How To Move Without Losing Your Mind!

Maybe the title of this should be: "How To Move Without Losing Your Mind - Or Your Husband's!"

Yes, we are moving - or sort of. We have bought a home in Branson, MO and we will be moving up there in the next few months but we will be keeping a condo in OK as well...so during those next few months I am going to be blog about how to do all of this and survive at the same time.

So many of you followed me as I wrote a book last year in 26 days, I thought perhaps you would enjoy this process as well....so here we go!

Robert and I were born in OK and have spent the majority of our lives as Okies. We love this part of the country and never thought we would live anywhere else. Of course, we both spent part of our childhood in Texas (me more than him) but ended up back in OK over 40 years ago. (How could it have been so long?!?!?) Toward the end of their lives, all four of our parents were here once again and so were our children.

Well...that has all changed. Our parents are all gone now and our children are in different states and last year Robert began to talk more consistently about completely retiring and things just began to evolve.

I finished writing How To Get and Keep A Job about the first of March in 2009. About that same time Rita Goad and I reconnected after they moved back to OK and the Lord lead us to this creative and ever expanding project of putting together books of stories and advice for Christian women from Christian women. (Check out teafortheheart.com)

Both projects exploded about the same time and I (we) signed a contract for both books in June of that year. Little did I know what a year it was going to be.

Back to April: Robert and I decided to take a little holiday and went to Branson. On the way up there we began to talk about his retirement once again and that it would be nice for him to be very close to lakes (there are 5 very close to Branson) and lots of good golf courses, lots of good entertainment in a Christian atmosphere and since I can write anywhere I can get to a computer, where I am doesn't matter. (Except I very much prefer 'pretty'.)

Since we had a couple of free days while we were there...some interesting things began to happen....but that is for next time.

Hope you will join me on this journey. I think it will be fun and I "think" we will survive!!

Life is too short to skip the chololate!

On February 1st I made a pledge to write a book in 28 days. Many of you followed me and supported me as I went through that process. In 26 days of work I completed 'How To Get and Keep A Job." It is a book that not only helps you get a job but shows you how to keep it and be on the leading edge in this competitive market. As one publisher said, "If this is not a needed book in the country, I don't know what would be." An HR Training Manager who reviewed it said, "Read it! Do It!"

Well....138 days from inception I was offered a contract from a top ten publisher! Today was certainly a 'chocolate' day for me!! We still have a few questions to discuss, but if all goes well, on Monday we will be on our way. The ideas are flowing....this book needs to be in many places as soon as possible. It needs to be where it can help people with the financial challenges that almost 10% of the nation is dealing with right now. I pray that the Lord will guide us as we make those choices and I cherish your prayers as well.

Thanks for staying with me on this journey. Invite others to enjoy the trip and we will travel together to see where this leads.

Day 4 - The New Book

Interesting day. I read more of the guide today and got into how to break the topic into chapters and the chapters into sub topics and then turn the sub topics into questions and then use three words or phrases to answer each question. Whew!! That was a mouthful and that is how I felt after reading all of that information. I am glad Daws said that a lot of people have a tendency to skip this part of the preparation and "Don't!" because it will make the final version flow much better and be easier to write. Honestly, if he had not said "Don't" I probably would have skipped it. I am a pretty good off the cuff writer and usually organize in my head before I start writing. However, I pledged to try this technique and I am going to stick with it.

Most of this evening I have spent going over research materials. I have researched this topic for probably two decades and I wanted to see if any of it is still valid enough to use at this date and time. Still not sure. I have lots more to review.

Long days and then I dream about this book at night. Fun though and I would recommend it to anyone. It is a wonderful experience.

Day 2 - The New Book

Bite size pieces...that really is the trick.

Most of the time when I am writing I marathon and am totally wiped out by the time I am finished. This time I am doing it in bite size pieces and it is amazing....it is still happening.

Today I took the 147 bits of information and began to put them into like sections. It looks like the book will be broken down into four sections with numerous topics under each section. Of course much work is left to be done on getting the wording right on titles, but it is started.

The first three sections are pretty well outlined. The fourth...well...it needs more work. I know what it will contain but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Tonight, I am going to bed. Sweet dreams to all and to all a good night.