SEASONAL STARTS ... AND SNIPPETS
HAPPY 2025! Welcome to my Quarterly Newsletter
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People often ask, “So, what’s your word for this year?” Until today, my answer was “dahhh!” Seriously! I had plans, reams of them – but no one word.
I was sitting in a coffee shop chatting with a friend. We weren’t talking about anything specific when the word “rest” blazed a trail through my brain. Lord, is that you?
Like all of us, the morning had been incredibly busy. Preparing for our home group meeting, getting snow tires on the car, writing a blog, grocery shopping, wrapping presents … you get the picture. The idea of sitting in a coffee shop at the other end of town was the farthest thing from my mind. Yet, when a friend extended an invitation, I recklessly left my to-do list, hopped in the car, and hit the gas.
A finger-snapping Christmas song on the radio ended and the DJ said, “What’s your word for the coming year?” With a tone full of sarcasm, I muttered, “Not this again.” Little did I know what the Lord had in store!
Ever think about resting? Nah, I don’t mean napping (although I hear that’s a good thing!). Just simply resting. As in, hearing the Lord say: For today, why not lay all your cares on Me. Let Me take care of everything for you (my adaptation of 1 Peter 5:7).
For me, the irony in receiving the word rest is that I didn’t have to lift a finger to receive it! As if the Lord knew, He saw, He cared I was at the edge of exhaustion (can you relate?) and softly said, “Rest.”
If you have a word for the year, I’d love for you to share it with me in the comments below! Thank you!
Tucker here:
I will celebrate my first birthday on 1/1/2025! A new year and an older me! Bert and Erma say I still have a lot of puppy in me, and I do my best to prove them right each and every day! Ha! Look for my birthday blog next week. Until then, happy tails to you!
As an avid reader, I have high hopes for my growing stack of TBR (To Be Read) books. In addition to reading the book of Luke and church and social gatherings, another of my goals for this Christmas season is to cuddle up beside the fire and read, read, read! In no particular order, I’ll review the books I’ve completed during the past week and will fill you in on the rest in the next newsletter …
Wishing for Mistletoe by Robin Lee Hatcher
Hot off the press, I found the setting (Sanctuary Island, MI), the characters, and the themes presented in this novel endearing. Who doesn’t want to root for lasting love between a widower (with a preteen daughter) and a woman whose romantic past is an ash heap? Good writing and several twists kept the story lively. As to the real question—do these two find happily ever after together?—you’ll have to read to “THE END” to find out!
(This book was gifted to me by the author.)
Her Christmas Secret by Gabrielle Meyer
True to its description, an “uplifting inspirational romance,” this novel delivered. Uncertain twists and the question of whether or not love will win kept me turning the pages. The characters and their foibles endeared them to me, and I found myself hoping this was a series – what happens next? Not a conventional Christmas read which, to me, added to its enjoyment!
Christmas Cover-Up by Lynette Eason
I wondered what I’d find between the covers, and it didn’t take long for me to be captivated by the characters and plot. In this who-dun-it, the twists and turns kept coming, and I enjoyed the story to the last word. Wish this was a series – the characters, to me, have more to give. Definitely worth the read!
Her Summer Refuge by Gabrielle Meyer
Interesting developments in this story! The small-town descriptions, with its cozy charm, were wonderful, and the roadblocks to these former friends’ future made for an intriguing novel. A few twists and a satisfying ending.
Christmas on the Ranch by Jennifer Slattery
This novel starts out stating what the main character wants. I love that because, as a writer/reader, I wanted fate to upend her world and offer her everything she doesn’t want. Enter the handsome cowboy. And his twin five-year-old girls. And an aunt everyone should have in their lives. Other than the wonderful writing, that’s all I’m going to say so you’ll go buy the book and get hooked too!
Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson
I should’ve written a review for this “craft book for authors” long ago. I read each page at least once a year to remind me that “showing” isn’t enough. My goal is to present a deeper picture for my readers’ imaginations. Sucking them in, so to speak. Am I doing that? I hope so!
Again, the books in my TBR pile are pictured in no specific order. I’ve got several in my Kindle library, too, that I’ll read while on the treadmill. My hope is that mind stays too busy to listen to complaints from my body … for two miles anyway! HA!
Please don’t get me wrong, I DO NOT recommend every activity or idea presented on the calendars below. I, too, will pick and choose which to be involved in and go from there!
(Calendars Sourced from: https://localiq.com/blog/social-media-holidays-and-ideas/)
Here’s one of the best suggestions we’ll happily implement on January 1st and throughout all of 2025:
Each day, fill a jar with happy notes.
Whether they’re about something good that happened; something you’re thankful for; a Bible verse that inspired you; the weather; a gift you received or gave to someone …
I pray that as we move through the next several months of winter—sunny, rainy, snowy, hot, or cold—you’ll continue this joyful habit. And, it’ll be fun to read these 365 happy moments on 12/31/2025!
God bless you and shower His love upon you!
Happy 2025!
Hi Erma! Wonderful suggestions and inspiration in your newsletter! One of the things I plan to do this year is keep a list of the books I have read - and post reviews! I'm lax about that and I know how important they are. Happy reading, many blessings, and lots of writing in 2025!