Thankful Thursday

Merry Christmas! Today was an exciting day. The food... the presents... the presents... the food. My kids got all they wanted plus more (my mom goes a little bonkers since they are her only grandchildren). Being with family is great and sometimes stressful. But I am very thankful to have the crazy, insane family I have.

My husband's cousin has been staying with us because he came down to visit his friend who is dying of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma). I've met the friend, Gene, a dozen times and he's a great guy. He actually came over to our house tonight and stayed for awhile. It's been really hard for him to eat anything because the way the food tastes to him, and he's lost 40 lbs. Gene wasn't a big guy to begin with.

He is ready for his time on earth to be over, which is very sad and difficult, but is realistic in his eyes. What's worse is: he's estranged from his son.

My dad passed away from bladder cancer in 1999 when my daughter was only 2 months old. It was a very traumatic and awful time, but I'm glad I had the small amount of time I had with him. He made me into the person I am today. I pray that I make him proud of me every day. And I am so glad I got to be there his last days. There has never been any regret. He knew I loved him and vice versa.

Now, I didn't mean for this to be a depressing post. I just wanted to say, cherish what you have while it's still in front of you. While you can still reach out and hug them and fight with them. For no matter how crazy, they are YOURS and you are THEIRS!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and may all your wishes come true this New Year. Hopefully you won't have to throw any rocks to get what you want. :) Many blessings and joys to you and your family. It's a wonderful life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJHpBCyTTi0

Query Holiday

I saw this over at http://asuen.wordpress.com/ For those of you who don't get her e-newsletter, you should. It's filled with all kinds of facts about the publishing industry. So here is the latest tidbit.


Are you terrible at query letters? Want an agent? Well here's your chance to avoid the dreaded query letter and possibly hook an agent. Good Luck!

Firebrand Literary is hosting a QUERY HOLIDAY- check it out: http://www.firebrandliterary.com/query-holiday

Things I have done Meme

I saw this on http://saputnam.livejournal.com/ blog and thought it sounded interesting. The ones I have done are in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (okay, I was a band geek for 2 years)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (does Disneyworld count?)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (Um..no, these bugs scare the beejeezus out of me)
10. Sang a solo (I wouldn't torture anyone that way)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (enough said)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (played softball all through childhood)
32. Been on a cruise (actually, used to be a travel agent)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (off and on)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (those poor people)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (love both)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving ( No way!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (One day!)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (well most of it)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (watched my dad do this many times)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (Actually 2)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day (and in one sitting)

I've got a lot of things to do and see!!! :)

I tag anyone who wants to play.

Inspire your Imagination

I thought this seemed fitting and inspiring.

http://www.duirwaighgallery.com/inspiration_aknock.htm

Happy Weekend.

Keep writing and learning!