A Week in the Life {10/7-10/13}

It was my 28th birthday this week!

Adam is so sweet because he always makes a big deal of my birthday. He kept checking up on me to make sure I was having a good day. I received many phone calls, text messages, and Facebook messages wishing me a happy birthday. I also had several friends stop by to visit and bring treats. It was awesome. The girls got me a professional massage (which I redeemed immediately) and The Little Mermaid. Adam got me a new iHome which I've been wanting for more than a year now. He also says he has another surprise waiting for me, so that's cool.

The girls are doing fantastic. If you haven't seen Paige do the Alphabet on Facebook go watch that right now. It's probably the cutest thing ever. For Fun Friday this week we went to the park and Cori brought doughnuts to celebrate my birthday. Have I mentioned before I have the best friends in the world?

We also had an E.Q. activity which was a lot of fun! We had hot dogs and chips and games and socializing.

Stacey and the boys came back from Idaho. Hannah and Tayden picked up like they'd never been apart. It was so sweet. Beckett still loves me and Cashe does too (but he just loves everyone). I'm so glad they are back and getting settled in.

Allie is in town visiting and she looks SUPER pregnant...which is good because she is super pregnant. In 11 more weeks I'll have my first niece and I can't wait.

I wrote THIS post for becominglovely.com in which I conquer my fears and share the first chapter of my book...eek!

Hannah ran into a door this morning and then kissed her arm "all better." "I can do that for you," I offered. "Mommy kisses are magic, you know." "No thanks, Mom. I got this," she replied." Miss independent.

Hannah and I finished Charlotte's Web and I bawled through the last two chapters. It was a touching story, and it was sad to come to the end of our first novel. It was very special for me. 

Finally, we got out a bunch of clothes for winter and I washed, and put away hundreds of items of clothes for the four of us. We are now ready for Vegas winter which is basically a slightly colder fall.

A Week in the Life {9/30-10/6}

I've missed a week! There was a lot to report, but I'm not anxious to catch up on any of it, except Hannah did excellent in school last week and earned a "Fun Friday" So we went to Chuck E. Cheese. I've also been on the lookout for a pretty dress for Meggie's wedding.

I've been super lazy in my writing lately but I've been given reason to recommit myself. My teacher, mentor, and friend (Doctor) Elysha O'Brien read my manuscript and said that it's the best unpublished manuscript she's read by an unpublished author (and she's read three just this year). Elysha was my children's lit professor at UNLV and she and I have remained in contact the past five years. She's become sort of my writing partner as we both go through this process. She is an avid reader, talented storyteller, and a wonderful writer. Her opinion (as well as the others who have been kind and generous enough) to read my manuscript has motivated me to continue on this pursuit. I've received a very kind rejection from another agent who said:

"For what it’s worth, the book started out great but then lost steam.  The voice is authentic and the main character is just terrific. We continued to love your voice, but then it seemed that you lost the grip on the overall story and it just starts to feel long an somewhat uninteresting.  Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I am hoping if you don’t connect with an agent that these comments might be of value down the road.

To be sure you can write, so I am truly sorry not to be writing with better news, but this business is so subjective, and another agent might very well feel differently.  You deserve an agent with whom your work really resonates, and I'm just sorry that wasn't us.  I sincerely wish you luck on this journey and thank you all the same for reaching out to LRA."

More was said, but this section was so encouraging, and I'm working to become a better storyteller, so I can beef up the plot and find my grip on the story. Elysha has given me some great feedback on this point, and I'm anxious to get to work and find an agent, (or self publish). I have a few more scenes to write, and a few to rewrite. 

Hannah and Paige have both been so good. I'm grateful for my good girls, and that they love each other so much. Occasionally, they will argue, but Paige can hold her own against her big sister so I'm not so worried about her. 

Adam has been enjoying softball but he's hurt himself so he needs to take a week off. That's what happens when thirty year old men try to play sports like 14 year old boys.