The End of the World–I Mean 2012!

 Hi everyone, I’m back! I missed you, but I
kept up the best I could through Facebook and some twitter. I hope you had a
wonderful Christmas. I enjoyed spending time with my family–watching Christmas
movies, baking, playing games (even dumb made-up ones by my 8 year
old),Christmas shopping–though I did most of it online. Turned out to be a big
fat waste of time. But other than that fiasco, it’s been relaxing.

I finished my last
WIP the first week of December and printed it. It’s been cooling, but this week
I plan to pull out the red pen and go to town. The most writing-related thing I
did was update my bio for my agent and plotted/toyed with a new story idea.
I read the following
books:

  • Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia &
    Margaret Stohl (the movie comes out in Feb. and I needed to know what it was
    all about it)
  • Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz
  • To Write a Wrong by Robin Carroll
  • Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
  • To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer
  • Waking Up Married by Kelly Mira Lyn (not CBA)
  • Married By Mistake by Abby Gaines (not CBA)
  • The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson
Southern Fried Sushi Trilogy by Jennifer Rogers Spinola

  • Southern Fried Sushi
  • Like Sweet Potato Pie
  • Till Grits Do Us Part
  • The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds by
    Katherine Ramsland (research-nonfiction)
  • Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (a re-read,
    but it never gets old)
  • The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh
  • Madily In Love by Lynda Schab
  • If You Have A Craving, I Have A Cure by Sheri Rose Shepherd
  • Crime Classification Manual A standard system for investigating and classifying violent crimes by John E. Douglas, Ann W. Burgess, Allen G. Burgess, and Robert K. Ressler (big manual so I’m still reading)
Okay, enough re-cap.
We say it every
year: “Wow, this year flew by.” I’m saying it again. This year flew
by. I chose one word in 2012, well, I believe the Lord gave me that one word.
Strength. I wrote
many posts about strength or things I learned or was strengthened through. You
can click the tag “strength” on the sidebar and find them. I hope if
you do, that you’ll be strengthened as well.
My big post about my
strength goal can be found HERE. I chose Psalm 84:5-7  to be my year’s life verse. I printed
it.  Laminated it. And posted it on my
bathroom mirror, above my desk, on the fridge, and on my treadmill.
I met some of those
goals. And some I did not.
I’ll be honest, I focused more on the ones I did not
meet than the ones I did. I had a few–okay more than a few–boohoo moments
with God. I wanted to have accomplished everything. I wanted to say I was 100%
successful in fulfilling every single thing He planned for me.
But I’m not perfect.
And I think it was those few days of reflecting, that I realized how much I
wanted to be. I’m not really a perfectionist. I mean, I want things done right
and usually that way is my way…you know…maybe I am a perfectionist at some things.
I say that because you’ve never seen my pots and pans cabinet or plastic wares
cabinet…or my closet…. 🙂
After my mini major,
come-apart. God asked me to not concentrate (for now) on what I didn’t
accomplish but what I did. I’m pretty sure my reply was, “But I didn’t
really do anything!”
I’m also pretty sure
I got the God-stank-eye. Ok, maybe not. No…no I did.
GOALS
ACCOMPLISHED:
  1. I wrote blog posts
    all year long with just a couple breaks.
  2. I studied in depth
    the armor of God and wrote posts.
  3. I revised a
    manuscript, wrote a proposal, sent it to my agent and it’s on submission.
  4. I wrote a new
    manuscript, revised, sent to my agent.
  5. I wrote another
    manuscript and it’s about to be edited/revised.
  6. I read over 40
    books, not all fiction.
  7. God worked on my
    heart and I let some bitterness and resentment go, allowing God to soothe my
    sore heart.
  8. By doing that, God
    opened up the opportunity for me to find my fit at our church and I wrote a 7
    week bible study/curriculum for new & growing believers called
    F.O.R.W.A.R.D. which launched in June. I’ve been teaching it ever since and
    it’s been amazing. I still feel blown away and honored.
  9. In all that writing,
    I’ve struggled with intense back pain, neck pain and horrendous carpal tunnel.
    I’ve laid on the floor and cried. Kicked. Screamed. And begged God to take it
    all away. I found a woman who’s a Christian therapist and unorthodox to say the
    least who helped me manage it. God’s grace has been sufficient.
  10. I’ve developed and
    strengthened friendships, which I needed.


GOALS I’LL BE BRINGING INTO THIS YEAR:
  1. I’ve been a slacker
    when it comes to better eating and exercise, so I’m dragging that
    failure renewed goal into this year.
  2. I’m going to
    continue to strengthen my relationship with my family.
  3. I’m going to bring
    building my online presence into this new year as well. I’m looking forward to
    meeting new people and developing relationships. And people simply
    fascinate me.

I’ll also be setting
new goals, but that’s for another post when I reveal my new word for 2013. And
I admit to telling God to pick a new word.
A better word. Yeah, I do stuff like
that.
Btw, He said,
“Not happening.”
Figures.  Join me Wednesday for my ONE WORD.
What
about you? I want to hear a goal, or a few, that you accomplished in 2012. What
was your word if you had one and did it impact your year? Let’s catch up! Don’t
feel bad if you write a “book” in the comments. I want to know what’s
been happening with you!
*photocredit: freedigitalphotos/StuartMiles 

Have a Happy New Year’s Eve! 

17 thoughts on “The End of the World–I Mean 2012!

  1. I read Waking Up Married and Married By Mistake on vacation this month. In 2012 I finally finished the never-ending editing process on my novel. I read the Bible in a year. I spent lots of time just enjoying my family. I think I also got better at saying "no" this year.

     
     
    1. This cracks me up, especially after our book conversation last night. Maybe I should have asked what books did you read? Hilarious. Good for you reading the Bible in a year! And I'm so glad you finished the editing so you can move on to the new one! Yay!

       
       
    2. I'm a sucker for a free book 😉

       
       
  2. You read all those books???? Amazing! I'm looking forward to a year of adventure. God never seems to let me just surf 😉

     
     
    1. I did! I did!
      I love adventure. Aren't you thrilled God doesn't let you simply surf. Although, riding waves can be adventurous! ha!

       
       
  3. Goal: Submit my manuscript and start a new one and finish that new one in 2013!!! lol
    I read Married by Mistake on my phone. It was cute. 🙂

     
     
    1. Praying for good stuff on your submission! You crack me up, Jessica. 🙂 Looks like tons of us were up for free books over the holidays. I had to read it since it takes place practically in my back door.

       
       
  4. Oh, and your 2012 accomplishments are pretty impressive! Kudos!!

     
     
    1. Thank you! It didn't feel like much till I put it on paper. I tend to look at the negative sometimes. 🙁

       
       
  5. Wow, Jess! You've got a lot accomplished! Hmmm. Let's see…writing-wise, I re-wrote a MS, but it still needs tweaking. I also started a new MS and got about halfway through, lol. I moved from Texas to Kentucky, and have yet to see what comes of it other than a lot of housework 😉 I haven't participated in the "one word" focus yet, but I've been thinking about it for 2013. Thanks for sharing, Jess! Happy New Year!

     
     
    1. Thanks!! Halfway is better than nil! Here's to discovering what is to become of your move in 2013! And finishing your ms and tweaking your other one. 🙂

       
       
  6. Kudos on all you accomplished this past year, Jess! Sorry you've been dealing with health issues, though. Here's hoping you experience healing in 2013.

    My biggie for 2012 was the release of my debut novel in July. I'd dreamed of being a published author since I was seven. Only took me 46 years to turn that dream into reality. Call me Speedy. 🙂

     
     
    1. Thank you, Keli! I'm looking forward to healing in 2013 myself. Wish that was my word. ha!

      Your 2012 accomplishment was HUGE! Congrats, Speedy! 🙂

       
       
  7. Wow Jessica! You did a lot this year. All those books?? Way to go! I am glad we got to meet this year. I hope we meet again.

    Accomplishments? I was able to attend ACFW conference this year. Woo hoo! My goal was to finish a book and submit it to an agent. I did it! However, it wasn't a match for the agent. Oh well. 2013 will be an exciting year, I can feel it!

    My word for 2013: Endurance.

    I will submit an MS to agents this year with hopes it will get picked up. So, I have to have endure to the end!

    The BIG goal is to run a 52mi ultra marathon (2 marathons back-to-back) in December 2013. THAT will take much endurance, Ha ha!

    God bless, Jessica!

     
     
    1. I'm glad we got to meet too! It was such a blessing.

      Endurance. Whoa! That's a big word. A tough word. 🙂 I like to look at rejections as saves. God saved me from something other than his perfection. It knocks some of the sting off. 😉 And…it's true.

      52 miles? I'm in awe. Seriously. That's amazing. I'd have to have knee replacements. Good for you! I'm going to be praying for you. Keep me posted on the training and let me know when you run. I'd love to cover you in prayer! Amazing!

       
       
    2. if I do it…and that's a BIG "if"….I will definitely let you know! God bless you!

       
       
  8. Wow, girl! You have accomplished a TON of stuff! I'm soooo impressed by the whole Bible Study God has you doing! WWWWOOOOWWWW!

    Last year was kinda weird in many ways, but God is teaching me a lot and I'm excited with what the new year is going to bring. My One Word this year is restore and I'm thrilled with it. I want to restore passion to my spirit, health to my body, organization to my home and finances and fun to my creative self. It's a good word for me.

    Can't wait to see what God is going to do with you this year!

     
     

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