Thankful Thursday

I have been a horrible blogger.

Life has just been crazy busy lately. Appointments right and left for all kinds of different, not very fun, things, along with sickness and work and kids and the dog... I keep dreaming of summer, my favorite time of year, when things slow down a bit.

This morning, I'm sitting here with a nasty cold, and taking a moment to relax for a few minutes. I'm looking out at the blooming camellia bush in the backyard, thankful we get warm sunshine and beautiful blue skies today. If I can muster up the energy later, I'm sure a walk in the sunshine would feel really, really nice.

I am thankful for a little good news this week.

I am thankful for my agent, and my editors.

I am thankful for all of my readers, and the teachers and librarians who are so supportive of me and my books. It was a lot of fun to do six Skype visits yesterday with kids all across the country to celebrate World Read Aloud day.

I am thankful for a job that is somewhat flexible, so I can take the time when I need to in order to take care of myself and my family.

I am thankful for the banana bread I made yesterday that goes really well with the gallons of tea I'm drinking.

I am thankful the dog's leg is getting better, slowly but surely. I hope she can recover fully. Think I'll end with a picture of Stormy, because there's nothing like a cute dog picture, right?

Have a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful that two more of my books will be in Scholastic fairs and clubs starting in the fall! YAY - this makes me all kinds of happy.

2. I am thankful that I had a fantastic conversation with my YA editor yesterday. She is so awesome and I hung up feeling incredibly blessed.

3. I am thankful we are supposed to have a sunny and warm day tomorrow! I have a house to clean and lots of shopping to do, and I am much more energized when the sun is shining.

4. I am thankful for a hair stylist who said to me yesterday, "Oh, I think you should, let's do it" when I told her I was thinking of growing out my bangs. She told me it will get really annoying for a while, which I knew, but that I MUST STICK WITH IT! I really sort of love it when people get firm with me in regards to very important matters.

5. I am thankful for the care my publisher has put into this book - I think it is so beautiful.

6. I am thankful for this movie that I can't wait to see. It's bittersweet though, because Lisa and I were supposed to watch it together. My husband said he'll go with me sometime in the next few weeks. The previews look great, and I just loved the book so much.

7. Most of all, I'm thankful for Easter. I have so many wonderful memories of family gatherings, Easter egg hunts and church services. I always wake up on Easter Sunday singing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and pretty much hum it all day long. I love it.



Have a great day!

Thankful Thursday - happy news stuff

1. Thanks to all of you FABULOUS people who bid on the ARC of Sprinkles and Secrets for the kidlit4Japan auction. My little book raised $50.00, which is awesome, and it's because of all of you who kept going back to bid. Wow. THANK YOU!! And thanks to Greg Fishbone who is doing SO much work keeping things on track and organized. If you haven't bid on something, there are still new things being posted everyday. Here is the link: http://kidlit4japan.wordpress.com/

2. I got good news on Monday - we were given a wonderful blurb for The Day Before by the incredibly talented Sarah Ockler, author of Fixing Delilah and Twenty Boy Summer. I am a huge fan of Twenty Boy Summer (and most likely Fixing Delilah, which I, sadly, have not had time to read it yet), so it really is an honor to have her say such lovely things about my book. Here is the blurb in its entirety, although it won't all appear on the book.

"The Day Before is lyrical, vivid, and poignant. Like hidden gems that sparkle in the sand, each verse tells its own story; a heartfelt reminder that life's treasures -- friendship, love, and compassion -- are often discovered when we least expect them."

3. I was mentioned in this fun article about a class who wrote letters to their favorite authors. I am mentioned alongside Judy Blume, which is like, whoa!! After reading it, I had two thoughts. First, I don't think my response back was as negative as he made it sound. I hope not anyway! And second, Oh no! I didn't send the girl who wrote to me a bookmark like Christopher Paolini did (I usually do but I had run out). So I found her letter and today I'm mailing the bookmarks to the entire class! I hope they'll be excited to get more mail.

4. On Sunday, in Rhode Island, there was an event going on called Cupcake Madness. One of the many challenges was to bake a cupcake flavor from It's Raining Cupcakes. The winner of the competition was Fatulli's Bakery, who baked strawberry lemonade cupcakes, inspired by my book. There's an article and news clip HERE - at the very end of the video the reporter mentions my book. So fun!! I wish I didn't live across the country, because I want to try those cupcakes!!! I know most people love chocolate, but I'm all about the fruity flavors.

5. Is this a little too much happy happy in one post? It might be, even for a Thankful Thursday post. Okay, here's something - I got Turbo Fire in the mail yesterday. Oh, you don't know what Turbo Fire is? Well, let me enlighten you. It is an intense cardio conditioning program with exercises that supposedly burn up to 9 times more fat than regular cardio does. Some claim they burn 1,000 calories with each workout. I am scared, but I'm going to star it today. I will be very thankful if it doesn't kill me.

Have a great day!

Thankful Thursday

When I look out the windows in my family room to the backyard, this is one thing I see.



With sunshine and temps in the upper fifties, we seem to be having a preview of spring. Those of you who still see snow, I'll wish for some to come your way!

Thankful Thursday

Today I give thanks for having had this wonderful, tough-son-of-a-gun, kind-hearted man as my grandpa.



September 3, 1920 - November 3, 2009 Stanley Lenox

Their heaven on earth was the Steen Mountains, where this picture was taken. I'd like to think that they are happily enjoying the view, together again.

My last grandparent is gone. It's been a sad, and rather sleepless, week, as I can't help but contemplate that fact. I am who I am today in a large part because of my grandparents. I'm forever grateful for all they gave me, including their time and their unconditional love.