Fun Family Friends Flowers Jesus

 I had fun this week. My son and his partner Julie visited on Sunday and Bounce met their new rescue pup, Reissie. She is a 3 year old toy poodle and the meeting was friendly. Reissie was raised for breeding and not socialized at all so everything is new to her. They rescue dogs that need homes, usually their dogs are very old and ill, so Reissie is a new experience for them.

On Wednesday 4 of us met at a friend's home to celebrate a birthday. We met at work at the university and have been friends for 30 years. One of the gals has a house in the redwoods so it is very country in feel. She fed us outside and played 3 piano pieces for us. We are quite an international group, with one of us born in California, one in Arizona, one in Communist China and one in Taiwan. We love each other and rightly so.

Dog riding a motorcycle, I like that.

 

Covered walkway at my favorite coffee shop. Below is also from the coffee shop gardens. The pink flowers are called Naked Ladies. I think they are a type of lily.

 

 Above: I planted sweet peas from seed and here are the results. Enjoy your day. Some blog friends mention being lonely. I found a way to get to know people better is to invite them to meet for coffee at a coffee shop. Best outside where you can chat freely.

I was at a fellowship of four friends at the coffee shop a few days ago where we shared Scriptures and life and worries and laughter. I started this fellowship two years ago by asking a few friends I had met in church to meet once a month. I shared 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun."

 

Christmas Book I Wrote: A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday

"A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday" is the first book I wrote. It is available on Amazon here 
A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts


This book was a joy to write and it shines through in the words. I met my co-authors online, three of them live in Ohio and two in Texas, and me here in California. It contains snippets of cheer and time savers, recipes, Scripture about the birth of Jesus, family fun ideas, and faith-filled hints. We include outdoor activities, how to create a quiet place in a busy home by having a Santa chair, green thumb tips for Christmas and true stories of our Christmas firsts. One of us shares about the siblings she adopted and their first Christmas in their new home. I share about camping in the Everglades at Christmas.

Here is a review I read posted on Amazon; I don't know the reviewer but love what she wrote about my book:
"When I first saw this book I thought it would be something I would read in a few minutes. Instead I found myself lingering over the stories, enjoying the little known Christmas facts, and promising myself that I would try all the recipes. And yes, there are recipes. Truly a bonus. The pages are filled with personal stories that will touch your heart, and there are interesting facts that will have you thinking, "I never knew that." I've always loved the song about chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but I didn't know until I read this book that Mel Torme, who originally sang it, also wrote the song in forty minutes during a 1945 summer heat wave. I'll remember that every time I hear the song from now on.
This is a great book for any time of the year, and a perfect addition to any bookshelf."

This is a hardcover book with pretty illustrations on each page. If you buy a copy or already have a copy please review it on Amazon. Your reviews help.