August "Rush" Overdue IWSG

IWSG

Okay, I've set a reminder now for September's post since life is so busy these days that I always miss my post, this time by five days! I woke up in the middle of the night remembering I didn't post. So, lost some sleep, but finally made it here.

Grandchildren are so worth it, missing the post I mean! Yes, I blame it on grandchildren, happily. I am more in love than ever with them, and their parents, and wouldn't have missed this opportunity for the world. They leave tomorrow and my tears are not staying very well hidden. I am taking full advantage of loving on them, giving the older one lots of "surprises" (which don't always involve sugar) and snuggling the chunk that is the younger one (who is sleeping on my bed as I write this). 

All this to say writing has not been foremost on my mind this past month (yes, they've been here five weeks), and I will severely miss them when they've gone. I will have a lot of time this fall to write as my hubby is having another knee replacement surgery, this time the right (the left is much better thanks to it's newness), which the dr said would happen sooner than later. Ah well. Aging is not for the weak. 

The September question (s) is/are: Since the IWSG celebrated 12 years on the 6th, when did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?

I think I started with the IWSG in or around 2013? So ten years? I found it because of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge that Arlee Bird started. I loved the format of that and when all I did was write, it was a challenge that I gleefully took part in. I joined the IWSG to give myself the discipline of blogging at  least once a month. Well, it works most of the time! It has helped me in more ways than I can count. I think the main thing is exposure, but the second best thing is I found a group of writers that changed my life, my work (for the better) and gave me a community that I don't have where I live (so far). Even though we don't make contact as often now as we used to, for years we have had each other to communicate with and commiserate with. We live all over the world and though are from all walks of life, we are true friends. I thank them all for being there for and with me through all these years...

Melissa, Mark, Alex, Elizabeth, Jo (who is no longer with us here but always in our hearts), David, Eva, Carrie, and our leader in the beginning, Al. 

Some of us are no longer "in" the group, but I don't mind. They are my friends. We will be for as long as we have memories. 

See you in September...

Since the parents don't want their photos on the internet,
this is a safe one of me and the youngest chunk!