COAST
COURIER
A
quarterly newsletter from
Karen O'Connor Communications
July
2008
Dear
friends, family, and colleagues:
Greetings from Watsonville, California.
News from our corner of the world:
Happy
Summer!
| We've had a busy season! In May we attended our adopted grandson Brian's high school graduation from St. John's Military School in Salina, Kansas with his mother, cousin, and sister. He made it and we're proud of him. |
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I celebrated Mother's Day with my daughter Erin and her daughters at a beautiful nearby garden, Wisteria, surrounded by flowers, antiques, and delicious appetizers. |
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| I led the preschool story time at the La Selva Library with Miss Heather, the librarian. Grandson Miles was in the front row! |
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Karen and fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Dean.
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Later than month I was the guest speaker in my granddaughter Mairin's fourth grade classroom. I taught the students how to write a simple picture book based on two of mine. They made it a class project. |
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| In June Charles and I met a wonderful new family, the Nepas, originally from the Congo—but now our neighbors and friends. Here they are in our yard for a Sunday lunch. The kids have adopted us as their American grandparents. More to love! |
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Karen and Charles with Florence Littauer.
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In July Charles and I attended the International Christian Retail Show (Christian Booksellers Convention) and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) weekend in Orlando, Florida. It was a pleasure to hear our dear friend Florence Littauer give her signature presentation, "Silver Boxes" at the AWSA Awards Banquet. |
Karen and friend Claudia Ward at Claudia's autograph session at ICRS for her first book, Who Says a Woman Can't Change: 8 Ways To Prove She Can (Wine Press).
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Speaker-writer and friend, Jennifer Rothschild, and Karen in the Harvest House hospitality suite in Orlando.
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I had special meetings with the folks at Harvest House regarding my latest projects. Gettin' Old Ain't For Wimps will go into gift format next and we are looking at other ways to bring my humorous books for seniors to more readers. A large print edition of The Golden Years Ain't For Wimps will be published by Thorndike Press and the CD version will appear in the Starcrest Catalogue. This series of books has made a huge hit with the over-the-hill gang (of which I am an upstanding member)! |
    
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| Following our time in Orlando we visited our oldest daughter Julie and her family in Cincinnati, Ohio. |
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Charles, Karen, Liam and Johannah at the Freedom Center in Cinci.
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Johannah, the cashier
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Jacob, the sax player
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11-year-old Caitrin—the reader
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| Then we spent a few days in Lexington, Kentucky visiting Charles' brother and his wife Helen. It was a true haven—after a busy 10 days. |
Charles and Robert.
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Beautiful moon flower on Robert and Helen's deck. Blooms at night, closes and dies in the morning.
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Attending a down-home Bluegrass concert.
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Shevawn surrounded by two theater friends.
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Now we look forward to seeing our granddaughter Shevawn as Ariel, the leading female role, in a musical production of Footloose in early August. She is carrying on our family's love of theater and it's such a pleasure to see her share her amazing talents in acting and singing. |
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Some things to consider. . .
Reflection:
My purpose is to give you life in all its fullness (John 10:10).
Action:
Charles and I attended a fabulous workshop titled "Conflict to Resolution" and I picked up this simple but excellent reminder for living an extraordinary life. Maybe it will speak to you too.
Tell the truth.
Feel your feelings.
Keep your agreements.
Live consistently according to your values.
Thought for the month:
We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
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
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