Birthdays and Blessings

(I have tried to post this since November 17 but WP was not working properly for me at home! Trying on other computer, so please keep in mind the time is not accurate now.)

Yesterday – November 16 – was my birthday. Do I look any older to you?
I didn’t have a big party, but I did enjoy dinner out with my sister and my dad.

I didn’t sink into a depression, either; I’ve learned that that doesn’t solve anything.

I just quietly grew one day older, but that one day stepped me over into a new year of my life.
Another opportunity to live better, do more, try harder, dream bigger … and grow another year older.

Yesterday and today I heard from a few friends and family members with greetings by phone calls, Skype, text messages, and emails. Being remembered is heart-warming. One friend, upon realizing he was a day late, wished me a happy un-birthday, my first of this new year of my life! 🙂 I enjoyed a few cards via Canada Post, and I received a few gifts which added the fun factor.

Have I changed in that one day, the day that marks the number of years I have been permitted thus far? Not really. I’m still wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, caregiver, … blogger and all those other things.
I’m still weary, I’m still trying to do more than I have the energy to do well, I’m still hopeful that I will write something meaningful enough to make a difference, I still deeply love the same people who are precious to me, I still learn something new nearly every day no matter how small, I still plan to do the occasional adventurous thing such as sky-dive, and I continue my walk with the Lord and hope for His plan for me to be fulfilled.
In short, that one day was simply a continuation of my life with a few fun extras tucked in – and with no regrets. Another day of blessings.

Am I getting older? of course! But I like to think I’m also getting better. One can hope.

Do you do anything special to celebrate your birthdays? What is your perspective on the whole ‘aging thing’?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Day 18: NaNoWriMo & PiBoIdMo & a Giveaway

Thursday, Day 18 of NaNoWriMo and I am still not up to the halfway mark with my word count. I seem to be in a less creative place in my story, too. Maybe tomorrow it will get better. I wrote 1251 words tonight, bringing my total up to 23728, which is 48% of the 50,000 words challenge. My stats tell me “At this rate you will finish on Dec 10.” I do need to step it up!

I thought I would have to post the following:

I hate to say this, but … I am still thinking regarding an idea for PiBoIdMo! It’s a good thing I am ahead of where I should be because I have nothing for today. That is NOT GOOD. If I get an idea before I quit for the night I will count it as for day 18. (Is that cheating?)

BUT, now I don’t have to say all that .. 😉 .. because a new idea just came to me. woo hoo! That makes idea 29 on day 18 of the Picture Book Idea challenge. So, just ignore the part in italics. 🙂

Check this out: http://scotiatoday.ca/nova-scotia-ns-canada/life/36-slightly-off-center/1683-happy-birthday-give-away.html

It’s a giveaway because three people in the one family are celebrating birthdays on the same upcoming weekend. I’ve added the blog to my list here, too.

Do you like to enter such contests?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Day 16: NaNoWriMo & PiBoIdMo

Tuesday, Day 16 of NaNoWriMo and PiBoIdMo, was also my birthday, although not my 16th. No, that one is long gone! 🙂 I received phone calls, cards and gifts, emails, texts, e-cards, and hugs. It’s a sweet blessing to be remembered.

My idea for Picture Book Idea Month was along the line of birthdays, rather fitting, wouldn’t you say? I’m still ahead of the game, with this idea bringing my total to 26. I really only need 4 more to win but I will continue to write at least one a day until the end of this challenge.

On the other hand, National Novel Writing Month is quickly getting away from me. I have 14 writing days left in this challenge counting today (which is already Wednesday) and I am not to the halfway point in my word count yet. 43% looks pretty good to me, though. Today I wrote 2029 words, which is not so bad. It just means that I have 28,664 more words to write to make the goal of 50,000. Think I can do it? I have to try!

A couple of times I felt that I had written myself into a corner, but then I just waited. It happened again today. Some thought had to surface eventually, which it did, and onward we forged. It is like breaking new ground since I have never done this before. My main character got angry today, and scared, panicked, jealous, annoyed .. all in one emotional day and 2000 words of story. And like me, she likes to laugh. Things strike her so funny sometimes and I find myself smiling as I’m writing it out.

My story is a bit different, unlike anything I have ever written about before. When I get stuck I just wait. The characters are always waiting to say or do something, so when it starts to happen then I start writing again. It is a mystery to me! 🙂 And actually, the story has a mystery running through it. I wonder if this will ever turn into something …

Do you write, and if so, do you think and plan it all out first? or do you write as it comes to you?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Day15: NaNoWriMo & PiBoIdMo

Day 15 of writing challenges has not proven to go well for me. I spent time today (besides doing some household things) working on Valley Sunshine publication, though.

Tonight I was out to the chiropractor and while waiting, and with pleasant classical music playing, I came up with two ideas for PiBoIdMo. I had noticed on the way to my appointment that the town has its lighted decorations up on the poles — snowflakes, angels, doves, stars .. and that was working around in my mind. It turned into a picture book idea. Then I had a second idea, also to do with Christmas. I don’t now if I will actually work those up into picture book manuscripts, but they count for the challenge. Now I have 25 ideas for it in 15 days, which is good since the goal is to come up with at least one a day for the 30 days of November. I like being ahead in that because I certainly am not up to speed for NaNoWriMo!

In NaNoWriMo I am still behind. To make matters worse I am so tired tonight I kept dozing off in my chair so that I only got 541 words written increasing my % by only one point to 39%. I think I could do more but I need sleep! *yawn* Hoping I can do much better tomorrow, although … I almost forgot! Tomorrow is my birthday! but I have nothing planned so I should be able to write, write, write.

Have you seen Christmas decorations up anywhere yet?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Day 13: NaNoWriMo & PiBoIdMo

Report for Saturday, Day 13 of NaNoWriMo — I wrote 1274 words, not enough to catch up to where I should be by now in this challenge, or even what I need to write for the day, but I’m steadily moving toward the goal. My total word count should be 21671 now, but it is 16627, which means I am 5044 words behind. One day soon I am going to have to take a whole day to write so I can catch up before NaNo gets too far ahead of me. The days are slipping by at a rapid pace! I am at the 34% completion mark, though.

As for PiBoIdMo — my thinker didn’t do very well there either today, but I came up with one idea — idea #22 for this challenge.

My husband and I have friends who live a few miles from us and who invited us up to dinner at their house this evening. His birthday is exactly one week ahead of mine on the calendar, so we celebrate at the same time this way. It was an enjoyable evening out, as it always is with them. Their daughter came to cook the dinner this time as her mom is not well enough and it took the pressure off her dad. What a lovely meal she prepared. I took a dessert which they can enjoy later when the birthday cake is gone. 🙂

It was a gloriously sunny, fresh and crisp Autumn day here. Did you get a chance to enjoy it?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings. 🙂