Here's to New

I thought about doing a reflective post about 2011, but honestly, all I really have to say is stuff that happened in my life. Not only is it not-so-inspirational, it just wouldn't apply to most people. All that reflective stuff is something that will end up where only I can read it and weep.

Instead of focusing on the past, I decided to look to the future. The unwritten pages of the new year. Now that is exciting.

And every single person in the world has the same thing to look forward to.

A couple years ago I bought a bracelet for myself, one that I wear virtually everyday. I bought it for two reasons.

First, it doesn't stop giving encouragement.

And second, I believe that if you think positive things everyday, it helps.

Here are the words I think of everyday.

"Love Life, Be Brave" "Smile" "Laugh" "Sing" "Play!" "Dream" "Dare to be different"

"Wish" "Dream Big" "Be the Change you Wish to See" "Shine" "Love" "Choose the Moment"

So what are my new year's resolutions? Other than a couple things on my list, they are the same ones I've had for two years. It's all the little quotes on my bracelet reminding me what my life should be like.

It doesn't stop a bad day in its tracks, but even through hard times, it helps me to know that I've really given these things my best shot. I've tried to live up to those words. I've dreamed so big that I was sure I could never even begin to climb the mountain. Even when I've failed, at least I know I tried. And more, I know so much more about that mountain that I'm still going to climb it.

"Be the change you wish to see" This one is harder. Try it.

"Choose the moment"

There are so many. My bracelet seems to have better advice than anything I could come up with.

But when I slip that silver on my wrist, I feel like I'm re-committing. It's like I'm reminded of my new year resolutions every day.

"Love life. Be brave." Loving life may well be a learned behavior. A daily choice. To love life in spite of itself. That's where being brave comes in. Being brave enough to look hardship in the eyes and head straight through it with a smile.

So here's to your new year's resolutions. May you have some, however simple they may seem. More courage. More commitment. More determination. More integrity in doing those things you set out to do.

Words can be cheap, or they can be so valuable they change your life forever. It's what you make of them.

Transcendent- a new paranormal book

Are you looking for bite size pieces of YA yumminess? Try this one. Its' like an assortment of chocolates waiting to be tasted. Each story is it's own tale with flavors so different you'll be wanting to take a bite out of everyone.

For more information on this book and the wonderful writers behind it, go to this blog. They're doing a blog tour with some cool things, so go check it out.

Whether you like a ghost story, a fantasy or a little romance, this book really does have it all.

Silver Bells and Silver Linings

Okay, I'll admit it. It's been a tough month. It isn't going out with some miraculous bang, either, more like an explosive one. It won't be hard to say goodbye to 2011.

But in the midst of trials, I've found out a few things.

First, even when you're having a pretty bad day, you can still handle another blow. You may not like it, but you can handle it.

Second, just because nothing makes sense, doesn't mean that everything is without a reason. It just sometimes takes us a while to see the bigger picture.

Third, good things pop up at the most unexpected moments in the least expected ways. Cherish them. Sometimes noticing the good things helps you deal with the hard things.

Fourth, yes, there is such a thing as a silver lining. I know I don't see it most of the time, but it's there. In fact, when I do finally notice it, it's so amazing that it makes me wonder how I could have been so blind not to have seen it sooner.

So although there are not likely any amazing miracles on the horizon for me, I'm happy. As happy as I decide to be. That's the one thing I can control.

And it's such a good time of the year to decide that.

Celebrating Failure

Once again, I'm dropped into the deep pool of failure and I'm learning to swim all over again.

The failure... unsuccessful on my TCRG exams... meaning I have not a clue what I passed and what I didn't, or whether I can take just one or two parts over or if I would have to retake the whole thing.

The swimming...

Did I learn anything? Definitely

Am I a better person for having gone through this year? Probably

Will someone please come put me out of my misery? Not likely

Okay, it's more like treading to keep from drowning. I know I'll formulate some kind of plan and figure out how to live with me and all my inadequacies. I mean, it's not like this is the first time I have failed, even this year.

In fact, I'm so experienced in failure that I should be able to teach a class on it.

But the thing that I can't ignore is the fact that I can only fail when I try something hard. If it were easy, I would always succeed.

So why do I keep putting myself in precarious situations that leave the door wide open to another failure?

Because I want more. I'm never going to be satisfied sitting in my own mediocrity (definition... moderate to inferior in quality; ordinary). Wait, isn't that what all my failures are trying to prove? That I am the definition of mediocre?

Maybe. I guess I'm rebellious.

So world, I give you proof that I'm trying to be better, even if I'm still not there. Failure is proof that I tried.

For how to handle success, please find someone who knows more about it. I don't happen to be an expert in that field. We don't have a happy dance at our house. Or a this-is-what-we-do-when-things-go-insanely-right tradition. It seems like we spend most of our time figuring out how to get over the next hurdle.

A Better Attitude

I've lost a lot of sleep worrying about things- all things I can't control, but can't stop worrying about.

And then I've seen others with hearts of gold and know that they have worries too, but somehow balance it so well that the world would never know.

So thank you, to all who have been an inspiration to me lately. There are so many. Many who are thoughtful enough to share and honest enough to make it mean something.

I want to be more like you. I'm working on it. Worrying less and blessing more- like you.

It all starts with gratitude, I think. And I have so much to be grateful for. Everyday- and I know it. I just have to think about it more often. And think of all the things that go wrong less often.

It's not going to change all those things I'm worried about, but maybe it will change me, and in the end, that's all I can do anything about. So I'm going to try harder to look at the world differently. To see the good more than the bad and to realize that I can do something to make it even better.
Kind of like this picture- it's feels more real than the one where everyone's smiling perfectly- Life is tiring, but if you look closer, it's not hard to find things to love. I'm going to try harder to find those things.

The Twelve Days

Ever been so busy that you don't know if you got anything done? That's been me lately.

When I think about what cool, exciting things I have to write about here, I come up blank. I mean, I'm busy, but let's face it, who would want to read about my life.

So, in the spirit of the holidays, I give you my real-life version of the twelve days of Christmas.

Clearing throat...

On the first day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, the front gate fell apart literally.

On the second day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the third day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the fourth day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, the washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the fifth day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, the ceiling finally got done!!! The washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the sixth day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, the other microwave door broke. The ceiling finally got done!!! The washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the seventh day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, we stayed up til 3 to fix the counter, the other microwave door broke. The ceiling finally got done!!! The washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the eighth day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, the kitchen faucet has no pressure, we stayed up til 3 to fix the counter, the other microwave door broke. The ceiling finally got done!!! The washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the ninth day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, we took a break fixing the house and bought a Christmas tree, the kitchen faucet has no pressure, we stayed up til 3 to fix the counter, the other microwave door broke. The ceiling finally got done!!! The washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the tenth day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, we got the new used washing machine repaired. We took a break fixing the house and bought a tree, the kitchen faucet has no pressure, we stayed up til 3 to fix the counter, the other microwave door broke. The ceiling finally got done!!! The washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, another child with an abscessed tooth, we got the new used washing machine repaired, we took a break fixing the house and bought a tree, the kitchen faucet has no pressure, we stayed up til 3 to fix the counter, the other microwave door broke. The ceiling finally got done!!! The washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, it was a surprise to me, I love my new microwave, counter, and used dryer and washing machine and fixed gate, another child with an abscessed tooth, we got the new used washing machine repaired, we took a break fixing the house and bought a Christmas tree, the kitchen faucet has no pressure, we stayed up til 3 to fix the counter, the other microwave door broke. The ceiling finally got done!!! The washer suddenly died, the dryer wouldn't dry, our newest microwave fried, and the front gate fell apart literally.

Aaah, the holidays.

Register for the 2012 LDStorymakers Conference

Today's the day you've been waiting for. Well, maybe not all of you, but some of you.

Today is the first day you can register for the coolest writers conference on the planet. Here's the link.
The conference is May 4-5.

• 2-Day Conference: $170
• Friday-only Conference: $95
• Saturday-only Conference: $75

Location:

The Provo Marriott Hotel
101 West 100 North · Provo, Utah 84601 USA

Registration

Registration for the 2012 LDStorymakers Writers Conference is now open. It will close April 3, 2012 or until we are full. IMPORTANT–attendance is capped at 450 participants each day, so register early.

And here's more cools stuff you need to know.

The Boot Camp is AWESOME. It's held May 3 and if you have a manuscript you would like some editing with, this experience is invaluable. Not only will you get personalized attention, you will learn a lot. This is often the most rewarding experience to conference attendees after the weekend is over.

If you have a manuscript you are ready to pitch, they have the agents and editors there for you. Sign up early for a pitch session. Trust me, they sell out so fast. Secret... you can get on a waiting list for a pitch session.

Here's our stellar list of agents and editors:

Weronika Janczuk

Molly O’Neill

Kathleen Ortiz

Holly Root

Michelle Wolfson

Besides all of that, I'm telling you, this conference is life-altering. You will not be the same person when you leave- you'll be smarter, more aware, deeper and clearer about the writing industry. And you'll meet other writers who you will never forget. Whether you're a beginner or a published author, this conference has everything.

Don't forget to check out the master classes designed to dig deep into the writing skill sets. There's so much here. And no, you don't have to be LDS to go. At all. This is a fabulous chance to hone your craft regardless of where you are in your writing. Don't miss it.