My goodness has it been that long? It is the day after my 60th birthday. That sounds like such and awful number. Where has the time gone? When I was a young mother the days flew by with all the running and playing with the kids. Then they grew up and were busy with their own lives and I got busy with mine. Working, writing and then I just realized that I am 60, not a grandmother, not a mother-in-law, just a woman looking that the edge of the river that at one time never crossed my mind that it was there. Now I am seeing the rippling waters every so often through the trees.

60 years, I have not enjoyed myself as much as I have since moving to Portland, OR and joining WDC. Who would have thought I would be published, finish a NaNoWriMo last November and now working on revising it for others to read. To accomplish this daunting task I am taking two classes this summer. One on character development and one on how to write a story longer than a short story. What a challenge.

Not because of the classes but because all of the sudden I am going to move. Yep it is packing time again and to top it off my husband will be gone two and a half weeks next month. At the end of the month the residents of the new house and it is possible they will want my husband to drive their U-Haul to the new house 1100 miles away. We have to do some fancy tap dancing to get all our personal stuff out of the house and into a POD then move it to the new house to be unloaded. That doesn't sound too bad BUT Jume 29 we cook dinner for the start of our annual church Campmeeing. Sat we cook breakfast, Sunday it is all three meals then I cook at breakfast for the next two weeks go to work come back and go to church at night. I can tell you now there may be some meetings I will just have to miss. As long as the bed is up, my clothes are in the closet and I have my toiletries. I am good for two weeks.
My family surprised me with a party! My daughter flew out from Mn to be there and we had a great time. My favorite card came from my husband's sister. It said: "Sister-in-law I wanted to get you a gag gift for your birthday" open card "But you already have my brother" I am still smiling at that! I loved it.

That is all for now, I hope it wont be as long until the next post.
 

My how fast time flies when a crisis enters our lives. All of the sudden we were threatened by having to leave our home. We were told it was going to be sold and we would have to be out by May 1st. We began to scramble and found place to store the huge amounts of tubs full of our Christmas decorations. In a matter of weeks we moved those tubs and redistributed our previously boxed stuff into other boxes or hauled off to the Donation sites or dump.
Then a few weeks after the initial confrontation there was a meeting and and resolution was made. It made the level of stress and discomfort subside along with the intense drive to get everything out of the house.The immediate need was resolved but the potential for future issues was there so we decided it best to find another place to live. My husband needs to be actively moving and get more boxes packed so when we do get a house to move to, we will be well prepared to just pick up a few things and go.
That last sentence is confusing to me. Why do I need to get all but what I basically need to cook each day and wear for a week to two and get it into a box to sit in a garage until I move? Is it just me or does the minimalistic life style effect these over achievers?
Anyway this constant need to pack and clean keeps me busy to the point that while I am still working at something he feels that the pain in his back (very real I know) drives him to bed and to his FOX NEWS! I am going nuts!

On top of this we get notice that his favorite Aunt and Uncle are coming to town. His sister lives in a two bedroom house. One is used as an office so that means if the Aunt and Uncle don't want to go to a hotel they will stay with us. In our house that is full of things that I have taken out of the cupboards, closets and where ever to put in half filled boxes. Now were do I put all that?
That isn't all. They arrive on Wed (3/8) and my hubby has to leave town that day not to return to the following Monday. He has seen them just last summer and fall, so he isn't too disappointed, but ME?? I love them too but I work all day and have to come home to get ready for Special Meetings at our church every night that same week. (3/7-3/10) Sat Morning I have a two hour appointment and Sunday afternoon I have a Celebrate and Connect meeting for my Thirty-one gifts business.

Okay, I am sorry for anyone who might read this. I am venting. I am just overwhelmed at the moment and would so love to go somewhere ALONE where I can spend a weekend doing nothing but reading and writing. No time table. No whining that someone else is bored or needs to have a body next to them to have a running commentary on the news or interviewees. I don't want to worry whether the house is clean or the dishes are done and put away or the floor is clean or vacuumed. I don't want to have to make meals. I want some me time!!! WHINE WHINE WHINE. It was my turn to do that.

Now that you read all that I have the next intense work out. In Jan I was asked to come up with some kind of drama to go along with a cantata we are performing for Easter. The last time we did it there was just pictures on a screen. This time the music leader wants some action to enhance the songs and narration. Would I do it??? Yes. I do love this kind of thing, but not this year.(I didn't know at the time I said yes my life would be turned upside down).
I wrote out some drama scenes then went to ask people to be a part of it. After many NO's I got a group that is willing. I wrote the actions and direction. Reused the appropriate powerpoint slides where needed. The weeks after the Special meetings I will have 1-2 practices per week with the groups. Granted it isn't a lot, but I have the vision and it is getting the rest of them to see it too. I am excited to do this and I think when it is performed on the evening of April 8th it will be very powerful. At least I pray that the actions will touch the people who watch it. That they get the point of Raise the Crown!

AMEN I just pray for grace, patience and strength to get through this coming week and the next ones leading to Easter. I think after Easter, I am going to BEG for a weekend away and alone. I will ask someone if I can borrow their condo for a Friday through Sunday just to sit and write and read. I don't even care if I eat! (well, hold on there girl! no eating? what is THAT all about? my brain is reacting to that comment) Ok some quick things just snacks. (Yes, we love snacks, chips and cheese, tortillas and cheese/beans, hamburger helper...) It was just a thought, not a promise. More like wishful thinking.


 

What a Christmas! both quiet and exciting. Friday night was a beautiful candlelight service. Christmas eve we were invited to my sister-in-law's house for dinner of "Big 'Ole's" a tradition at the Weaver house for Christmas eve dinner, along with snacks. We played a train game that was fun but definitely is a strategy game! Then a game of dominoes Chicken feet and by that time it was 11:30 and we went home.
Christmas morning we went to church and afterward I got dinner ready. It was a combined effort so one person didn't have to do it all. My sister and I played a few games then she went home and so did my Uncle. That left the evening free for me to work on my revision. I did a few chapters then got too tired.
Monday afternoon I met up with my other sister and passed out the gifts for the nieces and nephew. Played scrabble where I was losing until I came up with REMEDIAL and used all my letters and won the game! yea!
Tues it is back to work!
 

I am sorry I haven't written anything in over a month. I finished my novel and accomplished the full 50K! I am so proud of myself. November was crazy! besides having to write about 2k words per day I had weekends filled with decorating 5 acres of grounds in prep of our annual Christmas on the Campgrounds. There was a huge space that had to have trees put up and decorated as a winter wonderland. This was the staging area for the Walking Nativity and the two "hay" rides. One was pulled by a "train engine" that pulled a wagon. The kids loved that one. There was a horse drawn buggy that was a wonderful ride. The path was through the camping part of the grounds where a number of cabins had been decorated by members of the church in a contest. The winner was done as an Indian village with tents lit from the inside with white Christmas lights, there was a Bible and Cross and manger at the beginning of the section and a Sasquatch stealing presents at the end. It was over the top and deserved the First Place prize they won. The others were well done and fun to see.
Then Thanksgiving came on us and after the big day it was back to finishing the Decorating for the next two days. Then a mad dash of writing to finish my last 2500 words by the 30th. I made it and sighed but it wasn't for long as the lighting ceremony was Dec 4 and the actual event was Dec 9-11. I was there every night to take a turn at one and a half hours of greeting guests, answering questions and directing them to the activity choices.
With that over it was just one week to the Christmas Music Concert Dec 18th. I was in charge of the drama portion. Picking the players (who weren't tired from the previous week) A set of Shepherds, Wisemen, Mary and Joseph as well as a prophet and candle lighter. Oh and a serviceman to light the Candle for peace. After setting up the stage twice and running round the church an number of times to make sure everyone went in and out of the scenes at the right time I was tired. We then left church to host a small party of 10 at our house. I am so thankful for a husband that set a perfect table and greets the guest and makes sweet breads to serve. I was exhausted and took Monday off work and did nothing but eat and watch Christmas movies all day!
If you want to see the result of my work you can see pictures posted on FaceBook at Christmas on the Campgrounds. There is a picture of me as the greeter by my friend Tove. Bless her Heart!. Then if you would like to see a wonderful Christmas Musical called JOY JOY JOY go to www.apostolicfaith.org and at the home page there is a blue banner that says Podcasts and Videos. You will see Christmas Concert listed. If you watch you will see me (in black) adjusting the red runner and trying to get people in and out of scenes. Don't look to close.
I hope all who read this know that I love what I am asked to do! I do it with a willing heart and I am so blessed when it is over and others enjoy the result.
I will be working on the revision of my book this coming year. I have done 2 chapters but after this 2nd draft I will have some friends read it and give reviews and critique to make it better so it will be ready for submission or self publishing.
 

I have hit the half way point and have 25,097 words tonight. Half way through my novel and I am 2 days ahead. Still want to put in 2,000 words each day and the story is moving along quite well. Since I have to set everything up it seems slow to me. I can read a book like this in a couple days, writing one is a whole lot more work. A thriller is a lot harder than a simple paranormal romance that I am used to. But I am so proud of myself for sticking to this and geting this far!!

 

Here it is the end of day four of the NANOWRIMO and I am at 10,013 words, I am still at the setting the stage, stage. Most of the charachers are introduced and have some spot in the story. The action will start o begin. Well not so much the action but the set up of the plot and what the goal of the Hero will be.
The changes that he has experienced
 

I am so thrilled at how this is progressing. I have found that my muse is moving quite well. i still have to put all my pieces that I write at different times on different appliances together so I get an accurate total. I am almost at 5,000 for the 3 day and it is growing. I add a little every free moment so sometimes it is on my phone that I email and then it is added to my main manuscript. I hope I can keep them all together and not lose them.

I am so proud of myself. I hope to keep the momentum going.
 

Here we are at the end of October. There is just 7 days until the kickoff of the National Novel Write Month. I have been working on chapters of my book. plotting them so I have an idea what they are going to be about. Easily changed and certainly not written in stone. I am very pleased with what I have right now. It is the detail that needs to be there to entice those readers that like this type of reading. We will see how it pans out. This is way out of my comfort zone so there is the challenge.
I found out last night at church that Sam Cantrell and Seth Morgan are also doing the NaNo. I can't wait to see how they write. It will be interesting.
I was thinking about people I know that would be the characters that I want to be in my story. I chose famous ones for the NaNo site but I think in my mind I choose Yvonne Wilson for Beth, about 10 yrs earlier. I think she has the confidence. I like her sassy attitude yet there is a vulnerabilities when she is put in the spotlight. I like the character of Anthony would be good played by Bradley Cooper and the Mufid to be played by Zachary Quinto.I don't know any of these guys but I like the way they played their characters in the series Heroes.
 

Here I am almost half way through the month and I have got my story oulined. I went to town on it and filled out pages of outlines, character forms and plotted the story.
BUT! I am second guessing my plot. It was such a good idea, I thought. It isn't just a thriller, or espionage, or supernaturlal, it is all of that. There are religious undertones. I guess it doesn't matter if its good. It is about the dicipline of writing every day. When it is done then the editing starts.
I went to the Portland WORDSTOCK yesterday. I volunteered and met some authors I have never read before; Robert Greer and Pierre Ouellette. Not real talkative, but good authors I guess. I will look them up. They both said they write mysteries, medical, thrillers. Hmm I need to look at that.
I also met a YA writer, andI bought her book and I really like it. The author is R.A. McDonald. The book is called Ada, Legend of a Healer. A pranormal book and it is only 250 pages. I would be done reading it normallay, but I have other things going on so read it just at night. Interesting character. A girl who has the gift of healing. Yet goes on a quest to find her mother who abandoned her.
I met some publishers and self-publishing companies as well as some editors. They offer free reads. I think I will send one of my novels in for a look see. I will read through the Christmas Murder and see if I have mess it up while cutting amd pasting it from WDC to my word. I lost the other copy when we goa new computer. An Apple...not real sold on it yet.

Just a note about the dog. Oreo turned out to be a schnauzer. There might be some Shih Tzu in her but not visible. I had a hard time connecting with her and we did change her name to Ariel as my sister-in-law's dog is Oreo. This dog is 3 yrs old and is a very good dog. Trained for outside but that is all. She doesn't know any tricks and I don't know if she can be trained. I am going to start hand signal training for simple commands like sit, stay and come. I can't believe she would ever nip anyone unless the child was hurting her. She is so good. My husband took to her faster than I did and took her to get a bath and clipped. She is so cute now.I guess we are keeping her.
 

Today a couple were sent to jail because they had a premi baby at home, didn't take it to the hospital and it died. Yet there are thousands of women who CHOSE to kill their baby at Abortion Clinics and nothing is done to them? Where is the justice?
So if this mother went to a clinic and the baby was born and they stood around until it died....that is ok????
Without any reference to religious beliefs, just on the above statements. What is the difference? They say the religious belief was not a factor but I think the lawyer was an idiot for not showing the similarities between allowing the child to die at home and buried properly or letting it die and be DISPOSED of like trash. Where is our JUSTICE?!
I saw a video on youtube about a man who interviews people about Adof Hitler, then brings the conversation to Abortion and by the time he is done these people are having second thoughts about their stance on Abortion. After watching this video I am more convinced that most young people today are pro-choice because it is popular and they want to be considered popular or "with it" but when challenged, they will think about right and wrong and come up with a different choice.
Check out youtube 180 or go to www.heartchangers.com