I can't believe that February is halfway over. It's been a hectic month for me, but things are finally settling down. I'm a little late to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day, but I do wish everyone love in their life. Take time to appreciate everything there is to love.
I came across another saying and I love it and wanted to share it with you:
When it comes to going after what you love in life
Don't take no for an answer!
Isn't that a neat idea, and so true. I remember my sister telling me once that if you do what you love, the money will follow. She's a perfect example. She loves sewing and quilting, and has finally gotten a free-arm quilting machine and is making money doing exactly what she loves.
I love writing. I get so excited when someone tells me they've enjoyed one of my stories. Even though I may never get rich, I made up my mind after I retired from my regular day job that I am going to write and get published. I'm not going to take no for an answer. I'm doing what I love. I hope all of you can find that place in your lives too.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
It's a Great Life!
I remember my Mom saying to me, "It' a great life if you can survive it!" This has been such a busy couple of weeks for me that I know now exactly what she meant.
We've been in and out of doctor's offices and hospitals trying to decide what is going on with my husband. It's amazing what a time draw that has been. Luckily, the only thing they've found wrong with him is he needs his gall bladder removed. After all the tests they put him through, I'm really thankful that nothing worse is wrong.
I have found a few minutes to do some writing. I was able to add another chapter to a new story I've been tossing around in my head for awhile, and I also took the time to rewrite a novella that I finished in the fall. I've had some interest expressed in that story, and so I'm really close to resubmitting it. Cross your fingers for me. It has a kick-ass truck driving lady who owns her own trucking company, and a tall, handsome Cowboy who causes sparks to fly when they meet. It has alot of twists and turns. I'll let you know more later.
In the meantime, I hope everyone is doing well as January comes to a close. Take time to enjoy each day, and by all means, find the time to accomplish what you love!
We've been in and out of doctor's offices and hospitals trying to decide what is going on with my husband. It's amazing what a time draw that has been. Luckily, the only thing they've found wrong with him is he needs his gall bladder removed. After all the tests they put him through, I'm really thankful that nothing worse is wrong.
I have found a few minutes to do some writing. I was able to add another chapter to a new story I've been tossing around in my head for awhile, and I also took the time to rewrite a novella that I finished in the fall. I've had some interest expressed in that story, and so I'm really close to resubmitting it. Cross your fingers for me. It has a kick-ass truck driving lady who owns her own trucking company, and a tall, handsome Cowboy who causes sparks to fly when they meet. It has alot of twists and turns. I'll let you know more later.
In the meantime, I hope everyone is doing well as January comes to a close. Take time to enjoy each day, and by all means, find the time to accomplish what you love!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Little Things In Life
Enjoy the little things in life...
For one day you'll look back and
realize they were the big things!
I loved this thought. It definitely made me sit and think about the little mundane things that I often took for granted. Let me list a few that came to mind. Maybe you'll find several that come to yours.
The smell of baking bread. When I was a girl, my mom made homemade bread several times a week. I loved coming home to the smell of her fresh bread right out of the oven. Mom's been gone now nearly eight years, but the smell of hot bread still takes me back to some wonderful memories of my childhood and my special mom.
A brilliant blue sky. Twinkling stars in a clear night sky. When I moved to Washington, D.C. that was one of the things I missed the most. Most days there the sky was kind of a fuzzy gray and at night just a darker fuzz. I soon realized how much I love the Utah Rocky Mountain area with its beautiful clear days and inky black skies full of millions of tiny twinkling stars.
Sloppy kisses from my grandkids. I've been very blessed to have four wonderful grandkids. But they're growing up so fast that sometimes I kind of miss the little chubby hands giving me a hug and a fat sloppy kiss on my cheek.
Time spent with a loved one. My husband said one of the things he took for granted was the time he was able to sit and talk with his mother. He lost her when he was nineteen and he'd give anything to be able to spend a little time with her again.
Sleeping in a tent hunting. Today we have a nice motorhome and I just love it. My husband does too, but he still likes to talk about the times his whole family got together hunting, sleeping in a huge tent, laughing and talking, just being together. Today his parents are gone, he's lost a sister, and those little things are such special things to him now.
As I write my stories, I try to draw from these special memories. Whether it be a clear, night sky or a flitting hummingbird, they're things I enjoy and hopefully they'll enhance your enjoyment of my stories.
What little things come to your mind?
For one day you'll look back and
realize they were the big things!
I loved this thought. It definitely made me sit and think about the little mundane things that I often took for granted. Let me list a few that came to mind. Maybe you'll find several that come to yours.
The smell of baking bread. When I was a girl, my mom made homemade bread several times a week. I loved coming home to the smell of her fresh bread right out of the oven. Mom's been gone now nearly eight years, but the smell of hot bread still takes me back to some wonderful memories of my childhood and my special mom.
A brilliant blue sky. Twinkling stars in a clear night sky. When I moved to Washington, D.C. that was one of the things I missed the most. Most days there the sky was kind of a fuzzy gray and at night just a darker fuzz. I soon realized how much I love the Utah Rocky Mountain area with its beautiful clear days and inky black skies full of millions of tiny twinkling stars.
Sloppy kisses from my grandkids. I've been very blessed to have four wonderful grandkids. But they're growing up so fast that sometimes I kind of miss the little chubby hands giving me a hug and a fat sloppy kiss on my cheek.
Time spent with a loved one. My husband said one of the things he took for granted was the time he was able to sit and talk with his mother. He lost her when he was nineteen and he'd give anything to be able to spend a little time with her again.
Sleeping in a tent hunting. Today we have a nice motorhome and I just love it. My husband does too, but he still likes to talk about the times his whole family got together hunting, sleeping in a huge tent, laughing and talking, just being together. Today his parents are gone, he's lost a sister, and those little things are such special things to him now.
As I write my stories, I try to draw from these special memories. Whether it be a clear, night sky or a flitting hummingbird, they're things I enjoy and hopefully they'll enhance your enjoyment of my stories.
What little things come to your mind?
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year 2010
As the new year approaches everyone starts to think of things they want to do or change in their lives. Goals seem to be made and sadly, very shortly are broken.
I sat here watching it snow and thought about my journey to becoming a published author and realized I, too, mentally made some goals. But instead of calling these things goals, I call them dreams because I seem to always let my goals go out the window. Let's give ourselves the okay to dream. A dream is easier to think about, even if what we're dreaming of isn't fanciful. The word dream makes me feel good. For some reason when I think of making goals, it puts me on edge and I soon push it from my mind. I hate it when someone asks me to write down my goals. I'll write things down because, like everyone else, I have things I want to achieve or "goals" I want to reach, but it doesn't take me long to push the thoughts away.
Instead of setting a goal, I'm dreaming about where I want to be next year. I know I have to take steps to accomplish my dreams and to strive to make 2010 a success. I'm not going to list all the things I'm dreaming of, but instead urging you to dream your own dreams. Do what you need to do and accomplish your dreams. Be kind to yourself even if all your dreams don't come true. Take small steps and most of all, be happy for your accomplishments.
May the new year bring you the very best and put you closer to making all your dreams come true.
I sat here watching it snow and thought about my journey to becoming a published author and realized I, too, mentally made some goals. But instead of calling these things goals, I call them dreams because I seem to always let my goals go out the window. Let's give ourselves the okay to dream. A dream is easier to think about, even if what we're dreaming of isn't fanciful. The word dream makes me feel good. For some reason when I think of making goals, it puts me on edge and I soon push it from my mind. I hate it when someone asks me to write down my goals. I'll write things down because, like everyone else, I have things I want to achieve or "goals" I want to reach, but it doesn't take me long to push the thoughts away.
Instead of setting a goal, I'm dreaming about where I want to be next year. I know I have to take steps to accomplish my dreams and to strive to make 2010 a success. I'm not going to list all the things I'm dreaming of, but instead urging you to dream your own dreams. Do what you need to do and accomplish your dreams. Be kind to yourself even if all your dreams don't come true. Take small steps and most of all, be happy for your accomplishments.
May the new year bring you the very best and put you closer to making all your dreams come true.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Holiday Season
One thing I love about the holiday season is getting together with friends and family. I just went to a lovely Christmas luncheon with my Romance Writers Utah Chapter where we ate delicious food at Marie Callenders, shared gifts, and shared exciting news of the successes some of our members are enjoying. This week I went to lunch with one of my best friends, a lovely lady I've known and worked with for years. We went to Red Lobster and ate too much, laughed and talked and promised to get together more often. Next week will be a time to get together with family and laugh and enjoy each other's company.
I'd like to share with you a recipe that my mother called white cracker pie. She always made it at Christmas. I don't know where she got it, but it's one of my favorite pie recipes, easy to make, and I think it's yummy.
White Cracker Pie
3 Egg Whites
12 Soda Crackers
1/2 Cup Nuts finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
Beat egg whites until stiff. Add sugar and vanilla.
Fold in crackers and nuts that have been finely ground and mixed with baking powder.
Put into well-greased 9 inch pie plate.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Cool at least 4 hours.
Makes 1 pie.
Can be frozen. Thaw before eating.
Put whip cream on pie before serving.
As each of you enjoy this lovely season, take time to appreciate what you have, take time to enjoy your family, friends and those you associate with. Most of all be happy.
Merry Christmas and I wish you the best in 2010.
I'd like to share with you a recipe that my mother called white cracker pie. She always made it at Christmas. I don't know where she got it, but it's one of my favorite pie recipes, easy to make, and I think it's yummy.
White Cracker Pie
3 Egg Whites
12 Soda Crackers
1/2 Cup Nuts finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
Beat egg whites until stiff. Add sugar and vanilla.
Fold in crackers and nuts that have been finely ground and mixed with baking powder.
Put into well-greased 9 inch pie plate.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Cool at least 4 hours.
Makes 1 pie.
Can be frozen. Thaw before eating.
Put whip cream on pie before serving.
As each of you enjoy this lovely season, take time to appreciate what you have, take time to enjoy your family, friends and those you associate with. Most of all be happy.
Merry Christmas and I wish you the best in 2010.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Life Is A Journey
I came across a couple of thoughts I'd like to share with you.
Where you stand is not important -- it is in what direction you are moving that counts.
Sometimes I get discouraged and feel I'm not spending enough time writing or that I'm not finishing my stories, but when I realized that as long as I am taking one step at a time heading in the direction of reaching my goal, that is all that matters. It seems each day gets filled with things I have to do -- cleaning, laundry, time with my family, and now the holidays with the extra work they create, that I forget that this is my life and I need to make it the best it can be. As long as I take a step each day, eventually I'll succeed. If I can take more than one step - great for me, but if not, one step at a time is all that I need to and I'll get there.
Life is a journey - not a camp.
Keep striving to better yourself. Make each day worthwhile to you, and most of all take time to be happy. Live today and tomorrow will get here on its own accord.
Where you stand is not important -- it is in what direction you are moving that counts.
Sometimes I get discouraged and feel I'm not spending enough time writing or that I'm not finishing my stories, but when I realized that as long as I am taking one step at a time heading in the direction of reaching my goal, that is all that matters. It seems each day gets filled with things I have to do -- cleaning, laundry, time with my family, and now the holidays with the extra work they create, that I forget that this is my life and I need to make it the best it can be. As long as I take a step each day, eventually I'll succeed. If I can take more than one step - great for me, but if not, one step at a time is all that I need to and I'll get there.
Life is a journey - not a camp.
Keep striving to better yourself. Make each day worthwhile to you, and most of all take time to be happy. Live today and tomorrow will get here on its own accord.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
A Sense of Accomplishment
Isn't it wonderful to experience a sense of accomplishment when you've finished a big project?
This week I finished two projects (yeah for me!). First, cleaning the carpets in my home. Everything just feels wonderful and just in time for the upcoming holidays.
Secondly, I finished a novella I started in October. What a great feeling to write "the end" and send off a query to an editor. Cross your fingers for me that she'll want it. My critique partners say it's my best story yet.
I challenge you to work hard and feel the heady sense of accomplishing something you've been working at but just hadn't finished yet.
This week I finished two projects (yeah for me!). First, cleaning the carpets in my home. Everything just feels wonderful and just in time for the upcoming holidays.
Secondly, I finished a novella I started in October. What a great feeling to write "the end" and send off a query to an editor. Cross your fingers for me that she'll want it. My critique partners say it's my best story yet.
I challenge you to work hard and feel the heady sense of accomplishing something you've been working at but just hadn't finished yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)