Sorry my post is so late, but I was on vacation this past week. Every year my daughter’s dance team goes to National’s for their final competition of the year. While the family went down to enjoy the ocean, pool and lazy river, I was up in the room typing away in order to meet my latest deadline.

Sacrifice. It’s an easy enough word to throw around when you are having to give up something easy like TV or reading in order to write, but when you start missing out on the big stuff that word takes on a whole new meaning. I did meet my deadline, but I think I’m the only person in history to leave Myrtle beach with less of a tan then what I came with.

Then we went to the convention center and I was reminded about why I work so hard. Dance costs money—a lot of money and if I want to keep her in costumes, shoes and lesson then I need to make a decent wage as an author. Then we all got a great piece of news. My daughter’s team was one of only ten teams asked to compete on the final day! They danced so well they beat out tons of others teams and they were one of the youngest groups there too.

Suddenly my sacrifice didn’t seem so bad anymore. As I sat that night, up in the room, while the rest of the family went down to watch the fireworks, I even had a smile on my face.

 -Stephani