Do You Stock Up?

I really enjoy stocking up on party invitations and cards. I find so many unique and cute ones that I like to buy them ahead of time, to keep for when an event or occasion comes up. I usually keep a nice stock of birthday cards, party invitations, note cards, and get well cards. More and more today, people are really celebrating baptisms and first communions. Did you know that you can buy first communion invitations ? I had no idea! I haven't bought any lately so I've got to get on the ball! There are several events coming up that I need to be prepared for. How about you? Are you prepared? Do you buy cards and invitations ahead of time?

Tuesdays With Morrie: Review

From Random House:

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.

For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you were younger?

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in how to live.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.

I just finished reading this as part of the In Their Shoes Reading Challenge and the 2008 TBR Challenge. I must say it did not disappoint. It is the second book I've recently about someone struck by ALS. As the story begins, we read of Mitch, a college student, who has a unique relationship with one of his professors. This professor, Morrie, has a special interest in teaching his students all things concerning life. They form a special bond and throughout Mitch's college days, the two spend much time together. After graduation, Mitch looses touch with Morrie and throws himself into his work. Sixteen years later, he learns that Morrie is dying and feels deep regret from not keeping in touch with his mentor. After Mitch makes contact with his old "coach", the two resume their relationship where they left off so many years before. Morrie has a story to tell and wants Mitch to tell it. Thus begins their regular Tuesday sessions, which will continue until Morrie's death.

*I really enjoyed this book. ALS is a disease that slowly takes away ones ability to perform the simplest tasks and ultimately attacks the lungs so that breathing becomes impossible. The way Morrie chose to live with the disease was by living each day to the fullest. He surrounded himself with friends, family, students, and colleagues. He taught life lessons on how to deal with the disease. He kept such a positive attitude throughout his illness. He remained so gentle, so loving. He taught these lessons until his last breath.

Morrie's story made me think of my own grandmother. She doesn't have this disease, or any other, but I see her time slowly slipping away. The most simple tasks are impossible for her to perform. She has total dependence on others for almost all of her needs. As I read Morrie's story, I thought of her. I thought of how I could be her Mitch. I can sit with her and I can tell her stories. One of the best things we can do for our aging or dying loved ones is to be there, surrounding them with our love and care.

Morrie's spiritual state was not mentioned very much in the book. Only once did he reference "talking with God" about his situation. The bottom line, thumbs up to Mitch Albom for penning Morrie's story. I think it will be an encouragement to many who are afflicted with such illnesses in showing them to "love each other or perish."

Friday Freast #167

Appetizer
What is your favorite beverage?

It's a toss up. I love Diet Sunkist and Coke Zero. It's hard to pick between the two.

Soup
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.

1. Mary Engelbreit calendar. A desk is not a desk without one of these!
2. Our bill basket. Every desk could do without one of these! I keep them in a wicker basket on my desk so it is easy to get to when I need to pay them.
3. Two stacks of books in my TBR pile. I keep as many as I can on top of my desk so that I have to look at them every day, which makes me read more diligently.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?

One thing I have learned is that it never pays to be dishonest. I'd say I'm very honest and on a scale of 1-10, I give myself a 9 1/2. I rate myself this way because there have been times that I've padded the truth to keep from hurting someone. Whew! That was a tough question!

Main Course
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?

Intercourse, Pennsylvania. It's a little Amish village that I read about in Beverly Lewis books and also that we visited when we were vacationing in Lancaster. It just seems a rather odd name for a place and I'd change it to something more fitting. Maybe I'd call it Dairy Land, PA since there were several dairy farms in that area.

Dessert
What stresses you out? What calms you down?

This question should have been what doesn't stress you out! LOL! There are a number of things that stress me out and most of these things are silly. I get stressed over messes around the house (dirty floors, laundry in the floor, kitty hair on things). Time also stresses me out. It seems that I never have enough of it and when I am trying to squeeze in reading or craft time, I get stressed by looking at the clock.

I am calmed by hot showers, sewing or crafting, or getting outdoors.

To read more Friday Feasts, go here.

Heart Day

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and that means it's almost time for men to go out and buy their wives a dozen roses . Most women love flowers, myself included, but 1-800-Flowers has so much more to offer. From gift baskets, plants, and chocolate to stuffed animals and luxury gifts, you are sure to find the perfect gift for your "honey." Ladies, let's not forget our hardworking husbands. There is a whole section of "gifts for him" so be sure and check them out. My favorite is the giant fortune cookie. Nothing says I love you like a giant fortune cookie!

Thursday Thirteen ~ All About Jane

Since Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors, she is the subject of this Thursday Thirteen. The first four are quotes from JA books or movie adaptations. The rest is biographical information.

1. “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
2. “Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then.”
3. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
4. "I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them."
5. Jane's father was a clergyman.
6. Jane was the seventh of eight children.
7. The original title of Pride & Prejudice was First Impressions.
8. Jane's father sent P&P to a publisher who refused to look at the manuscript.
9. Sense & Sensibility was published first.
10. Jane was never married.
11. Jane's closest friend was her only sister, Cassandra.
12. Jane only became a popular writer after her death in 1817.
13. She died at age 41 possibly from Addison's disease.

For more TT's, go here.

 

Flame Grilled Chicken

When I think of grilling, one thing comes to mind....chicken. In the summer, we use our grill a lot. We love using various chicken recipes that we find on the internet or get from friends. We have tried over and over to reproduce that wonderful flame grilled flavor that we get in restaurants. I'm sad to say that we just don't get that same flavor. Recently, we heard about some flame grilled Mexican chicken from El Pollo Loco and we can't wait to give it a try. In the meantime, we are doing our research and watching some pretty informational videos about chicken over at Where's the Flame Grill. Check them out. You'll learn all kinds of ways to grill up chicken. Personally, I like the instructional video on how to grill your chicken in the fireplace. Maybe we'll try that tonight!

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2008

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2008

WaterBrook Press (January 15, 2008)

by

Sally Stuart

 

Sally Stuart has been writing for the last 40+ years, and has been putting out the annual "Christian Writers' Market Guide" for the last 23 years. Her other writing includes several Christian education resources books, a children's picture book, a basic writing text, writing resources, and a western novel--plus hundreds of articles and marketing columns. She writes marketing columns for the "Christian Communicator," "Advanced Christian Writer," and the Oregon Christian Writers' Newsletter. She speaks and teaches at Christian Writers' Conferences nationwide. Sally is the mother of 3 and grandmother of 8. She and her husband, Norm, spend their free time vacationing on the Oregon coast.

Check out her blog!

 

The essential reference tool for the Christian writer, Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide is now in its 23rd annual edition!

Check out the section on Blogging on page 69...the CFBA is listed!

Writers’ Conference listings, Book Publishers, Magazine Publishers, and a Bookstore filled with the resources you need to be successful in this business. Get a Book Contract or Manuscript Evaluation, and check out the Writer’s Resource links. This book has all you need to connect to all these valuable helps for the beginning, intermediate, or professional writer.

To keep you up to date with the latest marketing news, visit Sally Stuart’s new marketing blog, Christian Writers’ Marketplace, at http://www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com/.

A new, updated version of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide is available about January 15 each year.

 

Planning A Move?

It seems that there is always someone moving around us, whether it be a friend, family member, church member, or co-worker. We have moved a couple of times over the past ten years. Both times, it has been in the dead of winter. We packed up the truck and moved everything ourselves. After the last time, we decided that if we moved in the future, we would check out local moving companies to see if we could go that route. It's such a chore to do it alone.

Movers Directory is an online resource that offers moving tips, moving guides, and moving services. You'll find a huge network of resources from professional moving companies to storage companies. It doesn't matter if your move is a small one or a large one, you are sure to find helpful information. You will find relocation information for all fifty states, as well as one hundred countries. You can research real estate, mortgage loan rates, auto shipping rates, and even compare rates from various moving companies. Moving couldn't be easier!