roads and traveled off the beaten path. We stopped at Shades State Park, why, because none of us had ever been there. We hiked a few trails, saw The Devil's Punch Bowl, never did find all of Trail 6, but one day, one day, we will :) 

We found a lovely little Amish grocery store. If you've never been to one, go. Very wonderful and I walked out with so many goodies I normally wouldn't have found in any other grocery. I told hubby last night, I'm not sure I could get back to the one we went to, but oh the beauty of the road getting there was breathtaking. Golden fields of wheat on one side. Then a lovely cave of trees surrounded us. It was just a sight to behold.

We ended up at a covered bridge which we walked across, then took the path down under it. We watched the water churning and caught site of a ground hog enjoying a meal of what could only be insects.

Sometimes the mission in life is to not have a mission at all. To just be. To just enjoy the here and now. To find something new and make it exciting. That was the plan for the day and it was so rejuvenating.

Sunday, my last day off for awhile, was spent not how I intended (in my pjs cleaning house) but instead, canning the first batch of pickles, working in the garden, and trying a new zucchini recipe :)

By the time I went back to work yesterday all the stresses of life had subsided and I felt refreshed. Sometimes that's all we need in this life is to take a moment to just breathe and just be.

The things that bothered me before, well, they don't hold as much of my attention as they once did. All this nonsense of people saying how tired they are of negative postings on social media all the while posting even more negative things, just makes me shake my head and go on. I have a clear picture of where I want to be in another year and that is my focus, the place I want to be.

Sure I still get those moments where I feel strongly about things. But, I am working toward a peaceful soul. That's my goal, that's where I stand and that is what I'm working toward. I've realized people will be people. They will belly ache and moan over things that will not matter a year from now even though they feel like it will. I see the same issues today that were present three years ago and nothing has changed other than people are still belly aching and moaning about the same issues.

My action is controlling my reaction. To find my peace, live my peace, and just enjoy each moment.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!













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Baby it's hot outside...

Good morning, everyone!!!

Yesterday was an interesting day to say the least. I had to be close to home due to issues with deliveries at work (we haven't received any due to a tornado hitting the DC which holds our supplies) we were supposed to get a truck at some point yesterday, but it never arrived :( 

So instead of just sitting around the house all day waiting (which would have given me anxiety) I hung out with the daughter-in-law and the grandkids at the park for the Third Annual Water Balloon Fight, Children versus Police Officers. I love it. I cannot say that enough. I've never been before but thought the girls would love to take the grandchildren to something like this. I'm so glad we did.

It definitely beat the heat. So much laughter, so much water, so much fun.

This little program was set in place by our police force here in town to help bring police officers to a new light with our young people. Something I think is a fantastic idea. Take the mystery and rumors away and show these kids that our police officers aren't just what they hear. 

When young people become adults, they look back on their childhoods and the things that made them happy. They in turn want to bring some of that fun into the lives of their children. I can honestly say I believe in my heart this is something a good many of these kids will look back on. There was so much laughter and enjoyment had by all yesterday it did my heart good to see this.

Something I am a firm believer in is teach your children well. Sometimes it sticks sometimes it doesn't, but oh how I hope this sort of thing sticks. Kids aren't allowed to be kids anymore. So when someone does something like yesterday allowing these children to be children and also letting them know it's okay to be children, well, it revives the soul. 

Even the adults were acting like children :) In a good way of course :)

Next year's water balloon war is already in the planning works. :) 

I see all too often kids having to shoulder too many worries of adulthood. Childhood is being lost. Even in schools they aren't given enough time to be kids because they're expected to learn way too much in a year. Cramming in so much in so little time. It's no wonder they have anxiety at early ages, because childhood is being lost in what adults think it should be.

So, when you see adults showing kids it's okay to be kids, well, it just makes your heart smile. Do little girls make mud pies anymore? Do little boys chase them with frogs? Is neighborhoods so unsafe anymore that children can't play and ride bikes in the places they should be safe, until the street lights come on at night? 

These are the adventures of childhood. Where they learn social skills and interact with one another. Where they use their imaginations and find pleasure in the simple things of a summer afternoon.

Not sitting indoors with video games or tv as their only form of communication. It's nice outside, get out, enjoy the day, learn to explore and have adventures. Life can be a beautiful thing if given the chance to learn how to find the excitement of a summer day. 

This is what makes me sad in today's society. We have a beautiful park here in our little town. Designed to release a child's imagination. A lovely creek running down one side. It could be full each and every day with children playing. Sadly, it is only used by a handful of kids each day. 

Where is the adventures? Where have the imaginations gone? You can still see the desire in the children's faces when things like yesterday happen. So I know it's still there, we just have to allow it to happen.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!














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Happy Hump Day...

Good morning, everyone!!!

It was an interesting weekend to say the least. Just a little FYI here, never ever chew a time release heartburn pill. You will get sick and be sick for days. Yeah, I did that Friday and it took until yesterday to feel better. So, you've been warned :)

We took the grandson and a friend of his camping with us over the weekend. It was so good to see that child smile and laugh once again. Those boys rode bikes, fished off and on all weekend, swam, and canoed. They entered the Cornhole tournament :) and at night they played cards and set up the inside of my camper like a battle zone with the tons of army men my grandson brought with him. They even hunted frogs one night :)

I wish I would have felt better but I still socialized a bit. 

Last night hubby and I took Bug to his game. That boy is getting so much better every time he plays a game. He scored a run for his team. He is really good at catching pop flies these days :) I love the way playing ball brings happiness to his heart. You can see it all the way to his eyes :)

I think having a good coach is what has really helped. This coach makes sure he calls each child by name (a big change from the coach last year). He also praises them for the little things, which helps them strive for the bigger things. There's no laying on the bases this year, (which was one of my biggest pet peeves about last year), everyone is engaged in the game. 

Sometimes in life we just need a little praise for those small things, because maybe just maybe the small things are all we have the energy for at the moment. I know many a week where just getting through the day and doing what I can sometimes seems like climbing mountains. Then there are other weeks where I am unstoppable :) I do know, however, when I feel like I have no energy to go on a little praise goes a long way :)

Hubby got things switched around for the next month or so. He'll be leaving out on his long run this week instead of next week. So, for the next couple of runs we won't have time off together, but soon we'll be on vacation together :) It will be nice to have a week off together and hang out with family and friends at the campground. I am really looking forward to that :)

At some point this week I need to get out to my sister's and do some weeding in the garden. Life took some twists and turns and I haven't gotten back out there to help out. Fortunately, I have an understanding sister :)

I also want to get started on the memorial garden for my daughter-in-law. So hopefully, this week the weather permits and gives us some time to get that started. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. 

This new work schedule has been nice, but it's still hard to get used to. Going in later is strange to say the least. Getting off later, well, I used to stay longer anyway a lot of days so, that's not so new :) I'm starting to get used to the going in later aspect a little bit. Some days not so much, but I am starting to get the hang of it. 

I'm very OCD when it comes to what time this or that needs to be done at work. So, going in an hour or two later throws me off my normal. But hey, at least I got lunch on at the right time yesterday LOL.

It throws the boss off as well. She's used to doing certain things in the mornings before I get there, but with her having to run register longer it throws her off her schedule as well.

She and I are creatures of habit, what can I say.

Well I guess I should start getting around. Just another day in paradise :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!













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Romance Writers Weekly presents...

Welcome to Romance Writers Weekly presents. Don't forget the official blog hop doesn't begin until 2 p.m. EST. 

This week Dani Jace has asked us to do a flash fiction using the words, dog, fire, and rain. So without further ado...
Rain, the fire dog, lifted her head back and howled. It was her job to alert the firefighters when the bell was about to go off. She got to her feet, shaking her large furry body, it was time to go to work. Firefighters began scurrying about the station. Rain took her position in the front seat.
The firetruck sped down the street. Rain sniffed the air, picking up the scent of smoke. It wouldn’t be long the firemen would be busy working the fire. Her job would be to look out for the firefighters and be there for anyone who seemed traumatized by the loss of their home.
The firefighters sprung into action before the truck was even at a halt. Rain jumped from the truck, watching as the hose was hooked up to the hydrant. She paced the sidewalk in front of the burning house. The soft sobs of a child could be heard against the hustle and bustle of the scene.
Rain followed the sound. A small soot covered child huddled close to an older child, both had tears streaming down their cheeks. Rain trotted over, nuzzling up next to the two children. A shaky hand wrapped about her neck, Rain snuggled closer. She licked the salty tears from the youngest’s face. Two tiny arms wrapped tightly about her neck, the little face buried into her fur.
She sat at attention, watching her firefighters as they worked tirelessly to put out the fire. Rain also kept her eye on the burning structure for any movement beyond the flames. These little humans belonged to bigger humans, they had to be somewhere.
Rain looked up and down the sidewalk. No humans came to retrieve the little ones. The children’s sobs slowed as they snuggled into her fur. She felt their anxiety lessen, but she could still sense their fear as they glanced hopefully toward the burning house.
Rain caught a glimpse of movement in one of the far windows. She sounded the alarm. Firefighters rushed toward the area she indicated. The young humans jumped to their feet, trying to rush in the direction after the firefighters. Rain sprung into action, moving into their path, corralling them back to the sidewalk and safety.
The firefighters reunited the parents with their children. Once the fire was out and their job done, Rain gave one last lick to the little one’s face before jumping back into her seat on the firetruck. All in a day’s work.
That's it for me. Let's hop on over to A.S. Fenichel's to read her story :) 

Nothing ever goes as planned...

Good morning, everyone!!! 

Months ago when hubby and I discussed this idea of being off work for a few days together, well, things were different. Normally, he and I had Wednesdays and Thursdays off together and so the game plan was to be ready by Wednesday morning to go camping somewhere until Saturday and then head over to our friend's place on Saturday to camp there for the rest of the weekend.

Well, as things turned out it didn't work out that way. Hubby took Memorial weekend off, so this put him not doing his run for the week. So yep, you guessed it, he wasn't home Tuesday night to be ready to go for Wednesday. Then my boss had meetings to go to which kept her away from work until Thursday. So I ended up working my normal day off as well. 

If all of this wasn't enough, hubby finds out Wednesday he wouldn't be home until Thursday evening. His boss asking, "Wasn't you supposed to be on vacation sometime this week?" Hubby was like, "Yeah, Thursday and Friday." It was an oops my bad sort of moment for his boss. So hubby will now have Monday as a vacation day because today is definitely out of the question. 

Years ago I used to get bent out of shape over plans not going as planned. But these days not so much. This is the way life works. Sometimes things work out to the tee, other times, they go as chaotic as possible. 

So, do I get upset because things didn't work out as planned? Because I'm not sitting in my lounge chair, sipping coffee, and writing this blog in front of my camper with some amazing view right now? No, I just go with the flow. There's a reason why I am home today, preparing for our trip tomorrow, and that's just how I look at it these days. I may not know what that reason is right now. I may never really know what that reason is, but accepting the fact that things work out the way they work out, well, it saves a lot of useless stressing. 

Plans are made to be broken sometimes. Things happen and it's okay. Instead of fretting over why they didn't work out the way we planned them, well, I think about the extra time I have to get things ready when they do happen.

I was able to go to the grocery yesterday, get them loaded in the camper, take my time at it and really think about things I am going to need this trip. I was able to sweep and mop the floor. Organize a few things. Do some laundry and repack the camper. No rushing, just good old fashion take my time and think about what I needed to do.

The grandson and one of his friends are going with us. We wanted to do something special for him seeing as he is always seems to be the one stuck at home. Every kid needs to be able to have fun once in awhile. And seeing as he just turned 12 we're running out of time he'll want to spend time with grandma and grandpa. As they grow, they get their own lives. It's what it is. Teenagers, well, they're their own breed. Adults aren't fun anymore. I get it :) 

We kept all the grandchildren last evening. They played until well into the night. We even had a 'not me' moment when the bird cage door got open 'somehow' and Rudy flew out and about the living room, LOL. Fortunately, he was easy to catch and everyone did a good job alerting us to the situation. So no injuries on any part were had :) Ceiling fans and flying birds are not a good combination, just saying.

I told these youngsters that when 6 a.m. came about this morning I didn't want to see any of them awake. We happened to see 2 a.m. which was really hard for us old people who don't usually see that time of night unless we're getting up. But they enjoyed themselves and that was what matters.

So, today, we finish up preparing to head out to our friends' place this weekend. We are almost all packed up. Just have to grab Bug's friend and their fishing stuff and bikes. Hubby has a few things to gather up and get ready. I have a tiny bit of things to put in the camper yet. Then it is off to the Northern part of this state to hang out with good friends and enjoy a weekend away.

Well I guess I should start getting things done.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!






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Day one down, two more to go...

Good morning, everyone!!!

Well day one is done and we're on to day two. I managed to get everything done I needed to do yesterday thankfully and now I just need to follow my list of things to do today :) 

I'm a bit more tired this morning than yesterday morning but that's because I stayed up too late last evening due to a ball game for the grandson. But it's all good, I will wake up as soon as this coffee is in my blood stream :)

We've decided to wait until Friday to leave for camping. Still not sure when hubby will be getting home quite yet and I still need to go to my sister's house and help weed the garden. So, this gives us that time we need to get things done.

After work today I would like to get some laundry done and on the line and then maybe get some mowing in. If not the mowing today maybe tomorrow :) This gives me time to be alone with my thoughts without interruption and allows me to get myself a bit of quiet time as well :) Which would be wonderful before a weekend of hanging out with friends.

I am looking forward to getting back to my new schedule. I sort of enjoy going in a bit later than before :) However it does make these early early mornings a bit more difficult.

My brain isn't fully awake yet this morning unfortunately, but writing a blog does help get it going :) So please bear with me as I get my thoughts and mind woke up :)

I am looking forward to a few days off again. Four days in a row will be nice for sure. The best part is no alarms, no wake up calls in the middle of the night, and sleeping until this old body says it's time to get up. Sadly, what happens after so many days of waking up this early, my body thinks it's supposed to wake up early like this every day for a few days. Yes, the struggle is real folks LOL.

Well I guess I should start preparing for this day. I still haven't come up with a dessert idea for Sunday yet, but it will come to me I'm sure :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!









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Start of a new week...

Good morning, everyone!!!

Yes, I know it's early early, but my work week this week is the early early shift. So yeah, this is how this new week starts off. Going from my new schedule of going in at 8 a.m. to going in at 4 a.m. 

This is going to be a good week. Why, because I plan to make it a good week regardless of what goes down this week. Last week was a hard one for my daughter-in-law, this week, will most likely be even harder. So please keep your prayers coming.

Today twelve years ago I became a grandmother for the very first time. I can't believe my grandson is twelve already. It just doesn't seem possible. But here we are twelve years later and he's growing into a fine young man. I'm just so proud of this little man. Grandpa and I are taking him camping with us this weekend. I can't wait :) He'll love the lake we're going to and hopefully enjoy a bit of fishing :) 

I signed up yesterday for an auction and a book signing for Fall 2019. I'm also considering another book signing for Summer 2019. Which means I need to get a few more books out before both. So, back to the old grind I will go beginning this week. I took the week before off due to the holiday weekend, and last week, things were just too crazy with everything going on, so this week, I need to prepare myself to get back on schedule and get things done. One just needs a few edits, one needs to be finished writing, then two more need to go into edits. So, it's time to get off my butt and get busy :)

The early shift will hopefully help me get things in perspective a bit and get back in the swing of things. Then the later shifts will help me keep things going like they should.

I've always done my best writing work late into the night. With the new shift I'm going to be doing, well, I stay up later which helps the writing go smoother :) So it could be a win win here :)

This week has made me think a great deal about life in general. Death does that to me. It makes me think of where I should be in this life and what I want to leave behind when I'm gone. I also do a lot of thinking about my faith. I have a great deal of firm beliefs in this lifetime. I also have a great deal of questions I am continually asking the Lord and Lady to reveal to me. The 'whys' of the world so to speak.

I understand we all have a season in which we are here on this earth. I understand it is meant to touch lives in such a way they will remember you for those things special to them. But it is also a time when we grow as a person and learn life's lessons that make us into a better person.  I've been presented with a challenge this year that I have been struggling internally with, however, every baby step I take in the right direction allows me to feel better about myself in ways I didn't know was possible. Each step is harder than the one before, but that's okay, I know inwardly I am beginning to grow and for that I can be thankful. Sometimes the best lessons are the hardest life's pressures. 

I learned last weekend I could go ahead and allow myself some me time with friends and family. I realized I had a choice to make, to allow a situation to ruin my weekend or allow myself to continue to enjoy myself and take back that control. I took back that control. Of course, things found a way to set heavy on my heart, bringing forth another choice which I had to make. A choice I made once again with some deep thought involved. I am glad I made those choices in the end. I needed a weekend to just be and not have the pressures of this life hanging heavy on my mind. I am glad I took that time. My perspective is so much healthier now.

It's hard sometimes when we see people making bad choices, but even harder when those people are close to you. You want to shake them and say wake up, but sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. You have to wonder why they make the choices they do, then to realize you've always been the one to bail them out of their bad choices in this life. That's where I sit today, struggling not to step in. Sometimes people have to live their own consequences and learn from them. If someone is always stepping in, helping them through the struggle, then they learn nothing. That my friends, is my biggest downfall. Being a fixer.

Relationships in this lifetime involve two people. Not two people and someone to fix the issues when everything goes wrong. So, instead of playing mediator any longer, I've come to the decision in this life to quit being the fixer and let others fix their own issues. This may not sound like much, but believe me if you are a fixer in this life you know what I'm talking about.

Sometimes you just have to let people stand on their own. This is not giving up on anyone, it is loving them enough to allow them the same life's lessons you've learned by learning to stand on your own two feet. When you're a fixer everyone turns to you to fix their relationships with those around them. But one thing I've learned from life is there are only two people who can fix the issues and that is the two involved with one another, no one else.

Something else I've learned in this lifetime is we're each entitled to our feelings. We're also entitled to the consequences that goes along with our choices. Good or bad. I've been the person blame has been laid on. I've been the person that has been praised for helping. But either way, I have to step back and allow people their own karma. I cannot keep stepping up when a major life's lesson is on another's doorstep, but I can be there to help guide them through the rough patches, if they are willing to do the work to grow from the situation.

That's a fine line to balance, but I'm learning :)

The recent events in the writing world really helped me put this in perspective. One person going around bullying others then claiming they are the victim. I had only seen one side to this argument until yesterday when I decided I should really hear both sides and did a search on the author who began all of this. What I saw was eye opening to say the least and made me deep think life in general. Giving things a new perspective.

The woman wasn't very nice in her response to people, justifying her actions in a way that just said to me, "I am doing this because I can and who cares what you think." There is a time and place for this attitude and frankly, this time and place isn't the right one for her. She's killing her career and killing her reputation in a way that it will be hard to recover from.

Most authors are a different breed of people. They are supportive of one another, do their best to help one another succeed, and generally just understand what it is like to be an author. Then there are the few that are like this woman, who treat this as a dog eat dog profession. Which it is not, there are hundreds of thousands of readers in this world, there is room for all of us here, as long as people work together and not bully one another.

That's the wonder of this wonderful writing community. You will never find another profession where both writers and readers join together and make this a wonderful and exciting job. An adventure so to speak :)

I'm always telling my chapter members, be careful what you put out there in the social media world. It is not denying a part of ourselves to be cautious of what we put out there, but it is helping us build a professional brand. To bring to light a professional aura to the writing world that has never been so visible before the age of social media. Social media can make us but it can also break us in a heartbeat.

Well I better prepare for this day.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!














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Catching up...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​It's been awhile since I blogged. We've been super busy with the holiday weekend. Hubby and I took the camper to my sister's place last Wednesday then stayed there to help get things ready for the holiday weekend bash. 

​It was a great time. Lots and lots of food. Lots and lots of people who came out to share the fun. Quite a few camping this year. There were campers and tents set up everywhere :) Tons of golf cart rides through the woods. People walking through the woods. Kids swimming in the pond. 

​My brother-in-law smoked a ton of meat, turkey, lamp, pork, and deer. We women made a ton of side dishes and drinks. It was fun hanging out in the kitchen working side by side preparing for the weekend :)

​It was hard coming back to work on Tuesday. Resuming life as normal after such a weekend. However, it makes me look forward to vacation in July :)

​Hubby and I will be heading out to camp for another get together in another week. This time with old friends. 

​There is just something about this time of year that I can't get enough of. I adore the outdoors and the sunshine. Being with friends and enjoying catching up after the long winter. 

​Soon I need to head to my sister's again to help weed our garden. The plants are looking amazing (I hope to get a pic of it soon) and things are just moving right along in that department. 

​Please keep my daughter-in-law in your thoughts and prayers. She lost her grandmother yesterday and I know her heart is breaking. She needs strength right now to continue to get through all that is left to do. But she will need that strength in the up and coming weeks as things slow down. Her grandmother was her world. I've never seen someone who adored their grandmother more and I know in my heart this is really breaking her heart. So please, if you would just take a moment to pray for her I would be very grateful. 

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!













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