JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right? Today was my day. Come to think of it...maybe it's a continuation from yesterday.

My goal for today was to write an inspiring blog about the approaching Christmas season. No matter how hard I tried, nothing seemed to gel.

I decided to work on my photography blog but my 'sick' laptop kept freezing up. Each time I'd edit a post, I was unable to publish it. Finally, I did the best I could and gave up.

Verse for the Day:

“But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,”

2 Peter 3:10-11 NLT

~Vada for...

Vada and Joe

IN SEARCH OF...

Hi everyone,

I've spent most of today searching for a new laptop. Not an easy task!

Like any smart shopper, I did a lot of internet searching and comparing to get the best deal. This being cyber week, I thought it's time to replace my sick three-year old HP.

Oh the choices...HP, Dell, Sony, Toshiba, and the list goes on and on. For the most part, I've always stuck with HP. However, QVC had an easy pay deal on a 17.3" Dell that I could not pass up. The only thing...it won't be delivered until December 23! Geeze.  I've never been known for being patient when it comes to new gadgets--like computers.

Today I saw online where Costco had a HP 8GB 750GB Hard drive for right under $800. Sounded good to me. The only problem, when I got to the store they said, "Oh, that price is only for online shopping."

I buy a few items I was needing and made my way back toward home...only stopping in at Sam's Club to check on getting my prescription for new glasses. AGAIN...problems arise.

Ok, so no new glasses (I'll just muddle my way through life.)  I think to myself, I might as well look at their HP laptops. Great, I found just what I wanted and the price was right.  Again, a problem arises. I would have to buy the DISPLAY MODEL. Not for me.

As you can see, I've not had a day where a lot got accomplished. However, I was thrilled to see that two people were now following our blog via email...AND a new member.

Thanks to Tasha Werner for being member #12. Tasha is the sweetest young wife and mother who is working hard at her newly established photography business Tasha Werner Photography. You can check her out at:
http://www.tashawernerphotography.com/default.h7tml

That's if for now. See you tomorrow.

~Vada for...
Vada and Joe

A DAY IN OUR LIVES

It's 4:36 a.m. and my day has begun--a little earlier than usual. Since the forming of our partnership, three years ago, Joe and I have begun our day at 5:00 a.m., but today I'm up a little earlier. I wanted to work on our blog before his arrival. Presently, he is suffering from a bad cold, and our chat session will be brief. However...this is how a normal day goes for us.

He awakens from a restless sleep and with tousled hair makes his way to his downstairs study. He puts on his "bubble" pot, as he calls his noisy coffee pot, of Teeccino (herbal coffee)http://www.teeccino.com/, sits down at his  desk, turns on his computer, and logs onto Yahoo Messenger.

After quickly checking his mailbox and deleting some of the junk mail, he joins me as I've just propped myself up in bed and placed my hard-working laptop on my lap.

"Good morning, Joe."

"Good morning, Vada. Happy Monday to you," he responds. Our day has begun.

After each of us reporting how our night went, he offers me a cup of cyber-Teeccino and a cookie...or banana. We sip and slurp our morning away as we make plans for the day and work on ways to promote our recently published books.

The following is what my screen looks like as our conversation moved to a new idea. (Please overlook the typos; Joe is a one-finger typist. Also, the caps are so that we both can see the text. We both suffer with poor vision.)

I'M ALSO GONG TO CONTACT STACEY IN NEIGHBORHOOD AND ENCOURAGE HER TO BECOMAS A PARTY OF OUR PUBLICITY TEAM
Vada Wolter (11/27/2011 5:50:59 AM): DOROTHY LEARNED ABOUT THE BOOKS THROUGH A FLYER I SENT HER.....HOW BOUT THAT?!?!
Joe Zapalac (11/27/2011 5:51:07 AM): WE NEED TO HAVE A DAILY NEWS LETTER GOING OUT IN THE MAIL TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Vada Wolter (11/27/2011 5:51:31 AM): DAILY? HMMMM MAYBE A WEEKLY ONE...
Joe Zapalac (11/27/2011 5:51:41 AM): WOWW > O GOTTTA GET THESE F:YERS PRINTED AND SENT OUT IN CARDS TO MANY PEOPLE.

We continue our session, sipping and munching our way to 7 a.m. when we break and move into our daily routine. I usually go back to bed while he does his 7 to 8 routine and works his way through the day.

Our second session begins around 3:00 p.m.  We report on how our day went, what we accomplished...or didn't accomplish. We find it beneficial in our long-distance partnership to keep in close contact.

Before long, two hours pass and we each prepare for the dinner hour.

"Good night, Joe. Rest well." I type on the screen.

"Good night, Vada. You're the best, " he responds.

~Vada

GOLDEN SILENCE

By clicking of the following link http://www.sugargrove.org/audio/2011/20110828v_wm.html you will be taken to a sermon that speaks of making time to be still and know God. How to be transformed from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly.

Please take thirty-five minutes and listen to what my pastor, Mark Howell, has to say. Furthermore, you might be interested in purchasing my book "The Caregiver's Story" available on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Caregivers-Story-Memoir-Struggle-Survival/dp/1432776428/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322757506&sr=1-1.

God Bless You.
~Vada

BEING THANKFUL

Thanksgiving is the time of the year when one reflects on the many blessings given to us by our wonderful Creator and God. Some things we, such as the very air we breathe, we never consider, yet how important it is to each of us.

Joseph had cataract surgery on September 23 and I had mine on October 12. I find it strange that writing partners 1100 miles apart shared the same problem. Until my recent cataract surgery, I had never thought about blinking. I do now!

My surgery went as planned but has left me with a slight problem, and I've come to be thankful for lubricant eye drops and being able to hold my eye open properly. The eye doctor now wants to operate on my lids to open my eyes more. I admit...I'm not anxious for this. There are risks each time one has surgery, or so I have learned.

Yet, in spite of the personal trials I'm experiencing I'm still thankful for how things work for good. Take for example how my sending out a small amount of flyers telling others about our recent published books and the signings I would be doing.

My aunt in San Antonio, Texas was interested in one of the books and bought the kindle version from amazon.com. She loved the book so well, she had my uncle read it. He, too, loved the book. I know this because she called my cousin, Margaret, and asked if she'd read my book "The Caregiver's Story" to which she said, "No, but I'll sure buy it!"

At our annual family Thanksgiving Reunion I was surprised at how everyone was coming to me, asking for a copy of my book. This thrilled me beyond words. Not only did I sell them a copy of my book but one of "Treasured Memories" the latest book Joseph and I have published.

Writing is a passion that requires a lot of work and a disciplines lifestyle. Yet, when an author gets positive feedback, it makes all the work and discipline worthwhile...and WE ARE THANKFUL.

~Vada and Joseph

BOOK SIGNING ON NOVEMBER 12, 2011

ST. PHILIP'S PARISH HALL
204 W. CHURCH STREET; EL CAMPO, TEXAS

PLEASE USE THE ENTRANCE ON DEPOT STREET

LOTS OF PARKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

AND AT THE PARKING LOTS ACROSS THE STREET

GOT HEARTACHES?               FACING HURDLES?

THERE IS HOPE...AND HAPPINESS!

ROSIE KREJCI GIESIE AND VADA M. WOLTER HAVE GONE THROUGH THE HEARTBREAKS AND FACED THE HURDLES. HOWEVER,THEY BOTH HAVE FOUND HOPE AND HAPPINESS.

COME SUPPORT FORMER ECHS GRADUATES AND PUBLISHED AUTHORS

IN ADDITION, VADA M. WOLTER WILL HAVE FOR SALE JOSEPH A. ZAPALAC AND HER NEWEST BOOK OF SHORT STORIES: TREASURED MEMORIES.

DUAL BOOK SIGNING PHOTOGRAPHS

This is the flyer used to advertise our dual book signing; however, the location of the book signing had to be changed. Rosie's cousin Father Gary of St. Phillips Church was gracious enough to let us use the Parish Hall. This turned out to be the best place.

One of two signs Rosie made for our signing. Great job! I do appreciate all the work put forth. I have to let you in on an inside joke. I met one of her cousins online and we had a discussion as to how she knew my cousin.

She told me she'd met him at a singing function and that he had also sang at her daughter's wedding.

I told her that I did come from a musical family. Then, teasingly, I asked, "If I sing for you, will you buy my book?"

She laughed and said, "We'll see." Now back to the signs.

Without Rosie's knowledge of the said conversation, she accidentally wrote "Wolter and Giesie SINGING..." on one sign.  Of course she corrected it, but I found it funny.

Now let's walk into the parish hall as seen in the next photo.

Our spouses, Gene Giesie and Truman Wolter, and her cousins were there to help and greet those arriving. The first three of my and Joseph's books published were on display.

Closer look at Vada M. Wolter's display 

Rosie Krejci Giesie and Vada M. Wolter

"KEEP DANCING" by Rosie Giesie and "THE CAREGIVER'S STORY" by Vada M. Wolter are about heartaches, death, grief, and bereavement. The books speak of their struggles and how they found hope, happiness, and how they survived the difficult challenges in their lives.

Vada M. Wolter and Helen McKey

Helen is excited to have Wolter autograph her two copies of "Treasured Memories: A Collection of Short Stories".  Several of the stories in the book were written by McKey's relatives: Erin Braddock and Tasha Werner.

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It was a beautiful day made more beautiful by family, friends, and new acquaintances purchasing books. Thanks to everyone for their support.

Vada