Friday, April 29, 2016

April is over (Life, please slow down!)

Wait, what?! HOW CAN APRIL BE OVER?!?!?
Time is going by way too fast for me. So much to do, so little time to do it. The problem of the ages. :P But I guess that's just life. So, because I'm sure y'all are just dying to know what happened in my life this month,  here is my month-in-review-post!



Life:
Wow, life was crazy this month! First off, we attended the homeschool conference the 8th and 9th. And ... I got to meet Susan Marlow!! Who is one of my favorite authors! That conference would have to be the highlight of the month! I also got to spend two days with some very dear friends, as well as see Rebekah Morris, another favorite author. 



The Sunday after the homeschool conference, our family went downtown to visit the veterans memorial. Seriously, I have lived in Wichita for almost 12 years, and I cannot believe I hadn't gone and seen it before! It was so amazing! However, since I took close to a zillion pictures, I'll save them for another post. ;) 

The second Saturday of the month,  dad took us down to the lake. We had fun wading in the creek, and than playing by the lake. (Well, my playing was reading, but it still counts, right?) I also had fun taking pictures of the wheat/sunflower fields that we saw on the 45 min. drive to the lake. :) 

The perfect reading spot. ;) 


Of course, the weather has been beautiful! So there's been lots of bike riding, long walks down to the mail (which is at the end of our street) and lots, and lots of sunshine!! Summer is coming!! :D Which I'm so totally excited about, because summer is my absolute favorite season! 
This past week I was researching historical sites and museums for our summer trip. I was supposed to be looking around and finding out prices, places we could stop along the way, etc. One of the museums had a note that said "For groups over ten, please give us two weeks notice."  Another said "Please call for special rates for groups over eight." 
Okaayy. 
I was reminded again just how strange my family is. Apparently we are group-sized, not family-sized. xD
And yes, this was totally unrelated to this post.And yes, you read it anyway. :P


Reading:
I got a lot of reading done this month!! Which I was happy about. :) I read ...

Through the Tunnel, by Rebekah A. Morris
Heartbreak Trail, by Susan K. Marlow
The Last Ride, by Susan K . Marlow
Resist, by Emily Ann Putzke
A Night Divided, by Jennifer Nielson 
Family Secrets, by Catherine Marshal 
The Innocent, by Willowy Whisper
The Letter, by Willowy Whisper
Love finds you in Victory Heights Washington, by Tricia Goyer
Not by Sight, by Kate Breslin
A Different kind of Courage, by Sarah Holman 
The Healer, by Dee Henderson
The Rescuer, by Dee Henderson
Through Waters Deep, by Sarah Sundin
Cries of the Heart, by Ravi Zacharias 
Is God on America's side?, by Erwin Lutzer

I also Beta-read The Old River Road, by Ivy Rose. So ... all in all that brings my total to seventeen books. They were all amazing books! Seriously, I want to own them all! :D (Because most of them were library books. :P)


Writing:
Uhhh .. writing? Is that a thing? ;P 
I didn't get a lot of writing done this month. I've been editing A Question of Honor, and I really want to get the first edit on that done before I start anything new. 
I did write a little bit. Because a certain friend would have killed me otherwise.  But here's a clip for you guys to enjoy. (Or not enjoy. It's up to you. ;))

Herr, Doctor. The Lieutenant has requested you meet him in his office just as soon as you are finished.”
Micah looked up as the tent flap was pulled back, and a cool breeze entered the operating area. Fear gripped Micah’s heart at the request, and for the moment his hand froze above the incision. The Lieutenant in charge was Lieutenant Essler. Erich Essler.
“Are you alright, Doctor?”
Micah snapped back into motion as the nurse sent him a concerned glance. “Yes, I’m fine. I’ll be there when I’m finished, private.”
The young soldier gave a quick salute, and stepped back outside.
Once he was gone, the nurse took the instrument from his hand. “You were finished with this, Doctor.”
Micah hated how preoccupied he felt. “Oh, yes, sorry.”
The nurse's eyes looked kind from beneath her mask. “I’m sure everything will be fine, Sir. You do good work, you’re one of the best Doctors here in this God-forsaken place. Surely the Lieutenant has simply noticed that.”
Micah nodded. If only she knew what Erich really wanted. She’d run as fast as possible in the opposite direction. Away from him.



Editing: 
I got a good amount of editing done this month. Not as much as I would have liked, but I'm happy with it. 
Also, I got The Silent Blade back from Abi (The Left-Handed Typist) who was editing it for me. That got me really excited! :)  



Blogging:

I hit 30 followers this month!! :D I just happened. One day I had 27, the next time I looked I had 30. You guys are all awesome. :) 

Now some of this month's notable blog posts ...there were so many amazing blog posts this month, so I had to choose only a few. These were at the top of my "favorites" list, 

I honestly don't know what to say about this blog post. It was such a blessing and encouragement to me in so many ways. Shantelle has a wonderful way with words, and I cannot even say how much this post impacted me.  Just go and read it. 

This post was just super exciting because Emily is a very good freind of mine, and she is an amazing writer. I cannot wait until her book comes out!!! 

Deborah C. has been helping me with editing since I started writing. Here she shares her story of how she started her editing journey. 

Another amazing post by Shantelle. I shall not say anymore, so go read it. 

Faith did a wonderful job on this post. An I think the title pretty much speaks for itself. ;) 


And ... I do believe that is all for this post! I shall (Lord willing) be back soon, since I have gotten behind on my tags. I hope you all have an amazing weekend!!! 
 

15 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a really good month! I am envious of all the reading you got to do, I can never seem to find enough time these days. :/ But awesome work! It's crazy how fast the months are going by now, a little scary actually!

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    1. It was a good month! My favorite so far this year. ;)
      Yeah, it can be hard t get reading in! I can totally relate!
      And .. it is scary. O_O I just want time to slow down a little!!! ;)

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    2. Oh, and thanks for commenting!! :D

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  2. It sounds like you had a fun month Jesseca! :)
    April seemed to go by really fast for me too. ;)
    That is so fun that you were able to meet Susan Marlow. :) She is definitely one of my favorite authors too.
    Going to the lake sounds like a lot of fun. I love the pictures, they are so pretty. That really does look like the perfect reading spot. :)
    That is so funny that all the places you were looking at for your trip considered your family 'group size'. ;) They must not see too many big families. ;)
    It looks like you read some really great books this month. Out of the ones you read, I've read: "Heartbreak Trail", "The Last Ride", and "Through Waters Deep". :)

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    1. We did!! :D
      Susan was so amazing! It was seriously so neat to be able to get to meet her!
      Haha, yeah. The lake was fun! And the reading spot was perfect until I found the skeleton of a dead fish right next to me. Needless to say, I didn't stay too much longer!
      I know, right?! It doesn't seem like bog families are that scarce, but maybe?
      Those three were all favorites!!! "Through Waters Deep" is AMAZING!!! What did you think of it?

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    2. Oh, and thank you for commenting!! *whispers* I did mean to say that the first time ... ;)

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    3. Susan Marlow has come to the homeschool convention around us a few times too. It was really fun getting to meet her. :) I'm so glad that you were able to meet her too!
      Finding great reading spots is really nice. Oh no! A fish skeleton? That's a little disgusting. ;) Well, at least the spot was nice for a little while. ;)
      I really, really liked "Through Waters Deep"! It was so good. I also really liked how there was a bit of a mystery involved. :) I can't wait to read book 2! :D

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  3. April SPED by. It's insane! Next thing you know it will be Christmas! xD
    It's so awesome that you got to meet Susan Marlow!
    Congrats on 30 followers :D

    ~Lydia~ <3

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    1. I KNOW!!! I don't want Christmas to come ... yet. ;)
      It was awesome! She is so sweet!!!
      Thank you! :) And thanks for commenting!

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  4. You forgot to mention one important thing...you are playing a wonderful role encouraging SOMEONE in their writing.

    Isn't Susan Marlow a fun person? That's awesome that you got to meet her! She is a really great author.

    It looks like you had a good month, as fast as it went by. Part of it feels like it is going so fast, but other times it drags. I had a good time reading this post!

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    1. Aww, thanks, Bethany! I'm seriously so glad I've been able to encourage you! Which reminds me .. I missed Saturday!!!! AUGH. So sorry! You'll get an email from me tomorrow. ;)

      She is so much fun! And so is Mr. Marlow! They both are pretty amazing!

      True! Although this year, I don't think it's slowed down once for me. ;P

      Thanks for commenting!

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  5. A good month. :) Yep. But crazy busy. Amen! ;) Just wait until you see what May has in hold for me! Hiyiyi. Unfortunately I wasn't able to read nearly as much as I wanted to, but hopefully with all the driving around our family is doing this month I'll find some time to settle down and just DO it. *sighs* Oh, the troubles and woes of a homeschooler. ;)
    Thanks for the post! Can't wait to read more of "A Question of Honor"!!! :D

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    1. Yep. Your May sounds like it'll be pretty crazy. And your June ... ;)
      Reading can be so hard to fit in! I just get too stuck in a book and finish it before I realize how much time has passed. ;P I'm working on paying more attention to the more important things!

      Yes, the homeschooling life is crazy. Wonderful and blessed, to be sure, but crazy and insane at times!

      Ahh, thank you! I'm tryin' to get it worked on! :D

      Thanks for commenting, Rebekah!

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  6. Oh, how fun!! HS conferences are amazing (I've only been to two, but whatever) and so is hanging out and getting caught up with friends! :)
    I would love to see pictures of the veterans memorial!! Sounds amazing. ;) Isn't it strange how we go out other places to sightsee, but wait until later to see things that are RIGHT HERE. Like, I've never been on the Blue Ridge parkway...and it's so close!
    That lake is so beautiful!! Ahh, that picture makes me want to go camping! (Which obviously isn't going to happen until after I move out of the homeless shelter... =/) Reading totally counts as playing. B-)
    Hahahaha!!! I laughed *too* hard over this one!! :D I'd never thought of large families being considered 'group sized'. Hehe, that's hilarious. ;)
    Wow, lots of great sounding books!!! :D (several of which are TBR for me) I've read, uh, three of those? ;)
    You need to write more. You need to edit more. Well, so do I but that is BESIDE the point. :P
    Aww, thanks for linking to my post, Jess!! :) Lovely April wrap-up and wonderful pictures!!

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    1. You've only been to two? *gasp* ONLY TWO?!?!? How do you live???
      I'll try to get a post up with them soon! I took way too many pictures. :P If y'all ever head down this way again, we totally need to go there!! And yes, it is strange. All of the sudden I'm finding how many amazing things there are around here!
      Camping is awesome!!! ;)
      Oh good. I'm glad we agree on the book thing!
      It's hilarious ... and a little annoying when you have to schedule everything two weeks ahead of time! But .. such is life. *shrugs* It's not like I can change it. ;)
      All the books were amazing! You need to read them!
      Uhh, yes, you do. If I remember correctly, I'm still waiting for an email with something you've written!!! B-)
      You're welcome! I enjoyed reading it. :)

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