From Transition to Justice: Year in Review

Did you know tomorrow is my blog-0-versary? December 31, 2006 I took the plunge, telling God no matter what, I’d always write for Him. It started with this blog, and it remains my baby. I enjoy looking back and this year was busy. I thought I’d take today to reflect.

This site

I changed servers and switched the site up, creating a premium one through WordPress. This gave me the ability to add pages and really get my work out there. It was a great move. One post alone had 15,000+ hits.  I’m so grateful for the transition and look forward to what God has in store here for 2012.

ACFW

The biggest change, and transition was a key word for me and those around me this year, was ACFW. American Christian Fiction Writers is THE place for, well, American Christian Fiction Writers. Although I didn’t have the pleasure to attend the conference, my membership paid for itself in two weeks, if that. There is introductions and help for everything. I joined many of the loops to keep updated on the latest in news, contemporary romance, and critique groups. By summer I was in two crit groups through ACFW and they are an amazing help. I don’t know what 2012 holds for my writing life, but I know ACFW will be a major part of it.

WRITING

2011 was a great writing year. There was the above, and I said goodbye to writing regularly for the Internet Cafe Marriage Counter. I said hello to blogging twice a month over at Christians Read, and I’m loving the experience. I won the JournEzine Christmas Story Contest. Still pinching myself over that one. I entered the FaithWriters challenge once and made the top ten with Jimmy Takes a Shower.  Tires and Windchimes is slated to be a part of Splickety’s debut issue. I’m working on my contemporary romance centered in the Adirondack Mountains, Spectacular Falls.

FAMILY

We enjoyed a wedding and a baby this year, but not in our house. My step-daughter married on 9/10/11 and we traveled to Wisconsin to be a part of that amazing day. It’s the highlight of my year, hands down. In November my sister had a baby and I’m soaking up nephew time all this week. Remember I talked about transition? Well we have a teenager now. Our 8 yo continues to entertain and amaze, including writing a customized story with me over the summer.

LESSONS LEARNED

I could write a novel just on this topic. 2011 wasn’t an easy year. I struggled with trusting God with a lot of things, and the aggravating part for me (and probably Him) was that they were things I’ve dealt with before. Why wouldn’t I trust Him? I wrote a post about it that really helped me. I hope it does you, too.

I learned a bit more about grace, I don’t think that is something I’ll ever finish learning. They were heartbreaking lessons and more than once with more than one circumstance, I had every right to speak up. But I chose to love, and I continue to. One situation plays out in a fairly public way and I know it would be easy to engage, but the person coming at me is wounded, and I make an easy target. If you had a tough year, have hope. The theme I feel for 2012 is this—justice.

LOOKING AHEAD

What does 2012 hold? Here’s what’s on my mind.

Who will be in the Presidential race come November? Who will win?

We celebrate our 15th anniversary (belated) with a cruise.

What new things will my nephew discover in his first year?

What new things will we discover as a family?

What if I don’t want to keep up with the Kardashians?

What with the weather be like? It seems to be changing world wide.

What writing projects will move forward? Stall?

Will I conquer the trusting God thing when it comes to finances and medical issues?

What will I read?

What will I surrender? What should I surrender?

I’d love to hear about your 2011 and your thoughts for 2012.

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