I have a fairly good work ethic. I have to considering I'm basically working four jobs right now. If I don't stay on top of things, it gets to be too much and things fall through the cracks.
That being said, I'm not always in work mode.
In fact, since my book release, I've sort of been in "don't wanna" mode. I'm tired. I went from editing several books back-to-back to tax season starting in the middle of that to Spring semester which always feels like it has twenty more things than fall semester to book launch. And I'm exhausted.
So, when I decided I need to write my novella right now for next February, my brain said, "No."

Easter is such a fun holiday. New dresses, sandals, eggs, Spring! Not to mention everything wrapped up in the hope of the Resurrection.
The last few years, our family has added to all our traditions. I pick up a lamb roast from Aldi for my husband to grill. I make cheesy au gratin potatoes. We have homemade cinnamon rolls that morning. Can you tell I love foods associated with holidays? To me, food is a big part of our traditions.
​That being said, it hasn't always been easy to maintain our fancy menu.

If someone says, "Whatever you want, dear," does it frustrate you or make you happy. In the case of fellow author, Christina Sinisi, you might be surprised! Read on about her latest anniversary trip.

​My husband and I have been together for more than 40 years. We met in college—both representing our schools as honors students. I was a sophomore, and he was a senior. His older, wiser self might have been the reason he went back to barracks (he attended Virginia Military Institute) and told his roommate he’d met the woman he was going to marry. His roommate said the same. My husband was right (he often is, but ssh), his roommate wasn’t.
Flash forward to this past year. For some context—my husband grew up in New Orleans up to age 12 and then moved to a Connecticut suburb. He’s a city boy by training. On the other hand, I grew up in the mountains of Virginia and wandered the woods. Whenever my family traveled, we avoided cities and searched out wilderness.

Can a pet spell romance? Maybe not for everyone, but if you're an animal-lover, it just might. Guest author Kara Leigh Miller is chatting today about how it turned into a real-life romance story for her. More than once. ;)

The year was 2007. My husband and I had just moved into a new home less than six months prior, and it was the dead of winter in Central New York. For those who don’t know, this region of NY gets lake effect snow, and getting a foot or more in just a couple of hours isn’t uncommon. One night, we were huddled inside watching some nature program about snow leopards, and I LOVE cats of any kind. So there I am, oohing and aahing about the cute fluffy kitties on the TV. 

Our daughter was barely 3 years old, and she was still learning proper enunciation. Fluffy was fuffy and I jokingly said to my husband, “We need to get a white cat to name Snowball so our daughter can call it, “fuffy noball.” She couldn’t quite pronounce her S’s. My husband laughed and said no. Absolutely no cats. 

I don't know about where you are, but here in Tennessee, we've had a lot of cloudy days lately. It's just that time of year. January and February come with lots of clouds, rain (sometimes snow), and chilly days. It's called winter. And after a while, it starts to get to me.
Don't misunderstand. I don't mind rain every now and then. But I need some sunshine too. especially this time of year when the days are shorter and we're inside more. It's not full-blown SADD, but it's close.
​So, what can I find in clouds to be good?

Almost every girl dreams of receiving flowers at work. Especially if brought especially by the one giving them. Right?
Well, I happened to witness this happen to one of my coworkers a couple weeks ago. At the end of the workday, I was teasing her. "So, how do I get my husband to bring me flowers at work?"
She wrinkled her nose. "Have a big fight?"
Oh.
​Um, no thank you.

When you receive a gift card, do you want to spend it right away? Or save it for something special? Well, let me tell you, it's hard on kids to wait. After all, they want think they should be able to spend money or gift cards the moment they receive it.
Especially my son. Especially if it's for a place that has donuts or ice cream. Or both.
Needless to say, the gift card he'd received way back on his birthday in August was burning a hole in his pocket by the time Christmas had come and we still hadn't used it.​

Our congregation participates in a program each Spring called Lads to Leaders. The convention is over Easter weekend and it's huge. Basically, it's a program designed to encourage children to learn about the Bible and to learn how to be leaders in the church as they grow up.
There's scripture readings and memorization, Bible bowl, artwork, and then things like song leading and speech. Among a ton of other options.
We've participated the last few years, encouraging our kids to get out of their comfort zones, try something new, and study the Word of God. And we've probably learned just as much as they have, honestly.

How well does your significant other know you? Well enough to plan a surprise party? Or well enough to NOT plan a surprise party?
Guest author, Regina Rudd Merrick is chatting with us about what her husband did for her last birthday. I think a lot of us resonate with this.

​When you write romance, you try your best to think of the MOST ROMANTIC situations your characters can be in.
Here’s the problem, though—most of the interactions between people who love one another are the little, day-to-day things and the occasional spark of inspiration that make up a life.
 I will fully admit that my husband is the romantic in my marriage, but when your love language is acts of service as mine is, no amount of hugging, gifts, or words of affirmation are going to do it for you regularly.
That’s why last year, for my birthday, my husband chose the best birthday present I could have ever imagined.
A weekend out of town.

Late each fall, I talk through options for things my kids can ask for as Christmas gifts. Things they really want or things they need. We try to limit the requests to reasonable items, though they're not always reasonable, because they're children. Regardless, this last year, as I was talking with them about it, we were struggling to come up with items to add to my son's list. All he really wanted was a skateboard.
(He got one, by the way--and pads to go with it.)
Well, a few months before, he'd decided he hated using body wash. He wanted to use a bar of soap. I happened to have some fancy ones that I had been given as teacher presents, but never used since I prefer body wash. Who cares if my seven-year-old smells like Tropical Breeze or Rose Petals, right?