Real Life Conversations

From my now officially teenaged daughter:

"Mom, don't drive so fast. I can't die now. I just got my new cell phone."

Beach Time

If you're interested in spending some time here:

Moving Target is on sale today here!

Eating Organic

Eating organic is hard. So hard that for a long time I didn't bother. Then we found out my oldest kid is allergic to preservatives. Hello, organic.

After I wrote about the Newman's Own coffee, I got the nicest note from the folks at Newman's and the opportunity to try more of their organic products. My family is now completely hooked. We each have our favorites, but I'll say that the Fig Newmans disappeared on the very first day and I'm pretty sure I had help eating them. My husband's favorite is the Hi-Protein Pretzels. My son loves the Newman-O's, especially the mint ones. The three year old next door likes the alphabet cookies the best. And my daughter and her friends like the Champion Chip cookies, especially with a little whipped cream smashed in between. Yum.

My daughter came home from a bunch of concerts with her T-shirt signed by the band members. But I got her beat. I got a note signed by Nell Newman herself.

Magically an Adult

I've been watching on facebook as one of my friends counts down to her 18th birthday. I remember doing the same thing. "I'm going to be an adult and there's nothing you can do about it," is the gist of how my thought pattern went at that point. If it were only that easy. You turn 18 and magically, you know the job you want, how to get it and you make enough money to pay the bills. You don't fight with your boyfriend (because after all, you are an adult). I'm pretty sure my parents were equally exasperated, amused, and scared out of their minds at the naivete.

Last summer I did a similar countdown, a countdown to 40. I thought a little about saying a countdown to being old...but I don't really feel that way. Granted there are more aches and pains, but I don't feel old. In fact, I still feel like that young person, starting out in life as an adult, ready to discover the world. At least now, with the advantage of perspective, I know I don't have it all figured out. But one thing I do know is that I want to live my life, not wait for things that are just around the corner. I want to be present, with my family, with my friends. I want to play with my dogs, sit in the sun, write the books that I know are in me.

Kids hate it when you say stuff like, "You've got your whole life ahead of you." But if I had to give one piece of advice to graduating seniors this year, it would be to slow down, enjoy the time, take some classes, figure out where God is leading you in life. Because you've got the next seventy years or so to be an adult.

Emerald Coast 911

In 6 days, Moving Target will be available to order at eHarlequin! MT hits retail store shelves everywhere on August 11!

And I have some very cool news about upcoming books...starting with Smoke Screen (January 2010), the series will be flashed Emerald Coast 911. Which has me thinking of all kinds of awesome law enforcement and first responder heroes (guys AND gals). I love it!


Ever wonder why it's called the emerald coast?

Bagel Love

Yesterday my kid and I were traveling and I had a bagel from Bagelheads in Pensacola, FL for lunch. A warm, toasty whole-wheat-everything bagel with yummy, creamy homemade strawberry cream cheese. It was so amazingly delicious that I'm still thinking about it and wanting another one. What that says about my thoughts and priorities, I'm not sure. Sigh.

Traveling Today

Hey y'all...I'm blogging at the Love Inspired Authors blog today about my love for Chick Fil A. It's a sad, sad thing, but apparently I'm not alone in that love. Check it out HERE!