Mailbox Monday - Mar 30

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Well, we are back to Monday again. How are you all doing? We are healthy and fine. A lot has been happening around here: some organizing, some cleaning, prepping the vegetable garden for the seeds I ordered, and the youngest is getting ready to head back to school (virtually) tomorrow. Here are a few photos from this week:

A bright orange bird visits our birdbath

How fun to wake up to this face in the morning

A colorful surprise in the mailbox garden

Speaking of mailboxes, mine held two gifts this week.

What did your mailbox hold? Did something special arrive?

Here's hoping you have a blessed week.

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary

 

Since last Monday, the lives of Massachusetts residents and others across the nation have drastically changed. We heard about COVID-19 across the ocean, but until it hit home it was just something going on in other areas of the world.

Now, states, cities, and towns across the nation shut down regular businesses we took for granted would be open whenever we wanted them. We aren't free to eat, celebrate, or worship in the ways we always have. We are distanced from family, friends, and colleagues. The regular schedules that regulate our daily activities are interrupted by closed schools, cancelled sports, and working from home.

For me, this pandemic has meant a shift in work practices. As an asthma sufferer, I've been careful about any unnecessary exposure. Yes, I am still showing homes, but I don't go out as often. Meetings are all by Zoom or GoToMeeting. For some agents it is business as usual--unless Governor Baker says differently. I simply can't do that, because bronchitis is tough enough on me; never mind this COVID-19 stuff. Staying positive has been challenging, but spending time in the Word and in prayer helps. So does trying to be a source of inspiration for others.

In the early days of the pandemic, I began sharing news on Facebook to help spread information. The last two days I have switched gears. People are tired of news. They are tired of updates. They want to be inspired. They want to be uplifted. They want to know they aren't alone. So, no more links to videos with the latest from the Baker administration or news updates. People can find that stuff if they want it.

Two recent blog posts:

Inspiration During a Crisis (for writers, but others might find it helpful for productivity)

Ten Books to Inspire and Uplift You

I am working to make this blog a more uplifting place to visit. Maybe weekly inspirational quotes. Please know I am keeping all of you up in prayer.


Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Mailbox Monday - Mar 23

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

What a difference a couple weeks makes? Last time I posted a Mailbox Monday I talked about awards season and the winter dance show. Now?

• The real estate market--and the economy--are topsy-turvy
• Both girls are home (possibly until fall)
• My husband is working from home
• I paid $5.00 for eggs last week 
• We can't eat out at a sit-down restaurant
• Most malls and stores around here are closed

Still, I have to remember, God is in control just as He always has been. Here are a few blessings from the last two weeks:

• I am home to make supper for my family each night
• My frantic pace has slowed
• Our family is safe and healthy
• I spend more time in the Word and in prayer

On the book front, my digital mailbox has been busy. 

I have already read the first three and am almost done with the one on social leads. 

What was in your mailbox last week? Anything special you wish to share?

My sincere prayer is that you and your family remain safe and healthy throughout this global crisis. Wishing you many blessings.

Free E-Books from Pelican Book Group This Weekend

To thank readers for their continued support, Pelican Book Group is offering two e-books for free this weekend. Here are the details.

FREE MARCH 20TH ONLY

James Bloom has prayed three years for rain and five years for a wife. His dreams are demolished on Palm Sunday, 1935, when a catastrophic dust storm hits Oklahoma, and his neighbor’s niece has to ride out the storm at his house–-overnight. The next day, he’s forced to marry her, an East coast city girl who can’t speak. Could this be God’s plan?

Condemned to a future married to a stranger in the dusty Oklahoma wasteland, Lily Driggers longs for her home. Yet somehow, her new husband is the only one who understands her silent pleas.

As Easter approaches, Lily and James wonder if there is hope after the storm.

PURCHASE HERE!

FREE MARCH 21ST ONLY

Growing up in the Ozark foothills, Ben Carter and Lily Giordano were joined at the hip until the summer after their senior year when Ben married Lil’s stunning half-sister.

Now ten years later, Ben and Lil meet again for the first time when she returns to New Hope on a temporary assignment at his daughter’s school. Ben wants to make things right, but Lil wants nothing to do with the hard working young widower who now owns her father’s vineyard.

When a tragic accident challenges Ben’s faith, he realizes he’s fallen in love with Lily. They share a history, but she doesn't share his faith. How long can he wait? Will she accept her own mortality and the family they have in common, or must Ben bury his feelings for her once and for all? Time is running out. Can true love be resurrected?

PURCHASE HERE!

An Imperfect Christian Mom's Ramblings

Anyone feel like Armageddon is around the corner? Wow! What a couple of weeks it has been.

Colleges closing, public and sporting events canceled, travel bans, crazy market conditions ... what's next?

We are taking the necessary precautions and following all the advice that we can, but we are not about to hide in our house until all this is over. Praying this virus is under control soon. Even though approximately .00000386% of the U.S. population has been reported as infected, if people aren't careful it could spread more than we want.

Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

Women in Publishing Summit

This week I dedicated time to the Women in Publishing Summit. This is the second year I've participated. It is a totally online conference for women with a ton of fabulous information for authors from writing tips, to marketing tips, to self-publishing and more. 

Some of my favorite topics so far:

• JoEllen Taylor: Building Your Career Foundation as An Author So You Have Financial Freedom When Life Happens
• Desiree Peterkin Bell: Finding your voice, writing your narrative
• Eileen Cook: Using Psychology to Build Better Characters
• Shayla Raquel: Bump Up Your Book Sales with Email Marketing

I haven't made it all the way through the conference yet, but I bought the All Access Pass, so I can  go back as time allows.

I will definitely sign up for next year's conference. Even though I've been part of the publishing industry since 2005, I learn so much from the Women in Publishing Summit. You can check them out at https://womeninpublishingsummit.com

Task it Tuesday - Mar 4

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Gosh, I feel like I can't stay on top of things lately. The flu really made life challenging the last couple of weeks. So, it is Wednesday, but still want to get this posted.

• Daily Bible reading
• Log food in Lose it! daily
• Maintain planner daily
• Continue real estate bootcamp 
• Grocery shop Monday and meal plan - DONE
• Finish extra material for A Christmas Kindness (probably not, but need to keep it on the list)
• Edit last chapter of a project
• Exercise Saturday and Sunday (Every day I am striving for 5,000 steps also, but am averaging around 2,500)
• Meeting in Greenfield on Thursday
• Meeting in Springfield Friday
• Clean the bonus room

What does your to-do list look like this week? Are you staying on track with your 2020 goals?

Mailbox Monday - Mar 2

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Hard to believe it has been over two weeks since I last posted here. Real estate got busy and then I wound up with the flu, which knocked me out for a week. I am glad to be back to feeling normal and blogging again.

So, what has been going on? Well, award season started and I picked up my first award of the year for sales and service in 2019.

The Republican ran an article on me as RAPV REALTOR® of the Year for its annual outlook section. It appeared mid-February. 

The Lil' Princess and her dancemates held their winter show this weekend. They are so amazing!!! This year's theme was enchanted tales, so books abounded. 

The Ugly Duckling

The Great Gatsby

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

19th century European paintings - The Dance Foyer at the Opera, 1872 by Edgar Degas

I could watch these students dance all day long.

As far as books go, I received one I have been waiting on for a long time.

I can never have enough books about the Ingalls family. History is one of my favorite subjects, so it fits that bill, too. 

What was in your mailbox last week? Did you receive a special title you've been waiting for?