Spring Cleaning

I'm not usually that into spring cleaning. For some reason the urge for organization hits me more in the fall. Maybe it's the whole going-back-to-school thing? Anyway, it doesn't usually hit me in the spring, but this year it did.

We have TOO MUCH STUFF. How did this happen? Where did it come from? I'm not entirely sure, but it's there and I need to get rid of it. The problem is that I'm a bit of a pack-rat and I'm convinced that if I get rid of something I'm going to desperately need it.

I'm half tempted to just throw some boxes of stuff (do you have those? Boxes of random stuff that has no home?) away and hope for the best.

Any better cleaning/organizing tips than this?

Starbucks and Springtime

My wonderful hubby sent me to Starbucks today. He told me he'd take care of our adorable son (who I think I've mentioned is the cutest boy in the world) and that I should go get a mocha.

Um, okay.

As I was driving here I was just appreciating what an awesomely beautiful spring day it is! The cherry trees are blooming, it's warm...people are starting to get tans.

I love spring. I know. I said I loved fall the best. And winter. And summer. And I do. But I like it when the seasons change.

Which is odd, because in life I'm totally anti-change. Weird, huh?

It's spring break right now, so I'm enjoying time around the house with my cute little family, and getting settled into life in the country.

I hope everyone's spring is going wonderfully!

P.S> Has anyone else noticed how many posts are tagged "coffee"? What does this say about me...

Your Next Book to Read!

Shakespeare's Julius Caesar was told to "Beware the Ides of March", but I'm telling you that this year, March 15th is something you should be looking forward to. Why?

It's the release date for Catherine West's debut novel, Yesterday's Tomorrow! I read a reviewer copy of this book (thanks, Cathy!) and let me tell you, this is one you should put on a "to-be-read" list. Go ahead. Add it to your list. I'll wait.

Are you back?

In case you need some more details and my word that it's a great book isn't enough (hey, I understand), here's the review I'm posting on Amazon later on today. You get the first look. =)

Yesterday's Tomorrow
Written by Catherine West
Reviewed by Sarah Varland

It takes a talented author to stir a reader's emotions at a deep level, but Catherine West managed it with no problem in her debut novel Yesterday's Tomorrow. The story centers around Kristin Taylor, a twentysomething journalist who goes to Vietnam to continue her father's legacy of touching people's lives with the written word. She's unprepared for the gritty reality of war and the emotions--and sometimes lack of emotions--that go with it, but she's spunky and determined to stay in Vietnam and report the truth about the war. She traveled to the country without a visa or a press pass, but finds work with Time magazine shortly after arriving. A photographer, Luke Maddox, reluctantly introduces her to the cuontry and the media's way of life there. Kristin and Luke, along with Jonno, who is a soldier who, for medical reasons, spends most of his time chauffering Luke around, travel into the dese jungles and throughout the war ravaged country visiting men who are involved in the war and hearing and reporting their stories.

Kristin and Luke, who are still only reluctant acquaintances, are assigned by Time magazine to be partners. Kristin will write and Luke will take the pictures. As the two of them get to know each other while still trying to keep secrets, their witty dialogue and back-and-forth sarcastic comments keep the reader interested in their relationship and wondering if anything romantic could ever develop between two people with such distinct and strong personalities.

I laughed. I cried. I know it's completely cliche to say so, but I really did. The story made me feel every emotion along with the characters. Fear. Guilt. Hope. Finally--peace. It will appeal to a wide variety of readers. Romance fans, I think you'll enojoy the sparks that fly between these characters. Women's fiction and Karen Kingsbury fans? I can almost guarantee you'll love Catherine West's heart-tugging story telling.

Kudos to Cathy for crafting a story in such a controversial setting and making it about MORE than just Vietnam or the political climate. The story is well integrated in its setting but the characters and their journeys as people are the focus of the book. Very well done--this debut novel is only the first of many compelling stories I'm anticipating from Catherine West. She's definitely an author to watch.

Hurray!

It's been a good Sunday here. Church was good this morning--the baby slept so I even got to hear most of the message. AND the whole "baby sleeping" part meant that he was much happier for the rest of today than he typically is on Sundays. He really is the most good-natured baby I've ever met (no, really. I'm not being biased.) but if he doesn't get his nap...it's just not good. So those were two good things this morning.

PLUS my husband fixed me breakfast. It was amazingly good and totally sweet of him.

This afternoon we hung out with family and I finished the first draft of the synopsis for the story I'm entering in that contest I told you about the other day.

And now we're leaving for church again. Wow. What a productive, good day so far. Hope you've all had semi-relaxing Sundays! If not, go take a nap. Or have some coffee. =)

Oooo, coffee. Wonder if I can convince hubby to stop for some on the way to or from church? Hm...

Genesis Contest!

All right all of you not-published-yet writers out there--have you looked into the Genesis Contest? Check it out on the American Christian Fiction Writer's website. You enter the first 15 pages of your wip (work in progress) and a one page synopsis and then get amazing feedback from judges and the chance to win!

Seriously. It's an awesome contest, so you can check it out.

On that note, I'll be MIA here for another couple days, I think, while I wrestle with this synopsis. You'd think a summary of a story would be easy, right? Yeah...not so much.

Wish me luck!

Is it Spring Yet?

Don't get me wrong. I love winter. I do. I'm pretty sure it's my favorite season, but then again, I think that about most seasons. My sister and I finally came to the conclusion that maybe it's just the changing of the seasons that we like, and I think she's right. This is a little strange for me, since I'm not always the hugest fan of change, but there you go.

But the thing is, to get back to my point, I love winter because I love snow. And I live in a part of the country at the moment that doesn't get a whole lot of snow, if any. Which mans that at this point in the year winter is just a gray haze keeping me from spring and it's accompanying beach and hiking trips. So I'm pretty much ready. Is it here yet?

I heard that according to our famous groundhog, it won't be long. We'll see how that goes.

In other news, I read the most AMAZING book last weekend. Well, one of the most amazing anyway. Ronie Kendig is a new addition to my top list of favorite writers. Her book Digitalis, which is the one I read last weekend, definitely will hook you and refuse to let you go. Incredible story, character, and writing. I'm planning to tell you even more about why you for sure need to buy this book probably next week sometime. Monday or Tuesday-ish.

So even though it's not spring, I need to do some cleaning. We'll call it late winter cleaning, which is fine since spring cleaning is so cliche anyway, and as I writer, I'm supposed to be learning to avoid cliches, right? We're moving here in a couple weeks (not far, just to another nearby town) and right now I've packed...Uh...Well...I did buy some storage boxes? So that's on my list of goals for the weekend. Pack something. Or throw away some junk that I have no intention of packing/moving. Wish me luck.

How about you? Goals for this weekend? Thoughts on why February is not definitively winter or spring but just an in-between month?

Meet My Friend Louis!

This? This is shameless matchmaking at it's internet-finest. See, there's this blog I discovered today, called Kelly's Korner . And apparently she does this thing where people list information/pictures about their single friends and people can sort of...match up if they want to.

So if you are completely against matchmaking, ignore this post.

Otherwise, here you go...

Louis is an awesome guy I have known for the last 6 years. He's in his mid-twenties and lives in Florida.

He's a guy with really diverse interests--he started life as a city-guy, but has discovered he loves to hike and spend time outdoors too.

Louis has a bachelors degree in Philosophy/Religion, and he's working on his M.Div. He's one of the smartest people I know and my husband and I have had many late-night conversations with him about theology and how Christianity should shape our culture.

Feel free to let me know if you want me to pass on an email address... =)