IMPORTANT UPDATES

I'm currently in transition mode, but wanted to make sure you were all kept in the loop! Here are a few things you need to know:

1. You can now keep up with my blog updates, as well as all of my new book info at www.JenniferHeyns.webs.com. Please check out the site weekly for updates and help me spread the word by sending links to others! (I really do appreciate it.)

2. My son's fundraiser is going on until October 28. You'll find lots of great holiday gift items - mostly nuts and chocolates, but some very unique items - at www.VirginiaDiner.com. When you get to your shopping cart click on Virginia - All Other, Marshall MS Music and type in Sterling Heyns. (He really does appreciate it - he's working toward a NetBook!)

3. Did I mention I have a book coming out and a new web site? There are already 2 blog posts over there - did you miss them? Go see! By the way, it's www.JenniferHeyns.webs.com.

See you there! (Hopefully again and again!)

NEW BUSINESS

Some exciting things are afoot over here at my place - mostly virtual, but some reality as well. First things first, though - the kids. Back to school for the kids means so many other things than new clothes, bookbags and composition books. It means exposure to billions more germs, getting sick every other week and fundraisers.

I. Now, before you go rolling your eyes at the mention of fundraisers, hear me out. My son's band class has come up with something fun and tasty. It's called Virginia Diner. They have tons of nuts and chocolate goodies. It's not just the traditional chocolate covered peanuts and peanut brittle - they've got all kinds of Virginia nuts and spicy treats.

Many years ago one of my husband's business suppliers sent us a tin of Virginia peanuts every year at Christmas. They were so good and we looked forward to their arrival every year. So, this year, think outside the box - these treats are great for your family, but they make great gifts for friends, out-of-town relatives and customers you wish to give preferential treatment to.

My son's goal is to sell 180 items, which will earn him a NetBook. I realize this is a bit of a lofty goal but he's determined to give it an hostest, earnest try and I admire his optimism - so I've promised to help in any way I can.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to log onto http://www.virginiadiner.com/ and take a look at what they have to offer. If you would like to order something to help out the school's band and my son - when you get to your shopping cart you will be prompted to enter our information. Under "Region" click on "Virginia - ALL OTHER", under "Organization" click on "Marshall Middle School Music" and in the "Participant's Name" blank, please type Sterling Heyns.

I/he/we/they truly appreciate it! Orders that are placed online are subject to shipping charges although they are tax exempt. If you know us personally and are local, you can just email me your order and we can place it directly through the school and you won't have to pay any shipping.

II. The Book, The Blog and The Site: As many of you (hopefully all of you by now) know, I am working on my first book. I am happy to announce that it's just "this" close to being finished. I have written all that I have to offer and am now scheduling interviews with medical professionals in order to be able to add official quotes and information to give the book even further credibility.

In light of the fact that the book is so near completion I have started constructing a new web site where people can buy the book as an eBook download, find out more about me, the fabulous author, and about other things I've written and other sites I write for or network on. Also, because of this, I feel I have to "out" myself here. My two personalities must merge and become one (again). Although I've truly enjoyed giving my alter ego, Adivah Israel, an outlet of her own, it's time for me to own up to the fact that I'm me - no surprise to most of you, but my name is Jennifer Heyns and I need you all to remember that. Jennifer Heyns is the name you need to know when the book comes out - cause I'll want to you tell everyone you know about it!

The new site is up, but I still want to make changes. I could use your help to decide what's good about the site, what's bad about the site and what's ugly about the site. Please jump on over to http://www.jenniferheyns.webs.com/. (see there's that name again!) The book isn't on it yet, but the plan is to complete the book, complete the site and then merge them together no later than Christmas!

Your second mission, should you choose to accept it is to grade me on my new website and report back - I need to know what you think of it and what needs to be changed, added or deleted. Also, please note that once the site is complete and the book is on it, I will be posting my blogs there instead of here. So, again - remember my name - Jennifer Heyns - so that you can keep up with the post-book blog. It'll have more serious healthcare stuff on it, but I promise to let Adivah out regularly so that she can keep you laughing!

Thanks - love to all!

STINK, STANK, STUNK

Out here in the country, we're used to odd critters. And I'm not talking about the Good Old Boys who drive their farm tractors down the road or the ladies who answer their door in their curlers - I'm talking honest to God little critters.

We've got snakes. We've got bears. We've got foxes, deer and ground hogs. But the bugs. Oh, dear Lord, the bugs.

Our first year out here in the sticks was The Year of the Locust. I thought God himself had sent plagues upon our house, cursing us for erecting yet another structure upon his beautiful planet. They were everywhere. And not just the critters themselves. Oh no, everywhere you walked you crunched on the tiny little locust shell carcasses that they left behind.

But they came, they saw, they grossed us out and then they left. No big deal.

The next year was the lesser known Year of the Ladybug. Our beautiful yellow house turned into a creeping, crawling, flying facade of red with black polka dots. I have never seen so many ladybugs in all my life. But ladybugs are no big deal, right - aren't they supposed to be good luck? I took it as God's apology for the locusts the year before (until they found their way inside and lined my cathedral ceilings).

But they, too, came to pass.

Now the last two years have made me wonder, first of all, where the heck are we, and why does God keep sending weird things our way and second of all, what on earth could these critters possible benefit to the planet be? Every fall now, we get Stink Bugs. They are quite harmless - they don't bite or sting. But, damn, they sure are ugly.

They are little gray bugs with hard crunchy (trust me, I know this by experience) shield-shaped backs. They crawl (lightning fast) and they fly (with speeds to make Iron Man jealous) and if you scare one just right, or squish it you will know without a doubt why they are known as stink bugs.

Each year as the weather turns cold, whenever the sun shines and warms our nice yellow house they swarm all over it. It's gotten to the point where you can't even get in the door without a dozen of the little buggers accomanying you inside. Once they're inside they hide. They're the best darn hide-n-seekers known to man. But they enjoy the game, too. They hide only until the right moment and then - BAM - out they come to make even the machoest of men scream like little girls.

We're getting used to it, though. We've learned to keep a broom on the front porch so that you can do buggy battle - light saber-style - and vanquish them just long enough to scoot in the front door.

We still can't escape them inside, though. They have become a part of our daily ritual. Why, just in the past few weeks we have brewed them in our sweet tea (yum!), toasted them with our bread (super yum!), trapped a million or so between our windows and screens (for real-life art displays). We sleep with them, we shower with them, we find them in our pockets when we dress. They are in our cars, our light fixtures, our plants and even the fish tank.

Such is life in the country. It's a tradeoff, I suppose. We should feel blessed. We have no traffic, no drive-by shootings, no one gets mowed down by Metrorails or Metrobuses. I guess this is just God's way of telling me to count my blessings, because life in other places truly does stink more than life with stink bugs.

TWITTER TWUESDAYS

Mondays have always been a struggle for me.

Let me preface that. I was born on a Tuesday morning. Tuesdays = good.

I'm not sure why, but I have always struggled to make it through Mondays just to get to the bright sunshiney pleasure of a Tuesday morning.

Having said this, many unreasonable, unruly, unpredictable and unavoidable things just seem to happen to me on Mondays.

In order to relieve the stress of Mondays, I have decided to make Tuesdays "Twitter Twuesdays" where every hour I will post something on my @jeheyns Twitter account that will give you a peek into what I've just survived on the previous "Miserable Monday".

I started today, so if you're not following me - git to it! And feel free to laugh at me, cry with me or just plain tsk!tsk! in pity or perturbulance (yes - it's a word. I'm a writer and I just wrote it therefore it's a word!)

Happy Twitter Twuesday! Enjoy it while you can, another Miserable Monday is just 6 days away! (Luckily we have Wonderful Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday, Fabulous Friday, Sensational Saturday and Serene Sunday between here and there!)

PRAYERS

It seems like the world has become a much darker place in the last two years. I have watched as so many who are dear to me have suffered in so many different ways.

Two years ago I watched my closest friend get her heart ripped out and trampled on by the man she loved faithfully for 15 years and listened as she cried and suffered throughout their painful separation and divorce. My heart ached for her and her children.

A year ago I learned that my neighbor was suffering from cancer. As I watched his body wane and his movements slow I listened as he said, repeatedly, "I'll beat it, this ain't nothin'." I admired his positive attitude.

A few months ago I was relieved when a friend of mine told me the doctors finally figured out what was causing the pain she'd been suffering from for years and happy when she finally had the procedure that ended it, but devastated for her when she found out (that same week) that her husband needed the same procedure only under emergency services, but that it did not relieve his suffering, it only seemed to bring on more health problems.

Not to mention over the past two years the economy has hurt so many people near and far. We have friends who have lost long-time and short-lived jobs alike, had homes foreclosed on, vehicles reposessed and others who now have learned to count every penny in their budget and mile on their car.

Today has been especially rough. We've learned that another friend, who recently lost his house, has had his vehicle repo'ed. My neighbor, who succombed to his cancer after a long and painful battle, was buried this morning. My friend is sitting in a hospital right now awaiting news of how her husband's surgery is going and hoping that everything goes well so that he can recover - a process they told her will cause him to stay in the hospital for two weeks and then require him to stay at home in bed for another two - if it all goes according to plan.

I have never claimed to be significantly religious, although I do, without a doubt, believe in God and trust that he has a plan and that everything that happens to us is for a reason. Some days it's just harder to trust than others.

My other friend, the one who is now divorced, is my beacon of hope. She is now enjoying her life again, has found a wonderful man who loves her, has gotten a new job she loves that allows her to feel confident in her ability to provide for her children and seems to be truly happy.

For all of my friends and loved ones I pray, perhaps not as often as I should, but frequently. I pray for help for those who are suffering. I pray for those who are hurting. And always, at the end of each prayer I thank God for the blessings in my life. As difficult as they may be to see that day, I know that I have so much to be thankful for. I know that everything will work out as it should and that even in the face of adversity, fear and heartache there are, all around us, signs of love, hope and joy. These are the things we need to cling to.

I love you all.