January Highlights

One month down, eleven more to go!  And then we can repeat all over again...and again...and again...

Really, I spent most of this month shivering indoors.  But the good news is, that means I was able to get some indoor stuff done (such as writing, cleaning, and such like).

Writing Updates

Words of Peace  //  I am so close to finishing the first draft!  My current word count is 96,849, and I suspect it will definitely get over 100K, and probably end around 110K or so.  I just have a few things to sort out, namely, the ending battle, and then giving everyone their happy (or not so happy) endings.  And it'll be done.

Songwriting  //  I had a song I wrote (it's actually sung in Words of Song, and again Words of Peace) but while I liked the tune, I personally has trouble singing it.  So I wrote a different tune that I'm able to sing, which makes me happy.

Reading Updates

The Rise of Aredor  //  I had been considering reading this book when it went on sale, so I snatched it up then and there, mostly because I like buying things at really low prices.  XD  I read it earlier in the month (on the way to my Ultra, actually) and it was everything I like in a story.  Very clean, no magic, some Scottish accents, and great characters and adventures!  I would call it a Narnia retelling, mixed with some Ivanhoe, as written by G. A. Henty.

Bound: Two Broken Souls. One Journey.  //  This was a very cute little story about two children running away from abusive homes, and going into a foster care family and coming to the Lord (bonus points for the foster parents reading the Bible every evening!!), but the story lacked a little something.  A few places were rough, and I felt as if the author was just slapping some emotions on the characters without making sure they would really be going through them.  But overall, very cute.  :)

Gospel Conversation  //  I started reading this about a week or two ago, originally under the assumption that it was about how to keep your speech as becoming the Gospel (cause I'm super awesome and didn't read anything else about the book before grabbing it).  Well, I had forgotten that "conversation" can mean not just your words, but your whole lifestyle.  So I am reading about how to keep your conduct as becoming this Gospel.  I haven't finished it yet, but when I do, I'm going to find a book on actual conversation to read.  But I am certainly getting quite convicted as to my conduct, and that is always a good thing!

General Update

I haven't been running much since my crazy 33 mile run.  Just two 4ish mile runs on the last two Saturdays.  But that's mostly because the weather is cold, and I don't like to be outside when it's cold.

I traded one of my horses for a cow and some goats.  (Yeah, I live in a super rural county, and it's awesome.)

I got a different notebook for my bullet journal.  Once I get it looking halfway decent, I'll maybe do a photo tour post on it.

I froze multiple times.  We got a fair bit of snow recently....and yes, I did go sledding in it.  But I also hid inside and drank hot chocolate on the first day.

In the Blogging World

The Order of the Pen member Ella created an author platform!  So, very excited for that!

Lila changed to a new blog.  I mean, it's beautiful.  Check it out!

Snaps joined the blogging community.  So go pop in and say hello while you're at it....

Savannah started a cool new series - flipping clichés!  The first post is about mentors.  :)

Ivie guest posted for Rebellious Writing.

Melissa posted some questions for creating fictional monarchies, which is super helpful!

Sarah did a mini series (part one and part two) on meal prep bowls, which are super cool.  (And Julian happens to like food...)

Lisa blogged about why you need to read aloud to your family, which was great!

A bunch of other posts happened, but I can't link to every single one of them, or this post would be super long and so full of amazingness it would explode into oblivion...so I just picked a few things....

Bring it on, February!!  (But no more snow, please.  I'm ready for some short-sleeve weather!)