So far, so good. 
On New Year’s Eve, I put twelve white votive candles on a circular mirrored plate, one for each month of 2015. A large center candle, also white, stood in the center, welcoming the coming year as a whole, and still another white candle represented 2o14. The latter was a way of saying good-bye and thank you to the old year, with all its ups and downs, joys and sorrows. Life, after all, is made up of both. I wrote out some intentions (forget resolutions, I never keep them) on index cards and, with prayer and reflection, lit the wicks. The whole experience seemed so sacred, so right, that I didn’t want to let go of it. Hence, I light all those candles again, every morning during my devotional time, and often again, when evening comes. I also observed Advent this year, and that, too, will be a personal tradition from now on. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself. On Christmas Day, Wendy and Jeremy, Wendy’s dad, Rick, and stepmother, Kathy, and Jeremy’s mom, Sheri, came over for turkey dinner. We had a great time! In addition to my pets, Bernice the Yorkie and Jitterbug the kit-cat, Rick and Kathy brought their Yorkie, Teddy, who is illegally cute, and of course Margie, my grand-Golden Retriever, was there, too. Just to add to the happy chaos, Lily, the puppy Wendy and Jeremy had recently adopted joined us as well. At the time, Lily was still being bottle-fed, and for such a little dog, she can make a big noise. Our contest winners are: Pat Dennis and Marilyn Neuhoff. Congratulations, both of you! That said, a new round begins now. Enter a comment and you’re in for next week. Two winners, chosen at random, will receive an autographed copy of my latest, and I’ll announce their names on next Monday’s blog. That’s about it for today, my friends. Happy New Year, one and all.
Deep Breath, Part 2
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Love that New Year’s tradition!
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Glad to see 2014 is over. Hope and pray 2015 is a better year for all. Excited to start the new book I just down loaded.
Beauty to die for. Yay. Great book to read while recouping.
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Happy new year to you too Linda!
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Your New Year tradition sounds wonderful ! Thanks for sharing.
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Happy New Year…
Sounds like some real nice new traditions…
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If I am the Pat Dennis that was randomly selected, thank you very much. We had a wonderful Christmas with our family
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Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. We had a nice time too as my daughter came down from Canada. So lovely to have her with us at this time of the year. Have a wonderful 2015.
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Happy New Year Linda! Wishing the best to you and yours! I’m so looking forward to whatever new books you have for us in 2015. Keep writing!
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Hope all of your computer woes get fixed. My year ended badly with my Dad passing on the 23rd of December, but the Lord blessed him and us with a good long life. Please say a prayer for our family. I am looking forward to a new book from you soon I hope! Have a wonderful new year.
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Lorraine, I’m sorry about the loss of your father. He passed away on my birthday. And, I know you miss him dearly.
I pray you and your family have a very good and Godly new year ahead.
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Blessings to you and yours. May the Lord tuck you safely under His arm and hold you close.
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I like intentions better than resolutions too! Happy New Year!
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Wishes to you for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!
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Happy New Year, Linda! You have taught me so many things in 2014. The first thing was how to invite angels into my home. I don’t know if it worked . I did feel more open and a warming feeling in my home. I hope the angels did visit. Second you opened my eyes up to the world of crystals. I know very little about crystals. I plan on learning more thru this year. Finally the most important thing you have done for me was introducing me to Daily Audio Bible. I read the whole Bible last year. I’m on my way to read it again this year. The more I know the more I don’t understand. I am looking to join a Bible study group. You have made a world of difference in my life. Thank you!
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Wishing you and your family a very happy 2015! Thank you for the blessings of your books!
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Lighting the candles sounds interesting. My new year’s was quiet. I reflect on the old year and hoping the new year is a good one for all.
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Wishing you lots of luck in the coming new year.I hope you do write a Civil War novel because I love reading them.
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Here’s to the best for all in 2015!
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I love that you’ve decided on the candles and the meanings. I may incorporate this for my children and I as well
I can’t wait for your next book. I hope you have a wonderful New Year!!!
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Happy New 2015 Year to you, Linda !
A thought/suggestion you may try in regards to losing your blogs when you post. Do your writing in a text document (MS Word or one of the other text documents available) and save often as you write. When you’ve finished your ‘blog’ for that session, save again then transfer to FaceBook and/or website. It may get lost in cyberspace again but you’ll have your original text doc and you can reload without having to rewrite from scratch. Worth a try. ~~~ Beverly 
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Happy New Year! I miss our dogs that we’ve had! I know its hard to put them down but our Wyatt was so sick! We decided we couldn’t go thru that again! I miss my four legged friends!
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How well I know. I still miss my Sadie Beagle every day of my life, but every time she comes to mind (heart) I’m thankful for our time together.
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What a wonderful New Year’s tradition! Maybe 2015 be filled with hope and joy for you and your family!
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Well I certainly enjoyed the blog to the very end. I love all the “four legged” visitors you had for the holiday. Happy New Year.
. Such a fun labor of love 
Not sure who will be interested but I’m excited as all get out. My first published children’s book,” The Adventure’s of Charlie Chevy and Franklin Ford” should be in my hands by the end of January. Hooray, at long last, one of the 13 down and 12 to go
Dixie
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
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Thank you Gloria. I can hardly wait to “hold” my very own published book.
Dixie
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You’re welcome Dixie. I’ve always want to write a book, but don’t know how to get it published. I pray you have a great success with your book.
Keep on keeping on.
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That should have been WANTED.
Comment · January 5th, 2015 at 11:40 pm · Link
Gloria, I have written 13 stories total for my grandchildren. Each one has a valuable life lesson for children. My second book, “Opal Rose, Princess For A Day’ will be published the end of July. I self published with a publishing company located in Bloomington, In. Very pleased with the whole journey.
It has been such a rewarding journey, although more work than I realized it would be. You can do it too if it is one of your dreams. Good Luck
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Congratulations!!!
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Thank you Linda.
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Happy New Year to you, Linda :). I see y’all have been haveg some snow lately & plenty of COLD!! Gettg bitter cold for the Deep South, but I’m loveg it
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What an interesting way to start the new year with the candles
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HAPPY NEW YEAR LINDA, HOPE ITS A BETTER ONE !
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Your words have warmed me. It is 7 degrees in Indiana and I’m going to light a candle. Thanks!
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Happy New Year!! My children gifted me with the candles with rings in them also. I loved the adventure, the candles, and the rings. I hope you have as much fun as I did burning them.
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Congratulations to Pat Dennis and Marily Neuhoff. Enjoy your win.
Linda, it sounds as if you’ve been very busy with old and new traditions, and family.
I pray you, your family, friends, and bloggers, all have a very Blessed New Year.
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Linda, I forgot to tell you that I had the best Birthday and Christmas this past year than I’ve had since my oldest son, Michael, died.
I didn’t get big expensive gifts…it was just that I was remembered by so many, old friends, family members, and new friends. And, I did get gifts. The computer from my son, Gregory, has been a Blessing, as I can keep in touch with you and all my other friends.
It was a BLESSED celebration for me, and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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Love what you did with the candles. That sounds so pretty. Happy New Year
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Great tradition and very spiritual!
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Happy New Year too!
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Love your candle idea, also enjoy your books.
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Happy New Year Linda. I love your New Year tradition i would love to know more about it? I have one I do every New Moon you write down 10 wishes on a piece of paper then read them aloud in front of a lit candle. It is interesting to look back later and see which come true
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I love your idea! There isn’t much more to mine–I set intentions, said prayers, and expressed my gratitude for my many, many blessings. There is something about candlelight that blesses me so much.
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It’s nice to know that one of my favorite authors is so spiritual!
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I love reading your blogs….and it’s nice to know in this day and time that there are still those out there with my values for GOD and relationships, and of course for critters. (can’t leave them out). Thank you for some of the greatest books I’ve read over the years. Happy New Year !!!
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What a wonderful idea with the candles! Love your books. I enjoy stories with horses and dogs so much!
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Thank you for sharing the ritual you created. It is beautiful. I bet doing it for your devotions helps you to center. Keep up the new tradition.
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Absolutely love your books. Haven’t read one yet that I didn’t enjoy.
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Glad you had a great Christmas.
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Happy New Year. Loved reading about your candle ceremony. I’m big into candles and their meanings and powers. <3
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I really love the new tradition you have begun with the candles. I need more structure and direction in my life to get me on track so I stop burning daylight and never getting what I need accomplished. I need to begin and end with a ritual that will help me stay on task.
Thanks for sharing!
Happy 2015! Looking forward to wonderful new novels from your pen!
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Happy New Year, love your books!
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Love what you did with the white votive candles!! Congrats, to Pat and Marilyn on your win. Well Linda I do believe a new book is coming out real soon called” The Marriage Charm ” Can’t wait to get it !!
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Happy new year….. I love the candle thingy…. Bet it lit up the room….
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Didn’t do much for New Years, just dinner with friends (Chinese) but of course Christmas was a hoot with family and animals. My son just adopted a new dog that doesn’t know how to play. (flunked service training) Such a character then there is my Sadie who rules the house. If Zena wanted to play and
Sadie didn’t she just sat on Sadie. Kind of funny, my poor Sadie has learned to get out of the way, fast. Happy New Year to you and yours
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What lovely traditions you have created! I am looking forward to your new book. Happy New Year Linda!!!
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Happy – Healthy New Year!! Linda.
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Happy New Year Linda. I look forward to reading your next book.
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Love the idea of the candle ring representing the coming year, etc. A great way to start a new year with a fresh (white candles) look.
I don’t do resolutions either. Don’t want to remind myself how easy it is to be a quitter, I guess =/
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Happy New Year! Looking g forward to your next book. I really like your ideas of the candles on New Years Eve. I may start that next year and add a little twist to it. Thanks for that wonderful idea!
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We had all of our immediate family on Sat. before Christmas .They all have so many places to go during the season , we always have it then . had a quiet Christmas day & New Years day. we had our usual Greens & peas with a few extras thrown in . So glad that the Holidays were good for you & yours . looking forward to your next book and hoping that 2015 is a better year for you , plus all of your readers …..P S congratulations to the winners.. Pat & Marilyn
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What a great holiday you had!
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Sounds like you had a very nice Christmas and New Year. Fun with all the animals around. I really enjoyed New Years watching my OR Ducks in the Rose Bowl, that was exciting! Looking forward to your new book, Linda. Blessings.
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Happy New Year!
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Glad yu had a great hoilday. are was good. Have a good week
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Candles and advent and mindfulness….a great way to enjoy the year to come.
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HI Linda,
I observed Advent this Christmas too – sort of like I did when I was a kid in school and the Nuns kept us on task. It put a calm into an otherwise overwhelming season. Candles can be so helpful in prayer time. I am glad you are feeling both thankful and positive – it’s encouraging to me to hear you say that. I’ve been re-reading your “Big Sky” series and love it. I find your characters so engaging. Thank you for giving me that outlet during these cold winter months.
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Sounds like you had a great Christmas. I love the candle idea ! Out with the old in the new !!
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I love holidays with lots of animals. We have three dogs and one cat and when my mom came she brought her dog.
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Happy New Year! Thanks for the opportunity!
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thank you for sharing. Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year to you and all your family (furry or otherwise!)
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Happy New Year to your and yours (furry and otherwise.)
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Love the animal chaos! We to are an animal family. I have 2 niece dachshunds, 2 nephew dachshunds, 2 Airedale sisters and a terrier brother, numerous lab cousins. my children these days are 3 spoiled horses, a boxer Annabelle Lee (yes that one), a rescue silkie terrier Dixie Belle (I did not name her), and a Chihua-what rescue named Weenie. Oh I forgot to mention our son Scairdy Cat.
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candles can really set the mood!
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Happy New Year to you and yours!!
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Glad all seems well with you and yours! My wish for 2015 is just KEEP IT SIMPLE. Seems simple enough, so hopefully WE can all have our best year YET! As always, waiting to get my fingers on your next story!!! Stay well Linda.
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Hi Linda
Happy 2015!! all the way from Australia. I so enjoy your books Christmas Charm will be a great Birthday present for me! I like your candles tradition – I just don’t have the imagination for that kind of thing, though sometimes I do surprise myself!
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Beautiful tradition Linda. It will bring an inner peace.Happy New Year and hope it’s a healthy and happier year for everyone.
Carol L
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Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year Linda
Great tradition!
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Happy New Year , even though a little late ….
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I’ve never heard of “Intentions” before but I think I could stick to those better than “Resolutions”! LOL!!!
I am proud to say that on New Years Eve I became the Great-Grandmother of 4 Chihuahua pups. Too cute!
Linda, are the McKettrick’s series finished?
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Every year I get my grandchildren advent calendars. They love them.
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Happy New Year! Congrats to the winners!
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Happy New Year, Linda!!
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Sounds like a wonderful tradition has been born!!! I love candles, especially scented ones! I have my “Home for the Holidays” candle (from Yankee Candle) burning right now.
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I like intentions better than resolutions. Will try intentions now.
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Happy New Year to you Linda
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Those were some pretty amazing traditions you’ve started. I really liked the idea and thought behind them. I’m glad you had a great Christmas with your family. Hope everyone stays warm. I know they’re calling for the wind chill to be -15F here. Cold, cold, cold. What a way to bring 2015 in.