I'm A Fighter

Three huge mounds of vanilla ice cream sat in my bowl, covered with thick, zig-zagging lines of chocolate syrup, waiting for me to devour them. I plopped onto the couch and stared at the wonderful goodness waiting to greet my stomach.“Bet ya five bucks you can’t eat all that,” my big brother Kenny said, cheshire grin stretching up his face. I spooned a heaping bite into my mouth, savoring the rich flavors. “You’re on.”Kenny laughed and chatted quietly with my parents while I dug into my evening treat, full of excitement. Bite after yummy bite slid...

Read More

Wonderful Holiday

All the stress that goes into Christmas (shopping, wrapping, packing and shipping, shopping, shopping, and more shopping) sometime seem like a waste of time, but somewhere between when the family arrives, the exchanging of hugs, eating the food, and opening the presents, a weight lifts from my shoulders. I look around and see all the smiles. Laughter echoes off the walls, drowning out my exhausted thoughts with happiness. I don't mind that my feet...

Read More

Time's Running Out

“Mommy, is tomorrow Christmas Eve?” Kid #2 asked, batting her lashes over her big, brown eyes.Kid #1 ran into the kitchen and slid across the floor like Tom Cruise in Risky Business--but with his pants on. “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve Eve.”“Huh?” She tilted her head to the side and scowled at Kid #1 like he was out of his mind.I laughed and made another cup of coffee. The countdown had begun, and I needed more caffeine if I planned to survive.***Two...

Read More

Six Sentence Sunday

Well if last week's countdown didn't freak you out, this one will. There are SEVEN days until Christmas. Eeep. I hope you've all completed your shopping by now. I haven't...despite my efforts. Sigh. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving comments...every Sunday is like Christmas with the Six Sunday visitors! Enjoy! ~He kneels until we’re eye level, holding me with his gaze. "Have you had waking dreams before?" "Y-yes. The first time was a couple days before we arrived here." He wraps his powerful arms around me, trying to make me feel better,...

Read More

My Christmas Punishment

For months I’d seen commercials exhibiting her beauty: cream colored skin with all the right make-up and a snow-white dress with fur wrapped hems and glittering undergarments. I had to have the Holiday Barbie, and in a bad way.Every Christmas list I wrote included her name. Every daydream involved stellar weddings between her and my most handsome Ken doll. I outfitted him with a tux well ahead of their meeting so when the special day came he’d be...

Read More

Tuesday Teaser with a Tune

How’s that title for alliteration? So I thought I’d try something a little different this week (and maybe in weeks to come). On Sundays I post six lines from my first novel (soon to be published, visit my site for more details), but I’m thinking maybe I can make Tuesdays a day to share from my current novel. Yes, they are from the same series, but I won’t post anything that spoils all the fun . . . just tidbits I feel confident and happy with . . . and the inspiration for that segment. Oh dear, I said inspiration.I once guest blogged with Derek...

Read More

Six Sentence Sunday

Can you believe it's Sunday again? And there are . . . hang on let me count . . . fourteen (14) days until Christmas. Have you done your shopping yet? That's where I am today, so if I don't respond to your comments, please know I love you and appreciate the time you take to visit me. :-)Now without further annoying commentary by me, I give you my six.Enjoy!~“W-what i-if she’s a shifter?”He peels my fingers from his forearm and takes me by the hand. “She is not a shifter.”“But how do you know? You said—”“I know what I said, and we also know how...

Read More

Friday Funny

Kid #3 faked me out Wednesday. She wailed and screamed and wouldn't walk. So I did what any good mother would do and ignored her rushed her to the hospital. It was POURING out. The roads were flooded and my ears were ringing from her high-pitched cries, but I pressed on. The triage nurse took all Kid #3's vital signs then said our wait could be a few hours. CRAP! But the baby was sick, so there I sat. After about an hour in the waiting room, her...

Read More

Divorce Court

In the evenings my husband and I watch a string of courtroom television. I’m not sure whether our enjoyment of the nightly trash is to make ourselves feel better or worse. Half of me can’t believe people like that exist. You know what I’m talking about, the kind of people who destroy others’ property and act like it’s no big deal, the kind that beats each other and fights over petty amounts of money.The cringe-worthy experience is good for the children too. We get to explain why one person is right or wrong and what not to do as a grown human being....

Read More

Six Sentence Sunday

Every week I find it's harder and harder to make a decision on what to share with you all. I hope you'll enjoy today's snippet. I feel it will "reveal" some fantasy aspects of my soon-to-be-published novel.Enjoy!~“We are here.” “Where?” He must be joking. We haven’t even gone through the base and there’s nothing in front of us but trees and Darkness.“Nochtann,” Arland whispers, waving his hand in front of him. Two large wooden doors appear before us, adorned by intricate carvings of ivy with jasmine flowers blooming all over.~ To read other awesome...

Read More

Friday Funny--Or Weird

Every week I review the search terms people used to land on my blog. Most of the time people use my name, or a post title, but this week there was a special search: Delete K R Y S T A L. Frankly I was appalled. Who would want to delete me? And what did I ever do to them? Geesh! A quick google of the exact same search terms revealed I was seventh in the list of delete K R Y S T A L's. I couldn't find anything standing out I thought this person was...

Read More

When I See You . . .

When I see you, my car is warm, comfortable, full of music and life. When I see you, I’m waiting at the last red light before arriving at work. When I see you stand on the corner of 2nd and E, arms wrapped around your frail frame, I imagine how cold or hot you must be. When I see you, some days your clothes are tattered and ill fitting and others you appear to have been first in line at Goodwill hand outs. When I see you, I tell myself to be a better person, to bring you lunch, to have a conversation with you . . . to help.Then the light turns...

Read More