Golden Keys

Soooo, I bought some cute little golden bags the other day for my cool golden keys!  Yes, I’m just a tad bit excited about my upcoming book signings.  I wanted something fun to add to these events.  I needed some sort of treasure that the kiddos could take home with their new book.  What should it be?  Why, certainly - a golden key!  Perfecto!

My girls were so sweet to help me over the weekend.  They sat at the kitchen table and made over 100 golden bags for me, each with one special golden key inside.  With each book purchased at my signings (or bought ahead of time on Amazon and brought to the signing), you will receive a golden bag and key for that precious little one in your life!  I can’t wait!

Honestly, my heart is overflowing with joy!  The beautiful Amazon reviews for Gabriel’s Golden Key are amazing!  I want to share them with you today, as they might touch your heart like they’ve touched mine:

A wonderful book to be read aloud to your children or for them to read on their own.  Is faith based and simply inspires a desire to have a closeness to Jesus.  I bought more to give as gifts!

A real gem of a book!  A beautiful story filled with rhymes, humor, and messages of faith, gratitude, and being the best you can be!  My kids enjoyed the full page illustrations that really helped bring the story to life.  We bought the hardback book for our family and will be buying more as gifts.  While it is a children's book, there is a wonderful poem about teachers being angels without wings which would make it a special gift for school and faith teachers! It would also be a good book to give your godchild!

Wonderful book!  I love the chapter "Angels without Wings"!  What a great tribute to all the teachers out there.  My own kids ages 6 and 9 loved the book!  I've started reading it to my Pre-K students and they love it too!

I absolutely LOVED this book!  I've known Heather Kallus now for several years and I've had the honor of teaching two of her children.  She is an inspiration to everyone.  I loved the rhyming, beautiful pictures, and the message of faith and the importance of having a close relationship with Christ.  I would highly recommend this book to everyone.  It would make a GREAT Christmas gift!!  She has truly been blessed and in turn blesses those around her.

Great children's book.  My daughter loved reading it!  She has already read it again!

Such an amazing & uplifting book.

I just received three copies of Gabriel's Golden Key I ordered for my grandchildren! Heather Spears Kallus' first children's book did not disappoint!  She has a gift for writing and rhyming!  I can't wait for my grandchildren to read her book.  The younger ones will especially enjoy the illustrations and all of them will be anxious to discover the Golden Key!  Well written story and one that reinforces God's love for all of us!

This is a well written children’s book that holds true to the values that we want to instill in our children.

What a beautiful book filled with so much love and faith.  Thank you for sharing your amazing talent with us.  God bless.

Great book!  Can't wait to share it with all the kids in my family!

This is a wonderful book to enjoy with your kids.  Gabriel's Golden Key has a beautiful story line.

A great children's book!

I absolutely love this book!!!  It is an amazing book full of appreciations for all the things RIGHT in this world.  It is a GREAT book for the kids and I don't think you will be surprised to find out the golden key to all things GOOD is easy to find.  I won't spoil it for anyone, but it is a MUST HAVE for kids and a wonderful inspiration for us grown-ups, too.

Such a cute rhyming book!  We couldn't wait for it to come in and my kids truly enjoyed reading it!

Such a sweet collection of stories!  The art is so colorful and cute, too!

What a treasure of a book!  Gabriel's Golden Key will become a cherished book for young and old and especially teachers.  And Elah Minnow....who can't help but find her so lovable. This book encourages and guides one towards faith, hope and love.  A must-have for the home library.

Gabriel’s Golden Key is available in paperback, hard cover, and now, digital for your Kindle!  So fun!  I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to write a review for me.

Aside from all this golden talk about keys and my first children’s book, I know something else that is golden…and that is laughter.  Check out these giggles from Mikey:

Funny #1:

A not-so-bright-fella walks into an ice cream parlor and says, "I'd like two scoops of chocolate ice cream, please."  The girl behind the counter says, "I'm very sorry, sir, but our delivery truck broke down this morning.  We're out of chocolate."  "In that case," the man says, "I'll have two scoops of chocolate ice cream."

"You don't understand, sir," the girl says.  "We have no chocolate."  "Then just give me some chocolate," he says.  Getting angrier by the second, the girl says, "Sir, will you spell VAN, as in vanilla?"  The man says, "V-A-N."  "Now spell STRAW, as in strawberry." "OK.  S-T-R-A-W."

"Now," the girl says, "spell STINK, as in chocolate."  The man hesitates.  Then he says, "There is no stink in chocolate."  "THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU!" she screams.  “THERE IS NO STINKIN’ CHOCOLATE!”

Funny #2:

A juggler, driving to his next performance, is stopped by a policeman.  "What are those machetes doing in your car?" asks the cop.  "I juggle them in my act."  "Oh, yeah?" says the doubtful cop. "Let's see you do it."  The juggler gets out and starts tossing and catching the knives.  Another man driving by slows down to watch.  "Wow!" says the passer-by. "I'm so glad I quit drinking.  Look at the test they're giving now!

Well, after a chuckle or two, I hope to see you at my upcoming book signings!  I’ll have golden pens AND golden keys ready for you!

Have a wonderful week, Sunshines!  Bye for now.

Bye For Now

Photo Credit:  LeanneStewart from morgueFile.com

Goodbye seems so final – seven letters in a row,

“Bye for now” feels better – this I do know.

When parting ways from this earth or simply for the day,

Bye for now is comforting – that I must say.

Bye for now provides a chance to meet again somehow,

To give or get another hug – that time, it will allow.

Bye for now offers hope to all the ones we love,

That simple phrase might be a gift directly from above.

Days can feel oh so long, but years are short indeed,

Ask anyone who’s lost a love – “Just one more day,” we plead.

All the memories in our hearts, tucked away, we keep,

Special ones leave a mark, one that’s surely deep.

So, let’s not say goodbye.  Let’s change the way we part,

Let’s say, “Bye for now.”  It’s softer on the heart.

Whether it is in a text, long e-mail, or note,

Let it be remembered – bye for now is what we wrote.

Or when our time on earth has met its final date,

It’s bye for now, not goodbye – see you at The Gate!

P.S.  My kiddos want to invite you out to my NOVEMBER BOOK SIGNINGS!  Mark your calendars:

•     November 5 at Angels & Outlaws in Gonzales, TX (10-5pm)
•     November 12 at The Market of Victoria, TX (10-5pm)
•     November 19/20 at The Gift Box & Jingle Bell Market in College Station, TX
•     November 26 at Cotton Belles Boutique & Co in Victoria, TX (10-5pm)

I look forward to seeing you there!

Grab your copy of Gabriel's Golden Key on Amazon today!  It’s sure to make a wonderful Christmas gift for all the children in your life.

I'll have my "golden" pens ready at the signings!  Thanks again for the amazing support you have given me.  I truly appreciate each one of you.  Thank you in advance for reviewing my book on Amazon, too! 

Have a wonderful week, Sunshines!

Golden Pens

I just bought some "golden" pens for my book signings!  Yeah!  I cannot thank you enough for the outpouring of love and support for my first children's book, Gabriel's Golden Key!  I'm overwhelmed with joy!  

Here are just a few of the reviews that I’ve received thus far:

Kim - I absolutely love this book!  The whole book is wonderful.  The poem for the teachers made me tear up because teachers are so underappreciated and I pray for them each week at CCD.  It is an amazing book full of appreciation for all things right in this world.  It is a GREAT book for the kids and I don't think you will be surprised to find out the golden key to all things good is right in front of us.  I won't spoil it for anyone, but it is a MUST HAVE for kids and I venture to say, some of us grown-ups too.

Lindsey - In true Heather-fashion, she wowed us with her words and inspired us by her faith.  How amazing that through Gabriel's Golden Key, Heather will bring Jesus into thousands of homes around the world.  Have you gotten your copy yet?

Amanda - Just received my book!  Loved it!  The poem about teachers brought tears to my eyes.  I want to read this chapter at our next PTC meeting and faculty meeting.

Jill - Check her out!  We're so proud of you.  This would be a great stocking stuffer for all our kiddos, grandchildren, Godchildren, etc.  Way to go, Heather!

Catherine (from England) – CONGRATULATIONS, SISTER!  Well done!  I'm sure you are very pleased to have had an extra dose of sunshine that you spread to others.  It has inspired me to get writing.  I've inherited the writing gene and should get writing.  Maybe you'll see my name on a book too one day!

It’s amazing to see what God can do, if we let Him.  It seems just like yesterday that I had that little chat with God.  Back in early 2011, I vividly remember sharing with God, “I really love to write.  I love words.  I love how words can stir something within or even be life-changing.  I feel a strong desire to write.  Use me as an instrument.  I want to write for You.”

Fast forward a few years and tons of Sips of Sunshine blogs and here I am with my first published children’s book.  I’m still in “Wow-mode.”  Over the last year, I had to exercise much patience during the publication process.  It truly takes time.  Now, with a book sitting on my computer desk and zero Marketing classes on my transcript, I am slowly learning how to share my book with the world.  More patience.  One step at a time.

I’m thrilled to say that God has blessed me with facebook-loving-friends who enjoy giving shout-outs about my book – THANK YOU!  Then, God surprised me with two book signings and a couple of interviews with local newspapers!  Many of you have asked about the book signings, so please mark your calendars:

Saturday, November 5^th at Angels & Outlaws (413 Saint George Street, Gonzales, Texas 78629)

On Saturday, November 12^th at The Market (1411 E. Airline Road, Victoria, Texas 77901)

Please like my Sips of Sunshine Facebook page as I’ll be giving updates there on the times for these book signings. https://www.facebook.com/sipsofsunshine/

If you haven't grabbed your copy of Gabriel’s Golden Key on Amazon yet, please do: https://www.amazon.com/Gabriels-Golden-Heather-Spears-Kallus/dp/1682893375/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1476209528&sr=8-1

If you’ve read my book, would you mind heading over to Amazon to review it for me?  Thanks so much!

Finally, as I get more and more excited about using my cool new golden pens, I ran across an inspirational story by Miss Oline that may help us put into perspective what is truly golden in our life:

Once upon a time, a man punished his five-year-old daughter for using up the family’s only roll of expensive golden wrapping paper before Christmas.  Money was tight, so he was even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used the expensive golden paper to decorate a large shoebox she had placed under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the next morning, the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, “This is for you, Daddy!”  As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting that he had punished her.

But, when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again, his anger flared.  “Don’t you know, young lady,” he said harshly, “that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside the package?!”

The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered, “Daddy, it’s not empty.  I blew kisses into it until it was all full.”

The father was crushed.  He fell to his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl.  He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later.  It is told that the father kept this golden box by his bed for all the years of his life.  Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of his beautiful child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends, and God.  There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Have a wonderful week, Sunshines!

Gabriel's Golden Key

Do you love adventure?  How about looking for gold?  Do you have time for a rhyme?  If you answered yes, then grab your detective hat and dive into Gabriel’s Golden Key right alongside his little minnow friend.  Gabriel wants to find the golden key and Elah has the clues he needs to unlock the mystery. 

However, curious Gabriel has a few questions during his journey.  He wants to know what angels do in heaven and why some of them don’t have wings.  Join Gabriel as he hunts for answers and the golden key…actually, the shiniest golden key of all!  Will he ever find the key?  Open this book and you will see!

Yes, those are the words you will find on the back cover of my new book.  My baby has arrived, Sunshines!  Well, not a real baby, but my “book baby” that I’ve been loving on for months and months and months now!  I’m so proud and blessed to say that my very first children’s book, Gabriel’s Golden Key, is here at last!  My book is published!

I can’t decide who was more excited to see the package from my publisher – my children or me.  My daughters were running around screaming – “Mom!  Mom!  It’s your book!  Your book!  Your booooook is here!  Woo-hoo!!!!”

Sooooo…..I want to thank each of you for being patient with me and for supporting me with your encouraging words along the way as I waited for this day to come.  It doesn’t seem real, but as I type this Sips, I have my book sitting right beside me.  I’m flipping through the pages and yep, it’s real!

I would be thrilled if you would grab a copy today for your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, friend, neighbor, random child, or even yourself!  It’s sure to make a wonderful Christmas gift, birthday gift, or “just-because” gift!  It’s available in paperback and hardcover and will be available in digital format soon.  Here are a couple of links to get you started: 

On Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Gabriels-Golden-Heather-Spears-Kallus/dp/1682893375/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475602562&sr=8-1&keywords=Gabriel%27s+Golden+Key

On Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gabriels-golden-key-heather-spears-kallus/1124674606?ean=9781682893371

It would be extra-super-duper awesome if you would then take the time to review my book on Amazon after you read it.  Thank you, in advance!

It’s hard to believe that I have a published book.  I am an author.  Whoa.  I owe all the glory to God, the Author of Life, for this incredible opportunity.  Here’s my little author blurb that you will find inside my book:

Heather Spears Kallus is a freelance writer who lives in the great state of Texas with her husband and three kiddos.  She enjoys inspiring others in her sunny little corner of cyberspace at Sips of Sunshine.  Heather thinks in rhyme…most of the time.

She won first place with her poem, A Baby Book, in a national poetry contest in 2012.  Her poem, A Military Heart, was chosen to be read at the Golden Gate National Cemetery Ceremony on Veterans Day in 2013.  Many of her poems have been published in local newspapers. 

Heather has a master’s degree in nutrition from Texas A&M University in College Station.  Throughout her college studies, she learned that you are what you eat, but as a writer, she loves to say, “You are what you read.” 

She is crazy about her family and friends, hearing her children laugh, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream, music, and dancing.  She’s not impressed with early mornings, bad cell phone reception, traffic, negative attitudes, or raw celery.

She treasures all the times that her children (no matter how big they get!) crawl up on her lap in a rocking chair to read a book together.  Heather hopes that Gabriel’s Golden Key will become one of your favorites that you will want to read again and again and again! 

You can follow her Sips of Sunshine blog on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

It would bring me oodles of sunshine if you would share this post with your family and circle of friends.  My publishing company encouraged me to be a cheerleader for my book, but I don’t want to cheer alone.  I would much rather cheer with a team, so please join me in sharing my love for reading by letting others know about Gabriel’s Golden Key!  Rah!  Rah!  Rah!  Go Team Sunshine!

With gratitude, I thank you for your time in helping me spread the word.  You rock!

Have a wonderful week, Sunshines!