Thursday, May 8, 2014

What's New?

I feel like I need to crack my knuckled and wiggle my fingers a bit to get my hands working on this blog post! It's been much too long since I've updated my blog.

Here's a brief list of all the things that have kept me busy this past month.

1. Homeschooling. We're only a few weeks away from completing our first year of homeschooling our oldest daughter! This makes me very excited. I'm excited that we're almost done, but I'm also excited that the year went so well. We're already planning for next year!

Our oldest doing her school work. We use Switched On
Schoolhouse, a fun computer-based curriculum.
2. Writing My Novel. I finished my third novel on April 13th, just shy of three months after I started it. I try to write during the winter when my husband is home (he has a landscaping business). During the summer we have a lot of activities planned and it wouldn't work for me to write with such intensity. My story already went through the hands of my writing critique partners, and is now with my beta readers. I hope to get it to my agent in the coming weeks.

I spent hours pouring over a local newspaper doing research
for my current novel set in 1927 when Lindbergh came home!
I don't know what I enjoy more: researching or writing! This
photo was taken at the Morrison County Historical Society.
3. Children's Activities. Piano, violin, dance lessons, basketball, AWANA, MOPS, and ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education), filled my winter calendar. All of these are wrapping up for the summer, and a few we have officially "graduated" from. It's bitter-sweet to close a chapter in life. I will miss MOPS and ECFE, but I'm excited for all the new adventures to come. This summer we have lots of fun activities planned. Now that the boys are four, I feel like we can have a bit more freedom to explore Minnesota and start going places I wouldn't have dared to go when they were younger. :)
My husband was one of the coaches for our
daughters' basketball team.
4. The Boys Turned Four! Speaking of the boys, we celebrated their fourth birthday on March 29th! That's a pretty huge milestone in our family. It was also the one year anniversary of signing with my agent. Lots of things to celebrate that day.

My boys turned 4!!!!
5. Judging for the Carol Awards. This year I was asked to be one of the judges for the prestigious Carol Award given during the ACFW Conference in September. The Carol Award is for published Christian fiction. It's been so much fun discovering new authors! I had never read any of their stories before (though I know who they are). I feel like I'm also a winner because I now have three new authors I want to follow.

6. Reading for Pleasure. I also have read a few books for pleasure! Pleasure, I tell you. :) Now that I write, I don't read nearly as much as I'd like--and probably not nearly as much as I should. One of the books I'm currently reading is the second novel by my friend Melissa Tagg. Her book is called Here to Stay and it's a wonderful story. Melissa captures the heart of a small town with perfection. Her hero is Blake Hunziker, who made his appearance in Melissa's first novel, Made to Last.

Isn't this cover adorable? I love it. :)
7. Spring Clean-Up. Now that the snow has finally melted, we've been busy in the yard and house! Cleaning up feels so good after a long winter. We've also had two fires down by the river already, and we're looking forward to many more.

Our first family fire--which meant our first s'mores of the season.
These are the activities that have kept the Meyer family busy this spring! I'm looking forward to spending more time on my blog this summer, and I'll be sure to update as my book moves through all the various stages of its journey.

Your Turn! I'd love to hear what has kept you busy this spring. Any fun plans for the summer?

7 comments:

  1. Fun plan for the summer: coming to Minnesota to visit you!! :)

    I had a busy winter/spring as well...revising my book, going to Florida for a writing retreat and Texas to visit my grandparents, working, teaching online, etc. Hopefully summer will allow me to slow down a bit!

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    1. You have had a busy winter/spring! I can't wait for July and your visit! I'm counting down the days and already making plans. :) Praying for you as revise your story and polish it up for submission. So excited to see what's in store for your story!!

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  2. Wow Gabe, and you say I'm busy. Whew!

    I'm editing my novel and hope to get back to blogging.
    You inspire me!

    Linz -- you were in Texas! How in the world did I miss that!

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    1. But I don't work a full time job like you do! You inspire me, Alena, so I think that makes us a good pair. :) I can't wait to read more of your story. Praying for you as you eek out more time from your busy schedule. :)

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  3. I know busy! Shuttling kids, events, after-school activities and yes, writing. Glad to see you back!

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    1. Thanks for welcoming me back, Jess! You're in the next layer if busy with older kiddos. Lots if activities and events. So good to see you here. :)

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  4. There is just so much crazy when it comes to kids and spring! Baseball games, choir concerts, band concerts, end of the year program, spring cleaning....all of chaos.

    But there is no kind of chaos I'd rather have than a happy family whirlwind. Somewhere in there I find time to write...I think it is when everyone is sleeping...maybe that's why I need eye toothpicks to accompany my morning breakfast!

    Fun to hear what's new with you!

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