Spring Fever

Must write, need to write. I'm still not convinced that I have a whole novel in me, but I figure I'm at least 1/5 of the way through. The story is coming right along, and I'm blessed to have kept a few wonderfully talented writer friends from my writing class that are reading three chapters at a time and giving me great feedback. It certainly helps to have sets of fresh eyes to catch what I miss.

My dad is still in rehab, and we're not sure yet exactly what his future holds. Some days he feels better than others. We celebrated his 63rd birthday with him yesterday, with a chess cake that was my mama's recipe, and we brought all the kids and Charlie along to visit. I'm praying that things will smooth out for all of us, and that we'll get used to a new "normal", whatever that is.

We're continuing with our outdoor pergola area, buying plants and pots and sealer for the paver stones. The new hammock is wonderful! I hope to spend many happy hours in it writing and napping. We have our grill out again, and the blueberry bushes are almost bird-proofed. I'm getting three more bushes in this week to replace three that the frost killed a couple years ago. I think we'll be ready for an outdoor shindig soon!

Meg's broken arm seems to be doing well, and next week, she'll go back to get it x-rayed again. The girls have both had allergy problems, and Zoe's ear has been aching. There may be another doctor trip on the horizon. But among all the chaos, the messy house and stresses of caring for kids and my dad, I keep writing. Where it will lead, I don't know, but it keeps me sane, and I'm so glad I discovered my old love again.

The winter of our discontent...

Man, did it all hit the fan these past couple of months. The two youngest kids were sick forever and finally started getting better after 4 trips to the doc and strong antibiotics. After they sufficiently covered me in their mucus, I came down with a cold that became a sinus infection. A really crappy one.

The same day I came down with that, I learned my dad was rushed to the hospital in his county, and the next day he was rushed to University of Louisville hospital. I luckily got in to see the doc the same day and got some antibiotics going before my husband and I rushed up there. That led to an emergency surgery where they removed his entire colon. It had died apparently, and for whatever reason, his family doctor completely missed it or didn't bother to listen to him complaining of intense pain for a long time. Consequently, he will not be returning to her, but I digress.

I remained there for two weeks with him and am finally home awaiting his arrival here to a rehab facility. This winter has been hard. Stressful, disappointing, an emotional roller coaster.

But I'm still writing. Some days I want to throw in the towel, but I won't. I've managed to keep up with my 10 week writing course by keeping my laptop with me at all times. The great thing about this class is that it has allowed me to start work on a tiny novel idea I had, and it has now grown into a real project. I've tailored each week's assignments to formulating various scenes and my instructor seems to think I've got real potential to get it published.

Also loving reading all my classmates' projects as well--such a varied group of talented people. I hope I can keep up some relationships there. Writers need other writer friends to share their ideas and projects with. The online critique group I participate in has been very helpful too, though I had some terrible reviews of one of my fantasy romances. Some of those "critiquers" can be harsh as a Brillo pad. I take the "honest but nice" approach. Eh, but everyone's different. Good for me to learn that now.

I'll keep you updated hopefully a little more frequently. I'm hoping spring will be a time for things to smooth out a bit. Keep us in your prayers!

Like the Energizer bunny

I keep going, and going, and going....

Really busy. Rejection number two came this week in the form of "if we don't contact you within two weeks, assume we're not interested", so I assume they're not interested :) I just now submitted my second children's story after much editing to another agent. I'm not sure if they send real rejection slips or not.

My writing class is going well, though a bit slow at times. I think I could use more challenge and feedback, but it's not bad. The assignments aren't difficult, but they help me practice and I'm learning new techniques and areas of weakness as well.

These kids have been out of school for three days now, so it's been hard to sit down and get any writing done at all. My latest fantasy romance tale is kinda stalled at the moment, though I've gotten more than halfway through. Hopefully, next week I can get back in gear.

I'm A Proud Inductee

Into the world of writers, that is. I got my first rejection from an agent day before yesterday for my children's mystery story. This morning, I re-vamped my query and synopsis, did some minor edits and sent it out again. Such is the life of the struggling writer!

My online writing class began yesterday. There are sixteen people enrolled from all over the US and the world. I'm looking forward to a great experience there.

Until next time everyone--life calls!

Ah, There He Is!

Over the past few months, I've really felt God working in my life. Quite differently from the previous months. But it wasn't His fault.

You know when there are times that you just don't feel God's pull in your own life? Maybe you see Him in other's lives or you don't see Him at all. You start to doubt that He's still paying attention. You start to doubt yourself, your motives, everything around you. Then, you wake up and realize--you were trying to go at it all alone. You thought you had it all figured out and just didn't bother to consult the "big guy". Why bring Him into it--it's all under control, right?

Until it's not. Then you finally seek His guidance. And He's there, like He always has been. I finally started asking God to help me through this mid-life crisis or whatever I'm going through and put me where He wants me.

And He answered of course. We've started this new "hang-ups and habits" Bible study in church. Of course, just weeks prior, he started talking to me about some issues that I've been stumbling over my whole life. Yeah, He was preparing me for this study. And just yesterday, He opened up a part-time opportunity that I thought I wasn't going to have. So, there's the money I need for my writing class. And I've found a couple of great little websites with like-minded people who are practicing their own writing skills.

I'm truly not expecting instant fame here. Or fame at all really. It may be years before anything comes of it, but I think I'm doing what I want to do and what He's leading me toward. He may lead me somewhere else eventually, but I'm gonna stick with it and give it my best. I know He's still workin on me and I'll probably always struggle with my own "stuff" and stumble on it. But, today, I acknowledge and thank Him for not giving up on me. Even when I want to control everything. Even when I want to give up on myself.