Greeting 2021 with a new book — and sending off 2020 with a Pollyannaish thank you

Sharing with you one of my many blessings of 2020, a strange year not without its positives.  Pollyannaish, you might think. I always like to say, blessings abound.  Maybe, some in the nooks, crannies and crevices. You may just have to search hard to find them,  And when you do, celebrate and be thankful.

Mine, I found while staying home during this pandemic guidelines-dominated era.  Beyond some remote work hours, I found time to squeeze considerable bits of creative writing.  With encouraging suggestions and feedback from my 11-year-old grandson Eliott, a fairy tale was born, “Something Curious, Book 3: Stratucopia, a starry tale”.  This book, third in the “Something Curious” series, just came off the press, literally speaking.  The story aims to interest both the youthful and adult readers.  Ninety-page “Stratucopia” features vibrant illustrations, including one drawn by my grandson just before he turned 11 in July 2020.  He also is the creator of the abstract artwork used as cover for all of the books in the series.

As a teaser, I include in this blog the Prologue of the book.

PROLOGUE

A land not so far away, floating atop a heavy mass of white billowy clouds, enjoying the same blue ceiling of a sky as the earth below, is Stratucopia.   Stratucopia is as real and vibrant as the cosmic earth, as lovely as the forest and rivers of the Amazon.  It can be as peaceful as the pastures of Montana, or as turbulent as the erupting volcanic craters of Hawaii.  Stratucopia sits solidly on thick billows of clouds.  It is just there, gliding above and holding lives of inhabitants unperturbed by earth’s current events, because it, too, has its own current events. It has no connection to the earth below.  But its residents are like earth’s people, with the same looks, same needs, embroiled in life’s daily demands, drawn by the same magnetism for relationships and lo, strapped by the same rules for survival.

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Thankful for Christmas and the New Year

Thanking God for all the blessings now, and looking forward with great hope:

Merry, Merry Christmas  —  let’s celebrate the birthday of all birthdays, the birth of Jesus Christ the King!

A Wonderful, Joyful New Year to All!

❤❤❤

Linda P. Jacob

Surprises spice up birthdays – but birthday itself is the message that life is a gift

“Happy Birthday!” is like the “sound of music” ringing joyfully in the celebrant’s ear.  The greeting is a powerful reminder that the birthday itself comes from life, a gift from the Almighty God.  The deeper message of birthdays is that life is precious.  We live wisely according to the purpose that God has given us on this earth.  Especially in these times and age, we momentarily forget that despite being mired in uncertainty, and striving through the risks of pandemic threat and consequential changes to lifestyle and livelihood, life continues, and we commemorate birthdays with much gratitude.

On the lighthearted side, birthdays give ample reason and avenues to celebrate.  Mine was special.  I started to receive scores and scores of greetings the day before, on the 17th in the Philippines.  I was a day older in that part of the world, but didn’t mind at all.  The fact is, I thoroughly enjoyed my baby boomer milestone celebrated with myriad wishes for more and abundant blessings for me.  I love blessings, and I will take every bit of blessing I can get – of course, from the will of a super generous giver, God.

An interesting pattern I’ve observed – my birthdays are sprinkled with elements of surprise.  This year, while my daughter Joy sent her early greeting on facetime, I didn’t expect to receive a lovely and extraordinary vase of mixed flowers with a colorful balloon floating on top.  What I was waiting for that evening was my Amazon delivery of chicken chicharron (crispy fried skin) which my mouth was salivating for.  When I opened the door after two rings, I discovered an  even better surprise!  Flowers and balloon for my birthday, from my daughter Joy and her husband Matt.  Forget the chicharron.  I’ll take this beautiful surprise anytime.

Another surprise that day.  From my son John, my daughter-in-law Natasha and my grandson Eliott – in the mail came a most impressive 2021 calendar that John designed with interesting family pictures and several photos of Eliott with his long, thick hair moussed for a comical and delightfully raised  tousle – absolutely lovable.  Usually the calendar arrives before the end of the year, but this time, the timing was perfect for a surprise birthday gift.  I have a collection of the yearly calendars, precious memorabilia.

A semi-surprise was my sister Susan’s gourmet renditions  of various food offerings dropped off before lunch by her husband Mario.

Flowers from my daughter and her husband for my birthday (photo by Linda PJ)

Calendar 2021 from my son and his family (photo by Linda PJ)

Superfluous birthday lunch from my sister (photo by Susan P. Veloro)

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Savoring my Christmas wish list – what’s yours?

It’s Christmas in my home.  This started when I put out my tree, trimmed it with colorful and shimmering balls, then lights, and voila!  Next, I hung the evergreen wreath on the door (really ever, ever green because the large ornament is a lovely replica of pine leaves and branches glued to a ring).  Replaced the batteries, and voila, twinkling lights!  The Christmas spirit is rife in the air.  And I love it.

A Christmas tree mirrored on the glass wall, and a sparkly wreath on the door (photos by Linda PJ)

With the Christmas spirit comes my Christmas wish ,list.  Do you have one?  For the fun of it, I’m going to whip out mine and share it with you.

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Advent ticks the social and spiritual compass with hope

Advent.  A truly exciting season that anticipates a “coming” or “arrival”.  First, it ushers in a season of preparation for the commemoration of the birth of Jesus, an event so central in the lives of believers.  Second, it underscores waiting for the second coming of Jesus, a paramount event prophesied in Scripture and which many look forward to with great longing — Jesus, the Messiah, coming back to earth in full glory to rule a thousand years along with the chosen faithful.

Significantly, Advent is a compelling reminder that there is hope —  hope that many are so needy of and ardent for.  In today’s world, challenges to faith and reason lurk in dire circumstances.  The blight of the pandemic to the economy and specifically, to people’s livelihood, is outmatched by the fear of losing loved ones to the mysterious virus that has drastically changed lives and the norms of living.  In the broil is the clamor for social reform accented by the cries of the hurting poor, disadvantaged and marginalized.  Anxiety and fear of the uncertain become the norm, and as to be expected, discontent and unhappiness creep in. This is not what the Lord wants for us, this I believe.  Light shines at the end of the spiral.  So then, comes Advent.  Yes, Advent is here — hope overpowering the strain and weariness of dark circumstances.  Hope abundant in the mercy of a very loving and compassionate God.

As I was reflecting on Advent last Sunday (the first of four Sundays of Advent), my attention was caught by pictures posted on Facebook by my son-in-law Matt and my daughter Joy –  lovely and captivating scenes evocative of God’s power in the beauty of His creation.  All for our enjoyment.  All for our pleasure.  These pictures are shared below.

Westward beach in Los Angeles (photos by Matt Rosenburg)

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