I am grateful for…

This time of year brings me hope that the world can become a better place. I see so much service being given to those in need and I have had a hand in that a few times over the years. There is nothing better than that feeling of seeing a smile on a child’s face or a parent’s face when they thought no one out there cared anymore.

I am so grateful for my family near and far. I wish that my siblings lived closer. I do miss spending time with them and getting to know their kids and watch them grow up. I miss my mom. I am grateful that my father and step-mom are near as well as my grandmother. I am grateful for my husband’s family and for the service they give to us by helping to watch our girls.

I am especially grateful for my husband who is always supportive of my dreams and encourages me to reach for them. He is my best friend, father of my children, partner in crime, etc. I cannot even imagine my life without him.  He feels my soul to infinity and beyond. The love he gives to me fills me up and lights my way during dark times. I always feel safe with him near.

I am very grateful for my two beautiful daughters. They are my life. I’ve always wanted to be a mother as long as I can remember. I remembered thinking when I got married that I couldn’t imagine loving someone so much. I never thought the love I felt for my husband could be matched until I held my first daughter in my arms after she was born. Even though there are those days when they drive me crazy and tears flow, I hope they know how much I love and care for them. I want to protect them. I hope I can instill all the wisdom I learned from my parents and raise them to be good people.

I am not sure why this year has been more emotional than usual. I’ve just been thinking more and more about what really counts.

I had the opportunity to go out shopping at midnight for Black Friday with my girlfriends. We had a blast even though we were all tired. I saw the thousands of crazy shoppers out trying to get a good deal and I was surely one of them. It made me realize how much we have missed the mark. Did we really need to be out buying stuff? I know my daughter wanted slippers and she needed boots but could I really have waited? Probably. The real reason for the season is somehow being lost in the commercialization of Christmas. I want my children to grow up knowing the reason we give gifts and to serve those around us. In the end, the most important thing to me is my family and friends not how many presents are under the tree. I cannot take those things with me when I leave this earth but I can take the memories shared with those I love and the experiences I have. I would go again on Black Friday even if I had nothing to buy. I cherish the memories I made with my friends and the time we spent together.

I don’t think I intended for all of that to come out when I started writing this post about gratitude. I truly feel so blessed in my life. I’ve had so many answers to my prayers. I’ve felt the love of those around me and their support. When we really needed things we were blessed through others and I will never forget their kindnesses.

I am grateful for my job, the clothes on my back, the food on my table and the roof over my head. I am grateful for the knowledge that He lives and that He died for us. May all of you enjoy the true spirit of the season that is upon us. Hold your loved ones tight. Tell them you love them. Go and make memories to last.

 

Taking a much needed break

I find myself surrounded by a beautiful mountain scene. My family and I have escaped to a condo for the next 4 days. It’s a much needed get away. Things have been crazy at work. The kid’s have been driving me crazy. But somehow when we are in a new surrounding they are not so bad. Go figure.

I’ve been able to finish another chapter in my book and it feels like I am plugging along pretty good. I hope by the time our writing group meets again on the 30th I’ll have a few more chapters written. Because this book is coming from my life’s experiences it’s been pretty emotional for me. I have to take a break now and then and do something else so I don’t start to cry or get stuck for too long in an unpleasant memory.

I hope my daughters will appreciate this legacy of sorts that I am leaving to them. I love them so much and want to share my experiences with them. I was never really good at keeping a consistent journal. Well, I better get back to writing. I hope all of you who are participating in NaNo are meeting your daily word count! Keep going strong.

Peace out from the gorgeous mountains around Eden, Utah.

The East India Press Short Story Contest

Win $1,000 cash prize
PLUS your story will be published as an opener to the Nightingale enhanced novel, as well as a stand-alone e-book.
PLUS East India Press will consider your novel submission for publication

FREE to enter (no fees of any kind) click this link for more details

Open to all – any nationality, any age – with teens especially encouraged to enter

Good luck to all who will enter!

Will I ever find time to write?

It seems like that has been my mantra since having children. I work full time so when I get home I feel tired. I switch hats when I walk through the door to be both mom and wife. Get dinner ready. Clean up around the house. Play with my kids. Feed the baby. Make preparations for the next day. Check work email before going to bed. My kids like to be night owls. The oldest who I will lovingly refer to as the Shadow doesn’t usually fall asleep until 10 or 10:30pm. If she does not get a nap during the day which does happen sometimes, she will fall asleep around 9:30. The youngest who is already becoming the Observor has now decided she would like to stay up as late as 10:30 or go to bed as early as 9:30. When all is said and done I am exhausted. And once they go to bed then I go to bed. I kiss my husband and hope sweet slumber will soon be mine.

I don’t try and use this as an excuse but I’ve got to find some me time in there to do the writing or it will never get done. I have a commute into work that both ways adds up to an hour. I have wi-fi access during the train portion so I do my work stuff. If I could write on the bus that would be awesome but usually it is so crowded that you just sit there holding your bag.

Last night our writing group met to do a 2 hour writing blitz for NaNoWriMo. It was awesome. I wrote 1,000 words and I felt like I accomplished something. I wish I could have more moments like that. How do you find time to write? What are your strategies? And do you have suggestions for this busy mom?

Starting to write again

Welcome to my author blog. I’ve always wanted to have a place to post my writings and share stuff with others. I started this blog back in 2007 and used it religiously for about a year and then life happened. Since then I’ve had two beautiful daughters and more story ideas than I know what to do with. I wonder how many writers have started again and again on the same project or idea.

Thanks for taking this journey with me as I try to become a published author. Please share your ideas. I definitely do not know everything there is to know about writing but I am constantly learning.

Cinder & Ella by Melissa Lemon

My friend Melissa Lemon’s first novel has just been released.

“After their father’s disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn’t long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself—the most dangerous place in all the kingdom for both her and Cinder. Cinder and Ella is a Cinderella story like no other and one you’ll never forget.”

Go to her website at http://lemoninkwell.blogspot.com/ for giveaway information and upcoming signings in Utah. Stay tuned for my review of her novel next week.

NaNoWriMo 2011

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

I am encouraging those of you who are interested to take part in this global effort. For the why’s, how’s and when’s go to their website at : http://www.nanowrimo.org/. Click on About in the menu bar and get started. If you do decide to do this and sign-up for the site, they will send you email reminders daily to help lift your spirits as you take on this mamoth challenge.

Good luck out there. A few from our group are going to take the challenge. I plan on finishing my current novel this month!