Today I turn fifty. Wow. That’s going to take a while to sink in. I feel young on the inside. But, though I really miss my energetic, thinner, more limber 20 year old body, I can’t complain. I’m wiser now. More content. And having lived fifty years gives one a perspective that is more hopeful.
There’s a lot to be worried about in this world. Teens committing suicide from bullying. Wall Street and corporate greed. So many people out of work and losing their homes. Politicians lying and only serving themselves. Some days it seems like there’s nothing good left in this world.
Then the other night, I went to my daughter’s Jr. High school parent orientation. I listened as teachers, coaches, choir teachers, and band leaders talked with such enthusiasm about their jobs. Even the principal seemed excited about teaching teenagers. I couldn’t believe it, but I could tell they were genuine in their joy. Some of the teens from the choir sang, a few “steppers” performed and these kids were good. Teenagers! Aren’t they all supposed to be disrespectful, spoiled, drug addicted bullies? Maybe we feel that way because so often we only hear about the troubled ones. What’s that old news adage? “If it bleeds, it leads?” But if we look around we can notice small acts of kindness, people giving of themselves, helping each other. Families struggling through hard times and still loving each other. So, today I’m giving myself the birthday gift of hope. I choose to keep believing in the good things in this world. I believe that right will win over evil, and that love will triumph over hate and fear. And isn’t that what Romance novels are all about? Love wins in the end. If you want help feeling hopeful, listen to the new song by country artist Dierks Bentley Homehere
If you don’t have time to listen to the whole thing, here are words:
West, on a plane bound west, I see her stretching out below
Land, blessed motherland. The place where I was born
Scars, yeah she’s got her scars. Sometimes it starts to worry me
Cause lose, I don’t wanna lose Sight of who we are
From the mountains high To the wave crashed coast
There’s a way to find Better days I know
It’s been a long hard ride Got a ways to go
But this is still the place That we all call home
Free, nothing feels like free Though it sometimes means we don’t get along
Cause same, no we’re not the same But that’s what makes us strong
Brave, gotta call it brave To chase that dream across the sea
Names, and they signed their names For something they believed
Red, how the blood ran red And we laid our dead in sacred ground
Just think, wonder what they think If they could see us now
It’s been a long hard ride And I won’t lose hope
This is still the place That we all call home
And oh yeah! My new Blaze, Once a Hero… is on shelves now! My hero and heroine both learn to hope again.
Tell me something you’re hopeful about and I’ll send one of you a copy!

This time last year I blogged about my list of things I’m grateful for. And that’s something that never gets old, I think. Being grateful, I mean. It’s so easy—especially in this economic recession—to feel depressed. To worry about losing a job, or to be scared because we’ve been laid off and haven’t been able to find another job. Nowadays it seems like we’re all just trying to keep our heads above water, just to pay the mortgage and put food on the table, much less afford Christmas or send a kid to college.
I’m not a worrier by nature and even I have been worried lately. I find myself looking around at the bankers who posted their “highest profits for the third quarter” and the Corporations like Exxon who make billions in profit and yet paid not ONE dime in taxes last year, or the famous 1% who make more money every year off the backs off the middle class, and I get angry.
But worry and anger are so negative they can be debilitating. If I let myself wallow in those negative emotions for long, I think I’d soon become a bitter old hag.
My only remedy is gratitude.
That old song from White Christmas still rings true today. “When you’re worried and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep.”
So, I have to remember to look around at all the true riches in my life. My loving husband, a mom who’s always there for me, three healthy children, and many really good friends who would always be there for me. You can’t put a price tag on any of them.
When I remember to be grateful, suddenly things become so simple. Worries take a back seat to enjoying the gifts I’ve been given. The people I love and who love me.
And when it’s all said and done, it’s really all about the love.
I’m wishing you all love and peace and simple gifts this Thanksgiving holiday.
Enjoy a simple beautiful song here:
Simple Gifts

December 27th. It’s kind of a limbo day between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Nothing really special about this day. The excitement of the holiday, the parties, the gift giving is over, and on top of that, some of us may even have to go back to work tomorrow. Or worse, some of us may be working retail today and patiently helping all the people who are out returning everything they received and didn’t like. Ugh. A job I used to have and respect greatly. If I know my critique partner–and I do–she’s already got her Christmas decorations down.
When I was a child the days between Christmas and New Years were magical. No school. All the new toys to play with. Baked goodies my mom only made at that time of year, and the best thing: playing the new board game with my mom, dad, and sisters.
Every year we’d get a new game, and we’d play it for the next week. Anyone else remember a game called Masterpiece?
Or how about Mille Bornes?
And who didn’t play Life?
Ahhh, my childhood. Those were the days…

Now days when asked my favorite holiday, I half-jokingly answer; Labor Day. It’s the only holiday I don’t have buy, wrap, bake, cook, or cater to someone else. I still love Christmastime, but as an adult, I have a lot more work and a lot less time to play during the Christmas break.
And yet, there’s still something special about Christmas. I still believe in Santa Claus, and in the magic of this season. Every year I feel the ghosts of Christmases Past—my grandmother, my grandfather, and my father–surrounding me with their love, living in my heart.
I feel the excitement of Christmas Present, the anticipation of all my loved ones opening their gifts, eating a wonderful meal, and sharing the day.
And I can envision Christmases to come, when I might be dangling a beloved grandchild on my knee and watching with unspeakable joy as she experiences her very first Christmas.
Oh yes, I still believe in Magic.
After all, there’s nothing more magical than love.