Blog
A Tribute To My Daddy
On May 13 of this year, the world lost one of its best people. William Jackson Crumley, "Jackie" to those who knew him, lost his battle with esophageal cancer at the age of 68. He left us four months ago, and it still doesn't seem possible or real. I suppose that's how every daughter feels in this situation. The following is what I wrote about him, which my husband read at his funeral.
September 17, 2024
All of the books I read in august and what I thought of them! 📚August wrap up 2024
I hope you guys enjoy this video of what I read in August. Here's a hint: there's a lot of turmoil in this month's reading. Buy the Little House Series on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eugBWy The Books I've Written: Fiction--- Escape From Olshek's Castle: https://amzn.to/3B4hmqM The Swamps of Dorscha: https://amzn.to/3XOhrHO
September 17, 2024
Booktube Newbie📚 Longtime Reader
I'm Kayla and I'm a reader of books! I'm also a writer of books. I cannot decide which I love to do more. The Books I've Written: Fiction--- Escape From Olshek's Castle: https://amzn.to/3B4hmqM The Swamps of Dorscha: https://amzn.to/3XOhrHO Non-Fiction--- The Laid Back Guide to Intermittent Fasting: https://amzn.to/3ZuKJga Overcoming Weight Loss Obstacles: How to Keep Going When Things Get Difficult: https://amzn.to/4eiJNQ6
September 17, 2024
The Swamps of Dorscha [Excerpt]
Deep in the woods behind Allie McGee’s house, a faint yellow glow crept up from a spot of cold ground and hung in the air. The only creature who took any notice of this was a raccoon, and he had no idea of the significance of what he was about to witness. In the very place where the glow began, a tree began to grow. It started as a small shoot coming out of the earth and grew in a matter of seconds what would have taken an ordinary tree many years. The yellow glow grew brighter as its branches shot toward the heavens, and its roots plunged deep into the earth. Just when it seemed the tree was finished, its trunk ripped apart with a loud crack and a golden mist poured out of the opening.
March 22, 2024
Escape From Olshek's Castle [Excerpt]
Allie McGee caught her reflection in the glass of her front door and wondered if Pete would be able to tell she’d been crying. He always could. Still, she gave her eyes a quick rub hoping it would wipe away the telltale signs. “Just ten more days,” she said with a sigh, as she turned the knob and slipped inside her house, closing and locking the door behind her in one swift motion. Ten more days of school, and then Christmas break would be here. If she could just hang in there till then, her days would be filled with baking and music and jigsaw puzzles in front of the fire. Her book bag dropped with a resounding thud onto the entryway floor.
May 19, 2023
My Prayer Life As An Orthodox Christian vs. How It Used To Be
Image by Himsan from Pixabay In February of last year, we started going to church as a family. We chose an Orthodox church and officially joined a little over 5 months later. Becoming Orthodox has brought quite a few positive changes to my life. The one that has been the most significant is prayer. I stopped going to church when I was a kid, then went a little bit after I got my driver's license, but ultimately opted out after that. I studied the Bible daily and always considered myself a Christian, but in practice, I joined the "unchurched." Maybe one day I'll write a post about why I made that choice, but not today.
July 29, 2022
Serenity Now
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. That sentence comes from the serenity prayer. I suppose I've always struggled with knowing the difference between the things I can change and those things I can't. For years I was obese and laboring under the illusion that I couldn't change it. On the other hand, this year I've spent entirely too much time thinking about things I can't change: the ongoing overreaction to a virus by various bureaucrats whose actions will likely cause 100 million people to starve to death by the end of this year thanks to the lockdowns, the social distancing "rules", the mask "mandates", rioting, the election, and censorship. Maybe one day I'll get through this thick skull of mine: I can't control other people, especially their emotions.
November 17, 2020
Freedom From Debt
Back in 2011, we found ourselves in a financial mess. We were deeply in debt (to the tune of over $200,000 not including our mortgage) and we were feeling completely overwhelmed and ashamed of the hole we had dug for ourselves. Around that time, my husband’s brother asked us if we had ever heard of Dave Ramsey. I vaguely remembered seeing the guy one time on Oprah, but that was about it.
August 12, 2020
COVID-19 In Perspective
The overall survival rate of COVID-19 here in America is 99.35 % 1 The number of cases that are being reported is rising because people are not in isolation anymore. This has to eventually happen because we can't all stay in isolation indefinitely. The current death toll from COVID-19 in the US is 128,035.2 On the other hand, heart disease kills 647,457 Americans every year. Cancer kills 599,108.3 As scary as those figures might sound, even if you add them all up, that's less than 1/2 of one percent of our country's population. Countries like Sweden did not lockdown and do not recommend wearing masks in public4 and their COVID-19 numbers are similar to the rest of the world. (0.0076 of their population has had a confirmed case of COVID-19)5,6
July 21, 2020
10 Tips for a Quieter Life
Write in a journal daily. If nothing else, write down three things you're grateful for. Get some reading done every day. Turn off the TV. Leave it off all day if you can. Put down your phone. Try going without it for a week. Stop watching the news. Go out into your town and see for yourself what's happening. Delete your social media accounts. Keep in touch via text, email, and phone instead. When you have the opportunity to take a nap, take one. Take some time each day to sit and think or pray. Start out with 5 minutes. Learn to say no. If you have a hard time doing this, try this phrase, "I don't think so, but if something changes I'll let you know." (hat tip: Jim Rohn) Go for a nice long walk every day. Six miles isn't out of the question.
July 13, 2020