Task it Tuesday - May 28

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

We are quickly coming to the end of May. Both girls will be done with school by Friday, so summer vacation is on our minds. That can make tackling a to-do list tricky; though I often find it helps me focus on accomplishing things so I can enjoy more down time while I am away.

This week's list is a bit different because of the plans to get ready for graduation.

• Daily Bible reading
• Order flowers
• Buy gifts for graduation - scary that I have to remind myself to do this
• Rework the flower beds - most are done, but there are a few more plants I need to move before the landscaper comes and puts down fresh mulch
• Beta read a manuscript - 60% done
• Edit the next two chapters of a manuscript for the publisher - one chapter down, one to go
• Blogging
• Write one chapter of Amelia's Mission
• Review two children's books

What is on your to-do list this week? Any graduations or other end of school year events you're working on?

Mailbox Monday - May 27

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Please join me in saying a prayer for the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect freedom around the world. As it says in the Gospel of John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Many times, our armed forces are laying down their lives for strangers, never mind friends. I'm not sure I could do the same.

The mailbox was slow this week, but I've got plenty to keep me busy. The Lil' Diva graduates this coming Friday, so there are senior events at school and prom to look forward to. I've got a medical procedure scheduled for Thursday, so I'll lose a bit of work time. Better make the best of the rest of the week.

Here's what my mailbox held:

What did your mailbox have in store for you last week?

From Family Fiction: Understanding Classic Literature From a Christian Worldview

I subscribe to Family Fiction, a weekly online magazine. It's a great resource to discover interviews with Christian authors and other news around the Christian fiction world. This week's email caught my eye because a children's author graces the front page, and because of the link to a news article I found most interesting.

The article covers a new literature series from acclaimed author and award-winning English professor Karen Swallow Prior that she will pen for B&H Publishing that "guides readers through a selection of the classics, helps them navigate the pitfalls that often trap readers and shows them how to read each work in light of the gospel and to the glory of God."

What a fascinating idea! I can't wait to see the first ones coming out in the Spring of 2020.  To read the complete article, visit https://www.familyfiction.com/understanding-classic-literature-christian-worldview/

Task it Tuesday - May 21

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

I'm so late with this today, but life is crazy this week. Real estate appointments, recording a TV segment for the local Realtor board, doctor appointment for my CPAP set up, a wedding, and final preparations for prom and graduation.

This is my to-do list:

• Daily Bible reading
• Barre workout Thursday and Saturday
• Beta read a manuscript
• Edit the next two chapters of a manuscript for the publisher
• Blogging

What does your to-do list look like this week?

Mailbox Monday - May 20

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Will someone please tell me how to freeze time--kind of like Mel does on Charmed. Honestly, I can't keep up. Right after I am done with this post, I need to finalize a listing presentation for tomorrow morning. The girls are getting close to the end of the school year, so there are a lot of activities going on. All our eyes are focusing on visiting the Outer Banks again this summer.

In my writing and reading world, I've increased my blogging a bit--not sure how long that will last--and worked to catch up on the reviews I have coming down the line this month and next. This year, I want to bring some books to read "just because I want to" when we travel. Nothing much going on with my middle grade novel. It is sitting around Chapter 21. Need to write one more chapter before the next writing group meeting. I also really want to nail down a couple of agents to submit Clever Tom to before we go away.

Only one new book this week, but it is a good one that was recommended by a trainer.

What was in your mailbox this week? Anything exciting you would like to share?

Task it Tuesday - May 14

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Tuesday creeps up on me so fast lately. I had planned to schedule this early, but life had other plans. I've been nursing a nasty tension headache and work doesn't seem like it will be slowing down soon--which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Decent progress with last week's to-do list. Here is what it looked like:

• Daily Bible reading - DONE
• 5-5-5-5 plan for reaching out to people: 5 calls, 5 texts, 5 emails and 5 handwritten notes every day - Lots of calls, emails, and texts but no notes
• Set up photographer and staging for new listing - DONE
• Polish query letter for Clever Tom - Didn't even touch it
• Barre workout Monday and Friday - Monday done and a short workout on Friday
• Start finding a way to plan meals - Haven't even contemplated where to start

This week's list looks like this:

• Daily Bible reading
• Listing appointment and broker's open
• Barre workout Wednesday and Saturday
• Beta read a manuscript
• Edit the next two chapters of a manuscript for the publisher
• Blogging three days this week

What's on your to-do list? Is there something you are aching to get done or have been putting off? What is one thing that motivates you?

Mailbox Monday - May 13

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

We are back to Monday again. I hope my fellow moms had a nice Mother's Day. The weather was yucky, but at least Saturday I got a chance to clean up the flower beds and move some of the plants I've been wanting to move for the past couple of years.

The family treated me to a bunch of nice cards.

Then we all went out to eat. 

My mother-in-law is staying with us, which is nice. I've been struggling with a bit of depression lately. All this nonsense with the church really has me down. I need to find a new church, but don't really want to. I'll bring her to church somewhere while she is here, but it isn't the same. Hopefully she is okay with it.

On the book front, I treated myself to two books. One had been on pre-order. The other I bought while shopping at Walmart yesterday.

That's it from me this week. Hope you enjoy all your new books.