Thursday, January 01, 2015

The Year in Review: 2014

Oh, am I glad to see the end of 2014. What a year! It had some very severe downs and some really great ups! I am going to focus on the ups instead of the downs, though, because it's a lot more fun, right?

So here's a few of the "ups!"

1) My brother got married in April and we had a wonderful time as a family. I'm so glad that he found someone to spend the rest of his life with.

2) My book, Nebraska POW Camps, came out! I did several book signings and sold lots of books (though not enough to make much on the royalties!). It was great to meet so many people interested in this topic.

3) This is perhaps the biggest "up" of all:

I GOT AN AGENT.

I think I've been waiting for 10 years to write that sentence! It was so surreal how the entire thing happened, and I plan to write up a "when I got the call" story that we writers always dream about. Suffice to say that I am thrilled. I look forward to working with her.

For this year, I decided to pick a word that will shape the course of the coming months. And that word is: determined.

I am determined to get back up when I fall down.

I am determined to work hard.

I am determined to lose this 15 pounds I gained over the last four months.

I am determined to pray more and to grow in my faith.

I am determined to quit whining and feeling sorry for myself.

I am determined not to let my health become my identity.

I am determined to listen to what God wants me to do instead of blithely doing my own thing.

Here's to a new year!

Happy 2015!

8 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Melissa, and congratulations on the agent! I am definitely in the same boat as you on the last determination point... my life would go so much more smoothly if I let God run it instead of trying to take over all the time.
    I can't wait to see what good things 2015 brings you!

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    1. I tend to "take the wheel" too much sometimes. Hoping to break that habit! Happy New Year, Faith!

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  2. Congratulations on your achievements, Melissa - good news! And a good 2015 to you too.

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    1. Thank you! I hope you have a WONDERFUL 2015!

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  3. Happy New Year, Melissa! Yes, it's good to focus on the good things and you had some great ones. All the best dor 2015.

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    1. It was a very strange year - very low lows and very high ups! LOL

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  4. Wonderful news - can't wait to read your agent story! I know you had a tough year, but it's neat you focused on the positive not the negative, and I love your theme word for the year, determined. I am still mulling over my theme word. I might go with Glory (for God).

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    1. That's a terrific word, Margo! It's so amazing how much better I feel when I put God first. :)

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