Happy Thanksgiving!

   Today I celebrate all I have to be thankful for. Yes, I am Thankful. I am Blessed. I know that I (we, my family) has  suffered a great loss. We all still miss Jeff. We all miss what was. But, as I read in a wise book, "the greatest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude."  and, I am grateful. Today seems the perfect day to be grateful. To be Thankful. As I sit here and reflect on the day, in the quiet of the evening, I am Thankful!
  Today, I am Thankful to have been able to spend the day with my children! This also includes my daughter's fiance, Matt. My soon to be son in law! I am so Thankful each and every day for each of you! You make my life complete! Today I am Thankful for my fur grand kids, 2 of whom joined us for thanksgiving making me smile! Just think what I'll be like with the non fur type grand kids, lol! I am Thankful my mother could join us as well. I am Thankful for the abundance of food on our table! Today I am Thankful for my jobs! I work at two jobs in 3 different shops that I love!  I love the creativity and the adorable children and the vast array of different tasks that I am privileged to do at both Paint A Pot and Peek A Boutique as well as wonderful co workers and bosses and some of the best customers ever! And then, on the weekend, I get to indulge in another passion, wine! And, I get paid for this! I love that job, it was a complete fluke to fall into it. Or, maybe not. I think I was meant to find that when I did.  I love what I am learning, what I am privileged to be exposed to! I love that I have been trusted to create and manage the Warner Vineyards Facebook page and further indulge in my passions for wine, social media and geekieness in  general!  I am Thankful for my own fur kids, they keep me from  coming home to an empty house and are always happy to see me! I am Thankful for my friends! Newer friends and friends dating back to child hood! Some I see or talk  to often,  and some less often but,  still friends!  I am Thankful for all those who choose to be a part of my life and I am honored and privileged to be a part of theirs!  And yes, I am Thankful for facebook, social media in  general,  and the internet! Without that I would not be "talk" to so many so often. With Jeff's illness and now me working so much, this is a wonderful way for me to keep in touch!  There is both good and bad about  social media but I choose to focus on the positive and for me, it was a life line when I needed it!  I am Thankful for memories! We have wonderful family memories that make us smile, even laugh, and I am Thankful that we have reached a point where those memories have that affect on us!  I am Thankful for my faith, and the fact that I am allowed to be faithful and spiritual in my own way!   I am Thankful for the home we built together and that I have been able to stay here! I am Thankful for the experiences I have had, both joyful and painful, for they have shaped me in the way they were intended to and,  great or difficult, I embrace that and hope I can do something positive with that!
   The last day or two, I have been thinking of so many who are dealing with the empty chair at the table this holiday for the first time! My heart is heavy for them. Holidays are hard. First holidays are really hard. Sadly, those experiencing this, number way to many and for a couple,  that grief is just days old. I Pray for them to find comfort, strength and peace!
   As we, the kids and I, move into the 18 month mark and our second holiday season without Jeff,  I can honestly say that I  am Thankful for so much (and this compilation was in no particular order !) and I still want to "make every moment count!"  Please, do the same!

(((Hugs)))
   Brenda

 

September/October Books

Starting Now by Debbie MaComber ****

   The latest in the Blossom Street series; Starting Now effortlessly pick of the story of friends and neighbors with, of course, a new addition.  We are given the opportunity to revisit previous characters from the series while getting to know a few knew ones.  Always well written, with just the right touch of drama. Debbie MaComber is a wonderful story teller and high up on my list of favorite authors.  (I buy the book, Daily Guideposts, each year and Debbie is a frequent contributor to it as well!)

The Wurst is Yet to Come by Mary Daheim ** 1/2

   This is one book of many in Mary's Bed and Breakfast series.  I have been reading the series for so long that I always feel I must read the latest book but truthfully, I am not enjoying the later ones as much as the earlier ones.  I don't know if I have just outgrown them or if the writing style has changed?  This book is set in a nearby town where the B&B owners have a booth at a Bavarian festival to promote their inns.  Cute, just lacking any substance.  On to my next book...

Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer ****

   A little, romance, a little mystery, a little history (family that is), a little "plotting" and a whole lot of love.  A sweet story of family, friends and a first (and last) love. Add in baking, cooking and recipe talk and I'm in!  I often enjoy Sarah's writing and this was no exception.

Between Husbands and Friends by Nancy Thayer ****

   A story about friends and friendship, secrets kept and divulged, betraying and being betrayed and what makes them all tick.  Interesting, well written and the books flows well.  I usually enjoy Nancy Thayer's books  and will be adding several more to my list :)

The Newcomer by Robyn Carr *** 1/2

   The second in Robyn's new series, which is a "spin off" of another series.  Robyn's books are always well written and I like how all the characters are linked from book to book and even a bit for this series to the the series this spun off from.  She leaves us hanging at the end so I will be waiting anxiously for the next book!

A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand *** 1/2

   I usually love anything Elin writes and although this book was well written, I didn't love the story or the characters.  In fact, some of them just made me mad!  This story seemed to be full of self indulgent, selfish, thoughtless adults and a couple of innocent victims of those actions.  Deceit and deception flowed through the book and for some reason the story really bugged me :(    If, in the end,  anyone had learned a valuable life lesson, maybe that would have helped but, the book just ended with very little thought (except for a hint from 1 character) that maybe they would "change their ways."

 

Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle by Ann B. Ross *** 1/2

   This series of books reminds me so much of the Mitford/Father Tim series by Jan Karon!  Small town, good people, all rally together to right a wrong etc.  Just a "feel good" kind of book!  We all need to fantasize about this once in a while, lol!  Originally a friend lent me a couple of the books and here I am, many years later, still keeping up with the series :)   Just a sweet read!

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah **** 1/2

   Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors, always writing stories that deeply touch my heart!  I was recently going through my book lists and could not recall if I had read this book or not.  It sounded vaguely familiar but I just wasn't sure. Not wanting to have missed a book by Kristin, I checked it out of the library.  Upon reading, some things did seem familiar but I really couldn't remember how it ended so I continued reading.  In hindsight, I believe I did read this years ago but, I am glad I read it again.  Great story that is fiction but, in reading this it is easy to imagine how it could have been real.  This is the story of a "wild girl" and the process to reconnect with her .    A story about falling in love and loving someone enough to be willing to let them go.  Yes, I was in tears at the end!

Finding Myself by Beth Hoffman **** 1/2

   A wonderful story of friends, family and relationships .  A bit of a mystery, a bit of a love story and a lot of lessons in paying it forward and perseverance.  I really enjoyed this book and came to read it after reading a review somewhere (no idea where!).

Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon By Nancy Atherton *** 1/2

   Another series I have been reading forever and although I do not enjoy as I once did, I can't bring myself to break up with the author or series, lol!  I do enjoy some of the quirky characters but am tiring of the original premise of these books. This one, thankfully, was an entertaining story set at a Renaissance Festival which brought back fond memories of attending a couple as a family when our kids were little.  Drew loved all things about medieval times, castles, knights dragons etc!  A sweet mystery ending with a lesson of forgiving and forgetting.  :)

The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson **** 1/2

   The latest in a series of books about Goldy, a caterer married to a detective.  Goldy loves coffee and cooking is not only her career but  her way of relieving stress but and problem solving.  And yes, she enjoys a glass of wine now and then.  How could I not love Goldy!?  In her business Goldy often stumbles across information than can be helpful to her husbands latest case but she is not above a bit of "detecting" on her own.  Well written, funny, with recipes at the end of the book.  Of course I enjoy her books!

Jane Eyre  by Charlotte Bronte **** 1/2

   What a great classic to read for our book club!  I have slight recollections of possibly reading this but only slight so,  glad we chose this book.  The style of writing is so wonderful, the story so fascinating!

Holiday Buzz by Cleo Coyle ****

   My PT and I got to talking books one day and she mentioned that she like a series by this author.  The main character owns a coffee shop with her ex husband and helps to solve mysteries.  These or not great works of literary genius like Jane Eyre but, they are fun to read!  There is a lot of coffee   and food recipes in these books and yes, I did copy 1 down already to try.  The story and plot was well thought out and since I enjoy reading, mysteries, coffee and food, these books tick a lot off my list and I will read more of them :)

The Wednesday Daughters by Meg Waite Clayton ** 1/2


   Oh my, what a disappointment!  I read The Wednesday Sisters a while back and LOVED it!!!  (It was a story of friends, not actual sisters.)  This is the story of those friends daughters and I was so looking forward to it!  Sadly, it fell so short of my expectations.  It seemed disjointed, didn't flow as well and the characters seemed to lack the same relationship connection that their mothers had.

Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods ****

   The latest in her Sweet Magnolia series, Sherryl once again writes a touching story about trust, compromise, relationship dynamics and a sweet southern town. 

Roasted Mortem by Cleo Coyle ****

   Confirmed; I like this series and will continue reading  :)   My second in this coffee house "Culinary mystery" was possibly better than the first. Will written and kept me up till 1 am to finish one night.

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich****

  A story that begins with a meeting that never should have happened (that never happens, right?!) and what follows.  Personal transformation, both inside and out for Holly and for Logan, the transformation is purely inside!  Down deep, a sweet and thoughtful story but packaged with a lot of humor!

Pure Joy by Danielle Steele **** 1/2

   A glimpse into the personal life of DS and the many dogs (and 1 pot bellied pig) that were and are their family pets.  Funny, touching, personal stories about how our pets are such a big part of our lives. If you are a dog lover, you will love this book!!!

   That is it, a book or two short of "normal" for but but, the fall was busy and productive in many other ways :)  I have enjoyed blogging about my love of books and reading and have November and December to go.  Then, I will be changing it up for 2014 by "pinning" my books read onto a Pinterest board.  For my "Bibliophile Pinterest" friends, you can follow my reading path there.  Happy Reading!

(((Hugs)))
  Brenda