Curtiss Ann Matlock's Blog, page 10

Living Christmas in Valentine

So, I did a thing. I put up a Christmas tree this year.

I have not had a Christmas tree for the past three years. I haven’t wanted one at all. My husband’s death almost ten years ago now pretty well punctured my Christmas balloon bubble. Oh, as long as I had grandchildren in the house, I pushed myself to put up a tree, but when I moved to my own home alone, the idea of a tree overwhelmed me. I was content, even relieved, with a cup of hot tea and memories. I thought Christmas trees were in ...

Christmas Tree Memories at Window Over the Sink

Dear friends, today I have a post over at Window Over the Sink, author Liz Flaherty’s delightful blog. I write about my memories of Christmas tree tinsel. Do you remember what tinsel used to be like? Liz is having guest writers every day of the holidays. You might want to check it out.

The season is started. Enjoy every bit!

blessings,

CurtissAnn

The Gift of Laughter–WKRP Turkey Drop

I watch the WKRP clip each Thanksgiving and give thanks for those who make us laugh.

Grateful for Gratitude

Look at this! It is a dipladenia that my neighbor gave me back in August, and still blooming even through the cold nights we’ve experienced. I placed it in the sheltered corner to see if it will winter-through. So far so good. I’m grateful for the cheery plant that has become something of a friend, waving at me each time I drive into the garage.

I am grateful for each of you, too, dear readers friends. So often you have boosted me with kind comments and understanding of what I’m trying to sa...

Current Read: The Defining Verse

The entire title is The Defining Verse: Find Your Life’s Sentence Through the Lives of 63 Bible Characters. That’s a mouthful. And a good hook for a book concept. Wondering what my defining verse might be, and as Warren Wiersbe is one of my favorite writers, I immediately bought the book.

Pastor Wiersbe starts with the story of Adam and his defining verse and goes on through every major character. I’ve made it through Isaac, and finally realize that the book is actually the entire Bible expl...

eBooks on Sale and a Question

Miracle On I-40 Christmas Comes to Valentine Christmas Homecoming
2-in-one Available only on Amazon Kindle

I overheard this snippet yesterday:

“No. No Christmas shopping or decorating until after Thanksgiving,” declared the man.

“But I have almost all of my Christmas bought,” replied the woman with a smile.

Those of us who would prefer to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas separately are swimming upstream. And really, the longer we can celebrate, the better, I ...

Problem Solved

My friend and I were discussing our current respective problems. We agreed that we have both come far in inner strength and problem solving skills since the death of our husbands. After we hung up, I sat with the phone in my hand, as the pain and fear from problems that I experienced in those first months, even years, of being a widow came flooding back.

After my husband died, every problem seemed a giant tsunami about to drown me. I would panic like the sky was falling. “Oh, my Lord, what a...

Courage to Change

It came in my email this morning. Notification of a change.

The change was put forth in a positive light, but I was disturbed. My thoughts were along the lines of: “Oh, really. Why do this? Why do we have to change? This is going to be confusing. It just so annoying.” And fearful, which I didn’t name, because how comforting if things could just stay the same.

I texted a dear friend, who I knew received the same email and was more in the know about the facts of the change. She elaborated ...

Miracle On I-40–New Cover, Larger Font, Free Offer!

Look what came today! I’m so excited!

This is the 35th anniversary of the book that began as a small novella and grew into a small book. In celebration of this milestone, Miracle On I-40 has a new cover and the print editions, both soft cover and new hardback gift edition, have been updated with larger font! (Don’t get me started about the minuscule fonts used today by traditional publishing.)

Free Offer:
Dear reader friends, please help me out. Miracle On I-40 needs reviews. Reviews...

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

With eager excitement, like a dog with two tails, I drove my trusty GMC Canyon pulling my travel trailer out of my driveway on September 22. I returned yesterday, two weeks and two thousand miles later, exhausted and with my two tails dragging, but my heart and mind filled with precious memories of time spent with dear family and sights worth seeing.

In south Georgia I enjoyed a good visit with a cousin and her husband, reminiscing over old times and family long gone. They s...