One of the perks I enjoy as a Book of the Month Club member is that I get to read books before they are actually released to the world.
On December 1st, This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens will hit the bookstores, and I think you will enjoy reading it.
It is a charming story of two people positively destined to meet, destined to be together, destined to fall in love.
Here are three of my favorite parts:
“…it’s just I love her…it’s like, you know when Sonic the Hedgehog is in invincibility mode and he’s in the bubble running super-fast, and the music goes all up-tempo and there’s nothing he can’t do, he’s just bashing everything straight out the park?”
“Yes,” Minnie said slowly, unsure where this analogy was going.
“Leila’s born to live in invincibility mode, that’s what she’s like, it’s where she thrives – dashing about in a little bubble with the music racing, totally nailing everything. Right now, it’s like she’s been hit by a Badnik and lost all her rings – all her energy’s gone.” Ian sighed then spoke more slowly. “I want to be her invincibility bubble. I want to shield her, let her live in that mode for the rest of her life if I can.”
I have a love like that.
I think everyone should!
I believe that every person’s true love knows them the very best, so perfectly they can describe them exactly as precisely as Ian describes Leila in that excerpt.
Furthermore, every person’s true love should want to support them in their happiest, fullest state of being; they should be devoted to protecting and shielding their person to maintain that state of happiness, health, and success.
I always say that when each person puts the other first, both persons remain at the top of a list.
In other words, I never feel the need to put myself before Coach because he always puts me first, and the same is true that he never feels slighted because I always put him first, too.
Yes, everyone should have a love like that.
“Be a good companion to yourself and you will never be lonely.”
What sage advice!
How often do we praise, encourage, and support others yet criticize, crucify, and cut down ourselves?
Friends, we can do better! It is not only okay, it is significantly important to love and be friendly to oneself.
My third favorite part isn’t a quote but rather a thread of the plot woven throughout the story: I absolutely adore that the author shares many times that Minnie and Quinn meet during their lives, and yet she does not divulge if they ever figure out just how many places that has occurred.
From 1990-1993, Coach and I both lived in my home town. He came to play football and attend the local university, and I was living through high school.
We didn’t meet until April of 1995 when he was student coaching and I was home from college, but when we think back to the routine of our lives during those years, we are certain that we were at several of the same places – mostly sporting events or concerts – but never met.
We suppose that until April 21, 1995, it simply wasn’t the right time.
I’d love to have begun our life together even earlier, and yet our story and Minnie and Quinn’s story both speak to the power of God’s timing, and that is perfect timing!
If you’d like to pick up a copy of the book, here is a link through Amazon that supports my nonprofit quilt company at no additional cost to you as the purchaser:
Thank you; enjoy reading This Time Next Year!
With love and hugs,
Ashli
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