I Just LOVE Staying Home!

Hello Friends!

If you've followed me very long, you'll know that beginning Jan. 1, I embarked on a new venture - staying home.

Many factors played into this decision - the main one being the death of my beloved in August. The goal for this new venture was/is to move this whole writing business (writing, editing, promoting, speaking, book signings & sales, etc) into a new level but most importantly - take time to heal.

Last week I talked about settling in and gave an idea of where I stood in implementing my plan and hope to have a much better report by the end of this month.

Well, instead of waiting, I think I'll fill you in on what I actually accomplished up through yesterday 2/2 and see what you think.....

#1 - I signed up as a Business/Finance Contributor for Associated Content which requires 3 articles on the topic per month - Done for Jan!

#2 - Continued working with Premium Promotional Services as an Associate in helping others promote their books - took on 1 client's continuing promo pkg - took on 2 individual client pkgs - Completed 1 and will complete the other this week! The continuing pkg is for 6 months so....more on that later.

#3 - Started calling Louisiana Libraries in hopes of getting my books in each Parish - have contacted 14 - 1 bought 6 books (3 titles 2each)!!!

#4 - Started setting up speaking engagements - have 3 lined up - Feb 23, March 9 & Oct 9.

#5 - Started setting up book signings - 1 lined up for April - Attended one with a fellow author in Jan and sold a few books!

#6 - Though not finished yet, I've continued writing a short story I began last May for White Rose Publishing's Hearts Crossing contest - since the contest is over and the winner published - I've changed the name and certain elements of the story and will submit it to WRP once complete - only 2 scenes left (less than 2k words to go!)

#7 - Submitted an essay to Chicken Soup for an upcoming anthology on Grief & Recovery

#8- Collected all necessary info for taxes, sorted and prepared spreadsheets, prepared & filed Fed & State returns - also did this for my daughter.

#9 - Set up guest blog events - 1 in March, 1 in May along with eggcerpt exchanges with Tina Gayle on Feb 19th & March 10th and a couple more that I don't have dates for yet.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something LOL- but along with all of this, I've babysat one or both of my grandchildren at least 1 day each week I've been off (funny how that happens) :-)

I prepared a new flower arrangement for Terry's grave (combination Valentine's Day & Easter), kept my house cleaner than it's been in a while LOL and still managed to find time to visit with friends and family & get out of the house at least 1 day a week!

As for the healing part - today I can honestly say I believe healing has begun. My days still range between the good, the bad, and the ugly but the good are well ~ good, the bad aren't as bad, and the ugly just as agonizing but not as frequent.

So there you have it - They say working from home takes discipline & dedication and most folks work twice as hard as those with a regular job - I must say after nearly 5 weeks of this new venture I agree ~ But let me tell you - I LOVE staying home!

Until later...take care, Be Blessed & remember....Starting over or beginning a new venture after major life change (marriage, child birth or empty nest, death or divorce) takes Courage and Faith!

The Inheritance is about the chance we all long for....the chance to start over. Read an excerpt here!

Resolutions & Goals

“Every step I take brings me closer to the realization of my dreams”

Well Friends, it's that time of the year again...time when everyone is thinking about resolutions and goals for the next year of our lives. Every year my goal always seems to be the same...Make enough $$ writing to stay home!

I’ve always wondered why I never seem to get ahead or gain victory in this area of my life until I read The Secret and I realized that victory is within me! Although many claim this book to be “unchristian” I find that it reiterates many Biblical principles.

However much I believe in the power of attraction, I must agree with Judi Moreo’s statement from her book You Are More Than Enough Achievement Journal, “Every step I take brings me closer to the realization of my dreams.”

Yes, the power of attraction works…but faith without works is dead. In other words, you have to do something! Even if that something is as simple as implementing the principles of The Bible and The Secret, you are still proactive in creating your life to be what you want it to be.

Experts say that it takes thirty-days to create a new habit, but I've found that it sometimes takes a lifetime to break old ones. When practicing both Biblical principles and those of The Secret, I’ve found that old ways of thinking/speaking are very hard to change. Oh, sure I may start out with a bang…all excited and expectant, but give it a month or so with little or no change and I’m sorely tempted (and very often) go back to the old negative patterns that are embedded deep within my subconscious.

Statistics show that people who make goals and write them down usually achieve more than those who merely think about what they’d like to accomplish. Visualization is also a powerful tool when it comes to making your dreams come true.

My greatest dream is to have enough $$ to stay home. There are only a few ways this life-long dream will come true….

1) Win the lottery (guess that means I have to do something and buy a ticket LOL!)

2) Sell a TON of books/short stories/articles/essays/etc (this is definitely in God’s hands—however I had 1 novel and 1 short story released in 2007 and have 2 novels and 2 short stories contracted for release in 2008 as well as numerous articles and essays to write/sell/post at sites that generate residual income)

3) Write/promote myself into NY Times Best Seller status (another feat that is in God’s hands; however His Word says that He will bless and multiply my efforts as long as I stay in balance between faith and works)

4) Work/invest/find ways to generate more income (ie; grants, write/edit for others, etc)

5) Dream/visualize/call those things that be not as though they are (Romans 4:17; I’ve created a vision board to help me with this)

I am – and will continue—to practice the principles of The Bible and The Secret to make my dreams come true!

How do you plan to make your dreams come true in 2008?

Leave a comment and let me know!

Until later remember....God has given YOU the power to create wealth! (Deut. 8:18)

Pamela S Thibodeaux

"Inspirational with an Edge!"