Another week

This weeks blessings have been obvious!  Although I’m short on time, I’m full of really good things starting to happen.

 I started a part time job this past Monday, to help us along a little further.  In times like these, you have to do everything you can just to get by.  Although, it’s made me realize how tired I am – it’s nice to get all dressed up and have some place to go.  The one thing I’m not happy about: those extra responsibilities are sucking my creative juices –  BUT the extra income we desperately need will I’m sure make up the difference.  And the manager has slammed me back to back in the schedule b/c she had some last minute hours to use.  So hopefully I’ll only work 3 days a week, instead of 6.

I found out we got locked in at a very low rate, for refinancing our home.  We close at the end of the month.  I’m blessed that I have people all around me to guide me and instruct me with wise words and ideas.  We’re trying to do ‘everything’ possible to cut back and trim the fat.  We could easily refinance for 30 years and lower our payment by over $250.00 — but what makes more sense to me is to refinance for 15 years.  We may have the same house payment or even a slightly higher one, but we’d pay it off a lot faster and our equity would be sitting pretty.

My son and I are finally almost free of the sinus crud.  It seems everyone is sick, so we’re glad to finally have a healthy household.  I’m so glad my husband never got any of it.  It’s hard to take care of one child, when you’re sick – but harder when you’re ‘man (turns into child when sick)’ gets sick all at the same time.  

My son’s 6th birthday was this week.  He’s growing into such an amazing young man.  He told me today – word for word: “Mommy, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world!”  Now was 6 year old says that?  They may say…’I've got the prettiest mommy’ – but my child blows me away with his depth and compassionate heart.  God has blessed me with a wonderful child, and I know it more and more every day.

I talked with someone this week, that I’m working deal with – that is giving me amazing instruction and inspiration.  God is opening big doors for me and I’m so thankful!

Lastly, I asked some people to send me some fun creative pics for Finding Kylie at my  wornoutwoman blog, and got some really fun pics.  I want to ask you all, who read this blog, for pictures too!  If you’ve read the book, please send me a picture of YOU with the book.  Get creative!  I plan on making a poster collage, to get inspiration while I finish the sequel, ‘Facing Redemption’.  To give you an idea…here’s one Terri sent me.

So get after it people.  And email me your pics at:

Kimberlymckayauthor@gmail.com

Friday Blessings

Spring is almost here.  You can feel the warmth creeping in and see the flowers start to barely bloom, as they test wether they can spread their petals wide reaching to bask in the sun.  I don’t know about  you but this winter, although a very busy one, has been a very cold one.  

For some cold dark weather equates to a cold dark spirituality or mental space they feel trapped in.  Sometimes just that little bit of sunshine goodness is all they need to feel hope again.

I know many people like this, who suffer in silence through the winter … not able to see all of God’s goodness even through the cold dark winters in life.  This is why it’s so severely important to count your blessings every single day!  

In times of darkeness, through winter’s cold, during rain or shine, God’s goodness and love for us is always there!  Sometimes we just have our emotional blinders on or too many layers piled on to see or feel His goodness.

Today when I know it’s probably too early for all the redbud trees in my neighborhood to bloom, I’m glad for it’s welcome sight of rebirth.  That tiny boldness of pink represents hope for spring not only for our state but our state of mind.  

So today, like all days, I count my blessings so that even through life’s winters, I have the peace of Jesus’ goodness and love in my heart.  

*My son is turning 6 this month, and every day I know how blessed I am to be his mommy.  This month especially I’m blessed that he’s growing into a fine young man.  They say ‘you are who you are by the time your six’.  Well if he’s at his core personality now, than this world will be blessed by what he’s going to do in God’s name real soon.  My son’s future is bright, and I’m blessed to have had anything to do with it.

*We’ve been sick but are finally on the mend.  I’m blessed just be able to breathe today…and what a day it is.  It’s only 8:45 a.m. and it’s already a warm 53 degrees.  Thank you Lord for blessing this day.

*I’ve been in touch with so many wonderful long lost’s on facebook.  Being a military brat, I moved every two to four years of my life, so I had many sad goodbyes.  The upside I had many wonderful hello’s … but the goodbye’s were mostly final, and held long lost friendships.  Through wonderful technology, like facebook, I’m able to reconnect with so many dear friends, that I’ve always wondered what happened to.  It’s a huge blessing to be friends again and have the simple blessing of being able to pick up a phone to talk to my best friends.

Although we all have winter in life, as seasons keep turning…environmentally and spiritually…we have to keep looking for the blessings.  Because trust me – there are plenty to be found.  

God loves us more than we can possibly imagine, and seeing the blessings and thanking Him for them, sometimes, is the only way to get through it all.  You’d be surprised just how much it helps.

My little sponge

I swear I never know what will come out of my son’s mouth these days.  It continues to amaze me just HOW much he soaks up and retains.  

For example, when the election took place, I was amazed at his emphatic passion for what was going on around him.  I try to never talk politics, as many out there do enough of it already for the majority of us.  I may put a little blurb on a blog here or there, but I’m not one of those people, who are loud with their policies/political beliefs.  

I especially did not tell my son who I felt would make a better President in this last election, as how could anyone know that or see the future?  I did tell him who I was voting for, because  he asked me, but would never run down the other candidate, as that’s not how I’m made.  PLUS why impose that on a five year old.  What I did give him was knowledge on the electoral process, and what the voting process looked like.  This was back in August of 2008 when he was asking about the whole concept of voting and how/why it worked.  If he’s old enough to ask, he’s old enough for the truth.

As the election came closer, he heard from his classmates their input on each candidate.  They even had a mock election, giving them choices to vote for Red or Blue.  Red, which stood for McCain, won that day in school.  He was excited that he chose the color that won.  I congratulated him on voting and left it at that, because it’s about his power to choose!  I was proud of him.

When Obama won the office of President, my son was sad.  The parents ideals and their philosophies had filtered down to their children and gave my son the impression that Obama equalled bad.  And he knew his parents had voted for McCain too.  I had to express to him that we respected the office of the President, no matter WHO held the office.  I had to share with him, that even though mommy didn’t vote for Obama, I was excited for the new era whether it was my choice candidate or not.  I told him that the exciting part about it is was the power of the American people, and their votes.

I wanted to give him hope that President Obama would make good choices on our behalf.  That’s my job as a parent to instill hope in my child … to lighten the big stuff … to keep him from being overwhelmed with things that he can not control.

His response?  (Keep in mind, he tells people he’s 4 and 3 quarters old when they ask his age – he’s a very specific kid)

“Mom, it doesn’t matter…because when I’m 9 and 3 quarters, we’ll vote again and have another President.”

I couldn’t believe that my ‘every four years we have an election‘ talk, FROM AUGUST was still retained in that little sponge of a brain in November.  

With my son, I tried to stay in the middle on this whole topic, because I don’t want to encourage discrimination for either party – Rep or Dem – because my husband and I aren’t straight party Repubs.  We look at each candidate as a potential selection based on their own policies and performance in office. BUT I let his comment stand on it’s own, because it was his opinion and I respected that.  I respect him for trying to formulate his own ideas and sticking to his guns.  For 5 almost 6 (5.75), he thinks so many big things through!! 

Today when my husband called to check on him, as we’re both home sick.  He ended his conversation with my DH….”Okay dad, work smart!”

I could tell my husband wasn’t sure of what he said, b/c he had to repeat himself….”you know…work smart while you’re there to make your money”  He’s a funny little kid with a big man’s mind.

I can’t believe in 9 short days, I’m going to have a 6 year old on my hands.  A wonderfully created, ingenius and funny, creative and highly social child, who loves with all his heart.  I only worry that he loves too much, BUT there’s no such thing as loving too much.

Have a great day all and thank God for all your blessings….especially your children!

 

Kim

Friday Thanks

I’ve been laying around as much as possible today.  Last night, I lay in hotel in Tulsa with my mom and son anxious of what type of sleep the night might bring.  Hotels aren’t very conducive to sleep, and me & sleep aren’t exactly on the best of terms…especially without my mattress.

Why was I in Tulsa you ask?  I was scheduled to be interviewed for their morning show, during the 8 am hour this morning, so I took my mom and son on a short road trip.

Sleep didn’t come easy last night…in fact it didn’t come at all.  I think I would have been able to except that both persons in the room with me were not breathing well, due to the crud and it’s effects on their respiratory systems.  So I patiently lay between two noise makers all night, waiting…for sleep that eluded me until 3:00 am.  I finally fell asleep only to be woken up again by my mother turning the heat up in our room, which now made it a furnace inside.  Sleep never came back to me.

There were some upsides to this however.  I got to hear my son breathe all night, knowing he was still able to sleep through his sickness.  I was able to have some quiet time to myself, listening to all the noises around me.  Unusually so, I wasn’t frustrated like I normally would have been.  In times like this prior, I was furious that I couldn’t get sleep.   This time I was just thankful to be where I was, with my family.

Thursday night, we ate dinner with some family, who live in town…and a college friend, whom I’d not seen since 1994 – my friend, Leanna, who I’d lost touch with.  She was one of those girls, that I always missed and wondered where she was.  

Thanks to technology, like FaceBook, we caught up with one another again a week ago.  It was a great night to spend time with her and her new husband.  It was just like old times, minus the alcohol and wild parties.  Same girls … same personalities  … now with way different lifestyles and attitudes.  Life is good when you find your friends are friends again after all these years.  And it didn’t hurt that my son fell in love with her.  He even told her she was ‘hubba hubba’.

Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for this Friday.

If any of you are interested in seeing the interview, you can go here.  Click on ‘Author, Kim McKay’.  BUT please keep in mind that I had little to no sleep and I was having a hard time keeping my mind ‘with it’.  Have a great Friday and remember to count your blessings.

Thanks to you Mike

You know the many things I love about blogging is the people you meet.

I’ve made very good friends through surfing certain blogs and reading particular posts.  You all know I love my girls, Terri and Tam.  Well, I have to give a big shout out to Mike.  He’s a guy that I know I’d consider like a little brother if he were in Oklahoma.  He’s a true guy’s guy, humor and all, but compassionate enough to go to Amazon and buy my book…and sensitive to completely delve into it and love it.  Now that’s what I’d call one amazing dude!

Today he forwarded me this link!  He wrote an amazing book review for me and I’m blessed by every word.  GO check his blog out and leave him some nice comments please! 

Thank you to all of you who have read my book.  A big thanks for your feedback.  And for those who haven’t yet … what are you waiting for?  :) LOL!

Your Votes Needed Please

Here is a link where you can go vote for ‘Finding Kylie’ for best fiction.  There are a list of a few books to choose from, but I’m hoping you’ll support my book.

I put it here in long form too – just in case:

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1425?al=MTI5MTg1MQ==-4e3a6e7e4c5022b22518c5c9b59aaf7ff20e9137&i=LTM2MDU3MzU2NzA6MzY3 &utm_medium=email&utm_source=list

 

I hope you’re all doing well.  I’ve not had much time to blog lately and I apologize.  I’m in the process of working on so many projects, which has kept me pretty occupied.  Leave me a message and let me know if you’re able to access this link.

 

Thank you!

 

Kim

Faithful Fridays

This has been an amazing week for the little things…

I’m still somewhat unemployed. I had to leave the restaurant because it started causing some minor health problems, due to my little to no time to actually eat. You’d think working with food I’d get to do that…but no. So I’m in the process of trying to find a part time job that will allow me to work around my son’s school schedule, which has been more than challenging as most PT jobs want you to work nights and weekends. This is not when I can work as I have a child at home.

What’s good about that? Well – I’m completely and utterly reliant on God to 100% provide for us as I look for a PT job. And so far my photography business has given us enough to get by in the last month and a half. Whew! This is a big blessing. And I just got hired for another wedding for this summer. Jobs are consistently rolling in…

The weather has warmed up to reach the 60’s and even 70 today. This has given me spring fever and isn’t it wonderful to have a warm breeze in the middle of winter?

I got to spend some time with both my mom and dad, at separate times, yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t get to see them much anymore, and it was nice just to be in their presence.

I met with a pastor at church this week to go over some ideas for my sequel…as one part of it has a sermon involved in it. I need to know I’m on the right track, and it was a big blessing just to sit and have him impart his wisdom on me.

I got a phone call from the Mayor’s office today. He’s granted me a phone interview to discuss sequel. One of my characters in ‘Finding Kylie’, is Jesse Mikale, who is a former Mayor of OKC…turned economic developer. As I delve into more of his work side in the sequel, I’ll need some input from someone who has lived or is living that role. Who better than Mayor Mick Cornett? His office said his Chief of Staff would most likely be the one to visit with me, but imagine my surprise when they called me on my cell yesterday to say he was taking time to visit with me. I was humbled and grateful.

My son tickles my funny bone every day…there’s just too much to catalogue in his daily stand up. But you can get a glimpse of something here that made laugh till I cried – on Wednesday.

My son’s also very excited about Papa John’s new heart shaped Pizza. This will be an economic way I can give him something nice this year…with something he loves most…PIZZA served with love.

Last but not least…I’m being blessed daily by comments left by readers of Finding Kylie. I’m blown away at what they’re taking away from it and what is left with them, from reading it. Thank you to all of you who have emailed me or left me comments on my blog.

Ok I admit it…

I’m an entertainment junkie. One of the last commenters, from my last post, got me thinking. What exactly are my vices?

When I was young and a lot wilder, it was having a good time. Now it’s watching other people doing it on TV. Well…not doing ‘it’. LOL! But watching those, who have a blast whether it’s in reality TV or having a blast perfecting their craft.

From the Bachelor to Grey’s Anatomy I have to DVR it to get my fill.

About a year ago, God started tapping my heart…asking me why I was spending so much time with something that wasn’t glorifying Him. It got me thinking – is it some form of Idol worship when you’re spending time in activity that is not promoting your faith? Just how much time should I be dedicating to sucking my brain dry in front of the boob tube? How can I honestly say to my son, “you can only have so much ‘media’ time”, and limit his video games/computer/movie time…when I don’t put limits on me?

Well about a year ago I started trimming the fat so to speak. I stopped recording some shows on the DVR. Instead of all the ABC soaps, I chose to eliminate one of the three. Now I’m up to one and a half. I say that b/c I really enjoy watching ‘General Hospital’, but ‘One Life to Life’ is getting so old and boring that I fast forward through the whole thing. I still see what happens, but don’t have to hear the same character repeating the same old crap. So, now guess what? I’m not going to record it either and move it to the non watching show category along with ‘All My Children’.

There are a few shows I stopped watching in the evening as well. So I’m doing much better in this category, but I’m sure if I let myself admit it, I could really let go of more. The few I can’t let go of at this point? American Idol (even though the name is gets to me – and not in a good way), Bachelor with Jason/Ty, Greys – because of it’s amazing acting and McSteamy, Burn Notice, and LOST.

What are your vices? Has God talked to you about them and have you started to let go of them?

Friday’s Favorite Blessings

This was my view on my drive to FOX’s studio yesterday. I felt so blessed to see such an amazing view, especially after 4 days of ice and snow. To see the sun again was amazing, and for it to be so beautiful was that and more.

Yesterday’s live interview went very well. I’m waiting for them to send me the broadcast so I can upload it and post it. Apparently it takes 2 weeks. That was a shocker in today’s digital age, but at least I’ll be getting a copy.

This week has been good. I’m finally on an anti-biotic that I think I can take with out a HUGE allergic reaction! Hallelujah! Shout and singing here… After a chronic bladder infection for over two months, with no help in sight, I visited an amazing urologist, who was very capable and pro-active. He prescribed a new antibiotic that I’ve never even heard of, that is in it’s own class … so far it’s working with little to no side effects and no allergic reactions. HUGE people…this is huge for me!

I found out, of course, from my last post you’d already know this … but I found out my humble book is ready for a screen play. After being contacted, by someone who shall remain nameless, I’m starting that as my next project while still getting my sequel done. This is amazing that someone in that industry read, loved, and wants it. It is a blessing 10 fold.

Last night I had a book signing at an Indie book store. With the ice storms that have hit us in Oklahoma pretty hard, I wasn’t sure of the turn out. My evites and verbal conformations had my attendance at possibly up to 35 people. After already having a launch party with 100 people streaming through, I knew 35 would be a great turn out. After all…who could still be left to come?? Overall, it was a pretty decent turn out considering the last four days people were home bound. The book store was happy, and most of my friends and family came to support me.

One of my newer friends, a classroom mommy friend as I call the ones I meet through school, had a funny story for me. She said her husband, who is a cardiologist, entered his exam room to see his patient, who was reading ‘Finding Kylie’. He thought it was cool to be able to point to her book and say, ‘She’s a friend of ours.’ That cracked me up. I love it that my friends are so excited for me. I try not to get too excited as I know it will sound as if I were getting a big ego, which I’m not. I know God has blessed me with every bit of this gift, and I’m completely thankful. BUT when my friends get excited, it revs me up and I know I’m one fortunate girl to have them in my life.

I’m fighting off the flu at the moment, but am blessed to have some time to me today to rest. And that may just be the biggest blessing at the moment. Time for peace and healing. I have a meeting today at 3 pm CST that is an important one, so if you all could be praying for me…I’d appreciate it.

Love to you all!!!

Surprising News

A friend has contacted me who is interested in turning my humble little book into a movie. Yvette and Papa…your comments from the last post were very inspiring and also prophetic.

Thank you all who continue to check in here and support me. I am so blessed by each and every one of you.

When writing this book, I had the movie in my heart the entire time … so I’m now writing the screenplay. Please keep this process in your prayers. If I reach one person in the name of Christ through this book or someday (hopefully) the film, than I know I’m doing what God wants me to do.

I can give an interview…or a small heartfelt speech. I can tell you one on one my testimony…but to speak to a large crowd to influence them in His name just isn’t my speed. BUT a book … the power of a written word…now that’s always been my passion. To allow people to feel something through my writing…to influence them in a positive way…to make them think outside their box – this is something I know God has blessed me with. I want to use it for HIS glory.

I would be so humbled if this now almost screenplay makes it to the big screen, to influence more in His name.

How cool is that??