"A Heart of Steel"

Good Morning Friends;

     I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! 

     Wow, and Christmas is just around the corner and all the craziness in preparations for the wonderful day fills our days and before you know it, it's here. 

     My hopes will be for everyone to keep the reason for the season a priority over the next couple of weeks.  Love always and Forgive quickly. 

     So, I promised everyone I would introduce the characters of my Novel in my next blog. 

     "A Heart of Steel" - A woman's fictional love story.

     It is set in the small town of Valley, Alabama. Valley sits majestically overlooking the mighty banks of the Chattahoochee River and is the dividing line on the west side of Georgia just north of Columbus and the east side of Alabama, just off I-85, halfway between Atlanta and Montgomery.

     It's a quaint little town and the home for our main character, Shelby Harrelson. The plot will cover her journey throughout her life from the late 60's and forward. While most love stories represents one love, "A Heart of Steel" will portray two love stories enveloped into one. 

    The other main characters are Jack Emerson, Richard Porter and Casey Porter. More about them later. 

    I had the privilege of spending time in Valley the Monday after Thanksgiving. Where Jose from the Village Coffee Shop, took time out of her busy schedule to show us around and she introduced us to several people.  They all had their own precious stories to tell of Valley as they were growing up and were so wonderful to share them with me.

     Armed with this new knowledge, it gave me a sense of living there myself and I hope to capture the readers hearts to feel the same.    

    Okay, so here is the beginning. Unfortunately, slower than I anticipated, my editor is having to teach me English 100 all over again.  ugh...I hated English in high school, but she assures me she will help me along the way.  Oh, and I still hate English.  I guess this will force me to learn even in my old age.

     The beach is very inspiring for me and as much as I would like to get out more and explore, I'm many times locked up in the cottage.  It's cold and raining at times, so that helps with keeping me on track.

     Until next time (somewhere between editing chapters) I hope you have a blessed day and remember be creative everyday in some special way.

Hugs

Kathy

    


    

Good morning friends. 

I hope this finds everyone well. 

It has been a while since my last blog. Life as you all know seems to control much of our time and efforts. Leaving no time for us to do the things we enjoy or want to do. 

For many of you, you may not be aware, about six months ago, I made a commitment to start checking off my bucket list.  I hope you have one too. (if not it is a must for everyone and we will talk about it, a little later)

The first on my list was to finish a novel, I had started a few years ago. Me writing a novel, now that's different.  But, yes, I've always written little short stories, and poems for family and friends, but never written on this scale. I have many journals tucked away in boxes and absolutely love it now going back and reading some of the things I wrote about. 

Anyway, so where is a new writer to begin?  Prayer, let me be perfectly clear here!  Yes, lots of prayers. Wow, only to have those prayers answered a little quicker than I anticipated, so be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.  But, hey they were clear to me. 

So here it is mid November 2014 and I sit in a tiny little two room shabby chic cottage on Tybee Island, just off the coast of Savannah, Ga.  Returning to the Island some 47 years after living here just 3 blocks away as a little girl at the age of ten. Now returning to write a novel. 

I just can't describe in words, this picture perfect little place, home away from home, for the next couple of months, as my voice transforms into words, and a very a inspiring little place to write. 

With so many things to share with everyone, I hope you will join my blog as we take this journey over the next couple of months, I hope to share with you, not only writing the next chapter in my book, but also living the next chapter in my Life. 

I'll try to give you a glimpse each day into the ever evolving novel  as I progress through it.  On my next blog, I'll introduce you to the title of the book and the characters, so stay tuned.  I would love all your comments. 

Have a wonderful blessed day, and remember be creative in some special way today. 

Hugs

Kathy



 

  

Is your Door open or closed?

Good Morning dear friends;

My morning usually begins quite early, yes I’m a morning person, always have been, am right now and always will be. For those of you who know me, you’ve heard me say for many years each day is a new bright sunshiny day. 

It starts with a fresh cup of morning Joe or a hot cup of honey and cinnamon, something to read and of course an open door. Yes that’s right, no matter if its 20 degrees or 95 degrees, my front door is always open.   Bless those who invented the storm door.  Family and friends ask me “why do you always have your front door open?  It’s freezing out there or its scorching out there”.  Well my dear friends….

Each day is a beautiful blessing from God, no matter the weather.   I don’t want to miss any opportunity that God presents before me.  So I must open that door to let the beauty of the day shine through.

You know he is so awesome and loves us so much that he presents us with limitless opportunities throughout the day, the question is “are we open to hear it, or too busy to see it, and  do we feel safe enough in him to be ourselves and accept them”?

An open door each day is a path for us to open our eyes, our ears, to slow down, to embrace and feel the beauty of the day and know we can be safe in ourselves thru God. 

So make sure each day you open your door, your heart, your eyes, your ears and let the sun shine in, no matter the weather and seize each and every opportunity that He may bestow upon you….

If you happen by and see my door open, you will know what I’m up too, and I welcome you in…

So if it is in God’s will, I will continue to keep the door open each and every day and feel perfectly safe in every way.  

Oh and yes it may cost me a little more in heating and air conditioning bills, but the Open Door is “Priceless”

Have a blessed day… and remember to be creative everyday in some special way…

Kathy

Bless the Empty Toliet Paper Rolls...

Good Evening my blogger friends.... I've been saving toliet paper rolls for the last month....  and who would of thought that such a useless piece of cardboard, could be a sweet blessing for someone to smile and make their day....I'm always trying to be creative and come up with something, when friends share their thoughts with me.... and I just couldn't help myself and have to share the cutest, sweetest, little Christmas gift. This is the easiest, really inexpensive and yet everyone that I've ever given these too loved them... they are great little gifts for teachers, co-workers, students, small groups to make and give.... 

so here's my tutorial for making these sweet little cuties. 

What really made me think about making a bunch of these, was a post on Facebook that said, when writing out your Christmas cards, to write an extra one out for

A "Recovering Soldier" and mail it to the "Walter Reed Hospital" in Washington DC...

and my thoughts were, how cool this would be to make bunches and bunches of these and send to them...

so if anyone wants to help, let me know and we'll put a box of them together and ship them to Washington....

Ok so here we go....

Supplies:

1 yrd of ribbon, cut in half (18" ea.)

8-10 pieces of candy

1 empty toliet paper roll

scotch tape

8 x 12 piece of wrapping paper (its usually about the sz of the pieces I throw away lol)

Next fill the roll with the candy....  

Place a piece of tape across the opening of each end... to hold the candy in place.

Next wrap and tape the roll with your favorite wrapping paper....

Next twist both ends...and then tie the ribbon around each end... all done... add a tag and its ready....

It's just a perfect little gift for anyone... while I mentioned our soldiers, this can be done for any special group... for nursing home recipients, patients in the hospital, especially little children.... you name your cause....

You could even stuff it with something really expensive.... hint, hint, hint.. lol

I bet the next time you empty a roll of toliet paper, you'll think of this little project...

Remember to be creative in some special way everyday....

\

Have a Blessed Evening...

Kathy

p.s.... please remember to join my blog so I know who has stopped by....

Bless each bill you receive!

Good morning my friends... I was just flipping thru the pages of my journal and came across a snippit of my thoughts back on 7-7-10... It must have been bill paying day... we all know what that means... I'm broke before I get started... its kinda like the half full, half empty glass of water persepective... maybe we can look at bill paying in some creative way. 

So, how could I see bills in a different perspective?  Here's what I wrote.... Bless each bill you receive, as your creditor believed in you and your ability to pay, and so should you..... Think of them as love letters, someone out there believes in your ability to pay them, or they wouldn't have let you have credit.... Thank each one of the companies you get a bill from, for trusting and having faith in you that you are the person, you said you were and by paying your bill will help another family pay theirs..... 

I must have been trying to come up with someway to be creative that day... I hope I did...

Remember be creative everyday in some special way...

Kathy

Happy Fall Ya'll...

Wow, where has the year gone? 

As I gaze at the photo, I've found myself this year caught up in my own little world dealing with my own little issues, and letting my days be controlled by outside sources.  We tend to do this you know, whether its something or someone, which we have no control over, be it a result of our own or someone else's actions....

But, looking back now, I ask myself, how could I see when I had my eyes on me? I missed the beauti of some of the simplest things, that stood right before me.

God, gives us many opportunities everyday, but whether we choose to grasp and run with them is a result of our taking the time to watch and listen...

Fall is my favorite time of the year... the changing of the season with it's burst of extraordinaire color, the cool chilly nights, the fall festivals, fall decorations, the anticipation of the Holidays and family gatherings, all just around the corner... It's definitely the time of year to get out and enjoy all the beauti that God so graciously displays right before our eyes.

I wanted to share some photo's of the pretty things that warms my heart. Enjoy!

I came across this beauti of a front entrance, and of course the creative side of me, was ready to rush off to Hobby Lobby to buy everything I needed to pull this one off... ugh but my wallet said something different.... so I'm back to the creative drawing board, just how can I pull this off on a very limited budget... so I'll keep you posted...

Ok, so I don't quite have a mantle, but would absolutely love to do this one.

 

This one I could probably do, I have lots of glass already, so this one just might work within my budget...

Oh gosh, now wouldn't your man, just love this one... the budget may not work for such a massive one, but I bet you could pull it off on a much smaller scale... 

Ok, so my man can have the other one.... I'm setting my eyes' on this one.... What ya think?

Come on over and share your photo's with us, tell us what warms your heart...and I'll be

 saving a seat for you......  

Have a blessed and wonderful day!  Remember; Be creative everyday in some special way... 

Kathy

Worth Defending in Battle!

Good Morning all! Thank you for stopping by.... I was flipping thru the pages of my journal and came across one of my entries and while I love to share happier thoughts, there are times, when our feelings are not always on the happier side. Reading over some of my entires this one kinda stuck out for me, as our family reached a mile stone this past week and now it has become an inspiration for me and wanted to share it with you all....

Worth Defending in Battle

7-23-12

Martina McBride has a song, which  I love and says, “Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world”…

My heart is sadden with all the pain our families are faced with today… there seems to be so much hurt, pain, and suffering. 

I see it among my own family, immediate and distant family… friends and their families… and often wonder what could stop all this pain…

This morning I awoke and asked what scripture would I like to read this morning?  It was revealed quite quickly to me “Ephesians” of course one of my favorite books of the Bible…

As I began to flip through the pages Ephesians 6:10-19 caught my attention.  After spending a few minutes reading and absorbing these scriptures, it made me think about a week earlier, when I had a surprise lunch experience. 

My youngest daughter Rachal and I, made plans to meet my oldest daughter Celia for lunch…. Upon arrival of the stated meeting time, Rachal and I sat chit chatting, and time began to pass… and wonders of where Celia could be as she had text me earlier and said she was on her way… 15 minutes had passed and I texted her back “where are you, you ok”?  She quickly text back and said yes….

To my surprise not only did she come, but both my son’s came along with her… OMG nothing could have warmed my heart more…. Here we are all together, right here before me the true loves of my life…

I looked around at each one of them, and as they smiled at me, I could see the hurt in their eyes and feel the pain in their heart.  My family has gone thru so many trials and tribulations over the last couple of years and these precious children, a gift from God, have been so blessed, and yet has experienced many struggles in their short life already. I see this in too many families today.

Life sometimes carries heavy burdens, whether they are a result of our own bad decisions or a victim of another’s bad decisions, either way families suffer and only we can cast off those burdens, and set ourselves free from them…

A mother feels every bump in the road, every hurt her children will feel, every pain they will experience and every struggle they will face, no one has to remind a mother of her love for her children… for they are her life here on earth, for she will wage any battle with those who threatens their very being…

I realize now they need assurance from me that all is well, and not to worry… for we must put the Amor of God upon us… for these young adults are facing many struggles in their lives and as a mother, I must share the wisdom for which God has so graciously given me…   just 2 days ago a wonderful older and very wise woman looked me in the eyes and said “Kathy, I just know that all will be good for you and the children, there is no question in my mind, for God is good and he has said all will be ok”.  That statement has filled my heart with hope, knowing that thru all of this, I have the Armor of God ready for any and all battles. 

So as I write my thoughts and say my prayers for many… I know there is no battle that can be won, without the Armor of God and I shall armor my children.

We shall buckle the belt of Truth around our waist, attach the breastplate of Righteousness around our chest, firmly plant our feet with the readiness of Peace, take on the shield of Faith, place on our head the helmet of Salvation, along with the sword of the Spirit and defend the battle for which others have waged upon us. For with this Armor no battle is to big… and we are assured victory…  

Families are institutions created by God; they are his highest priority for us, next to our personal salvation.  They are worth defending in battle…. A battle I will fearlessly defend with God’s Armor…

Make sure you carry the armor of God upon you and have a blessed day!

Be creative everyday in some special way! 

Kathy