Rambling Friday: Celebrating on Christmas Day or Another Day?

 I love celebrating Christmas!

More to the point, I love celebrating Christmas with my family...and friends. 

We've celebrated Christmas on Christmas Day, on Christmas Eve Day, and even another day.

But who cares? 

This year, we'll be celebrating on New Year's Eve Day with family. 

And I don't mind at all. 

We've been busy.

It also gave me more time to gather what I wanted to give, 

prepare for dinner

and prepare for the meal. 

What matters to me, is being with my family,

whenever we can. 

And isn't that what it's all about?

Celebrating Christ's birth together, whenever?

with love?

Peace?

Joy?

Contentment?

and happiness?

Besides...it makes the celebration easier on me...

Sunday Morning Sunshine: Family Love

 Thank you, my Baby Boy, for the flowers,

the cookies,

socks,

and notebook. 

I'll love you forever! 

Forever, you will be my baby!!

Rambling Friday: God and Country

 Statement of facts:

I love God.

I love my family.

I love my country. 

Jesus is our salvation, our hope and assurance.

My family is my heart.

And my country is the one place I want to live.

The freedom and opportunities are shared nowhere else 

in the world as much as this country. 

It's a privilege to live here,

to be able to love and enjoy my family, and

to love and worship God as I feel I need to.  

HAPPY July 4th! 

Be blessed! 

Sunday Morning Sunshine: I Will Praise God!

I Will Praise God!

For completing another 90,000-word book!
For a fairly healthy body!
For ideas to work on other books!
For the rain, even though I long for sunshine, that will help during the dry summer months.
For the green leaves again.
For visits with family.
For God's presence.

For life and happiness,
For hope and encouragement,
For knowing I have a Savior

Happy day!

Rambling Friday: A Time to Be Quiet

We live in troublesome times. Few people would deny that. Work, diseases, living issues, family, friends, expectations and more increase the pressure on our lives. I'd love to offer some tips that may help:

1.  Exercise. It doesn't matter how old you are or young, exercise (if you're physically able with
doctor's permission) you can do some type of exercise. Stretch, move, walk, raise your arms, march in step. Take a walk, jog, ramble through a park or on a beach or in the woods. Whatever you choose will get your blood pumping and your mind more alert. Just remember to get your doctor's permission.

2.  Take your vitamins regularly. They add the essential nourishment that your body may lack. Think about it, and again, Check with your doctor if you have questions.

Eat right. Enjoy your vegetable, watch what you eat and how often.

Doing good for your body will be doing good for your overall health and mental state.









3. Take time to do things you love.  Have a hobby? Make sure you spend time on those. Puzzles? Needlepoint? Ancestry research? Traveling? Sports? Whatever you love doing, do it. It will be well worth your brain time!

4.  Spend time with family and/or friends. Read a book together. Play games. Go exploring. Listen. Laugh. Relax. Don't argue. Don't bring up touchy subjects. Realize you only have one life, and that is meant to do and be the best you can be. Use it wisely.






5.  And last, try some of these ideas:  light a candle, soak in a tub of warm water, swim, listen to music, take a boat ride, have lunch with a new or old friend or a relative you haven't seen in a long time. Try journaling, scrapbooking, carving, painting, praying, reading your Bible, talking with a minister. Get a pet, volunteer at a nursing home or hospital or lunch center for the homeless. There are plenty more things anyone can do to help ease the pressure of everyday life.

Stay determined. Stay focused. Resist negativism. Stay positive. Take action. YOU are the one responsible for yourself. Do it!

Prayers for a happy, healthy and productive rest-of-your-life!

Rambling Friday: Christmas is Over!

We celebrated Christmas on December 24th this year. Our youngest son and his family couldn't be
here on Christmas eve or day, so our oldest son and a friend enjoyed a great meal and unwrapping gifts on December 24th.

You'd think Christmas was over, right?

Not so fast. For a person who LOVES Christmas, I don't let go until forced to by a forbearing hubby who finally (in February) insists that the live tree must go. Sigh.

So...with my devious mind (ha!), I made plans to enjoy another Christmas celebration this coming Saturday with both my sons present, another meal, laughing, unwrapping packages and whatever else we can cook up!

I began today making a new dessert. Ordering a coconut cream pie tomorrow, removing the frozen ham from the freezer tomorrow, and, hopefully, prepare more desserts tomorrow, along with finishing the wrapping a few more gifts.

To say the least, I'm certainly looking forward to Saturday, another day to be with family, be thankful Jesus came as a babe many years ago, and that, so far we're all fairly healthy.

And I figure, that as long as I keep Christmas in my heart--the real meaning of Christmas--then I can celebrate the season as long as I want. Sounds good to me! :)

How much do you love Christmas?

Have a blessed New Year!

Rambling Friday: My Crazy Family

I love these people so much.

Even though they're crazy enough to dress like this.

But their fun and enjoy doing things together

whether traveling with this grandma (and grandpa),

swimming like they belong in the water,

flea-marketing,

playing games together,

yard-working,

whatever. 

So, yeah, they're just a bit crazy.

But they're mine,

and I love them dearly!

Happy October!

Rambling Friday: Our Failed Harvest

Oh, yeah, we're not much of a gardener family for several reasons.

Let me be clear, We love planting and having a garden so that's not the problem.

But what is the problem is:

• pesky wild animals (like deer and rabbits and who knows what else) who also like eating food they've not worked for
• busyness.

You see, we live a busy life with work, travel, ministry, family, and just plain life. We love being busy, but sometimes...things get a little too busy. That's where the problem comes in with gardening. Weeds don't get pulled. Watering is skimpy when we forget because we're gone or on the run with work. 

Then there are the wild animals who think we live here to feed them. If they're not eating our broccoli, they're feasting on whatever else looks tempting. Keeping them out is nearly impossible. Somehow they find a way. And probably laugh each time their supper is over--at our expense, of course. 

We have good intentions. We really want a garden and the produce from it. We love fresh produce and the satisfaction of eating the fruit of our gardening labors.

So there you have it. The two big reasons we seldom have much success at gardening. 

Sigh.

But then, there's next year. Maybe we'll give it a shot. After all, we have all year to plan how to succeed! 

Happy day! 

Sunday Sunshine: A Bit of Childish Cheer

A Bit of Childish Cheer This January Morning

Mother and Daughter love

Training our Children to be patriotic

Having Fun!

Taking time for the kids: Grandpa and Grandchildren

Zoo Time/Family time

Children are the best!

Don't lose the opportunity...

Monday Morning Gratitudes

Coffee in the morning, prepared by hubby and often delivered to where I am
Green grass
Seeing my grandsons
A lovely end of the week, last week, in spite of difficulties
strength for the day
hope for tomorrow
answered prayers
healing for an injured knee: hubby's encouragement to keep using it, my essential oils and God's touch


Blessings!

Sunday Morning Peace: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Music

Christmas trees

The wonder in a child's eyes.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Tidbits of my Life from this Summer

This has been another eventful month? 

Where has time gone?

Here's a few things that made this month special for me:

Anniversary roses from my sweet, sweet hubby

Fishing and pontooning at the lake!

Ye ole swimming hole :)

Riding on the Polarus

This is my world!

Finally here.

Living dangerously! 

Mr. Reese

Seeing Jonah

Fantastic!

Recommended!

Eating healthy!

Blessings!

Tidbits of My Life

Fun, serious, and important tidbits.

Happy birthdays to...

the love of my life: hubby Dan with one of his old "toys"

Son #1's birthday. 

Love you, my first born.

Happy February birthdays to our nieces, Sherry Coleman and Christina Ratliff! 

Love you both bunches!

A special birthday wish for this young lady, wonderful friend, and 

fellow-writer. She's a blessing in my life!

   Grandsons Jonathan and Wes feeding baby calves

Special flowers from hubby!

Love!

Many blessings in your life!

Tidbits of my Life

It's been awhile since I shared bits of my life, 

so thought it would be fun to share this month.

Here goes:

The release of the third book

in my Appleton, WV Romantic Mystery series

A trip to Noah's Ark near Cincinnati

Camping near Charleston, SC

Hubby, Jonathan and pirate boat captain

after searching for the dolphins 

and exploring an island

Grandson roaming the woods with Grandpa

Till next time, have a wonderful, rest-of-the-winter!

Blessings

Tidbits of My Life

What Fun April Was! 

Bleeding Hearts from our Garden spreading some loving!

Happy Day! 

We were able to find a loving family to adopt Buckeye. 

He's being spoiled and loved LOTS! 

This is when we went to visit. :)

Precious dog.

Visiting Friends in VA--Hubby and Friend JC!

Yummy! Morrell Time! 

Grandson Wes won THIRD Place in his school's Project! 

Go, Wes!

Youngest Grandson, Jonathan 

and his ball team--The Storm

He's the second from the left, front row. 

Cutie

And there you have it!

Some special highlights for the month!

Blessings!

Tidbits of My Life: Cover Reveal and Your Bargain of the Month!

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover for my up-and-coming novel:

the second book in my Appleton, West Virginia Romantic Mystery series: 

What do I love about this cover?

* Love, love, love the apple blossom on the sign

* A warm, down home restaurant scene that captures a bit of the feel of the book's atmosphere

* Love the title. Can't you just imagine what's coming?

* Love the pink shades in the cover

NOW! Read on to enjoy a sample portion of this book:

Knight in Shining Apron 

Carole Brown 

 Chapter One 

Starli Cameron slashed off the last name on her list, the last possible candidate. She ripped the paper from the tablet, crumpled it and tossed her pencil to the tabletop just as the phone rang. 

Snatching up the receiver she struggled to control her voice. “Apple Blossoms. This is Starli Cameron. 

“Starlie-e-e. Now fancy the stupid, undevoted wife being such a huge success.” A pause. “Not quite fair, is it?” 

God, please, not again. Starli gripped the phone. “What do you want? Why are you calling me?” 

“Think you’ve got it made, don’t you? While Ryan is decaying in the ground, his devoted wife is playing the high-rolling, successful businesswoman to the tilt. You couldn’t even give him a son, could you?” 

Dear Lord, please help me. A knife twisted in her heart. “No. That’s not--” 

“Of course, it’s true.” The voice snapped, anger and threat resounding through it. 

“I have to make a living.” Desperation surged through her. She hated the whine in her voice. 

“What about the five hundred grand he left you? Remember that measly amount? Did you squander it? Hoard it?” 

Starli’s insides froze a little more. Was Roland Stratton, Ryan’s twin brother, after the money? Too late. It’d all gone toward opening this restaurant. She recognized the feelings raging through her. Anger, hurt, dismay, defeat. But she didn’t want to address them. Didn’t even want to acknowledge them. 

“I went back to school and started this restaurant. That took money--” 

“You’re as stupid as Ryan always said.” A coarse laugh grated through the receiver. “Too stupid to live. But you did, didn’t you, Starlie-e-e? Ryan died, but you lived. Look down at that ugly finger of yours, Starlie-e-e.” 

Starli’s gaze dropped to her left pinkie. The crooked one. The reminder. Fear thudded in her chest. 

“Do you need another reminder?” 

“No.” The single word exploded from her throat. 

The line went dead. He was gone. For now.

Now for the bargain of the month! And what a bargain! 

• Anyone who reviewed Sabotaged Christmas, and you want to read Knight in Shining Apron, let me know, and I will send you as soon as it's released, a kindle copy FREE! Absolutely free. 
• If you didn't read and/or review Sabotaged Christmas, you still have time to do that. It's a fun, easy read. Read, review, contact me. I'll send your FREE copy of Knight in Shining Apron as soon as it's released! 

Of course, I'd love to have your honest review of this second book. That goes without saying. So, are you interested? Here's my email to contact me, or leave a comment here, on this post. browncarole212 (at) yahoo (dot) com
No spaces.


Many wonderful days of reading!