Hey Y'all, it's Spring Break!!! I'm so excited because the CK is home for the week and we are having a blast. We're shopping, going over my website design, and generally making mischief. She's a great girl and I cherish every minute I have with her.
And she's a big part of why I have the courage to write my stories. The CK is a brave, wonderfully talented, take it on the chin and get up again kind of girl. I guess you could say she's a Spunky Kid with a big heart. The girl is on fire and I love her energy, enthusiasm for life and the world around her.
Remember that no matter how important we think our work is that cherishing our families and our friends is far more important. At the end of my days, I hope that this is the lesson that my girl carries forward.
Who do you cherish? What crazy, fun things do you do together? If there was one person you could talk to again from your world, a family member or dear friend, who would that person be? For me it would be my Oma. I miss her. She was a Spunky Kid, too!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Monday, August 22, 2011
Look Out Vegas, Here I Come!
I've got a fabulous week planned. One filled with adventure, promise, love and joy. The adventure is my solo trip to Las Vegas on Thursday, the 25th. I'm always a bit nervous before I fly, well a lot nervous, but once I'm on my way I relax. This will be my second time to Las Vegas. I drove through it years ago without stopping. I'll be gone for 3 nights. And that means I'll be taking a break from the blog for the rest of the week. I will be on The Healthy Writer Blog on Wednesday, August 24th. Hope to see you there as I will be sharing a story about a relationship with my frenemy, the scale. Meanwhile, I have revising to do, packing, and coordinating a teen on the horizon. All my free time is going to those things.
I'm glad to have a holiday. I love breaks. This break is special because my niece is getting married at Mandalay Bay on Saturday. So that's the love part of my week. Their vows are also the promise part of my big week. I love watching people find each other and discover home. I love writing about that experience. And it is my privilege to participate in my niece and future nephew-in-law's wedding.
The joy will be in the gathering of family. My brother, SIL, another niece, my nephew and my future nephew-in-law's parents will be in Las Vegas as well. I can't wait to see my family again. We are so spread out that it's rare for us to spend time in the same room. They're flying to Vegas from Canada. I'm coming in from Alabama. Talk about a spread of folks! We're staying in a 9-bedroom house. Can't wait to see it!
The bonus about all of this is I get to confirm my research for another book while I am in Vegas. I have several scenes set in this locale and now I can take pictures and absorb the atmosphere. Who knows? I might even take some quarters and play the slots!
When I get back into town, I'll share all my adventures with you. So stay tuned!!
Smiles!!
I'm glad to have a holiday. I love breaks. This break is special because my niece is getting married at Mandalay Bay on Saturday. So that's the love part of my week. Their vows are also the promise part of my big week. I love watching people find each other and discover home. I love writing about that experience. And it is my privilege to participate in my niece and future nephew-in-law's wedding.
The joy will be in the gathering of family. My brother, SIL, another niece, my nephew and my future nephew-in-law's parents will be in Las Vegas as well. I can't wait to see my family again. We are so spread out that it's rare for us to spend time in the same room. They're flying to Vegas from Canada. I'm coming in from Alabama. Talk about a spread of folks! We're staying in a 9-bedroom house. Can't wait to see it!
The bonus about all of this is I get to confirm my research for another book while I am in Vegas. I have several scenes set in this locale and now I can take pictures and absorb the atmosphere. Who knows? I might even take some quarters and play the slots!
When I get back into town, I'll share all my adventures with you. So stay tuned!!
Smiles!!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Birthday Wishes and Memories of My Dad
My dad, Robert Alexander Doorenbos, was born in Alexandria, Egypt November 17, 1928. He passed away August 20, 2002 in Winnipeg, Canada. It's been a little over 8 years since he died, but I still miss him. He wasn't a perfect man, nor a perfect father, but he was a good man who loved me. He loved my husband, and he loved my daughter. There are days when I think to myself, wow, I wish Dad was here because he'd really enjoy this movie, this book, this drive, this scenery, this weather, this meal, this celebration.
I haven't written too much about him because how do I encapsulate his life? I missed a lot of years from the time I was 16 until I married at 22. Those years were lost for many reasons. Reasons that I don't discuss publicly. Suffice to say that he contributed to the reasons as much, if not more, than I did. I understand why and I have forgiven him, too. And in the forgiveness, I bought back a lot of years. Years filled with good memories, fellowship, love. Years where I shared my grown up life with him. Years where he became a friend, a father-in-law, an Opa.
One paragraph in my dad's memoir, written in 1991, describes his personality really well. He'd just been released from a Japanese concentration camp and was finally able to reunite with his mother and sister. He'd been in an all male camp for quite some time and in Camp 7. He wrote:
Back in Camp 7 it was not as crowded as when I arrived a few months earlier. Approximately 800 men and 110 boys had died in those six months. Rations had been so poor that diabetics did not need their insulin and they could not get it anyway. I went to see mother and Hetty in Camp 6, four miles away, a long walk. That night, on my way back, I got a lift in a truck with Japanese soldiers. Standing between them was a weird experience. All I owned in the world was shorts and a shirt, both tattered. My head been shaven at one time and grew back in irregular patches due to malnutrition. I weighed maybe 90 pounds and was covered with infected sores as every scratch festered. My arms and legs were wrapped in old dirty bandages which made me look like something pulled out of an Egyptian tomb. I must have been an awful sight and mother fainted when she saw me. It did not bother me too much. I felt fine after a week of adequate rations and had not looked in the mirror for six months.
I guess you could say I get my ability to find the silly in the serious from my Dad.
So now, as a memorial to him, I'd like to share my impressions of Dad's life based on how we authors tag/brand ourselves. Here are some words that I believe best describe my Dad.
Robert Alexander Doorenbos.
Survivor, artist, calligrapher, painter, cross country skier, adventurer, bibliophile, intellectual, engineer, architect, explorer, traveler, photographer, writer, cook, baker, Mason, toastmaster, cat lover, loner, humble, curious, generous, gifted, husband, brother, son, uncle, father, father-in-law, friend, Opa, man
I miss my dad. I miss our talks, our trips to the museums, and our mutual curiosity about life. Most of all I miss all the memories I still want to make with him.
Happy Birthday Dad. May your room in Heaven have an easel, a map, and a walking stick.
I haven't written too much about him because how do I encapsulate his life? I missed a lot of years from the time I was 16 until I married at 22. Those years were lost for many reasons. Reasons that I don't discuss publicly. Suffice to say that he contributed to the reasons as much, if not more, than I did. I understand why and I have forgiven him, too. And in the forgiveness, I bought back a lot of years. Years filled with good memories, fellowship, love. Years where I shared my grown up life with him. Years where he became a friend, a father-in-law, an Opa.
One paragraph in my dad's memoir, written in 1991, describes his personality really well. He'd just been released from a Japanese concentration camp and was finally able to reunite with his mother and sister. He'd been in an all male camp for quite some time and in Camp 7. He wrote:
Back in Camp 7 it was not as crowded as when I arrived a few months earlier. Approximately 800 men and 110 boys had died in those six months. Rations had been so poor that diabetics did not need their insulin and they could not get it anyway. I went to see mother and Hetty in Camp 6, four miles away, a long walk. That night, on my way back, I got a lift in a truck with Japanese soldiers. Standing between them was a weird experience. All I owned in the world was shorts and a shirt, both tattered. My head been shaven at one time and grew back in irregular patches due to malnutrition. I weighed maybe 90 pounds and was covered with infected sores as every scratch festered. My arms and legs were wrapped in old dirty bandages which made me look like something pulled out of an Egyptian tomb. I must have been an awful sight and mother fainted when she saw me. It did not bother me too much. I felt fine after a week of adequate rations and had not looked in the mirror for six months.
I guess you could say I get my ability to find the silly in the serious from my Dad.
So now, as a memorial to him, I'd like to share my impressions of Dad's life based on how we authors tag/brand ourselves. Here are some words that I believe best describe my Dad.
Robert Alexander Doorenbos.
Survivor, artist, calligrapher, painter, cross country skier, adventurer, bibliophile, intellectual, engineer, architect, explorer, traveler, photographer, writer, cook, baker, Mason, toastmaster, cat lover, loner, humble, curious, generous, gifted, husband, brother, son, uncle, father, father-in-law, friend, Opa, man
I miss my dad. I miss our talks, our trips to the museums, and our mutual curiosity about life. Most of all I miss all the memories I still want to make with him.
Happy Birthday Dad. May your room in Heaven have an easel, a map, and a walking stick.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Jingle Bell Juggling of Priorities
The week did start off with a not so nice start--never a good time to hear yucky news. But this is a part of life. We don't get to write happy endings in the real world. Perhaps that is why I like writing fiction--I get to be Supreme Ruler of my Mini Universe. And the good guys and gals always win in the end.
Sigh.
But despite ick news and the upcoming chaos, one thing must continue happening. Writing. I know, right?How can I write when I am worried? Well, worrying won't make the matters facing me about my FIL go away. They'll overtake and overshadow my life. I have zero control over those events.
I do have control over my response to those events. I do have control over what I do with my time now. And I do have control over my glorious obsession and pursuit of my lovely goal. Yesterday's news was a reminder to me: we only get one shot to live. If we are lucky enough to live in a situation where we are privileged to pursue higher goals like expressing ourselves creatively, then we are indeed blessed.
So--chin up and first things first. I called my darling FIL--he's in good spirits. We had a "man that was a crappy week for you talk" and discussed an upcoming visit before Christmas (on the road again). That's all I can do there--let him know we love him.
Second on the list, call my CP in AL and discuss our goals, the market, publishing, our writing direction and her quick thoughts about my first 29 pages (editing for MAGGIES and other contests). Then after far too long a talk for her as she had to get ready for a lunch (but oh it is wonderful to talk about writing), I started in on the current WIP. Organizing my next few scenes and chapters, clipping them together, slashing words, making notes about cuts and more. Now I have something to input into the computer tomorrow.
The goal for this month is "flexible writing." And that's all I can ask of myself. This isn't the time to go nuts and start a massive new project. Nope. It's about keeping the peeps in my head, tossing around ideas and working slowly toward the new year. Do I beat myself over the head if I don't manage to write at all? Nope? The goal is an hour a day. Some days might lead to more hours, others not any at all. But by January 1, I will be ahead of the game because I gave myself permission to follow my "a little is better than none at all" rule.
Try it. I learned how to write in a box when I went through a massive move over a year ago. I learned to take fifteen minutes here and there--I learned to stop to read ahead and edit hard copy. I learned to go back and input my changes and make notes about the story.
Sometimes when crazy happens, order can be imposed. Now I know the direction, tho' not all the scenes of this current WIP. I know I need to do some research, but it doesn't have to happen now. And best of all, I know I have renewed my focus for the upcoming year.
I'm excited about the new direction and about my mini list of goals that are building in my head. Oh, the fun I'll have creating my spreadsheet for 2010. Best of all, I get to reflect and review over all the accomplishments and goals attained in 2009. Wow, I can't wait.
This is why it is vital to keep going--when you can--during high seasons and times when life just isn't cooperating. You will slowly plod along and get through the muck and the fireworks. And you know, sometimes it is good to slow down and move the great conductor's rhythm. Surrender to the flow you are in--work with it--think of it like a rip tide. Don't fight it, float out with the pulling waters, and then ease back to shore.
And here's the best part, by writing even a little today, I managed to feel good about that goal. And I managed to feel no remorse about putting the valuable time into being a DIL, a mom shopping for Christmas, a wife comforting her husband, and a woman taking care of herself.
Sigh.
But despite ick news and the upcoming chaos, one thing must continue happening. Writing. I know, right?How can I write when I am worried? Well, worrying won't make the matters facing me about my FIL go away. They'll overtake and overshadow my life. I have zero control over those events.
I do have control over my response to those events. I do have control over what I do with my time now. And I do have control over my glorious obsession and pursuit of my lovely goal. Yesterday's news was a reminder to me: we only get one shot to live. If we are lucky enough to live in a situation where we are privileged to pursue higher goals like expressing ourselves creatively, then we are indeed blessed.
So--chin up and first things first. I called my darling FIL--he's in good spirits. We had a "man that was a crappy week for you talk" and discussed an upcoming visit before Christmas (on the road again). That's all I can do there--let him know we love him.
Second on the list, call my CP in AL and discuss our goals, the market, publishing, our writing direction and her quick thoughts about my first 29 pages (editing for MAGGIES and other contests). Then after far too long a talk for her as she had to get ready for a lunch (but oh it is wonderful to talk about writing), I started in on the current WIP. Organizing my next few scenes and chapters, clipping them together, slashing words, making notes about cuts and more. Now I have something to input into the computer tomorrow.
The goal for this month is "flexible writing." And that's all I can ask of myself. This isn't the time to go nuts and start a massive new project. Nope. It's about keeping the peeps in my head, tossing around ideas and working slowly toward the new year. Do I beat myself over the head if I don't manage to write at all? Nope? The goal is an hour a day. Some days might lead to more hours, others not any at all. But by January 1, I will be ahead of the game because I gave myself permission to follow my "a little is better than none at all" rule.
Try it. I learned how to write in a box when I went through a massive move over a year ago. I learned to take fifteen minutes here and there--I learned to stop to read ahead and edit hard copy. I learned to go back and input my changes and make notes about the story.
Sometimes when crazy happens, order can be imposed. Now I know the direction, tho' not all the scenes of this current WIP. I know I need to do some research, but it doesn't have to happen now. And best of all, I know I have renewed my focus for the upcoming year.
I'm excited about the new direction and about my mini list of goals that are building in my head. Oh, the fun I'll have creating my spreadsheet for 2010. Best of all, I get to reflect and review over all the accomplishments and goals attained in 2009. Wow, I can't wait.
This is why it is vital to keep going--when you can--during high seasons and times when life just isn't cooperating. You will slowly plod along and get through the muck and the fireworks. And you know, sometimes it is good to slow down and move the great conductor's rhythm. Surrender to the flow you are in--work with it--think of it like a rip tide. Don't fight it, float out with the pulling waters, and then ease back to shore.
And here's the best part, by writing even a little today, I managed to feel good about that goal. And I managed to feel no remorse about putting the valuable time into being a DIL, a mom shopping for Christmas, a wife comforting her husband, and a woman taking care of herself.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
A Weekend Break
I am still on medication, but I am definitely on the mend. I can't wait to get the test results back so I know what I am dealing with and we can fix it! Friday night I went shopping with my daughter and then home to cookout. Just as we were wrapping up a late night grill session and getting ready to sit down, the doorbell rang. My crazy, ineffectual neighbor showed up with her 10 yr. daughter -- locked out. The whole scenario was weird. I think if we hadn't pushed for her to call her husband to see if he was home with the other two children, she'd have stayed the night. We finally convinced her to go check if he was home after three unanswered calls. We told her to leave her daughter with us until she got home and knew if she could get in. We got a call a few minutes later, yeah, he was home. So my daughter walked her's home and we finally ate our meal at 8:30PM!
Now what husband comes home after his wife and daughter, walks in the door and sees they're not there, and doesn't freak out about where the other half of his family is????? I tell you, there is a story in this situation. One I am afraid isn't good. But what to do? I feel for the children. But I don't know what is going on other than idiocy and complete lack of planning. These two shouldn't have had one child, let alone three. So sad. But unless I see evidence of real abuse, I cannot do a thing to help them.
On Saturday I hosted a baby shower for my other neighbor. It was so much fun. And I met some wonderful people. We had all ages here from teenager to grandmother. Beautiful homemade blankets, quilted and crocheted, were given. Blankets with the baby's name on it, presents for big sister, adorable clothes, practical items. As always, bring a group of women together and there is laughter and a sense of hope for the future. And we are all very happy for this family. She'd had a terrible miscarriage, one that almost killed her, nearly a year ago. Now they are welcoming a new baby girl into their family and they are ecstatic.
This family is a good family. A family where all are involved in the process of parenting, loving and raising the children. And what a difference it makes. Their first child is a delight--a bundle of love and affection filled with hugs and enthusiasm for all she greets. I have no worries for this family.
Two days: two views.
Today we are focusing on family here at home. First my darling daughter has an early voice lesson. Off to the best voice coach we go. Then when we return, we've planned omelets and bacon we three. Then the usual homework and hanging out, grilling tonight, chillaxing with each other. Our daughter is 14, almost 15, and she is a mature (usually) and giving individual with optimism for her future. I'd like to think we had a bit a of a hand in guiding her in that direction.
We have three stories this weekend. One a sad family filled with characters that could be in a OPRAH Book Club novel. In another, we have an Inspirational Love Story filled with family and love and values. In ours? Well, I guess we are the contemporary romance version of a SuperRomance. My DH and I met nearly 24 yrs ago, had a whirlwind romance and got married after six weeks! The real work didn't begin till after we said our vows. But we had one mutual goal, one plan, from which we never veered: we started our family when we became a couple. Neither one of us had great family backgrounds, I on my own at 16 and he without a dad early in life. But we were determined to have a strong family. Our family may not be a big one. But it is a strong one.
I wonder why some people fail to see that family requires effort?
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