I am humbled once again....

I  have been honored with the One Lovely Blog Award.  Thank you, Casey!  Please check out Casey's blog over at http://enjoyingthewritingcraftblogspot.com/. 

I am to pass on this award to 15 blogs.  I know I'm missing some, but I'd like to note some writers' blogs that I think you'll really enjoy and that I happen to think are lovely.   

1.  Keli Gwyn.  Keli, you are one of the loveliest people I know and your blogs reflect that.  You encourage and lift up others so much and I know that I appreciate you and your blogs so much!  Thank you, dear friend.  Please visit Keli at http://romancewritersonthejourney.wordpress.com/ and http://keligwyn.blogspot.com/ (Joy on the Journey). 

2.  Renee Lynn Scott.  Renee,  you have encouraged me, listened to me, and never failed to tell me exactly how it is.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You are a lovely dear friend and I'm so blessed to have you in my life.  Please check out Renee's blog "Unlocking History Through Romance" at http://reneelynnscott.blogspot.com/.

3.  Erica Vetsch.  Erica, we just recently e-met, but you are a lovely person and have a wonderful blog.  Thanks so much for encouragement during Nano and the plotting board help.  I look forward to getting to know you better. Please find Erica at http://onthewritepath.blogspot.com/.

4.  Kathleen L. Maher.  Kathleen, I can't say enough about how lovely you are.  You have one of the most lovely, beautiful spirits I've ever had the honor of meeting and knowing.  You're the best, sweet friend.  Simply the best.  Please check out Kathleen's blog "History Repeats Itself" at http://kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com/.

5.  Lee Smith.  Lee, you are amazing!  You've got to be one of the strongest women I know.  You have such a lovely personality and giving heart.  Thank you for all your encouragement and kind words to me.  I am so grateful to know you.  Please check out Lee's blog "Butterly Blessings" at http://leesmithwriting.blogspot.com/.

6.  Sandi Rog.  Sandi, you have a lovely blog.  I don't know you well yet, but I appreciate you and your pearls of wisdom.  You encourage me.  You are a godly woman and I am honored to have you follow my blog.   Thank you.  I know that Casey already bestowed this award on you, but I felt I had to give it to you as well.  Please visit Sandi's blog "Dare to Dream" at http://sandirog.blogspot.com/.

7.  Bonnie Calhoun.  Bonnie, you are a hoot!  I love the wisdom, encouragement, and humor you offer up on your blog.  You have such a giving heart and lovely spirit.  You truly reach out to others.  Thank you!  I appreciate your help so much.   Please check out Bonnie's blog at http://bonniescalhoun.blogspot.com/.

8.  Stephanie Morrill.  Stephanie, you are such a sweetie.  Lovely, indeed!  Thank you for your friendship, encouragement, and your sense of humor.  Stephanie's blog is part of her website at http://www.stephaniemorrillbooks.com/.  Please check it out.

9.  Ralene Burke.  Ralene, you are beyond lovely.  Sweet.  Sweet. Sweet.  Your friendship is truly a gift and one I will treasure forever.  Thank you.... for SO much.  Please check out Ralene's blog "Call to Love"  at http://calltolove.blogspot.com/.

Thank you so much, ladies, for the impact you have had on my writing and my life.  You are all blessings to me.  If you feel so led, please pass on this award to those blogs that you feel are lovely. 

Happy New Year! 

Susie

Merry Christmas!

Today is Christmas Eve and I'm amazed at how quickly this year has passed.  I wanted to take a moment and wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and many blessings for the new year.  

Remember, dear friends, the best gifts at Christmas aren't those that can be wrapped up and placed under the tree.  The best gifts are those from the heart.  

There's one gift that can bring joy like no other. In fact, it's so awesome, you'll want to pass it on because it will multiply your joy when you do. Let's share the message of God's love and gift to us through his Son, Jesus Christ.  It's truly the gift that keeps on giving!

Merry Christmas!  I hope that the joy of Jesus and the celebration of His birth fills your heart completely to overflowing! 

I Am Humbled

Thank you to my dear friend, Ralene.  I have been blessed by becoming her friend through our local chapter of ACFW.   She is such a special person and I am honored by her bestowing upon me "The Circle of Friends Award."   Big hug, Ralene!  Back at 'cha, kiddo.  Check out Ralene's blog at http://calltolove.blogspot.com/.

Five things I love to do:

1. Write

2. Read

3. Spend time with my hubby and daughter -- doing anything or nothing.

4.  Serve Christ through serving others.

5.  Travel

I believe the rules are to pass it on to five people.  I could do more, but I'll stick with these five for now.  

1.  To Lee Smith over at Butterfly Blessings.  http://leesmithwriting.blogspot.com/.  You have such a sweet, sweet spirit and I'm honored to be getting to know you.

2.  Renee Lynn Scott over at Unlocking History Through Romance.  http://reneelynnscott.blogspot.com/
 You have been such an encouragement and support to me in so many ways.  I love ya', sister. 

3.  Kathleen over at History Repeats Itself http://kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com/  You're the best!  You're a wonderful prayer warrior and a patient critique partner.  I'm proud to be your sister in Christ and your friend. 

4.  Stephanie at http://www.stephaniemorrillbooks.com/  You're so nice, cute, helpful, and .....young!  Big smile! You've done amazing things at such a young age.  Congratulations on your books, dear friend.  I'm honored to be the recipient of your friendship and your advice.  I love your sense of humor!

5.  Robynn at http://ranunculusturtle.blogspot.com/  You're so funny!  I'm glad you're in my Sunday school class.  It just wouldn't be the same without you in it.  I'm so glad you jumped on the blogging wagon. 

Thanks, dear friends, for embracing me and my writing.  I love each one of you, dear sisters. 
Blessings to you,
Susie

And the Book Blessing Goes to....

....Merry!  Congratulations, Merry!  You have been blessed with the autographed copy of Jillian Hart's GINGHAM BRIDE!  I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. 

I'll be e-mailing you to get your address so I can ship your book to you.  

Blessings!
Susie

Gingham Bride Book Review and Give Away

Gingham Bride by Jillian Hart * Fiction - Inspirational Historical Romance *
(Buttons and Bobbins Series ) 2009 * Steeple Hill * ISBN-13: 978-0-373-82823-4

I’ve been a fan of Jillian Hart’s writing for some time now. Once again, Hart had me pulled into her story from the very beginning and kept me there through the entire book. I felt as I was living right alongside her characters. In fact, I stayed up way later last night than was prudent for an early rising this morning, but I did it anyway. I didn’t want to put her book down.

***

Fiona thinks her life can’t get any worse and dreams and plans for the day that she can escape the control of her abusive father and defeated, angry mother. Since her brother died, she has lived in a house completely void of kindness, caring, or love of any sort. Her only respite is when she finds solace in the barn with the animals and at school or church with her friends. She lives in fear that one false move will send her drunken father into a fit of rage and invite yet another beating from him.

Just when she thinks life can get no worse, she finds that Ian, the man who her father had "arranged” for her to marry someday, shows up. Does he really want her or just her father’s land? When terms cannot be met and he leaves, her father finds someone else for her to marry. Will she be forced to live in a worse place with a horrendous man even more abusive than her father? Ian comes to the rescue, but with terms she can’t seem to understand. She tries to keep her heart uninvolved and out of harm’s way. Will she keep her vow to never marry and let a man have control over her?

This is a wonderful holiday love story showing how God’s love works through a patient man who lives as the Lord leads him and puts those he loves first before himself and his own dreams. This story is woven beautifully to show how God can heal the broken heart of a young girl who’s lived a lifetime of pain and rejection, helping her learn to trust and even love a man who seems too good to be true.

In fact, I want to be a part of Fiona’s sewing circle. I would love to read more love stories of the characters in this book, as well as see more into the married life of Fiona and Ian. The characters are so likable that you don’t want their stories to end. I’m late getting this review out, but if you can get your hands on this book – read it - you won’t regret it! I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I will be giving away an autographed copy of this book that Jillian has graciously provided. Anyone who makes a comment on this blog entry between now and through Wednesday, December 16th, will be automatically entered to win this autographed copy of Gingham Bride. I will draw a name and post the winner on Thursday morning, December 17, 2009.  Be watching – you might be the winner! As a thank you, if you're a follower of my blog and you leave a comment, I will enter your name twice in the drawing! 

Happy reading, everyone!  Check out Jillian's website at http://www.jillianhart.net/

Cookies for Christmas!

I'd like to share a recipe for the best sugar cookies in the whole world!  Well, okay, that's my humble opinion.  They're a softer, thicker sugar cookie.  But first, a short story to go with the cookie recipe. 

I grew up eating these tasty morsels whenever Pearl made them.  Pearl was like a grandma to me, although there was no biological connection between us.  She's been gone about 26 years, I guess, and I still miss her.  My daughter has met her only through the stories I've told her about Pearl and her husband, Chick, and a few pictures.  When my daughter was about three years old, she did get to meet Pearl's niece when she came to visit us. (Hi, Rindy!) Has that been 11 years ago already?  It was a wonderful time of memories and stories shared -- a sweet  time of fellowship and laughter.  

I can imagine your brow wrinking in question.  You're thinking....did she really say "Chick" was Pearl's husband's name?  Yep!  Chick might seem like an odd name for a man.  His real name was Owen, but we always called him Chick.  I was told that he grew up on a chicken farm and the nickname stuck. Both Pearl and Chick were very special to my family.  Happy memories abound from my growing up years and they are included in many of those precious memories.   

No, all those memories don't involve food, but she WAS a fabulous cook!  So, back to the cookie recipe.

Pearl's Sugar Cookies

3 C. flour                                                1 C.. shortening

2 t. baking powder                                 2 eggs

1 scant t. baking soda                             1 C. sugar

1/2 t. salt                                                4 T. milk

1 t. vanilla or lemon extract (1 t. vanilla & 1/2 t. lemon)

Sift together the flour, baking powder, badking soda and salt.  Cut in shortenin just as for pie crust.  Beat eggs and add sugar, milk and extracts.  Combine with mixture of dry ingredients and shortening and blend well.  Make dough into ball and chill in the refrigerator.  Roll thin and cut cookies.  Bake until lightly browned in a moderate oven (350 degrees).  Cookies may be sprinked with sugar before baking, but I prefer to ice them with an icing made of powdered sugar and orange juice. 

Susie's note:  Her icing seemed to make the cookies extra special.  But I think they were even more tasty because she made them with love. 

  ------------

I know these cookies call for shortening, not so healthy.  But it's Christmas.  If you want a delicious sugar cookie that literally melts in your mouth, Pearl's recipe will not disappoint you. 

Happy baking this Christmas season!  I've enjoyed sharing this recipe with you and reliving a few memories along the way.   Do you have any special memories or recipes? 

There's something to be said about traditions......

Several years ago, my hubby started a wonderful tradition with my daughter.  He takes her Christmas shopping to buy a gift for me.   Now before you start thinking I'm thinking it's special because the end result is a present for me, bear with me.  It's a special time that they both look forward to, even though my hubster is not particularly fond of shopping.  This trip he doesn't mind and really enjoys.  My daughter looks forward to it with anticipation. 

During this shopping excursion, they always get a special little treat at the mall -- usually a gourmet cookie.    They Christmas shop and pick out our wrapping paper for the Christmas season's gifts and then they bring home their goodies. 

When they arrive home, my daughter always opens the door and hollers, "Mom, we're home.  Don't look!" Then they rush in with their bags and dash to our bedroom.  You can hear the sounds of rustling paper, tape being taken off the roll, talking, and laughing -- you know, the sounds of Christmas secrets.  After placing the wrapped packages under the tree, she calls for me to come in and sit down.  Almost ceremoniously, my daughter grabs one particular gift and presents it to me.   I think they are as excited as I am to open this one special gift.  This gift, wrapped with love along with the beautiful paper, is an ornament for our tree.   

This year, it was a snow-parent holding and hugging a little snow-child in its arms.  So precious!  I LOVED it!  My daughter told me that they decided to purchase this one because I like hugs so much.  Aaaawww!  Would you please pass the tissues?  Sniff, sniff. 

Although I always like my Christmas gifts, the most special thing is not what the actual gift is that I receive. It's the thought, love, and care that they put into the purchase that makes the gift amazing.  And that they get to have this special daddy-daughter date that makes shopping for Mom's Christmas gift not just buying a present -- but an amazingly special time with her father that is making memories for a lifetime.

May this Christmas season and your traditions find you making new precious memories along with remembering those special times from Christmases past.  I'd love to hear some of your special traditions.

Merry Christmas!

Welcome! Same blog, new address!

Hey, everyone!  This is my new blog addy.  I'm changing it from http://susans-sampler.blogspot.com/ so it'll be easier for everyone to remember and find under my  name.    I'm in the process of posting to notify all my followers so that they can find me and hopefully, follow and bookmark me at this new location.  You're all super great and I appreciate you so much for all your support, encouragement and dedication in visiting my blog. 

As soon as I get everything switched over, my blog will look a lot better and more organized.  Please bear with me while it is UNDER CONSTRUCTION!  

God bless you! 
Susie

Change of Blog Address

Hey, everyone!  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....humming....  Oh, sorry!  I actually need to make an announcement. 

I've decided to change my blog addy to http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com/ .  My brand or tag is still "Journeys of Love ... Inspired by Faith," but I wanted my address to be easier to find.  Thanks to a wonderful, wonderful woman by the name of Bonnie Calhoun who helps out google, I was able to retrieve that name again.  Woo-hoo!  (I thank you SO much, Bonnie, you awesome techy, you!)  I think this will be a better address down the road and easier for friends and people to remember and to find my blog.   I figured it would be better to make the change now rather than later, since I've only been blogging since June of this year.

I want to say that I appreciate all of you who take the time to follow and read my blog.   I don't want to lose any of you.  And now that Nano is over, I plan to be a more productive blogger.

 You all have inspired, encouraged, and supported me more than I can say.  I appreciate you so much!   I'll be leaving this blog up for awhile to link to my new addy.  Once I realize that people know my new location and have a chance to follow me on my new blog address, I'll transfer over all my posts and info from this "Susan's Sampler" blog address.   I do apologize for the inconvenience to you in having to RE-follow or RE-bookmark me, but I would greatly appreciate it if you would.

Thank you, all!  There's a link to e-mail me from my profile page if you have any questions.
Blessings to you!
Susie

December -- It's here already!

Wow!  December first is here and the wonderful Christmas season is in full swing.  I know that the stores have had out decorations for some time now.  I find that very irritating actually.  It's not even the birth of Christ they're recognizing either.  It's the secular holiday they're celebrating and it seems to get shoved at  the consumer earlier and earlier every single year.

Are they trying to skip Thanksgiving all together?  Even though we should celebrate Thanksgiving to God every single day in our hearts, I enjoy getting together with family and having a day of special celebration of thanksgiving and fellowship with those I love every year.  Thanksgiving wasn't even here yet and neighborhood Christmas lights were "turned on" already.  I understand taking a nice day to hang lights on your house, but don't turn them on until at least nightfall on Thanksgiving Day, people!   Whew!  Sorry, I had a moment of passionate outcry about rushing Christmas. 

Very simple decorations consisting of a pumpkin, a pot filled with pretty autumn leaves and a scarecrow sat next to the ironwork wrapped with leaves that decorated our front door for autumn and Thanksgiving this year --  while Christmas lights glowed from the neighborhood and surrounding area. It just looked weird.  Lots of people turn on their lights and put up their trees the evening of Thanksgiving.  That's nice.  But it bugs me when people rush it too much.  It seems to rob some of my joy and glee when I start seeing Christmas stuff around the end of October.   Is it just me or does it bug you too? 

Okay, so I sort of went off momentarily about my dislike of rushing Christmas and putting out decorations too early.  I truly love the Christmas season.  I love the lights, watching Christmas movies, drinking hot chocolate, and listening to Christmas music.  Those things are warm and fuzzy and make me feel full of the Christmas spirit,  but I never want to concentrate too much on all the glitzy wrappings and forget that JESUS is the reason for the season!  Happy Birthday, Jesus! 

Here's wishing you and yours on this first day of December a full and wonderful Christmas season that focuses on the birth of Christ and all the joy that comes with celebrating that.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!