Candy canes, mistletoe, and colorful lights blinking in the night. Santa’s sleigh and presents lying wrapped under the tree are a few of the fun things we see as we bring in a little Christmas cheer. My husband and I have had a busy year. We’ve spent time in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Colorado. We’ve helped build houses, watched season-ending soccer games and tried frozen custard to name a few fun things we’ve shared.
I took my granddaughters, Sav and Jo, camping in the summer…without any Washington rain, I’m happy to declare. We traveled to Deception Pass to find shells and rocks for our collections I fear have gotten bigger every year. Ice cream, pop, and chips filled our bellies – and yes, I fed them normal food as well.
I’ve published another book, Four of Spades, making three to my “Sara Series”…and recently added another to the shelf as I wrapped up a memoir project I was hired to write in detail, and bring to print. My next book is in the editing phase and will be ready for print sometime in the new year.
So, all in all, it’s been a great year. Time with family throughout the states, and even had time with those I lovingly refer to as my “crazy Canuck family” up there north somewhere – then to wrap up and get in gear for the big holiday of Christmas…Sav and Jo spent the night to watch the most magical movie of all with Grandpa and me…that’s right…Polar Express.
There is no doubt in my mind I am clearly blessed. I have so much how could I do anything but cheer. I see the less fortunate and though it is hard to witness, it reminds me of my wonderful life that I need to keep safe within my heart. I hope you are able to count your blessings…and bring in the New Year with a promise to meet a goal you’ve set for yourself, share some happiness with those you hold dear, and stay healthy throughout another year.
Merry Christmas to all…and a very Happy New Year.
And still another day rolls around and Thanksgiving arrives tomorrow. Wow, where did the year go? Each year for the past six years I have celebrated Thanksgiving in different ways, in different places, and with different family members. No matter where I am, or whom I am with my heart is always with the ones I love…and for me, they are enough to be thankful for every day throughout the year.
I have my favorite memories, of course, and those are the holidays spent with family, friends, good food, lots of laughter, and game time in the traditional manner we had developed. When I owned my home in Shoreline, it was small, but we fit in just fine…usually on the high side of twenty people as the count would go. The men would retreat to the basement family room to cheer on their favorite team, while the women would gather around the kitchen and living room to share stories, laugh, and enjoy a glass of wine…or two. I had one bedroom set up with my PlayStation for the older children, and one for the younger children to occupy themselves with toys. No matter what part of the house you were in, a good time was enjoyed.
Over the years the manner in which I celebrate this all-important holiday has changed. The reasons are there, but I’d have to say one of the biggest changes happened after my sister, Cathy, passed away. Perhaps she was the glue that kept so many of us together, though I fear it was events afterward that changed the dynamics of our celebrations. Sometimes change is good…sometimes it just is.
This year Dan and I will be with my daughter, her equal half, Jason, and some of Jason’s relatives. I know there will still be Thanksgivings that bring our family down from Canada, and my siblings with their families together to celebrate, but for the years a different celebration is enjoyed I’ll continue to be thankful. Not just for the memories, but for the chance to celebrate at all. I have many family members that love me and that I love beyond words. So, no matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, I truly hope you spend it with someone you can call a friend…someone you love…someone who loves you.
May your blessings be many, your troubles be few, your smiles be plentiful, and your tummy be full. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
This blog started out as a post of this sweet bluebird I photographed in the mountains of Colorado a few years ago. But my crazy brain continued to swirl with too many words for a post.
The bluebird is a symbol of happiness…something we all desire. In may cultures, dating back thousands of years, the bluebird is thought as the harbinger of happiness. I love what they represent…and they are my favorite color, which is a bonus.
Over the past two years I have done a post on what I am thankful for every day during the month of November. I won’t do that this year. Not because I’m not thankful, but because I am thankful for everything, every day, and nothing can change that truth.
We all have trials…which may be an illness, depression, anxiety, or simply a tough decision to make. There are a number of reasons we may not want to get out of bed. It might be because we know we are out of milk and bread, but only have enough money for one item until our funds replenish in a week. It might be we have been told we have cancer…and have to decide whether to do treatment or not. Or as the holidays creep up they bring an enormous weight on our shoulder we simply can’t bear to carry that day.
Life is filled with an extraordinary amount of struggles we all face at one time or another. Times when we feel like they are piling up against the door, blocking our exit. But, the truth of the matter is, outside of those stumbling blocks, life can be pretty darn wonderful.
I have a wonderful family, a warm home, food to fill my belly, and leftover candy from Halloween…no, I’m not being glib…I love candy, and though I was willing to lose it all to the cute little ones, no one came, so I’ll not waste it. My daughter, Kristin, offered to take the large bowl of candy off my hands and bring it to work. Yes, this would have been my better decision, but I’ve gotten to a stage in life that a little piece of candy now and then is a good thing.
Focus…Cecily…focus….back to the point you’re trying to make…
What I’m trying to say it no matter what is going on with your life right now, I hope you can dig deep and find the strength you need to push through the cloud and find what might only be one silver lining…but a silver lining regardless.
I’m blessed with the desire to write, which has provided my soul with an outlet for healing. No matter how small or how huge my issue may be at any given time, today I’d like to say I’m happy…happy with my family, my decisions, my health, my life. And I hope no matter who you are you find happiness……we all deserve happiness…go and find yours.
I’m a quiet, shy person, so getting to know neighbors is not an easy step for me. I leave that to my husband who is the friendly one. I love how he engages with others, allowing me to stand back and listen. Living in a large apartment complex, I have a lot of neighbors within a stone’s throw. I’ve come to know a few, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the actual count of people living in our community.
But regardless of who I know, some people know me, and today was a great test of their kindness. My neighbor spotted someone trying to break into my car…in broad daylight. In fact, it was around 10:30 this morning. My neighbor’s daughter stepped outside making her presence known when she felt it didn’t seem right, and then her father came out as well. The prowler got back in his car and drove away. My neighbor came to my apartment and alerted me to the situation. He was able to provide a description of the guy, the license plate number and description of the vehicle the guy drove. Wow…was I ever thankful for my neighbors.
I contacted the police and my apartment complex office right away. Thankfully, the guy was not successful, but it shows the time of year is here where theft goes on the rise. By the way – it was a 1987 gray Nissan, 300ZX, coupe 2d, plate AJE4440. The guy was possibly Hispanic, with short dark hair, about 5’9″, and around 180 lbs.
As we near the holiday season, crime historically increases. But the point of my blog today was to mention how wonderful neighbors can be. They didn’t know what this guy was capable of, yet they risked their safety to scare the guy off.
It’s also a reminder that we shouldn’t leave anything in our vehicles, and not just this time of year, but anytime. It’s sad that our private property isn’t private at all, that thieves think we want to share at our expense.
Having wonderful neighbors that care about each other is beyond a blessing. Anytime you see something that looks suspicious, I hope you will be there for your neighbor too.
My life as an indie author has opened up my eyes to my creativeness. When I finished my first novel, Do I Know You, I had planned to go with traditional publishing, mainly because I didn’t have a clue what to do next. I attended the Rocky Mountain Writers Conference and gained some insight. I listened to experienced authors, had a synopsis reading with an agent, joined in a few classes…and came out still wondering what to do. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but my own…I just didn’t get it.
However, I decided to try the traditional method. I did my research on agents and began submitting to a few. Then I had a conversation with a friend and found out by going with an agent I would lose some of my creative control. The editors may want this changed, or that changed. The cover, well, that would not be in my control at all. I’m sure they would give me the opportunity to say yay or nay, but the point is it would no longer be my cover.
I gave this situation a pondering…for quite a while. Then the light switch was flipped and after talking to another friend who was an indie author, the rebel in me reared up and off to the indie world I went…along with my lack of experience.
My friend suggested I look at CreateSpace, along with other publishing companies. I did my research, viewing each company as if they were all on the same playing field and chose CreateSpace as my company.
CreateSpace has been amazingly easy to work with from beginning to end. Even making changes to either the cover or uploading an updated manuscript…it’s been a breeze. I can’t imagine being anything other than an indie, because what I have created in my books is my vision, my world, my imagination…and I plan to keep it that way. Thanks to CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing…I am my own boss.
So, if you are considering letting your creative side blossom, go for it, and remember you are the force behind it all, so read, write, and be happy. #PoweredByIndie