Accepted

Well, I applied to two different publishers to blog about their books.  So far, I have a 50% success rate.  One publisher wants me to have a more established blog (completely understandable) and will check back in with me in a month or so.  The other will be shipping me a book soon.  So exciting!!  In the meantime, I get to write about whatever I want.  My apologies that my life is not more exciting.  I suppose I could take this time to tell you a little (or a lot) more about myself and my family.

I am a thirtysomething wife and mother.  My son, we'll call him "Cowboy," is four and will be five in March.  My daughter, let's call her "Toodles," is one and also has a birthday in March.  These are the nicknames my dad has given them, and they seem to have stuck.  Also, I am just not comfortable with putting everything out there in the great wide open.  However, if you are reading this because you already know me, then you know my children's real names and the nicknames shouldn't matter much.  My husband, Luke (real name), and I have been married for about 9 1/2 years.  About a year ago, he accepted a position with Coca-Cola in "Nowhere," New Mexico.  He took this job partly so that we could be closer to my mother, who was terminally ill, and partly because his job in the big city STUNK.  I mean, it paid the bills and all, but he worked 12+ hours a day, six days a week in addition to a commute that was nearly an hour each way.  He left before the kids got up in the morning and often did not make it home before their bedtime.  It was difficult, but it helped to get us where we are today.  And, we are adjusting to life in a town without a Target, a Starbucks, or a Chick-Fil-A.  We do have family here, which is a first for us.  For more than 10 years we lived at least 3 1/2 hours from our nearest relatives.  During that time we made some really awesome friends, and we do miss them terribly. 

As for me, well, I am a full time wife and mommy.  Many women are full time wives and mommies in addition to being full or part time other things outside the home.  God bless them!  I'm not sure how I managed everything before I stopped teaching.  I did teach for 10 years before my daughter was born and we decided it was just as cost effective for me to be home with the kids rather than paying for daycare.  I love being home with my kids, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  But it's not always easy, and it's not for everyone.  Some days I want to lock myself in the bathroom and scream.  Most days, though, I am just thankful that God has provided for us so that I am able to be with them. 

I do plan to return to work one day, probably once both kids are in school.  I don't think, however, that I will go back to teaching.  I would really like to be a school librarian, though.  And, I think I'd be good at it.  Unfortunately, it appears as though NM schools are trying to phase out librarians.  Maybe I should run for a position on the board of education instead...  Either way, that's in the future, which is always uncertain.  For now, I must focus on the present and the load of laundry in the dryer calling my name.

Thanks for reading!

Darby