Good morning friends,
Look what I found! Claire Sanders has launched a monthly
newsletter, and I'm featured on her first edition.
How about that? A welcome surprise... for sure.
Claire Sanders writes inspiration and sweet romance, and
you will enjoy her books. She won an award for A Thousand
Little Blessings. I read it, reviewed it and recommend it to
you.
Claire and I met at a West Houston RWA meeting and
discovered we have a lot in common and write in the same
genre. Claire has also joined the Prism Book Group family
of authors.
A dedicated Christian, Claire enjoys her church and family,
and as teacher, she brings delight to an elementary class
in the Katy, TX ISD. These students are fortunate. How many
kids have a teacher with an earned doctorate? Rather than go
into administration as most do with advanced degrees,
Claire's choice is the classroom and children.
Here's my review on A Thousand Little Blessings.
I hope you will read the book. It will bless you!
My review ~
"I neglected sleep. I ignored chores. "Just one more chapter," I'd promise myself. I needed to find out what happened to Etta and Gabriel. They were right for each other, but she had a bank to run and a thief to find. He needed to forgive himself for the atrocities of war he'd endured at the battle at St. Etienne in France in WWI. This book, set in 1919, has tidbits of history that will fascinate you. I found out why a truck is called a pickup, and the high, dangerous speed of the day was forty miles an hour! You will enjoy this book. Claire Sanders did a good job telling this story. The plots and subplots are woven together in an entertaining fashion."
And be sure to scroll down to read Claire's newsletter.
Welcome to the launch of my monthly newsletter! I'm so glad you could join in.
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October 2015
 This September I was honored to win the Rom-Crown Reader's Crown Award for Inspirational Romance. I would like to thank everyone who voted and reviewed A Thousand Little Blessings. I am truly blessed. Thank you! If you would like your own copy of A Thousand Little Blessings, click here!
Seasonal Traditions
I can't believe how fast the year has flown by. Already I'm setting out my collection of terra cotta jack o lanterns. When she was a little girl, my daughter thought they were scary and they had to be temporarily retired. Now I put them out on Halloween night to let my neighborhood children know that they are welcome to trick-or-treat at my house. I would love to know what traditions you and your family have. 
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Meet Author Gay N. Lewis
 Gay N. Lewis has a background in video production and interior design. Her credits include Psalms from the Mountains, The Canadian Rockies and Many Churches, One Vision. As a pastor’s wife and Adult Bible Study Leader, she has written numerous church programs and newsletters. Three daughters and four grandchildren keep her busy. Before her full time writing career, she worked in interior design and video. Gay lives in Fulshear, TX. She is the author of the Sarah Series. Sarah, a dyslexic angel, arrives from The Heavenlies to unite couples into lasting relationships. Problem? Well, Sarah is always lost, loves red stilettos and falls down often. When she must appear as a mortal, she can’t find a proper human disguise. Havoc and Mayhem should be her middle name. Sarah is a combination of I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeanie, and Touched by an Angel rolled into one. The Sarah books are filled with humor and Christian inspiration. Sarah’s shortcomings make it easy for the reader to identify with her. All of the Sarah books have appeared on Amazon’s Best Seller’s List. The Sarah series is available in eBook format as well as print at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Prism Book Group, and other book sellers. Some additions are available in Amazon Audible. Each book in the series is a standalone novel.
Connect with Gay N. Lewis:
http://prismbookgroup.com/angels For more information, please go to http ://gaynlewis.com/ Read excerpts on www.prismbookgroup.com Gay would love to have you see her video trailers and become a follower of her blog. http://www.gaynlewis.blogspot.comhttps://www.amazon.com/author/gaynlewiswww.facebook.com/GayNLewis and also on Twitter @GayNLewis2. Sarah has her own Facebook page. Follow Sarah on Facebook@ Sarah Wingspand
Pictures from El Dia de los Muertos:
    
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El Día de los Muertos
The Day of the Dead
The first time I saw an altar for El Día de los Muertos, a small part of me thought it was creepy but the larger part was intrigued. What did these scenes of costumed skeletons mean to the Mexican culture?
In Houston, there are several neighborhoods that were originally settled by the Mexican American population during the 1920s and 1930s. These barrios still feature mercados (grocery stores) and panaderías (bakeries) that cater to that population. From mid-October through early November, it is quite common to see altars set up in family-run businesses and outside of churches. Although it coincides with the American celebration of Halloween, El Día de los Muertos is not considered a scary thing in the Mexican-American culture.
Harking back to pre-Columbian times, the indigenous people of Mexico believed that at this time of year, spirits of deceased family members return to visit their families. There was once a strong belief that if the spirits were happy, they would provide protection and good luck to their families. Therefore, the family’s altar will feature photos of the deceased, food, flowers, and maybe even a few glasses of tequila.
This is also the time of year when families visit cemeteries to share an outdoor meal and to clean the graves. Skulls made of sugar or chocolate are given to children as treats or used to decorate the family’s altar. I’ve also seen small sugar coffins.
In my opinion, the most interesting sights are the skeleton figurines, called calacas. Calacas show an active and joyful afterlife. It’s not unusual to see skeletal mariachis, horsemen, and even brides and grooms. To some, it’s a grim reminder of the inevitable, but they’re not intended to frighten but rather to remind us that this life is not all.
In order to understand El Día de los Muertos, I had to learn to see with something other than my American eyes. Now I see it as a joyful time for remembering loved ones who have passed on and for celebrating the joys of this life.
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