On January 3rd I’ll post a blog about goal setting and the coming year–but today I want to do something a little different. New Year’s resolutions are all fine and dandy, but I think it’s also a good idea to look back over the previous year and celebrate our accomplishments. Too often we focus on the negative, we put all our attention on what we failed to do. This year, instead of beating ourselves up, let’s remember the good times we had!
Me and Cheryl St.John on disco night.
In April, my critique group traveled to the Romantic Times Convention in Kansas City. We booked adjoining rooms and brought more chocolate and snacks than I’d care to admit.
Author Ann Stephens and I share a table at an agent party.
We laughed and goofed off, taught a fabulous workshop, signed books, learned a little something, and generally had an awesome time.
This fall our local ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) group attended a quilt show.
Author Cathy Richmond admires a quilt.
We also celebrated National Authors’ Day by having lunch together.
Authors Lorna Seilstad and Cindy Salzman share a smile.
We celebrated Christmas along with a good-natured photo bomber…
I swung from the St. Louis Arch.
Did I accomplish everything I intended? No. Not even close. But I sure had a good time trying!
How about you? What is your fondest memory from the past year? One commentor will win an advance copy of The Marshal’s Ready-Made Family.
The Marshal’s Ready-Made Family
Available February, 2014
A Marriage of Necessity
Gentlemen don’t court feisty straight shooters like JoBeth McCoy. Just as she’s resigned to a lifetime alone, a misunderstanding forces the spunky telegraph operator into a marriage of convenience. Wedding the town’s handsome new marshal offers JoBeth a chance at motherhood, caring for the orphaned little girl she’s come to love.
Garrett Cain will lose guardianship of his niece, Cora, if he stays single, but he knows no woman could accept the secrets he’s hidden about his past. The lawman can’t jeopardize Cora’s future by admitting the truth. Yet when unexpected danger in the small town threatens to expose Garrett’s long-buried secret, only a leap of faith can turn a makeshift union into a real family.
A wife and mother of three, Sherri’s hobbies include collecting mismatched socks, discovering new ways to avoid cleaning, and standing in the middle of the room while thinking, “Why did I just come in here?” A reformed pessimist and recent hopeful romantic, Sherri has a passion for writing. Her books are fun and fast-paced, with plenty of heart and soul. Write to Sherri at P.O. Box 116, Elkhorn, NE, 68022, email at sherri@sherrishackelford.com or visit sherrishackelford.com.
My fondest memory of the past year is taking my daughter to swimming lessons for the first time. Always fun watching how happy she is
Campbellamyd at gmail dot com
AmyC, that’s a wonderful memory!
Seeing my mom’s old home filled with a family enjoying themselves.
My fondest memory is seeing the faces of my grandchildren as they delight in the activities at DisneyWorld. Their little eyes lit up in It’s A Small World, watching them wave at the characters, hearing them explain the exciting ride they just got off of.. I wouldn’t take anything for all of those precious moments.
Cate & Melanie…more great memories! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hope you have a fantastic 2014!
Fondest memory- Going to the zoo with an eighteen month old and watching her eyes fill with wonder and excitement. She saw her picture books come alive.
What fun! I love the pictures you shared. It looks like you all know how to have fun. 🙂
A good memory for me is getting our “new to us” vehicle. I know, it seems superficial to pick an object as my best memory of – but it included the whole family and a very providential way of finding it.
Wow, fondest memory of the last year. That’s tough. I do know that this morning I was having coffee with My Cowboy and we were talking about tax deductions. (yeah, how fond of memories can you get) but we got onto traveling for my books and started talking about the ACFW conference. The American Christian Fiction Writers Conference.
And I had a meeting scheduled with my editor and agent.
Well, guess what? Mary-of-the-Swiss-Cheese-Brain had the time wrong and I was at what we call the Genre Dinner. And I’m dressed up like a cowboy. Guess what? I can dress up like a cowboy without even going shopping.
And all of a sudden here comes My Cowboy, he had to practically MANHANDLE the ladies at the door to get past because he did NOT have the right name tag. (NO NAME TAG AT ALL OF COURSE) to get to me. My phone rang in my room, where I’d wandered away from it, but he was there. My agent called, ‘WHERE’S MARY, SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE MEETING WITH ME AND HER EDITOR RIGHT NOW!!!????”
So My Cowboy moved heaven and earth and one lovely woman on guard duty at the door to get to me and drag me out of the genre dinner to go to the meeting, which I was about 15 minutes late for.
So he was a true hero.
And my editor, a very nice lady, couldn’t have been sweeter about it, God bless her.
But here’s the memory that I like so much.
Here I am all decked out. Dressed in black head to toe. Cowboy boots, black jeans, a black cowgirl shirt with silver stud buttons and matching studs at the collar and wrists and a black cowboy hat on and I go practically running into the bar at the hotel. I’m sure I looked just ridiculous.
And my editor and agent get one look at me and grin.
I smiled and apologized PROFUSELY for being late and then said to my editor, “I’m just dressed like this because I’m sellin’ books, Charlene. I’m always sellin’ books.”
She laughed and gave me a high-five and said, “That’s what I want to hear.”
And we all just went on to have a good meeting.
Laurie – what a great trip to the zoo!
Susan, there’s nothing like a good story to end the year. Sounds like your car shopping was a ‘good story :)’
Mary C., Nothing like a cowboy to save the day!
Hmmm, I guess the memory that stands out for me was seeing my little nephew off to Kindergarten… he had so much fun going on the school bus… every day telling what he has done…
Hi Sherri, what a terrific year you had! I enjoyed meeting a few fillies at RWA in Atlanta, but I must say, the stand-out moment of last year was the onco’s announcement that my hubby is now CURED of the testicular cancer he battled five years ago.
On a lighter note, my just-turned-seven years old grandson lost his two front teeth within twenty four hours last week. Yes, I’ve been singing that dumb song for days LOL.
Merry Christmas to all!
Colleen – don’t those kindergartners seem tiny?
Tanya – Fabulous news about your husband!!!
Without my glasses, I read “goat selling” instead of “goal setting”. Now if that don’t beat all?? The past year was more like goat selling anyway. Lost my husband the end of October, so now I am starting all over in the “goal setting” area. It could go back to the goats, too. But, thanks for a great year of reading. All of you P&P Fillies. Loved every minute.
Merry Christmas.
Hi Sherri,
I like how you looked back on your accomplishments in your post. Very inspiring! The pics were fun and I enjoyed reading about your year. Good luck with your beautiful book and enjoy the coming holiday! Merry Christmas!!
I had an incredible year of travel last year. It was the second year of my husband’s two year contract in the Middle East. We visited Egypt, Italy and Jordan. But you know what my favorite memory is? Coming home the day before Thanksgiving and my grandchildren running toward me with open arms!
Mary J. Please accept my sincerest sympathies on your loss. Peace on your journey this coming year.
Charlene – It’s all about friends and family, isn’t it? We sure had a great time this year.
Tanya – What an amazing year of travel!!! I’m envious 🙂
Sherri, remember, I get one of these books! You promised! I want to see how it turned out after beta-reading it! 🙂 You said there were changes made after I read it and I can’t wait to see what they are! Congrats on the book!!! Merry Christmas!!!
Valri
Hello, Valri! I was just thinking about you 🙂 I’ve definitely got a book for you.
My fondest memory of the year was going to the hospital to meet birth parents who then chose us to place their newborn daughter with for adoption… that day! What a wonderful surprise and blessing <3
Of course it’s the pink hair front and center. lol