Beauty From Ashes

I emailed this post so many people that read this blog probably have already read this...however, I cannot pass an opportunity to praise my God...

We found out at Christmas I was pregnant again.  

Two weeks later, I started spotting.  Now two ultrasounds later, we have found out I have a blighted ovum.

I am still unsure what this is...but I basically, I still have a growing gestational sac but no baby. I will eventually miscarry. We are praying my body naturally does this soon. With a blighted ovum, your HCG levels can still rise for months, telling your body it is still pregnant. I could have a D&C, but with all the other pelvic trauma in the last couple of years, we are wanting to minimize scar tissue. The D&C or the pregnancy going a long time could cause this so we are praying specifically that it will happen in the next couple of weeks. It will be great for closure as well. Now onto the personal aspect of this email...you all know my greatest heart's desire in my relationships is authenticity. I just want to share with you each what God has done for us through this....Bobby and I both said from the beginning, we will praise You if we have a baby and we will praise You if it is taken away. So right now, I want to give Him praise for what He has done. "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13 When I started spotting last Monday, I knew I was standing at a crossroads. I knew that this trial...this heartache would either send me spiraling over the edge, away from my faith...away from the refuge of my God...toward bitterness and despair and depression. Or that I was going to come through it stronger...better. At the moment I saw blood again (my previous pregnancy was ectopic and I miscarried that pregnancy as well), I panicked. I was clinging in every way to my desire. My desperation for this baby. I wanted control. I wanted to know it was going to be okay. I have always claimed knowledge is power and so often, when I am vulnerable or scared, I seek information on the internet, or from others rather than running to the feet of my Father. This so often fueled my fear rather than eliminating it. Or it would be temporary and would last until the next wave of fear came upon me. I did this all day Monday. Monday night, I was at my darkest. My father in law called and encouraged Bobby to seek refuge in the Word. To seek the power and comfort that abides there. I got in bed that night, clasp my eyes shut tight and started begging God. I started that time begging Him for this baby. However, I spent what I can only describe as a supernatural time in the Word, walking away from my time saying "Thy will be done.."and meaning every word. I will say, the sweetest lesson in all of this has been of faith. I once thought that if I believed enough, did enough, asked the right way, promised enough, my will would be done. However, through this, I realized NONE of this is about us! Nothing. It about us coming to the end of ourselves and saying, "Please, you are all I want, all I need"...and knowing He is more than enough. 

I once heard a quote that the opposite of faith is not unbelief but despair. I now know that as truth. I was despairing though I tried not to as I clung to my desperation for this child until I let my trust in God take over. As I said in an email to some of you earlier, this is the kind of time that makes people ask why? and struggle to serve an all-powerful, all-knowing God that allows things like this to happen to HIs people. So many people cannot cross over that line and serve a God like that. But as one who has just walked through the fire, I can only say that these are the times that God shows HImself strong, and that your faith is purified. That the junk, the stuff you thought was shiny and great is revealed as dross and burned away. I have realized that I have spent 22 years giving lip service to a God that I had yet to fully meet. That is the sweetness of a relationship with a Holy God. He reveals Himself through each thing if you will let Him. I felt a peace, the peace that He talks about in Phillipians, the peace that transcends all understanding and guards your hearts and minds enveloped me and carried me like a bubble, protecting me from all I thought was going to sweep me under. Then I felt God gently tugging at the strongholds in my life. I realized my medical family has relied for years on the miracles of modern medicine (which I still praise God for) but over THE GOD OF MIRACLES. I also realized I have spent my life protecting my heart from the wrong person. I told my Mom yesterday that I was guarding my heart and she asked me how I would feel if Abby Kate told me she was guarding her heart against me. I replied that I was no longer guarding my heart against the what ifs, but now against my own desires. I have simply imagined my precious God weeping with me saying "Daughter, I know you are hurting. I am so sorry. But this precious child was going to be disabled, sick, not whole, or very worse, would never come to know me. The pain you are feeling will be temporary in intensity but those other things would hurt you until the day you die. This is a tender mercy." I know that may not be true, or off theology, but it is what I see. I will just end with a verse Bobby came across last night, which holds such joy, such power. It says, "I, even I, am He who comforts you...And you forget the Lord you Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; You have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he has prepared to destroy. (this is our favorite part!) And where is the fury of your oppressor? The captive exile hastens, that he may be loosed, that he should not die in the pit...but I am the Lord your God, who divided the sea whose waves roared---the Lord of hosts is HIS name! And I have put My words in your mouth, I have covered you with the shadow of my hand..." Isaiah 51:12-16 Through this, not only I have gained freedom from the pit, but I have come to know my God, not as I have known Him to be, nor as I have been taught He is, but as He knows HImself to be.

Servanthood

I just finished a book that had a quote in it I loved.  It refers to motherhood.  It remembers a simpler time.  One that beckons to me often.  Now when a beloved friend needs a gift, I will give her an apron.  Attached will be this quote...

"Ma, why do you wear aprons?"

"An apron is like a uniform, you know, like a nurse wears a white dress and shoes.  When I put my apron on, it's my way to telling you that everything I do around here is for you, because I love you."

"...when I am washing the dishes or making a meal or cleaning the house, I think about you and how much pleasure you'll have in eating a good meal or living in a peaceful, clean house.  You're why I do all this.  Because I love you, I spend my days serving you.  There's no greater way to show love than to serve.  When you really love someone, you don't mind doing things for them.  It's a joy." 

"Like when you getting Daddy his coffee in the morning?"

"Yes, honey, like that.  I do it because I love him, and I choose to do it."

"Taking care of you and David and your pa--those are the greatest blessings of my life."

Sweet Friends

Laura and I drove to Edmond last weekend for Lacie's surprise 30th birthday dinner. I cannot tell you how fun it was to get in the car and have 1.5 of uninterrupted adult conversation and then a 4 hour dinner complete with chips and salsa and cheese dip and flour tortillas thicker than pancakes and perfect conversation. I adore comfortable friends. The kind you can be 100% authentic with....We miss Lacie SO much but it was so fun to see her and their new house!
*Oh and by the way, I am getting my dorky hair cut this afternoon! I am praying I finally have found someone that will cut my hair into a cute style!

Dear Me...

Dear Me,
I just wanted to write real quick to remind you not to take life....health...love for granted. You are so blessed. God has intentionally shown Himself to you, time and time again. Just this morning, you were told your daughter may have diabetes. You know first hand the ravaged results this disease leaves in its path. You spent 15 minutes driving to a lab, only to hold down your baby as she was stuck and blood was drawn from her veins. As she locked eyes with you, sobbing, you sobbed too, begging God to let it be you, not her. You spent another hour and a half waiting for the results, refusing to think what this may mean to her life while pleading this cup be passed from her. When the phone rang, good news was delivered and you felt, once again, that God was there. Listening and faithful.
A little over a year ago, you were told you had a tumor on your ovary. The C word was mentioned and you spent 4 days awaiting results that could have taken the gift of life from your lungs. You spent that 4 days clinging to your child, your husband...praying for the chance to live. You did not even consider the fact it may affect future child bearing. You merely wished to live and watch the one He had given you dance through life. You have wrestled since with what that surgery meant for your future family. Remember what He gave you. The chance to wake up again. And to love...and breathe...and taste...and see.
Ultimately, I want you to remember that life began when you accepted Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life. He never promised you it would be easy....He only said you'd never go alone. He is the only one worthy of His promise. And He promised to never leave or forsake you. He promised plans to prosper, not to harm you. Though your plans may be passed over, His are always better.
Keep your eyes on only He that is faithful,
Stephanie
"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Tradition

I woke up this morning feeling as if I was 7 again...excited about the day that I got to dress up and pretend for a whole day and the adult world encouraged it! I remember not knowing Halloween had evil roots. I just loved the day. Even as a girl, I loved to imagine and dream and pretend. I remember each Halloween my Mom would put on a huge pot of chili for all our friends to come over and in the early years, they would get Wild Horse Mountain BBQ which was a hometown favorite. My Nannie and Grumpies would come and my Grumpies would dress up as the Great Pumpkin and serve candy to the thousands of children who knocked on our door.
As I mentioned in a previous post, my family had precious friends. Still does. These whole families who meshed into ours and lived beside one another. We learned to ride bikes together, learned about Jesus, laughed and cried. We celebrated holidays together and took pictures on first days of school.
Halloween was no exception. We lived in a neighborhood that was perhaps the busiest in town on Halloween. I was not exaggerating when I said thousands of children would come to our door. So by 5:00, it would be impossible to get in and out of our neighborhood. My Dad would come home early, our friends would arrive and eat and then we would all set out together trick or treating in the dark. We would race from house to house laughing and screaming about the candy!
Now that I am on the other side, I know our parents loved it as much as we did. They got to spend time with each other and watch their children delight in pretending! I also now see the sacrifice my Nannie and Grumpies made by driving 2.5 hours, even on the days Halloween fell on a week night and spent making it special for us.
So tonight, I will watch my little bumblebee explore the world of her imagination and hold my Mom's hand, who came to be here and perhaps fire up a pot of chili. We will meet our friends and set out with our children. I just love tradition. Don't you?

Finally Finished....

Here is the final product of my "new" entry way the the pew I mentioned a month or so ago. The only thing left is a cushion I am having made with red ticking stripe fabric. I ADORE the way this turned out!

Fears Recognized

So I had a weird day a couple of days ago. The meteorologists had been calling for severe weather all week and though not much can faze our state, when they begin saying things like "tornadoes likely," you would be a fool not to ready yourself. So the day comes and the skies are overcast. All day I keep waiting to the telltale signs rolling in....the green tint to the sky, the low black clouds, the still air. I only had AK at home and had put her down for her nap early so in case of our needing to take cover, I wouldn't have to wake a grouchy baby. So I am sitting at my computer which is on the west side of our house. The view out of my office's window is another house 25 feet away. I hear a loud boom and think to myself, "oh here they go...the storms are firing up." So I go into the living room where I have a south, unobstructed view and see the same overcast skies. But as I walk into my kitchen, I see a ton of smoke just over another house on 25 acres behind us. The trees are huge so I could not see what was causing the smoke. I went outside and not 3 seconds later, I hear another boom and realize I am hearing explosions. Suddenly, helicopters are circling, people are frantically running down the street behind my house, and the emergency vehicles begin. 8 firetrucks, 4 ambulances and I quit counting on the police. I am thinking in my head, "oh sweet Lord, someones house has exploded." I kept praying for those effected. I turned on the news, hoping to see what had happened. I finally kept refreshing my internet until I see the story appear. "Planes crashes. No survivors."
Death surrounds us every day. People die....it is part of life. However, this tragedy has effected me so strangely. It was someones entire family. Wife and children and the pilot. I cannot fathom what he is feeling. Going from a family of five to a family of one in one day. What do you do? My heart has broken for this man. I simply do not know what to pray for him. But I am anyway.
It has just reminded me that none of us are promised tomorrow. That when my husband leaves this morning, I am going to kiss him soundly and tell him how precious he is....how proud of him I am, how much I respect him. And when my baby wakes up and we sing "Good Morning George How are You?" and her sweet voice rings of innocence and purity, I will scoop her up and kiss every exposed inch of her. I will breathe in her baby scent and tell her how much I adore her. I will be thankful for the gift of waking up. I will be thankful that I have a God that cares and is always present....even when tragedy strikes and He could of stopped it.

Go Vote!

I am just reminding all my fellow Tulsans to go vote YES on the river tax today.
Just a tidbit of what the package would bring to Tulsa and our economy.

A $500 million private development will be built on the west bank of the Arkansas River, if the October 9 river vote passes. That word is according to the developers of the Branson Landing project in Branson, Missouri.

Those developers were in Tulsa Wednesday to show detailed plans of their proposed "Tulsa Landing". They say the drawings are very close to what the final project would look like.

So Good

Oh Ya'll. I just love me some Paula Deen. I know Nancy, Erin and Autumn can attest to that. I make her recipes often and we tried this last night and it was DELICIOUS. Just thought I would pass it on. SO EASY! And yummy!

Shrimp and Wild Rice Casserole Recipe courtesy Paula Deen Show: Paula's Home Cooking Episode: Comfort Food

1 (8-ounce) package wild rice 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1/2 onion, chopped 1 (10 3/4-ounce can) condensed cream of mushroom soup 2 cups grated sharp Cheddar Salt and pepperCook the rice according to package directions minus 1/4 cup water. Drain and cool. Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 tablespoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook the shrimp for 1 minute. Drain immediately and set aside. Heat the butter in saucepan and saute the pepper and onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the rice, soup, 1 1/2 cups of cheese, shrimp and vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix well. Spray a 9-inch square aluminum cake pan or an 11 by 7-inch glass casserole dish with vegetable spray. Place the mixture in the pan and top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly. *I did not put in the green pepper or onion. I actually used the butter and put some minced onion in it. B hates onions. It had SUCH great flavor. We decided we might try it with chicken some time or you can omit the shrimp and just use it at a side.

The Change...

I am not sure when it started. The apathy. The lukewarmness. The spiritual laziness. The fear. The doubt. The insecurity.
It probably was always there...but it became more and more a part of me. Day after day, choice by choice.
Truth became hazy. The world became attractive. Wants became needs. People became saviors.
I danced. I danced for those I thought wanted me to dance. I did the polka and the waltz and the salsa and the two step.
I conformed. I wanted to please. I claimed it was part of my personalitity. I secretly thought it made me likeable and sweet.
I wanted to be everything to everyone. Needed. I wanted to be a passionate believer to the seasoned. I wanted to be an intellectual to those who could not believe. I wanted to be a modest beauty. I wanted to be called hot. I wanted to give all I have to the poor, orphaned and widowed. I wanted a spa in my home and a unlimited gift card to Banana. I wanted a doting husband. I wanted to be the boss. I wanted to do full time ministry. I wanted to be a movie star. I wanted to read everything I could get my hands on about Jesus. I wanted to read every line in US Weekly. I wanted to have more time. I wanted to watch my DVRed shows 9 hours a week. I wanted to make everyone in my life feel special. I wanted everyone to ask about me.
How does this work? This paradox. This life of faith?
After reviving my quiet times with the Lord in the mornings, I have been reminded.
I prayed. He heard.
Life is different. My heart tender. News that would have provided gossip fodder has broken me. My heart is vulnerable. The things I have held with clenched hands have begun to fall.
The Me I have constructed is not who I was created to be. I am so glad.
He is so trustworthy. This life is messy. It is hard. It is fleeting.
I am so thankful He is worthy. Because I am not. I am so thankful there is more to life than me.

A Life Well Lived....

I have had so much to think about today. My sweet husband had surgery on Tuesday as I had mentioned and the recovery has been so rough. We truly covet your prayers. In addition to the grief of watching one you love hurt, ironically this girl from a medical family practically overdosed my husband. I have been flitting about, silently patting myself on the back for being such a compassionate, competent nurse and as I handed the hydrocodone to my husband last night, he looked at it and said in a tonsil-less whisper, "is this right? It seems you are giving me more and more." Always one to have a hard time admitting I am wrong, I confidently replied, "of course." He handed me back the half full shot glass (it is actually cute little rooster juice glasses but the size of a shot glass) and said, "well then I don't want this much." It was then I realized that yesterday morning, I had begun measuring his medicine with a medicine cup and had thought the tablespoon was actually a teaspoon. I have been sick over my mistake and though I know guilt is not of the Lord, I have been drowning in it. I asked for the forgiveness of my in-laws, who are here as well to take care of him and they graciously showed me lavish grace. Even my husband, who is hurting so extra badly today because he had 4 times the medicine yesterday to hide the true pain and has had horrible stomach problems all afternoon (thankfully the doc says is from the antibotic and not the pain meds OD but you can never be sure) has forgiven me. But I am just sick over my carelessness, my irresponsibilty. It is so typical of me. I do things so fast and so confidently. My husband, who I affectionately dubbed my turtle, does EVERYTHING slowly, precisely. Whereas it takes me 20 minutes tops to pay our bills and balance our checkbook, it would have taken him 2 hours. So this error is not only careless, but I have been asked repeatly by my husband to slow down and pay better attention. I gambled with his life and PRAISE GOD His hand was protecting his body from me. I am reminded how sweet grace truly is...the unmerited favor shown at the darkest of times. It has reminded me of Jesus...whose live WAS given for me, even when it was MY sin that put Him there.
I also wanted to use this post to honor a life well lived. Isn't sweet, such a measure of God's care for us that He gives us precious friends to walk beside in this life? My family had PRECIOUS friends. I now realize how unusual it is to have other families that feel as close as your blood. That have walked beside you through each stage and have spoken into your life in powerful ways. One such family in our lives is the Wells family. Most of you that know me have heard me speak of them and know how special they are to us. In college, my parents finally moved next door to them and we have gotten to share a cul-de-sac as well as our lives. The mom, Suzi, is a precious Godly woman who comes from an incredible Godly heritage. You know when you meet someone whose life just screams BLESSING? She is one such woman. Not only from her own choices in life but also from her Godly parents whose prayers have followed her throughout life. Our families are close enough that we loved each others extended family as well. Suzi's Mommy, sweet Boettsie went home to be the Lord this morning. When my Mom called to tell me this morning, my heart broke for Suzi's Dad, who loved his wife more than his own life. Theirs was a love affair worth wrtiting about....But also thought of the party going on in Heaven to welcome such a precious child home. I have no doubt she heard the words "well done good and faithful servant" and that her crown was so full of the jewels of her servant's heart that they had to get help as she laid it at the feet of her Jesus. Her needlepointed picture she finished for me sits by my beside, reminding me to "keep my eyes on Jesus" as she so often told us all. But more importantly, her life showed us how. This fallen world is brighter because God shared her with us. She will be so missed....

I'm Back!

For all the business of summer, my computer COMPLETELY crashing, I mean dead....and the anticipation of my hubbies upcoming surgery (removal of tonsils and fixing a deviated septum), I have been out of action on the blog front. Not much new to report in my world, except for the fact I got a sweet new iMAC computer which has been fun to tinker with....expect lots of new fun videos and pics. Although probably more so on Abby Kate's blog than on this one.
I have been trying to think of a subject of significance to post updating on my thoughts, life, new tricks...hmmm....but I keep coming up empty.
I have been contemplating my favorite blog subject....motherhood lately. I am realizing how hard the first child sydrome is when you stay home and spend time with them all day. Lets just say she is suffering from extreme egocentric-ism. We have gone to play at the mall a few times and she just sits there fasinated but will not play unless I am glued to her side. I am trying to encourage her to play by herself by making myself unable throughout the day. She is getting better. However, this child I thought was going to be fearless seems to have a timid side when she gets around other children. I know this makes sense. She is with me all day and is always at ease with adults. She just is struggling with her counterparts. I am starting a Bible study on Thursday mornings at our church so she will have more time with other children then as well as at church on Sundays. We do play dates and she does well after a while. She does much better with older children than with other toddlers. I can see how this is a downside of children being at home instead of daycare. However, I am willing to pay this price so this is merely thinking out loud than wishing for the alternative.
I am doing a little fall cleaning around here and doing massive purging. We still have so much stuff we got from our wedding that has never been out of the box....glasses that have never been used, etc...I am now just trying to figure out what is going to Goodwill and what will be consigned or yard sold (random grammar...sorry). I hate yard sales but I may have to do one with this random assortment of things. I am just craving organization in my life!
I am about to start a few new projects. Painting an armoire and iron bed and bedside tables for Abby Kate's big girl room. I am super excited about the armoire. I am painting it antique white and will distress it and am taking out the panels of the top two doors and getting coordinating fabric and gathering it on a rod at the top and bottom and hanging it over the opening. I will post pictures when I finished. I still have not figured out when we are going to transition but as soon as things settle down we will try. I really would like to make my office a playroom as well and make move the craft table in here. I would love to paint a wall with the chalkboard paint so we would have a HUGE canvas to draw upon but I am sure that would not be great for resale someday nor are we sold on what rooms will be children's bedrooms eventually so I am sure I will hold off. She is getting pretty into coloring now so the endless possibilities of art projets make me giddy!
I also started painting monogrammed canvases for friend's weddings, birthday gifts and/or baby gifts and starting selling them so that has been fun too. I am doing small canvases with wired ribbons to hang spelling "thankful" for over my mantle (or entryway....haven't decided) for fall and am going to do the same spelling "believe" for Christmas. It is super easy. Just get stencil paper and find a font you love and then print it. Cut out the stencil and trace it onto the painted canvas. The get a hard wired small paint brush and paint away. This part takes practice but you could do it! I LOVE decorating for holidays!
I so hope all is well in each of your lives. God is so good!

Incredible...

Lest you think I have become a Godtube addict...this is so incredible. It is very Jesus centered so if you are not a Christian, it may offend. But I will say, amazing picture of His love for us....

So Cute!

Its an addiction really....

I cannot believe I have been blogging for about a year and I have never devoted a post to my first nonhuman love. Oh the deliciousness....fellow addicts know exactly what I am talking about. Popping the tab, or better yet, ordering the Sonic 44 and taking a sip of the icy cold goodness. It just makes me giddy thinking about it.

When I read things coffee drinkers write, I always think how adult and sophisticated they sound. Quaint and warm is the picture of someone curling up with a good cup of coffee. I tried it for a while. I really tried. I wanted to be grown up...with my Starbucks in hand as I shopped. I wanted to use the cute mugs that came with my dishes. I really did. But I just couldn't get it. My sweet husband kept telling me to quit trying to conform. If I had to try this hard, it was just as immature as giving into the peer pressure to drink in high school...which I never did for that matter. So I quit. Cold turkey. I still enjoy a Starbucks Vanilla Frappacino but lets face it, it is more milk and sugar than it is coffee so it doesn't count.

So now, I proudly open my Diet Coke first thing in the morning and sip. It just makes me happy. I kick into gear and begin to feel like I am sneaking something special into a mundane day.

It was the forerunner, actually the only true thing I grieved when I got pregnant. Giving it up was the hardest thing about pregnancy for me. Not to mention realizing I could not have it for the months that followed her birth because of breastfeeding (believe me, I needed it :))

So all this brings me to my funny story. We were on vacation this past week and I was sitting in the back with AK reading a People magazine. I flipped the page to a Diet Coke ad and AK exclaimed, "Mama's! No, no!"

Oh the horror! My 20 month old baby knows a Diet Coke can by sight and knows the scolding that follows when she tries to touch it. Hey, I love the stuff but my baby is NOT putting it in her body! Hehe!

New, New, New!

Before









After














I am a nester....to the core. I have been since college. I love home. The feel, the safety, the comfort. At times, I find being married to a builder a challenge to my contentment but most often, I am just grateful. We just got home from vacation, B's flooring guys cut us a great deal on hardwood floors and while we were gone, they were installed, distressed, stained and sealed. I returned to a extremely dusty house but a beautiful change. Our carpet had little juice spots from AK's sippy and the dogs love to track in dirt and Lord knows what else. I was vacuuming once a day and was getting tired of it never feeling clean. I just adore the look and feel of the new floors. The look aged yet elegant. Just the way I want my home to feel.
I got the rug at an amazing deal at the Marshall's Megastore in Osage Beach (where we vacationed), seriously, a forth of the cost I thought I would pay. I was all set to wait until Christmas or so but love that we got it early and feel it finishes the room.
As I love to pass on my housekeeping tips, and again, this is a disclaimer that I am NOT a champion house cleaner....I PROMISE. I just love reading others tips on how to get clean efficiently...ie: little time. I bought the swiffer dusters (look like the old dust puffs) and dusted all my blinds and ceiling fans and they are WONDERFUL!
I also got a great new blog passed on to me so I am passing it to you. If you love decorating and unique fun things to do with your home, this is a great site. She has a store in KC was you will see called Curious Sofa.
Okay, I would love some fun posts! I feel like I have been out of the loop a while!

Dancing....

Shocker Ahead....

For those of you that have known me my whole life, you just gasp in shock. Yes, my blonde hair went bye bye. In the middle of summer. When highlights are all the rage.
I have been highlighting my hair since I was 18. As I have aged, my hair has just gotten darker and darker. Call it curoisity, call it a budget that does not afford for highlights every 6 weeks, but i did it. I got it stripped of all highlights and back to my natural color. Can you BELIEVE how dark it is. She said it will lighten as I am in the sun. FUN FUN!
Just thought I would share!

CD!

I know you all are probably thinking I have now turned this blog over to promotion. I promise, I am not. But I read about this cd release at one of my favorite blogs, BooMama. If you are a blogger, or even just a blog reader, you will LOVE her. Such wit. Anyway, back at Monk and Neagle. Great sound. I love acuostic guitar and great harmony. You will enjoy I'll bet!

Book Recommendation

Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore or library and READ THIS BOOK! I have a lot of "best evers" but do not give books this title too often. This still does not beat my beloved Mark of the Lion series, but it is close. That is saying something folks. You will love it, love the characters and love the words.