Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is PEOPLE.

When I saw the theme, I immediately began thinking of the most important people in my life.  First, I thought of my husband.  We’ve been married over 45 years and still enjoy sitting on the couch, watching a good movie and walking down a country lane, hand in hand, talking about anything and everything under the sun.  Yes, I know, we are so very fortunate.

A WORD TO THE WISE:  Every relationship has its ups and downs and no one is perfect.  We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say, “I’m sorry!”  Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about my children and grandchildren.  I love spending time with them…and count myself fortunate that they enjoy spending time with me as well.

WORD TO THE WISE:  Parenting young children is a difficult task…you need patience and energy and lots of love.  We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say “I’m sorry!”  Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about my friends…some I’ve known for many years.  Jane and I met each other when we were only two years old…we played house and Superman and colored in coloring books and had picnics together in the park.  When we each got married, we continued that friendship and now, after sixty-three years, although we live thousands of miles apart, we are close in heart and soul.

WORD TO THE WISE: Friendship is a skill we need to teach our kids…how to care for and respect one another.  We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say, “I’m sorry!”  Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about the friends I have made this past year in the blogging community…especially those who blog about writing and illustrating for children.  There are dozens of them…authors, illustrators, librarians, teachers, moms…and they inspire and encourage me to pursue my dream of seeing my own children’s picture books on the bookshelves of libraries and homes around the world.

Does this dream sound familiar?  Would you like to pursue your writing in an unbelievable setting?  Have you always wanted to go to Italy, but hesitated because you didn’t want to go alone or with a group of travelers with whom you have nothing in common?  Here is your golden opportunity to spend a week in Italy, learning and writing with a fantastic group of like-minded women.

A writer friend of mine has organized an amazing retreat for women writers in Florence, Italy.  It will take place from April 7-13, 2013. I cannot attend, but you might like to go. Julie has an overview of the retreat on her website, plus specific information about the Program, Faculty, Accommodation and Rates. If you do register, please let Julie know I sent you!

We have ten more days for nominations to give a dozen free copies of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cookingto schools or other childcare facilities.  Nominate your child’s school, or your own school if you are a teacher, in the Show Me How School Initiative by leaving a comment and telling us why you’d like that school or classroom to have this book.  If you don’t have young children, but know people who do, please tell them about the free book their child’s school can receive!  Please tweet this or spread the word across any of your social media networks.  At the beginning of October we will use Random.org to choose 12 lucky schools.

Author and educator Susan Case just did a fantastic review of Show Me How! on her Kindergarten Basics blog.  Click on the link if you’d like to see what she thinks about this award-winning resource that makes planning activities and spending quality time with your kids a SNAP!

Want to scoop up a copy of Show Me How! while you can still get FREE SHIPPING and a BONUS GIFT?  Please visit my book’s website.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

Related articles

• Sunday Post: Splendid…Places, People and Things (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
• Sunday Post: From a Distance…Parenting Solutions (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)