Imagine that!

I have a confession to make... I haven't even hinted about this one for the last six months. It's been on my mind just stewing about because I'm just built like that.

I've gone and gotten myself elected as the Executive President to the American Night Writers Association. *WOW!*

Here's the dirt:

I went to the ANWA retreat this last summer and was posed a challenge to run for the President. Really. At that time I hadn't even been a member of ANWA a complete year. In fact, when my youngest son turns 2 in May it will be two years since I've KNOWN that an organization like ANWA even existed. October 2009 will be my two year joining anniversary. I'm as green as they come!

Last year I volunteered myself to the Vice President of my chapter, Westside Stories, mainly because I wanted to make myself commit to attending monthly and helping in something I believed in. Little could I have known that it was going to lead further than that.

Well, my family's first reaction to all of this was I was crazy and that I didn't have to do it. Which didn't help but it really proved to me that I wasn't going to be influenced by any one person in this decision except myself and a higher power. From the time I left the retreat till the time I finally said, "I'll run," I felt drawn by the spirit of God to this position. There wasn't a day that didn't go by where I felt drawn to do this. There wasn't a prayer that went unanswered about doing it. Believe me I really was on the fence about doing it. I've got two young children and my own issues and things that could make this path for me difficult. But even through all of that I just felt that it was the right thing to do and that God had his hand in making my fears about it calm.

So here I am. Elected.

I don't say this because I am begrudgingly doing it. Not at all. I have really good reasons for saying yes. And it is deeply personal. Even though I have no experience and no connections and very little leadership experience. The one thing that I do have is enthusiasm in this association. And I do love the ladies. I mean what's there not to love? We are all creative, we are all struggling in one way or another, we all love writing... we are one in many things.

I was absolutely certain at last years ANWA Conference, "Line Upon Line" with the speaker's opening presentation that I was going to be an ANWA member for life! Prayers I made in my youth were answered right there and then (and now) when I found this organization. There are so many feelings I want to express about it that I just don't know where to start! Maybe I'll be able to get them out a bit at time in this blog.

But the number one person I want to thank first is God Himself! He answered my prayers, He's guided me this far, and He has faith in me to do the job. Right now is my time to jump in and learn what I can, soak it up like a sponge. I can't say I'll be perfect at it, and I'll need direction with the ropes for a time till I get it all down enough that I'm not a nervous wreck. But I can't go back and not be excited about being here. I can't NOT be involved in something I really am committed to. And that is this organization of ANWA!

ANWA will probably make a bigger impact on me than I will on it. But I will give my best effort and let my heart lead me where it goes. I've never been disappointed when I've followed it. I've still struggled, but it has always benefited my growth as a person in the end. I'm sure this opportunity will be no different.