Here's my Sunny Sunday kickoff to Monday's Project Perk.
(don't forget to check out Suzanne Young's blog and Robin Mellom's blog for more "perky" posts on Monday!)
I was trying to find something to post about today on Sunny Sunday to kick off to Monday Perks Project.
Considering my recent milestone in obtaining an agent. I thought I would write about being grateful and acknowledge how grateful I am for everything I have in my life.
My family
My friends
My health
My life
My passion
My mind
My heart
My willingness to grow
My strength
My hope
My love
My joy
Mostly, I am grateful for the path I am on. For my ongoing journey in this crazy life. No matter how hard and frustrating, everything scene leads to the fantastic reel of my life.
Then I started to realize that sometimes we forget to be grateful for the hard things in life. Sometimes we forget to love the rain, the storms, and the dark clouds as much as we love the sun and clear skies.
I think it is important to be grateful for all the hard times just as much as the good times. Not only do they teach you lessons but they get you to where you are today.
So thanks for the bad times. The hard times. The crappy times.
The pain
The sickness
The sorrow
The frustration
The failures
The fear
The fights
The struggles
The obstacles
The tears
The broken hearts
Today, I am grateful for the downside of life.
Because it makes the upside even sweeter.
=========================
A Poem of Gratitude
After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,
With the grace of a woman,
Not the grief of a child
And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
In stead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth,
and you learn and learn...
With everything you learn.
- Shoffstall
Showing posts with label perk project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perk project. Show all posts
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Sunny Sunday - Find out if you are really a Mom?
You Know Your a Mom When...
- You can no longer wear black, for fear of massive spit up marks
- You sing “Dora Dora Dora the Explorer” in the shower.
- You believe that macaroni and cheese should become it’s own food group.
- Play dates have taken over your life!
- You sing to the Elmo CD that is playing on your radio long after you’ve dropped your children off at daycare.
- You can’t wait to hug your own kids after you see something troubling on the news.
- You lick your finger to wipe the face of a child AND suddenly stop when you realize that child ISN’T YOURS!
- You can reach into your purse and pull out a crayon, a matchbox car and a dirty sock.
- You have no issues sniffing another person’s butt for a poopie diaper.
- A night on the town means taking the kids out past 6 pm.
- A packet of crisps (chips), and a chocolate bar is considered a hearty breakfast.
- At a party, you ask where “the potty” is.
- "Whine” is no longer simply red or white.
- When people ask you what you do, you tell them you are a “pediatric logistics specialist”!
- Sleeping in means… sleeping IN the middle of three little bodies!!!
- You count the sprinkles on each kid's cupcake to make sure they're equal.
- You find yourself cutting your husbands' sandwiches into cute shapes.
- You can't bear to give away baby clothes - it's so final.
- You hear your mother's voice coming out of your mouth when you say, "NOT in your good clothes!"
- You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.
- You say at least once a day, "I'm not cut out for this job", but you know you wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
- and lastly, you know you are a mom because you hear the word 1,000 times a day and you still love it!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunny Sunday: Rebirth - The Joy of Starting Over
Here's my Sunny Sunday kickoff to Monday's Project Perk.
(don't forget to check out Suzanne Young's blog and Robin Mellom's blog for more "perky" posts on Monday!)
Today, my thoughts are around rebirth. Rightly so.
I have been working through suggested edits that totally changed my book's direction. When I first got the feedback, I was petrified to go back to the drawing board and changes some key things in my book.
But I realize that writers don't need to be afraid of starting over. It is not the death of a book or your writing, it is a rebirth. Something new out of something old.
Sometimes a rebirth is necessary.
A renewal of hope.
So with that in mind, here is a poem I found about that summed it up for me:
"Starting Over" by Denis Martindale:
OK, why don't you start again?
Just give it one more go!
What happened was beyond your ken,
Perhaps you'll never know!
But try to make it work out right!
And fix things if you can...
You'll suss it soon with some insight
And then fulfil your plan...
When things go bad, when things go wrong,
You've got to end the doubt!B
e resolute! Be firm! Be strong!
And sort the problem out!
Adapt, update and pray like mad!
Then strive for all you're worth!'
Cos when it's done, you'll feel so glad
Your joy will fill the Earth!
Happy Easter!
(don't forget to check out Suzanne Young's blog and Robin Mellom's blog for more "perky" posts on Monday!)
Today, my thoughts are around rebirth. Rightly so.
I have been working through suggested edits that totally changed my book's direction. When I first got the feedback, I was petrified to go back to the drawing board and changes some key things in my book.
But I realize that writers don't need to be afraid of starting over. It is not the death of a book or your writing, it is a rebirth. Something new out of something old.
Sometimes a rebirth is necessary.
A renewal of hope.
So with that in mind, here is a poem I found about that summed it up for me:
"Starting Over" by Denis Martindale:
OK, why don't you start again?
Just give it one more go!
What happened was beyond your ken,
Perhaps you'll never know!
But try to make it work out right!
And fix things if you can...
You'll suss it soon with some insight
And then fulfil your plan...
When things go bad, when things go wrong,
You've got to end the doubt!B
e resolute! Be firm! Be strong!
And sort the problem out!
Adapt, update and pray like mad!
Then strive for all you're worth!'
Cos when it's done, you'll feel so glad
Your joy will fill the Earth!
Happy Easter!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunny Sunday - A dash of hope
Another kickoff into Monday's Perk Project! (check out Suzanne Young's blog and Robin Mellom's blog for more perky posts tomorrow!)
Today my thoughts are on healing, hope and thanks.
Even now, at 5:00 am, I am thinking of healing.
As most of you know, I have had vertigo for the last several months. Though I am getting better, I am still not me. But feeling my body heal from whatever caused it is such a relief.
I never thought about my body until these last few months. Except for the time I was Prego. Oh yeah - and then of course - as I have symptoms of the Post-Prego body blues. But I never thought about everything my body did and how much I took it for granted.
We can't trade in our bodies like an old pair of jeans, or a leased car, or a new computer. For us, there is no replacement. We also don't realize that doctors cannot fix everything. They do their best to treat symptoms, but sometimes they never really get to the problem. They can only do so much. I never knew that.
What's worse - is that sometimes they don't have the solution. Or don't know the right one for you.
Sometimes we have to find it ourselves from the inside out. We have to pray. We have to hope for something more. Hope for healing.
Now this post is not even really about me - though I can relate with the feelings of hope and healing.
This post is for my hubby.
20 years old, my husband had a back injury in a rugby game that never really healed. When I first met him 9 years ago, he had back problems but was still able to climb, swim, and fly-fish. He was also in little amounts of pain at times. Chronic pain. Pain that never fully went away.
During the time my daughter was a baby, my hubby's back worsened. I don't know if it was age or if picking up my daughter aggravated the injury. Or if his back just gave up.
Whatever it was , he was hurting. So of course, we all were hurting for him.
About 2 years ago, his back got so bad, he could not feel his left leg anymore. He gave up climbing, he gave up flyfishing. He could not even play with our daughter. The minute he got home, he laid down. At 36, he was unable to do anything he loved. His back "went out" several times, leaving us sad, frustrated and scared. He was in and out of Emory's Spinal Clinic and after many consultations and MRIs, he was told his only option was a spinal fusion which is only about 60-70% effective. Yes, it shocked me too. Some people actually go through the surgery and still are not better. Still are not healed.
My hubby didn't think the spinal fusion was the right answer for him. Even though it MIGHT work, he wanted something more and he deserved it. So he made a choice to continue suffering. For another 6 months he suffered. He tried not to complain, but I could see it in his face at times. he tried to help around the house, but it was hard for him. he tried to participate in activities, but it always hurt. He became a master at living with pain. He started researching online and applied to FDA studies but with no assurance of lessened pain. Then, one day, he found a surgery in Germany with a 95% effective rate. He sent his films over and he was approved as a "double-disk replacement" candidate. (Yes he speaks German :)
Great right?
Wrong. The surgery cost $50,000 and of course, our insurance would not cover it. Even though it was cheaper than a spinal fusion. ( my issues with the monetary goals of our health care system are a whole other blog)
Well obviously, we didn't have that spare change lying around so he opted to wait, hoping the FDA would approve something more, something better. So he waited some more.
And of course, his pain got even worse.
Until one day, I walked in and found him broken down, crying. Something I'd never seen before, He was in so much pain and at the end of his rope.
It broke my heart.
To make a long story short, we cashed in our investments and booked him into the program immediately. It was scheduled within just a few weeks. Our thought?What good is money down the road if you are incapacitated? All you need is love and health. Unfortunately at the time, my son was barely 6 months old and was also having a hard health time in addition to some childcare logistical issues.
Because the process was 6 weeks.
So at the last minute, we made a decision for me to stay here with the kids and have his mother fly from Wales to b with him.
For 6 long weeks.
And we all suffered.
I had to be here alone, taking care of 2 kids, one who was very sick. Most importantly, I could not be with and support my hubby during his scary, yet exciting/hopeful time.
My daughter had to be without her daddy.
But of course, my hubby had it worse. He had to go through this life-changing event without me, without his family by his side. He had to endure major back surgery where they went in through his abdomen, sever muscles, stretch his spine, remove two disks, and insert prosthetic ones. (he came about 2 inches taller!)
The process and the recovery has been a long one.
But today, it all paid off.
Because my hubby got up at 5am to run in his first marathon. 15 miles. Painfree.
So today I am so thankful.
Thankful we had the financial means - though we are still recovering today - to give my hubby his life back, to give our kids their dad, and to give him his passions back. Thankful to all the doctors who took care of him and gave him hope. Thankful to our friends & families in supporting us during the difficult time. Thankful to our kids for being patient and without their dad for that long. Thankful to his work for giving him the leave time and reassurance his job would be here when he got back. Thankful to all medical miracles that went in to creating this option for him to be whole again.
Most importantly, I am thankful that my hubby fought to get his life back. The life he deserves. The life he dreamed of. Thankful he pushed through the impossibly times and stayed hopeful.
He never gave up. But more importantly, he never gave in.
He persevered.
And I love him even more for it.
So here's to healing yourself, staying hopeful, and giving thanks for what you have.
Because it is all so precious and fragile.
Today my thoughts are on healing, hope and thanks.
Even now, at 5:00 am, I am thinking of healing.
As most of you know, I have had vertigo for the last several months. Though I am getting better, I am still not me. But feeling my body heal from whatever caused it is such a relief.
I never thought about my body until these last few months. Except for the time I was Prego. Oh yeah - and then of course - as I have symptoms of the Post-Prego body blues. But I never thought about everything my body did and how much I took it for granted.
We can't trade in our bodies like an old pair of jeans, or a leased car, or a new computer. For us, there is no replacement. We also don't realize that doctors cannot fix everything. They do their best to treat symptoms, but sometimes they never really get to the problem. They can only do so much. I never knew that.
What's worse - is that sometimes they don't have the solution. Or don't know the right one for you.
Sometimes we have to find it ourselves from the inside out. We have to pray. We have to hope for something more. Hope for healing.
Now this post is not even really about me - though I can relate with the feelings of hope and healing.
This post is for my hubby.
20 years old, my husband had a back injury in a rugby game that never really healed. When I first met him 9 years ago, he had back problems but was still able to climb, swim, and fly-fish. He was also in little amounts of pain at times. Chronic pain. Pain that never fully went away.
During the time my daughter was a baby, my hubby's back worsened. I don't know if it was age or if picking up my daughter aggravated the injury. Or if his back just gave up.
Whatever it was , he was hurting. So of course, we all were hurting for him.
About 2 years ago, his back got so bad, he could not feel his left leg anymore. He gave up climbing, he gave up flyfishing. He could not even play with our daughter. The minute he got home, he laid down. At 36, he was unable to do anything he loved. His back "went out" several times, leaving us sad, frustrated and scared. He was in and out of Emory's Spinal Clinic and after many consultations and MRIs, he was told his only option was a spinal fusion which is only about 60-70% effective. Yes, it shocked me too. Some people actually go through the surgery and still are not better. Still are not healed.
My hubby didn't think the spinal fusion was the right answer for him. Even though it MIGHT work, he wanted something more and he deserved it. So he made a choice to continue suffering. For another 6 months he suffered. He tried not to complain, but I could see it in his face at times. he tried to help around the house, but it was hard for him. he tried to participate in activities, but it always hurt. He became a master at living with pain. He started researching online and applied to FDA studies but with no assurance of lessened pain. Then, one day, he found a surgery in Germany with a 95% effective rate. He sent his films over and he was approved as a "double-disk replacement" candidate. (Yes he speaks German :)
Great right?
Wrong. The surgery cost $50,000 and of course, our insurance would not cover it. Even though it was cheaper than a spinal fusion. ( my issues with the monetary goals of our health care system are a whole other blog)
Well obviously, we didn't have that spare change lying around so he opted to wait, hoping the FDA would approve something more, something better. So he waited some more.
And of course, his pain got even worse.
Until one day, I walked in and found him broken down, crying. Something I'd never seen before, He was in so much pain and at the end of his rope.
It broke my heart.
To make a long story short, we cashed in our investments and booked him into the program immediately. It was scheduled within just a few weeks. Our thought?What good is money down the road if you are incapacitated? All you need is love and health. Unfortunately at the time, my son was barely 6 months old and was also having a hard health time in addition to some childcare logistical issues.
Because the process was 6 weeks.
So at the last minute, we made a decision for me to stay here with the kids and have his mother fly from Wales to b with him.
For 6 long weeks.
And we all suffered.
I had to be here alone, taking care of 2 kids, one who was very sick. Most importantly, I could not be with and support my hubby during his scary, yet exciting/hopeful time.
My daughter had to be without her daddy.
But of course, my hubby had it worse. He had to go through this life-changing event without me, without his family by his side. He had to endure major back surgery where they went in through his abdomen, sever muscles, stretch his spine, remove two disks, and insert prosthetic ones. (he came about 2 inches taller!)
The process and the recovery has been a long one.
But today, it all paid off.
Because my hubby got up at 5am to run in his first marathon. 15 miles. Painfree.
So today I am so thankful.
Thankful we had the financial means - though we are still recovering today - to give my hubby his life back, to give our kids their dad, and to give him his passions back. Thankful to all the doctors who took care of him and gave him hope. Thankful to our friends & families in supporting us during the difficult time. Thankful to our kids for being patient and without their dad for that long. Thankful to his work for giving him the leave time and reassurance his job would be here when he got back. Thankful to all medical miracles that went in to creating this option for him to be whole again.
Most importantly, I am thankful that my hubby fought to get his life back. The life he deserves. The life he dreamed of. Thankful he pushed through the impossibly times and stayed hopeful.
He never gave up. But more importantly, he never gave in.
He persevered.
And I love him even more for it.
So here's to healing yourself, staying hopeful, and giving thanks for what you have.
Because it is all so precious and fragile.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Sunny Sunday - Pat yourself on the back and be happy!
Weird Update:
Ok so some of you may call me a freak. But yesterday I blogged about seeing a spider weaving a web. Today, I found a black widow spider and this is the symbolism for a black widow spider
"If spider has come into your life, ask yourself something important questions. Are you not weaving your dreams and imaginings into reality? Are you not using your creative opportunities? Are you feeling closed in or stuck as if in a web? Do you need to write? Are you inspired to write or draw and not following through? Remember that spider is the keeper of knowledge of the primordial alphabet. Spider can teach how to use the written language with power and creativity so that your words weave a web around those who read them."
Don't you think this is weird? Things like this always happen to me!
Sunny Sunday
My blogger buddies, Suzanne Young and Robin Mellom are determined to spread good cheer through the writing hemisphere. (and I know we could all use that right now!;)
They will be doing Project Perk on Mondays and are asking other to follow along. I told them since I do Marketing Mondays, I would preempt their special day with Sunny Sunday.
This week - Pat your self on the back!
We, as writers need to pat ourselves on the back from time to time for choosing our passion and following our hearts. In addition, we keep trying and trying in the face of adversary and overwhelming odds because we know writing fills our souls and spirits.
Here's to all the things You - as a writer - are doing right. Be sure to recognize them!
There were a few posts that made me feel abso-bloomin' fabulous this week.
1) The gracious agent, Rachel Gardner when she complimented all her blogger readers for keeping in the know.
2) A Fab agent, Nathan Bransford, for reminding me how to stay happy as a writer. I forget sometimes.
3) A jamming agent, Jennifer Jackson, for encouraging us to be positive in our query letters.
4) Courageous agent Caren Johnson for reminding us that we have what we need!
So pat yourself on the back before you go out and have a Sunny Sunday.
A happy day!
A day where we can be happy about how hard we have worked, how far we have come, how great this journey is, and where we can celebrate our happy days ahead.
Reminder: Laini Taylor, author of Blackbringer and Silksinger as well as blogger extraordinaire will be our Marvelous Marketer tomorrow.
Ok so some of you may call me a freak. But yesterday I blogged about seeing a spider weaving a web. Today, I found a black widow spider and this is the symbolism for a black widow spider
"If spider has come into your life, ask yourself something important questions. Are you not weaving your dreams and imaginings into reality? Are you not using your creative opportunities? Are you feeling closed in or stuck as if in a web? Do you need to write? Are you inspired to write or draw and not following through? Remember that spider is the keeper of knowledge of the primordial alphabet. Spider can teach how to use the written language with power and creativity so that your words weave a web around those who read them."
Don't you think this is weird? Things like this always happen to me!
Sunny Sunday
My blogger buddies, Suzanne Young and Robin Mellom are determined to spread good cheer through the writing hemisphere. (and I know we could all use that right now!;)
They will be doing Project Perk on Mondays and are asking other to follow along. I told them since I do Marketing Mondays, I would preempt their special day with Sunny Sunday.
This week - Pat your self on the back!
We, as writers need to pat ourselves on the back from time to time for choosing our passion and following our hearts. In addition, we keep trying and trying in the face of adversary and overwhelming odds because we know writing fills our souls and spirits.
Here's to all the things You - as a writer - are doing right. Be sure to recognize them!
- Reading blogs
- Writing your hearts out
- Connecting with other writers
- Encouraging others
- Fearlessly subbing (sending out submissions) and keeping your projects out there in the publishing world.
- Looking past rejections and rejections and rejections!
- Working hard day after day even though you may not have a book to show for it yet. BTW - print out your manuscript - you do have a book to show for it - it is just in the "infant" stage. :)
- Your hard hours of researching - whether it be agents, books, publishers, ideas, or connections.
- For seeking and accepting criticism. Its hard and the fact we seek it shows how strong we all are.
- For giving up financial comforts.
- Most of all - being true to your spirit and following your dreams.
There were a few posts that made me feel abso-bloomin' fabulous this week.
1) The gracious agent, Rachel Gardner when she complimented all her blogger readers for keeping in the know.
2) A Fab agent, Nathan Bransford, for reminding me how to stay happy as a writer. I forget sometimes.
3) A jamming agent, Jennifer Jackson, for encouraging us to be positive in our query letters.
4) Courageous agent Caren Johnson for reminding us that we have what we need!
So pat yourself on the back before you go out and have a Sunny Sunday.
A happy day!
A day where we can be happy about how hard we have worked, how far we have come, how great this journey is, and where we can celebrate our happy days ahead.
Reminder: Laini Taylor, author of Blackbringer and Silksinger as well as blogger extraordinaire will be our Marvelous Marketer tomorrow.
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