If you were to teach as a career, what would you teach?

Wow...this is a tough one. It'd be nice to say that I'd teach editing or writing, but I don't know that I would. As much as I'm a professional in both, a lot of what I do is based on instinct. Yep, I'm stumped. I have no idea what I'd teach. My gut instinct is to say that I'd work with little ones because my favorite age group has always been birth to five. I once worked at a daycare and loved it. Every age group has something that makes it special, but there's something great about watching little ones discovering things. Perhaps that's why I write children's books right now. There's something special about the joy in children's faces as they listen to a good tale.

Is it possible to teach story time, block building, and splashing in water just for fun? If so, that's where I'd love to be. Maybe I haven't totally grown up myself and you know what? I'm okay with that. Imagination is a beautiful thing and without that spark, being an adult can get mighty boring.






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When I saw this week's question, out loud I said, "Oooh...I like this one."

What color are you today?

I don't know why I love this question so much. Perhaps because it's more of a creative question than a dull about me question. Not that you guys weren't fascinated by what I do each morning. I know that one was particularly exciting for all of you.

I think I feel like I'm a blue today. Not a sad blue, but a deep, dark sleepy blue. I haven't been sleeping well and my body keeps wanting to drag me back to sleep. Or maybe a happy, cheery sky blue because I'm so excited about my book and about the forward progress my life has been taking. It could be the color of the river or the ocean. Or maybe it's a bit of a tie dye because life is always changing and flowing...Life comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors and none of those are stagnant. That's one of the things that makes it so special. It's always changing, flowing, and is never the same twice.

What color are you today?






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Today's question has me doing some thinking...

Write about something that you bought used.

What do I choose? My cars? My couch? Books? Books! Yes!

Most people know that I own an insane number of books. What they don't know is that I've had a dream of owning one series of books since I was a child. The series is Cherry Ames. She's a nurse and has all sorts of adventures. I first read them when I was a child and the series has always stuck with me. The problem is...I don't really buy them online. I have this weird rule that I have to trip over them to get them. That could explain why I only own like four of them. I found one at a Goodwill and two at a candle store in Dundee, Michigan. Whenever I find one, it's like Christmas morning. I hold onto it. I won't set it down. I'm afraid someone will scoop it right up if I even place it in my cart. I don't know how many people even know about my love for this series, but now I guess everyone who reads this does!






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This week's question is definitely going to give you some insight into my personal life!

What is the first thing that you do when you wake up every morning? Why?

I could give you the silly answer and tell you that I open my eyes, which would be true. Of course, the serious answer would be that I reach for my phone. I check to see if there's a message from "the man" first thing. There rarely is, but I still check. I also skim my email, check Facebook, and clear any unnecessary notifications. By this point, I usually desperately have to pee so I give the cats a couple of scritches and hurry myself downstairs. I'm not an exciting morning person, but I'm me!

What do you do first thing in the morning?






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This week's question made me stop and think...Have I? Or was it more of an extended vacation?

Have you ever lived in another country besides your country of birth? Would you want to?

In 2006, I flew to England and stayed there for 4 months. I was recently divorced and really just needed a break from my ex-husband and everything that was going on at home. I was blessed to have people in my life who were willing to take care of me if I could buy myself a plane ticket. So, I went. I fell in love with the country. In a lot of ways, it felt like home to me. I don't think I would ever leave the US for good, but I certainly wouldn't mind a cozy cottage somewhere in England. Somewhere not far from the train station so that I could pop around whenever I felt like it.

How about you? Have you lived in other countries? Let me know! I'd love to learn more about all of you too!






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This week's question got me right in my emotional center:

Have you ever had the rotten experience of having to put a pet down?

More than once. The last and perhaps the hardest one ever was about 18 months ago. I had to put my cat, Byron, to sleep after him being pretty much my best friend for 12 years. It's been so hard not having him around. After that many years, you develop habits and just get used to seeing him. It took me a good six months to not say goodnight to him at night.

I still miss him terribly and swear that my next cat will be a black one to honor him. That won't be for a while though. We currently have four cats and that's my limit. I love them all and have no desire to get another one. Now, it's time to give them all some scritches and maybe even a treat or two.






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This question is one that I actually skipped over last week (bad me!) because I had no idea how to answer it. I'm still not really sure, but I figured it's a great opportunity for some free writing, so let's just see what happens.

It is the end of your life and you are up on stage being presented with a major award. What award is it, and what have you won it for?

It's the end of my life...that's the first part that struck me. I mean, I have no idea how much time will pass between now and then. Will I have written lots of books? Will anyone know I write books? Will I have grandchildren? Great-grandchildren? I think it's that last one that I'd like to be known for.

I mean, not necessarily having them, but knowing that my family that I've worried over is doing well and is continuing to live after I'm gone is a pretty special thing. I don't really need an award to be proud of my children, to know that I've had my moments of failings, but that I've done my best to raise them to be good men. That's important to me. I want them to be successful, to be happy, but it's important to me that they're also good. So perhaps, in my last days, if someone were to give me an award, it would be a crayon drawing that says Best Mom in the World on it with squiggly little signatures and lots of hugs.






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What modern technological device takes up most of your time?

My first reaction was that it'd obviously be my laptop, but after some thought, I think it's probably my phone. I browse the web, scroll through Facebook and other social media, text, play games, take photos and yes, even take phone calls on it and while none of those are horribly time consuming, they add up to quite a few hours in the day. I'm pretty much okay with that though because it stops me from feeling like a total hermit.

How about you? What modern technological device takes up most of your time? Your phone? Your computer? How about your tv? That's one that I didn't consider above...my tv is often on if I'm awake. I use it for background noise. Since it doesn't have my full attention though, I'm going to stick with my original answer.






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Have you ever experienced something that just could not be logically explained?

Well, I guess you could say that since I'm pretty sure that the house I've lived in for the past ten years is haunted by a prior resident. I can't really explain it (yay for the question being right there) but I've felt her presence, knew she was very protective over my children when they were younger, and hasn't always been pleased with me. Once, I thought I heard her, but it's possible that I could have heard voices coming in through an open window. When he was younger, Roger was actually afraid of going upstairs by himself if it were at all dark. He told me there was someone up there. Now if you ask him about this now, he'll deny it, but as his mom, I say it happened. We bought spray that we sprayed around the room to "protect him." Thankfully, he's now made it to 19 and no longer afraid of his bedroom at night.





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Hey! You're here and you've made it through another week! I know it's hard. I have days where I don't want to move, let alone function. I know so many of you do too. I think that's what makes this week's question so important.

What do you need?

I think that we all need to take some time and consider this. I actually have a white board across from my bed that has this question written on it. It's the last thing I see at night and the first thing in the morning. It causes me to pause and think about what it is that I need from that day or even in that moment.

It's so easy to feel overwhelmed right now with everything that's happening. If I'm not careful, I fall down the worry rabbit hole. I start worrying about my kids, their friends, the fact that I have to go out without a mask or gloves... it can be never ending, which is why it's important to stop and focus on what you need.

I need the basics: food, clothing, shelter. Food is a bit sketchy, but good for the moment. The other two are just fine. I need distractions: games, books, my bullet journal, good conversation about things not related to the virus. I need love and support. I need to not feel alone in all of this. I need to feel as if I'm helping, even if it's just by staying home.

That's probably just the tip of the iceberg, but those are some of what I need. What do you need right now? Is it anything that I can help with?





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Wow, Thursday again. The days are blending into one another and I'm lucky to keep up with where I am. How about you? How are you doing? I think this week's question is one that could cause some anxiety, but I'm going to answer it anyway... Ready?

If I looked into your fridge right now, what would I find?

Let's see...cheese, Roger's salami, milk, orange juice, eggs, guacamole, sour cream, Roger's yogurt, and a store brand pizza. I think that's about it. I know that there's no hamburger or other meats.

It's not perfect, but at least it's not penguins eating tacos!






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Wow, holy long time no prompt, huh? This whole coronavirus thing has knocked me sideways. First my kids were sent home from college, then there was a lot of back and forth as to where they'd be staying and now that we've sorted all that out, I'm trying to get back to some sort of schedule. So...on to the prompt!

If you had been able to choose, would you rather have been an only child or part of a very large family?

This one is tough. My childhood was a bit wonky and though I'm the oldest of five, I'm not close to any of them and one of them I've never even met. I grew up in the same house with one sister and a brother lived nearby with my mother. So, I guess I was part of a middle sized family. If I had to choose...well...based on my family history, I think I'd go with only child. I felt so left out of things as a kid that I felt like I was alone a lot of the time anyway. Plus, let's face it...less kids means more tacos for me!






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I love this week's question! It lets me give you a sneak peek of my upcoming book!

You are a children's book author. Write the first few lines of your new book.



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It's been a weak of fearful things around here, which ties in perfectly with this week's question:

List a few phobias that you have. When and how did you discover you had these fears?

1. Heights - This has always been something with me. I was never the kid to run to the top of the bleachers and standing on a chair to change a light bulb made me nervous. As I've gotten older, it's only gotten worse. I try to challenge it every now and then, but I'm not very good at it.

2. Death - This isn't phobia level, but it's certainly a fear. I don't fear my own death but those who are closest to me. I, like so many others, don't handle heavy emotional blows very well and I sometimes worry about what would happen to me if someone I loved deeply died suddenly.

3. Questions I don't know how to answer - aka looking dumb. I avoided doing podcasts and interviews for a long time because I was afraid I'd come across as dumb or not as good as other people. I've been working on that though and realizing that people will accept me for who I am, even when I say something silly.

That's my list! What do you fear? What holds you back?






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Today's question is perfect for this time of year when so many are thinking about the upcoming year and making plans.

Write about three realistic goals you would like to achieve in your lifetime.

1. Publish my stories - This seems kind of duh, huh? Except up until now, I've only been published alongside Nick. Don't get me wrong. I love working with Nick and would forever except he's pushed me out of the nest. He knows me well. If I continue working and writing with him, I'll never tell my own stories and he doesn't want me to miss out on that. He's a good friend. So, my goal is to write and publish my own stories and books. I'd love to sell them too, but right now, it's all about the act of being brave enough to publish.

2. Build up my editing business - I love working with other authors, helping them to build up their writing. While I love writing, I don't want to give up editing and proofreading. I have a goal of making enough money between the two to be able to successfully live without any kind of assistance. It's going to be a lot of work, but I love what I do and I'm okay with work.

3. Own my own house - This last one may be the biggest and hardest challenge, but it would be the ultimate sign of success if I could buy my own house. I like knowing that a space is my own. It gives me the security that I need. Right now, I'm renting a house that needs a crazy amount of work. I'm taking every penny that comes in to pay off old bills and to live. It's my hope that between the first two goals, that I can make enough money to start putting funds aside to save up for a down payment.

These are my goals, what about you? What are your three goals?






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Yay! It's Thursday! I've come to really look forward to the weekly writing prompts. Hopefully y'all have too! This week's prompt is:

What area of your life do you tend to enjoy in excess instead of in moderation?

Wow...tough one. My first reaction was Lego. It's a bit of a tiny obsession right now as I've become aware of my love of the tiny bricks again. When my boys decided they had outgrown them, I didn't have a good excuse to buy them anymore. There just wasn't the budget to spoil myself.

Now that they're off in college and living their own lives, there still isn't the budget, but I've found a few sets on clearance lately and I've fallen in love all over again. I find it relaxing to sit and build. I'm in awe of the people who have come up with the designs that I never could. I envy those with huge collections that are building their own cities or worlds.

I can't say though that I enjoy it in excess in the sense that I own a ton of them, but in the way that I enjoy them when I do have them. They're the happiest little hours of my week except when I'm with the kids or writing. Hopefully the budget opens up a bit soon so I can buy a few more sets...especially since my birthday isn't until September.






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Last week I told you a story about my youngest son. Today's is all about a trip my oldest and I took together a couple of summers ago.

When was the last time you got lost?

In today's age with a gps built right into my phone, it's not often that I get lost. Trust me though to find an exception. A couple of summers ago, my oldest son, Ben, and I were headed down by Detroit to watch one of his friends play baseball. The weather was lovely and off we headed. We were doing really well, making good time, until we came across a train stopped on the tracks. Since we were limited on time, I decided to go around...and that's when it happened.

The turn I took didn't lead to where I thought it was going to. We were in the middle of nowhere and suddenly my phone lost signal. I was trying to keep positive so I joked that we were on an adventure. I got to the end of a road and took a left. Luckily, it led to a place called Turkeyville. Unluckily, my stomach had started acting up and I badly needed to find a bathroom. We pulled into the parking lot, but they were closed. No worries, a girl was walking across the parking lot. Surely she'd let me use the bathroom since it was becoming an emergency and then give me directions to the freeway. Nope. She acted as if she didn't hear me calling out repeatedly to her.

As I watched her go inside the building, my confidence was a bit shaken, but just then an rv pulled out from a side road. Since those often head towards civilization, I decided to follow it. Just a few miles down the road was a golf club. I was never so happy to see a sport I don't love. I pulled in and told Ben to wait in the car. I hurried inside to use the bathroom but before I was done, I heard Ben in the hall asking someone for a bandaid. Ut-oh...someone hadn't listened. Turns out he had come in and tripped on the sidewalk and skinned up his knee. Luckily for us, the gear shop had a first aid kit and got him fixed up while I got directions. Turns out I was only about a half mile from the freeway! Whew!

There were a few more small adventures before we got to the baseball tournament, but at least we weren't lost again!






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It's been a while since I've posted here (there will be a post coming to explain) and it feels really good to be back! Today's question brought a smile to my face because attached is a happy memory.

What stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

Probably about four years ago, I used to go to the park and lay by the river on the blanket to unwind and read. I was laying there one day when my youngest son called me from a friend's house. I don't remember why. I just remember that he was going to have to call me back with more information on whatever it was he was asking about. I told him to call me back and then it happened...he asked me if I had my phone with me. I could hear his friend and his friend's mom laughing in the background. Without hesitating, I asked, "You mean the one you called me on?" He felt dumb, but honestly, it's one of my favorite memories. He's a smart, talented kid and it's nice when something silly happens with him. It's good to be reminded that he's a kid. Well, was a kid. He's nearly 19 now and in college. He's grown up fast, but luckily I still have these memories with him.





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Were you born to shine in one special way? What makes you really stand out?

Wow, I know I've said it before, but some of these questions are just plain tough! This one has been so hard for me that I've sat here for an hour without writing a word! I don't want to skip it though. These questions were meant to keep me writing and to challenge me. I will confess though that for the first time ever, I posted the question to Facebook. Naughty me! I'll include the one response that I've gotten at this point, but first...I want to answer this one for myself. So, let's go!

I don't know if I was born to shine in one special way. I can only say that I was born to be me and after a very long time, I've figured out who that me is. I'm a mom first. I always will be. I love my boys fiercely and would do anything for them. My own parents taught me how not to parent and while it made my life that much harder, they were good teachers. When my own kiddos came along, I knew just how I wanted to parent. I'm not saying being a parent has been easy, but I knew the type of parent I wanted to be anyway.

Second, I'm a writer. I quite often doubt my abilities, but I am a writer. I suspect that it will take me a while to be totally comfortable saying that, but it will come. The more I write, the more I feel it. I'm just not quite past that point in writing that I don't look for encouragement and validation. That's okay though. Life has been a challenge and finding yourself can be darned hard. It's okay to want to hear people cheer you on.

I'm all sorts of other things, but those are the two big ones right now. I mean, I'm also an editor (and absolutely love doing it!) and an organizer and a reader and a journaler. I think that the part that's the most important though is that I'm me and I'm comfortable being me.

Now, Brandy's response:
"You have the most caring, kind soul. You are an excellent writer. You are not a grammar Nazi, although you have the skill.
You are strong and wise enough to know you are not perfect, but a work in progress, and you do what needs to be done."

What do you look forward to every week?

I wish I had a glorious and grand answer to this one, but I just don't. My first reaction was possible time with the men in my life. It's only possible time because Roger is off at college, Ben is working nearly full-time and I just never know what "the man's" schedule is going to be like. Lately they've all been busy so I haven't seen or heard much from any of them. That can be tough. I try to remember it's not personal, it's life, but it's tough being an empty nester now. I tried to be ready for it, but I wasn't.

It has allowed me to write more, to go to more write ins this month and things like which has been nice, but nothing can replace time with my favorite guys.





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