• #CancerSucks


    Cancer has touched my life yet again. As you might know if you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, my mother-in-law passed away October 24th, 2011 from cancer. Her name was Lynn…and I’m her namesake.

    Now, another one of my mothers has been stricken with cancer. B-Cell Lymphoma. Just diagnosed Thursday May 10th, 2012. Penny Mathieu, my dad’s wife of over fifteen years, has run 21 marathons. Climbed mountains such as Kilimanjaro, Rainer, Mt. Blanc. She’s spent her life promoting good health being a nurse in England for many years, then when she came to America with my dad, she worked for the Heart Institute in Minnesota for several years.

    And now cancer has rendered this active woman immobile due to some nerve damage to her spine from a tumor that was just discovered last Monday. Sure, now that some of the tumor was removed she might get some of her mobility back–but it’ll take time and much rehab. Add chemo on top of that…she’s got a mountain to climb.

    Thank goodness she’s climbed a few, huh? She knows she can do it. She’s in GREAT spirits. She’s a fighter.

    Only thing…she was scheduled to ride across Iowa in an annual event called RAGBRAI (CLICK HERE for a link to their site). She obviously can’t ride 480 miles across the state now…

    BUT I can!

    And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. My hubby was already slated to do the ride with my dad and Penny…so, I’m stepping in for Penny. We’re going to make it a fund-raiser as well. So stay tuned for details.

    Please send up thoughts and prayers to Penny and my dad as they navigate the difficult road ahead of them. You guys ROCK!

  • M is for Manafest


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yJseemI5P4

    I found this song a couple of months ago. It really rocked my world with its intense message of HOPE.

    This video is powerful. I mean, wow, this guy was in a bad place, but the point is, you can get out of whatever you’re in. I love that message because it’s true. No matter what…even when it doesn’t feel like it, there is always HOPE.

    What’s a favorite song of yours that always gives you a sliver of HOPE when you hear it?

  • Movie Quotes…Inspiration Style


    When I started out on this writing journey, it felt like such a far away dream. I constantly asked myself, “Really? Me? A writer?” Then when I was published I still asked, “Really? Me? An author?”

    Along the way things inspired me, obstacles shot up, and doors both opened and closed…but through my faith, family, and friends, I found motivation to continue on my dream. So, I wanted to find a few movies that dealt with dreams.

    Dreams of something bigger than all of us. Whether it’s writing, music, dancing….oh, but that’s all the hint you’ll get from me today…Try these quotes on for size.

    Recognize any? Have any of your own quotes from movies that inspired you that you want to share? Leave them in the comments and we’ll give a guess!

    1. …I found something that I truly love, that truly makes me happy. That’s a million times better than something that makes you rich.

    2. Put some pepper spray in your purse. Even if you’re not sure, just start spraying.

    3. You can do it. Sara, you were born to do it.

    4. You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.

    Have a super day. I’ll be back later with the answers…

  • The New Year Approaches…


    Can you believe Christmas is only a week away?

    I’m still getting used to the idea that it’s DECEMBER 2011 already. Soon we’ll be ushering in a new year.

    Are you ready?

    Are you one to make a list of goals?

    I’m usually not, but I have a few things in mind I hope to see happen in 2012. One thing I learned in 2011 is that you can plan, but you never know what life will throw in your face. Thankfully I have a rock-solid faith, rock-solid hubby, and rock-solid friends/family!

    Photo Credit HERE

  • Kind words…


    One morning over the weekend, I woke up to the most beautifully written email from someone who was reading Wasteland. As I read the note, I cried.

    And I mean cried.

    I’m not going to post the note I received, I’ll keep that for myself, near and dear to me. But to read that something I’d written impacted someone in a positive way…well, it really just made me smile. Made my heart smile.

    It’s amazing the power of a kind word. An encouraging word. It can lift someone up so high they have to look down to see heaven.

    Now, did that person know her email would affect me so profoundly?

    Probably not.

    Did she know that I’d been feeling a little anxious about the upcoming release of Wasteland and how people would receive it?

    Probably not.

    Regardless. She took the time to send a letter of hope and encouragement, and it was at exactly the moment I needed to read it.

    Then I started thinking, when’s the last time I encouraged someone? Took the time to send someone a special note?

    Too long.

    Don’t wait another minute, you just never know how much that person might have needed to hear an encouraging word.

    ~~~