From Robin's Nest

Journal Entry for 4/11/2010

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT

Travel Plans With My Sister ~
Well, it's taken us forever to try to get our plans together for the fall. But at last we have a few pieces. First, we've decided to focus on England and hopefully Wales. I had enough Frequent Flyer miles to book our outgoing flight so we have a departure date booked: September 5th.
Julie and I will participate in the MAI European Forum (a publishing conference) that will be held outside of Cambridge. That will run from our arrival on the 6th of September until Friday the 10th. After that we'll go to the home of my wonderful writer friend, Marion Stroud and enjoy a few sights around her home in Bedford. One thing I'm particularly hopeful we'll be able to do is go to tea at the Bedford Manor. Years ago when I was writing "Tea at Glenbrooke" I researched the start of the traditional of taking afternoon tea. Anna the Dutchess of Bedford is credited with elevating this lovely pastime by inviting guests to join her in the late afternoon for small sandwiches and tea. She said it was to ward off that "peckish feeling" that came over her every day about that time. Anna's tea time became quite the rage in no time and launched an industry requiring all the proper tea pots and china to be used at tea time. So with that history in mind, we found out tea is served to guests at the Bedford Manor and we would love to go!

I'm saving up more frequent flyer air miles on my upcoming business trips and hopefully by June I'll be able to book our flight home. When that will be, I'm not sure yet. Maybe around September 19th.

All your comments were great. Keep 'em coming. I'm open to all suggestions. And michierod, I LOVE the Canary Islands. As a matter of fact, I've been there 3 times -- to Gran Canaria -- and will definitely write a book about the Canary Islands but it won't be a Sisterchicks novel. Any ideas for a title?

Glorious resurrection season to all of you!
Robin

Journal Entry for 12/29/2009

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

A Sisterchicks Adventure is in the Making!!!

My sister, Julie, is not only my sister. She's my Sisterchick. Julie loves to travel as much as I do but she hasn't had the opportunity to go much outside the US.

On her 50th birthday I was in San Diego near where she lives and we spent the day hitting a few fun spots. While having tea at the Hotel Del Coronado I made my sister a simple promise. I promised I'd take her with me on one of my travel adventures.

More than half a decade has passed since that San Diego birthday and I haven't made good on that promise. Yet. But I hope to in 2010. I have an opportunity to speak at a conference in England in the fall and I have enough frequent flyer miles for two tickets to Europe. So I called Julie and asked if she wanted to come along.

Her response was, "yeeeeeeeeee -- yes!" Or something like that. It was hard to decipher exactly what she was saying inside all the squealing. Then she cried. She said just the night before she'd been watching The Amazing Race and praying, "God when will it be my turn? It's been in my heart so long to go see other places in the world."

I told her I almost called her at 10pm the night before. That's when my husband and I were talking about me inviting her and when he agreed it was a good idea I wanted to pick up the phone. But then I thought she might already be in bed since she had to work the next day. If I had called at 10:00, she said it would have been right when she was sighing and praying. I wished I'd called then! But I called the next morning at 8:30. She said she kept crying all morning every time she thought of how swiftly God answered her prayer.

So now we have some planning to do. First, since she's not been to Europe or Great Britain before, I asked what she really, really wanted to see most of all.

"A castle," she said.

Okay. I happen to know where we can find a castle or two in Great Britain. "Anything else?"

"What do you think of Switzerland?"

"I love Switzerland. I was just in Zurich a few weeks ago on my way back from Africa. Lake Luzern is only an hour's train ride from Zurich and I have a favorite place to eat there."

As I heard myself spouting the glories of the Alps I realized I needed to hush up. If this is going to be my sisters' adventure it needs to happen without an ongoing subtext of all my previous experiences. Her story could so easily be avalanched under all my boastful tales. And let's face it. The poor woman has spend her entire life avalanched by my non-stop stories. Ever since I was old enough to kick her mattress on the top bunk bed and make her pay attention, she has had to listen to my stories.

It's time for my sister to make her own story.

So, since I am rather compulsive about always needing to "share" a good tale, I'm thinking I'll do my sharing here. This will be a good place for me to tell the story behind the story of Julie's At-Long-Last-Adventure.

This week she promised to call so we could start discussing final dates and options. England, Switzerland. England, Switzerland. Which do you think she should go for?

Joy!
Robin

Journal Entry for 12/1/2009

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

Sisterchicks Books and Gift Items

Hello wonderful Sisterchicks!

We have some fantastic specials running in our online Shop right now just in time for gift-giving. I hope you'll pop in for a browse. http://shop.robingunn.com/

I wanted to share with you this very touching story sent to me about the Sisterchicks Tshirts ordered from the Shop. Friendship is such a powerful gift, isn't it?

"Robin, My friend, Kara and I met at summer camp when we were 8 and have been like sisters ever since. Another friend, Stacy, joined our trio and as soon as your shop opened, Kara made sure the 3 of us had Sisterchicks T-shirts because we love your books. But its more than that. After many years of battling a horrible disease, Kara passed away last month on the 4th of July, just two weeks after we received the shirts. She asked to be buried in her Sisterchicks T-shirt because for the 3 of us Sisterchicks, the “forever” on the shirt really means forever. We know well be together for eternity and thats when the real adventure begins."

My prayer for all of you this Advent Season is that the Lord would bless all of you with many Forever friendships.

In His Love,
Robin

Journal Entry for 10/2/2009

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

The Sisterchicks Key Chains Have Arrived!

Hello, Sisterchicks,
Perhaps you know that we have an online Shop now and we just received our newest item -- Sisterchicks Key Chains. They turned out so cute! Come have a look at www.robingunn.com Click on the Shop tab and you'll be able to check out all the fun goodies. This has been so fun!

In honor of October being breast cancer awareness month we are offering the "Courageous Sisterchick" card for 1/2 off with any purchase.

And for all of you in a book club looking for your next selection, we have a terrific offer on "Sisterchicks in Sombreros!"

Good friends are hard to come by. Make sure you tell your closest friends how much you appreciate them. We all can use a little love and encouragement, right?

May the Lord bless you and yours in wonderful and tender ways.
Robin

Journal Entry for 6/16/2009

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

AT LAST!!!

On June 20th the Robin's Nest Online Shop opens and a little dream of mine will at last be fulfilled!

WE HAVE SISTERCHICKS T SHIRTS!

I am so excited. I hope you'll come for the Grand Opening. Go to www.robingunn.com and click on the SHOP link. Voila! Sisterchicks T-shirts are now available for you and your Sisterchicks along with tote bags and key chains and adorable T shirts for the teen girls in your life who love the Christy Miller books.

We're launching with humble beginnings but a whole lotta' heart. And the best part is we'll be adding more Sisterchicks items just as soon as we can so check back often.

With much joy!
Robin