Math.

I just counted my words. 19,279.

And from what I found out from my good friend Google, an average page of a book has 250 words. Which means that 100 pages would have 25,000 words.

So I took that 19,279 and divided by 250.

Wow. I have about 77 1/2 book pages so far. I have written a lot. Who knew?

Learn.

I just finished the chapter I have been working on forever. And by forever I mean about three weeks. But in this process, that almost is forever. At that rate it would take me about 96 weeks to finish my rough draft (assuming I have the 32 chapters I am aiming for... one for each of my kids and one for me). So, yes, I need to get this show on the road. But you know what? I am glad this chapter took me three weeks. Because this was, by far, the most important chapter (at least in my mind) so far. This was not about cockroaches or funny anecdotes, or even about living in another culture. No, this was about the heart of a boy, and how that heart reached out, grabbed mine with both hands, and shook me awake.

See, I had up until this point in my story, both in the living it and the writing it, seen my students as the precious people they were/are. And I had enjoyed their company and learned to love them. But it was not until Rickonson swung that chair and Ronlok's head -- and the 24 hours that followed -- that I fully understood my role as their teacher. As a teacher. Although Ronlok received no more than a light tap on the head, thanks to her quick response to my scream across the classroom, it was I that received the wake-up blow to the heart. A teacher has so much to share with her students. She also has so much to learn.

Ready, Set, WRITE!

6:26p - I have 28 minutes before the timer goes off in the kitchen, first block of time I have had to sit in write in two weeks. Hate to be rushed like this, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Let's see what I can make happen...

7:02 - Ok, I lied. I took 36 minutes. And I got down 839 words. It isn't that much, but these days I take what I can get. Like they always say, it's about quality, not quantity.

Hopefully the quality is there, because I sure know the quantity is not!

March 2011.

"Hi Tiffany –

My name is Andrea and I’m the editorial assistant here at Guideposts magazine. We received your story about your life told through the cars you’ve owned over the years. We’d like to use it in our March 2011 issue. At your earliest convenience, could you please confirm your contact information below? We share this with our art department and the editor working on your story.


Thank you. We look forward to working with you!"



It's gonna happen! Look for it in March ;)

News: Don't Go There!

Was just browsing the MSN and came across this little article.

Number 5 on the list?

Bikini Atoll. Otherwise known as the home to the people of Ebeye.

But I don't want to take their advice. Give the option to go, and I will jump on it.

Answer.

I posted a couple of days ago my questions. Today I heard my answer. Brandon Heath was being interviewed on K-Love, and they asked, "Why did you choose to be a singer/songwriter?" His response: "I have discovered that all lives are stories to share, so I sing to share my story and the stories of others. I have also discovered that the truly amazing ones are those that include Jesus."

Thank you, Brandon, for being another answer to my many questions.

Time.

(Picture from Discovery.com)

I sit for an hour and write. And what do I have to show for it? 311 words. Sometimes they flow, sometimes they do not. I guess today is a "does not flow" day. So I will stop, I will rest, and I will try again tomorrow.