Sharing the love

My Friend Amy and Lenore are hosting a Book Sale Drive for the first week release of Beth Kephart's new Young Adult Book, Nothing But Ghosts. I'll quote and second Amy, "Beth is a gifted writer who deserves a wider audience." This release party's goal is to help Beth sell 200 books this first week. Prizes and a live chat with the author on June 30th are all part of the fun. Rush on over to Amazon (use this link to make your purchase count automatically.) (And don't forget to go to Amy or Lenore's blog to get details about the rest of the party.)

Trust me, dear friends, you will not regret making this summer reading purchase and joining us as we celebrate with Beth. I'm off to finish reading my copy. Cheers!

Photo of the Week (21)

American Idol



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Picture of the Week (20)

California


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Photo of the Week (19)

White whisper, "Hope..."


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Photo of the Week (18)

Golden Moment


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Things that make me happy today

• Being stopped dead in my tracks by Erin's singing of "The Wizard and I" even though I've heard her sing this song a zillion times. The girl needs to star in a musical.
  
• Hearing Brady's French teacher's pure joy about Brady's natural abilities to speak the French language, an extraordinary feat for an American, she claims.
• Singing every word along with Pat Benatar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" (which I didn't put on our family's iPod), while preparing lunch, as a shout-out against my illness. (Who knew, when I was a freshman in college and my girlfriends and I learned an aerobic dance routine to this song, in the basement of our dormitory, how much I'd appreciate it so many years later?)
  
• Finishing my reread of Sorcery and Cecilia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, a story that is a cross between Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice, and has a romantic moment that rates right up there with P&P's romantic moment.
• Erin, in the kitchen, bending my ear, telling all that she's learned about acting and moviemaking from the latest good interview she's found on the Internet.
• How beautifully rich Erin's fuchsia-tipped roses, look against the black marble-like tile of our living room fireplace.
  
• The glimpses of sunshine, which indicates that our latest bad, low pressure system has emptied its snow and rain-filled clouds and is heading out of town.
• The odd thrill of not knowing which American Idol contestant is going home tonight, even though I know I'll be sad no matter who gets axed.
• My husband's willingness to go the grocery store, after his long day at work.
  

We're not alone

A friend of mine recently gave me the name of a family who is in the midst of a journey not altogether different than ours. I quickly connected to them by e-mail. In the month we've been in touch, they've already given me a great deal of support and encouragement. The husband and wife write frequent posts on each of their own blogs, which are highly recommended reading for anyone who desires further glimpses of the joys and sorrows faced in the day to day life of those with difficult health problems.

Today's post by the mom/wife, Andrea, is particularly good. (Any post that quotes Charles Dickens gets points in my book.) We have these kinds of Charles Dickens days at our home, too. Things can get low as can be with much despair and pain, but an hour, or so, later we'll be able smile at the beauty of the sunset, then laugh, boo, and cheer together, in front of the TV, watching American Idol. We go to bed thankful.

We're hoping our families get to meet while we're in Arizona. The connection we've already established is a like a new spring garden. We look forward to to it blossoming while we all grow into better health.