Book ready to print!

Soooooo, my publisher informed me my book is finally ready to print! The web site to order should be up soon and we'll be taking pre-orders, with a ship date of October 1st. I'm so excited to finally have my work printed! I hope that people who read my book will gain a better understanding of what a person, family, or community go through when a child dies, and I also hope that those who have gone through such a trial will gain some much-needed peace at a terrible time in their lives. I also wrote the book in the format of a 'novel' in hopes it will be a heart-warming, old-fashioned, good-read. I'll keep you updated on the progress, but for now, thank you for your support!

The 3 Gifts Challenge

This is how it works..... The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise. BUT, in order for you to leave a comment on my blog, you have to post this on your blog first. (That means that sometime during this year you will send a gift to 3 people as well.) Get it? So, the first 3 people to comment on this post will be the lucky ones!

Thanks for the Little Things

Been a while, I know, I know. . . my thoughts today center around a quote/poem (as usual) by Helen Steiner Rice. "Thank you, God, for little things that often come our way. The things we take for granted and don't mention when we pray. The unexpected courtesy, the thoughtul, kindly deed, a hand reached out to help us in the time of sudden need."

How true this statement is for me. I sometimes forget to thank the person I need to the most often, and this poem reminds me to be grateful for all that I have been given and continue to receive.

Changing the world . . .

“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves.” --Mahatma Gandhi

If we want to make a difference in the world, whether that be a large or small difference, we need to first focus on ourselves. In doing so, don't you think that that--in and of itself--is what will then in turn change the world? Really, if we focus on being great ourselves, our world around us will be a better place.

Irish Blessing

May there always be work for your hands to do; May your purse always hold a coin or two; May the sun always shine on your windowpane; May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; May the hand of a friend always be near you; May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. And may you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Helen Keller said, "What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love becomes a part of us." On this day, Friday the 13th, while people out there are focusing on the negative, let's take a moment and focus on the love and goodness in our lives instead.

Common Daily Stuggles

So as I left the parking lot today after getting groceries, I was cut off by some idiot thinking they just HAD to get somewhere so fast that they risk the lives of all those around them. I start fuming inside myself, and my thoughts wander to that dark place where all I do is focus on the negative. My mind starts counting all of the things going wrong in my life at the time, and I realize with a sudden start that I am focusing on things that will bring me down for no reason. All this--just because someone is driving badly? What was my problem? So I turn on the radio, find a song I can sing along to (loudly, since no body can hear me but myself and the ghosts in the engine of my car), and start purposefully counting all of the things I have to be grateful for. This is an exercise I do often, whenever I recognize the "little green monsters" are attacking me from all sides. Unfortunately, I have to do this activity often. Music seems to help the most. It takes me to a place where nothing else matters and I can focus on what is good. Which is a lot - we all have so much to be so grateful for. If we would but count the blessings we have each day, we would realize we have so much. As I was pulling into my driveway, thinking of the dishes, laundry, scrubbing, and "life" I had to face when I walked through the door--I smiled. Thank goodness I have those things in my life to plague me. They should be a blessing because they exist for me--not a curse.