My silly little fear

I am probably going to get grief for my silly story but I will tell it. 

My two biggest fears are confined spaces such as elevators and heights.  Yesterday I got myself into a situation with heights.  There was a staircase with a wall on right and nothing but a tool cabinet part way up the left side of this staircase.  I am walking up the steps and I get to the spot where there is nothing to the left.  My legs just stopped and I could not move for the life of me.  I knew that I would not fall but I was not balanced and that was what was making me nervous.  So if you want to give me grief in the comments, go ahead, I won’t stop you.  I was letting my mom and uncle tease me about it. 

Now on a completely different note, when you say thank you how do you say it? Thanks, thank you very much or Thanks much.  At the library I keep hearing people (mostly men) say thanks much.  So how do you say it or what do you say? Let me know in the comments.  

Never the bride by Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge

I absolutely love this story.  It is such a fun read.  Never the bride was written as a screenplay before it was made into a novel.  Usually it is the other way around and the novel is written before the screenplay.  It flows just like it would in a movie.  It had me laughing from the very beginning.

The description of the book
Eleven bridesmaids dresses don't lie. Since she was just a little girl, Jessie Stone has dreamed up hundreds of marriage proposals, doodled the romantic ideas in her journal with her treasured purple pen and fantasized about wedding dresses and falling in love. She's been a bridesmaid nearly a dozen times, waved numerous couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember.
But shopping for one key component in her own happily ever after hasn't been as productive-a future husband. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her. The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best...well, crushing. And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories.
So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life Jessie is skeptical. What will it take to convince her the the Almighty has a better plan than the one she's already cooked up in her journals. Can she turn over her pen and trust someone else to craft a love story beyond her wildest dreams?

Here's one of my favorite scenes from the story.
Jessie Stone is stuck on the highway with a flat tire.  She's going to be late for work so she is a bit hysterical. She needs help and realizes that this could be her moment.  Jessie is an optimist so she gives a little wave, throws a smile trying to get some help.

From page 2
"And then I see him. He's in a red convertible, the top down, the black sunglasses shiny and tight against his tan skin.  He's wearing pink silk the way only a man with a good measured amount of confidence can. At least that's the way I see it from where I'm standing.  As he gets closer, his head turns and he notices me. I do a little wave, flirtatious with a slight hint of unintentional taxi hailing. I decide to smile widely, because he is going fast and I might look blurry. He smiles back.
My hand falls to my side. I step back, lean against my car and try to make my conservative business suit seem flattering. There's nothing I can do about my upper lip sweating except hope my sweat-proof department-store makeup is holding up its end of the bargain better than my blowout-proof tire did.  He seems to be slowing down.  Live in the moment, I instruct myself. Don't think about what I should say or what I could say. Just let it roll, Jessie, let it roll. Don't overthink it. This thought repeats itself when the convertible zooms by. I think he actually accelerated." 

In the front of the book the description says "For those who fear the surrender of their purple pens." That is one of the hardest things to let God write your story and not take over thinking your way is better.  This book is perfect who have that fear of surrendering their story to God.  Reading it now it is more of a motivational book.  It gives some great advice.

On a side note I bought "Loving" by Karen Kingsbury but I haven't started reading it yet.

Miscellaneous updates

“Loving” is not ready for checkout at the library yet.  I have gone through many different feelings about this book this week.  I’m sure my family can attest to the fact that I have some pretty strong emotions toward this story's conclusion.  So while I am waiting on the library to have “Loving” ready for pickup I am going to be in the middle of three different books. 

The first one is “Every Breath You Take” by Travis Thrasher.  I won this book in 2009 from Travis Thrasher on his website and in the front he wrote "To Katey, With many thanks! Enjoy! I have read it before and really enjoyed it, so I am reading it again. When I started reading it on Thursday I kept thinking it reminds me of the song "Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlise. If this song does not make you cry, I don't know what to say. You might want to read the rest before listening to the song.  

 I requested “Never the Bride by Rene Gutteridge, and McKay Cheryl.  This one is ready for pickup at the library so when I go to work today I can pick it up.  I have read this one several times and enjoyed it a lot.  When I get it I will post one of my favorite scenes.

 Then I really want to reread Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker. That was the very first book by Ted Dekker I read and I want to read it again.  I guess I am not reading anything new but I will post some reviews up about these though when I am done. 

On Ted Dekker’s Facebook page he has had some really fun, inspiring, and though provoking statuses.  Here is one that he posted in December of 2011. “Four rules for life: 1. Live to discover. 2. There is no greater discovery than love. 3. All love comes from the Maker. 4. Live as you will as long as it leads to love.” Ted Dekker

On the kindle fire for free there was a book “What’s your story? Icebreaker questions for Small Groups" by Cheryl Shireman.  It has some pretty fun questions to think about and it made me think of a question that I would ask all of you.  My mom, sister and I went shopping yesterday and I saw the word rendezvous and I pronounced it wrong but when mom corrected me, I thought to myself “I really like that word.”

So, what is your favorite word? Let me know in the comments.  If you don't have a gmail account, you can comment through the name/url feature.  

My Karen Kingsbury corner of books

In four days on March 27, Karen Kingsbury’s last novel “Loving” in the Bailey Flanigan series will be in stores.  I have followed this story ever since the Flanigan family was mentioned for the very first time in the fifth novel “Reunion” of the Redemption series.   This series started when I was in high school and is now ending when I have been out of college for more than two years.  I have literally grown up with the Flanigan family.

When I first read about the Flanigan family I could tell that it was based on Karen’s family.  It was like you were getting a sneak peek into the life of Karen Kingsbury.  In the next series Firstborn the Flanigan family played a slightly bigger role.  We meet Cody Coleman who is now one of the love interests for Bailey in the Bailey Flanigan series.

Instead of describing Cody, here is the video introduction. He has always loved Bailey, but he feels he is not good enough for her.

After Karen finished writing the Sunrise series she wrote the “Above the Line” series, where Bailey and Cody have a main storyline.  This series is where she meets Brandon Paul. His character is portrayed by Kyle Kupecky who is one of the singers in Anthem lights and is engaged to be married to Karen Kingsbury’s daughter Kelsey who portrays Bailey Flanigan.  (I did not realize how much of a soap opera this is, sorry about that.)


My point of this whole post is I am anxious to know who Bailey is going to end up with in this latest novel. I would personally like it if she would end up with Cody Coleman who throughout the entire series truly does love Bailey but I have my doubts because I believe Karen Kingsbury will have Brandon and Bailey get married.  I will be disappointed but I will have to try and get over it. If Bailey and Cody are the ones who get married I will be pleasantly surprised.

Here is the “Loving” trailer. 

Karen Kingsbury has signed a deal to write 10 novels with Simon and Schuster. Simon and Schuster  I am definitely looking forward to something new.  Karen Kingsbury is still my favorite author though.  

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  

Incident

About two weeks ago at the library I went out to get the book drop and I was opening the door like normal and somehow I was inside the building before my hand that was in the door handle.  It pulled two of my fingers back. There wasn’t an immediate pain but it did hurt.  I went to the circulation desk and told my coworker what I did.  I was going to take my break and find some ice to put on it.  I didn’t immediately find any ice and one of the nicest patrons offered to bring me an ice pack that she keeps in her car.  I did eventually find something in the freezer to use.  I could tell it was starting to bruise but I was able to move it and I wasn’t too worried about it.  

The next day it was really hurting and I was going to be working five hours but I knew I could work through it.  At work I mentioned it to my supervisor and she said asked if I had filled out an incident report.  I hadn’t filled one out.  So I talked to the manager and I filled out the form and he took it over to HR.  Then they all pretty much demanded that I go to urgent care and get it checked out.  “Are you serious?!”

Since I was unable to convince them that I didn’t need to go to the doctor I called the urgent care and I would be able to see the doctor later that afternoon.  This doctor is one of the sweetest doctors ever.  I wish she was my primary doctor.  She came in the room and was like “I know you.” “Yes, you did my pre-work physical and you know my mom and dad.” So she looked at my hand and wanted to have an x-ray to see if it was broken. On a side note I was hoping the x-ray technician would be a young cute guy, but no such luck. He was more like middle aged.  Luckily, it was not broken, but I did have to wear a lovely cast type thing for a week but, in actuality I was not very good about wearing it.  I went back to the doctor yesterday morning before work to have it looked at one more time before I was released back to full duty at work.  It was feeling much better so I no longer have to wear the cast thing.  :)

My song for the day.  

Terri Blackstock

 

I have not read all of Terri Blackstock’s books but the ones I have read I have enjoyed immensely.  I think the very first Terri Blackstock book I read was “Covenant Child” in middle school. Actually, I think it is the very first Inspirational fiction novel I read.  I reread it not too long ago and I couldn’t remember what I thought of it back in middle school.   For the life of me I can’t remember.  I did like it the second time I read it though. 

If you haven’t read it, you should give it a try. 

Why would children of wealth and privilege live in squalor? Little Kara and Lizzie were heirs to one of the largest fortunes in the country. But when their father and his parents die suddenly, the toddlers are ripped from the arms of a loving stepmother, and given to their cruel maternal grandparents, who want the children’s fortune for themselves. 

Even the stipend they get for supporting the children is squandered in the gambling casinos they frequent, while the children raise themselves. Kara and Lizzie grow up believing they are worthless…until the day when they learn the truth. www.terriblackstock.com

If you haven't read "Covenant Child" you should give it a try.  

Happy Saint Patrick's day

Happy Saint Patrick's day everyone! I hope you are wearing some green and don't get pinched.  :) Since it is St. Patrick's day my song for the day is Steal Away by Celtic Thunder Heritage.

Most Famous Irish Blessing 
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.  source