Task it Tuesday - Nov 17

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.

I can't believe half of November is already done. Part of me is happy that 2020 is almost over. The other part of me says time is moving too fast. 

This will be a week of lots of computer time, since the NAR Conference went virtual this year. I will be sitting at my computer through tomorrow. Here is what else is on tap:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking five days
• Showing Tuesday
• Blog Wednesday
• Reading Around the World in More Than 80 Days 
• Meetings Thursday and Friday
• Come up with marketing plan for the new edition of A Christmas Kindness
• Look into a new publisher for my GAP books--probably won't happen, but want to keep it on the list
• Look into getting a small dumpster--won't happen, but want to keep it on the list
• Prepare for new listing 
• Take Sunday off

That's it for me. What does your week look like?

Mailbox Monday - Nov 16

 

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.

Welcome back to Monday. Hope you had a nice week. I wish I could say real estate was slowing down a bit, but not yet. I am guessing the week of Thanksgiving will be quieter. 

Speaking of Thanksgiving, a few of my fellow Realtors and I coordinated a food drive for one of our local survival centers Saturday. The weather was great, and we filled three SUVs with food. It was nice to meet the executive director when we dropped it off.

I am gearing up for my smaller than usual Thanksgiving. All the holidays are tough this year, considering the loss of my father-in-law. The monument company called me to tell me his monument was finally installed at the cemetery. I couldn't believe the cemetery took so long to prepare the site. Because of restrictions, we still haven't had a full family memorial service. Maybe in April at his one-year anniversary things will be better.

Let's talk about something more pleasant--books. A local author I know dropped off a book to me this week. 

I also ordered the second book in the series, which was just released, for my Kindle.

Also in my digital mailbox appeared a copy of this one that I had pre-ordered.

That's it for me this week. What did your mailbox look like? Any good reads you're looking forward to diving into?

Book Review: Selling Christmas by Angelina Goode

 

If you're in the mood for a sweet seasonal romance, you can't choose a better one than Selling Christmas by Angelina Goode. 

As a real estate agent, Caroline is used to helping people find their dream home. When she is tasked by her broker with overseeing the first annual Christmas Tour of Homes, however, she might be in over her head. She doesn't even decorate her own house, so how can she bring the Christmas spirit to others?

Luke is a local police office and all around nice guy. His daughter Ella means the world to him. So, when Ella asks for a house of their own with a fireplace for Santa to fit through, he knows he has to try his hardest.

As Christmas fate brings Caroline and Luke together, they might just be exactly what the other needs... unless they let their pasts stand in the way.

Everyone knows I am a sucker for a great Christmas romance in book or television form. That's part of why I requested to review Selling Christmas. Another reason is that lovely cover. It is even prettier up close. Of course, I tend to like books with real estate agents as main characters these days since I am one. 

Goode created the perfect seasonal romance: two people who meet by chance, obstacles that could prevent them from getting together, a small town setting, a great cast of supporting characters, and a happy ending. What more can you ask for in this genre? While you know how it is going to end, you still read every page because you don't want to miss a thing. 

You even fall in love with some of the secondary characters in this one. Sarah, Caroline's assistant who insisted upon decorating her office and pretty much acted like a kid on Christmas morning; Luke's partner Andrea who nudged him in the right direction; the shelter director, Lauren, who unknowingly played a role in helping both Caroline and Luke; and the antics of Caroline's co-workers added a fun element to the story. 

Christmas, romance, holiday fun, and a small town feel make Selling Christmas a story you will want to read over again. I hope Goode releases another seasonal story next year. 

ISBN-10 : 0996176934

ISBN-13 : 978-0996176934

Paperback : 324 pages 

Publisher : Beach Blanket Publishing (October 2, 2020)

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Remembering Our Veterans

 

This is one of the many firsts for our family--the first Veterans Day without my father-in-law, Harry. It was a tough one. Boston 25 News contacted me early this morning looking to interview me and a few others from the Holyoke Soldiers' Home Coalition. You can watch that interview here. 

At one point, the reporter asked when our work will be done. In my mind, it won't ever be done. The issues plaguing our veterans won't go away. Statistics indicate the needs will only increase. My hope is that the Coalition will continue to serve our local veterans community for years to come. 

The Holyoke Soldiers' Home Coalition has put together an online tribute to those lost during the COVID-19 outbreak this spring. Many of them were Harry's friends. You can view the tribute, which includes biographies and photos, by clicking here.

Gone, but not forgotten, these men and women will have a tragic place in history. They symbolize how vulnerable our elderly population is and how much more must be done to help our veterans as they age. 

May God bless all those who have served our country. 

Task it Tuesday - Nov 10

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.

It is Tuesday again. Lots to do and not a lot of time to do it in. I'm doing my best to stay focused. Here is my list for the week.

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking five days
• Showings Tuesday, Wednesday
• Blog Wednesday
• Inspections Thursday
• STRAT Planning Thursday
• Review Selling Christmas 
• Take Sunday off
• Come up with marketing plan for the new edition of A Christmas Kindness
• Look into a new publisher for my GAP books--probably won't happen, but want to keep it on the list
• Look into getting a small dumpster--won't happen, but want to keep it on the list
• Prospecting two days
• Food drive Saturday
• Prepare for new listing 

Mailbox Monday - Nov 9

 

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.

Here we are at Monday again. After a trying and busy week, we got a chance to see some family and celebrate the Lil' Princess' birthday. Here's a picture from our trip to the Outer Banks this summer. I can't believe this is my baby. When did she get so grown up?

I pulled up the garden this weekend. Based upon what I know of my work schedule for 2021, I won't have time to tend to it. It's way too much effort for the little harvest I get every year. Either I'll plant grass or maybe create a perennial flower garden. I'll figure that out in March.

This year has made me reconsider how I approach life. Losing my father-in-law to COVID, having to wear masks everywhere, all of us stuck at home for months, crazy weather, the silly election... I'm just done with it all. I want to do things that make me happy and that I enjoy. I don't want to turn on the news and read about violence and strife. Maybe that's why I keep downloading free books to my Kindle lately. I can definitely use the distraction.

I'm enjoying watching the reboot of One Day at a Time. 

I was a big fan of the original from the 1970s. This new version features three generations of a Cuban-American family living in the same apartment. It's great to see Rita Moreno in the role of Lydia, Penelope's often interfering and funny mother. 

Now, let's talk books. No new ones in the mailbox, but I've downloaded several new ones to my Kindle.

That's it from me. Hope you'll share your new books.

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #15

 

I must get inspired every couple of months to jot down my thoughts about this crazy COVID world we are living in. When I posted in September, it had also been two months since my previous entry. 

Wow! What a year 2020 has been. I would be hard-pressed to find any other year since I was born that compares to this one. So many challenges, so much loss, so much anger, hate, and distrust. It saddens me, because we are so much stronger when we pull together. 

We are seeing an uptick in COVID cases in the Commonwealth, so new restrictions went into place today.  Some schools are switching to remote or delaying hybrid models. We will have to see what the fall and winter look like. 

I'm trying to stay focused on the positives, especially in light of this being the month for thanksgiving. Here are some things I am thankful for:

• Satisfying career
• Having most of my family close
• Sunday night Bible study
• Our health
• Getting outside more often and exploring the woods
• The support of family and friends
• The joy of blogging

If you are reading this, I pray for your continued health and happiness. May peace one day rule the earth.