Joplin Journal Volume 11-4, Issue 2

From the Editor's Desk:

If you get this twice, it's because my server is acting up.

It's cloudy here this morning. A bit of a breeze is setting the green leaves to dancing and the wind-chimes to making music. It would be a quiet morning except that there is a run going on down at the park on Murphy Blv. and there's a speaker first and the sound system is working a little too well. We can hear him from our house with the windows shut. Hopefully he won't be talking for too long. But anyway, besides that, it's quiet.

Weather Report:

Everything is green here. The yard needs mowed again but since it's been raining this week, I think I'll wait until Monday or Tuesday to mow it. It's not really bad right now. It's been cloudy and chilly this week. But next week the sun is supposed to shine and it's supposed to be in the 70s! Yay!

"Genius Burns":

I reached the end of "Kate & Kylie"! (I haven't decided on a new title yet.) I've sent it to my synopsis writer and started the formatting and looking for an image to use for the cover.

I haven't done a lot of writing since I finished that book, but I did get another book started. Only 700+ words written, but it's a start, and I know some of what happens.

Project Prognosis:

Have I made any progress on my projects?

• Work on Blog Posts for 2023 – I actually have posts for the next two weeks done. And I've at least started on two others.
• Update Website – Someday . . .
• Design Two Covers – I have designed covers for both the Christmas stories!
• Format Books – I formatted a novella and this year's Christmas Collection book. And I started formatting a Christmas novella, and "Kate & Kylie." Progress!

Visitors:

No visitors last week. But next week Grandpa is planning on coming down on Friday and working at Jimmy's before coming over here for supper and spending the night.

Birthdays:

Mom, Aunt Marty, and I all got older on the 22nd. And Megan's birthday was on Tuesday. I was going to go visit my heart-sisters last Friday, but Elisabeth and her kids were sick, so we postponed it until next week.

Babysitting:

We had all the kids (Joel only a little while as he got picked up by a friend to go work on school) on Tuesday so Jimmy could take Megan out for her birthday. I read stories to Kins and Grant, and played "puppies" with them. Krista, Kailyn, James, and Drew decorated sugar cookies. Lucas worked on building a lego set. He and the little ones decorated some cookies.

They got picked up after lunch.

Yesterday we had Drew on down for the morning until around 2. Jimmy's students in CC were having their mock trial and Megan wanted to go to it. The older three stayed home to work on school. They are trying to finish things up.

Out of the Mouth:

Kinsley loves trains. Yesterday I took the kids for a walk and we heard the train that goes to Tamko but we couldn't see him. So we walked a little more and finally found him stopped on the other side of Broadway. We walked to a parking lot near Broadway and waved. The engineer waved back! Kins was so excited! She told Sarah, "Joe know who we are! I'm KinKin, an' there's BehBeh, and Drew, and Grant, and Kailyn, and Lukey!" ("Joe" is the name of a train in one of her favorite train books. A book that used to be one of Krista's favorites, and her daddy's favorite book.)

Programs:

The AWANA closing program was Wednesday. Hard to believe it's over!

On Monday the kids have their end of the year school program for CC. We'll be going to that.

The Music Stand:

The kids' bell practice has started! We've had one practice, and they did quite well. The Ladies' Ensemble is going to practice early tomorrow so we can get one more practice in. Our song is a bit more of a challenge than usual.

KDWC:

Closed until June.

Sewing Room:

Sarah is staying busy. She has a wedding dress to alter as well as whatever else she's working on. The other day she made some really cute girl's skirts. They were almost a hunter green with pockets and snaps. So cute.

Read Another Page:

I'm getting closer to being able to tell you I have proof copies! :D

Teacher's Lounge:

Closed for now.

Book Nook:

I've been doing a lot of reading these last two weeks. Maybe because I haven't been doing much writing. Anyway, here's my bookshelf. The Reluctant Bride (enjoyed it), Love is a Puzzle (interesting historical fiction), Pieces of Forever (mixed feelings on this), Remember Home (good, then dragged), Bear Country: A Teddy Bear's Tale (cute), Project Scrooge (Christmas but enjoyed), The Engagement Cover (didn't care for this one much), It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (liked this Christmas story), The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt (not bad, but not good), Manuscript for Murder (middle ground on this book). And that's my list right now. I'm almost done with a biography, and then I have two more books to read for my reading challenge.

Farewell:

I turned on the radio to listen to some lovely classical music while I wrote this but now some people are talking and I can't think while they talk. *waits* Now the music is back. I'm going to go do a little yard work. Well, maybe it's garden work. Dad has a list of things both outside and inside to work on today, so he'll be busy. Sarah is sewing but will have food to make for tomorrow since tomorrow is Graduates Honor Sunday, and we have a fellowship meal afterward. Mom will probably be busy doing a few different things. Oh, that reminds me, I need to get a short story printed for her to check. It's been on my computer for almost a month now.

Well, I hope you all enjoy the last two days of April! I'll write again some time.