It was an experience that I will always treasure. And I just want to say up front that I so appreciate my sister S for being there for me. She is ALWAYS there for me. Thank you! It means to world to me. She has always come to be there with me for every special moment. I love you!

So, Here it is........My poem, which is actually a song I wrote, won honorable mention.

My Short story......Won FIRST PLACE! Oh man! As soon as they announced my name, I started to cry. That response was NOT what I had planned. I had to walk up there and read my story to everyone and I had tears in my eyes and couldn't even SEE the page!!

I cried in parts through the story too. I was embarrassed by this but there was nothing I could do. I am such a boob!

My sister told me that the whole audience was crying through the story too. It is a touching story and that really meant a lot to me. That they felt it too!

Here are a few pics of the event!

more good news

More good news! I found out today that two of my entries won! You see, I sent in my short story but I also entered a couple of poems for the poetry contest.

They are actually songs I wrote but they made good poems too. Anyway, just thought I'd let you know!

I am very excited about this. I have always loved to read. I read it all. From Steven King to Gordon B. Hinkley. I know a good book when I read it. I have always loved making up stories but had never gotten into it. I don't know why.

I wish I could go back and major in English lit. or something like that. Oh well. I do want to take some writing classes. I'd love to learn more and do even better.

Can't wait until Saturday! I'll let you know what happens!

Fabulous News!!!

OH MY WORD!!!!! Guess what!! I just got a call. I am one of the winners of the Peach Days Literary contest!!!!!

I don't know if I won first, second or third until I go to the awards ceremony!

But WOW!!

I am so excited! The ceremony is at four on Saturday in the community center on Forrest Street for any of you who want to come! The first place winner reads their story to everyone.

You are all invited!!!

WOOO HOOO!

Good morning. It's the beginning of a new week and I started it off at the pool. It was hard today. I felt drained. I am noticing that depending on the time of the month, I either feel more or less energy. I swam for almost a half hour then sat in the sauna trying to figure out why I felt so blah.

The good thing is that the time went by faster than last time, even though I felt tired.

It was a long weekend. It seemed like everyone was on edge. It was hard to not get irritated with each other. I hate days like that. When there seems to be constant contention.

I'm sure I added to it but all the kids were so bratty. Talking back and arguing. Except for when the power went out. Weird. Guess I need to be fun on a regular basis. It's just not in my nature!

My book is coming along nicely. The thing that is getting to me is that I read other books that are brilliant and it's hard for me to feel like I could ever write like that. But then I'll sit and edit what I have written so far and I think it's pretty dang good. But will a publisher think so?

I was reading an interview of Stephanie Meyer. She said she sent queries to quite a few different places and only one wanted her story. I'll bet those others are regretting that now!

Anyway, I'll let you know when I finish.

An old fashioned evening.

The power went out yesterday and was out forever! We had been picking up the toys in the basement at about 3:00 pm when it went out. It's stayed out for the rest of the the day and to about the middle of the night.

It was a little gift. Instead of tv or video games, we sat down and read stories until it got too dark. Bry got out our lantern and we set up "Settlers" and played that game until bed time.

Our kids LOVE Settlers. It lasted forever and Bry won. One of the coolest things we did was make homemade popcorn. We have a gas stove conveniently, and I hadn't made popcorn that way for 18 years! Since my mission. But it turned out perfect! The kids say they liked it better!

We gave each of the kids one of those little press-on night lights and tucked them into bed. It was very dark and they were a little nervous about it but did great.

Wyatt woke up SCREAMING at around 11:00 pm. We couldn't figure out what was wrong. He acted like someone was cutting off his legs. He wouldn't quit crying and nothing helped.

Finally, Bry heated up a bottle (on the stove), which took forever and that was what he had wanted. He'd been starving! He has a new cry he has just come up with this week. It's horrible. It is a screachy scream mixed with his cry. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard.

After the bottle, he was tired enough to go back to sleep! What a night!

The power came back on probably about midnight or one. All in all, it was a great night and I'm so glad we lost power.