Starting off on the happier note, this week’s winners are Amy Dudley and Sharon S. Congratulations, ladies. Your signed books will be on their way pronto. As usual, a new contest begins today. All you need to do is comment and, presto, you’re entered! Two winners will be selected at random, to be announced next Monday.
Now, for the plague reference. 
The monster bug seems to be back in full force; I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon and, while I’m not at death’s door, I am really tired of being sick! With all the healthy eating, exercise and supplement swallowing, frankly, I expected better. I’m hoping for antibiotics this time around; we’ll see. I will definitely post some kind of update after seeing the medic.
The house is all decorated for Christmas, and I love sitting in my festive living room in the early (early) mornings, listening to Taize CDs and watching the fire. This year, I’ve asked friends and family to PLEASE not give me gifts–I have more than I need now, and then some–but certain ones insist. Therefore, I suggested gifts of food or supplies to animal shelters instead of brightly wrapped packages to place under my tree, and the usual suspects gracefully agreed. (I really hope they all listen.)
Am I going all bah-humbug? NO. I love Christmas–the shining lights, the sparkle, the sweet, festive magic of it all. This year, I managed to set out an Advent wreath and candles in time and I read from a special devotional every morning. There are Nativity Scenes set out, a constant and lovely reminder that Christmas is about CHRIST. About love and giving and faith and trust. About the Amazing Miracle of God Himself putting on a people-suit and coming to Earth, two millenia ago, bringing a Light so brilliant that it still shines today. May you and yours be immersed in that Light, now and always.
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I so love your posts. I hope you feel better soon. May you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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I hope you feel better. We do not do gifts at Christmas any more either. I like the food/supplies to animal shelters instead.
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I hope u feel better Pronto! No- I don’t want the waffle maker back! ; ）
I agree with you about the spirit of giving – let’s help those who can’t help themselves!
All my love
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Good luck at the doctor’s. Hope you feel better soon.
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Gosh I hope you feel better soon. My house is not decorated yet—seem to have to do everything twice this year, new tree but lights didn’t all work, battery operated candles didn’t work etc. I am so ready for lights and nativities. Cute–God putting on a people suit :-}
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I agree. The excessiveness of gift giving at Christmas disturbs me when I see people camping out for deals and stampeding over fellow customers. The overselling of gift giving has really taken the joy and meaning out of Christmas for me. Our Christmas has become very low-key. Hope you feel better soon. Nothing is more tiring than not feeling well. Just getting over a bug myself.
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I got teary eyes just reading your message. He is the reason for the season. My Mom is no longer with us but a tradition we always had in our house is after all the family and guests had left after Thanksgiving dinner, we would put up our Nativity in the house. It’s a tradition my husband and I try to do each year.
I applaud your decision to support the animal shelters as well as food gifts. Feel better soon Linda.
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I managed to get a cold at Thanksgiving, and the cough just lingers – thank goodness for cough drops!
I don’t want or need much for Christmas either so I ask for consumables like my favorite hand lotion and dark chocolate!
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Linda, Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to your signed book. I’m so excited!
I hope you feel better soon.
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So sorry you are sick “again”… has hit my daughter like that… just drags on & on…
Do hope the Doc will get you well this time! Cold weather is no time to be sick & having a brother living in Brinnon WA, I know you do have cold damp weather!! Don’t even ask me why he retired from the Air Force about 30 years ago & moved there!! WA is a beautiful state & I love it in the summer … although when he visits me, he is hot & when i visit him I freeze! Have to put on that long underwear…thank goodness it is so much thinner now… I am almost 80 & remember the thick stuff when skiing in CO…
Do take care of yourself… enjoy the beautiful decorations… I do, especially now, when just watch everyone else decorating.
Like you, I decided a few years ago, do not need anything for Christmas… if I need something I buy it & usually if want something buy that too, or my family will… ie, Amazon gift cards for wonderful books by that “cowgirl in WA”…
My daughter & granddaughter volunteer at a Rescue shelter here in AR… so we do a lot of donating to them, plus this year, my granddaughter requested no gifts for her family, just donations to a shelter, rescue shelter or Wounded Warriors… if the giver did not have a favorite shelter… God Bless Linda… get well!
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What a wonderful idea Linda. Shelter animals will definitely benefit from your selflessness. My chihuahua Porter came from a rescue group and he is the most loving. I do wonder who rescued who though. Get better soon!
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Congrats to this weeks winners. Take care, Linda. Blessings.
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Your doing better than me as far as Christmas goes. I no longer decorate with my kids grown up & gone. I’m happy just to have Christmas dinner with my family.
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your comments about the real meaning of Christmas gave me shivers. The gospels say of john the Baptist that he was not that light but came to bear witness to that light that lighteth every man. I hope your holidays are lovely as I am expecting mine to be.
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Hope you start to feel better soon!!
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Have a Wonderful and Healthy Christmas.
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Be well really soon, like yesterday. May your Christmas be filled with wondrous blessings and love.
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Feel better! Remember you’re never given more than you can handle. Hope you’re healthy for the holidays.and
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Well tomorrow night is the first night of Hanukkah. My husband and daughter(who is an hour away at school) both work. My son (who is in PA.) will have to skype lighting the candles with me. Then on Wed. night 2 we will have my mom here and do the whole family celebration. this is my favorite thing all year. We are not giving much in the way of gift to the kids as they are venturing out on their Birthright trip to Israel. 10 days they will be there and my only wish is for them to have the time of their lives and treasure every moment.
Happy Holidays to all!
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Happy, Peaceful and Holy Christmas to you too Linda and do hope you feel on top of the world again soon . P
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Thank you for the Christ centered posting!!
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Dear Linda,
Thank you for the Christmas words! In a world where God’s love and mercy is shunned and hated, it’s refreshing to hear the sentiments you’ve shared.
I love the idea of giving alternative presents, like something that helps others. I’m going to try that with my family members. They are all animal lovers, so I’m going to tackle the issue from that angle. I too am WAY TOO blessed materialistically. Thanks for the idea.
Merry Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa!
(and pardon anything misspelled, please)
Hilda
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Thank you Linda, may you and your family have a Very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
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hope you are better real soon! Merry Christmas!
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Sounds like you are already having a Merry Christmas!
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Hope you feel better. have a merry christmas and happy new year. sounds great to give gifts to animal shelter, i adopted my darius from a shelter after my husband past away and i am glad i did.
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Great post – except for you being sick! Hope you’re on the mend soon… might try some cayenne pepper – Aunt Billie said that cured anything:)
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Linda,
Are you getting enough vitamin C? Did you get a flu shot this year? How is Gibson? He’s probably looking at the Christmas lights in awe. He must be growing like a weed! Hope that you feel better soon. May you and your family Have a very Merry Christmas!
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Hope you are feeling better soon. Merry Christmas!!
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Hope you get over your crud soon! We are finally over it at our house. It took about a month. Thank heaven for mucinex and Berts Bees throat lozenges. I love Christmas time, too along with the decorations, nativity scenes and Christmas music. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Merry Christmas!
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Congrats ladies on your win!!I enjoyed the blog Linda, well said, but we do gifts. I have a grandson and granddaughter that would think the world was coming to a end, if I didn’t have them presents under my tree. Hope you feel better soon.
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Bless you and Merry Christmas!
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I certainly hope the plague leaves you alone so you can enjoy your holidays!
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Dear Linda, So sorry you are not over the flu, it just drags on & on.Sure hope you will get over this soon !!!!
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Merry Christmas! Glad you got your decorations up. I’m in a cast this year and was unable to put many things up.
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I have a 32in. little tree up this year. We are living in are garage
and have no room. My daughter is having Christmas at her place sense we have s little room. This is the first year that I have not had Christmas at are house.
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Sounds right by me. The animal shelters could use some help. My sister in law passed away on Dec 5th. We were telling friends to donate to animal shelter on her behalf.
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Lois Rotella, sorry for your loss, and that is awesome to send donations to spca.
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Hi Linda,
So sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. Get better soon, we love you and your blog!
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Poor thing!! Too much going on! Hang in there lady!! We are rooting for you!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Lynn
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I hope you feel better soon. I know how you feel because I got a cold and now have a cough that I just can’t seem to get rid of. The only good thing that came out of this, is I lost my appetite. But I’m sure it will come back. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
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I am so sorry you are not feeling well. I hope you are able to knock whatever you have out. What a wonderful suggestion about the presents. I am going to do that. When you get my age you have enough of everything and don’t need anymore.
Take care and feel better.
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Congratulations to Amy Dudley and Sharon S.
Linda, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Do you think that when your house was being worked on that they stirred up some mold and/or mildew, or some asbestos? It seems like you’ve been sick off and on since that time frame, but I could be wrong…I have been wrong before.
I just pray you’ll get some help from the doctor today, or already got helped.
Speaking of helping the less fortunate at Christmas, I’m still enjoying my shoes, and am thankful for them.
Have Blessed night and rest of the week.
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I have a lovely advent display a friend gave me a couple of years ago that I use now. It’s on a shelf right as you come in the door so you can’t miss it. Merry Christmas!
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Feel better. Hope the dr helps.
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I love putting out my Advent display every year. Merry Christmas!
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I certainly hope you will feel better soon. I want to wish you and your family a very Merrry Christmas and all the best in the coming year.
Sandy Fincel
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I’m so sorry you are sick!! I also am battling illness–Broncitis and possibly pneumonia but don’t feel to awful. On steroids and antibiotics. get better soon! Appreciate your Christmas thoughts, and completely agree.
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My friends and I have done the same thing about gifts this year. None of us needs anything, so we are going to make charitable donations instead. A great idea for all to follow as we get older and don’t need more “stuff”.
Hope you feel better soon.
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Hope you are feeling better.
Love reading your books, as well as other. I read about a book a week.
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Hope you feel better soon! Merry Christmas to you and have a joyful New Year!
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Wishing you the love and light of Christ during this Christmas season, and always!
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Oh no! Hope you get to feeling better soon! Merry Christmas!
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We have had constant sickness too. Not only have I not decorated I haven’t even shopped for gifts. Hope you feel better soon.
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Hope you get over this bug soon, Linda.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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Thank you Linda for the beautiful reminders Who Chitmas is about.
Praying you are well soon and wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
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That is great that you asked people to donate instead of giving you gifts. Hope you feel better soon!
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Thank you for the Christmas joy in your words. There’s a good
chance HE can help with your flu if you ask. I’ll ask, too. You
may need to go to the barn with the horse stuff and spend a
little time to rebuild you immune system. Helps. I’ve lost so many dear friends and family that I’m trying to get rid of stuff
and don’t need gifts either. I’ve been picking out a few of my
neighbors to give things to (Christmas gifts) trying to explain
that God gave me the gift of giving and I’m running out of
people to give to, so they’re helping me! Anyway have a very
Merry Christmas and many blessings in the New Year.
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Praying that you will be totally well soon. My friends and I sure enjoy your stories and look forward to the new ones. Take care and God bless. Linn
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Hi Linda, I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well. I hope your doctor gives you what you need to get better soon. I loved the way you wrote about your sparkling decor and lovely fire. I love nothing better than sitting by my fire, feeling the warmth and watching the flames dance across the logs. I hope to begin adding that holiday sparkle
to my decor tomorrow, now that my nursing school finals are behind me. I have many nativities too that help me and my family to keep the focus on Christ as the true meaning of Christmas. Feel better soon and enjoy the holidays. Merry Christmas!!
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Merry Christmas! I hope you are on the mend.
I’m new to your blog, but have been reading your books for a number of years! I love the stories and how you bring your characters to life. I especially like your Creed trilogies and how you weave into each new book the characters from the prior book(s). I would love to see another book on each of the Montana Creeds and the Arizona Creeds to know how they are doing now
.
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Merry Christmas and thank you for your wonderful books. You have gave me so much enjoyment. Have a wonderful day and God Bless.
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Very well said, Linda! Christ is what Christmas is all about
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Gosh, I hope you start to feeling better real soon……
I love Christmas as well. My nativity scene is where the grandkids can play with it and rearrange the scene as often as they wish…….I love the lights, and the music and the beauty that surrounds the holiday.
We too have asked that we get no gifts this year…..We have many blessing to be thankful for and we want the kids to spend their money on their own needs, not ours!
Merry Christmas Linda!
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Merry Christmas thank you for the gift of your books God Bless hope u feel better
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I’m so sorry you’re sick. I don’t know what is going around but it’s making its way through my family too. I love Christmas too. I love driving through town at night and seeing all the beautiful lights and decorations. I hope you feel better soon Linda. Hope everyone had a great weekend. After the temps rising up into the 60’s they are now calling for freezing weather and snow. Hope we get snow for Christmas.
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HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
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AMEN!!!!!
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Hope you feel better soon. I agree with you Christmas is about Christ not all the gifts that we can give and receive. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
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Do hope you feel better. It’s not fun being under the weather around the Holidays!. Bless you!
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Sorry to hear you are not well. I know here in Virginia there is some nasty bug going around. Have a great week and I pray you will feel better soon.
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Hope you feel better soon.
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May you experience the joy and love of Christ now and throughout the coming year and may you know good health and healing. On that note, years ago I studied natural medicine for a while and one of the things covered was reverse healing. This happens when we make positive changes in our lives and our diet that have us thinking we should feel instantly better and we can but sometimes the surprise is when we also can start to get sick and wonder why. Check out this link and perhaps do a check online for Reverse Healing to better understand it and maybe find out how you can best weather it and heal completely. Take care and thanks for the lovely reminders of what Christmas is all about. Thanks for your bold, strong faith. You are an inspiration to me and to others to not shrink back or worry about what others might think, but to live transparently. Hugs! Liz
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Oops, forgot to share the link on Reverse Healing.
http://blueirissanctuary.fatcow.com/id514.htm
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So my question is what kind of signed books do you get if by some miracle you win?
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Hoping you feel better soon and that you have a Wonderful Christmas.
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So sorry to here your are sick, hope your are feeling better soon. I missed this post yesterday, I haven’t been getting the blog post emails so I signed up again.