What A Weekend!

Conner was nothing but smiles during the football game at Wildcat Hill!

Catie's favorite cheer: Our team is D-Y-N-A-M-I-T-E!

Carlie loved watching her big sister cheer for the Wildcats!

Carlie, Courtney, Catie, and friends from school giving each other manicures and pedicures!

After spending the majority of Saturday afternoon watching Catie cheer at Britton Field and then back home to a house full of rambunctious youngsters, I had every intention of mopping floors today and catching up on some much needed laundry. Unfortunately, due to a vicious stomach virus that crept into our safehaven, little Carlie is home from school with a terrible tummy ache.

When Carlie's symptoms began yesterday afternoon, I felt certain her loss of appetite and sudden fatigue was a result of intense play with her big sister and friends from school. But when I heard her feet scurry across the upstairs bathroom in our home, I knew it was something more. Throughout most of the night, I was nurse-made to little Carlie, changing her sheets after an accident occurred and refilling her water cup in order to prevent dehydration. WHEW! This definitely brought back memories from years ago when the twins were infants. To this day, I'm still not sure how we survived those first months of sleepless nights and around the clock feedings.

With less than a few hours of sleep, I rolled out of the bed this morning feeling as if a freight train had struck during the middle of the night, while Carlie awoke in the best of spirits. She is definitely showing signs of improvement, cracking jokes with Courtney and keeping a birds-eye-view on her little sister as she puts together a Dora puzzle on the floor nearby.

So as I look back on the past twenty-four hours with Carlie, I realize that even though my laundry pile has tripled in size, I'm so thankful for being able to care for my little munchkin.

Hopefully, if your Monday has kicked off to a crappy start, this post will help you see that it's best to find the good in times of distress rather than dwell on the misfortune in your day! Happy Monday, everyone! Tory

Oh, one last thing before I go! Still no rejection emails from Dear Super Agents:) YEAH!!!

No News Is Good News!

Okay, friends! Quick update: Still no word from the SUPER agents who have requested the complete manuscript and partial for Book #1. As the old saying goes, "No news is good news!" so their lack in response gives me great hope they are seriously considering my project.

Now, those of you who know me best, understand why these requests could not have come at a better time, so please keep me and my family in your prayers! I assure you, regardless the outcome I WILL continue pushing forward with a smile across my face. You see, the words "give-up" and "throw in the towel" simply have no meaning in my vocabulary.

Also, two wonderful blogger friends of mine, Lindsay Currie and Julie Loden, are biting nails like me as they anxiously wait for a response from the three agents who requested their co-authored YA novel, HARMONY. I encourage you to follow their blogs Tiptoe Kisses , Julie Loden. I just know something GRAND is coming down the pike for this remarkable duo!

Have a great evening, everyone! Tory

Excitement In The Air!

After an adventurous (and a bit stressful) week of shuttling the older children to and from school, helping w/ homework, entertaining Courtney at home, cooking, cleaning, yadda, yadda, yadda, I have some pretty exciting news to share with all of you.

Over the past few days, I've been extremely busy preparing email submissions for my first young adult novel because TWO remarkable agents have taken interest in the concept and have requested the full of my manuscript! *squeals loudly and does a happy dance in the kitchen* This now brings the total of requests to 5 partials, 4 fulls, and plenty of rejections and no responses in between. But as the old saying goes, "It only takes one YES to become a published author."

Take the story of Theodore Geisel for example (used from Adventures in Agentland). Theodore had written a picture book manuscript called THE HOUSE ON MULBURRY STREET. He shopped it around. He sent it to twenty-two editors and, after that twenty-second rejection, Theodore decided he would go home, shred his manuscript, and give up his dream.

On the way home, he ran into an old friend of his, who had become an editor. His editor friend convinced him to let him see his manuscript. The editor changed the name of the book to THE CAT IN THE HAT, and Dr. Seuss was born.

Once again, thanks for all your support! In more ways than one, your kind words and encouragement have kept me chasing the dream of becoming a published author. I promise to update as soon as I hear from either agent. Have a great weekend, everyone! Tory

It's Okay To Say Goodbye!

The alarm clock sounded at precisely 6:15 this morning, and as I glanced around our dim-lit bedroom, I couldn't believe a new school year was only an hour away. I slid from the covers and slipped on my fuzzy pink houseshoes, then tiptoed softly past the children's bedrooms where their snoring and heavy breathing gave assurance the alarm clock had stirred only me. As I sluggishly made my way down the staircase, the children's portraits cascading down the walls somehow grabbed my attention.



Suddenly, I was struck by the fact that these youngsters had grown entirely too fast - Catie, now a 4th grader at Millry Elementary; Carlie and Conner in Kindergarten; Courtney, becoming more and more independent each day. Jeez! I was in desperate need of a rewind button.

After choking back the tears, I collected my thoughts and said a quick prayer asking God to watch over these precious children and protect them as they entered this new chapter in their lives.

Moments later, with a soft rustling noise over my shoulder, I caught a glimpse of Courtney Erin peeking around the doorframe of her bedroom with a somber expression across her face. In that moment, I knew she felt it too. She felt the same empty nest feeling that burned at my core. Yet after a quick wink and a smile, I managed to get one of the sweetest grins ever from my little caboose!



Catie, Courtney, Carlie & Conner - dressed for the BIG day at Millry Elementary!



Upon arrival at Wildcat Hill, Carlie and Conner braced themselves in the backseat of our SUV as Courtney's tearful whimper turned into a shrilling wail. The twins stared at one another, not sure who should open the door, when Catie leaned from the front and said to her baby sister, "Court, Court, it's okay to say goodbye!"

Now, those of you who know Catie Minus, know that she's one of the most compassionate nine-year-olds around. And thank God she spoke up when she did because the tardy bell was only minutes away, and I couldn't bare the thought of my kids being late for the very first day of school...*ahem* - We live just .3 miles from campus, so there really is no excuse!



Whew! Just in time, and thankfully, no tears shed on the "Welcome" mat outside Mrs. Becton's classroom! Carlie Elaine was so excited to see her friends from pre-school and meet her new teacher, Mrs. Becton.



Geared up for some much needed "male" time, Conner was thrilled to see his friends from T-ball and church.



So, in closing with this post, you can easily see that It's Okay To Say Goodbye! Wishing all of you at MHS (and abroad) a wonderful new school year! Have a great day, everyone! Tory

Bundle of Joy!

Little Benjamin Edward Massey made his "grand" entrance on August 5th, 2010 weighing in at 8 pounds 3 ounces and 22 inches long. He and Mommy are doing fabulous and are scheduled for patient discharge this afternoon.

Dana and I posing for a few pictures pre-delivery. She amazed me by her calmness and ability to go without pain meds during some very intense contractions.



Other than Catie, Benjamin is the most pleasant newborn I've ever held! Spending more than thirty minutes with Benjamin and his proud family, I never once heard him whimper. And boy does he have some really BIG feet and hands; his daddy sees great football potential, I'm sure!



Catie was so happy to finally get her hands on Benjamin. She was mesmerized by his sweet face, and of course, already trying to play matchmaker!



Though I have plenty experience with newborns, it took a few seconds to position Benjamin comfortably in my arms. He is such a blessing, and I can't wait to watch him grow & become a young man.



Aunt "TaTa" getting her share of kisses from baby Benjamin. As always, Tarah entertained all of us in the waiting room with her hilarious story of passing out in the delivery room during her niece's birth. Seriously, there was not a dry eye in the room!



Congratulations, Dana & Chris, and big brother, Dixon!

New Arrival!

Today is the wonderful day that my best friend, Dana Massey, has anticipated for the past thirty-nine weeks. SHE'S HAVING A BABY, and I can't wait to meet the little fellow. So, in effort to make it to Mobile Infirmary before Benjamin Edward arrives, I must tear myself away from this computer and get my kiddos off to Spot for Tots Daycare.

Stay tuned for pictures and a recap of this sure-to-be exciting day!:)