Ladies and gentlemens, fans and followers: Announcing my new book club edition! Check out the expanded, updated version of “Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace“, packed with Questions & Topics for Discussion, Reader Reviews, and New Photos!
“Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace” PRESS RELEASE
Filed under "Running in Heels" Book Signings, Book Club, Book Promotion, Book Tour
Dear friends:
These past couple of weeks, I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster, but my family and friends have literally lifted my spirits. Today, it is my birthday, and I am thanking God for His neverending grace and His unfailing love. My journey continues and for that, I am truly grateful.
Thank you for being my friend.
Filed under birthday celebration
Our dear Elizabeth crossed over to the other side this morning. Even though you try to prepare yourself for the inevitable, the reality of losing a loved one and having to say goodbye still has a way of slapping you in the face! Never mind that she was 105 years young, it was hard to see her go.
Many of you know that Elizabeth was not my mother but a dear, precious friend of some 30+ years; however, I realize that many of you don’t know that. I got to know her intimately these past few years while my husband, daughter, and I cared for her around the clock. She was like a grandmother to me, but she was more like a mother to my husband (he had lost his own mother at age 15). I will never forget the picture I have of my husband saying goodbye to Elizabeth this morning. I love the way he loved her!
Elizabeth’s feistiness, wit, and humor held her in good stead for all these many years. She was easy to love, a precious gem to all who knew her. She loved life, she loved people, and she loved her God.
In the days ahead, much preparation needs to be done. We are also planning a Memorial Service at our church next week. Elizabeth’s funeral will be held in Tulsa as she wished.
I thank everyone for their love and support. I thank God for the Blessed Hope that one day we shall see our loved ones again who went on ahead to glory! Imagine Elizabeth’s grand reunion with her Savior, family, and friends!
I have blogged about Elizabeth several times. Here is one of my posts about her.
So long for now, Elizabeth. May you rest in peace with no more pain, dancing with your Father God in fields of grace. Until we meet again.
Bronze sculpture in the Spilsbury Mortuary in St. George, UT
In Loving Memory …
Elizabeth Bearden
January 6, 1911 – August 12, 2016
Filed under Blessed Hope, In Loving Memory, Loss of a Loved One
Posted: 6:35 PM, August 02, 2016
HOUSTON – A Houston area author recently wrote a blog about the tragic hot air balloon accident near Austin, months after she took a ride on the same balloon, with the same pilot.
Mary Ann Perez McNulty and three of her girlfriends went on the ride last January.
View the original article and see the video on the Click2News website ~~~
(http://www.click2houston.com/news/author-recalls-ride-on-balloon-months-before-deadly-accident#)
Filed under Channel 2 Houston News, Interview
As a recent Heart of Texas hot air balloon rider, you can imagine the shock and devastation that went through my mind upon hearing that this same balloon with 16 passengers tragically lost their lives(Channel 2 News Reporting).
I knew the pilot as Skip. He was warm and friendly, and one could immediately tell was also very knowledgeable in his work. He gave 14 passengers, including my friends and me, a great adventure and a thrill of a lifetime ride! (Read about it here.)
As a writer and author, you may know I am skittish about heights. I knew the risk involved, but was determined to harness my fears. However, way before our flight, some warning signs gave us pause. I am sharing them now for awareness.
We all boarded two vehicles to take us to the open field when we arrived at our destination. The girls and I rode in Skip’s truck with his assistant. The rest climbed into a van behind us. It was about a 30-minute ride, and his assistant got off course; they had to rely on their GPS to finally arrive. When I asked Skip how many times he had flown over to the location where we were headed, he said it would be his first time. When I asked him why that was, he said he was bored and wanted someplace new. I have to wonder, isn’t “new’ adding more risk?
I knew Skip wanted to get us up in plenty of time before sunset. After we arrived, we watched Skip and his crew get into action, backing up the trailer and pulling all the equipment and ropes out to set up the balloon. We couldn’t help but look up each time we heard jets zooming by and wondered about the safety of what we would do. As they filled the balloon, a man approached us and asked who the person in charge was. We all pointed to Skip. That’s when we learned we did not have permission to fly over this field. Another 15 minutes or so went by with Skip and the other gentlemen arguing over sufficient insurance coverage, regulations, policies, and the buildings in the area before Skip called to shut it down and board up.
We then headed for San Marcos Airfield. Once we arrived, Skip and his crew went into action again, rushing to get that balloon up before dark. When ready, we were instructed to hop in, albeit somewhat clumsily, unable to lower a leg from the ledge of the basket down into our tight space. But once up, it became apparent that Skip was in his element. Our nerves dissipated, and the view was absolutely breathtaking!
We stayed up for about 40 minutes, watching the sunset and taking plenty of pictures. As we started to decline, Skip asked us all to be on the lookout for power lines. When we approached a post, he radioed one of his teammates asking if it was a power line. Thank goodness, it wasn’t.
In retrospect, I realize we may have bitten off more than we bargained for, and the tide of events could have easily turned against us. Perhaps if one feels or sees something as unnerving before taking action, they should pay attention to their God-given common sense.
Our hearts and prayers go out to all the family members affected by this recent tragedy.
Alfred “Skip” Nichols, may he RIP.
At 3000 ft – my hot air balloon ride in January 2016
Filed under Air Tradegy, Hot Air Balloon
My interview by the talented and fabulous Ella Ritchie of Stellar Communications Houston.
Filed under Author Interview
Happy Birthday to my hubby, confidant and best friend! You still light up my life, the wind beneath my wings.
Filed under Birthday, Uncategorized
Read this wonderful story today:
On the first day of classes, our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me. She said, “Hi handsome, my name is Rose, and I am eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?”
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course, you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months, we would leave class together and talk nonstop. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.
At the end of the year, we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us.
After the introduction, she stepped up to the podium, cleared her throat, and began . . .
“We don’t stop playing because we’re old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it!”
“There’s a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets about what they did, but rather for things they did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.”
At the year’s end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to her. She taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.
These words have been passed along in loving memory of Rose:
“Remember growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional. We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
In youth we learn; in age we understand. ~ Source Unknown
Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn. They make you strong enough to know when you are weak, and brave enough to face yourself when you are afraid. ~ General Douglas A. MacArthur, 1962
Something doesn’t sit right with me, and here it is. I have heard numerous times how one has to dream “big” in order to achieve something, become something, or change something. You know the old adage: Dream big or go home. I’ve come across some other sayings such as: If your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough. Say what? Listen, I’ve got plenty of dreams, okay? Your dreams may not be my dreams, and I can guarantee that my dreams are not your dreams! But a dream is a dream is a dream. I just don’t buy the line, hook, and sinker that screams your dream doesn’t count or isn’t as important if it isn’t “big”! No sir! No ma’am!
Think what you will, but you can’t look down on my dream and say that yours is more important than mine. Or that my dream doesn’t count because it isn’t as”big.” Who are you to downplay my dream? Have you walked in my shoes?
When I wrote, “Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace” I not only mention some of the heartaches I endured as a child and young adult, but I also mention the good times, the happy times, and the contented times. And you know what? Some looked down on those cheerful events that I wrote about because they seemed insignificant to them. Is that fair? Hey, I’m tickled pink you had a much “happier” life than me, nonetheless, those were my good times and they meant everything to this girl. And I will tell you this: I am a dream come true.
We all have goals, and we all dream dreams. Don’t try to be like anyone else. Be yourself and follow your heart. Pursue your dreams and don’t ever quit. Timing is everything and sometimes it takes baby steps. But don’t allow anyone to downplay your dreams! Ever. No matter the size.
© M.A. Pérez, 2016, All Rights Reserved
From Heart to Heritage
NEW! Book Club Edition
Reflexiones del Corazón
I just want to thank Mandy for making me a hero in her garden. I was deeply touch and wanted to share my appreciation by adding her link on my sidebar. Click the picture below to view her blog. . .
Reflections From the Heart 