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COAST COURIER
A quarterly newsletter from
Karen O'Connor Communications
April 2007
Dear friends, family, and colleagues:
Hello
again from Watsonville, California. This is the second issue
of my quarterly newsletter. The first quarter whooshed by!
I hope you've had a wonderful year so far.
News from the Central Coast:
| One
day a week I help my daughter Erin home school my granddaughter
Mairin, who will be nine in June. I'm getting a refresher
course in reading, spelling and basic math. Am I 'smarter
than a fifth grader?' I don't think so! |
Mairin
and her Tuesday teacher.
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Three-year-old
Miles loves to come to Grammy's house for treats, TV
cartoons and games.
Thirteen-year-old
Shevawn and I love to talk about theatre and music and
trade commentary on the latest season of American Idol. |
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| I had a special Easter/birthday this year with family and
friends, including a backyard Easter egg hunt. |
Birthday tulips from my daughter
Julie and family.
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What's up?
I'm still open to receiving cute 'story seeds' relating humorous
and inspiring incidents common to those of us over 50, for my
new book, The Golden Years Ain't For Wimps due at Harvest
House Publishers September 1. If you'd like to contribute
something I can use as the basis of one of my stories, please
request details. karen@karenoconnor.com
| In
February I was a part of the mentor team at the Jerry B.
Jenkins "Writing for the Soul" Conference in
Colorado Springs and a workshop leader at the Mount Hermon
Christian Writers Conference in Mount Hermon, California
in early April. |
Harvest House authors with editor Nick Harrison
at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference.
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In March I had a wonderful visit to the American Family
Living studio in Southern California, speaking about The
Beauty of Aging (Regal Books) for a week of programs.
I'll be returning later this year to tape two weeks of shows
that focus on the Getting Old Ain't For Wimps series
(Harvest House). |
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I also appeared as a guest speaker for two groups of home
school students.
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On
the home front, my husband is planting flowering shrubs
in the front and backyard. We lost some during the frost.
A few hardy ones are left and are poking their little heads
above ground to see what's going on. We're there with water
and food and encouragement. I put a decorative rock among
them with the word GROW. And I placed a special rock for
my husband under the dogwood tree. |
What's next?
 |
I received
word recently that Oasis Audio picked up two of my "Wimps" books
so I will be flying to Chicago in June to tape the books
in my voice. Friends in the know tell me to bring throat
lozenges and plenty of water to sustain me over the two-and-a-half
day taping session! I'm excited about this opportunity
to share my books with a listening audience. |
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Charles and I are leaving the end of April for a trip of a lifetime.
We'll visit my sister Shevawn and her family in Italy for a week
and then fly to Switzerland where we hope to track down the village
and the street where Charles' great-grandfather had his home
and business. Following that excursion we will board the Viking
Sun and cruise the Rhine River from Basel, Switzerland to Antwerp,
Belgium. What a blessing it will be.
I'll take plenty of photos and share a few in my
next issue.
Some things to consider. . .
Reflection:
". . .Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1
Timothy 6:6 NIV).
Inspiration:
"Laughter
is the shortest distance between two people."
Victor Borge
Action:
Following are 31 ways you can bring more joy into your life--an
action for each day of May.
| 1 Invite
a new neighbor in for afternoon tea and conversation--a
time to get acquainted and be together. |
| 2 Meet
a business colleague for a lunchtime walk--exercise and
conversation without calories. |
| 3 Give
your spouse a foot rub or a back massage before bed to
help him/her unwind (the next night could be your turn). |
| 4 Walk
barefoot on the grass in early morning--an invigorating
'wake up' call to your body. |
| 5 Stop
before work for a cup of your favorite brew and a big,
fat muffin. Sit awhile and reflect as you sip and
chew. |
| 6 Visit
a bookstore and browse the shelves. Pick a book that
is just right for this moment in your life. Buy it,
take it home, and read it! |
7 Call
someone you haven't seen in several weeks or months. Chat
and reconnect.
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| 8 Send
a note, a postcard, or greeting card to six people in your
address book--just to say hello, thinking of you today. |
| 9 Take
a leisurely salt bath, then a nap. |
| 10 Buy
yourself a bouquet of flowers--or even a single rose. Place
it on your desk or dresser where you'll see it each day. |
| 11 Jot
down in your day planner or on a tablet all the blessings
you received today. Revisit the list a week from
now and see how rich you are. |
| 12 Purchase
a medley of fresh fruits and make a big fruit salad. Then
feast on this healthy food and notice how good you feel
afterwards. |
| 13 Call
your parents (if they're alive) and tell them you love
them--even if the relationship is difficult. You're alive
because of them, and that's something to be joyful about.
If they've gone before you, whisper a prayer of thanks
for their gift of life to you. |
14 Stand
in front of the mirror and declare out loud two positive
things you notice about yourself. |
| 15 Take
a risk. (Tell someone the truth you've been withholding;
compliment someone you admire; etc.) |
| 16 Volunteer
at the local hospital, Girl or Boy Scouts, church youth
group, local government. |
| 17 Be
creative. Bake a fancy cake. Arrange dried flowers
in a pretty basket. Sew. Knit. Make jewelry. Draw.
Sketch. Play a round of golf. |
| 18 Start
a joy journal. Write down today and each day, one thing
you have to be joyful about. |
| 19 Plan
your summer vacation. Take one step toward making it happen. |
| 20 Buy
a new set of bed linens in a bold pattern or color that
makes you smile. |
21 Toss
or give away all clothing you haven't worn in the past
two years. |
| 22 Enroll
in a class--just for fun: cooking, French, needlepoint,
ice-skating, sculpture, cake decorating, etc. |
23 Veg! (It's
okay to take time out to sit and stare.) |
| 24 Drink
eight glasses of water today. Notice how you feel
when you're fully hydrated. |
| 25 Smile
at everyone you meet today. Pay attention to who
smiled back! |
| 26 Allow
someone else to have the 'last' word--even when you deserve
it. |
| 27 Listen
to classical music while driving. |
28 Ask
for help when you need it. It's a joy to share a
burden. |
| 29 Balance
your bank account. Oh the relief you'll feel! |
| 30 Comfort
someone in need. |
31 Say or
write an original prayer of thanks today--for a month of
joyful new discoveries and reflections. |
Communication:
Let's stay in touch. I'd love to hear from you. . .
karen@karenoconnor.com
Till next time, be well, and may you be blessed.
Karen O'Connor
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