Some 2011 Stuff I Like (That’s A Date, Not An Amount)

Every year has its unique trials, some personal and some national or even global. But there are good things too, and I want to focus on those. Too often they get shuttled to the side, so here are things I like from this year, in random order — and even saying that is giving this list more credit for organization than it deserves. 😀

More truthfully, this is an “as I think it, down it goes” list.

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 movie came out.
• God provided the resources I needed so I didn’t have to move.
• My friend Sally Apokedak signed with a literary management company.
• Critique group member Mike Duran‘s debut novel Resurrection came out.
• Tim Tebow became a starter for the Denver Broncos and led them on a six-game winning streak.
• Fred Warren joined the Spec Faith team in January, and John Otte came on board this summer.
• I finished book four of The Lore of Efrathah.
• Thanks to my crit group, I saw how to re-write a section of book 3 and the opening part of book 4 — work that is also finished now.
• I finally found a candidate for President I could support with my whole heart — Rick Santorum.
• God surprised me with the generosity of friends, some in small ways, others in big ways — each encouraging and a reminder that God never leaves us or forsakes us.
• My church did a summer sermon series on faith from Hebrews 11.
• Our pastor search team announced the top things our congregation identified as qualities we want in our pastor, and number one came in as expository preaching.
• Books 1-3 of D. Barkley Briggs’s Legends of Karac Tor came out with AMG.
• I learned about Katie Davis, an inspiring young woman who is serving Christ in Africa by working with orphans, even adopting many. She started when she was sixteen!
• After a long wait, Andrew Peterson’s third book in the Wingfeather Saga released this summer.
• The LA Galaxy won the MLS championship.
• I entered the 24-hour Short Story contest twice and ended up with two stories I like.
• I picked up a handful of new editing clients, some who have already brought repeat business.
• I started memorizing Scripture again — currently working on the book of Colossians.
• Agent Lee Hough (Alive Communications) learned that his first scan after treatment for an aggressive brain cancer showed he is cancer free.
• Trish Miller, my sister-in-law, lost her job only to find a better one a month later.
• Following the sermon series on faith, my church followed up with a study of the book of Mark entitled, Fix Your Eyes on Jesus.
• I’m starting to figure out how to use Twitter.
• I got new windows in the living room.
• Our apartment building was painted this fall.
• Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family was fantastic.
• I got to see my nephew run in a cross country race I used to coach.
• The blog traffic at my editing site — Rewrite, Reword, Rework — has increased, and I think it’s in large part because of a Facebook group I’m in, PenTalk.
• Writing group meetings have been helpful and encouraging and thought-provoking. Our members keep me working to improve.
• Friendships near and far have brought me closer to Christ.

That’s a good place to end, thinking about iron relationships — the ones that sharpen one another (Prov. 27:17). 😉