Sunday, Dec 14, 2008

The Sunday Salon: Some Holidays Are Remembered For the Wrong Reasons

This week held a lot of promise that I would tackle things that needed to get done.  However, I didn’t get the items accomplished that I had hoped for.  And, my list is long of things yet to do.  I still haven’t cleaned the closet n0r done the Christmas cards.  Guess I’m doing that right after this post!

The Sunday Salon: Week in Review AND Up n’ Coming Events…

I read and reviewed WhenYou Are Engulfed In Flames and Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris.  I’m currently reading Starting from Scratch When You’re Single Again by Sharon Knudson and Mary Fran Heitzman.  The book is comprised of 23 women sharing stories, encouragement, recipes and lessons learned when starting over was all that they could do.  This is a Christian book and BY FAR the most important thing that I’ve taken from reading the first half of this book is some great scriptures that remind me of God’ work in my life.

In my mailbox for revew…

• NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hip Hip… Horray.  Hip Hip…. Horray.

For my contests & challenges…

Nothing new to report.  I haven’t gotten anything done for my challenges, nor have I decided which ones to join for 2009.  Is there one where you just list what you want to read and you hold yourself accountable to that?

At home…

The BookCharmers are doing really well.  We’re even running an ad on Facebook.Com.  Which, by the way, if there are any of you out there that are on Facebook, send me a comment or note at anovelmenagerie@aol.com so that I can add you as a friend!  So far, I have Lisa from Books on the Brain and Judi from Doodlebug Designs.  

I still haven’t started my new job, but we’re getting closer.  Also, there are a few projects brewing to bring in some income!

I got to babysit my Prince Charming last night.  But, he wasn’t a prince.  Nope.  He was a LITTLE STINK!  He gave Aunt Sheri a run for her money last night and just screamed at me.  But, he’s got a medical condition in his tummy and esophagus that keeps him from ever really being comfortable and the medicine only does so much for him.  I hope that he heals up soon, but Terra says that it could be up to 12 months before his body has finished growing and he’ll be 100%.  But, at least he didn’t POOP… thank God for that!   The funny thing is that when my twins were small, I had no problem with diapers… throw up… whatever.  But, once your kids are old and you’re not used to it anymore… man… those diapers are like STINK BOMBS!  I don’t know how you young mothers do it!

Contests…. AND WHAT’S ON MY HEART TODAY… Please read….

My parents made every holiday special and memorable.  I can remember as a young girl being so excited for the month of December ~ it was the ONLY time we were ever allowed to eat on TV trays AND in the living room instead of the dining room.  Back when there were only 3 TV stations to watch and HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY, etc. were special events.  We would have a fire burning in the fireplace and we would eat by its glow and the lights from the Christmas tree.  WHICH I remember wrapping foil around the big c-9 bulbs so my Dad could flock the tree in the garage and then we would have to find all the foiled bulbs and unwrap them.  For desert we would be treated to homemade egg nog and cookies.

 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this ~ my 27 year old son-in-law passed away in his sleep Monday morning.  I’ve had my 13 month old granddaughter since then and my husband has been staying with our daughter.  I’ve been distraught thinking how terrible this is for both of them, how my granddaughter will never know her Daddy and how the Christmas holiday will always be associated with his passing.  I appreciate being reminded of good and happy times.

 

Christy

I know that tragedies happen to good people and maybe God really needed him in Heaven.  But, my heart broke when I read this story.  Immediately I was taken to think about Abigail Carter and her loss.  I forwarded Abigal Christy’s information and vice versa.  Anyway, it got me thinking about Candice at Crash Course Widow.  I went to her site and read this post that wrung my heart inside out… http://crashcoursewidow.blogspot.com/2008/12/kicks-in-gut.html.  Candice also lost her husband at his young age of 27.  It just seems so senseless to me… people in love and happy together, then suddenly it is all stripped away.  I know that God has a plan and a greater purpose.. but, my heart just goes out to these women.  Thank Goodness that I am reading Starting From Scratch…right now.  On page 52 I am reminded:

“The Lord never promised us a life without pain.  He only promised that He would be there for us.  But remember, He can’t help us if we don’t let Him in.”

 

-and from Psalm 34:17-18:

 

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

So, my friends and my readers… can I ask a small favor of you?  When you say your prayers this holiday season and give thanks to your God for your blessings, can you add a silent prayer for Christy, Christy’s daughter and Christy’s granddaughter?  Can you pray that God will give them a moment or two of peace and of the knowledge that God is there… carrying them through their pain?

And, last.. but never least… I’m spreading some holiday cheer this year on A Novel Menagerie.   This week, I will gave my favorite female LUXURY item… PJ Salvage.  I’ve got a few more Holiday Cheer ideas up my sleeve, including my book recommendations for the year. 

Have a great week, Saloners!

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