COAST COURIER

A quarterly newsletter from
Karen O'Connor Communications

April 2008

Dear friends, family, and colleagues:

Greetings from Watsonville, California.

News from our corner of the world:

Happy Spring!

Flowers are popping up all over our yard, thanks to my husband Charles who planted 75 bulbs and assorted flowering plants last fall.
	We celebrated leap year with friends at a church dance and learned the merengue!
April is a big month for me. On the eighth I turned 70! Suddenly I'm part of the elder-gang. I don't feel any different than I did last month or last decade but nonetheless the years are there. I'm grateful, however, for good health. Just had a physical and eye exam and all is well.
	I celebrated this milestone birthday by treating my two daughters, Julie and Erin, and my sister June and myself to an all-girls' weekend in San Francisco. We ate, slept, napped, walked, and played well. It was a very special time for all of us. We surely left our hearts in San Francisco!
All Aboard!

CAREER NEWS:

In February, I attended (as a mentor) the Christian Writers Guild annual "Writing for the Soul" Conference in Colorado Springs at the stately Broadmoor Hotel.

In March I taught nonfiction at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Guild. The cherry trees were just blooming!

A LARGE PRINT edition of Walkin' With God Ain't For Wimps  (Harvest House, 2007) was released this month from Gale/Cengage Learning. How nice to know that vision-impaired readers can now enjoy my book.

The Golden Years Ain't For Wimps (Harvest House) was released this month along with a companion CD from Oasis Audio. That makes three of my books now available on CD, thanks to the folks at Oasis.

The Beauty of Aging, (Regal Books 2006) has been published in Spanish and will be released in the Simple Chinese Language next year.

My next book in the popular "Wimps" series is Bein' A Grandparent Ain't For Wimps. Here's the cover—right off the drawing board. The book will be  published in January 2009.

I spoke at the Chino Valley Community Church Spring Tea and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group earlier this month. What a lovely group of women, all very receptive to my presentations, Squeeze the Moment and The Secret of a Grateful Heart.

PERSONAL NEWS:

Charles and I will fly to Salina, Kansas next week to see our 'adopted' grandson, Brian Wheeler, graduate from St. John's Military Academy. We're looking forward to seeing him in full uniform as he steps up to receive his diploma.

Our granddaughter Mairin had a role in the children's play, "Peter Pan" here in Santa Cruz, California and many family members gathered to cheer her on.

Some things to consider. . .

Reflection:

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me: your love, O Lord, endures forever  . . . (Psalm 138:8).

Action:

Based on the article "Lessons From Aunt Grace," Reader's Digest, July, 1984, I created one of my most popular presentations: Squeeze the Moment: Making the Most of Life's Gifts and Challenges and a book by the same title (published by Regal Books).

Here are six action steps from the article. Practicing them has changed my life in a profound way. Perhaps they will inspire you too.

•  Do something for someone else.

•  Do something for yourself.

•  Do something that needs doing that you don’t want to do.

•  Do a physical exercise.

•  Do a mental exercise.

•  End each day with an original prayer of thanksgiving.

Thought for the month:  To God be the glory—no matter what the circumstances are. HE is able . . .

Let's stay in touch. I'd love to hear from you. . .

karen@karenoconnor.com

If you're interested in reading my blog, please check it out:
www.WordyKaren.blogspot.com

Till next time, be well, and may you be blessed.

Karen O'Connor Home Page  | Previous Newsletters