Memorial Day

Today I visited the cemetery and put flowers on the grave of my Mom. I stood for a moment and reflected how much she did for me and how much I miss her. She's been gone seven years now, but it seems like an eternity. There's so much I'd like to say to her, so many things I wish I would have done for her while she was alive. It's too late for that, but I found myself feeling thankful for all I do have and vowed to be more appreciative of my loved ones who share my life now. I have a loving husband, a beautiful family, wonderful grandchildren and my Dad who is 83 years old but still healthy and able to stay active. Since Mom's been gone, I've had the opportunity to get closer to my Dad and enjoy the time we share together.

Take a few moments to remember those who have passed on but added so much to your life while they were here. Then I urge you to show your appreciation for those you still can share your life with.

Be happy. Have a great Memorial Day weekend. Most of all - be safe.

Thought for the Day

The three essential elements to happiness:
Something to work for;
Something to hope for;
Someone to love.
(unknown)

I don't know who said it, but I believe this is so true. May you always have a dream to work towards, a goal you hope to achieve, and love in your life. What more could we ask for?

Spring Is Almost Here

Don't you just love the sights and sounds of Spring? In Utah spring is definitely on its way. We still have a few snow showers, rain showers, and gloomy days, but my daffodils are blooming and tulips of all colors are growing. When the sun shines, the sky is a beautiful blue. I just love seeing the trees in bud, my rosebush trying to regenerate, and listening to the birds sing.

My husband and I took a day last week and went to the mountains. We took our Yamaha Rhino and a picnic with our yellow lab, Max. It was a gorgeous spring day, even though many of the dirt roads still were snowed in. But it was nice and warm and by mid-day we were shedding our coats and gloves. We found a lovely spot where grass was peeking through and enjoyed a few minutes having a cola and a snack.

We saw deer grazing on the warm hillsides. A rock chuck and a few squirrels raced across our path. Birds were singing, and even though bees aren't my favorite thing, we saw honey bees, a queen bee and even a buzzing wasp.

Spring is a sign that the earth is being reborn and I just love it!

Put Things in Perspective

A friend sent me the following and it really touched me. I think so many of us are more worried about the "things" we can have rather than enjoying what we do have. It's a bit long, but so worth it. I have no idea who the author is but I love the story.

"Ain't it the truth".

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the trip?'

'It was great, Dad.'

'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked. 'Oh yeah,' said the son. 'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?' asked the father.

The son answered: I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.'

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.'

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

My husband and I just returned from a fantastic road trip where we traveled into the warmth of Arizona, Nevada and southern Utah to get away from the cold and snow we are still experiencing here in northern Utah. We got to see so many beautiful places, unique sights and interesting things, but I think my favorite was our visit to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Angel Canyon near Kanab, Utah.

At first, neither my husband nor I thought we would be seeing much more than a normal animal shelter. Gosh, were we wrong! We traveled into a beautiful canyon nestled in the coral and pink sandstone mountains. We were too late for a normal tour of the facility, but we figured we’d just take a drive on our own down the sandy road that wound into the canyon past large, spacious paddocks housing horses and burros. We found spacious kennels where dogs of every kind were housed amidst the beautiful cedars. Mule deer wandered around and in front of us as we toured. Small, furry bunnies hopped about green pastures next to grazing horses. A flock of Osceola turkeys soared from the tops of the tall canyon walls to scratch for food before they flew into tall trees to roost for the night. We hiked up to a natural amphitheater where cool flowing water, beautiful green grass, and natural acoustics amazed us. Nothing could have prepared us for the many breathtaking sights we found.

The most impressive was the Angel’s Rest Pet Cemetery where the first thing we noticed was the beautiful sounds of wind chimes. We turned off the engine of our truck and as the gentle breezes blew, the chimes sounded like an organ playing a majestic song. Rock pathways led to a gazebo and small benches where you can relax and enjoy the calm serenity. The cemetery is not about dying but an affirmation of life where the beautiful rock canyon holds urns, vases and memorials of the little animals who have brought so much to our earthly life.

If you have the opportunity to visit southern Utah, don’t miss the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. It’s a special haven for abused and abandoned animals of all kinds. They have an expert staff of veterinarians, trainers and caregivers to see to the special needs of about 2000 cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, owls, and other animals. It is supported entirely through donations. It’s an amazing place where their philosophy is – kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.

Take a minute and browse their web site -- http://www.bestfriends.org/

Are You A Person Of Influence

An old cowboy once said, "If you get to thinkin you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around."

Doesn't this just put things in perspective? I chuckled when I read it because it is so true. We can accomplish goals, make a ton of money, fill ourselves with importance, but when it all comes down to the bottom line, we're just people with hopes, dreams and hopefully love. And our pets always know who is important in their lives.

I found this saying in a book I bought my Dad for Christmas from the Stoeklein Collection of Cowboy Sayings. If you're interested, go to www.thestoekleincollection.com They have some beautiful photos and their books are great.

Hope this brought a smile to your day!

Interview with Terri J. Lynn, Author

I’m excited to be able to introduce Terri J. Lynn to you. She’s a good friend of mine and if you haven’t read her book, Forbidden Fire, you need to get a copy. She graciously agreed to talk with me and answer some questions regarding her writing.

1: Tell us about your book "Forbidden Fire."
"Forbidden Fire" is the story of Jenny Lange and her brother, Josh. She is engaged to Karl Dunstan, a man she doesn’t love, but Jenny knows he will kill her if he finds out her real reason for becoming his fiancée. Jenny and her brother have decided to seek justice through revenge.
When Karl brings in the Pinkerton Detective Agency to catch the outlaws robbing his stagecoach line, she knows it is foolhardy to continue, or is it? One last robbery on the only unguarded stage could financially ruin Karl and force him to sell the ranch and the childhood home that she and her brother, Josh, want to get back, and they would buy it with Karl’s money. Then she could break her engagement to Karl, a man she knows is responsible for the death of her parents.

When she meets Pinkerton Detective Cliff Rancord, she knows he will do whatever he has to do to catch the bandits robbing Karl’s stages. What she doesn’t bargain for is the instant attraction between them, an attraction that could be her undoing. As long as she is around him, she is in danger of losing her heart, as well as her freedom and possibly her life at the end of a hangman’s noose.

2: What inspired you to write "Forbidden Fire?"
I read the true story of Pearl Hart, who committed the last stagecoach robbery in the old west in Arizona Territory in 1899. Although her reasons were foolish, it inspired me to write a novel about a woman committing such robberies for what she believes is the right reason.

3: How can readers get a copy?
You can purchase a copy from http://www.underthemoon.org/ by going to their store, typing in Forbidden Fire, then adding it to your shopping cart. You can get an e-published copy at http://www.mojocastle.com/ or contact Terri J. Lynn at her website listed below.

4: I understand you’re working on a sequel. Can you tell us a little about it?
The sequel is titled "Forbidden Quest." It is the story of Josh Lange, the younger brother of Jenny. In the ten years since the man who killed their parents died, Josh has purchased and developed a successful ranch with his partner, Gabe Andrie. He feels he never will be as lucky in love as his sister but has developed a busy life and is content. When he goes into town one Saturday night, he meets Maria in the local bordello and assumes she is a newly hired working girl. His tremendous attraction to the dark-haired beauty with the luminous brown eyes is not lessened when she runs from him, but he has no way of knowing the terrible secret she hides.

5: Have you always wanted to be an author?
I have loved to write since I was in high school, but only after the children were grown and on their own, and I retired from a business career could I realize my dream of writing on a full-time basis. I am an avid reader and love stories set in the western United States.

6: Tell us about yourself.
I was born and raised in Washington State and have also lived in Montana, Arizona and now Utah. I live with my wonderful husband, Jerry. We share our home with Grizzly, the happiest dog in the world, and Shadow, our aristocratic cat. I have three children and three grandchildren. I have been lucky enough to pursue what I love to do most: writing.

7: Are you working on other stories? Can you tell us a little about any of them?
"Shadow of Time" is a time travel story set in modern day Arizona.

Jesse Warner is on his way home after years of working as a cowhand. A freak August storm forces him to take cover in a cave. The next morning, nothing is what it used to be, and his horse is gone. With no options, he walks to the nearest homestead and, unknowingly, into the 21st century.

After a devastating personal relationship, Samantha wants no man in her life. Fearful that her ex-boyfriend will find her, she moves to the remote desert outside Golden Valley, Arizona, an area so desolate it has changed little in the last 100 years. One year later, her goal of moving to Hollywood and pursuing an acting career is within sight, but she doesn’t bargain on the tall, ruggedly handsome stranger who walks out of the desert and into her life. Unable to turn away from someone in need, she allows Jesse to stay in the old barn on the property she rents until he is able to move on.

Samantha’s total independence has been a hard fought battle, but Jesse’s kisses are a powerful and intoxicating aphrodisiac. Is their growing love strong enough to keep them together or will their two worlds tear them apart?

8: Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join a writers’ critique group. There is nothing I look forward to more than my critique meetings. It is a way for like-minded people to critique your work honestly, and generally speaking, I have found that they give kind but honest reviews, which help you grow as a writer.

DON’T GIVE UP. When you send a synopsis or queries to a literary agent or a publisher, you will get rejection letters. However, I have never known an author who hasn’t gotten one. Every rejection letter you receive gets you one step closer to the literary agent or publisher who wants your work.

Join your national and local RWA groups. This gives you wonderful access to information about the nuts and bolts of writing, literary agents and publishers, and you meet people with your same interests. You will make many new and lasting friends.

9: How can readers contact you?
My readers can contact me at terrilynn39@comcast.net

Terri J. Lynn, thank you so much. I wish you the very best in your writing endeavors.