Author: hightidepublications23043

NOV. 21, 2019:  Scientists say the universe is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. They forgot to mention morons – like the one who cut me off in traffic today.

NOV. 22, 2019: Every time I hear about a foreign country threatening us — North Korea, Iran, etc., — I wonder why we don’t stop sending them aid, and let them hate us for free.

NOV. 23, 2019:  There is a restaurant in town, Victoria’s, that fills its rooms with nutcrackers to celebrate the holidays – tiny ones, life-size ones—dozens of them. It’s my happy place in Dec.

NOV. 24, 2019:  If you plan on cooking a large turkey on Thursday, today is the day to move it from freezer to frig. The “experts” say it takes five days to thaw. Really?

NOV. 25, 2019: OK, I called my friend who’s cooking Thanksgiving dinner for Shannon and me, and gave her the five-day turkey thawing prognosis. Guess what she said, “Really????”

NOV. 26, 2019: When my sister-in-law was a newly-wed, she wanted to impress our family by cooking Thanksgiving dinner. She stuffed the turkey with dry bread cubes which stayed dry and hard. We crunched and told her how great it was. The next year, it really was great.

NOV. 27, 2019:  All of my Mary Kay shoppers cancelled today. Guess they’re still working on that turkey.

NOV. 28, 2019:  Turkey day finally arrived! Shared great conversation and a delicious dinner with our friend, Kaye, in Gloucester. She said the experts were right. Took turkey five days to thaw.

NOV. 29, 2019: Today is daughter, Shannon, and A. J.’s anniversary. I’m so happy those two found each other. This time, Cupid got it right.

NOV. 30, 2019:  I end the month full of gratitude for loving family, supportive friends, and a brain that can still fill the page with happy nonsense. Life is good! My t-shirt says so.

SHARON CANFIELD DORSEY is an award-winning poet and author of four children’s books, a memoir, Daughter of the Mountains, a book of poetry, Tapestry, and a new travel memoir, ROAD TRIP. Books are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, High Tide Publications, and the author.

I am grateful for…

…Loving children who grew into responsible adults,
who I am proud to call friends.

…Grandchildren who delight me every day,
giving me hope for a bright future for our world.

…Friends who laugh and cry with me as we age together,
fighting and protesting all the way!

…A safe, comfortable home filled with reminders of
adventures and a life well-lived.

…A 40-year-long job that allows me to mentor women of all ages
and still find joy in it every day.

…The endless joy of sitting at my computer, writing poetry, or my
blog, emptying out the good, the bad and sometimes, the ugly.

…A bookshelf overflowing with the eight books I have written
and published, sharing my heart and soul with all of you.

…A country where good people still fight with every ounce of
their being to maintain the integrity of our democracy.

…Brave men and women in uniform who leave their own
families to fight for ours.

…Sunshine after a storm; joy after painful loss; a smile and hug
from someone who listens and cares.

…The music of laughter that keeps a song in my heart.

SHARON CANFIELD DORSEY is an awarding-winning poet and author of four children’s books; a memoir, Daughter of the Mountains; a book of poetry, Tapestry; and a NEW TRAVEL MEMOIR, ROAD TRIP. Her books are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, High Tide Publications, and from the author.

The month of November brings thoughts of celebrations with all the trimmings we associate with the holidays. We think of feasting at large tables shared with loved ones, adding festive decorations to our homes, and buying just the right gift for each friend and family member. We plan parties, attend concerts, and embark on trips that take us “over the river and through the woods.” Our moods are lifted by familiar carols, sparkling lights, and Hallmark Christmas specials. It’s the time of year that most of us anticipate with delight, even though we know it will involve a measure of harried rushing about.

But that’s not why I love the season of Advent. Rather than encouraging us to surrender to all the busyness that we’ve come to associate with Christmas preparations, Advent invites us to slow our pace and focus on our spiritual preparation. From the Latin word adventus, advent means “coming.” In the church calendar, Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. For Christians, the season of Advent, starting twenty-four days before Christmas, bids us to prepare our minds for the coming of Christ, the promised Messiah. It opens our hearts to receive the hope, peace, joy and love that are symbolized by the candles on an Advent wreath.

Since we live in a fallen world, filled with fallen people, including ourselves, it’s often challenging to place our hope in the future. Every day brings news of yet another terrible event somewhere in the world. With media sources that clamor to report negative news, each in the most sensational way, we begin to lose hope that God is still in charge and will ultimately triumph. Sometimes it seems like evil is winning. And what about peace? Is peace on earth even possible? Gradually our joy is depleted as hate seems stronger than love. But that’s exactly why God sent Jesus to replace hate with love. Ours is not the first generation to feel hopeless, joyless, devoid of peace and longing to know God’s love.

“O Come, O Come Immanuel” is one of the best-known Advent carols. The text, originating in the 9^th century, speaks to the Israelites’ longing for a savior to release them from captivity. They “mourn in lonely exile” feeling hopeless and without joy. They plead with God to send a Messiah, a Savior who will “bind all peoples in one heart and mind.” 

The Israelites were expecting an earthly king to deliver them from captivity. But God had a mightier plan. He sent His son, Jesus, to offer deliverance to all people, deliverance from sin and death.

It’s fundamentally impossible to commercialize the season of Advent. But leave it to retail corporations to give it their best shot with the likes of “Elf on a Shelf” and those Advent calendars that hide a piece of chocolate candy behind each day leading up to Christmas. Not that there’s anything wrong with helping children count down the days. It’s just that the twenty-four days of Advent are about so much more than moving an elf or finding a piece of candy. During the twenty-four days of Advent we are encouraged to connect or re-connect with God in a personal and powerful way through meditation, study, prayer and inspiring music. That’s why I love Advent.

Cindy L. Freeman is the author of four award-winning short stories and three published novels: Unrevealed, The Dark Room, and I Want to Go Home. Website: www.cindylfreeman.com; Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cindy.l.freeman.9. Her books are available through amazon.com or hightidepublications.com.

NOV. 11, 2019:  Had a fun, creative day today, setting up Mary Kay displays for my holiday open house. Now, if I can just get the customers to come and shop…

NOV. 12, 2019:  It SNOWED today. Surprise! Huge flakes all afternoon, covering the ground. Roads melted off but everything else is decorated white for Christmas. Isn’t it just November??

NOV. 13, 2019:  Yard still a fairyland and too cold to melt much today. But roads clear so can get out to run errands and make deliveries. Too bad! A day by the fireplace would be nice.

NOV. 14, 2019:  Saw a good movie today, “Last Christmas.” I am a movie buff, would go more often if it wasn’t for the parking and long walk to theatre, etc. Movies on TV, just not the same.

NOV. 15, 2019:  Today is my granddaughter, Adaline’s, birthday. Can’t believe she is twelve already. She now has her own phone so we can text back and forth. Fun for me!

NOV. 16, 2019: The Wmsburg Players did a version of “Cheaper By the Dozen,” today. Somehow, they found twelve adorable, talented kids who brought down the house. Impressive.

NOV. 17, 2019:  My sliding glass doors finally got installed several days ago. Hopefully, no lizards, snakes, or squirrels entered the premises during the process.

NOV. 18, 2019:  The impeachment hearings continue this week. I’m so impressed with the ambassadors and other public servants who do the hard work of carrying on our diplomacy.

NOV. 19, 2019:  Full day of Mary Kay shoppers today. It’s fun to visit with my customers/friends and catch up on all the news. Everyone went home with full bags of goodies.

NOV. 20, 2019: I’m old enough to have actually dialed a rotary phone while listening to an  8-track. How about you?

SHARON CANFIELD DORSEY is an award-winning poet and author who has published four children’s book, a memoir, Daughter of the Mountains, a book of poetry, Tapestry, and a NEW travel memoir, Road Trip. Her books are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, High Tide Publications, and the author.

NOV. 1, 2019:  If it’s November…all you turkeys need to run for your lives! The cooks are coming for you with stuffing and gravy.

NOV. 2, 2019:  On the first Saturday of every month, we invite poets to come to the library to inspire us with their creativity. Today, Virginia’s Poet Laureate, Henry Hart, read for us. Great!!

NOV. 3, 2019:  Patience is what you demonstrate when there are too many witnesses.

NOV. 4, 2019:  Do you ever feel like you spend much too much time in doctor’s offices? Me too! Today, it was eye examination time. At least we can leave our clothes on for that one.

NOV. 5, 2019:  Today is Election Day. I don’t understand people who take that right for granted and stay home. We owe it to those who fought to win that right, to show up.

NOV. 6, 2019:  The Chesapeake Bay Writers held their Annual Awards Luncheon today. One of my poems won First Place and a non-fiction article won a Second Place award. Shock and awe!

NOV. 7, 2019:  Work? Really? Didn’t I just do that yesterday?

NOV. 8, 2019:  Had lunch with a friend today. Had to yell to hear each other. Is it just me or is the music in restaurants outrageously LOUD? Won’t go there again.

NOV. 9, 2019:  I did my first book signing at the downtown Barnes & Noble today. Was fun to see my name on the front door as I entered. Nice people, nice day, even sold a few books.

NOV. 10, 2019: I lead a little group called Wonder Women. We gather at my house every couple of months to have fun, share good food, and support each other. We did that really well today!

SHARON CANFIELD DORSEY is an award-winning poet and author of four children’s books, a memoir, DAUGHTER OF THE MOUNTAINS, a book of poetry, TAPESTRY, and a NEW travel memoir, ROAD TRIP. The books are available from Amazon, High Tide Publications and the author.