Why I've Been MIA

Hello my faithful readers! I have missed you so! Many days I have sat down to work and wished I had the time to share my heart with you.

In this post, I would like to share what's been happening. I would also like to share what you can expect in the near future as I follow God's lead to do something new in 2014.

First, we moved from New Mexico to New York mid-August. We arrived just in time for our children to begin school at the local Christian Academy. However, we couldn't move into our rental home until mid-September. At which point I found myself unpacking all of these boxes and bins and then some. It's taken me longer to settle this time than it has in five years and six moves. I'm not sure why that is, but I think I'm now settled into the home. Three months later...




Then, I tried getting back into a normal schedule. Readjusting to East Coast time has been a challenge. Getting used to school starting at 8:00 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m. has also taken awhile. Not having to get up with my husband at 4:30 a.m. has shifted my schedule, which has thrown my time management skills out of whack. It's taken longer than I expected to fall back into a routine and catch up on my editing and writing work. I hope y'all don't mind that I've been MIA. I hope to get back to some semblance of "normal" within the next month. Slowly. One step at a time. In grace.

Here are my darlings on their first day of school:

Since they've been back in school, we've been involved in things both old and new. As a result, our evening schedule has become more active. Hannah is singing in the choir. All four are learning to play various stringed instruments and a recorder. Homework is a usual part of our routine, although their teachers say it shouldn't be necessary -- with the exception of studying for tests. We have cell groups one night a week, Wednesday night service, and the occasional weeknight event. It's so great to be "home." To be with friends, with family who love us, and in a church body that's active and thriving. We're enjoying the comforts of home.

We still don't know what the future holds for our family. Daddy is working hard to provide for our needs, and we're praying he can find a job that will allow us to be together all of the time and have the stability of living in one place. Until that happens, we pray, we seek His will, and we wait. Patiently. Or not so patiently. But we wait.

This month, I celebrated the release of two books I've had the pleasure of editing.

Youth Minister Cyle Young is an award-winning author and has released his devotional for tweens and teens entitled Belly Buttons and Broken Hearts. I confess: I snorted a couple of times while editing his book. There are several lines throughout that had me laughing every time I read them, and I read them at least a hundred times. You won't want to miss his laugh-out-loud devos. And, if you grew up in the 80s, you'll appreciate the flashbacks, so this book isn't only for tweens and teens. Get your copy {here}.

Elaine Marie Cooper is celebrating the release of her YA Historical Fiction novel Fields of the Fatherless. This amazon best-selling author has written the tale of Betsy Russell, a young girl who experiences trauma as the Revolutionary War breaks out in her backyard in Menotomy Village, Massachusetts. Based on a true story, this book will resonate with you until the last shot of the flintlock sounds. Be sure to check it out! You can obtain your copy {here}.

If you decide to read either of these books, please consider heading over to amazon and leaving a review. You could also leave your thoughts in the comments section of this post. I'm sure the authors would love to know what you enjoyed.

NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. I'm hoping to finish the edits on my current WIP this week and then attempt to pound out a second novel in November. If you'll be participating, be sure to find me (AlyciaMorales) and become my buddy. I need all the accountability and encouragement I can get!

Now, for the future...

In 2014, I plan to launch a ministry based on the vision God has given me. This ministry will speak to women, encouraging them to discover their identity in Jesus Christ. So often, we get wrapped up in being Mommy, wife, career woman, and every other hat we have to wear. Ask any woman who she is, and she'll tell you about her husband, kids, and career. We tend to forget to mention that we are first and foremost daughters of the King of Kings. This new ministry will speak to us as such, encouraging us to find God's vision of who we are. I hope you'll join me as I debut a new site in January 2014.

I can hear many of you wondering, "But what will happen to The Thoughtful Spot?" Rest assured, it's not going anywhere. However, the site's focus will shift a bit. One thing I've discovered about myself and who God created me to be is that I have a knack for encouraging writers. So, as a writer and an editor, I will be doing that here at The Thoughtful Spot. I will do my best to post regularly each week. Some posts you can expect to read are Monday Meditations for Writers, Blogging Through the Book (I love reading books and promoting others.), Visual Stimulation (encouraging photo graphics), Book Reviews, and Helpful Hints. My niche is editing, so I'll share some of the things writers should watch for when they are working through their own writing projects. I hope you'll continue to hang with me here, as well.

What do you have on the horizon? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. I love to hear from you!