Chautauqua Faculty Manuscript Reader-Summer Thoughts- Embarrassed at a Party

Well, exciting mail today (we were out of town yesterday). I found out who my manuscript reader is at Chautauqua. I had no idea I'd find out prior to attending the workshop, so I was especially thrilled to get the news. So, wanna know who it is? (Drumroll, please) Susan Williams Beckhorn, author of WIND RIDER, one of the BEST books I've read this year. I'm so thrilled and humbled to be pair with such a brilliant and accomplished author. Woo hoo!

So now I'm home for the week to teach Bible school and send the kids. Tomorrow I get to depict Miriam and send baby Moses off in the bullrushes. It should be fun. If anyone out there has any great insights into Miriam's character arc (I know how you writer-types are), please share asap!

My oldest daughter is off visiting my mom for the week. I already miss her so much. She just turned 12 yesterday, and she's really an awesome kid. I'm so proud to be her mom. I don't know what it is about summer, but I just fall in love with my kids all over again. What a privilege to have children, these wondrous creatures. I feel really greedy about them these days. I want to hold them tight and not let go.

I attended a lovely gathering tonight at the home of a friend. (Can I interject here that they have the COOLEST house on the water? Remind me to tell you about it sometime..) Anyway, it was a very nice cook-out with awesome ribs and good company. Kids had a ball, and so did we. Except for one thing. For some stupid reason, I thought it was a swimming/water thing, so I wore my swimsuit (as did the rest of my family per my instructions). It was NOT a swimming/water thing, so I had to walk around all night in my swimsuit (with a cover-up, thank God, although it didn't cover nearly enough). So, just another way God is working on my character. It must need a lot of work.