Official Site of Preslaysa Edwards - Preslaysa Williams

Author. Actress. Blasian Gal.

You are here: Home / Archives for Preslaysa

Preslaysa

fiction fridays: guest post by cara putman

By Leave a Comment

Mackinac Island: The perfect romantic escape by Cara Putman

The website for Mackinac Island, Michigan, contains this fun question: “Is romance in your soul?”

On this small island nestled in Lake Huron in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, you can step back in time and tap into a slower pace that allows your inner romantic to escape. The island has the magical quality that I love for a book setting. Even though A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island is a contemporary novel, the moment you set foot on the island you sense an escape in the making.

It doesn’t take many moments on the ferry that transports you to the island to recognize that Mackinac is special. If you arrive from the St. Ignace’s port, one of the first places you’ll see as you approach is the Grand Hotel. This year the stately hotel is celebrating its 125th anniversary. If you’ve never been, it’s an experience. After 6:30 you must be dressed for the evening…even if you’re on the verandah. If you don’t want that level of elegance and expense, then be sure to check out the numerous B&Bs. We’ve stayed at Haans 1830 Inn and loved the experience. A B&B can be more intimate and private and can afford more space that the Grand, but there is an air of romance and elegance that pervades the Grand from the red geraniums and sunny awnings to the incredibly dinner menu.

But there’s so much more than wonderful places to stay. Mackinac Island transports visitors back to a time that is slower-paced. Travel is by horse drawn carriage (what’s more romantic!), bike (a bike for two sounds pretty romantic to me) or by foot (stroll quaint streets? Sign me up!). While each of these has charm and appeal, the reality that peace permeates your time on the island because something key is missing. The noise of cars and the requirement to rush around.

The island is distinctive, too. The scent of fudge permeates the air. Fort Mackinac dominates part of the harbor view. And the sound of hoses hooves provides a soothing backdrop.

In my mind Mackinac is a perfect place to escape for a long weekend. It’s fun with children, but would be even better alone with the love of your life.  And if you can’t make the trip, then slip away in the pages of A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island.

Cara C. Putman lives in Indiana with her husband and four children. She’s an attorney and a teacher at her church as well as lecturer at Purdue. She has loved reading and writing from a young age and now realizes it was all training for writing books. She loves bringing history and romance to life.
 
An honors graduate of the University of Nebraska and George Mason University School of Law, Cara left small town Nebraska and headed to Washington, D.C., to launch her career in public policy.  

Cara is an author chasing hard after God as she lives a crazy life. She invites you to join her on that journey.

 

 

Links:

Website: http://www.caraputman.com

Blog: http://blog.caraputman.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/caraputman

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cara_putman

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/caraputman

 

 

A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island.

 

Attorney Alanna Stone vowed long ago to avoid Mackinac Island. Although it may seem the perfect place to heal, for Alanna it holds too many memories of a painful past.

 

But an exhausting high profile case and an urgent plea from her parents have brought Alanna home. Moving into the house next to Jonathan Covington doesn’t help her. Jonathan may have been her first love, but he was also her first lesson in betrayal. Now Alanna must protect her privacy and her heart. Then Secrets and a murder intersect, and she’s thrust into controversy again as tragedy turns public opinion against her and potentially her family.

 

For years, Jonathan has stubbornly resisted the urging of his family and friends to date, believing he’s already found the perfect woman. With Alanna’s return, he begins to wonder if he’s waited too long for someone who isn’t the right one after all.

 

 

Teamwork

By Leave a Comment

Family involves a lot of teamwork. No one person can do everything alone. I’m learning this more and more as my responsibilities at home increase. I naturally tend to want to do everything myself, but this approach can be counterproductive. Thankfully, The Man helps out immensely in getting things done.

All too often, mothers can find themselves mired in ‘mommy guilt’ which leads to doing too much. In the end, we are exhausted and tired. I did this recently when I awakened with hubby at 1am. He typically feeds the baby at that time. I woke up with him so I could wash dishes. Hubby took one look at me and said: “Go to sleep!” I didn’t listen and in the morning, I paid for it by being extra tired. Now, I’m forcing myself to take a short nap in the middle of the day.

Let’s Chat: When you think of family, do you envision a team?

 

fiction fridays: october baby, the movie

By Leave a Comment

This week I am talking about a movie instead of a novel. If you haven’t seen October Baby, I insist that you see it soon 😉 I recently went out on a date with hubby. We intended to see The Hunger Games but the showtimes were sold out. I didn’t want to wait a couple of hours for the next available showtime so hubby suggested the next available movie: October Baby.

I never heard of the movie and I was disappointed that I wasn’t going to see my first choice, but as I sat in the theater, I knew God had set up a divine appoinentment for us to watch the October Baby, especially after recently giving birth to our daughter.

I left the movie deeply moved and in tears. (It could’ve been postpartum hormones LOL) But I had a deeper sense of the importance of parenthood and the value of a single, human life.

Here’s a blurb of the movie:

As the curtain rises, Hannah hesitantly steps onto the stage for her theatrical debut in college. Yet before she can utter her first lines, Hannah—unscripted—collapses in front of the stunned audience.

After countless medical tests, all signs point to one underlying factor: Hannah’s difficult birth. This revelation is nothing compared to what she then learns from her parents: she was actually adopted … after a failed abortion attempt.

Bewildered, angered, and confused, Hannah turns for support to Jason, her oldest friend. Encouraged by his adventurous spirit, Hannah joins his group of friends on a Spring Break road trip, embarking on a journey to discover her hidden past … and find hope for her unknown future.

In the midst of her incredible journey, Hannah finds that life can be so much more than what you have planned.

Here’s are links to the movie trailer and a scene snippet:

word wednesdays: martha, martha

By Leave a Comment

This morning I read the short passage about Mary and Martha in the Gospel of Luke. Martha was busy running around, encumbered with all the details of dinner preparation while her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet listening to His words. Martha was annoyed with this and complained to Jesus about it, but Jesus said Mary has chosen the better thing and it won’t be taken from her.

I’ve been a Martha recently. While I should spend time slowly easing into life with two children, I’ve been a whirlwind of activity instead.  In the wake of all this, my quiet times have also been tossed aside. Although I have freed myself from religious performance guilt when it comes to spending time with the Lord, I feel like I should, at the very least, think about Him during the day.

Do you ever go through your days and it finally dawns on you that you haven’t soaked in God’s presence? These things can easily slip through our hands if we don’t have a plan. That’s part of the reason why I’m excited about my free e-book Visionating. It’s a step by step guide to help you plan all aspects of your life, including the spiritual. I want to take the journey with you starting on May 7th where we will work on creating a life plan, together, using the steps in Visionating.

To get your copy, sign up using the form on the right. Then, on May 7th I’ll start a six week series on Mondays and Wednesdays where we’ll learn to “write the vision,” including God’s vision for how we are to sit at His feet like Mary and soak in His words amidst the endless distractions in our life.

 

 

Routines

By Leave a Comment

My first two weeks with a newborn and an almost two year old at home have been a whirlwind of activity filled with late night feedings, laundry, continued potty training, dishes, etc. Everyone says rest after giving birth, but the ‘Martha’ in me wants to go go go. Thankfully, my body tires out and I nod off for a snooze in the middle of the day. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Now, my focus is on getting some semblance of routine and order to my day. Using the VERY helpful book Managers of Their Homes, I’ve worked out a schedule for me and the rest of the family. Although, we don’t always follow it to a ‘T’ every day, I like having it as a guide. The baby’s schedule (and by default my schedule) will change over the next year as her feeding and sleep needs change, but now we have a base schedule from which to work.

This has been a lifesaver. I highly recommend Managers of Their Homes to overwhelmed moms who are craving some order to their day.

Let’s chat: Do you currently have a routine for your day? What does it consist of?

Visionating

By 1 Comment

Today is an exciting day on the blog. I have created a non-fiction Ebook entitled “Visionating: A Workbook to Help Women Create a Life by Design, God’s Design.” This Ebook will help you create and live out a life plan based on God’s unique intentions for you.

I have set tons of goals in the past and many have come to naught. Why? I believe it was because they were MY goals and not God’s goals for me. “Visionating” is different. It will help you search God’s Word to see what He says about the direction for your life. This, coupled with prayer, will enable you to pinpoint God’s will and succeed.

The Ebook will help you seek God’s purposes for you as His daughter, a wife, a mother, a home manager and in utilizing the unique gifts and talents you have been equipped with to reach out to others.

AND IT’S FREE!!

Free?

Yup. Absolutely, positively free.

Just sign up on my  blog subscription form in the sidebar to get your copy.

Also, subscribers will be able to participate in Visionating Challenges throughout the year. Over the course of six weeks, we’ll work together to create a life plan for you based on the information in “Visionating.”

So subscribe, get your free Ebook, read it and then stay tuned for the Visionating Challenge announcement.

If you have any questions feel free to email me write(at)preslaysa(dot)com

Happy Monday!!

 

 

fiction fridays: guest post by mary manners

By Leave a Comment

I always joke that I was born writing, because my earliest memories are of trying to scribble the words of a story. I’d follow my mom, dad, and sisters around the house and tell them what I wrote. Over the years, I wrote and read to anyone who would listen. In middle and high school I was fortunate to have teachers who encouraged me and gave extra time to help hone my writing. I am forever grateful to these wonderful people!

When I was in the seventh grade a friend of my older sister gave me the book The Outsiders. By the time I had finished the first page, I was hooked. This was the story of a kid who didn’t quite fit in wherever he went—just like me. He liked to read and run—just like me. The impact of that story was so great I thought, I should write a book like this, for kids like me who don’t fit in. And I did. Of course, over the years that book has gone through numerous revisions, but it will be published this October as Wisdom Tree.

I absolutely love to write about characters who are not perfect, yet they are strong men and women who, at their very core, have a deep desire to do the right thing. My heroes, especially, are like Christmas packages that just need to be gently (or sometimes not so gently) unwrapped. I think my favorite character, so far, is Dalton Merrill—the hero of Lullaby in Lone Creek. He’s got an ego larger than a ten-gallon hat, but he sure loves sweet Emilee Walker. If only he could let go of the past—and his wounded pride—long enough to let her know. Dalton is strong yet vulnerable. In a nutshell, he’s simply delectable. His return to Lone Creek tosses the fledgling ranch—and his brothers—like a wild bull ride.

About Lullaby In Lone Creek:

In eight seconds Dalton Merrill’s professional bull riding days—and the fame he enjoyed—ended. When the adrenaline-junkie returns to Lone Creek Ranch to heal, he discovers a single reckless romp with sweet Emilee Walker has left her with more than a little heartbreak. She’s carrying his child. The last thing he wants is to be tied down with a wife and a son. Emilee Walker trusted Dalton with her heart, and he left her for the rodeo. She wanted Dalton to return home, but not like this. Now she wonders if it’s responsibility or love that holds him on Lone Creek. This time she vows to show him what family ties and faith in God really means.

Preparing for Hibernation

By 1 Comment

In getting ready for the arrival of a new baby, I’ve been preparing to hibernate for a few weeks by making freezer meals. The Heavenly Homemakers blog has some great recipes which I recommend. When she posted her meal plan last week, I tried the Italian Pasta Bake. It was delicious.

I’ve been making base “mixes” from which I (or hubby, preferably, hubby!) can make different meals later. Here’s a recipe for a chicken mix for your freezer. After making the mix, you can use the meat to make different meals.

To Make Chicken Mix:

*3-5 pound whole chicken

*Onions

*Salt & Pepper

Directions:

1) Rinse chicken and sprinkle with salt and pepper

2) Add 1 medium chopped onion to a crock pot

3) Add chicken to the crockpot nd cook for 12 hours

(P.S. Don’t forget to remove the bag of “stuff” that’s inside the chicken. I forgot to do that last night!)

When the chicken is done, pulled the meat off the bone and put in 1 quart freezer bags, date it and place in the freezer.

Save the bones and the chicken skin to make chiceken broth.

To make chicken broth:

1) Place bones and skin in a large stock pot.

2) Add vegetables of your choosing: chopped onion, celery, carrots. The amount you add is up to you.

3) Fill the stockpot with water.

4) Bring water to a boil, then swtich temperature to very low. Cover and cook on low for 48 hours. You can add water as needed.

5) When the 48 hours are up, strain the broth and dump the bones and veggies in the trash.

6) Freeze broth for later. I freeze it in 1 gallon freezer bags. I double the bags for extra protection.

You can make chicken noodle soup, chicken rice soup, or whatever your chicken dish you come up with.

Have a great Monday.