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"A Firefly for Thanksgiving"
My newest, romantic short story, “A Firefly for Thanksgiving,” is included in Passionate Hearts from Vanilla Heart Publishing. You can take a sneak peak by following the link and turning the pages. This will be published in a variety of formats: hardback, Kindle, IPad, Sony, Nook, PDF at OmniLit and All Romance as well as a possible audio edition.
“A Firefly for Thanksgiving” is a modern story of love that is delayed by the war in Afghanistan. You don’t want to miss it. It is timely and fit for the coming holiday.
Doug and Katie gave Cookies to God
Cookies for God
is a special short story that I wrote for and about a personal experience with my children, Doug and Katie, when they were young. It is an inspirational account of what we can give to God and how. All parents will want to share this experience with their own child. What a great idea for a Sunday School class as well. Read it and enjoy at Divine Caroline.
by Kathie from AliMed
My new oral motor speech program, TONGUE TRACKS, published by AliMed, will be in their May 2011 catalog. This program is designed for children with mild speech delays to children on the autism spectrum. TONGUE TRACKS is a fun, motivating way to get children to practice tongue, lip, mouth exercises that enhance speech sounds, chewing, and swallowing. The beauty of TONGUE TRACKS is that it can be implimented by speech/language pathologists, teachers, and parents.
- “Bouquet of Weeds”
I received notice today that my story, “Bouquet of Weeds,” has been selected to appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Mothers. This book will be in bookstores October 5th.
June fourth is the third anniversary of my second surgery for Cushing’s Disease. This is monumental to me because my team of doctors at Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center’s Pituitary Center (where the surgery was completed) told me that I would be 100% back to normal by my three-year anniversary.
The second surgery, June 4, 2007, removed my entire pituitary gland, along with the tumor. I’m living proof that one can live without a pituitary. But am I back to normal – I like to think so but I know there are deficit areas that remain a bit foggy. Most Cushing’s patients are in their 20′s and 30′s, I was much older than that at the time of my initial diagnosis and subsequent surgeries. Thus, one would expect my recovery to take longer.
Because of this website/blog and written articles, I have received phone calls and E mail from other Cushing’s patients or people who suspect Cushing’s in themselves or a family member. The stories are sad ones and often fill with professionals who will not listen to them or who refuse to do the right testing in order to diagnosis properly. I offer advise but I know how lucky I was to have a doctor who recognized the characteristics of Cushing’s in me right away.
So on the eve of my third anniversary, am I 100% back? No. Physically, I tire easily and take power naps about three times a week. I don’t like loud, crowed places because it makes my head “full.” I can’t listen to more than one person talking at a time and really pay attention, and conversation often tires me out. I lost weight at first but have gained some back. I continue to have a word finding problem at times, especially if I’m tired. Because I’m a speech pathologist, I know how to substitute many words and try to “hide” this language disorder. I don’t plan to overdo too much in any given day ~ if I do, I pay for it the following three or four days. I continue to get those deep, deep chills that only four or five blankets and a nap can cure – but not nearly as often.
BUT, when I compare where I was three years ago, I can only put the palms of my hands together, close my eyes, and thank God for my family, my faith, and my courage to pursue so desparately those things I knew I had to in order to get to where I am today. I’d put me at about 90%.
I’ll leave you with this thought because I like it and it says a great deal about anyone who has dealt with any disease:
“What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Humpty Dumpty in water fountain at Estes Park ~ Iowa Falls.
Iowa Falls Parks and Recreation Director Brian Lorenzen said he is expecting to turn on the Estes Park Water Fountain for the first time this year today.
Currently, the statue atop the fountain features a nymph blowing on a seashell. (Humpty is holding on tight) However, Iowa Falls resident Shirley Welden is hoping to replace the current statue with the original which had been at Estes Park since 1934. The original statue was accidentally destroyed last August. Welden is coordinating the fundraising effort and says the replacement bid is for $10,000.
We’re off and On the Road with Humpty Dumpty.
Humpty Dumpty at Monument Valley
You’ll see where we travel, events, friends, all of the things I love to do. You’ll also learn what made me (Humpty) get off my duff, pick myself off the ground, and learn to dance again. Kathie Harrington is my voice. She’ll be the one writing about our adventures, so please join us on our other blog as we
see the world.
April is National Autism Awareness Month ~ Do something about it!
Original Red Rooster Grill on corner of Hwy. 65/Rocksylvania
This is the original Red Rooster Grill in Iowa Falls, Iowa. It was built by my mother and father, Kep and Mary Kepler in the mid-1950′s. It burned to the ground on Thanksgiving Eve, 1960 and was rebuilt approximately 1.5 years. later. My grandfather, Vernon Kepler, owned the Super Value Grocery Store next to the Rooster where my dad used to work.
Dad did all of the window painting, freehand. I often held the paint cans for him. Note the prices on the windows of the pie and coffee. Dad also painted for the grocery store and when Joe Girard bought it from my grandfather, he continued to paint the specials on the windows for him as well.
There was a party room in the basement of the Red Rooster. My sister, Julie, and I had “sock hops” down there for special events. I remember well, the old 45′s and the poodle skirts.
Julie and I started our working careers at the Red Rooster ~ we were dishwashers! We progressed to servers and my favorite, fry cook.
My hometown of IOWA FALLS, IA announced a 2009 graduation rate of 93.88 percent. Clark County ~ Las Vegas ~ has a rate slightly over 50 percent. There is work to be done at a time when cuts are being made. We need YOUR thoughts, Las Vegans ~ what can we do?
I realize there are differences between IA and NV but we all have young minds to mold and a future that depends on our youth.
Are there more parents who love and care for there children in IA ~ I don’t think so.
Are children brighter in IA ~ I don’t think so.
Are there better teachers in IA ~ I don’t think so.
Are there higher educational expectations in IA ~ maybe.
Are there fewer distractions in IA ~ for sure.
My children are grown, but I continue to share an interest in the quality of young people we educate throughout our country and particularily in my city of Las Vegas, NV. Money, thrown at all aspects of education is not the entire solution, although it helps. Quality education comes from the effort of the entire community to take the time and energy to raise our young people in all aspects of their lives.
Step up when you can.
Find a place to volunteer.
Listen.
Do something good today.
