How Do You Know You Are Growing As A Writer

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill 

This was always a question I asked myself.  I didn’t know if it were something I could measure for myself or did someone else measure it for me. Since I have been writing my book that has been through 3 revisions (currently in the 3rd and final) I wanted to make sure I was growing as a writer. This made me think of some writing classes I took in college (my degree is in Criminal Justice but felt I would need the writing skills when it came to the reports I would have to write) anyway, I remember our professor asking each of us to tell the class what book we had read recently and by whom and what we hope to do with our degree.  There were several people in the class who were taking that class for their English degree to be an author/writer but their response was, “I don’t read that much, but I’m going to be an author”

Some of us looked around the room at each other and the professor was kind and soft-spoken and responded, “If you want to be a writer, you must read, and if you want to be a successful author, you need to read successful books.”  I never forgot that.  It wasn’t until a couple of years ago (many years post college) that I started utilizing my audible account and library card to download audiobooks and ebooks and began setting reading goals for myself.  There was a book I purchased on audible because it got rave reviews.  After trying to read it I put the book aside for a few days and tried again and still couldn’t get into it.  I kept finding myself becoming so bored I would reread the same pages over and over to try to get into the story.  It was pitiful, so I exchanged the book for something else.

Screams You Hear by James Morris

About a year or two later I kept hearing great reviews about this author and that same book saying how popular it was, and what a great story.  There was no doubt about it, the book was very successful but in my mind, the reviews were disingenuous because the author’s family were also popular authors.  After a few months of hearing about these reviews, I thought about checking the book out from the library to study it and find out why it was so successful.  Studying successful books can help you with your pacing, character build, and scene alignment.  Reluctantly I checked it out for a generous 21 days (thank you local library).  It took me a few days to start the book because I was dreading it, but it was okay, I was going to get through it.

Take Charge of Parkinson’s Disease by Anne Cutter Mikkelsen

 

When I started the book something was different.  The book was really good.  I couldn’t believe what I was reading, it was exciting, and very well written I couldn’t put it down.  Something had changed, but it wasn’t the book it was me.  Last year I read 88 books by authors like Jeffery Deaver, Michael Ende, Jeff Goins, Tasha Alexander, Ainsley Earhardt, Orson Scott Card, Thomas Harris, and JK Rowling and very diverse group if I must say so myself.  This year 2019 it is the end of May and I have already read 84 books some are about combating disease by getting in shape and eating properly, some are self-help, and some are cookbooks.  I even read a few YA novels (although my preference is horror and not on the YA shelf) and I even found a mystery series I really enjoyed by Louise Penny.  (You can read my reviews on that series HERE )

Some of my Goodreads shelves

Now look at that, by opening my mind to other genres, and also just reading more I think I’ve grown a little, maybe I’ve grown a lot.  I know my vocabulary is better.  Mysteries never interested me before, nor did books on health and wellness or books that made me look deeper within but by broadening my interests, I am learning and understanding more of what I read and take in.

I’m sure you all heard this before, probably when you were in middle school.  A teacher who really cared about you and wanted to encourage told you “The more you read, the smarter you get.” Well, I heard it, I just never listened or put it into practice until now.   I’m glad I finally listened.  READ MORE!

Let Food Be Your Medicine by Don Colbert, MD

 

The pictures of the books you see here are books that were not my choice to read, someone encouraged me to read them and I am glad I did.

Have you ever put a book down because maybe you didn’t understand what was going on or didn’t care for the conversation the characters were having? Did you ever give that book another chance?  Did you regret it, or are you glad you did?

Week 4 Meal Plan

Good morning all, it has been brought to my attention at the cooking instruction for week 3 were actually for week 2 so I have corrected that and I have added week 4 meal plan in this post at the bottom.

This week we were a bit lazy, we didn’t go to the gym Saturday because it was such a beautiful day so we took a ride on the Harley instead.

Some people may point their finger because we skipped the gym to ride the bike, but I have to say, feeling good about yourself, and where you are is very important.  We always feel good going to the gym and even though we leave dead tired, we feel good that we went.  It’s the same with the bike ride, we have to take time to enjoy life.  We don’t have a goal to lose 10 pounds in a month, our goal is to feel good about ourselves and improve our health.  We didn’t even take the Harley out last year, and we have felt horrible about missing that enjoyment, but we also had a busy year.  Saturday we made the decision to take a two-hour ride up to Cabela’s and back and although I felt like I had been to the gym, I felt great!  I say, “I” because we got on Hwy 76 for about 20 minutes and the road was in such poor condition (potholes squiggle lines of tar) and the drivers were doing 20 mph over the speed limit and scaring me to death, that my body was tense and rigid the entire time.  My husband seemed fine.  Afterward, I just wanted to go home, and we did.  My point is we still felt good about ourselves and we did something we enjoyed.

We stopped for a bite to eat before we got to Cabela’s and the ride back was so nice I took some video, you can watch it here on YouTube

Hope you enjoyed that, We did.

Here is what we ate on week 4

Week4 Meal Plan

You can check out my other posts with Week 1-3 meal plans below

Week1 Meal Plan

Week2 Meal Plan

Week3 Meal Plan

My Lumbee Tribe Represented at The Gathering of Nations 2019

To learn more about my people the Lumbee please visit the website HERE

You can watch the Gathering of Nations on YouTube.  Finding out that representatives of my Tribe were in attendance at the GoN made my heart full and knowing my mother’s sister was one of them was mind-blowing.

Here in full regalia, is my Aunt Wanda Hammonds, Senior Ms. Lumbee of North Carolina 2018-2019.  She attended the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, NM 2019 to represent our Tribe the Lumbee.

 

Senior Ms. Lumbee Wanda Hammonds and her husband Rev. Jimmy Hammonds

Nikeisha S. Kee Farmington American Indian Ambassador 2018-2019 and Sr. Ms. Lumbee Wanda Hammonds 2018-2019

Mrs. Wanda Hammonds is seen here with Nikeisha S. Kee talking about the Lumbee.  Beautiful regalia ladies.

Farmington Indian Center Facebook Page

Lumbee Tribe Facebook Page

 

Seeing God in Different Roles

My father, siblings, and children walking me to the Chapel at Native American Bible College in Shannon, NC where I married my wonderful husband Dan Teesdale on June~3~2017

Photo was taken by Andrew Calloway

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  ~ I John 3:1

The other day I was meditating on this Bible verse in my Bible time I had read a devotional by Gary Thomas called ‘A Lifelong Love’.  In this devotional, he talks about his relationship with his wife and he realized that since we are children of God, in his eyes God was his father-in-law.  He talks about his wife being the daughter of God and she should be treated as such.  It really put a new perspective on things for me.  My husband treats me like royalty, always has, but it made me think about how I treat him.  Of course, I have always thought of my husband as the King of the castle and I lift him up wherever we are, so yes, he is royalty to me.

 

Some of our wedding reception paraphernalia

So if I am God’s daughter, and Jesus is the son of God, then Jesus is my big brother.  I laugh when I say this because my big brother teased me, and picked on me when we were growing up (still does whenever he gets the chance) but that was his way of showing me he was thinking of me and that he loves me.  When I think of Jesus as my big brother, it is a game changer.  I pray to God, talk to him, tell him how I feel, ask for his help in getting through things and so on.  Jesus intercedes for me.  Can you imagine, praying to God and your big brother right there pleading our case to God on our behalf? I love it!  I know that Jesus is God in the flesh,  Jesus has been through it all, he knows what we are going through so who better to plead our case than our big brother.  Like we’re a team.  It makes me see things in a new way.  I still know that God and Jesus are a team because they are one and the same.

Back to the God as Father-in-Law devotional, Thomas goes on to say that “one of his primary forms of worship throughout the rest of his life would be honoring God by taking care of a woman who would always be, in His divine mind, “His little girl.”  Contemplating the fatherhood of God is one thing, but when you extend this analogy and meditate on God as Father-in-Law it can change your outlook and your marriage.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:19

When I was a single mom, there were many days I prayed “God you are my husband until you bless me with one, you alone are my provider in whom I get my strength.”  Not once did I feel in my spirit that I was a burden to God and he had to hurry up and find me a husband.  I believe God was happy to provide for me and my kids because I am his daughter and I am special to him.  Besides my dream husband was going through life situations so he could be ready for me and prepared to be an awesome husband, and that he is.  God didn’t want to rush that process, besides our timing is not God’s and his will is perfect.

All of this goes to show that God can be and is everything to us, including comforter, and counselor and yes he absolutely is a Father.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek him while he may be found.

 

 

 

Memorial Day Monday, May 27, 2019

For 2019 Memorial Day is on Monday, May 27. This US Federal Holiday is to remember those who died while serving our country in the armed forces. Even though we have specific holidays to recognize those who are serving, did serve and died while serving, it is still appropriate to thank a service member on any of these holidays or any day of the year. These individuals give their lives to serve our country.

Holidays recognizing our military

Armed Forces Day ~ Celebrates those who are currently serving our country (Third Saturday of May)
Memorial Day ~ Celebrates those who have died serving our country (Last Monday in May)
Veterans Day ~ Celebrates those who have previously served our country (November 11)

 

When my kids lived at home we celebrated Memorial Weekend by cooking out (usually at my brother’s house because I didn’t have a grill) and watching movies (movies were always a big deal in our house).

Movies to watch during Memorial Weekend:

Photo from rottontomatoes.com

Saving Private Ryan (1998) ~ Directed by Steven Spielberg and featuring Tom Hanks, “Saving Private Ryan” showcases both the brutality of World War II while also paying tribute to the amazing courage and honor that each person can rise to. The movie won Spielberg an Academy Award in 1999 for best director.

Photo from Movieweb.com

Platoon (1986) ~ Featuring Charlie Sheen, This movie depicts the horrors and difficulties of the Vietnam War. The movie both shows the difficulty in locating potential insurgents in a civilian population, as well as the strains and struggles that war can place on brothers-in-arms.

Photo from themoviedb.org

Glory (1989) ~ Featuring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman, “Glory” follows the US’s first all African American regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.  Denzel Washington won an Academy Award for his performance.

Photo from themoviedb.org

The Longest Day (1962) ~ The retelling of June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of the Germans, the U.S., Britain, and the Free French. Marshall Erwin Rommel, touring the defenses being established as part of the Reich’s Atlantic Wall, notes to his officers that when the Allied invasion comes they must be stopped on the beach. “For the Allies as well as the Germans, it will be the longest day. The longest day.” – Michael Daly on IMDB.com

Photo from fanart.tv

Schindler’s List (1993) ~ Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Liam Neeson, “Schindler’s List” tells the true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler evolves from seeing Jews as nothing but human chattel to doing his best to save as many Jews from Nazi death camps as possible during the Holocaust. The film, based on a true story and painfully told, won the Academy Award for best picture.

 

 

 

 

Week 3 Meal Plan

 

So in between my Bible Times, exercising, posting book reviews, sewing dolls, making dresses, writing a book, sharing recipes, and life happening, I’m sharing a weekly meal plan.  I’m doing this because I’m excited about eating different, finding new and exciting recipes and I want to share it with everyone.  We are losing weight and feeling better in our clothes.

I have also been reading lots of books about diseases that have been appearing in our family and the ways I can help.  Other issues are like weight loss, intermittent fasting, and easy recipes for good health.  One of the books I read was Intermittent Fasting by Gabriel Jackson.  I am finding new information here like there are several ways you can fast, although not all are right for you.  This book goes into detail about what may or may not work for you.  I fell it is a book that has enhanced my knowledge in this area.  There are lots of reasons why you should and shouldn’t fast and they are all explained in this book.  Most books don’t go tell you the cons, this book was an eye-opener and helped me choose the best fast for me.  You can read my review HERE

This book can be purchased on the Author’s Amazon Page HERE

Week3 Meal Plan

You can look at Weeks 1 & 2 by selecting them below

Week 1 Meal Plan

Week2 Meal Plan

 

Here are some of the dinners in the free meal plans

Salmon with spicy tomatoes, saute shrimp, coleslaw, and crab salad

Chicken piccata, green beans and squash

 

Meatball soup, greek salad, hibiscus tea

Vegetable soup with rice noodles

Greek Salad with sliced deli turkey

Strawberry blueberry smoothie (with vanilla almond silk)

National Armed Forces Day in 2019 is Saturday, May 18

 

My Navy Kid 2016

Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of every May so be sure to mark your calendar & support our military!

Armed Forces Day is a special holiday for people all over the world to come together and thank the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. It is in honor of those currently serving.  First conceived by President Harry S. Truman, the holiday was established August 31, 1949, and was announced by United States Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson stating that the 3rd Saturday of May will be to celebrate all branches of the military. It was celebrated for the first time May 20, 1950, and made into an official holiday by John F. Kennedy in 1962.

Ways you can support our Military:

*Thank someone who is serving in the military

*Fly the American flag

*Attend a parade

*Visit a public military display. Military or Government personnel will routinely set up historical or educational displays for the public. This can be eye-opening and good for the entire family.  It also gives civilians an opportunity to interact with military personnel face to face.

*Attend an Airshow

2019 North America Air Show Calendar HERE

What other ways can we support our military?  Please comment below.

Losing Weight with the Mediterranean Diet (Free Meal Plan Week 2)

Keep reading for the weekly meal plan or skip to the end.

Since I’ve started hearing about the different health issues experienced by my family and some friends I started to take a look at my own life and make some changes.  If you have been following my posts, or my blog you know that we changed our eating habits a little over a month ago.  I could say “I changed” but since I’m the one who makes the menus and cooks the food, not to mention does the shopping, my husband has been subject to this diet as well.

I have cut back on the portion size of meat on our plate and made up for it in veggies.  I also try to include soup or salad and sometimes both with each dinner.  The soup usually consists of sauteed veggies like carrots, broccoli, and fresh sliced mushrooms onion and garlic.  Adding 3 to 4 cups of chicken broth and it makes a nice soup.  I haven’t added herbs to the soups because the dinners usually have enough flavor.  For the salad, I try to add a bit of everything like cucumber, sliced red onion, grape tomatoes, red bell pepper, pepperoncini, kalamata olives, and crumbled fetta cheese.  It is a great way to add more veggies to dinner.  My husband is a big guy so his plate is always full but with this diet, he has half the meat portion and we have 2 veggies on the plate (and soup and salad) So it is enough.  After dinner, we have a cup of berries for dessert, like strawberries and blueberries, or some blackberries and raspberries and a little whipped cream on top makes it a bit yummier.

About two weeks ago we started going to a gym 3 times a week.  Yesterday my husband got on the scale that is usually only used by me and realized he had lost 14 pounds.  He said his belt was easier to fasten and he just felt lighter so he had to check.  I have lost 6 pounds and I feel better in my clothes.  Now I have to say this is mainly due to the diet because when we work out, we are on the bicycle for 20 to 30 minutes burning about 100 calories, and then we lift weights that target back shoulders and arms.

Here is the menu I used last week.  These dinners are for 2 and I usually make enough for my husband to take to work the next day.  In the Mediterranean diet, it is recommended to eat a handful of nuts and berries each day and that is exactly what I try to do for my husband.  Our choice of drink is water and hibiscus tea or green tea.  Sometimes we drink the tea hot but usually, it is cold and with dinner.

One day out of the week we go off the diet and we have a bit of fun.  This could be steak fajita pockets or ordering a pizza (nothing greasy we don’t go crazy).  You will see that there are some dinners that we eat once a week, we can’t help it, we just love it.  I do try to move it along and try new and different things.  I have not cooked rice or couscous during these 3 weeks because I am trying to lose weight.  I hope you enjoy the weekly menu.

This is a PDF document of daily meals and recipes for one week.

Week2 Meal Plan

Enjoy!!

Check out the Week 1 Meal Plan and Here is the post for Week3 Meal Plan

Having a Schedule When Working Out

 

Our plan was to go to the gym every other day or at least 3 days a week.  That means we started working out Tuesday, (our first day) Thursday and then Saturday, Saturday being our last day at the gym, the next day would be Monday then Wednesday then Friday.  This seemed like a good idea but we usually pick up grocery on Monday, and I had a Dr. appointment on Thursday a couple of things we forgot to thank about.  The thing about starting something new like this is usually you miss something, like putting two and two together. I knew I had an appointment and I knew we always pick up grocery on the same day, I just didn’t think that those were also going to be workout days.  When Tuesday rolled around and we got the text that our grocery was ready for pick up it was the same time we were getting ready to go to the gym. It was then, we decided to skip the gym.  I know, I know I made a promise and I am posting it for accountability, but it’s not the end of the world we just decided to go a different day.

You see it isn’t just the gym that is on the schedule, it is my husband and I as well.  When we got married we decided to spend every evening together unwinding and relaxing before bed.  I may crochet, make jewelry, cut out patterns, or work on my book but we do it together in the same room and since my husband is up before 5am we are usually in bed pretty early like before 9:30.  I also get up with him and we spend every morning together having coffee and watching a bit of the news or tv before he leaves.  This also means we eat early as well.  So when 6pm rolls around we are usually done eating, kitchen is clean and we are lounging in the living room doing whatever puts a smile on our face and we are with our most favorite person.

At 5pm Tuesday when we should have already been at the gym, I was putting grocery away, I know dinner was already made and all I had to do was heat it up (that’s the plan on workout-days) but that would have put us eating dinner late and possibly going to bed on a full stomach.  That would lead to all sorts of problems so we skipped the gym and just went on Wednesday.

Now the next problem of the week is that Friday is our date night.  It’s the only night we eat out.  That isn’t a rule, it just happens that way although it isn’t every week, sometimes it’s 2 weeks before we eat out at all and we don’t go crazy, we still eat pretty healthy; steak, broccoli, cooked apples, and green salad stuff like that.  My point is its date night and the gym is not date material. So Saturday will have to do and Sunday afternoon after church and a nap.  I don’t like going two days in a row because we are just starting out and don’t want to be sore trying to work out.

I think it is safe to say that we should have set days to work out and just improvise when problems arise.  No matter what, we will still work out three days a week at the least.

 

 

What We Are Eating: Meal Plan Week 1

Let me start out by saying I always cook fresh food and we eat out once a week.  We feel that eating at home is more healthy, and I always cook healthy.  I don’t have diabetes or any kind of disease.  I am in generally good health and perfect blood pressure.  Although after getting married and moving in together, my husband and I have picked up a few pounds around the middle because we haven’t been working out, instead we’ve been living on LOVE!  And that’s the truth! Although before we got married my husband was at the gym 5 days a week, and after we got married he came straight home. (We’re still in the honeymoon stage)

Lately, I began reading books to educate myself and learn more about health for me, my husband and my family members.  After reading a few books we decided to sign up at a gym and changed our eating habits.  The books that convinced me, and gave me an aha! moment are listed below.  There will be reviews for each in the next few days and I’ll add the links.

Some of you are wondering what we’ve been eating for breakfast lunch and dinner so I thought I would show you in this post.  For dinner, we usually had hibiscus tea (with ice, no sugar, but sometimes we add a squeeze of lime).  Hibiscus tea is known to lower blood pressure and since my husband has a stressful job, I do what I can for his health. We are eating healthy, but there is one day we order pizza and you may say, wait, that’s not healthy, and you’re right but it’s not a greasy Pizza Hut pizza it is veggie which is what I’ve always eaten anyway (pork products like pepperoni and ham mess with my sinuses).  There is also a day where we eat blueberry pancakes, and I know that isn’t healthy because of the flour but we have to give ourselves a cheat day, or something. I don’t want my husband to feel like he’s being punished so we indulge.  The important thing to remember is that we are working out every other day at the gym so it helps to even out, and it makes my husband happy.

Books I’ve read for better health.

The End of Diabetes by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

Dumb Bells and Dopamine: A Parkinson’s Success Story by Arthur W. Curren

Intermittent Fasting for Beginners by Gabriel Jackson

Let Food Be Your Medicine by Don Colbert, M.D.

Eat to Live Cookbook by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

(I may add more books to this list)

(This is a PDF, no email required just click and it opens)

This menu is for 2, the lunches are for one when it specifies leftovers.

Free Meal Plan & Recipes  Week 1 Meal Plan

 

Frittata

Easy Chicken Piccata

Here are Week 2 & 3 Meal Plans

Week2 Meal Plan  You can read the Blog post about losing weight (Here)

Week3 Meal Plan  You can read the Blog post (Here)