Returning to Sand

"The light after the storm, shows that hope was never gone."

You have seen this line all over this blog, in posts as well as the description to the right.  It was also one of the main inspirations behind the title of this blog, "Dancing Through the Rain."  This amazing line belongs to none other than David Hodges who co-wrote the song "Returning to Sand" with Tamar Kaprelian back in 2009.  He later released a re-recorded version on his December Sessions, Vol. 1 album.

This song has given me much strength over the years and has become a motto for life.  So even when times are tough, I know that  if  when I make it through the storm, there will be sunlight again.  Like Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians states, "Do you stop believing in the sun when clouds block it out?"  Hope is the exact same way.

When times are tough, the storm seems so dark and so oppressive.  But through our belief, we know the sun is still shining above those clouds, and we simply need to have faith and wait for the storm to pass in order to see the sunlight once again.

Don't be afraid to fall.

Don't be afraid to change.

Don't be afraid to feel.

Don't be afraid to learn.

Don't be afraid to grow.

Don't be afraid to love.

Don't be afraid to be you.

Don't be afraid to face the storm.

Returning to Sand

David Hodges

Tamar Kaprelian

Fate driven deep under the waves

An empire of gold

Returning to sand

Falling asleep to the rhythm of days

Watching the tide

Pull back again

I'm not afraid to fall

I've lived without water

I've walked through the fire before

I'm not afraid of change

'Cause I've dined with kings

And I've watched it be taken away

Leaving this town with wings and a prayer

These helpless streets

Are too dead for dreaming

The past made of thorns is a cross I must bear

At the edge of defeat

Miles from believing

And time will let mend we've broken...

I'm not afraid to fall

I've lived without water

I've walked through the fire before

I'm not afraid of change

'Cause I've dined with kings

And I've watched it be taken away

The light after the storm

Shows that hope was never gone

Fate driven deep under the waves

Empire of gold

Returning to sand

I'm not afraid to fall

I've lived without water

I've walked through the fire before

I'm not afraid of change

'Cause I've dined with kings

And I've watched it be taken away

Yeah, I've dined with kings

And I've watched it be taken away

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo...

If you are a writer, I am sure you have heard of it.  But if you are not familiar with the term, let me enlighten you:

National

Novel

Writing

Month

It is a national challenge to write a book of 50,000 words (novel length) in one month.  Crazy, I know.  This normally takes place in November.  Why is it November?  I have no idea.  Some say it’s because it’s the end of the year, so we are to let go of all our apprehensions that have kept us from writing all year and just DO IT!  To me, November sounds like a horrible time to write a book (I mean, the stress of the holidays?  Finals?  Eeck!).   In my opinion, some time in Spring or Summer would work best.

Therefore, I am taking the challenge... In the month of July.  I am calling it:

My Novel Writing Month!

Yes, indeed.  This month I intend to write a book!  And not just any book, but after some deliberation I have decided to write my Destroyer Series Book 1: “Tainted” (which may or may not turn into a single book--instead of a series--depending on the flow of the story).

If you have been reading my blog, you know that my Destroyer Series and I have had an “on again, off again” relationship for the past four years.  Yes, FOUR years.  I have written and rewritten the outlines and scenes multiple times... I just haven’t sat down and wrote the story from start to finish before.  I have scenes, snippets, and a general plot outline, but that is all (but these little bits of information fill three notebooks).

I think it’s about time I get my butt in gear to write this story!

As I look back at the notes I have made over the years, it is interesting to see how the story has changed and evolved.  In my opinion, it went from a childish, elementary story to something much deeper, much more personal to me.  In a way, you could say the story has matured as I have matured.  It is neat to see characters grow over the years; not to mention all the plot twists that have even caught their author by surprise! :)

This month will be a crazy one, but I think it will be good; definitely better than November at any rate.  I can’t wait to tell the story of Leah, Kael, Zak, and Red!  It’s going to be good.