Tuesday, December 28, 2010

3 more days in 2010!

Wow, this year went by so incredibly fast. Looking back over the year, there have been so many things to be grateful for in my life and some, not so much. But that is life, right? It is a roller coaster. But it is never just good times or bad times. It is both at the same time. This chaos surrounds us daily; ups and downs, stressful times and relaxing times, times of sadness and times of great joy and laughter, making new friends and losing old friends, financial hardships and being rich with love for friends and family.

Everyday, we make choices. Some good and some bad. And with every situation, we choose how we will respond to situations we are faced with in our lives. So this next year, choose to live your best life.
Choose not to hold that grudge.
Choose not to judge a person by their mistakes.
Choose not to assume the worst.
Choose not to throw away a friend.
Choose not to allow the outside world determine your worth.
Choose not to give up on those who have offended you.
Choose not to be unforgiving, no one including you, is perfect!
Choose not to allow anger and pride control you.

I want to wish everyone a Bright and Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true!

Love Always,
Kris

Sunday, December 19, 2010

6 days til Christmas!

I absolutely love this time of year....

The rain freshens the air, and the smell of fireplaces being used to warm the home. The crisp coolness on your face, and the thousands of twinkling lights that illuminate the evenings.

But most of all, I love spending the extra time with family, and the exchanging of gifts that give us the opportunity to tell people how much we care. It's never a matter of how much money is spent. Only that smile put on a loved ones face that says you brightened their day by remembering them.

This is also a time when we are reminded of our many blessings, and reminded to share our gifts of time and friendship with those who need our help.

SO count your blessings, and then do what you can to reach out to others. Call a friend you haven't spoken with in awhile, mail them a Christmas Card or friendly note, leave a plate of homemade cookies on a neighbors front porch. Just letting people know they are cared for is one of the most precious gifts you can give.

Love Always, and Merry Christmas!
Kris

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Book Review: Perilous by Tamara Hart Heiner

Perilous (WiDo Publishing, fall 2010)

Jaci Rivera has plans for her sophomore year: go to regionals with the track team, make the honor roll, and eat too much pizza with her best friends, Callie and Sara. Her biggest concern is Amanda, the pushy girl who moved in a few months ago.

What she doesn't plan for is catching a robber red-handed, or being kidnapped. The desperate thief drags her and her friends 2,000 miles across the Canadian border. They escape from his lair, only to find that he has spies and agents watching their path home, waiting to intercept them and take them back.

Then Jaci finds something out about her family. Something which irrevocably connects her to their kidnapper, and makes her question their chances of escape.

Perilous is the debut novel for Tamara Hart Heiner. For a debut novel, this isn't a bad start for Tamara. I enjoyed the tenacity of the characters and the determination they show throughout their journey home. I'm not sure I could have survived as long as they do in the book. I found myself continuing to read to see what was going to happen next. However, there were some plot holes and areas that didn't seem real or plausible, and maybe even a little out there or too coincedental for me. But don't let that stop you from checking out this story.The book is a decent read, and though the book just seems to end without explanation, the sequel will hopefully plug the holes and resolve things for the girls. You can't help but root for them!
I would give this book a grade of:

B+, waiting patiently for the sequel.

Please take a minute to check out Tamara's blog and websites. She is holding some pretty cool contests! Also, you can find her Book Trailer on YouTube!

Thanks Guys for listening,
Love Always,
Kris