Joplin Journal Volume 10-7, Issue 2

From the Editor's Desk:

I'm sitting here at my desk listening to classical music on the radio with a background of hammering from the hall downstairs and the gentle patter of rain on the roof. This has been quite the week. And next week is supposed to be a bit crazy busy too, but in a different way.

Weather Report:

It's been HOT. We've had several days last week and this that were 107º and one was even 109º. Ugh! And it's been dry. The grass almost everywhere is brown. Leaves are falling from the trees from the lack of rain. But Thursday was cooler and we even had some light rain for a bit in the morning. Not enough to really get the ground soaked, but it was a start. Yesterday only reached 90º and by evening it was 80º and cloudy. Cool enough for me to go walking with Angela. And this morning it was really misty and then it changed to a gentle, but steady rain. Just hoping it keeps raining. We need it!

"Genius Burns":

I mentioned the Christmas play that I was redoing. Well, it turns out that story was involving too many characters. So after trying to spark something by looking at Christmas pictures and failing, I sat and talked over things with Sarah. Still no ideas. So I let it sit. Then one night I had an idea that changed things. And then another idea and so far the idea has worked! I haven't finished writing it, but it's coming along.

I've also been writing Monday's Mystery, Kate & Kylie, a Thanksgiving Story, The Christmas Key (this year's Christmas Collection story), a new story (I know, I know, it wasn't on purpose!), and a few sentences here and there on other things. Lawrence & Lenexa has come back from the editor and there are some things I need to fix or add. Hopefully that won't take too long.

Project Prognosis:

Let's see how my projects are coming this week.

• Work on Blog Posts – I have actually gotten some good work on these! I have 4 posts for next month done, and one close to being done. And I have all the books picked and scheduled for my 24-Books-before-Christmas posts even if the posts are done.
• Finish Don Wood – Just waiting for the synopsis!
• KDWC – More on that below
• Work on my Name List – I have read more of my short stories and written more names down.
• Clean out Downloads Folder – I did make good progress on this. It's not fully cleaned out yet, but it's a lot less crowded than before.

Hospital News:

On Wednesday we heard that Megan was taking Lucas to Urgent Care because he'd gotten too hot the day before and couldn't keep anything down. Wednesday evening as we were just starting to eat supper Jimmy called to say Lucas had appendicitis and could someone meet him at church early (the older kids are in puppets and they were doing their program for church) and then take them home and be ready to spend the night. So, Sarah and I ate quickly, packed for spending the night and headed to church. After church I drove the kids and Sarah home in their Excursion. (Biggest vehicle I've ever driven.) We spent the night. Lucas had surgery at 8:30 or 9 the next morning. Sarah and I spent the day at Jimmy's. Jimmy, Megan, and Lucas came home around 6 that evening. The first thing Kailyn wanted to know was "Was it fun, Lukie?"

Babysitting:

Aside from staying with the kids all day Thursday and spending Wednesday night with them, we haven't gotten to babysit. But next week we should have the younger kids for part of Monday, and then all the kids on Thursday.

Elections:

Next week is the Missouri Primary Elections. Dad and I are both working the polls. I don't know if Jimmy is. Things have been a bit busy and I haven't asked. :) We have voted absentee already. We will all be glad when it's over as we are getting stacks of political flyers every day, and "voter research" calls several times a week.

From Camp:

Krista is home! Kinsley was so glad to see her again. I think Krista missed camp but as also glad to be home.

The Music Stand:

The violins are starting practice on a 4 violin quartet arrangement. I think it will be fun. This doesn't even have a piano part with it.

KDWC:

Only a few days of camp left. The actual writing challenge for the camp ends tomorrow at midnight, but the gates won't close until Wednesday morning. There has been a LOT of writing going on in this camp! My tent alone has written 184,184+ words. (I know it's a lot more because some of my girls were counting hours or pages or chapters written and not words.) My tent was "accidentally" challenged by another camp auntie to write 5k over our tent goal, but when I told her that would no problem and super easy, she said she meant to say 50k over. Well, we took up the challenge and not only reached it, but are almost 15k words over that! And we still have today and tomorrow to write.

This camp is a camp of Firsts. It's the first camp where we've reached the Camp's Active Goal, and it's the first camp where 4 tents have reached their Active Goal with a few others who might reach it.

Sewing Room:

The orders aren't as many, but things are still steady. Sarah is making all sorts of cute dresses or jumpers, and getting all kinds of fabric.

Read Another Page:

Still hoping to have Don Wood coming out next month!

If I can get to work on it, Lawrence & Lenexa might actually get published soon too!

NEW Book Coming!:

I have been waiting and waiting to share about this book with you all!

Come home to a small-town Christmas through the ages...

The close-knit community of Homewood, Minnesota might not even be a dot on most maps. But from its earliest settlement to the present day, a warm Christmas welcome and a shining Moravian star have been its hallmarks of the holiday.

Step into the bustle of preparations as a young orphan travels an unexpected path to the Christmas he’s longed for and a boisterous flock of cousins learns the eternal secrets of the Christmas fruit bowl. Follow a wintery road with a widowed mother in the shadow of war and a generous aunt trying her best for her family as they search for a place where they truly belong. Slip into the fire glow next to a lonely stranger with a terrible secret and a hometown girl trying to escape past hurts, and watch Christmas light and love warm even the coldest places.

With so many ways to celebrate the season, one reason undergirds them all—and the Christmas stars of Homewood never tire of telling His story!

This collection is one I am doing with five other "Aunties" from our writing camp. I wanted a collection of Christmas stories that weren't focused on romance and that I knew I would like. All our stories connect as they all take place in the same small town, all have an auntie in them, and all have Moravian stars. If you want to help us promote our book when it is released either by reviewing a story or by some other way, fill out This Form.

Teacher's Lounge:

Closed until further notice.

Book Nook:

I haven't done a whole lot of reading even though this may look like a lot, but many of these books are shorter books. Beyond Comfort (mine),

He Answered My Prayers (mine), Goodbye isn't in the Dictionary (mine), Shadow on the Mountain (interesting but not great), The Exact Truth (good), Seven Kisses in a Row (so cute!), The Family Under the Bridge (not that great), Sharing Christmas (love this!), His Unknown Wife (exciting, but a bit odd, and not a favorite). And that's my shelf.

Farewell:

Now here we are at the end. The rain is still falling. It's gotten a little harder at times, but now it's light again. Dad has either finished up the trim in the hall, or is almost done. Mom and Sarah are going to head out to get groceries later and they'll have to take my car since Mom's van is in the shop. Well, I have presents to wrap (today is Grant's 5th birthday but I don't know when or if he'll get a party), and I have violin to practice and writing to do, and we are hoping/planning on moving a book shelf in the living room today. A big bookshelf.

Next week is looking busy! Tomorrow we have a fellowship meal after church, Monday we will probably have some kids, Tuesday is the election, Wednesday camp closes, Thursday all the kids over, and then I think Friday and Saturday are empty. :D