SUNDAY COFFEE LETTERS: July 26th (#16) (Patreon)

Dear Patrons,

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another Sunday... almost Saturday... Coffee Letter! ☕️

I completely forgot to do my Coffee Letter last week, and I'm so sorry about that. Between leaving my 9-to-5 job, coming home, and settling into a completely new routine, I honestly lost track of what day it was. One day blended into the next, and before I knew it, an entire week had flown by.

But I'm back!

I'll be honest, my first week away from work is a little bit of a blur.

We packed up and spent a few days visiting my grandparents while some close friends stayed at our house, almost like an Airbnb, so they could attend a family wedding. It worked out wonderfully for everyone. We got to spend some much-needed time with my grandparents, catch up over good food and great conversations, and at the same time help out some friends who needed a place to stay. It was one of those weeks that simply felt... good.

The boys have been doing really well.

Oliver and Isaac have absolutely loved having Mom home again. We've been visiting parks, wandering through farmers' markets, spending afternoons at the beach, and simply enjoying the sunshine together. I even got to reconnect with an old high school friend that I hadn't seen in years. We spent an afternoon walking along the ocean with the boys, throwing rocks into the water, chatting about life, and wondering where all those years had gone.

Honestly...

It's been amazing.

Now it's time to settle into a routine, and I have been having so much fun putting one together.

One thing that has honestly surprised me is how much I've been enjoying using ChatGPT to help create homeschool activities for the boys. I've been able to build a daily learning schedule, create printable colouring pages based on whatever we're learning that day, make handwriting worksheets so they can practise writing their names, and even come up with fun educational games. It has become such an incredible tool for helping me give the boys engaging activities while still making learning feel like play.

Watching them get excited over something as simple as a colouring page or proudly tracing the letters in their names has been one of those little moments that reminds me why I wanted to be home in the first place.

Speaking of exciting things...

Something pretty incredible happened in my writing life.

I officially finished the first draft of my fantasy novella!

I'm now diving into the editing process, which has honestly been so much fun. I cannot wait to tell all of you more about it during our Patreon livestream later this month.

And before anyone asks... no, this isn't the novel I've been reading live with all of you.

This one has been my little secret project.

It feels so surreal to finally be able to say that the first draft is finished.

Thank you all, once again, for making this possible.

Being able to spend my days with my family while still pursuing my creative dreams is something I don't take for granted for even a second. Every one of you has played a part in making this chapter of my life possible, and I am endlessly grateful.

I hope all of you are doing wonderfully.

I'd love to hear what's been happening in your lives lately. What are you looking forward to over the next little while? Or maybe there's something small in your everyday life that brings you so much joy it makes everything else feel just a little bit brighter.

Until next Saturday, hopefully ☕️

Thank you for being a part of my Saturday Coffee Letters.

Love,

Alanna P.