A Holiday Stress Free Mom

Holidays are a time for family and friends, but with all we seemingly have to do it seems we have little time to spend with the family and friends. Let me tell you a secret, one that will help relieve the stress your feeling. The family and friends will never know or notice what you didn’t get done. They will see all that you did do and will rejoice in your efforts.

So this year, I’m baking a limited amount of Christmas cookies and not the piles I normally do. There are always so many left over and I’m the one who eats as many I can before feeding the rest to the birds and deer.

Gifts are numbered this year too. Everyone will get a wrapped gift so they get that feeling of opening a surprise package but the rest are going into bags or card gifts.

Christmas breakfast will be a crockpot quiche (recipe given to me by a friend) which is made the night before and cream chipped beef which can be made days before. Christmas dinner went from sit down to buffet, again with many dishes prepared day before.

I’m actually thinking making it a ‘Come home in your sweats or PJ day’
My family will be fed and have gifts and non-stressed mother.

So do you have any time-saving hints or recipes for this holiday?

Obsessed By WildFire releases January 27, 2010

I'm so excited! I have a release date for Obsessed By Wildfire coming from The Wild Rose Press. January 27, 2010. That is only seven weeks away. WOW! Take a moment and go to my website www.autumnjordon.com under news for upcoming blog dates and locations where I'll be giving away prizes to celebrate. I hope you can make a few.

Here is excerpt.

The sight of the Yankee looming over her, his muscular forearms crossed across his broad chest, his jaw working, set Isabelle back a step. She couldn’t see his eyes through his sunglasses, but she knew they were probably the same stormy blue she remembered from last night, challenging her.

“What do you want?”

“I have a few words to say to you.”

“Then say em’.”

“You’re really full of yourself, lady. If you’ll recall, I told you two things last night. First, I’m here on important business. And second, if you want more of what went on between us then you’re going to have to find me.”

“Then why did you call me?”

“I didn’t.”

Her eyes darted toward the restaurant behind him. A blue gingham curtain dropped back into place. Heat crawled up her neck. Damn. Just as she feared. The biggest gossips in the whole damn town were watching and talking about what happened between her and Warner last night at the Blue Bug and what was going on between them now. Mentally she scratched out Chicky’s name from her hit list and substituted Ray-Ray’s.

“When I called for the cab a man answered. I guess he was the dispatcher or owner. I didn’t know you worked for the cab company. I thought you worked for—” Warner’s lips sealed and he shifted his stance.

“You thought I worked for who?”

“I thought you had something to do with horses and the rodeo.”

“I do. I’m a barrel racer, and I am the cab company.”

“Oh. I see. Well, if you don’t feel comfortable servicing me, I guess I can go back inside and ask one of the locals for a ride. Maybe that Ray-Ray guy.”

She knew he used the word servicing to needle her. She’d be damn if he was going to get her riled in front of the whole damn town. “No. Mr. Warner. I have no problem servicing you. Let’s go.”

HOPE

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Hope. We all carry the desire—some of us on the cuff, others deep inside.
Hope. We all dream for different things; health, wealth, love.
Hope. We all cling to our faith—some with weak spirits, others with strong hearts.

Hope. Some of us share our desires with others.
Hope. Some of us dream alone.
Hope. Some of us cling to faith when others are lost.

Hope. Know, only you can decide if your desire is worthy of sacrifice.
Hope. Know, you can make a dream come true.
Hope. Know, when others are lost you can share your faith.

My hope this holiday is that a young couple I know feels God's touch and their battle against cancer is won. Please share your hope, if you so desire.

Happy Thanksgiving

Every year on this day at 9 a.m., emotions roll through me. When I was growing up, my grandfather would call and ask if we had the parade on. His call became tradition. Not one Thanksgiving has passed that I don't stop my preparation of the holiday feast and take a moment to remember the joy Grandpap and my other grandparents gave me as a child. I hope my grandchildren remember me with as much love.

I hope you have a moment today to remember a special person in your past and to create a memory for someone. Happy Thanksgiving. AJ