No App To Replace Your Lap

Gratitude is the Best Attitude

Gratitude Defined:

Gratitude is thankful appreciation for favors received. Webster’s
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home. a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie
In this time of great fear and difficulty with the COVID-19 virus hanging over our heads, with schools closed, social distancing, and many many of us working from home experiencing being quarantined for perhaps the first time in our lives, we as a nation and as communities would do well to think about what we do have instead of what we do not have. For most of us, our daily needs at this point are being met. We have homes, food on the table, and clothes to wear. Most of us can walk and talk, see the beauty that surrounds us, listen to music that stirs our souls and makes our feet want to boogie. We have family and friends to love and be loved by in return. Focusing on our abundance rather than the lack in our lives helps us experience the sense of fulfillment which is gratitude at work. This fulfillment creates in us the desire to share what we have with others. What better time than now for us to reach out in love and thanksgiving to the community in which we live? What can YOU do to bring some happiness and joy into the lives of those around you?

Make It

No App to Replace Your Lap

Just thinking . . .
Covid-19 has forced us to stay home and spend more time together as a family. Schools are closed, parents are working from home, sports have been canceled (professional as well as school and community programs). So what’s a person to do?
Social media is full of advice for and from all of us. As I’m thinking about all of this, what comes to mind is that list of things I wanted to do when I retired. Read, write children’s books, clean the pantry, and the list goes on!
Now having two grandchildren home from school everyday for the unforeseeable future, my thinking has turned to them and to how can I help the “boredom” that they seem to be complaining about so much as time passes. I trust that if I put my mind to it, I can come up with a plan that may turn this time together into an opportunity to grow in learning, understanding and love.
Children need and want structure. It helps them feel safe and in control - they know what to do and when to do it - even though they will argue about it. So to provide structure we need to first talk about the “have to dos” and the “want to dos” and then make room for both in our daily schedule.
So that’s my job for today - working together to make our daily schedule. This could be exciting. I’ll let you know what happens . . .
To be continued . . .

Make It

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration Canceled Due to COVID - 19

As Butch and I were busy planning our wedding fifty years ago, we never took into consideration that the world would be suffering a pandemic of Coronavirus when it came time to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Who Knew? Right?

Our party on March 21st has been canceled. It has been fun in the planning – going through old pictures and old memories – putting together a slide show for your viewing enjoyment – never to be seen. Oh well !?!?!?

So instead of celebrating with all you on Saturday as planned, we will be sitting home on the couch watching nothing on TV and eating macaroni and cheese. Send happy celebratory thoughts our way and envision the fun we could be having together.

Jeannie Ann’s Grandma Has Breast Cancer Trailer

By Diane Davies

Illustrated by CA Nobens

Davies 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration Canceled due to
COVID - 19

As Butch and I were busy planning our wedding fifty years ago, we never took into consideration that the world would be suffering a pandemic of Coronavirus when it came time to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Who Knew? Right?
Our party on March 21st has been canceled. It has been fun in the planning – going through old pictures and old memories – putting together a slide show for your viewing enjoyment – never to be seen. Oh well !?!?!?
So instead of celebrating with all you on Saturday as planned, we will be sitting home on the couch watching nothing on TV and eating macaroni and cheese. Send happy celebratory thoughts our way and envision the fun we could be having together.

Make It

Jeannie Ann’s Grandma Has Breast Cancer

By Diane Davies

Illustrated by CA Nobens

Guest User 12/7/19 Guest User 12/7/19

There is Squirrel Trouble at SC Toys in downtown Hastings

Watch Diane launch her book Life In The Neck: Squirrel Trouble at SC Toys in downtown Hastings, MN.

Local author, Diane Davies, launches her much anticipated second book in her Life In The Neck series, Squirrel Trouble. It was a festive Sunday afternoon filled with family, friends, and fans of Diane. The star of the children’s book, Eli, was on hand to help Diane read and sign books.

Visit SC Toys in downtown Hastings and pick up a copy of Diane’s latest book, Life In The Neck: Squirrel Trouble, this holiday season. It’s an incredible adventure and a perfect gift for young readers.

DianeDavies.com 10/30/19 DianeDavies.com 10/30/19

Diane Interviews Book Illustrator Margarita Sikorskaia

Diane visits book illustrator, Margarita Sikorskaia at her home in Minneapolis.

Diane visits Margarita at her home in Minneapolis. They talk about her journey from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Minnesota at the tender age of 22 with $300 and a suitcase.