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.

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

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

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

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.


ORDER YOUR PAPERBACK COPY TODAY FROM:

www.lulu.com
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.PoliceMag.com 


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.


FOR MY EUROPEAN FAMILY AND FRIENDS, GREAT NEWS! ORDERING MY BOOKS JUST BECAME A LOT EASIER FOR YOU!

LuLu.com, my publisher has worked with partners at Amazon to add four new channels for selling my books, including Amazon Germany, Amazon France, Amazon Spain, and Amazon Italy.

2012 "Cops & Rodders" Car and Cycle Cruise-in Festival

2012 "Cops & Rodders" Car and Cycle Cruise-in Festival

Saturday, July 7, 2012, Noon to 10 pm

Downtown Blacksburg, SC

Hosted by Cherokee Lodge 20, Fraternal Order of Police
Hot rods, classic cars, motorcycles, etc. The public is invited to bring vehicles, as well as bike clubs and car clubs! Enter your vehicles for People's Choice judging, or just show off your ride!
Burn-out contests and other activities.
Motorcycle & Car parts & accessories Swap Meet.
Ferris wheel and other amusements.
Food and crafts vendors, free concerts, street dance, raffles and more! Come check out our 3 great bands: The Oneppo Brothers, The BandAnna, and Back Pages!
Food and crafts vendors wanted. Contact Pete McBride at 864-761-6244 for details.

Father's Day, Sunday, June 17, 2012

Sunday is Father's Day. A day set aside to honor fathers and their paternal bond. In most countries Father's Day is celebrated every year on the third Sunday in June.

I have been blessed to have a Father who has always been there for me. He has stood beside me, lifted me up and comforted me when I could not see the shore for the storms raging in my life.

In my first book, 'Photographs of the Heart,' I wrote a story entitled An Old Shoe. I wanted to share the story with you and a poem I wrote to my Father last year to celebrate Father's Day.

Photographs of the Heart, Memories Captured in Time

©2011 by Peggy Lutz-McDaniel. All rights reserved.

An Old Shoe

     Curious question, do they give Oscar’s for patience? If not, they should.  “And the winner is My Father”. Patience, forgiveness and understanding, three traits my Father has in bucket loads.  I believe my Father’s motto, should he live by one, would be, “Don’t rock the boat, don’t make waves, everything will work out.”

     Personally, I never met Job, but there is no doubt in my mind my Father is a direct descendant. How else could anyone have so much patience? My Dad is a gentle, caring soul who has always been there in times of kid and adult disasters to calm the storms and keep our family at an even keel. Numerous times in my life, I would have been only too happy to have the tolerance of that man. Lord only knows his patience trait did not find its way into my genes.

     Patience is a virtue no man has. How many times in my life have I made this statement only too quickly to regret that I let it flop out of my mouth? What I should have said was, "patience is a virtue my Father has." It oozes from him like mayonnaise out of a banana sandwich.

     I once heard my Father referred to as an old shoe. Immediately, I took offence at this comment, believing my Father had been insulted. After deep consideration, I came to the conclusion this reference was not an insult.  Instead it was a great complement.

Think about it. An old shoe patiently waits for you, is comfortable to be around, won’t turn its back on you, and is there when you need it. That’s my Father, an old shoe, and I love him dearly. Because of him, I am the person I have become today.  Thanks Dad, you did well with me and I know it was a hard job.

A Prayer for Father’s Day

My Father is a special man

When I was young he held my hand

As I grew older day by day

He guided me along my way

Dear God, I ask you on this day

As I kneel down, oh Lord I pray

Bless the Fathers in our land

Guide them by your loving hand

When trouble comes along their way

And they can’t see the light of day

Show them the path they must follow

Through rivers deep or caverns hollow

As I kneel on bended knee

This prayer I pray, oh Lord to Thee

Bless my Father, Lord I pray

Keep him safe by night and day

Guide him with thy loving hand

Show him the way you have planned

Shelter him within your care

Take away his troubled fear

Ease the pain he feels today

This is my prayer, oh Lord I pray

On this special Father’s Day

Amen

Author: Peggy Lutz-McDaniel

June 19, 2011

Who Knows, Today Might Be the Day

Without purpose or direction in your life, you can become tossed about like a cork, adrift in the swells of an angry sea. We all have a purpose in our lives. If it takes you longer than the next guy to find it, so be it. As long as you are sure that you are not desperately hanging on to a life preserver, floundering around, when you know it won’t keep you afloat forever.

When you find your purpose, you will know it. It might be something as simple as picking up the telephone and calling a friend who needs to talk. Or, it could be something major, a career change, beginning a project you have put off way to long, or allowing a hidden talent to break through, the one you have kept hidden way too long. It could be reaching out to help someone in trouble, whether it’s a family member or a stranger.

Who knows, today might be the day. If so, don’t let your purpose, or direction in pass you by. Be careful not to let life drag you out to sea so far there is no point of return. Do not become lost in the sea of life and drown.

Is today your day? Only you know the answer to this question.

Life Is No Picnic

Living your life is a simple task. This statement could not be any farther from the truth, at least not for me.

Over the last months and more recently the last few weeks, living my life has become more of a drudgery than a pleasure. I never seem to say the right thing or someone takes what I say the wrong way and they become upset, angry and displeased to the fact they delete me from their Friends List on our social networking site, or they call me on the telephone and scream at the top of their lungs at me while I listen in stunned silence, only to hang up and find myself totally rung out and sobbing wildly until my energy is spent and my heart is broken.

To be deleted is not really a slap in the face. It's more of a get out of my face, I don't want to talk to you anymore effect, except when the person who deleted you is family. THEN, it become a totally different story.

Life has not been kind to me over the last three years, but I am not here to complain, only to let you know, if a comment was made and you took it personally, maybe you were having a bad day. Maybe your miss read the comment, or maybe, as in my case, I did not receive the comment at all. The sender only presumed I received their comment, took offence to my next reply and immediately deleted me from their Friend's List.

Life is no picnic. So live it the best you can, even if your family deletes you from their Friends List. It's their loss, but I will keep on loving them. Keep on forgiving them and keep trying to stay in touch because when it comes right down to it, family if all we truly have in this life.

If you are looking for a picnic of a life, watch out for the ants. They are coming to eat you alive!

Orange Fever Drops a Degree

Orange Fever in The Netherlands possibly dropped a degree tonight as the Dutch lost their opening game of the European 2012 Soccer Championship losing to Denmark 1 - 0. With 29 attempts on goal, the net was not to be found as the Dutch team seemed to run out of steam in the first few minutes of the game.

It was a hot, sultry night in Charkov, but the temperature on the field can not be blamed for the way the team played.

In my opinion, it was a lazy, sloppily played game with little or no action. If The Netherlands team has any chance of advancing in the games they have to pick up the pace and get their head in the game. Everybody wants to blame the coach when the Dutch team loses, but the coach was not playing. He was pacing on the sidelines screaming at the players to close up the formation and defend their ground.

As we have heard so many times, there is no I in team. Tonight there was no W in the team, meaning winning was not on their minds, or so it seemed from where I sat.

Get your act together guys. If you want to win -- put some spirit into the game and don't disappoint all your fans. We are counting on you and know you can play better than you did tonight!

Wednesday, June 13, The Netherlands take to the field once again in Charkov. Kickoff is at 8:45 pm and the Orange team has their work cut out for them against Germany, the Dutch rival and a well oiled team.


I will be watching! Will you?

 http://www.facebook.com/peggy.lutzmcdaniel

Orange Fever Rages Through The Netherlands

Summer in The Netherlands not only brings warm sunny days, fields of tulips and dreams of holidays by the sea. Orange Fever has spread throughout The Netherlands like wildfire as the kick off for the European 2012 Soccer Championship games draw near.

Streets, balconies, houses, automobiles, shops and street corners are lined with row upon row of orange flags fluttering in the wind as anticipation builds to kick off of the first game on Friday, June 8 in Warsaw when Greece and Poland take to the field at 6:00 p.m.

The teams are divided into four separate groups, A - D with The Netherlands slated to play in Group B. The Dutch team will kick off their first game om Saturday, June 9 against Denmark in Charkov, Ukraine. Their second game will be held on Wednesday, June 13 against Germany also in Charkov and game three will be played on Sunday, June 17 against Portugal in Lviv, Ukraine.

The Dutch team is facing three tough opponents in the first round of games and the stands will be filled with cheering fans decked out in their orange shirts, wigs, red, white and blue painted faces constantly tooting their team to victory on their vuvuzela's every time The Netherlands team scores, bringing them closer to the Championship Title game to be held Sunday, July 1 at Kiev, Ukraine.

As Orange Fever radiates throughout the country, I wish the team the best of luck in their efforts to bring home the treasured title and trophy!

Words from the Heart

Welcome to my Blog, THINK IT! SPEAK IT!


A site where you are welcome to speak what's on your mind without the recoil from sarcastic comments we all have faced on some of the social networking sites or even been threatened with banishment because our views or opinions are not always the same as all concerned. Maybe some of you have even been removed from so called friends list. 


On my Blog you are welcome to speak your mind!


As the title says, if you think it, you can speak it. So lighten your heart, share a burden or just plain spout off. Whatever you can think, you can write. So, let's talk!


A person's heart can only be stepped on and smashed to bits by those you love so many times until there are only shreds of it left behind. Often times, I feel like I can't take anymore and I want to run and fling my shredded heart over a cliff to the jagged rocks below and let what's left of it splatter and bleed on the pile of sharp stones below until my good sense takes over and shouts: "Wait a minute! Think about what you are about to do! You are stronger than this and even though words can pierce the heart like sharpened daggers, you are not doing this to yourself, so do you really want to jump onto those jagged rocks and cause even more pain to your aching heart and body?"

"You know if you do, it's only going to cause you more pain, so think real hard! Are you willing to suffer more pain, humiliation and heartbreak because someone else said the wrong words at the wrong time? If so, go ahead, jump! You are only hurting yourself and not them."

It is at this very moment my better judgement takes over and decides the words were spoken to me in anger and I should not lash out against myself, but back away from the cliff's edge and sit down on the giant boulder and think things through.

Our lives are influenced everyday by our surrounding, our families, friends and those who enter our lives wanting to become enemies. Don't let their bad temperament or hurt feelings over mundane matters lead you to the brink of destruction.

Words can hurt, make us cry and provoke us to lash out at those we love and retaliate with more hateful words -- this leads us nowhere except to another path with more hurtful words.

Take a breath -- step back from the edge of the cliff and let the words of others and your salty tears run down your back and drip onto the parched earth beneath your feet. Your tears of hurt and sadness may water the earth and cause a sprout to erupt into a beautiful flower no longer showing any after effects of the pain you felt in your heart, but leaving behind a bit of beauty for someone else to enjoy on a day when their heart has been stomped on by a friend or a loved one.

Remember the rhyme we learned as children. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."

Words do hurt! Be bigger than those hurtful words and don't let them ruin your life or destroy you, or your day.

Put a smile on your face, pull yourself up by your bootstraps and keep on trucking!