- “A Firefly for Thanksgiving”
Here’s a teaser from my story, “A Firefly for Thanksgiving.” It can be found in Passionate Hearts by Vanilla Heart Publishing.
Karyn bit her bottom lip as she fiddled with the books on the top shelf of the War Section. “Wars have always been dangerous for those who are in them. It’s dangerous to fight but perhaps it would be more costly if we chose not to defend freedom. Now, you’re here and I’m here. Where shall we go for dinner?” Karyn’s eyes locked and loaded on Jason.
Bouquet of Weeds
My story, a “Bouquet of Weeds” comes out tomorrow, October 5, 2010 from the publishers of Chicken Soup for the Soul ~ Devotional Stories for Mothers. Out of thousands of submissions, this story and one-hundred others were selected to be part of this new and exciting anthology. Catch it online, at the book store, and be sure to gift it to your best friend. Devotional Stories is full of 101 inspirational messages from women just like YOU. Enjoy.
“Bouquet of Weeds” was inspired by my son, Doug, who is always a flower in my life.
Autumn is my favorite time of the year, at least I thought so until I watched this. My best friend sent me this awesome video about the Seasons of our Lives. I hope that you take three minutes to watch it. You will be refreshed, renewed, and rewind your life to the simple joy of living. My simple word ~ ENJOY. 
A champ!
This isn’t a new story and it didn’t happen yesterday but it’s a story that I love about my son, Doug. He fulfilled a golfer’s dream of making a hole-in-one and Doug, has autism. “A Hole in the Sky” will inspire you. Enjoy.
A Hole in the Sky
By Kathie Harrington
It was early in October. The air in Las Vegas was still not crisp but it was better than the 120 degree temperatures that had baked the desert golf courses for the last three months. It was a good day for a hole-in-one.
Doug took his typical stance at the tee during a routine round of golf for his University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) golf class. His arms were stiffer than most players. His body was rigid and didn’t sway with the perpetual breeze as did the leaves of the palm trees that lined the fairway. Doug’s
Doug’s eyes were on the ball and he never took them off the ground until he was sure the ball had landed, usually 20 to 30 feet in front or to one side of him. When Doug did stroll off of the tee and onto the lush greenery of the Black Mountain Golf Course, there was a difference to his gait, a stiffness to his walk like an unsynchronized action to every movement, as if his rhythm was off.
The rest of Doug’s foursome watched where the ball went for him. On this October day, six eyes traveled down the fairway and onto the green of hole #6. They couldn’t see it all but they knew where their eyes took them as the ball rolled over the edge of the cup.
“WAY TO GO, DOUG!” Hands came flying in Doug’s direction as they landed upon his shoulders and back. He stiffened once again.
“What a guy!”
“Can you believe it?”
“Pretend you hit that one for me, Doug.”
“I’ll buy you a beer at the end of this, Doug.”
“Nope, I don’t drink beer.” Doug looked at them with a poker face and added, “Where’s my ball?”
“Where do ‘ya think, Champ?” asked one of the guys.
A sudden smile loomed across Doug’s face. “In the hole?”
“You got it! You, Douglas Harrington, made a hole-in-one.”
“Can I get it now?”
All four of the young men smiled in harmony. “Now’s the time, Doug,” said one of them.
“My grandpa made a hole-in-one once. He got a trophy but he’s dead now. I remember he kept the ball,” proclaimed Doug.
“Are you going to keep your ball, Doug?” asked the young man with the baseball cap.
“Sure. Maybe grandpa dropped it there from heaven,” said Doug.
“Just maybe he did help, Doug, but I think you hit it on your own. This one’s for you to keep, buddy,” said the friend as he plucked the ball from the metal lined hole and handed it to Doug.
Doug’s eyes glanced quickly to the ball and then up toward the sky. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.
Three young men learned something that day in October that will hopefully remain with them for the rest of their lives. They learned that, although handicapped by the disorder of autism, one of their own experienced the greatest triumph in a golfer’s life – a hole-in-one.
Temple
The Autism News Temple Grandin, one of the most internationally recognized autistics and a renowned expert in animal science talks about her life | www.TheAutismNews.com
via Temple Grandin – Conversations from Penn State.
"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.
- Temple at the Emmy’s
Autism has its night! Thank you Temple Grandin and the lights of Hollywood/HBO for giving autism a face, a name, a night to shine. “Temple Grandin” won eight Emmy Awards - Oh what a night it was!
Temple Grandin stood and waved from the audience as actors from the movie of her life won awards, then took the stage herself as the biopic Temple Grandin won the Emmy for best TV movie at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on Sunday night.
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.
- “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.
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.
