A Life Update and a Summer Break

It’s official. Summer is here. Where I live, it only lasts about three months. The rest of the time, it’s pretty much cold and dreary.

So… I’m writing this today to let you all know that I’m taking a bit of a summer break from blogging but will be available if my services are needed (I have a hard time turning down work!).

I offer four services:

• writing services
• editing services
• coaching/consulting services
• author assistant services

I have been doing a lot of reading but have yet to write my reviews, so those posts are coming… in the fall!

My Health and My Phone

Since I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I’ve been on medication, and it’s starting to finally kick in. I have also started making some changes in my life, to both my diet and my physical activity level.

I recently got rid of my old pay-as-you-go cell phone and got a smartphone. Aside from getting addicted to playing some games, I’m finding it super-useful. Upon my son’s advice, I downloaded an app called My Fitness Pal and have been using it to help me make my lifestyle changes and improvements. Thank goodness I have a son who cares so much about me!

He even got me walking on a daily basis. 🙂

Sammi’s Health

The bad news, however, is that Sammi (my 3-year-old niece) has to have one of her eyes removed. That will be happening next month, in July 2015. Currently, she just finished her second of six rounds of chemotherapy, which is causing her to vomit, lose her hair, have fevers, and, in general, feel ill and achy.

The poor girl. Here is a picture of her before she began her chemo:

Here is a picture of her afterwards:

The change is so dramatic…

Sam Did the Relay for Life… AGAIN!

I’ve blogged about Sam on occasion on both of my sites, so it should not come as a surprise that I’m doing so again.
I can’t help it. I am just so darn proud of her.

Each year since she was born, Sammi participated in the Relay for Life fundraisers for cancer research. I have taken videos of her in the past when I attended, but I didn’t go this year. She did, though, because she’s a little trooper! Here she is in the 2015 Relay For Life (she’s the youngest one there!):

Here are a few more pics of Sammi (taken from my sister’s Facebook page):

My Writing Plans

I’m also planning on doing some writing of my own this summer. I’ve not been working on Letters to Julian (I’ve been too busy), but I wanted to release it in 2015, so if I’m going to meet this goal, I had better get moving on this.

I also had an idea for another book, one that will help those who are suicidal. Google sends many people my way each day for the post I Want to Kill Myself – What Should I do? and I figure that I can not only help others, but maybe make a few bucks off that book, too. Win-win!!!

So those are my plans for the next couple of months.

I’ll miss you, but I will be back before you know it…

Oh, and if you want to help Sammi reach her goal, you can donate to Sammi’s cancer fundraising page by clicking this link. (Click the Donate to Samantha link to be brought to the donation page.)

Enjoy your summer everyone!