LeBlog--The Blog about life…writing, raising kids, chasing dogs, handling life and all its bit parts.

August 28, 2008

 

Yippie Skippy!

My books arrived! Whoohoo! So much fun to get a huge box, open it up and see all these books with my little ol' name on it. This book took a lot of work, but it was so much fun to write! I loved these characters. In case you didn't know, Lookin' Back, Texas is available on Amazon.com!

August 27, 2008

 

Lookin' Back, Texas


Yep, this is the outhouse.

August 26, 2008

 

Lookin' Back at Luckenbach


Several chickens and roosters roam the area freely. This one is sitting on a post beside the outdoor venue. There's a small stage and a few picnic tables. Lots of motorcyclists stop by for entertainment. You can see they decorate with license plates.

 

Lookin' Back in Luckenbach, Texas


This is the front of the post office. Sorry it's sideways, but so is my computer skills! Anyway, lots of tourists visit Luckenbach every year. But seriously, you better know where you're going or you will blow right past it. We did!

 

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas ...


Where Leanna, hubby and the kids went last summer. :) Okay, those aren't quite the lyrics of the song, are they? But I couldn't resist. I'm going to post a few pictures of the real Luckenbach, Texas which is where I set my book, Lookin' Back, Texas. In this picture, to the left (off camera) is the parking lot. Lots of shaded trees cover the area. Straight ahead is the dance hall where Willie and Waylon and many other bands have played. To the right is the post office where it all started. Inside the post office now they have a little gift shop, then you can step down into a bar. We had a soda because it was about 11am and already very hot.

August 25, 2008

 

Are you ready to dance?

Dancing with the Stars announced today all of the competitors for this season. Here they are: Susan Lucci, Toni Braxton, Lance Bass, Cloris Leachman, Kim Kardashian, Ted McGinley, Brooke Burke, Warren Sapp, Misty May-Treanor, Maurice Greene, Rocco DiSpirito, Cody Linley and Jeffrey Ross.

How many names did you recognize?
Who do you think will be the first kicked off?
Who do you think will be the mirror-ball winner?

August 21, 2008

 

May I interrupt this broadcast?

I just discovered that my book, Lookin' Back, Texas, is now available on Amazon.com. Just a couple of weeks early as the release date isn't until Sept. 1st. So you can order it NOW! Whoohoooo!

Amazon.com

Also, just to let you know, I've made some changes on my website that you might want to check out, especially on the books page for Lookin' Back, Texas.

Blessings,

Leanna

August 20, 2008

 

Check this out!

Finally! I am sooooo excited to share this with you. I've been having a difficult time getting this added to my website but here it is on youtube! Check it out -- book trailer!

 

Olympic fatigue

We're in the middle of week two of the Olympics. NBC, Please show gymnastics before midnight! It is so irritating when you know a medal has already been given out for ... oh let's say, balance beam. You know who won! And NBC refuses to put the competition on until after ten o'clock. Wake up, NBC! It's little girls who want to see the women's gymnastics! And ten o'clock is past their bedtime! So frustrating.

Okay, okay, I know. I need to take deep breaths. But the problem is -- I have a cold. Can't breathe deeply. Can't breathe at all. I woke up the other morning about 3am with a sore throat. I laid there thinking, 'Is this strep throat? Please, God, don't let this be strep throat. Let it be a cold.' Why didn't I ask for allergies? Why didn't I pray for healing? Well, I got what I prayed for -- a cold. And I'm very grateful it's not strep. But I'm apparently cranky about everything else.

August 19, 2008

 

Soggy Pencils

School started yesterday! Can't believe summer is now officially over at our house. I'm kind of sad about that. But the kids had a great day and love their teachers, so that makes me happy. It rained all yesterday. We definitely need the rain but made for a soggy beginning to school. Don't you just love the smell of sharpened pencils? Gathering school supplies. I always loved buying supplies, cool folders, pretty new crayons. My kids are out of the crayon stage now. They're required to have map pencils and markers. Just not the same! Anybody else starting school this week?

Blessings,

Leanna

August 15, 2008

 

Coming up!

Thanks for the prayers. My dad made it through surgery just fine. He should go home today.

In the next couple of weeks, for the launch of Lookin' Back, Texas, I'll be announcing a big contest through my newsletter. Hope you will be a part of it. If you don't already get my newsletter, you can sign up here at my website.

Blessings,

Leanna

August 14, 2008

 

Prayers Please

Many of you know my dad has been battling cancer for several years. He has had a recurrence and is having surgery this morning to remove the growth. So if you think of him, please pray that the surgeon's hands will be steady and that my dad will get through the surgery easily and recover quickly.

Thanks so much!

Blessings,

Leanna

August 12, 2008

 

Going for the Gold

Did you see it? Sunday night LIVE, Michael Phelps and three other US Olympic swimmers swam the relay race of their lives. They were not supposed to win. The French team was talking smack, saying they had come to 'smash' the Americans. The American team posted the French team's comments in the locker room and didn't respond. They went about their business. And they swam. They swam like they had never swum before! The final leg, America was behind almost a full body length. The French team was in the lead. Even the announcers thought the race was over. They said the US couldn't win gold but maybe they could hold onto silver even though Australia was very close. But did the US team give up? Did they accept silver? No way! They pushed themselves. They stretched and reached for their dream. And in the last second, the last American caught the French and reached past him to win the gold! It was the most exciting race I've ever seen. And I've watched a lot of races in the Olympics. I've seen Michael Phelps win several of his gold medals, but I've never seen him so fired up! It was truly an American dream-come-true moment!

Boy was it fun to cheer. And we could so easily gloss over the win and move onto the next race, but let's pause and look at the valuable life lessons in that relay race. One, use what others say to motivate you to do your best. Whether it's positive or negative. Don't get in an argument with them. Just do your work. Concentrate on what you have to do. Two, never give up. NEVER. EVER.

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run the with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

We all have our own race. I feel so often that writing each book is a race for me. Schooling my kids is also another race I'm busy with. What's your race? So many distractions get in the way. It's hard to get up early. There's so many things to do rather than write. What's distracting you today? What's hindering you? I've had others put down writing. When I was up for an award early on in my writing, someone said, "What's the prize, an ice cream cone?" Ouch. I've had painful critiques. What are others saying that is affecting how you think you can write, swim, run or whatever? Listen to what they're saying, learn from it. But don't let it pull you down. If it's it's positive don't let that distract you. Can you imagine how distracting it must be for Michael Phelps to hear every day how he's supposed to win 8 gold medals? Anything less will be a disappointment to the media. But he has to concentrate on EACH gold medal. Not get distracted. And he couldn't listen to the nay-sayers either. He used the negativity (you can't win the 4X100 relay) to motivate him. So, write, school, run, swim, just 'do it.' Do it to the best of your ability.

August 11, 2008

 

The Wheels on the Bus...

I'm back in school. Temporarily. My kids' school started today with parent orientation. My head is spinning like those old school bus wheels which is why I need to be pointed in the right direction. Every thing the teachers say sounds simple and easy until I leave. Then all their words begin to blur and I can't remember who said what. It's a good thing I'm not the student anymore!

August 8, 2008

 

Tonight!

My kids are ecstatic about the Olympics starting tonight. They can't wait to see the atheletes march into the stadium with their country's flag. Frankly, I can't wait either. I love watching the Olympics. Always have. I remember watching Nadia so long ago. Mark Spitz! The Battle of the Brians' in ice skating. So many memories of atheletes reaching for their dreams. My daughter is always amazed that I often cry during the Olympics. I cry for the atheletes who are injured or come short of reaching their dreams. I cry for those who stand on the podium and receive a gold, silver or bronze medal around their neck. It's an amazing moment for them. They work so hard to get there.

So I'm ready for the next couple of weeks of watching swimming (Michael Phelps!) and diving and gymnastics. We'll be searching for the fencing as my son is a fencer. I better stock up on popcorn!

But also, there are a lot of serious issues with the Olympics. I was reading in the paper today about threats made by an Islamic group. I've been reading to my kids from a book called Windows to the World. It basically tells about a different country or group of people on every page, telling where the country is, how many people live there, what their country is like, what they believe, then it lists things to pray for the people who live in that country. We've been reading about China and different groups of people, like the Hui. And we've been praying for those who live in China, for the Christians who have had to worship in secret, for the safety of those visiting for the Games and for the atheletes.

So how do you feel about the Olympics? Will you be watching?

August 7, 2008

 

Review


Lauren from 5minutesforbooks.com reviewed Lookin' Back, Texas (September 2008) and said this:

I am sure most people have a few relatives that they would consider to be different. You know, the family members who make you nervous at weddings and funerals because you just never know what they might do.

Suzanne Mullins, the main character in Leanna Ellis' Lookin' Back, Texas, is a little concerned about the crazy behavior of one of her relatives. It happens to be her mother Betty Lynne. When Suzanne arrives at her childhood home in Texas, she learns that Betty Lynne is announcing her husband's death and planning his funeral. The only problem is that Archie Davidson isn't dead.
While Suzanne is dealing with her mother's irrational behavior, she is also forced to face mistakes from her own past, mistakes she has kept hidden for many years. Handling all these troubles at once may be enough to make Suzanne's life the craziest of them all.

I was skeptical about the story line in this book, but the tale was wonderfully written. Lookin' Back, Texas is a book that will make you laugh. I caught myself chuckling throughout the story, especially at the small-town antics. This book is light-hearted, but its message is a powerful one. I admit that I even teared up at the end.

I encourage you to consider this new novel by Leanna Ellis. It is an enjoyable read!


23 days until Lookin' Back, Texas arrives!

August 6, 2008

 

Girls and Tiger Sharks

My son, age ten, LOVES sharks. Last week was 'Shark Week' on the Discovery Channel, so we watched a lot of crazy people who jumped into the ocean depths in an effort to get close to all kinds of sharks. Anyway, as my son and I were walking this morning, we were discussing the delicate subject of girls. Since he's going into 5th grade, all that girl/boy stuff is picking up the pace. My brilliant son said, "Girls are like tiger sharks. Approach them cautiously."

August 5, 2008

 

Uniform Moms

Two weeks until school starts. That means shopping for clothes and shoes and supplies. I love shopping, but hunting down the right kind of belt or correct notebook for my kid is not my joy in life. However, I must say now that my kids are getting to THAT age, the age where they have their own particular tastes in clothes (I'm not wearing that!), I am eternally grateful for homeschooling and private schools that require uniforms. It simplifies my life.

When my kids are at home doing their school work, they can putter around in their pjs. Okay by me. I'm right there with them. It is pretty embarrassing though when the UPS guy shows up with a package and we look like we're all sick because it's past noon and we're still in our pjs. The days when my kids attend school, they have uniforms. By the time kids are nearing the teen years, uniforms simplify the 'did you see what she was wearing?' and other problems brought on by hiphuggers and dysfunctional clothing.

Here's the problem: what does mom wear? Maybe moms need uniforms too. Have you seen what some people wear while dropping off their kids at school or picking them up in the afternoon? Oops! You're right, that was me you saw barefoot, hair still mussed from sleep (afternoon nap, right?) and no makeup. Oops! I need a uniform. But if I'm not wearing the correct colored socks, does that mean I'll get detention?

August 3, 2008

 

Three Guesses!

Three guesses what I've been doing? Hanging out by the pool? Cooling my heels in Colorado during this heatwave in Texas? Or painting another room? Well I wish I were someplace cooler! I'd even brave the heat to take a dip in the pool. But alas, I've been painting the last room on my VERY long summer to-do list. This happens to be the biggest room. Twice the size of the others. Plus, we're (I use that word loosely) painting the ceiling. So, I'm suffering from blisters on my palms (just think Scarlet O'Hara after picking cotton) and a crick in my neck. I'm waiting for the last bit of primer to dry before I tackle the last part of the ceiling. Think I'll go scrub toilets, anything to do avoid climbing back on that ladder!

August 1, 2008

 

Interview Up

There's an interview of me at http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com.

Let me know what you think.

Blessings,

Leanna

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