I got the best news this morning, and I just have to share it! But, first, I have to comment on the fact that it has been just over one year since I've posted in this blog--wow, 1 year.

This year has been an absolute roller coaster for me. My husband left me and my three kids in April, and my life has flipped 180 degrees since. Yes, it's been hard, but it was the best thig that could have ever happened. Let's just say it was a very bad marriage, and we'll leave it at that. It's amazing how life takes turns and twists and leads you down paths you never imagined you would take. Along the way, when you believe only darkness and emptiness are yours, life tosses your way a vibrant ray of light. It's warm glow somehow guides your way down the right path and you suddenly realize you are truly happy.

With all the changes in my life, I stopped writing for 7 months. I'm pleased to report that I am back now, stronger and more confident than ever! I've been writing, polishing my older stories, and submitting my work. Which brings me to my big news . . .

This morning, I received an email informing me that my short story, "Wings of Courage" has been accepted and will be published in the Static Movement anthology, Literary Foray!!! The best part about it is that my sister, NickiD89 Scuba Classes! , also has a story ("Homage") that was accepted to the same anthology! How cool is that--sisters with stories published in the same book! I've never been published before, so this is very exciting for me--just can't wait to have the book in my hand!
 

I cannot believe I am actually going to share this, but...

I just deleted 30 pages of email messages in my WDC inbox, and that was only HALF of them! I had over 60 JUST in my inbox mailbox. What is wrong with me? I mean I went all the way back to my first page and I still had my "Welcome to Writing.Com" email I got when I joined on November 12, 2007!!!! I still had the very first email my dear sister, NickiD89 Scuba Classes! sent me after I joined- In it, she told me I could "copy and paste my stories right from my word processor into a new static item page." You have no idea how many emails from her I just deleted- or how many there still are in my inbox, hundreds, all read, just sitting there for no good reason except I just never deleted them.

WDC newsletters, writer's digest newsletters, group emails, cNotes, support emails, comments & reviews (even though the system saves them for me in "My Feedback," replies- you name, it's still in there! It's ridiculous. So, I am going to make an honest effort to empty my mailboxes before my 2 year WDC birthday on November 12th. I think it is so time consuming to do it in one sitting- I haven't the patience nor the time, so a little bit everyday works better for me! I'll document my progress here for accountability.

Here's where I am now:
Email Space Used: 14,247 kb (66.3%) Available Space: 7,257 kb (33.7%) Space Limit: 21,504 kb

2,550 msgs, 715 new - (after awhile, the system shows read messages as unread. )

This morning, I was at 90% space used and I was getting space limit warning emails from writing.com support.

I hope I get this done before November first, since my computer time will be all about NaNo!!!

 

It's my birthday today, the first day of the last year in my thirties. Wow. I thought I'd be thirty-something forever- not so. Time rolls on and I'm here for to enjoy the ride. In the very recent past (and since I turned twenty), I suffered with a hefty load of ageism. I cried when I turned 20 because I wasn't a "teeny bopper" anymore. I read a poem today that I wrote seventeen years ago when I was 22- I referred to myself as "old" in it. I sobbed the day I turned thirty- and it wasn't because of my pregnancy hormones (I was eight months pregnant for my son that day). I've worried about getting old most of my life. Silly. No stupid. Trully a waste of precious time and energy. I am not spending another second of my life thinking about my age. Instead, I embrace it; I'm not "getting old," I'm growing older and wiser- that's a beautiful thing! I am proud and happy to have made it this far. I don't ever want to go back, only forward. There is so much in this life I want to do- I will be focusing on them and my loved ones this year and for the rest of my sweet life!
 

What does freedom mean to you? How do you express your freedom? Do you consider yourself 'free'?

Freedom is a basic human right I value greatly. Freedom is walking into the voting booth and casting a ballot for any candidate of my choice. Freedom is walking down Main Street on a Sunday morning and walking into any church I choose for worship. Freedom is turning away, without persecution, those who come calling to persuade me to change my faith. Freedom is my choice to become educated and others’ choice not to. Freedom is being able to work for a better life, being able to choose a career, and being able to spend my money how I see fit to spend it. Freedom is being able to go where I want to go and live my life the way I choose to live it. It is being able to say what I want to say and write what I want to write. Freedom is being able to fly the flag I want to fly … and the flag I choose is Old Glory!

I am free because I live the United States of America. I express my freedom by voting on election day, being a proud American, and honoring veterans who protect my freedom. I love my country. I know it’s not perfect, but at least I know I’m free.

 

Feb. 7 Prompt: When life gets out of hand, what do you do to relax and regain your composure?

I think I thrive on anxiety. I have trouble relaxing. There is always something I should be doing, and when I get to doing that something, there is always something else I should be doing. I have trouble concentrating on what I’m doing because I have three kids who like to interrupt me.

When life gets out of hand, I don’t self-medicate or drink or anything dysfunctional like that. I find I don’t watch T.V. or play games. I’m don’t like to go out. I like to stay home, but I’m very social. When things get tough, I feel like I have to talk to someone about it. I pick a sister (I have 4 of them!) or a parent or a friend to call on the phone. Then, I talk and pace back and forth in my kitchen until I start to feel better. If that doesn’t work, I pour myself a cup of coffee, sit down at my computer, read or write, and procrastinate whatever I’m supposed to be doing. Wait, did I say I don’t do anything dysfunctional?

 

Prompt for Feb. 6: A person hand delivers a valentine
to whom and why?


As I sat here trying to think of something to write for today’s prompt, nothing came to mind. I didn’t want to make something up because I wanted my journal to remain true to life. My two daughters were busy painting with water colors at the dining room table. My oldest daughter asked me what I was working on, so I read her the prompt, "A person hand delivers a valentine- to whom and why?"

After a few more minutes of staring at a blank computer screen, I was startled when she approached the desk. She handed me her drippy painting.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Mama,” she said with a wide, beautiful smile.

“Oh, thank you, honey. It’s beautiful! But, why did you paint this for me today? It’s not Valentine’s Day yet.”

“Because you needed it to have something to write about,” she giggled. “And, I love you.”

Isn’t she so sweet?! But, I think she probably wanted me to hurry up so she could get on the computer and go to Webkinz World!

I love my valentine from her so much, I just had to share it (it’s dry now!):


 

Feb. 5 Prompt: about anything you'd like, but here's the catch: start with a sentence that is one-word long, two-word, etc. Double word count in each successive sentence.


Sunshine.
It’s there.
But, it’s far away.
Snowy winter atmosphere conceals the sun’s brilliant light.
And bitter cold gusts rob its tender warmth, blowing snow in drifts across a white coverlet.
Oh, how I long for the Sunshine I remember, pouring from a cloudless sky, dancing along a wave-topped lake, with intense rays caressing my bare skin, warming my soul, dazzling my spirit.

 

Feb. 4 Prompt: If you had one week before the world was destroyed, how would you spend it?

If the world were to be destroyed in a week and I knew it was coming, I’d likely spend the first hour just crying because I really love life. But, mostly I’d cry because I know one week would not be enough time to see everyone I love before the world is destroyed. My sisters and their families live so far away from me- I’m getting choked up just thinking about this. Undoubtedly, I do know what I would spend doing the rest of the week. Every waking moment, I would spend with my husband and three children. I would hold them close and tell them over and over again how much I love them. I would spend the week giving my kids everything I can, showing them every beautiful thing on Earth I can show them, and exhausting every resource to give them whatever they wanted. How unfair it would be for them; they are just so young. I would pray with them and teach them not to be afraid and that God is always with us.

 

Feb 3 Prompt: "Little Animals" Feb. 3 Prompt: “Little Animals”

Right now, I have no pets. My precious dog of eleven years, Willow, died in 2007, and I can’t seem to keep a fish alive to save my life.

But, I live in a country setting, so I do deal with animals- big and little. Traveling down my road, there’s always a wild animal crossing or an exotic-looking bird diving in front of the car. My sister-in-law/best friend says she thinks Snow White lives on my road! We have white tail deer and wild turkey that frequent our backyard; there’s fox, coyote, raccoons, porcupines, chipmunks, and skunks just to name a few. There’s even a cute hedgehog who made a home under my porch. He scurries around a tree in the front yard, looking for food, then scoots back under the porch again. My kids love to watch him. But they all stay outside my house. On occasion, there are little animals who get too cold outside and venture in to find food, warmth, and to creep me out! Yes, little, cute, filthy field mice like my house.

About a month ago, it warmed up, the snow melted, and then it got cold and snowed again. That was when he came in- he was a bold little animal.

Usually, I know when I have “intruders” because they leave tiny clues that they’ve been here. But, I rarely see one until … well, until I win the game of ‘catch the mouse’. Yeah, not on that particular day.

I came home from the gym and caught him in the act. He was tearing up my kitchen, hanging out uder the oven, then scurring faster than the speed of sound to the pantry and like lightning, bolted across the floor, under the sink, up onto the bar counter, and then was airborne, like a freakin’ bird, back onto the floor. He didn’t care one iota that I was there - that little animal had no fear of me. I, on the other hand, was terrified! But, it only lasted a moment because I realized this little animal wasn’t going to hurt me, he was just hanging out doing his own thing … in my house. Of course, I didn’t have any traps and I don’t drive, so I had to hang out with Mr. Bold until my husband got home from work. I warned my 3 year old, “Guess what, Honey? We have a little mouse in our house! You’ll probably see him, but don’t be scared … just leave your boots on.” She, of course, was thrilled; it was like having a new pet. She asked if we could name it. I raised a brow and like a good mother said, “Sure sweetheart, what do you want to call him?” In her long drawn out 3-year-old little girl voice answered, “Ar-i-el.” (She’s a huge Little Mermaid fan ) I had a hard time thinking of Mr. Bold as “Ariel” but that became his name until the next morning when, sadly, Ariel Mouse ... eh … went ‘home’ … under the sea… He got home the same way Nemo did!

 

Prompt for Feb 2: "Three ideas towards world peace"

The concept of a world at peace is beautiful. Yet, I have to wonder if it’s possible since the world is made up of human beings, many with ethnocentrism and strong beliefs about culture and religion. However, I’m a bit of an optimist, and I like the challenge of thinking of ways to actually achieve world peace.

My first idea is that world peace begins at home. I try and teach my children tolerance of others and acceptance for their differences. Maybe if every parent worldwide did this, there would be less bullying and we would all help to raise a new generation of peaceful world leaders.

Next, I think in order for world peace to happen, peace must inhabit the minds of individuals. Each person should take responsibility and think of ways to reach out and lend a hand for the common good of others. I don’t mean monetary hand outs; many of us don’t have extra money to donate- especially in today’s economy. But what I do mean is people should volunteer their time and energy to help neighbors and their local communities. It doesn’t have to be every day or long periods of time- just an hour or two spent helping someone else in the spirit of peace and kindness can make a difference in that person’s life. I speak from experience-- when a person takes the time to help another, the rewards are great. Good deeds won’t get passed forward every time, but many will!

The third idea I have to promote world peace is to write about it. Not everyone thinks like me, but I have the power to suggest my ideas to others through my writings. Words are powerful and written words can be persuasive, bringing the issue of world peace into the forefront of people’s minds.

Perhaps my ideas are on a micro level, but It certainly is empowering to know I could have a hand in making this widespread dream a reality for us all.