A Messy Good Time!!

Hi everyone! Sorry I’ve been gone so long. It’s not that I don’t want to keep up with my blog. I do. I really do. But I’ve been so busy. Busy with what? Kids, work, life.

But most recently, planning a weekend long birthday party for my daughter. She just turned 16. It was crazy!! We had a 3 tiered cake that about did me in, paint wars, a colored powder fight, and so much more. But instead of just telling you, why don’t I just show you? 😊

Lake Wedington, AR. The scene of our epic bday party.

We rented a cabin for the entire weekend.

It was small but cozy, air conditioned (although it didn’t work very well) and clean, and the beds were surprisingly comfortable. No tv-the kids didn’t like that. We brought board games, a karaoke machine, and marshmallows to roast.

First up: unpacking. We packed way too much stuff but I’d rather have too much than not enough. Clothes, party stuff, prizes, games, etc.

THE FIRST NIGHT:

Karaoke Time!!

My daughter and her best friend belted out tunes to an energetic audience of 3.

Not long after, the ‘crowd dispersed and hit the hay.

GOOD MORNING!!

The hubby woke everyone up by banging on pots and pans (This echoes inside a small cabin).

Delicious breakfast for a busy, busy day.

Next up, decorating the cabin for the party.

We all took to this with a smile on our face and a song or two blasting through the cabin.

Finally, We’re heading down to the lake for swimming and food! And a little music too.

CAKE AND ICE CREAM.

We had to keep the cake and ice cream at the cabin because they would have melted in a heartbeat. And I worked really hard on this cake. While it didn’t turn out as planned (I cried for a bit about that), my daughter was still pretty happy with it.

FUN AND GAMES!!

Game #1: Shake your booty. This game had everyone laughing so hard!!!

We actually had a couple more games to play but it was beginning to get late and the park gates closed at 8 pm so we moved on to the best part of the evening, the part all of the kids had been looking forward to.

PAINT SLIP N SLIDE:

How about a colored powder fight next? Shasta was the champion by the way. 😁

And perhaps the messiest and most fun, the paint war!!

Talk about a mess. But so much fun!! Afterward, everyone got sprayed down with the garden hose and showered. (Paint was still coming out of everyone’s hair even a day later.)

Then there was just us. The hubby had a headache so we had my daughter’s friend grill up some chicken for us.

A really good cook by the way.

Roasting marshmallows, ghost stories, and a light show ended the night. (At least for me. I crashed out at 1, the kids were up until the sun came up.)

All in all, I think my daughter had a great time and hopeful it will be one she will remember and cherish for many years.

Heartbreakingly Uplifting….

Anyone that has ever read my blog knows how much I enjoy a good movie. And ones I personally consider to be great, I do a post about. Well this one, the one I’m going to tell you about, blows any other movie I’ve watched in a long time completely out of the water. Out of the atmosphere.

The movie is:

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

The inspiring and unknown true story behind MercyMe’s beloved, chart topping song that brings ultimate hope to so many is a gripping reminder of the power of true forgiveness.

I’m sure you’re heard the song at least once. After all, it is the #1 Christian song in America. Even of you aren’t particularly fond of Christian music, I have no doubt you have heard it somewhere. It has been played on nearly every radio station in the U.S.

And with 2.5 million copies sold, it is the best-selling Christian single of all time, having been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. As of 2018, it is the only Christian song to reach that milestone.

Still not sure? Click this link to watch the official video:

Okay, so I’m not writing this about a song or to sing its praises. (No pun intended). I’m here to tell you about a movie. The movie that tells the true story behind such an awe inspiring song.

And believe me, the backstory is even more awe inspiring that the song. In fact, when I watched it in the theater, I was not the only one shedding tears. Sniffles could be heard throughout the darkened room. And more than a few people left the theater red eyed when the lights came back on.

PLOT:
Growing up in Greenville, Texas, Bart Millard suffers physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father, Arthur. When Arthur becomes terminally ill, he finds redemption by embracing his faith and rediscovering his love for his son.

Years later, Bart’s troubled childhood and mended relationship with his dad inspires him to write the hit song “I Can Only Imagine” as singer of the Christian band MercyMe.

There are a couple of big names starring in this movie but even if there weren’t, I know it would not detract from the movie. I’m not sure anything could.

DENNIS QUAID

American actor who has starred in many movies including:

The Parent Trap

A Dog’s Purpose

The Rookie

The Day After Tomorrow

CLORIS LEACHMAN

An American actress who has had many starring roles and appeared in several shows including:

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Last Picture Show

The Longest Yard

Raising Hope

TRACE ADKINS

An American songwriter, singer, and actor, he has topped many country music charts with his amazing musical ability.

Here’s a few memorable quotes from the movie:

Brickell: Let me ask you something Bart, what are you running from?

Bart: My dad. He, uh, he…

Brickell: …he beat you, didn’t he? Ya ain’t got no poker face kid.

Bart: I carry that. I have to live with that, you know. I always will.

Brickell: Then write about it. Stop running from it. Let that pain become your inspiration.

******

Memaw: Imagine what he is seeing up there, just imagine!

Brickell: What is the name of your band again?

Bart: It is “Mercy Me”. Because when I told my Memaw that we were starting a band, she was like “Mercy me, get a real job!” And I was like: “Oh, Memaw.”

******

Bart: And the guys were like “Did she really say that?” and I was like “Yeah, we have to name the band mercy me”. So we called it.

******

Brickell: [to Bart] You got talent, you got potential, you can sing, but I don’t think you found your song, found your soul.

******

Arthur: Dreams don’t pay the bills. Nothing good comes from them. All it does is keeping you from knowing what is real.

******

Brickell: [to Bart] Son, the sheer volume of words that comes out of your mouth is exhausting. You are not ready. That’s what I think.

Here is the official movie trailer if you would like to get a sneak peek:

This is one movie you do not want to miss. Just be sure to keep a box of tissues handy because you will definitely need them.

ENJOY!!

Christmas, Christmas Time Is Here!

Hi everybody. It’s only 4 days til Christmas. My how the time has flown. It’s a little unbelievable.

But in spite of that, have you got your tree up?

How about the decorations?

Stockings strung up with care?

Christmas wreath on the door?

And don’t forget the mistletoe!

And of course a question everyone always asks: “Have you got your shopping done yet?”

For some, Christmas is all about religion:

For others, it’s the  magic of a child opening a present:

And singing Christmas songs to spead the joy of the holidays:

Regardless of how you will be celebrating this season,  in the end, one thing we can all agree on, it’s all about spending time with those you love:

So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my family to yours! Enjoy!

Vigilantes Anyone? Part Two…The Songs

Hello everyone. I’m back with the second part of my earlier post revealing where I get the ideas for my books, namely The Perfect Order series of which I am currently working on book 2 entitled Stone Cold Angel. The first In the series, Angel in the Shadows, is on sale now on Amazon for only $2.99.
In the first post, I cited the movies that most inspire me. Today I am going to give you all a top 10 list of the songs which motivate my creative juices.  Some are darker and slower than the others but each one is super powerful and speaks to my soul. Most of you have probably heard of some, if not all, of these songs. But in case you haven’t or you just want to listen to them, I am including a YouTube link for each song. The videos are not necessarily the drive for my inspiration. It is the words of the songs that stuck with me. They are not in any particular order of my favorite or even follow the way each book loves but every one of them plays a part in every book plot. Enjoy!!

1. Iris by Goo Goo Dolls
When I hear this song, I think of my hero is realizing that he’s in love with the girl and he’s considering giving everything up for her…

2. Better Than Me by Hinder
With this one, I envision my hero being in love with the girl and realizing that she deserves a better man than he is but that he still wants her…

3. I’d Come For You by Nickelback
I can so totally see my hero walking away from the woman he loves but realizing he made a mistake and vows that he will come to her rescue no matter what…

4. Good Man by Devour the Day
I love this song because the guy knows that there is a part of him that is good. He just has trouble keeping the “bad”side at bay…

5. Bliss by Hinder
This song makes me see that to my heros, ignorance of emotions is truely bliss.  To be without someone they really care about is Hell and they will do whatever it takes to get through without them…

6. Poison by Alice Cooper
In this one, my hero doesn’t want to fall for the woman he’s trying to protect but he can’t help but want her. She’s in his veins….

7. Animal by Three Days Grace
This is another song where the hero is battling the darkness inside him. He needs help and only one special woman can do it….

8. Hate Me by Blue October
Here the guy wants to make the girl hate him because he feels it’s better for her…

9. All I Want by Staind
This song is perfect to illustrate the longing that the hero feels for the heroine and that he doesn’t want to be without her…

10. Reckless by Papa Roach
The guy in this song realized it will take a very special woman to put up with the man he is…

There you go–my top ten songs of inspiration. I hope you liked this post. Feel free to leave a comment if you would like. Thank  you for stopping by!