Recognizing Your Multi-tasking Gifts

The last few days of the past week were very busy for me. I just ran from one commitment to another. I loved doing everything I had planned, but I had no time to write. Finally, Friday afternoon I sat down for a few minutes to work on a script. I was trying to get an email, with attached pages, off to Clint Johnson for a workshop at LDS Storymakers. It wasn’t due for a few days, but I needed to send it before the section leader I wanted had a full group.

A few minutes after I started to compose my letter, my grandson called from college and said he was coming for the long weekend. I was VERY excited to have him. What fun! I worked a little longer on my letter and then stopped to see if I had all the ‘fixings’ to make tacos (his favorite) and snicker doodles for dessert (also his favorite). Shortly thereafter my mother called and needed a few things from the store. This was a good because I was out of refried beans. I also love taking her because it gives us a chance to visit.

Four hours later, after shopping, dinner and dessert, I’m back to my email. It took me a minute to find my place, but I did get it finished with my attached pages, so I’m set.

How many times during the week does this happen to you? I love my life and everything I have to do, but I don’t think I would get everything accomplished if I couldn’t multi-task. When driving in the car, I’m either listening to a book on CD or plotting my next scene. I can listen to one child play the piano and read a book to another one. I love walking on my treadmill at night while visiting with my husband or watching a TV show. Sometimes I include others in my multi-tasking. The other night I had to take dinner to a friend who broke her foot so my mom came over to help me cut the fruit for the salad and my husband mashed the potatoes while I cooked the chicken.

Take a minute and think of all the times during the day you multi-task. Give yourself a pat on the back and say a little thank you to the universe for that gift. Because of it, you have time to do your favorite thing - write!!!

Gifts of Autumn

There is something about autumn, isn’t there? Something earthy, mysterious, thought provoking, brave. Today I look out my window at a smoky autumn sky, watching the last courageous leaves flutter in the wind. Change is in the air.

I love change.

I enjoy retreating inward with my thoughts. I dust off my dreams, caress my emotions, and chat with wandering ideas. I get in touch with the girl I used to be and the vision of my future. It’s feels wonderful to curl up inside my head with a comfy blanket of acceptance and breathe the air of change. Oh, summer was wonderful, and spring delightful, but autumn is a time for reflection.

I love questions. They are so empowering.

Where have I come from? Where I am I going? What do I treasure most? Am I honoring my destiny, my hopes, my dreams? Am I honoring my past and my future? Do I know myself? Am I true to my vision?

Am I caught up in the thick of thin things? Am I creating joy? Am I making a difference?

Autumn has many answers, and I go inside to find them. In that sacred space where only I am allowed, I find myself, stripped of worldly nonsense. On this journey I discover many gifts. Joy, love, peace, warmth, trust, desire, and hope, along with child-like delight and wonder.

Such are the gifts of autumn.

May autumn bring you many gifts. May your heart and home be filled with love…to overflowing.

I send you autumn’s warmth, with love.

Linda Garner

Cover to Cover

Cover to Cover, that’s the name of a book club I belong to. We meet once each month over lunch and talk about books. Of course we are great friends and we talk about lots of other stuff beside books, but sharing books gives us a wonderful excuse to get together. Reading with my friends has broadened the scope of my reading.

We don’t all have the same interests, but we include a little something for everyone. We like variety. Each year we like to include a classic, a children’s book, something current, an old favorite…you get the idea. We decide together what books we will read and set up a schedule, a different book each month. We meet in a friend’s home. The lunch is potluck and the conversation flows freely.

In December, when everyone is extra busy, instead of having a book to read, we each bring a Christmas Story to share. Anything goes. It can be a novel, a picture book, a short story. This is a fun tradition. It warms our hearts without overwhelming us.

I’ve been wondering which story I would like to share when we meet later this week. There are a lot to choose from. I am reading The Sprit of Christmas, a brand new book by Jennie Hansen, Betsy Brannon Green, and Michele Ashman Bell. It has 3 short stories, one by each author. I happened to have a delightful visit with Michele at a book signing on Saturday in Seagull Book. After visiting with Michele, I bought this charming book as an early Christmas gift for myself. Perhaps I will share one of these new stories, or Michele’s picture book, A Candle in the Window. This story is a tender one, based on an experience from her Grandmother’s life. You’ll love the story and the pictures are gorgeous.

Do something nice for yourself today. Buy yourself an early Christmas gift, and read it…Cover to Cover.

Linda Garner

The Gift of Reading

A few years ago when we became greatly outnumbered by our grandchildren, we started to wonder how we could afford to give something special to each of those kids at Christmas. We have 19 grandchildren with one on the way, and we have 2 kids that haven’t even started having children yet.

Giving books was a great answer for us. There are wonderful books for every age and interest and the price tag is quite affordable. We have such fun choosing books for the children and we can start the process early in the year and have things ready early. We love fostering an interest in reading. The gift of reading will last a lifetime.

To make this even more fun, we delay the opening of the books until after Christmas. We have a special gathering a few days after Christmas. We share some fun food, and then pass out the presents, one at a time, youngest to oldest. Everyone watches with anticipation as each child unwraps their book. We all ooh and ah. Then follows a magic night of reading. Kids read to grandparents. Parents read to children. Children read to each other. Everyone shares in the magic. Instead of getting lost among the piles of presents on Christmas morning, the books are the center of attention, and so are the people we love most.

Share some magic with those you love this Christmas. Give the gift of books. Give the gift of reading. Give the gift of time. It’s magic.