Hi there, guys and dolls! Wishing you a happy Monday, one and all. My girls, Andrea and Heather have had an interesting time over the last year or so. Like everyone else, they have had the various assortments of ups and downs, but there certainly have been some doozies as of late. The highs of course, how much love and fun they have with Daphne, Margot and the gang, and sharing the Santa Lucia set with loyal fans and readers (thank you so much – fourth book is coming, we promise, and in that one, let’s just say not all homemakers are happy…).

The downs however, have been situations with family members who needed personal help, care and attention, which of course takes priority. That’s what love is, after all. And as those of you who have been with us a long time, are aware of some rather serious health matters for one of my girls, of the female housekeeping variety that has been hanging around like the plague for a while. Yours truly is happy to report that the treatments are doing what they should and helping. The surgery is still needed, in about two and a bit months, followed by a lengthy recovery, but all will be better than ever afterward. Gratitude abounds in my world.

What my girls realized is sometimes you just have to feel good taking the time to feel good. I believe that we, as a society, take it for granted sometimes, and when we have those moments when everything feels a little better or right in the world, stop and take it in. Give yourself a giddy grin and realize how happy you are to just be fine. And in times when you are not (and we all have them, don’t we), take a deep breath, recall the times you were just fine and know they will come again. I wish you the very best of health, love and happiness.

Toodles,

Barbara Jean