I haven't been up long. I was sick last night, and my son stayed up most of the night with me, between short naps. He took his meds late so slept in too.

My main editor has free internet where she is vacationing, so she will be able to finish the last chapter of my second Christmas book, Sweet Amish Grace. It's a White Christmas Fudge series.

Christmas in Sugarcreek is selling well, and Amish Garden Slow-Cooker Cookbook made it to the #1 spot on the Best-Seller List for Best Southern Cooking. I am so humbled.

However,bittersweet emotions emerged when I chatted on FB with the attorney my mother hired for my car almost three years ago (I was in their car.)I was reminded of my loss of career, a booming, award-winning audit/merchandising career in six states as well as my loss of income.

My writing provided "candy money," and I wanted it to stay like that, for it was only a hobby. Now, I made good money by doing the book tours, selling breads, produce, salsa, and books all over the country. That is the part I LOVED about it.

And that is the part I can't do like I used to do. I can't tote the cases of salsa, do back-to-back flea market/book fairs. I will be doing some big fairs next year, but I have to pay an escort to help me, so it will be just for fun, not for profit, as I will lose money on each event.

I know God has a reason for where He has me, and I need to remember that, for sure.

On the money side of things, we ate leftovers last night, and I am having leftover chicken noodle soup for lunch,so I have saved $20 on not eating out. I did splurge yesterday and get Chinese for lunch, but it was because I felt like I was going to pass out of I didn't eat, and the restaurant was next to Dollar Tree where I picked up dishwasher detergent.

I was stunned to wake up this morning and see my Amish Garden slow-cooker cookbook climb up to #2 on both Best-Seller Lists. To be frank, I have not really done much promoting of this book since the cookbooks are a hobby, my real profession writing Amish Christian Romances.
I guess folks who normally don't use slow-cookers are jumping on board for quick, easy meals. Maybe it's the economy. I hope the newbies stay on board because the slow-cooker is such a good way to save money.



I finished the rest of my menu for the week.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

It has been slow as far as book sales go. I just released one of my Christmas books, and my editor is working on the other one. I've worked long days, in pain, to get them done.
Baby Jordan turned a month old on Friday. He is so cute. I planned some of my menu for this week.
I will be making a lot of slow cooker meals next month. My slow cooker and donut cookbook were on the best-sellers list.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday