The Unique View

On one of my walks a few weeks ago along the Ruston Way waterfront here in Tacoma, Washington I noticed a large amount of driftwood. The pictures that you see are a few that I took on that walk. I have never seen so much driftwood in this area, never. As I looked at each piece, it got me to thinking about the lives of so many. There were large, small, and odd looking pieces of wood tossed like a big wind had just came and blew them around and when that wind stopped, the wood landed. This driftwood reminded of me of how so many people are going about their lives as if they know exactly where they will land. Now, in most cases with determined steps we can control some things and that is only due to the choices we make or don't make. At the end of the day we do not have any real control, only God does.  He allows things to happen in our lives to get our attention. To warn us of impeding dangers that can cause us to land on life's seashores unable to move...

My feature author this month is new to me. I have had the pleasure of reading many of her books and let me tell you, you will not be disappointed. I loved the twists and turns of her stories. Reading each book, I felt I knew each of her characters personally. The first book I had the pleasure of reading is titled, First Class Love . Growing up in a military town I could totally relate to the characters and the adversity they faced. At the end all I could do was cheer. Whoa! I rated this read a 5 star.  The last book that I read was, Holiday Hotel: A Sexy Short Story . Oh my goodness. Once I reached the end I was like, uh oh no there has got to be more. The look on my face was that of a deer in headlights.  Imagine it. Yes, it was just that good.   I rated it a 5 star. Barbara Joe pens stories that relate to both male and female readers. Love, betrayal, intrigue and much more....

If I had not listened to the call of God, I would have taken my own life years ago. I had it in motion 80 miles an hour in a 25, down a hill that curved. Tears and devastation, off of the cliff I was headed. 30 foot drop into the ground. Oh yes I had a suicide spirit. Once. The motivator could not motivate herself.  I thought I couldn't take any more. Most often we are the result of our choices. We don't take advice. We go from pillar to post and get mad because the new post looks exactly like the old pillar we just ran from. All the while lying saying we won't do it again. Stop and take inventory of where you are and learn the why. Why you made that choice. Why you didn't make that other choice. Take responsibility. God sends a messenger and because the messenger is not saying what we want to hear, we ignore it. We got it figured out. NOT. God allows many things to take place in our lives to get our attention. Stop focusing on who wrote the Bible but more so ...

    I am about 17 days late but, Happy New Year.   The past few weeks have been ruff but I made it back to share with you. How are you living? Have you pooped out yet? Or are you moving along gracefully on the path to your greatness? Keep running and don’t look back because nothing behind you matters. It is all ahead of you. Don’t get caught up in what is going on around you. Don’t let your feelings dictate how you will live in this new season. Dust yourself off, get up, and get moving. Take action not prisoners. Live with passion because life is not what happens to you but more your reaction to what happens to you. Getting  and gaining momentum is one thing but keeping it is a whole new animal. Many of us run on fumes. Our week days consist of the normal routines. Rush. Rush. Rush.   At the end of that week comes Friday and we are pumping our fists and saying, thank God it is Friday. Then, there is Saturday and Sunday that flew by as if someone pres...

      Looking back over 2014 I realize that I have been living life on the sidelines. Even though 2014 started out with gusto. I failed. I was going to do this and yes I was going to do that. I started out dragging life by the nose and running. I slowly lost momentum. I stopped in my own tracks and fell on my face. I became hostage to the health issues. I became hostage to the financial issues. I became stand offish to dating or even the idea of dating. I did not do anything I set out to do. I did not write like I promised myself that I would. I did not do a quarter of what I said I would do. I put myself on the sidelines. I hear it again what a friend of mine said, denial is not delay. I also hear that just because you did not finish does not mean that you cannot finish. I no longer cheered for those who were making power moves and shaking off dead leaves. I no longer had the momentum to run let alone lace up by tennis shoes. I stood in my own sand box and play...

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga , professor of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach, author and scholar-activist who stresses the indispensable need to preserve, continually revitalize and promote African American culture.    Finally, it is important to note Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one, thus available to and practiced by Africans of all religious faiths who come together based on the rich, ancient and varied common ground of their Africanness. *Summarized from -- Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, 2008, Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press ( www.sankorepress.com ). http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/origins1.shtml Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. ...

          I had the wonderful pleasure of talking with Sheryl Lister. Author of, Just To Be With You published in August 2014. Her new novel, All Of Me will be out early 2015. The warmth and grace exudes in her conversation. Her passion for writing evident.   Talking for over 2 hours, I learned much and feel as though we are kindred spirits.  What I learned also is that you can not let life sideline you from reaching your goal and pursuing your passions. I am pleased to introduce her to you. Sheryl Lister has enjoyed reading and writing for as long as she can remember. After putting writing on the back burner for several years, she became serious about her craft in 2009. She writes contemporary and inspirational romance and romantic suspense. When she’s not reading, writing or playing chauffeur, Sheryl can be found on a date with her husband or in the kitchen creating appetizers and bite-sized desserts. Sheryl resides in California a...