GRATITUDE POST, November 8th, 2013

A sweet senior gentleman works behind my favorite deli counter. He moves a bit slower these days, which creates a smirk of frustration on some fast-pacers' faces, but he can describe every cheese, what goes best with each, and which brands give you the best flavor for your buck.

 

I likewise have a few favorite cashiers who, like me, have practically made the grocery store a second home. We chit cha...t about local news, rising prices, and holiday plans. They too are older. I don't know if they work because the socialization is worth eight-hour shifts on aged feet, or if they still must work to make ends meet, but they serve others with grace and a smile, and they make my day better.

 

They grew up in a time when hardy American values of hard work and community-building were deeply ingrained at kitchen tables, and while kneeling beside praying parents. They were a generation willing to make sacrifices equal to those of the Founders, with their hearts set on blazing trails for those who would follow rather than fretting over the ground under their own feet.

 

As I grow older and see the confusion many in our day have figuring out the purpose of life and their place in it, I am increasingly grateful for this generation. And so, they are the source of my gratitude today.

GRATITUDE

I've finished "The Dragons of Alsace Farm" and am now sending it out to medical/technical readers to make sure I have the psychological and medical scenarios right. While that process progresses I'm preparing my query letters for agents and researching agencies.

I've headed back to work on "The Shell Game" also, so the pistons are firing again.

My mother's struggle with dementia was the inspiration behind "The Dragions of Alsace Farm," and when I have her with me work stops so I can enjoy her and attend to her needs.

All in all, the year had been both amongst the hardest I've ever had, and the most spiritual. I have much for which to be grateful. And so I'm posting my Facebook gratitude posts on here as well. I was late getting started while I settled Mom back in, so I'm counting her and the time we get to share as my posts for the first week of November, but I'll posts the others as they go up.

I hope you have a marvelous autumn filled with blessings.

Laurie
***

November 7, 2013

I'm so grateful for my family--for a gentle, hardworking hubby. When I get frustrated over small things I generally only need to remember one of the many sacrifices he's made for us to recall how blessed I am. I adore my crazy-funny kids whose solid lives bolster me, and my diverse grandkids whose interests expand my world in unexpected ways.

 

I've read your posts about your families, and marvelled at how wonderful most families are. What a grand plan, to come here and experience life in a loving circle of courageous support. Yep. Today, I'm grateful for families.

 

FINAL TRAILER FOR "AWAKENING AVERY"

We've been tweaking and adjusting to get the tone, mood and message of this "Awakening Avery" book trailer just right, and I think we have it. Many thanks to my producer extraordinaire, Andie Rosenbaum, for making this wonderful video.

"Dragons" is in the hands of the first round of medical experts/beta-readers who are checking it for accuracy, and I started back in on "The Shell Game" last night. It feels great to be writing steadily again. I hope you enjoy the trailer. If it inspires you to try out the book, just click the cover image.

Thanks. Enjoy!

LDS AUTHORS BLOG HOP

It's been a while since I participated in a blog hop, but as always, many thanks to Kathy at "I'm A Reader, Not A Writer," and this hop's co-sponsor, ANWA, or The American Night Writers Association, for sponsoring this hop.

The LDS Author's Hop is a relatively new one, but LDS authors, authors who also belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are producing novels with a punch that rivals national titles, while maintaining a commitment to keep their titles clean and family safe.

For those unfamiliar with The American Night Writers Association, ANWA is a peer network for women who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and who are interested in writing. I am one of several hundred LDS writers, and aspiring LDS writers, who belong. ANWA's purpose is to encourage, assist, educate, and motivate members to write, and, if they desire, to publish their works.

It's a delight to celebrate the wonderful books LDS authors are producing. If you aren't sure whether or not you know any LDS authors, check out Kathy's link above and see a partial list of successful, LDS novelists.

As for me, I'm editing my eighth novel, a tender drama titled, "The Dragons of Alsace Farm." You can click on the link to view a trailer for it.

But this week I'm actually relaunching "Awakening Avery," a personal favorite of mine. "AA" was launched in the middle of marketing "Free Men and Dreamers," and I never had the time to get a trailer made for it. But this week, the new trailer was sent to me, and in celebration of its release, I'm offering a new, autographed copy of "Awakening Avery," and two other gently-read LDS titles I've  enjoyed.

You can enter up to five times, but all entries must be posted separately.

Here's how you enter:
1. You must be or become a follower of this blog
2. Friend me on Facebook
3. Post the "Awakening Avery" trailer on your blog, or facebook page and post when it's done. (2 entries for each). Visit the YouTube page and click "Share."


That's it! Thanks for helping me spread the word, and now please enjoy these other great stops on the hop.

GRANDMA NUGGETS

Today's Grandma nugget:

I was doing a happy dance for the grandkids' entertainment. My grandson eyed my dance with curious attention which I acknowledged.

"Grandma isn't a very good dancer, is she, Brady?"

"Let me see it again," he suggested.

I took the movements down a notch, hoping to look less awkward. Still, he eyed me curiously with a dubious frown.
...
"I guess Grandma really can't dance very well after all," I confessed.

"No, Grandma. You're a good dancer."

A moment of deep reflection ensued, during which Brady replayed his family's most recent Family Home Evening lesson on the importance of honesty and repentance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItEsXGhcOEs

Afterwards, he gave me the best fake smile he could muster adding, "Sorry, Grandma. That was a lie."

So truth won out, and the vote came in. Grandma can still boogie, but she isn't very good.

GRANDMA NUGGETS: OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES FROM 4 TO 79

Mom and I had a date with 4YO Brady. On the way to the apple orchard we stopped at a little place renowned for its fried chicken. Brady, a chicken nugget aficionado, was hungry, and here's the conversation that ensued:

"I got you a chicken leg."

 "A chicken LEG? This is a LEG?"

Realizing that I may have entered sensitive territory, I resort to subterfuge. "It's called a chicken leg because it looks like a leg and it tastes like chicken."
 

Satisfied, Brady indulges, releasing a flurry of comments about this delicious new food that tastes like his beloved nuggets.  "This chicken is really good, Grandma, 'cept I found something in it."

 "What?"

 "I think it's a bone. It gots a bone inside it!"

 "It's like a handle, Brady. So you can hold it easier."

 "Oh. That's cool. Do you eat the bone?"

 

 "No. Do Not Eat the Bone."

 A moment later he cries out, "Ow!"

 "What's the matter, Brady? Did you bite your finger?"

 "Two fingers."

 "Oh, dear. Sorry, Buddy."

 "Where do you get chicken legs?"

Now my mom, who has been a farmer, has dementia, and has not picked up on my efforts to avoid being the cruel fiend who first exposes Brady to the reality of a carnivore's food chain.

 "Farmers raise them on farms. That's where we get all our meat."

 "Chicken is MEAT?" asks Brady.

 "One kind of meat. There's beef from steers, mutton from sheep, chicken and pork."

 "What kind of meat is a fork?"

Mom jumps back in. "Not a fork, Brady. Pork. Pork. P-P-P Pork with a 'P'. A fork is something you use to eat your meat. It's not the meat."

 "Ohhh. Well, what do I do with my bone? My hands are greasy. Never mind. I just stuck it on your seat."

Yeah, next time we're going with the Happy Meal.

 

LAURIE LC LEWIS: A VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL: DISCOVERING MOTHER

LAURIE LC LEWIS: A VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL: DISCOVERING MOTHER