Shelley Shepard Gray's Blog, page 16

The Christmas Ornament Cleanup

Yesterday, we took down all the Christmas decorations. In some ways, I think I get as excited about putting everything away as I do taking everything out! With three dogs and both kids home, everything seemed especially dusty. I was so happy to clean and vacuum.

I have kind of a funny story to share. I’ve been working on edits for my book, so while I worked for an hour or so yesterday morning, my husband decided to take down the ornaments. When I went upstairs, I saw that he’d taken down all the ornaments, and put every last one of them in the plastic ornament containers.

That should have been a good thing, right?

It was, until I noticed that he hadn’t put any of my Hallmark ornaments back in their boxes. I have a huge tub of empty Hallmark  ornament boxes! For at least the last 15 years, I’ve given my kids each an ornament that are part of a series, and I get one, too. Every year, I carefully take them out, hang them on the tree, and when Christmas was over, I put them away. Then there were some crystal ornaments from years and years ago…Well, you know where I’m going with this…none were in the boxes!

While my husband was standing there beaming (he was so proud he was helping me!) I had a minor panic attack. Should I toss out all those boxes? Should I try to put them all back together? I didn’t want to hurt Tom’s feelings…but I had saved all the boxes for so long and had taken such good care of them, too.(which really isn’t like me). I ended up sitting in the middle of the Christmas mess and started crying!

Then the kids got involved. My 21 year old son glared at Tom, said, ‘Mom’s crying, ‘ just like it was a major event.  My daughter announced that we needed to go ahead and reorganize all the ornaments. We could NOT throw out those empty boxes.

I just sat there nodding and crying. My husband just stared at me like I was a stranger-not the woman he’s been married to for almost 25 years.

So, for the next two hours, we had to do a search and rescue mission for all those ornaments and their boxes, and put them all away the way I usually do. It was a mess. It was frustrating.

 My husband was so confused and irritated about it all, he concentrated on taking Christmas lights down instead!

But by four o’clock yesterday, it was all cleaned up.

Last night, we laughed about it. I’m not sure why I had this need to have those ornaments back the way they always were-maybe one day I’ll know! But in the meantime, I’m thankful for a husband who really was trying to make my life easier, and for two grown kids who stopped what they were doing in order to make their mother a little happier.

Today, I’m back at work on edits, but I’m just about done. Tomorrow, that book will be emailed off to my editor. Hooray! This weekend, we’re due for more snow, which I’m happy about. It’s beautiful, and I do love watching the dogs run around in it.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday, too!  

 

With blessings,

Shelley

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It’s Christmas Eve morning, and I’ve just gotten back from the grocery store. Today’s agenda? Continue to take care of Lesley, who is recovering from her tonsillectomy but very, very slowly. I’m going to write for just a little bit, then heading upstairs to the kitchen.

I’m baking a chocolate cake and all kinds of things for our Christmas Eve dinner.

Tonight, we’ll head out to church for the candlelight service…then watch a late movie before heading to bed.

Tomorrow? A little cooking, a lot of movies, and hopefully a nap!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas Holiday. Enjoy your dinners, brunches, quiet time with books and movies…and all the fellowship with family and friends.

See you on Wednesday!

With Christmas blessings to you,

Shelley

 

Avon Romance Promotion

I just found out today that A Christmas for Katie is part of Avon Romance’s Deck The Halls Christmas Promotion! Right now, lots of titles are on sale. There’s something for everyone, I think! If you’re interested, please click on the link below.

http://deckthehalls.avonromance.com/

Thank you to everyone who’s been commenting on the new website. We’re all thrilled that you like the changes!

Today, it’s pouring down rain here in Cincinnati. I plan to stay inside and write and read and watch the rain change to sleet and then to snow. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be on the agenda, too!

My daughter is slowly getting better but she’s still in a lot of pain. We’re getting through each day, though.  I know she’ll be just fine pretty soon! Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts and prayers.

I watched the news early this morning and saw most of the country is facing some kind of bad weather. What’s it like today at your house?

Shelley

 

 

Day 5

While everyone else might be counting down the days until Christmas, here at my house, we’re counting the days after my daughter’s tonsillectomy. This morning marks the beginning of Day 5.

I’m not going to lie-it’s been a difficult recovery. Really difficult. My daughter’s 19 and she’s been in a lot of pain. My husband and I looked at each other last night and wondered when we’d last gotten so little sleep. But in the midst of the ice packs and the pain medication, the cups of warm tea and Campbell’s Star Soup (a leftover childhood favorite), we’ve had a lot to be thankful for.

First of all, we’ve all felt like hugging our daughter’s surgeon. When he told us about the surgery and recovery, he didn’t sugarcoat a bit of it! That may sound strange, but it’s been nice not to be surprised about the problems she’s been having. I’ve been thankful that my traveling husband stayed home this week to help me, that our 21 year old son has been willing to go on as many errands as I’ve needed him to, and that I have a job where I get to stay home and care for my daughter.

I’ve been thankful for my writing buddies…who’ve all been through this before with their kids, and have offered support. I’ve been thankful for Facebook, too. People have been praying and offering lots of advice. I’ve appreciated that!  And, of course, I’ve been grateful for our faith. It’s so nice to know that we’re never going through any hardship alone.

In the midst of all this, I’ve been getting quite a bit of writing done. (Yay for laptops!) I’ve also been keeping up with letters and emails and other work.  And exchanging Christmas gifts! On Sunday, one of  my friends from church dropped off a gift bag from my Amish friend in Sugarcreek. Inside was a new puzzle and lots of goodies! In the midst of Reeces bars, caramel popcorn (hers is much better than mine!), and an orange/cranberry loaf, were four lovely molasses whoopie pies. They were so pretty I took a picture of them before my husband, son, and I dug in and posted it on Facebook.

Yes, the were indeed as delicious as they looked.

I certainly hope everyone else is doing a bit more Christmasy things! If you are, I’d love to hear about it! Are you still shopping? Baking? Getting ready to host a bunch of family? Getting ready to travel? Oh, and please tell me what you think of the new website! I, for one, am loving the pretty, bright colors.

With blessings!

Shelley

Christmastime

It’s been really busy at our house this December! I have a book due on January 1, line edits for another book due next Monday, and two kids coming home from college this week. My daughter will be getting her tonsils out this Friday, so I’ve also been trying to get as much done as possible. It hasn’t been all work, though. Yesterday, my writing buddies and I met at a restaurant and had our annual Christmas party. We exchanged gifts and chatted and generally talked about everything but writing! It was so fun and relaxing. I’ll write more later this week! Happy Monday!

GRACE is on Sale

Hi Everyone! I hope you had a nice weekend. I spent a few hours yesterday sitting with Suzy on the couch. Last year, I found the Deluxe edition of White Christmas, so yesterday Suzy and I watched it, with commentary by Rosemary Clooney. I love all the movie trivia, so I had a great time watching a holiday favorite and learning some fun things that happened while making White Christmas. I’m also currently needlepointing Butch his own Christmas stocking, so it was a very pleasant afternoon!

On Saturday, I spent my afternoon over at a local Barnes and Noble. Here I am at the end of the signing, looking fairly awkward! I’ve got a stack of books in front of me…mainly cookbooks. I was doing some Christmas shopping, of course!

Today, I am so happy to announce that my first Christmas novel GRACE was chosen to be featured by amazon.com this month. The ebook version will be on sale for $2.99 until December 22. I’m really happy about this. GRACE was the first Christmas book I had been contracted to write, and it was a story that I’d been eager to share for years. If you’re interested, and have an ebook reader, I hope you’ll give it a try.

See You In….

Thank goodness I already bought my 2013 calendar! Next year is sure to be a busy one! The folks at my publisher have been working really hard on my February book tour. Now that a couple of appearances have been confirmed, I thought I’d share the information and links with you.

Also, if you live in the Cincinnati area, please stop by the Barnes and Noble in WestChester at 1:00 on Saturday! I’ll be there as part of a large book signing and I’d love to meet you. This will be the only time you can get a signed copy of A Christmas for Katie. I’ll also be signing Christmas in Sugarcreek and some of my backlist, too.

Here’s the info:

Romancing the Holidays B&N WestChester, Saturday, December 1

The Streets of WestChester, 9455 Civic Centre Blvd. West Chester, OH 45069 PHone: 513-755-2258

January 27: I’ll be at the Harper Booth at the American Library Association Winter Conference in Seattle, WA. 1:00-2:00 pm.

Saturday, February 16, 1:00 pm. Page & Palette Bookstore, Fairhope, AL

Sunday, February 17, 2:00-4:00 pm. Jacksonville, FL Speaking and signing at the Old Plank Road Baptist Church. http://oprbc.org/

Monday, February 18, 10:00-11:00 am, St. Giles Presbyterian Church Bookclub Greenville, SC

Monday, February 18, noon: Book Your Lunch with Author shelley Shepard Gray Greenville, SC http://bookyourlunch.com/book-your-lunch-with-shelley-shepard-gray/

Lots more dates to come! I’ll share them when I can!

Now, I better get ready to chat  on the radio. Today, I’ll be speaking with Rebbekah White on Heal Yourself Talk Radio.

Thank you for stopping by…and hope to see you soon!

Shelley

 

 

Still Giving Thanks

Below is a blog I wrote last week but never posted here. Though it is about giving thanks, I have to say remembering to be thankful is something I can work on everyday…not just Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is having a good week. This morning I’m going to run a few errands and then be interviewed by World Christian Radio. Oh! And I must write! I’m finally nearing the end of Eventide, the last book of my Days of Redemption trilogy. Happy Wednesday!

          This week, while I’ve been buying turkeys, shopping for cranberries, comparing recipes, and coordinating my kids’ travel plans, I’ve also been giving thanks.

 I love the Thanksgiving holiday. Actually, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t. It’s nice to look forward to a day where there are no expectations for gifts or special events. All my family looks forward to is the same meal we’ve had for twenty years, time for naps, and football games.

          Of course I’m thankful for family and friends. My pets and my faith and my health. Instead, I thought I’d concentrate on a few little things that I probably take for granted too often but make my life so much sweeter.

I’m thankful for friendly people. I like being able to go to the coffee shop and chat with the barista, or discuss leeks in the grocery store line, or compare new sweaters with the receptionist at the dry cleaners. Those little snippets of conversation make the rest of my day happier.
I’m thankful for our USA Today newspaper that arrives every morning at the foot of our driveway. I’ve gotten this paper ever since I’ve been in college, and I really do enjoy seeing the news in all the different states I’ve lived in. Oh! And I’m really thankful when my husband goes out in the cold or rain and brings it in for me.
I’m thankful for my Kindle. I never thought I’d be the type of person to read an e-book. It turns out that I am. I really am thankful for being able to order a book immediately.
I’m thankful for hot bubble baths, and that my husband has always made sure that I have time (and hot water) for one. When our kids were little, he’d watch cartoons with them while ‘Mom had her bath’. Now when they come home from college, he won’t let anyone take a shower at night until I’ve had my bath. It’s a silly thing, but always appreciated by me.
 I’m thankful for all the china that my parents gave to me before they passed away. I use it all the time, and I love the memories those plates and cups and saucers give to me.

 

Finally, I’m thankful for my publisher, and all the folks at the Avon and Harper Collins offices. They’ve helped me become a better writer, and have supported me in countless ways~the latest which is my little Christmas Novella, A Christmas for Katie. This fall, they took a little dream of mine and made it into a darling book. I’m thankful it got published, and I’m thankful to get to share it with others.

 

This Thanksgiving, I hope you have lots of turkey and stuffing, pie and green bean casserole! I hope you have stacks of dirty dishes and people around to help you wash them all. I hope you have pets barking and pretty much getting in the way, and relatives who talk too much and laugh too loud. I hope it’s everything wonderful…and the opposite of being alone.

 

Most of all, I hope you have time to give thanks for all the blessings in your life, whether they are very, very big, or so small you usually forget about them. I wish you my best and my thanks.

Hoping To Take More Walks

    Over Thanksgiving,  I had an interesting discussion about the popularity of Amish novels with my mother-in-law.  I told her that a lot of my readers like to read Amish-themed books because their lifestyles are often the opposite of their busy daily lives. The Amish don’t use electricity or drive cars. Most don’t have cell phones or use the computer on a regular basis. Because of those things-plus many other guidelines, their lives are much simpler, and their pace of life is slower.

                I don’t know about you, but there are some days that I would really enjoy becoming disconnected from all the noise and frantic running around.

                I’m never more aware of these differences than when I am writing my Amish Christmas novellas.  That’s when I’m constantly reminded about the real reason for the season, and I find myself wanting to celebrate time with family, enjoy a leisurely hour chatting with a friend, or baking cookies for a neighbor.

                In A Christmas for Katie, my main character is little Katie Weaver, a somewhat headstrong six year old.  In this story, Katie isn’t begging for the latest must-have present. Instead, what she wants is to have a better nativity scene in the front of the library. The current one there is peeling and broken down and she is sure that it’s not good enough to celebrate Christ’s birth. Her goal isn’t met with a lot of enthusiasm. The librarian is occupied with other problems, someone keeps stealing the nativity pieces, and even her mother has to gently remind her that the Amish don’t really believe in nativity sets. 

          I loved writing this little book. While writing it, I found myself wondering how I could make sure that I wasn’t only thinking about to-do lists, work, and  shopping  this holiday season.   

One of the things my husband and I decided to do was take Butch, our new little adopted dachshund, for a long walk every day. Just yesterday, we were on our town’s bike trail, bundled up in mittens and coats (Butch, too!) we found ourselves looking for bright red cardinals, laughing about things that happened with our kids over Thanksgiving break, and chatting about nothing important.

                When we got back home, Butch was tired, our cheeks were red,  and  our spirits were lifted. We were already looking forward to our next walk! 

                I hope each of you has a wonderful holiday season. And, if you don’t already do something to slow down your life a bit, I hope you’ll give it a try. You might just be glad that you did.

Butch ready for his walk!

               

                 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Popping in to say a quick Happy Thanksgiving! Here at our house, my husband Tom is in the middle of trying to get a very big bird into the oven. Over the years, he’s taken over the roasting of the turkey. I’m glad to let him wrestle with the bird~I’ve never been a fan of dealing with raw poultry.

It’s already been an eventful morning, Tom decided we absolutely had to change one of the  light bulbs in the kitchen ceiling this morning. It was a minor disaster that involved waking our son up, making him stand on a counter to ‘catch’ the bulb, the bulb sliding out of my husband’s not-so-nifty light bulb changing gadget, missing my son, and crashing into a thousand pieces all over the kitchen floor. Dogs were barking, I was pointing my finger at my son to not go anywhere (he was barefoot), and my husband running for the broom, dustpan, and vacuum .

It’s all cleaned up now, so things are looking up!  

Today, I’m blogging over at novel reflections, talking about cooking mishaps. I’ve certainly had my share!

I hope your day is filled with a perfect meal, accompanied by family and friends.  Shelley

 

http://novelreflections.net/appearances/guest-post-giveaway-with-shelley-shepard-gray-a-christmas-for-katie