I was working full-time and found I only had so much time in a day. I couldn’t work full-time, take care of my family, write, be President of an RWA Chapter and deal with this blog. I know there are other amazing women authors who can do all of that. Apparently, I’m not one of them. So the blog was what gave.

But I’ve been thinking about it a lot and wanting to post. So, since I’m laid off at the moment (and any of you who want to send positive thoughts and prayers about that, I’d certainly appreciate it), I’ve decided I’m going to see what I can do about some kind of regular posting. Even if it’s only once a month. Because I miss it. So here’s my first offering:

This year I’ve had a lot of things to think about and one of them is grace. I’ve being trying to find or give grace in every day. I’ve realized this is not an easy thing to do. Because it’s so easy to get annoyed (or worse) with the driver who didn’t signal and then cut you off. It’s so easy to let each day become a frazzle of things that blend together and before you know it the whole day has gone by and you wonder what you even did. Some days, when my kids do something especially charming or when my dh brings me strawberries in bed for an after-dinner snack because I’m dieting, it’s easier. I can’t know why other people do the things they do – maybe the driver that cut me off was late for work because they spilled their coffee and the dog ran away and they were running late. Maybe someone cut them off and it annoyed them, so they figured what did it matter? Maybe when my oldest child told me he studied for his math test and then he failed indicating that he didn’t, it was because he was too afraid to ask for help.

Since I can only change myself and my reactions to these situations, I’m trying (the key word) to be gracious about them. And when someone is gracious to me for those times when I am not (really, hardly ever ), I am am remembering to be thankful.

And no, this is not what I normally would post (although a normal post from me is not much at all lately, honestly writing, family and an EDJ are keeping me busy enough), but this is really something we need to read, listen and do something about…

Memoirs of a Bullied Kid

I was bullied in elementary skill. Luckily it was for only one year, Grade 7. But it was enough. My oldest son has been bullied and so have some of his friends – they stuck together and now, thankfully, they are being left alone, but I still worry about high school. What if they are in the same high school together? Because at 11 years old this “bully” already has a police record. Because he didn’t stop with my son or his friends.

Last year, I was horrified to read that 12 years later poor Reena Virk still dealt with her bullies, even though she was long since dead by their hand. And the news lately just hurts my heart more.

If you see someone being bullied, don’t just walk away just because it may not be your kid or your “problem”. This problem belongs to all of us.

How many more kids will be hurt? How many more kids have to die?

Read Single Dad Laughing’s blog post and take a look around you. Can you help someone today?

Today I made a decision about something that was completely the opposite of how I ever imagined myself making the decision. I’m not going to go into it too many of the details, but sufficed to say it’s a moment I thought would make me completely jubilant and be the start of something big for me as a writer.

It’s funny how you can imagine these things in your head a million times and yet when the reality comes it is so different. Almost like when you were hoping your man would propose to you, but it wasn’t the way you dreamed or by the time it comes, you’ve already realised he wasn’t the man for you.

Well, thankfully, my man and I are just fine (and have been married 12 years in September) so that’s not an issue here.

But, for me, it was along those lines of a big life/career decision and I wonder if I’ve done the right thing. I’ve spent the last week reviewing different things and it really came down to just a niggle. When I’ve ignored those niggles before I’ve regretted it. 9 times out of 10 when I follow them, I find out I’ve done the right thing.

I certainly hope this isn’t the 1 out of 10 that’s wrong.

While I had wished to start this year off with a bang and a gung ho blogging attitude, it was not to be. Sufficed to say that there are things in my “real” life that have to take precedence right now and the bang I received was not what I expected.

However, in positive news for me this year, I do have a couple of things to celebrate.

1. I am now President of ESPAN RWA and am thrilled at what the year holds for our chapter. We have plans for several fantastic workshops, one of which is already going on right now and has been a huge success (thank you, Angela James, for being our kick-off workshop. You are doing a fantastic job! ) See our website for the list of other workshops we have planned. We are also holding our first ever contest this year – it’s going to be slightly different and a lot of fun! As well, we are going to hold our AGM/party at Nationals in Nashville, so if you are an ESPAN member you won’t want to miss that.

2. My short story, Love Songs , will re-release on Feb 1st with Blade Publishing and it has a fantastic new cover:

When Cam, a former high-school all-star, comes home to deal with his father’s death, he finds a much sweeter deal.

Madison, the Cupcake Queen, hates Valentine’s and thinks love songs are a joke. Will Cam change her mind?

I had a great time writing this story and I hope you all will enjoy reading it!

3. Love’s Blessings is out in Kindle Format. You can find it at Amazon. I don’t know why there is no cover up, but I’ve asked them about it, so hopefully that will be resolved.

4. Also on Amazon (I really do love saying that) is the print copy of Vampire Oracle: Volume III, which includes my novella Harmony.

I hope to have more great news as the year rolls along. Right now I am taking it one day at a time and am thankful.