M. Jean Pike's Blog, page 21

A walk in the park

Between the weather and my work schedule, today was my first opportunity to take Miss Emma to the park and enjoy the trees. Since it was 60 degrees out and I had the afternoon off it was the perfect day to go, especially considering they will be taking the trees down soon.

The pathway around the park is about 1/4 mile and every inch of it is lined with trees or other fun things for the Christmas season.

They set up a little Santa house where kids can go to drop off their wish lists and collect candy canes and hugs from Santa and his Mrs.

Many of the local businesses put up trees this year.

There were also trees from each of the elementary schools and many local churches, clubs and organizations.

Most of the trees are remembrance trees that families have put up for loved ones they have lost. These kind of broke my heart a little bit and I said a prayer for each family represented.

It was a beautiful day for a walk and I was happy to see so many people enjoying the park– especially considering it is almost January! Miss Emma was happy with all the extra petting she got, especially from the little kids

A lovely day and a new caroler

I had such a lovely Christmas day. It was a day of good food, good friends and family. The highlight was a video chat with my granddaughters. Not as good as real cuddles and kisses, but I will take it! I was also given a very lovely gift. My sister got me a new caroler for my collection. This one is called “Toddler with Snowball.” Isn’t he the sweetest?

He fits in nicely with the others in my collection. I now have fourteen!

I usually start packing my Christmas decorations away the weekend after Christmas, but I think I will leave them up for awhile yet this year. I’m not done enjoying them yet

Did you get a special gift this year? I’d love to hear about it.

Merry Christmas!

To My Readers,

Your likes, comments and friendship mean more than you could know.

Your blog posts are gifts I get to open and enjoy every day of the year.

Merry, Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and blessed New Year!

— Jean

Donuts!

I finished this one the other day. It was a lot of fun but a little more challenging that I thought it would be, given that so many of the donuts have similar colors. But what a yummy way to spend a few hours

I didn’t remember that I’d done many puzzles this year, but looking back through my pics I see that I have done six. I love the whimsical scenes, especially this ‘Fifties kitchen.

My first puzzle of ’24 was done on New Year’s Day. A stack of books. How fitting!

I still have a stack of puzzles on the shelf in my closet, so we will see what kind of puzzle adventures the new year brings!

Live Nativity

Last night I ventured to the next town over to see a live Nativity. In all my years of Christmas-ing I had never been to one. I loved it. Though I knew it was a reenactment I found myself lost in the beauty, the holiness of the scene.

Even the animals were subdued, as if they knew they were taking part in something sacred. Well, except for one little goat who suddenly threw a temper tantrum and had to be taken home, lol.

It was super cold out last night, so the event was not as long as it might have been. The church ladies invited everyone inside for cookies and hot cocoa. It was a beautiful evening and a perfect event for the days leading up to Christmas. I’m so glad I went!

Leslie’s Library Escape (Really, Really) Loved King of Hearts!

What a beautiful early Christmas gift to discover this 4.5 star review over at Leslie’s Library Escape! She made this writer’s day

Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Source:  M. Jean Pike

Leslie’s Review: 4.5 Stars/I Really, Really, Love It!

M. Jean Pike is a new-to-me author whose writing I instantly fell in love with. Ms. Pike’s King of Hearts tells the story Harper, a young pregnant woman, and Dalton, a man who has come through town working the Carnival circuit. Harper’s life is full of hurt, guilt, and confusion, while shouldering the responsibility of taking care of her Aunt Clara who has raised Harper and is losing her memory, taking care of her teenaged brother, and taking care of the little one inside of her. Dalton is shouldering guilt and grief himself after his wife and unborn child are murdered in retaliation by gang members after Dalton uses his lawyer skills to help justice to be served. Aunt Clara decides to go to the carnival to ride the carousel, which Dalton is operating. Dalton is unsure if he wants to continue with the carnival until Aunt Clara asks Dalton to paint her gazebo. As Dalton works on Aunt Clara’s gazebo, Dalton and Harper get to know each other better, revealing truths to one another, and in the process creating a bond like no other. In the meantime, Aunt Clara plans a party that no one will soon forget.

I love M. Jean Pike’s King of Hearts! I love all the characters–especially Aunt Clara! I love how Aunt Clara always pointed others to Christ, despite her failing memory, and that the only request she made to her niece and nephew was to join her at Church on Sundays. I love how Aunt Clara played an intricate part in everyone’s life that she touched. I thought the event(s) that surrounded Harper’s pregnancy was a unique one, different from the stereotypical unwed pregnant mother plots that you sometimes come across in Christian Fiction. (Read King of Hearts for all the details!) My heart broke for all that Harper and Dalton went through both separately and together. I love how Harper and Dalton took to heart the Wisdom that Aunt Clara shared about God as well as what they learned in Church about God. The character that annoyed me the most was Babe (read King of Hearts to find out why)! I love that Ms. Pike weaves Redemption and Grace through King of Hearts and each of it’s characters. (I especially love the Power of God’s Redemption and Grace that was shown in Harper and Babe’s lives.) I love the pace of Dalton’s and Harper’s relationship that was in the book and the reasoning that Ms. Pike gave for it in the book. I also love that there is a devotion passage at the end of King of Hearts that wraps of up what was read. (I wish more Christian Fiction books would put a devotion entry in their books!) If you are looking for an inspiring, uplifting read then I highly recommend King of Hearts by M. Jean Pike!

Jumbled

Our city park is so lovely this time of year. The gazebo is strung with white lights, festooned with pine garland and red bows. At one entrance a canopy of white lights arches across the bridge. The paths are lined with brightly lit trees, most in remembrance of those who were loved and lost. It’s a pretty park in all seasons, but at Christmas it becomes magical. Since the park is very near my workplace I walked over on my break, thinking to get some pics to share with you. As per usual with my pictures, every one of them came out blurry. (I have so much respect for you photographers )

By the time I got back to work, scrolled through the pics, and saw what a disaster they were it was too late to go back and try again, but I hope to do that soon!

One pic in particular stood out, but as my finger hovered over the delete button, I changed my mind. Because this one represents my mind some days, a jumbled mess, filled with anxious thoughts and undone tasks. Gifts to wrap and cards to mail. Cookies to bake and frost. That service project I really want to do and am quickly running out of time. It also represents my prayers, sometimes just thoughts flung haphazardly heavenward when I don’t have any words. That bill I wasn’t expecting. The friend with a serious illness. That relationship I’ve meant to work on. Even my prayers of gratitude are sometimes jumbled. Do you ever feel that way?

I’m so glad we have a God who understands and loves us in all our muddled up, human messiness.

Lord, calm Your children this Christmas. Pour Your peace into our hearts and minds so we can focus on what matters.

In the morning

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up. Psalm 5:3

To my knowledge you are not allowed to raise chickens within the city limits. But someone, not too far from where I live, has a rooster. On my early days before work I like to sit outside and greet the morning, and I can hear him shrieking. He has something to say, and as the sun comes up, he declares it at the top of his little lungs.

I suppose this annoys those in the neighborhood who don’t work early shifts, but it makes me smile every time. This little guy is doing what he was created to do, and as such, he is glorifying his Creator. Am I doing the same?

I think about the abilities God has given me, the message of His love and goodness I have been entrusted to share with a hurting world. Obviously I’m not going to stand in the yard and scream every morning But is my life a reflection of my beliefs? Sadly, not always. But as my rooster friend shows me, each new morning is another chance to try again.

I did not take these photographs, but isn’t he a beauty? They were taken by my sister on one of her morning walks. Out in the country where you can raise chickens and roosters to your heart’s content

Applesauce

This fall a friend and I went apple picking. I brought home my haul, peeled and cut them into slices and stuck them in the freezer for a rainy day. Well, I have today off and it’s raining, so… Applesauce!

My Mom’s Recipe

3-4 lbs. peeled, cored, quartered apples (I like a mix of varieties!)

1 -2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 c brown sugar

1/4 c white sugar

1 c water

1/2 tsp salt

(Mom did not use cloves in hers, but I always add a couple. Makes the house smell heavenly and adds a little more flavor to the sauce)

Place all ingredients in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat to simmer for 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat and mash. (I leave some big chunks in mine. With applesauce, warm and chunky is the way to go!) Serve warm or refrigerate.

Lasts 6 month in the freezer.

A Pleasant Surprise

Last night I arrived home from a very long workday to discover this wonderful review for The Key to Christmas at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase. Writing can be such a lonely venture. Putting your work out there for the world to judge can be scary, no matter how many times you’ve done it. I don’t always get a lot of reviews and each one is a treasure. Especially reviews like this one! Thank you, Stephanie. You made my day

The Key to Christmas (Novella Review)