What I Learned From My Dad

First, let me say

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

This is a day to remember

the man who gave us life,

probably raised us,

and definately made an impact.

My father gave me his

writing genes

and for that I will be

forever grateful.

Like so many other people I know,

I recently lost my dad.

He died last month due to complications

resulting from lung cancer.

Yes, he smoked for way too many years.

At times I get angry because he was

only in his mid-sixties and was taken

way to soon. So...

ONE - I learned from my father to take better

care of my health. I have my own daughter

and want to be around for her.

I took some time off from my diet after

my dad's death, but that is changing. Luckily,

I didn't gain weight. I also started walking this year

with friends. We are all feeling better.

TWO - I learned to tell the people who made an impact

on my life what they mean to me before it's too late.

In some cases, that may be easier said than done.

I will have to gather the courage to contact at least

one person from my past, but I will.

THREE - I learned to accept people for who they are.

My father lived his life his

way, whether you liked it or not -

whether I liked it or not.

I often referred to him as a modern day hermit.

I decided many years ago to accept him for who he was.

When I was young, I didn't accept people into my life

who had views or personalities

which were much different from my own.

Once I learned to accept them for who they are,

I found these people added to my life in

wonderful ways.

Some are huggers - nurturers -

who recharge your batteries

and make you smile when you see them.

Some have skills they are more than willing to share.

Some have knowledge which has opened a world of

possbility and led to interesting experiences.

Writers are unique individuals. Some of them are

flamboyant and some are more reserved

They are all creative. My life is much

richer for having these friends in my life.

This Father's Day,

I hope you think about

what you have learned from

your own father.

The lessons may good,

or perhaps not so good,

but they are lessons we are meant

to learn and grow from.

The Real Meaning of Christmas

The Real Meaning of Christmas by Susan Meier

There are 11 children in my family. Seven girls. Four boys. All of my sisters are married, three of my brothers are married, and several of my nieces and nephews are married and have children. There are 63 people in my "immediate" family.

We have a Christmas tradition in our family of a cookie exchange. The deal is that you state your intention to be part of the exchange then Tammy (my youngest sister) sends us an email letting us know how many people are participating. This year there are 12. That means each of us will pick a type of cookie and make 12 dozen of that one kind. (I'm the peanut butter blossom girl.) Then December 20, we bring all our cookies to my mom's and 'exchange' them for one dozen of everybody else's.

Everybody involved ends up with 12 dozen different kinds of cookies for company but everybody also only has to bake one kind.

It's probably my favorite family tradition. And we've got some whoppers.

With 63 people in the immediate family, we have enough people (especially kids) to have our own personal Easter egg hunt. We have a sort of unofficial competition to see who can get my mother the best gift for her birthday. Every Wednesday morning in the summer, one of us hosts "breakfast" for the family members lucky enough not to have a real job -- or who have summers off because of working for a school district. My sister Laura is usually the winner for favorite breakfast. She makes waffles with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

In October the kids dress up and take part in a Halloween parade. This year they were the Flintstones, complete with PVC pipe Flintmobile. In a way, they were their own little float.

Every Friday after Thanksgiving, rather than battle shoppers, my mother hosts the cookie painting party for her grandkids. She bakes sugar cookies and makes colorful icing and the kids paint the cookies with the icing. They go on a Christmas tree in the family room with bubble gum and candy canes.

There are enough of us that if every 'family' within the family chips in $50 we can buy my mother a major appliance for Christmas.

In a lot of ways we sound like a small town, but really we're just family. We like to be entertained -- maybe too much -- and we enjoy each other's company. We were taught to share, to be generous, to include everybody in every baseball game, football game and/or card game we played and those lessons carried over into adulthood.

I sometimes look at my family and our traditions and wonder. . . Are we a tad crazy? A little too in love with entertainment and stimulation. . .Or is this what life’s really all about? Sharing your toys, including everybody in the game, and baking enough cookies that everybody gets a dozen.

Merry Christmas. This year, share your toys, include everybody in the game and bake an extra dozen cookie to give to someone in your town, your church, or at your office, who might not get a cookie this year.

Susan Meier


Susan Meier
HER BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS, Harlequin Romance, 12/08 AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON
MAID IN MONTANA, Harlequin Romance, 6/09
THE SWEETEST CHRISTMAS WISH, Harlequin Romance 12/09