Grateful for…

I wanted to share a few more things I’m grateful for, because the harder or more stressful things are, the more it helps to focus on that.

My husband Randy has been going through some painful medical procedures lately, with a scary fever and 3‑night hospital stay. I’m so grateful for all the love, support, and encouragement from my IRL family and all our online friends. I’ve also got a bunch of oral surgery stuff this year that I’m not super happy about, so 2020 has not started off the best for us.

On the other hand, look at this beautiful card from Michelle Kogan, thanking me for the years of my 15 Words or Less posts. Even the envelope is a work of art! And I didn’t know she had an etsy shop. It’s full of loveliness!

Speaking of cards, check out the cheer in this card from Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. Wouldn’t it be amazing if every publisher sent out royalty statements with this kind of joy?

And, finally, the winter game nights series I’m part of started up last Friday. The theme was children’s literature, puppetry, and philanthropy. Yep, you read that correctly. The themes reflected the three organizers’ passions, and it was such a great night! Costumes earned you extra points. And the costumes (by others) were amazing.

Some of the costumes had been discarded by the end of the night, but here we are. From left to right, there are Kim Faurot as Dav Pilkey’s Dragon, Brad Kruse as Dav Pilkey’s Talking Toilet, Steve Palmquist as Richie Rich, Amy Baum as Captain Underpants, me, Lisa Bullard, Joyce Sidman (with puppets from Song of the Water Boatman), Vicki Palmquist as The Worst Witch, and Gary Nygaard with the Muppets on public television.

Here’s a close-up of Gary’s TV screen. He had each muppet holding a book or two by members of our game night crew. It had been a rough week for me, and I can’t tell you how just the sight of Kermit holding snack, Snooze, Skedaddle cheered me up!

Also, not pictured in the group shot because he took it was David LaRochelle. Seriously, look at him as The Giving Tree (a book I hate, but a friend I love).

These friends–ALL these friends and all of you–are such a blessing. Thank you.

14 Responses

  1. I can commiserate with you on the dental unhappiness. My husband and I went to the dentist together this past week and had root canals done. Not fun. I hope Randy is well on the way to recovery. Good friends are a joy, aren’t they?

    1. Mercy–sounds like a hot date. Our wedding anniversary is next week. Here’s hoping we spend it NOT in drs’ offices! Hope you guys are feeling well.

  2. And I am grateful for you, Laura. Your authenticity, generosity, creative and poetic brilliance and kind heart. We are, each of us, blessed to have you in our lives.

  3. Hoping 2020 gets better for you both soon, Laura! Keep being grateful — so inspiring.

  4. Laura, sneaking in a word or too on this site. Hope it’s okay. Sending wishes that Randy will be good to go really soon. Also, best to you with your dental woes. Feel the hugs and I’m grateful to have had you in my life for so long.

  5. Sorry to be slow! I Love your friends and their creativity and I’m sorry about your rough patches. I’m thinking good thoughts for you and Randy ♥️

  6. Laura, your line about writing in a surgery waiting room in today’s (2/6) post, made me go back and see what I’ve missed. I’m sorry to have been so out of touch. I hope Randy is doing much better now. That must have been terribly frightening for your whole family, and on top of your own oral surgery? Yikes! (((hugs)))

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