Author: CAstfalk

Slowly Learning to Accept Little Blessings

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For the past several weeks, despite soaring, unseasonable temperatures, it seems that everybody is sick. Stomach bugs, flu, bacterial infections, etc. Each time I hear or read someone bemoan the sickness in their home or complain of this winter as the worst ever for illness, I internally cringe. Because our family has enjoyed what is probably our healthiest winter ever. (Don’t get me wrong, there’s been migraines and sinus headaches, sniffles and coughs, an injured knee, recovery from oral surgery, and an epic and ongoing battle with warts. But all in all, super healthy.)

Now, I don’t consider myself a superstitious person, but I’m summoning all sorts of courage to type this. It feels like an invitation for a variety of degenerating, lingering, maleficent ailments to descend upon our home and ravage our bodies.

Why can’t I simply enjoy this unexpected winter free from the minor suffering sickness brings? Why do I sit and wait with worry for the proverbial shoe to drop?

Trusting God Continue reading →

Top 5 Wednesday: Books to Get You Out of A Slump

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In this season between Christmas and the arrival of Spring, it’s easy to fall into slumps of all sorts. I’m linking to Top 5 Wednesday (#T5W) on Goodreads to share five books to get you out of a slump. My intention was to do a short video, but it’s been a long day. It’s late. And I’m just not up for the demands of video. So, a blog post it is. All of these books are highly recommended whether you’re slumping or not.

Out of Slump Collage Continue reading →

The Egyptian Elixir Blog Tour

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I’m happy to host the blog tour for Page Zaplendam’ s latest release, The Egyptian Elixir: A Regency Vampire Novella, the second book in The Unofficial Chronicles of John Grissom.

Egyptian Elixir

About the Book:

What could possibly go wrong on a surveillance trip to Parliament? Apparently everything.

Vampire bacteriologist John Grissom and vampire hunter Van Helsing are unlikely friends and coworkers. As members of Bow Street’s newly founded clandestine investigative division, Odd Crimes, they find themselves witnesses to an assassination attempt on the Marquis of Wellesley. And discover London’s most notorious purveyor of stolen goods at the bottom of it.

But Sir Antony’s ability to influence people is unusual to say the least. The vampire and the hunter investigate, but the Egyptian elixir may prove the undoing of them both. Continue reading →

Valentines Day Audiobook Giveaway

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In honor of Valentines Day, I’m giving away an audiobook copy of my edgy inspirational romance Stay With Me. If you like your romance real without being explicit, this one’s for you. Bonus if you like Catholic characters in your Christian fiction.

Read the blurb or peruse the reviews, and if you want to read more about Chris & Rebecca, enter to win by commenting below. (Contest open through midnight EST, February 15, 2017. Winner will be chosen using random.org.)

Stay With Me audiobook cover

What is the best or worst Valentines gift you’ve received?

The first and best Valentine gift I received from a boyfriend was from my now-husband. He bought me an adorable guinea pig, whom I named Valentine, who was my little buddy through dating, engagement, and the early years of our marriage.

 

Seven Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

The Blessings Crowding My Brain Edition

The early part of this week left me feeling as if I were suffocating under a growing list of “to-dos.” Each task I accomplished added three to the list as I realized yet something else that needed to be done. From meals to chores to decluttering to blogging and writing – I felt the weight of the many little straws threatening to break this camel’s back. I’ve tried to re-frame my discouragement with gratitude in terms of the blessings in disguise.

pushing boulder

Photo by gentlegiant27153 (Pixabay)

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Bills and Taxes

The bills never stop coming, do they? Online billing is supposed to simplify this process, but while I don’t have to use as many stamps as before, I find myself logging into and out of accounts, checking balances, scheduling payments, and discussing (via text message) with my husband where the money is going to come from. Top that off with the incomes taxes due, requiring multiple reports and paper shuffling, and I’m pretty tired of dealing with money issues. It’s my hope that the taxes will be filed before this blog posts, and I won’t have to worry about income taxes for another year.

Blessing: My husband has had uninterrupted employment. We have a roof over our heads and are able to afford all of the necessities and then some. Continue reading →

The Unexpected Confirmation Saint: One of God’s Mercies

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My oldest son will be confirmed in the Catholic Church at the end of the month. The link in the previous sentence explains the sacrament in a thorough, easy-to-understand fashion. Regarding names chosen at confirmation, it explains that:

“At Baptism, the name was chosen without the child’s consent because the child was too little to make the selection alone. Now, in Confirmation, another name — in addition to the first and middle names — can be added, or the original baptismal name may be used. It must be a Christian name, though, such as one of the canonized saints of the Church or a hero from the Bible.”

[As an aside, I highly recommend Catholicism for Dummies by Rev. John Trigilio, Jr. and Rev. Kenneth Brighenti, whether you are a”dummy” about Catholicism or not. Fully orthodox and plainly written, it’s a great reference.] Continue reading →