This year, there were no fireworks due to the wildfires in Arizona.

But I felt them. Deep down in my soul, there were colorful explosions and whirling sparklers. I am cancer free. Words I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to say at this time last year now bubble up on my lips with increasing frequency, and with them, my smile is never far behind. God has been so good to me. He has healed me, given me strength, and walked beside me on every step of this difficult journey. Who knew that the toughest year of my life could also be one of the most rewarding? I’ve learned that laughter is precious, that life is too important to take for granted, that dreams, no matter how small, are worth pursuing, and that above all, love makes everything so much sweeter.

On July 4th, one day out of the year, America stops to celebrate the country’s independence. And so it goes for me, one day out of the year, in the quiet of my heart, as I sit and watch the fireworks light up the night, I’ll be celebrating an independence of a different kind.

Happy Cancerversary.

One year and counting…

an official hiatus from the blog until August 1st for a couple of reasons.

One, I’m working hard on writing some new material to share with you all. I’m very excited about it and can’t wait to get it out there in the world, so I’m keeping my head down and getting to work. And two, as some of you know, this year has been a tough one and I find that I still have a few more rocky uphill climbs to make before I can reach the plateau.

So, blogging has to take a bit of a backseat to health and family for awhile.

But as good ‘ole Ahhnold would say: “I’ll be back.” :)

The old is behind me, the new is yet to be discovered.

2009 was the year of “Ups and Downs” for me. In my writing life, I finaled in the Golden Heart. Getting that call was the absolute highlight of my year. Unfortunately, life stress got in the way for much of 2009, and I often found myself struggling to climb back out of the pit.

But like all experiences, we learn from them.

I learned a lot about myself during 2009. Like just how much I can endure. I learned that I’m darned stubborn when the situation calls for it and although I may be shy and quiet and nonconfrontational, I am stronger than I believed myself to be.

I learned that I no longer need to doubt whether I’m a good writer or not. I am. (Even on those days when I think I suck). I learned that although publication is the ultimate goal, love of writing is enough to sustain me until I get there. And I learned that having good writing friends to give you a shove now and then is absolutely essential. 

I don’t know what 2010 will bring. I certainly hope it’s more positive than 2009. I’d like to think I’m due for a little break about now. But whatever happens, I’m ready.

My pies are made, turkey’s just about done, need to mash my potatoes and glaze my carrots and then we’ll be sitting down to some very yummy food. Have a great one, everybody!

Come on by and let me know what you’re looking forward to reading.

My oldest is going into fifth grade (the dreaded Middle School) and my youngest is moving to the Intermediate School for third grade. Their Elementary School days are behind them….and sadly enough, so are mine.

The days of volunteering in their classrooms and hanging out with them on field trips will soon be coming to a close.

I’m a cool mom and all, but I doubt either of them will want me hanging around for ski trips or tagging along on prom night!

So, I’ll take these last two weeks and try to make the most of them. As we hit the door running on the morning of August 6th, it’s back into work mode. But, please, turn the other way if you see me skulking through the halls trying to catch small glimpses of my handsome little men.

I promise not to continue doing it much longer. Or at the very least, stop admitting to it!

The dark gray post background on the previous theme was bringing me down and I wasn’ t happy wi

th the disorganized look of my sidebars. I think I like this much better. For now. No guarantees that I won’t get bit by the theme bug again in the near future!

?

Children are out of school, revisions are done, and now I’m trying to get back into my WIP…my exciting, dramatic, Cambodia-set romantic suspense. The RWA conference is coming up too (can’t wait!), and I still need to buy some professional clothes (I have the wardrobe of a stay-at-home mom) and buy a dress for the RITA/GH awards ceremony (I know what I want to buy, but don’t have the budget for it).

I think it’ s going to be another whirlwind

summer. Before you know it, I’ll be posting an “Is it September Already?” blog post, and having this EXACT same discussion!

Apparently I’ve had an Internal Server Error for a while now, but I didn’t notice it until I went to write up a blog post about revisions today. Yikes! After knocking my head on my desk for awhile, I finally figured out what was wrong…there was some funky code in one of the files.

Luckily it was an easy fix–once I figured out why I was getting the error!

I’ll be in the revisions cave for the next few weeks making some much needed revisions to INTRUSION.  So, if you don’t “see” me, you can bet I’m holed up in my office furiously slashing and burning my ms.

She and her husband have lost their home, both lost their jobs, and we don’t want them to lose hope. Be a Diva and have a ball with these awesome books.

The Romancing a Cause Auction has some wonderful packages up for bid, including a fabulous manuscript critique from three Golden Heart® Finalists (one of them is yours truly!).

Please stop by http://ciarcullen.wordpress.com/romancing-a-cause-auction/ and check out the daily package up for bid. Auction ends on April 7th.