If you can believe it, we are now one month into our new adventure and patterns are beginning to emerge. At least on school days. Phil is usually awake first and gets up to write a few emails or work on a sermon. He also makes coffee. At 7:20, my alarm goes off and I take a few minutes to get ready before I wake up the kids. We eat breakfast together. I go for toast, Phil and Julia usually have cereal and Levi likes pancakes. Then we try to share the bathroom as best we can and by 8:15 we need to be out the door and walking to the bus. The kids still love the bus ride.
Then Phil goes to work and I have the house to myself. Hurrah! I've been lucky to find some other women who like to walk or I will go for a walk myself. There is a labyrinth of trails to discover and I am happy to note it will take quite some time to walk them all. Yesterday, we volunteered for Levi's walking field trip. Imagine walking down to the beach to collect rocks!
There is also writing. Yesterday, I finished the first draft of my newest novel. Now I am following Stephen King's advice to put it in a drawer for several weeks. I can't remember how long he suggested. It's not in a literal drawer, but I will try not to open my computer folder for at least three weeks. I am hoping to pitch it in October at the Surrey International Writer's Conference. I've been wanting to attend this event since my friend Katie and I met CC Humphreys at the Strathmore Library several years ago. I'm finally close enough! I'm a bit nervous about the pitch. That will be my next project.
Phil usually joins me at home for lunch and I often read, bake or clean in the afternoons. Then I meet the kids at the bus stop and they tell me about the joys and sorrows of their day while complaining about our steep driveway.
Julia has recently taken up helping me make supper or do some baking after school. She's also excited about the Drama School she has joined. They both love our new rope swing and continue finding new and annoying apps on our hand-me-down iPhones.
The days are speeding by and we do our best to soak up the sun while it's here. We hear there's a long dark winter ahead of us. We sure miss our friends, but are doing our best to make new ones.
Then Phil goes to work and I have the house to myself. Hurrah! I've been lucky to find some other women who like to walk or I will go for a walk myself. There is a labyrinth of trails to discover and I am happy to note it will take quite some time to walk them all. Yesterday, we volunteered for Levi's walking field trip. Imagine walking down to the beach to collect rocks!
There is also writing. Yesterday, I finished the first draft of my newest novel. Now I am following Stephen King's advice to put it in a drawer for several weeks. I can't remember how long he suggested. It's not in a literal drawer, but I will try not to open my computer folder for at least three weeks. I am hoping to pitch it in October at the Surrey International Writer's Conference. I've been wanting to attend this event since my friend Katie and I met CC Humphreys at the Strathmore Library several years ago. I'm finally close enough! I'm a bit nervous about the pitch. That will be my next project.
Phil usually joins me at home for lunch and I often read, bake or clean in the afternoons. Then I meet the kids at the bus stop and they tell me about the joys and sorrows of their day while complaining about our steep driveway.
A blue heron in the pond across from the bus stop. |
Julia has recently taken up helping me make supper or do some baking after school. She's also excited about the Drama School she has joined. They both love our new rope swing and continue finding new and annoying apps on our hand-me-down iPhones.
The days are speeding by and we do our best to soak up the sun while it's here. We hear there's a long dark winter ahead of us. We sure miss our friends, but are doing our best to make new ones.