Quote of the Month:  “There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it.” – Mary Little

Scripture of the Month: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

Jeremiah 31:3

I was recently reminded of one of my girls’ favorite family stories, one that I often remember when I hear the echo of my daddy’s words: “The best gift you can give your children is a good marriage.”

     We drove through the Taco Bell drive-through for a quick dinner out of necessity, not choice. In the rush to get to Wednesday night choir practice, kids’ club and youth groups, when my husband called to ask about meal plans I told him: “Meet you at the Taco Bell on Seventh Street.”

     Strangely enough, he ended up being the car just behind us in the line. When I got to the payment window, I felt the Spirit, stirring up my ornery streak to good purpose.

     “How much,” I asked the pony-tailed gum snapping clerk, “is the order for the car behind me?”

     “Um, $3.89,” she replied, puzzled.

     “Well, I’d like to cover that, please. Oh, and one more thing – when he gets up here, would you please tell the driver that I think he’s hot?”

     Her jaw fell open and she motioned to another teen pony-tailed gum snapping employee. “This lady wants to buy the guy’s dinner in the car behind her and we’re supposed to tell him that she thinks he’s hot!”

     “Do you know him?” asked the other girl, either intrigued or appalled.

     I just smiled mysteriously and thanked them as they handed our bags through the window. Thankfully, my girls were shocked into silence.

     As we drove away, they burst out laughing. “Mom! Why did you do that? Those girls think you’re crazy – you are crazy!”

     “Girls,” I explained to them, “it’s been quite a week already. I just thought your dad could probably use a reminder that I love him and if I had to do it all over again, I would still choose him.”

     When we pulled up to the church parking lot and I saw him get out of his car, I knew it had been worth it. He practically strutted from the car to the building.

     My sweetheart was beaming, my girls were giggling, and we had cemented the bonds of family life along with another miniature lesson on the importance of marriage and the place their dad holds in my life. A sweet place of precious permanence.

     May this be a season in which you create, recreate, tell and retell the family stories that will be handed down from generation to generation.

From Our House to Yours

     Gazing out on the chilly, rainy November morning, I was spectacularly unmotivated. I marveled at how our moods can change. Just last week, I was leaping around my office, over the moon with joy since I had finally, FINALLY, finished my first novel, Barefoot in December! But it was a new week, a different one, full of different challenges, unique hurts and soul-crushing circumstances.

     That particular moment, I couldn’t think of a thing to write. I didn’t want to write and didn’t even want to fulfill the obligations I had already scheduled which had anything to do with writing! When I tried to analyze why not, I had a moment of insight – I needed to give myself a break. No, I didn’t need to blow off my commitments, but I did need to free myself from the relentless pace which I’d been requiring of myself. My ugly recovering Type A tendencies were rearing their ugly collective heads.

     So I leaned back in my chair and thought about the twelve-year-old me. The young girl with dimples and a vivid imagination who loved books and history best of anything in the world. The younger me whose very first crush was on an imaginary character, based on a real-life aspiring writer – John Boy Walton. Yep. I’ll put it out there, knowing that it cracks my girls up every time I tell them about it.

     I was certain that if we could meet, it would be true love at first sight. I reveled in the stories, mingling faith and family and the strength which it took to overcome the unique challenges of a country thrown into a Great Depression.

     I jotted down my to-do list, prioritized it, and then I sat down in Greg’s recliner with a cozy throw, a fire in the fireplace, a bowl of puppy chow, and then a good book. I read for an hour and decided to put in an episode of The Waltons.

     I was charmed all over again and very much refreshed by my three hours of playing hooky. I’m betting that as this beautiful, but packed season of celebrating begins, that you also need a day of hooky. A Sabbath break from your obligations. Burrow down, settle in and then, please write and tell me all about it.

     What inspires you, precious friends? I truly want to know. Because God has clearly shown me, that you are very much part of what inspires me.

     Blessings from the Walton’s Mountain of my great imagination and Happy Thanksgiving!

Cindy

 

Doing crossword puzzles is the number one indoor pastime! Studies show that such activity can be good for preventing Alzheimer’s as well.

 

Only 9% of Americans are bi-lingual, compared to 65% of the rest of the world.

Upcoming Speaking Events

November 4-5 “God’s Got It Covered: A Quilt of Joy; A Quilt of Comfort; A Quilt of Victory” – 3 session retreat – Tiak’o’khata Resort – Jackson, Mississippi

November 12 – “The Chocolate Side of Life” 11a.m.-1p.m. keynote/luncheon – Racine Christian Church – Racine, Missouri

November 14 – “Hot Chocolate for Couples” – Carterville Christian Church – Mom2Mom – Carterville, MO

Get organized this Christmas and focus your heart and home on baby Jesus. Grab a copy of Karen Patterson Ehman & LeAnn Rice ‘s new e-book Untangling Christmas: Your Go-To Guide for a Hassle-Free Holiday. Simple and delicious recipes, doable decorating ideas, creative gifts, outreach suggestions and how to craft a Christmas planner to organize it all!  http://goo.gl/z3lJi

I had the privilege of writing an endorsement for this practical, inspiring stress-free guide to the upcoming holiday season! If you have an e-book, grab a copy today.

The names of the two marble lions in front of the New York public Library’s main entrance are Patience & Fortitude.

November is Georgia Pecan Month. The largest pecan pie ever baked weighed 41,586 pounds!!!

The average amount shoppers spent on Black Friday weekend last year was $365.34.

On Our Thanksgiving Table

Chocolate Pecan Pie

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup Light corn syrup

4 squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted and cooled

1/3 cup sugar

¼ t. almond flavoring

2 ½ T. melted, unsalted butter

1 t. vanilla

 1 ½ cups pecan halves

1 unbaked piecrust [I use Pillsbury, in the red box]

*This is a sneak preview of a recipe that is mentioned in part of my first novel, Barefoot in December. This is also the dessert which I always took home to St. Louis to celebrate Thanksgiving with my folks. It was my daddy’s favorite, and so even though we were two hours away from home when I realized I had forgotten it, fearing that it would be our last Thanksgiving with him since he was so sick with cancer, my heroic husband turned the car around and we went back for it! I am so glad he did, for it was indeed our final Thanksgiving celebration with daddy this side of heaven. I hope it finds a place in your home.