Susan Lower's Blog, page 9
May 12, 2016
#MorningMusing Going Out On A Limb
This morning while I stood at my back door sipping a cup of tea I watched a squirrel sit in our tree. The squirrel seemed to be awaking with the morning. It rubbed little saucer eyes and stretched where it had laid huddled in sleep for the night. It scuttled up a branch, tasted the fattening buds, and proceeded to the whole way to the very top it could be in the tree.
At that moment, I felt I had a lot in common with that squirrel. We are all just climbing a tree, and just like that squirrel I find myself still sitting at the base where the tree splits and extends in many different ways. We’ve all got a goal; we’ve got to get to the top.
photo credit via animalwall
But at that serene moment, one of my kiddos screamed and another yelled “MOM!” A saw a flash of red go up the stairs and very unhappy child chasing after. I looked back at the split of the base of the tree.
Above on the hanging branch the squirrel sampled his new found fare. I sighed, put down my tea and trotted off to bring peace back to the house.
Life seems like a thousand branches: some thick, some thin, some snap at the slightest pressure. Whether we are hanging by a limb in our career, climbing to reach further or lounging between splits—our base continues to be our foundation.
via words of encouragement pinterest
I don’t know about many of you, but my base is my family. And my branches have become my many passions in life. While I’m learning to prune them and rake away the dead leaves so I can make a greater impact.
Do me a favor. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do more than one thing. If you feel your heart tugged in different directions, climb that branch and follow it to the end of the limb before you prune it. You never know what you might find budding at the tip of a twig.
May 7, 2016
If You’re a Mom Then…
feature image credit via flickr cc Carol VanHook
May 5, 2016
Celebrating 1000 Sales On Etsy
I am sorry, but I couldn’t help it. I just had to share this today!
This week while I was checking in with my Etsy Shop, I noticed something big. Or at least it’s very big for me.
I’ve made 1,000 sales in my shop!!!
I didn’t know what to expect when I opened this shop. For me, this number is huge! It’s a milestone.
When I graduated high school I had three goals for my life.
run a business
write a book
be a mom
I’m doing all of those things now. And I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends, and all of you.
THANK YOU!!
If feels good to celebrate in “little things” in our life.
Have you hit a milestone of your own? Please share it here. I’d love to celebrate with you!
Snoopy dance for everyone!
April 17, 2016
Unbridled
March 28, 2016
Check Out The Planet Mitch Website
You all are so awesome.
You amaze me and I can’t say I’m surprised. I have the best group of online friends a crafty author could ask for.
I’ve spent many months sitting on the fence over the release of the first book in my Planet Mitch series. Giving my daughter plenty of time to design and create the cover art and inside sketches used for The Lost Star.
If you’ve been following along with me for a while then you know this project has been in the works for several years. You can find my previous posts under the Behind The Scenes tab for Planet Mitch above.
or maybe you’ve already read these posts:
When It Comes Down To The End of The Day
When I asked you all to help me spread the word and share the release of the first book in the Planet Mitch Series, The Lost Star, I have to say you surpassed my expectations with all your shares, enthusiasm, and kind words.
And to answer most of your #1 questions:
YES, there will be a print version of this book. It’s in the final proofing stages and I’ll announce it here on my site as soon as it becomes available. Ordinarily, the print version and the ebook version would release at the same time, but I didn’t want to delay the publication for one simple reason: it was a gift to my son to publish a book on his birthday. How cool is that? Right?
It’s coming. Soon!
As is, Unbridled. Yep, It’s on the release schedule here in April.
Also, if you’ve read through Planet Mitch: The Lost Star then you might have seen or already visited the Planet Mitch Books site I’ve created with some bonus goodies to go along with the book. There are more to come, but for now be assured you’re child can find downloadable coloring pages, activity sheets, and printable trivia cards to add to his/her adventures with the Planet Mitch Book Series.
In the months to come, more activity sheets, trivia cards, videos, and other fun stuff will be added to the site.
If you’ve finish reading it already, please do Izzy (formally known as ‘Bell’) and I the honor of leaving us an honest review. We look forward to reading them and hearing from you.
March 25, 2016
Free #ebook Planet Mitch The Lost Star #newrelease
It’s like I blinked and time flew by me this month.
Last week, I promised to share something with you. Something exciting, and no, I didn’t forget.
Life turned our week upside down and delayed this a bit.
Last week was my son’s birthday. He’s such a brave and wonderful boy.
The day before his birthday we went for his annual check up at the doctor’s office. It was shot time. Rather than delay the inevitable (shots now or later) he got two shots to update his vaccinations. My kiddos have never had trouble with getting shots before, until now.
I made green mine craft rice crispy treats for him to take to school, but my son missed school on his birthday and the day after. He ran a fever for two days as a side effect of getting his vaccinations updated. It’s moments like these that make you feel like a terrible mother. If only God would have installed an alarm alert device inside us when we become moms so we’d get a warning before things like this happen, right?
Sigh… There’s nothing like spending your birthday on the couch with your Spider-man comforter, a good book (or two) and your favorite TV show to watch to help make you feel better.
Needless to say, I got sidetracked last week, but thanks to my husband and oldest daughter, I was still able to fulfill my promise.
Planet Mitch: The Lost Star is now available on Kindle!!
When a star, named Ursa, lands in Mitch’s backyard, he must choose between helping her return home or proving to his friends she really exists.
For kids ages 7-12
And…
Because you all have been so patient, supportive, and understanding….
And because if your kids are like my kids — they are off school for an elongated weekend for the Easter Holiday…
You can download The Lost Star FREE Today through Sunday!! (March 25th – March 27th).
I know what your thinking. What is a farm girl writing sweet romances doing writing a sci-fi adventure for kids? We’ll talk about that more on Monday.
In the meantime, feel free to share this with your friends and have a blessed Easter weekend.
March 23, 2016
Where Have The Easter Baskets Gone?
I’ve been on the hunt for days now.
No, not an egg hunt. But for the baskets.
Okay, so selling one’s house has a downside to it. When you pack up things to get them out of the way and “declutter” your house, you are bound to lose things. I just happen to have misplaced my kids’ Easter baskets.
I know, I could go buy new ones, but these baskets are special.
One basket belonged to my husband that has now been handed down to our son. The other basket was mine, handed down to DD#1. And the other was bought specifically for DD#2 who has had it for every year of her life.
I’m having another one of those #feelinglikeaterriblemom moments. Seriously, I’ve searched our attic. It’s where I keep the holiday stuff. Except, I didn’t find them. I’m dreading where I’m headed next — to our shed.
If you don’t hear from me by Friday, just know I have gotten lost somewhere between the Christmas decorations and our camping equipment. If I’m lucky, I may find a sleeping blanket or two to keep me warn until the search party arrives.
Everyone has their special traditions for celebrating holidays. There are things we cherish and look forward to which bring us comfort and joy.
I know baskets aren’t why we celebrate Easter. And my kiddo’s know it, too. But like giving gifts on Christmas, having baskets on Easter is a tradition we choose to participate in. I just wish I knew where they were!
Easter is coming.
Are you prepared?
March 21, 2016
#mondaymotivation Peanut Butter Eggs #DIY
Easter is early this year.
Panic attack anyone?
We’re big on peanut butter eggs in this house. It’s a favored treat for not only the kiddos, but my hubby, too.
This year, knowing how they are hidden to preserve them from someone else finding them and eating them, I decided to try and make my own.
A big thank you to Tina at Mommy’s Kitchen for her peanut butter egg recipe. I have to admit, at first I was a little weary of crushing graham crackers to make peanut butter eggs. Who would have thought it would be one of the ingredients, right?
Little Bug and I had a great time creating our stash of chocolate covered peanut butter eggs. I grabbed an egg mold from our local craft store that made it easy to get our eggs shaped.
Don’t those look yummy?
What favorite treat do you look forward to sharing with family and friends as you celebrate Easter?
March 8, 2016
The Lost Star
March 3, 2016
Letters From Fifth Grade
It’s book fair week at my son’s school. Parents are invited to have lunch with their students and attend the book fair. Last fall, I missed the opportunity to participate due to my work schedule. This time, I made sure I was available. I had lunch, not only with my son, but a group of fifth graders. Yes, the same bunch of fifth graders I’d visited last month.
These kids were one of the highlights of my day, and I made them feel just as special as they did me. Because how often can you go home and say that you had lunch with an author. You got it. I wasn’t just a parent having lunch, I was an author with a group of fifth graders gathered around me and we talked, we ate chips, and we laughed.
And… we went to the book fair.
If you’ve been following my Instagram, then you saw the stack of books I brought home. Half those books my son will have read by the end of next week. He thinks they are his birthday present, but I have a little surprise in mind for him next week. Shh… I’ll let you in on this surprise soon.
In the mean time, while I was at the school I was given an envelope.
Lunch with my son. Lunch with a bunch of fifth graders. School book fair. How could my day get any better?
What was inside this envelope blew me away.
These letters, all hand written from the fifth grade class I visited last month, made my day more than complete. I plan to make a special place for them near my writing nook and cherish them for years and years to come. Most of these letters went beyond the cordial thank yous one would expect when kids are told they need to write a letter. Many of these letters touched my heart, made me laugh, and invited to come back again.
I hope to return again soon to read the stories they’ve been working on and share their enthusiasm for their imaginative ideas. Who knows, perhaps one day one or several of these kiddos will blossom into amazing authors. Then it will be their books in my writing nook along with that first letter I held dear.
To those fifth graders:
Thank you again for your letters, kind words, and enthusiasm.
To all of you:
Thank you for taking this journey with me.
Stay tuned. I’ve got exciting news that I’ll be sharing in the next post.
