Kudzu and Koolaid

A little blogging break...

I guess it kind of shows that life is hectic and crazy right now, by my lack of post here, huh?

So, I'm making it official. I am taking a blogging break.

Thanks for reading.

I hope your holidays are bright!

Out of Her Hands [a bloggy book tour]

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Out Of Her Hands
Tyndale House Publishers (September 22, 2008)
by
Megan DiMaria


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I was born and raised in New York State and have since lived in Maine, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, and now I live in Colorado. My husband and I have three delightful, adult children and an old Jack Russell Terrier named
Belle who seems to find her way into my novels. My resume will tell you I graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a degree in Communications, and after graduation I worked as a radio and television reporter, freelance writer, editor and marketing professional.

I'm a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and am assistant director of Words For The Journey, Rocky Mountain Region.

But what's most important to know about me is that I am a follower of Jesus, wife, mother, friend, reader and writer.

Life’s a journey, enjoy the adventures!


ABOUT THE BOOK

In this second novel by Megan DiMaria, Linda Revere is back and continuing to struggle with the turmoil of contemporary life. Linda has been praying for her children's future spouses since they were very small. Confident that her prayers will be answered, Linda is not prepared for the young woman her son brings home. But Linda soon learns that while everything she once controlled is out of her hands, God is still in control. Megan uses her trademark humor while dealing with issues to which her readers will relate.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Out Of Her Hands, go HERE

"No sophomore slump for DiMaria! This novel (Out of Her Hands) is as engaging and meaningful as her first, Searching for Spice. Her realistic portrayal of the characters' lives should endear them to readers and help Christians to feel less alone in their daily trials."
~Romantic Times Magazine, 4 ½ stars TOP PICK!

“Life in Linda's world is messy...but filled with love, laughter, struggle and faith. Megan has created a most real heroine for us to love...and I adore her!”
~Deena Peterson, reviewer: A Peek at my Bookshelf

“Megan DiMaria crafts a novel so compelling, so real, you forget you're reading fiction.”
~Darcie Gudger, reviewer: TitleTrakk

"This is a great read for a quiet afternoon or in those times when you feel your own life spinning out of control and need the reality check of knowing you're not in it alone."
~Amazon reviewer

Order your copy here.

Rain Song [a bloggy book tour]

Nicole Michelin avoids airplanes, motorcycles, and most of all, Japan, where her parents once were missionaries. Something happened in Japan...something that sent Nicole and her father back to America alone...something of which Nicole knows only bits and pieces. But she is content with life in little Mount Olive, North Carolina, with her quirky relatives, tank of lively fish, and plenty of homemade pineapple chutney. Through her online column for the Pretty Fishy Web site, she meets Harrison Michaels, who, much to her dismay, lives in Japan. She attempts to avoid him, but his emails tug at her heart. Then Harrison reveals that he knew her as a child in Japan. In fact, he knows more about her childhood than she does.

 If you would like to read the first chapter of Rain Song, go HERE

 Interested in a copy of your own? Go HERE

Friday Felicities...

[or things making me happy...]

Coffee with peppermint mocha creamer...

crisp, cool fall mornings...

my boys learning new things...

the weekend is here...

did i mention coffee, cause yeah, coffee...

What's making you happy? Make a list-blog it and then head over to www.beckyperry.us and sign Mr. Linky.

and the winner is...

 

Congratulations, Tracy!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, everyone.

Worth it...

I have a friend that is in the new stages of love.

Remember that? Remember thinking about him all.the.time.

Remember replaying conversations in your head and catching yourself grinning like a crazy person.

Remember every song that came on the radio-taking on a new meaning?

My friend is there, now. I am just so beyond excited for her.  She sent us an email expressing delight, worry, excitement, fear, trepidation and joy!

I returned her email with this:

listen and listen well
      
you ARE worth his love.

you ARE worth waiting for

you ARE worth wooing

you ARE worth longing stares

you ARE worth that super fantastic feeling of pure giddy in your gut

you ARE worth funny

you ARE worth being desired

you ARE worth having someone who thinks you are utterly.   postitvely. swoony. delicious.

YOU ARE WORTH IT----YOU DESERVE IT
   
   You know the right thing to do
   make sure you saturate yourself in TRUTH
   make sure you guard your heart
   and your actions
   you only give Satan fodder to lord over you if you don't
   make this THE relationship you tell your kids about
   the one you did right
   and the one you were rewarded with.
   i love you!
   so much

[I may have edited out the part where I was very mature and called her a name for her recent weight loss-because she is HOT!  ::whispers:: smoking!!!]

You know what. That is exactly how God feels about us. In relatiohnships, the new is exciting, addicting even, but as you grow more comfortable with each other, the shine will fade, the exciting becomes everyday and you're ''an old married couple'' if you don't watch out. ;)  But God never loses his newly in love interest in us. He pursues us with His love. He desires our conversation. He longs to spend time with us. He woos us. He adores us. We are His everything. He delights in us.

Think about that for a minute.

Let it change your day.

He delights in you-you rock His world.

You are worth it.

The Lord your God is with you,

He is might to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing. 

Zephaniah 3:17

Things making me happy...

FridayFelicities, originally uploaded by joymombecky.

*french vanilla coffee

*cool,crisp mornings

*the.whole.weekend.ahead.unplanned.

*[whispers] Christmas is coming! (woohoo)

*finding your way back home

*a God who loves me, extends grace I don't deserve & lavishes me with blessings beyond what I could ever imagine

What's making you happy today?
Make a list.
The go over to Becky's blog and sign Mr. Linky (www.beckyperry.us)

Have a great Friday!

Fantastic Fall Give Away (comment in this one for the giveaway!)

Lisa Sampson, originally uploaded by Kudzu and Koolaid.

Giveaway is open to all readers of Kudzu and Koolaid. Please just leave a comment with a valid email contact addresss-if I don't know how to reach you otherwise.  Have fun!

Want to read a.really.good.book?

Embrace Me, challenged my faith & pushed me and how I walk out my faith like no other book has to this point. I loved it.

A lot.

If you would like to read it, and get an awesomely great little box o' goodies too. Simply leave a comment. I'll announce the winner Monday. :)

[box includes yankee candle votives, three bags o' coffee, various lip smackers and burts bees, a scarf made by me--it's deliciously long, as in you could make a mummy from your three year old with it & I'm probably going to throw in a few more surprises. :) OH and the book, you get your very own copy (or my very gently used copy) of Embrace Me)

Comment away!

it's in the box

[blog], originally uploaded by Kudzu and Koolaid.

burts bees

dr pepper lip smackers (hush! love it!...and they had no singles so you get A&W and Cherry 7 Up too!)

2 yankee candles (Harvest & Spiced Pumpkin)

Be sure to stop by tomorrow, leave a comment and you'll be in the running for a chance to win Embrace Me by Lisa Samson and a box o' goodies from me. :)

Did you read the post below? You should!

Awareness [guest blog]

My fabulous friend Dana is guest blogging today!

When Cheri asked me to "guest blog" for her I thought a long time about what I wanted to say.

I am a thirteen year breast cancer survivor. I was twenty-two when my cancer presented which means it probably began growing when I was still in my teens. I graduated college, maybe even high school, got married, started a career, planned children all with this little time-bomb of chaos and death growing  inside me. It's a rather sobering thought isn't it?

But I look around at humanity around me and I wonder: is anything really different for me now? Is it different for anyone?  How many of you reading this today, are rapidly approaching the end of your time here on this earth and you don't even realize it?

Breast cancer is scary because it puts a time limit on your mortality. Death becomes more than a nebulous concept in the far future. It is in. your. Face. Every doctor's visit, every blood count, every chemo drip, every radiation appointment, every surgery, every event, every thought is all about gaining just a little more time. Just a little more life.  As your hair falls out, and your  nails turn black,  your skin burns and peels and becomes hard as an orange rind, the scar count mounts and insomnia haunts, you think to yourself "I can do this thing because this is what it takes to stay alive."

Isn't that life though? 

Breast cancer awareness is something that is important to me because it is woven into the fabric of my life in such a way that I will never escape it. I have lost friends to it.  I have hugged and counseled and consoled and shed tears with literally more women then I can list, but it all boils down one plea, "I just want to live."

Awareness is about knowing what may be happening in and around you. For me, breast cancer, self breast exams, screenings, mammograms, keeping people informed is a mission that I have been given, especially as it relates to young women who simply don't know that breast cancer could very well be part of their reality. But even more broadly what I would say to anyone who reads these words is this: Death knows your name and has your ticket, and sooner or later, we're all going to get on the ride. Be aware that your mortality is winding down every second. Do what you can to care for yourself, but most of all, live your life. Don't miss it, not even a moment.  Whether you're twenty-two, thirty-seven, fifty-eight, or ninety-nine, it will never be enough  time.

Do your self breast exams; it saves lives. Including mine.

Get your annual mammogram.

Find out how you can help your local cancer community.

Live your life.  Tomorrow is not a promise.