Back in December

There I sat, sipping Chardonnay, reading Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas, background noise was college football on the tube. I heard my husband cheering for his team. We sat together for an hour, talking about our days and the Christmas holiday to come. Couldn’t wait to see the kids. Then I wanted to get back to the book, and football was calling his name loud and clear.

I sat there as my dog snored, curled up on his gray, plush bed, the heat purred, keeping us warm, and the multi-colored lights on the Christmas tree glistened, occasionally winking at me.

A peaceful night – some would say unexciting. Ahh, but it’s the simple pleasures that become the biggest blessings…

After a January that brought shocking tragedy, the simple things become true gifts. For on that night in December, I had a loving husband to share an evening of wine and conversation, another holiday to celebrate, my senior puppy, heat to keep us warm, a roof over our head, a live Christmas tree to enchant us, music on our retro stereo, a great book to get lost in, a TV for entertainment at our fingertips, and homemade lasagna in the oven…

And so, as a new month begins, we continue to take one day at a time, to keep the victims of those tragedies in our hearts, to not let hope get lost in the shuffle of chaos, and to remember that we are fortunate to have these huge blessings.

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I shared my 5-star review of Cindy’s beautiful book in a prior post, so please check it out if you missed it.

Recently, Cindy was kind enough to surprise me with her wonderful review of my book, Cora’s Quest. So, please allow me to relish in her delightful words:

5.0 out of 5 stars Capture your inner child or your child’s heart
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2025
Verified Purchase

First of all, the cover is endearing and the story of Cora will surely delight every child that sits on your lap with wide open eyes, begging you to read it again and again. The best news is you will enjoy reading it to them when they say, “again” after the 10th time. Lol. I have 2 grandchildren 17 months old and both of them love “reading this book” (moreover, pointing at the different critters in the book). These are cherished moments when they are soaking in the world around them in these precious and formulating years and what better way than to introduce them to adventure and the trials and tribulations of life when veering off the path. Although they don’t understand this concept yet, they love turning the pages and haven’t ripped one yet. That is truly a win. In the meantime, the illustrations are beautiful and captivating as they are learning to talk and say “deer”. My hats off to you Lauren on a new genre which is near and “deer” (pun intended) to our hearts! I highly recommend stocking up on them for birthday parties etc.
~Cindy Georgakas

Thank you again, Cindy, for this wonderful review! I am thrilled that not only your grandchildren loved ‘reading’ about Cora, but that you loved the story and illustrations too! 🙏

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Subject change…Do you have an event coming up that you’re looking forward to? Let me know in the comments because I do! Four months ago, I registered for a writer’s conference, and it seemed like years away. All of a sudden, it’s next week, Thursday through Sunday, and I’ll be staying at the hotel for the entire conference. I can’t wait to soak up information and gain more knowledge from the workshops I’ll be attending. This is my first writer’s conference, so I’ll finally be able to check it off my bucket list. I’m sure I’ll share with you some great takeaways later this month! ✍🏻

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Changing the subject again…When each month ends, do you sing the same old tune like I do? “I can’t believe another month has passed by!” And here we are, Welcome February – the month of hearts and love, but not only for the romantic soul, but love for families, friends, and for all people! I’ve always loved hearts and all kinds of jewelry: silver, gold, a variety of gem stones, etc., so here are a few hearts that I wear…

As you move on from here, I hope love resides in your heart, joy blossoms, and challenging times lessen. I know it’s tough to keep up while reading all the amazing blog posts in this warm community, so please know that I appreciate you stopping by my corner of blogland in your busy schedule!
Enjoy your weekend and stay safe in all you do!

~ Lauren ❤️

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