End of The Year Tease

Its great you decided to visit since this is the last post for 2019!!! 😃

It has been a year! Unfortunately, not for my writing. I've had some struggles keeping up with writing. I'm praying 2020 will be a lot better. 

Anyway, let's celebrate the end of the year with a small teaser from

FUMBLED FAITH!! (My next book on the list for publishing.)

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Do NOT use or reproduce in ANY form.
Protected Content.

In a feeble attempt to get breakfast, I tried my hand at some bacon and eggs. Cooking had been one skill I lacked. Mom did most of the cookery growing up while Grace took care of it once we moved in together. Until now, I didn’t realize how hard cooking was. There must be a specific intergalactic alignment or moon phase that made Grace whip up some exclusive meals in this kitchen over the years. Cabinets rose like sky scrappers in all directions as I checked each one for some sort of pan to fry my food. I briefly watched Grace some mornings busying herself skillfully around the kitchen. I got a few eggs and grabbed the large pack of bacon from the top shelf of the fridge. Then, got to work. The package of bacon was sealed like it was going out of style, so I grabbed a knife, cut it open, and cut my finger too. Who knew that the chef knife set had been that sharp. This little nib didn’t stop me. After a few minutes of grumbling, I wrapped my injured finger and went back to work. I lit the gas stove and put the bigger frying pan on the burner. I dumped a bit of oil when I missed, and a small amount landed on the floor. I made the mental note to clean it up later.

Everything seemed to be going well. Bacon was frying in a pan. The oil sizzled in the smaller one as I grabbed the egg, only to find out that it didn’t need that much strength to crack it. Huge chunks of shells fell into the eggs and I did my best to scoop them out. Shortly after, I realized I didn’t grab anything to flip the eggs, so I rushed around the kitchen finding something to use when I hit the oil on the floor and fell. All the air in my lungs came out in a whoosh as I hit the floor. Laying in my pool of misery, I forced myself up, grabbed the cooking utensil and struggled to flip the now overdone egg. That’s when hell broke loose, and the bacon grease popped out of the pan on to my arm. Winching in pain with each hit, I shuffled the bacon around until it was a little too crispy. The bacon was unloaded on the plate and I slide the eggs in beside it. 

National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

It's that time again.

Where we remember...

... the ones it's hard to remember...

.. the time that's most difficult for some...

... the time where our angels come to light!

October 15th 

such an important day to some

and just another day to others.

I am here to change this. 

As a mother to an angel, 

I strive for all to know just how

special this day is to me.

Therefore, where ever you are, please

take part in the Wave of Light. Post your photos

here: https://www.facebook.com/raebethbudabuda

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

It's that time again.

The time where seasons 

remind me that it's okay to let go.

However, it's hard because

I was never ready for her to leave. 

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month.

This month I'm asking for you to help educate others

and support those who have experienced this loss. 

On the 15th of October, we do a "wave of light" and you can

join from wherever you are. (More details will be posted closer to the day.)

For now, please help me in honoring my daughter, Dakota by sharing her story with your friends and family. Here's a little bit about her book.

Title: Saying Goodbye Without Saying Hello
Author: RaeBeth McGee-Buda
Genre: Non-Fiction
Audience:  Adult
Formats: Paperback, Kindle, and Nook
Publisher: Self-Published; Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Cover By: Marcy Rachel Designs
Editor: Lee Ryder
Pages: 230
ISBN-10: 1492110884
ASIN: B00FWTKRTI
Date Published: October 15, 2013

The journey of pregnancy brings hope, joy, and love for the expecting mother. The hope of giving birth to a new life. The joy of feeling this new life growing inside of her. The love that starts with a test that doesn’t ever end. Dreams for the unborn child flood the new mother’s mind, as well as those around her. Each step of the pregnancy is a cherished moment. The anticipation of meeting her cherished baby builds from the very first month and ends after birth.
This is the story of one mother and how a few words changed her life forever. How a piece of her faded when she heard these words: “There’s no heartbeat.” When RaeBeth Buda laid in the hospital in labor, she and her husband heard those dreaded words.
What happens when all of those dreams are shattered in a moment’s notice? How does one cope with the loss of their child? This is the story of their journey and of the devastating grief of the loss of her daughter, Dakota Emily Buda.

Excerpt

 Around 1:00 on the morning of the 27th, a person from the OB floor called my name. I motioned him over. He grabbed the wheelchair and pushed me through the halls. Mom and Greg followed closely behind. When we finally got to the sixth floor, they took me into triage room one.

“Hello, what brings you in?” The woman asked as she came in.

“I think we’re about to have a baby,” I answered her with a smile.

Why else would we be there? It’s not everyday people like to hang out in the OB part of the hospital for no reason at all.

“Okay, you’ll need to strip from your waist down. I’ll need a sample of your urine here in this cup and put the rest in the plastic bin. I’ll be back in a few minutes to hook you up.” She instructed as she pointed to the small toilet in the room.

It was a good thing I had to go. I looked over at my mom and Greg as I said, “Hope I can do this without peeing all over the place.” Of course, I tried to make both laughs and succeeded. As I pulled down my panties, I noticed a small amount of blood. My mom and Greg noticed too.

“The bloody show. You’re definitely not going anywhere any time soon.” My mom said with a smile. “We’re gonna have a baby!” She chanted excitedly.

The only thing I could come back with was, “Or she’s in distress.”

“Don’t think like that. All will be fine. Have some faith.” My mom said to calm me down and comfort me.

Once I was ready to get on to the bed, I slowly made my way with Greg’s help. I laid back and the contractions were much stronger. Around one in the morning, the nurse finally came back in, shut the door, and walk to the left side of the bed. She grabbed a strap and placed it on my belly. “This will monitor the contractions, which I see you’re definitely having.”

Once the strap was in place, she fiddled with the machine for a few minutes and said, “Let’s find that heartbeat.”

She grabbed the gel, put a good bit on my belly, and grabbed the Doppler. Once she spread out the gel, she started searching for Dakota’s heartbeat. I couldn’t wait to hear it. It was only a matter of seconds before I’d hear it.

She kept moving around on my belly. I pointed to the right side of my belly button and said, “This is usually where my doctor found her heartbeat without a problem.” She moved the device there. We still didn’t hear anything.

After another squirt of gel on my belly, she searched again. My heart raced and panic overtook me. Something was wrong. I could feel it. I glanced at my mom and Greg. They were worried too. I saw Greg swallow hard and turned my attention back to the nurse.

“Sometimes it takes time to find the heartbeat. The baby could be lying with her back towards yours, which makes it hard for the machine to pick it up. I’m going to get an ultrasound machine. That will definitely pick it up.” The nurse said, as she placed the Doppler back and walked out of the room.

My mom saw worry and panic cross my face. She stood up from her chair and walked over to me. “Let’s pray,” she said. My mom, Greg, and I said a quick prayer while we waited on the nurse. Within a few minutes, the door opened and the nurse pushed in an ultrasound machine. She plugged it in and turned it on.

As she stood to the right of me, Greg and my mom were on my left. My mom held my leg and Greg took a hold of my hand. I eagerly wanted the nurse to put a fire under her ass and hurry up. It seemed like everyone and everything started moving in slow motion. The nurse began looking at Dakota through the ultrasound.

At first, I couldn’t tell what was on the screen. What I noticed was that she was not trying to hear her heart but to see it. That was when it came into view. My daughter’s heart was not beating. I rubbed my eyes, thinking they were playing a trick on me. The nurse stood up and walked out of the room without saying a word.

Moments later, three other medical personnel walked into the room. They whispered in their small circle where we couldn’t hear and continued looking at the screen. The room was quiet. I heard the ultrasound machine running and could have heard a pin drop. I knew my baby was gone by the look on their faces, but no one said anything.

“Ummm, hello? Someone tell me what’s going on?” I yelled. I was tired of it. I knew what this meant, but I wanted them to say it. It was not final until someone had said it.

The doctor closest to me said, “I’m sorry. She’s gone.”

To read Dakota's full story, purchase here:
AMAZON: https://goo.gl/ygS5UG

Happy Good Friday and Easter Weekend...

Heyyyy readers.....

It's great to see you here. Thank you for stopping by.

I just wanted to wish all a wonderful weekend and remember what we're celebrating. I am full of gratitude for the sacrifices that occurred many years ago because someone LOVED me. He loved me so much that He gave His life for me.

Therefore, for Easter weekend ONLY... I'm offering my ebook, Heavenly Realities: Stumbling Towards Gratitude for FREE on Amazon. That's April 20th through April 22. Grab your copy and don't forget to spread the word.

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Book Description:

Gratitude is often thought of as a gift or a blessing. By choosing gratitude, we teach ourselves to see the blessing in all situations, which leads to a more thankful life.

This thirty-day challenge will take you on a journey, which will have you looking at different parts within life to find gratitude and give thanks. We will focus on the meaning of gratitude, seeing gratitude in difficult moments, ungratefulness, thankfulness, and even focus on saying thanks to friends and family who deserve recognition. When we choose gratitude, we teach our children to be more thankful and live a life with "eyes of gratitude." 

Join me on this journey to better your life with joy, happiness, and an attitude of gratitude.

Fumbled Faith Teaser

I know I haven't done this for a while so I thought it'd be a nice treat for you. So, enjoy this (unedited) preview of Fumbled Faith. (Content is subject to change by publication and is protected by copyright laws. Do not reproduce or use in any forms.)

FUMBLED FAITH by RaeBeth McGee-Buda & Krissy Piper

Release date will be announced soon!!

****

Drowned in thought, I didn’t realize I reached our once perfect home. Grace loved this house, now it was a prison of memories which hurt like hell as I opened the front door. The smell of her perfume lingered. Cartoons played on the television with Lexi nowhere around. She’d never watch her morning shows, laughing at the silliness while Grace shuffled through the kitchen preparing breakfast. I physically felt my heart shatter as I shut off the cartoons for the last time. I tossed my cell and keys on the side table and glimpsed around. This house was a lonely reminder of my loss.

Sickened by the hand I had been dealt, I regretted walking into the bedroom to change my clothes. Grace’s morning clothing mess was scattered about while her vanity was chaotic, an indication she had been rushed. Here her perfume lingered, making my stomach clench. With a quick wash of my face, I went down to the kitchen. Once I had a cold beer in hand, I stretched out on the ancient couch and drank.

****

If you enjoyed this preview, I'll be sharing more in my closed Facebook group and you're invited to join!!

Welcoming 2019...

The year 2018 went rather slow for me since other issues took first place over my writing and life was full of surprises for my family. In the beginning of 2018, I was evicted from the home I lived in and had to move. Once settled in, my family and I took our first vacation to the beach. Toward the end of the year, God threw us another curve ball and we were informed that my husband's job would end in February 2019. So then, he went into search mode for another job and is currently still there. 

In 2018, I only had one release. However, I plan so much more for 2019 and I pray God will see it through if it's His will. Below you will find a list of my hopes/plans for the following year. As we all know, this could change, but this is what I'm praying for when it comes to my writing. In addition to being a wife, mother, and writer... I am also volunteering at my children's homeschool group. So that is scheduled for three days of the week. I've designated Tuesday's and Thursdays for full writing days and will try to fit it in wherever I can during the remaining parts of the week. On the weekends, I'll be off since those days are dedicated to my children.

You can still keep up to date with me and have more interaction from me in my private group on Facebook. This is where I seem to be the most active.

Okay, enough rambling and onto the upcoming plans for the year...

1. Various vlogs posted each week. 

(I originally planned these for each Wednesday. However, I had a hard time keeping up with that schedule. Therefore, I will TRY a weekly schedule, but that could change. 

2. Finishing writing Fumbled Faith and publish.

This book I've co-authored with a good friend of mine who helped plot out the first half of the book. It has been so much fun working with another person who shares the same love for writing that I have. 

3. Finish writing #loveyoumore and publish.

I would have had this one published by now had I not decided I wasn't happy with the book and the direction it was going. I deleted over half of the manuscript and started over. Remember, Colonia and Tyler's story is partly based upon my relationship with my husband. 😀 

4. Grow my Facebook group.

5. Host several events/giveaways OUTSIDE of my group.

I've hosted most of my giveaways within the group and only those who participated were eligible. However, this year, I want to give back to my readers by opening a few giveaways to the public.

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There we have it. Once my two current works in progress are completed, I'll be announcing plans for more upcoming projects. Until then, stay tuned for my release schedule and event schedule.