Oh My Gosh!!! They're ENGAGED

I went to visit Kiki and mommy at the hospital today. My daughter had called to ask when I'd be there and I told her an hour and a half or so. She told me she had some exciting news when I arrived. By the time I got there almost two hours later she showed me her hand... Yep, her boyfriend asked her around 3 p.m. to marry her!!!!! So thrilled! He had a beautiful, and very expensive, ring but told her to stop asking for it or he'd never give it to her. Lol Well, today he asked her, "Stephanie Merie will you marry me?" She asked him, "Are you serious?" And then, of course, said "Yes!" So they will get married on the one year anniversary of their first 'will you be my girl' date of April 15th.

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I/we began our day early getting 'the call'! No. Sorry, not that 'the call' (though I wish), but the one telling us it's time to hurry to the hospital because our baby girl was 3-5 minutes apart on contractions and at the hospital. So we dressed and went to the hospital 25 minutes away and waited until her arrival. It was thrilling to be a part of another of my grandbabies entrance into the world! After weight and time guesses, we waited, and waited. It was worth it!
Finally at 4:10 this afternoon little Nikkia Lyn made her blessed appearance! Weighing in at 5 lbs, 11 oz and 17 inches of red and indignant little girl. Beautiful!!! So please, welcome Kiki.

Dragging out of the pits

I got an email from my oldest brother today reminding--no, informing-- me that I haven't blogged in a while (thanks Lee). Ok. I get in here and nearly choked on my nightly round of coffee. July 08! That's not 'in a while', that's almost a year! I am now hanging my head in shame for letting it go for so long. Time flew and I lost track of it somewhere with moving in to the new house, remodeling said new home, husband trying to electrocute him self (He's fine. It was thankfully just amps? and not volts- or volts and no amps- whichever is not deadly that's the one.), one daughter losing a marriage, another on the verge of a possible, maybe one day, one and that said daughter due to have her first baby any day now. Seriously, any day. She's at a one (I don't want to spell anything out here where kids might read it so if you don't know what that means- ask someone.) and the doctor said probably next week. She's hoping it's sooner, I'm holding out for my Dad's birthday (God rest his tired soul) of March 18th. See, this daughter was born on my mother's (God rest her weary soul, too) birthday, so it would be fitting to have her daughter on Dad's.

I've been reading some free download books- full length- from eHarlequin.com in celebration of their 60th anniversary. Go get yours! 16 of these treasures I think. If you've ever wondered about the NASCAR series, but didn't want to buy one until you know if you'll even like them- now's your chance to try one, to keep, free. Along with Blaze, Love Inspired, Harlequin American Romance and many more. No I don't get paid to say this, I just love Harlequin's books.

That's why I write romance with aspirations to sell to them one day. I have a lovely new couple in the getting to know you stage that I think will make the cut finally. When I get along farther I will give a sneak peak into Tanner and Tobi's story.

Now that I've made contact I plan to stay on top of this. I know, I know. I've said that before. I mean it this time. So until next time, check out some of my friend's links and I will be back. Soon.

I've been gone waayy tooo long!

I've got to get on top of this! But inmy defense... I'm lazy...NO!

I have been working with my husband trying to get our home set up and remodeled, though. We have 2.5 rooms sort of finished, I have a somewhat-working kitchen now (with running water!). We were fortunate to have been offered some cabinets from an old friend's home. It is being demolished and his daughter (he passed in Dec, 04) gave us the chance to pull the 50-75 year old, hand made by him, cabinets from it. Now we just have to finish the sheet rocking. Another contact has a whole roll of med lap carpet he got for his house and decided not to put in at the time. Now my husband has completely remodeled his house and the (rose/mauve) carpet won't match the new schemes. He offered it to us at half the cost he paid 2 years ago. That will be the final step in reno later this year, well, that and the tile or Pergo flooring where carpet won't be.

Anyway, I have been continuously working on the manuscript I pitched in March. I'm a bit slow on writing these days with the remodel and babysitting 2 lively tykes. The 'baby' is now 9 months old and trying to start walking. She actually took her first step about 2 weeks ago. So they keep me on my toes. Writing has to be fitted in between these demands so I either use my computer time in writing and edits, or here telling everyone how I'm writing, when in actuality you are reading this- and, therefor, know I'm obviously NOT in the ms! Lol

I played around yesterday with the help of one daughter and made a myspace finally. Joining in with many other authors who can be found there. Sharon Sala, Chelle Sandell, Brooke Taylor, Sela Carsen- just to name a few established, newly published, and up and coming like myself.

I have to say I'm very proud to be a member of OKRWA! So many of our group are making way in contests, getting agents and getting published for the first time. And these are just this year I'm talking about since I only joined in February! Jordan Dane just had her first book come out in March- and it's a 3-book series! Gena Showalter made NYT Best Seller list to sit next to Sharon Sala (who is a sweetheart and always a NYTBS)! Robin Perini is a double finalist in the 2008 TARA contest. There's just so much going on in this group! I love them all.
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Ok I have sooo many Hang Out links I need to get listed in this page. Below are just a few that I managed to list when I started this page. I AM going to get this thing going! I am also in the process of getting information together so my brother can get my web page finished (or at least close). That's my goal for this summer. To get these things finished along with submitting my Work-In-Progress (WIP) to Silhouette Special Edition. I hope to have another ready to go by the end of the year as well, but I'm not sure where it's home might be at this time. I'm considering ePub for it to test those waters.

So-- Back to work!

Inspiration comes in many forms

I received a letter of rejection from the assistant editor at Silhouette Special Edition yesterday for the manuscript I have had out since September 2006. Not with him all that time, but he got it in December and I just heard back . It was a helpful letter of what he didn't think worked and what I might rethink for my next one. Since I have one almost ready to send out, this comes at a good time. Better before than after. So, now I'm moving onward and hoping to mail the new one out in another month or two. He also invited me to send anything I have that I think might work for SE. This one is targeted to the same line and yes, I think it might work.

I don't think I'd like to be an editor and have to tell people 'No'. I'm not really very good at it. My husband used to tell me, "You need to learn to say 'No' sometimes." I am still trying to learn that lesson. I do admire someone who, like Charles , can tell someone no with such grace and encouragement. I believe it's a talent not everyone possesses.