Hi Friend!

It's been a few months. The months of July and August were full of beauty and good work and travels and I was just busy enough to not have a chance to write (or edit or anything). But if you want to see what fun I had traveling to England with my son, Josh, (as well as the absolutely miserable travel experience with airplanes and airports) check out my Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/sammyanne_b/ Also, be sure to follow me there for some fun updates that will start showing up there in the next month or so...

Flourishing in Real Life

This year I wanted to focus this newsletter on our mutual and communal growth and flourishing.

To me this means that I share my joys and (some sorrows) in hopes that we are mutually encouraged. I love to hear how you're flourishing and will listen if you want to share your sorrows.

But today, I want to celebrate and want you to join with me. I completed a bucket list item that has been on my list for 15 years! Read on...

How I Kicked the Bucket...(List)

This month I completed a life-long goal of mine: I took part in a Ragnar Road Relay Race here in Michigan. For those who don't know, Ragnar is a 12-person running relay race that covers a long distance in a set period of time. Ragnar Michigan is about 200 miles of road running along Lake Michigan from Traverse City to Muskegon. Each runner on our team ran 3 legs. My legs were 5.7 miles, 5.3 miles, and 3.2 miles. Together, our team completed all our miles in 34 hours. We started at 6 a.m. on Friday morning and ran straight through until about 4p.m. on Saturday afternoon. (Don't worry we took breaks and slept, sorta.) I ran my legs at 6 a.m., 6 p.m., and 6 a.m.--which is why all my pictures are from leg 2. It was dark and early whenever I took off! I did see some pretty sunrises though.

This race has been a dream of mine since the early 2010s when my sister in law introduced me to them. But I didn't know a group of people who would want to go on such a crazy adventure...until this year, when a knowing friend knew someone putting together a team..and KNEW I would want in.)

Sometimes the thing about long held dreams is that the reality of them does not hold up to the dream of them.

BUT NOT THIS ONE!!!!

I am still flying high from my experience a couple weekends ago--sure it was hard and there were painful parts, but it was AWESOME (and I do not use that word lightly). I slept (sorta) on a thermorest on a dirt and pebble parking lot/field. I drank a lot of vegan protein shakes. And I don't need to wait in line for another port-o-potty any time soon. I cheered and yelled encouragements to runners of all ages and speeds. Also, I may have fallen asleep at the wheel of a (parked) car.

But also, I trained well: I learned how to run in a way that didn't hurt my body. I felt strong. I learned how to manage nutrition and water...and it felt good. (When I completed my marathon many, many years ago...nothing felt good about it. I had decided that I never needed to run ever again. Until a Ragnar happened into my life.)

To me, completing this race was flourishing--it was growth and beauty and discipline and type 2 fun.

And in the middle of some messy life, the life-giving-ness of this race gives me hope, perspective, and escape from some of the difficulties.

What's Next?

I have no idea! What adventure should go on my list now? What big, scary goal should I set for myself? What ideas do you have for me?

And then, you?

What's on your bucket list? What do you dream about doing?

What bucket list items have you completed?

I would love to hear about your list items and share them with everyone. What if there was a way, within the resources in this community, to make that happen? (Like anyone want to be my agent and represent my next book?)

Whatcha writing now?

Finally, because many of you are kindly curious: editing a manuscript is HARD. In many ways, it feels harder than writing an original draft--which is fun and creative and free. Editing is killing your favorite scenes, reworking things to make sure it all fits, and making all the little details fit together.

But don't worry, Lily and Sasha are getting ready for their debut and when it's ready, you'll love reading their adventure. (I love adventures!)

Thanks for reading! I can't wait to hear what has brought you flourishing these past few months!