I am an author and I get to go to California with my BFF! Woo!

This last week has been insane and awesome! I began simple enough. I did my chores and then met up with Kelley to take her adorable boys to the museum! we all had such a great time running around exploring the stuffed animals and giant dinosaurs. That was the last peaceful day I had for a few days. After that I had to solve a problem with the book I wrote for! For several days I did nothing but research and write with two other lovely ladies named Kelli and Kristin. Unfortunately, after the book Succession of England's Kings: Saxons to Stuarts was published, Kelli and I were informed that the third author had copied her work. We immediately threw out the copied work and replaced it all in a few short, very sleepless days. Kristin did a spectacular job at editing and making sure everything was perfect for the book. I am so happy with the finished product and I am so happy to finally be able to not only call myself a writer but also an author! How cool is that guys! The book was good before but now it is better! Please purchase the book here: https://thestuartnovels.weebly.com/succession-of-englands-kings.html please support Kelli, Kristin and myself in our hard work and dedication! It is worth the read!

On top of playing with two adorable little boys and writing until I felt like my eye balls would bleed, I got to hang out with my sister from another mister, Nikki, and Ava!!!!! They are here for 10 days and then I am driving out to California to spend 8 days with them! I could not be happier to see my bestie and my niece AND go to the beach! I will show Ava all the wonders of sand, sea and dolphins! It is super late (thanks Facebook for being down so long when I needed a link from you!) and I must retire! Enjoy my story this week after the adorable photos of my friends and their babes and don't forget to buy my book!! 

Week 4 (19-26 January 2015)

The Broken Sparrow

Sparrow was a free bird. She flew the fluffy skies, diving and dipping to catch bugs. She was a happy, carefree bird that loved nothing more than flying until her wings could not carry her. One day, Sparrow was flying over a pond catching tiny bugs when a fish jumped out to try to catch the same bug. The fish hit sparrow hard and she slammed into the nearby dirt. She tumbled over herself several times before landing at the base of a tree. Pain rushed through sparrow's body as she laid there covered in dirt. She whimpered and tried to pick up her wings but one of them wouldn't lift. Her wing was broken. She pulled her wing close to her body and whimpered in agony. Her sole desire in life was to fly and now she may not be able to fly ever again.

That night, sparrow slept under the tree cradling her broken wing. It was a cool, peaceful night that sparrow typically would love but this night was full of pain and dread for her. She wept all night and finally awoke as the sun was creeping over the horizon. The smell of thick mud next to the pond filled her nose. The buzz of nearby cars hummed through the breeze. The light, floral kiss of wild roses perfumed the happy pond and for a moment sparrow was happy. She felt no pain in this moment and stood up to fly away. One flap of her wing brought her back to the searing hot pain in her broken wing. She feel into a tiny heap in the grass and cried. Just then a squirrel was running by and heard sparrow crying.

“Little sparrow, what's wrong?”

“Yesterday I was a happy bird. I was flying over the pond and a fish knocked me out of the air. My wing is now broken and I can no longer fly. My whole life was flying and now my life is over,” sparrow was utterly depressed. Never had she felt so lost and alone. Squirrel was heartbroken for sparrow's desperation.

“Oh dear sparrow! My heart is heavy for you. Your grief and pain all palpable, sweet bird. I would like to help you. Please stay here and I will be right back!” squirrel darted off.

Sparrow was too sad to notice squirrel had gone. Her sadness over not being able to fly shattered her. Flying was her greatest happiness. She thought of all the blue skies she had flown thorough. Her heart warmed at remembering pink and purple sunsets, bears crossing streams, flying over butterflies in fields. She felt dejected and questioned what her purpose was in this world anymore. Just as she was feeling her worst the squirrel came running back.

“Sparrow! I have help for you!” announced squirrel. He had come back with several other squirrels. They bandaged up sparrows broken wing then they made a little lift to bring sparrow up into the tree, “Now sparrow we made this lift because another bird needs your help. You see a little baby bird was abandoned. She needs a mom to care for her. We can bring you food and help you with what you need for her. She just needs someone to care about her. Will you please help her and find a home in this tree?”

Sparrow thought about it for a minute. She was getting a second chance at life. She may not be able to fly but she could sit in a tall tree and still feel a breeze on her cheeks. The squirrels loaded sparrow into the tree and brought her to the abandoned baby. Sparrow was surprised by what she saw in front of her. There, in a little hole in the tree, sat a fluffy and sad baby owl. The baby was nearly as big as sparrow but so undeniably cute. In that moment, sparrow forgot about her suffering and felt needed. For the first time in her life she was needed. She hopped out of her little lift and snuggled up to the baby owl.

“Don't worry little fuzz ball, I will keep you safe. The squirrels will help me.”

Everyday baby owl grew bigger and bigger until soon owl was protecting sparrow. They would cuddle together at night and stay happy and warm. They were an unconventional family but a family nonetheless. One day owl cheerfully woke sparrow up with joyous hoots.

“I have a surprise for you mom! The squirrels helped me with it!” chirped owl. The squirrels were chittering outside the hole in the tree begging sparrow to come out. Sparrow agreed and was greeted with a lovely surprise. The squirrels had created a vest for owl to wear around her chest. On the front of the vest was a place for sparrow to sit so they could fly together. Sparrow had not flown in the sky for many moons and had dreamed of it since her accident. Never had she felt so appreciative in her little life.

“My wonderful family! Thank you! You have given me wings again. How could I ever repay you?” Sparrow, owl and the squirrels hugged and danced as they put sparrow into owl's vest. That day owl took sparrow back into her fluffy skies. They watched cars drive below, children riding bikes, bees making honey and deer walking through the forest. Sparrow felt alive again with her baby owl in the great blue sky. Her days of sadness were left on the ground as they soared through the warm air.