Grateful by Lillian Duncan

_{It’s November and that means Thanksgiving. Yes, we all love the turkey and pumpkin pie! Well, actually I don’t like the pie, but that’s beside the point. Thanksgiving was created as a day to focus on all the blessings God’s given up in the previous year, but sometimes that can be a little difficult.}

_{Like when you have brain tumors.}

_{I was diagnosed with brain tumors more than three years ago. These past three years have been filled with doctors’ appointments, treatments, side effects from the treatments, and some permanent problems because of the tumors. I’m completely deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other. Along with that I have to use a cane because of damage to my balance system.}

_{So you might think, it would be a little difficult for me to be grateful about anything, right? Wrong! There are so many things I’m grateful to God for. Most of all, I’m grateful God has been with me through it all. Every time I’ve needed him, he’s been there. My prayer throughout this ordeal has been for me to stay in his peace and joy. Amazingly enough, I have most of the time. And the times I haven’t was because I took my eyes off him, just as Peter did when he walked on water.}

_{One thing I’ve learned through all of this is that God is always there. We’re the ones who look away—not him. And all we have to do when we look away is to look back. He’ll be there waiting for us.}

_{I’m also so grateful for a wonderful husband who has been amazing throughout the whole process and that I still have enough residual hearing to carry on a conversation with him, listen to his corny jokes, and hear him sing.}

_{And last but not least, I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to continue writing throughout the whole ordeal. In fact, I’ve received 7 book contracts since being diagnosed with the brain tumors, including my latest release-No Home For The Holidays.}

No Home For The Holidays is a Christmas-themed story. It’s part of my publisher’s annual Christmas Extravaganza. Each year, they release twenty-five novelettes (meaning short novels) that all have a Christmas theme in all different sorts of genres. So there’s something for everyone, no matter what you enjoy reading.

I love finding a way to mix suspense into a Christmas story. There’s always so many possibilities for what the characters can learn as they journey through the story. And, of course, I love all the Christmas symbolism available during my favorite time of the year.

In No Home For The Holidays, Chloe Sullivan needs a miracle but has given up on getting it. As sad as it is, she’s resigned to the fact that she has to stay in hiding if she wants to remain alive as well as keep her family safe.

Ex-FBI turned preacher, Colton Douglas believes in helping others. When Chloe enters his life, he’s sure God has put her in his path for a reason—to help her. And that’s just what he plans to do, whether she likes it or not.

Both Colton and Chloe learn a great deal about themselves and about life as they face death.

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