Gratitude
It's Friday. I don't know how your week has gone but even when my week has been good, I still thank God it's Friday and the weekend is here!
So many wonderful things have happened this week. I'm feeling grateful for so many people and so many things. Here's a partial list:
1. You wonderful readers put An Amish Christmas on the CBD Bestseller list at 17th before it's even in the bookstores. Thank you for your support that came in the form of notes to our blog and pre-orders to your favorite bookstores!
2. News that An Amish Christmas has shipped to Beth, Kathy, and me! I get to be the first on the blog to offer a free autographed copy of it in a contest. If you've read this far, just respond here with a note saying what you're grateful for ... it could be something that happened this week or something in the past.
3. Air conditioning and ice cream. I live in Florida and we've had a very hot summer. Enough said.
4. As much as I want my house to sell so I can downsize, it was a relief this past week when no one wanted to see it and I didn't have to run through the house doing the quick clean up frenzy. My back has been hurting since I single-handedly tackled clearing out the garage and moving furniture. Back is getting better, thankfully (and so is Beth's after Wonder Woman decided to load her 80 pound dog with a broken leg into her car all by herself). She's had a time with her back pain and I'm grateful she's feeling better, too. In my case, I'm so grateful for my chiropractor who always seems to work a miracle.
5. A slow hurricane season, with the first big storm that looked scary bypassing Florida and predicted to miss the U.S. as well. After we had three hurricanes in one season hit my area I say thank yous a lot when I see them passing us and not hurting anyone. Thank you, God, for sending Hurricane Bill away from us!
6. Writing continues to go well on the first book of my new three book Amish series for Abingdon Press (the first book, Run to Me, will appear next fall.) God led me to my career in writing as a teenager about to enter college. The job as a "copy kid" at the local newspaper led to becoming a reporter, a college degree, seeing my books and movies sold, and my career writing and teaching what I love.
7. A granddaughter who's been sick this week is doing better. One of my eyes which experienced some problems got a clean bill of health yesterday, too.
8. Family and friends who enrich my life. No specific person or reason -- it just bears repeating that I'm grateful for them every day.
9. New friends that provide a new slant, a new way of looking at things.
10. Last but definitely the most important item on my list:: witnessing and acknowledging that God is in every situation, not outside it, and I can learn to be grateful for trusting Him to know what is best for me -- especially when I can't see it at the time!
I hope you have a long list of things you're grateful for this week and every week!
Be sure to enter the contest! Just send a note here to the blog and I'll draw a winner and announce the name next week.
'Til next week,
Barbara
So many wonderful things have happened this week. I'm feeling grateful for so many people and so many things. Here's a partial list:
1. You wonderful readers put An Amish Christmas on the CBD Bestseller list at 17th before it's even in the bookstores. Thank you for your support that came in the form of notes to our blog and pre-orders to your favorite bookstores!
2. News that An Amish Christmas has shipped to Beth, Kathy, and me! I get to be the first on the blog to offer a free autographed copy of it in a contest. If you've read this far, just respond here with a note saying what you're grateful for ... it could be something that happened this week or something in the past.
3. Air conditioning and ice cream. I live in Florida and we've had a very hot summer. Enough said.
4. As much as I want my house to sell so I can downsize, it was a relief this past week when no one wanted to see it and I didn't have to run through the house doing the quick clean up frenzy. My back has been hurting since I single-handedly tackled clearing out the garage and moving furniture. Back is getting better, thankfully (and so is Beth's after Wonder Woman decided to load her 80 pound dog with a broken leg into her car all by herself). She's had a time with her back pain and I'm grateful she's feeling better, too. In my case, I'm so grateful for my chiropractor who always seems to work a miracle.
5. A slow hurricane season, with the first big storm that looked scary bypassing Florida and predicted to miss the U.S. as well. After we had three hurricanes in one season hit my area I say thank yous a lot when I see them passing us and not hurting anyone. Thank you, God, for sending Hurricane Bill away from us!
6. Writing continues to go well on the first book of my new three book Amish series for Abingdon Press (the first book, Run to Me, will appear next fall.) God led me to my career in writing as a teenager about to enter college. The job as a "copy kid" at the local newspaper led to becoming a reporter, a college degree, seeing my books and movies sold, and my career writing and teaching what I love.
7. A granddaughter who's been sick this week is doing better. One of my eyes which experienced some problems got a clean bill of health yesterday, too.
8. Family and friends who enrich my life. No specific person or reason -- it just bears repeating that I'm grateful for them every day.
9. New friends that provide a new slant, a new way of looking at things.
10. Last but definitely the most important item on my list:: witnessing and acknowledging that God is in every situation, not outside it, and I can learn to be grateful for trusting Him to know what is best for me -- especially when I can't see it at the time!
I hope you have a long list of things you're grateful for this week and every week!
Be sure to enter the contest! Just send a note here to the blog and I'll draw a winner and announce the name next week.
'Til next week,
Barbara
Posted by Barbara Cameron at 8/21/2009 6:51 AM 
Categories: An Amish Christmas autographed copy contest
Tags: Amish fiction
Categories: An Amish Christmas autographed copy contest
Tags: Amish fiction
Hi,
After 3 back surgeries, and continuing problems, I am grateful that I can now walk. Oh, how one takes walking for granted. I was heading for a wheelchair.
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Linda,
Yes, you are so right about we take walking for granted! I had to use a cane off and on for a week when my back was so bad and it was a sobering experience. Glad you are doing so well now!
Thank you for entering the contest!
Barbara
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Just love reading these everyday and maybe one day I will win something...
Keep up the good work.
Betty Ann
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I am thankful for health and my family. Due to our good health, we can go to PA this Sept. for our annual "Amish vacation". Hurray!! That is really something to be grateful for!!
I would love to win your book. Then, I could purchase others on our trip - since your's is at the top of my list.
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Karla,
Glad to hear you will be heading to a vacation in Amish land. I will be doing so very soon, too.
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am grateful and thankful to God for so much. Each morning when i awake, the first words out of my mouth are Good morning God. I am truly grateful for a wonderful and devoted husband and father to our children. I am grateful for my three children,that we can be homeschooled and for the graces and talents my family possess. For our home and wonderful friends and neighbors. For the blessings of life and even those challenges that we must face.. Even with those challenges it helps me to realize that God loves us all and that through all our experiences we can become stronger and more faithful. I thank God for the books I read, like the Amish fiction by Beth, Barbara, Kathleen, Amy and others as the books provide me and my daughter with quiet time and joy as we read. I have learned to see the many blessings we have in our lives, from the larger things to the simply things of seeing my families faces in the morning, kissing them goodnight, cooking for them and loving and hugging each and everyone of them, tending to our pet, weeding, cleaning, running here and there. I see it all and for this I am grateful I have the hands to do these things, the eyes to see these things, the heart to feel these things and the brain to acknowledge and be happy with. I love life.
Fran
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Dear Fran,
What sweet, sweet sentiments you wrote in this note. I believe your gratitude is why you experience such a continued outpouring of blessings, don't you? I give thanks every morning and then throughout the day and I see things so much differently than I used to.
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I thank God for the renewed strength and health He has granted me after two operations for breast cancer and lymph node removal and going through chemo and radiation treatments with very few problems. God is GOOD!
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Hi Linda,
Wow, you have been through some tremendous health challenges. You have the same first name as my friend who survived breast cancer. I know what a challenge it is after being her friend and watching what she endured. I thank God for the healing He gave both of you!
Thank you for entering the contest!
Barbara
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Betty Ann,
Thank you for entering the contest. And thank you for the nice comment about our blog! We enjoy writing it and love our readers!
Barbara
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I am grateful for a friend who is trying to encourage me as my life falls apart. I am grateful for this blog which uplifts and encourages me on dark days.
Please enter me to win.
I will review it.
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Hi Jane,
Where would we be without friends who are there in bad times as well as good ones for us? Am glad you have someone like that! I couldn't survive without my friends.
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am grateful for the blessings that the Good Lord has given me in my husband, my children, my 2 beautiful granddaughters, my health, my family and my coffee drinking friends.
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Hi Marsha,
You have a lot to be grateful for! And grandchildren are the best, aren't they? My latest, a three year old, is sooo funny and so sweet!
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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Good morning. I'm thankful this day because the mole removed from my back has been found to be benign. Thank you for this opportunity. God bless.
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Linda,
Such good news. So nice to hear!!
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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Hi,I am so very grateful,for my family that I have.And my eye dr,for helping me not lose my sight, I have retina problems bad.And he did laser in both of my eyes,like 2oo in both eyes.He said,my right eye was the worse.I am so very blessed,to see.He was afraid,I was going to lose my sight.But I still have problems reading,I need the large print.I hate it,but I'm very blessed,to even see at all.Your eyes are very important,or we wouldn't be able to see what God has made,in our life,especailly our blue skys,and the green grass.I am blessed. For every thing in my life right now.Truly.
Thank you for the Amish books.I love reading them,and I love looking thing's up on the internet.I had a profile one time,with a Amish background,and all Amish pictures,and my friends thaught it was cool.Keep up the great work.
Tammy Lynn
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Tammy,
That you had retinal problems struck a chord with me. I had some problems in one eye after a nasty headache in it and things got blurry. The eye dr. says it's fine, thank you, God, but it was scary.
Glad you love Amish books like we here at AmishHearts do. Hope you can find more in large print.
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am grateful that I am still walking this earth! Thanking God every day that the doctors were able to repair the injuries from an auto accident almost 3 years ago. I may be in constant pain, but I am here. My husband is here. Thanks be to God!! I am grateful, also, for my son & daughter who have been there for us and for my brother, who has his own medical issues from malpractice by a doctor that could have done a simple test & prevented his kidney failure. I also thank God that my Mom is at peace & no longer suffering from cancer. I miss her daily & still feel guilty that she may think that I should have done more for her. Only God could do that. I thank you God for my life, my family & my friends, old & new. Have a blessed day!!
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Karen,
Yes, you have so much to be grateful for and I always think it is a gift to be a grateful person.
Sorry your mom is gone. I know how hard it is to let go of a parent who is suffering. Am sure she is not blaming you -- I truly believe when our loved ones go on they look down lovingly on us. And yes, God is in charge so there was nothing more for you to do.
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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So happy that this book is already a best seller. I have my pre-release order waiting... I can't wait!!!!!!! Thanks to you, Barbara, Beth, Amy, Kathy & so many more for these wonderful, uplifting stories. The have gotten me through some pretty rough patches in my life. God Bless You All!!
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I am thankful for my husband. He is almost always there for me. I have diabetes along with other health problems and we have been thru a lot of ups and downs with money issues but he is always there for me concerning health matters.
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Hi Rosalie,
So glad to hear that you have a wonderful, supportive husband, especially when it comes to distressing health issues. Too often, one spouse ignores wedding vows when the going gets tough.
Glad to hear you love Amish books. Tthanks for entering the contest so maybe you win one from me!
Barbara
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I love the Amish Books. I usually can finish one of the books in a day. I get so involved in them and the stories are interesting. I read most any Amish Books altho I must say women authors are better writers than men. I actually would prefer reading about Amish than reading regular romance books like I used to read.
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I love to read and like to win books, so I keep on entering and entering, I win one once in a while. May God bless all of you and hope you have a good week end.
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
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Hi Edna,
I love books so winning one sounds good to me, too!
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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Barbara,
Please enter me in the contest. I would love a chance to win a copy of your book. I will tell you the TWO things that I am so very grateful for everyday of every week (not just this week or next week): My two beautiful little boys and my mother....she is my best friend and my confidante. I love her dearly and so thankful that she puts up with me!I would be able to pass the book on to her as we both love Amish stories! My boys are my pride and joy and what keeps me going every day! I am also a newly acquired book review blogger and winning a copy of the book would give me something new to add to my blog reviews. Thank you for this entry into the contest!
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Molly,
Your family sounds wonderful. Two boys -- wow, bet you're busy. My daughter has one (3 yrs old) and he runs her ragged!
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am so grateful for my family, both my immediate and my extended. Also, in these hard economic times, I am grateful for an employed husband so I can stay home with our children!
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Shondra,
Glad you are getting to stay at home with your kids as you want to do. I am very grateful I got to be a stay at home mom for a number of years. I have such wonderful memories of that time.
Thanks for entering the contest.
Barbara
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Hi Barbara,
Thanks for writing about what you have had appreciation for this week - it's always encouraging to me to hear and read good news. Yes, I'm thankful He's in control while I gained a new appreciation for the sense of humor of the Holy Spirit (know already God and His son have that quality) as he led us though three trips or encounters yesterday to find the right place and person to give my sister a haircut she desperately needed!
Keep up all the good writing projects, communications, faithfulness...
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Hi Judith,
Sometimes I tell myself that I'm glad God's in control because He surely knows what I need and what is good for me more than I do. : )
Thanks for reading our blog and the kind words. Good luck with the contest.
Barbara
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I am grateful for a loving God who blesses me every day!!
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Debbie,
Yes, I feel God is a loving God, not the one some fear, and am grateful every day.
Thanks for writing and for entering the contest!
Barbara
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Oh my, where do I begin? This week my husband signed on the dotted line to a buy-out his company is offering. He is 55, so too early to completely retire. So he will be looking for another job shortly after leaving his present one. What I'm thankful for in all of that, though, is because he is 55 he can take all of his health insurance benefits & full pension with him when he walks out the door. We are so blessed with that. So many in his company are getting laid-off & they are too young to get all that my husband is getting. I pray for them & their families. I'm also blessed that we are in a financial situation where him being unemployed for awhile won't hurt us too much. He has worked for 36 years in the "corporate" world, in a very high stress position. He so deserves a little time to kick back. I am praying that now he will find a job where his passion is. We also hope to be able to move forward on building our retirement home--a log home! We've dreamed and planned for that for at least 30 years! We really never intended for it to be our "retirement" home. But life got in the way & we never could stay in one place (thanks to company transfers) long enough to put down roots and build it. Now, hopefully is our time! So many, many blessings--thanks for asking!
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Cathy,
Yes, you are experiencing many blessings -- especially the part about your husband being able to take a buy-out in this economy. How wonderful. Now it seems you'll both get some time for yourselves to do what you've wanted.
Thanks for writing and for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am grateful for three wonderful children who make wise decisions, My husband who puts up with me. The children we teach each Sunday in children's church. Good days for my mother and father-in-law who are both suffering from Alzheimer's. I am thanking God for my sister's husband who was declared CANCER FREE!!!!WOOHOO. I am grateful that God still answers prayer. I am thankful that I found my best friend from high school on facebook after 30 years, and its like we've never been apart. I am grateful for the older women in my church that have so much to teach me. I am grateful to God for allowing me be a blessing to families in need. I am grateful to Christan authors who write books that don't embarrass me. I am grateful that God has given life anew in HIm and an opportunity to serve HIM. I could go on for hours. Thank you for having a contest, but most importantly thank you for causing me to think about what I am grateful for.
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Sheila,
Am so happy for you for all the blessings and for your brother -in-law being cancer free. I appreciate your thanking me for asking readers to think about what they're grateful for today but it has been a joy to read about people being thankful for their lives today. It makes me think again and again about what I am grateful for -- and should be grateful for -- in my life.
Glad you wrote and also that you entered the contest.
Barbara
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I am thankful for being able to see to read wonderful books like yours, and especially God's word, and hear, walk, talk,and think normal, and for a home, even though we had a fire a few months ago that could have taken everything, and I am thankful for the recovery of my daughter from colon cancer, and the way God watchies over my family with my husband out of work, He always provides a way for us to make a way to continue day to day. and I am thankful for wonderful friends who are there to talk to and share their love and support with me, and I am thankful for being able to help others with a smile or kind word because we are all hurting in some way, I have epilepsy and my daughter and oldest son have it and God has helped me to help them cope with this illness and even though some days are so hard, I am so very thankful for having a God who loves me and comforts me during bad times and good and shows me how to help others when they are hurting.. I am blessed by the wonderful inspiration I get from reading your books and thankful for writers like you who have the gift to share your words with us who need them so much. thank you.. you have no idea how many of us read your stories and take away things that help us in our everyday lives long after we put your books down.. God bless each of you.. we love you and thank you God for you... Thank you so much...
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Marti,
How wonderful that you have so much to be grateful for -- and you are wise and loving to acknowledge and credit to God.
It's wonderful to be thanked for writing stories that inspire -- I learn so much for myself as I write and as I read the writing of others.
Thanks for sending your note and for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am so very thankful for my health and my family.Being able to live in the most beautiful small town in America. Having my daughter and her family live right around the corner, having my grandchildren be able to ride their bikes over whenever they want to; being able to walk downtown to main street ,knowing everyone I pass by will wave or stop and talk awhile.Everyday I thank God for these gifts.
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Hi Kathy,
How lucky you live in a place you love and have grandkids so close they can ride their bikes over. If mine were that close, Bet it's hard to let them go home after a visit.
Thanks for writing and entering the contest.
Barbara
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Barbara, I have An Amish Christmas preordered from CBD so I'm waiting but would still love winning one. I love all Amish books and many preodered through spring 2010. I'm getting way ahead of myself and forget what I've orderd. Take Care. Cathy
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Hi Cathy,
Thanks for pre-ordering An Amish Christmas. I still haven't gotten my author copies. I can't wait!
Thanks, too, for writing and entering the contest.
Barbara
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Barbara,
Besides being grateful for all my family and friends, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to meet such wonderful authors and people as Beverly Lewis and Cindy Woodsmall. May God Bless "all" of the Christian fiction writers and keep their stories coming.
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Sandy,
Family and friends are everything, aren't they?
It's so nice to be thanked for writing what we love. Hope you take a look at An Amish Christmas when it appears in bookstores!
Thanks for writing and entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am thankful, first of all, that this blog is working again. I got an error that it was under construction last night. I really enjoy reading and responding to the posts. I am thankful that my cousin is getting over her lymph node infection. Mostly, I'm thankful that it's the weekend, LOL, it was a bad week at work. I'm also thankful that Hurricane Bill has passed by FL and most of the east coast without harming anyone. Who can forget 2004 hurricane season in FL, and even last year's tropical storm Faye?
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Hi Kimberly and Rufus,
So sorry the site said it was down. Have no idea what the problem could have been...
How wonderful that your cousin is healing. And yes, how terrific that Hurricane Bill decided to miss us. I won't forget 2004 -- three hurricanes hit my area and I had to have a new roof put on...thank You, God, for homeowners insurance.
Thanks for writing and entering the contest.
Barbara
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I have so many things that I am thankful for that it was hard to decide on just one. Of course I am so grateful to have God in my life as well as my husband and my children. Those are my priorities, but I thought I would mention another that a lot of people may not...that is my job...I have spent the last nine years in law enforcement, a career that is heartbreaking at times, but very rewarding at others. I was blessed with being chosen as the D.A.R.E. Officer for our local school district. This position allows me to teach young children the dangers of drugs and alcohol. I have to admit that I apparently lived a very sheltered life growing up, so to see some of the things these children have endured is unbelievable. But I am so thankful that God has allowed me to do something positive, to try to help these kids and get them on the right track with their lives. They write an essay at the end of the program telling what they have learned throughout our time together, and more times than not, they have moved me to tears. I love each and every one of them and hope to continue teaching this for many years to come!
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Lori,
How wonderful that you are thankful for a job that can't have been easy many times BUT that is so rewarding.
And how wonderful that young people have someone like you to "be there" for them and provide the inspiration and help to make their lives better by avoiding drug and alcohol abuse.
Thanks for writing and for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am so grateful for so many wonderful things God has given me even the valleys I have had to go through. I also am glad to be able to walk. I had 2 knee replacement operations in 2 years. I am so glad I am NOT a centipede. : ) Two years after the last operation I got the news I had breast cancer. Even though the lump was very small (picked up by a mammogram) it had went into my lymph nodes & I had to have some removed. Of course, that means chemotherapy & radiation treatments. have told some people that it was one of my worse but one of my best times in my life because God was so very close to me. I am so grateful that it has been 2 1/2 yrs. now cancer free. God is so good. I am so grateful for a wonderful, helpful, considerate, understanding,loving husband. We will be married 45 happy years Sept. 25th. We are planning a first time trip to the Great Smokey Mountains in Tenn. on Sept 15-17 We have a beautiful lodge reserved for us.
I have 4 married children and 7 wonderful grandchildren who are all well and doing great.
God has seen me through 11 months of severe depression and now I am well again.
I am grateful for your website ....AND your Amish books!!!!
I wrote and published a book at the age of 60 yrs. entitled "Thy Will Be Done". Truly a dream come true. I am so grateful that dream came true.
I am grateful that God has promised my barren daughter, married 11 years, she will have a baby, adopted or otherwise. I am waiting for the fruition of that promise.
I am grateful for spiritual renewal I received recently at our Campmeeting.
Thank you for your books.
Sincerely,
Sharon
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Hi Sharon,
You have had so many, many wonderful blessings!
Thanks for writing and for entering the contest.
Barbara
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I am grateful that we have christian writers who are not afarid to talk about their faith. Its nice to read about things that God has done to help people. Its nice to have books you not afarid to let yound children read and not be afarid about the languagfe. So thank you for that.
Thanks,
connie
Juzona@aol.com
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