Things I Love, End of the Week: I Love My Family

What else did you expect?

There is no better feeling than being a part of a family. Even on days when I'm frustrated or angry, I wouldn't give up my family for anything.I'm not just talking about my husband and kids, although, I love them more than anything and anyone in the world and they are the center of my world. I'm also talking about my whole extended family.


Interesting detail. I'm the oldest of seven biological siblings. I have two sisters and four brothers, and since my parents are divorced and both remarried, I also have four step-siblings. Both sisters and one brother are all married with kids--a total of five. Then my husband is one of the youngest of five. All married, all with three or more kids.

And that's just the beginning. Add in aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents--well, I have one large family. You can imagine how overwhelming family gatherings can be on this level. But it's also wonderful, and fun, and there is so much love there.

Case in point. I had my very first book launch party in December. We held it at a local Barnes and Noble, and spent quite a lot of time spreading the word. (Hm. I think I blogged about this earlier.) Anyway, even though I'd been spreading the word, I really had no idea that everyone--I mean EVERYONE--in my family was coming. We had at least a hundred people that night. Easily. And they were there for me. To support me. To buy my book. To show their love.

I had family there from both Hawaii and France (coincidental timing, I hope) as well as Southern Utah and Northern Utah. People drove for hours to get there. For me.It's not just impressive, it's touching. I love them.

And my girls, the ones I mentioned last week. I love having them in my life. In many ways, they're family too, even though we aren't related by blood.

And then there's my little family. My husband--who bought me sterling silver fairy earrings for Valentine's Day--and my children, who, with their father, are the best part of my life. Every night before he goes to bed, my nine-year-old climbs up on my bed and calls me to come sit with him for a nightly snuggle. He calls me Love. My twelve-year-old daughter will text me at random during the day, just to say hi and tell me she loves me. My fourteen-year-old daughter raids my closet and borrows my makeup and hair supplies--right before she puts on her tie-die shirt and mismatched socks to go play soccer. When I walk in the door from being gone, my sixteen-year-old son puts his arm around me and tells me he loves me. Every day. Just because it's true.

And as I write this blog, I can hear my husband doing the dishes downstairs so I don't have to. And in a little while, he'll bring me a drink so I don't have to go down and get it myself. That's real love.

There's something so special about being part of a family. And I'm sorry if I've gushed a bit, but it's Valentine's Day, so I figure I'm entitled.

Today's the day. Go call the important people in your life, your family--be they blood related or just bonded by love--and tell them how much you love them. Today you have a good excuse. Well, you know, if you think you need one. Which you shouldn't.

Happy Valentines Day, everyone!

Things I Love, Day 5: Being Social, Service, and Sunshine

Yeah, I know. That's more than one thing. But really, I'm running out of days here. And as you will see if you look at the date on this post, I'm about 15 minutes past the real-life day 5 deadline. Day 5 is actually over.

I haven't been home. At. All. And as I type this, I'm well aware that I need to go to bed so my brain can handle another conference day. Speaking of conferences, that's another thing I love. Love learning and networking and hanging out with people who get me and what I'm all about.Wait, that kind of does fall into the social category, doesn't it? Yeah. It does. So, I love being social. (Especially when there's food involved.)

Another thing I love is service. I have this need to help others. It's always there, hovering right under the surface of my thoughts. It doesn't really matter how I help or serve people, only that I do it without expecting something in return. That's me. Don't misunderstand me though, I always get a return. It always comes back to me one way or another. That's how life should work. And I love it.

As for sunshine--well, that pretty well explains itself. Right? The sun is like, well, sunshine. It's the thing that wakes me up in the morning and keeps me going. Without sun, I'd be a miserable, ornery person. And definitely gloomy.

There's more. I should probably tell you all about the classes at the conference I'm attending this weekend. Maybe the one about movie special effects, or the one taught by Richard Hatch (from the original Battlestar Gallactica). But I won't. At least, not tonight.

Because, of all the things I've just listed, there's one thing I really, really love right now, probably more than all of the above.

Sleep. Goodnight world!

Things I Love, Day 4: Being a Mom

This is how my day went:

Did a stupid thing by staying up reading until after 2:00 am. Woke up at 7:00 to see first child off to school and drive carpool for second child. Ate breakfast with third and fourth, then left to attend a writer's conference (where I also had a book signing). All was well.

Finished my mid-day signing, finally sat down in a class with a row of gorgeous writer friends when...my cell phone starts buzzing. (It was on vibrate, because--well, I'm not THAT rude.) Obviously, school is out. I ignore the first two calls. By number three, I'm worried. Stand up, scoot down the row, out the door, spend the rest of the hour in the hall on the phone.

Go to next class. Get a text. And then a second and third. Sigh. Answer texts, which makes even more flow in. It's now 4:00. I haven't stopped to eat lunch, but my kids want dinner. Time to go home--try again tomorrow.

No homework is done, nor chores, and kids are fighting over the computer.But as soon as I park the car, my nine-year-old comes running into the garage. "Mom! You're home!" Throws his arms around me and squeezes tight. "I missed you, Mom."

My teen girls wave from behind cell phone text-screens, and my sixteen-year-old son drops his arm around my shoulder (yes, he's taller than me) and says, "So how was your day?" And then, "Can I borrow the car?"

I really do love being a mom. Really.

And tonight, I'm going to bed early.

Things I Love, Day 4: Dreams, Goals, and Aspirations

You know that famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr.? I have a dream...(Yeah, okay, I know. Everyone knows about that speech.)

But really, I do have a dream. Lots of them, actually. And goals, and aspirations and plans. Not just for myself, but for my family, my friends, the world. I dream that my children will find and follow their passion, discover their place in life and the universe. Me too, but in a different sense. I've found my passion, my calling. Unlike my teenagers, I'm finally to a place where I know what I want. And I'm learning how to get it.

I create goals, follow through, move forward. And as I find success--whatever the size--my children are watching me, learning. Growing from lessons I'm being taught .They're seeing first hand what happens when you aspire to do something, be something, and allow it to drive you.

My dreams are what drive me. And because those dreams include my family and our future, the fire that burns in me, the passion for my goals is passed on to them. They may not become authors, but it is my hope that my kids will grow up knowing that it is possible to follow a dream. That dreams are worth fighting for, worth sacrificing other wants and desires.

We don't know what will happen tomorrow, or next week, or even next year. But today, we can work diligently, knowing that if we keep at it, eventually, our hard work will pay off.

I love that. I love that by seeking out my personal goals I am setting an example for my children to do the same. But even more than that, I really just love that I'm able to dream. To picture something in my head and wonder what it will be like when that dream becomes a reality. I may be a fiction writer, but when I dream, I dream big. Real. Solid. Goals I intend to reach and surpass. There will always be something for which I am reaching, and my journey is a lifelong, never-ending one.

Yeah. I love that too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwkpihGwSj0
**I was going to post a video here, but it's disabled. You'll have to click the link. But it's worth it. This is a great, great song. 

AuthorPalooza and Things I Love, Day 2: Being an Author

In keeping with my goal for the week, I'm stopping for a minute to reflect on the things I love. I'm thinking about AuthorPalooza on Saturday, and how it feels to sign my name inside a book I created. Well, okay, so I helped create it anyway, since I wasn't alone in the work.

And how it will feel to have my name on the cover of another book I can then sign. It makes me think back to what has happened since I started writing, and the incredible growth I've experienced. All the people I've met who are now my friends. People I might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.

These people are another group of friends for whom I'm eternally grateful. And whether I'm close to them or just getting to know them, my author friends are special to me. We're there to help each other learn and grow and become successful in the writing and publishing industry. I love them all.

At the signing event on Saturday, there were 40 of us, and I was so proud to have met most of the other authors. The rest...well, I've met them now. I think. Most of them. (It's entirely possible I missed someone, and if you're that someone, I'm so sorry! Track me down next time and we'll meet for real.)

Before everyone left, I took a few minutes and ran around the store snapping pictures. Granted, I was in a hurry (because I left my signing table and we'd had a steady stream of people) so some of these are blurry and bright--but pictures are still pictures and I'm happy to have them.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Today, I love being an author and creating stories from life experience and pure imagination.