the-keels

House Party My Party

2010-04-27T18:46:00.000-04:00

House Party My Party

Ahh the joys of snow

2010-02-13T14:54:00.003-05:00

Been awhile since I've posted anything. The kids are great, growing like weeds. The business is growing really good.

But more than that we've had snow. Here are some pictures from the snow that arrived last night.

hugs,

WendyK

House Party My Party

2009-10-23T11:37:00.000-04:00

House Party My Party

Wow long time no post, huh?

2009-10-14T21:17:00.003-04:00

Wow it's been a long time, hasn't it? Let's see what's been going on, Jr is 8 now,growing up way too fast. He only has to visit Duke Eye Center once a year now, they say his vision in his left eye is as good as it gets. Basically his brain doesn't think that eye is there, that's the way I understand it, so there's no surgery or anything that can be done. Unless his brain wakes up or retrains itself...............

Did I mention baby girl started K? She's loving it and I have to say I love her teacher. Jr has the same teacher as last year and I really like her, she's great with him and I'm soooo very proud of him. He's improved so much this year. Having the extra help has been a true blessing for him.

Let me think, we've been to the beach a few times, I love it there. The business is doing really really well. I'm so proud of DH and all his hard work.

I'll try to post more in a day or two.Maybe some pictures or just a good update. Meanwhile I hope everyone has had a great few months.

hugs,

WendyK

Intertwined Sweepstakes

2009-08-21T15:03:00.001-04:00

A Pig Pickin'?

2009-07-20T23:00:00.002-04:00

First my son says "moma when will they start the pig pickin'?" This while everyone is eating.He still doesn't get why it's called that but since neither he nor I eat the pig well I won't say so much.

July 4th.....

2009-07-11T12:18:00.005-04:00

We went to Atlantic Beach for our July 4th. It was a great time. We visit Fort Macon, watched fireworks, went fishing(at least the men did). We had a great time, just getting away relaxing and enjoying time with each other.

The kids had a ball at Fort Macon(we got our exericise walking it!) The flag on the right was waving at us at Fort Macon and it was HIGH. The kids loved it.

The image on the right is one of the kids posing.LOL They loved it all. We visited many of the rooms and they want to go back with a flashlight to explore the areas that we couldn't see well.
The image on the left is fuzzy but is one of the rooms and the kids loved them. If you've never been I highly recommend it to all. It's a fascinating place to see. We plan to go back on the next weekend trip to AB.

I'm so proud and hopeful....

2009-06-02T09:06:00.003-04:00

Let me say this post is probably going to get me in trouble. So just know that's not my intention. My purpose for this post is to show my cousin just how very much I love him and how proud I am of him.

I have a cousin, okay so I have lots of them, but 6 of them(5males, 1female) have always been more like my brothers and sister than my cousins. One of them, well he's had issues. He will admit freely he's a recovering addict. He's had a hard road and life has thrown him some curveballs he wasn't prepared for and missed. Well today he's left our hometown and he's making his way to the other side of the state. He's a Cherokee Indian and has plans to start a new life on the reservation. I've been trying for years to get him to leave the area of our hometown. Don't get me wrong, I think our hometown is great in ways. It's a cute town, some of the people are awesome, I miss parts of it. But my hometown has it issues, and drugs are a major part of those issues. That's not to say everyone does them, it's to say that once you are part of that world the only way out is to leave the area for good. My hometown likes to pretend it's "forgiving" but I know from experience it's not. Once you've made a name for yourself it's not going anywhere, even if you change and prove it, the people will NEVER forget it. They will forever wait for you to fail again.

When I left 13yrs ago, at first I was really sad, I missed my few friends I'd managed to keep, I missed my family, I just missed the town, the area. But I soon grew to love my new hometown and I honestly could not imagine ever returning to the area I grew up in and being happy. I love the small town I live in, I love the people here.

So for years I've tried to tell my cousin to leave. It's hard but I truly believe once he's out of that area and the influence of his "friends" there and away from the family that he'll see what I mean.

He made the decision to leave and he's left. I'm so proud of him for making the move. It's hard. I know this. My mom knows this. I'm not sure about the rest of the family, how they feel about it. Personally I think it's the best thing he's done in years and that now he can start to live a life he was meant to live. I'm so proud of him and hopeful for his future. He's such a great man, he's funny, he's sweet, he's smart, he's good looking, and soo much more. He's got the world at his feet. I have complete faith in him.

He's starting a new life and I hope the old one will let him go. You know that old saying "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" well that's him, that's this time of his life.

I'm proud of him.

Okay I'm going now.
hugs,
WendyK

Wow, life changes

2009-05-12T11:08:00.005-04:00

Well first let me say I'm sooo proud of my baby boy. While he is now labeled with "LD" in school, it's such a great thing for him. He's improving and getting the extra attention he needs to get where he should be in school. That's what I want, him getting help. He's excited about it too. I tell him often it means he's extra special, so he needs extra special attention!

Also he's now riding a bike without training wheels.

Isnt' he doing great? Yes I know he's not wearing a helmet, it's because he was allowed that once. Now he can't until his helmet comes in. We ordered it from the Bike shop in Atlantic Beach, he got to pick the color and was thrilled with it.LOL

We also got us, me and DH new bikes. I never imagined paying that much for a bike. But I have to say I'm thrilled to own an Electra Townie, in red.

You can't see it well in this shot but she's pretty. I'll be getting a few accessories as money allows. DH got an Electra as well but his is different than mine.LOL Both however look retro to us. Mine puts me in mind of the 1950s style of bikes. We are looking forward to riding around Atlantic Beach and just enjoying time together and away at the same time. We plan to read at home as well and will be getting the kids bikes for the beach as well, so they can ride on the road where the beach house is.

We had a field trip on May 1st and we had a blast. Me and moma and Baby Girl went with baby boy. We went to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl park in Scotland Neck. There are some great pictures I'll have to post at a later date. Life has been busy and full. I still wish my mom would move closer to us, but I can keep suggesting and sooner or later I'll get them closer.

Work is going great. DH is really doing outstanding. It's truly a blessing and joy. He likes what he does, I like the freedom owning our own business has given us. It's hard(er) work than working a 9-5 job or working for someone else but at the same time it's OUR business, so all the hard work we, meaning namely him, puts into it is for US. Not for someone else. All the profits are ours. Which is great. I certainly know I couldn't own my own business without him. He's the one who gets up and goes to work and I just happen to help when I can and how I can. I should do more and I plan to.

Life has been good. God has blessed us and for it we are thankful. We still haven't found a Church mostly because we don't believe there is one that would work for us and with us going to the beach about every weekend it's hard. I'm thinking of looking for one at the beach, actually. I would love to find a small town old fashioned church. So we'll see.

I hope life has been good for you all and that you will remember that every small step to God gets you just as close to him as each big leap of faith. Sometimes it's the small steps that have the lasting effects.

hugs to you all,

WendyK

Busy, Busy, Busy....

2009-04-09T09:46:00.002-04:00

Wow life's been busy!!! We recently got us a place at the beach and I love it. We've already been there a couple of times. And plan to go more often. It's close to my parents place which is great. We don't have internet at the beachplace but there is a McD's close by with it and my parents have it there. I'm soo excited. I hope everyone has a great Easter Weekend and week.

hugs,
WendyK

New Family member

2009-02-16T22:22:00.001-05:00

We have a new family member:

Jake.

Isn't he cute?

hugs,

WendyK

Book buying and other things...

2009-01-29T10:43:00.002-05:00

Well, I've posted to all my blogs now.LOL I wanted to let my readers know that I've posted a question/discussion topic on my blogs at www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com and www.tarheelreads.blogspot.com about book buying and how it affects the industry and authors and such. I'd love it if you'd go take a look and post a comment.

Now for us, well things are going well. DH is working steady and so far we've been bringing in more than he was making working a "job". It's still a scary thing but we are fairing well. We are excited about it at any rate. And making a few changes to shopping habits I feel has helped. They were changes we needed to make anyway, so not at all bad.

The kids are growing likes weeds. Baby girl's birthday is March 9th and I think we are going to try for a cookout here at the house. We got the kids a play/swingset the weekend. It was a monster to take down and now we've got to get it put back together, but we were waiting for a bit warmer weather and time.LOL

OKay I'm running again. Hope everyone is having a great day.
hugs,
WendyK

Snowy Birthday...

2009-01-22T20:28:00.003-05:00

Well Monday was my birthday, and it snowed Monday night. I'm going to post a few pics.

Elvis Aaron Presley...

2009-01-08T21:16:00.004-05:00

This is one of my all time favorite images of Elvis.

Elvis Presley was born today in 1935. And for those who don't know I'm a HUGE Elvis fan. His movies were on all day today and while I wasn't at home, my fatherinlaw and daugther watched them. I got to see a couple tonight. But I still wished him a Happy Birthday.

This is another of my favorite images.

I hope everyone had a great day. By own birthday is coming up in a little over a week.

hugs to you all,

WendyK

Resolutions for the New Year...

2009-01-05T20:14:00.002-05:00

I got this from a friend and wanted to share it:

Priorities For The New Year

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He asked his students again if the jar was full? They agreed that yes, it was.
The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your spouse, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed.
The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, your house, your car.
The sand is everything else. The small stuff. If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important.
Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.” Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter.
What a thought for the New Year. You can make all types of resolutions but if you don’t have your priorities in the right place it won’t matter. This year, should you decide to make resolutions, I would encourage you to make them in line with your priorities.

So make those resolutions but make sure you make the ones that will mean the most to you and your loved ones. Sometimes life can be too much and we need to take a moment to reevaluate just what is important in our lives. I did this at the end of 2008 and it's why I gave up my position as the Christian Fiction Coordinator and a reviewer at www.theromancereadersconnection.com. I have my blogs, www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com and www.tarheelreads.blogspot.com and this one. I'll be able to set my own deadlines, and if at times I need to put reading aside because my son needs the extra help with school, or I have my own writing to do, or our business needs attention then I can do it and not feel guilty for missing a deadline. I miss reviewing with the wonderful ladies at TRRC, but I've also found the stress relief soooo much better. It's such a pleasure now to read, whereas before it was becoming a chore. I read/review/discuss/invite authors to My Book Addiction blog from the secular section of reading, and I'll read/review/discuss/invite authors to my Tarheel Reads blog from the Christian Fiction section of the reading world. I'm hoping 2009 will find me in a much better place than 2008 did.

We lost both my motherinlaw and my DH's father's mother, both within a month of each other. We then lost my Great uncle passed away. It's been a strange, long, emotionally challenging year, 2008 was. I won't say 2009 can't be worse because it can. But thank the good Lord so far it's being good to us. My DH is now working for himself, he recently got an offer to occasionally work with a guy he's worked with for over 20yrs. That will help to off-set any losses we might have felt from now working a "job". We had figured up how many inspections he'd need to do in a week/month's time to make what he made at his "job" and so far he's worked more than that. He's much more relaxed, and we are both excited about it. This makes the kids more relaxed and excited. I'm scared but it's that good kinda scared you get. I really feel the Lord was leading us to this. My DH has wanted to be his own boss for years.

I'm thinking I might need to print off this post to remind myself often that the "small stuff" is just that it's small. There is NOTHING too big for God to handle and by letting it go, I'm allowing him to care for me as He longs to do.

I hope you all will find your own resolutions to be as enlightening and life changing.

hugs,
WendyK

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T16:18:00.003-05:00

So it's almost 2009 and you are wondering where I've been? Well let's see, first I helped put the decorations at my fatherinlaws and my parents. Then I cooked my first Christmas meal on Christmas Eve, and we had a full Holiday season. We went to alot of places! Now I am preparing to cook again tomorrow for the new Year! I put up my fatherinlaw's Christmas stuff today, I've been putting my stuff up for 2 days now. And next weekend I'll put up my mom's stuff. We are having a Holiday Family Gathering at her house this weekend so we're leaving her stuff up for that. I haven't been reading much. But that's good. It's meant more time with family.

I guess the really big news is that my DH is no longer working a "job". He now only works for himself. It's exciting and scary. I'll try to keep updated on how things are going. So far very good. My DH is so much more relaxed and settled and I think happy. I'm actually not as scared as I thought I'd be over it all. I do think God is/was leading us to this point.
Okay I hope everyone has a great New Year!!!

hugs,
WendyK

2008-11-25T23:06:00.002-05:00

My tree is up, my tree is up. I'm as excited as my kids. They keep asking is it Christmas now moma? Is it Christmas.LOL It's small and certainly won't win any awards, but I'm happy as can be with it. I've got ornaments from my grandmother on it and from her grandmother, as well as ones my kids have made and special ones from friends and so on. Makes me smile just to look at it. I do so love Christmas!!!

hugs to you all. Now to go put up my mom's I'll post pics of her tree later on.

hugs,

WendyK

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T09:25:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!

Have a great day and weekend.

WendyK

Family pics

2008-11-23T21:42:00.002-05:00

Well here we are. Or at least some of us. We are missing a few, but here are a few of us. In the picture with the 5 of us, 2 are missing. I'd love to get a family picture of us all since the last one was done when we were kids. And one with us with our kids and spouses. Maybe one of these days I'll get it. This is me with my cousins, but I don't see them as "cousins". We were raised to be like brothers and sisters. So I'll forever see them as my brothers and sister. I miss seeing them almost everyday. I miss the closeness we had as kids. I miss the feeling of knowing that if I needed ANYTHING I could call any of them and they'd come.

I just wanted to share this beautiful family I have.

hugs,

WendyK

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...

2008-11-23T21:32:00.002-05:00

Well on Wednesday my son had to go have 4 teeth pulled. We went to have one pulled or so I thought. Since he had a tooth that had wiggled but then the new tooth came in and he wouldn't let us pull the baby tooth. He lost one on the bottom, somewhere, a few days prior. I think he ate it. But this one just wouldn't come out and I was a bit concerned. So I called the dentist and took him in. They did x-rays and decided he needed 4 teeth pulled! They used gas to sedate him some and pulled four baby teeth so his permanent teeth could come in right. Apparently the new teeth were basically eating the roots of the baby teeth and rather than them coming out they were just being eaten.LOL One of his permanent teeth had started to twist so there was concern that if we didn't pull the 4 he'd need more work later on. So he lost 4 teeth, but honestly with the one that had already come in, it looks like he only lost 1/2. Later on, he'll probably have to have more pulled. Since his permanent teeth appear to be a LOT bigger than his baby teeth. He was so excited the tooth fairy left him $5 in rolled change(hey it was all I had in cash).LOL

So now we'll see if I can get him to sing that song, All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...LOL

I've been really sick the last few days but I'll post again soon.

hugs to everyone,
WendyK

Sadness...

2008-11-04T12:28:00.002-05:00

We found out today that my great uncle Warren passed away this morning. My great Aunt Norma isn't taking it well. But then I think they'd been together for about 70 years. So I may be a bit before I go back to posting. I hope to do a post on my great Uncle with pictures of him.

hugs,
WendyK

Halloween 2008

2008-11-03T09:22:00.002-05:00

Well for this Halloween we went to the beach. For the first time my kids actually got to go door to door for trick or treating. They had a ball and so did I. I think I was excited as they were.LOL

In case you can't tell my baby girl is Sleeping Beauty and my dear son is a race car driver.

They had a lot of fun and I look forward to doing it again soon. Now it's time to prepare for celebrating Christmas and making sure we keep Christ in all our plans.

Have a great week.

hugs,

WendyK

I got a 100 mom!

2008-10-25T14:55:00.002-04:00

I just had to share.....My son came home on Friday and was so excited! For the first time since school started my baby boy got a 100 on his spelling test!!!!!!!! I'm just so thrilled. I actually cried yesterday when I held it. Most won't understand I'm sure. But my son has issues with speech, vision, and a specific learning disablity that we've as yet not had labeled. Getting the evaulation done has been worse than getting teeth pulled. So he's struggled with education issues. He's in 1st grade and I think is making great efforts to succeed but it's hard for him. So getting a 100 is a HUGE deal and we are so thrilled. He is going to be rewarded for all his hard work.

I'm just so proud of my baby.

Just had to share,

hugs,

WendyK

An owl!

2008-10-21T12:31:00.002-04:00

Isn't it great? I took this shot, this morning. I love to see nature in it's natural environment and loved that this owl didn't fly away when I drove by, then when I turned around it let me walk up close to it and never moved. It stayed there until another car came by then flew away. I wish I'd gotten a shot of it flying, but I'll admit the car scared me as well.

hugs,

WendyK

Read All About it Contest....Shiloh Walker Contest...

2008-10-06T21:48:00.005-04:00

blog all about it
So how do you win this one? That’s easy.
You just blog about it. All you have to do is take the excerpt below and the cover graphic, post them to your blog, and then send me an email @ contest4shiloh(at)gmail.com with the words BLOG ALL ABOUT IT in the subject line. In the email, make sure you include a link to your blog post.

Prize will be:
ARC of FRAGILE, my 2/09 release (this will not be mailed until January)
Gift Certificate for $40 to the bookstore of your choice (as long as I can purchase the GC certificate online, you can pick whatever bookstore you want)
Two books from my available backlist
Goody bag.

If you select a large chain bookstore, I reserve the right to buy a gift card
that will then be mailed with your other prizes. Please allow 6-8 weeks to
receive all prizes. Other yadda yadda rules…open to anybody, no purchase
necessary, all you have to do to enter is to blog about it, and if you live
outside the country, please allow an extra 4 weeks for delivery. Contest
runs throw 11/11/08, all entries must be posted before 11/11/08 in order to
qualify. Void where prohibited.

To Enter!
Just copy and paste the info below onto your blog, email me a link to the post using the addy posted above (please double check the email addy-I’m not responsible if it’s sent to the wrong addy) and viola…you’re entered.

Excerpt
The weird sense of deja vu exploded into something
else entirely. Something that shook her to the core. His eyes narrowed and he
reached up, caught her chin in his, staring at her.
She was pale and Cullen
thought she looked every bit as shaken as he felt. “The dreams,” he muttered. He
caught her face in his hands and forced her to look at him, staring into her
pale gray eyes. The ugly, dark bruise around her left eye made her iris seem
that much paler and as he watched, the pupil flared, enlarging until just a
sliver of gray of visible.
Taige tried to jerk away and he wouldn’t let her.
“You had the dreams, too, didn’t you?” he demanded.
Her voice shook as she
reached up with one hand to jerk on his wrist, trying to break his hold. “Let go
of me.”
Slowly, he shook his head. “You have,” he whispered, dismay spreading
through him.
Dismay–and something else. She’d always held herself apart from
him in those dreams. But through those dreams, he’d gotten to know her, gotten
to know the woman she had become. She was pulling away from him not because she
was angry at him, or because she didn’t want anything to do with him.
She
pulled back because she still loved him.

releasing 11/4/08…
Want to read more? Click here

Smells?

2008-10-03T10:59:00.002-04:00

I wasn't going to post today. I have tons I need to be doing, a great book I want to read, and packing to get done. But I was sitting here playing online and working as well. And I started to smell cigar smoke. Now I live in a singlewide, way out in the middle of nowhere. So there is no reason for this smell. DH nor I smoke, nor does anyone who's been in our house. Now in the past I've smelled my granddaddy's cologne, or something that reminds me of my grandma. And I figure they are just letting me know they are around. But I don't know of anyone who smokes cigars. I can't figure out why I'd be smelling cigar smoke. I have a cousin who smokes them once in awhile, but he's at home and fine last I spoke with him. I can't recall any one else close to me smoking them. But it's kinda freaky.

Have you all ever smelled something out of place? Something that reminds you of someone or a special memory but there's nothing around to make that smell?

Well I probably won't be around much we have plans for the weekend. So I'll post again on Monday. I'm thinking of setting up a wordpress blog. But I'll have to think some more about it.

hugs to everyone,
WendyK

a Long day....

2008-10-01T16:34:00.003-04:00

Well yesterday I had a meeting at my son's school. My son has issues with speech, vision and I believe a degree of learning disability. I've been telling the school system since May of 08 that I want an evaluation done. It's a test to determine what he specific needs might be and how we can best help him. Well we met yesterday or rather I met with a team yesterday. They've decided he'll get help via their speech program *he goes to a private speech program done by ECU now* so that's great. But getting the evaluation done. Well, that's like pulling teeth. It's an issue because of his age. It's an issue because of the tests and so on and so on. They basically made me feel like his problems are my fault. He's behind and I get that. Is there more I can do, of course. I'm by no means a great parent, I try but I'm not perfect. But it really tees me off that I've been telling them since May he has needs and issues I want addressed and I want the testing done so we'll know exactly what areas need extra attention and maybe a way to offer him the extra help he needs. This is NOT the first they are hearing about this. They've suggested "strongly" that I remove him from 1st grade after 6 weeks in the class and put him back in Kindergarten. They made me feel as though they were hinting that because he went to a 1/2 program last year he's further behind than he might have been. I don't agree with that. His previous teacher was excellent, she helped him grow and learn a LOT last year. I don't think he would have done as well in a full day program. And my concerns are many about putting him back into 'K' now. I mean these kids will know he was demoted. I'm sorry they can say "we won't allow bullying or teasing" all they won't, it's not gonna stop it from happening. But then I have to wonder if it's better in the long run for him to redo "K" and maybe get ahead rather than being behind. I'm not sure if later in life he'll be upset that he's a year to two years older than everyone in his class. Which is more important his emotional and mental health and self-esteem or his education? And will his education do more to help his self-esteem than anything else? But then I wonder would he benefit from outside tutoring and extra help from the school, 30mins a day pulled out to practice and learn one on one with an LD teacher? I say he would benefit greatly from that, but I'm told they have temper that with what he'll miss in class. But I say "if you pull him out during reading to practice reading/writing one on one, what is he missing out on??" Is he not still learning what they are but in a one on one environment vs a situation of 22 or more students with one teacher? Am I so wrong in that? Why is it that my son is not extremely disabled, he's not Austic, he's not mentally slow, he's not suffering from disease or anything else, he just has a specific need and we can't get help. If he was a great student we'd get help, if he was severely in need we'd get help. But we fall in this little area of well he's not that stupid and he's not brilliant, you need to wait. We'll wait and see. Let's hold him back a year. But how he heck will that help him? Holding him back is all good and well if he still gets the programs he needs! If it's just so he can be in the same situation just being with younger kids and trying to learn the things he's already been through......well he had issues learning it then, what you think if you keep repeating the same information in the same why he'll just suddenly change and get it? I don't. He learns in a different way. I'm not sure what that way is. I'm not sure how to change things to help him. Basically we will end up falling through the cracks and he'll be a kid who ends up getting no help from anyone at the school system and it'll be "well if the parents......" Well his parents are trying and we aren't getting a dang thing. I want to know if NC made so much money on the lottery for education why can't a program be put in place to help kids like my son? What are we supposed to do? Just wait until he's older and others might finally see what I've been saying for 3yrs? What I'm his mom but I'm to stupid to see my child needs special and specific help? If you can't tell I'm still a bit teed. We are supposed to met again in about 2wks. No set date yet. And we'll go from there again. They want us in the meanwhile to consider pulling him from 1st and putting him in "K". I'm torn on this. And I'm still angry over it all. So I told the dh that he'll need to be off to go with me. I wanted to curse them out yesterday. So I don't think I should do this alone. I get too frustrated with it all and then I want someone to understand what I am trying to say. I know my son has speech issues that has delayed alot of his learning. He has vision issues that hasn't helped. But with the vision being corrected and the speech being dealt with we still have other issues. So I want to know what the root cause is of this issue and how to help him with it. I want answers not suggestions that I hold my son back another year. He is 7! I won't keep holding him back because they don't want to take the time to help him. He pulls down their scores. I'm not stupid. I know if he stays with the class he is now, he will likely hold them down on the EOGs next year and the next year, if they test in 2nd and I'm not sure they do. And it will affect them. So they figure hold him a year and let's see if he can catch up. If not we might try to do something. Yes this is how I feel they are treating us. We are a bother and they want us gone. If my son would do it, I'll pull him out and do homeschooling. A LOT easier on me, a better for him. But he likes going to school to play with the other kids. He wants to try this. And if he wants it then I want it for him. But I can't let him stay where he is and he's failing. He's not where the other kids are. He's struggling with the homework sometimes. He's got needs that I want met and his school is NOT doing this. So it's been a LONG day and I'm sure it'll be a LONG two weeks. I'm looking forward to this weekend and some time away. If anyone reads this and has advice or suggestions, websites, help I can get, I'd love to know about it.

hugs,
WendyK

About Me Meme

2008-09-29T20:01:00.009-04:00

I was tagged by: Mimi B.

http://wovenbywords.blogspot.com/2008/09/about-me-meme.html

Here's the rules for those I'm tagging. Check the list after my 6 THINGS to see if you're it then:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Six Random things about Me:

1) I have lived in about 20 different houses but all within my state and most within the same town.

2) I have a "To Be Read" pile of more than 2000 books!

3) My dh and I own our own business, a Home Inspections business:

4) My real name is NOT Wendy:

5) I collect a ton of things, not the least of which is anything Mickey Mouse, Disney movies, Elvis Presley, and a lot of other things. My favorites that are "cheap" are floater pens, but they are getting harder and harder to find.

6) I love to take pictures of everything.

6 People I've tagged:

http://novelthoughts.wordpress.com/ ---Mad

http://idonotwanttowaitiwantthebooknow.wordpress.com/ --- Greta

http://www.rooferauthor.blogspot.com/ ---- Gennita Low

http://rennfamilyupdate.blogspot.com/ ----Shane and Amber

http://www.inspiritandtruths.blogspot.com/ ----Marvin

http://carolinakioty.wordpress.com/ ----Corie

We bought a Motorcycle!!!!

2008-09-27T21:47:00.004-04:00

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Our new baby.Isn't it pretty?
Wendyk

Our recent trip to the beach...

2008-09-27T08:20:00.005-04:00

*************We took a trip to Atlantic Beach, NC and here ar some photos from our trip. We had a great time. My kids adore going to the beach, and it's very relaxing everytime we go there. I'm hoping to go this year for Halloween and to maybe go on the Ghost Tours. But we'll have to wait and see.

Enjoy a few of our photos.

hugs,

WendyK

A long week....

2008-09-25T22:59:00.002-04:00

It's been a long week as I've battled whatever this was. It started last week when buddy came home with a stomach virus. We all had it. And buddy got it twice. Then I just felt awful. Kinda like the flu but not. DH said I was too cranky and not fit company for "man nor beast". LOL

I was a cranky soul. I'll admit it. Okay I can't play too long I've got reviews to write.

hugs to you all,
WendyK

If you want to talk about a great issue.....

2008-09-23T21:09:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone, Marvin Wilson over at http://www.inspiritandtruths.blogspot.com/

has a great post today on Fathers vs. Dads. There is a major difference between being a "father" and being a "dad". It'd be great if you'd go offer your thoughts on it.

hugs,
WendyK

2008-09-13T23:08:00.002-04:00

http://http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/2008/09/official-bbaw-giveaway-list.html

If you follow along for the festivities of BBAW at My Friend Amy, you will find many chances to win LOTS of goodies! Like what? Well have a look below. All of these things will be given away between September 15-19. There will be a huge variety of ways to win them and giveaways will be announced constantly throughout the week. So be sure to check in often!

A HUGE thank you to Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group USA, Harlequin, The B&B Media Group, Shera of SNS Blog Design, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Catherine Delors, Pamela Binnings Ewen, Andromeda Romano-Lax, Ceceilia Dowdy, Sormag, Book Club Girl, Savvy Verse and Wit, Cafe of Dreams, Fashionista Piranha, and Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?.

Daily Raffles:

Monday--Books and Chocolate sponsored by My Friend Amy and Hey Lady! Whatcha' Readin?Tuesday--Books and Going Green sponsored by My Friend Amy

Wednesday--Books and Coffee sponsored by My Friend Amy

Thursday--Books and Charity sponsored by My Friend Amy and Fashionista Piranha

Friday--Books and Movies sponsored by My Friend Amy

Win a Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit!

Do you find it's your turn to host book club and not only do you not know what to serve but you don't know what books to offer up for the next month's selection?!

Let Book Club Girl come to your rescue with the Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit.

One lucky winner of the kit will receive:

* A basket of cheese, crackers, cookies and wine for up to 12 people*

5 great book group books to vote on for your group's next pick. And Book Club Girl will then donate 12 copies whichever book is chosen for your entire group to read.*

12 Book Club Girl mousepads to give out as party favors that night*

12 Book Club Girl bookmarks to mark everyone's favorite passages*

12 Book Club Girl coasters to protect your coffee table from all those wine glasses!

TWO SORMAG Goody Bags containing books and more!

A Special Pamper Me Basket from Cafe of Dreams!

From Avon Foot Works~ Inflatable watermelon shaped foot tub~

3.4 FL oz Watermelon Cooling Foot Lotion~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Exfoliating Foot Scrub~

12 count Watermelon Effervescent Foot Tablets~

An ARC of So Long At The Fair by Christina Schwarz~

A variety of Hot Chocolate and Tea mixes

A pre-made blog template from SNSDesign!

A Subscription to Poetry Magazine from Savvy Verse and Wit!

BOOKS

Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors

The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings

EwenThe Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax

John's Quest by Cecelia Dowdy

Confessions of a Contractor by Richard Murphy

Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris

The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer

Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley

A Tale Out of Luck by Willie Nelson with Mike Blakely

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson

An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken

Exit Music by Ian Rankin

The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik

Gunmetal Black by Daniel Serrano

Isolation by Travis Thrasher

The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

Every Freaking! Day With Rachell Ray by Elizabeth Hilts

Dewey by Vicki Myron

The Shiniest Jewel by Marian Henley

Keep the Faith by Faith Evans

The Book of Calamities by Peter Trachtenberg

A is for Atticus by Lorilee Craker

After the Fire by Robin Gaby Fisher

Mike's Election Guide by Michael Moore

War as They Knew It by Michael Rosenberg

Fixing Hell By Col. (ret.) Larry C. James

Wild Boy: My Life with Duran Duran by Andy Taylor

The Last Under-Cover: The True Story of an FBI Agent's Dangerous Dance with Evil By Bob Hamer

Border Lass by Amanda Scott

Insatiable Desire by Rita Heron

Hungry for More by Diana Holquist

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee

Trespassers Will Be Baptized by Elizabeth Emerson Hancock

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Trish Ryan

Never Surrender by General Jerry Boykin

Dream in Color by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sánchez

Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton

Cobain Unseen by Charles R. Cross

Doing Business in 21st Century India by Gunjan Bagla

Branding Only Works on Cattle by Jonathan Salem Baskin

Launching a Leadership Revolution by Chris Brady, Orrin Woodward

How to Hear from God by Joyce Meyer

Knowing Right from Wrong by Thomas D. Williams

Pope John Paul II: An Intimate Life by Caroline Pigozzi

Pure by Rebecca St. James

He Loves Me! by Wayne Jacobson

So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobson and Dave Coleman

Move On, Move Up by Paula White

The Rosary by Gary Jansen

Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

Right Livelihoods by Rick Moody

by George by Wesley Stace

The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

Trunk Music by Michael Connelly

Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh

Dead Boys by Richard Lange

The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez

Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn

Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky

With Endless Sight by Allison Pittman

Harlequin Titles: To Be Announced

Many other blogs are giving away books and prizes for BBAW as well! You can see the links to all of these giveaways here.Interested in gaining entries into the daily raffles? Post this complete list on your blog with links and you'll earn two extra entries!

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Posted by Amy at 7:51 PM
Labels: BBAW, Giveaways

2008-09-11T19:20:00.003-04:00

I visited Joyce Anthony's blog today and she had this meme going and I thought is was fun so I figured I'd answer it here.

Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster - January 28, 1986
I was in school, we had all gone to this room to watch the Shuttle. I was in elementary school so it wasn't pretty. I remember us all crying and in shock and just sitting there.

The Oklahoma City Bombing - April 19, 1995
I remember it, but I honestly can't remember where I was.

Princess Diana's Death - 31 August 1997

Me and my dh were at his parents house at the river. I sat up all night watching the chase then the crash and I remember crying.

Attack on the Twin Towers - 11 September 2001

I was at home with my 11 day old newborn. I remember my emotions most of all. I was sad, angry, hurt, fearful and just plain upset. It's a day I'll never forget.

Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster - February 1, 2003
humm this one I'd have to think about. I don't remember seeing it until it was on the news later on.

7th Harry Potter Book is Released - 21 July 2007

Who knows, probably asleep or reading or something. It meant nothing to me.

Michael Phelps Wins His 8th Gold Medal - August 16, 2008
I wasn't watching I was reading most likely.

hugs,
WendyK

Family Gatherings and other things

2008-09-10T13:14:00.004-04:00

This coming Sat. I will be traveling a bit go to a family gathering. My great aunt Ruth will be coming from Va and we haven't seen her in awhile so that will be great. Only her and my great uncle Warren are left of my granddaddy's family. Aunt Ruth is the baby and Uncle Warren was the oldest boy. He was the only other boy besides my grandad as well. He looks alot like my granddaddy according to my mom. It's always nice to get together with them, but sadly it's also a bit of a downer. Because I know once my Uncle Warren and Aunt Ruth, and uncle Warren's wife, Aunt Norma are gone that will be it of them. And once my cousins, the ones my mom's age and all are gone there will most likely not be anymore gatherings or reunions. Sadly my generation is not as close as theirs is. We know each other, some better than others but mostly we don't get together and when we do we rarely talk to each other, we talk with the older crowd. So it's a sad thing to me to see. I feel closer to the generation that is older than me than to the one that is my contemporaries. And going to gatherings is almost like a countdown to the last one. I think about the past and remember when my grandmother was alive. And it really makes me wish we had taken the time to build lasting relationships rather than just knowing each other's names. There are some within the family who are close, cousins who are closer kin because they are the children of brothers/sisters, and some because they were/are the same age, but for the most part we are a disconnected bunch of people who can trace their family to the same people. Very sad to me. I long for a family that is close, that knows each others secrets, that has children who play together and would know each other if we ran into each other when out and about. With the internet so much in use now, you'd think families could be closer, but I have to wonder if it doesn't make us less intimate now.

I can remember as a kid loading up in the car with my mom, and grandma to go ride to see my great uncle Warren and his family. Or go to see my great aunt Addie and Uncle Damon, or to see Aunt Ruth and Uncle Edward. They were the ones who lived closest so we could ride and see them. My mom remembers that every Sunday you went to Grandma's house. My kids don't know that. They won't ever say "we all loaded up and went to grandma's to eat lunch after church on Sunday." Because it doesn't happen. I see my mom often, she comes here or I got there. It's just not the same as what she remembers or I remember. We don't get together once a month or more with cousins and other relatives to eat and just be together.

I just wonder with people being able to connect without that person to person connection if it's really connecting. Are we really fooling ourselves with the world is smaller, or are we making things harder on the next generation to really truly connect with people?

Do you enjoy family gatherings or reunions? Do you think there will less of them in the future? Do you miss the way some things were in the past?

hugs,
WendyK

Six Unspectacular Quirks about me

2008-09-04T19:09:00.002-04:00

Here are the official meme rules: 1) Link to the person that tagged you.2) Post the rules on your blog.3) List six unspectacular quirks you have.4) Tag six bloggers by linking them.5) Leave a comment on each person's blog to let them know they've been tagged.

6 Unspectacular Quirks about me:
1) I'm a pack rat. I hate to get rid of ANYTHING. Just as sure as I do I will find a need for it. So we have tons and tons of magazines, most every book I ever bought(I am getting better about getting rid of ones I know I will NEVER read or never read again), but we have tons of stuff that we have no idea what it is. We even have an old early edition typewriter, antique tools, 3 chandleliers---too big for our house, and a lot of other stuff we will probably never need or use.

2) I'm an avid reader. I read all the time. I read while watching TV. I read everything.LOL

3) I'm a bit obessive about my books. I like them to remain as new and pristine as possible. If I lend books it's usually only to people I know are like me or it's books I don't really want back, or I've gone out and bought a second copy of the book for lending out.

4) I'm a freak over brochures. I collect those tourist brouchures you get at places. You know like when you go to the mountains and stop at the visitor center they have all these pamplets and brochures for places to stop. I get one for each place. Some I have like 4/5 copies of them where they've changed over the years.

5) I collect odd things. Floater pens, coverflats/bookmarks/extras from authors, mini playing cards, postcards, and then common stuff as well. I also collect ornaments from places I have been, and usually a magnet.

6) I love all things NC and history. I love to learn about my state's history and visit all the places in NC. I have not made it to them all but I hope to. There is no other state quite a wonderful as mine.

Okay there are 6, hugs,
WendyK

Sherrilyn Kenyon book signing

2008-08-24T16:00:00.004-04:00

Well here are a few pictures from Sherrilyn Kenyon's DC signing on August 18th. I had a wonderful time. Diana was great fun and Sherri was as always a wonderful person and so much fun.

I will post more about our other stops on our trip later.

hugs,

WendyK

A family weekend at the beach

2008-08-14T15:23:00.002-04:00

Well after our bookclub meeting on Friday. I'll be heading to the beach to see my mom and some cousins. It's gonna be a large gathering. It should be interesting. I'll post pictures and stuff from our adventure later on.

hugs,
WendyK

Our first book club

2008-08-13T21:36:00.002-04:00

Well this Friday, August 15, 2008. We, meaning anyone in the Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville and the towns in the surrounding area will be meeting in Rocky Mount at the BAM for our first book club. As of now we don't have a name for the club, but Fatin has a bunch of goodie bags for those who attend. It should be fun. I can't wait. It'll be a rare chance for me to do something without my kids or hubby.

If anyone would like to attend you are welcome to.

Now I need to get back to my writing.

hugs to you all,
WendyK

RWA Chapter adventures....

2008-08-10T16:17:00.002-04:00

Well on Saturday I went to Raleigh to an RWA chapter meeting. Well it was an adventure. First I'll say the meeting was great and very informative.

But my adventure began before I even got there. I borrowed my mom's TomTom, while she watched my kids. Well TomTom took me through 2 subdivisons and then back out on the road I was on to start with. So I got to go siteseeing and while the homes were pretty it was a waste of gas and time. I'm glad I left early or I'd have arrived late. LOL

Then on the way home TomTom took me on a scenic route again. I think it just liked the houses. Add in that it'd say "turn right here" as you were passing the turn. Or it'd wait until the last minute to say turn left, meanwhile I'm in the right lane on a 4land highway. Not fun.LOL

But it was interesting. And once I got TomTom figured out and changed a few settings it worked good. I think I'll stick with Garmin in the long run though.

The RWA meeting was really nice though and the members are very friendly and nice. I plan to attend again next month and hopefully every month from here on out.

hope everyone has had a great week and weekend.

As for reading, well I got ACHERON on Tuesday and finished it on Wednesday! Never read such an outstanding story before. I loved, loved, loved it!!!

I will post a review later on.

hugs to all,
Wendyk

Tax-Free Weekend

2008-08-02T12:03:00.002-04:00

Well this is our tax-free weekend and I plan to go shopping. I just have to admit, I'm alone, the hubby is racing the kids are with my parents and I'm at home alone, for a change. This is sooo odd. And I hate to get up and go out and be in the midst of crowds taking advantage of the tax-free weekend. But then again, I know I need to go out and get the kids some stuff.

Awww. a free day.

What do you do when you have a free day? What do you do when you are alone and have no real plans for doing anything?

Wendyk

want to win and ebook reader, and read Acheron on it?

2008-07-29T21:22:00.003-04:00

http://www.yearofacheron.com/reader_sweepstakes.html

Go to that link and enter to win an ebook reader and a gift card! It's a great contest and a wonderful series.
I can hardly wait for ACHERON to be released!

hugs,
WendyK

not doing much

2008-07-25T21:03:00.002-04:00

Well I haven't post much lately. Really haven't felt like it. My eye is swollen due to allergys and so it's not much fun to read or write. Today is better, but it still looks bad. I think part of it comes from my teeth. I've got to go get some work done, but you have to have money to do that. And we don't. Or rather there are other things we'd rather spend the money on. Sad huh?

But I think I will see about getting some stuff together and try to get the work done in the next little while.

My son's last day of Speech for the Summer was Thursday. So for about 3weeks we are free from visits to town except to buy groceries and such. That should save a bundle on gas.

Well I'm going to bed early again, this makes like 4 nights I've hit the sack before 10pm. Have a great weekend.

hugs,
WendyK

Cleaning, and unpacking.

2008-07-10T20:02:00.002-04:00

I have a full day planned for tomorrow.
things to do:(Friday-Sunday)
1)Clean and straighten my son's room
2)clean and straighten my daughter's room
3)clean and straighten our bathroom(hopefully move tools to an outside area...)
4)work some more on the kitchen and laundry room
5)rearrange livingroom to fit new recliner in space.........figure out how to make a small room seem bigger when hubby keeps adding more and more furniture and expects my stuff to moved out....surprise my bookcases are staying......think he'll mind sitting on the porch?
6)help hubby deliver newsletters and candy
7)prepare for booksigning on Sat, make sure I have directions and books to get signed.
8)mail out books
9)put things in the grain bin and take new things out of grain bin(that maybe more on Sunday than Sat though, we'll have to see....)

Long days but maybe I'll get everything done I want to get done. My son has surgery on Monday and I'm nervous about it, so maybe if I stay busy I won't worry so much. Not likely to happen, since I worry anyway but we'll see.

Have a nice weekend everyone.
WendyK

Author Signing

2008-07-10T19:52:00.002-04:00

Well on Sat I'll be going to an author signing. I'm soo excited. There will be quite a few authors there. I'll post pictures next week, and let you know what books I buy.

I also have to say I'm so proud of my babies. A friend of ours has a son who's having a 13th b-day party on Sat. We were invited. So I asked the kids if they'd rather go play with some kids or go to their Grammie's house. They chose Grammie's. It's the first time they've been without me in awhile and they were so excited. Even the thought of other kids to play with couldn't get them to change their minds. I'm so proud they'd rather be with the grandma they adore more than anything.

They are thrilled to get to spend time with her.

My aunt has been sick lately, so we went this week to see she. She doesn't look good, but hopefully changing to a new doctor will help her to feel better.

Okay I gotta run.
Wendyk

hehe, I've got a playlist!

2008-07-07T18:19:00.002-04:00

Okay I'm excited. I'd been wanting to add music to my blog for awhile now and kept putting off doing it. Then I found playlist.com and here ya go. LOL

Okay I really really need to be working...ie reading a review book, writing 3 reviews, going through books....writing...but hey I'm playing online...LOL

hugs,
WendyK

July 5th Pig Pickin'

2008-07-07T12:12:00.001-04:00

Well it was a pig pickin' in honor of July 4th. But really it was more like a family reunion for my hubby. Almost all of the family came, only I think 3/4 people didn't show up. So he and his dad got to see alot of people they normally don't. Some pictures were taken, as you can see.

There are more pictures. I'll post more in another post. Everyone seemed to have a good time, I know my kids did.

And it wasn't so hot, not cool really but at least it wasn't as hot as it has been. And no rain! Well until yesterday. Then we had some bad storms rolling through.

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend.

WendyK

2008-07-03T18:08:00.000-04:00

a little fun trivia

2008-07-03T17:52:00.003-04:00

John Adams’ Final Toast

In 1826, John Adams, the second President of the United States, then 90, was on his deathbed as the nation prepared to celebrate its 50th Independence Day.
An emissary had been dispatched to invite the president to speak on the Fourth. Adams was ill and he declined.
The emissaries persisted, so Adams instead offered a toast.
His visitors anticipated grand words of flattery and praise, as was the custom of the day. But when Adams raised his glass he uttered only two words. Surprised, the emissaries asked him if he would expand upon his toast. "Not a word!" said Adams. Adams' final toast was that of a revolutionary:
"Independence Forever!" he said. Hear! Hear!

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Fireworks In The Nation's Capital

Historians say Thomas Jefferson was the first president to host a fireworks display at the Presidential Mansion in 1801 (before the White House was built). Independence Day celebrations continued in Washington, D.C., despite mayoral bans which were largely ignored. In the 1920s, city officials chose to use the Washington Monument grounds to host their own fireworks display which they felt would be safer than those of private individuals. The tradition lives on with the National Parks Service hosting one of the largest displays in the country on the National Mall.
The display requires a crew of 10 working six days in advance to string 150 miles of wire to connect the fireworks to six separate electronic firing boards set up on either side of the Reflecting Pool. At precisely 9:10 pm on July 4th, pyro technicians begin the 20-minute show, launching more than seven tons of explosives for a total of 2,600 aerial bombs, some of which contain as many as 30 individual firecrackers per shell. The show typically includes color-changing chrysanthemums, variegated peonies, and kamuros with glittering tails, long-burning dahlias, whistles, tourbillions, crossettes, and pattern shells to create stars, hearts, and smiley faces. The show is accompanied by a National Symphony Orchestra concert on the lawn of the Capitol Building.

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The Star Spangled Banner
"The Star Spangled Banner," sung to the melody of a drinking song "To Anacreon in Heaven," is based on a poem written by Francis Scott Key called "Defense of Ft. McHenry." During the War of 1812, Key overheard the British plans for attacking Baltimore while on board a British ship under a flag of truce trying to negotiate the release of a local doctor. The British, unwilling to release Key or his fellow negotiator, held these Americans on board as the British navy attacked Fort McHenry. Upon seeing the American flag still flying in the morning as his ship entered Baltimore harbor, an inspired Key wrote his famous poem. "The Star Spangled Banner" became America’s national anthem by President Wilson's executive order in 1916. Congress would confirm this order in 1931.

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The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Julia Ward Howe, the wife of a Boston abolitionist, wrote this hymn during the Civil War after visiting the Union army encamped on the Potomac near Washington, D.C. The hymn first appeared in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862 and went on to become the rallying anthem of Union soldiers. It later inspired American soldiers in World War II as well as civil rights activists in the 1960s. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is the source of the title for John Steinbeck's book "Grapes of Wrath" and is considered to be the unofficial anthem of the Republican Party.
My Country 'Tis of Thee / America
Samuel Smith wrote this song while studying in a seminary outside of Boston, MA. Based on the melody from Britain's national anthem "God Save the King," it was first performed in 1831 at a children's Independence Day celebration in Boston. "My Country 'Tis of Thee" went on to become the de facto national anthem of the United States for most of the 19th century.
You're a Grand Ole' Flag
Written by George Cohan for the musical "George Washington, Jr.," it debuted on the play's opening night of Feb. 6, 1906. This is the first song from a musical to sell over one million copies of sheet music.
God Bless America
Irving Berlin wrote this song in 1918, but its tone was not in line with the comedic show for which it was written. When looking for peaceful song as war loomed in Europe two decades later, Berlin pulled this tune off the shelves and modified it to reflect the current conditions. The radio broadcast of Kate Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" on Armistice Day in 1938 rocketed this song to national acclaim. Woody Guthrie, unhappy with Berlin's song, wrote "This Land is Your Land" in 1940 in response to this patriotic tune.

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When was the 4th of July first celebrated?
John Adams predicted in a letter to his wife Abigail that Americans would celebrate their Independence Day on July 2. Off by two days — not too bad for government work.
On July 2, 1776, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, signed only by Charles Thompson (the secretary of Congress) and John Hancock (the presiding officer). Two days later Congress approved the revised version and ordered it to be printed and distributed to the states and military officers. The other signatures would have to wait.
Many actually viewed the Declaration of Independence as a yawner — a rehashing of arguments already made against the British government. John Adams would later describe the Declaration as "dress and ornament rather than Body, Soul, or Substance." The exception was the last paragraph that said the united colonies "are and of Right ought to be Free and Independent states" and were "Absolved of all Allegiance to the British Crown."
For Adams, it was the momentum towards achieving American independence initiated on July 2 that future generations would consider worth celebrating, not the approval of this document on July 4.
Interestingly, the pomp and circumstance that many Americans presume took place on July 4, 1776, actually occurred days to weeks afterwards.
The Philadelphia Evening Post published the Declaration's full text in its July 6 newspaper. And the Declaration of Independence was publicly read from the State House in Philadelphia on July 8. Later that day, it was read in Easton, PA, Trenton, NJ, and to the local embryonic militia to provide much-needed inspiration against the formidable British.
The shouting and firing of muskets that followed these first public readings represent America's first celebrations of independence.
As copies spread, the Declaration of Independence would be read at town meetings and religious services. In response, Americans lit bonfires, fired guns, rang bells, and removed symbols of the British monarchy.
The following year, no member of Congress thought about commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence until July 3 — one day too late. So the first organized elaborate celebration of independence occurred the following day: July 4, 1777, in Philadelphia. Ships in the harbor were decked in the nation's colors. Cannons rained 13-gun salutes in honor of each state. And parades and fireworks spiced up the festivities.
Fireworks did not become staples of July 4 celebrations until after 1816, when Americans began producing their own pyrotechnics and no longer relied on expensive fireworks from across the pond.
Since 1777, the tradition of celebrating America’s independence on July 4 has continued.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Proud to be an American!
Wendyk

it's the small things, ya know?

2008-07-02T21:52:00.002-04:00

I was thinking today about the small things. The times my husband has fixed the radio so the speakers were how I like them, or when he makes sure the A/C is on if we've been gone but will be returning that day....or when he buys a shower head because it's one the hotel in Fla had that I loved, or the sink fixture that matched the bath fixture because I said "but I'd really like them to match" or buying the sink fixture with a sprayer even though it means more work for him.......or coming home with books even after fussing about how many books I own(his most often used words are "don't you think you have enough books already?" to which I always respond "there is no such thing as enough books").....or eating foods I like or going out to eat because I complained we didn't see enough of each other.......

The small things the kids do like saying "what?" "I didn't do nothing" "but moma I love you sooo much" Or when Jr made a book for mother's day and said I was old but weighted only like 80lbs...LOL

Or my baby girl saying "it's me and moma this time" or I love you moma" or any number of little things. The looks they can give you, the smiles on their faces when you've been gone only 10minutes......the love that shines within their eyes when they see you coming.....There's a 101 things they do, say or just have about them that is hard to explain but means so much. My son looking and acting so much like his daddy, my baby girl wanting moma and wanting to look like me(Lord help her, I hope not)....my hubby trying to make me laugh even when I'm really teed at him, and me trying my best not to smile at him, but not succeeding.....

It's the small things that add up to make things work. The big things are nice, a Volvo when we needed a new car (it's not new, it's a '92 model but I love it wouldn't want to trade it unless it's for a newer model), or there are other big things he's done. But it's the small things. I get to stay home with our kids while he works, and works hard. That's a big and small thing at once. The day to day things about it maybe small but the overall affect it has on our lives is big. My kids will always be able to say "my mom was home with us". That's a big thing for me. I never had any dreams or plans to be a career woman. At one time I wanted to be a Vet, but then I helped a Vet and realized I'd have to put pets to sleep, couldn't do it. Lost that dream very early on, I knew it wasn't in me to do it. Heck I did all I could when I was 14 to keep a kitten alive that was just a little over 4wks old and had lost an eye to our dog, woke every 1hr and half to 2hrs to feed her with a needle and did all the things she needed, knowing she'd most likely only live a couple of weeks, but I had to try.....

I had figured I'd might try graphic design since I liked it in school..I loved reading and writing as well...but above it all, even as a kid I wanted to be a mom. A mom who could stay home with my kids. It means I don't have a new car, I don't wear the latest fashions, I don't buy designer clothes, or the newest gadgets. But I get to be a stayathome mom. I love it much more than all the other stuff. My kids want for very little. Do they get every new toy? No. But they do have tons and plenty of clothes and enough food. Everything they "need" and lots of what they "want". Plus mom is ALWAYS there.

Well after this long post. My point is that I was thinking about all the small things my husband does that I forget to thank him for. It's the small things that show me how much he loves me. I wonder if the things I do show him how much I love and adore him? Maybe if we took more time to notice the small things, the extra napkins when a fast food cashier notices we have kids, the smile from the bank teller when the kids are getting on your nerves by not being still at the bank, the parent in line ahead of you or behind you who smiles and says "I remember when mine were that age....don't worry it gets easier and harder", the photographer who says "they are such happy children, what did you do?" the teacher who says" I love knowing I'll have them in my class, not just for them, but because I get to have you as well"......the small little things, a smile from a cashier...a thank you that is whispered......a laugh from our kids when they see a bird.....a smile and look mom that's a turtle chasing a squirrel when they see the clouds or a 'mom did they have clouds when you were a kid'(you know cause I'm so old) or even the "mom was Jesus alive when you were a kid?" (okay that one kinda hurts, but still it's from a 6yr old, the fact it's asking about Jesus is a pleasure).......it's the small things that are done, not for a great reward, but just because. Because it's nice. The email that comes and says "hey hadn't talked to you in awhile just wanted to say "hi""......the book that arrives with bookmarks and postcards and such because the author knows I adore them and collect them....the remarks from an author when you've written a review of their work. It's all little things that often go unnoticed, but I think they are the best things about life. The small things........how nice it is that small things add up to be bigger than the world.....

Wendyk

Horses at Beaufort

2008-07-01T20:47:00.002-04:00

I have loved going to Beaufort and seeing the horses out on the island. Ohh they are soo beautiful. One of these times we plan to ferry across so I can see them better. But in the meanwhile here are some pictures I took this past time we went.

Just got home from the beach.

2008-07-01T20:33:00.003-04:00

Well we went with my mom to the beach yesterday and just got home today. I'll post a few pictures from our day trip. The water was really rough so we didn't get out in it. We did visit the Maritime Museum in Beaufort, it's really nice.

June 2008 reading list

2008-07-01T20:13:00.003-04:00

I had a good month for June.Below are the books I read this month.

HIDDEN STEEL by Doranna Durgin
Rating 4

MY LADY NOTORIOUS by Jo Beverly
Rating 4

FALLING FOR KING'S FORTUNE by Maureen Child
Rating 4 1/2

WHAT THE MILLIONAIRE WANTS... by Metsy Hingle
RATING 4 (reread)

DAWN'S LIGHT by Terri Blackstock
Rating 4
http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews2/blackstockterri1608.html

PROMISES, PROMISES by Amber Miller
Rating 4 1/2
http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews2/milleramber1608.html

MISS FIX-IT by L. C. Monroe & Nicolette Derens
Rating 4 1/2
http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews2/monroe_derens1608.html

FINAL JUSTICE by Marta Perry
Rating 4 1/2
http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews2/perrymarta1608.html

CONTROLLING INTERESTS by Elizabeth White
Rating 4 1/2
http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews2/whiteelizabeth1608.html

NOW AND ALWAYS by Lori Copeland
Rating 4
http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews2/copelandlori1608.html

FROM A DISTANCE by Tamera Alexander
Rating 4 1/2
http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews2/alexandertamera1608.html

RICH MAN'S FAKE FIANCEE' by Catherine Mann
Rating 4 1/2

AT THE BRIDE HUNT BALL by Olivia Parker
Rating 4 1/2

WILD JINX by Sandra Hill
Rating 4

SWORD OF THE HIGHLANDS by Veronica Wolf
Rating 4

HIGHLAND KNIGHT by Cindy Miles
Rating 4

SECRETS by Jude Deveraux
Rating 4 1/2 (This one reminded me a lot of the same style of writing she used with SWEET LIAR, a great great read)

THE TROUBLE WITH MOONLIGHT by Donna MacMeans
Rating 3

VIKING UNCHAINED by Sandra Hill
Rating 41/2 -5
A great, wonderful story.

THE SURPRISE CHRISTMAS BRIDE by Maureen Child
Rating 4 (reread)

ANATHEMA by Colleen Coble
Rating 5 (this is an outstanding story!)

THE GOODBYE GROOM by Ellen James
Rating 3 (okay not great)

FINDING STEFANIE by Susan May Warren
Rating 4 (this was a good story)

Not a bad month at all! 23 books. I think I did great.

hugs,
WendyK

I wanted to have kids?

2008-06-26T16:51:00.002-04:00

I wanted to have kids? Are you sure I ever said that? Well of course at some point in my life I know I said "I want to have at least 100 kids". But then I also remember saying "and a nanny to help care for them". See even as I kid had some sense.LOL I have to admit they are driving me nuts today. When it's hot as it is today and you have no shade(thank hubby for the idea that planting trees will make mowing harder...men), well the kids can't really be outside for long spans and they are bored. They are picking at each other, which is really getting on mom's nerves. LOL

Kids you just gotta love them!

We had to leave early this morning for Speech therapy. Then hit the store for groceries and such, then Sam's club. All with two kids who were constantly aggravating each other. I swear between gas prices and food prices, we're all going on a diet. It's just outrageous. And sadly we didn't do a garden this year, mostly due to the loss of my motherinlaw. But I certainly miss it.

I do have to say,if I can keep it off, according to the scales, I've lost 25lbs this month. Can't tell it really, but then if I lost about 40lbs you wouldn't be able to tell it. LOL I still look like me. And nope I'm not dieting. Just eating only when hungry and once the hunger is appeased I stop. I'm also not nibbling like I tend to do. I've been chewing gum instead. And it's just tooo hot to really cook and eat alot. Please I've been eating more Subway subs, and I'll say it, I do think eating there helps people loss weight. I mean really unless you eat a footlong by yourself, it's really a lot healthier than a burger.

The kids have even started to branch out in what they will eat. The love sweet and sour chicken now. And baby girl loves tacos.

Well time to go. Gotta see what they are into, they got quiet and any one who's a parent knows that can only mean trouble.......

WendyK*and yep I'm still writing. I've been really good about either writing a scene or working on some part of the story at least an hour each day! I'm proud of myself. LOL*

Weekends over

2008-06-23T18:10:00.002-04:00

Well the weekends over. We spent most of Saturday from about 12pm until around 5:30pm at the R.C. racetrack in Wilson,NC. It was interesting. Me and the kids went into the hobbyshop and looked at the model train set up. They are wonderful, so very detailed and the guys up there are willing to talk to the kids and my son had a ball. He didn't want to leave them, even to return to the races. And this is a kid who's worked to get his own RC race car. The plan is for son and daddy to race at the dirt track in Wilson, which as it turns out runs on the weekends the paved track doesn't run. Hummm, funny that huh?

We never made it to the beach. But anyway......life goes on. We went out to eat,but for lunch and for supper.

Okay gotta run,
hugs,
WendyK

A good day

2008-06-20T21:05:00.002-04:00

Well today I got up and had to fix hubby's computer and a program he uses to do home inspections on. David at HomeGauge was really great. Then wash clothes and dry and put up. Then be in Greenville before 12pm to get a package hubby had ordered that came UPS and was waiting to be picked up. Hubby has decided it'll be great fun for him and our son to RC race. He did this about 10yrs ago when the old mall used to have an indoor track. But then stopped. And now he's found an outdoor paved track, a couple of dirt tracks, an off road track and an series that is partly sponsored by Tony Stewart, his favorite NASCAR driver now. So I just shake my head. He races I read. Our son is all for it. He's ready to race. So we went today to pick up one of the cars he'd ordered. Now we are awaiting the 2pack of trucks and I believe another car. I can't complain he doesn't spend much on other things. Hunting, fishing, and racing are his things. I'd rather him do that than go out drinking and stuff.

Well anyway, I got home from that and had to rush to get things together to ride with hubby when he went to deliver flyers and candy to real estate agents. It's become our time. We got with him, and then go out to eat and browse or shop or just spend time together. Today we went to the hobby stories, visited the tracks, ate at Dennys then went to BAM and home. Didn't even buy a book today.LOL Instead I bought a WRITING BASICS magazine and hubby got an RC magazine.

Tomorrow he's got a re-inspection, then we go watch an RC race a friend of his is racing tomorrow and hubby wants to get a better feel for the track. Then we plan to head to the beach house, hopefully. LOL

I have mailings to do tomorrow, so I have to get up early to get to the PO before they close and get some 20 or so packages out.

Now I'm off to read some more. Hope everyone has a great night and weekend.

hugs,
WendyK

Our 12th Anniversary

2008-06-20T13:33:00.003-04:00

Me and Hubby

I thought I'd post some pictures from our wedding 12yrs ago, this Sunday. I'll try to post more either this weekend or Monday. We plan to enjoy our anniversary so I may not be online much.

1st picture is of course me and hubby.

2nd picture is us eating cake

3rd picture is my mom and his mom

4th picture is me and my cousin, James. He gave me away and has always been like a dad to me.

5th picture is us not long after we said "I do"

and the last picture is me at Fort Macon on our Honeymoon.

hugs,
WendyK

I just don't get some people

2008-06-18T09:41:00.003-04:00

Recently we had a young boy to be killed by his parents. They tied him to a tree overnight as punishment for not doing as told. Basically for being 13. I don't get the parents. I really don't. It makes no sense to me. I mean what exactly could a kid do to deserve a punishment like that? And as a mother I'd never let my baby stay outside! Apparently I'm just a weird parent.

I just don't understand this world. I was thinking of the boys mother. She passed a few years ago from cancer,I believe and it was his dad and stepmom who did this. But I could see his mom up in heaven crying for her baby. Now she's holding him. I'm sure she's happy but sad as well.

What has our world turned into?

Wendyk

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T21:30:00.003-04:00

Happy Father's Day to all that dad's and that includes our heavenly Father. We didn't do much today. Just spent time with my fatherinlaw.

We watched the race, or they did. I came back to the house and worked on some reports. We did watch the Fast And Furious Tokoyo Drift movie tonight. It was good.

There's nothing on TV now and has gotten to where there rarely is. I adore BONES and Army Wives, out side those I don't really care what's on TV anymore.

Well I'll go back to reading. Ohh I did get some writing time today. But I don't think I'm happy with what I wrote, at least I did write. That's a major step for me. I plan to write more each day and to write SOMETHING everyday.LOL

And yes I do mean something more than this or reviews or what knot.

Hope everyone has a great night and have a great day tomorrow. May if full of bright happy moments.

hugs,
WendyK

Like this song

2008-06-14T14:08:00.001-04:00

I really really like this song!

I couldn't resist

2008-06-12T17:12:00.001-04:00

I got this image from Jenn, Gennita Low. She had it on her blog and I couldn't resist posting it. Now that's a bad day at work!

hugs,

The Airshow

2008-06-10T18:53:00.002-04:00

We went to the Cherry Point Airshow this weekend. And it was wonderful! I'd recommend everyon attend at least once. We plan to go next year and be better prepared. We plan to have more time to do the extras they offer. We plan to see more and do more and to sit in the bleechers. It was a great show and wish we could have attended all 3 days, but with the heat we just couldn't do it. I'll post a few pictures later. We took pics and videos and some of them were really good.

I'll add the pics now. Just a few.

Help we can't decide is she male or female?

2008-06-05T17:28:00.002-04:00

LOL yes we are having problems determining if the 8/9 week old kitten is male or female. We kinda think female. But dang if we can tell. So far no one can tell. So how do you tell? I swear in the past with kittens we've had it was much easier to tell. With Sassy, well it's harder.

My mom has had all kinds of adventures with this kitten. I'll have to see if I can get her to post and share them here.

hugs,
WendyK

2008-06-05T16:16:00.001-04:00

Misty Taggart
Certified Christian Life Coach
Blog Tour Update:

Misty will be drawing for the grand prize on June 15th, so you have until June 14th to send in your finalist. If you haven't posted this article to your blog yet, there's still time! And be sure to give your blog guests the June 14th deadline so you can give them all this great opportunity to have a life coach for a month for free. See below for original offer. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. ~Kathy

BLOG TOUR OPPORTUNITY

If interested in joining tour, Contact:

Kathy Carlton Willis, Publicist

kcwcomm@rgv.rr.com, 956-642-6319

Dear Bloggers,

Here's a great opportunity for a quick tour. If you can upload this article and photo to your site in the next 7 days, you will be given a journaling workshop written by Certified Christian Life Coach Misty Taggart. For placing this article on your site, we will give you a link to download an e-book on Christian Journaling as well as a 40-minute audio workshop. FREE! And, all of your guests will be added to a drawing going on just for all the blog tour guests on this blog tour (all sites entered in one drawing). Misty is giving away a one-month free life coaching package to the winner. This is a $75 value! They will win the Taste Your New Life Coaching Membership. All you have to do is write your entire mailing list and invite them to your blog to read this article and leave a comment to sign up for the grand prize. Then, draw one name. Send that name to Misty, and she will put all the finalists from the blog hosts in a drawing for the Grand Prize winner. AND you will get that free Christian Journaling e-book and audio workshop. Below is what you download to your site, including info about the contest for your blog guests. Write me if you have any questions.

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Hollywood Screenwriter Takes On Real Life

"I thought my life was over."

Hollywood's Dirty Little Secret
by Misty Taggart

I was living my dream. To be a Hollywood writer was everything I had wanted since I was a very young child. There was never a time in my life when I didn't know absolutely what I wanted to do. And there I was, a member of the WGA, a working Hollywood screenwriter. It was glorious. My life was so exciting! Each day was an adventure full of running to studios, pitching stories, writing and rewriting. Location shoots and lunching with Hollywood insiders.

I was so very fortunate to meet William Hanna of Hanna/Barbera fame. He told me he liked my "drive" ... my passion. It reminded him of his own. Bill quickly became my mentor and very good friend. He believed in me and my talent so much that it was this famous and very generous man who made it possible for me to be one of the first women to ever write for animation. Until then, it had been a closed boys club ... and yet, there I was writing dog dialogue for Scooby Doo in my own office at Hanna/Barbera Productions! How incredible it was to be sitting in the many recording sessions with all the big name voice-over talent.

I was so proud as I watched my talented husband, Joe, appearing on Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and Three's Company. Our friends were all in the business. We were surrounded by lights, cameras and action, all the things I had dreamed of and worked so hard to attain. It was an exciting time in my life. The strange thing was, I thought it would go on forever.

But under all the glamour and the fun, if you are in this industry very long you will find Hollywood's dirty little secret. What is that? Well ... Hollywood will not allow you to grow older! They simply won't allow it! They don't say it ... but it is made very clear. Opportunities to pitch stories stop coming your way. Meetings are difficult, if not impossible to get. It is heartbreaking and irreversible. You are on your way out! It is as though the "Hollywood Powers-That-Be" believe a human brain stops working, in any cognitive fashion, when you near the BIG 50! (A testimony to that thinking can be had by simply watching current TV.) I laugh when I think that just perhaps their skewed thinking has come back to bite them in the behind!

When it was clear that my life as a Hollywood Screenwriter was over, I was truly devastated. I felt my whole life finished. Depression and fears set in--stealing any joy I had left. Hollywood had done a good job on me. I bought all of the lies. And those lies almost killed me.

I was convinced my dream had been stolen. I was too old to ever have other dreams or to truly enjoy my life ever again. Going on living that way, wasn't an option.

But I was so very wrong! God simply had new dreams for me in this season of my life. But I didn't come to this discovery easily. It's taken time and the willingness to work with my own Life Coach. No, she didn't do it for me, but she listened to me ... gave me new ways to look at my life. Things I hadn't thought about in my devastated, crisis state. She asked the hard questions and I found answers. It was an amazing process.

Could it be that I was getting excited about life again? Together, my coach and I made a PLAN OF ACTION that fit me perfectly. I began slowly but surely to move toward a new dream.

My life coach shared her knowledge, giving me many incredible and solid life tools to deal head on with my depression and feelings of worthlessness. My faith became stronger and I was empowered to see the possibilities God was offering to me. And, with her encouragement, I had the desire to reach out and grab them! Wasn't this what Bill Hanna had loved about me? My drive! My enthusiasm? I realized I was the only one who had given up on me. God had done His part, as always .. now it took action on my part.

Would I give up on the rest of my life, brokenhearted over the past? Or would I find new vistas to conquer? I had a choice to make and I chose LIFE! I chose TODAY and all of my tomorrows. I looked at my life and all of the many trials and victories. I longed to share that with other women. To let them know they could achieve their dreams. It all became so clear! I began the study necessary for me to become a Certified Christian Life Coach. With my faithful readers, like you, at Ordinary Woman/Extraordinary God, who had been with me for so long, I began my practice.

Now, I want YOU all to experience the POSSIBILITIES for your lives! Don't give up! The definition of life is CHANGE. Helping other women walk through transitions using what I had been through myself became my passion ... My life is once again filled with excitement and I get up each day with true joy. I look forward to the day.

God had not taken dreams away, but given me new ones.

This is why I'm so passionate about Life Coaching. I've been where you are! Let's do this together.

Don't you want a Life Coach who has been in those stuck and dark places ... a coach who knows how it feels to be frozen in place by fear and hopelessness? Give it a 4-week try! You will be amazed at what you will accomplish.

See: http://www.ordinarywoman.com/TASTEYOURNEWLIFE.html

For more about Misty's Life Coaching, go to:

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GRAND PRIZE DRAWING!

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And for those of you who don't win, here's another freebie for you:

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Listen as Misty gives 2 - Live 10-min Laser Coaching Sessions. Each Monday!

10am (Pacific) - 11am (MNT) - Noon (Central) - 1pm (Eastern)

To join us on this Free call or to receive a Free Laser Session with Misty on the call CLICK HERE to SEND an Email!
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Kathy Carlton Willis | 1324 South 10th Street | Raymondville, Tx 78580

Family Reunion

2008-05-31T19:20:00.006-04:00

We had a family reunion today. It was the Morris/Bateman/Alexander family reunion. Saw some people I haven't seen in ages. I'll post some pics of the groups.

Our Trip to the beach

2008-05-31T18:18:00.003-04:00

Well we went to the beach for the week after my son graduated from "K". We had fun and it was got tiring. I was ready to be home.LOL

We did see a horse on Shackleford Banks.

WK

My baby Boy Graduated today

2008-05-22T20:49:00.003-04:00

Well today my son graduated from Kindergarten!

Isn't he adorable?! I'm soo proud and so sad. It seems like my baby is growing up way too fast. I'm happy and sad. He's now out of Kindergarten. Although we have other issues to consider before school begins. So I'm not sure if he'll be going into 1st grade or not. With speech and other issues we may decide to retake K at a full day school.

But I'm still thrilled about today. We'll worry about the other stuff tomorrow. Today is a day to celebrate.

Just had to show off my boy.
WendyK

More pics of Sassy

2008-05-19T16:40:00.003-04:00

Here are a few more pics of the kitty Sassy. Thankfully my mom has agreed to take her later this week. While I think she's cute and I'd love to have a cat, hubby just isn't ready for another cat right now and we have so many dogs she'd never be able to go outside. So my mom is taking her.

These were taken at my parents new beach home. Sassy been to the beach twice now. So she'll travel fine.LOL

I've got 3 scrapbooks to work on for end of year teacher gifts and candy dishes and a review book to finish and 3 reviews to write. Plus more unpacking to do. At least after Thursday I'll have more time in the morning and less travel time.

hugs,
WendyK

Pics of Sassy

2008-05-17T10:22:00.005-04:00

Ok let me try this again. These are a couple of shots I just took. Sassy is still on the computer and biting my hands. She apparently thinks this is loads of fun. As is sitting on my chest or trying to put her mouth in mine. And she is supposed to be my son's cat.

Okay off to work and play.
WendyK

Kitty news

2008-05-15T16:43:00.001-04:00

Well I don't think I mentioned it. But a couple of weeks ago I found a kitten, alone, under the house. No mom and one eye still closed. Well I have to bottle feed her for a week or so now. And I'll be honest I was getting mighty tired of feeding the kitten. I was ready for her to go. My son wanted her or else I'd have a new home for her. I tried giving her to my mom, but she found it too much and I had to take her back. Dang it. i will post a picture later today, hopefully of the kitty.

WendyK

My Space

2008-05-14T15:03:00.002-04:00

I am updating my Myspace account. It's interesting. I have no idea why I'm doing it since I probably won't be there much, but at any rate I'm doing it.LOL

My baby boy graduates May 22 from Kindergarten. Wow it seems like yesterday we brought him home from the hospital. Now he's growing up. My parents are thinking about buying a place at the beach. If they do we plan to spend a bit of time there each month. The kids will be delighted.LOL

I've been reading mostly review books, so I haven't had time to read anything just for fun. Plus I've been trying to get things unpacked. At this point I'd almost rather just leave everything in storage.LOL

Okay gotta go work on hubby's newsletters.

hugs,
WendyK

visited my mom

2008-05-04T10:17:00.002-04:00

Went to my mom's this weekend and we just relaxed and enjoyed being at her house for a change. I haven't been since Christmas due to the deaths in the family. So it was great to be there.

We made a wreath out of some cut flowers that I think turned out beautifully. I'll post pictures of it later on.

Just wanted to post something today.

WendyK

April is here and about gone

2008-04-19T12:45:00.002-04:00

Well April's come and almost gone. Sadly we lost my fatherinlaw's mother on April 13th.

Hopefully the rest of our year will see less pain and more blessings.I hope to post some good books for you to read soon.

My baby boy will be graduating K next month! Wow it seems like yesterday we found out we were pregnant with him! Now he's growing up and not "wanting" mom to kiss him in front of the boys.LOL

It seems this year is just flying by and I'm not getting anything done I needed to.

So it's off to work some more and see what I can get done.

hugs to everyone.
WendyK

Happy Easter

2008-03-21T15:03:00.001-04:00

Well Happy Easter everyone. Sorry for being gone so long. My motherinlaw was sick, dying from cancer. She passed away on March 8th, 2008. I will post about her hopefuly tomorrow.

hugs to all and Happy Easter.

WendyK

I love this song

2008-02-15T11:12:00.002-05:00

Wow it's been a long time since I posted. But life gets in the way and time gets away from us. I recently had a friend, Fatin, who posted this song on her blog and I adore the song. Don't know why really, but it just I don't know. I like it. I've listened it probably 60 times in 3 days.LOL

WendyK

Read an awesome book today.UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR

2007-11-05T19:09:00.000-05:00

Today I read UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It was great. Here are my journal notes/review from my journal log.

UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR
A Dream-Hunter Novel
Sherrilyn Kenyon
ISBN: 0-312-94705-4
November 2007
Paranormal Romance

Read November 5, 2007

Rating 4.5 or 5

This is an excellent story. What happens when those you trust most, betray you in the worst way? It’s a question asked from both the heroine and hero, however each reacted in completely different ways. Aidan O’Connor reacted with pain and anger and retreated to a place of isolation. Leta, a Goddess, instead turned to protecting the innocent to keep anyone else from feeling the pain she has. Now Leta finds Aidan as the innocent who needs protecting. But it maybe Leta who pays the ultimate price.

This is an interesting, fun, sexy, fast read. While it is part of a series and connected to Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters, it does perfect as a stand-alone or entrance into her worlds. There is also a special short story at the end that is a perfect little gift for those us who have followed Kenyon for years. Once more Ms. Kenyon has delivered a romance that will touch you, make you smile and leave you wiping tears from your eyes. This is sure to be a treasured addition to my keeper shelf.

It does have a more Christmasy theme and time frame, but I do believe I'll be rereading it at other times. Fans of Scrooge, A Christmas Carol, and other version of the old tale are likely to find Kenyon's UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR a refreshing look at things. I truly enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

I'm so used to writing reviews I tend to write even in my journal as if I was writing a review for www.theromancereadersconnection.com. LOL

A great book....

2007-10-27T18:12:00.000-04:00

DEAD SEXY
Kimberly Raye
ISBN: 0-373-79362-6
November 2007
Harlequin Blaze
Love at First Bite book one
Read October 27, 2007

Wow! What a great vampire cowboy story. Jake is a vampire, has been for over a 100 years. However he’s ready to end his torment and to finally be free. As a vampire Jake can feed on blood or sex or both. Being in Skull Creek, Texas, Jake finds himself at the only event that will allow him to find a woman. One who will understand a no strings attached sexual encounter. What he finds is Nikki Braxton, a woman who sets him on fire in more than just a sexual way. Nikki isn’t prepared for Jake, but then again she wants a normal ordinary guy, and Jake certainly isn’t that.

Jake is here to break a curse and be free, but will he find that freedom may mean the end of his dreams? Or will his freedom lead him straight to Nikki’s heart?

This was a great story. Quick, well written, fascinating, sexy, fun, and so charming you’ll be eager for more. This is book one in a series and I can hardly wait for the next book. Outstanding read!

WendyK

Reading, relaxing, and in general wasting a day

2007-10-27T12:47:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm just wasting a day, today. I'm reading some and playing online and in general doing nothing. I need to be cleaning the house, or painting the other house, or decluttering, since I have a ton of stuff to decide if we're keeping or not. Most we aren't. But I just don't feel like doing any of it.

So what's everyone doing on this Saturday the last of October?

WendyK

On a lighter note, or should I say sunken?

2007-10-24T13:13:00.000-04:00

Recently a the remains of a sunken vessel were found in the Tar River, near the Old Sparta Bridge. It appears to be an old boat that may have been sunken 200years ago. This drought we are going through has offered a rare chance to see what is at the bottom of the river.

Here's a link to an article about it.
http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173353067113&path=!news!statenews

and here's another one:
http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/732302.html

More to life than fighting

2007-10-24T11:55:00.000-04:00

Recently a friend sent me a link to a blog with an interesting orginal post. The orginal post was on court rulings about what is libel and what is free speech and so on. It was interesting. However the comment went from being about this issue to an issue of racism in the romance writing/reviewing world. As a reviewer I do not look at an author's picture. Heck half the time I only notice who the author is after I've read the book. Unless it's a "must buy" book from an author I already love. I look for great stories, with interesting plots. Or yes I look for stories set in NC or written by NC authors. What can I say I want to support my local state's authors and stories that have the great ablity to know that my state is awesome.

However what really got to me was, that all this energy was spent going back and forth over an issue that wasn't meant to be the main topic. It was like watching a snowball go downhill. What started as a small thing slowly built until it overtook the whole post. Much as a small snowball when sent downhill will roll into a huge thing.

While reading all these posts I could only think, here my mominlaw is battling a cancer that is winning, and these people are fighting over placement of books and supposed racism. Okay sounded like some had valid points and that some really did react in a racially based way. However some sounded more like they got their feelings hurt and wanted to lash out. I am not, nor can I ever be of a different race. I am human, I am God's child, I am me. I am an American. I have many different cultures in my background, from Irish to Scottish, to Dutch to German, to Native American, to hillbilly. I can remember having people be racist towards me because my cousins are half Native American, and because we had little to no money and the fact I was fatherless. Well I had and always have had a father, his name is God. He created me, and loves me for who I am and who I will become. He does NOT see me as white, black, pink, purple, yellow, or orange or any other shade. He sees me as Wendy, his child, the one He created with love and who has a place waiting by His side when my final page is turned.

I do know what racism is, I have felt it. Yes I am considered white, I'm blonde(okay not so much now) with green eyes, and yep I'm on the heavy side. Okay I'll say it I'm fat. Dang now I'll hear a ton of things on how fat is wrong. Well sorry that's the word. And simple fact is, it's a word. Same as thin. It's all in the eye of the beholder. I see me, not fat. So anyway. But the issue of books and authors dealing wiht racism and how things went from a nice post with good information to a cat fight just bothered me.

There are HUGE issues facing us all. At the end, there is death. For some, such as my mominlaw, death is looking closer and closer as each day passes. Why all the name calling and fighting? Okay so some people don't want to read a book by an AA author. Okay sorry for them. They maybe missing out an excellent story. Or maybe not. Not all white authors appeal to every white reader. I have a few I won't read. Not for their color but because their writing style doesnot work for me. So by the standards of the post I just read, I'm racisist for not reading certain authors works. Why? Because they are white? Or because I don't like their writing?

Do I think placement of books by AA authors or about AA authors needs to be rethought. of course. But then I think Christian Fiction, namely romance needs to be place with the secular romance as well. They are put over in the Reglious section and are overlooked by millions of readers, when they are excellent stories that many readers would be surprised to see in the Reglious section to begin with.

So why not just start a campaign? How about we as romance readers go into stores and put all ROMANCE in one section? I mean really is it racism or just something that has to do with genre location? So many genres are mixed and blended now that it's actually hard to say a book is "just" romance. You have fantasy books that are romance or mysterys with romance or even horror with romance. So what do we do to correct the issue instead of just going over and over it?

I would love to see a post about solutions rather than a post going over what is and isn't racism and who is or isn't a racist.

Anyway I found I needed to rant or just randomly comment. I'm really rather irked. My loved one is battling a disease that is killing her, yet people expound so much energy on something that is not life or death. No one will die if a book is not put in a certain section or if a book is not reviewed by a site. However if we took that same energy and put it into sending out positive thoughts, goodwill, and prayer for our fellow humans who are dying from diseases maybe, just maybe if they have to die, they will die with peace in their hearts and a smile on their faces. Rather than pain. I am a firm believer that all this negative energy being put into the world is hurting not only those they aim it at but others who have no idea the issues are even being discussed.

So stop with the anger, stop with the name calling, stop with the negative and come up with good things to say. Come up with solutions rather than adding to the problems.

Okay I'm going now. I've ranted and randomly talked and just in general made a pain of myself. Not sure I even make sense to anyone. I guess I'm angry that a good woman is dying from a disease while others are complaining. At least they aren't facing a death with no hair, a death that if she continues the treatments will lead her to an end much as she entered the world, as a baby. An end that she fears will cause her loved ones more pain than they need. Cancer.....

WK

I love my state

2007-09-26T11:28:00.000-04:00

Recently we took the kids to Manteo, NC. We has such a wonderful time and really didn't spend much money. We went to the Aquarium, and Bodie Island lighthouse, we saw the ElizabethII and the ocean. As well as went to the Inlet to see the boats coming it. It was a wonderful fun day that I'm sure I'll always remember. I'm posting a few pictures from our trip. Hope you enjoy them.

WendyK

Weekly household tips

2007-09-08T12:42:00.000-04:00

Hey,
If you notice I've changed a few things on my blog. I plan to also post at least once a week with a new household tip. This week's tip is how to remove old stickers from furniture. If you can't read the tip please let me know. I'm wondering if the font is too hard to read.

Hope this tip will hope someone. If you have a tip you'd like to share with me please email me or post it here.

hugs,
WendyK
highlandlovesong@yahoo.com

From one health issue to another

2007-09-08T09:33:00.000-04:00

Well we've been dealing with my motherinlaw's health lately. Still aren't sure why her sodium is so low or have a certain answer as to the cancer question. Then yesterday my fatherinlaw has another of his spells, this one happens while he's at the doctors or just before he gets there and he's sent to the heart center. Where they find he's got an issue with his heart. It requires surgery and they will do that on Tuesday. So while still trying to help my mom since her back surgery, help my motherinlaw since she's tired, we now have my fatherinlaw to worry about. The only one not sick is my stepfather and we're waiting for him to have something happen.LOL

Add in school's started, my son's issues with speech and his vision, and I wonder if I'll ever get my house straight.LOL Oh well, I've never lived in a musuem and have no desire to, so I guess a little mess is okay. At least we have clean clothes and food to eat and do have a house even if it is a mess.

Live goes on and as the saying goes with everything there is a hiden blessing. Since the doctor things the stress over my motherinlaw is what allowed them to finally see what his hearts been doing, that's our blessing. They say if it hadn't of done it now, he'd probably have died of a heart attack in 3-6mths and there wouldn't have been anything we could have done to save him.

Now it's a day to clean my house, might even hit the kids jungles. Wish me luck:)

hugs,
WendyK

I'm playing with the blog

2007-09-05T17:34:00.001-04:00

If you can't see anything please let me know. I'm playing with things trying to change them up a bit. I like the placement of things just wanted to adjust images and colors. So let me know if you can't see anything or if it's hard to read.

Thanks,
WendyK

School has begun

2007-09-05T14:12:00.000-04:00

Well school began on Tuesday. What a week it's been since then. I know it's only been 2 days of school but it's been a busy two days. Both my babies are loving school so far. My son came home today with something he made and he says it's to show that he loves his mommy and daddy so much.

While my son will be in school all week, my baby girl is only there on Tuesday and Thursday's. She loves it and would be there all week if I let her.

I'm already trying to think about next year as well. Since my son can't continue as his school next year. They only do up to K right now. So we'll have to find another school, put him in public or look at other options. I'm wondering about Home Schooling. My biggest concern is that he hates to work with me on schoolwork. I guess if I work with him enough this year maybe he'll accept doing it with me otherwise.LOL

I'm worn out and haven't done a thing. Now I'm off to read. Have a great day.

WendyK

My baby boy is 6

2007-09-02T10:18:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I posted. Alot has been going on. My motherinlaw is sick unsure of the exact cause. At one point they said lung cancer, now they don't think it's that, but either way she's still sick. Her sodium is extremely low. So it's been a rough August. I'm glad to see September arrive. Maybe it'll bring better news.

Yesterday my baby boy turned 6 years old. It's hard to believe he's that old. Seems just yesterday I brought him home. He's grown up so much. Both my babies return to school on Tuesday and both are extremely excited. I hope it stays that way.

He's such a wonderful little boy. I hate to see him growing up and at the same time I'm thrilled to have the chance to watch him grow and change.

Well that's all I've got to say for now. I'll come back soon to post again. I hope to start posting everyday.

Have a great day and labor day!
Wendyk

School Pics

2007-06-04T12:59:00.000-04:00

These are my babys' school pictures. I'm so proud of how they turned out and how wonderful my kids look and are.

Just had to share.
WendyK

Fountain News?

2007-06-04T12:17:00.000-04:00

Today while I was out running a few errands, I happened to pick up my small town's FOUNTAIN COMMUNITY NEWS, it's a single sheet, doublesided newsletter. I thought it was great that our towns' idea of crime in consisted of someone driving off without paying for $30 worth of gas. The cashier knew who it was, and the person later came back and paid for the gas so no charges were filed. We had a total of 7 incidents reported in April, including the gas incident. All were minor things in comparison to what the towns near us suffer. It's just neat to be able to say I live in a small community that is safe.

I have to say we have not taken part in alot of the activities the town is now doing, which I hope to correct soon. It seems we forget the events or have made other plans and can't make them.

In other areas of my life, things are going great. My mom is having good days and bad days. I'm hoping the good days will outdo the bad shortly. She's finally started PT but I'm not sure if it's helping or making it worse.

Me and the kids recently went to the beach, Emerald Isle, NC. We had a good time. It was busy with alot of the military down for Memorial Day celebrations, but it was nice. I'm eager to go back.

My kids are out of school now. My baby boy will be in Kindergarten next year and baby girl will begin a 2 day program. Both still get up every morning saying "we got school today?"

The last week was busy and I still have totes to complete for the teachers.

Otherwise we are just trying to build my hubby's home inspection business and get things ready for a move. That is if the home we are moving to is ever finished.LOL
We are just doing some adjustments to a singlewide, adding hardwood floors, oak cabinets, pocket doors, new windows, painting, and a few smaller details.

on the Reading front, I've read a few Category romances. I still love these books, but a lot seem to feel as though they are missing chapters. The endings seem to happen just a tad to quickly and neatly. Or else the heroine just rolls over and accepts an "I'm sorry" after being so very strong for the whole book. I wonder if there isn't a better way to end some of these and still give readers a HEA.

I did read Maureen Child's MORE THAN FIENDS and loved, loved, loved this book. It's the beginning to a new series and seems to be good. I also got to read Deeanne Gist's COURTING TROUBLE, I loved this book as well. It's a Christian Fiction title that had a few surprises and was excellently written. To read my review of either of these books please visit, www.theromancereadersconnection.com.

Well I think that's enough for today. Hopefully I'll be able to post more often now.

WendyK

Brenda Novak's diabetes auction

2007-05-03T17:39:00.000-04:00

I'll post later today or tomorrow, but I wanted anyone who may read this to head over to Brenda Novak's diabetes auction. There are some great things up for auction and it's for an awesome cause.

please visit Brenda's website to learn more about it or to join in the fun.

www.brendanovak.com

hugs,
WendyK

How Romance begins........

2007-04-17T20:52:00.000-04:00

On one of my yahoogroups, the one for www.theromancereadersconnection.com, they were discussing reunions and we went off course and soon we were discussing how we met our spouses. At least some of us were. Well of course I had to say something about meeting my hubby. It was complete chance. A former friend repeatedly asked me to go with her to visit her aunt and uncle's place at the river. I kept saying no, but then finally agreed to ride with her. We walk in the door of their home and laying on the floor is my future hubby. He was soo cute.:) Still is, imho. We have been together ever since that day. We were married 1yr and 10days after the day we met. And coming up on June will make 11yrs we've been happily married.

While reading how some others meet their spouses or boyfriends, I wondered just how many of us meet our other half by chance or as me and hubby say by "God's hand". Our song is "Keeper of the Stars" as it perfectly fits us.

Anyone want to share their meetings with me? Or with us at TRRC? If so go by and join our group. We'd be glad to see you and hear your story, just as I would be glad to read about it here.

May you all have a blessed day today and remember know matter what there is somone stronger than us there to hold us up when we can't stand on our own.

WendyK

Wild weather

2007-04-16T18:33:00.000-04:00

I swear you never know how to dress these days. Today was just wild. The temps weren't too bad, but the wind. Goodness it was awful.

I don't have much to say today. The weekend the family planned a garden so the rain might be good for it. But who knows. I do know my kids are suffering from sinus issues. This weather doesn't help with that either.

Okay back to tending to other things before I fix supper.

Wendy

Where have all the heroes gone?

2007-04-13T15:53:00.000-04:00

I got a message in a yahoogroup about Angela Knight's blog. She had posted an interesting discussion. So I went over and read it. Here is a link if you want to read it as well:

http://angelasknights.blogspot.com/

Really a great discussion going on. As a romance reader, I found I agree with what was being said.

I'll post more on my thoughts later. I'd love to know others thoughts and feelings about this issue.

WendyK

Friday the 13th, the date not the movie

2007-04-13T15:13:00.000-04:00

Well happy Friday the 13th to one and all. I forgot it was actually the 13th until someone posted about it in one of my yahoogroups. It's just a date to me. I was going to post some of my kids funny comments from yesterday as they struggled to decide who got to watch what they wanted and who got to pick what they played, but since then I've forgotten their exact words. The gist of it was that my son is the oldest therefore he gets to pick all things while babygirl thought since she's the princess and baby she should get to pick all things. Then she added, I'm just a weethingy. Have no idea where that one came from. So big brother said, well I'm the biggest so I'm boss, now you do as I say! It was rather entertaining to stay out of it and let them figure this out. They were cute and as long as the pushing didn't start I just sit back and let them decide. So baby girl got to pick the show they watched, it was a tape that baby boy liked as well, and baby boy picked what they'd play while the show was on. Then he had to add,"I'm still the oldest". Somehow this is more important.

They amaze me sometimes, with their reactions. They always hug and act like they haven't seen each other in ages if they are apart for a few hours. They fight like crazy but no one else better pick on one or the other. Baby boy still doesn't like that his "sissy" is in another building from him at school.

And with the weather playing outside is hit or miss. So playing inside means they can't run as much. Hopefully Spring will decide to bloom soon.

Have a great day and weekend everyone.
WendyK

Wow where has the week gone?

2007-04-12T18:41:00.000-04:00

Wow it's Thursday already. Feels like this week has just flown by. I can't believe the kids will be back in school on Monday! Only a few more days of sleeping late then it's back to getting up early for a few more weeks.

We had a busy day today, just got home in fact. Between stopping at the mall, visiting Walmart, speech, and stopping at a lawn mower place we were gone all afternoon. But it's good. Done with the shopping for a while, well at least a week anyway.:)

I will need to hit BN if Walmart doesn't soon get my books in. I'm looking for certain books due out last week and still not there yet. I hate when that happens!

Well it's back to work decluttering and cleaning and playing online.

WendyK

blogs, blogs and more blogs

2007-04-11T17:11:00.000-04:00

wow I forgot how many people have blogs for all kinds of stuff. I'm trying to change up a few I'm on and it's amazing to me the skill some people have with this. I am hoping what I do will please those who post on the blogs but it's no sure thing. I've been looking at templates and tutorials and other blogs and in general playing all day long. Hey it's kept me from doing housework, so maybe it's a great thing.LOL

I'm off again to try to play some more and see what I can design.

Wish me luck,
WendyK

Books, books, and more books

2007-04-10T16:02:00.000-04:00

I have to think that sometimes books have taken over my life. I honestly do. I have been going through books this weekend and week, and so far have about 40 that are doubles, countless I have no idea why I have, since I'll never read them, and a few that I just decided I don't want. A few I'd been looking for not realizing I already had them, sad isn't it?

But I'm closer to being done. I have about 2 totes left and then a cabinet full to go through.

I wonder if anyone else is as full of books as I am?LOL

I have decided to post my collection to Librarything.com and will probaby pay the $25 once I get the 200 mark done.(Which shouldn't take me long, one bookshelf is over that). But for now I'll just keep the free 200 books listing.

Now I've got to get back to cleaning and weeding.

WendyK

"Last place I looked"

2007-04-01T10:12:00.000-04:00

Why is it we always say we found the item we were searching for in the "last place I looked"? Of course we did. If we kept looking after finding it, well that would be dumb. I had that experience yesterday. While getting ready to head to a birthday party for a friend's little boy, who has just turned 6, and is a friend of my son's, I went to see my hubby. While I only planed to be a minute I left the Jeep running. Long story short, it overheated and cracked the water reseviour. We had one we'd gotten a few yrs ago when hubby had learned this thing busted easily and costed like $60 new, we found one off an old Jeep for $10. However we had no idea where it was. So we looked everywhere. Finally as I heading back to my Jeep I thought to look in an old car we have on our property that seems to be a catch all for odds and ends. And there is was, the last place I looked, as I told hubby. That's when I thought about why we say this. I mean really of course it's the last place we looked. If it was the first, we'd have stopped looking.

Just a curious thought I had yesterday. Today I will finish my weeding of books yet to be read and likely to never be read. I've found a few I have no idea why I even got, like Judith Krantz and John Grissom. So I'm off to do more weeding, while hubby will head to watch the race at inlaws.

Hope everyone has a great day.

WendyK

Visiting with friends

2007-03-23T21:51:00.000-04:00

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

2007-03-23T21:42:00.000-04:00

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

2007-03-21T22:39:00.000-04:00

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