Boy has been working really hard on his car since Christmas. What every cub scout wants – his pinewood derby car from Santa.

And this is it, after long hours of cutting, sanding, drilling, and painting. Boy calls his car “Color Flash”.  Tomorrow morning, we’ll see how fast Boy’s car can go at his Troop’s Pinewood Derby.

Bug wore her bathing suit to school this past week for Summer Day. The kids in her class participated in fun activities like wading in a small children’s pool, volleyball, and crafts. It definitely was the highlight of her week.

Bella has been working on a project at school involving Tigers. She’s been spending most of her evenings flipping through books, searching facts, and creating a poster for her first school report. I have to say I’m quite proud of her. She’s really worked hard and has been very interested in the topic of Tigers.

We’re heading to the bowling alley this weekend with Bella’s Girl Scout troop. We’ve been looking forward to it, as much as Boy has been looking forward to playing baseball this spring. Today, we officially signed Boy up to play T-ball. He was so upset until I explained that T-ball was baseball and that we all had to learn and start from somewhere.

Chad is busy playing with his new blackberry, a typical boy with a new toy!

Well, I’m off to prepare for another busy week of writing, mothering, and working.

See you tomorrow, for some inspiring finds!

This week, I’m happy to announce that we’ve got a new financial advisor in the family. Chad passed all the required tests and has gone through his training period and is now a certified financial advisor!

I also wanted to thank you all for your prayers and support these past few months while our family has been going through this career transition. I can’t tell you how apprecative we have been to have you all behind us.

I’ve also been promising you all and update on ole blue (our vintage BMW) and here she is pictured above.

As many of you know, ole blue and I haven’t gotten along since the day I drove her home. I’d like to say it’s gotten better, but the last two times I’ve driven ole blue, she’s given me grief. I took her out shopping on Christmas Eve, and her glove box handle broke. Then a few nights ago, I took her to meet my writer’s group, and her driver’s side door refused to latch and shut properly.

Unfortunately, the feeling between us is mutual.

However, as you can see from the photo, she doesn’t belong to me. And poised at her hood, Chad is very much happy to be driving ole blue around town.  If cars and men were meant to be together, like Adam giving a rib for Eve, I’d say these two match up perfectly.

Now Ole Blue spends her days in a parking garage with the other downtown cars while Chad is in his office. When you can’t catch him in the office, you can also find him blogging over at How To Get Rich.  You just might find yourself inspired spiritually and financially when you stop in and check out his blog. Do me a favor this weekend and stop over at his blog and just say hi in the comments section. It’s okay if you say I told you so.

That’s about the most major thing happening this week in our lives.

Bella’s selling Girl Scout Cookies. They’ve got a new cookie flavor this year called Savannah Smiles in. We’re hoping someday that the Girl Scouts will give their girls individual sales websites to sell cookies online as Cub Scouts do for selling Popcorn, it would make it a whole lot easier gathering cookie sales. Wishful thinking on my part, I know. But for now, she’s a real trooper going out and collecting cookie orders.

I can hear her now practicing her violin as I type today’s post, and Boy is working on his car for the upcoming Pine Wood Derby in cubscouts. Bug’s class made soup this week and next week she gets to wear her swimsuit to school for summer day!

And me, well I get stuck doing the laundry this weekend.

I hope you all have a great weekend, and we’ll see what we can whip up for Monday’s Craft Inspiration.

Writing a scene in a novel is like watching an old movie where the police are on the chase of burglar and they stop to ask, “Which way did he go?” Some characters don’t have a clue, they’re purpose is exactly that, not to know. And sometimes, they’re better off not. However, we all know that the burglar gets away in the scene. How else would we move on to the next part of the story?

Creating Cade in UNBRIDLED has been a real challenge for me lately. He’s really made me step back and take a look at my own faith walk these past few weeks. Where as, Jenny has the best intentions, she just keeps sticking her foot in her mouth and poor Sarah is still waddling around waiting to have that baby. Oops, did I say baby? Yeah, so Sarah and Michael are expecting Ethan’s baby sister or brother fairly soon in the second book and Josh is well… Josh.

So, Jenny’s just made a mess of things again, and this time I think she’s done it. Cade is madder than a steaming tea pot.

He’s not sure why he ever came to Silver Wind in the first place, let alone why he’s been sticking around for long. But even though he’s longing for home, he doesn’t know where home is.

Last week as I was finishing up the draft of a chapter, I thought for sure that I knew where was Cade’s home was, then all of a sudden he leaned in and turned the whole scene in a different direction. I guess this week, I’m the one going along for the ride!

And leaves me at the beginning question, “Which way did he go?”

Perhaps next week, Cade will draw me a map to his ending destination. But it’s the journey he takes to get there that matters, right?

Every year for the past decade I’ve made a new years resolution. Most all of us do it. Some of us don’t. And this year, I’m falling into the 1/3 of the American population that doesn’t. I’ve decided that setting a goal on Jan. 1st that I know won’t happen isn’t worth the disappointment.

So tomorrow I’ll set my goal. And tomorrow, I’ll start the steps of making it happen.

But in the mean time, I thought I would share with you something interesting that I learned today.

When you’re all contemplating your new years resolutions, 8% of you will make a resolution to fall in love this year.  In the words of the pastor of our church, “Really? You can choose to fall in love?”

Love isn’t a choice, it just happens. You can’t force it, nor should you deny it. This year, if you’re looking for love, remember to look in the right places. Be patient. I know it can be hard. I’m probably the worst one to tell you that, as I’ve been waiting for certain things to happen for years and find myself growing weary. But in those moments remember “Give careful thought to the paths for you feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” (Proverbs 4-6.)

This year I’m making some changes and I’m counting on you all to keep me steadfast on my journey.

My 2012 bring you love, laughter, and great joy.

He’s rough around the edges, but suffering from a big blow to his heart, a lot harder than any bucking horse has ever been able to throw him. Jenny’s quick wit and sassy personality has him dodging away, that is until she lands one on him and puts him flat on his back in love. Talked about being horse kicked in the heart.

So I’ve searched high and low through Google Images in order to find just the perfect model to introduce you to Cade. And here he is:

Cade Sheridan (like last week’s character look-alike, just imagine this Clay Walker – pictured below - playing the part of Cade Sheridan in my story.)

(Clay Walker photo courtesy of Curb Records.)

He’s just got the greatest smile, don’t you think?

I’m having so much fun working on this WIP. It reminds me a lot of the old days of jumping in the saddle and racing around barrels and “standing on deck” for my turn to race.

Cade Sheridan’s days of bucking bronc’s might be over, but there are plenty of other horses who need his help on the Silver Wind Equine Rescue where this book takes place. Now  if only he and Jenny can stop taking blind kicks at each other and learn to stand in the same pasture.

What do you think, will Jenny and Cade join forces and learn to get along? All I can say is that it’s sure interesting finding out. I’m thinking it just might take a wild stallion in peril to bring them together.

Today I want to introduce you to Jenny, heroine in my latest WIP – UNBRIDLED.

I know she looks a lot like Alyson Hannigan, but just image if a book was a movie, Alyson Hannigan could very easily play the part of Jenny. That’s what reading books are all about, using our imaginations and the little help for a crafty writer to picture the scenes and the characters in our minds, right?

Next Thursday I’ll introduce you to Cade, the hero in this story. And no he doesn’t look anything like John Wayne.

Have a safe and happy weekend, I’ll see you all back on Monday. Don’t forget our link party blog hop on Tuesday — Yeah, I had to get it in one more time.

Please forgive me, I’m only human. Now it’s time to move on to.. today’s post. But please note I’ve rescheduled the post for next Wednesday. Sorry to keep you waiting. Since today is December 1st I wanted to update you on the Nanowrimo results.

Drum roll….

This number is the closet I could find, but actually yesterday I ended the month with 30,704 words. I didn’t make 50,000 but I gave it my all. I’m very surprised I made it this far as prior  years I don’t think I came over 20,000, so this is an achievement for me.

Now don’t get me wrong, I didn’t meet the 50,000 goal, but I did my best and I’m not finished with the novel just because National Writing Month is over. Today, I wrote. I’m writing now. I’ve added about 2,000 words since yesterday. It doesn’t sound like a lot of words, but trust me once I breakdown the month for you, you can see that being a writer doesn’t mean you always are glued to your keyboard. I’m also glued to my family, friends, and helping out in the community.

First of all, I think I’ve said this before, writing a novel is an art. It takes time. In all honesty, you can’t write a completed novel in a month. Your english teacher in High School handed back that essay two or three times before he/she accepted your final draft. That’s writing a book, except it’s a lot more words and a lot more pages.

I’m almost halfway through and I’m still writing, plotting, and amazed where the characters of this WIP is taking me. It’s like I’m the one along for the ride and I love that about storytelling. Next week, I’ll introduce you to my characters and some the cool background of the Kentucky setting this book takes place in. Lots of history in the area and never a dull moment, just like the Lower household.

This month, along with trying to type out 50,000 words, we had a holiday. But before that, I had a child with no school for a week, a family emergency, a leaky roof, article and story deadlines, friends in need, and the inability to just say “no”. If you’ve ever seen Bug’s puppy dog eye look, you wouldn’t be able to say no either to her cute little face. And three sets of puppy dog eyes… yeah.. I don’t stand a chance!!

Tomorrow is First Friday, and Saturday we’re saying hello to Santa for Bug’s school fundraiser. I’ll be back on Monday to share a simple holiday project with the kids.

If you haven’t signed up for next Tuesday’s (December 13th) blog hop, send me a line. I’d love to have you join the fun.

In the mean time, have an awesome weekend!

Many of you have laughed with me, cried with me, and just been there for a hug. Now it’s my turn to let you know how much that has all ment to me. More than words can say.

Some of you have all been on facebook these past few days sharing the things you’re thankful for, many of those things are in my heart on written in my own mental list. Those things like our spouses, our children, or family and friends. Simple things like hot chocolate, antibotics, and scribbled card that says I love you when your having a diffcult day.

I’m so thankful for all of those and more. I’m thankful for God bringing you all into my life and I hope you’ll continue to stay connected and let me know the ways I can be praying for you on this day.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Lower Family

The best thing about this rainy day was the pumpkin pancakes. Yum!

But before I could get to those pancakes I had to first take the kids to school. Before I could walk out the door, however, my hubby calls and needs a necktie – he forgot his and he needs it for work. Sigh, no biggie, I send Bell upstairs to grab a tie while I get the rest of us into the family car.

I remember today is the day that Bug is making pumpkin pies for her preschool luncheon the next day. Sigh, I drop off the two older kids at school, stop at Weis’s, grab the evaporated milk I need and a donut that Bug swindles out of me, and head for preschool. We’re all good, only once I’m at preschool I realize – no tie.

Apparently, Bell must have still had a hold of it when she went to school and it’s no where to be found in the van. Sigh, so I go home, grab a tie, and head off to Denny’s. Pumpkin Pancakes… Yumm. (Yeah I know I already said that.)

After breakfast, I head back to Weis, but not the same Weis, a different Weis. We’ve got three in our town and Weis’s in surrounding towns as well. What can I say it’s a popular place to get food. I meet up with a person that i’m pick up some new paper racks. I know… I know… but I really needed those paper racks if you haven’t seen my craft room lately. Any how, I go in the store, grab some fabric softner because we’ve been out of it for a few days and my laundry is piling up, and then head to find the lady with the paper racks. (craigslist – sums it up in one word, doesn’t it?)

I reach for my keys while I’m at the cash register and they’re not in my purse. No problem, they’re in my pocket. Nope.. not there either. Sigh… I left them in the car. That’s okay, my car door won’t lock with the key’s in the ignition. WRONG!

Oh and I’ve got to pick up Bug from preschool in like 35 minutes. Remember that update on the blue BMW? Well, last weekend the hubby swapped tires between the blue car and the black car, fixed the door handle on teh blue car, and even swapped out the driver side seat. I’m happy to say the blue BMW passed inspection and my hubby drove it to come to my rescue when I locked my keys in my car.

I, of course, was late picking Bug up from preschool. Thankful for my cellphone, I called the teacher to let her know that I would be there as soon as I could, I’m sure when I got off the phone the woman who took my message was laughing at me or at least thinking she wanted to.

So, we get Bug, hubby goes back to work, and I’m not home for five minutes and someone knocks at the door. I figure it’s the mailman. Second time I’m wrong today. It’s some guy in a minivan wanting to know if the black BMW is for sale. I said, “Sure, once my husband is done stripping all the parts of it for his other car.”

He wasn’t too interested after that. I can’t say I blame him.

It was just one of those dittsy days that I’ll laugh about tomorrow.

“But you haven’t even tried it,” I say to her.

“We tried it at school.”

This is the part I just look at her because I know for a fact 1. I pack her lunch

and

2. Since when does the school serve up sautéed squash with green onions and feta cheese?

It was yummy, so yummy that everyone except Bella cleaned their plates. It went really great with a slab of porkchop and some baked apples.

Tonight, we’re having meatballs and zucchini, thanks to my emealz menu. November is a crazy month for us in the Lower household, and December too. November, of course, is Nanowrimo. Between making time to write, run a household, devote time to my children’s individual needs, and prepare for the holidays it can be really easy me to get burnt out before the New Year approaches. That’s why I have no problem letting emealz.com take care of supper. I still have to have to buy the groceries and cook it, but I just print out my menu and shopping list.

Now that just felt like an infomercial didn’t it?

Today marks the halfway point for Nanowrimo. I’m happy to say my word count is 16,139.

Being halfway I should be at 25,000, but I’m not worried. I write in spurts around the kids and our family schedule. Some days I write more than others, some days I don’t get to write at all. The month may be hitting its halfway mark, but I’m still on track and will reach the 50,000 word goal. If this novel goes where I think it is going, I’ll surpass the 50,000 word count when it’s finished.

It’s nap time, and I’ve got to get my word count up. I’ll see you all tomorrow with a new update on the blue bmw.