Is it Friday already? Well, I hope last Friday you enjoyed my new #TrueFictionFriday feature, about the woman with the issue of blood from Luke 8. For now, my goal is to do a new story every other Friday.
A couple of weeks ago I wrapped up 2018 with pictures and a post that hinted at 2019 being a big year in many ways. Well, today is the big reveal, so to speak 😉 Although most of these biggies are only impacting my little world, there will likely be shenanigans and giveaways happening in connection to this and that so I figured I’d give you a little heads up!
First of all, let’s acknowledge that it’s not merely 2019, it is also The Year of the Pig on the Chinese Calendar.
Okay. Moving on.
Come March, after my newest granddaughter celebrates her first birthday (a big event to Mimi!) my husband and I will be headed to Brazil with our church for our first mission trip together! He went to Mali back in 2000, and I went to the southern tip of Texas in 2008. Back then, we had to go alone so one of us could stay home with the kids, but now our kids are adults which has enabled all sorts of travel opportunities for us. I’m excited to meet the members of this sister church of ours in Brazil, and to work with them in the at-risk neighborhoods to minister God’s love to the kids by putting on a VBS. I’ll be in charge of ‘craft time’, which will be fun!
Also this spring, beginning in February, my publisher, Mountain Brook Ink, is kicking off a FIVE MONTH CELEBRATION to commemorate their five year anniversary! There will be prizes, party favors, sales, and exclusives for an extended period of FUN. If you’re not a part of our Facebook group or newsletter, I hope you’ll consider joining us for this extended ‘thank you’ party for our readers!
Speaking of publishing…I’ve been hinting that I’ve got something new in the works. Yep! I’m signing a new contract with MBI to write a three book YA Mystery series. A whodunnit for the young adult in all of us! Although the first book won’t be available until 2020, I may be looking for some beta readers and street team members as this year progresses. And no, I’m not leaving the Fantasy realm altogether. I’ve got another series (or two) that I’m working on but haven’t pitched to my publisher or anyone else yet.
In May we will be giving our lovely daughter Delaney in marriage to a young man she’s known since junior high. Anson and Delaney attended youth group and Travis Academy of Fine Arts together. They went on mission trips together (Billy and I had to wait until 29 years of marriage for our opportunity!). They were part of a church plant in Utah together. They dated. They broke up. They grew up. They reconnected, and now they’re tying the knot! Exciting 😀
This coming July marks a milestone birthday for me. I’ll be turning the big 5-0! I can’t even…
Yeah. I mean, I’m a grandma now right? 50 is a reasonable age to be a grandmother. But, wow. Weird. I’m really a 27 year old at heart but now I HAVE a 27 year old, so I guess I must’ve had a few more birthdays than her, right?
*sigh*
Well, while I continue to wrap my mind around that little math problem, I’ll also be thinking about how we can celebrate together with some giveaways and contests this summer, so stay tuned!
The other main event (am I allowed multiple main events?) comes this fall when my husband and I celebrate the big 3-0! It’s been 30 years of life with my best friend, raising four of the best kiddos, and enjoying crazy decisions together like moving a house in three pieces to the country when our youngest was two. (I know, right? What were we thinking???) We are hoping to go somewhere fantabulous (<—apparently that’s a word because there’s no red squiggly spellcheck line), like Italy or Ireland. We will be making that decision soon!
After that, it’s practically Christmas. Which makes it practically 2020. And did I mention that I’ll have a new book out in 2020? Whew, I can tell this year is going to fly by! Somewhere in all of this I will be meeting my half sister for the first time *squeeeal* (as big and important as any of the aforementioned things…I just don’t know when or where yet!) and attending the Oregon Christian Writer’s conference to hear Francine Rivers *wowsers* and hone my craft in their wonderful workshops.
So…c’mon now, you’ve got some fun stuff up your sleeve, don’t you? What are you looking forward to this year? Is there anything you’re dreading? I’d love to pray for you, if so!
In the meantime, I’m going to proclaim 2019 as The Year of the BIG!
So many big things to celebrate this year – congratulations! And count me in when you start thinking about beta-readers or street team members! A mission trip together will be so special! I went to Ecuador twice as a teen and think it’s a great growing experience.
I’m really, really hoping to finish my first draft for my WIP this year. I was supposed to do it last year but it will be done – and soon, I hope! And I’m really hoping to get to Realm Makers again. Some financial hurdles are in the way but I’m optimistically hopeful.
Thanks you, Kat! I love having you on my team 💜 And I’m on team Kat, rooting for you to finish!!!! I’d love to return the favor for you, beta reading, as well!