Dandelion Dust: Character Interview

Hi people!

On Friday, My good friend Faith Potts is releasing her first-ever book, Dandelion Dust!

About the Book:

Like a speck of dandelion dust riding the tides of a prairie wind, life is fleeting. Though I never realized just how fragile it was until that day . . .

Charity always had a dream. It was simple, really. Find a guy, fall in love, and get married.
The day she met Ryder, Charity knew he was the man God had chosen for her. But she never expected their relationship to be tested and tried through the fires of a freak accident. Suddenly, her world is thrown into chaos, and the bleak, white walls and sterile smells of a city hospital fill every spare minute. And then there comes the dreaded news. It was likely Ryder would never make it out of the hospital bed.
As her carefully laid plans for the future come crashing down around her and the sun seems to set on her dreams, can Charity still find hope in the dark of night?

Like a dandelion, life is beautiful. But treasure every moment. . . for one day, the flower will be gone.

Add on Goodreads

Interview:

This time, I'm doing something a little different: I'm gonna do a character interview with Drew, Ryder's older brother. So let's get started!

How was your relationship with your family impacted by the accident?

Ryder's accident drew us all closer together. We were pretty tight-knit before, but in a time that tried each of us in diverse ways, my relationships with my siblings and parents (and Charity) became deeper and stronger. More resilient, if you will. 

What's your opinion of Charity, and what is one thing about her that makes you think she belongs with Ryder?

Honestly, I didn't know what to think of Charity at first. When we met, I thought of her as just another girl Hannah was friends with. Pretty soon, I realized she was a strong, godly young lady, not the giggly, teenage girl I was expecting. 

Where Ryder's cracking jokes, Charity's bringing him back to earth. Where she has fears, he builds her up. They are the perfect couple for the ways they complement each other. 

What is, in your opinion, the most important aspect of being a big brother, and how has that changed since Ryder's accident?

To me, the most important aspect of being a big brother and (in my case) the oldest sibling is to be a role model. Even as young children, Hannah and Ryder have looked up to me. Next to Mom and Dad, I should be setting a good, godly example for them to follow. I don't think I was a lame big brother before the accident, but I'd never really given it much thought. Now I'm more aware of the effect I'm having on others' lives. 

If there was one thing or event in your life that you could go back and change, what would it be?

Never agreed to go in half with Ryder when he wanted to buy that ATV? Haha, okay, that probably wasn't what you wanted to hear. :P 

On a more serious note, I would go back to years before the accident and make sure everyone in my life knows what they mean to me. I always just figured my little brother knew how special he was, but until I feared I wouldn't get to make sure of that, I didn't give it much thought. 

And lastly, what has God taught you through your experience in Dandelion Dust?

To not take those you love for granted. Just because you ate breakfast at the same table as someone, doesn't mean they'll be there for supper. As I said above, let them know what they mean to you. Second chances are gifts that aren't promised. 

Thank you for having me, Miss Krispense! 

Thank you, Drew!  All excellent answers.  No wonder all the girls like you. B-)

About the Author:

Faith Potts is a teenage writer, living with her family and beloved yellow labs in the southeastern US. When she's not writing stories, consuming large amounts of coffee, reading books, or creating pottery, she can be found laughing harder than is healthy, daydreaming, and – of course – blowing dandelions.

Writing blog: Stories by Firefly

Faith blog: Chosen Vessels

Social media: Goodreads // Pinterest // Instagram

Also, Faith is giving away two copies of Dandelion Dust! Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blog Tour Schedule:

Wednesday, June 28th

Olivia @ Living for the Other Side // Book Spotlight   

Soleil @ ReviewsbySoleil // Book Spotlight & Review

Liv @ Liv K. Fisher // Book Spotlight & Author Interview

Mikayla @ Ordinary Girl Extraordinary Father // Book Review

Kaitlyn @ Twin Thoughts // Character Interview

Thursday, June 29th

Rebekah @ RebekahAshleigh // Book Spotlight

Angela @ The Peculiar Messenger// Author Interview

Raechel @ Gods Peculiar Treasure Rae // Book Spotlight & Author Interview

Lydia @ Lydia Therese // Book Review

Rebekah @ Rebekah's Remarks  // Book Spotlight & Author Interview

Faith @ The Writer's Song // Book Review & Author Interview

Friday, June 30th (Release Day!)

Rebekah @ RebekahAshleigh// Book Review

Anika Joy @ This Journey Called Life  // Book Spotlight & Review

Laura @ Books and Chapters // Book Review

Olivia @ Living for the Other Side // Book Review

Jesseca @ Whimsical Writings for His Glory // Book Spotlight, Review, & Author Interview

Bethany @ A Great God and Good Cocoa // Book Spotlight & Review

Micaiah @ Adventures Beyond the Horizon // Author Interview

A Hayday

Hi people!

I should've gotten this post up earlier (I mean, I took these pics weeks ago. Plus, I've got my wheat harvest post to do.), but oh well.
I got to hang out with Kordell for a day.

You might be wondering from the title exactly what we were doing?

Well...

We had a hayday.  Literally.
First we went to get bales.

On our way out to get the hayracks, Chowboy hopped on the hitch to get a ride to the trench so he wouldn't have to walk.  On the way, he took a selfie. XD

Loading the hay racks

Kordell is quite interesting to ride with.  For instance, he was imitating the pig that cried 'wee!' all the way home on the Geico commercial… which made him cough but he didn't care.

On our way home to unload

He would also imitate Jimmy & Jerry gourd from VeggieTales.

Empty, we hop on the road...

…To get more bales!

Once we finished hauling bales, we went home and switched tractors to go bale.

There's something about driving down the road in a vehicle larger than others that gives you a sense of power. B-)

Oiling the chains

And off we go!

Singing along to Sawyer Brown…
He also sang parodies of Old McDonald that he made up on the spot.

'Feeding' the baler

The baler got plugged,  so he got in there and dug it out.  And while he was doing that...

I was lazy and sat on the rear tire and read. ;)

I tried to yodel, but he said, "you sound like a caribou." He was right. XD

It was an interesting day, to say the least. ;P (Especially when we were all done with the field.  Going around in random circles to pick up stray hay is not for the faint at stomach! XP)
But thanks for letting me ride, Bro! I did have fun. ;)
~Kaitlyn

Dear Daddy...

Dear Daddy,

How can I put this into words?

Mama became 'Mom' or 'Mother' or 'Ma' or whatever I wanted to call her in less than 15 years.  You've always been Daddy, and I think you always will be.

You're the kind of guy that most people think is grumpy all the time, just 'cause of the way you look.

I know different.

Of course, you've still got that glare of purest steel that scared the living daylights out of me when I had done something wrong, and I'll never forget that muffled snap of the fingers we'd get as a warning when we were acting up in church.
But you've also got that laugh, and smile, and that smirk you get on your face and sparkle in your eyes when I know you're just teasing me.
You're the one that wouldn't allow me to wear skirts too short, shirts too low, or jeans too tight.  You're the one that taught me how to ride a horse, and how to ride a bike.You're the one that always says, "Kaitlyn, when a guy comes calling, I'm looking forward to telling him no."
You've never been afraid to play with us kids; you'd play with our toy farm equipment with us, you'd wrestle with us, give us 'horsey' rides.
You're gentle.  I remember that when Mom would brush my hair, I would be screaming because of the pain.  When you brushed my hair, somehow it didn't hurt as bad.
When I would have nightmares, I would run to your bed, and you would let me sleep with you for the rest of the night.  Even if it squished you and Mom.

Some people would call you strict.

I would call you... well, strict.  But in a good way.

Remember your favorite verse?  You certainly lived by it. XD  But you disciplined us in such a way that we knew exactly why we had gotten the punishment we had gotten, and that we had brought it upon ourselves.

You've always been super patient, and y'know, I don't remember you ever yelling at us.  You never lost your temper, even when us kids were being brats, and when we would 'help' you stack square bales, although we were just being in the way.
You taught me to drive tractor and move bales, and never lost patience when I made crooked rows or turned a bale on end, going at a snail's pace the whole time. ;)

You are the one person in the family that has ALWAYS shared my love for old western TV shows.  Sure, everyone else likes them, but when we're looking for a movie to watch, you almost always take my side. ;)
One night, I had really been looking forward to watching a western.  But everyone (including you) were already in bed.  So when I came to tell you goodnight, you offered to get up and watch one with me.
I declined, but… I went to my bed and just started crying.  Not because I was missing a western, but because my daddy loved me enough to actually be willing to miss some sleep for me.  That meant more to me than you'll ever know.
You've always loved us, and make sure that we know that.
You took up being the spiritual leader of the family, and helped lead me to Christ.  You pray with us, read Bible to/with us; you're the role model that every child needs, and then some.
Daddy, you'll always be my first love.
I love you.
~Kaitlyn

From Google Images

A Trip to the Flint Hills

Hi people!

I apologize for not posting this sooner... but along came some hail that damaged our kale, and rained enough to sail a schooner! (Pardon my rhyming... I'm a poet and I didn't know it! XD)

A couple weeks ago, our family took a trip out to a pasture in the Flint Hills.  It was a gorgeous evening, and after some 4-wheeler riding, we had a cookout.

 

 

And, for those of you who think Kansas is a big desert...

 

 

We'll ignore the fact that this was soon after the pastures were burned and the green was beginning to come up. (Well, that and spring rains.)

Why burn pastures, you ask?  Good question!

When you normally think of prairie/pastures, what do you think of?  A sea of dead, brown grass? 

The pastures are burned to get rid of the dead grass so that green grass will grow for the cattle. (There's more reasons that I'm not going to go into/I don't know.  Sound cool?  Check out Ashleigh's post)

Anyway.

After our 4-wheeler ride, we came back to where Daddy had started a fire and cooked some link sausage.

 

After eating, Kordell took me over a hill to see his cows and calves.

 

 

This little guy is Gil; boy, he's grown!

Then we came back to eat some s'mores.  (I mean, you can't have a campfire without s'mores, can you?! Don't answer that question.)

 

~Kaitlyn

Dear Mom...

Dear Mom,

One of my first memories of you is when the guys were wrestling in the family room, you and I would be sitting in the comfy chairs watching them.  I wanted to join them so bad, but I was scared to because they were so rough.  Then you would give me a smile and tell me to go play, and you made sure they weren't too rough with me.

I also remember you taking me to get my booster shots.  I was scared to death, but you sat right beside me and tried to keep my attention off the needle and the pain even though it didn't work.

I remember rinsing dishes while you washed them, and how proud you made me feel when I could stand at the sink without a chair.

I remember filling my hands with suds, and smearing them on your face and neck.  I had no idea how you would react, but you in turn did the same to me, and it turned being a sud-war, ending with us giggling so hard and suds on the kitchen walls.

You taught me how to read, how to add and subtract, how to tell time and how to tie my shoes when I was little, then how to play the piano, how to do laundry, how to marinade a steak and how to plant and care for a garden when I got older.

You have been patient with me even when I was a little twerp when I was little and when I've been grumpy.

You and Daddy taught me what true beauty is, by telling and showing; that "man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart".  Y'all were and are my role models, and you've lived up to that.

You've taught me life lessons, and have brought me up to know the Lord and what it is to know Him.

Mom, you're amazing.  I love you.

~Kaitlyn

April Showers Bring... {April Recap}

Hi people!

Another month has come and gone.  Can you believe it?

Life/Random:
-The baseball season started for the KC Royals!!

-Palm Sunday; a group of us from the area went to some nursing homes to sing the Golden Belt songs. :)

-The guys found David, a horned toad, out in a pasture (well, my sis named him David, but all the rest of us call him Steve. B-))
In case you were wondering, they did take him back where they found him. ;)

-Easter Sunday: a sunrise service at 6:40 AM, with a delicious potluck breakfast afterward.
Plus, a family gathering in the afternoon.

The sunrise; it was so cloudy, we didn't get to see the sun. ;P

-I got to meet Emily, an amazing gal from WA state!

-During school, in the dining room, Kordell would pick up my camera and take several random pictures. For several days straight.  I have a strange twin.

-Rain.  Lots and lots of rain.

-It's that time of year again: time for the crop dusters to be flying around everywhere and the sprayers to go flying down the road.  (I also was informed of another meaning for the term 'crop duster'.  I won't go into the details.)

-I was introduced to these amazing yet sad songs:

-The lilacs bloomed!  For some reason, our tulips didn't. :(

-My birthday!!  :D

-A dear friend visiting from out of state.

Books:

Finished:
But Not Forsaken by Helen Good Brenneman: 3 stars
-------------
A Question of Honor by Jesseca Wheaton: 5 stars
Gift Horse by Dandi Daley Mackall: 5 stars
Friendly Foal by Dandi Daley Mackall: 5 stars
Buckskin Bandit by Dandi Daley Mackall: 4.5 stars
The Calling of Emily Evans by Janette Oke: 3 stars
Heart of the Wilderness by Janette Oke: 3.5 stars
Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera and Bill Cleaver: 3 stars
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: 2 stars
Sunlight and Shadows (unpublished) by Livi Jane: 4.5 stars
Isle of Swords by Wayne Thomas Batson: 4 stars
Angry Water by Bernard Palmer: 3.5 stars
-------------
Started:
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Timber Wolf by Paul Hutchens

Snippets:
So, I didn't really do much writing at all this month... I'll just pick something random from a random doc. ;P
Ok, this is from JW!  I had a lot of fun writing this scene:

He walked up the stairs, past five-year-old Katie’s room, and into the bedroom he shared with Joey.  He had just stopped beside the bed and unscrewed the lid of the shaving cream jar when he heard the floor creak behind him.  He whirled around, nearly upsetting the cream, and sighing when he saw his father leaning against the door post.

“You scared me!” He exclaimed in a whisper.

Dad smiled apologetically.  “I wanted to see this,” he whispered back with a smirk.

Joey shrugged, smiled, and turned back to his brother. Joey lay on his back, and one of his hands lay underneath his head, the other flopped out beside him, palm up.  Perfect!  Jerry slowly dipped the spoon into the jar, brought out a dollop of shaving cream, and slowly, carefully, placed the cream on Joey’s outstretched hand.  Now for the feather.  He set the jar and spoon down on the nightstand between the two beds and picked up a feather he had pulled from his pillow the night before.

He turned back to Joey’s bed.  Jerry leaned over the bed, paused and glanced in his father’s direction with a look that said, this is going to be good!  Then tickled Joey’s nose with the feather.

Joey’s eyes fluttered, but never opened.

“Try again,” Dad urged in a whisper.

Jerry tickled Joey’s nose.  This time he got results.

Joey’s hand came up and, on its way to scratching his itching nose, caught Jerry’s chin.  Joey then brought his hand up and rubbed his nose, and promptly dropped back to sleep.

****

Once in the bathroom, Joey went straight to the mirror and gasped at what he saw, a large grin spreading across his face.  “Hey, look!” he exclaimed.  “I’m Santy Claus!”

Jerry rolled his eyes. “Santa Claus, Joey.”

“Santy Claus.”

“Santa Claus.”

“Santy Claus.”

“Santa Claus.”

“Boys!”

Both boys jumped at their father’s warning voice.  Then Jerry grinned slyly and said, “Dad, which do you think it is?  Santa Claus or Santy Claus?”

Dad thought for a moment, then replied, “Neither.”

Jerry grinned triumphantly at Joey.  “See?”

“He never agreed with you, Jerry.”

“But he didn’t agree with you either, which is what I was wanting anyway.”  Jerry smirked mischievously.

Music:

The visiting friend that I mentioned can yodel amazingly.

So that kinda got us in a yodeling craze.

We found this:

 I don't know a word that he's saying, but his yodeling blows me away. ;P
Or, if you'd like more of a "normal" video of yodeling:

And there's the month of April in a nutshell. (Speaking of nuts, I had pecan pie for my birthday instead of cake. ^_^)

~Kaitlyn