Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A little perspective, if you will

Yesterday I was reading blogs and there seemed to be quite a few people having troubles with this or that, worried about this or that, wishing for this or that.

I mean, I get it. We all have bad days. We all have days where the rejections get to us, or our kids get to us, or our jobs get to us, whatever.

Last week I found myself wishing I could quit my job and stay home. I thought about how much I would love to stay home and enjoy the summer with my boys, who are getting so big and old and someday in the very near future, will be off doing their own thing in the summertime. But then I thought about all the people who don't have jobs right now, and those who would love to go somewhere like I go for work everyday. Some place where the co-workers are nice and the work isn't so bad you have to stay until eight p.m. every night. Some place where the pay is good and the retirement benefits are even better.

And I think of the important work we do at my place of employment. I think of Bridget Zinn who blogged recently about her Super Awesome nurses at OHSU, Oregon Health & Science University, where I work. I may not be on the front line, caring for people like Bridget, but I'm there, behind the scenes, helping people as I can in my world of Human Resources.

Yeah, so let's stop and think about Bridget for a minute. Read this article about her that ran last week in The Oregonian. If you have another minute, pop up to her name and read her blog.

Next time you are having a bad day, try thinking of Bridget.

On Sunday, I put her name on a prayer card at church. When the pastor said her name, and asked for healing and strength as she battles stage 4 colon cancer, I couldn't keep the tears back.

So yeah, let's think about Bridget. Say a prayer for Bridget if you're so inclined. Go to the auction and bid on something to help her with medical costs.

And then realize the gift that's been given to you this day, and enjoy it.

That's what I'm going to do.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Friday Five in Books

I'm home today, to clean house and hang with the kids. Went to my brother's wedding last night and it was great fun. My kids had so much fun dancing!

Thought I'd quickly share some good books with all of you.

This one, SOUL ENCHILADA by David Macinnis Gill, made me laugh out loud the whoooole way through.



This one, EYES LIKE STARS by Lisa Mantchev, made me wish I could have four little fairies as friends. I think Mustardseed was my favorite. So fun!!



This one, MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD, by Fransisco X. Stark, I'm reading right now and it is incredible.



I'm going to read this one, THE SEASON by Sarah MacLean, next. It's supposed to be sunny for the next 7 days and it seems like the perfect book to read on the patio with a cup of iced tea! I was just looking at goodreads, and wow, everyone LOVES this book.



Hmmm, that's only four. Okay, number five isn't a book, it's a movie. Robert Downey, Jr. AND Jude Law in one movie!! Are you kidding me? Cannot wait!!



Have a great weekend!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Cupcakes, cupcakes, get your cupcakes!

Shame on me, I'm goofing off instead of writing. Going to go for a run, then come back and hunker down before the big b-day party this afternoon. I'm up to 20,000 words on my WIP, so yay me!

Got the final cover for IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES last week. Copy edits are arriving Monday, so things are moving along, although the book won't hit shelves until March, 2010.

This is a mid-grade novel for 8-12 year olds, published by S&S-Aladdin. Here's the jacket copy:

Twelve-year-old Isabel is dying to get out of Oregon. She spends her free time in the library, reading and dreaming about faraway places. When her mom decides to open a cupcake shop in their little town of Willow, Isabel feels like buttercream frosting to a cupcake - stuck. It seems as if it will be another disappointing summer, until Isabel learns of a baking contest in New York City. If she can come up with a winning recipe, she might have a chance of competing in the bake-off!

But Isabel's best friend, Sophie, is also entering the contest, and things always seem to go Sophie's way. To make matter worse, Isabel and her mom don't exactly see eye-to-eye on the type of recipe Isabel should enter.

In this sweet treat by popular teen author Lisa Schroeder, Isabel discovers that maybe it's not about where you go in life as much as it is about enjoying the view from wherever you are.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Two sisters act out I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME

WOW.

This totally gives me chills.

They memorized lines from the book to do this and everything!!

Wow. So cool.