The Bavarian Village of Leavenworth
Wayne and I are making our annual pilgrimage to Leavenworth, Washington, this weekend, braving the winter passes and the forecast for snow. First we’re headed to Colville to wish his mother a happy 92nd birthday and visiting good friends along the way. Our son, Ted, wife Lana, and their family, will be joining us in this Winter Wonderland. I’m doing a breakfast Saturday morning, which is always fun, plus a signing later in the day, too. We do so love this special little town. For those of you who can’t join us, just take a look at the cover of WHERE ANGELS GO. The artist captured the feel of the town perfectly.
One of God's Little Surprises
I worked late last night. Everyone had already left the office, but I’d decided to keep writing. As it happened, the office decorators were by that afternoon and my office is all spiffed up for Christmas with lighted wreaths hanging from my turret windows and a swag lining the railings. Deep in thought and involved in my story, I didn’t glance up until I was closing down my computer, when the most magical thing happened, what I call one of God’s little surprises. It was snowing; big, fluffy flakes lazily dancing down from heaven. I stood and watched for several moments and felt this incredible delight. I do so love Christmastime!
The Power of Positive Thinking
I was in New York last week just before Thanksgiving to speak at the Guideposts offices in Pawling for their annual Thanksgiving Day of Prayer. The highlight of my visit was tea with Ruth Stafford Peale, wife of Norman Vincent Peale, the author of THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING. Back in the days when I wrote on a rented typewriter and received a barrage of rejections, the one thing that kept me going, that gave me hope and encouraged me, was this book. Later, after I sold my first novel, I wrote Dr. Peale and thanked him. The most amazing thing happened. He wrote me back and that was the start of my association with Guideposts and the Peale family. My time with Mrs. Peale was a blessing I won’t soon forget.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Like many of you, I’m getting ready for the big Thanksgiving feast. I have our turkey soaking in a brine, the recipe from Martha Stewart. The kitchen countertops are loaded down with the items I need for all the recipes I intend to cook. Later this morning, I’ll set the big table in our dining room with our best china and silverware. Then I’ll place a Bible verse by each place setting lest we forget all the things for which we are thankful. My list is long this year. I have been blessed in so many ways, and for that I thank our heavenly Father.
When I'm in the middle of a book . . .
Wayne is away this week playing poker in a big tournament in Pendleton, Oregon. My Canadian editor asked me if that was a military installation, and I told her she was thinking of the Pentagon. Okay, so I forgot about Camp Pendleton, California. What do you expect? I’m in the middle of writing a book and my brain is a bit fuzzy. Okay, it’s a whole lot fuzzy. I leave for New York on Sunday it’s a quick trip and I’ll be back before Thanksgiving.
What's Up, Doc?
My week has been filled with doctor appointments. Thus far I’ve been pinched, poked, and prodded, and it’s only Thursday. I still have a mammogram and the dentist to see. Because I also have physical therapy appointments squeezed in with everything else, it all got condensed into this one week.
Why everything all at once? I like to get checked out before Wayne and I leave for Florida and the year is quickly closing. While it’s troublesome, it’s also necessary. The good news is I’m healthy and happy and writing up a storm. Life doesn’t get much better than this, unless you add chocolate.
Minnie Pearl and Me
This morning I had an early physical therapy appointment. I was feeling really good in my brand new pair of pants and new sweater, both in lovely autumn shades of beige and brown.
Seeing that my appointment was the first of the day, I stood outside chatting on my cell phone until the facility unlocked the front door. A couple of people smiled and waved. I didn’t know them, but hey, I’m friendly. While sitting in the waiting area, I noticed a couple of other people looking at my new pants. They really are nice. Not until I got into the changing room did one of the assistants point out that the clear plastic strip stating the size ran the entire length of the pant leg. No wonder people were looking at me! Now the entire world knows I wear size ..…--you didn’t honestly think I was going to tell you, did you?
P.S. For those who might not know, Minnie Pearl was a comedian who regularly appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and later on a television country comedy show called Hee Haw. Minnie always wore a straw hat as part of her costume—a hat with the price tag dangling from it!
A Mystery
When I went to bed last night, I set the alarm for 4 a.m. and was in bed by 9:30 p.m. Then it started. A beeping sound that came every two minutes, like clockwork. It couldn’t be the fire alarm battery because we recently changed them all. Beep. Beep. Beep. Two hours later we still couldn’t distinguish the source. I stuffed cotton in my ears, placed a pillow over my head, and finally fell asleep at 12:30 a.m. The sound was gone by morning, and it shall forever remain a mystery. And no, I didn’t get up at four with the alarm. That would have taken a better woman than me!
Veterans Day
On Monday we celebrate Veterans Day. For years my father proudly marched in the veterans parade in my home town of Yakima, Washington. He served in the Army during World War II, was captured toward the end of the war, and held as a prisoner of war in Germany.
My father was fiercely proud of his role in the war and became active in the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). My parents were part of the Greatest Generation and I am exceedingly proud to be their daughter.
I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said something along the lines of: IF YOU ENJOY YOUR FEEDOM, THANK A VET. Today I’d like to thank my father and the hundreds of thousands of men and women who honorably serve our country; whether they served in the past or serve today.
A shot in the dark!
I was back to see the physician (the one who left his signature on my hind end). He explained that this wasn’t actually his name, but instructions on which side to give me the shot. This shot was for the last injection of the series for back pain I’ve been experiencing.
Had I been smart enough I would have had Wayne write him a little note, just for him, penned on my derriere: a smiley face, perhaps an arrow pointing in the right direction or, better yet, a note telling him...THE END IS NEAR.
Random Act of Kindness
One of the nicest things happened yesterday and it started with an accident. I was in the Newark airport, waiting to catch my flight back to Seattle. It was an early morning flight, so I stopped at the Starbucks stand to get a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, I spilled the entire contents when I sat down in the seating area. I cleaned up my mess and decided I wasn’t going to wait in that long line again.
To my surprise a businessman stepped up and said he was going for coffee and asked if he could get me a cup. Grateful, I reached for my purse to pay for it and he said he didn’t want anything. This was his random act of kindness for the day. It was a simple gesture, a kindness that blessed me the entire flight home.
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