Wednesday, December 30, 2009

memories - old & new

A flurry of thoughts ...

I hope you enjoyed a very Merry CHRISTMAS and made sweet memories.  Already that busyness is past as fast approaches another new year.  Can you believe 2010 is nearly here?  2 0 1 0 !

 
Christmas day was not as sad as I had thought it would be.  I guess I used up my teary time before then.  That, or someone was praying for me.  With only the two of us in this house most of the morning it was so quiet around here with the absence of my sniffling.  Our second daughter, with a friend, arrived around 11:00, and later we all went to my Dad's to meet the rest of the family (including our oldest daughter, son-in-law and grandson) for our celebratory feast and gifts.  Another friend had been invited to join us, so we had twelve at dinner.  Just before mealtime our two youngest daughters called from Alberta, so that made it even better.

I really think my mum would be proud of her family.  By the afternoon of December 30, she will have been gone from us for twelve years.  Twelve years!  How can that be possible? :(

On December 31 I hope to be able to attend our New Year's Eve service at church .. weather permitting.  Tonight there is a snowstorm happening in my part of the world, but the weather report does not say there will be more snow coming on Thursday.

Well, the author I met a month ago is a kind, generous soul.  Yesterday she sent me the link to a publisher I did not know about in BC, so this afternoon I sent off my manuscript once again thinking it would be my last attempt this year.  Then today - bless her! - she sent me information about a new publisher here in NS!  I am considering sending the manuscript of another of my stories to them and see what transpires, although I am not sure it will be mailed this week/year.  It is rather fun to finish off 2009 sending out manuscripts, though.  Something started for the new year.

Oh, I must say that when one reads an author's work it may not always be what one expects.  I have read some of Sheree Fitch's children's books and they are fabulous!  Recently her first adult novel was published and it was promoted as being 'laugh out loud funny'.  I was excited to read it so my husband gave it to me for Christmas.  Okay, to be fair here .. have you read it?  What did you think of it?  Me? wellllll .... no offense to Sheree, but somehow I missed the humour!  It just ... I'm just ... hmmm ... I am sure many people reading Kiss The Joy As It Flies will enjoy it but for me the humour was lost somewhere between its pages and my sense of what is funny.  (Sorry, Sheree!)  But ... I guess that is how my brain works.  Now, that is not to say it was not a well written novel.  Of course it was! she is an amazing writer, and I did read the whole book, even her interview at the end.  It's just that its point was lost on me throughout, BUT .. did I say .. I love Sheree's children's books!  I guess that is where my heart is ... for now.

In closing, I will leave you with some questions that I would love to read your answers for if you would kindly oblige me.  Thinking back over your childhood reading:
  1. what was/were your favourite children's book(s), and why? .. and/or ..
  2. who was/were your favourite author(s), and why?
BE SAFE this Winter!
Thanks for reading, and ... Blessings on your day!  :)







Wednesday, December 16, 2009

live, laugh, love

Whoever came up with that motto was right on.
Live, laugh, love.
I am finding that the three must go together or something is greatly lacking for me.

For me to really live and enjoy living I have to find humour in situations, at least find the bright side, the spark, the little gem of goodness and hope that may be hidden there.  I have suffered from depression too much of my life and I am determined to not let it get me down anymore.  Life can get far too serious sometimes and if the song is missing, if the laughter fades away, it is time to do something about it.

Earlier tonight (Tuesday, December 15) my husband and I did something different, something we have never done before.  The co-op store where we are members (and he is on the board) had a Moonlight Madness for about five hours. We arrived just after the busiest time, but for two hours he and I were there in costume.  My husband was dressed as a Christmas tree and I was dressed as an elf. :) Quite impressive, I guess.  It was fun for us.  Three times (four for him) we stood outside on the sidewalk in the cold and waved at the people driving by.  (A few cars pulled in.)  It was delightful when some folk waved back at us, and several honked their horns.  I loved it! :)

Of course, our daughters think we are crazy to do such things but .. why not?  My take on it is this: Life is too short!  And it is passing far too quickly!!  I am tired of too often being a spectator.  Life is not intended to be a spectator sport - for those who just watch everything happen in other people's lives.  Of course, one has to be selective and make wise decisions on just how to use their time and talents, but the point is ... DO SOMETHING LIVE your life!  Enjoy it and LOVE yourself and the ones in your life.  And be sure to find the LAUGHTER.  Make someone laugh and learn to laugh at yourself.  It will chase away the blues, help you handle stress better thereby improving your health, and change your grey skies to blue.  Yahoooey!  Sounds good to me!

Several years ago I signed my husband and myself up for tidal bore rafting one summer weekend, and that was an exhilarating experience!  Frightening, exciting, thrilling, and I loved it!  Now I can say "I did it!"  I have yet to skydive (tandem skydive, that is) but I plan to - although my husband refuses to go with me. 

Aside from my wonderful role of wife-mother-grandmother, I also want to write for children, run a good business, bless people however the Lord leads me, and mostly be all God wants me to be.

How about you?  What have you determined to do with your time in this life?


Thanks for reading, and ... Blessings on your day!  :)


Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Christmas, birthdays & writers

Only a few more days and it will be CHRISTMAS!!  Am I ready for that?  NO!  Are you?

I am missing our girls so much. This year my husband and I will be alone with no children at home with us.  Their absence is bothering me already and I'm finding it hard to not be 'blue'. Today I was thinking about four excited little girls who used to run around here - helping, and getting in the way, and giggling, and ... are now all grown up -- far too quickly! The house is so empty ...

My birthday on the 16th was quiet. I was busy answering phone calls and especially happy to hear from each of our girls, and our darling little grandson ... "Happy Burt-day, Gwamma."

A little each day this week I am gradually making our home look Christmas-y, putting up some decorations, changing things around, trying to make it more welcoming for the season. Soon I will be baking Christmas cookies and other goodies ... alone.  *sigh*  I'm needing some Christmas cheer. This empty-nesting is not very acceptable sometimes, in my mind. 

On Saturday my husband and I went to the mall to do a little Christmas shopping, and while there I realized there was an author - Laura Best - doing a book signing in front of the bookstore.  It  had slipped my mind about this event ... but I purchased her book Bitter, Sweet and asked her to sign it.  She was encouraging when I told her that I am not yet published, but still hopeful.  At her urging I may be in touch with her in the near future.

It is interesting how God puts things together, isn't it?  Last week He formulated a plan in my mind, and through it I am hoping to help another lady with her writing dream.  I talked with her last Thursday about it, and if it comes together as I foresee then it will be marvellous!  And exciting!


To continue with my story ...
After our time at the mall we continued on to another community and another mall which has a 'playhouse' for kids .. and a laser tag room.  It was a 'party' for our nephew's 13th birthday, and ten of us combined our 'skills' to play this crazy game.  It was our second time to do this, but of the ten of us five had never played it before.  It was hilarious! After 25 minutes of running around in the semi-darkness trying to 'hit' each other and not be 'hit' most of us were pretty tired.  :)  Pizza and cake .. and we were on our way home.

Do you have experience with laser tag, and if so .. any strategies you care to share with this novice?

We are enjoying fairly warm weather here at present. Today there was a skiff of snow that lightly covered the ground, but that will disappear soon. Temperatures are expected to warm up more this week before it turns to seasonable winter weather.  Do you like the colder weather?

Is anyone having trouble with mice this Fall?  Makes me wonder what's up with that?
Is there any old wives' tale or a Farmer's Almanac prediction concerning survival habits of mice?

I guess that is all for this time.  If you have any comments or answers to my questions, please post them.  I would very much appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks for reading, and ... Blessings on your day. :)