New Family Blog

My kids keep asking me when I'm going to blog about them, so I decided it's about time to start a family blog.  Check it out here and let me know what you think.  Here's my new header:

Follow us if you want to read about the antics of combining two families with a total of ten children.  We thrive on chaos!

Also, I recently received an award from Ann Elle Altman from All Write with Coffee.  She has an amazing blog about writing.

Now I think I have to give it to five people.  I've met so many new friends recently in the blogging world who have amazingly helpful blogs.  Here are a few you should check out:

Cheri Chesley

BB Hutchins' Literary Corner

C. Larene Hall

Cathy Witbeck - Story Painter

Dragon Dreamer

Free Disney Tickets

How does a free day at Disney sound? If you have a large family like I do, spending a day at Disneyland is super expensive. But this year, Disney is holding a "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" promotion that just might make it possible.

"Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" is a program that celebrates and inspires volunteerism. Disney is working with HandsOn Network to bring you amazing volunteer opportunities to which you can lend your much-needed services. As a way of thanking you for your good work, each member of your family over age 6 will get a free ticket good for one day admission to a Walt Disney World® or Disneyland® theme park.

You can read about the terms and conditions of the program, search the available volunteer opportunities, and sign up here.

The Week in Words

Melissa at Breath of Life has started The Week in Words.  The rules are simple:

Just write a post of the quote(s) that spoke to you during the week (attributed, of course) and link back here. They can be from any written source, i.e. magazine, newspaper, blog, book. The only requirement is that they be words you read.

Simply include anything that touched you, made you laugh, made you see something in a different way, whatever.  Here are a few of mine for the week:

"I want to share my own personal belief with you on these matters. Whereas I am sure there were those who were in no way prepared to meet their God on Tuesday, January 12th, there were also many, many people who were blessed by that reunion. God loves His children. The poor who have struggled, the hungry, the oppressed–all have found rest in His arms. Even the most wicked men and women–those who were not following His commandments–experienced a taste of mercy by leaving this difficult existence, if nothing else by being prevented from sinning further."

Did God Punish Haiti by Daron Fraley

"No, I don’t have answers to the tragedies of this temporary existence we call our earthly home. But may I offer a “temporary” answer that, for me, brings permanent peace. When I remember that this place; this existence we call mortality is just a temporary home filled with windows and rooms, and that we’re merely passing through on our way to something greater; when I remember that this is just a stop on the way to where God lives, and although sometimes we’re afraid, and sometimes life isn’t what we expect it to be; when I remember this...that there is a plan, an eternal plan of happiness...I feel peace."

Our Temporary home by Jodi Marie Robinson

"One of my favorite quotes came from an author I know by the name of Ginny Smith. She said, “God has plans for your writing, and they are better than any plans you have for yourself. Let him be in charge and let Him delight you with what He has in store.” Realize that there is something bigger than just yourself out there helping you to create, and when you open yourself to “The Great Creator” You will write better than you ever can on your own."

Introducing Karen E. Hoover by Day to Day with Valor Publishing

"But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love."

Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:15

"When the apples in a barrel rot, it is not enough to throw away half of the spoiled apples from the barrel and replace them with fresh apples on top."

The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball

Visit Breath of Life to see other participants, or to share your own week in words.

Awards and Endorsements

My darling friend, Ali, gave me this blog award:

The rules are, I have to link back to the person who granted me the award, then pass the award on to ten blogs that I've recently discovered.  After much indecision and sleepless nights (just kidding) I've chosen:

Heather Justesen

Sometimes Hard, But Oh-So Worth It!

My Life in a Laptop

Rachelle's Writing Spot

Cami's Books

Lisa Schroeder

Taffy's Candy

Wordplay, Swordplay: The Magic of Writing

The Chocolate Chip Waffle

A Writer's Eyes  (I know the award is a little girly, but I didn't think Keith would mind.   His blog is awesome, so check it out.)

Now, onto my endorsements.  Yes, you read that right.  I have endorsements.  Can you believe it?  That officially makes me a writer, right?  When an impartial outsider has read my book and actually likes it?

I'm sure that anyone who writes, knows how this feels.  I think it's the worry of every writer whether people are going to read your book and truly, sincerely like it.  Well, I received two endorsements from my publisher this week.

One of them is from Michelle Ashman Bell.  She has long been one of my favorite LDS writers, so I was totally honored that she read my book.

The second is from Sheila Staley who is a book reviewer at "Why Not? Because I Said So" and LDS Womens Book Review.

I appreciate the time these ladies took to read my book, and I'm so happy they liked it.

"A story of pain, survival, and love, 'I'll Know You by Heart' is a deeply emotional journey of one woman's determination to save herself and her family from a life of abuse and fear. Kimberly Job writes with power and honesty, allowing us to care deeply about the characters but still giving us hope for a happy ending."

- Michele Ashman Bell

"As a divorced, single mom, reading "I'll Know You By Heart" brought many feelings to the surface for me. Kimberly Job delicately weaves into her pages, the trials of divorce, single parenting and finding love again. My spirits were lifted up as I read of the courage and faith displayed by the main character. I can assure you, your heart will never be the same after reading this stirring romance."  
-Sheila Windley Staley

Swimming with the Sharks

I just returned from a fun weekend with my family in Las Vegas for a soccer tournament. While there, we walked through the Golden Nugget hotel on our way to the Fremont Street Experience. The hotel has an amazing swimming pool.  The pool surrounds a huge 200,000 gallon aquarium and has a 3-story waterslide that goes right through the tank full of exotic fish and sharks.

The kids thought it was totally cool, and I wanted to share a picture. If you are ever in Vegas, you should check it out.

So to relate this to writing--

The LDS writing community is very unique. As a new struggling writer, trying to learn the craft, I associate with many established writers at conferences, through online communities, and critique groups.   I definitely feel like a little fish in a big pond, but they are all unbelievably supportive.  Through classes, one-on-one help, and informative blogs, I have been taught by people who have already succeeded.  They are more than willing to share their knowledge and are the first to celebrate in a new author's success.  I may be swimming with the sharks, but I'm not getting eaten alive.  Without the help of all the writing friends I've made, I wouldn't be where I am today--looking forward to the release of my first novel.

For all of you who are interested, the most helpful conference I've attended is the LDStorymakers Conference.  It's being held in April this year, in Provo, Utah.  For more information, check it out here.

Second Chances Giveaway

This week, Anne Bradshaw is giving away a copy of Second Chances by Linda Chadwick.

A blurb about the book:

Still grieving over the loss of his wife, forty-one-year-old Larry Porter is facing challenges that no father should ever have to face. Almost overnight he has become both father and mother to his three children, and they aren t having anything to do with him. Soon, Larry comes to understand that his children are more important to him than anything else. He must change the path they are on or lose them forever. This tender and thought-provoking story will bring you face-to-face with the realities of losing a loved one. It will touch your heart, lift your spirit, and inspire you to tackle your own challenges with determination and hope.

Click HERE to enter the contest by January 13, 2010.

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