Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Did you ever get started reading a specific type of book, or a certain author’s books, and wish you could put them all in your blog for the whole world to see? Of course, if I got to do that, then I’d probably get sued for plagiarism. But being down and out for the count isn’t all “doom and gloom and agony on me.” (See earlier blogs to get caught up with my falls and surgeries, etc.) Because when you’re laid up, you can always read! Yay!!!
When I was fresh out of the hospital last winter, my dear friends, Jim and Jill, sent me Holy Moments, by Matthew Kelly. And I loved it. Then Jim’s sister, Judy and Paul, sent me another book by him, and I loved it too! Then I discovered I could go on his website and, lo-and-behold! You will not believe this, but he’s a veritable writing machine! Then my friend Mary brought me an entire stack of his books. Someday, I hope she gets them back. I can’t vouch for my remembering which books are hers because of my concussion. She’ll have to come look through my office and bookshelves and dig them out. (I lose more friends that way. Bet you never thought petty thievery was in my genes!)
So, what does all this have to do with Merry Christmas? Well, I’m about to let you know that when you give Christmas presents this year, a fantastic idea for a present is, ta-da! A book! (Who’d a thunk it?) And when you look for books by Matthew Kelly, that’s always a winner. He’s a writer for adults, but you can also find wonderful books for teenagers and children as well. And I sometimes catch his teaching programs on my phone!
For instance, my friend (Editor? Mentor? Encourager?), Kathy, who, by the way, prepares my blogs for publication, has some wonderful books. I have read her latest, for teens and young adults, Finding Strength. It’s a continuation of her book, A Journey. Her books are very well researched and written. I don’t have to return that one—she gave it to me. And of course there’s her series of children’s books. Look at her website to see her treasure trove (kathyjperry.com) as well as her interviews.
Winter has arrived, and it’s never too late to stock up on good reading material for those icy nights in front of a warm fire. And yet, you ask:
1) Why are you hawking another author’s books?
2) Why are you talking about the Kelly books, and dozens of others you have read this year?
Good question!!! I will tell you, as I told my ladies when they came to America from Sierra Leone, “Read. Read. Read. If you can read, you can do anything, you can become anyone. If you can read, you can continue to educate yourself. You will have knowledge that will stand you in good stead, whatever your hopes and aspirations.”
Oh, one more thing, Mariatu is working to become an author in her own rights. My friend, sister?, encourager?, Kathy and I are meeting with her to begin that long and winding road of becoming an author as well. So now you have to keep reading my blogs to keep up with her.
By the way, we’re also working to get the final two books in my Down Home on the Farm series to print and available. Check with us in the spring to wind up the children’s series with Dotty Down Home and Anna’s Sugar Plum. (Age preschool to 4th grade.)
So, now that I’ve uplifted and encouraged you with a blog entitled, “A Merry Christmas”, I can send this on to Kathy, knowing she will make it shine. Oh, and do have a very lovely, happy, merry Christmas.
Love, Katy