#seashells #seashore #Chincoteague #novels #books #Christianfiction #Christianromance #inspirational #fiction #CeceliaDowdy #TheCandyBeachSeries #inspirationalfiction #church #worship

I hope all of you had a fantastic week!

I wanted to start this newsletter with some memories from my childhood. When we were at the beach last summer, I found a seashell. I picked it up and rinsed it off and kept it. When I did this, I recalled how I used to collect seashells when I was a kid. I had a shoe box with about seven or eight seashells. As you can tell, I didn’t have very many shells. At that time, I’d never been to the beach, so, am unclear as to where I had gotten the seashells. I believe some of them may have been purchased from a store?

Occasionally, I’d take out my gray shoebox and take the shells out, and just look at them. There was something about the shells that I found fascinating – but it was hard for me to say why I liked the shells so much. Well, in life, you learn that sometimes it takes time to find answers to questions – even questions about our own behaviors, likes, and dislikes.

While in Chincoteague last summer, I figured out that I loved my seashell collection because I loved the sea/beach! Do any of you remember that series, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau? I enjoyed watching that show! Sea creatures can be so soothing, mesmerizing, and dangerous!

The first time I went to a beach, it was at a local place, Elk Neck State Park. I had a good time – but was somewhat disappointed that the beach didn’t look as pretty as I’d seen on TV. There were dead fish floating in the water and the beach was brown, no blue oceans or white sandy shores!

My love for the beach was reignited when I started traveling internationally. When I first took a boat out into the waters at Cancun, and saw all of those pretty fish swimming to the surface to eat breadcrumbs, I was overjoyed! It was so beautiful.
Although I love the beach, I don’t know how to swim! I might try and learn after I’m finished with graduate school!

Do you know how to swim? If so, how old were you when you learned?
My love for the beach was used as a springboard for The Candy Beach Series. In Rocky Road Dreams, Book 5 in the series, Kyle spends his Christmas on the Outer Banks. While there, he reconnects with his childhood friend Melanie. A snowstorm, a road trip and a mystery make this book a perfect read for Christmas, or, any time of the year!

Awhile ago, our son sent me this cool baseball cap. He’s been doing well at Towson. He doesn’t reach out to us very much. We’ve been calling him once a week – just to check in.

These cookies are so good!
They have a soft and chewy texture.You can add nuts and your favorite chips!
Ingredients:
1 box of brownie mix
2 eggs
1 stick of butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup of Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips (or whatever chips you prefer)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place the butter into a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the butter in the microwave.
When the butter has cooled, mix the butter, and the rest of the ingredients, in a large mixing bowl.
Scoop cookies onto a parchment-paper-lined cookie sheet; 12-15 cookies at a time; depending on the size of your cookie sheet.
Bake until done.
I have to bake mine for 12 minutes. But if you’re using a dark cookie pan, it will probably take less time. Makes about 28 cookies.
Enjoy!