It's Black Friday, traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. Sales, crowds, folks lining up in their pajamas to be the first in line when the stores open. I admit that I have never done this--pajama shopping, nor any kind of shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Unless I run out of coffee creamer or oatmeal and am forced to drive to the grocery store. (Can't put leftover gravy in your coffee mug or green bean and onion casserole in your cereal bowl.)
But hitting the uber-crowded mall? Not my idea of fun. I'd rather stay home and continue to be thankful for my blessings. One of which is that I no longer have to work on Thanksgiving. I did that countless times as an ER nurse, grabbing quick bites of pressed, cold turkey roll while attempting to identify true cardiac patients versus victims of acute pumpkin pie overdose. Not always easy, trust me.
I'm thankful too (and still pinching myself) that we've moved back home to northern California, closer to our children and grandchildren, and that we were able find a house that (to quote Goldilocks) is "just right" for us.
And grateful that despite the hustle-bustle of moving cross country (and twice in 4 months' time) that the release of Disaster Status and Code Triage happened without a hitch--if you don't count the accidental "Merry Christmas" message that appeared in the March newsletter I sent from a Marriott along the way!
And last, but certainly not least, I'm thankful for YOU. My readers. For your kind and newsy notes, your thoughtful reviews, your willingness to pass the word (and bookmarks!) to family and friends . . . for the warm encouragement that makes me want to continue writing stories of hope. You are a blessing, indeed.
Today is Black Friday, and instead of going shopping I'm going to offer a Thankful-for-You Giveaway. Right here, right now: a chance to win the complete Mercy Hospital book series, Critical Care, Disaster Status, and Code Triage. Personalized and signed as you like. (Keep the books for your own collection or give them as a special gift!)
I'll randomly draw one winning name on Friday December 3rd and post it here.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below telling us one thing that you are grateful for this year. Let's share in each others' blessings . . . and make gratitude contagious.
*Please include your e-mail address in this example format: candace(at)candacecalvert(dot)com
Best of luck!
34 comments:
I'm thankful for such wonderful support as I've taken the NaNoWriMo challenge this month! My friends and family have been incredibly encouraging in my writing ventures.
I'm thankful for the love of God, family, & friends. Also to have spent my first Thanksgiving in 14 years out of a cast.
Happy holidays, Candy!
I am most thankful for my two children, Jack (26 months) and Jenna (8 months). They are the light of my life and the reason I get out of bed everyday. It is not easy being a single parent, but they make it worth the while. I love them dearly and enjoy watching them grow in to the beautiful little beings they are. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Wow! What a great giveaway Candace!
I ventured to Sam's but it's not bad as far as Black Friday goes. At 1pm they still had a bunch of all of their good sale items.
I'm thankful for my family and friends and so many other things!
If I manage to squeak it out, I'll also be thankful for winning Nano ;). I'm at just over 26K now...
Er yeah - do you need emails for this?
carol at carolmoncado dot com
I am thankful for my family and friends. I am especially thankful for all the Christian Fiction authors that encourage my daughter in her dreams of one day being a published author. Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for family and friends and a good church to go to.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
I'm thankful for my supportive and healthy family. My parents and grandparents are so lovely and would be so lost without them. I am also so thankful for my friends and my pets. I would be so lost without them! <3
I am thankful for my family. They are always there to support me, even when I am doing something crazy.
I am thankful for my family and friends. And God for loving me no matter what!
Beth Gillihan
rbgillihan@q.com
Merry Christmas Candace! :)
I'm thankful for YOU, Candace, and the personalized way you interact with your readers and work to make each one feel special and appreciated! I'm thankful for the opportunities that God gives me to live a life of service to others, walking by faith each day, and PERSONALLY learning to know Him better each and every day. What an awesome blessing it is to know my sins are forgiven, my past mistakes are forgotten, and each day gives new HOPE that I can follow Him more closely and share His love and hope with those around me! God's blessings to you this day, Candace!
I'm thankful for my wonderful family and loving friends. The empty chairs at the dinner table made me remember my grandson Chad in Iraq and those who gone before us, my Mom and Dad, husband, Jim, my beloved grandmother Katie and the memories of our times together. I pray for the healing of the relationships in my family so that one day we can all celebrate together again.
I'm thankful that life isn't always hard with bad things happening. Glad the Lord gives us happy times.
Trinity Rose
wandaelaine at gmail dot com
I am so thankful to have had all 3 of my children and a stepson and their families join us for thanksgiving. This is the first time they have all be together since 2006, since one is in the Air Force and not able to always get leave during the holidays.
I'm thankful for the ability to awake every morning, for my freedom, my job, my family and friends, but most of all for my salvation. Happy Holidays!
What a generous giveaway - I'm thankful for writers like you who use their talents and abilities for the work of the Lord.
I am thankful for so many things - for my husband who goes above and beyond to make like easier for me; most of all for the wonderful gift of salvation and the promise of eternal life.
janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com
It may sound weird, but I'm doing my best to be thankful for all the great memories I have of my Dad and not dwell on the fact that he's not here. As far as what I can say I'm thankful for right this minute, my family and that my favorite aunt Margaret was able to come for Thanksgiving.
Holly
oceandreamerfla(at)aol(dot)com
I am thankful for my wonderful husband and two beautiful daughers. For Christ dying on the cross so we can live in heaven... and for chocolate.
I am thankful for good friends!
Writing encouragement, improved health, children,friends, authors (!), church, pets,jobs, God, hope . . . what wonderful reasons to be thankful! I'm SO enjoying how you are sharing these blessings with me and each other.
For those of you who post as ANONYMOUS, please be sure to leave an e-mail address in case I draw your name. You can put it in this format, as I have with my own name in this example: candace(at)candacecalvert(dot)com
Happy holiday weekend, everyone!
I am so thankful for Jesus, friends, and freedom and acceptance!!!!
I am so thankful for Jesus, the ability to read and write, friends, great food, animals, the Bible, and freedom!!!
I guess what I'm thankful here will give away that it's not really thanksgiving here right now :) but I'm thankful anyway that I get a year off for maternity leave to stay home with my beautiful daughter before I go back to the craziness that is nursing.
I am thankful for God's provision he has proven himself over and over.
Lourdes11743[at]gmail[dot]com
I just posted friends, family and healthcare but forgot to leave my email address....
Marilyn
fmartin816 (at) comcast (dot) net
I am thankful for my family who always support me in anything I do. Also, for my loving husband who has been so encouraging to me when I need him the most. Last but certainly not least, for the patience of my Heavenly Father while I have found my own faith in Him.
Emily Breninger
breningeree(at)staffordschools(dot)net
I'm forwarding this comment for Becca because of Google password issues:
I am ever so thankful that we had all 4 of our sons and their complete families at our home for thanksgiving this year. Having all 4 in the same state is usually a biggie as the youngest is in the Air Force and doesn't get/take leave during the holidays.
becca_sovine(at)yahoo(dot)com
i'm grateful for waking up each morning...and celebrating each day.
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
candace(at)candacecalvert(dot)com
I forgot to put my e-mail...But I forgot to say that I'm thanful for the wonderful CANDACE!!
Dominic-Funaro(at)hotmail(dot)com
I am thankful for family and friends to help you through hard times, and health and strength from God to make it through each day.
Joanne Redekop
redekopjoanne(at)gmail(dot)com
I have so much to be Thankful for but I'm so thankful to have gotten to know you & looking forward to many more years of you & your great books.
wilmamet6(at)gmail(dot).com
I'm thankful for my family, especially my 'just turned one year old' boy. He is God's special gift to our family, born 11 years after his 2 big sisters. His smile makes others smile and he helps me to meet and make new friends everywhere I go!
I'm thankful for the privilege of being close by to my Mom who is in an Alzheimer's care facility in Japan. God worked it out for her to be in a home close to my home here in Japan.
gmlandis(at)yahoo (dot) com
Congratulations: our drawing winner is Becca!
Thank you all for sharing so many wonderful "thankful" moments.
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