I suppose the reason for that is simple enough. A “thing” only has luster for a short time. Within a few days, it’s no longer new. Yet an experience is something you carry with you for years…giving you memories and, sometimes, shaping a little part of you forevermore.

Like the time my new blended family went to Branson together–fabulous bonding/fabulous memories.

Like the time I flew to California last year to accept my first ever writing award. Sure the award was a “thing,” but the part that I think of most was the room where the ceremony was held, and the screen that had my picture on it, standing in front of the podium and giving a quick little speech, and then sightseeing the rest of the time with my husband. Do I still look at the award? Once in a while (I would look at it more if my office was clean). But I travel back to that whole experience all the time.

There’s not a whole lot of moments in Dear Daughter # 1 and Dear Daughter # 2′s lives that I don’t revisit. Often. The smiles, the sweet expressions, the fun we had, and the things we did. Sometimes that fun was had around a particular toy, but most of the time it was just because we were together.

So tell me, what’s a special memory you’ve made in the past year? Something so tangible you can close your eyes and remember sights and smells and all those wonderful aspects that make a memory so wonderful?

~Elizabeth

I rode the train into the city and took the subway down to Penguin Publishing’s main office. The building, itself, houses more than just Penguin and has a very Devil Wears Prada (fancy) kind of feel. I checked in with the very efficient looking security guard behind the desk who, in turn, checked to see if I was on the admit list (I was!). Then, armed with the required badge, I boarded the elevator, rode up to the correct floor, stepped out of the elevator, and came face to face with the Penguin sign. Let me just stop here a moment and say, wow.

Wow.

My editor met me in the waiting area and brought me to a conference room where they had the huge carton of books (very early copies of HEARSE AND BUGGY–the first in my new Amish series written as Laura Bradford) they needed me to sign in advance of next month’s release date. So there I was, in Penguin’s offices, signing lots and lots of copies of my new book (which I held for the first time in my hand right there in that conference room. )

Surreal, I tell you.

Once the books were all signed, it was off to lunch with my fabulous editor where we caught up on all things book-related.

When our afternoon was over, I hopped back on the train and rode home with a big goofy grin on my face.  There is no doubt this day will stay with me for a very long time!

~Elizabeth 

Anyway, now that that’s off my plate, I have a few days to a) work on edits for sewing circle # 7, b) start plotting sewing circle # 8, c) edit the old Jenkins & Burns series I’ll be bringing out on ebook later this summer.

But there’s also something I’m craving to do that’s completely unrelated to writing…

I want to bake bread.

From the first loaf of teddy bear bread I ever made (as a Cadet in Girl Scouts so very long ago), I was hooked. I love the taste of homemade bread, I love the feel of homemade bread, and I love the process of making homemade bread.

Today, I make the more traditionally shaped loaf of bread (though, after thinking about that sweet bear from way back when, perhaps Dear Daughter # 2 and I need to give that a whirl again soon). But regardless of shape or size, there’s something about kneading the dough, and lifting the cloth from the bowl to find that its doubled in size, that I just find fascinating and maybe even a little therapeutic.

So this week, I’ll be pulling out the bowls and the yeast and the sifter and making bread.

Is there a particular dish you simply enjoy making?

~Elizabeth

When you have kids, there’s no telling where a dinner conversation will go. It always starts with the “how was your day,” type stuff and end up somewhere completely different.

 Last night, the subject turned to everyone’s top 5 movies. And as I listened to everyone’s choices, I realized those choices “fit” eachkid. So I started thinking about mine and whether they reflected something about me. Surprisingly, I found they did.

My Top 5:

1) 27 Dresses (The concept of finding that perfect someone as you evolve as a person speaks to me).

2) Devil Wears Prada (Chasing your dream but realizing that you don’t have to sacrifice who you are to achieve it).

3) Disney’s Brother Bear (Loyalty and the way a “family” can be created in lots of ways).

4) A Few Good Men (Staying true to your convictions and being able to see the good among the bad).

5) Housesitter (Making the most out of life–creating a world that makes you feel happy).

The movies are all very different but they fit with me. I’m a dreamer and I don’t believe in giving up. I also don’t change who I am for anyone. To many, I’m reserved, but to those who take the time to know me, I can shine. I’m loyal and expect the same in return. I realize that life has its rough patches but they are workable with time and support. And I believe our walk through life is better with true blue friends by our side.  

So how about you? What are your top 5 movies of all time? Why do they make your list? And, finally, do you think your choices say something about you?

~Elizabeth

Hopefully this year, I’ll be a bit sharper.

Have a great day!

~Elizabeth

~Elizabeth

~Elizabeth

When I was little (around 10 or 11), I used to pretend to be Judy from Lost in Space. The reason I picked her had very little to do with her and a whole lot to do with the guy who liked her.  In my eyes, Don was so handsome and strong.  And if he liked her on the show…and I pretended to be her…well, you get the point. *Swoon*…

Okay, now it’s your turn. Was there a television show you watched as a kid that had you wanting to be a particular character? If so, who and why?

~Elizabeth

1) I can write in my jammies all day if I want.
2) I save a ton of money not eating out every day.
3) No traffic jams to contend with.
4) I can yell at my computer when necessary without fear of being considered a loon by whatever fellow employee might be listening.

Of course, like most things in life though, there are downs to offset the ups.

1) I tend to be in my  jammies and sans make-up any time a delivery dude comes to the door.
2) I tend to skip meals, making the box of milk duds and bag of candy corn all the more attractive.
3) My family seems to think my working from home means my job is one I can just put off or do later–especially when they need to go somewhere/do something.
4) I don’t get mental health/personal days. Not ones where I can call in and do whatever I want for a day while knowing I’m still getting paid (I don’t write/I don’t get paid).

And you know what? I’ve been thinking about # 4 on the con list a lot lately. Everyone needs a mental health day once in a while, right?  :)

Soooo, I’m eyeballing the calendar today and trying to decide when I want to ”call in.” And when I do call in, I’m heading straight to the city…for lunch in Chinatown…or maybe a pretzel in the park…or maybe an eat-on-the-go kinda thing while I stroll along 5th Avenue.

Hmmm. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Now it’s your turn. If you took a mental health day next week, what would you do?

~Elizabeth 

Social network sites make it easier these days to “keep in touch” with people all across the country–and even the world. But, for me, there are certain people/relationships in my life that can’t be relegated to commenting on status updates and clicking my way through their latest family photographs. 

With those people, I need more real contact. Phone calls, face-to-face time, etc. Because while I could technically get all the same info in a long winded email, it’s just not the same.

In just the past six days, I’ve been able to spend time on the phone with two of my dearest friends–catching up, laughing, sharing secrets and worries, etc. And both times, I got off the phone feeling good. Happy. 

Time with these particular friends does that for me. We get each other. We know what matters in each other’s lives. We know the other is there even if life gets in the way and time slips through our fingers for a little while. We don’t judge or try to change one another. And we each know that the other person cares.

You can’t put a price tag on that.

So here’s to those friendships that go far deeper than any status update and/or email can go. They are some of my greatest treasures in life.

~Elizabeth