It’s hard to believe that the bare-feet, sunscreen-on-our-noses, pool-side days are behind us. Kids are back to school with new backpacks and sharpened pencils, ready to learn. Air conditioners are turning off. Windows are opening. Leaves are starting to change. Stadium lights are shining on Friday nights. Candy corn’s in the candy aisle. And ever so slowly, the air’s turning crisp.
I love summer. But man, do I loooooove fall.
Since I’ve been away these past couple of months, I thought we’d catch up by taking a look in our rear view mirrors (what we’ve been up to over the summer), and then turning our eyes toward the horizon (what’s up ahead). Sound good? Good!
My Rear View Mirror High Lights
I traveled to Washington D.C. to talk to our congressman and representatives about the legally adopted children stuck in Congo, our daughter included.
Ryan and I put together our little girl’s room, a task that has filled us with hope and expectancy.
I finished content edits for my fourth novel, The Art of Losing Yourself, which will release in April, 2015. It was a labor of love, I tell ya.
I wrote an adorably romantic novella for a second Year of Weddings series by Zondervan, set to release in October, 2015.
I joined Toastmasters.
I visited book clubs and read books and went on bike rides and ate a lot of ice cream and have been attempting to learn French and, and, AND!
I sent my son off to kindergarten!
I have no idea how we got here already, but here we are. My baby boy is growing up. His two bottom loose teeth are proof.
What’s on the Horizon
My very first novella, An October Bride, releases in three short weeks! I’m smitten with this story, y’all, and I can’t wait to share it with you! Check back next week and there will be some bonus features up on the page. The page is a little sparse at the moment. (In random news…one of my friends saw the cover and thought the bride was standing beside a bare-chested man. I couldn’t see what she was talking about at first, but then she explained how she was seeing it and voila! I SAW IT TOO! In fact, every time I look at my beautiful cover I see it and giggle a little. If you’re seeing it too, rest assured. That is her arm. Not male pectoral muscles.)
At the end of this month I will be boarding a plane for the Democratic Republic of the Congo to spend some time with THIS cutie.
Oh, my heart. I cannot wait. I have some adoption-related tasks to accomplish while I’m there. Mostly, I’m just excited to have her in my arms again. People ask if I will be bringing her home this time. There is a remote possibility. God would have to perform a CRAZY miracle, but there’s a chance it could happen. If you want to join us in praying for that miracle, please do! I know God is powerful enough to make it happen if it’s His plan. But I also know that if the miracle doesn’t happen, His grace will get us through.
When I return, I’ll rest up a bit and then I’ll take off for Indiana, where I’ll be speaking at the Indiana Faith and Writing conference, and teaching a workshop too. If you’re looking for a cheap writing conference to attend, this is a great one to sign up for! I’d love to see you there.