Pat Davids here.
Christmas is fast approaching. Everywhere people are rushing to get things done. Rushing to shop and wrap the prefect gifts. Rushing to bake goodies. Rushing to clean and decorate the house. The world is in a rush to make it all perfect before Christmas Day. Hurry, hurry, hurry, there are only ten days left!
Whoa.
Stop a moment.
Take a breath.
Take another breath.
Christmas is fast approaching. Everywhere people are rushing to get things done. Rushing to shop and wrap the prefect gifts. Rushing to bake goodies. Rushing to clean and decorate the house. The world is in a rush to make it all perfect before Christmas Day. Hurry, hurry, hurry, there are only ten days left!
Whoa.
Stop a moment.
Take a breath.
Take another breath.
Take one more. Make it deep this time. Breathe in…in…in as deep as you can. Now blow it all out…out…out for as long as you can.
Good. Do it again. Take a deep breath. Blow it out.
Your blood pressure has just gone down by ten points - my gift to you this holiday season. The madness of this time of the year is part of the fun, it really is, but don’t let it become a source of stress. Take care of yourself. Remember to slow down and just breathe.
If you need a little longer down time, I suggest you mix up a cup of hot chocolate and curl up with a good Love Inspired book. Like The Christmas Quilt by me. (Shameless self-promotion here.)
This Amish story of a second chance at love will give you the opportunity to forget for a few hours about the rush and ruckus our lives have become and slip into a simpler, kinder world. Your blood pressure will go down another ten points.Here is my Christmas wish for you.
May the holidays find you Merry and Bright at the end and sorry to see them go.
May the holidays find you Merry and Bright at the end and sorry to see them go.
Posts
That's a beautiful cover, Patricia! Thanks for the reminder. Have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat! I feel more relaxed now. Your post was like a relaxation CD. :)
ReplyDeleteI just recommended your book to a woman the other day! She emailed me to ask when my next book comes out and then said she loved to read Amish books. She asked if I could recommend any. :)
Karen, I agree, the cover is lovely. Out of 16 books I've only had one that I didn't think suited the story. The Love Inspired art dept does a great job.
ReplyDeleteMissy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation. How sweet of you. I have really enjoyed researching the Amish culture.
Big fan of oxygen, me. We underestimate the power of a deep breath. Excellent reminder!
ReplyDeletePat, thank you for the wonderful picture of a Boston Terrier. My little guy was a Boston, and before I got published, that last major rejection was devastating. My guy was a major comfort, helping me deal with the diappointment before my husband and kids got home.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the beathing techinques. I'm fixin' to go out and finish the shopping today.
Thank you Pat... but I don't really feel calmer, in fact I'm exhilarated... I'll explain: for some days I wasn't able to post here, so I saw all these wonderful posts and I wasn't able to join the party.
ReplyDeleteSo today I returned again with my hang-dog expression and realised I (already) can, hence my state ;)...
I Love Amish people... Well, I don't enough of them to not like (so if there are buts that I sould consider let's leave it for another time) and loved that you chose this second chance novel within this People.
This year I was determined to let the Spirit (and only the Spirit) be rushed through Advent. So I finished everything early - shopping, postal races etc - so when Advent arrived I could focus in relaxing and wait for the Lord's Arrival.
Stress is funny. I have the bugging sensation I'm forgetting something because I'm not usually so in time but I found myself even more tolerant and forgiving with those who don't stop to give Grace and Dwell in this wonderful Mistery we're about to witness.
Blessed Greetings,
Teresa
Leann,
ReplyDeleteI love Boston Terriers. I've owned several in my life. One, called Bumper Dog, was the best dog we ever owned. What a joy and a treat that pup was.
Thanks for the reminder to take time to relax - something I tend to forget this time of year. Your bookcover is gorgeous and the book itself is sitting on my TBR. Can't wait to dive in!
ReplyDeleteCute post Pat! :)
ReplyDeleteOh I knew I had forgotten something! The cleaning of the house. although its not quite the bomb site it was now I have all the ironing (of the neighbours quilting material) done!
ReplyDeleteLove the look of your book will see if its here in Aust yet but maybe a little early.
I have been cooking but I do it cos I love the dough and enjoy the cooking of it. have some more to do but mainly for myself. (well I share most or give it away but treat myself to one batch with cherries on top.)
Since I start my shopping and preparations early, I don't have the stress. I find that by doing a little each week starting the first of November, I'm able to sit back and relax and watch all the sappy Christmas programs wth my kids. :) Where I do need to breathe deep is in teh mornings trying to get my kids ready for school. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia. And Christmas blessings to you too!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see so many of you taking the time to slow down, breathe and comment. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI needed those deep breaths. I mailed my book off today. Tomorrow I'm going in for a medical procedure and then some forced down time. A mixed blessing for sure. Will be glad to rest but have so much to do. I haven't made a dent in my shopping nor is my house clean enough for our out of town guests coming for Christmas. But my husband has taken the next twenty days off so the house will get cleaned, the shopping done and Christmas will be wonderful as we celebrate the birth of our savior.
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