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I Did Not Want to Wear a Dress Today!
I really didn’t want to wear a dress today. Not again. And it’s only the sixth day of Dressember.
I flipped through my choices because I made a commitment. I promised to wear a dress each day of December to raise awareness and money to fight human trafficking. Finally, I chose the dress and selected my leggings. Seriously people, where can I get a pair of leggings that are long enough but not too big around the waist? I spend half my day hiking up my pants.
As I got dress, I thought about those who don’t have a choice. I considered the 20 to 30 MILLION people who are enslaved today (DoSomething.org). They aren’t able to make their own choices. And I’m complaining that I can’t wear my favorite jeans.
And what about our children in foster care. As a society, we have a responsibility to care for these kids. But they are our most vulnerable. “In 2012, studies estimate that between 50 and 80 percent of commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) in California are or were formally involved with the child welfare system.” http://www.casre.org/our_children/fcht/
In just the United States, 300,000 children are enslaved in sex trafficking each year. This is a 32 BILLION dollar a year industry! (The Good Men Project)
We can do better than this.
It’s time to stop closing our eyes and stand up.
Join me as a Dressember advocate or a contributor.
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Release Day!
I cannot believe it’s really release day! Seriously. I mean, wow, that year really flew by.
A dear friend reminded me there’s only one first, and it should be enjoyed. That’s my plan this week. I want to enjoy this moment because life is crazy, and the next huge thing, good or bad, will be here before I know it.
I’m heading out on a hike soon, one of my favorite ways to relax. Awww. And for lunch, I’m thinking Pad Thai. Yum. Yum. Yum.
But you all should be part of the celebration, so I’m going to start a fun give away. To enter, all you need to do is add your name and email in the entry form, and post a picture to social media (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.) Be sure your post is set to public. The post must have a picture of you with the book and include the hashtag, #ifwemakeithome. Like this:
With or without a filter!
I may share your pictures or use them on this blog, so by entering, you agree to those terms.
Here’s the prize:
Garmin Vivosmart 3 fitness tracker!
We have a winner! Thank you to everyone who entered. The winner, randomly chosen my some computer thing, is Dana W.!
I’m so excited about this prize because I have one, and I love it! So, get busy entering.
And thank you for supporting me on this crazy ride!
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Three Weeks Until Release – Giveaway!
If We Make It Home releases in just three more week. I can’t tell you how honored I’ve been by the reviews.
This one is from Library Journal:
DEBUT OF THE MONTH
After their college graduation, inseparable friends Vicky, Ireland, Jenna, and Hope drifted apart. Almost 25 years later at their alma mater, Vicky, Ireland, and Jenna discover that their quartet is now a trio, as Hope had died of breast cancer. To honor her memory, the three embark on a hike through Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, a trip Hope always wanted to take. But unforeseen events leave the women stranded without a guide or supplies on a mountainside during an early winter storm. As they reevaluate their lives and relationships, Vicky, Ireland, and Jenna realize that their friend’s death is also a metaphor for the hope they have lost in their personal and professional lives. VERDICT Nelson’s fiction debut is a tension-filled tour de force of suspense and human emotions. Fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild will love this.
To celebrate the coming release, the Writer of Promise Award, and the reviews that are coming in, let’s have another giveaway.
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Steers, Books, and Heat
We’re loading steers into the fair today! It should only be about a hundred degrees or so…
Shredder and Harper
Fair is a bitter-sweet time in the summer. We love the week of watching our kids compete and having time to actually talk with friends, but fair also signifies the end of our free summer time. Volleyball gets started the day after we pack out of the fairgrounds. I’ll be at a conference for most of a week, and we’ll squeeze in a camping trip. And by the end of the month, my youngest two will be heading back to school.
August is packed with fun, but it isn’t without work.
My next book is due September 1. Yep, that will make this month even more fun. If you see me packing a green notebook around, well, that’s my book. It’s now my constant companion.
A funny steer story:
We played rodeo last week with one of the steers. Cupcake wanted nothing to do with the fitting chute. After many attempts, I finally got the beast in.
A couple days later, I went down to the barn. While I was in the pen, Cupcake looked at me, then the chute, then me again. I wondered if he remembered our battle. I kept walking toward the gate. When I looked back, this is what I saw. He decided to do it the easy way and load himself.
Cupcake rockin’ the 80s look
Remember us while you’re enjoying the AC this week. 🙂
