Let the journey begin

I have become terribly well-skilled at procrastinating. I have set out on this blog journey to help keep me focused and on track. As 2011 began, I set out to become healthier physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially. I certainly started heading down that road, but I have a ways to go. I took huge strides in 2011 and as the end of the year approaches, I have started goal setting again. I want to continue on this path to a healthier me and a healthier family.


In March 2012, I will turn 35. I am excited about turning 35. I am excited about continuing my journey to get back to who I am, who I was and finding who I will become. I will run a half-marathon in March (although some walking may be what carries me through this first one). I may run a second half-marathon in September. I am completing my teaching credential and starting to look for a teaching job. My son will start school for the 2012-13 school year. Many awesome changes are ahead and I look forward to working toward them.

As I set out with these goals, I have set one very important goal: to write. I have two book ideas and I would like to pursue them this year. Writing has always been a major outlet for me and I find it quite therapeutic. I believe I have two really good ideas and I need to follow them through, so I decided to set up this blog to help keep me on track. I will use this blog to gather ideas that I will then incorporate into my books. The first book is "Cooking with Connor," a journey in itself. It will focus on growing up with your child and I will include some different recipes he and I have used together. Some we have created, while others are family favorites. Adventuring with my two children is something that brings me delight because it brings them delight. I had the general concept for this book before Kiera was born and I will pursue it generally as originally conceptualized, but I am sure Kiera will make some appearances as well. My children provide laughter, love, joy, fun, and sometimes frustration. They are the light of my life and this world is a better place because they are in it. I have found that as they grow up, so too am I. I am growing up differently, but I am growing up right with them. I learn from them. What a blessing! I only hope others are able to embrace what raising children really means in the way I have. But, if not, I believe this book will share some ideas of how to do it.

The second book I hope to co-write with my friend of nearly 20 years. She and I are on similar journeys right now and we have lots of great ideas. Bringing them together may help other women in our generation to feel empowered and know that they are not alone. This one will require some research and exploration. I took some of the thoughts I had with this book in mind and wrote an essay for an essay contest. I will find out in early 2012 whether or not I won the essay contest. Whether I won or not, it is an idea I would love to develop further. Our lives are not ordinary, yet our journeys are not entirely unique. Ladies: YOU ARE AWESOME! And, YOU have the RIGHT to be HAPPY! Empower yourselves, love yourselves, put yourselves first in the way that only you can. And, if you are in a place where this is needed: you do not have to be Stella to get your groove back! Groove with us on this written journey. Share the joy that life offers. And, embrace the God who made it all possible. This book will be about your own empowerment with a good stream of faith to carry it through.

I set up this blog now because as they year winds down and 2012 approaches, I need to have it in place. I set it up today, at this very moment because, as I said, I am a skilled procrastinator. I have avoided the have-to stuff long enough for today. But, here we are...A Writer's Journey.

Journey with me. I assure you it will be interesting and it will be fun.