Remembering our dear friend Pauline King

The world lost a bright light. Pauline died peacefully from complications of a stroke. She passed on her 71st birthday, September 5, 2020. She was loved by so many and will always be remembered. We’ll miss you, Pauline. xo

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Summer Spotlight: Pauline King

September 5, 2014 by Jill Weatherholt 127 Comments

In a serendipitous turn of events Jill gave me my guest post spot on my birthday. Not just any old annual event either, a momentous birth anniversary. The one where society deems you ‘a senior citizen’. An older person, a past-your-best person – an old age pensioner, a retiree, a person with no place left to go but down..

Yes, I have reached the age of 65, from today I am officially retired and now all my time every day is mine and mine alone. Happy dance!! Tango, waltz, hip-hop, jive or jazz – dance with me, celebrate with me – I have never felt younger, or more together, or more content. I laugh out loud everytime someone says the word ‘retired’. I feel like I am playing a monumental trick on the world – I now get paid by the government to live every day with nothing to do but make myself happy?

Really?

Bring it on!!

So please – enjoy a sip of champagne, a glass of wine or a shot of whatever you fancy. Help yourself to a tasty morsel of your favourite cheese. Have some of these fresh strawberries….. please, do take a slice of double chocolate gateau birthday cake while you have a quick read.

I’m not a writer – I’m a tad imposterish here amongst you lot – these denizens of the written word. But I do love books and I do love language and I love a good story! I’m a crafter, a creator, a mixed media painter. I do over, do up and make do. I recycle and upcycle, but no longer bicycle.

I started my blog ‘The Contented Crafter‘ eighteen months ago. I knew little about the blogging world or how it operated. I’d read some blogs of artists and a couple that friends keep about their professional lives. My intention in starting my blog was simply to keep a record of the creations that were coming out of my craft room because, as a reckless and totally in the moment creator, once given away there was no recall, no reminder, no sequence to refer back to.

I soon found myself blogging about other events in my life apart from my creative work – I wrote a post about my cats addiction to Catnip, another entitled ‘I Like Blogging’, yet another about a shocking meeting in a store, one about my traumatic early years, all interspersed with a variety of work that recorded a definite progress from one genre to another.

The whole experience has been a bit like Topsy – and just keeps right on growing! It is fun, it is lively, it keeps me [almost] artistically on track and has delivered some lovely new friends into my life – I still love blogging!

I live a busy life – though there was just me and my Maine Coon cat Orlando until recently. Then I adopted a Shih-Tzu X boy I named [in a moment of inappropriate grandeur] Sid-Arthur, a play on Siddhartha because I thought he was quiet and gentle and deep. I was wrong!

Two months have passed by though, and now he is pretty much the best puppy in the whole entire world and blogging stopped being about anything else much except him. If you do decide to pop in for a visit you will surely meet my boys.

Now to Jill’s questions:

If you could learn to do anything what would it be?
Dance. Any and all kinds of dance. I am a ballerina, an accomplished ballroom dancer, a whizz at jazz and contemporary dance. All in my imagination. I dance every day – but it is the boppy, dippy kind of dancing you do in the privacy of your own home when nobody is watching.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
Learn to be contented with life as it is in any given moment. Learn to live and breathe and work with joy. Learn to see that my cup is always, and at least, half full. It’s taken a life time and is still in process.

If you could visit anyplace in the world where would it be?
I’d choose to go back to Italy and the Meditterranean countries – I love the vibrancy, the passion, the community and the life style! I love the way the people shout and wave their arms about and gesticulate when two scooters almost collide. I love the way everybody disappears at midday and reappears three hours later. I love the art, the architecture, the rolling green hills and vineyards, the markets and the history. I love the warmth of the people and the crazy volubility of families interactions– and I love how mama gets to rule the roost!

Life as an animal – which one?
A pampered, over-indulged and much loved cat! There’s brushing and petting and stroking and eating all done at a leisurely pace between bouts of sleeping in the best spots in the house. What a great life it is – and you get to live it with a look of disdain and a flick of the tail for all unwelcome intrusions on your comfort level as well!

Is there anything about the opposite sex that you just don’t understand?
Someone else has answered this question in this way before: ‘Everything!’
I love men. I love the company of men and their intellects. I love their humour and their practicality. But I don’t understand their inability to solve all the problems of the world whilst in the shower. This is clearly a fault in the mechanism and would have been grounds for an instant recall had the creator been a woman!

Thanks so much Jill, for this opportunity to meet so many new people. I have enjoyed reading every week and have visited where possible, though there have been times when life has interrupted my blogging!

Thank you for taking the spotlight, Pauline. Congratulations on your retirement, I know you’re going to love it! Up next week, it’s Maria…aka Brickhouse Chick.

Lockdown Lowdown

Hi Everyone!

For nearly four months I’ve spent my time at home, only to venture out for medical appointments, and just recently to visit my parents. Since the medication I take for Crohn’s disease is an immunosuppressive drug, I’ve been playing it safe.  During this time, I’ve made a few discoveries I thought I’d share.

I think we can all agree, ordering online is often convenient. I discovered when everyone in the world is placing online orders, it can come with a few glitches.

                                                                                                                   I did not order these!

                                                                                                                        I did order this! 

 

While cleaning out my spare closet, like so many of us did with this new found extra time, I made a nostalgic discovery. My sweet Cabbage Patch doll, Bartholomew!

                                                                                                                      Meet Bartholomew!

 

I also discovered my hoarding tendencies that go way back, long before COVID-19, paid off. We never went without and still have an abundant supply! I will never again pay attention when Derek asks, “Don’t you think we have enough paper towels and toilet paper?”

 

                                                                                                                   Spills? No problem!

 

 

Can’t find toilet paper in your store? Come on over!

Another discovery was that not everyone is addicted to working jigsaw puzzles like me and Derek. When a call went out on Nextdoor.com for people desperate for puzzles, Derek and I went into action. Again, my hoarding tendencies paid off. We were able to donate at least 25 puzzles to people within our community.

 Did someone say they needed a puzzle?

  MY PUZZLE WAS MISSING A PIECE!

 
AND DEREK’S PUZZLE CAME WITH AN EXTRA PIECE!

This came with an extra piece and a missing piece! What in the world!

 

Another discovery I made during the lockdown…writing isn’t a sissy sport!

 

Thankfully, it’s my left hand!

 

While I continued to clean drawers and closets, I discovered I have even more journals than I had originally thought. I might need to do some giveaways!

I had already confessed these in a previous post.

Discovered these!

 

And these! Yes, I admit, I might have a problem.

Lastly, and most important of all, I discovered that no matter how desperate things appear to be, there’s always beauty in this world. And for that, we should remain thankful.

Seeing my beautiful mother after nearly 4 months apart…priceless! No hugs.

 

I’m curious, is there anything you’ve discovered during the pandemic?

Welcome Gwen Plano #wouldyourather

Today I’m excited to welcome author and blogger, Gwen Plano. I met Gwen several years ago through our friend John Howell. She truly is as sweet and genuine as she looks. Many of you know Gwen, but for those who don’t, please check out her website and blog. I also hope you’ll grab a copy of her candid memoir “Letting Go Into Perfect Love, Discovering the Extraordinary After Abuse”. It’s a beautiful and inspiring story of survival, strength, faith and hope. Thanks so much for playing along, Gwen!

Would you rather live in an amusement park or a zoo?

I have a great love for the San Diego Zoo. As far back as I can remember, at least once a year, my parents would herd their tribe of seven into an old Pontiac station wagon and head to the zoo. We would spend the day there, walking the hills through the lions and giraffes, the gorillas and monkeys. I especially loved the penguins and Koala bears. I can easily imagine living there, sharing the night sky with meerkats and prairie dogs. As for making an amusement park my home, the very thought terrifies me. All the noise and lights, well, just not me.

 

Would you rather be stranded in the jungle or in the desert?

I grew up on a desert in Southern California. It was common to find tarantulas, scorpions, and rattlesnakes in our yard. My fair skin was usually shades of red, because we did not have sunblock back then. When I first saw Tarzan swinging from the forest trees, I was captivated. Could I do the same? Would I find a friendly monkey or maybe an ape? In my imagination, I joined Tarzan and swung high into the trees, ate berries from bushes and forged for roots buried deep. I know the desert, the hazards it brings. I love its silence and its eerie beauty, but if I were stranded, I’d search for my Tarzan in the jungle trees.

 

Would you rather be able to breathe underwater or fly?

Oh my, this is an easy one. Growing up on a farm, fifteen miles from the nearest town, I created alternate worlds and traveled to places I’d never seen. I used to look up to the clouds and I would imagine flying through their mist to mysterious lands with castles and kings and queens. Even today, when on a plane, I take a window seat. I watch the clouds pass me by and dream. Sometimes when I’m really happy and my heart soars, I close my eyes and let my spirit fly free.

 

Would you rather be recognized wherever you go… or live a quiet (monetarily successful) life of anonymity?

I am a quiet person and love anonymity. For many, perhaps most, this time of confinement and other restrictions has been very difficult. Since I am a bit of a hermit, I have been spared this burden. My confinement has helped me complete my first draft of The Culmination, and after a week, I will start to reread and prepare it for editing. I just might need to acknowledge COVID-19 for all the assistance it gave me.

 

If you were reborn in a new life, would you rather be alive in the past or future?

With either choice I wonder if I would remember my prior life. If I could remember, then I’d like to grow up in Dallas, TX and somehow stop the assassination of JFK. If I could not remember, then I would rather be alive in the future. The unknown always beckons me. A different time, a different location, how exciting!

 

Thank you, Jill, for inviting me to visit your beautiful site today. I am deeply honored. You asked that I share a bit about myself, and so I shall.

I have been retired since 2012 from higher education. I taught psychology for a few years and then was asked to assume a post in administration. For most of my 30 years, I oversaw Student Services, the branch of higher ed that includes residence life, health center, student discipline – all those areas that reside outside the classroom. I was effectively the “mom” to thousands of young adults and a supervisor to many. Earlier this week, I received a letter from a former colleague with an acknowledgement that means more than any award might bring. She wrote, “I think back on the care and compassion you brought in your leadership role every day and because of it, what a better place you made for me coming to work.”

Between travels with my husband and visits with family and friends, I write. I’ve just finished my fourth book and will send it to the editor very soon. Though this avocation is an accomplishment of no small measure for me, my greatest treasure and most profound source of joy has been and is my four adult children. It is they who have guided me through life’s mysteries and kept me close to my heart, close to the compassion my colleague mentions above.

Welcome Ally Bean #wouldyourather

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Today I’m happy to welcome blogger Ally Bean. I know some of you follow her, but for those who don’t, be sure and check out her blog, The Spectacled Bean. Ally is the only anonymous blogger I follow, but I know if she were to pass me on the street, she’d stop to say hi. Thanks for playing along, Ally!

Would you rather be able to freeze time or travel in time?

I would rather be able to freeze time BECAUSE by lingering in the moment I could squeeze every last drop of goodness out of something wonderful.  Or thinking of Piper from the TV show Charmed, I could decide how to handle a difficult situation while I had it frozen in time.  Sounds like a win-win to me.

Would you rather be the funniest person in the room or the most intelligent?

I would rather be the funniest person in the room BUT I will suggest that to be funny one has to be intelligent, so it’s possible that the funniest person in the room is also the most intelligent person in the room.  Just saying…

Would you rather be able to breathe underwater or fly?

I would rather be able to fly BECAUSE I’d like to see the world as a whole from above.  Perspective is everything.  Plus, not to be too pragmatic here, the way the airline industry is falling apart, your own ability to fly may soon be the only way to travel the world.  

Would you rather have a lifetime subscription to Netflix or an unlimited gift card to Starbucks?

I would rather have a lifetime subscription to Netflix BECAUSE I can make my own coffee at home, but I cannot make my own interesting TV series or movie at home, now can I?  I like stories so therefore give me that Netflix subscription, please.

Would you rather write in a rooftop garden surrounded by city noises — or in a quiet studio with cows as your neighbors?

I would rather write in a quiet studio with cows as my neighbors BECAUSE as much as I like to visit a big city to experience the frenetic energy, I prefer to live in stillness surrounded by nature.  Oddly enough when this subdivision was new we lived near cows, and let me tell you when they *moo* they’re not as quiet as you might think they’d be.

Welcome Irene Olson #wouldyourather

Today I’m excited to welcome friend, author, blogger and advocate, Irene Olson. Honestly, I can’t recall how or where Irene and I connected, but she’s been a tremendous support to me and my father during our caregiver journey. I admire Irene for her willingness to share her own personal experience with Alzheimer’s and its ever-changing effects on family dynamics. Thanks for playing along, Irene!

 

Would you rather live in the middle of nowhere, with no people or stores within a 10-mile radius, or live in a busy city?

 

That’s an easy one for me because I currently live in a rural area 10 miles from Seattle, WA in a neighborhood where I can’t see my next-door neighbors’ houses because of the forest-like environment that surrounds me. My husband and I love to hike but when we are not able to do so, our 3-mile walks through our neighborhood give us the sense of being in the wilderness without having to get in a car to travel there. But I am also a sociable person so knowing that many of my family members reside in the same state where I live, gives me warm fuzzies because I know a hug with them is just a short distance away.

 

Would you rather have someone clean for you or have someone cook for you?

 

I really don’t mind the process of cleaning as it gives me great satisfaction to witness the transformation from dust bunnies that hide in every corner of my house, to nary a dust particle in sight. And I’ll let you in on a secret…our three-year-old grandson’s fingerprints on our windows bring me joy, a joy that prevents me from wiping their existence from my purview more often than not. Someday the little guy’s fingers won’t be so little and most likely the joy in discovering bigger prints won’t compare to the feelings upon coming across them now. COOKING is something I really don’t enjoy so if someone could create menus and dishes that knock my socks off, I would sign up for that service faster than you could imagine. I am blessed, however, with a husband who cooks far better than I – a feat I attribute to him being an engineer by trade. He just knows how to combine ingredients to make them shine almost as bright as my smile when I taste them!

 

Would you rather be able to take back anything you say or hear any conversation that is about you?

 

If it were possible to take back thoughtless or ill-conceived words, that would be a gift I would choose above all else. I have certainly grown wiser and more careful in my later years but my earlier years weren’t nearly as thoughtful. Full transparency: as a college freshman, I was missing my family and my then boyfriend very much. On a Friday night while studying with my dorm room open, three young men knocked on my door and one of them exclaimed, “Why is someone as pretty as you stuck inside tonight?” Instead of accepting that very generous compliment, my emotions got the worst of me so my response to this innocent young man was, “I babysit kids taller than you!” Hurtful and inexcusable words that cannot be taken back. I still grieve having said those words forty-eight years ago; I just hope he hasn’t had to live with those same words all these years later. I hope you all won’t judge me for my past sins – I have judged myself far worse than any punishment you could ever mete out.

 

Would you rather publish one insanely great-selling book and never write again, or publish a string of 15 average-selling books over a 20-year period?

One best seller would really float my boat, especially if the title was Requiem for the Status Quo, written to honor my father’s Alzheimer’s journey, and those similarly taxed with the disease as a patient or a caregiver. I am friends with several authors who say they can’t help but write – I am not one of those authors. I am working on a project right now that greatly inspires me to get it out there for public consumption – but unless another idea/theme enthuses me as much as Requiem or my current work-in-progress (WIP), that novel may be my last published piece. Perhaps if I started writing for publication in my 30s or 40s I might feel differently, but that was not the case, so I’m quite certain my WIP will be my publishing swan song of sorts.

Would you rather never be able to write or never be able to read?

 

Write. Hands. Down. I read non-fiction and fiction every day and have done so for more decades than I can count. Reading brings me joy, even when its offerings sometimes bring me to tears. I don’t necessarily read to escape, but I most definitely read to re-situate myself elsewhere. I think there’s a difference. I love my life, but I am not averse to experiencing something other than my personal journey. If I can learn from the successes and mistakes of others, just as I have learned from my own peaks and pitfalls, then I have complimented the writings of others, just as their words have complemented my own life.

 

 

Bio: Irene Frances Olson writes from passion and experience. She was her father’s caregiver during his struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Having previously worked in the assisted living and memory care industry, she was not new to the disease—nor was her family immune.

After her father’s 2007 death from Alzheimer’s disease, Ms. Olson worked as an Alzheimer’s Association support meeting facilitator and concurrently, she worked for the State of Washington as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTC) – an advocate for adults living in LTC settings. The author maintains a blog www.babyboomersandmore.com, also known as Living: the ultimate team sport, focused primarily on elder issues, and her writing journey can be found on her author website: www.irenefrancesolson.com. Irene hopes to make a difference in the lives of others by writing novels that encourage those who just might need another cheerleader in their corner. Her latest and most joyful role as of late is as a grandmother to her grandson and a future grandmother to his sister or brother that will enter her world in September.

 

Welcome Erica Henault #wouldyourather

Today I’m excited to welcome friend, blogger, writer and photographer, Erica Henault. From my first visit to her blog, not only did I fall in love with her writing voice, but also her amazing photography. If you haven’t paid her a visit, please do. You’ll come away feeling as though you’ve taken a mini vacation. Thanks so much for playing along, Erica!

 

Thank you, Jill, for featuring me on your fun and thought-provoking “Would You Rather” series. I always enjoy reading everyone’s answers. These questions are more challenging than I anticipated. The unexpected surprise is how much I learned about myself.

 

Would you rather be stranded in the Jungle or in the Desert?

I would rather be stranded in the Jungle. I have more options for staying alive. After all, I watched all of the Tarzan shows as a child.

I can find shelter and build a tree house. I can make friends with the animals. I can stay healthy eating fruit, nuts and of course, bananas. I know I should drink water upstream from the herd. This important survival information came from the Spaghetti Western movies I watched in the 1970’s.

I always carry a small first aid kit with me. We often go on hikes. We often commute over the Malahat, an area similar to the Jungle. It is not uncommon to be stranded on this mountain road only a few kilometres from the city of Victoria.

Would you rather be able to freeze time or travel in time?

My first response was, “of course, travel in time.” Then I gave this question more thought.

When I travel in time, I don’t think I could be selective choosing only the positive, happy moments of the past and the future. I would have to take the bad with the good. I do not want to witness heart-wrenching sorrow, illness, pain and death.

In my life I have had numerous moments where I have told myself, “this is the best day ever” or “I wish I could make this moment last forever.”

Do I already freeze time when I take photos, capturing special moments in my life?

I found this question very challenging. I am actually surprised at my answer.

I would rather freeze time.

Especially if I could keep moments close to my heart and fresh in my memory. 

Especially if I could cherish an infinite embrace from the people I love.

Would you rather live in the middle of nowhere, with no people or stores within a 10 mile radius, or live in a busy city?

I learned many years ago to access a Happy Place in my mind for when I need a mental breather or to help with challenging times in my life.

In my twenties and thirties I would visualize a peaceful, very beautiful small lake about 100 km from Prince George. My husband and I with our two very young daughters would camp there. We were often all by ourselves. We would play in the water and spend all day drifting around in a little boat. A Happy Place.

Then in my forties, my husband and I canoed on the Bowron Lakes, a circuit of lakes in the Interior of British Columbia. The only form of transportation in this area is by foot and with a canoe or a kayak. I still recall one beautiful, sunny morning sitting all by myself on the side of a tranquil lake. Moose were swimming only a few meters from me. An overwhelming feeling of happiness and contentment washed over me. I knew I belonged here in the beauty, balance and harmony of nature.

My answer: In the middle of nowhere. My Happy Place.

Would you rather have someone clean for you or have someone cook for you?

Do not tell my husband. I have been trying to keep it a secret.

I do not mind cleaning or cooking.

To pick just one: My husband is an amazing cook and he has more energy than I do at the end of the day. I tell him what I want, usually some form of vegetables and seafood. He will conjure up an amazing meal. Voila!

Yes, I am a lucky woman!

Would you rather be able to breathe underwater or fly?

I would want to be able to fly. At times, I know I can fly.

Most of us have had the flying dreams, even when we were very young children.

During anxious dreams, I recall soaring over cars and rooftops trying to save myself and my family from danger.

I also recall dreams where I feel wonderful. I am flying just for the sheer joy of feeling free and unencumbered. I see our world from far above.

Is my knowing spirit giving me a glimpse of life before I was born?

Is my soul sharing a brief insight to my future?

 

 

Meet Erica Henault

Erica has been living on Vancouver Island with her husband for the past 28 years. She is grateful their two daughters and families live close by.

Her career was in health care as a Dental Hygienist for over 25 years.

She still considers herself relatively new to blogging although she has been writing all of her life. A common thread running through her stories is continual learning, evolving, mindfulness, inspiration and gratitude. She pays attention and looks for the lessons. Read more about Erica https://behindthesceneryphoto.com/about-me/

Erica loves interacting with fellow bloggers and she is inspired every day reading their stories.

Connect with Erica/Erika:

Blog: https://behindthesceneryphoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericafhenault/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.nz/behindthesceneryphoto/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/erica_eh  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misty.hen

Yesterday, Erica brightened my day when she emailed this gorgeous photo she captured on her deck. Thank you, Erica! ❤ ❤ 

 

Welcome Diana Peach #wouldyourather

Today I’m excited to welcome friend, writer, blogger and devoted daughter, Diana Peach. At the risk of sounding corny, Diana is a real peach. The support she provides to writers on her popular blog is incredible, not to mention quite time consuming, I’m sure. For those of you whom are familiar with her gift of world-building, you can understand why I was excited to read her answers. Thanks so much for playing along, Diana!

Would you rather be the funniest person in the room or the most intelligent?

Funny, definitely. I’m not funny. For a period of time (back in the olden days) I tried to memorize jokes and kept a little notebook for reference – yes, I was a dork. But humor never came naturally. It’s a special kind of intelligence that I lack despite my valiant efforts at joke collection. I love spending time with spontaneously witty people, but I wish I could contribute instead of just laughing along.

Would you rather be able to breathe underwater or fly?

I’m a scuba diver, which is pretty darn close to breathing underwater. So, I’ll go with flying. I took hang-gliding lessons for a while and loved the feel of the “wind beneath my wings.” The air became something tangible, as fluid as water, and I felt like a bird coasting on the invisible currents. It was thrilling, but expensive, so I never advanced beyond the very basic level. Even so, it was memorable.

Would you rather have someone clean for you or have someone cook for you?

Not both? Ha ha. I’m a lousy cook, but I’m a lousier housekeeper. It seems like a huge waste of time in light of my limited years in a body. Just an hour a day of cleaning for 60 years comes to about 2800 8-hour days of housework. With no weekends off, that’s 7.5 years of dusting and vacuuming! Ugh. When I clean, my husband invariably asks, “Are we having company?” And he’s right! It’s the only time I bother. 😊

Would you rather read your writings to an audience of ten people who love you or to 10,000 people you don’t know?

10,000! And I sure hope that with an audience of that magnitude I’d find 10 fantasy readers who can tolerate my prose. Lol. Honestly, I was a theater person before I decided having a family was more important than the limelight. I have no problem with public speaking in front of gigantic crowds (once I get over the initial jitters, of course). Just don’t expect me to be funny!

Would you rather write in a rooftop garden surrounded by city noises — or in a quiet studio with cows as your neighbors?

I live deep in the Dragonwoods, Jill, in the land of the Gnome King and his guardian snails. No cows, but plenty of deer, owls, and coyotes, swooping bats and baby dragons. There’s a gentle troll beyond the back gate, and a witch lives in the upturned stump by the gnome tree. As a hermit, I love the quiet and solitude and the ever-present magic.

D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked. Diana lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two dogs, bats, owls, and the occasional family of coyotes.

Myths of the Mirror blog: https://mythsofthemirror.com

Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/D-Wallace-Peach/e/B00CLKLXP8

Thanks to BookClubMom! #bookblogger

 

Today our sweet friend and book blogger, Barbara Vitelli surprised me with a lovely review of A Mother for His Twins. To say she brightened my week, is an understatement. Thank you Barbara! ❤

Please take a peek, but more importantly, follow her blog! I guarantee you, she’ll expand your TBR list!

 

Welcome Melissa Henderson #wouldyourather

Today I’m excited to welcome friend, writer and blogger Melissa Henderson. Melissa is a beautiful storyteller and is currently hard at work on her second children’s book. Her first book, Licky the Lizard is a wonderful story for both children and adults. I hope you’ll check it out. Thanks for playing Melissa!

   Would you rather be able to freeze time or travel in time?

What a great question! I don’t want to do either. I want to experience every moment God gives me. Even through the bad times, I can learn valuable lessons and gain wisdom.

   Would you rather look 10 years older from the neck up, or the neck down?

I am laughing while reading this question. I’ve always looked older than my age. I would rather look 10 years older from the neck down.

   Would you rather be the funniest person in the room or the most intelligent?

I would rather be the funniest. Joy and laughter often fill my heart and soul. The Lord provides plenty of experiences to make me laugh at my self. Being able to laugh at myself truly helps when I’m not the most intelligent in the room. Our family motto is “It’s Always A Story With The Hendersons”.

   Would you rather live in the middle of nowhere, with no people or stores within a 10 mile radius, or live in a busy city?

Living in the middle of nowhere sounds wonderful. The peace and quiet of nature. Yet, a busy city is filled with opportunities to make new friends and learn from experiences. I must admit I do enjoy the idea of living in the middle of nowhere.

   Would you rather have someone clean for you or have someone cook for you?

Having someone clean for me is wonderful. Times when my back has been hurt or sickness has prevented my husband and I from doing daily cleaning activities like vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms, we have hired professional house cleaners. What a great blessing to have a clean home! I appreciate the hard work of the house cleaners.

 

With Melissa’s permission, I’m sharing a special note she recently received from a young reader. I think most published authors will agree, it’s not about the money. Knowing your words touched someone means far more.

Melissa Henderson is a writer of inspirational messages. Her first book for children, “Licky the Lizard”, was released in 2018. She also has a story in the compilations “Heaven Sightings” and “Remembering Christmas”. Her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon and Stephen Minister. She and her husband Alan moved from Virginia to South Carolina to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grandchild. The family motto is “It’s Always A Story With The Hendersons”.

Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com

From a Modern Romance to the Jazz Age: Two Book Reviews — Annika Perry’s Writing Blog

A special thank you to a beautiful writer and fellow blogger, Annika Perry, who wrote a lovely review of A Mother for His Twins. She also reviewed the always entertaining Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene’s  dictionary of Roaring Twenties slang, Speak Flapper.

Comments here are closed. I hope you’ll click over and visit Annika. While you’re there, follow her because her blog is fantastic!

❤