When We Make a Difference

Changing the World with One

Act of Kindness 

One of my characters in my newest book, Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart, makes a difference in Rebecca's life without even knowing about it.

Detective Peters gives Rebecca his business card and she thinks about it even when she doesn't have it with her. It gives her comfort to know that Detective Peters is there if she needs him.

How many times have we given encouragement, support, or advice without knowing that later on someone has called upon what we've said to give them support, comfort, and strength to continue on during a difficult time in their lives?

Many times during my career I watched the police officers do extraordinary acts of kindness. Most people have no idea how much they do. 

• It's important to encourage others. We may never know that we've changed others, but one thing I know for sure though is that it changes us when we are kind.

My Latest eBook

Click on the book to go to Amazon

Pleased to announce my latest eBook, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart" has been published. It's been a great year.

It happened before, but never for this long. Rebecca's aunt left her alone in their apartment and hasn't returned. So far she's been able to elude the landlord and her principal, but time is running out.

Recipes Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart

Anything in the Refrigerator Muffins

In my book, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart" Rebecca calls this the Anything in the Refrigerator Muffin.  I love baking this muffin.  I've used many different combinations:

zucchini and carrots
zucchini and cherries
carrots and applesauce
carrots and blueberries
peaches and blueberries
zucchini, carrots and applesauce

Sometimes I only add one banana and sometimes only one egg, depending on how wet the ingredients are when I mix them all together.  Sometimes I bake them for 60 minutes instead of 50 and even leave them in the oven when they are done for awhile.  This is a very forgiving recipe.

When they are cool I turn them upside down on a cooling rack until the bottom dries.  Then I put them in a Rubbermaid container with paper towel on the bottom and in between layers.  I store them in the refrigerator and we have one or two for a night snack warmed up in the microwave and topped with Reddi Whip.  It makes for a delicious snack.  1 muffin is 1 point - 2 muffins are 3 points.

Tahquamenon Falls

Every year my husband and I try to go to these fabulous falls.

In my 13th book - Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart - Corey, Beth and Rebecca go on a buying trip for the thrift store.  They take a side trip to see these.

In the second book of the Saginaw Series, Bertie's Bakery Heaven Scent, Katy and Jen are overwhelmed with the majestic waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Tahquamenon Falls is one of the largest falls west of the Mississippi. It is about 200 feet across with a 50 foot drop. The average flow is 7,000 gallons per minute, sometimes the flow is much more like on this day.

UPDATE!

We are getting closer and closer to publishing my book!

All the editors have given their input.  All the corrections have been entered.  One more final read and hopefully only minor changes and I'll upload into Amazon.

This has been a long journey.  It will be such a blessing to finish it.

So by this time next week - it should be ready to order.

Woohoo!

Buying Trip Itinerary

In my book, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart"
Corey, Beth and Rebecca go on a buying trip in Michigan.
Here is their itinerary: 

Saginaw to Lansing 75 miles

Lansing to Grand Rapids 67 miles

Grand Rapids to Grand Haven 34 miles

Grand Haven to Pentwater 56 miles

Pentwater to Interlochen 13 miles

Interlochen to Traverse City 14 miles

Traverse City to Mackinaw City 118 miles

Mackinaw City to Tahquamenon Falls 81 miles

Tahquamenon Falls to Mackinaw City 81 miles

Mackinaw City to Saginaw 191 miles

Woohoo! Draft of "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart" on to First Editors!

On Sunday, I gave copies of my draft to Kathy and Mary Lynn.  They will read the book, make notations, then we will meet in a few weeks to make edits together.  I am equally nervous and happy.  The characters are my friends, it's hard to give them to someone else's care.

This is just the first step - then Jane edits, I make changes and then Kay gets the final to edit one last time.  So I'm hoping for a September or October book release.  A big thank you to my editors - you are the best!

Wedding Inspiration

Our niece, Kelly, and her husband Bill, had the most beautiful wedding reception. It was filled with family and friends. The room seemed to have a heartbeat, pulsing with love and laughter. It is the inspiration for Aubrey and Todd's wedding in the eBook "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart" that I am currently writing.

Their Saginaw reception was at the historic Temple Theatre. From the theater website: The theatre known as the “Showplace of Northeastern Michigan” was facing demolition. In 2002, the family of  Dr. Samuel Shaheen purchased the Temple Theatre and the adjoining three story building which includes the Grand Ballroom. After an investment of more than seven million dollars, the “Showplace of Northeastern Michigan” has been returned to her original glory.

Photos taken by Black Sheep Chic. Click to go to their website.

That evening the Grand Ballroom was filled with chandeliers, glittering table runners, a magnificent staircase, and gleaming polished wood floors which all reflected light throughout the room.  Even with all the glitter, candles and chandeliers, the visible love between Kelly and Bill was the brightest part of the evening.

Worth Waiting for Easter!!!

PROMOTION OVER

SAVE THE DATES

Free Book Promotion coming soon!

April 20 - 24, 2019

MY GIFT TO YOU - FREE BOOK FOR EASTER BREAK READING

Easter Break in Florida

After Olivia, and her sister Kyla, are disrespectful to one of their teachers at St. Mary Cathedral High School in Saginaw, Michigan their mom tells them a secret about him. Can they keep the secret? They have to go with him to Florida for an Easter break mission trip. Will they be able to mend fences and get along? Take a trip to Little Havana as the students and teachers learn together lessons in humility and the importance of sharing God's love.

Up North in Michigan

In my books going "up north" happens a lot. When I hear of friends camping in Bay City it makes me laugh because I live right near Bay City.

This picture shows why it IS up north for many.

Kat teaches Rebecca how to dive

In the book I am writing, Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart," Rebecca asks a couple classmates to show her how to dive. Kat stops Rebecca from going right to the high dive at Andersen Pool and tells her she needs to start on the side of the pool first.

Here is a video showing how to properly learn how to dive. Make sure you always have someone with you. Only dive if you know for sure you are in the deep end of the pool. Safety first!

Aubrey and Todd's Wedding in the eBook I am working on - Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart

Aubrey and Todd meet and fall in love in the book, "New Beginnings" and their wedding follows in the book, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart." (The book will be available in 2019.) Even though these eBooks are not part of a series, I wanted Aubrey and Todd to be a minor part of my new book.  Aubrey is one of my favorite characters.  She is strong, loving, and faithful.  She is a combination of many of my friends' best traits. I've had fun finding fashions, flowers and candlelight for the wedding on Pinterest.  Links to these are found in my Board on Pinterest, Book Inspiration - Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart.  Click on this board to go to Pinterest.

Aubrey's dress

Annie's dress

Annie's flowers

 Aubrey's flowers

Candlelit Aisle at the church

Free Book Promotion

Four Seasons

To celebrate Fall, on September 20-24, 2018, I am offering a free copy of my book, Four Seasons.

You will come to know and love the new neighbors, the Maxums and the Castors. Some of the children go to St. Mary's and some are homeschooled. There are pranks and vacations in Montana as well as an incredible winter barn wedding.

Embrace the inevitable weather changes. Curl up on the couch with a comforter and settle in as you experience the fun of growing up in Saginaw, Michigan.

Love

In my book, New Beginnings, Tony gets a job at Bertie's Bakery Heaven Scent. This video shows the love and joy between mothers and their children.

      This is the Tony that inspired my character.
      He was always welcome to sing in the choir.

         Yesterday was this special guy's birthday,
                Happy 60th Birthday, Alphonse.

Mackinac Bridge

Trip to the Mackinac (pronounced Mack in naw) Bridge with Corey, Beth and Rebecca on their estate sale trip through Michigan in the book, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart).

Estate Sale Trip Through Michigan

I love estate sales, thankfully my husband does too. I use Estatesales.net every week to see where sales are. I did screenshots from several estates to include in the book.

Rebecca, Beth and Corey go on a buying trip through Michigan in "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart."

Corey created a road trip using these sites:

Estatesales.net

Click the blue box below to find an estate sale near you!

Some of their finds

Another Yes!

A dear friend, Kirstin, has agreed to be a part of, Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart.

She learned how to reupholster furniture and now sells her pieces at a Archive Antiques and Repurposed Goods, 959 Fulton St. E., Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I love Kirstin's style and of course Beth will just have to purchase one of these pieces for her apartment.

Corey, Beth and Rebecca will "discover" her on their buying trip at an Estate Sale.

Dream Girl

Here is a rough draft of the cover for the new book.  

My friend, Clarence Lum, is the artist 

(I used another of his paintings on the New Beginnings cover.)

His painting, "Dream Girl" is the picture I used.

To see more of his paintings CLICK HERE.

1 Year and a couple weeks

This is an amazing journey. Pat supports me 110%. He loves everything I cook. He suggested yesterday that we switch back to Berry Cloud Pancakes for breakfast because I've lost so little the past two weeks.

This picture shows that even though he has never counted a point he has lost right along with me.

So... I'm including Weight Watchers® in my book, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart." However, everything I am writing is my own opinion. I will not include anything about how to follow the Weight Watchers® program.

In no way should you think that these references are the views of Weight Watchers. I do want you to know this program has changed our lives. If I can do it, so can you.

I am forever going to follow the Weight Watchers ® lifestyle. I am most grateful to the company for thinking first about its members.

Rebecca finds my great aunt's cookbook!

Looking through my Great Aunt Rosie's cookbook I was inspired to have Rebecca find it at the thrift shop in, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart" the book I am working on.

I love the classic red and white checked cover on the cookbook that could be found in most kitchens when I was growing up.

On each chapter divider I found handwritten recipes of family and friends. Rosie's sister, Mary, was my Grandma and her Hot Cross Buns was on one and the family Lasatna (sp) was on another. I especially loved the recipe was for 15 people.

They spoke Italian at home growing up so English was their second language. Many words were spelled phonetically. It took me a bit to figure out Mutarel (sp).

dawn of a new day

We stopped to see our friend Dawn at her coffee shop, dawn of a new day.  I asked her if I could use her coffee shop in my new book she graciously gave permission to do so.

Here are a few pictures of the chic coffee shop in downtown Saginaw. This building originally was the office of Lumber Barron, Arthur Hill.

Click here to go to the coffee shop Facebook page.