Across the Pond at Easter

Have you seen the photos? The Duchess of Cambridge looking ever so graceful on Easter Sunday. English royalty looking ever so much like American royal icon, Jackie Kennedy. Such class.


http://www.today.com/style/former-kate-middleton-duchess-cambridge-wears-pillbox-hat-easter-t110432

Happy Easter

It's Holy Week.

Hallelujah, He is Risen.
Enjoy the Hallelujah song below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP8d7hhpoQ

Guess what's going in the kiddos Easter baskets...

Happy Easter!

Honor

As I attend the funeral today of our dear uncle and celebrate his life, my thoughts and prayers will also be with those gathering in London for the funeral of the policeman killed in the terror attack.

Below is a link about the royals. Such class. More reasons why I love them!


http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/prince-william-princess-kate-prince-harry-meet-american/story?id=46590249

Uncle George

Yesterday we received the sad news our Uncle George has passed away. The news of his death jolted me.

He was 98 years old. Think about that. Just shy of a century. He was a lovely man.

Years ago now, Uncle George and Aunt Lucille were in a car accident. Aunt Lucille died from her injuries.   The nurses in the hospital thought Uncle George was the best patient they ever had. They were thankful he recovered, but didn't want him to leave!

He was a wise man who survived Pearl Harbor. He walked everywhere. Said it kept him young! These photos were taken last October. He smiled the whole day. What an incredible influence he was on everyone he met.

Oh how you will be missed, Uncle George.

Happy Place

My nephew and his wife are in my happy place right this moment. (By the way, isn't this the perfect key chain!  My friend John made it for me. He wasn't sure how long it would last. England is a small piece of land. Hard to laser all those ins and outs!  So far, so good!)

The jealous meter turned up a few notches as soon as they sent me this text photo. SIGH.
Made my day when they told me tea would be in my honor that afternoon!

 Can't wait to hear what they thought of my happy place. We all see life through a different lens.
Case in point...Camden Market.
Not sure that  would make my list, but they sure loved it.

I'm guessing they're taking lots of photos. Can't wait to see!

Dreams

January 2014, I wrote some goals. Among them was one I never thought would come to fruition.

Get published by the time I am 50. 

Well, I'm not yet fifty, but this past week the dream became reality.

One of my writer friends told me about this opportunity to write about something  that accentuated a miracle. If chosen, it would be published with many other authors into a book compiled by James Stuart Bell.

At first, I didn't think much about it. But, an idea kept circling in my brain and wouldn't let go. I decided to write the story.  A tale that actually happened to me while in Italy. I wrote it in less than three hours and then spent some time editing it before pushing SEND on my computer.
That was at least ten months ago.

I forgot about it, which is one of the first lessons a writer will tell you. Once you write something, send it in, and then start working on the next project. I'm so glad I took that advice. I didn't wait around. I just continued to write.

Every once in awhile I would wonder if anything would come of it.
One day I was checking my emails, and low and behold, there it was. A contract for my piece! I can't even begin to explain that feeling. Overwhelmed, yes. Full of joy-ABSOLUTELY! Oh what a feeling.

I danced around like Lionel Ritchie in his video, Dancing on the Ceiling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovo6zwv6DX4

This past week I was sent my copy of the book.

How do you describe opening a book and seeing your name in print? There simply are no words. There it is. My dream in print!

Funny thing about dreams. Sometimes they come true! This story is a non-fiction short story compiled in a book with many other authors. My dream was to be published before I was 50. Pinch me. It really  happened.

I now have a new dream. One a bit more daring.

I want my own novel in print!  I'm not putting a time limit on this dream. It will take as long as it takes.

Walt Disney was once quoted, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." Amen Walt. Amen.

This book releases April 4. It is now available for pre-order on Amazon.  

Keep Calm

My happy place met chaos the other day.

My heart aches for the families of those lost. What a senseless tragedy.
I've walked that bridge. Many do on a daily basis.

I'm quite sure the day started out as ordinary.  Locals jogged and tourists snapped photos of buses and taxis whizzing past. Walking along the bridge is where sightseers likely got their first glimpse of  the handsome Big Ben.

 

I'm guessing the view from the London Eye is one the riders will have seared in their memory forever.

Have you ambled across the bridge?  I'm so thankful I have, and when I return to my happy place, I will once again stroll along Westminster Bridge. But, on that day I will spend more  time recalling the day London came to a screeching halt.