It’s New Year’s again- so many folks making resolutions for this year… I’d like to share some of the best advice I ever got; maybe it will help you stay on track with your goals.
When my older daughter was born, her dad and I spent the first few days after the hospital at my folks’ house. All I had to do was take care of that precious baby and Mama took care of cooking, laundry, etc. She helped me learn how to give Mary Beth a bath, make sure her bottles were the right temperature, and everything else that came with taking care of a new baby.
Then when it was time to take her home, while Tommy and Mama packed the car, I sat in the porch swing with Daddy and held her. I started crying and Daddy wanted to know why – so I told him I was scared to death. I wasn’t sure I could do it- all the things that go with taking care of a baby! So many things to remember, so many things to be careful about- sticking her with diaper pins, having the milk too hot, diaper rashes… the list just went on and on.
So Daddy said, ‘What’s the very first thing you’re going to do when you get home?” I told him I would fix bottles for the next 24 hours; then he said, “then what?” so I said, “wash some diapers and get them ready.”
Then he said, “Don’t look past that- just get those two things done, and then figure out the next thing. Don’t think of everything you’ve got to do, just the next thing.”
And somehow that lifted the whole burden off me. I didn’t have a hundred things to do next, just one or two.
So as you’re working through the next few days, getting your goals in mind, don’t try to make yourself eat right, or study more, or work harder for the next 365 days. Just take today and do what you can today- and when tomorrow comes, do it again.
Happy New Year’s!

This collection of poems spans the life of Bob Perdue. Poems that mourn lost friendship, celebrate family members, and friends, speak of the joys of everyday life: work, talking with friends, fishing, just living life. The book’s final poem is “The List”, which is an ongoing tribute to the Luverne Class of ‘68 and the members who have passed away.

This book can be purchased in paperback through Amazon at this link.

The Cloud Riders by Donnie R Griggs is the first book in a series about  a friendly, peace-loving people who live among the clouds. They build their homes, gather food from the mountaintops and take care of each other. This title includes two stories: “Introduction of the Cloud Riders” and “A Day with the Cloud Riders”.

This will make a great gift for any kid, especially those who love to imagine things and watch the skies for interesting stuff.

It’s available on Amazon here.

 

 

 

The good folks at the Shrine building would want me to invite you over for some boiled peanuts… every year on Labor Day, they put on the World’s Largest Peanut Boil – this year they’re got 27 tons to boil and parch.

All proceeds go towards the Shriner Children’s Hospitals. What a great way to raise money for such a great cause!

Come out and join us for some “goobers” – and while you’re here, thank the kind people who have given their time this long holiday weekend to work so we’d have these delicious snacks.

Grab a few extra bags- they will freeze and will taste fresh when you boil them just a few minutes.

Yummy…

Birthday Surprise, a labor of love by author David Tadlock and artist Kayla Landrum,  is almost done! Within the next week, the soft cover book will be available on Amazon, and soon after as an ebook; we are also looking at the possibility of a hard cover version. (Edited: the book can now be purchased here in paperback. Hardback copies will be available shortly.)

I think two of the reasons I’m so excited about this project is that David and Kayla are good friends of mine- it’s so good to see such a sweet book come to life. The other reason- David and Kayla both have donated their services so proceeds from the sale of the soft cover will support the efforts of the Crenshaw County Animal Society.  You just can’t ask for a better blessing than to be a part of such a great effort.

Be watching in the next few days for links to purchase the book!

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How have I not told you about this book already?! Seven Little Postmen is the story of a little boy who mails a letter to grandma. What happens to the letter along the way? You’ll need to get it to see what happens.

I had never heard of this book until my own kids were grown and I had grandkids. In fact, I happened across a copy in a bookstore soon after my husband started working at the post office. I bought that copy then, and I’ve purchased several more for other grands since then.

A cute story with wonderful illustrations; I’ve often wondered why the post office doesn’t market this book and sell in local post offices since they sell other merchandise… they’re missing a marketing idea!

In case you don’t know it by now, I absolutely love books- I am continuously finding books that I want to read, especially if I find a bargain bin somewhere.

So when my friend Judy gave me Fervent,  a book on prayer, I was so grateful. I’d had a rough week, and was beginning to think that the things I’m doing aren’t making a difference to anybody.

And then at our Bible study lunch, she gave me this lovely, strong book. Which was awesome.

Since we were studying I didn’t really get a chance to look at it until I got home, and then I found the real gift. Because Judy had inscribed it to me- she told me how much she appreciates the things I do for our study group, and that she loves me…

Isn’t that a great gift?

Inscribing a book is as wonderful a thing as a hand-written note. Try it- you’ll be surprised at how well it’s received!

Debbie and Me is one of the sweetest little books you could get anyone you consider a friend.

It tells the fictionalized account of the friendship between the two authors. It might seem like an unusual friendship but after you read it, you’ll see they have much more in common than they do differences- and aren’t we suppose to celebrate the differences anyway?

The book can be purchased on Amazon at this link; you can also purchased signed copies locally by contacting either of the authors on Facebook.

If you’re blessed to still have your mama, call her! She needs to hear from you. It’s OK to give her a gift for Mother’s Day, but the main thing she wants is to hear from you.

If she wants to give you something, let her. If she wants to buy your lunch, let her. If she just wants to talk to you, TALK to her.

Don’t be too busy…. because one day it will be too late.

Call ya mama.

 

Once upon a time there was a little boy who loved trucks, and he loved animals too. So one day his mama found a book called The Happy Dump Truck Man.  The man owned a truck and stopped to let some of his animal friends ride.

The little boy loved the book so much that his mama read it to him ‘most every day. She read it so much that she read it to pieces, and they had to buy another copy.

The little boy grew up and had little girls of his own. His mama still loved him very much, and now she had his sweet girls to love too.  One day while his mama was looking through some boxes, she found the copy of the book, so she took it to his house so he could see. Now he can read it to his little girls, who also love animals!

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As I’ve said before, books are a treasure- make sure you invest in your kids’ and grandkids’ lives by finding great books to share and build memories around…

What books are you sharing?

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