Moonstruck Chocolate-Yummmmm

Terri Reed here from wet and green Oregon. Okay so Valentine's is over, but that doesn't mean we (me) have to stop with the chocolate. I love chocolate. There I admitted it. I'm a chocoholic. I prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate, but really, any chocolate will do. However, I do have a favorite brand--okay several favorites-- but only one is made right here in Oregon.

Moonstruck Chocolate
http://www.moonstruckchocolate.com/index.aspx

There are five Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe's around Portland Oregon. Did you catch that? Chocolate cafe. Everything made of chocolate! You know giving a gift of delicious chocolate doesn't have to be only on Valentine's Day. Every day is a day to celebrate with chocolate. Good chocolate.

My heroine in my latest release loved chocolate too!

Hmmm, author projecting onto character?

Observing Advent

Hi, Terri Reed here. The first Sunday in December is rapidly approaching which means the beginning of Advent. I'd never heard of Advent until about ten years ago when I bought a book titled, The 25 Days of Christmas by Rebecca Hayford Bauer. This is a great book to help keep the focus of the season on Christ.

In case you're wondering, Advent means "coming" and an Advent Wreath is a wonderful way to prepare for Christmas day when we celebrate Jesus' coming.

I found this very old sterling silver candelabra in my grandmother's things that held five candles with the fifth candle being elevated in the middle. I add a little greenery around the base and its perfect for the Advent wreath. Makes me wonder if that was what the candelabra was originally for.

One each Sunday before Christmas Day, a candle is lit. The first candle is the Prophecy Candle--representing hope; the second is The Bethlehem Candle-representing faith; the third is the Angel's Candle-representing peace and the fourth candle is the Shepherd's Candle-representing joy. Then on Christmas morning we light the fifth candle which is Christ's Candle-representing love. In the 25 Days of Christmas book there are scriptures to read that correspond with the candles themes and devotionals to read aloud.

I've really enjoyed bringing this tradition to my family. Do you observe Advent? Are there other traditions you do observe that help to bring the focus of the season on Christ?

I wish all a very stressfree time as we approach Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

In two days we celebrate Thanksgiving. My little family unit will be going to a family friends house where we'll have a combnation of the all American turkey (we're in charge of the bird) and an Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage (the host is making). Other guests will be providing the side dishes. It should be a fun filled day. A day that I'll hopefully remember because I have no recollection of last year's Thanksgiving. Last fall I had a major medical emergency and was in and out of the hosptial or loopy on drugs from the beginning of October to about April. Needless to say the most importand thing I'm thankful for this year is--- I'm here.
What are you thankful for?

Wisdom

Terri Reed here. This past summer one of the beloved teachersfrom my children's school passed away unexpectedly. Mary Heaney was hiking with friends and suffered an aneurysm. She wasn't that much older than me. She was a beautiful, faithful friend to the parents as well as the students. One of the many lessons she taught me, as the mother of two children who came through her fourth grade class was:
Prepare your child for the path, not the path for you child.
I have this wise saying typed out on bright pink piece of paper hanging from my bulliten board where I can see it everyday as I sit down to work.
I thank God daily for the nuggets of wisdom He has given me through the various people who have come and gone in my life. I will never forget Mary or her wise words.

Romance Writers of America RITA award

This past week was the Romance Writers of America conference held in Washington DC. For several days romance writers from the newbie to the long time seasoned pro gathered to learn, share and network.

On Saturday night was the RITA and the Golden Heart awards. The RITA award is to recognize outstanding romance novels published in 2008. The Golden Heart award is to recognize outstanding manuscripts by unpublished authors. The award show was held in the ballroom of the Marriot Wardman Park hotel. Its a night for dressing up and celebrating the romance genre.

This year I was honored to present the RITA for Best Inspirational Romance. The award went to Susan May Warren for the book Finding Stefanie.

Congratulations Susan!

Hot Air Balloon Festival

A few days ago I awoke to the strangest noise. It sounded like a giant snake was outside my window. I glanced at the clock. 5am. Ugh. I just wanted to go back to sleep. But this noise wouldn't stop. I got up and went outside. There in the sky against the backdrop of the rising sun was a multi-colored hot air balloon floating over our neighborhood.

Ah, I knew instantly what was happening . The Allstate Festival of Balloons.

Every summer here in Oregon there's a weekend where you can look up into the sky and see the most beautiful, colorful hot air balloons floating over the Willamette Valley. Their launch pad is a lovely park not far from our house. The event spans the full weekend with not only the balloons but a BBQ cook off, a Festival of Cars, a fun center with games and face painting. The Allstate Festival of Balloons is a non-profit organization that benefits several local groups, including the neighborhood schools.

Its a beautiful sight to see the glorious balloons suspended in the air. One day, I want to go up in one.

Motherhood

Happy belated Mother's day to all the mom's out there. When I became a mother many light year ago, I was given some words of wisdom and advice.
1) Do the job of raising you kids well and don't expect a thank you until they are grown and have children of their own.
2)housework can wait, time with your children won't.
3)they need you home with them when they are little and when they are in high school
4)be consistant
I'm sure there were more pearls of wisdom gleaned along the way but those are the ones that come to mind this morning.
Being a mother is the greatest and hardest endeavor a woman will face.
May mother's everywhere be blessed and strengthened through the love of Christ today and everyday.

My upcoming June Love Inspired Suspense is the story of a mother's struggle to reclaim her memory so that she may reclaim her child, but there is someone who doesn't want her to do either.