Randomness Of Luck

Welcome to my hearts playlist on shuffle

Ok…ok…so I concede…

 

When we moved to Florida earlier last year, a good friend of ours told us that it would in fact get cold here. As I stood there with sweat rolling down my face in the sweltering heat.. I laughed to myself. He told me that it would get down to the 50′s or lower and it would be really cold.

Seriously?? If you know me at ALL – I was wearing jeans, t-shirt, a hoddie and flip flops last year at the first snow…so to hear a reference of it being… “COLD” at a 50 or lower degree temp- well, that was just insane speak.

Last night all the main media outlets- (i.e.- television news and radio) were proclaiming their forecast of DOOM. They were warning us to cover up our outdoor plants, to lock the doors, hide the children, hoard food… because it was going to get down to the 40′s and POSSIBLY the 30′s overnight…wooooo. Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating a wee bit, but my point is still valid.

Really? Panic stricken weather forecasters…they amused me.

I finally gave into sleep with the help of Nyquil. (It’s not a new year without me having bronchitis eh?) so…I doze off. Then I toss and turn and have trouble sleeping deep. WHY?

because I was cold.

I snuggled into my blankets a little more. I stole part of my hubby’s blankets… still, I was chilled to the bone. Finally around 4 a.m. hubby woke up and turned the heat on. (for the first time.) I thought I was losing my mind…it actually got COLDER!

so- long story short, we wake up to realize that we had NO HEAT.

When we first moved in here the AC unit went out and had to be replaced. The person who was contracted out, (NOT BY US mind you- but the landlords) was not exactly the nicest or sharpest tool in the shed… HE NEVER CONNECTED THE HEAT…so when we pressed the heat button on the thermostat…it kicked on the ac… FUN. GOOD TIMES. GREAT WAY to end a bad nights sleep…by starting off in a FROZEN bad mood.

A friend of ours who is AMAZING at hvac and all kinds of handyman repairs came by the house this afternoon and rewired everything and connected the heat..so now, I am able to type this from a warm cozy seat on the couch.

No- there’s no ice or snow but the temps are cold. (yes, I did really just admit that..)

and to our dear friend, you know who you are, I concede…and admit my arrogance in my disbelief.

YOU WERE RIGHT. I am sorry for doubting your wealth of wisdom.

Heat, no heat, cold or no cold…regardless…I am still very glad we are here…in Florida… (where the cold spells don’t last!)

:)

so with all that being said, stay warm dear friends on this chilly January evening.

I know we will!!

Until next time,

See ya on the Random Side,

Aj Luck

 

 

 

2012 and the “eff” word

I think I need to say the EFF WORD! I mean I really think it’s important!
Wanna know why??
If I am being honest this past year, 2011, had a lot of turbulence. There were blessings and challenges. I mean I watched God give job opportunities and remove them and give them again. I conceded to a move I thought I would never do…and saw the beauty in the unknown. I met more people in the medical profession than I was comfortable with- all with an opinion followed by a diagnosis or two or even three. I endured painful procedures and stood by my loved ones during some of their own. We as a family said goodbye to dear friends and made new.
I left things that were comfortable and stumbled through things that made me uneasy.
I took steps of faith only to be stifled by fear almost instantly. As I found out…the currents sometimes lead to some very dark and sometimes scary places.
I found myself cowering back into my shell of isolation more times that should be allowed then wondered why I felt lonely.
In 2011… If I was to sum it all up-from my own personal perspective.. I drifted and merely existed the entire year. Allowing the currents of circumstances to direct me. This is a dangerous way to live.
Finally as the year began to come to a close, I found the courage to ask for help.
This past week I said goodbye to 2011 and thanked God for giving me and the ones I love another opportunity to see another year.
The social networks are swarming with new years resolutions and goal setting ideas… things I am not very good at doing.
However, this year- even though we are hardly acquainted with one another yet, the year and I… I find myself with a word that I feel compelled to scream towards it.  It’s the “eff” word….
NO!!!! NOT THAT WORD!~ Geesh! Give me a little credit….at least for now ;)
the “eff” word is:
EFFORT!
2011 year feels lost to me. I existed during that time but I never really showed up. I didn’t really try. I drifted. I don’t think I was truly intentional about very much.
This year… I feel a compulsion, a drive, something bigger than me pulling me towards it…towards showing up this year. Towards being present and available for all that is has to offer.
This year, I want to be FULLY AWAKE and not merely drowsy.
I know it’s not going to JUST happen. Last year proved that to me.
This year I am not going to set specific goals. At least not yet. For now, I will just respond to my first wake up call to be interactive, intentional and aware throughout this gift of another year.
I know it will be hard work…but I know that the reward of effort will be worth it.
Right?
What about you?
Are you a resolution maker or a goal setter at the beginning of each new year? Does it work for you?
Welcome to 2012!
Until next time,
See ya on the Random Side,
Aj Luck

‘Tis the season…to shop til ya drop??

Black Friday, Cyber Monday- does the madness ever end? It’s not even December yet and the masses are coming out in droves!

This past Thursday, Thanksgiving, we as a family, decided to do something a little different. We skipped all the food prep and cooking at home and went out with a bunch of friends to a local restaurant for dinner. It was really nice, the food, the hang time with friends…even the warm 80 degree weather. Still, something didn’t seem right. Although I loved being with the people I care about the most over a yummy meal that didn’t include clean up duty..it felt kinda weird. Honestly, I think I will be cooking at home next year. It’s a tradition that I truly love, one that I just can’t seem to stray too far from.

On the way home, my hubby and I decided to quench a curiosity and drive past a few retail stores to “just see” if anyone was outside waiting for Black Friday to officially commence.

This is what we saw when we pulled up to Best BuyThere were a ton of people out! Tents lined the entire front and side of the store. Port of potties had been set up. (Smart thinking on Best Buy’s part!) People were grilling hot dogs and playing football- all to pass the time. I slowly drove past each tent/ person and told them I was writing an article online and wanted to know what item(s) they were waiting in line for.

EVERY PERSON ANSWERED either a T.V. or a gaming system of some sort. EVERY ONE OF THEM! No other item was mentioned.

So, we headed over to Target..and this is what we saw:

Saw the same thing. At least 50 plus people all cozy and comfy in lawn chairs or in tents behind the metal target barricade. Again, I drove by and asked EACH person what they were in line for…this time the ENTIRE GROUP WAS UNAMIMOUS!- ALL were in line for a television.

I have to be honest, I have gone out at the ungodly hours to be pushed and shoved by the mass of bargain hunters before. Unfortunately, I lived in the North and had to fight the BITTER cold! At least these people had the ideal climate to wait in…a nice warm 80 degree day.

Still…THERE IS NOTHING..and I MEAN NOTHING that I want/ need so bad that would warrant me to stand in line for an entire day- before the sale, let alone fight the crowds the day of. Let’s be honest. The crowds at Disney get to me…so the sheer thought of Black Friday shopping horrifies me!

Waiting Thursday (formerly known to some as Thanksgiving), Black Friday and now today…CYBER Monday…. when is enough enough?

As a parent to a young child who is being inundated with images everywhere of the things he “HAS TO HAVE,” we are trying really hard to remind him that this season isn’t about GETTING. It’s truly about GIVING and the ultimate gift that God gave to us was Him sending us Jesus- to pay for our sins and provide us help and comfort while trying to navigate this life.

We have put a new tradition into place this year. From now until Christmas (and hopefully even after that) we are going to try and be very mindful as a family to give Jesus gifts. Our son was perplexed at first.

“How can we do that? How will we get the gifts to him?”

me: “Well, the kind of gifts He likes are gifts that are meaningful. Like using your manners, holding the door open for others, using nice words, being helpful to others without being asked to…etc.”

He nodded then said, “Can we still make Jesus a birthday cake? Christmas is His birthday right?”

me: “Yes, it is and of course we can still make him a cake!”

“How will He eat the cake? How will we get it to Him?”

me: “That’s the best part, Jesus lets us eat HIS birthday cake for him!!”

He smiled then went on playing.

I know this is going to sound cliche but can we seriously just take a second and remember the TRUE reason for the season??.. I know we tend to get busy with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. The shopping, the lights, the baking..the traditions…I am not against any of it. I love all of it…but it needs to be done with balance. Keep it fun. Keep it joyous and most of all…Remember at the end of the day what is TRULY important.

Stuff comes and goes.. wealth comes and goes….. but Jesus is always with us.

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government
shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

That truly is the greatest gift of all!

Until next time,

Praying for you this Holiday Season,

See ya on the Random Side!

Aj Luck

 

 

The Song of Unmaking-Book Review and MAJOR giveaway!!

D. Barkley Briggs seems to be a name that is becoming quite profound in the Christian fantasy genre.

Recently, I was given a copy of his third book, The Song of the Unmaking, in his five part series - Legends of Karac Tor. Thanks and a big shout out to Glass Road PR for this book in exchange for my review.

I have to say, even though I generally don’t lean toward fantasy style novels, I enjoyed this one. The creative worlds that were created and the way the author is able to take you on a remarkable journey into them…was refreshing for kids of all ages.- young and old.

If you are a fan of this genre then I do recommend this series. (It is a five part series and this particular book is book three.)  ALSO… IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THIS GENRE.. YOU WILL WANT TO KEEP READING FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS!!!

The author- Dean Barkley Briggs lost his wife tragically at the age of 36. Out of that tragedy he decided to create a written heroic journey that his four sons could relate to, thus birthing this semi autobiographical fantasy series.

A quick summary of book three is as follows:

“In the bitter north, hope and fear collide.- The dreadful Goths have invaded Rockval, testing the strengths of Bitterland’s beautiful, widowed ruler. Meanwhile, the Barlow brothers are growing stronger and stronger in their powers- all except for Ewan, who traded his gift away to save the life of his friends.

Soon it becomes clear that the Goths are the least of their worries. A terrible machine is being built high atop Mount Vishgar, above Rockval, where the raging winds never cease. If the machine really does release the Song of the Unmaking, what will happen? Can Arthur lay aside his grief and once more become a great leader of men? And what about the mysterious Doorless Tower, Nein Dyrr?

As Kr’Nunos grows more bold, the Barlow brothers take their stand with the viks of the north. Yet it is Ewan alone who must answer the question: Is any music stronger than the most powerful song of destruction the world has ever known?”

AND NOW FOR SOME REALLY FUN NEWS!!!!

BRIGGS LAUNCHES MASSIVE GIVEAWAY CONTEST

D. Barkley Briggs loves fantasy novels. He is, after all, a fantasy novelist himself. He is about to make one fan’s fantasy come true. Briggs is giving away, not just one of his books, but a complete young adult fantasy library from 15 top authors.

“The Fantasy Prize Pack Giveaway” contains forty-eight (48) of the best YA Christian fantasy novels on the planet, plus a brand new Kindle Fire™..FREE! But that’s not all. Second Place gets a FREE iPod™Shuffle.

Briggs has also collected several mini-prizes, including dragon jewelry and children’s books.

To enter, participants must upload at least one photo of themselves reading a book from Briggs’ Legends of Karac Tor series (The Book of Names , Corus the Champion , or The Song of Unmaking) to his Facebook page.  Facebook.com/DBarkleyBriggs

The contest launches Nov. 1 and concludes Nov. 30. For official rules, visit deanbriggs.com

Okay, so you might be saying…yes, that really is a GREAT giveaway, but I don’t OWN ANY OF HIS BOOKS- How can I possibly win??

That is where I come in to help.

I just so happen to have a copy of The Song of the Unmaking that I am willing to give away! All you need to do is leave a comment and tell me why you would like to win this major giveaway from him and what was the FIRST fantasy novel you ever read?

Curious!!

Until next time,

See ya on the Random Side,

Aj Luck

Daredevil Rodents- squirrels with a death wish

I have been told that we, here in Orlando, are entering into a season called “Acorn Season.” I know, sounds nuts right??! ;)

Well I beg to differ. I don’t think we are going into the season… I think we have been completely engulfed in it for the past three weeks or maybe even more.

We live in a house at the back of a cul de sac. Our driveway and the surrounding streets are completely consumed with a variety of acorns in assorted styles. Crushed, run over, partially destroyed and whole.

The neighborhood itself is pretty quiet but also entertaining in the same. Here’s what I mean.

On any given day there are HUNDREDS of squirrels around the cul de sac. They are absolutely endearing to watch. They squeak and chirp as they chase each other up and down the trees, and jump in and out of the piles of leaves. They run marathons along our back fence, (DRIVING OUR DOGS INSANE!!) It’s like having our own little dog track in the comfort of our own home.

However, these little adorable rodents have a SERIOUS deathwish! I have witnessed it numberous times. It’s as if they have a meeting while the humans are inside getting ready for their day.

Then we all go out and fire up our cars. We start driving and OUT OF NO WHERE here come the squirrels…sitting on the edge of the sidewalks..WATCHING us…seriously!

Then when we are within inches of them they DART out in front of our cars. Sometimes they STOP and it’s as if they are THINKING “which way do I go?” then they turn around and run the other way!!

Are they really that bored that they need to play chicken with us? I mean seriously?

I know they have lots of work to do..I mean hey! It IS acorn season..so my little precious critters- can you please just collect your little harvest and play innocently on my back fence and taunt my dogs…and STAY OUT OF THE STREET!

Who would have thought those little buggers would really be daredevils at heart?

Only in Florida I suppose.

:)

Until next time- enjoy Acorn season!!

See ya on the Random Side,

Aj Luck

The Opposite of Art- Book Review

As you have probably noticed by now I have been spending ALOT of my time reading and reviewing books. Admittedly I am a book worm so doing this seems not only natural but right up my alley.

The latest book was provided to me by Glass Road PR in exchange for a review and is by the author- Athol Dickson. The book is titled The Opposite of Art.

Right away the cover of the book caught my attention. It is simply the back side of a canvas with the hanging wire exposed. Pretty catchy if you ask me. (And yes, this completely plays into the story line of the book.)

For most of the books I have read and reviewed I have given a glowing recommendation about. This book however I would recommend with caution.

Here’s why.

The story line in itself is very unique. The main character Sheridan Ridler is an artist who is in love with a woman named Suzanne. Suzanne has been the object of his art for a very long time and many portraits have been painted of her. Pretty early on in the book they get into somewhat of a heated argument and she rushes away from his apartment. He is clearly distressed and begins to follow her to her home in Harlem.  A sudden accident happens, he is hit by a car and knocked into the Harlem River. He is presumed dead by the known free world but he  manages to somehow survive. He doesn’t return to his life as he knew it, women, art, drugs and his world revolving around him. Instead he is compelled to find something that he “saw” in only moments after his accident, the few moments that he had in fact died. What he “saw” he refers to it as “the Glory.” He tries desperately to paint it, draw it, to recapture it- all without fail. His compulsion drives him on a 25 year world wide quest trying to find this glory. This quest leads him seeking help from holy men, traveling from New York to the jungles of Thailand, the bazaars of Istanbul, the desert city of Tel Aviv, the Eternal City of Rome, a massive shrine in Mexico, and finally, to a traveling circus in New Mexico.

All the while Suzanne has given birth and raised his daughter, unbeknownst to him, Gemma, who is completely aware that Sheridan Ridler, the world famous artist is her father. Her deceased father. His daughter is now working in the art industry and is an expert of her fathers work.

Suddenly, paintings begin to arrive to various people whom Ridler feels he has wronged over the years, in an effort to make ammends. This catches the attention of not only his daughter, who is now a prolific art expert, but also a man from his past who is an enemy.

Both the daughter and the enemy of her father began to track down clues to try and find Sheridan Ridler. Both have different motivations, different agendas. Sheridan has no idea he is being sought after. In the end Sheridan finally realizes what the “glory” is and how to truly obtain it and how close he was to it, all along.

The book concept itself was very good. However, I found myself getting lost in the writing and some of the explanations of the various religions and rituals that he participated in.  The book is very much a literary style of writing and one that I am not specifically drawn to.

It does have the strong potential to shed light on the cultures and traditions around us and the lengths that many will endure to simply find what they consider glorious or peaceful.

Overall, I think this is a decent read but not one that I can honestly recommend strongly. I commend the author for the amount of time and research such a project must have taken.

I would suggest you read other reviews of not only the book but the author itself before making your decision. Again, a good book, but not a great book… You can find the book on Amazon here.

Again, this is simply my humble opinion. ;-)

Until next time- KEEP READING

See ya on the Random Side,

Aj Luck

 

God Makes Lemonade- Book Review

Hello blogosphere! I know this entry is later in the day than normal, but hey…day’s not over! This, is a good thing…TRUST ME!

Ok, so you have probably noticed I have been doing a lot of book reviews lately. This book- the one I am about to tell you about…has got to be my favorite one to date. (For several reasons actually.)

One the book has a cover of fresh lemons and a shout out to lemonade…how could this NOT be an indicator for great things ahead.

The books full title is called “God makes Lemonade- true stories that sweeten and inspire.” by Don Jacobson.

The book is broken down into 83 short but true stories from people all over the map sharing slices so to speak of their lives and the potential lemons they were dealing with.

The book is written in a very similar style to the Chicken Soup books but this one seems just a little sweeter. The stories are easy to read (usually within 10 minutes or less) and each one leaves one encouraged and challenged to look at our lives maybe in a different perspective. One really cool addition to this project was that the author, Don Jacobson, occasionally adds “lemon drops” at the end of some of the stories. They are current follow ups to the author and their stories. It was another way to feel connected to the author, the story teller and the project. Great addition!!

(Here’s a little blurb from the back of the book.)

 God Makes Lemonade CoverI bet you could use a little good news right about now. We have just the book for you! In God Makes Lemonade™ you’ll read stories from everyday folks
who discover unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour circumstances.

Some
of these real-life stories are laugh-out-loud funny, others
are sobering, and more than a few will have you reaching for a tissue.
We sure did!

But these true stories all have one thing in common: hope.
There’s
no question that life gives us “lemons,” like issues with
health, employment, and relationships-truly sour circumstances we
wouldn’t wish on anyone. But when those lemons become lemonade, it’s as
refreshing as an ice-cold drink on a hot summer day.

There were so many stories that reached out and gripped my heart but there were two in particular. One was called “This Room” by Nicole Swort. This one was written from the unique perspective of the room itself. It showed everything it had beheld starting off with childhood innocence to adolencence of the young girl who called that room her own. It talks of how it watched her grow from a small child afraid and searching for monsters under her bed to when the teenage years dawned upon her and the real monster of abuse visited her. It told of the transition from high school to college to finding her true love  and the last night she spent in the room before becoming a bride, then eventually a mother. The room shared of how it rejoiced with her as she brought her children there to visit and the room now held twin beds for her parents grandchildren and how in one life time though things were not always perfect,and even sometimes scary- love can truly redeem all things.

my second choice was “The gunshot that saved my life.”

This spoke of how a hunting accident left a man freezing and fighting for his life in the middle of the night. His family had no idea where he was but how they managed to find him, and find him still alive. He shares how the hunting accident was a life and death moment. He was struggling to hold on to his life but if it had not been for the accident he would never have the chance to embrace the new life which he had never imagined possible…before the accident. It was truly inspiring and had me engaged from word one!

At the end of this story I sat speechless as I read that the man whom the story was about was none other than the author himself. I honestly think I clapped out loud, alone in my living room.

The book is a truly inspiring and a great addition to any bookshelf!

With the holidays just around the corner…this just may be the perfect stocking stuffer that you have been looking for. Fair warning though..BUY TWO BOOKS. Once you read the first story you won’t want to give your copy away!!

Again, another great book that I can honestly HIGHLY recommend!!

You can find the book on amazon here…

Until next time,

See ya on the Random Side,

Aj Luck

p.s. Big THANKS to Glass Road PR for sending me the book in exchange for a review. :)

Look who stopped by to say hello!!!

Good morning! I am so excited for our first ever guest blogger on Randomnessofluck.com

You may recognize her name from the last post…it’s none other than author of Diary of a teenage girl- becoming me….. Ms. Melody Carlson

Find out what all she had to say in a very timely manner and some exciting news about what’s coming up next for her.

Teens and Their Supernatural
Pursuits

By Melody Carlson

Have you even wondered why some teens are drawn toward
things like Ouija boards or psychics? Or why séances are still popular at
sleepovers? Does it just have to do with Halloween and that spine-chilling need
for a good scare? Or could it be something more? And, as a Christian, should
you be concerned?

Those
questions, as well as some confused reader letters, prompted me to tackle the
“supernatural” in one of my teen novels (Moon White, TrueColors, Nav Press).
And whenever I write an issues-based novel, I’m forced to research—and often in
some dark places. So I began scouring websites, learning more about Wicca and
the occult, trying to grasp what was really going on with today’s teens—and how
I could write about it in a helpful and relevant way.

But, as usual, when I write a teen
book, I go back to my own adolescence…trying to connect with my inner
teen…and I suddenly remembered a short era when a friend and I got very
interested in witchcraft. I had honestly forgotten about this time and was
fascinated to recall how we scoured some witchcraft stores on a local campus—I
think we even purchased a few things. Fortunately, this interest was
short-lived and I became a Christian not long afterward.

However, as
I reconnected with my inner teen, I had to ask myself—why had I looked into witchcraft back then? Why do teens dabble with it now? Suddenly the answer became crystal
clear. I was searching. I’d been
calling myself an atheist for several years by then, but I was spiritually
hungry—starving in fact. Consequently I was looking for spiritual
answers—something that would fill that empty void within me. I wanted a
supernatural force in my life and I didn’t even care where it came from. I
needed something bigger than me, more powerful than me, something to hold onto.
I had no idea at the time that I was really searching for God.

This realization changed the way I viewed my research. Instead of feeling disgusted
and dismayed by the witchcraft/Wicca sites (which are not particularly
enjoyable) I began to recognize that these people (mostly girls) were simply
searching too. They wanted a power source in their lives just like I wanted one
in mine. They just hadn’t found God yet.

This led to
another discovery. A girl who’s attracted to a religion like Wicca is usually
seeking to gain some control over her
life. Something is wrong and she wants to change it. To do so, she’s often
enticed to purchase something—like “magical herbs”—to create a potion that will
give her some control over her situation. Unfortunately, she doesn’t even
realize she’s being tricked.

But think
about it, wouldn’t you love to have control over a bad situation sometimes? Wouldn’t
you love to be able to change the circumstances that make your life unpleasant?
So what if someone offered you the “power” to do just that? Perhaps if you’re
fifteen, you wouldn’t see that person as a charlatan and you would fall for it.

Which
brings me to another important factor in understanding this generation’s
attraction to the supernatural. Follow
the money. The more I researched, the more it became painfully obvious that
Wicca and witchcraft and the occult are money-making enterprises. Thanks to the
internet, these savvy distributors sell anything imaginable—and many things you
can’t. That leads to some serious motivation—these marketers want to hook their
unsuspecting young customers and reel them in. Of course, these potions and
trinkets and how-to books don’t come with a money back guaranty. Nor are they
approved by the FDA. Yet they are a multi-million dollar industry.

So, in a
way, it’s a perfect storm. Teens that are insecure, lost, unhappy, and
searching…meet up with an unregulated industry that offers supernatural answers and power and
control…for a price. And, oh yeah, I never even mentioned how this opens a
door for Satan to slip in and wreak havoc. For that…you’ll have to read the
book.

Melody

I have got to say…with Halloween just around the corner…it seems pretty creepy but very intriguing. I truly appreciate your heart Ms. Carlson in sharing what you walked through as a teen and the answers you were seeking. I think Moon White sounds not only intriguing but very timely as well. I apprecite your heart and your voice to not only teens but parents as well. Once again, thank you for taking time to stop by today and to share your heart, as well as the story behind your latest project. I know I fort one, can’t wait to read it!

What about you??

Have you read anything by her before? If not, I highly recommed for you to do so…she is a tremendously talented author and one that I am so glad is quickly becoming a favorite on my bookshelf!

Until next time,

See ya on the Random Side,

Aj Luck

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