Archive for the ‘Dreams’ Category
The Influencers
Posted on: March 12, 2026
- In: Dreams | guest posts | Memories | People
- 58 Comments
Sally Cronin at Smorgasbord Blog Magazine is running a wonderful series about people who have influenced our lives. She has invited us to describe someone who has made an impact and helped make us the person we are. Several people came to mind, family members, employers and special friends. But the person who made the most difference at an early age was my Grade Three teacher, Miss Roll. For those who have not read Sally’s post (and I know many of you have), please check it out. There may be someone special you would like to share.
Darlene & Miss Roll
Who has influenced you and your life?
A New Year and New Aspirations
Posted on: January 3, 2026
- In: Amanda Travels | Books | Dreams | Writing
- 116 Comments
“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”
-Vern Mcellan
Whether you danced the night away or had a quiet evening at home, I hope you brought the new year in with joy and hope for a fabulous 2026.
It’s that time when I set my goals, aspirations and hopes for the coming year. I love doing this as it gives me some things to look forward to and some things to work toward. I’m also a chronic list maker, so just writing these things down makes me happy!
Studies prove that if you write a goal down, it is more likey to come to fruition. Here is a little story for you. I worked with a fellow who was originally from a war-torn country. As a young man, he dreamt of immigrating to Canada, so he wrote on a piece of paper that his goal was to be living in Canada by a certain date. He applied to immigrate, but it is a slow process. Then his country was thrown into yet another civil war. He forgot about his original goal, because every day the only goal was to survive. There came peace for a while, and he carried on living, happy that he survived when many hadn’t. One day, he got a call from the Canadian Embassy saying that he had been approved for immigration, and he had one year to move to Canada. As he was packing his things, he came across a piece of paper with his original goal written on it. The year he had set to be living in Canada was the year he got the OK to immigrate. I get a chill every time I recall his story.
Here are my goals for 2026, in no particular order:
- Write the first draft of Amanda in Thailand: The Spirit House (working title)
- Put together a cookbook for children called Amanda Cooks Around the World. It will include recipes from all the places Amanda has visited.
- Start posting on my Substack account.
- Continue reading in Mom’s Five-Year Diary
- Read/listen to 60 books
- Read books from my bookshelf. Some have been there a long time!
- Get back into a regular yoga routine
- Visit at least one new place, or revisit a place I haven’t been to for a while.
- Spend time with old friends
- See family in Canada
- Organize my recipes
- Find a book club that works for me. I love discussing books with well-read people.
I also like to pick a word for the year. This year I pick kindness
And because I like lists so much, here’s a daily one:
Whether you set goals or not, may all of you have a joyful 2026!!
Copyright ©2026 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
Just How Was 2025?
Posted on: January 1, 2026
- In: Amanda Travels | Dreams | quotes
- 124 Comments
Can you believe we are at the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century? As is my habit, I like to reflect on the year that has just passed and review the list of goals I made at the end of the previous year. Not everything goes according to plan, but that’s life. For me, it’s essential that I set goals to keep me moving forward.
Here are the goals I set for 2025. Let’s see how I did.
- Finish writing Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog and publish it.
Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog was released on October 1, 2025. This is the third book I have self-published, and I am very pleased with it. The reviews have been wonderful. Knowing folks are reading and enjoying my books keeps me going.
2. Read some pages of Mom’s 5-year diary every day.
I read in Mom’s diary every day for the first few months and loved it. Then I got distracted and stopped. So I only get 1/2 a point for this one.
3. Blog about Mom’s diary
I wrote a blog post about Mom’s diary, which was well-received.
4. Go someplace I haven’t been to before.
I didn’t travel much this year, but I visited Alloway in Scotland, the birthplace of Robert Burns, a place I had never been before. It was a wonderful experience.
5. Clear out emails and files on my computer
I tried, but it seems the more I clear out, the more come in. I am not sure how to get on top of this. Sigh.
6. Sort out papers in my office
See above
7. Check out other marketing ideas like Book Funnel
I explored a few more marketing ideas, but didn’t find anything that worked. I organized a blog tour for Amanda in Ireland, which was a lot of work but successful. I have come to the conclusion that my blog is still my best marketing tool, thanks to my supportive followers.
8. Have the front of the house repaired and painted
This was done, and it looks so much better.
9. Read or listen to 58 books
I read/listened to 60 books this year, and I am so pleased. That is the most books I have read in one year!
10. Start book #12, Amanda in Thailand: The Ghost House (working title)
I have written the first chapter of this book and am ready to start working seriously on it in January, 2026
11. Don’t let other people influence how I feel
This is a work in progress, but I feel I have come a long way.
12. Keep in touch with family
This is important to me, and I think I do a pretty good job of it. Yesterday, I chatted with my 86-year-old Aunt in Canada on Messenger, and she commented on how much she appreciates that I keep in touch with her. Our family is quite spread out, but I’m happy that we can keep in touch via social media. We had a cousin and her husband from Canada visit us, which was wonderful. I love family and friend visits.
We lost a few people dear to us, but we are at that stage of life. All in all, it was a great year, and I’m happy with what I accomplished.
Wishing all of you a Happy New Year!!
I’ll be following up with goals for 2026 in the next few days!
Copyright ©2026 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
A Chat with Wynne and Vicki
Posted on: March 16, 2025
- In: Amanda Travels | Dreams | guest posts | podcast | YouTube
- 54 Comments
I was delighted to visit with Wynne and Vicki on their fabulous podcast The Heart of the Matter. We discussed how I was inspired to write the Amanda Travels series, what it’s like to be bi-continental, and following your dreams. Please check it out.
From their About Us page:
Discover the joy of storytelling and unlock the power of your personal narrative with Vicki and Wynne. Wynne and Vicki are authors who’ve learned how to tap the power of self-understanding by exploring themes and threads that comprise the stories of our lives.
Vicki and Wynne are mission-driven to help others as they focus on the importance of intergenerational wellness and healing. They believe writing and storytelling can build resilience for the future by exploring what matters most in life: connection, laughter, empathy and authenticity.
Vicki’s book about resilience and love: Surviving Sue; Blog: https://victoriaponders.com/
Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith; Blog: https://wynneleon.com/
If you are looking for meaningful podcasts with interesting people and stimulating conversations, consider following Wynne and Vicki. Search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or Pocket Casts OR Listen to it from your computer on Anchor. AND subscribe to their YouTube channel to see a video clip of each story: @SharingtheHeartoftheMatter.
Copyright ©2025 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
Mom’s Diary
Posted on: February 10, 2025
- In: Dreams | Family | Memories | Writing
- 154 Comments
One of my goals for this year is to read my mom’s five-year diary, written between 1943 and 1948. I discovered my mom’s diary when I was about nine years old. I wanted to read it, but it was locked. I asked her to open it and she refused. She said I could read it when she was dead. Mom passed away four years ago at the age of 92. The diary was in the things she had saved and is now in my possession.
It has been fun and enlightening, to read the thoughts of my fourteen-year-old mother. I thought I would share some interesting bits, which reflect her personality and the times she was living in.
She was given the diary as a gift from her parents and started writing in it on January 1, 1943. These are the inside pages.
Here is her first entry:
New Year’s Day wasn’t so eventful as it was cold out and no one came. Last night Ed, Elsie, Paul, Alice and the kids were here.
I thought her second entry was amusing:
Broke my New Year’s Resolution. Wrote a letter to Aunt Beth and Otto. Answered my Sunday School lesson. Listened to Abbie’s Irish Rose and Barn Dances.
Mom as a teenager.
Mom lived on a farm with her parents and three younger sisters. At this time, writing letters and getting mail were important, as it was the connection to the rest of the world. (Like email and social media is today) Sunday School lessons came in the mail, and she probably listened to the music on the radio. She mentions visitors often as that was important to her all her life. All the names listed in these two entries are Aunts, Uncles and cousins. She had a large extended family who lived close by. She notes the weather a lot, which was important to farmers especially.
Mom on the farm as a teenager.
Mom was very competitive and often noted her test scores at school. She loved her sisters, but there was definitely sibling rivalry between her and the sister 18 months younger than her. For example, on January 23 she wrote: Scrubbed the kitchen and my half of the bedroom
Mom and her sister, Ella as pre-teens on the farm
She also didn’t mince words and wrote on January 28, Got a letter from Mary G. Is she ever dopey
But the most profound statement, that made me tear up, was written on January 25, I think if I want my dreams to come true I’ll have to be bold
I hope her dreams did come true.
I plan to share more gems from Mom’s diary throughout the year.
Have you been privy to the thoughts of a loved one no longer here?
- In: Amanda Travels | Dreams | Writing
- 164 Comments
“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written” – unknown
Once again I spent New Year’s Day sitting in the sun writing a list of goals for the coming year. I love new starts and things to work toward. Here are my goals for the coming year:
- Finish writing Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog and publishing it.
- Read some pages of Mom’s 5-year diary every day.
- Blog about Mom’s diary
- Go someplace I haven’t been to
- Clear out emails and files on my computer
- Sort out papers in my office
- Check out other marketing ideas like Book Funnel
- Have the front of the house repaired
- Read or listen to 58 books
- Start Amanda in Thailand: The Ghost House (working title)
- Don’t let other people influence how I feel
- Keep in touch with family
I have always picked a word or words for the year. This year the words that popped out are:
Alignment * Purpose* Breakthrough* Change
If you set goals, I’d love to hear about them. Whether you set goals or not, I wish only the best for the coming year. Thank you for sticking with me on this blog over the years and motivating me to move forward. I consider all of you my good friends and appreciate your friendship.
“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
– Albert Schweitzer
Copyright ©2025 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
2024 in Review
Posted on: December 31, 2024
- In: Amanda Travels | Dreams | Travel | Writing
- 91 Comments
This year did go by fast! As the year comes to a close, it’s time for me to look back and see how I did with the list of goals I set at the beginning of the year. I often never look at them again until the end of the year. Sometimes I surprise myself. Here goes…
- Visit my brother in Thailand I did this and it was amazing. Many of you read the posts and saw the photos. It was the trip of a lifetime and I’m so glad I did it.
2. Publish Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones Done! Amanda in Scotland was released on June 1, 2024. I self-published this one and am proud of how it turned out and the wonderful reviews it has acquired.
3. Create a cover for Amanda in Scotland This was done after finding the perfect cover designer, Annie O’Quinn. I couldn’t be any happier with the final result.
4. Organize a launch for Amanda in Scotland I launched Amanda in Scotland in Alberta and BC
5. Write Amanda in Ireland: The Bog Man. I started this book, #11 in the Amanda Travels series. I’ve changed the title to Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog and am about halfway done with the first draft. So I guess I get 1/2 a point.
6. Attend a family reunion in Canada I did this too and man was it fun. I got to see 130 of my relatives for a three-day event where we chatted, ate, laughed, cried, told stories, and ate some more. Great memories.
7. Stay healthy I have to say I felt better this year than I have for a while so I must be doing something right
8. Read 52 books I read 57 books!
9. Read Mom’s Diary I still haven’t done this. The writing is very small and I just can’t get motivated to read it. But I want to as I’m sure there are some treasures in there.
10. Listen to more podcasts and audiobooks I have gotten into audiobooks and enjoy listening to books I might not otherwise get a chance to read. I’ve listened to some from my childhood like Anne of Green Gables and Pollyanna. It’s like being read to before bed. I’ve also listened to many more podcasts. It makes housework enjoyable.
11. Cut back on computer time I don’t believe I’ve cut back on computer time.
12. Get back into a yoga routine. I need to work on this.
13. Keep in touch with friends and family as we don’t know how long we will have them with us. I have made a real effort to keep in touch with family and friends this year. It’s so important to me.
Friends
Family
14. Tell everyone dear to me that I love them regularly (see above) Done!
15. Support other writers as much as possible. I have been doing this and plan to continue
Out of 15 goals, I met 11.5. I’m happy with that!
For me, it’s important to look back and see what has been accomplished. We often don’t give ourselves enough credit. This is also a good time to see what I have learned over the year.
In a few days, I will post my goals for 2025.
Wishing all of you a Happy New Year!!
Copyright ©2024 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
Happy Birthday, Amanda in Arabia
Posted on: April 14, 2023
- In: Books | Dreams | Writing
- 81 Comments
Thirteen years ago today, my first print book was published. This was the realization of a dream come true since I was twelve years old when I had a short story published in the Winnipeg Free Press called Stretch Your Food Dollar. It was then that I decided I wanted to be a writer. Life happened, as it does. I got married, had children and worked at some very interesting jobs. I always dabbled in writing, took creative writing courses, sent out stories to writing competitions and submitted work to magazines, but not much came of my endeavours.
Visiting friends in the UAE (you may recognize them from the previous post)
I visited friends in the United Arab Emirates and fell in love with the country, the people and the culture. When I got home I decided to write a story about my experience. But it just wasn’t working for me, the excitement I felt was not coming through on the page. Then one sleepless night I recalled my friend stating that I was as excited as a twelve-year-old while I was there. So I began my story from the point of view of a twelve-year-old girl. The seeds to Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask were planted.
A painted door in the desert
Camels were everywhere. One of my favourite animals, so they had to be included in the story.
An amazing site to see was goats in the trees.
The actual perfume flask I bought while in the UAE.
It took me three years to complete the book. Once it was finished, I started the arduous journey of finding a publisher. I sent out many query letters and received a pile of rejection letters over the next five years. In the meantime, I kept revising and polishing the book. Each rejection letter became nicer and more encouraging. Then I got a call from a gentleman who said his daughter was starting an e-publishing company and would like to attend my writing group’s meeting as a guest speaker. I was keen to hear about this new way of publishing books. She explained things very well, we agreed to meet later for a coffee and she asked for a copy of my manuscript. Amanda’s first adventure was published in November 2009 as an e-book. And people bought it!
Then on April 13th, 2010, Central Avenue Publishing released Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask as a print book. My dream came true as I held my baby in my hands. Instead of nine months, it took nine years to birth this baby!
After all this time, this book is still getting great reviews. Here are two recent five-star reviews on Goodreads:
I read this book a while back and just realized I never posted a review. The book is geared toward middle-grade readers, and if I were a twelve-year-old girl again, it is exactly the kind of adventure I would love to have! Even as an adult, I found myself transported to Arabia, solving a mystery and exploring the culture, the customs, the food, and the climate with Amanda. This type of book allows young readers to travel to far-flung places without leaving home and will very likely instill in them an inquisitive wanderlust.
An enjoyable read providing factual information about the United Arab Emirates. The book is bound to instil curiosity, a love for travel and an appreciation of different cultures which is so essential in the current day. It makes for a perfect gift for middle-school children.
Having lived in the Middle East, I was impressed with the amount of information the author managed to pack in 108 pages in the most interesting manner. To read more of my review, click here. https://smithavpennings.com/2023/02/15/book-review-amanda-in-arabia-by-darlene-foster/
I am now working on the tenth book in the Amanda Travels series. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along this amazing journey!
Copyright ©2023 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved.
It’s 2023, Time To Set New Goals
Posted on: January 3, 2023
- In: Books | Dreams | quotes | Writing
- 80 Comments
“Marilla, isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”
LM Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
That is how I always feel on New Year’s Day. A new year with no mistakes yet! I am always so excited to make a list of goals, not all of them new, some are brought over from the year before as they didn’t get met. And that’s OK. Some have been on the list for a few years already. Things happen when they are supposed to.
Here is my list for 2023
- Read Mom’s five-year diary by reading one page a day. It will be great to learn more about Mom as a teenager.
2. Finish Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones, book number ten in the Amanda Travels series.
3. Publish my collection of short stories based on my childhood growing up on the Canadian prairies.
4. Learn how to self-publish
5. Return to Canada and attend a family reunion
6. Create a newsletter.
7. Clean up and sort out my office.
8. Clean up my computer and tablet
9. Read and write more poetry
10. Eat out more often. Since the pandemic, we have gotten out of the habit and I’m getting tired of cooking all the time.
11. Read 48 books. I’m going to try for this reading goal again.
12. Work on reducing my TBR pile on my bookshelves and on my Kindle
13. Maintain my health; reduce my sugar intake
14. Visit Ireland
15. Continue marketing my books and looking for new ways to market
That should keep me busy enough so I don’t get bored.
My words for 2023 are Savour the Moment
Wishing everyone a super 2023: May many of your dreams come true!
2022 Goal Review
Posted on: December 31, 2022
- In: Books | Dreams | Writing
- 77 Comments
2022 is almost over and it’s time to take stock and see how I did with the goals I set at the beginning of the year. To be honest it was not a bad year, certainly better than the two before. I was fairly cautious about setting goals as so many plans had been dashed previously. We are still not comfortable about doing much travelling but are enjoying spending time with our two dogs instead.
I’m a habitual planner, so setting goals and making plans keeps me going.
Not meeting a goal is not a bad thing. It can just be added to the next year’s list. Or maybe it is no longer important and can be struck off permanently! Let’s see how I did with meeting my 2022 goals.
Goals for 2022
- Publish Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral
Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral was published by Central Avenue Publishers and released on September 13th. I am happy to report that this book is doing well and I’ve received many positive reviews.
2. Publish a collection of short stories
I am working on this and have polished the collection of stories but have not published it yet.
3. Learn how to self-publish
Haven’t done this yet.
4. Start writing a new book
I have started writing Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones (working title). I even returned to The Isle of Arran to do more research this year.
5. Market my books in person and online
I am pleased with my marketing efforts for 2022. Online marketing has gone very smoothly with great results. I’m eternally grateful to the blogging community who have been so very supportive. I also visited bookstores, libraries and schools in three Canadian provinces doing signings and presentations. I sold out of books in one store!
6. Return to Canada and spend time with family and friends in BC and Alberta
This was a highlight of the year. I saw so many family members and friends during my three-week visit to Canada in September, including both of my children and all of my grand and great-grandchildren.
7. Travel to at least one new place
I did this and the new place was Prince Edward Island, a Province on the east coast of Canada. A place I have wanted to visit since I read Anne of Green Gables when I was ten years old. I even had an opportunity to visit the house that inspired the author, Lucy Maude Montgomery, to write the novel.
8. Update my blog
I’ve done some work on this but still have more to do.
9. Buy a new computer
I did buy a new computer and just love it. The speed is incredible!
10. Take an online course
I’ve taken part in a few online courses, mostly via podcasts and Zoom meetings.
11. Read at least 48 books
According to my Goodreads challenge, I have read 46 books this year. But I also read 2 books that were not on Goodreads, and one of the books I read was War and Peace; that should count for 3 books at least! So I’m calling this a win.
12. Keep up to date with technology
This is something I really believe in and don’t want to fall behind. I have updated my new computer to Windows 11 and have had no problems with it at all. I tend to learn new things as needed.
13. Make new friends and stay in touch with old friends
“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet” – Will Rogers. I have turned a few strangers into new friends this year but have spent most of my time keeping in touch with my long-time friends. I was happy to have met a couple of blogging friends in person which is always special.
14. Keep calm and stay positive, no matter what
I did a good job of this in 2022 and it certainly reflected in my health and attitude.
I’m happy with the results and am ready to face 2023 with a new set of goals, along with some carried over.
How did you do this past year? Any surprises?
Happy New Year one and all!!
Darlene Foster's Blog 