What's new?

This probably takes the prize for longest gap between posts...

What's new in my life? Biggest change is that I'm not a homeschooler anymore... and no, I didn't quit, though I certainly wanted to often enough. I FINISHED.

Related change in the near future: I will become an empty nester (sort of) in about two months. Both will be in college and therefore home on breaks, and Tim will still visit some weekends, so fortunately, my little nest won't be entirely empty quite yet.

Blog and website

I don't like having my blog and website separate. I've heard of some intriguing possibilities for combining them; unfortunately, I'm not eager to take the time to research and then implement the changes. It's fairly assumable that whatever I do will end up taking a LOT more time than I expect. Somehow computer things always do!

Writer of the week

A new author -- new to me, anyway! In fact, I don't know how I've missed out on her for so long.

In the last couple of weeks, I've read two books by Tracy (T. L.) Higley: Pompeii: City on Fire, and Guardian of the Flame. I found both of them to be engrossing and to bring the cultures in which they are set vividly to life.

I enjoyed the Pompeii book more, but that may merely reflect the fact that I prefer the era of the Roman Empire to that of the Egyptians.

I enjoyed poking around her website, too. Perhaps it seemed a bit busy, but then again, it is crammed full of interesting information and links.

E-publishing

I'm leaning more and more toward the idea that E-publishing is enough the 'wave of the future' as to make it a better choice than print publishing for an unknown author.

From what I hear, the publishing business today seems to have all but locked out new, unpublished authors. Of course, that's a degree of hyperbole, but there is some truth in it. The path to publishing went from:

1) Send your manuscript to a publishing company and someone will look at it and respond; to

2) Send your manuscript to a publishing company and it will be thrown in the trash after an overworked, overwhelmed intern has read the first few paragraphs; to

3) Publishing companies won't accept unsolicited manuscripts, so send it to an agent who will look at it and respond to you; to

4) Send it to an agent who will throw it in the trash after reading the first few paragraphs if it's not exactly the genre, voice, and mood they're looking for that morning; to

5) Reputable, successful agents might look at your manuscript if you are lucky enough to know someone who can recommend you to them.

Again, perhaps a dash of hyperbole, but only a dash!

Trying for a new record...

One of my biggest weaknesses is lack of self-discipline -- especially challenging for a writer! Periodically, either after I have been on a self-indulgence jag, or after a particularly busy period in my life comes to an end, I start Monday morning with fresh determination.

Unfortunately, I don't know that I've ever made it over a week, and perhaps not even as much as a week. So, today's day 2, and I'm trying for a new record... I'll consider myself to have achieved it if I'm still being disciplined and diligent and all those other good things on Friday.

The good thing about having a wonderfully unread blog is that no one will ask me on Friday how I'm doing!

Boy, do I appreciate God's unfailing grace and mercy.

Update on, well, everything!

Summer! Green, warm, fun, less stressful... Thanks, God!

Doug: Wonderful, as always. He's been spending time with some of the younger men at church in a mentoring-type capacity. I think it's great because he has a lot to give.

Tim: A homeschool graduate! It's so hard to believe that the 13 years (we started w/kindergarten) of homeschooling my firstborn have come to an end. He will be attending the University of Akron in the Fall and living in the Honors Dorm.

Myrale: We just finished the whole college search with Tim, and are just starting it with her. She will be a senior this fall. Except for any mid-stream adjustments next year, I have planned my last year of school and ordered my last homeschool books. How can something that has consumed and almost defined me for so long be coming to an end? (Ummm, just to be clear: this is amazement, not mourning or sorrow!)

Me: See above. As my life shifts into a different mode, I am hoping to spend more time on writing and more time on fitness. I also want to seek and find what service my great, gracious, and glorious God has for me.

Rats! Did it again!

The lament of the busy, inadequately committed blogger: "Oh, no! 'X' weeks have gone by since my last post. I was trying to do better."

Update: We narrowed Tim's choices down to five colleges. He's been accepted to all of them, and now we're just waiting to find out scholarship and financial aid numbers to see which makes most sense.

Yeah, yeah, yeah

As my children keep pointing out to me, I've been neglectful...

Catch-up on what's been going on...

Busy this fall, still teaching the teen Bible studies, but without Jen's help; also teaching a weekly fiction writing course to homeschooled teens; helping Tim with college apps (2 apps completed, 2 acceptances, 1 app started, 2 yet to begin); had my mom and sister here in September (not sure if I've written since then or not); still church treasurer; hosted a church-wide bonfire in October -- really enjoyed that; still homeschooling about 4.5 credits for Tim; starting to get ready to host the family's Thanksgiving; doing the lion's share of taking care of house, family, and pets (except guinea pigs); and when I get (or create) spare time, burying my nose in a book.

Also distressed because after keeping weight I'd lost off for over a year, about 5 pounds have found their way home....

Main thing in my life? God is still good.

That's all. (It's enough.)