Debbie Macomber's Blog, page 22

Bestselling author, knitter, to talk crafts on NWS

TRAVERSE CITY - Debbie Macomber won't be insulted if audience members at her National Writers Series appearance pull out their knitting. The prolific author is an ardent knitter, owns her own yarn shop, and an international spokeswoman for World Vision's Knit for Kids charity initiative.

"If there was a 12-step program for yarn buyers, I would be in it," said Macomber, whose popular Blossom Street novels center around a knitting shop- a community gathering spot - and sometimes include a pattern at the end.

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Mom's Birthday

Yesterday when I woke I remembered that it was my mother's birthday.  It's hard to believe that it's been nine years since she died.  I was blessed to have a good mother.  I learned a lot about life from my mother; we all do, I suppose.  Mom was a beautiful woman who took pride in her appearance.  I don't think she weighed more than a hundred and ten pounds in her entire life.  I recently read a ditty that said:  Mirror, mirror on the wall, I am my mother after all.  I smiled when I saw that and thought, “I should be so lucky.”

My beautiful mother with my father.

Inspiring Weekend with World Vision

I'm back from Chicago and World Vision’s For Every Child Conference this past weekend. The entire conference was an inspiring experience.

Americans are generous, giving up to three billion dollars for charity every year. I have learned that only 5% of that three billion goes to countries outside the United States. Many of these countries are in desperate need and World Vision stands in the forefront of those agencies helping the poor. Certainly, one of the best parts of the conference was meeting others with a heart for individuals and communities in need. 

As a bonus God gave me a beautiful story idea that has been pounding in me ever since.  I met a couple with a truly inspiring love story.  You'll be hearing more about it in the months to come…

In Support of the World Vision Mission

In the morning, I'll be heading to Chicago for World Vision's National Leadership and For Every Child Conferences.  As many of you will recall, I am the International Spokesperson for the World Vision Knit for Kids program.  My daughter Adele and I will be sharing some of our experiences from our Kenya visit last summer--an experience that will last us a lifetime. 

We’re looking forward to connecting with the wonderful team we traveled with in Kenya who have so lovingly given of themselves and their hearts to help children around the world. It is my honor to know them.

Here is a Kenya photo with Margo Day as we are welcomed in celebration. Margo does amazing work with World Vision.

 

National Library Month

April is National Library Month which brings to mind my very first visit to the library. I must have been around five years old at the time. My mother had heard about story time and brought me to the Yakima, WA library.

It was a huge building constructed of stone; one that Andrew Carnegie had built. Even then I had a creative imagination because I saw myself as a princess walking into a castle.

My mother said that when the librarian handed me a book, I immediately pressed it against my heart and clung to it. From that point forward to this very day I take a book with me every night to bed. The wonderful part of that story is that the librarian who handed me my first book was Beverly Cleary.

Family Easter Celebration

Wayne and I are back in our Florida home after spending Easter with the family. Following church we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Although the majority of the grandkids are teenagers now, they still want to hunt for eggs at Grandma's house. Following the traditional meal of ham and potato salad we had a gab fest filled with memories and laughter.

Easter celebrates the risen Christ and reminds us of all He did for us. It brings families together in joyful celebration. I'm overwhelmingly grateful for mine... and I got my much-needed grandkid fix!

 

Always in My Heart

As most of you know Wayne and I lost our youngest son in 2011. There is nothing harder to bear than the death of a child, no matter what age they are. It's like a huge bump on my lifeline and most everything is segmented to before Dale died or after Dale died. As we enter Holy Week, I am reminded once again that death is not the end. I will see my son again and we will laugh and hug and be together.

News Blast: Today is National Spinach Day!

Now I happen to be one of those people who enjoy spinach, especially fresh spinach. 

There's little better on a hot summer evening than a cool spinach salad filled with nuts (lots of nuts), dried fruit and fresh too, bacon (lots and lots of bacon), and one or two thinly sliced mushrooms. No need to go overboard on the veggies, seeing that it's a spinach salad. 

As for cooked spinach, not so much…unless it's cleverly disguised in cream or made into a cheesy dip. Preferably a lot of cheese and only a little spinach, because a leaf or two of cooked spinach is so very good for us. 

And while we’re on the cooked spinach with melted cheese theme, I also love my Spinach Enchiladas and Spinach Lasagna!

I Need a Grandkid Fix

I'm badly in need of a grandkid fix. We fly back to Seattle for Easter next week and I'm already chomping at the bit. We have nine grandchildren ranging in ages from five to teenaged and I swear each one of them carries a piece of my heart. They are the most clever, smart, witty, talented grandchildren in the universe. No worries, though, as I understand this is a shared title.

Here's Wayne with a handful of the grandkids a few summers ago!

Blessed with A Wonderful Mother

Today is the tenth anniversary of my mother's death. She went by the name Connie although her given name was Rose. My mother was a beautiful woman and a meticulous housekeeper. Her hair was always perfect and she never left the house without makeup. She was warm, generous, gracious and kind, and every day I strive to be more like her. A couple of years back at a family function a friend of my mother's came to me and said, "My goodness, Debbie, you look just like your mother." It’s one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received."