A Tiny Bit of Success

Guess what?

I received a good news phone call last week announcing that my first chapter of "Can't Help But Love You" had placed as one of three finalists in the long contemporary category of Virginia Romance Writers' "Fool for Love" First Chapter Contest. Talk about excited! I was on cloud nine. This was my first ever submission to a contest and to have a tiny bit of success felt awesome.

To see my name in "lights" check out the link below.

http://www.virginiaromancewriters.com/Contests/fflwinners.html

Now I'm so motivated that I've already come up with a tentative name for my next project, "Do You Dream About Me?"

What do you think about a question as a title?

One of my crit partners, Denise "Chicki Brown" Jones uses a question as the title for one of her WIPs, "Have You Seen Her?"

AJ

Happy "Birth" Day, Mi'Kaela!

Good News! My only niece, Mi'Kaela Macyn Jefferson was born last night at 11:31pm, Alaska time. (left: sonogram pic)

The timing was perfect. My brother arrived for R & R from Iraq on Monday, his wife's birthday was Tuesday, and Mi'Kaela arrived just before midnight on Wednesday. What a blessed first Father's Day for Michael!

I was excited the whole day. With every phone call from Mike, I got more and more excited. When I got the call at three this morning, I popped out of bed and raced to the phone. I just knew she was here. She arrived weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces and with a head full of hair.

I am ever so grateful that Michael has made it through his first six months in Iraq and arrived home safely. I dread the fact that he is leaving again in less than two weeks and still has six months left on his tour of duty. I trust God will protect him, and he will get back safe and sound.

Besides, he has a lifetime of Daddy work to do.

AJ (new Auntie)

Last Day of School...Yippy!!

Yesterday was my daughter's last day of school and I don't know who was more excited - me or her!

My excitement stemmed from the fact that I get a break from running back and forth to school - 4 times a day, 80 miles a day, and from the long nights of homework (no way in hell did we have this much homework in the sixth grade!) Also at the end of the month, I get a much-needed break from the stress of mothering the tempermental ball of love/hate I call my child while she is away visiting her dad.

I just don't know what to do with myself. Will I take the time to wrap up my current WIP, rest up and recharge my batteries after a bout of illnesses recently, or take a trip like Stella and get my "groove back."


Maybe a little of all three!

All I know is that I am too young and lovely (am I delusional or what?) to just sit around and rot away or feel sorry for myself. Besides, life is too short.

When my child gets back, we are definitely going on vacation together like we did last spring break. We had a ball riding a tandem bike on the boardwalk (well, she pedalled in front and I pretended to pedal in the back), going to see the sites and eating at a different restaurant every night.

So what are you doing this summer?
AJ