Life's Troubles

The last few weeks have left me with a bad case of "feeling sorry for myself."

As I desperately try to hold on to the hope I will spend the upcoming Christmas holidays with my family in America, the ugly head of life's trouble rears up and threatens to rip away at the last shreds of hopefulness I have forcing me to fight constantly with the ever present depression pushing me down into the depths of it's dark pit.

The fact my recovery process from back surgery seems to have reached a screeching halt only adds insult to injury. Being forced to withdraw from my therapy sessions has left me with little to do during the day other than lie in bed and pray the pain soon diminishes.

Yet, even with all my problems staring me in the eye, I have to stop and think of others who are suffering problems far greater than mine.

On June 20, in the eastern province of Khost, Afghanistan, a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle crashed into a NATO unit, killing three South Carolina Army National Guard members of the 133rd MP Company from Timmonsville. Their translator was killed and several members of the unit were severely wounded and numerous innocent by-standers, men, women and children were maimed, wounded and killed.

One of the severely wounded soldiers, a friend of my daughter, lost his right leg below the knee and suffered numerous internal and external injuries from the bomb blast and shards of flying shrapnel. Following several surgeries, today he remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Due to the extent of his injuries, he had been placed on a ventilator to relieve the stress on his body and keep him alive. Dialysis prevents his body from being overcome by toxins as he fights to live.


This brave soldier gave his all on the battlefield for his country, and now he continues to fight daily for his life. As I pray and wait to hear scraps of news for updates from his family and friends, I am humbled by the sacrifices and courage this young, twenty-seven year old soldier gave during his tours of service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  My problems seems minute at best, compared to what he is going through now and what faces him in the hours, days, weeks and years ahead.


I, along with a large number of people, are learning our life problems can not compare with those of a wounded warrior and his family.

Join me in a prayer of thanks for the continued miracles God is working in Sgt. Robert Barber's life everyday and may God give me patience to live with my problems -- now so small in comparison.

Life's Punches

My husband and I have not been home to spend Christmas with my family in America since 2003. We decided this was the year. We are going home to South Carolina for the holidays! As my excitement builds and we begin to make our plans -- one thing becomes apparent -- LIFE's PUNCHES!

Within the last two weeks, life has begun throwing left hooks and chin shots our way to block our every move. Two weeks ago our dryer died and my heart sank. I thought, "No, no this can not be happening." Well, it was happening and it seemed our trip would be postponed, AGAIN.

Not giving up easily, my husband called the family electrician, our nephew, and over the telephone they were able to discover the problem sucking the life out of my clothes dryer. A few clicks later on the Internet and a small part was ordered. Within a matter of days, the part arrived, from America no less, and my husband soldered the tiny piece in place and with finger crossed and prayers said, our ailing dryer was raised from the dead and is now working perfectly.

I could once again breathe easily with the realization we would be spending the holidays with our family in America.

Much to our dismay, two nights ago our refrigerator (almost 20 years old) decided it's life with us was dwindling as it began making a terrible noise. Rushing to the kitchen, my husband, came to the rescue and calmed the ailing appliance by raising the temperature a few clicks. Seemingly, the problem was solved -- until today. The moaning and groaning of the old faithful refrigerator has led way to it's ever decreasing fall in temperature. A sure omen it's life with us is coming to a heart wrenching end.

Once again, I began my complaining and worrying as I saw our Christmas plans slipping away. Another quick search on the Internet and a reasonably priced refrigerator was found and with a little bit of luck will be delivered tomorrow before "Old Faithful" completely gives up the ghost.


Major appliance failure can throw an enormous snafu into anyone's plans if you don't have a buried treasure in the back garden. I'm here to tell you, my ship sunk a long time ago off the coast of some far away island and no treasures are lying in wait to be plucked from the vine like ripening grapes.


To some of you these problems may seem small, and if I look around me and let the problems of others facing much worse problems them ours -- life threatening situations -- then my dryer and refrigerator problems can not compare to theirs and I feel humbled for allowing my worry to take precedence over the more important reason we are granted life every day.


Life is going to throw us punches -- we never know when or if they will come -- but they will come my friends -- and when they do, I have to learn not to sweat the small things in life because there will always be someone somewhere facing larger life punches than mine and with a little bit of faith and a lot of prayers God will provide for all our needs.


Just in case -- I'm pulling out the boxing gloves! 

The Yellow Ribbon Revived

In 1981, 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree' once again became popular to revive public awareness and rally American patriotism during the Iranian Hostage Crisis.

This week my home state of South Carolina once again felt the chilling effects of the ongoing war against terrorism in Afghanistan as we were brought to our knees when three soldiers lost their lives in the line of duty and many others were left wounded, maimed and suffering for our freedom.

Maybe it's time to tie the yellow ribbons to the old oak tree once again to show our support for the military families, not only in our State but across the nation.

Will you tie a ribbon to one of your trees?

Will you place a yellow ribbon in a window of your home to show your patriotic spirit?

Join me in this campaign to revive the yellow ribbon tradition throughout your community!

Let's ban together to show our respect to the families who have lost family members and for the other families who wait, worry, hope and pray for the lives of these brave soldiers hanging in the balance following the horrific attack on June 20 in Khost, Afghanistan.

Life Changes in the Blink of an Eye

Today I learned about a young man serving our country in the military in Afghanistan. He comes from my home state of South Carolina.

Everyday we take our freedom for granted and don't often stop to remember or think of those who are placing their lives on the line to keep us safe and free from harm. Yesterday, in the blink of an eye, this young soldier's life was changed forever as another man chose to give up his life for his strong beliefs with no regard for the injury, harm and death he would unleash on those around him.

We all have our beliefs -- whether they are beliefs in religion, friendships, family or whatever you choose, but our beliefs do not give us the right to take the life of another human being. I know in times of war there will always be causalities, but no matter how or when they happen the families and friends of those involved, the wounded, injured and maimed are faced with pain, heartache, worry and grief from the aftermath of a horrible nightmare such as yesterday's events in Afghanistan.

Life is so precious and we have no way of knowing what adversities will come our way. None of us know if our lives will be changed in the blink of an eye.


Live every day to the fullest and never take anything for granted. Love your family and friends with all your heart. You never know how much time you or those you love will be granted in this lifetime.

God bless our country and all those who serve to protect our freedom at home and abroad. God bless the family, friends and loved ones who await the safe return of America's brave men and women.

STALKER

A year of change, mystery, heartache and a bittersweet new beginning...

As Jeannie McCarthy prepared for the opening of her new gallery, she had no way of knowing what the coming
year would bring...

Just weeks into planning the black-tie gala, fear struck her very heart and soul, threatening to destroy everything she had managed to build. Lonely and afraid, Jeannie was determined to carry on, until tragedy struck, forcing her to make a decision that would change her life forever.

Stalker - paperback is available from www.lulu.com, www.amazon.com, and www.barnesandnoble.com.

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Photographs of the Heart

A compilation of true life stories and poems based around the life of the Author, her family and friends. A good read that will make you laugh, cry and help you search for memories hidden away in your heart. Not your usual boring autobiography. Written in laugh out loud, short story form, with poetry that is not only funny, but sad and even heart wrenching. Available from www.amazon.com,www.barnesandnoble.com and www.lulu.com. Order your copy today.

Iron City Strangers

My latest book, Iron City Strangers is available for readers between the ages of 14-95.

As the annual Iron City Festival approaches, Maggie Callahan, mystery writer and shop owner from a small town in South Carolina stumbles across what she believes to be a conspiracy brewing when two strangers enter her bookshop.

The chain of events which unravel over the course of the next eight months, leaves Maggie and the town folks reeling when two badly decomposed bodies are discovered a few miles outside the city limits of Blacksburg.

Staring the Devil in the eye, Maggie stands face-to-face with a serial killer who has left a string of nineteen unsolved murders across Texas, Florida, Alabama and Georgia before reaching South Carolina.

The FBI comes to the aid of SLED, working relentlessly to capture the killer and bring him to justice.

Just when Maggie thought she had seen and heard it all, a bombshell is dropped into her lap -- leaving her flabbergasted and the “Iron City” changed.

No one saw it coming!

Follow Maggie Callahan as her conspiracy theory leads her down a winding path straight onto a collision course with the local Chief of Police and the FBI. Faced with the reality of the dangerous underside of the dark — deadly — world of crime, Maggie realizes life in a small town is not always what it seems.


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EPUB is available from www.lulu.com for most e-Readers. Requires Adobe Limited Editions. Price $2.99

e-Book is available for the iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices from www.lulu.com and from the iPhone Bookstore. Price $2.99.

NookBook is available for the Nook fromwww.barnesandnoble.com
Price $2.99.


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