I thought since I had a little time on my hands, I would talk a bit about my first E-Book. It is called ‘Alone in a Crowded World’ and it is about a half Cherokee girl who was never wanted by white society, was shunned by the white side of her own family and the Cherokee people whom she loved dearly, looked at her as white because she did not have a tribal card.

After being blamed for both her parents death by her only sister who was 20 years older than her, she lit out on her own to try and make a place in this world and hopefully, make a difference. There seemed to be problems around every corner and a dark cloud that followed her everywhere due to her severe depression and the fact that every time she started to see the light at the end of the tunnel, someone would snuff that light out. Several abusive marriages and many jobs later, she once again finds herself drowning and trying to claw her way back up.

Feeling like her Creator had forsaken her, she prayed every night that she would not wake up but just like a bad penny, daylight came again and she wondered when the next shoe would drop.

After all the bad things happened to this girl, through dna testing she found out that she did not have a drop of Cherokee blood in her at all!!

This E-Book might be about anyone, male or female, but it isn’t. It is about a real person and how some families are cruel and uncaring.  It is also about how this real person who, with the help & grace of God, seemed to pull herself up by the bootstraps in a world that kept going on around her as if she were already a ghost.

This person is a very dear, very close friend whose name I will not divulge until the book is finished.

Please remember to pray the Rosary. Remember also that it is when you don’t want to, or don’t feel like it, that is when you need to pray the Rosary that much more! You do not have to be Catholic or have Rosary beads. Many non-Catholic’s pray the Rosary because, like Catholic’s, they have come to know & believe that it is the best weapon against the evil that is reeking havoc on this nation & the world.

Please remember to include in your Rosary intentions, for the repose of the soul of my daughter, Beth Ann Marie Winstead-Harris. Please pray for the people in Aragon to soften their hearts, for conversion & repentance. Please pray for the conversion & repentance of Beth’s murderer, Derek Renfroe. Please pray for me to be able to do as Jesus would do & find love in my heart & forgive all who have caused me such great pain for so many years.

Also, I post the Scriptural Rosary to show you all where each “mystery” can be found in the Bible, so that you will know that the Rosary is taken from the Bible.

We are now in Ordinary time, but that is no reason to stop praying the Rosary!! Remember, the Rosary is your weapon against satan & his army because Mary will “crush the head of the serpent.”

 

A Scriptural Rosary:

These are the prayers that are prayed during the Rosary.

The Apostles Creed:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven & earth; & in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died & was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, & is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living & the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, & life everlasting. AMEN!

The Our Father:
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, & forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, & lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power & the glory, now & forever. AMEN!

The Hail Mary:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, & blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now & at the hour of our death. AMEN!

The Glory Be:
Glory Be to the Father, & to the Son, & to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now & ever shall be, world without end. AMEN!

The Fatima Prayer:
Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. AMEN!

 

The Five Joyful Mysteries
Prayed on Monday’s & Saturday’s (Prayed on Sunday’s during Christmas)

 

Begin the Rosary on the Crucifix by making the sign of the Cross – In the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit
AMEN!

Then pray one Apostles Creed.

On the first bead say the words, “For an increase in the virtues of Faith, Hope & Charity.” Then pray one Our Father. On the following three beads meditate on the virtues & pray one Hail Mary…. each.

Then pray one Glory Be & one Fatima Prayer.

 

On the last bead just below the centerpiece announce the first Mystery & continue below

 

The First Joyful Mystery.
The Annunciation.

Pray one Our Father…

On each of the following 10 beads meditate on the scripture then pray one Hail Mary… Do this throughout the rest of the Rosary.

1) The time for the Incarnation is at hand. Hail Mary…..

2) Of all women God prepared Mary from her conception to be the Mother of the Incarnate Word. Hail Mary…..

3) The Angel Gabriel announces: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee.” Hail Mary…..

4) Mary wonders at this salutation. Hail Mary…..

5) The Angel assures her: “Fear not, you shall conceive in your womb, and give birth to a Son.” Hail Mary……

6) Mary is troubles for she has made a vow of virginity. Hail Mary…..

7) The Angel answers that she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and her Son will be called the Son of God. Hail Mary……

8) The Incarnation awaits Mary’s consent. Hail Mary……

9) Mary answers: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word.” Hail Mary…..

10) The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Hail Mary…..

Pray one Glory Be…
Pray one Fatima Prayer.

Spiritual Fruit: Humility
Scripture Reference: Luke 1:26 – 28

 

 

The Second Joyful Mystery
Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth

Pray one Our Father…

1) Mary’s cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age… for nothing is impossible with God. Hail Mary…..

2) Charity prompts Mary to hasten to visit Elizabeth in the hour of her need. Hail Mary…..

3) The journey to Elizabeth’s home is about eighty miles requiring four to five days. Hail Mary……

4) Though long and arduous, the journey is joyous, for Mary bears with her the Incarnate Word. Hail Mary…..

5) At Mary’s salutation, John the Baptist is sanctified in his mother’s womb. Hail Mary…..

6) Elizabeth exclaims: “Blessed are you among women, and Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Hail Mary…..

7) “How have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Hail Mary…..

8) “Blessed is she who believed that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled.” Hail Mary……

9) Mary replies: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit finds joy in God my Savior.” Hail Mary…..

10) Mary serves her cousin in all humility for three months until the birth of John the Baptist. Hail Mary……

Pray one Glory Be…
Pray one Fatima Prayer.

Spiritual Fruit: Love of Neighbor
Scripture Reference: Luke 1:39 – 41

 

 

The Third Joyful Mystery
The Nativity. The birth of Our Lord.

Pray one Our Father…

1) Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the decree of Cesar Augustus. Hail Mary…..

2) The hour for Mary to give birth is near, but there is no room in the inn. Hail Mary…..

3) In the stillness of the night, the Savior is born in a stable, Mary still remaining a virgin. Hail Mary….

4) She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger. Hail Mary….

5) In unspeakable joy Mary gathers to her bosom the Flower of her virginity. Hail Mary….

6) Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach the lesson of detachment from earthly things. Hail Mary….

7) The angel announces to the shepherds: “Today there is born to you in the town of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Hail Mary…

8) The angelic chorus sing: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.” Hail Mary…

9) The shepherds come to the stable to pay homage to the infant Jesus. Hail Mary….

10) The Magi come to adore the Holy Child and offer Him gifts. Hail Mary…

Pray one Glory Be…
Pray one Fatima Prayer.

Spiritual Fruit: Poverty of the Spirit
Scripture Reference: Luke 2: 7

 

 

The Fourth Joyful Mystery
The Presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple

Pray one Our Father…

1) Observing the Law of Moses they take Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord. Hail Mary…

2) According to the Law the firstborn male child of every family should be consecrated to the Lord. Hail Mary…

3) Mary offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms Him back at the price paid by the poor. Hail Mary…

4) Jesus is not subject to the Law of Moses, yet to teach obedience, submits to it. Hail Mary…

5) Mary is not subject to the Law of purification, yet in humility she submits to it. Hail Mary…

6) God had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Messiah. Hail Mary…

7) Recognizing the Child, he prays: “Now you can dismiss your servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word.” Hail Mary…

8) “This Child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed.” Hail Mary…

9) And to Mary Simeon reveals: “And your own soul a sword shall pierce.” Hail Mary…

10) After they fulfill all the Law requires they return to Nazareth. Hail Mary…

Pray one Glory Be…
Pray one Fatima Prayer.

Spiritual Fruit: Purity of Mind and Body
Scripture Reference: Luke 2: 27 – 30

 

 

The Fifth Joyful Mystery
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem

Pray one Our Father…

1) When Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with His parents to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. Hail Mary…

2) After the feast of the Passover, Joseph and Mary unknowingly set out for Nazareth without Jesus. Hail Mary…

3) At the end of the first day’s journey they discover Jesus is missing. Hail Mary…

4) His parents return immediately looking for Him. Hail Mary…

5) This loss causes grief and anxiety beyond our understanding to the hearts of Mary and Joseph. Hail Mary…

6) On the third day they find Jesus in the Temple among the doctors who were astonished at His wisdom. Hail Mary…

7) Mary: “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow.” Hail Mary…

8) Jesus: “Why did you search for me? Did you not know that I just be about my Father’s business?” Hail Mary…

9) Jesus goes down with them to Nazareth, and is subject to them. Hail Mary…

10) Mary keeps all these things in her heart. Hail Mary…

Pray one Glory Be…
Pray one Fatima Prayer.

Spiritual Fruit: Obedience
Scripture Reference: Luke 2: 45 – 47

 

Closing Prayers of the Holy Rosary

 

Salve Regina – Hail, Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, & our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning & weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the Blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. AMEN!

Let us Pray:
Oh God, who’s only begotten Son, by his life, death, & resurrection, was purchased for us the rewards of eternal life. Grant we beseech thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain & obtain what they promise through the same Christ Our Lord. AMEN!

For Our Holy Father & his intentions pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary & 1 Glory Be

Our Lady of the Mountains, pray for us.
Our Lady of Czestochowa, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us.
Our Lady of Grace, pray for us.
Our Lady Queen of the Universe, pray for us.
Our lady of Fatima, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us.
Our Lady un-doer of knots, pray for us.
Our Lady of La Salette, pray for us.
Our Lady of Good Success, pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Our Lady of Good Remedy, pray for us.
Our Lady Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. AMEN!

Prayer of St. Michael the Archangel:

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness & snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, & do thou O prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell, satan & all the evil spirits, prowling around the world. AMEN!!

St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
St. Anne, pray for us.
St. Anthony, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Rita, pray for us.
St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Dominic, pray for us.
St. John Vianney, pray for us.
St. Thomas Moore, pray for us.
St Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
St. Jude Thaddeus, pray for us.
St. Padre Pio, pray for us.
St. Gianna, pray for us. St.

Pray to our Guardian Angel:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here. Ever this day, (or night), be at my side, to light & guard, to rule & guide. AMEN!!

The Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful & sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear & answer me. AMEN!!

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times)

Make the sign of the Cross – In the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit. AMEN!

Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons Restaurant  Review

Located at 102 West Congress Street in Savannah, GA. Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons Restaurant is by far one of the best places I have ever eaten, hands down! Went to Savannah with my best guy friend and just had to stop and eat. So glad we did! The food is outstanding, just like you see Paula Deen cook it on TV. You have the option of ordering from the menu or you can decide not to wait and just dive right into the buffet. The buffet has a lot of what is on the menu without the wait and believe me, once you get in the door and smell the food, you will not want to wait.

Everything you see on the menu and on the buffet are things you have seen Paula cook on TV where she talks about having “smell-a-vision” for the TV. OH MY, if that was the case, they would never be able to close as people would be lined up out the door, 24-hours per day. People are already lined up out the door but the staff is so efficient, and friendly it really does not take that long to get in, and believe me it is worth every second. Plus, your wait will not seem that long because Paula has a gift shop attached to the restaurant where you can browse while waiting for your name to be called. For all the buffet has on it, the cost is very reasonable. the lunch buffet only cost $15.99 for all you can eat and some of the things include:

Southern Fried Chicken (Mouth Watering), Baked Chicken, Jamaican Jerk Pork Chops, Creamed Corn, Mac and Cheese (Yummy), Collard Greens (YUMMY), Yams (Delicious), Lima Beans (YUM), Green Beans, Black Eye Peas (Yum Yum), can you tell what I had! The buffet also comes with a complete salad bar, but I did not want to fill up on salad and not have room for the other, and a complimentary dessert. If you have room for dessert (I forced myself), you can choose from Banana Pudding, Peach Cobbler (Outstanding), or Gooey Butter Cakes. Along with the buffet, as if that is not enough, the waitress brings out the most delicious, soft, warm bread, like there is room for bread, but again I forced myself.

Bottom line, if you are ever in Savannah, GA. make sure to have lunch or dinner at Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons Restaurant. From what I understand, they have some of the best Seafood, Crab Cakes and Key Lime Pie in GA. and believe me, next time I go back, I plan to try it all. Thanks Paula! Love your show and love your restaurant!

Originally written in December 2012 by Sherrie Winstead Copyright 2013

Word count 463

Gardening with Feng Shui

Most people have at least heard of Feng Shui but for those who have not, Feng Shui is a 5000-year old Chinese philosophy, which literally means wind water. It is the art of perfect placement and the source of all life energy or Chi. Good Chi brings about abundance and blessings in your life and in your environment whether your environment is your home, office, car or yard and garden. When you design your environment according to Feng Shui principles, you in turn encourage the flow of positive Chi throughout all your spaces and as a result, your life will be balanced and filled with an abundance of good Chi.

Perfect Placement using the Bagua Map
By using the perfect placement of Feng Shui garden plants and objects, you are encouraging positive Chi to bring into your garden balance and harmony, which in turn will bring balance and harmony into your home and your life. In order to find the perfect placement for garden plants and objects, you have to start by enlisting the help of the Feng Shui Bagua map and compass. A Bagua map is not something you have to buy, you can easily make one just by knowing where each aspect on the map belongs.

You can use this photo to sketch it out, on a poster board using colored pencils or markers. Or you can enlarge the photo and print it out.

Then, take your map out to the garden and having your back to the house and facing the area where you want your garden to be, lay the Bagua map on the ground in front of you. This will tell you which areas in the garden area would be good places for certain plants and Feng Shui objects. The main purpose is to raise the level of positive Chi by making an area that allows Chi to move smoothly and freely; an area that is harmonious to the environment and and you.

The Bagua map is your gardens road map and shows how your environment is connected to all aspects of your life. The Bagua map has nine sections, which correspond with the nine aspects of your life and include Career, Knowledge, Family, Wealth, Fame, Relationships, Children and Helpful People. Use these nine sections to find the physical locations of each in your garden; you will also need a compass to find true North. Place the Bagua map in accordance with the compass where North on the compass is also North on the map. All Bagua sections must be present in your garden to achieve balance and harmony. Also, a good beginning is to have the entrance to your garden facing East, which is the direction of the rising sun.

Each section also has a corresponding Element and Color, which also must be present to achieve balance and harmony. According to the principles of Feng Shui, you can enhance the positive Chi in a certain section of your garden and increase the abundance in that section of your garden and in your life. For example, if your relationships or your love life need attention, make sure that section of your garden gets extra care.

Getting Rid of Garden Clutter
Just like the clutter in your home and life, garden clutter can cause the same problems and has to be the first thing you need to get rid of in order to create a balanced and harmonious space. Clutter creates barriers that positive Chi cannot flow through or around; this creates negative, stagnate Chi and cause bad luck and negative Chi to enter your home. So, clean up and dispose of all clutter and that includes, dead or dying trees, flowers and shrubs, mow the grass and rake the leaves, trim the shrubs that are left, prune trees that are left and as much as possible, leave yourself with a blank slate.

Incorporate the Feng Shui Five Elements into Your Garden
The Five Elements are qualities, which make up all that is in the world including Earth, Water, Metal, Fire and Wood and all Five must be present in your Feng Shui garden to achieve balance and harmony. According to Feng Shui principles, the Five Elements is what the universe is made up of; they work in harmony together, which is what you want your garden to reflect. When the Elements work in harmony together, this is called the nourishing cycle.

Whereas it is true you do want free flowing positive Chi throughout the garden, you do not want it to move too quickly. Fast moving Chi does not do your garden or you any good and can even create an environment that is not only unpleasant but agitated as well. There are a number of ways to slow down fast moving Chi, careful placement of the right elements together in the right places is one, another is by incorporating the right colors and objects as well as adding a curvy path. If good Chi is allowed to move too quickly, it will fly right past you without you receiving any of its benefits.

Also, you have to be careful not to put too much of one Element in the same area for example, too much of the Water Element will put out the Fire Element leaving your garden unbalanced. Ideally, your Feng Shui garden should include the following objects to fulfill the Five Elements:

Wood Element: Color Green and Brown, Direction East – a bench, a wooden arbor and various planting boxes.
Earth Element: Colors yellow, orange or brown, Direction Southwest – various clay pots, strategically placed boulders and statues, concrete fountain and marble bench.
Water Element: Color Blue and Black, Direction North- a fountain, Koi or Goldfish pond, blue flowers or bird bath.
Metal Element: Color White, Gold and Silver, Direction West- wind chimes, gold or white flowers, a metal arbor and/or metal bench.
Fire Element: Color Red, Purple, Pink, Yellow and Orange, Direction South – solar path lights, a grill, a fire pit and/or red flowers.

It makes little difference whether you live in a house, which has a big front and back yard or in an apartment with only a balcony, or window box, you can and should create a Feng Shui garden. Having a beautiful Feng Shui garden will neutralize and dispel bad, negative Chi away from your home while inviting positive, high quality Chi into your home. The effort you put into your Feng Shui garden, will be reflected back to you in the ways of prosperity, abundance, balance, harmony, joy and healing energy.
Written By: Sherrie Winstead Copyright 2013
Word count: 1107

Gemini Writing Service

I thought since I had a little time on my hands, I would talk a bit about my first E-Book. It is called ‘Alone in a Crowded World’ and it is about a half Cherokee girl who was never wanted by white society, was shunned by the white side of her own family and the Cherokee people whom she loved dearly, looked at her as white because she did not have a tribal card.

After being blamed for both her parents death by her only sister who was 20 years older than her, she lit out on her own to try and make a place in this world and hopefully, make a difference. There seemed to be problems around every corner and a dark cloud that followed her everywhere due to her severe depression and the fact that every time she started to see the light at the end of…

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