Visiting with friends

Yesterday I got to spend some time with a friend I hadn't actually really talked with in a year. It doesn't seem like that long has passed, but I guess it had. Odd how time just seemed to get away or get in the way of visiting. But yesterday I made the time and went to see her. It was great. I needed it probably as much as she did.LOL It did make me wonder why I kept putting off calling or dropping by. Seems like there was always something going on, but we all need to stop and take the time to spend with friends, more than just online. I'm the first to admit I make a terrible in person friend, if you are not my mom or hubby that is. Since my mom and hubby are my best friends, they are stuck with me :). But other friends, well I tend to be a homebody and somewhat of a hermit once I get here. And I take after hubby in not really wanting people at the house. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I'm not much of a housekeeper. I'll admit it, I'm lazy. IF ANYTHING can be done besides housework I do it. I'm getting better, but still.

Anyway visiting with her just made me realize that I have to be better at getting together with friends. I have friends I've made at my son's school, either parents of other students or teachers, who want to get together over the summer and if I don't make the effort I know I'll let the whole summer go by making excuses for not getting together. Once I'm out of the house I love to go, it's just the actually getting out of the house I have to make myself do.LOL Is there a word for a person like me? I love to travel and visit new places and to see friends, it's just the actually getting up and going to do it that I hate. And it's not really that I hate to do it, not really. I mean I get up and go on Saturdays with hubby, as long as it's not too early. I'm a nightowl still, always will be I guess. But I don't know. It's hard to explain. It's like once I'm here, I'm safe, the kids are safe, we have what we need, so why leave? I've said before and I'll say again, I still think living in the midst of 100acres with no neighbors would be awesome. As long as I can leave once a week for supplies and have access to the internet and all I'd be happy as a lark. Then there are times I just Have to get out.

So it's hard to explain why I let so much time go without calling friends or making a bigger effort to see them. I say "I'll do it next week" then next week I say "I'll do it in two weeks" and it just keeps going. Until I actually make a date and do it. Admittedly this time I was supposed to go last week,but I had a good reason then, I was sick big time! So that wasn't an excuse persay, as much as a true reason I couldn't go visit.

I just wonder if others are like me? Does having the internet make us all a little more of homebodies. I mean honestly you can have your groceries delivered after ordering them online. So you can get everything and anything without ever leaving your house. I have to wonder if this is good for us or bad?

I have made a personal vow to not let as much time go with following through with visiting. It was great fun. Maybe we can even set up a day when all the kids are in school to go out and eat, just us. Man that would be good and such a treat!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and takes the time to appreciate the friends in their lives.

WendyK

TMBC gospel concert

If you live anywhere near Greenville, NC. The Memorial Baptist Church is having a gospel concert on March 27, 2007. I have posted a copy of the flyer in this blog.

If you do not know the church was set on fire about 2mths ago. If you go to this site you'll get to see pictures of the fire and aftermath.
http://www.tmbc.org/photos.htm

They are rebuilding and showing incredible spirit as they do.

WendyK

Spring is here

Well it appears spring is here. At least for a while. It felt wonderful yesterday, even if we did stay in since my son said he felt sick and I had a sore throat. Then today it was cooler but still not bad. And tomorrow they say will be warmer,we'll see. I'm glad to see the warmer weather but still think we are in for a blast of cold before it's all done.

Today was a busy day for me. When I dropped off my son at school we took in an older DELL for his school to use, then took the HP we'd donated earlier and I set it up in one of the other teacher's rooms, while my baby girl played with the class. Then I was asked to look at the computer the Kindergarden class had. So I got it working, then went back and set up the one we'd donated for my son's class. That left one without a monitor for someone to use. And one monitor that was wonkie and needs to be replaced. I will hopefully think to get the one we have on the computer for the kids games to let them use for the next month or so. Since the school burned we've done all we can to help replace lost items. Much of which was donated by parents to start with.

A wonderful lady in NJ, a cyber friend's mom, donated 2 HUGE boxes of books that thrilled the teachers and students. And others have helped but today still ended up being busy for me. But I loved it.

Afterall I love this school and love to help then in any way I can.

Well it's about time for beddie by, the kids are down, hubby is about to go to bed and I'm tired too. Have a great day to all.

Enjoy the spring weather if you are getting it, if not it's coming. Just be patient.

WendyK

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Well my baby girl turned 3 today. We had a small treat as school for her and then a small get together at my inlaws as well. Tomorrow we go to my parents for a get together, since my mom can't travel. She's been so excited about it being her birthday.

Doesn't seem like it's been 3yr since I gave birth to her! It seems like only yesterday she was just entering this world. Now she's three and thinks she's grown. LOL They grow up so fast, I hate to think of the day they'll be too grown for my mothering. While at the same time I look forward to seeing who they become. They are such joys to watch. Today balloons releasing air outside thrilled them silly. They are so easy to please.

Everything is new and exciting and brings such joy. The moon coming out, the sun rising, the stars lighting, the wind blowing, anything and everything.

They bring joy to our lives. How easy it is in the day to day living of everyday to forget to savor those moments and to see the joy in their eyes. They are a true blessing and I thank God for the gift of them. How wonderful to be here to celebrate my baby's third year with her. I hope she knows just how much I adore her and love her. She's my angel girl.

Now it's time to get her down and to get ready for tomorrow's fun.

WendyK

ACFW, a great group for discussing Christian Fiction

Announcement:

Want to read some great books and chat with the authors? Then check out the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book Club. The ACFW Book Club gives fans of Christian fiction the opportunity to communicate with each other, chat with ACFW authors, and discuss books.

Book Club participants are invited to join an e-mail group set up to facilitate announcements and host discussions about the current reading selection. Members will be eligible for monthly free book drawings. To join, send a blank e-mail to acfwbookclub- subscribe@ yahoogroups. com or visit http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/acfwbookcl ub and click "join this group." You will receive a confirmation e-mail after joining. Follow the instructions given in the e-mail to complete your subscription to this e-mail list.

Each month, club members have an opportunity to participate in an on-line chat with an ACFW published author. Chats will be announced in advance so Club members have the opportunity to read the featured book. Book Club chats will be held on the ACFW website in the chat room at 7:00 p.m. CST on the first Monday of the month following the month the book is read.

Currently, the club is talking about Rachel Hauck's Lost in NashVegas. And then it's on to Mary Connealy's Petticoat Ranch before tackling sci-fi for some variety. Previous authors have included: Robin Lee Hatcher, Tracey Bateman, Colleen Coble and Liz Curtis Higgs. Check it out.

NASCAR collection

I recently got to read 2 of the NASCAR category line books. I read THUNDERSTRUCK by Roxanne St. Claire and SPEED DATING by Nancy Warren. And I got to read TO THE LIMIT by Pamela Britton. All three are excellent reads. I love that Britton's book kept me guessing until the very end as who would win the girl. It was as close as I can come to being in a race without being at the track. Loved that feeling. I loved the hero and heroine in her book and adored the secondary characters! It was a great read. There was a touch of mystery, great romance, sensuality without it being over done, and there were cameo appearances from previous characters, all within the world of a sport I love. Great reading experience. For a complete review please visit www.theromancereadersconnection.com

I loved Nancy Warren's story as well and the appearance of Carl Edwards within the book. The story was fast paced and fun. While a shorter story it still feels longer and left me completely happy. Although now eager for more from Ms. Warren and wishing the books came out sooner.LOL

Roxanne St. Claire's story was so good as well. It was one I eagerly read and couldn't wait to find out how it would end. The story itself was fresh and the characters were engaging and wonderfully written.

All three stories deal with the world of NASCAR but in no way are they the same. Each takes a different look at things. Britton's story is about a woman who always loved the racing world, but not NASCAR. She finds herself struggling with the interest of two men, the race car driver, Todd Peters and the team owner, Matthew Knight. While at the same time dealing with her own issues about racing. Roxanne St. Claire's story deals with a woman struggling to hold onto her family's racing team and the old ways while not being left behind by the newer larger complex racing teams. She doesn't want to change but sometimes you have to embrace changes to hold onto tradition. A great story about the past and future of NASCAR. While Ms. Warren's story deals with a woman who sees herself as boring. She finds herself going along as the "pretend" girlfriend to NASCAR driver Dylan Hargreave. Suddenly she's not acting like the person she knows or thinks herself to be. Can it be that in the world of racing she'll find her true self? It's a great story that is set in the world of racing without being only about racing.

Wonderful stories sure to please racing fans and any romance reader. I'm eager now to finish the other two stories in the Feb lineup and get the next books.

These are awesome stories written by exceptional authors! I'd suggest fans of both NASCAR and hot sexy heros go buy these books!

Self Image? What you see vs what the world sees

I've been wondering for awhile now how others see themselves. I've been told I'm fat, obese, and the old "you could stand to lose a few" or some other such thing. Overall I'm happy with me, though. I probably could stand to lose 10or so lbs. But my only problem with my image is my teeth. I personally look at myself and see "me". That's it. "I" think I look fine. My husband still thinks I'm sexy. I've had 2 children and in my thoughts don't look bad. I may not be 110lbs or even skinnier, but I'm happy with who I am.

So I've been wondering what other's see when they look at me? Do I look overweight in their eyes? And what about themselves? Do they not see themselves as looking good? Do they only see what others may want? I don't get that. I will NEVER look like a movie star, I am not one. I'll NEVER have someone here to fix my hair, or do makeup or make sure my clothes fit perfectly and look great together. So no I will not ever look like them. But then I don't want someone probing into my life like they do their's so I'll glad live my life without their looks.

Should I change my self-image to meet what others see? Or should others learn to look at themselves and be happy? Even if they want to change a few things that doesn't mean they don't love who they are. I guess I just don't see the weight I've gained, or else it's not "who" I am. I am Wendy, I will be Wendy until the day I die, no matter if I weight 190lbs or 50lbs. I'll still be Wendy. That's the thing. I'm the same me I was at 5 or 10 or 15 or 21 or 30 or now. I may grow a little, I try to keep an open mind but I'm still who I am.

Just bothers me to see so many young girls trying to be the next supermodel when that's not "who" they are.

Maybe I just don't get things nowadays.

Wendyk

what does your birth month say about you?

Your Birth Month is January

You are a natural leader who is able to stand up when no one else can. Strong and powerful, you tend to overshadow those around you. Your soul reflects: deep love, fascination with life, and a distinctive persona Your gemstone: Garnet Your flower: Snowdrop Your colors: Black, dark red, and dark blue

What Does Your Birth Month Mean?

What Color is your Brain?

Your Brain is Blue

Of all the brain types, yours is the most mellow.You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles.Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorisyourbrainquiz/">What Color Is Your Brain?

My reading list so far this year....

I decided to do a post today about what I've read so far this year. Last year towards the end I lost count of my books but I read somewhere around 156 or so.

This year I've read:
Jan 10 books. They were:
DEAD GIVEAWAY by Brenda Novak an excellent book, I highly recommend it.

AT HER BECK AND CALL by Dawn Atkins a really really good book, a quick read.

FAIR GAME by Elizabeth White an inspirational that is wonderful. This is a book everyone should read.

REMEMBER TO FORGET by Deborah Raney another good read.

DEAD SILENCE by Brenda Novak this is book with DEAD GIVEAWAY and it was just as good. I can't wait for the next book!

HIGHLANDER IN HER BED by Allie MacKay, this is Sue-Ellen Welfonder's paranormal series, book one, and it's a great read. I loved it.

THE RESCUE OF JENNA WEST by Debra Cowan, this was a good book if a little hard to handle at times.

THE RELIANCE by M.L. Tyndall, an inspirational that is really good. It's book two about pirates. Well worth reading.

MARRIED TO THE BOSS by Lori Foster a good quick story

EVERY BREATHE YOU TAKE by Judith McNaught this was much more to my liking than the last JM book I'd read. It was more along the lines of PARADISE to me and so I loved it.

that was it for Jan.
So far in February I've read 10 books and the month isn't over yet. So it's been a good month.

Okay I'll post my Feb reads when the month is over.

WendyK

Just wanted to share my banner. Isn't it great?

WendyK

Life is life

Wow, sometimes life just comes on strong doesn' t it? I've dealt with my mom's major back surgery, my children's school burning down, sick kids, sick hubby, me being sick.......and in general life. So no thought to blogging or even reading others blogs. Wow I've missed both. My writing is on hold for now as well. I have 3 stories that just seem to be in my mind writing themselves, they are like mini-movies that I watch unfold at different times of the day and night. Not sure if I'll ever get them written,but at least I'm enjoying them.:)

My mom's surgery went well. She's home now and is feeling better. My kids are well finally. And the school is slowly getting things back. We, as parent are donating as much as we can. Others in the community have been great, and friends and their families have been awesome. Books are a major loss for the school so those who have helped with that are true angels, IMHO.

It's strange for parents, teachers, and students to be in borrowed space, but at least they get to finish out the year. Hopefully by next school year we will be in a permenant building.

I'm still reviewing books and loving it. hubby is working on the house again, saying we'll move into it by April but we'll have to wait and see. In ways I'm eager in others, I'm dreading it.

My baby girl will soon be 3 and that's hard for me to believe. Where in the world did the time go. Did I somehow miss all those days of her early life and not notice that time was moving on? It sure seems that way. She's our little diva. She thinks she's "the Queen" not princess not for my little girl. Oh no. I swear everyone spoils her, even strangers.(Which I'm sorry to be mean but I don't allow strangers to give her things. It sends the wrong message in my opinion.)

Okay I've got to go my kids wanna terrorize the puppy, more like they want him to play and he just wants them to leave him alone. Poor Rocky.

Until we meet again,
WendyK

A great new book from a favorite author

1. Which psychic power would you most like to possess?
As this is a loaded question in my family, ummm, probably be better able to feel, see, or sense the spirits that surround us. I think seeing the future would be to much responiblity for me.
2. If you could see the future, what would you like to see?
What my kids futures look like, if the world will find peace, what the next lottery winning numbers are?
3. Imagine you woke up one day and could shapeshift - what would you shift into?
Oh I'm greedy, I want to be able to shift into a bear or an eagle. Either one would be awesome!!! I don't know though, ya know a roach will live through the bomb, so maybe a roach would be better? Ewww never mind that just made my skin crawl.
4. What kind of a paranormal creature would you invite over for dinner if there were no limits on who you could ask?
Kenyon's Ash? I can't have him, hum......I'm not sure maybe a Selkie or a little people, or the fey, or....if it could be anyone I'd probably want to see if my grandmother and grandfather's spirits could stop by.
5. Which future innovation do you wish would hurry up and get here already? i.e. flying cars, a transporter, computers with artificial intelligence, an auto chef?
See here is where I differ. I don't really want any of it to hurry up and arrive. I think the more that stuff we get the more problems we have. Not that I don't love my computers, DVDplayers, etc. It's just I have no desire to rush any of it. Well, maybe something that would allow my kids to look at someone and know if they mean them harm.

This meme was begun by Nalini Singh to get the word out about her next book, Visions of Heat (releasing March 6). Want to play, too, and enter to win a $50 Amazon voucher plus an ARC? Click here for details.

Family

Family,
As Christmas approaches I start to think about family and how things used to be. I miss the closeness my family used to share. I always saw my 1st cousins, who were more like my brothers and sister, on Christmas Day. Now I'm doing good if I see them once every 2 or 3 mths. I miss them. I miss the things we used to do together.

Part of this is my fault and I know I need to make a better effort to go see them myself, but I admit it's hard, there's only so many weekends in a month.

Maybe if we all took more time to spend with family things would get better in this world. I recently visited a great Aunt that I hadn't seen in 10yrs. It was a shock to realize it had been that long since I'd seen her. She was and is still, never far from my thoughts and prayers and it just felt like I'd seen her more recently than 10yrs. I'm not hoping to visit her every 6mths at least. Maybe if I plan in to visit family at certain times it'll become habit again and happen more often.

WendyK

Fall is in the air?

Well it's Oct time for getting ready for fall, harvest, Halloween and soon Christmas. Okay so I'm already ready for Christmas. I'm wondering if Fall is really in the air though. For some reason it doesn't feel like fall. It's cooler some days but doesnt' look or feel much like fall to me. I'm reading, taking the kids to school and looking forward to the holidays.

Babies just woke so I gotta go.

hugs,
WendyK

Life is good

Well the month of Aug is ending and life is good. My babies are fine, my hubby is good and happy to have his home inspections license. I'm doing good. There is a bad spot my mom is not doing good.Her back is causing her pain and she's out of work but at least she's still here. I do worry about her.

My baby will be 5 soon and we still haven't decided how to celebrate he wants to go to the mountains and ride trains. I think we will do something small for family and a few friends then save the money to take him to see more trains.

I'm eager to write more and hubby is eager to do some home inspections. So we'll just have to wait and see what Sept brings.

WendyK

Wow July is gone and Aug is here

Let's see July. Well I only read 9 books in July and I did get to go to RWA in Atlanta. I had a good time and my baby boy got to see Thomas the train so he was thrilled. I didn't see all the authors I would have liked but I did have a great time.

It's August now and I've read more books in the last 10days than in all of July. Sad really. My baby boy turns 5 in Sept I'm looking forward to it and I'm saddened to think he'll be 5. He's growing up so fast.

We have baby dragons now. They are soo cute. We plan to sell some of them. okay gotta run.

hugs,
WendyK

June is all but gone

Well June is almost gone. Today's the last day and we finally got our hot water heater fixed. Well okay so we did it a little while back and I just hadn't posted about it. But we are still waiting on insurance money to fix the other stuff. Hopefully we'll get that soon.

My hubby passed his test and is now a Home Inspector which is really great. We are working on getting him a website up and business printed and all. He's excited and I think it'll be good for him.

My babies are doing good, if they don't aggravate each other to death. With the fourth of July on a Tuesday this year we aren't sure what we'll be doing this weekend.

My babies love to watch the fireworks. I just hope they will understand the meaning of the daying when I try to explain it. It's such a great day to honor those who helped make our freedom possible.

As for reading well I just finished Kimberly Raye's SWEET AS SUGAR, HOT AS SPICE. It was a great read. Had a NASCAR hero, Linc Adams!!!

Now I'm not sure what I'll read next.

Until next time,
Wendy

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all. I grew up with a "true" father in the sense of having a "dad" to call on everyday. But I did have an older cousin who filled the roll of Daddy better than many men could have. He is only a few yrs older than me but always managed to seem like my protector, friend, and at times my worst enemy. I still adore him. And hope he knows just how much I love him and appreciate all he did for me. There where times I'm not sure I'd have made it without him.

I have a stepdad, now. He's nice and he's good. I do love him even though we haven't been a family for long. I don't feel I need a "daddy" anymore but it's nice to have him around.

Then I have a great fatherinlaw. I love him as well. He's a great fatherinlaw.

And I have my hubby who is the best dad in the whole world. He adores our kids, even if he does like to pick on them! He's there when I need him and he's a great provider for us all. He works hard to give us the things he can. For that I hope he has a great day.


To all the "Dads" out there have a great Father's day!!!! Anyone can be a father but it takes a special man to be a Dad!


WendyK

Hot Water Heaters

Well we've had a mess the last few days. Our hot water heater busted on Wednesday night around midnight. Water was everywhere in our room our bathroom the kitchen and the utility room. It was a mess. We still haven't heard from the adjuster yet. I'm hoping we will soon.

Either way it's a big mess. Now we have to get a new one. And hubby didn't understand how I could be so upset with my stuff getting wet. From books to christmas stuff that was in our closet!

So we have a busy weekend ahead of us. Add in my son's got a birthday party to attend and I'll be busy all weekend long.

WendyK