AN UNEXPECTED GIFT

An Unexpected Gift is the final book in The Friends of Scrapbook, Etc trilogy. In this book I break a few of the rules when it comes to inspirational romance. I think readers will enjoy the difference.

Kimberly is a college student and works part-time at the craft shop, Scrapbook, Etc. The story covers the holidays from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Here's a little teaser:


Kimberly knows things will get rough when she sees the blue sign on the pregnancy test. She and Jack had been careful—most of the time. When he learns the news, Jack becomes distant and she might be forced to face parenthood alone. 

When Grams offers her a place to stay, Kimberly soon becomes more concerned about the old woman's eccentricities than her own studies. Grams collects stray dogs, talks about seeing an angel, and might be losing her senses. Kimberly doesn't realize a quirky old woman can teach her about love and parenthood. 


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=toni+lamparter+mabry&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Atoni+lamparter+mabry

THANKSGIVING 2011

As Americans enter the holiday season, there is a mixture of joy and sadness. Why? Holidays, particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas, evoke nostalgia. 1) We think of past holidays and recall unsatisfying experiences or 2)we mourn who or what we have lost. I have known and still know people stuck in this cycle, like an old fashioned record stuck in a groove, they yearly relive a sad childhood experience or mourn the family member no longer with them, rather than reflect on the joy that could be found in the present.

I am nostalgic about Thanksgiving. Yes, there are some really unhappy holidays in my past, but even in these times I managed to focus on the reasons for the holiday celebrations. Thanksgiving is about focusing on what God has provided. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. That helped me push my own hurts and disappointments aside. Sometimes going through the motions is what you need to do to get to a better place in your life.

This week I heard a news report that said that people with a thankful, grateful spirit are both more physically and mentally healthy than those who are ungrateful. No doubt they are happier.

This Thanksgiving Holiday let us have a thankful heart. Laugh about the burned marshmallows on the yams. Joke about the jiggling cranberry sauce. Scarf down the dry stuffing and lumpy gravy, but remember to enjoy the moment.

Pumpkin Ginger Soup

This has become a traditional part of my Thanksgiving meal. I make a big pot the day before Thanksgiving and have a bowl with a sandwich or grilled cheese--an easy, satisfying meal after a day of baking.

My family has its Thanksgiving meal in the afternoon, so a bowl of Pumpkin Ginger Soup keeps me from being grumpy while I smell that turkey cooking.

This soup isn't sweet like Pumpkin Pie. It is hearty and using a tart apple in the recipe adds a nice flavor. It also taste better after taking a moment to count a few of those blessings we take for granted the rest of the year.

Here's my recipe. I believe I found it at cooks.com:

Pumpkin Ginger Soup

2 cups--or 1 can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie)
3 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup light cream
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium apple, diced (I used a Granny Smith apple)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. Saute onion and apple until tender. Stir in pumpkin, broth, and spices. Remove from heat.

Process or blend until smooth. Return to saucepan and stir in cream.

Heat through and serve.

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving.

THANKSGIVING 2010

The Pilgrims were a serious group of individuals, believing in the virtue of hard work. They weren't big on telling jokes, having parties, or other such vain endeavors. Maybe that is why it was so remarkable that they would take three days to celebrate the end of the harvest that first Thanksgiving. The community came together to celebrate. Work was postponed (with the exception of the women cooking & cleaning up) till another day.

That is why I am a bit dismayed.

Communities no longer make the time to stop and reflect on their good fortune. True--hospitals, gas stations, and some restaurants have always stayed opened during the holiday. Yet, recently, I have noticed other businesses now remain opened most of Thanksgiving Day. Other families are forced t0 rush through a meal, unable to really reflect or fully rejoice.

We must stop and take a moment to be grateful, whether we are obliged to work, or whether we are fellowshipping with family and friends.

I wish joy to all.

Don't get me started on Black Friday.

Thanksgiving leftovers

Sigh!

I always feel so lazy the day after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is filled with cooking, visiting, eating and washing dishes. No wonder I'm tired the next day! The only thing I want to figure out on the Friday afterwards is, what do I do with the leftovers.

BAD IDEAS

It is very important that you do not feed pets certain Thanksgiving leftovers.

1. Do not give bones to your pets. They can splinter and damage internal organs.
2. Onions, garlic, onion powder, and garlic powder is not good for cats.
3. Grapes and raisins can cause acute renal failure. In some breeds it can cause complete kidney shut down.
4. Dark chocolate is toxic to dogs.
5. Most nuts are also bad for dogs.

GOOD IDEAS

1. Mix some of that leftover cranberry sauce with cream cheese to spread over an English muffin or bagel at breakfast time.
2. A good soup can be made from leftover turkey--cut in cubes, chicken stock, sauntered onions, and--if you have it--a little cooked onions and peas. Let them simmer together and add some noodles, or dumplings. Spice to taste.
3. There is always the standby, turkey and cheese burritos, turkey omelets, or the usual turkey sandwiches.

Have a restful day.

Happy Thanksgiving,
From my home to yours!

Thankful and Thanksgiving

For a lot of people it is difficult to even think about being thankful during the holidays this year. Many fear losing a job or their home. You may find that your are on such a tight budget that it is difficult to face the extra expense that the holiday brings.

I understand.

This job hunting thing I am going through is very unnerving. I frequently find myself teetering between fear and faith. While I was perusing Ecclesiastes in preparation for a manuscript I am working on, I stumbled across a scripture that really put things in perspective. I now have this verse on my mirror so I am constantly reminded of its truth.

In the day of prosperity be joyful. But in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other.

Ecclesiastes1:14 NKJV

It is so easy to be thankful when times are good. I was very thankful for the job I had last year. I loved the children and the staff. It made the loss much harder when I was let go. It was a bit like losing an extended family. It all came as such a great surprise.

This scripture reminds me that nothing is a surprise to God. He knows the good times, but is also aware when adversity is coming into our lives. That knowledge somehow makes it easier for me to get out of bed and dress to go on job interviews. It is what helped me to rewrite my manuscript after receiving a devastating rejection. The thing about being thankful is that it is a choice that sets forth a positive chain of events.

Just as my latest manuscript is better because of the rejection and rewrites, I must believe that I will be a better person after this season of hardship is over. For this I can be thankful.

I can open my freezer and pantry and see that I have it stocked with food. For that I can be thankful. I do have a part-time job and my son has a full-time job. For that I can be thankful. I made a mortgage payment again this month. For that I can be thankful.

Members of my family will gather together this Thanksgiving. We will share a traditional meal. New friends from my part-time job gathered last week for a pre-Thanksgiving get-together. During this time of unemployment, my friends from church have shown me great support and generosity. I can't help but be thankful.

--And I can't wait to look up this very post in the archive a year from now and see how my life has changed!

Thank You, Readers

I want to take a moment to thank all of you who pop into this site. I also want to thank everyone who has taken the time to leave a post. It gives me encouragement to know you are reading and think enough about what I have said to communicate a message. It also helps me to grow as a writer. I need to know what people think of my writing--the good and the not so good. I want to know what sounds real and what comes off as being cheesy. You comments will help.

Thank you all.