Monday, June 30, 2014

21 DAYS OF FREE GIVEAWAYS!!

I have just released my book "What Lies in Your Journey"! In celebration of my book's release, we are going to have a 21 day giveaway.

That means that we are going to giveaway 1 prize everyday for 21 days!!

In addition to this, each time my page reaches a new milestone for likes, we will also giveaway bonus prizes!!!

All you have to do to enter is go to my Facebook Author Page and click on the giveaway tab! More details of our giveaway can be found in the video below!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Reeves Law Group Scholarship Contest

This post is for a scholarship contest that I have entered. The names of the innocent and guilty will not be used, and the images used will not be of the actual individuals.

Soothing Innocence


From the first moment I saw her, I fell in love. A sweet beautiful face and thin platinum blonde hair. She was not more than a year old, and her smile made me smile too.

Her tiny little hands had dimples on each knuckle, even when she was holding her bottle in her hand. It was as if a little angel stood before me. I wanted nothing more than for her to be happy.

My tenant had not mentioned that she was a mother. But, when she brought this angel over and told me that she was fighting for custody and was in hiding, I believed her. Being a mother myself,  I knew that I would do anything to keep my children safe.

The first night that she had her daughter with her things went very well. It appeared that they were close and that different aspects of her story were probably true. By the second night, I knew that something was wrong. I kept hearing this sweet angel crying all through the night, and I wondered why I did not hear her mother get up to soothe her.

Because her mother was renting a room from me in my basement, I decided to go and check on her. The door was open, and I saw this sweet angelic girl on the floor by herself crying.

 Her bottle was empty, she had no clothing on except for her full and sagging diaper, her face was sticky and dirty and her hair was in little knots.

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying so hard. I immediately felt the need to mother her. At that moment, her eyes met mine, and she started to scoot across the floor and then tried to waddle to me in her overly full diaper.

I tried to wake up her mother, but she would not get up. She was breathing, just refused to get up. She mentioned something about being out too late, and I asked her if it was ok if I took care of her daughter. She mumbled that she did not care and to do whatever I wanted. 

I scooped the little princess up in my arms and carried her upstairs where my children were. As I set her down to change her diaper, I noticed that her legs were raw from how long the wet diaper had been rubbing them. I changed her diaper, putting oinment on every wound. I combed her hair while singing to her, and fed her. She suddenly became vibrant and happy again. 

I set her on the floor with my own children, I had four under three at the time. And they played together throughout the day. 

Her mother did not get up until it was well after dinner time. I told her that I was not happy about the fact that she left her daughter crying all through the night, and did not wake up until now. I told her I was concerned about how her daughter would have had what she needed while she was sleeping. 

Her mother became upset, and she told me that she would take the girl to her mother's for a couple days. I worried about whether or not she would be taken care of, but I thought that surely this angel's grandmother would make sure that she had the care that she needed.

During the two days that they were gone, I had some unexpected visitors come by. It was little angel's birth father and paternal grandfather. I listened to what they had to say, but I did not reveal to them what I knew about little angel or where she was because I did not know what the truth was. I asked them to show me evidence that this sweet girl had been taken, and that she actually was supposed to be with her father, which they did provide.

After reviewing what they had, I told them that I knew where she was, but I did not know where her grandmother lived. The police came, and they discussed with me what I could do to help. They explained to me that the mother had lost custody due to neglect, and that the grandmother mistreated the child as well. I was horrified, and wanted to do whatever was needed.

I was asked to let them know the moment that they mother returned, and whether or not sweet angel was with her. It was not long after that, that they did return home. I cried as I picked up little angel and saw cigarette burns on her legs. In that moment I had mixed feelings. I felt sad that I would never see her again. I felt relieved that she would be cared for better than what she had been going through, but I also felt remorse for not knowing what the truth was and getting her into a safe place sooner.

I picked up the phone and dialed the number I had been given, and said the coded phrase. It was not long before her father, grandfather and the police arrived. I picked up little angel and told her that it was going to be ok. I stepped outside the house and walked into the street. She clung to me tightly, and I took one last look at her beautiful blue eyes, then placed her in her father's arms.

I had never dealt with anything like this before, and was not aware that I could have checked out her mother's story. There are a lot of people, just like this angel, who cannot help themselves. And it takes loving parents, neighbors, and friends to help them. I will always cherish the time that I had with her, and that I was able to love her during that difficult time in her life. I often wonder about her and how her life turned out. 

I will never forget the look of joy on her face the moment that she saw her father. I will always remember the gratefulness of her grandfather and the police. And she is only one of the many experiences that I have had that has fed my passion for helping others escape abuse. While I lost a tenant, I helped protect an angel girl. And there is nothing better than that.





Monday, June 23, 2014

Less is More | Libertas Institute | Advancing the cause of liberty in Utah

Juat two years ago my friends banded together to help me get the most likes for my essay on Facebook. I ended up winning the "People's Choice" Award. This time, I am going for the grand prize. Please take a moment and click on the link below and read my essay. Like it and share it with everyone you can! Thanks so much!!



Less is More | Libertas Institute | Advancing the cause of liberty in Utah


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Jen Marco- Vocal Breakthrough Retreat

This amazing woman is Jen Marco. I have known her for several years. During that time, I have watched her grow in incredible ways.

When I first met Jen, she and I were in an independent makeup consultant business. We both attended the same conference in order to build our businesses to the fullest.

At this conference, I learned a lot about Jen, since we were assigned a room together. during that time, I learned that before that moment, Jen had given up some of her dreams in order to pursue her spiritual endeavors.


That night, she questioned  if she would be able to ever sing professionally again.

I moved out of the state soon after that, and Jen and I lost touch for awhile. When I reconnected with her, she had started pursuing her dreams again. She had many trials and obstacles that she had to overcome, and I watched her do it!

She lost weight, became a single mother, and she went through many difficult things, but, it all paid off. Jen has not only achieved her dreams, she has far exceeded her own expectations. Because that is the case, she had to set new ones.

With in the last year, Jen had an amazing experience, check it out!



Jen has recorded on over 200 projects.  Her Vocal Breakthrough method is a unique combination of technique and mindset, designed to create complete vocal freedom!

She has coached, performed, or recorded with participants on:

American Idol
The X Factor
America's Got Talent
The Voice
The Sing Off
So You Think You Can Dance


She believes that everyone deserves to unlock the power of their most brilliant voice and discover confidence and joy in singing!


And now, she is helping others to do what she did for themselves in their lives. 

Do you want to tap into your natural God given talent and potential? 

Our bodies are magnificently created, and the potential within each of us, is only limited by our own roadblocks and self-determined limits. 

Unlock your full potential as a vocalist, and as a person of influence by attending one of Jen's Vocal Breakthrough Retreats! 

The next Retreat is coming up later this month! Those who register right now are able to get an Early Bird Special!! Trust me, this is something that you want to take advantage of! Whether you want to sing, speak, coach or heal, there is going to be something at this retreat for you!!








Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Lucid 8 "Idle Revolution" Track by Track Album Review


http://www.amazon.com/Idle-Revolution-Lucid-8/dp/B00K5RVUAW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1401480983&sr=1-1&keywords=Lucid+8


Normalcy Bias
Music: Andy Craddock, Lucid 8 
Lyrics:Jonny Craddock, Eddy Williams 

This song hooks you with a fantastic blend of electric guitar and piano. The drums are smashing. The vocals are smoky and raspy. The message conveys a sense of hope that we can overcome and fly higher rather than sell our souls for misery. Overall production is radio play quality.

“The Truth” 
Music: Jonny Craddock, Lucid 8 
Lyrics: Jonny Craddock


Intro has an ethereal tone that feels like it is reaching into another realm. Somewhat mystical in mood, then the strumming begins pulling you in deeper. As soon as you are hooked, the tempo increases and the drums come in. Very catchy tune, the first chorus is upbeat and ascending even though the lyrics express betrayal and the inability to be able to trust someone. The contrast makes it stand out in an edgy way. It is a great song about not accepting less than trust and honesty in any relationship.

Lucky
The intro hooks you much like “Pop Goes the World” does. As the song picks up, the joy of the vocalist shines through. It is completely believable that he really is lucky. He is having such a good time that a listener cannot help but feel happy as well. Some of the simple phrases of the song, like having the radio on and driving down the highway really focus on the simple things in life that people can be grateful for. It is a sweet song. Great vocal tone and color, perfectly arranged and keeps a listener’s interest from beginning to end. The background vocals are great. They change it up just enough that they add the right flavor to this track.


“Dune Chick” 
Music:Iann L. Murray, Lucid 8 
Lyrics: Iann L. Murray


The sweetest part of this song is the chorus. The vocals of the lead singer really call attention to the lyrics at this point. The music is perfectly crafted and flows well with the lyrics creating a vocal painting. The listener can feel what rabbit kisses might have felt like. Vocalist expresses that emotion rather well. The drums are spot on, have good rhythm and tone. They really help pull the listener through the song.

Pieces
This song just radiates with love from the very first note. The vocalist conveys his feelings as if he is experiencing all those positive emotions at that moment and we get a view into his soul. His vocals are smooth and inviting. The drums and guitar are perfectly arranged for this track. They keep the mood gentle, but push the point of the song, that there are tough things they may go through, that he will always be there, and wants to see them be successful. As an upbeat love song, this track really has the potential to be a hit. The music arrangement is great from beginning to end, and the background vocals add the perfect finishing touch to a really great song.

Lucidity
Attention grabbing intense electric guitar intro with drums following quickly. Anticipation builds naturally while waiting for the lyrics to begin. The vocalist has a great tone and color for the style of the song. The guitar starts to feel a little repetitive just as the drums come to the forefront, and then it suddenly changes, creating an even more pleasant experience for the senses. The mood changes whenever the guitar drops to more of a background position. The overall quality of the recording and mastering is at a professional level. This song would be well received in this genre and sounds like it is ready for radio play.

The Road
“The Road” 
Music: Eddy Williams, Lucid 8 
Lyrics: Eddy Williams


The intro has a very similar sound and feel to Firehouse’s Love of a Lifetime. It immediately creates a sensation of comfort and deep emotion. The vocals are rich and intriguing and are reminiscent of Ugly Kid Joe. The vocalist pulls the listener in, inviting them to listen to his story. You can feel that he appreciates that their love is hanging on even when he is gone on the road. The guitar and drums are perfectly crafted to support the mood and vocals in this song. The lyrics are memorable and the melody helps the song continue to be recalled long after listening to it. The harmony and background vocals are a great addition to the song when the chorus repeats. This song is definitely radio ready and has the potential of being a hit.


Only One
Upbeat intro that creates a great and happy mood. The vocals are crisp and clear. The drums and guitar are professionally recorded and keep the emotion of the song moving throughout the entire track. The harmony is perfectly timed and spot on. Great track to dance to. The bridge is crafted in a way that pulls the listener deeper into the song. The vocalist believably portrays his desire to make a woman the only one.

Cliché
Lone electric guitar sprinkled with drums in the intro hooks the listener. As the drums become more consistent, the mood changes. The vocals create a calming sensation when they first enter. The dual vocals fill out the song, eliminating the sense of a competition between the instrumentation and the vocals. There is a sense of a battle taking place as the vocals and instrumentation wrestle into the foreground. The lyrics pop through the song at key places.

Idle Revolution

The drums starting off the song is brilliant crafting. It is interesting and makes a listener pay more attention. As the guitar comes in, the skill of the guitarist is clear. The lyrics get lost in the musical arrangement, but the song keeps the attention of the listener all the way to the end. A good raw, intense edgy song.

Love the Music? Here's the Band!