Randomness

When Things Get Tough…

Just about the time we’re ready to throw in the towel, when everything gets to be too much, when one more piece of bad news will break the camels back, more bad news shows up wearing a smile. A sinister smile, yet none the less, an actual smile. So smile back. And don’t make it sinister; make it real. Smile because no matter what comes our way, we have a mighty powerful God who is in control of everything, absolutely everything, and He knows what He’s doing.  We have the privilege to speak with Him at any time and under any and all circumstances. So talk. He wants to answer our prayers yet we cannot forget to ask for His help. “Ask and You Shall Receive.” So ask. Ask over and over and over again and just see what happens! Expect miracles everyday. They happen all the time all around us without our being aware, yet occasionally, when we’re really paying attention, we know. And then we smile from the deepest part of our hearts and know He is here, with us every step of the way. Have a great day! Later, Mary Ann

Randomness

Kick Start

I’ve been gone for a while, in my head anyway. Life can throw a person off balance now and then. Yet, I’ve been missing my blog and missing comments from my few readers, precious as you are, so it’s time to get busy again. I’m a grandma now, and couldn’t be happier. I can’t believe how much I love this little guy and I’ve yet to hold him. He came a little early, about ten weeks actually, so he’s busy growing still. Yet one of these days soon he’ll be out of the NICU and I’ll have him cradled in my arms and it will be so much more real to me than it is now. I can hardly wait! In the mean time, I need to get my head out of the nursery and back to my writing. I’ve been terribly neglectful and totally absent in all respects. “The Trouble with Tony” (sequel to “A Friend Like Frank) is in the editing stage and should be ready in about a month. I will let you know when it’s on Amazon.com. I’m going to put it out as an ebook first, then as a printed book later. In the mean…

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Randomness

Starting Over – Again

The other day we helped our friend pack up her household in preparation for a move.  He husbands death has left her alone in a house much too large for one. We seam to always be starting over, in one way or the other. We go from the home of our parents, to the home of our own, to our home shared with spouses and children, and then empty again. Each change is a new beginning, starting fresh, starting over – again. We’re about to start over, to visit a whole new realm of life we’ve never been before. I’ve been told that being a grandparent is better than being a parent. It’s another new beginning yet they say the second time around is much easier than the first. I love that fresh new starts continue to happen all through our lives, keeping us from getting stale. Every time we start over, we can chose to do better and embrace the chance to impress ourselves with new found flexibility and acceptance. Every time we have the chance to start over, we should start over with the attitude of adventure, one we’ll make the most of no matter what. The hard…

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Randomness

Sunshine or Bust!

  A week ago, my husband and I, along with our son and daughter-in-law, were excitedly packing up to escape the glum commonly associated with a typical Seattle winter. We were going where sunshine was all but guaranteed, soft sandy beaches preheated and waiting just for us. As we boarded the plane, I took one last look over my shoulder at what we were leaving behind: a blanket of grayness barely visible through the sheet of rain. I shivered. Just look ahead, I told myself. Flight attendants greeted us with cheerful “Aloha’s” as we made our way down the narrow crowded isle to our seats. I didn’t care if we were stacked on top of each other, as long as we ended up in Hawaii. Hawaii! It might as well be re-named “Paradise.” We were as happy as a surfer riding the perfect wave. Look ahead, I reminded myself as I blocked out the gray and pulled down the window shade. We were headed to Hawaii! Upon our arrival, we couldn’t help but notice the dark billowing clouds blocking the sun. We pretended not to be bothered. At least the temperature was nice. A motor coach arrived and escorted us…

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Randomness

Launching a Novel

I’m launching my novel “A Friend Like Frank” on my own. That is to say, no official “publisher” involved. It’s an experiment. You see, I’ve done it the old fashioned way: send a manuscript to one publisher after another, year after year, rejection after rejection. I eventually did succeed in getting “Adeline” published by an old fashioned publisher and although it did a lot for my self esteem, it hasn’t done much for my pocketbook. I’ll need to work hard selling as many copies of “Adeline” as possible for many years before I ever see a royalty check. So, I decided to try publishing via electronically. “A Friend Like Frank” is available for Kindle users, through Amazon as an e-book exclusively for ninety days.  No published manuscript, no new book smell or raised letters on the cover. Just words on the flat Kindle screen. It’s sure different, but I kind of like it. There are definite pros and cons, most of them obvious and I think I’ll be one of those people who opt for both. The convenience of the Kindle makes it tremendously attractive, yet an actual printed book on a rainy day with a hot cup of coffee…

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Randomness

So I Bought a Kindle

Yes, I broke down and joined the millions of Americans flashing their e-readers like a new Mercedes-Benz. I’m cool now. I can and surely will load two thousand books onto my paper thin devise, all for $0.99 apiece, and all best sellers. I will spend the rest of my life with my nose in a whole new kind of book. Actually, I must admit, I like it. You can take it anywhere and it weighs nothing. There is no problem seeing it in the sunshine if you happen to be so lucky as to be anywhere near sunshine. I’m going to take it on a test drive in Hawaii in a few weeks. That should be fun. I never thought I’d be the kind of person who would like reading great novels from an electronic device. The smell and feel and cover of a book is so important to me, as though the character is somewhat defined by it. Yet the convenience of traveling without the weight and bulk of an actual book is liberating. I have ten novels in my purse taking up no space at all! It’s much easier to use and understand than an i pad or…

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Randomness

Filling the Void

It’s been a while since the kids left home. We were ready to be a couple again, to do our own thing and call an end to the never ceasing parental duties. Yet, we were surprised at how easily we adjusted to our empty-nest. I think it took all of fifteen minutes. Seven years have gone by since the last one struck out on his own and although we’ve been having a great time we’ve recently felt that something was missing. Or maybe not something, more like someone.  Could it be….well, yes, we have to admit…we’ve been missing the kids. A bit of soul searching opened out eyes to the fact that what we were really ready for, was grand-parenting! On Thanksgiving, our son and daughter-in-law announced they had an early Christmas gift for us to open. The package was small and light. We opened it to find a very pretty picture frame with an amazing ultrasound photograph of our very first grand child. It’s a boy! I can’t explain how happy I’ve been since the news. I can hardly wait to hold him, rock for hours with him snuggled in my arms, feel the soft fuzzy head under my…

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Randomness

10 Things I Won’t Do in 2012

Making those New Year Resolutions year after year is ridiculous for someone like me. I’m like a dog on a race track; take the rabbit out of my site and I’ve nothing to keep me going. Same with the resolutions. The end result is so far down the road I either forget or give up before the end of January. This year I’m going to make a list of ten things I resolve not to do and stick with it. For example: I’m resolving not to go to bed without brushing my teeth no matter how tired I am. I do that sometimes and when you really think about it, that’s just disgusting. Another thing I’m resolving not to do is over eat to the point that my stomach hurts, like I did at Christmas. My stomach would have been much more comfortable if only I’d stopped at full. But Oh No!  I just had to push it to the limit – you know, when you have to unbutton your pants so you can breath. I figure I’ll lose a few pounds that way too. Another thing I’m not going to do is let anyone or anything stop me from…

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Randomness

The Older We Get…

  A A friend sent me the above card the other day – in the mail, you know, the old fashioned way. I love getting cards in the mail. It’s so infrequent any more. Anyway, the card had me laughing for hours. Every time I looked at it I started laughing all over again. I simply couldn’t get enough. I even carried the card around with me and set it on the kitchen windowsill so I could look at it while I was doing dishes, and in the laundry room when I was folding and ironing clothes. I’d just glance over and start laughing. I’ve got you wondering, don’t I? It’s a great card, but it’s one of those you have to be a little older to appreciate. It says, “The older we get…the less concerned we are with appearances.”  On the cover is an elderly man, I’d say mid-eighties, mowing his lawn on what appears to be a lovely day. His wife is sitting in a lawn chair sipping tea and enjoying being outside in the warm fresh air.  I’d say she is the same age as he is. The hilarious thing about this couple, I don’t know if…

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Randomness

Wagon’s Ho!

  This is the time of year to head over Stevens Pass and spend a day in Leavenworth.  The drive is extraordinary, autumn on display like diamonds in a jewelers window. The river winds around the highway, or maybe it’s the other way around, white water in places, stillness in others, salmon easy to spot. When my husband and I make the drive it takes us forever to arrive at our destination. We have to pull over continuously to take it all in. It’s impossible to appreciate the magnificence  flying by at fifty miles an hour. Colors of fire cover the mountains, rushing water, towering evergreens, traces of snow, all wrapped up in a days drive. And the air is as fresh as a new baby. Upon arriving, Leavenworth is striking. The Bavarian Village transports visitors into a whole new world. Mountains encircle and tower over a village filled with the constant whir of activities and celebrations. I can hardly wait to get out of the car and begin to explore. There are a few favorite places I can’t wait to visit; the hat shop being one of them. It has more hats piled into one little store than sardines…

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