Beautiful Life....

Since giving up the day job last October, I've become accustomed to 'sleeping in'. For me, sleeping in means sleeping until 7:30, maybe even 8!  This is a big deal when one considers that I used to be up at 3:30 or 4:00 every morning in order to write before leaving for work.

Yesterday, my daughter and grandson surprised us with a visit. Last evening, I remembered why I didn't write when my kids were little. It is next to impossible while they are awake! It is like trying to put pantyhose on over bluejeans. ;o)

This morning, I'm letting my daughter sleep in. I'm in my office with my two and a half year old grandson. I'm at my computer while he plays with legos, and anything else he can get his hands on! He's rattling on and on about how he needs to 'fick' it. He loves tools and fixing things. Last night, his Papa Kevin actually let him use a small drill to unscrew and then re-screw screws into the drywall on the outside walls of my office. I don't know who had more fun, but I do know who was most proud.

In the quiet of this morning, with little Carter playing at my feet, it hit me again just how blessed I am. I have four really great kids, three perfect grandkids (I married young the first time -ha!) I have a wonderful husband, a roof over our heads, food in our bellies. I have great parents, rotten yet wonderful brothers, and a beautiful extended family. Good friends, great readers, and good neighbors. I feel like I'm living in utopia half the time. (The other half resembles a Three Stooges movie, but that is only when I'm alone with husband and son!)

I have three books flying up the charts at Amazon. All three of them are on the Top 100 Best Sellers List in Historical Fiction and Historical Romance. Wee William's Woman has taken off like a rocket. I have readers contacting me to let me know they've just started reading it, are in the middle, or have just finished it. I love hearing from you! ;o)

I am blessed with such a beautiful life. Ten years ago, I never would have thought any of this would  be possible. I certainly couldn't have imagined such a peaceful life. I owe that to my husband. He has this very unique way of keeping me calm yet letting me be excited and happy. I call it sedated exuberance. ;o)

God has blessed me beyond what I think I deserve. My mother-in-law says not to question it but to simply be thankful. ;o) I am. Very thankful!

I also know that I would not be where I am at this moment if it weren't for all of the wonderful readers out there who have taken such a strong liking to the Clan MacDougall. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times and I'll keep saying it: I owe it all to you. You really have helped make my dreams come true. I am forever and eternally in your debt. Thank you.

My grandson is now in the  hands of his uncle, which means I need to step away from the computer and see what the heck they are up too! It has gotten far too quiet up stairs! ;o)

Have a beautiful day and my God bless each and every one of you!

Hugs and gratitude,
Suzan

Blizzard Blessings

I hope everyone is safe today. Last night was our first blizzard of the winter of 2012/2013. I'm so very happy that I didn't have to dig out the car, warm it up, find my winter boots, and try to trek to work this morning! I get to stay here where it is nice and warm.  Okay, my DH would have dug out the car, but I think that would be easier than searching the house for winter boots. He knows where the snow is. I haven’t a clue where my winter boots are! ;o)

Yes, I realize many of you do have to dig out and drive on treacherous roads to get to your jobs. I hope that you all remain safe today and that it isn't too bad where you are.

I realized this morning that this will be the first Christmas break in years that I didn't have to take my son to day care or guiltily leave him alone all day. (He's 14-almost 15 now, so he doesn't need day care. Unless my dear husband Kevin is here and then they BOTH need it as they tend to get into too much trouble when left unattended, but I digress!)

This is the first time in years that I will get to enjoy a Christmas break with my son and my husband. We've never been blessed with enjoying a vacation together as a family. The last 'vacation' Kevin and I had together was our honeymoon in 2005. We were always working, but this year is different. Because of past job schedules we’ve simply never had the opportunity to spend more than a three or four day weekend together. 

Now, we are all blessed with new jobs that will allow us to spend the next couple of weeks together. Thankfully, my husband's job (he teaches young men how to become great carpenters) is less than a mile from home. In the past, he's had to drive an hour or more in this awful weather. He's a carpenter, so the location and type of work changed from week to week, and sometimes day to day. 

This afternoon will be the start of our first Christmas break together and I am really looking forward to it. I might change my mind in a few days for I'll now be able to see what they do, or used to do, on these Christmas vacations while I was at work and they were here alone all day! 

Honestly, none of this would be possible if it weren’t for my readers. As you all know, I was able to give up my day job a couple of months ago and now I get to write full time. 

This was actually one of the things I was looking forward to the most, hunkering down and writing while it is snowing outside. It was a romantic notion I had for years, to be tucked inside, safe and warm, typing away at the keyboard, working on a book. Now that day dream has turned into a reality and I owe it all to you. 

Please know that I’m thinking of all of you this holiday season and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Hanukah! May the good lord bless each and every one of you and may all your dreams come true!

Hugs,

Suzan