His Act of Kindness

I walked into my daughter's school today and saw a little girl had dropped her binder causing a lot of paper to scatter on the floor. One young man stood over her, and I wondered why he wouldn't just bend down to help. I told her I would help, and he said when she dropped it, the paper came out, then some kids laughed and started kicking her stuff around the floor. He said he tried to stop it but was standing there to make sure it didn't happen again. He asked if there was anything else he could do to help when I was putting her paper back. I told him thank you for being kind to her. She never spoke. Her hurt was apparent. I watched him walk away as he looked back at her. So many kids passed her without helping.... just made me want to scream.... what's wrong with everyone! One good kid... and that's one she won't soon forget.

Kindness.... I know I've been more aware of the myself since that moment. My words.. my actions... these are tools to build up another or tear them down. It makes sense why KINDNESS is a fruit of the spirit. It really does demonstrate who you are from the inside out.

I'd love to hear about how someone has been kind to you.

Five Minute Friday - BROKEN

Five Minute Fridays! I do love them, and I miss them more than not, but today I'm thankful to be a part of this venture with such a great many others. For more on Lisa-Jo Baker's idea and 'how to' be a part of the fun check out her blog and link up!

Our word prompt.... BROKEN

How often we think of broken as something that can't be fixed, something that will take our time... something that is lost. I see that attitude spilling out of me from time to time, but not today. Today I sat alone in the waiting area while my son had his tonsils out. Others had stepped out for a moment and at once I was aware of the lonely that crept in. I sat there waiting for the results of a mammogram I had to have redone due to a suspicious spot on the first test. I sat there unable to keep a straight thought in my head and wishing I had someone there to take me by the hand and say everything will be fine.

I sat alone.

Then.... I received the information that my test results came back fine... I was broken.
Then... the doc came in and said my son was fine.... I was broken.

You see, broken doesn't mean something needs to be fixed.. not always. Today for me it meant that I was in a place where life was bare... life was raw... life had depth. The unnecessary had broken away. Tears are not always from sadness, because in a time of being broken, tears are for rebirth and renewal.

I sat alone.

My hands shook.
My heart raced.
My mind whirled.
I saw my life.

I have never been alone.

Walk With Me Wednesday

Welcome to my new Wednesday posts! I want you to walk with me. Talk with me. Tell me something fun about you. Sing with me.. share your favorite song. Dance with me... what is it that gives you joy TODAY. 

Consider this our time to walk together, and let's see what adventure we can discover.

Sometimes it's the beauty of things remembered that gives us joy in today and hope for tomorrow.. 

Today, tell me about your favorite childhood memory. 

How Should it End?

I haven't officially announced on my blog that my current manuscript has been accepted for publication in March 2014 with Write More Publications. CHOSEN: THE RISE OF THE DARK QUEEN is a bit different than my usual writing, and it has been great fun completing. Keep watching for updates!

Now that my novel is in line and the wheels are in motion to have it in your hands, I find myself overwhelmed with trying to finish edits on the next manuscript because the NEXT book is whirling inside just waiting to be written!

There is only one thing I can't figure out about the book that I haven't started. Oh, I know the beginning and the middle. It's the end that baffles me. What to do with the end? I love a good twist. I love a good cry. I love when love prevails. However, sometimes life really isn't like that, is it? The guy doesn't get the girl. The girl doesn't get the guy. Love doesn't survive. People die. People walk away. Sometimes struggles have no victory. Sometimes life is hard.

I was thinking about what my last editor told me when she had me change a few things. She sent me a great letter of suggestions with a huge smiley face that said... "If you want to connect with your readers, then be real. No one is THIS happy."

How should my book end? Do I end with a touch of reality and the main characters not have exactly what the reader expects? Do I give love a chance? My kids think I write too many happy endings. I say, sometimes sappy stories are a nice break. I want to hear what you think.

See the poll at the top right hand side? UP THERE

Answer that question for me, and let me know what you think about happily endings. 

Me... I say true love should win every time. :) 

Walk With Me Wednesday

Walking is a favorite pastime of mine, and I love walking with my sweet kids. We laugh, we skip, we sing, we dream, but best of all... for a short time... the world around us doesn't matter and we simply enjoy being a family.

Don't you enjoy holding hands with that wonderful someone while you walk along sharing your heart? Sappy girl stuff, yes I know, but that's me. :)

So, this is my new Wednesday posts. I want you to walk with me. Talk with me. Tell me something fun about you. Sing with me.. share your favorite song. Dance with me... what is it that gives you joy TODAY.

Consider this our time to walk together, and let's see what adventure we can discover.

Today, let's laugh. Tell me something funny that happened to you lately.

Five Minute Friday.... SONG

Fridays make everyone happy, don't you agree? If it's Friday then it's time for Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday. If you've never been a part of the fun, read up on what we get to do and join us all on twitter next Thursday night for the Five Minute Friday Party #FMFparty and meet a lot of fantastic people who love to laugh.

These are the guidelines from Lisa-Jo Baker's blog. Come on and join the fun!

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that I post here at 1 minute past midnight EST ever Friday. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag#FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real. (Go check out the rest on her blog. You'll be glad you did!)

Today's writing prompt is SONG

Do you have a favorite song? Think about that seriously for a moment. Your all time favorite song. Now, in the comment section below I want you to tell me what that song is. I'd love to know what song moves you, what song brings back beautiful memories, what song inspires you.  I started trying to come up with my favorite, and I have favorites on different levels, if that makes sense. I have a favorite worship song. "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" sung by Charles Billingsley. Then I have a favorite Bon Jovi Song, "I'll Be There for You"..... you know I had to include Bon Jovi. Then there's the all time favorite Elvis song, "Young and Beautiful". Then of course there's my favorite song from the 80s, "If You Leave." from the soundtrack Pretty in Pink. Favorite classic rock, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", and if you don't know that one then it's time to google. There are so many to choose from, and I'm not sure I have a favorite today. Oh, wait... yes I do. There's a song called. "You Make Me Smile"..... and that's the one song about the man that I'm completely in love with but haven't met yet. haha. Have a lovely time traveling down through your memories and thinking about all the songs that have touched your life. Remember, "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger."  

Now that you've had some time to think... what's your favorite song???? 

A to Z Challenge: Letter D

I'm playing catch up for a couple of days since my computer had a mind of its own for a day or so. For the month of April, I'll be posting retro facts from the 70s and 80s, organizational helps, a bit of Cherokee trivia, and some fun for those who pass this way on their A to Z journey. I'll be posting a writing prompt, either a word or a picture for anyone willing to participate.

Go retro - DIRTY DANCING

The all time favorite 80s dance movie. It was The Time of Our Lives. With 142,638,038 hits, this video is a must! 

Organize - DIY

Do it yourself! There are so many great sites out there to find exactly what you need to make your life a more pleasant place. Check out Life With 4 Boys for 10 great DIY organizing tips. 

Cherokee Trivia - The DEER Clan. One of the 7 clans in the Echota Tribe

Want to know more about the Deer Clan? Journey to Native American Antiquity. Great site. 

Writing Prompt - DECEPTION

Write three sentences using the theme of deception and use the word only once. Here's mine.....

Deception came easy for her. She enjoyed lying, and knowing he would always wonder what happened to her, she got on the train. Her note had simply stated, I am dead. 

Your turn!