From My Window
Amy and I were thrilled with our cruise of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. We hardly heard the paddle wheel, and it became background music. Our cabin was perfect. Two back windows and two side windows gave us panoramic views of the changing scenery. The food on board was excellent and so were our appetites.
Photo courtesy of Amy Hodgson.
Going through eight river locks was the most exciting part of the trip. I talked with other passengers, and they thought the locks were the highlight too. One lock lowered the ship 105 feet to the water below. This photo shows me standing on the back deck as the ship exited the lock. You can see the lock wall on the left.
Photo courtesy of Amy Hodgson.
We will remember the trip to Mount St. Helen’s the rest of our lives. Mount St. Helen’s is usually shrouded in fog, but we had sunny weather. The volcano erupted 43 years ago, and you may remember the headlines. Over time, the mountain and surrounding mountains restored themselves. Green pine trees blanketed the mountains and wildflowers were blooming. I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful country.
Book Business
I’m off to Houston, Texas to speak at The Compassionate Friends National Conference. My daughter Amy—artist, traveling companion, slide-maker, and trusted assistant—is coming with me. The conference goes from August 5-7 and I’m giving two workshops. One is “Affirmation Writing: A Forward Step on Your Healing Path.” The other is “Grief Doodling: A snapshot of Your Grief Journey.”
Attending the conference will allow me to spend time with Open to Hope team members Dr. Gloria Horsley, Dr. Heidi Horsley, and Neil Chethik. I am grateful to the Open to Hope Foundation for sending me to this conference, looking forward to seeing TCF friends, and making new friends.
Reviews
Daisy A Day: Hope for a Grieving Heart was featured in a Goodreads give-away. Six hundred forty-one entrants responded to the offer and 597 shelved the book as “Want to Read.” These were encouraging results and I will enter another book in the give-away.
Daisy A Day also received the Firebird Book Award in the self-help category. These awards are given by Speak Up Talk Radio. This is the second Firebird Book Award I have received. Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles was also a winner.
NetGalley review of First Steps, First Snow
Great children’s book. The graphics were appealing, and the overall storyline was well written. I recommend First Steps, First Snow to readers. I was fun and I can’t wait to see more from this author. Five stars out of five stars. Reviewer: Ily Renfroe, journalist.
Quote of the Month
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. – Saint Augustine, Christian bishop, theologian, and philosopher.