Family bonding Part 3

Read with your kids. Reading not only helps you connect with your kids, but also helps build their vocabulary, increase their curiosity about life, and gets them interested in reading. They will cherish it forever.

I remember… Paper dolls.

I remember the Paper dolls my sister made for me.

Happy Birthday Sis

1960

By Shaunna Gonzales

Winter breaks from school over the Christmas Holiday and snow days meant paper dolls, especially when it was too cold to play outside. And definitely too cold to go horseback riding as we were wont to do.

I'm not talking about the professionally inked and cut paper dolls or the ones we could cut out of a magazine. I'm talking hand drawn, originals by one of my favorite artists, my oldest sister. I need to explain that I am the youngest of six sisters, in this story my brothers don't count.

My older sisters held a beauty pageant with their dolls and the one rule was the 3 inch height of the doll which they carefully drew and cut on the cardboard type papers from Mom's nylons. That and she must wear a white, one piece bathing suit which was drawn onto her body with pencil.

This was great until the doll my sister gave me had a vibrant green swimsuit. I won't tell you how much time I spent crying and begging for my doll -- I don't recall her name, to be in the pageant or the hours I begged my sister to draw me a second doll. The good news was that my doll was the most petite and looked the best in almost every dress the team of dressmakers (my sisters) could and did design. It also meant that out of guilt, at least I think it was guilt, my sister made my doll some of the most beautiful paper clothes. Clothes worthy of the Red Carpet. Clothes that the other dolls couldn't wear due to their size around the middle (think size 6 versus size 10 or 12. Yeah, even in dolls it mattered.)

Of course my doll had another feature the other dolls didn't, her swimsuit was strapless. A very big deal when Mother randomly burned dolls that were not modest, even in their swimwear.

When your paper doll is roughly 3 inches tall, you quickly learn that she is only for in the house, and at our house-- as no one else had the artistic skill to create these ladies to the necessary specifications. No matter, I did, years later, glean one of the few men my sister created, a paper version of Barbies' Ken doll.

These 'Ken's' were not big on wardrobe as the ladies were. They 'owned' one suit, generally along the lines of a tuxedo and well, you guessed it, the white swimwear. Their sole purpose was to make the ladies look good. Sorry guys, now you know why my brothers don't count in this story.

Despite the cajoling engaged in, I must admit to many happy hours of solo play with these dolls. They traveled far and wide in my mind's world, Western garb designed and fitted but the doll, being two dimensional could never straddle a horse. She did however, time-travel to the regality of the Victorian romance or Medieval Times where, as always, she looked gorgeous and yes, always got the guy. Romance was simpler then, I was in grade school

 I'll forever cherish my paper dolls, whether or not my sisters kept theirs all these years I don't know. I did safely tuck mine where I can't find them. I still treasure the simpler time and a wise use of a childish imagination, even if my heroine couldn't ride horses.

Family Bonding Part 2

Eat dinner together. Dinnertime is a perfect way to share your successes with each other, regroup or just catch up. Make sure to ask kids specific questions about their day. And keep the TV off.

Family Bonding Part 1

Turn off your phone. Compartmentalize your life to focus your attention on what you're doing and enjoying at that moment. If it's work time, then enjoy working. If it's family time, then enjoy the family!
Our family went to a married part of the families home for the afternoon. We ate (always a favorite) and played basket ball as the whole family. One might think "How can you do this for hours?" Turn off all the electronics. Not a cell phone to interrupt or an ipod to buzz. Overall, a very nice afternoon.

Just Sayin'

Just sayin' and checking in.
Things haven't gone very well this week. My reps are down and my energy level has gone out the window. I have the hardest time walking without falling... Not a good thing. Not ready to call it quits but certainly ready to surrender for the time being. That said, all is not lost as my latest book has a cover. Hoping to have everything finalized in the next few days for the release of my latest work, Live, Love, Repeat.

Look for it on Amazon. Wishing I had a link for you to click on, but It isn't working yet. I assume that I have to have all my ducks in a row.

Lunges

Can I just say these scare me?

Balance issues--- think I will try this with my hands on the backs of chairs rather than on my hips. I may need heavier chairs...

Lunges work your entire chain of leg muscles. Stand with your feet spread shoulder width apart. With your hands on your hips, step forward with your right leg and take your left knee to the ground. Return to the initial standing position and step forward with your left foot, taking your right knee to the ground.

Forgotten Family Bonding

 7 weeks of Tips

The modern age may demand your attention through handheld devices and smartphones, but your family needs your attention from, well, you. Don't let your phone compete for family time and instead, exercise these simple, practical and very human tips to reconnect:

Source: Inc.

A friend recently reminded me of the need for family bonding. All of us either remember the things we did with our families as kids or wish we could have better family ties. It is my hope that in the coming weeks I'll be able to share some ideas found originally in INC.

I chose not to include them all at once because I want to include more personal notes of how it is done in my own home, maybe how it has improved our family relationships, etc.

If you just can't wait for my input, please find a copy of Inc. and enjoy, even share it with your family. Until my next post on this subject, try setting one day or evening aside where everyone, mom dad, teen and on down to the baby turn-off all your devises. UNPLUG.

Push-ups and Sit-ups Report

Squats and Push-ups are becoming well, not easy but I can do them and not die on the spot. Leg lifts are coming along...ha, ha, ha but sit-ups? This is gonna take a while to get comfortable with. Between the head rush and the muscles arguing the fact, well,let's just say I'm doing them.

After talking to a fitness coach I am reminded that I should not do the typical sit-up. So, Not sure how to describe what I'm trying to incorporate, but i am trying!

All in all, the good news is: if I, in my limited MS camp can do these so can you!

Once Upon Two Kingdoms

Book blurb

Freedom to Choose is Paramount for any human

An arrangement made when Elizabeth was just a babe ties her to someone she has never met, never spoken to, never loved. Now she desires freedom—a way to choose her own path—her own husband. The moment Elizabeth meets Patrick she knows he is her soul mate. But when you are bound to a crown how is any choice your own?

Once Upon Two Kingdoms by Anna del C. Dye

Clean romance

Elizabeth should be celebrating her birthday but she is dreading her royal commitment. A commitment made for her by her father at her birth. In the neighboring country, Patrick finds his father’s meddling in his lack of a love life irritating at best and when the monarch reveals Patrick’s betrothal as part of his responsibility to the welfare of the kingdom it become worse. The young man revolts the only way available to him. What Elizabeth and Patrick don’t know is how their individual reactions will affect the course of their respective kingdoms fate or their own. How will two royals—strangers to each other—remain true to themselves and still fulfill their commitments?

Ms. Dye’s tale is told in the classic style reminiscent of the old classics – a familiar tale with a twist. While some threads of this story could be woven tighter and given a richer texture, overall it is quite engaging. Ms. Dye’s villain is deplorable in his intent and his lackeys are inept giving the reader hope for a happy ending. An enjoyable and light read, safe in both romantic heat and evil violence, for the youngest romantic.

Follow Anna on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDelC?fref=ts 

Links to where book is sold
http://www.annadelc.com 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=anna+del+c.+dye&sprefix=Anna+del+C%2Cstripbooks%2C265 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Anna-del-C-dye?store=book&keyword=Anna+del+C.+dye

AnnaDelC.com - Home

www.annadelc.com

This post is courtesy of: 

LovingtheBook LaunchParty

Adding sit-ups to Push-ups

Sit-ups. 

Oh I'm gonna hate these! These are my instructions. Note: Moving my head like this may make me dizzy.

Start by lying on your back with your knees bent and feet placed flat on the floor. Wedge your toes underneath a couch or bed frame to keep your feet planted. With your hands behind your head (don't pull yourself up by the neck), begin your sit-up. Instead of going all the way up to your knees, stop halfway and pause before returning to the ground. Doing so alleviates tension in the lower back, while isolating the middle and upper abdominals.

Sharing with You

Just added the link to Raffle Copter in the right column. I'm all for free chances at a good read and I'm sharing it with you. Click and follow link for your own chance to win!

Push-up Report

YES!!!
I've done better than I expected. My exercise journal for yesterday, the 5th looks good (for a woman with MS, that is.)
Up and down a flight of stairs. Walk to see friend and back -- felt good/strong.
Squats-(keep in mind these are more like the ballet warm-ups) 3 sets of 35. Yep those last 5 per set are killers.
Push-ups-( using kitchen counter) 3 sets of 30. This is huge for me! Great job IMHO.
Leg Lifts--(didn't expect to incorporate these for another week) Yep these numbers are not as good but sooner than expected. 3 sets of 5 (per leg). Prefer to do them alternating rather than on one leg to 5 and switching.

When all is said and done, once the whew is over, I feel better.After all isn't that what exercising is all about?

You Know That Feeling?

I must admit this was shared by a friend, but in all honesty, I echo the sentiment.

Say No to Winter Weight Gain

The holiday season plays only a small role in the ups and downs of fitness. In fact, the majority of winter weight gain is due to exercising less. While joining a gym (or setting up a home gym) isn't a bad idea, doing so is not for everyone, especially me.
A dear friend recently enlisted her friends to set-up a way to be more accountable. I think it is a great idea and my previous post, shared by another new friend really spurned me to find my own way to be more accountable.

So my plan is this: In the coming days I will engage in a new fitness task, try it out seriously for five days to see if my health will allow me to incorporate it long term and whether I can do it or not. 
Let's be honest, I don't like to exercise and I blame it on my Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but I don't hurt all the time now so... It is time to see if I can reclaim a better quality of life. Granted, I'm not terribly overweight but I am extremely out of shape from the core muscles to my fingers and toes (okay so I do walk--some, and I type--a lot) but you get my gist.

Little of no equipment required..YES!!!

Worried about failing? Not so much. Remember, most living with MS are immobile. I can walk and climb stairs. I won't promise to report on my progress (yes, I will try to remember), but if you are really curious, you are welcome to leave a comment and ask. I will be brutally honest when it comes to what I accomplish--even if it embarrasses me. Okay, now I'm scared.

Check back to see what I'm endeavoring to do each week...I'll post my new exercise on Mondays so I have the whole week to groan or learn to love it!

Overall goal: a comprehensive full-body workout:

February 2-7 
Push-ups I'm told these are perfect for toning the chest, triceps and shoulders. I'm not ready for the standard military push-up, or even doing them from my knees, so I will use my kitchen bar to lean into.


This one I know I can do. I'll return and report on Friday. Well see if I can push it to 2 sets of 30... Wish me luck!

Updated February 4th.
Push-ups are going great with 3 sets of 20. -Not exactly what I had in mind (3 sets of 25) but I'm a lot closer than I thought!
Squats are something i used to do a lot of in ballet class, well, kinda sorta with ple-as (Don't know how to spell that rascal). Pushing it to 3 sets of 35 before my legs threaten to dump me on the floor but I managed after completing the first two exercises to still have a small bit of energy so I did 
Leg Lifts! I didn't plan on adding them this early but although they were few (2 sets of 5), I did them!

How to Stick to Your Workout Resolution

Every new year finds abundant advice on how to exercise. These six tips will help you build your resolve and achieve your fitness goals. Do what you enjoy. Life is too short to do exercises you hate. If you despise the gym, try walking or working out at home or outside. And if you're sick of your exercise routine, change it up. Plan workouts in advance, for example, at the start of each month. Cross them off as you complete each one and post the results where you can look at them daily. Fitness apps and wearable trackers can help. You're more likely to work out if you can see actual progress. Join a fitness forum or online message group for your favorite type of workout. Sharing inspiration and motivation with other people, even if they're perfect strangers, will help keep you motivated and accountable. Train and compete for a sport or annual event that you enjoy. The competitive motivation will add dimension to each workout. Get a checkup and tie workouts to your health levels. If your blood pressure or cholesterol is high, set a goal or baseline to get them down. Decreasing your risk of disease is a great motivator. Find training partners who will hold you accountable. Close friends and family members may not be ideal if they won't be tough with you. Find new, less forgiving workout partners when you feel a need to achieve. Source: Men's Health

Shovel Sledding

Dedcated to my brother

Byline June Bridger

As a kid I didn't know we were poor. We made due with what we had and on a winter day when my brother was given the responsibility of watching his little sister we didn't dare return to the house for fear of being told we couldn't go back out or worse, getting in trouble for what we found to keep us busy.

I remember dragging the little red sleigh over to grandpa's, where the animals were, right on my brother's heals.  Well, it started out that way, his legs were a lot longer than mine so I kinda, sorta just followed his tracks in the snow. When I finally caught up to him, he was busy shoveling rotting potatoes to the pigs. I hung back knowing the one sow had been wild and also being warned that she would eat me if given the chance. Not sure whether that was true or not.

While waiting for him to finish his job, I decided the hill nearby that had once been the river bank looked good for sledding. Red sled runners sink in fresh snow. It didn't go well.

I don't know if my brother found my dismal flop at sledding the hill humorous or not. I do recall following him to the spud cellar for the next load of pig fodder. The old spud cellar was built in the old river bed and nearby I noticed smooth slick looking tracks on the old river bank. When I asked my brother about it, he admitted that his "chore" was taking much longer because well--he was using his shovel as a sled. I obviously wanted to see him do it. So, with me standing in the river bed, he scampered up the far side a few yards away carrying his shovel. Now let me explain that this is no garden shovel. This is a shovel used to move loose coal and fill coal furnace hoppers. It could also be used to carry fifteen to twenty pounds of rotting spuds from the cellar to the pigs.  Imagine it big enough for a grown man to place his feet on without touching any other surface. My brother stepped onto the shovel and gracefully rode it down the bank and to about three feet from me.

He made it look so easy! I begged for him to let me try it. I must have begged him the whole time he carried another shovel full of rotting potatoes to the pigs and you know I wanted it bad 'cause rotting spuds stink. At last he agreed to teach me how to ride the shovel. Mind you there is a trick involved in riding a shovel down a one hundred and twenty degree angle. A trick he didn't bother to share with me until I had performed a somersault face plant.

The trick is a combination of standing on the balls of your feet, in snow boots, and balancing as the shovel moves down the slope at enough speed to give the rider a thrill. It took me most of the afternoon to master even once but on that day my big brother was no longer one of the teasing goonies but my hero and very best friend.

I went back to do more sledding a few days later when my brother couldn't go with me. The shovel had disappeared. The sled runs were still present but the shovel wasn't in the cellar as my brother had left it. Leaves one to wonder if Dad or Grandpa saw the snow runs and face plant prints and didn't like the idea of a six-year-old girl learning to shovel sled.

#Free #Free #Free

Clean Romances my darlings and they are free for a limited time. To think, I rub shoulders with some of these authors.

Just an Old Fashioned Love Story: A collection of romantic novels

This boxed set is a collection of sweet romantic novels by five multipublished authors: RETURN TO RAINBOW ROCK, by Susan Aylworth. A FATHER FOR PHILIP, by...

AMAZON.COM

I'll happily accept and watch for hello Tweets, FaceBook Hi's and comments here. Ready? GO!!!

Finding the Time

How does one find the time for all the worthwhile things in life?

It is an age old question that continually changes. Don't believe me? Consider how your list of things you spend time doing has changed since the advent of the personal computer, the internet, Face Book, Twitter and more electronic tools in cyberspace that I currently don't use. Of course there is the list of things that change just as fast, but on a smaller scale, such as: children/family needs, exercise, diet,'me' time, etc.

It all changes, all the time so how do you find the time?

May I humbly suggest: prioritize.

Yep. One word so easily said but so rarely done. In a way New Year's Resolutions are one way to prioritize. I, for one, refuse to seriously participate in the ancient custom. (I say seriously because I did consider a resolution or two and kinda sorta even mentioned one here that I most likely won't follow through on---so much for accountability.)

I prefer the--(now this is by the Book of Shaunna) method, of prioritizing which is: Friends on Face Book spurning me into action -  priority. Thus I get to my point, which has nothing to do with the title above or my general ranting.

Two major changes that I want to be accountable for (or prioritize) are:
1) Write 100 words, or more a day. Okay, I will take the weekends off due to making my family a priority. so far so good, because even writing here on my blog counts--for me at least. You see it spurns my creativity.

And this one is more difficult for me because it involves more facets of my complicated personality.
2) A friend has reached out and cried HELP! I love this friend and don't feel able to deny her that which she asks for; mainly my support. You see, in supporting her, I know from experience that I will be helping myself and who, in their right mind doesn't want that?

This friend has set-up a closed group, tailored to meet her needs and most importantly to her, make her accountable.

The deal is this for me personally; I need to watch what I consume so that I can cheer her on and share with her my current successes on that front. It goes on. I need to find ways to incorporate exercise and 'me' time into my daily routine.

This is where I need to share my commitment to self.
Exercise daily in spite of health barriers and record it for positive self reinforcement. Okay, I cheat because I am already doing this, but life has sent me a beautiful opportunity--curve ball. (Which if you follow me, I hope to share in the future.) I do simple exercise type things due to my health, for example: squats or ballet ple-as (sorry, not sure how to spell that one), push-ups (these are modified as I do them while leaning on the bar), climb stairs (sometimes), and superman flights (these are the ones where you lay on your belly and tense your whole body with your arms out front like you are flying) and record.

I'll be honest, I don't do all of these everyday. If I happen to go to water aerobics on one day, this routine goes by the wayside because I don't give that much time to exercise everyday. Which brings us back to this posts title--Finding the Time.

I refuse to allow time for self-depreciating diatribes when I chose to alter or shift things to fit my life and allow for 'me' time. We are all busy and no matter what you do, you only have twenty-four hours in a day. How many days each of us has is not a personal choice, but a gift from God/Heavenly Father.

I chose to make a better choice each day, and hopefully I, more often than not, make the best choice for myself and in turn give my God, my Heavenly Father, reason to elongate my days and ultimately, when I rejoin Him have Him smile and say well done.

Wishing you the wisdom to Find the Time to make the Best choices.

Cool Book Cover

I'd use this for a cover art if I knew how to find out who owns this photo. Have now idea what the book would be about though.

How to Excel at Constructive Criticism

 Marcy McKay in her blog post at http://positivewriter.com/how-to-give-constructive-writing-criticism-that-actually-helps/    recaps her post with the following:

1) Yes, writers need to hear what’s wrong with their work in order to improve it, but there’s a positive way and a negative way to convey that message.

2) It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.

3) Constructive criticism done right, leaves the receiver excited to make revisions to their story, rather than feeling shattered.

- See more at: http://positivewriter.com/how-to-give-constructive-writing-criticism-that-actually-helps/#sthash.217kjGOl.OwKSgwGZ.dpuf

Let's face it folks, I'm not real good at constructive criticism, it is a big reason why I decided to be a reviewer and even landed a job as a professional. (Reviewers don't get to be snarky, but at times being painfully honest is a plus.)
In contrast, critique-rs in the writing world are generally acquaintances of the author and because you are often friends, you need to be nice.  Easier said than done at times when the project is something you have little or no interest in. Many published authors have been burned and even abused when offering to help because the new-bie to the writing field assumed the 'pro friend' had a magic pill of sorts. Not so. Getting published, the first time is difficult. So it is the third and fourth time as well as the umpteenth time (unless the author managed to land one of those rare contracts that fits both the writer and the publisher like a glove.)

So, back to constructive critiques (Someone needs to sit on my shoulder and keep me on task.)

The long and the short of it is KISS for want of a better acronym (by-the-by, thank you to my military friends for sharing this with me over the years--the acronym, that is.)
 KISS Keep It Simple Stupid (okay, so I softened the language and made it my own.)
So how do you KISS when critiqu-ing a 400 page manuscript? Other than one line at a time, I mean.

Give 'em a knuckle sandwich, and by that I mean...just like when you are breaking-up with that special someone and don't want to hurt their feelings. A sandwich has two sides of bread. The bread is soft and often sweet, might have a little spice in it but the bite is what you put between the soft kindness.

In the case of the critique:

1) Tell the author, and put it in writing because writers need the written word, something nice. For example:  I really like this character because... Or  I like the overall story line.

2)This is a sandwich so here we generally put a condiment or gentle 'I'm not sure what you are saying here', or the like before slapping a few, if needed, pieces of meaty, but savory, comments on what needs fixing.
Sometimes the fixes are a sweet meat but sometimes even the glaring chunk is easier to put down when sliced thin.

and 

3) Don't forget the second slice here. Be sure to top the sandwich with the savory bread that holds it all together (and in the case of the fragile writer, may be what holds them together.) In the case of the critique, an honest compliment that will encourage the writer and exhilarate, or at least inspire, the author to continue writing and creating. 

I truely hope this helps...and in my own case, reminds me of how to do a better job at his often painful task, but a very necessary one.

Seahawks and Superbowl Sunday

I won't say that Seahawk Football fans are way out there, but I will say those in my family are certainly convinced of the need to convert myself and others in the family to their way of thinking.

So, congratulations Seahawks!

But seriously folks,(please read as: armchair quarterbacks) I didn't see you on the field Sunday, or any other day, with a Seahawk team jersey (mind you, the one you wear with that  #12 on it doesn't count.) and IF by chance, you are drawing a paycheck from the team may I say that I will, if bribed, cheer you on come Superbowl Sunday...Just sayin'

Otherwise, I don't think I'll be cheering for the Patriots, but don't tick me off or I will!

(I know, you're really not afraid of me...)

Twitter Tweet?

Okay, so my friends, those who really know me also know I'm techy challenged... What that means for me is the harder I try the more mistakes I make until at last (hopefully) I stumble on something that works. In this case I think I have the #hashtag thingy down--albeit I probably don't use the right ones or in the right way.

The deal is, I am told to learn to use Twitter and get comfortable with it. First snag--oh my gosh! my hubby and I share a cell phone, as in; he is taking it to work everyday while I work from home.
Stop, don't judge me/us. We are of the older generation and these new electronic toys are a challenge--as in if we can't get the TV to do what we want, we hand the remotes to the teen and say "Fix it." (Yes, sometimes that is dangerous, but at least the TV and remotes still work!)

I got sidetracked. Twitter.

Shortly after I lament that snag I remember, Yes, sometimes that archaic old thing works, just don't rely on it. And no, I still don't write the things down that I probably should. I eventually find my shoes and keys when leaving the house. Back to what I remembered on this occasion. Hey, can't I Tweet from my laptop? I need my password, got it and I type a relatively stupid Tweet complete with the #help hashtag.

What's next? The blog I read as a tutelage referenced their blog in conjunction to the tweets recommending that I post often about whatever interests me --- and somehow it magically goes to Twitter? How does that work? Is there a setting I don't know about? Google + I get, but Twitter, no.

Sharing this tidbit with the younger generation at my house I get a stifled gag response. Nope, ain't gonna get help from there... so, bear with me while I stumble and OF COURSE if you have suggestions that would help me on my course to becoming comfortable--namely figuring out how to link my blog to my Tweets-- please comment and HELP!

New Year's Resolution--- well, maybe...

I've thought about this off and on for quite a while now. Some of you who have visited here regularly in the past have even seen me dabble into this. I'm considering posting my book, which is a time-travel Romance, here on my blog.

Notice that to the right you can click on a link to publish my book and in theory the QC code will do that too, I think....
Anyway back to the topic at hand...
In the past my reason for posting part of a book was just to gather a few more followers. (A thin and very transparent reason) and that is why after a few posts, I pulled it. Now, I'm thinking a little differently about testing these waters.
Would blog hoppers really visit a blog for a book if it were spread out over weeks?
Have blogs lost their appeal in this ever changing scene of social media?
Blog posts, or at least mine, try to keep to about 500 words, would the short format frustrate a casual reader or not?

Santa and I's Secret

(submitted to Chicken Soup for the Soul 6/11/14 for Christmas 2015)

The merry jingle of bells signaled the imminent arrival of the season's featured guest. I, along with the other children lowered my voice to a barely audible whisper.

"He's coming!"

I knew better than to wonder who might be arriving but I couldn't help but wonder if Santa would remember me this year. For years I had heard stories from my older siblings of how every year they sat on Santa's lap and every year he greeted them by name. How I wanted Santa to do the same for me. I wanted that so bad my teeth hurt. Did he not remember me because I was the baby of a long string of toe-headed children? Or because I hadn't been quite good enough? I tried extra hard this year, even going so far as to apologize to my Sunday school teacher for missing class when I had the flu last spring.

"Children, line up in an orderly fashion. One line, don't push. Jason, let the little ones go first, please."

Sister Beal put us in line and of course, the lambs from the Nativity program never got to go first. The angels and of course Mary and Joseph always seemed to get positioned in the front of the line. Had they been better? Was that why they got to line up first? I couldn't hold my green monster of jealousy at bay and scowled at the back of Mary's head. The wool of my costume scratched my bare legs without mercy. It seemed the longer I had to wear it, the hotter the cultural hall got and the more uncomfortable I became. Why did my grandparents have to be so generous to offer real lambs' wool for each of the plays lambs to wear? Why, just for once, couldn't my grandparents be chicken farmers and donate the feathers for the angels wings? Maybe then I would get to stand on the risers and sing or better yet, be at the front of the line. But then, grandpa had been ill this year and he was getting old, too old to change professions.

At last my turn to sit on Santa's lap approached. I heard Santa greet my cousin.

"Merry Christmas, Jacob. Have you been a good boy this year?"

Of course Jacob lied and didn't tell Santa about how he and his brothers teased us girls. Maybe Jacob had confessed or something 'cause he hadn't teased me for weeks. Did Santa work hand-in-hand with God? Was Santa, God? He was here every year for our children's Christmas program. Maybe… I rejected the idea and hastily repented. I'd have to do more repentant confessing when I got home and especially on Sunday. But if they worked together and God knew my thoughts… had I just ruined my chances for Santa to remember me by name? Did it work that way?

 I peered closely at the aging man. Santa looked tired this year. His 'ho, ho, ho' sounded half hearted. His eyes didn't twinkle and I somehow knew his smile, if he had one under his snowy beard, had to be forced. He didn't even let the children sit on his lap. Had that wicked bully, Johnny Walters, broken Santa's lap for the rest of us? He probably did. Broke his smile, too.

I stepped closer, my heart going out to this aging man who worked so hard all year to make Christmas special for all the children everywhere. His gaze fell on me and I knew. He didn't really know me. He recognized me as one of the children in the community, but he didn't remember my name.

He motioned me closer with his red sleeved arm, his gloved hand stiff, just like my grandpa's. I knew grandpa's was stiff from driving a team of horses in the freezing cold, three years earlier. He'd gotten frost bite and nearly lost his fingers. Maybe Santa had the same thing happen with driving his magical team of reindeer.

I moved to his side but held myself erect, not wanting to wear Santa out before the other children got a chance to meet him this year.

"Ho, ho, ho…if it isn't another Jorgensen child. My, my how you've grown this year. You've got to be what? Seven, eight?" He pulled me close and I could smell his shaving cream. It reminded me of my grandpa-- my grandpa and his wide leather shaving strap. I had no idea how grandpa could sharpen his razor on a leather strap, I just knew I feared that strap even if he'd never tanned my hide with it. It hung in the bathroom and I knew, I just knew if I misbehaved at grandpa's house, I was in for a world of hurt.

Shaving cream…wait a minute. Santa didn't shave. Obviously he had a generous beard. By this time I had completely forgotten Santa's greeting.

"Cat got your tongue? Well, little one," I wasn't that little. I was the tallest girl in my third grade class at school. "Tell me what you want for Christmas."

I pulled back from his casual hug, searching his eyes and whispered, "I want a doll that wets, but most of all, I want you to remember my name."

I'll never forget the tears that formed in Santa's eyes when I said that. Santa pulled me close enough that I was the only one to hear. "I'll always remember my shoshkin."

My eyes flew wide. Santa knew me! Not only did he know me, but he knew my grandpa's nickname for me. That's why he'd never used my given name. That year my baby doll arrived under the Christmas tree with 'Shoshkin' on the nametag.

Horses and Toboggans Don't Mix

Inviting you to share a sneak peak at the January/February Issue of Good Old Days 2015 which I wrote under the byline of Serena March.

Horses and Toboggans Don't Mix

Tobogganing just isn't fun without speed. But if you are banned from the hills where the big kids get to sled and you are too young to carry the toboggan very far, how do you have fun?

I'm not entirely sure who came up with the brainy idea to hitch the toboggan to the horse but we did it. We found a couple lengths of rope which we tied together to make it longer. In retrospect the ropes probably showed signs of wear in a few places. After all, we did pull them out of the snow near a farm and we all know that things left lying around on a farm are usually not in good condition. I can't even be sure of the length, only that we tied the combined length to the toboggan's rope, through one stirrup around the saddle horn, twice, back through the other stirrup and tied it again on the toboggan's original rope. One must be sure to have enough length to not get kicked by the horse's flying hooves. I think that was the smartest part of our plan. Of course we didn't take into consideration that rope tied onto rope tends to slide when pulled taunt.

All was well with my horse as I rode and trotted through the snowy field. I loved hearing the snow skitter across the frozen surface as hooves broke through the thin crust. Horses, toboggans and blindingly bright snow numbed me to the cold but things got complicated when it was my turn to ride the toboggan. Maybe my girlfriend wasn't as good a rider as I always thought she was. Maybe she and my horse just didn't get along. Or more probably the rope slid where it needed to but where it 'bothered' my horse. Translation: Fillies, and sometime mares, kick at things across their hind quarters that they don't understand or expect.

Sliding at a walk is great if you are on foot, or better yet, on ice and trying to slide but not so much so on a toboggan. Toboggans need speed!

But maybe yelling for more speed from the ground behind your horse isn't wise, especially when you take the rope into consideration. I just remember a lot of very cold and icy snow flying in my face and my friend's shrieks as we barreled over the field, the horse managing a funky crow-hop once in a while. Shrieks morphed into screams as we barreled through the gate and across the dirt road with a car coming. From there I seem to recall the down slope of a rather steep gully. I do clearly remember glancing over at my friend and thinking, "Isn't the horse supposed to be pulling me?"

Keep in mind a length of rope on either side of a horse and its flying hooves at a frightful speed, and less than ideal conditions for the intelligent. What happened then is a blur. Since a spooked horse runs where it wants to without regard to shallow youth while a toboggan, unless moved from its track, will take the shortest course downhill, things were not beautifully in tandem. I think the horse clipped the toboggan with a hoof or two sending it sideways. My friend ended up in the rough packed snow at the bottom of the gully. I managed some sort of head plant in the opposite bank with the toboggan across my legs and we spent the rest of the afternoon trying to catch my horse, which we managed when the horse reached home. We learned a valuable lesson that day, even if our exploits were less than euphoric--Toboggans and horses don't mix.

Beautiful One by Mary Cope

Young Adult

Elizabeth “Liz” Ryan excels in her high school studies while her twin, Mason, excels on stage with his band as well as in the looks department. When the new guy, Aiden Mitchell, comes to town, his lack of interest ignites her determination to make a change.

This is an enjoyable coming of age romance encouraging teens to make wise choices.

For full review visit http://indtales.com

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