Sentimental September

The month of September has always been a favorite of mine. As a young child I eagerly anticipated my birthday, counting down the days and looking forward to a yummy cake! My precious Mama also had a September birthday (only a few days after mine) so that made the month even more special for our family. Now two of my three children have September birthdays, so I've joked over the years and commented that the month of September is "like Christmas in our family!" ~ Of course now that my children are all in their 20s, I find that I become sentimental during this month. I tend to "relive" memories in my mind--the excitement of their births, the fun birthday parties when they were very young, and all the happiness the month of September always seemed to bring. ~ Even though life is different now that I'm not planning childrens' parties or shopping for toys, September can still be a happy month as we celebrate each birthday with thankfulness. ~ And who knows....maybe one day I'll have a grandchild with a September birthday!

To Love and Cherish

Christian fiction authors Judith Miller and Tracie Peterson have written a book series that I highly recommend--especially for those who enjoy historical romance! "Bridal Veil Island" is the series title, with the first book titled: To Have and To Hold and the second book is: To Love and Cherish. I highly recommend both books, but have to say the second one is my very favorite.
Set on the Georgia coast in the late 1800s, To Love and Cherish features believable characters, romance, adventure, and even a hint of mystery---it's wonderful! ~ Being a Georgia native myself and frequent visitor to our lovely coast, I was especially pleased with the job these ladies did on this book, and now I'm eagerly looking forward to the third book in this series: To Honor and Trust.

Leaning on the Lord with Little Things

With all the medical "adventures" I've had, one might think that an appointment at the dentist office would be nothing. Not so! For some reason, going to the dentist causes more apprehension for me than the times I faced major surgeries. ~ So after scheduling a routine appointment last week (check-up/cleaning) I was filled with dread. I kept telling myself it was silly for me to feel so nervous; even my oldest daughter reassured me the appointment would be fine. But I knew I didn't want to walk into the dental office shaking like a leaf, so I prayed. And prayed. Sure enough, a sense of calm and well-being actually came over me that morning--even as I sat in the dentist office chair! Thankfully my appointment went well, and although I do have to return for some *little* cavities, it's nothing major. ~ I was thinking about all of this today, and was again reminded of how we should pray and lean on the Lord for ALL things in life---not only the "big deals" but the little things too---even things we might feel embarrassed about bringing before our Lord! I'm convinced that He cares about ALL aspects of our life, and wants us to call out to Him. And that's the "tooth"!

     I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.  Psalm 34:4

Staying Immersed

As a Christian, I've often read/heard how very important it is to stay "immersed in Scripture". As I grow older and hopefully a little bit wiser(?) I see just how super important that is! Many folks would agree that our world today seems more evil than ever. Even supposedly "good" people are led astray, and of course the news is filled with reports of crime, violence, and rampant sin. Yep, our enemy the devil is doing his best to gain a stronger hold on our world. But as Christians we must continue fighting this---EVERY day. One way is to stay focused on WHO we serve---and since I serve my Lord and Savior Jesus I have to keep focused on HIM. For me personally one of the best ways to do that is to keep myself immersed in Scripture. Everyday I read my Bible, but I've realized I need even more help. So I've written some verses of Scripture and placed them in various places around my house. I've found this really helps me, because I have constant reminders of WHO I'm serving and how I'm supposed to live. Does this make me a wonderful, sinless person? NO! But....I'm striving to serve the Lord and stay immersed in His word---and I realize I need all the help I can get! May we Christians always stay immersed so we can help shine His light to a hurting world. ~ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.   Matthew 5:16

Tuesday Trivia

I don't know why, but I've always enjoyed trivia! Maybe it's because in this day and age when we're bombarded with so much bad news, it's fun to focus on information that is totally random (even if you don't think you'll ever actually need that information, haha). ~ So below I've listed some assorted trivia "facts"---I have not actually checked to determine if these are indeed accurate, but I did locate them from reliable sources.  :)
                                          TUESDAY   TRIVIA
     52% of Americans drink coffee. (*okay, I'm surprised this number isn't higher!)
     A chimpanzee can learn to recognize itself in a mirror, but monkeys can't. (*so don't bother buying your favorite monkey a mirror for his/her next birthday!)
     A cow gives nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime.
     Berry College (in Rome, Georgia) has the world's largest college campus. (Wow!)
     American and Russian space flights have always included chocolate.
    One plain milk chocolate candy bar has more protein than a banana.
    A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph. (*hmmmm...don't let your sneezes get any traffic tickets!)  

~ ~ ~ Hope you enjoyed this bit of trivia today! ~ ~ A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.  Proverbs 15:13

Kudos for Keli!

Christian author Keli Gwyn has written a novel that I am loving! A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California is Keli's first book, but I feel certain this author will have many, many more published books in her writing future. ~ I'm not quite finished reading it yet (*confession--I'm a slow reader*) but am thoroughly enjoying this fun story. ~ Set in California's Sierra Foothills in 1870, this charming romance is keeping me turning pages to see what happens next....In fact, I interrupted my reading to post this quick blog, but am about to dive back into the story! ~ And just for fun, I've posted a photo of my cat Delilah as she "PAWSed" to take a look at Keli's book---and yep! Delilah thinks it's a PURR-fect book to read.

    Also, THANKS to everyone who visited the other day when I posted my interview with sweet Keli. A special THANK YOU to Keli Gwyn for taking time to answer my questions, and CONGRATULATIONS to Amy Campbell, who won the drawing for a copy of Keli's book!

Interview with Author Keli Gwyn

I am thrilled to feature award-winning novelist Keli Gwyn on my blog, and she's graciously answered some questions below. But first, here's a little background info. on sweet Keli, my "California friend"!
   Author Keli Gwyn writes stories that transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to life with colorful characters and a hint of humor. ~ Keli lives with her husband and their 2 skittish but beautiful kitties (pictured below) in her native California. Her debut novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California releases July 2012 from Barbour Publishing. ~ To learn more about Keli, visit her website at  http://www.keligwyn.com
   1. Welcome Keli! Please tell us a little about your book and how you chose the setting.
 KELI: Widow Elenora Watkins is determined to provide for herself and her daughter without relying on anyone else. Can she run a successful business after falling for the competition? Miles Rutledge finds himself willing to do anything to keep Elenora in town. But can he win her heart while putting her out of business? ~ I'm a California native and love the historic Gold Country where I live. I wanted to bring the area to life in my stories. While El Dorado is a sleepy suburb now, it was a thriving town in its heyday. When I read about the town's leading merchant, a mercantile owner named James B. Wetherwax, I was intrigued and wanted to know more about him. However, I couldn't find much information, but being a writer, I could imagine such a man--and I created the hero of my story. ~ Widower Miles Rutledge has the most successful business in town, the most impressive building, and is well liked, but he doesn't have a woman in his life. Along comes Elenora Watkins and her shop across the street.
   2. Where do you do most of your writing? (Office, coffee shop, etc.?)
KELI: I write in the privacy of my own home. Since I often speak lines of dialogue out loud, make faces to make sure I'm getting my gestures right, and act out scenes while I work, I would be afraid to write in public. People think I'm goofy enough as it is when my characters and I chat while I'm on my walks. :)
   3. Have you always wanted to be an author?
KELI: Pretty much. My dream of being a published author was born when I was seven. Forty years passed before I dusted off that dream and began writing my first story. Six and a half years later, I'm holding my book in my hand, proving dreams really can come true.
   4. Have you always lived in California?
KELI: I was born and raised in California and have spent most of my life here, but I did live two other places. I spent a couple of years in Washington State in my twenties. Gwynly and I lived in Germany four and a half years early in our marriage, where he was a teacher in an American military high school. We were there from 1989-1993 and got to witness the end of the Cold War, fall of the Wall, and reunification of Germany up close and personal. Upon returning to the states, we settled in Placerville and have lived here ever since.
   5. What are your favorite foods?
KELI: If we're talking sit-down restaurants, Mexican tops the list and Italian comes next. When it comes to fast food, I like Taco Bell, Panda Express, and Wendy's.
   6. Do you have a favorite vacation spot?
KELI: I'm a real homebody who is happiest right here in our cozy house. I do enjoy day trips to Lake Tahoe, which is just an hour away, and to other historic towns in the Gold Country. ~ Since I've gotten to see much of Europe, I think my travel bug has been satisfied, but if we were to take a trip there again, I'd start by visiting Nurnberg, Germany, where we lived. I'd like to return to my favorite spots: Garmish, at the base of the German Alps; Salzburg, Austria; and Grindlewald, Switzerland. The Lord outdid Himself when He created those places.
   7. Do you have any pets?
KELI: We have two skittish cat brothers. They were feral cats, and even though we took them in when they were just a few weeks old, they don't trust other people. When people come to visit, all they see is a flash of orange and white as the boys make a break for the bedroom. ~ Dandy, the mellow one of the two, is partial to Gwynly. Sandy and I are more high maintenance, so we understand one another. Both cats are good company and keep our Empty Nest from feeling quite as empty as it could otherwise. ~ ~ Thanks so much for hosting me here on your lovely blog, Patti Jo. What fun to spend time with you and your blog's visitors. I have a question for them. What historical events have you witnessed firsthand? If you haven't witnessed any, what historical event has impacted you the most?

~ ~ Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a copy of Keli's book. ~ Thanks again for visiting my Corner today, Keli, and I cannot wait to read your book!!