Celebrating Christmas with Grover & Gracie at ChickFilA of Apex, NC

What a merry time we had celebrating with the fine folks at ChickFilA of Apex!

We ate MOR Chikin Sandwiches & Chikin Mini's and loved the yummy milkshakes!

My sweet students came out to help me with the story and reciting the Luke 2 passage!!

This was our evening event!!

Mimi the Clown was there. She is amazing! She does the most beautiful face painting I've ever seen!

Santa Cow joined in the fun!!

Elf Cow too!!

Then came our breakfast event!! Mmmmm, love me some Chikin Mini's!!

She quoted the Luke passage flawlessly! I love God's children hiding His Word in their hearts!

 Some of the proceeds were given to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for beautiful children like this!

And here's our youngest guest joining me in wishing you a Merry Christmas!!

It's all because of Jesus!!

Chick-fil-A at Apex Celebrating Christmas!!

Please come join me at Chick-fil-A at Apex Beaver Creek Commons!

Wednesday, Dec. 7  5:30-7:30pm

or

Saturday, Dec. 10  8:00-10:00am

Santa Cow & Elf Cow will be there celebrating with us!

Come Eat Mor Chikin and join in the fun!

I will be reading Grover Groundhog Is Not Hibernating This Christmas! and would love to autograph

books for the children on your Christmas list.  The books are $10.00 each and when you purchase at the books at Chick-fil-A at Apex, $1.00 from each book sold goes to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Christmas Craft Fairs and Festivals...First Baptist Church of Indian Trail, NC and Hemby Bridge, NC!!

Mistletoe Madness at First Baptist Church of Indian Trail is always fabulous!  Their women's ministry does an outstanding job!!  I always love spending time with my friends Jean Matthew Hall and Jill Roman Lord!  And of course it's so great to see so many of my Charlotte area friends!!

And then we really got in the mood for the holidays with all the sights, smells, and sounds of Christmas in Hemby Bridge!

Our dear friends, Don and Cindy Kinney, shared their tent, chairs and setup expertise with us!!  It was fun to visit with them!!

The talented illustrator, my sweet Daddy, came by to visit for a while.

My Jersey girl, Evie, spent the whole day with me!!  We had fun snuggling up and trying to keep warm!

Yep!  I'm one happy Mama!  I miss my girls!  Evie and I loved it when Rachel came to join us!!  We got to rub her baby belly and even feel the baby move!!  Daddy Brandon came by too!!  So blessed!!

Thanking God for this journey!!!



Glimpses of the Fun On the Road!

What a blessing to share a road trip to Hudson, NC with my sweet Mama!!  We laughed, reminisced, ate at Cracker Barrel, and spent the night with a dear friend, Dottie Almond.  She was so gracious!

We started the morning at Heritage Christian School.  What a delight!!  We were greeted so warmly...on a cold, really cold day!!  Thank you, Audrey Setzer!!  The students and teachers were just fabulous!

Then we headed over to Harris Chapel Baptist Christian School.  Thanks to Karen and Pastor Norrod for welcoming us there!  The students were precious and such great listeners and participators!!

Thanks to all my friends in Hudson, NC!!  It was a wonderful trip!!!

Interview with Vonda Skelton and Book Giveaway!!

Hi friends!!
Please head over to my precious friend, Vonda Skelton's blog for a chance to win a Gracie or Grover book and read a little...actually a lot...about my journey as a writer!!! You will surely want to put Vonda's blog on your list of must-reads!! She is a gifted writer, speaker, and teacher!!! She is a woman who loves the Lord, encouraging others and making them laugh, and helping writers pursue their dream. What a privilege to be interviewed by such a lovely lady!!
Don't forget to leave a comment at her site for your chance to win!!!

Hemby Bridge, Here I Come! Next Stop, Apex ChickFilA!!

Tomorrow is the Hemby Bridge Christmas Festival!!!

1:00-9:00 pm!

Great entertainment, games, shopping, food, and amazing light display!

Come join us!

Next stop coming up, Apex ChickFilA at Beaver Creek Commons!!

Wednesday, December 7, 5:30-7:30 pm

and

Saturday, December 10, 8:00-10:00 am

Please come join me for dinner on Wednesday or breakfast on Saturday!!

I'll be reading Grover Groundhog Is Not Hibernating This Christmas!

Santa Cow and Elf Cow will be there!!

Hemby Bridge Christmas Festival

Hemby Bridge Christmas Festival!!!

Come enjoy food, games, shopping for Christmas!!

See the amazing Christmas lights!

Bring your family for some delightful holiday fun!

The streets will be blocked for LOTS of vendors!!
Saturday, November 19, 2011...This weekend!

1:00-9:00 pm

Please come visit me!

Books make the best gifts, and I'll personalize them for you!

Big Events This Week!!

We are so excited to travel to the mountains of NC this week!!!  Groundhogs and I love the mountains!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Author Visits to Heritage Christian School & Harris Chapel Christian School

in Hudson, NC!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Mistletoe Madness

If you're in the Charlotte area, come get a start on your Christmas shopping!!

Lots of Vendors and Lots of Fun!!

I'll be joining my friends Jean Hall & Jill Roman Lord, fellow authors.

First Baptist Church of Indian Trail

8:00 am-12:00 pm

Back to Charlotte next weekend too!!

Hemby Bridge Christmas Festival

Beautiful Downtown Hemby Bridge

1:00-9:00 pm



Great Evening at North Raleigh Christian Academy

I was greeted by these lovely ladies!  They were so hospitable and fed me lots of peanut M&M's!!

My table was all set up!  And I took my Daddy's picture so my little friends could "meet" my Daddy, the illustrator too. 

This is my favorite part about being an author!!!  Such sweet new friends!

Gracie and Grover got some great hugs!

Thanks, NRCA and Bedford Falls Book Fairs!!  I had a wonderful time!!!

PS  Jan, thanks for sending the photo!!  I tried to email you, but it kept coming back.  Loved meeting you and your precious family!

PSS Laurie, sorry you left before we took the group picture!  It was great to meet you!

PSSS Yes, Wendy!!  It's a real groundhog...Sir Walter Wally from the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.  It was taken last year at Groundhog Day!  I was in Ground-Hog Heaven!

Holiday Craft Fair!!

If you live in the Raleigh, RTP, Cary, Apex area...
Please join us this Sunday!!

October 23, 2011

1:00-4:00 PM

The Home of Cheryl Olive

137 Briarfield Drive

Apex, NC 27502

Lots of vendors with great gift ideas!

An amazing raffle basket with items donated by vendors!!

Yummy Snacks and Fun Fellowship!!

Gracie, Grover and I will be there with books!!  Great Christmas Gift!!

NRCA, here we come!!

I'm so thrilled to add North Raleigh Christian Academy to my upcoming Author Visits!!

I taught at NRCA back in the '90s!!  I can't wait to visit with my dear friends there and make lots of new ones!!

North Raleigh Christian Academy

Bedford Falls Book Fair

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Family Night

More Fun Ahead!!

Gracie, Grover and I just got back from an amazing writer's retreat (NCompass) on the beautiful Lake Keowee, SC.  We met lots of new friends...even one who loves spotting Groundhogs almost as much as we do!!!

Here's what else we've got coming up!

                               Fall Craft Fair                                     

                                                  1:00-4:00 Apex, NC

                                   MOPS Salem Baptist Church, Apex, NC

Monday, October 24

Heritage Christian School

and

Harris Chapel Baptist Christian School

Hudson, NC

Friday, November 11

Mistletoe Madness

First Baptist Church, Indian Trail, NC

Saturday, November 12

Hemby Bridge Christmas Festival

Hemby Bridge, NC

Saturday, November 19

1:00-9:00 PM

Feel free to email me for details or to book a visit!

'Tis the Season!

The season for Author Visits, that is!!!  Of course, Christmas will be here before we know it...and Grover can't wait!!!  Gracie even has Groundhog Day on her mind!  I am gearing up for the exciting months ahead, and doing one of my most favorite things...sharing Gracie and Grover's stories with children and families everywhere!!  I am in the midst of making school contacts and scheduling.  Please contact me at kristi@graciesgrounds.com to get a date on the calendar for your event.

I'm thrilled to say that I already have a couple of wonderful opportunities scheduled!  Come join us!

Fall Craft Fair in Apex, NC

Sunday, October 23, 2011

1:00-4:00

(Details to Follow)

Mistletoe Madness

Saturday, November 12, 2011

First Baptist Church Indian Trail

Indian Trail, NC

(Stay tuned for more info!)

Groundhog Day Event!!

Storytime at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences!!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

I can't wait to see what God has in store for this new season of sharing His love through books! 

Upcoming Fun at ChickfilA in Apex!!!

Gracie and I just got back from a really awesome trip to Arizona!!!  We spent time in Phoenix, Sedona, and at the Grand Canyon!  It was so beautiful!  We saw incredible sights and learned lots of cool stuff!  We even ate Prickly Pear Ice Cream!  That's made from the fruit of a cactus!!!  We are excited to share some photos, some desert stories, and make a Saguaro Cactus together!!  Come join us!

ChickfilA Apex

at

Beaver Creek Commons

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Storytime & Craft

9:30-10:30

We hope to see you there!!!  Mmmm, I can't wait for my Chicken Mini's!!!



Photos of the Fun!

Barnes and Noble was so great!!!  It was so exciting to read Gracie's Groundhog Day Surprise for the GRACE Christian School book fair!!  It was especially thrilling for me, as Gracie was "born" at a Barnes and Noble!!!  How cool is that!?!  A big thank you to GRACE for inviting me to come!!!

Earlier...

Olive Chapel Elementary in Apex did a fabulous job with their Artsapalooza event!!!  I was honored to be a part of the festivities...and among such talented students!

I invited students to enter a drawing contest.  They were amazing!!  We enjoyed chatting while they drew.

And the contest winners...

 This darling young lady won a Gracie book!

And this dapper gentleman won a Grover book.

What a wonderful time!  I can't wait to go back next year!!!  Thanks, Olive Chapel!!