Really, is it that big of a deal to miss a Monday? I mean really now, let’s think about it.

By most peoples standards (who work a standard work week that is) Monday is generally the least favorite day of the week. With this much stated it is safe to say, by the sheer reality that we draw to ourselves what we process in our thoughts... Monday often presents the greatest difficulties and obstacles in our on-going responsibilities and appears to be the longest day of the week.

I suppose I have to be the other sides advocate here as well... That means the greatest difficulties that befall our Mondays are probably no greater than any others we have in the course of the other days of the week, but the furthest away from the next weekend, offering us a reprieve from the grind of solving them. Therefore, they only appear as the largest looming events due once more to our own thoughts and perceptions making them so.

However, in any event, there is still a striking reality and understanding that Monday's are not our favorite... Therefore, perhaps missing a Monday was a blessing in light of the bigger picture.

Now, let me address once more as I have already many times here over the resulting months of blogging... My interpretation of the last week of the month is not only comparable to Monday's but beats them all together. Plus, the fact that coming off of a difficult weekend as a foster parent, it's safe to say that many Mondays are celebrated in my life with the knowledge the kids will be in school for the day; at least for a few more weeks pending summer vacation… Oh well… It’s all good, right?

Okay, enough on that...

I was shocked this weekend or over the past few days when I discovered how pricey books have become when bought brand new! My goodness, when I realized what the publisher priced my book at I could have nearly fallen out of my chair. Of course, it's safe to say I have always struggled with valuing my work, regardless of what area of my life we are speaking of. Therefore, it is probably a good thing I had nothing to do with setting the price, as I suppose I would have been way off base. Perhaps I'm simply stuck in a previous day and age when things were a bit less expensive.

Speaking of the book…I have received a couple of reviews on the content and am all the more eager to see how it is received within the larger populous of readers.

I was flatly told some folks are going to simply love it while others will think it is horrible. Additionally, as Christian based as the book's content is, it has been deemed as a "NOT LIKELY" possibility of being Christian Book Store friendly. Sorry folks, but it's real... Though there is not a great deal of cursing or intimacy involved through out the story, it does have some. Truthfully, I feel it is appropriately placed emotions of anger and relationships within it are content, but that is simply my opinion. What can we say here besides "You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all the people all the time." Let me simply surmise to say, I'm okay with both the good and the not so good reviews that may and more likely will come in time.

Truthfully, I tend to think some controversy would be good as it tends to drive attention and sales on most books, movies and so forth. However, I just don't think this would have the components to drive such publicity. In today's society that would have to be pretty risqué, if you know what I mean.

On to other matters of life and times on the farm… It sounds like the rain I’m still believing for, may arrive here on Thursday! Yeah! I am eager to see it and am going to keep believing for more! Which it is going to take a lot more to make up for what we have not received this winter around here!

So how about those oil prices? Folks, it's getting down right scary out there! I am thinking "The Big House on the Hill" may not have been such a good idea at the rate things are going. I suppose that large and that old of a house could easily run up $1,000.00 in heating expenses if the oil prices stay the way they are or even worse????? I can't imagine where this is all going to end and the reality sure isn't looking favorable.

I know things are getting questionable when we even consider the idea of having chickens and a few cattle for the families self preservation! Let alone a garden too boot!! Hmmmm... I suppose it's all worth giving some very serious contemplation, but admit it may not go any further than this... We'll see.

I have to admit however, I did have a dream that we bought a bottle feeder calf - adorable I might add - at a sale barn. Yes, I woke up shortly after we realized what we thought we had purchased for only $20.00 turned out to be $200.00.... However being the eternal optimist that I am, I kept assuring everyone it was still a good deal. I think she was to grow up to be our milk cow... LOL

Not to sweat here though, as I plan to win the power ball jack pot lotto tonight. I intended to do it a week ago but got busy and kept forgetting to purchase the winning ticket. I have to get out to the store to get that done before the drawing cut off today or I'll have to wait until Saturday again. I'm sure the next person waiting to win after me would be happy if I'd finally get it out of the way so the pot can start increasing for them again....

Okay, go ahead and say it... I've already heard it before! You think I'm a bit out there, crazy you might say??? Just a bit, but it makes life so much more bearable!

Okay, I suppose I have rambled on long enough here to leave you all wondering if you should send the little men in white jackets... Therefore it must be time to get something accomplished before I have to leave to attend Foster Parent on-going training tonight in Denver... I know they try to keep it interesting and fun, but all we can say to these fun filled nights away from the kids for a few hours is.... "Whoopee... Oh Boy..."

You all have a great day, evening or whatever it happens to be in your time zone... Make it good at any rate!

See you tomorrow, God willing!

Hi everyone! I'm assuming everyone has had a nice weekend as we were supposed to be visualizing - right? No, don't give me that... I shouldn't have to remind you to visualize good weekends now... Should I?

Okay, so my weekend has been okay... Good.... Great???? Sure, I woke up, able to walk, talk, feel, think, love, share, care and any other number of huge, gigantic blessings! Therefore, it has to be
G-R-E-A-T!!! As Tony the Tiger would say, that is!

I have been, I suppose you might say, wallowing in the aftermath of the joy of receiving my book in print Thursday night. I have also had a good dose of stress around the gills so to speak with the boys. Nothing major, but the final change over will hopefully accomplish minimizing some of these matters in the near future. I'm hopeful anyway that the one last child we have discharging from our care and the new youngster who is coming in to his spot will be a good thing. Of course, we never know until it's done how it is going to work out... But I'm thinking positive and visualizing a great summer before us! After all, school is nearly over for the year!

We have yet to receive any measurable or considerable moisture in our region of the state and it's getting a bit scary again! I am still hoping, praying and believing for this moisture that has been withheld for some reason??? I could simply dismiss the idea assuming that my menial prayers are not enough to move God to bless all in the area by what I seek from him in healing. I could presume that even if I sought his forgiveness, grace and mercy that if in fact he is angered with the community as a whole or anyone particular, that he won't have much to consider in my seemingly small voice. But I know that I am someone special, created in his image and precious to him - just as are the rest of us. I know just as much as my children can come to me in times of need, I too can find answers from him as his child. So, I'm simply going to keep asking, keep praying, keep believing and keep seeking his presence and on-going blessings in my life in the meantime.

Speaking of water and such... The economy sure appears to be growing increasingly frightful! I don't want to be a skeptic around the financial matters of our nation, but I have to admit it sure makes me raise a cautious eye brow! I have even contemplated the idea of getting a few cows and some chickens.... I suppose even as much as I absolutely dislike weeding a garden, it may not be a bad idea.. But this time I better be seriously considering canning and/or freezing what we produce. Stocking the pantry with four teenage boys in our care is not an easy feat, but still may not be a bad idea in light of the way things are heading right now.

I can't imagine anyone fighting to get into the office of presidency right now! Why in these times, who would want the burden of responsibility for so much? Of course, if we are at all honest we have to admit that one person at the top doesn't run the nation..... They truly are not much more than a figure head to operate and complete the plans and motives of the parties behind them... However, I still in any event would not want anything to do with such matters of responsibility with the state of our society today!

I believe I may conclude my political comments at that as I simply have not cared to make this a political outlet... So, as I was saying initially, I think being somewhat self sustaining with living in a rural farm setting may not be a bad idea. I suppose that most would say that seems like a no brainer regardless, but the reality is I am not real good at raising anything for the intent of slaughter... But then again, I have never lived in a time such as we are facing right now and it isn't sounding like such a bad idea after all. I have enough folks around here, including my daughter-in-law who has and can handle that end of it and we all do what we have to do when push comes to shove...Right? Perhaps, we will seek a few others who may be interested in investing in a side of beef for themselves in the process to help off set some of the expense of the plan. It could be a win-win situation for everyone involved - better quality food, all natural, available, and best of all less expensive for all involved!

I'm going to have to give this all some more thought as it will take time, money, set up and planning to accomplish, but it isn't a bad thought in the bigger picture.

On to other news... I don't think I mentioned this as of yet?? I have the first 55 pages completed on the new story - which is loosely based on the true story of our long lost but still loved Palomino Stallion - Moonlight. I'm hoping to be progressive this week in accomplishing as much as possible in the coming week!

On that note, I believe we are going to dinner soon so I best be closing for now!

Love and Blessings to All!
Sher Bear

I was asked for a general synopsis by a loved one last night. It really hasn't crossed my mind, however beyond this blog and the brief synopsis I wrote for the publisher; I suppose I really hadn't offered a great deal of insight to the book. Then again, I have had others ask the same question some direct and some more indirect.

I found myself asking the same question. Is it only about first love and broken hearts? Is it a teen romance novel? Is it an adult novel? Does it have the BIG S's in it? All those wonderful questions that yes, believe it or not I've been asked at one point in time or another, and generally more than once by more than one.

I came up with quite a variety of interpretations once I really gave this some thought last night. First of all, yes it is about first kisses, first loves, lost loves, broken hearts, and forgiveness. It's not a teen romance though in the first chapter or two one may assume this... It's about family, brothers, the haste involved, the relationships and the forgiveness. It's about the strength in faith and God. It's about a past and about a future. It's about memories of childhood and growing up. It's about broken dreams and dreams come true. It's about living and about dying. It's about pride and jealousy. It's about second chances.

In my final contemplation, it's about some part of every person's life I have ever known in my life. I believe this is a story that if we are honest, each one of us can and will relate to at some point in the intertwining characters, life’s and stories that unfold through out.

I have to share something that occurred yesterday. I spent the majority of the day after returning from appointments in the morning working on my next project. I'm happy to say I am well on the way with this undertaking at a standard typed page number of 55 and I think it might be pretty good......

However, I walked out of the office for a stretch and brief break. I was talking with my Mom about the book she was reading at the moment, a Sydney Shelton book. In our conversation she pointed out that my book was likely going to take her longer to read as the book is bigger. I doubted her on this pointing out the fact the book she was reading is in fact much thicker. She pointed out the size of the pages and the print in my book as compared to that one and as often is the case.... she was right. I was a bit surprised at this reality to be honest, as I had feared my book may actually not be long enough to compare to some others in at least size even if not quality.

However, in proving her point I opened my book to a random location and read a few paragraphs. I didn't recall writing what I read as is often the case when I go back and re-read something I have composed. I found myself compelled to read just a bit further and felt seriously annoyed at the character I was reading about. I wrinkled up my nose and stated out loud... "I don't remember this part... What an unscrupulous A...hole he is!" It always strikes me funny when these sorts of things pop out at me like that.

Okay, I am going to pick four brief text selections randomly from the original manuscript (before editing was all completed) and copy and paste them here for your reading pleasure and to give you a bit more of "A Love Beyond Time".....

Selection - Humor: Rowdy noticed Kate following behind him and couldn’t resist the temptation to tease around with her. “Close the gates of Hell boys, the pretty preacher’s daughter is getting into Rowdy Nichol’s truck!” He swept around squatting just enough to bring his shoulder level to her own, put his arm around her and acted as though he was escorting her to the passenger front seat of his high sitting black Ford truck.

Selection - Humor: “What?” Craig asked with mock surprise in his voice. Then in Craig’s traditional manner, he made light of the situation “And I thought she meant it when she told me it was I her heart longed for.”
“Yeah… Right!” Lance was sarcastic; having no idea what it was that Craig was referring too. “Like that would ever happen, Mr. Fall Asleep During her Daddy’s Sermon. NOT!”
“Really, she told me on the dance floor it was me she liked anyway.”
By now Craig was laughing out loud at the vision of himself dating someone like her. He wasn’t the Casanova that Lance worked hard at being. He had plenty of girls that noticed him, but didn’t work at keeping their undying attention like his younger counterpart. “Alas my dear brother, do not despair over my broken heart! No, I will go on to live and love again some day. Someday when my heart is healed from the pain you have inflicted with the spear of dying love.”
“Get a life!” Lance was smiling and shaking his head after hearing his brother carry on like some sort of idiot “You are such a freak!

Selection - Action/Drama: Then I heard another terrible sound of metal crashing against itself and realized Lance’s truck was moving up over the embankment with nowhere to go but down. There was a semi-truck that had come up behind him, and like everyone else, he couldn’t get his truck stopped on the ice. The impact of hitting Lance stopped the semi barely at the edge, but I knew from the sounds that Lance’s truck had plummeted over the side. I was running toward them and heard the sound of the ice crushing below in the river and knew the truck had gone into the water. I got to the side of the hill and was screaming Lance’s name. I started sliding down the hill where he had gone over. The driver of the semi was right behind me. I heard him yelling for me not to go in the water when I reached the bottom shortly before he did. He was grabbing for me as I was right there by the fragmented ice. His hand caught my arm and spun me around. He was a big guy and not anyone I knew.

Selection - Reflection: As Kate sat reading through her journals she couldn’t help but weep and laugh along the way. There were so many memories. It hadn’t seemed so long ago that it had all occurred, but in reality it was. Many years had passed and time had taken its toll on everything, including her.

Selection Reflection/Drama: After passing through the house to exit through the front doors of what she had known as home for so long, Kate looked back one last time. She knew she would never see this place again. The contract closing was complete and the new owners were taking possession the next day.

Okay folks, that’s all you get today...

As I have sat here for a little over an hour scouring through my old manuscript the day has gone from a beautiful blue sky with still air that allowed the songs of the birds to caress the soul. However, as the day should be warming, the wind has returned from its sleep and the temperature has fallen accordingly.

Pray for rain for us in this region! With no rain and much wind, the lands are parched and dry! May the Lord have mercy on our lands and the political process now set in motion this year!

Have a great day! God Bless and Keep Smiling!

At Last, yes, my first novel is in print and available for any and all who are interested in pursuing having a copy to read of your very own!

I couldn't be happier than to see it in print! A moment no doubt worthy of a steak and potato dinner at Texas Road House or Cattleman’s here in Greeley... However, jumbo hot dogs were the fanfare for the evening. However, that could scarcely diminish the internalized emotion of having the first two copies of "A Love Beyond Time" arrive in yesterday's mail.

I have to think to myself and wonder... Does a person ever grow weary of such occasions? Really, does Shelton or Spielberg or any of the countless greats ever take for granted the first copy of their next work of art? As much as I hope and aspire to see this only as the first of many I do hope the feeling of accomplishment never escapes me.

When we were promoting Surenuff Moonlight our past Palomino Stallion in the show ring, as often as he won, which was more than not, I never grew weary of the feeling in those moments. Many times one may not identify the emotion as one win was only a step in a path to where we were intending to arrive at. However, each and every step and victory along the way was special to us all! So, I hope it will remain with my writing.

I recall a national essay contest I entered a few years back in which I wrote one of my more abstract short stories. I have to admit, it wasn't one of my favorites as it was so different than my norm. However, the thrill I received when I was notified that in a national competition I had won third place was beyond belief! It was open to anyone and everyone and I made it to the top three in a national competition!!! Though the check I received was anything but life changing, the idea of such placing was more than inspiring!

When I won the "Why I Love Being a Foster Parent" hands down I was again thrilled and received a bit more significant payment award for that one. Standing in the grassy forefront of the State Capital that day in May, I recall the emotion that my words had generated for the speaker when they announced my name and a small quote from the essay. Even though I realize that those present on that day probably do not know me from Adam and could pass me on the street today unbeknownst, for that moment time stood still and it was mine... All mine!

There was a rather unfortunate downside to the whole ordeal! I did not create the story, but admittedly I did assist and guide one of my kiddo's through an essay contest for a scholarship. I don't think I guided him anymore than any other parent may have, but because I had so recently been awarded this attention in the very city this scholarship was being handled through; you may be able to guess what happened. They determined I wrote the essay for him and disqualified it! It was clearly the winning essay if they had accepted it, however, they didn't. So, they instead told him he had two days to re-create the wheel. I again had to help, however this time I had to help him make it not sound so good! Can you believe it? Talk about frustrating! In the end, he won a smaller scholarship. In addition, I believe God must have agreed it wasn't all together fair as he won the drawing for a media center - including a TV and sound system. This was some sort of redemption in it all, but it was still frustrating that my gift seemed to minimize his success in that occasion.

However, on a brighter note, there have been many times I have been able to assist the boys over the years in writing assignments and encourage them in their writing to create wonderful stories, poems and reports.

So, about the book... It's available through their on-line store at www.publishamerica.com. To find it you can use my name for the author search: Sherry Lynn Lipari and again I remind everyone you have to type in the middle name as well. Just a reminder: the book title is "A Love Beyond Time".

If you would be so kind to submit book reviews at the various on line stores that offer the readers a place to make comments and give their own personal reviews, I would greatly appreciate it!!! As a new author in a world that sees thousands of new books in print each and every year, I need all the support and in-put that I can possibly get! Thank you in advance for the time and effort it takes to do this for me!!!

I am well into my next project which will be loosely based on a true story surrounding Surenuff Moonlight, our aforementioned Palomino stallion. In the meantime, I have an appointment this morning... But when I return I fully intend to offer yet another glimpse into "A Love Beyond Time" for all of those awaiting the opportunity to read it from front to back!

Have a blessed morning and remember "God is still in the process!"

Nope, I don't think I can top my earlier blog entry today "Today's the Day". It was a pretty good one! And thank you for the kind feed back on it! Always appreciated and encouraging for future entries! However, I am curious to learn the so-called cure for bi-polar mentioned in the one comment???? With the kids we work with, this could be worth something. LOL <>

Thursday is nearly upon us, and here we are already to the top of the sixth inning! I figure that's a give or take...seven and eight are tomorrow and the ninth is Friday... God willing we won't have any over time before we hit the weekend... Game over and celebration begins. I suppose this is a rather optimistic manner of looking at my life, but sometimes one has to do such things to make them more manageable!

Today wasn't so bad and then I played on the Internet later in the afternoon and incidentally found an on line book store who is selling my book - listed as brand new and having five available... I'm not sure how that works when I don't even have my courtesy copy as of yet?? But hey, I'm not complaining, it was pretty cool to see it there regardless.

FYI - if you go on line to find it in a search engine - I used Google and had to enter the author and title both - "A Love Beyond Time" published by Publish America by Sherry Lynn Lipari - and the middle name Lynn is necessary. It seemed a bit pricey at the site I pulled up randomly so if interested, I would go and order it direct from Publish America's On Line Book Store - which you find it under the same title and author name as well. Bear with me here; this is all brand new to me too!

I was walking through the court house today, passing people, many who appear to look like relatively important people in society as far as people go... And it occurred to me that all those folks had no idea they were walking past "ME” a published author, soon to be famous and well known screen writer! Of course, the more humble side of me couldn't help but emerge as I considered no matter how famous I was or wasn't it would remain likely that I would still walk through those halls unbeknownst to anyone. But it was a fun thought for the moment! LOL

My mind is going a hundred miles an hour in considering what our next move will be on fix up's around the farm. I'm not sure the whole moving thing is totally out of the question, but for now I'm just going to focus on the here and now and we can figure it out as we go. I'm okay with it and as I said, my wheels are turning. I know God has a bigger plan and I'm okay with waiting on him... His timing is always best regardless.

It's after nine and I've been dragging so much this week, I think I will go ahead and turn it in for the night. Prayer time, day dreaming time, visualization time, and so on and so forth.

God Bless you all and may you have a restful night and be woke by God's presence and promise!

Trusting the process and embracing the journey!
Love to all!