First, I will announce last week’s winners–as I intended to do yesterday. 
Tammy Carter and Laura Ann Harris, your books will be on their way pronto. Enjoy! As always, a new contest is underway at this very moment. All you have to do is comment, and you’re in. 2 winners will be chosen at random and will each receive an autographed copy of one of my books. What about the crazy title I’ve given today’s post? Well, those of you who’ve been hanging around the virtual ranch for a while will probably recall that I am a real sucker for stickers–gold stars, butterflies, little crowns–whatever, I love them all, though the shiny ones are particular favorites. As a child, I would memorize the entire New Testament (slight exaggeration here) just to get that little metallic star next to my name on a chart at Sunday school. (I once won a week at church camp for committing the most Bible verses to memory.) Ridiculous as it may sound, given that I am no spring chicken, as the saying goes, I STILL get a little thrill when I can reward myself in this small way. For the last month or so, I’ve been slapping a pretty sticker in my Weight Watchers tracker (a food journal) every time I meet my goal to exercise 5 times within a given week. Hence, today is sticker day–and the achievement was a bit more of a challenge this time around, because I’ve been traveling–more on that in the next paragraph–and since my WW week runs from Wednesday to Wednesday, and I returned home on Friday evening, I needed to hop on my bike and pedal diligently if I wanted to reach my objective. (I normally work out early in the morning, as my batteries start to run down an hour or two after lunch.)
DRAT! Once AGAIN, the computer gremlins ate a MAJOR chunk of my blog. I’ll fill you in on my visit with Debbie Macomber tomorrow.
Comment
Linda,
I’m glad, I’m not the only one who LOVES Stickers! LOL
Comment
I remember those little gold, red and blue star stickers from school too. Funny how such a little reward used to mean so much to us. Glad to see you reward yourself when you reach your goal. We should all do more of that. Can’t wait to hear your stories from your recent visit. Be well.
Comment
I used sticker charts with my children for all kinds of things. Chores, potty training, thinking outside the box (doing something without being asked) And I tried to always have them Pay it Forward, that gave them extra stickers, and rewards were given for a certain number of stickers. I never used food for a reward, I always got more creative. I had a treasure box full of things they got to choose, some were gift certificates, some were time off ( getting someone else to do a chore) getting to pick the movie for family movie night, ect. And now that they are both in college they still talk aobut their charts, my daughter (21 yr. old) even has a couple in the back of her closet because they were so special.
Comment
I LOVE this! What a wonderful mother you are, Amy.
Comment
Good job with weight watchers keep up the good work
Comment
I have a sticker thing too. I used them for my son when he was little to reward him for a job well done, etc.
Happy Holidays, Linda. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season.
Comment
My daughter loved getting them gold stickers too she hated if her papers got a red or blue they had to be gold!!! She worked hard to get them. It’s great to see that you are still sticking with the exercise. I still keep talking about starting to exercise. I put off my physical so the dr won’t yell at me. Now I have until march to try to lose weight
Comment
I love stickers too but I don’t buy them (lack of funds), I just admire them. There are so many fun ones out there too. When I was growing up, there wasn’t much more than gold stars available but I coveted getting them. Glad you got your gold star this week!
Comment
I haven’t thought about stickers in years. Brings back a lot of memories.
Comment
I always have stickers around. I say they are for grandkids but they are for me.
Pedal on!
Comment
I love stickers, I put them on my card evelopes all the time. Between my card and stickers, well it can get a little crazy! I send out cards all the time. I once had a friend call me to see if I was alright because my card was always the first she received. So oh yeah, I love a sticker!
Comment
I loved stickers when I was a kid. That sounds like a fun reward.
Comment
Congratulations to Tammy and Laura!
You are doing a great job with your commitment to WW.
Comment
I kept looking for the “next” paragraph, where you talked about your travels, but never saw it! Did I miss it?
Comment
Welcome back!
Comment
I love stickers, too. The more shiny the better. It’s the magpie in me, I guess. LOL
Comment
Like the starter of your blog and wanted to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New year. Have you got any plans on coming out with a new McKettrick book?
Comment
I am sure you had a great time with Debbie. I love Port Orchard! Have a great week!
Comment
I remember it was third grade , our teacher was a stickler for brushing your teeth every day . at the end of the week those that did got a gold star . at the end of the month a small treat . Linda keep up the good work toward your health & of course your writing.. Have a Blessed Holiday Season & the merriest CHRISMAS ever !!!!!!! A forever fan Nadine
I
Comment
Stickers are great,especially
to reward little ones
Comment
Maybe I’ll try a sticker. The treadmill at 6am can be daunting.
Comment
I always buy stickers, for my Friend’s grandchildren. They like anything with princesses, and super hero’s.
Comment
I use to reward my children years ago with the stickers , I haven’t thought of them for years. Bring back memories !
Comment
Love stickers. They are great.
Glad to see that the next marriage book will be out next month. 
Comment
At least stickers don’t have any calories. LOL
Comment
I love all of your books. I would like to know if you have any plans to write any more books on the Creeds or the Meketricks?Sorry about the spelling.
Comment
I would like to know this too. Love those series.
Comment
Stickers are awesome. I love looking at the new ones they come with. When I was a kid I collected them. Guess my kids took after me because they did too. Lol. Can’t wait to hear about your trip. Keep up the good work on WW. Hope everyone stays warm and dry this week.
Comment
Merry Christmas and keep up the good work for New Years!
Comment
Hi! congrats to the winners! Good luck at W.W. tomorrow! hope you had a great time with Nora Roberts and the other authors, loved the photo’s on FB!
Comment
Computers>>>> we spend hours trying to save minutes. they are frustrating to say the least.
Comment
I once memorized entire Bible chapters for a group called Bible Memory Association that was located in Louisiana. I had to recite each chapter to an adult and have them sign that I did so. After I memorized the required chapter and notified the association, they would send me a gift. I still have my Bible that I earned from that association. The Bible has a large sticker on the first page, telling how I earned it. I believe the group is no longer in existence. I hated to learn that it isn’t.
Funny memory: When I was in college my roommate and I were cutting up and acting silly in the huge dorm lobby. The house mother was nearby and talking with a floor monitor and looking toward me. I heard her tell the monitor, “I don’t know how in the world she makes the grades that she does.” The monitor who was one who had listened to me recite chapters replied, “But you should hear her quote scriptures.” Neither of those two individuals ever knew I overheard their comments but I have laughed about it many times.
Comment
Congratulations to the new winners. And to you Linda for winning your sticker this week. I missed the new paragraph about your traveling…..Hopefully will hear about it soon. Blessings.
Comment
Congratulations on your new sticker!
And a wet noodle for “apologizing” about satisfying your inner child. I’m 87; if there is one thing I’ve learned in three quarters of a century, it is that we all need to satisfy our inner child. Mind you we need to control it, but we also need to satisfy it. I think our culture puts too much emphasis on the control (without necessarily following through) and not any emphasis at all on the ways of satisfying it.
Sue
Comment
Wise words!
Comment
Linda, congratulations on your sticker. My daughter is 18 and she loves them. She was disappointed her college professors didn’t use them.lol
I wanted to let you know that you are one of my favorite go to authors. I love your books and reread them often. My husband just doesn’t understand a good book is enjoyable no matter how many times you read it.
I hope your holidays are progressing well.
Blessings
Katrina
Comment
I haven’t used stickers in several years but that is a good idea with the exercise. I am having problems keeping up with what days I exercise lately. Its hard to get it all in with the weather being so cold and rainy. I can’t get out and walk like I want and then I have to ride the bike. With all the Christmas prep I am having a hard time getting it all in. Shopping today was my exercise.
Comment
I like gremlins! Not the car tho!
Comment
Congrats to Tammy and Laura on your win!! Linda sounds like you had a grand old time at Debbie’s party, and I certainly remember the red, blue, gold, and silver stickers we use to get at school. Hope you get a big sticker at WW Wednesday.
Comment
Hope you have found the right holiday stickers to motivate you even more.
Comment
Love stickers also…to get and give….you are an inspiration to others…have a Blessed holiday season. Looking forward to your new books in 2015
Comment
Congratulation Tammy Carter and Laura Ann Harris on your win. I always like to sticker on things.
Can’t wait to hear how much fun you had with Debbie Macomber.
God’s blessings to all.
As always your friend,
Norma
Comment
Norma, I pray you’re feeling better.
Comment
Comment
Nice cliff hanger!!!!!!!!!!
Comment
I love stickers especially the kind that smell like lemon, mint, pine tree, and apple. I haven’t seen those for quite awhile.
Comment
Congratulations to Tammy Carter and Laura Ann Harris!
Hey Sal, it’s good to see you back.
Linda, I’m glad you’re back and doing well.
I like fairy tales and stickers and children’s books. I am but a young child, a teenager, a young woman, all rolled into an old body, so…what can I say.
I have some beautiful Patriotic stickers, and am too selfish to stick them on an envelope and mail it away to probably be thrown in someone’s trash, so…I keep them. It gives me pleasure to look at them. I think they were sent to me by Disabled Veteran’s or something like that.
I pray all goes well at WW for you tomorrow.
Comment
I just had a thought…If all those different ages of myself are rolled into one, that may be why I have these rolls around my middle. Ya Reckon?? :=)
Comment
I took ballet from the time I was six until I was eighteen and
the first few years I had a ballet teacher that would give us
bird or flower stickers just for showing up. I’m anxious to hear
about your time with Debbie. Found another reissued book
of yours to delve into; “Caroline and the Raider”. I love these
little surprises I find at the grocery store.
Comment
My granddaughter loves stickers and I have become a sticker carrying grandma.
Comment
I still enjoy stickers. I like putting them on envelopes when I’m sending cards to relatives or friends.
Comment
since i have retired i’m in to doing my nails.i worked in restraunts and i didn’t think polish was a good idea,so now i go crazy.the best part is i discovered they make all kinds of stickers for nails.got a bunch of christmas ones having a blast deciding what to use,maybe you could find some of these and have a sticker everyday.
Comment
I think now that I am retired from the best job ever–high school English teacher–I can reveal that my seniors LOVED to get my infamous stickers on their work because it meant that they had done their best, and that I was most pleased with their efforts. I had to swear I wouldn’t tell anyone about those stickers because my students did not think anyone could understand their value and their significance. They were proud to receive them. And wherever I traveled, I would always look for the perfect stickers to buy for my students. I still look for them. Now I share them with friends and grandchildren; I put them on letters and outside envelops because everybody deserves an “attaboy” once in a while!
Comment
I love getting reward stickers as much as my girls!
Comment
I love stickers also and you can never have to many. Congrats to the winners, I still have my fingers crossed! Can’t wait to hear all about your visit!
Comment
I too like stickers…..altho I use them more now a days for scrapbooking and card making! That way not only can I enjoy them but others too!
I am looking forward to hearing more about your visit in Seattle!
Comment
Love stickers. My daughter (in law ) has a sticker book that is from her early childhood. Hope all goes good with weight watchers.
Comment
I am a retired elementary teacher and the best way to motivate students’ is to put a sticker on their graded paper or put one up on a chart for all of their peers to see, worked wonders!!! Those students would jump through hoops just to get a sticker. I loved giving them as much as the liked getting them!
Comment
I’d like to see more of the Creeds and Mckettrick’s too.
Comment
I love stickers, too! Right now I’m re-reading Montana Creeds: Tyler, and I’m enjoying it as much this time as the first time around. As for W. W., good luck with it. Going back about 5 years ago, I wanted to lose about 15 pounds and I was told by several members that I didn’t belong there if I only had a few pounds to lose. I stuck it out and lost the 15 pounds plus, but, the next time I’ll try to do it on my own. It should be renamed to Welcome Weight Watchers, and, welcome everyone! That said, I hope I win one of your stickers! Thank you, Linda, for this giveaway!
Comment
Love your stories!
Comment
So glad to see you back and love all of your stories.
You sound like you had a wonderful time and i love the stickers and here is wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and many more to come…
Bye bye for now God bless and keep safe.
Mary D.Wornick
Comment
I just sent my great-nephew a birthday card with stickers in it. When I was little and had to learn Bible verses we received little cross stickers or an open Bible sticker. They are still in my Bible!
Happy to hear you are doing so well with Weight Watchers. It truly is the best. I just had surgery to REMOVE the Lapband. It never worked for me and only caused me pain the the nearly 4 years it was there. Glad to be rid of it! Am back at work now so was able to look at your blog. Love it.
Comment
I love stickers too.
Comment
I have ALWAYS loved stickers, also!!! I slap them on cards and letters everytime I send one! So happy to hear I am not the only one!!!
Comment
Do you ever use stickers on your artist cards? Glad your back home. Did you get to go to WW meeting or did they hold it? The pics that were posted from the authors get together were good. There was only two that I had to ask about, Jill & Meagan. I’ve read books from all the others. Trying to remember all the books I’ve is impossible. Faces in/on books help.
Comment
Glad you are back. Hope all is well on the ranch. Good here. Blessings.
Comment
Hi all and hows it going with y’all ? For all us here SC we are doing good and trying to keep warm. Our weather can’t make up its mind. To stay cold for the winter or be warm or hot like the summer. Other than that we are doing great here.
Take care and have a nice day ..God bless and keep safe.
Bye for now
Mary D. Wornick
Comment
I love stickers too. I have special ones for when my grandson’s come to visit. I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Comment
Welcome home Linda, and thank you for the book. I can’t wait to find out what title is on its way!
Thanks again,
Tammy
Comment
Glad you are doing so well on WWs.
Comment
I still love stickers too! I put them on all correspondence that I snail mail….even bills.
Comment
Congrats on sticking with it throughout the fun times as well as the “usual” times… Merry Christmas!
Comment
I’m a kid at heart and love stickers. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Comment
Love stickers use them all the time with my daycare kids. Its amazing how many different ones there are… Thanks for writing such great books. Keep them coming.. Have a great day.
Comment
Just dropping by to say hi to all.
Last night it was in the 20’s then today it got in the 60’s I like my weather to be cold in the winter and warm in the summer.
I am thankful for what i have.
Bye for now talk with you later, have a good one.
God bless and keep safe.
Comment
Linda,
Just dropping by to say hi and have nice day.
Talk with you later, have a good one.
Bye for now
Mary D. Wornicl
Comment
I love stickers
but more importantly I love your books! I’ve read willow, big sky country and the marriage pact all within the last couple weeks. I literally finished the marriage pact about 7 minutes ago! I wish there were sequels to some! I want to know how life went for the characters! And in the marriage pact, I was teased with the prospect that hadleigh would have a baby and then nothing. I just wish it would have gone a little further and she would have gotten pregnant!
Comment
Good luck with keeping on track. I’m celebrating Xmas with family visiting this week. I’ll get back on the wagon tomorrow after they’ve gone home.
Comment
I used to love those shiny stars myself! Just wish they would have worked with my children when they were younger, lol. I don’t know how you manage the WW during this time of year with all the holidays and such! I’ve decided myself to just love what I’ve got and enjoy it while I can. Of course that’s after an unknown sickness last year caused me to lose 50 pounds unexpectedly and have a number of other issues. I wish you the best of luck reaching your goals and that you get to add many more sparkly bright stickers to your log.
Happy Holidays!
Comment
I need a great new book!