Happy Holidays Everyone!

Happy Holidays Everyone! I hope these next few months will bring all of you plenty of joy. For me, this time of year is so meaningful. It is never been about the money spent as it has been about the cards given and received; the warm hearts and enchanting smiles from others as we shop for the people we love. There's just something grand about this time of year that brings out the best in most people. Or maybe it has something to do with those cold, chilly nights by a fireplace, or the late nights shopping for gifts, we should have maybe purchased months ago.

But for me, I have to say this time of year is perfect. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner which I'm looking forward to, although I’m sure my poor body isn’t, lol— I must say, I plan on cooking plenty and eating for days. But most of all, I’m looking forward to seeing my girls. They will be coming home from school in just two weeks, and I can't wait to see them and spend mommy time with them. I might even wait on putting up my village a few more weeks, so that they can be there to help this year, since last year they had to miss out. Sad faced, right now. Oh— my village— that's something I haven’t talked about, isn’t it? Well, it's my little town that I set up every year just before Thanksgiving. I know you’ll love it. I can’t wait to show it off to you, and hopefully get your comments about it. 

        

                     So from me to all of you—Happy Holidays! 

To truly love — one must have lived love in their past, is experiencing love in their present and can voluntarily give their love in the future

What's a Friend

When someone picks up a phone to reach out to you

When someone sends a text because they're thinking of you

When someone drives miles just to get to you

When someone cries not for their self, but for you

When someone laughs not at you, but with you

Then you know what a friend is to you

Family

There's a great deal to be said about family. As a writer and author, I find myself most of the time craving alone time. But not too far in, that time gets sort of lonely and I fall into a writer's block, although not for very long. I have wonderful family and friends, and they've been so supportive, and willing to deal with me and my read overs, day after day, week after week and far into months if not the entire year later, and I really appreciate them all for that, especially my sister Arnetrice and my mother. I'm sure the cravings they have for the finished product of my books out ways by far, my craving to end a novel with a "what just happened here?" I'm so blessed to have them, and I hope they all feel just as I do, when I say that I love you  and thank you all for taking this journey with me. But writing is a serious job and although it's enjoyable to me beyond any words I can probably describe, it's hard work, and a full time dedication. But then again, what in life, worth it, isn't?

Someone Asked Me

       Someone asked me today, who was Marie Dai'Re. I started off the conversation easy, not wanting to seem too sure of myself.  I told them that I was a mother, a wife, a daughter, author--stop. Yes, they cut me off right there. I can't say I got upset when their next question was-- that's not what I asked. I want to know Marie Dai'Re they said. Now I was looking a bit puzzled and, I want to say silly. I thought I had this Marie Dai'Re thing all figured out, I mean, that is me after all, right? Well, anyway. This person asked me again, who is Marie Dai'Re, but they then told me to leave out the family and friends, the house, the dogs, the job, etc.. 
      Now they had me sweating, mentally that is. I mean after all, those were the answers to the question. I smiled and inhaled. I then looked at them sort of casually and tried to appear above the curb--the one I felt I was standing in front of looking up over, and said. Well, Marie Dai'Re is a creative, kind, loving, honest, loyal, and all around good person when she wants to be. Marie Dai'Re is happy most of the time, but she can be sad too. Marie Dai'Re is giving and trust worthy, and enjoys making others laugh, Marie Dai'Re is--'stop', she says, cutting me off for the second time. Funny, and I was deep into myself then.
      She smiled, and I smiled, and she then says, "Now you know who you are." I looked at her a while longer (I'm not going to tell you what I wanted to do), and that's when it hit me. Although I am a mother, wife, daughter, friend, sister, cousin, in-law and so many other things to others-- none of those are Marie Dai'Re. She's so much more, and that's not being arrogant, well, maybe a little, but hey, we all deserve a little bragging rights. But, seriously,  it's not just about the day to day badges we wear, as it is about the inner us. Our character-- that person we must be in order to build the foundation around us. Without truly knowing who we are within--none of those other parts of us really matter. A subject I would like to discuss in my  next blog if anyone would like to touch on it.
     Now, what about you...who are you? Sit and think about that for a moment. Now when your ready, and I mean really ready--share it with me. I love to know the real you.