Done!

Done! The school year finally sputtered to an end when Four finished on Thursday. Between different district calendars and final exams I had to wake different people every day. It was confusing and exhausting.

Done! Last Monday was One's last day of high school. This was his fifth year, and the first year he navigated entirely on his own. He had no aide to help him, took all mainstream classes, and did exceedingly well. I drove him in for his final exam and wept on the ride back home. I'm so proud of him, but worry worry worry about next fall, when he'll start at our community college.

Done! Three graduated from eighth grade. He looked so tall and handsome in his gown. We are most proud of him for his perfect attendance this year. When he was in fifth grade his anxiety kept him out of school for more than half the year, so it was fairly amazing that he showed up for all 180 days. I hope he continues the trend in high school, when everything becomes exponentially more difficult.

Done! Two's sophomore year. Thank God.

Done! After two and a half years of sporadic writing, I finished my book today! Oh sure, I could go on about how it's really just the first draft of my manuscript, and now I have to go back to the beginning and revise the whole damn thing, but instead I'm going to take this moment to revel in my awesomeness. I WROTE A BOOK! Even better: I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN, AND I WROTE A BOOK! Truly impressive: I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN, SOME OF WHOM HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, AND I WROTE A BOOK! Okay that's a little wordy, but I'm going with it because I'm pretty astonished that I finished.

When BIG SKY is published I'll write all my acknowledgments and dedications, but I just want to thank all of you for your support during this portion of the journey. The best part of becoming a writer has been meeting new people and forming friendships, even if our only communication has been electronic. But I especially want to thank the Captain, who sent me to a hotel so I could write without interruption, and my dear friends Janet and June, who gave me my first Jennifer Crusie book and watched my boys so I could attend my first writers conference. They believed in me before I did.

Done! I've posted 200 entries in the Diaries! O, how I've enjoyed sharing the beauty and sorrow, the tragedy and triumph, the blood and the stench. Bless you for following along.