Christmas Lights by Mary Manners

 

Christmas Lights

 

By Mary Manners

 

When the subject of Christmas gifts comes up, most people think of packages wrapped in colorful paper and shimmery bows, sitting under the Christmas tree, just waiting to be opened.

 

When I think of Christmas gifts, I think of my dad, who passed away seventeen years ago this holiday season. He was a man of many gifts, including the joy he shared for the traditions of Christmas.

 

Dad loved light—especially the light that brightened a fresh-cut pine tree in honor of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Each December first, like clockwork, Dad piled his family—all seven of us—into our Chevy station wagon and drove us to the tree lot where, shivering in the Chicago-winter cold, we oohed and aahed over each and every tree until we found the perfect one.

 

Once home, with the tree safely arranged in a metal stand and watered, Dad climbed the ladder to our attic (a mysterious place, indeed) where the Christmas lights were stored. He’d lower the battered cardboard box (re-used, season after season) to the floor below and dust it off.

 

Then my brother and sisters—five of us—gathered ’round him in the living room and waited, eyes huge with wonder, as he carefully unraveled the strands of lights and tested each one. No matter how stubborn the bulbs, dad always managed to get them working.

 

Beautiful, vibrant colors turned the room to a kaleidoscope, dancing over walls and windows with the feel of winter magic. One by one, my siblings and I each took the place of honor beside Dad, helping him to adorn the tree with light. Pine sap clung to our fingers, but we didn’t care. All the while, our hearts soared with happiness and child-like wonder.

 

Finally, dad gently gathered the Christmas star from the box. Hushed with awe, we waited while Dad chose one of us to hoist to his shoulders for the greatest thrill—placing the treasured beacon of light—the Baby Jesus Star—atop the highest limb. Somehow, Dad always sensed who needed that extra touch of attention, and there was never any argument.

 

With the lights in place (just in time for nightfall—always) we circled the tree and held hands to sing Silent Night. In the earliest years, the tune didn’t always carry and the words were sometimes off, but Dad didn’t care. He knew we understood what the tree—and especially the lights—symbolized…the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. The most wonderful gift of all!

 

This year, Mom joined Dad in their eternal Happily-ever-after. Though the loss is great, memories of the many happy times we shared fuel my days…and my writing. Each Christmas brings a fuller, richer sense of wisdom that is woven into the legacy of the stories I love to share.

 

So, as we journey into another holiday season I would like to remind you to treasure every day…every precious memory made…and I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas.

 

 

~~~~~

 

 



Nestled into five beautiful acres just outside Hope Creek, Tennessee, Christmas Inn is an unforgettable place known for its joyful atmosphere and festive setting. Holiday decorations adorn each room. Trees glittering with ribbons and ornaments, gorgeous wreaths, velvet stockings and pine-scented candles brighten visitors’ stay at this vacation spot dedicated to Christmas all year, every year. The resort offers all the usual enticements plus one unique amenity…love. The little white chapel behind the inn, built by the Christmas family in the 1890s, boasts bell tower bells that toll when couples fall in love.

Every year people come to the inn looking for their Christmas spirit. Sometimes they find love too. Will the bells ring again this year?

 

 

~~~~~

 

 

Mary Manners lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and their rescue dog Axel, mischievous cats Colby and Rascal, 6 rambunctious chickens, and 13 fish.

Mary writes small-town family romances laced with faith, hope, and humor. Her books have earned multiple accolades including two Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold, the Heart of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.

Mary loves long sunrise runs, Smoky Mountain sunsets, flavored coffee, and chocolate…lots of chocolate.

Happy Thanksgiving

I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart; I will show forth all they marvelous works. - Psalm 9:1

Seriously Write is closed today to allow us to spend the holiday with our family and friends. We wish you a blessed Thanksgiving. We will be back tomorrow and look forward to visiting with you then.

Giving Thanks by Terri Weldon

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m enjoying good food and company with my family today and I hope you’re doing the same. Our home is full of the smells of our favorite dishes, flowers grace the table, and candles flicker in the room. Thanksgiving is one of the most relaxing holidays of the year. 

 

Later this afternoon while I’m watching a favorite movie – a tradition at our house – I may pull my laptop out and do a little work. Then again there is just as good a chance I’ll lean back in my chair and pet one of my Westies. Either one is okay. 

 

The important thing today is to thank God for our blessings. I’m thankful I have a home, a family, people to spend the holiday with, my two furry little friends, a job, and for the Christmas novella I have releasing the end of this month. Most of all I’m thankful for the saving grace of Jesus. I pray you know Him too. 

 

Here at Seriously Write all of us are thankful for you. While our desire is to encourage and equip Christian writers we want you to know that you do the same for us. There are so many things vying for your time and we’re thankful you read our posts, cheer us on, and leave us comments. 

 

I hope you’ll share a few of your blessings with us. What are you thankful for today?

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in Oklahoma. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or

Blog: Seriously Write

The Christmas Bride Wore Boots

 

Widowed Pastor Jacob Thompson had vowed to never remarry, but that was before he met Veterinarian Molly Kincaid. Could this unlikely duo be a match made in heaven?

 

Available 30 November!

Are We There Yet? by Mary Manners

Are We There Yet?

By Mary Manners

 

 



It’s a brand new day; how will you choose to spend it?

We all are familiar—some more than others—with this particular drill: A small child rides in the backseat of the car and his constant chatter is a distraction—and sometimes an irritation—to the driver. Again, he asks, “Are we there yet?” He wants the car to move faster, longs to arrive at the destination. He is beyond impatient. In our day-to-day activities, we are often like that child, scurrying at lightning speed from one task to another, devoid of the simple pleasure of life’s journey and the landscape that forms our chain of memories. Time passes in a blur, and when we do take a moment to grab a breath, we wonder just how the hours turned into weeks, months, even years.

 

Slow down. Enjoy the ride and drink in the scenery of a mango-tinged sunrise, the laughter of a child, perhaps a friendly chat with a lonely neighbor. Discover the purpose of your actions and take few minutes to thank God for the countless blessings in your life. Soon, instead of the nagging, “Are we there yet?” you may find yourself exclaiming, “Are we here already?”

When life’s hectic pace threatens to steal joy, remember to so many wonderful moments in time, and to appreciate a world filled with children’s laughter, kind words from a neighbor and the beauty of a new sunrise.

This week, take time to look around and discover the people you are traveling through life with. What can you share with them? Perhaps you’ll find a smile, a hug…and in do so also serve as a reflection of God’s love.

 

~~~~~

 

Secrets Unveiled

 

Grant Anderson’s world is upended by a harmless game of dress-up when his niece finds a box of old clothes and stumbles across a necklace Grant stole more than a decade ago. Grant has conquered a past shadowed by rebellion, and he paid his dues a long time ago. Caught and sentenced in juvenile court, he spent a full year making restitution to everyone involved—everyone except Maggie Andrews. Finding the necklace means he can finally return it and then close the door on his checkered past.

Maggie’s beloved grandmother has just passed away. Orphaned as a child, Maggie is left with no family to speak of and only a small box of heirlooms to connect her to her heritage. Maggie cherishes the link to her family, but her inheritance is incomplete. A necklace that was passed down through generations was stolen years ago. The treasured piece is gone forever…until Grant Anderson steps back into her life and offers her more than long-lost jewelry.

Can Maggie let go of the bitterness she harbors? Can Grant convince her that everyone deserves a second chance? When circumstances change, both learn the true meaning of greed and charity. Only through God’s healing grace can either find peace with their past as well as their future.

~~~~~

 

Mary Manners is an award-winning romance author who lives along the beautiful shores of Jax Beach with her husband, Tim. She loves her toes in the sand, running, flavored coffee and cotton candy sunsets followed by starlit nights.

 

Mary believes everyone has a story to tell, and she enjoys sharing hers. She writes inspirational romances of all lengths, from short stories to novels—something for everyone.

 

Learn more about Mary Manners at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.



Treasured Memories

 

Treasured Memories

By Mary Manners

 

 

As we honor loved ones this Memorial Day, I'd like to share a special memory from my childhood...

My dad has always been my hugest inspiration. Long ago, when I was in middle school, I came home following a particularly rough day to find him sitting on the front steps of our small brownstone house. I joined him there on the cool concrete landing and he spent a good hour patiently listening while I vented about the trials and tribulations of being a thirteen-year-old in a cruel, cruel world. I imagined he had no idea what I was going through, since he couldn't have possibly ever been as young as thirteen. Little did I know.

The next day, Dad came home with a small treasure for me--a poster with the most forlorn-looking bloodhound sitting in a washtub full of soap bubbles that had been dumped over his head. The caption read, "Was today really necessary?" Dad helped me mount the poster in a place of honor on my bedroom wall, and then we sat together and talked some more. That's when I began to understand the power of adversity in shaping who I am as well as in guiding my life's path.

Today, I use the trials of my life--both the small inconveniences that jab like bony fingers along my rib cage as well as the tsunamis that sweep through to wash away any semblance of sanity--to shape and mold my writing. Characters come alive when their story is infused with nuances of personal trials. In daily tribulations I find a never-ending fount of inspiration.

My dad succumbed to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma fourteen years ago, but his memory is alive and well in the poster that has traveled with me through the decades. It now holds a place of honor on the wall across from my office desk. Each time I glance up to read the caption, I smile and murmur, "Yes, today is really necessary and thank you, God, for allowing me another breath and another test, and thank you, Dad, for the precious words of wisdom."

 

~~~~~

 

Brenna's Choice

 

When Brenna Langdon reluctantly returns to Collins, Oklahoma for her best friend’s wedding, the last person she expects to run into is Luke Morgan…the rancher who befriended her years ago, following her parents’ sudden death.  Luke is strong, gentle, and impossibly handsome…just what Brenna needs. Except for one thing—he loves his ranch…and the slow-paced solitude of Collins. Painful memories of her parents’ death and the agony of living in Collins with a cruel aunt and uncle have made Brenna vow to never return…except for the wedding.  Three days, and she’s out of there—back to her high-powered, fast-paced marketing job in Chicago. But Luke has other plans…to chase away painful memories and bring Brenna home to Collins—for good.

 

~~~~~

 

Mary Manners is an award-winning romance writer who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and the cherished cats they've rescued from local animal shelters...Lucky and Gus. She loves swimming, running, flavored coffee and Smoky Mountain sunsets.

 

Mary was named Author of the Year by Book and Trailer Showcase. She writes inspirational romances of all lengths, from short stories to novels—something for everyone.

 

Learn more about Mary Manners at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.

 

 

 

 

 



Finding Joy in the Little Things

Finding Joy in the Little Things

By Mary Manners

 

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

~ Psalm 118:24 (NIV) ~

 

I belly-laughed the other day, and it felt so good.

I was standing in the bus line at the intermediate school where I am assistant principal, loading children onto a small bus that heads to an after-school program, when one of the pre-school boys in the second seat turned to me with the cutest gap-toothed smile. I winked at him through the window and he did his best to wink right back, scrunching both eyes and twisting his mouth as I waited there. I laughed at his effort and, seeing my reaction, he giggled, as well. In that moment, I remembered one of my favorite things...watching young children learn how to master tasks such as winking and whistling and snapping their fingers. They find such joy as they share the talents they've accomplished...great pleasure from simple things.

So, when I got home later that afternoon I decided to make a list of ten (OK...eleven) simple things that bring me great joy:

1. Winking at a child and watching him or her wink back.

2. Listening to backyard birds welcome the warm, spring dawn with a song.

3. A hot cup of coffee on a chilly morning (or any morning is just as fine).

4. Quiet walks with my husband, holding hands. and sharing our dreams for the future.

5. Long talks with my mom, sharing memories (over coffee, of course).

 

6. The caress of a breeze as I sit in the rocking chair on my front porch daydreaming.

7. Curling up on the couch with a good book and plenty of time to be swept away.

8. Sharing a life lesson with my daughter, so she does not have to learn the hard way.

9. Push-mowing the lawn on a warm summer day (while writing a story in my head).

10. The sound of laughter drifting through my office window from the school playground.

11. Waking up long before dawn to spend the entire day writing...and writing...and writing some more (with a pot of hazelnut coffee)!

Simple joys...they truly add to life's sweetness. So, I ask...what are your simple joys? I invite you to share!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Miracles and Dreams

Jack Seaton moves mountains, literally, as he develops commercial property along the West Coast. But not a day goes by that he doesn’t think of Misty Larsen and the carefree love they once shared. He thought they’d end up married, but his job—and five thousand miles—got in the way. He’s sure she’s moved on and found a new man to love...Until he unexpectedly receives a letter Misty wrote the day he left Mills Landing nearly six years ago. Jack is shocked to learn Misty was pregnant with his child—a child that must be in kindergarten by now.

Misty Larsen is determined to give her daughter a good life. She’s put a business-management degree to good use by spearheading an online Web-design agency. Misty’s hectic schedule gives her little time to reminisce about Jack Seaton, the man who stole her heart. But when Jack storms Misty’s doorstep one thunder-filled afternoon, clutching her letter in his hand, the past bubbles up and spills over to merge their lives once again.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mary Manners is an award-winning romance writer who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and daughter Danni, and the cherished cats they've rescued from local animal shelters...Lucky and Gus. She loves flavored coffee and Smoky Mountain sunsets.

Mary was named Author of the Year by Book and Trailer Showcase. She writes inspirational romances of all lengths, from short stories to novels—something for everyone.

Learn more about Mary Manners at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.

 

 

 



Count Your Blessings by Mary Manners

Count Your Blessings

By Mary Manners

"This is the day which the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

~ Psalm 118:24 ~

What are you thankful for today?

Sometimes I’m so caught up in the day-to-day bustle of writing life...juggling deadlines and outlines and stubborn characters that stray from the plotline...that I forget how very blessed I am. The holiday season is a time to reflect and to also hopefully take a moment to slow down long enough to draw a breath, step back, and count the many blessings that fill my life.

I’m thankful for my loving husband, Tim—a man with whom a share a real-life romance filled with love and laughter, adventure and fun. I often tell my husband he’s cheap entertainment since he makes me belly-laugh with regularity. Tim supports and encourages my passion for sharing the written word with others. I’m so thankful God brought him into my life.

I’m also wildly thankful for my daughter, Danni, who has grown into a beautiful young woman. Danni illuminates my life with her loving, generous spirit. She’s a loyal friend to everyone, and has a special place in her heart for the elderly and the hurting. She has never met a stray or wounded animal she didn't want to bring home and love back to health. Danni is truly a blessing to all who know her.

My friends, especially my precious writing friends, are one more reason to give thanks. These wonderful people completely understand when I elaborate on the ‘voices’ that speak to me while I’m writing. Twisted plots and story arcs make for great conversation when surrounded by those who put pen to paper. I love them dearly.

But, most of all, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior, who has given all of these blessings and more to me. What an amazing gift to know His love and grace are never-ending.

So, as this holiday season begins, I wish you blessings and peace, dear friends. May you take a moment to draw a breath, step back, and count the many blessings that fill your life.

Again, I ask...for what are YOU thankful?

~~~~~

Dillon Cutler has returned to Clover Cove just in time to help with the busy Christmas season at his family’s nursery. All his siblings have found love, but he has no plans to hustle to the altar...until Brynn Jansen shows up at the nursery one night searching for a fresh-cut tree and a sprig of mistletoe. Intrigued by her gentle laughter and dark-chocolate eyes he asks her out.

Brynn Jansen comes to Clover Cove to help Nana, who’s broken a hip. She has warm memories of visiting Clover Cove as a child and is especially fond of the Cutler family who brought her grandparents a Christmas tree during a tough financial time. 

Brynn has plans to pay that kindness forward. What she doesn’t plan for is falling in love with Dillon Cutler.

~~~~~

Mary Manners is an award-winning romance writer who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and the cherished cats they've rescued from local animal shelters...Lucky and Gus. Mary’s debut novel, Mended Heart, was a finalist for the Bookseller’s Best Award and her follow-up, Tender Mercies, was awarded a 4 ½ star rating from The Romantic Times Book Reviews. Buried Treasures was named Book of the Year by The Wordsmith Journal while Light the Fire took top honors for the Inspirational Readers Choice Award and Wisdom Tree garnered National Excellence in Romance Fiction. Mary was named Author of the Year by Book and Trailer Showcase. She writes romances of all lengths, from short stories to novels—something for everyone.

Learn more about Mary Manners at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.

Is Today Really Necessary? by Mary Manners

Is Today Really Necessary?

By Mary Manners

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

~James 1:2-4~

Long ago, when I was in middle school, I came home following a particularly rough day to find my dad sitting on the front porch. I joined him and he spent a good hour listening while I vented about the trials and tribulations of being a thirteen-year-old in a cruel, cruel world. I imagined he had no idea what I was going through, since he couldn't have possibly even been as young as thirteen himself. Little did I know...

The next day, Dad came home with a small treasure for me--a poster with the most forlorn-looking bloodhound sitting in a washtub full of soap bubbles that had been dumped over his head. The caption read, "Was today really necessary?" Dad helped me mount the poster in a place of honor on my bedroom wall, and then we sat together and talked some more. That's when I began to understand the power of adversity in shaping who I am as well as my life's path.

Today, I use the trials of my life--both the small inconveniences that jab like bony fingers along my rib cage as well as the tsunamis that sweep through to wash away any semblance of sanity--to shape and mold my writing. Characters come alive when their story is infused with nuances of my personal trials. In daily tribulations I find a never-ending fount of inspiration.

My dad succumbed to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma twelve years ago, but his memory is alive and well in the poster that has traveled with me through the decades. It now holds a place of honor on the wall across from my office desk. Each time I glance up to read the caption, I smile and think, "Yes, today is really necessary and thank you, God, for allowing me another breath and another test."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Buried Treasures



When Caroline flees Chicago following the brutal murder of her husband, the last thing she expects--or wants--is to fall for Matt Carlson, a builder with strong roots in the small town of Mountainview, Tennessee. She needs to focus on raising her six-year-old daughter and protecting both their hearts from ever being shattered again.

Matt is struggling with issues of his own…guilt over the death of his wife and the responsibility of raising a cynical teenaged nephew who is dropped on his doorstep, abandoned by Matt's alcoholic sister. He doesn't have time to fall in love, yet he can't help being drawn to the woman who is ready to defend her home--and her daughter--with nothing more than a feisty attitude and a broom handle.

Can Matt's help and friendship convince Caroline to trust again--and when Caroline's daughter goes missing, will Matt be able to find the girl before it's too late and he loses everything he loves…again?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mary Manners is an award-winning romance writer who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and the cherished cats they've rescued from local animal shelters...Lucky and Gus.

Learn more about Mary Manners at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.



This Writer's Thanksgivings by Laurie Alice Eakes

The Moon in the Water

And Other Tales of Inspiration for which I Am Thankful

I am lying on my back on the deck of my uncle’s cabin cruiser. We are perhaps ten miles off shore in Lake Huron. No lights shine except for one—the moon. Butter yellow, it glows in the sky like a beacon to me and my ten-year-old soul, and the water in which I have always felt as home as on land, reflects the call—Write about me. Describe me. Place me in a scene.

Perhaps the call came to me earlier than that. I didn’t answer it until many years later. And always I come back to that scene, that moment when that sailing moon invited me to sail along on wild adventures of the heart.

Water still inspires me and lifts my spirit in a song of thanksgiving. Rain sends me to the window or onto the balcony to listen and drink in the freshness. Snow compels me to grab up coat and boots and go for a walk.

Recently, feeling burned out from too many upheavals in my life and too many writing deadlines, I took advantage of the fact that I live 20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Within five minutes of walking along the beach, the surf roaring in my ears, the water lapping at my legs, my soul felt washed clean, my spirit renewed. 

I am apparently not the only person who finds renewal in water. A survey conducted a couple of years ago found that the happiest of people live within a half mile of some kind of water. I live about half a block from a resaca, a kind of natural canal, with a walking path beside it and ducks upon it.

I am thankful for many parts of God’s creation—my husband, my dogs, my cats, the scent of jasmine in the spring—and nothing makes me more thankful than the gift of water. 

Purchase Link

Bestselling, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories with others; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, five books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that takes her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast. Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.