Tag: Thankful

Life

Save the Date(s)

Jackie Layton

I hope you’re all having a great summer. I’ve been busy, including a trip to Gatlinburg to celebrate the birthday of my sister-in-law. It takes a special event to get this beach girl into the mountains.

The beauty of the Smoky Mountains was breathtaking.

We hiked, we got rained on, we played mini-golf, we got rained on, we ate out, we got rained on–do you sense a theme? We got rained on A LOT! But we had a great week! If you have the opportunity to get to the mountains, I strongly urge it.

Happy birthday, Carol!

Is it too early to think about Christmas? No. That’s why I’m participating in Cozies, Conversations, and More Facebook Group’s Christmas in July. The event is July 26, and I’ll be one of the hosts at 4:00 PM EST. I hope you can join us for the fun and prizes.

In October, I’ll be an author at the OBX Book Festival Books at the Banks! The beach is lovely in the fall. Books plus the beach? It sounds like a win-win. I’d love to see you there!

Make the best of rainy days and keep reading.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful for being fired?

Jackie Layton

Today my friend, Annie McEwen, shares what she’s thankful for.

Yes, as embarrassing as it is to admit, and not many people outside my “inner circle” know it, but I was fired several years ago. I was devastated, to say the least. I’d faithfully
performed my duties and then some. Not to get into the nitty-gritty, but in my state, employers can dismiss the employee without cause. Let’s just say the whole situation was questionable. (I guess that happens when you stand up for what you believe is right…but I won’t get into all
that.)
After sobbing and sleepless nights, I realized it was out of my control, and surely there was a reason for this. I had to keep telling myself that, or else my husband Brian would find me
curled up in a ball on the couch, questioning my self-worth and watching Friends through my tears. Brian told me he’d noticed a change in me over the past year; I’d not seemed as happy or
excited about my work as before. I was constantly stressed out and exhausted. I hadn’t realized it.
Fast-forward to a job interview for a PRN (as needed) x-ray tech position. I’m talking with the managers; they have offered me the weekend tech position. I’d be paid the same as if I’d
worked five days, but I’d have the whole week off. Plus, I could work during the week if I wanted more hours. At first, I thought, no way! Weekends? But I prayed, talked to Brian, and took the
job! Brian’s police job requires him to work most weekends, and our kids are adults, so I can see them anytime.
What else did this mean? I finally had the time to pursue my dream to be an author! Five years later, I’m a published author of two books and working on my third. That never would’ve
happened with the ridiculous hours I was previously working. Bonus – I’ve met talented, lovely authors like the sweet Jackie Layton. Since then, we’ve welcomed two grandsons who spend
lots of time with us during the week. I’ve made amazing friends at my new job and have the best managers I’ve ever had, all of whom incredibly support my writing.

Do I still have a little bit of hurt about how it all went down? You could say that… but it also makes for a great storyline. (wink, wink) Was getting canned a giant punch to the gut? Yes.
Definitely. But, it was a gigantic blessing in a bizarre disguise.

Thanks, Annie.

I’m sure you all can tell how special Annie is. I am blessed to be her friend. Here are some ways you can connect with Annie.

www.anniemcewenauthor.com

Instagram

Facebook

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

Jackie Layton

Korina Moss and I became friends a few years ago, and I’m thankful she took time to share with us today.

Here’s what she shared with me.

I’m thankful for the connection I get to have with my readers. They invite me to know them on a personal level, even beyond our shared love of cozy mysteries. I feel grateful when they share their excitement about my series with others, and humbled when I receive messages of how my books have provided comfort during a difficult time. I love how books can bring people together!

Korina is the author of the Cheese Shop cozy mystery series, and if you want to get to know her better, here’s her website http://korinamossauthor.com

Thankful Thursday

Jamie’s Thankful

Jackie Layton

My friend, Jamie Adams, is here today to share what she’s thankful for.

I’m thankful for miracles.

In my late thirties, I developed health problems and was advised that the worst thing I could do was become pregnant. But there was no cause for concern; after all, it had taken two years of fertility treatments to conceive my only child.

Then, two months later, my life took an unexpected turn. I embarked on a month-by-month journey filled with more hairpin turns than a mountainous highway. First came the news: “You’re pregnant.” Then, the shock: “They’re twins!” Shortly after, the fear: “One has a heart problem.” And then, the devastating prognosis: “No dividing membrane – they won’t survive past twenty-five weeks.”

At twenty weeks, I was placed on bed rest. In the third trimester, I suffered a mild stroke. My twins were born five weeks early and sent to the NICU in a hospital three hours away from home.

Yet, against all odds, my beautiful girls turn 23 on the fifteenth of this month. They have no health problems and have become two of my dearest friends.

Thanks so much for sharing, Jamie! I’m crying happy tears, reading your miracle.

Friends, if you’d like to connect with Jamie, here’s a link to her website. https://jamieladams.com/

Uncategorized

Thankful Thursday

Jackie Layton

This week I’d like to introduce you to Tina deBellegarde.

I’ve attended meetings led by Tina, but in April I got to meet her in person. She was more delightful in person, and she is so smart!

Tina agreed to share a quote with us this week. Here’s Tina:

I love this quote from G.K. Chesterton:

When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” — G.K. Chesterton.

I very intentionally try to recognize how lucky I am, how life has been good to me. This can be difficult sometimes, especially when we receive bad news. But if we search hard enough under the surface we can usually find something to be grateful for.  I got a very hefty speeding ticket many years ago when my young son was in the car with me. I thanked the officer and drove along calmly. My son wondered how I was able to handle the situation so well. Why wasn’t I upset? It was precisely because he was in the car that I had stopped to re-evaluate the situation. No good would have come from banging the steering wheel and carrying on. All it would have done was teach my son angry behavior. Instead, I realized that the ticket may have stopped me from getting into an accident and possibly hurting my son. I was grateful for the ticket and I told him so. The more I tried to see the world this way for my son’s sake, the easier this kind of thinking became for me. Being grateful has become an easy daily exercise. 

I love this quote from G. K. Chesterton, and Tina has given me something to consider. Be grateful daily. Today, I’m grateful for knowing Tina, and I’m grateful for you all!

If you’d like to know more about Tina, here’s a place to get started. https://www.tinadebellegarde.com/