Happy National Clean Off Your Desk Day! I’m happy to announce that I have fulfilled my commitment, and my desk is clean. Yippee! There’s something really satisfying about having a clean desk, don’t you think? First, to refresh your memory, click here to look at the “Before” picture. And now, the results: Actually, it didn’t take me as long as …
National Clean Off Your Desk Day – Before
I discovered something new this year. Monday, January 11th is National Clean Off Your Desk Day! This special day is observed on the second Monday of each year. I’m not sure of the origins, but I suppose it has something to do with getting a clean start on the new year. Not a bad idea, right? I’ve decided I could …
A Year-Long Reminder
I spent the afternoon taking down the Christmas tree. They sure do come down a lot faster than they go up, don’t they? There’s something a little sad about un-decorating the tree, about taking the ornaments off the branches and placing them in their boxes to be stored up in the attic where I won’t see them for eleven months. …
Book Review – The Believer
The BelieverBy Ann H. GabhartAs a young boy, Ethan escaped from what promised to be a life of violence and dishonesty when he was rescued by a kind man who took him to live in a Shaker community. Ethan embraced the Shaker life, grateful for the peace and plenty his Shaker brothers and sisters provided. But fifteen years later, another …
Fun Things Sisters Do
With the release of Third Time’s a Charm nearly upon us (January 1!), I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about sisters. All three books in the Sister-to-Sister Series have focused on the close-knit relationship between three sisters, which are modeled after my own family relationships. Since the release of Stuck in the Middle and Age before Beauty, I’ve received …
Book Review – Arena
Arena by Karen Hancock When Callie allows her friend to convince her to participate in a psychological study to earn $50, she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. She shows up for the test, and her suspicions are aroused by all the high-tech machinery used to evaluate her before the test even begins. And what about those too-gorgeous …
Things I Love About Christmas – Jesus
If you’ve been following my Journal posts this month, you know I’ve been detailing all the things I love about Christmas. Today is Christmas Day, so this post is devoted to the real reason we celebrate Christmas — Jesus. I think Christmas was planned long, long before the angel appeared to Mary and told her she would give birth to …
Things I Love About Christmas – Food
I’m continuing with my Journal ponderings on the things I love about Christmas, and today I want to talk about food. My family has so many traditional foods, and at times our gatherings seem to revolve around the food. Okay, I know that’s a sad statement in a lot of ways, because of course the meaning of Christmas has nothing …
Things I Love About Christmas – Traditions
Christmas is a time for family traditions! Activities we participate in each year, favorite foods, songs we sing together. Traditions are part of what makes Christmas special. In my family, we have several traditions. My favorite occurs on Christmas Eve. My family will gather together to celebrate the first coming of the King of Kings. The evening will be full …
Things I Love About Christmas – Movies
I love Christmas movies! I don’t care if I have seen them a gazillion times, there are some movies that I absolutely will not miss. And for some reason, watching the DVD isn’t the same as finding them in the TV Guide. I’ll say to my husband in the morning, “Guess what’s on TV tonight????” Then at the appropriate time, …