February 16

Today I submitted the #NaNoWriMo 2013 Novel, Nora Waite for the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. I have to be honest, the chances of me winning are pretty slim. I would be excited to just be entered in the second round. Just a chance to have a novel I am entering ANYwhere is pretty shocking. There is a voice, one I try to silence, that says I would never be able to accomplish anything so massive as writing a full novel.
Ok, it doesn't set the world on its ear.
Ok, it may need SERIOUS editing... (amateur, free editors may apply)
BUT it is my own. I wrote it start to finish. I won the NaNoWriMo.

And the voice in my head that says I can't? It's a bit quieter.

How can you silence your inner nay-sayer?
DO it. Don't wait.

Faithful video posts... Writing everyday is tough!

All of my sixth graders have committed to a 100 day challenge of their making. The ideas range from stressing less to telling jokes to reading to ring nicer. Have I mentioned how much I love my sixth graders? Their ideas reflect their inner goodness and conscience. Good kids. The seventh and eighth graders made a year goal. We are thinking long-term and focusing on some future goals.

   On other fronts, life has been busy. Our family still cannot seem to shake this evil virus. We spent a little time in the Emergency Room. Phoebe, our youngest is pretty sick. She has bronchiolitis and restrictive airways. I am glad they let us go home. 

   Life is never dull! There are so many things happening around us all the time. It will always be like that. The point is- you keep going and you never let yourself be defeated. An old proverb says- "fall down seven times, stand up eight". 

   That is my advice to my students. Just keep standing up!