JOY.
I’ve been giving a lot of thought to my word for 2016. After the death of our son Dale in 2011 I had serious doubts that I would ever experience true joy again. The grief felt overwhelming and while life goes on, it’s as if it was divided between before Dale died and after. This last year (2015) has proved transformational. Our son Ted remarried and his wife is pregnant with a little boy they have decided to name Mason Dale. When I learned we were about to have another grandchild my heart filled with JOY. Real joy. It seemed the perfect word for 2016.
Posted on December 28, 2015 in Blog
December 29th, 2015 at 1:07 am
Another grandchild… congratulations!
December 29th, 2015 at 1:11 am
I have been through alot of things , too. I try to keep my eyes on the source of my strength. I will pray God gives us both an over abundance of JOY.
December 29th, 2015 at 1:31 am
Debbie I know exactly how you feel when my 10 yr old daughter passed away in a car accident, we felt as if the world had no joy left for us. It has taken a while but we now see joy in the world again.
From one grieving Mother to another Happy New Year
December 29th, 2015 at 1:32 am
Debbie,
I, too, have found it hard to experience JOY in the aftermath of grief. But to stay centered, I try to remember;:
J -Jesus first
O – others second
Y – yourself last
This mantra usually keeps me too busy to let the grief become unmanageable. Grandchildren are a wonderful blessing to remind us that life does go on in spite of our loss. On Christmas morning my heart nearly burst with joy when I saw a look of pure glee and enjoyment on my 18 month old grandson’s face as he opened his gifts. Moments like this –however fleeting– are healing to the spirit and soul.
God bless you as you continue your journey. You are a truly gifted person who brings infinite joy to your millions of readers. ( I know this because I am a librarian who gets to explain to people when they are anxiously awaiting your next release that it takes a lot longer to write a book than it does to read one!)
Most sincerely,
Sherry
December 29th, 2015 at 1:32 am
HOPE is my word for the year!
December 29th, 2015 at 1:35 am
Grateful is my word! I have a home we paid off in October,bills paid,food on the table & my husband had a stage 2 cancerous tumor removed Nov. 3rd. & he started his 3rd. week of radiation today with 24 treatments to go! So,yes I am grateful!
December 29th, 2015 at 1:53 am
Debbie, I just read about your beautiful son, Dale. I lost my thirty year old son, Adam, in July of 2011. He struggled with addiction all his adult life and dehydration and alcohol took his life. Today I am mourning the loss of my home care patient of fourteen years, Jim was a 27 year head injury survivor whose life was limited by wheelchairs and nursing care but never by a lack of love, courage, and will to live as well as possible. I am hoping that I may be able to experience joy again one day and thank you for your gift of positive encouragement that you share through your writing. God bless you this coming year. MaryEllen
December 29th, 2015 at 2:19 am
we are going to Port Orchard Saturday April 9, 2016 We are planning on spending the day in Port Orchard. I have become a fan since reading your books and watching Cedar Cove. Any suggestions of places to go or how to get there from Seattle where we will be staying? Thanks
December 29th, 2015 at 2:32 am
Wisdom
December 29th, 2015 at 2:32 am
Thank you for choosing my life word. Joy says it all, even contains LOVE. Blessings on you and your loved ones in 2016.
December 29th, 2015 at 2:33 am
Making a JOYful noise unto the Lord!
December 29th, 2015 at 2:37 am
My word for 2016 is BELIEVE. I had my house for sale starting in February 2014, it did not sell until July 2015. I had a friend that told me to bury a statue of St Joseph and it would help me sell my house. I buried the statue on June 22, 2015 and on June 23 there where 2 families interested in my home. On July 23 my home sold to be be of those families. On July 24 I received a diagnosis of kidney cancer. Selling my house was a blessing I was able to move closer to family. I had my surgery on September 3, 2015 to remove my kidney and have been cancer free. So I do Believe!
December 29th, 2015 at 2:49 am
Good for you Debbie Macomber! JOY TO ALL.
December 29th, 2015 at 3:04 am
Your book, One Perfect Word” has transformed my life! I have purchased numerous copies for friends and family and I cannot tell you what a blessing it has brought to everyone who has read it. Blessings to you and my prayers to you and your family! Thank you for being you!
December 29th, 2015 at 3:17 am
Believe
December 29th, 2015 at 3:31 am
Dear Debbie,
Love the word JOY for you. That word has a special meaning in my heart also. My niece, Jessica Joy Rees, was 12 when she moved to Heaven….inoperable brain tumor. Her parents started her Foundation, the Jessie Rees Foundation, where we send JoyJars to children all over the world who are battling cancer. We are in all 50 states and 30 countries. Her daddy, Erik Rees, writes a Joy Drop email weekly. If you are interested, please go to http://www.jessie.org and read her story. Her tag line was Never Ever Give Up. There is so much more to the story……however, I want you to know I understand needing and wanting JOY….I truly am so sorry for your loss, but now gaining a new grandson!!
Love all your books…you truly are an inspiration!
December 29th, 2015 at 3:34 am
I am an avid fan of yours! I think personally that the word joy is very approrpriate for the described situation! When the baby is born you then can Rejoice. Warmest regards and may 2016 bring you and yours blessings and health! ?????❤️Warmest regards, Louise!
December 29th, 2015 at 3:36 am
So happy for you and your family.
December 29th, 2015 at 3:39 am
Blessings and abundant JOY to you, Debbie. My word for 2016
is Thankful. <3
December 29th, 2015 at 3:56 am
So happy for you to feel JOY as your books bring so much joy to others. May God bless you as we start another new year.
December 29th, 2015 at 4:09 am
Joy is such a beautiful word. I’m so glad you feel it again. I lost my mother in February of this year. It’s been a struggle to look forward to the holidays. One day I didn’t feel the deep sadness. I began to remember all the things she and I did at Christmas time over the years. Suddenly she was like” the angel on my shoulder.” I felt happier cleaning even! Shopping became fun, baking was always her thing! Everything I did was like Mom was there doing it with me! I remembered funny things; her hiding gifts then forgetting where they were.( Now I do that.) Her famous fruitcakes. I wouldn’t eat them, but helped her bake them; pan after pan with greased brown paper lining them. She never told me her secret ingredient. As an adult I realized it was a splash of some form of liquor in each batch. I have no idea where it came from, no drinking in our household! I miss my mom. I miss Christmas with her. But I found renewed Christmas Spirit all season long. Best to you in the New Year. Love your books. Miss Cedar Cove on tv. Still thinking about my word!
December 29th, 2015 at 4:20 am
I like the word you chose! I’ll use it too if you don’t mind! We all need to find Joy in the blessings we’ve been given by God!
December 29th, 2015 at 4:24 am
Inspirational
December 29th, 2015 at 4:28 am
I wish you were my good friend so we could chat. You seem to have incredible insight and give so much joy to so many. I wish I could return your generous spirit and give you comfort, but glad your new grandchild is giving you that joy. You are an incredible woman and such a fine example of Christian living and attitudes. Oh how I wish I could write like you do. Thanks you for all you do.
Alice Lewis
December 29th, 2015 at 4:38 am
Debbie – within the past 2 years I have lost 4 of my dearest friends and just learned another one has passed on to be with our Lord. But losing one’s parents and child are even harder….my heart goes out to you, but knowing you will welcome a new grandchild will certainly be a wonderful gift from God and you will have a heart filled with “Joy” to teach this grandchild what true love is bout. My love and respect for you and your family – Think you may name a new book “Joy?” 😉
Janet Shiraishi
December 29th, 2015 at 5:00 am
it is inspiring what you say about Joy. I lost my husband of 45 years last year in September. It was the same for me, that I felt I would never feel Joy again. I haven’t got there yet but I hope that I will. There is something about losing your spouse of many years that takes the spark out of life. But, to lose a child would be so devastating. I pray for your healing and hope that you do have many moments of real joy again. I am working on getting that spark back into my life. My children help me and encourage me. It is not easy but I am praying and trusting in the Lord to guide me and heal me.
Merry Christmas and I will continue to read your wonderful books. I love all the Rose Harbor books. I am ready to read the next one. Love and blessings to you and your family.
December 29th, 2015 at 5:07 am
MY WORD IS PEACE TO MAKE SURE I AM A PEACE SETTER THIS YEAR TO HAND OUT ENCOURAGING WORDS OF GODS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE JOY AND PEACE.
LOVE YA DEBBIE AND ALL OF YOUR BOOKS…..
December 29th, 2015 at 5:08 am
JOY COMES FROM THE HEART THAT INSPIRES PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL.
December 29th, 2015 at 6:01 am
Grateful. Because every time I mentally whine about things in my life, I remember that I have two wonderful grown children, each with a wonderful spouse, and three fabulous grandchildren who bring me joy every day. With all of the sadness and misery about, I have nothing to complain about. I am grateful.
December 29th, 2015 at 6:21 am
Debbie, I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your son. My Dad passed away 2 yrs ago. Your message touched my heart. My Mom & me, need to find our joy again. We know someday we will be reunited in Heaven someday, but it is like our lives has lost it’s air to breath. We just need to inhale again. Breath life back into ourselves. I love your books & Cedar Cove series. God bless you Debbie! Have a blessed New Year!
December 29th, 2015 at 6:53 am
Love this!! After my husband’s passing Dec.23, 2012 it has given us great JOY to welcome a new grandson Dec. 9, 2015. KEEGAN PETER is a blessing from heaven for my daughter, Michelle and Sam, my son in law who have waited 13 years for his arrival!! JOY!!! You picked the perfect word!!!♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
December 29th, 2015 at 8:00 am
Debbie on of my closest friend’s son died when he was 21. She said you never really “get over” it. I prayed for you and your family when I read about Dale death in 2011. Praise God you have experienced JOY with another grandchild. May God bless you abundantly with JOY throughout 2016.
December 29th, 2015 at 11:16 am
My word is hope because I too lost a child in 2009. I have the hope of a resurrection.in the bible book of Revelation 21:4 it says he will wipe every tear from their eyes and pain will be no more, neither will morning, nor outcry ,nor death be anymore. The former things have past away. Then in John 5: 28 it says do not be amazed at this. The hour is coming when all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out. So my hope is to be there to welcome my daughter when Jesus calls her name.
December 29th, 2015 at 11:28 am
Simplicity is my new 2016 word. Take one day at a time, enjoy the day you have woken up too. I have been ill and noe disabled, so i read alot on my new deck, my family is out of state and do not visit. I miss them all nut life and families go on. Bless you and your family.
December 29th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Very sorry for your loss and congratulations on
your new grandbaby
December 29th, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Joy is a difficult word for me. I have joy, but not all the time. There are too many serious problems. 2015 has been a year of deaths and funerals, family upheavals, you name it, it probably has or is about to happen. Yes there has been joy, but I’m still trying to figure out the percentages. My word for this year is HOPE.
December 29th, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Congratulations, Debbie! ! What an incredible blessing! ! My friend Sara died when we were 38. She had a terribly painful disease, but was incredibly joyful through the whole process. So many times, her words have brought me back to joy. Another friend has put Sara’s words together and on January 5th, it will be published as Choose Joy:Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts. Her blog is http://www.gitzengirl.blogspot.org. You can find her wise words there as well. If you need to remove the post because of the book, I understand, but I wanted to share it with you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
December 29th, 2015 at 3:29 pm
My word is adventure. Since I lost my job in early December and will be moving to Florida. I’m also a freelance writer. So it’s the perfect word for 2016.
December 29th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Congratulations on Mason Dale! What a blessing to look forward to in 2016. Debbie, you and your family have always been in my prayers and will continue to be. You are a very special person to me. I’m so happy that your joy is returning to you and am looking forward to seeing how your word “Joy” manifests itself for you this year. Happy New Year!!
December 29th, 2015 at 4:19 pm
God is good!
December 29th, 2015 at 5:39 pm
This past year, my word was Accomplish. I did accomplish a lot. I have the word taped to the top of my computer as a reminder to thank God for all I had accomplished each day.
This year is Positive. I need to be more positive in my thinking. Stop thinking about what could go wrong and hoping that life would be better if ….. I am very blessed with a great husband, our health and our 3 kids who are employed in their fields with benefits. As you can see, I am blessed but the negativism creeps in and distracts me. Think Positive and thrive, Be Happy.
December 29th, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Dear Debbie
i just finished reading my first novel of yours, Starting Now. I wanted to thank you for your beautiful talent of the pen. Your novel was a wanderful read. I loved your characters, the plot and the ending! Thank you so much for your gift. I pray you continue to experience Joy for the New Year.
December 30th, 2015 at 5:07 am
Dear Debbie , God gave you a gift that not to many of us have. thank for your talent, its truley remarkable. You have many talents. I think I have read almost all of your books. all the ones i have read i have donated to the traveling libiary. Please keep writing. Happy New Year to you and your family. judi
December 30th, 2015 at 5:55 am
In 2007 I had ovarian tumors found cancerous. It was caught in time and I healed. Then in 2011 I was diagnosed with essential tremors when I fell face first on the sidewalk. It is still extremely difficult to accept my new limitations.
At 59 I have to find a new way to make a living and as I struggle to do so I also struggle to keep faith in life that there will be answers and ways. So FAITH is my 2016 word.
I am blessed with 6 grandchildren and yes, they do give us joy and purpose. So as this year ends and a new one starts I wish you JOY.
December 30th, 2015 at 8:27 pm
Ittook me awhile to think of a word. Last year I chose Peace. While reading my Bible Thessalonians 5:16-18 I chose joy. Was amazed that you also chose this word. Happy and healthy New Year to you and yours. I love all your books.
December 31st, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Congratulations on new grand baby – a new life new– its always so wonderful to look forward to!
My words — Grateful and appreciation for my own —
January 2nd, 2016 at 2:16 am
My word for 2016 is MERCY. Pope Francis has declared this year as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. I decided to follow his lead. How will God use mercy in my life this year? How can I use mercy in my relationships with others?
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Debbie, I am so glad to know joy is achievable after losing a child. I lost my daughter in 2015 and I can’t find any good words yet. She was my encourager, a giver from birth. I have little notes from her in misspelled scrawling’s of a child to poetic prose of a beautiful highly educated young woman. She sang in church, taught the youth in Sunday school and fought for abused children. She counseled many children, teenagers and young adults. To never hear her voice or see her smile again seems impossible to live through right now. I know she is with the Lord and at peace. I am just trying to learn how to live without her. We both loved your touching stories. You are such an inspiration. I hope to write a book about Carla’s life and struggles with adult-onset Bi-Polar disorder. I have tons of notes and journals of mine and hers. I took a writers workshop at the library to help me get started. Now I need to figure out how to get myself settled emotionally enough to get it done.
January 4th, 2016 at 10:32 am
Thank you for being such an inspiration and source of encouragement. My word for this year is enough. ?
January 4th, 2016 at 7:55 pm
I thought of several words, when suddenly I heard clear as day…JOY. I know that GOD was letting me know that it’s time to have Joy in my life. This is something that I really haven’t experienced in many years, didn’t think I would ever be happy. Then when I saw it was your word, I knew, YES ! ! …this is my goal for 2016 ! Thank you, Debbie ! !
January 5th, 2016 at 6:58 pm
My word for 2016 is going to be PRAISE.
Our son David has a very serious melanoma brain tumor plus several other melanoma tumors through out his body. Doctors said he had 4 months to live. With prayer and treatment he went into remission for 3 years. His cancer has returned and went through more treatments at a research cancer institute in Maryland. More prayers. Dave’s cancer has shrunk 60%. To me this is PRAISE. We praise God everyday that he is still alive. Dave turned 50 last year.
Thank you so much for your encouragement Debbie. I was so surprised when you sent me a personal note that you were also praying for him. That touched my heart. God is wonderful.
Sincerely,
Janet Vitwar from Lakewood California
January 5th, 2016 at 7:28 pm
Congratulations on your gift from God, a grand baby.
January 6th, 2016 at 3:29 am
My word for 2016 is THRIVE.
Ms.Debbie,
congradulations lon yor new grandbabies!
January 6th, 2016 at 7:30 pm
I really really really love ALL your books. Can’t wait to read the next one. I buy EVERY one I can get my hands on and while many pass along their books to others or used book stores, I retain ALL my D M books and just dare someone to dog ear the pages. Your writing is just like two friends sitting down and talking and is everyday style. They are real life people. Thank you for your talents and keep cranking out the books for our pleasure. In the last two weeks, we have read Dashing thru the Snow, Mr. Miracle and Silver Linings. Can’t wait to get a new one. Might say I am addicted to your writing. THANSK!!!