No, I’m not in Florida or California–I’m right at home in good ole Spokane, WA. (For those of you who care, one way or the other, ‘Spokane’ is pronounced SPO-CAN, not SPO-CANE. Just sayin’. :)) It’s definitely chilly outside, but the sun is shining, the sky is blue and Linda is a very happy camper. Also, a grateful camper.
This week’s contest winners are: Rhonda Dickinson and Suzanne Mongan. Congratulations, ladies–books in transit soon. As always, there’s a new contest beginning today. Enter a comment, and you’re automatically entered. How easy is that? 🙂 Two winners will be selected, notified and announced on next Monday’s blog, so if you didn’t win this time around, no worries. There’s always another giveaway coming up soon.
I’m in a reflective mood just now, looking back over 2014. This was a challenging year for me, in many ways, and yet there were gifts–I discovered crystals and learned a great deal about working with them, I lost a LOT of weight and established a lasting exercise program, delved into “The Course in Miracles”, which has been truly, and broke a certain habit that was causing me considerable concern. On the downside, I lost a favorite aunt, my 95 year old cowgirl, still saddling up and riding with the best of them. A good friend lost his battle with cancer, and one of my kitties, fluffy little ChaCha, crossed the river unexpectedly. I miss my aunt, my friend, and my kitty enormously, but I know I’ll see them all again someday. Naturally, I mourned all three, but my main emotion is gratitude–it was and is a blessing just to remember them and all the light they brought into my life.
Last week’s visit to Weight Watchers brought a point-eight weight loss–nothing big, but at least I’m going in the right direction. 🙂
This year, I’m performing a little private ceremony on New Year’s Eve. I’ll be lighting 12 small candles, one for each month of 2015, and pondering my intentions for the near future. There will also be a larger candle to honor and say “thank you” to and for the past year, for all the trials as well as the gifts. For me, this is about releasing the past, letting go. On New Year’s Day, inspired by author Isabel Allende, I will WRITE. Ms. Allende has written on January 1 for years and years, believing that what one does that day sets the tone for the coming year. Sounds good to me!
About Linda
The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West.
Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a horse property outside Spokane.
