Cottage on the course

Cozy coffee table

You'll learn more about a road by traveling it than by consulting all the maps in the world.

As I gaze out of my office window at the pine trees and empty golf course, I'm content to be indoors surrounded by the warmth of a fireplace, and my hankie.  Yep, I'm still recovering from the flu.  After three days in bed, I was rejoicing for two days of feeling almost-normal.  Then today the rains came, and my nose began dripping again.  I know when my body isn't normal because I can sleep for two hours during the day--I'm usually a 20-minute cat-napper.  My eyes are a bit foggy but I want to write down a few random thoughts from my cottage on Palmer.

I don't know how your week has been, but mine has been full of ups and downs.  The loss of my Daddy reminds me that the grieving process can catch us off guard.  One moment I'm smiling as I glance at Daddy's picture of when he was a young boy, then a few hours later I open a UPS package to find the watch that he wore.  Through tears, I place it on my left wrist.  And so my days go.  My birthday was a welcome interlude, one that I almost forgot but my family and friends reminded me of with phone calls, cards, and cupcakes.  And then there was the ferocious flu.  My bed was a warm, welcome friend for three days.

I'm not complaining.  I'm hoping you are relating to the ups and downs of life.  Because in the midst of it all, the joy of the Lord is our strength.  Our healer.  Our comforter.  He brings a touch of spring to a rainy, dismal winter's day.

I won't be going to the Golden Hills Garden Club tonight, but I'm planning on some fun-filled days with daughter and granddaughter this week-end.  I'm making a point to read more this year.  I'm reading several good books now: The Circle Maker, We Remember the Holocaust, and for all you new authors, Michael Hyatt's, PLATFORM, get noticed in a noisy world.  So I'm off to a good start.

Here's wishing you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings  ... sniffle, sniffle.

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 

Psalm 25:4 NLT

www.sharonleaf.com

Relaxing in the midst of preparations...

Popcorn knows how to relax...

Can you believe it?  I have been asked to be part of a blog interview tour with some great, inspiring authors.  I'll be posting my interview next Wednesday, December 26th.  And who knows, perhaps the day after Christmas will be the perfect time to take few minutes to sip on your favorite day-after-Christmas drink and read what I have to say about, well, what else?  My recent novel, Lady and the Sea... my true story about finding faith for forgotten dreams.

I pray that you are enjoying the joys of the Christmas season.  Take time to give hugs and smiles, and whispers of love.

... and so do I!

www.sharonleaf.com

Christmas Cheer is Here!

Thanksgiving in our new home

Thanksgiving has come and gone.  All of us have much to be thankful for.  I cooked a scrumptious Thanksgiving meal for family and friends.  What a special time it was celebrating the holiday in our new home.  But life moves on.  This past Tuesday my hubby, Rob, had his shoulder surgery (his first, I might add).  He is a trooper and I'm a great nursie, so we're doing pretty good, learning as we go.  I'm a bit tired and he's a bit grumpy (I blame it on his drugs ... oops ... meds.)  

As a friend, I need to make some phone calls.  As a writer, I just finished a writing project (finally).  As a Mom, I never come close to being the kind of Mom I would like to be ... saying the right things at the right time ... sending lots of money to kids and grandkids across the miles ... am I the only mother who goes through this?  The good news is that I come to my senses a lot sooner these days than in years gone by, realizing that no one is perfect.  So I continu, pressing for the prize that is set before me.

I'm rambling; I feel like I've taken some of Rob's drugs.  That's because two o'clock in the morning arrives just as I'm entering my REM sleeping zone.  But I must be faithful to rise up and give my Robinski his meds every four hours.  That's what all good nursies do.  I appreciate all the prayers you have sent our way.  We're feeling the love!
Oceans of blessings for the Christmas season!

Life begins each morning ... each morning is the open door to a new world -- new vistas, new aims, new tryings.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends.  His mercies never cease.  Great is His faithfulness.  His mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIT