Every now and then we need to stop and take stock.  Ask ourselves the hard questions about our lives, how we’re spending them, and to actually focus on those questions long enough to answer them.  Honestly.

It’s easy to get caught up in everyday life, and to not focus on the things really important to us. Sometimes we hear her whisper in her ear that tells us it’s time to stop and think. Sometimes we get bodyslammed and have no choice but to stop and think.

I’ve often wondered, if the reason we get bodyslammed is because we ignore the whispers. And so that is the point of this post. Listen to the whisper, and maybe just maybe you can avoid being bodyslammed.

When is the last time you really stopped and asked yourself about your life purpose? When is the last time you checked your pulse and felt content? Fulfilled? Happy with the way things are going in your life?

We all have challenges, face obstacles in trials, and suffer hard times. Right now many of us are going through difficulties–some of our own making, some thrust upon us. That makes it all the more important to stop and take stock. Because what we find is that if we do, we can be content even amid challenges and difficulties.  We’re better able to handle the unavoidable obstacles and trials that are a natural part of life.

I spent a lot of time thinking about this. I wonder if the reason isn’t because we’re better prepared and more balanced at the onset of a challenger trial and that gives us more resources to draw from to get through it. Think of it like starting blocks in the race. If those blocks are at the start line and you have to run 50 m, then you have to run 50 m. But if you have taken stock and asked yourself those all important questions, maybe that puts your starting blocks at the 25 m position. That means you have 25 m last to run. You have more energy, more strength, more endurance. It’s easier to cope because you don’t have as far to go.

It makes sense to me that this would hold true in your emotional races and your spiritual races as well as your physical races.

Taking stock isn’t always comfortable. There times when we would like nothing better than to avoid asking ourselves questions we don’t want to answer. But that too is a signal that it is long past time for us to gird our loins, toughen our skin, and do it. But perhaps even more importantly, is what happens if we don’t. Imagine your starting block being placed 25 m behind the beginning line for the race. Imagine how much more energy and endurance that takes and how much more strength you’ll have to have to make it through 75 m of the 50 m race. The emotional toll is stronger, the spiritual toll is stronger, and the physical toll is stronger. So the consequences of not taking stock are indeed significant and ones that we really can’t afford to continue to ignore.

So bite the bullet, do the uncomfortable, and tackle what might wish to be the unthinkable. Take stock. Know yourself, know your future.

Blessings,

Diva Vicki

Vicki Hinze

www.vickihinze.com

FORGET ME NOT, 3/16

 She is America’s Champion, Lindsey Vonn, the first American woman, downhill skier to win an Olympic gold medal. She is also the first American woman to win back-to-back overall World Cup championships.  In all, Lindsey’s victories include: one Olympic gold medal, one Olympic bronze medal and two gold and two silver World Championship medals, along with a long list of other awards.

 She took her first fall off her skis at the tender age of three, but by age fourteen she became the first female American to win one of Italy’s top prizes, Trofeo Topolino contest “dubbed” “Junior-Junior Worlds.”

 Before the Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, she said “I’ll be training harder than ever for this season.  Cause if you work hard, it will pay off in the end.”  And it did.

 Not only is she the very proud owner of an Olympic gold medal, her picture is now on a Wheaties box!  Go, Lindsey!!!!!!!!!

 Blessings,

Diva Elizabeth

On my way out, I noted a man smoking a cigarette by the side of the building.  No one else was in sight around me. My red flags went up.  I hurried to my car and did as I had heard was the safest path of action: grabbed my bags and shoved them into the driver’s seat ahead of me, slammed the door, and hit the door locks. The man, who was most likely waiting for his wife, never moved.

Despite the fact that he posed no threat to me, I realized as I drove home, how little I knew about what to do if he had posed a threat.  So today, I did some Internet surfing to find out, and I want to share them with all of you. 

If you must go out at night alone to shop, jog, walk the dog, etc, do it in a way that will see you back home safe and sound.  Here’s a few tips on how to do that:

1 – Before you leave, call someone and tell them when you’re leaving, where you’ll be going, what route you’ll be taking, and when you expect to be back.  Leaving a note with the same information on it is also a good idea.

2 – If you have one, take your dog.  It’s good exercise for him/her and good protection for you.  Assailants rarely go after someone with a dog in tow.  Dogs bark, and even if their bark is worse than their bite, the barking will act as a deterrent to someone with attacking you in mind.  And people are annoyed by a barking dog and will often check to see what’s causing him to bark.

 3 – Don’t allow yourself to be distracted. Answering or making that cell phone call will wait until you are in a safe place.  Wearing earpieces and listening to music could cover up the sound of an attacker’s approach. 

 4 – Don’t take shortcuts off the beaten path. Stay in areas where you can see what’s around you and where you can be plainly seen, preferably places that are well lit.

 5 – Carry some form of defensive mechanism:  pepper spray or your car keys positioned between your fingers are both excellent weapons.

6 – If your hair is long, don’t wear it loose or in a ponytail.  Either way makes an excellent handle for an attacker to gain control over you.  Tuck it under a hat or pin it up with no loose ends hanging down.

 7 – When getting in your car, DON’T DAUDLE.  Get in, close the door, and immediately engage all the door locks.  You can arrange the bags or take that sip of water or whatever AFTER the car is locked.

 8 – When parking your car in parking lot, position it in a well-lit area close to the front door and with the driver’s door illuminated by the nearest and brightest source of light.

MOST IMPORTANTLY — STAY ALERT to your surroundings at all times and without anything else vying for you attention.  If you are attacked, MAKE NOISE, MAKE IT LOUD AND MAKE LOTS OF IT.

Blessings,

Diva Elizabeth

But sometimes…when I’m really tired and can’t think logically enough to be trusted with doc files, I’ll go play.

For me, playing consists of driving friends nuts — sometimes I can actually get them to cooperate, and sometimes…not so much. This week I got lucky. So, between a friend, Audacity, Reallision’s Iclone and Windows Movie Maker, I got to play to my heart’s content. Remember how you used to love having mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or basically anyone read to you as a child? Well…now I’ve got someone to read to me…sort of:

Nope, it’s not done – still tweaking and playing.

And knowing me, I’ll be playing forevah…

LOL.

Have a good one. Take care and be well!

Diva Denise

Susan Squires’ Companion books are stupendous. I’ve read them all and they just get better and more intriguing. This one is no exception.

Frankie Suchet had fallen in love with Henri Foucault when he lived next door to the woman she took care of and in the Reign of Terror in 1794 Henri saved her from an angry mob who took her employer away. Unfortunately during an accident in which she cut her hand, she accidentally came in contact with Henri’s blood and was turned by his Companion. The only thing she wishes she could do was go back in time so she could kill Henri before he infected her.

Frankie is visited by a woman who tells her she can make Frankie’s wish come true. She gives her a key and tells her where to find a time machine so she can go back in time and change the future. Frankie thinks she is crazy but what is the harm in checking the place out to see if the time machine really is there and really can send her back in time.

Frankie does go back in time but there can’t be two of them in this time so she is transported into Francoise’s body. Francoise can’t understand why she has strange compelling urges to do things that she wouldn’t ordinarily do. She only knows it has something to do with Henri and it’s bad.

Oh my, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every page. I look forward to each and every book Susan Squires writes. Her books are all on my keeper shelf!

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I’ve been reading Susan Kearney’s books for a long time but when she started writing Paranormal Romance and Futuristic Romance, I was totally hooked.

Lucan is the first in her Pendragon Legacy series. It’s future Earth and humanity as we know it is about to be wiped out. The women are sterile and everyone is dying. Lucan Rourke has to find out to get to Pendragon so he can find the elusive Holy Grail and bring humanity back from the brink of extinction.

Lady Cale is a high priestess and a healer of her people on Pendragon. She also is forbidden to mate. Still when she meets Lucan, he doesn’t know who she is or what purpose she has. All he knows is he needs help and Cale is available. Still as they work together a bond grows that neither wants. There are also forces working against them that don’t want them to find the Holy Grail. Will they be able to unravel all the mysteries before it is too late for Earth?

My eyes devoured this book in a matter of hours. I tried not to read it so quickly but I couldn’t help myself. I anxiously await to the other two books in the series.

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Time travel is my very favorite read and has been since I picked up my very first time travel novel. I also love to read anthologies so put time travel in an anthology and I’m a happy camper.

Man from the Moon by Janet Chapman

Isobel is a veterinarian who is kidnapped by some gorgeous men but for what purpose? She soon finds out that one of the men is hurt. She tells them she only works on animals but they know if she doesn’t help their brother Daniel that he will die. But these men are special as Isobel soon finds out. Is she willing to help them so they can save Earth? Read this incredible story and find out.

Tomorrow is Another Day by Sandra Hill

Sandra Hill is one of my favorite time travel authors. I have every one of her books on my keeper shelf so I was thrilled when I found out one of her stories was in this anthology.

Larry Wilson is royally ticked at his buddies. They have signed him up at a matchmaking site based in New Orleans and now he can’t go anywhere without women bugging him to death. They even nicknamed him Scary Larry. Marguerite Baptiste or Margo as she is called is the owner of the matchmaking site. She tells Larry she will do the best she can with damage control but Larry says that is not enough. When Margo leaves and gets in the ancient elevator, it crashes and she bumps her head. When she comes too she’s in post-Civil War New Orleans but so is Larry only now he is Laurent Duvall. What’s up with that? Will Larry remember Margo and will things work out for them? Only time will tell.

The Drowning Sea by Veronica Wolff

Iain McNabb has admired Cassiopeia McLeod, the clan chief’s daughter from afar for as long as he can remember but he is just a peat farmer. Still when he rescues her from the bog, interest is sparked and she comes to visit him when she can. Can Iain convince the McLeod that he is worthy of his daughter? When Iain goes to visit the McLeod, he finds out that he has promised his daughter to another. Then Cassie is murdered right before his eyes. Iain lives as a shell with an injured hand as a mercenary for many years but then something happens and he is given a chance to live life over. Can he change it to create a happy ending for Cassie and himself?

Sixteen Decades by Trish Jensen

Trish Jensen tells me that she’s never written time travel before. After reading this highly amusing time travel novella, I find it very hard to believe! I unfortunately did what I usually do with a story that I’m enjoying to the fullest and that’s read it much to quickly for my taste but I simply could not help it!

Sheriff Ty Coltraine has been called in to Fannie Mae’s Rooster Ranch on a missing person’s case. What he finds is totally unexpected! Locked in the shed is a woman by the name of Margaret Prescott who looks as if she has been hit in the head and she claims he did it. She also claims it is 1850 and she is the owner of the Rooster Ranch. Ty just thinks she’s a little delusional. Still he’s willing to give her the benefit of the doubt because she’s so attractive. He assures her that he will do his level best to clear up the mystery of what is going on. She doesn’t know whether to believe him or not since he claims it is 160 years later.

If this is Trish Jensen’s first attempt at time travel, I certainly hope she decides to attempt it again because I enjoyed the heck out of this story. I will be looking forward to reading more of what she has in store for her many fans!

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I host a healthful meals blog and occasionally get asked about rich gravies and sauces.  It seems a misconception that there’s no room for them in a weight-loss or healthy diet.  Prevention magazine recommends one tablespoon of corn starch dissolved in one cup of liquid for an easy, fat-free sauce or gravy, but corn starch can be tricky as it must first be mixed with a cold liquid.  Then the dissolved corn starch must be brought to a full boil before it will thicken.  Finally, corn starch-thickened gravy or sauce doesn’t reheat as well as a flour-based one.

My flour-based method may seem more difficult, but I’m happier with the results.  The trick is to use a quality, heavy gauge stainless steel (or cast iron will work) skillet.  Cheap aluminum cookware will not heat evenly and will scorch the flour.  Here’s my recipe for good yet figure-friendly gravy:

Preheat skillet over medium heat.  Add two tablespoons of Kentucky Kernel® Seasoned Flour to the warm skillet.  Using a fork or whisk, stir the flour frequently until it turns a light brown.  Cooking the flour without fat is the key to tasty, low-calorie gravy.  As soon as the flour starts to brown, remove the skillet from the burner to add your liquid.  Gradually add one can of reduced-fat beef or chicken broth (depending on what you plan to serve it with) and whisk into the flour.  Return the skillet to medium heat while whisking constantly until sauce is smooth and begins to thicken.  Reduce heat and stir occasionally until ready to serve.

That’s it.  I get compliments on my gravy, whether I serve it over mashed potatoes, chicken, or roast beef.  No one misses the fat.   Cleanup is easy, too, without the greasy mess.   Or if you’re pushed for time, there’s always the old standby, condensed cream of mushroom soup.

Diva Cheryl

This is the second book in the Sirantha Jax Grimspace saga. Jax has found out several things. One is Farwan Corporation whom she worked for deliberately crashed the passenger ship she and her pilot were navigating. The other is she was supposed to be dead and in fact her husband that she never divorced has declared her dead so he could take over all of her bank accounts. So now Jax is dead broke as well. Life’s a bitch.

Plus Doc has just told her that she should have been dead or crazy by now because of the ‘J’ gene but instead her body is overcompensating and that’s why she is so anemic and frail. He tells her he will work to try to find a cure for her but it doesn’t look good.

Then she is told she needs to go to Ithiss-Tor to try to strike a bargain with them for peace and to help beat the Morgut who are taking over the far reach outposts in order to propagate and spread their venom even farther. The Ithiss-Tor can beat them but no one has been to their planet in forever and they are only accepting Jax as an ambassador because of Velith Il-Nokm tge Ithiss-Torian Jax met when he tried to kidnap her. He has agreed to accompany Jax to his home planet to try to get them to agree to a peace treaty. Jax agrees to go because she feels as if she is being backed in to a corner.

This series is page to page action. Poor Jax just jumps from one fray to the next. Even with her health problems, she is as strong as they come. I’ve decided I want to be Sirantha Jax when I grow up! Kudos to Ann Aguirre for creating such a strong character and one whom I want to follow to see what kind of trouble she will get into next.

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