Tag: holidays

The sweetest kids

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Yesterday (obviously) was Mothers Day. My daughter gave me a flower seedling, a cute little book of ten reasons she loves me, and a card. We also had “a meeting.” I think she picked up the idea at her daycare, where they had weekly staff meetings, usually outside her classroom door. She shared with me her sticker collection and what each one means, and her list of BFFs on her chalkboard, among other things.

Then we colored, with markers on those posters with black “velvet” lines. She saw a package of them at the store Saturday, and I got it because she loves doing art things. I hadn’t expected to color with her, but it was fun.

And my son? Well, he talked about his band trip and about the orientation at the high school last week and this and that — excited and cheerful and ever so talkative, all the things they say not to expect from teenagers. He’s looking forward to high school, and he’s happy with where he is, mostly. That’s a wonderful gift.

So that’s what I’m grateful for, today and always — kids who want to spend time with me and share the important things in their lives with me.

What are you grateful for this week?

Happy Memorial Day

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This Memorial Day, I have a lot to be grateful for: my mom, time with my family, those who’ve served our country whether or not they died in her service (including my dad, my older brother, my dad’s brothers, my mother’s father — Civil Service, cousins, and friends), and being here to appreciate all of them.

On a Memorial Day holiday 15 years ago, I was on a boat with my fiancé (now husband), his brother, the brother’s roommate, and the roommate’s girlfriend. That was the day I learned how sharp motorboat propellers are. (Oddly enough, my husband and I don’t go boating for Memorial Day.) That’s 15 years to appreciate.

What are you grateful for today?

Mother’s Day

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I have an amazing mother, one who has always believed in me, always supported me, always told me I could be who I wanted to be. She didn’t just mouth the words, though; she lived them. She went back to school to get a degree in journalism. For part of her degree, she had to take a foreign language, and I treasure the memories of getting up early to help her with her flash cards. She went back to school again when I went to college, and it was lots of fun commuting with her and even taking a class together.

Today is not just Mother’s Day; it’s also her birthday (29 again!).

She’s still here, still supporting me, even though I live far, far away now. I can only hope I’m as good a mom to my kids as she still is to me.

I love you, Mom.

The Magic of Christmas

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(Today’s post is a guest post from Erin Kendall of Turtleduck Press. Enjoy!)

Christmas. It is my most favorite time of year: snow-covered streets; beautiful lights on houses and stores; people dashing around in a buying frenzy; our Christmas tree (which I swear looks more beautiful every year, even though technically it’s the same tree); family and friends, love and gifts, Christmas carols and hot chocolate by the fire…. Continue reading

Holidays

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The following short story exists solely because the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour topic this month is a writing prompt. Writing prompts mean stories, not posts, at least for me. So don’t fret if you don’t recognize the holiday, or if your holidays don’t go quite like this. Honestly, it’s better that way. Continue reading

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers, and happy Thursday to everyone else (or Friday if you’re that far ahead)! It’s been a busy few days jammed with family, although I had a good writing day on Tuesday.

Just a short note to say I’m thankful for each of you who takes the time to read my blog. Thank you!

The women in science fiction and fantasy posts will return next week, with both T and U posts. Also coming up: a guest post from Erin Conroy of Turtleduck Press.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Halloween Q & A

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It’s a bit of a trite idea to write about Halloween this weekend, I know, but I’m not going to stay away just because all the popular kids are doing it. Or because they’re not. As a quick trip to Wikipedia would tell you, Halloween is our current form of Hallowe’en, from Hallows, Even, from All Hallows’ Eve — in other words, the night before All Saints’ Day. Yes, this wonderful day is rooted in Catholic tradition, including the tradition of taking customs that existed before they converted the locals and putting a Catholic spin on them.

This week’s questions:

Q: What’s your favorite Halloween moment?

A: That’s easy — I met my husband at a Halloween party.

Q: How old were you when you stopped trick-or-treating?

A: Stopped? Wait, you mean I’m not supposed to carry a bag, too, when I go out with my kids?

Q: Seriously?

A: Okay, okay. In grad school. I took the kids out for the family I lived with, and I wore a costume, too. I wound up giving my candy to the little girl, who had dragged her bag on the ground.

Q: What’s your favorite candy to get?

A: Can I pick two? Smarties and miniature Reese’s.

Q: And to give?

A: Oddly enough, that’s what I have to give away, too. That way, if we don’t get too many trick-or-treaters, I’m set!

Q: Favorite bit of Halloween trivia?

A: Nevada was admitted to the Union as a state on October 31, 1864. Thus, Halloween is a holiday — Nevada Day (a fact I appreciated growing up!).

Q: Are you wearing a costume this year?

A: I just found my pointy ears, so anything’s possible.

That said, trick-or-treating here is Friday night, so I need to make sure my kids are ready. Have a safe weekend, everybody, and as always, thank you for reading!

(Don’t forget — you can still enter my Hadley Rille Books book giveaway!)