Book Trailer

To check out my Book's Trailer!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX2oQ2XW28c

A Future for Tomorrow Book Trailer

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sign Language and Video Phone

Some if you might not know that I sign and one of my best friends is deaf.
Sign language is a passion of mine.
I can interpret and have interpreted at the MTC for the deaf missionaries and worked for the School of the Deaf and Blind among other interpreting assignments. I want to interpret again one day after my children are older.


When I first became involved with the Deaf world, if I needed to make a phone call to one of my friends I would use a TTY. It is a typing device where the hearing impaired individual would type the words then the voice operator would read it to me then I would tell the operator what to type. It took forever and often the meaning of the message was lost since spoken English is different than sign, especially ASL (American Sign Language.)
Now there is Video Phone. It is great! The deaf person can sign back and forth with an interpreter who is speaking to the hearing person, or two deaf people can just sign back and forth.  The hearing impaired love speaking in their natural language.
This technology is in jeopardy due to lack of financial aid. Its loss not only hurts the deaf but interpreters too. I was actually hoping to use my interpreting skills to becoming one of these video phone interpreters in the future.

Also my dear friend works for the video phone company called SorsenVRS. She helps set up the system in other hearing impaired family's homes.

If you want to learn more here is a video you can watch, there are subtitles for those of you who don't know sign language. (For some reason when this video is played on my blog it cuts out half the picture you can go to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IUHLYnc1LI  to see it correctly.)


TO HELP
No money donation required! All you have to do to help is send an email to FCC and it's already set up and typed up for you. All you need to put down is your name, address, email address, and a bullet for hearing or deaf. That's all it takes. It takes two minutes of your time. It's on www.sorensonvrs.com/savevrs.

Thank you

Beauty Is Love Not Looks

Imagine being ravished with cancer, your body emaciated from radiation and chemo, you are bald, rashed, and physically a mess.  This is how Kim Rives found herself.

There are two great quotes I want to share that I found in her book, which I mentioned in my last post, My Walk Thru Heaven.

I want you to return to the scene I first mentioned. This is what Kim said,
"Physically I could see that I was hurting, yet my eyes seemed to be shining like diamonds. They twinkled and sparkled and I literally could see the light of the Lord in them. I knew God was letting me know that beauty comes from love not looks."

There are hundreds of powerful messages in her book but I want to focus on the ones that are relevant to my blog.
Here is the other quote, by Kim, which is full of eternal truth:
"I knew that one of the best gifts to give to God was to love myself. No matter what the situation or circumstance, I needed to love myself unconditionally."

How powerful this concept is. It is actually a gift to our Father in Heaven for us to love ourselves. Think of how badly it hurts him when we do the opposite. When we put ourselves down and withhold loving, accepting feelings toward our self.

 I can compare it to my own children. One of the top qualities I want my children to have is love for themselves. Think of all the heartbreak and poor choices steaming from low self-esteem. 
How do we instill this in our children? I feel modeling this behavior is the most effective way.  I consciously try to let my children hear me speak positivity about myself and I accept compliments graciously. When someone says something positive don't say "no," and try to talk them out of the compliment. Say "Thank you," with a smile. Teach your children to do the same.

I know Father in Heaven wants the best for us ten fold to what we want for our own children.
So I'm choosing, and hope you join me, to give this gift to our Eternal Father-- the gift of loving myself unconditionally.

My Walk Thru Heaven

Wow! What a powerful book! I read My Walk Thru Heaven By Kim Rives this week and can't say enough about it.

"My Walk Thru Heaven is an inspiring true story of a young single mother’s valiant fight against cancer. Losing the battle, she finds herself taking an incredible journey through the portals of death and beyond. Her mission not yet complete, she is commissioned to return from Heaven and share the message she was given."

(three days before Kim died)

This book is very emotional. I will never hear the words breast cancer again without thinking of Kim's incredible story.

After reading this book I felt inspired. I want to show more love, forgive, serve others, and pray more often.

Kim is LDS but she has written her journey so that members of other faiths can enjoy and understand her experience.

I recommend this book highly.

Each of our stories are unique but there are many things similarities in her story as I experienced and wrote about in mine (A Future for Tomorrow)  Some things I feel both our books do are reminds us how thin the veil is and how important love, service, prayer, and  forgiveness are and that miracles are possible.

 I know the painful process of baring your soul, forfeiting your privacy in hopes to help others with your trial and doing it out of obedience when the Lord tells you it is what is meant for you to do.  I am thankful that Kim hearkened to this instruction and wrote her story for the world to benefit from.

Kim is also a song writer and singer. Her music is even more powerful knowing the situation around each song's lyrics.

The Remarkable Soul of a Woman

I saw the book The Remarkable Soul of a Woman advertised on TV and thought it would be a great one to own and give for Mother's Day.  After buying it, I began to read it and noticed something familiar! It is the same talk I recently heard by Diter F. Uchtdorf and posted about just a few posts ago. 

When I heard the talk I sensed it's powerful message for the daughters of God and am now thrilled to see that it has been turned into a beautiful book with pictures to emphasize its message. 

It can be purchased at Deseret Book.

Summer in Paris

I was asked to do a book review of Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell. (click on her name to see her blog.  Picture of Michele below )

I love doing book reviews because as a busy mother of three it gives me an excuse to actually take the time to read!  I need to learn to take more time for myself I suppose, but with a two month old, 3 year old, and 6 year old and not to mention demands of a wife, housekeeper, and church callings. I just keep reminding myself there is a time and season for all things. My time for luxury reading as much as I would like might come a little later down the road. 

However, I actually have two books to tell you about that I have been able to read. One will wait until a later post. This post is all about Michele's Summer in Paris a book geared toward tweens and teens, but I found myself enjoying it plenty and I think anyone of any age can find the fun in its story.

Here is the blurb:

Kenzie Williams feels like she has it all; wealth, friends, popularity and talent. But when her father tells her that he has declared bankruptcy, her whole world in New York City turns upside down. Her parents' solution while they sort through their financial and marital problems is to send Kenzie to live with her relatives in Paris . . . Idaho!

Feeling like she's been sentenced to three months in Hickville Prison, Kenzie arrives in Idaho feeling like a square peg, with name brand clothes, in a round, horribly podunk, hole.

Leaving everything she loves behind, Kenzie is forced to get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. She feels like she's about to die until she meets Adam White, the town outcast, whose been accused of killing his best friend and is being blamed for some trouble that's been happening around town.

Not only is Adam the best-looking guy she's ever seen, but he's also the most fascinating guy she's ever met and Kenzie is determined to get to know him and find out his secret. But, the longer she stays in Paris, the more she realizes, Adam isn't the only one keeping secrets.

I liked the concept of the city girl being thrown into the "Hickville Prison" to later find the depth of a small town, value of hard work, and good people.  

 I'm from a tiny ranch town so I could relate to the descriptions and events Michele described in her setting town of Paris, Idaho. I found myself chuckling to the "small town" ways she depicted humorously. 

It's not hard to fall in love with her characters. Kenzie's flaws only made her character more believable and true to live. I also enjoyed the mystery about Adam's character.

I don't know Michele Ashman Bell personally but she must be full of personality because her writing was entwined with spunky charm.

For instance here is a snip it or two from her book, "Not to mention how annoying she found the two girls who looked like extras from Saved by the Bell. . ."   or "He seemed dumb as Play-Doah, but there was something teddy-bearish and lovable about him.  I could list many of the similes she wrote that made me smile.

The story was delightful and entertaining. I would recommend it to anyone but especially to tweens and teens. It was a perfect balance of suspense, light heartiness, and romance. Another great thing is it is clean and has settle values.  When my daughter is older I hope she will read it.

Need More Energy?

I've dedicated this blog to helping others. I've mainly focused on building self-esteem and self worth. I'll continue to do so but I have stumbled upon something that has helped me so much PHYSICALLY that I want to share it.

It began when my husband went to the sportsmen expo with his dad and brother. There they were introduced to concept about aligning your protons (which have been scrambled from all the wireless and other technology waves) There is a band out there with a metal plate inside that is charged to your bodies correct charge.

I wish I could do the test on all of you but you have to be in person to do it. They were tested there but when my husband came home he had me stand with my feet touching side by side. He then pulled downward on my arm tipping me over. He put this band around my wrist, had me stand the same way and pulled again down on my arm. But this time I did NOT tip. I felt solid and strong. I started laughing, "really?! What is this thing?"



I don't know all the science behind it but you can read that on their site here.
Here is a brief idea:
"When the radio is on the right frequency it sounds perfect…full, clear, and crisp. Proton Alignment Resonance Technology (P.A.R.T.®) works in a similar way, by allowing all of your cells to “resonate” on the same frequency at once. This cellular communication is instant and dramatic and your body just works better"

I didn't know much about the benefits of having your protons aligned like they are suppose to be until I wore the band for a few days. I knew it helped balance and strength because I felt that immediately when my husband tried to pull me over. I heard of some health benefits is can have so I decided to wear it with a few of my health issues in mind. What I noticed was I had a ton of energy! I really noticed it when I started cleaning or moving then all of a sudden I felt like I could go forever. My husband and sister in law wore one too and said the same way. I then looked more seriously on the bionic band site. One of the major benefits for the band is energy! I love that I felt it before knowing about it because it was a "blind" test for me. No placebo effect.

Another thing I love about the band is that it is a one time buy and the charge last 25 years!

Several of my family members are now really feeling great benefits including knee pain gone, carpel tunnel relief, and other things so I hope it can help one of my readers.

If anyone wants to try them or learn more here is the site BionicBand

(There is a video on this site too. This wont play on my blog, it's just a pic. click here to watch it.



They come in different sizes, colors, and even as a pendent and other things click here to see.



There is a sports band too for when you are active!


(since we have had such great results my husband signed up as a distributor, these links go to his sites but if you e-mail me directly at afuturefortomorrow@gmail.com I think I can get you a better deal through him )

A Message Worth Sharing

I was up late the other night and was watching KBYU (it ways helps me sleep.) They were replaying a talk called Happiness, Your Heritage by
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency
It was given at a women's conference not too long ago.

This is my favorite part which he says toward the end: "remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination."

Here is more of the talk that I wanted to share:

To All Who Are Weary
Today I would like to speak to those who have ever felt inadequate, discouraged, or weary—in short, I would like to speak to all of us.

I also pray that the Holy Ghost will amplify my words and bestow upon them additional meaning, insight, and inspiration.

We know that sometimes it can be difficult to keep our heads above water. In fact, in our world of change, challenges, and checklists, sometimes it can seem nearly impossible to avoid feeling overwhelmed by emotions of suffering and sorrow.

I am not suggesting that we can simply flip a switch and stop the negative feelings that distress us. This isn’t a pep talk or an attempt to encourage those sinking in quicksand to imagine instead they are relaxing on a beach. I recognize that in all of our lives there are real concerns. I know there are hearts here today that harbor deep sorrows. Others wrestle with fears that trouble the soul. For some, loneliness is their secret trial.

These things are not insignificant.

However, I would like to speak about two principles that may help you find a path to peace, hope, and joy—even during times of trial and distress. I want to speak about God’s happiness and how each one of us can taste of it in spite of the burdens that beset us.

God’s Happiness
Let me first pose a question: What do you suppose is the greatest kind of happiness possible? For me, the answer to this question is, God’s happiness.

This leads to another question: What is our Heavenly Father’s happiness?

This may be impossible to answer because His ways are not our ways. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [God’s] ways higher than [our] ways, and [His] thoughts [higher] than [our] thoughts.”1

Though we cannot understand “the meaning of all things,” we do “know that [God] loveth his children”2 because He has said, “Behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”3

Heavenly Father is able to accomplish these two great goals—the immortality and eternal life of man—because He is a God of creation and compassion. Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Father’s perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate.

The Work of Creation
The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children.

You might say, “I’m not the creative type. When I sing, I’m always half a tone above or below the note. I cannot draw a line without a ruler. And the only practical use for my homemade bread is as a paperweight or as a doorstop.”

If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination.

But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fullness of joy.4 Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things.

If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next.

You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us.5 The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.

If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it.

Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. “There is a great work for the Saints to do,” he said. “Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.”6

The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.



Click here for the entire talk

In The Rooms

I found a neat online support group for all addictions called In The Rooms

On this site there are specific groups (fellowships) for eating disorders. It is for those who are suffering now, or those who are recovered and want to help support others. I also noticed family members of those with addictions can join for support.

If you want to join for any addictions including addictive eating, eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, or for drugs and all other types of addictions you can add me as a "friend" my username is Haleyhf.

The Sapphire Flute

I am SOOO excited to be posting about this book! Honestly, my delight in the publication of this book is second only to that of my own book. Karen is a friend I meet when she reviewed my book, (check it out here) We have been instant friends ever since.

I was privileged to read this book as a manuscript. I loved it right away! I had no doubt the story of the wolfchild would be printed for the world to read one day.
I've never been a huge fantasy fan but wow I was in love with The Sapphire Flute's characters and pulled into their adventure immediately. I enjoyed getting lost in Karen's words of cleaver imagination and recommend The Sapphire Flute to young and old.Karen came by on a lazy day at home so ignore the awesome look I'm sporting. =)

Karen is currently holding a contest which ends soon so hurry over to her blog.

Here is her Press Release:

Valor Publishing Group announces the release of Karen E.
Hoover's highly anticipated book, The Wolfchild Saga: The Sapphire Flute.

The young adult fantasy has already created a wave of interest in national blogging circuits, earning a modest Hoover the title of The New J.K. Rowling by Valor Publishing Group president, Candace E. Salima, who reaffirms her belief in the series' big screen possibilities, saying it has the potential to rival the Harry Potter series. "It is that
good and we are so proud of Karen."

The Sapphire Flute - the first in seven of Karen E. Hoover's books in The Wolfchild Saga - takes readers on an unexpected and exciting journey through the eyes of two young heroines, Ember, a shape-shifter of secret origins and Kayla, a gifted musician who is the guardian of the precious flute. The girls' journeys are set on a collision course as they face difficult paths and discover their destinies are shaped by the Keepers who preside and maintain order in their world of magic.

"Hoover is very talented when it comes to bringing life to her characters, like a puppeteer to the
marionette," says popular blogger, Elizabeth Mueller. "Karen has a vivid imagination and it is not difficult to follow the artistic weave of her words."

Karen E. Hoover resides in Utah with her husband and two sons. She will be signing copies of her first release at The Gateway Barnes & Noble in Salt Lake City, March 16, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

--more--

Pre-orders are being taken on the Valor Publishing Group website at www.valorpublishinggroup.com .

For interviews or to book speaking engagements with Karen E. Hoover, please contact her publicist, Justin Anderson: justin@valorpublishinggroup.com or call him at 801-455-2824.

Book Club

I have a book club special to offer you.

If you are in a book club or want to start one and use my book as the book club choice you will be entered into a contest

plus get an amazing low price on signed copies for your club.

Meet the Author: Also, depending on the location of your club, I will come to your club for any questions and discussion from your club.

Rule:
1. Contact me at afuturefortomorrow@gmail.com telling me that you are going to be using A Future for Tomorrow for your book club. Tell me how many copies you need and I will ship them asap (all signed)

This will qualify you for the discount book price and enter you into a drawing contest.

Contest Prize:

$30 worth of your choice of scrapbook supplies from Close to my Heart.

(also card kits available from CTMH)

(note: Your club needs to have at least 4 members.)

Enter Contest without having book club:
Ways you can get one entry each:
1. Post about my book club offer on your blog.
2. Follow this blog
3. Mention my book club offer on facebook
4. Mention it on tweeter

Food = Sin ?

I remember telling the counselor who worked with me on my eating disorder after I was released from the hospital that I felt guilty and sinful when I hate. He asked me how did I ever link eating with sin.
I knew this connection was partial made because of the message from media. I remember seeing ads saying "guilt-free, fat-free ice cream."
This message still infuriates me. There is a new commercial that demonstrates my point, here it is:



Did you notice the words linked to sin, "wicked" (referring to a pastry) "tempting," and "trying to be good" (meaning depriving yourself of certain foods)

I encourage you to bring consciousness to the hidden messages in commercials, ads and other media. I especially hope if you have children in appropriate age range to understand, that you help point out these messages and counter with what is true.

Eternal Body

Today I've been pondering the eternal nature of our physical bodies. Our bodies are so important and vital for our progression that one of the major purposes for this life is just to receive one.

We know that when the plan of receiving our bodies was presented to us in the premortal existence that we not only accepted the plan but rejoiced. We long awaited the gift of a physical body.

Today I read a scripture in D&C 138 It's speaking about the time the Savior spent between being crucified and resurrecting. He visited the spirit world- specifically the dead, who had already lived on earth and was now separated from their bodies. It tells how the spirits were now free (by the atonement and resurrection of the Savior) free because they could be reunited with their bodies. In verse 50 it reads:

For the dead had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage.

Try to imagine how you would feel leaving your body behind.

How precious are our bodies? I remember being taught that part of our test on earth was to see how we treated our bodies. How are we doing? Do we value our bodies as the temples they are? Do we respect them?

What will you do with what you know?

With knowing these truths-- how will you treat your body now? Will you continue to put it down? Will you abuse it with deprivations or over indulgence? What will you do differently?

Assignment:

This week treat your body with the respect it deserves as an eternal body. Be kind to it and take care of it in a manner that would be pleasing unto our Father which is in Heaven.

I'm Back

I'm sorry that it has been so long since I have posted. As most of you know I had a rough pregnancy which kept me physically only able to complete the bare essentials of daily functions.

I'm happy to announce that trial in my life is over and was indeed worth it since I'm now blessed with a beautiful baby boy! He is 5 weeks old tomorrow. I can't believe how time has flown since his birth.

I want to get back in the swing of things now and doing all I can to spread my story as well as help guide others to find their divine worth.

Hope you join me!