Hello and Goodbye

I don't think I've mentioned the pet changes we've had around our house lately. First off, we now have a dog. Sonny is a five-year-old shepherd/retriever mix. He's a great dog and well trained, but his owners were both with FEMA. They were constantly traveling, and they finally decided they'd rather give him to a good home instead of having to board him all the time. A friend of a friend found out about him and told us. Matt's wanted a dog for a long time and so that very same day he and Terry went and picked up Sonny. He's great as a guard dog--barks his head off if someone is anywhere near our yard, or if someone comes to the door. He scares the pizza guy to death. The boys love playing with him. It's great because he's young enough to want to play, but he's old enough to have lost that frantic puppy energy. Plus, he was already house trained.

On the goodbye side, we've lost one of our cats. Snickers and Skittles were gray tabbies that we've had for over six years now. They were from the same litter and they looked a lot alike except that Skittles had short hair and Snickers had long hair. And both were very big. Skittles is the more outgoing one. She would show up when we had company, and she usually sleeps in the boys' room. Snickers was the shy one, and she was more my cat. She spent most of her time either under or on our bed. The day after I got home from Denver, I noticed that she was lying in the floor in front of our bathroom door--not her usual place. I thought it was odd, but I figured it must be a warm spot that she had found. Later on the boys commented that she was still there and they thought she was sick. When I walked up to her, she flicked her tail back and forth and purred a little, but didn't move from her spot. I brought her food and water, but she wouldn't touch them. Her breathing got more and more labored and then eventually she was gone. I cried some as I said goodbye, but I'm glad she didn't go while I was out of town. She was a good cat, and I miss her.

Poor Skittles walked around for a day or two, meowing. I think she misses her sister. I'd like to get a kitten sometime, but I'm not sure how Skittles or Sonny would react to that, so I'm biding my time. There's something very therapeutic about petting a cat. Once in a while I'll find myself glancing around for Snickers before I remember she's gone. Thanks, Snickers. You were a great cat.

Getting It Right

I have heard very few people brag about being a good mother. In fact, most of the time it seems that we women spend our time mourning about our failures as a mother.

I hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as a perfect mother. Never has been and never will be. One of the things that encourages me is the thought that God gave my children to me. So I'm the best mother for them. I think sometimes Satan wants to defeat us so he sits on our shoulders and tells us how lousy we are. He points out how much we fail.

SO DON'T LISTEN!!! Sometimes you need to just stop and focus on something you're doing right. Remind yourself that you're not so bad after all. Sometimes you can even turn a failure into the opportunity to be Mother of the Year! For instance--once when my kids were little, I didn't have any milk to put on their cereal at breakfast. I felt horrible. I hadn't had time to go grocery shopping. But when you have a bunch of little kids, who runs out of milk? That's the one thing you should always have. I scrounged around for something remotely healthy to give them, but there were no options. So instead of berating myself on what a loser I was, I decided to do something different instead.

I gave my kids ice cream for breakfast.

They were thrilled. I turned a dismal situation into a party. For years they reminded each other of the time they had ice cream for breakfast. For one morning, I was the coolest mother on earth.

A word of warning: ice cream for breakfast once--cool mother. Doing it on a regular basis--you may qualify to run for worst mother of the year. it's amazing how thin a line there is between being really creative and just plain bad. : )

So how about you? Leave a comment and brag about something you do with your kids that makes you a great mother. Feel free to leave comments about how your kids' friends always beg to come to your house because you do such cool things. List the wonderfully involved crafts you design and execute yourself for your children's entertainment. If you are a great mother, my hat's off to you! Brag about it here!

if you're more like me and creativity runs toward deciding how best to kill off characters in your book, well--dish up some ice cream tomorrow morning. In a pinch, cookies or chocolate work just as well. And then tell us all about it.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Me And Are Sorry You Asked

Thanks to all of you who gave your opinion on Friday's post! I'm still working on re-tooling the paragraphs until I get them right. And apparently almost everyone has trouble writing one and two-line trailers. Glad to know I'm in good company!

While I'm working on this, I thought I'd use today's post to answer this quiz that I got from momstheword. Feel free to copy it and answer these questions on your blog, too. Or answer one or two in the comments.

The phone rings. Who will it be?
If it's the Indiana Jones theme song ringtone, it's my husband. Otherwise it will probably be one of my boys, calling to ask me what's for supper.

When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
If I have one of my kids with me, they return the cart. Otherwise ...

In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
I try to remember to be a good listener. That way people walk away saying what a great conversation they had because everyone likes to talk. But sometimes if I'm telling a great story, I can deceive myself into thinking it's all about me. Typically I try to save that attitude for my blog. (Aren't you lucky!)

Do you take compliments well?
Give me one and let's see.

Do you play Sudoku?
How can you even ask that? Hello! It's numbers! Just saying the word "Sudoku" gives me a headache. Now I'm going to have to go lie down before I can finish this post!

If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive?
Nope. I would shrivel up and die immediately.

Did you ever go to camp as a kid?
Didn't do that either. My sisters went once, and after hearing about their initiation week, I decided that I was too civilized for that kind of harassment and humiliation.

What was your favorite game as a kid?
I always liked playing football until my mother told me I was too old to be out tackling boys anymore.

Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?
Not possibly. My beliefs are core to who I am. And dating someone would also be against those beliefs because I'm already married.

Do you like to pursue or be pursued?
Well if you're talking about the romantic sense--I think that would be a little creepy because I'm already married. And my husband would definitely have something to say about it whether I was pursuing or being pursued.

Use three words to describe yourself?
Funny. Late. Tired. (feel free to answer this one for me in the comments.)

Do any songs make you cry?
I can't think of any song that makes me cry every time. And why on earth would I listen to it if it did?

Are you continuing your education?
Life is an education, baby.

Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth?
Terry and I did when we were dating. I think it's a required thing.

How often do you read books?
All the time.

Do you think more about the past, present or future?
I typically think about the past in conjuncture with the future while I'm living in the present.

What is your favorite children’s book?
I loved the original Nancy Drew series when I was growing up. I checked them out of the library by the armful and devoured eight to ten books a day during the summer. I also liked Rosamund du Jardin's books.

What color are your eyes?
They're green.

Where is your dream house located?
I have a dream house? Where is it and whose been paying the taxes on it? And does it come with a maid?

If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed?
I am assuming hubby has already rescued the kids and the pets. I would grab the flashdrive with my books on it.

When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
Friday night. Did you see me there?


Where was the furthest place you traveled today?
It's six o'clock in the morning. I traveled from my bed to the office across the hall.

Do you like mustard?
I really don't, but I put a squirt of it on my hamburger or hotdog because it doesn't look right otherwise.

Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
I prefer to eat while sleeping.

Do you look like your mom or dad?
Probably my mom.

How long does it take you in the shower?
I like long showers, and I refuse to be hurried. I just don't feel completely clean when I rush.

Can you do the splits?
No, but I fell to the floor in a fit of laughing spasms when I read the question.

What movie do you want to see right now?
None actually. I need to hurry up and finish this blog so I can get ready for work.

What did you do for New Year’s?
That was ten months ago and I'm drawing a complete blank. I got nothing.

Do you think The Grudge was scary?
Is that a book or a movie or a person or what?

Do you own a camera phone?
Yes, but I don't use it because I don't think the pictures are really good quality. Plus, I don't exactly know how to use it.

What’s the last letter of your middle name?
"E". That narrows down the possibilities, doesn't it!

How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
I always aim for eight, but I usually end up with five.

Do you like Care Bears?
No. They're too sugary sweet and cutesy.

What do you buy at the movies?
I don't go to the movies. And I usually do most of my buying at the store.

Do you know how to play poker?
No, but I'm pretty good at Rook.

Do you wear your seat belt?
I usually put it on at some point while I'm driving. But only because my kids complain about the constant chiming the vehicle does until I put it on.

How many meals do you eat a day?
Three, but I also have to have a protein snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon to keep my blood sugar levels from crashing.

Do you like funny or serious people better?
I like people who have a sense of humor, but I also want people to be able to settle down and get serious when the situation calls for it.

Ever been to L.A.?
No, but I think my luggage has.

Did you eat a cookie today?
It's six o'clock in the morning! I don't usually mess up my diet until at least eight.

Do you hate chocolate?
Only non-humans hate chocolate. If you know someone who hates chocolate, chances are they were not born on this planet.

Are you a gullible person?
No, and even when I am gullible, I try to hide it.

Are you easy to get along with?
You tell me.

Hope you have a great Monday!

Help Me Out!

So in my free time this week (mostly between two and four a.m.) I've been working on the proposal I need to send in to the editor and the agent I met at the conference last week. I've got a few ideas, and I want to post them here. I need some feedback, and I could also use some more ideas.

First off, for the editor I have to write 50-75 words that would be considered "back cover copy". You know, the paragraph or two you would read on the back of the book that makes you want to plunk down your money and see what's between the covers. Here's the two I've come up with:

1. When Jennifer Hamilton’s husband is killed, she and her three children are stranded on the mission field. All Jennifer wants is to protect her children and get them back to the States. But with rebels attacking the town, the secrets her husband had, and the terrorists who think she has incriminating information, can she get them back to the States in time? And how will she protect them from the unknown danger lurking close to home?

2. Jennifer Hamilton’s husband never told her about his secret life. Or his business partner. Or the real reason they were living in Uganda. So when he’s killed in a car wreck, it’s up to his partner to rescue Jennifer and her children from the attacking rebels, and find out if her late husband shared more with her than she realized. He may have shared a secret that could cost her life.

I like things about both of them, but neither of them strike me as exactly what I want. I could use some comments. Saying things like "I like them both" can stroke my ego, but they don't really help me. Let me know what you like or don't like. Do either of these paragraphs make you want to read the book? Is there something that turns your attention off by either of these paragraphs? For instance, Matt said one started off good, but kind of lost his interest halfway through. Or maybe there's another idea you think I should incorporate, based on the three chapters I posted a while back. Go here to start reading the first few chapters.

Secondly, I need to come up with a one or two line hook. Just a sentence or two that would really catch someone's attention. Think movie trailer. Here's what I have for this: (I warn you, what I have stinks. I could really use help with this!)

1. There’s a time to be afraid. That time is now.

2. Missionary Mom meets Jason Bourne. Is the winning combination 007? This second one is sorta tongue-in-cheek. I would never actually use it because it's not the feel or impression I'm going for, but I'm just throwing out ideas. You can give me a whole slogan yourself, or just tell me what concept you think stands out in my book. What would make you want to read it?

The Plane Truth

I am not a big fan of flying. In fact, I've been known to drive twelve hours in order to avoid having to fly. But of course, if you think about my life, driving twelve hours makes sense. Twelve hours in a vehicle by myself, with peace and quiet. Stop when and where I want to stop, listen to things I want to listen to ... turn off my cell phone, and it's definitely got its merits.

But even though I prefer driving, sometimes even I can't justify the distance. And the almost 2000 mile trip to Denver last week was one of those times. So I swallowed my nerves and booked a flight on Southwest. I discovered a few things about flying last week and I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Southwest doesn't assign seating. You just pick a seat when you board the plane. (Obviously you are supposed to pick an empty one.) So how do they decide who gets to pick first? You're supposed to call within twenty-four hours of your flight, and they assign you a boarding number. If you were assigned "A-43", then you line up when they call everyone A31-60. They take your tickets one-by-one and shuffle you onto the plane to choose a seat. My problem was I forgot to call. So I got assigned a boarding pass once I checked in at the gate. Consequently I was one of the last ones to board the plane and the picking was very limited by that time. The good news? I got an aisle seat, which I prefer because I'm claustrophobic. The bad news? It was in the last row of the plane. Right in front of the lavatory.

2. Murphy's Law always applies to me. The plane that boarded before mine had almost half the seats empty. Everyone got to stretch out a little bit. My plane was completely full.

3. Apparently flying upsets a lot of people's stomachs. As I mentioned, I was sitting directly in front of the bathroom. As soon as the "fasten seatbelts" sign clicked off, people started heading past me. As each one exited the lavatory to head back to their seat, the odor got a little bit worse. With no hope of cracking a window, I was relieved when the flight attendants finally used a little air freshener back there. If I'd had a can of Lysol, I would have been shooting a squirt over my shoulder every five minutes or so.

4. The only thing worse than sitting near the bathroom is sitting with the bathroom behind you and a child with a flatulence problem in front of you. The kid gleefully announced every time he expressed himself, but there was no need. We could all tell where it was coming from. I was tempted to ask the flight attendants to spray a little air freshener in his row as well. Either that or order the kid a ginger ale and a package of Rolaids.

5. As if all that wasn't bad enough, in spite of the announcement that there was to be no congregating outside the bathrooms, people did it anyway. They stood two and three deep, crowded into the little doorway that separated the main cabin from the galley/lavatory area. (Just the thought of those two areas being so close to each other made me turn down the snack offerings on the flight.) Being seated next to this standing group of people pretty much placed my head at hip level. Now there's a view you always want of a total stranger! At one point I woke up from dozing and found myself face-to-posterior with a woman I'd never met. I'm considering therapy as I'm sure the nightmares will continue for years.

All this fun and I hadn't even landed in Denver yet! And then there was the flight home ...

Home at last!

I got back into town yesterday afternoon from the writer's conference in Denver, and I drove straight to the church for our evening service. I hauled my suitcase in and changed in the bathroom, and then spent a few minutes catching up with my husband before people started coming in for the service. When my boys got there, I nearly got tackled as they ran up to hug me, but I loved it. After church we ate pizza and then I slept in my own bed. AHHHHHH!

And now it's Monday. I don't have to go back to work until tomorrow, which is good. Not only do I have to wash all my laundry from my trip, but I need to catch up on a few things around here as well. The boys told me they mostly ate eggs and rice while I was gone. I guess soy sauce makes everything taste better. The main rooms were cleaned up and in fairly good order when I got home. The rest of the house was a little more lived in. It's funny--I hadn't even been home yet, but on the way home from church the boys asked me "What's for supper?" I am so home!

So I need to get cracking on some of the things around here, plus I need to do the grocery shopping. I think I'll feed them Italian meatloaf tonight--meatloaf stuffed with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese and topped with pizza sauce and more cheese. I'll round it out with smashed potatoes, corn and some garlic-cheddar biscuits.

Tomorrow I'll blog about some of the fun things I experienced while I was gone. But, I'll give you this for today. (I saved the most exciting news!) Both an editor and an agent asked to see some of my work!!!! So in addition to catching up around here, I have a couple of proposals to put together!!!! I'm so excited! So I'm off to do the mommy/writer thing. Catch up with you tomorrow!

A Quick Check-In

So far my trip has been great! Nice room, wonderful classes and the view of the mountains! My first sight of them in over twenty years literally stopped me in my tracks. I just can't get enough of the view.

I have an appointment in the morning to pitch my book to an editor, and I have another appointment Saturday afternoon with the agent I was hoping to meet. Pray for me! I don't want to get tongue-tied.

I'll try to update more later, but my body says it's almost one in the morning. Nite!