BOOK GIVEAWAY - WAHOO!!!!!!

Indies Giveaway

Well, to kick off the Indie-Licious Awesomeness, we've put together a giveaway that will make three lucky people very happy!

We have a gallery of signed paperbacks, ebooks, and swag arranged, and there will be one winner for each category. Check out the prizes, and make sure to check out the authors who were kind enough to donate them!

Prize Package 1 - PAPERBACK LOVE:

Natural Selection (YA Urban Fantasy) – Elizabeth Sharp
Becoming (YA Fantasy) – Raine Thomas
Enlightened - Devyn Dawson
Alaina Downs (NA) – Rebecca Rynecki
Don't Fear the Reaper – Michelle Muto
Beyond the Western Sun & Walk the Red Road (YA Fantasy) - Kristina Circelli
Twisted (YA Romance) – Amity Hope
Wilde's Fire (YA Fantasy) – Krystal Wade
Slow Dance in Purgatory - Amy Sutorius Harmon
The Gathering Darkness (YA Paranormal) - Lisa Collicutt
Sweet Oblivion (YA Fantasy/Romance) - Bailey Ardisone
The Keeper (YA PNR) - Natalie Star-Kroll
Wolf Spell – MR POLISH
Troll Or Derby – Red Tash
Rematch (YA fantasy/romance) - Janine M. Caldwell
Flight - Alyssa Rose
Here – Ella James

Prize Package 2 - EBOOK LOVE:

Twisted (YA Romance) – Amity Hope
Mother-Earth Series & Knot in Time (YA Adventure Fantasy & SciFi) – Alan Tucker
Devour (YA/NA Paranormal Romance) – Andrea Heltsley
Trust in Me (NA) – Bethany Lopez
Travelers Series (YA Sci-Fi) – Claudia Lefeve
Awaken, Avenge, & Atone – Sarah Ross
Doc, Vampire-Hunting Dog Novella (YA) – Julie Campbell
Barely Alive series (Upper YA Zombie Romance) – Bonnie Paulson
Sweet Oblivion (YA Fantasy/Romance) - Bailey Ardisone
Into the Spiral (YA SciFi/Romance) – Erin Danzer
EVER (YA Paranormal/Romance) – Jessa Russo
Quest & Wildflower (YA Fantasy & YA Historical Romance) – Amy Jones
The Only Exception (NA – eARC!) – Magan Vernon
Morgan Wylie's Debut (YA urban fantasy) – Morgan Wylie
Light of the Moon (YA PNR) - David James Knapp
Dark Seeker and Dark Return (Books 1 & 2 in the Seeker series YA UF) – Taryn Browning
Marked & Changed (YA PNR) - Jennifer Snyder
Zellie Wells Trilogy & Day of Sacrifice (YA PNR & NA UF) - Stacey Wallace Benefiel
Cloud Prophet Trilogy & The Swarm Trilogy (YA High Fantasy) - Megg Jensen
Elemental Emnity II, III, & IV - Christie Rich


Prize Package 3 - SWAG LOVE:

You may receive pens, posters, cards, stickers, bookmarks, etc. A lot of this will be signed!
Raine Thomas
Devyn Dawson
Rebecca Rynecki
Andrea Heltsley
Krystal Wade
Stacey Wallace Benefiel
Megg Jensen
(NA) Bethany Lopez
Lisa Collicutt
Bonnie Paulson
Bailey Ardisone
Jessa Russo
Amy Jones
Natalie Star-Kroll
Taryn Browning

Are we E.T.?

I'm on overload.  It is definitely a Maroon 5 day - a day of rewinding through memories to find some peace or comfort.  A friend we've been expecting to pass away finally has, my son I thought I had for another year before his mission is leaving tomorrow.  

I think the Lord knows that when something important in my life is going to happen it has to just HIT.  I met Dean on New Years Day 1991.  Engaged 2 weeks later, married on Mar 30, 1991.  Olivia's head was misshaped and worrying me.  Pediatrician got her scheduled 4 days later for an xray at PCMC, an appt with the neuro surgeon a week later and surgery the week after that. 0.0  Anthony put in his papers Nov 18th, got his call Nov 28th - entering the MTC Jan 23rd.  I believe the Lord knows that if I have time to breathe, I'll than react.  If I don't have the time, than I fall apart and all the nerves display afterwards.   Hence, yep still dealing with the PTSD.

As I was taking a break at work, these thoughts came to me and for once I decided I needed to get them out while they were forward in my mind and not just let them accumulate until I couldn't remember exactly what they were.  I was thinking about "why" ... why is it different when your son leaves on a mission than when he simply leaves home?  Absence of contact.  Pure and simple, absence of motherly contact.  No phone calls to hear your childs voice and confirm that they are fine like they say or hear that something in their voice.  Hearing that they are hurt or ill and not being able to go to them for comfort or care.  Not being able to "touch" (important to me) when they are down or in need of support or inspiration.  It's not cutting the apron ties, you know he is leaving for a strong, good purpose.  You believe and you trust that he will be in the Lord's hands.  It's more like severing the umbilical cord again.  For 9 months you nourished, talked to, sang to, loved, felt every movement and your child depended on you, lived under your heart and heard it beat.  Giving birth is difficult, painful and not a fun experience.  Yet when the doctor places that baby in your arms to hold and take care of ...nothing can compare.  Therefore, I'm using the analogy that raising your child is like being pregnant, a mission like giving birth, and the homecoming of an honorable young boy, now a man - like having him placed in your arms at birth, all over again.

While thinking about this it also occured to me, one of the most painful things for the mom is not hearing from her son.  He could be fine, he could be healthy, strong, and serving and doing what he needs to get done - but doesn't have time to write home.  How precious are those calls on Mother's Day and Christmas.  A big holiday when you are remembered, when you get to hear your son/daughters voice and know that you are still apart of their lives, still thought of.  The thought was given to me that I have a Heavenly Father that feels exactly the same.  When I don't say my prayers does he wish I would talk to him?  Does he long to hear from me just because I'm his child?  Sure he knows what is going on in my life but isn't it always better when you hear it directly from the source?  How often do I think of him and rely on him - only on Holidays?  Only in times of sorrow or trial?  Wouldn't I feel better and have more peace if I shared all my joys, my excitement, my hopes and dreams instead of just my sorrow and disgust?  It's something to think about. 

Oi, another sleepless night. . .

 Found this in my "drafts".  0.0  I didn't know I had blogs I hadn't posted.  This is from 2010 - and I like my last paragraph so I decided to just post. =]










(maybe one of these days I'll find a "current" pic of me I like! >.<)
Ok, point proven, not even Tylenol PM helps put me to sleep - freak! I really wish I knew what my body was doing, I'm tired but it won't let me sleep =[. Very, very annoying. Lol.

Let's see, do I really have anything to blog about? Hmm prolly not so you'll have to put up with my ramblings - tomorrow I shall go buy the book "IceFire" (I think that's what it's called) next in the series I'm reading and than I can atleast be in bed and not in front of the computer at this hour =P.

Hmm, a thought maybe. It's really assuring to know that you aren't always wrong. =] How's that for a whopper! But think about it, how often do people go out of their way to prove you wrong, even if sometimes your right? How do you do what the prophet suggests and "NOT" try to prove yourself in contention? Can you let it go and deal with the injustice? Most of us I think would say NO - cuz that's the natural man and a little thing called PRIDE. Do we gloat when we've been proven right? I would hope not. I'm sure through the years I've done my share but I'm really trying. Trying NOT to be so pessimistic as I was raised; trying NOT to be so hard-headed, um yeah, that one might never leave =]; trying to show those around me that I love them, friends, neighbors, especially my kids and hubby; trying to be the best person I know to be. Pretty hard since I don't know who that person is yet. However, I'm willing to help others along the way find themselves, hoping that it will shed a light on me and show me an example of how to live.

Let's not be afraid to BE. BE the children of a Heavenly Father who loves us; BE an example of good in a world turning bad; BE a strength to each other, to all those around us; BE of good cheer and BE a light unto the world. That's what I want to be.