New Years Ice Scultures

Ice scultures were on display in downtown Parker, CO

Holding up Robbie's Arms

But Moses' hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle.

Exodus 17:12-13 (MSG)

Sunday, my friend, Robbie, received a call that her DH had been taken to a hospital about an hour from her home. Please click here and read Robbie's post, Can't Stop Dancing. It's sure to bring tears to your eyes as it did mine. John's story is a miracle that I believe it will become even more apparent in the coming days. Robbie is doing remarkably well in spite of days in the hospital and emotional highs and lows. However, Robbie needs us to hold up her arms. How?

• Pray and believe for John's miracle.
• Send Robbie a Twitter, a comment on her blog, or write on her Facebook wall. Surround her with love and encouragement.
  
• Make yourself available to her. She may need babysitting or errands run in the coming weeks.

Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
1 Sam. 25:6b (NIV)

Got Glasses?

While helping my MIL clean out her room, we uncovered four pairs of glasses. When I told her about The Gift of Sight, she was pleased to know her donation will help underprivileged people around the world see - and some for the first time!

Would you also like to give the gift of sight?

Click HERE for more information.
Bold & Free is doing a glasses drive, if you'd like to contribute,
please contact me for more details.

Christmas Lights Downtown Parker - WW

Gazebo in Main Street Park

My DH, Greg

We didn't stay long. It was 21 out!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

From Our House to Yours

Merry Christmas!

Spending Christmas at home with my family. The house is quiet and I'm reflecting on the wonder of Christmas. May the blessings and wonders of Christmas never cease to amaze you.

Yes Man Movie Review

Yes Man is a fantastic movie that will have you falling out of your seat and rolling on the the floor. The message of this movie is - say Yes to life. Stop playing it safe and try something new - like photo jogging! Carl soon learns that it's just as bad to say Yes to everything as it is to say No to everything. Yes is the new No! Say Yes to this flick, you'll be glad you did. Rating: 8.5

Seven Pounds Movie Review

This compelling story begins near the end, the rest is back story. Very little is explained until about half way through the movie. Ben Smith is a mysterious man on a mission. He did something so awful he can't even talk about it. But he has a plan to set thing straight. This is the story of how one man's ultimate sacrifice transforms the lives of seven people. Bring plenty of tissue. Rating: 8.5

Australia Movie Review & Award

The Day The Earth Stood Still Movie Reveiw

This movie is a flop. Keanu Reaves, Jennifer Connolly and Kathy Bates had little to work with. Even the special effects were mediocre. I was left with unanswered questions, making me wish I'd stayed home on such a bitterly cold night. Rating:4

Out of Her Hands Book Review

Every now and then a book comes along that speaks to you long after it's been read. Out of Her Hands is just such a book. That's why I'm awarding it "The Best of 2008." Megan DiMaria is such a gifted writer, as I began reading it, I actually wondered if she based it on my life.

Don't let the cover fool you into thinking its fluff. Linda Revere deals with the tough midlife issues we all have to deal with like an unexpected pregnancy, a best friend moving away, problems with her adult children and her widowed father-in-law dating.

Megan's realistic characters draw me in and her detailed descriptions make me feel like I'm visiting their home. Too cold to go out? Grab this book and go stay with the Revere's for a while. You'll be glad you did.

Click on the links below for more about Megan DiMaria:

Interview with Megan DiMaria.
Searching for Spice Review
Searching for Spice Book Launch
Searching for Spice Book Signing
Out of Her Hands Book Launch
Out of Her Hands Book Signing

What Others are saying about Out of Her Hands:

Megan DiMaria crafts a novel so compelling, so real, you forget you're reading fiction.
Darcie Gudger

A fresh voice and a strong, but very real protagonist. A powerful and relevant theme.

Kay Day

Megan has a knack of taking Christian family values and issues that we all struggle with and writing about them with humor, compassion, and biblical insight and wisdom. Out of Her Hands is a fun, easy read as well. I needed this timely reminder that God is ultimately in control of all things.

Marjorie Vawter

If you want to take a vacation without using Price Line or dealing with traffic, brew a nice cup of hot tea, get comfy in your favorite chair and read Out of Her Hands. You’ll have a wonderful time!

Robbie Iobst

Send Me a Tweet!

When I first learned about Twitter, the thought of another online group or activity was more than I could bear. Understanding my need to cut back, my BFF, Michele, talked me into Twittering while we were having coffee one day. As sure as I love Starbucks, you count on the fact that Michele has a gazillion projects going. She showed me how I could actually save time while introducing this new phenomenon – and she should know.

How does Twitter save time?

1. I send out one tweet (via text message from my phone) and all my followers get it at the same time. This saves me from texting each person individually. When my dear, sweet, grand baby was born, I twittered her progress all night long. That’s when I learned how invaluable Twitter is.

2. I’ve set my tweets to automatically update my Facebook profile so I don’t have to check in with FB each day. Now I check it weekly or just when I want to check friends’ updates.

3. I stay in touch with my network and blog less frequently so I have more time.

Other benefits of Twitter:

1. I tweet my new blog postings to get more traffic.

2. Twitter is easy – real easy. I signed up in less than ten minutes. I even signed up my 70-year-old mom and she tweets now too.

3. Takes less time than blogging so I can stay in touch with more of my peeps.

4. I twitter right from my phone - so I can tweet from anywhere I have service. I can also log in to my Twitter home page and tweet from my laptop.

5. Just like and blogger, it’s free.

Well, did I convince you to try it? Look me up @ boldandfree and send me a tweet. I’d love to hear from you!

Breathtaking Sunset - Denver CO

Breathtaking sunset makes traffic enjoyable.

Look at skyline!

Night Out On the Town

Beautiful day - 65!
Perfect weather to see the lights in downtown Southlands
and recline by the fire pit.

We were pretty early so the fire pit wasn't crowded yet.

This is my fav mall.

If you look cloesly, you can see my DH on the left.

Meeting our son and DIL for dinner.

Pass the JOY Project

Joy * Joy * Joy

I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand,
I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad,
and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.
For thou dost not give me up to Sheol,
or let thy godly one see the Pit.
Thou dost show me the path of life;
in thy presence, there is fullness of joy,
in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.
-Psalms 16:8-11

His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.
-Psalms 30:5

Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,
and give me a willing spirit.
-Psalms 51:12

But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God;
let them be jubilant with joy!
-Psalms 68:3

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb!
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy!
He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
-Psalms 126:4-6

Then shall the maidens rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them,
and give them gladness for sorrow.
- Jeremiah 31:13

For the joy of the LORD is your strength.
-Nehemiah 8:10b

Pass the JOY Project

1. Buy something with the word JOY on it.
2. Pray about who you know that needs to be blessed with His JOY.
3. Give them a gift of JOY with these instructions.
4. Receive His JOY by reading the verses above and allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to you.
5. When you look at your JOY memento, remember the JOY He willing gives each day.
6. After a time, the Lord will lead you to spread the JOY.
7. Gift wrap your memento, along with these instructions and a list of JOY verses.
8. You will find that JOY is spread in both giving and receiving.

Quantum of Solace Movie Review

Quantum of Solace is the worst Bond movie ever made. If you haven’t already seen it, don’t waste your time or money. Watch it on DVD only as a last resort.

Daniel Craig plays a cocky and arrogant Bond. You won’t hear him say, “Bond, James Bond.” Nor will you hear the Bond theme song until the credits are playing. You will not see any tenderness in Bond and you’ll hear very little dialog. I found Camille’s attraction to him rather unbelievable since he portrays an unlikeable, unremarkable man. Apparently they threw out the Bond handbook when they wrote this script.

Aside from the lack of Bondness, there are some very disturbing themes running throughout the film. Women are treated as second class citizens, while Bond does little to counteract it. The “women are here to serve us” theme finally culminates with a very disturbing rape scene.

Then there is the anti-American theme - the FBI agents are bumbling buffoons in retro seventies attire.

Quantum of Solace left such a bad taste in my mouth that it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever see another Bond movie again. If you’re looking for a movie to see this weekend, check out Four Christmases.

Author Megan DiMaria

I'm pleased to say that Megan DiMaria has been a dear friend of mine for many years. I like to say that I knew her before she was famous. However, Megan modestly brushes off any rumors of fame. It's been my honor to walk beside her as she discovers her dreams.

Let's jump right into the interview.

What is your favorite Bible verse?
My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

What moves you to tears?
I’m such a softie, I’ve been known to cry at both coffee and greeting card commercials during the holidays. I’m empathetic, and I get weepy when I see someone else in emotional pain.

What does your home reflect about you?
I would hope my home says I’m welcoming and enjoy a relaxed lifestyle.
I believe that it does.

What haunts you from childhood?
Once when I was in early elementary school, I was in a dangerous situation. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but since I’ve become an adult, I’ve thought of it and wondered how and why I escaped any harm.

Your best memory of your dad is…
I was blessed beyond belief with a kind, loving father. Just about all of my memories of Dad are warm and wonderful. One memory I recall occurred when I was a teen. I was in the ski club when I was in high school, and we would meet very early on Saturday mornings and take a bus to a ski resort. Dad would always volunteer to drive me to the ski bus, and we would sing to the radio on the ride there.

If you could do it all over again you’d …
Do it all over the same way. I’m a happy woman with an amazing marriage, wonderful children, and great friends. Any other choice I would have made earlier in life may have taken me down a path that would not have the same end result that I enjoy right now.

If you could do any job for one day, what would it be?
Sorry to sound boring, but I would keep the jobs I have. My part-time day job is as a copywriter for a portrait photographer who markets like crazy and creates educational materials for her industry. I get to write, edit, and brainstorm fun and fascinating campaigns. When I’m on my own time, I write my novels and work on my own marketing. Fun!

What writer inspires you?
I love to read many writers, and especially love to find a writer who thrills me with a turn of a phrase or a captivating scene description.

If you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing, what would it be and when.
I think I would go back to 21-year-old Megan and tell her to ask two girls from her college dorm about their faith. They were obviously Christians, carried Bibles, but were not open about their faith. I came to know Jesus in a personal way a few months before my 24th birthday, but I would have loved to have known Him sooner.

Click on the links below for more about Megan:

Searching for Spice Review
Searching for Spice Book Launch
Searching for Spice Book Signing
Out of Her Hands Book Launch
Out of Her Hands Book Signing

Bio:
Megan DiMaria loves to be an encouragement to women as they live out their faith in today’s busy world. Her upbeat personality and deep appreciation for the humor in ordinary moments creates a bond with other women as they laugh and learn that life is an adventure, one not for the weak of heart. Searching for Spice, Megan’s debut novel, released in April 2008, and her second novel, Out of Her Hands, was published in October 2008.

WFTJ Christmas Party

Christmas Writer's Medley by Robbie Iobst