Suzy's Little Wonders Blog:

NOTE: If you'd like to be added to my e-mail distribution list to receive updates for this story, please send me an e-mail at jdficwriter@yahoo.com.

Saturday, 9/6/08 Update: Well, we seem to have arrived at the end of this story. I've posted Chapter 39 and an epilogue. However, I am planning a sequel. I know I said that with Chances, but this time I really do mean it. I've even got some material already roughed out for it. Unfortunately, the sequel will have to wait until I finish another fic I started a couple of years ago called "The Wizard of West Wing" and yes it's kind of a parody of The Wizard of Oz.  It's kind of a departure from my usual writing but I hope it's well received.

Eternal thanks to my betas, Joell and Shan for their help with this story and a huge thanks to everyone that sent me feedback and encouragement for this story and who hung on with me to the end.

Take Care...Suzy

Sunday, 8/17/08 Update: Good evening everyone. I hope you're all having a great summer and a nice weekend. I've just posted a new chapter of Little Wonders (ch 38). It's not a terribly exciting chapter, but does a bit of house cleaning and thread tying as this story nears the end. There is only one chapter left and it will be the wedding. There will also be an epilogue, but unlike most of my stories, it will be very brief and it will act as a bridge and a preview of the as yet unnamed sequel I'm planning to write for this story. Feedback is always appreciated.  I hope you all have a good week.

Saturday, 7/26/08 Update: Hi all. I've just posted the next two chapters of Little Wonders (ch 36 and 37). I struggled a bit with these two chapters, but my betas helped get me back on track so I have to give them a big thanks. I hope you all like the new chapters. Please note there are 2 versions of chapter 37. A cleaned up PG version and the original NC17 version. They would have been done a bit sooner but as usual, life conspired to sabotage my writing. Tomorrow I'm going to start on chapter 38.

Just a quick little update on the personal front...My company did have layoffs last week but I didn't get caught in it. Of course, it seems like just about everyone else DID get caught in it and so those of us that are left are now doing about 6 different jobs. The company says that they 'eliminated' those positions, and yet, the funny thing is they didn't apparently eliminate the duties from those positions. Anyway...I'm still employed. On a very sad note, I also had to have one of my dogs put to sleep this past week which has been a pretty wrenching experience all the way around. 

And with that I will stop subjecting you to the latest bits of drama in my life...I hope you're all having a great summer.

Sunday, 6/29/08 Update: Hi guys. Well, I FINALLY posted some new material for Little Wonders. Chapters 34 and 35 are now up. Welcome to everyone who asked to be added to my distribution list for this story. I wanted to give a shout out to my beta Joell for her quick turnaround on these two chapters. 

I'm also really sorry it's taken me so long to get these chapters done. It's been a combination of home renovations that left me exhausted, visiting family and the resulting 4 day trip to Disneyland, taking care of an ailing older pooch, a cold that wouldn't quit, and the crappy job I think I'm about to be laid off from (I work for a home builder in California - as you can imagine things have gotten really ugly).

Anyway...thanks to everyone who e-mailed me to check and make sure I hadn't A) Disappeared off the face of the earth; B) Caught the plague or been brought down by some medical malady or C) Given up on this story. I promise I haven't given up on it and I swear I'll try to do better with the remaining chapters in this story.

I hope you enjoy these two new chapters. I tried to include more scenes with the kids and plenty of Josh and Donna at home time.  We're pulling into the home stretch with the story (at least for this part - I'm already thinking there's going to have to be a sequel) and so I'm trying to move things forward and tie things up. Have a great week.  Take care.

Friday, 5/2/08 Update: Hey, there everyone. I've just posted 2 new chapters of LIttle Wonders (Ch. 32 and 33). There are two versions of Chapter 33 the first one is Adult with lots of smut and the second version is squeaky clean for anyone who doesn't like smut. There's also a marker at the beginning of each chapter to tell you which version you're reading. You also won't miss any plot development if you just read the "G" rated version. Thanks for reading!

Monday, 4/28/08 Update: Hi all. I hope you're all well. Now that you've forgotten all about this story, I'm close to posting two new chapters. Chapters 32 and 33 are with my beta as we speak. Once she checks them over and I make any changes I'll post the new chapters and send out a notification e-mail.

Sorry about the delay with the chapters, while health wise I'm doing fine, my life has gotten a bit complicated and I have a number of projects I'm working on. Consequently, I haven't had a lot of time to write. Plus as I wind down this story, it's been a little harder to write.  I know excuses, excuses. Anyway, the new chapters should be posted in the next couple days. I hope you like them.  OH, did I mention that chapter 33 has smut in it?  I'll also be posting two versions of chapter 33 just in case smut is not your cup of tea.

Take care and have a great week. 

Sunday, 3/23/08 Update:  Happy Easter everyone! For those of you that noticed that although my home page says that Chapter 30 and 31of Little Wonders are now up and yet there is no link for them, that's completely my bad [Suzy's grinning sheepishly]. I was updating my website late last night and although I did upload the new chapters I neglected to post the links to them.   Sorry about that! I'm in the processes of rectifying that right now. Hopefully by the time you read this the problem should be solved. Thanks to everyone who sent me an e-mail about it and for all the wonderful feedback. 

As many of you have asked, things seem to be going well and my health issues have continued to be absent (YAY).  Work sucks, but well, it's my own fault for not actually looking for a new job. 

Sigh, anyway, I hope you like the 2 new chapters. As always, many, many thanks to my beta and all-around friend, Joell.  Just a little note for this chapter...my portrail of CJ has a bent toward her character in No Exit (Season 5), which makes sense with this story being set in season 5.  CJ was one of my favorite characters until about this time and from there it was all downhill in my opinion. That being said, I'm hoping to wrap this story up in the next couple of chapters but my only problem that I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to do that. I have a vague idea but I feel like I have a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up and I'm still figuring out how to do it. But with all of you as my witnesses, I swear that I will finish it.

I know this story has taken forever, I appreciate your patience in keeping with it and for all the feedback and support.  You guys are the greatest!  Have a happy Easter and a great week.

Sunday, 3/2/08 Update: Hi guys. I hope you are all well. I'm going to try and keep this short. 

Now everyone don't faint at once. I know it's only been two weeks since my last post unlike the usual month it has been taking.  I finally seem to be getting on top of things (I know, famous last words). I've just posted a new chapter (ch. 29). I hope you all enjoy it.  Many, many thanks to my beta Joell, for her review and encouragement. I couldn't do it without her. I also couldn't do it without all the wonderful feedback everyone has sent.  I'm sorry I've been behind in answering it, but believe me, I do appreciate it and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. 

Hopefully chapter 30 will come as quickly as this new one did. Thanks again and have a great week. 

Sunday, 2/17/08 Update: Hi to everyone out there in cyberland. Well, in my last blog I said that I had hoped the next chapters would be coming more quickly. However, given that it's been a month since my last blog entry or my last new chapter, you can see it hasn't worked out quite that way. While my health issues have been a non-factor and there haven't been any relapses or catastrophies on that front, other things have getting in the way of my work on this story.  Since you've all been so patient, I thought you deserved to know what those things were.

Work issues (I've been so busy they expect me to do work instead of writing don't you hate that? ). Family issues (including a funeral I had to attend this weekend). Excercise issues (I'm trying to get in shape which leaves me less time at the computer). Home issues (my house is a duplex - kind of like 2 houses attached to make one - and I rent out the other unit to help pay the mortgage. The problem is the unit's been empty since November and it's putting a serious crimp in my wallet so now that I'm healthy I've been putting time and money into get it fixed up to get it rented). And last but not least, there's the fact that I'm going to turn 40 in less than two weeks but I don't feel that old  (I guess there really isn't a time issue there - it's just a little depressing).

The bottom line is now I'm catching up on all the stuff I didn't do when I was sick. Why does life have to be so complicated? Sigh...anyway, I swear I am still working on this story and I've finally finished the next chapter (ch 28) and I've posted it here.  I hope you all like it.  And now I'm off to work on Ch 29. Take care.

Sunday, 1/20/08 Update: Hi all. Well, finally!  I have started to feel better for more than a day at a time. And as I suspected my inspiration to write has returned along with my improving health. And to prove it, I just finished Chapter 27 and I've posted it here on my website.  I hope you all enjoy it.  Thanks for all your patience with me in the last couple of months and for hanging in there with this story.  Hopefully the next few chapters will come much quicker than the last couple have. Take care and have a good week!

Sunday, 1/6/08 Update: Happy Belated New Years everyone. Oh, my gosh! I had no idea it had been so long since I'd posted an update to this blog (and yes, to the story).

I know that this will sound like I'm making excuses or that I'm simply making this up but I've continued to be dogged by illness. The cold and related ailments I got over Thanksgiving started to get better then my cough got worse. Went to the Dr. for the 5th time since Thanksgiving and they first thought it might be Whooping Cough also called Pertussis (yeah, the thing that kids get vaccinated for, did you know that your vaccination only lasts until you're about 11?). They had me tested for it but it took a little over a week to get the results (it's a blood test - if I understand correctly Whooping Cough is a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract and they're able to test for the bacteria). While the results said it wasn't Whooping Cough, the Dr. finally decided that I had bronchitis. So they gave me an inhaler and cough medicine with Codine but I can only take it at night as it makes me groggy (but at least I can sleep at night-without it I can't sleep because all I do is cough and regular cough medicine is useless). Christmas was pretty much a non-event for me, while I did see some family on Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day was spent in bed. I was actually feeling better this past week but Friday I woke up with a head cold that I'm pretty sure I caught from my boss (apparently I have NO immune system right now). The head cold is aggrivating the bronchitis all over again.

The short version of this already LONG story is that I've been sick and tired and my life has pretty much dissolved into sleeping and working and I haven't been able to get much writing done. But I want you all to know that I haven't forgotten this story and that I do have more to say and I fully intend to say it. When I was feeling better this past week I did manage to get a little writing done on Chapter 27. I'd say it's about half way done. I'm going to do my darnest to work on it more this week and with a little luck I might have it ready for next weekend.

I'm so sorry you've had to wait so long. You've all been so incredibly patient with me and I'm so thankful for that. If I don't post a new chapter next week I'll at least try and post an update so you'll know where things stand. Thanks again. Take Care.

Sunday, 12/9/07 Update: Well, talk about falling down the rabbit hole. I'm SOOO sorry it's taken me so long to update my website.  My vacation in Missouri didn't go quite as planned. I got there all right, but when I arrived everyone I was visiting was sick with one malady or another and as it turned out I pretty much caught all of them. A cold, strep throat, double ear infections, and pink eye. I felt like a walking petrie dish.  I wound up at Urgent Care twice during my visit and they wouldn't let me fly home on schedule because my ears were so bad they thought I might rupture them with the pressure change if I tried to fly. I wound up flying home four days later than expected. Not to mention that I felt terrible.  REALLY terrible and about I was about as miserable as I could be. I thought I'd never get to come home again.  The low point was the Sunday after Thanksgiving when I sat at my niece's dining room table and cried into my breakfast for a good five minutes. I swear I could have been the poster child for Traveler's Aid. Anyway, I finally got home  but it's taken me a long time to get over being sick and I still have a low grade cough and my ears haven't completely opened up. And to top it off, the Friday after I got home, my car died and cost $1200 to fix.

Consequently, I also didn't get much writing done. But I did finally finish the next chapter (ch 26) and I've posted it on my website. Everyone should know that chapter 26 is purely smut with pretty much no plot development.  If smut's not your cup of tea, then you might want to wait until chapter 27 as you really won't be missing anything plot wise if you skip it.

I hope that you are all well and had a better Thanksgiving than I did. Thanks for all your patience and I hope you enjoy the new chapter.

Sunday, 11/11/07 Update: Happy almost Thanksgiving! In the spirit of Thanksgiving and being thankful, I just wanted to take a moment and send out a huge thanks to those that have given me such great support during this and other fan fic stories I've written. My beta Joell who has been my sounding board, my motivator, my hero and often my keeper. My beta Shan, who has also been a sound board, an inspiration and always seems to know just when I need a little kick in the pants to get me going. The readers and friends I've met through the Josh and Donna fan fic community like Rick Y., Anne Marie, Cam, Laura, Ann K., Yves, and Abby just to name a very few of the multitude that send me regular e-mails and feedback that truly humble me with their generousity of spirit and comments. It's what keeps me writing and makes my world a better place. So to all these people and the host of others that contribute their unique time and talents and to my life, I am deeply and eternally thankful.

And now for what you've probably all come here to see, I've just posted the new chapter of Little Wonders (Ch. 25) to my website. In case you're wondering, the angst should be pretty well over, okay, there's a tiny bit more, but nothing like the car accident or what happened in Ch. 24. The story should start to wind down now, at least that's my feeling at this point. I'm guessing there will probably be no more than 5 more chapters after this, although I am toying with the idea of a sequel so even when this story ends, you may not have seen the last of Josh, Donna, Hannah and Jake (and maybe one or two other little additions to the Lyman clan).

I also wanted to tell you that it may be 2 or 3 more weeks before I post the next chapter. I'm going to visit family in Missouri this week and will be there until after Thanksgiving and although I'll have my laptop, I don't think I'm going to have much time to write. It also occurs to me that since the next chapter will be almost exclusively smut, writing smut around three kids under the age of 10 that have a habit of looking over my shoulder might not be the best idea (I can hear my eight year old niece now...."Auntie Suzy what does 'orgasm' mean?" - Yeah, like I said, probably not a good idea).  Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that there would be a gap before the next chapter was posted so you didn't think I was giving up on the story or was having difficulties with it.

All right, I'm done with my speech-a-fyin'...I hope you enjoy Ch. 25 of Little Wonders. if you can find it in your hearts to send me some feedback I promise to do a happy dance in your honor.  Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.  

Sunday, 11/4/07 Update: Good evening everyone.  Well, here we are, another week gone. I can't believe it's the first full week of November already.  Where has 2007 gone? Anyway, enough about that.  Yes! I did post a new chapter of Little Wonders (Ch. 24). I imagine after reading the new chapter you'll be anxious for the next one and if life and my writing muse cooperates, I should have it ready by next weekend (keep all your fingers crossed). I hope you enjoy this one, it gets very angsty toward the end, but I still hope you like it.  I also hope that you all have a great week.  Take care.

Sunday, 10/28/07 Update: Hi all.  It's been a crazy week.  First and foremost I want to give a big thanks to everyone that asked how I was doing with all the fires (I live in San Diego, Calif.). You're all so sweet to be concerned about me. My house was never threatened, but my work was in one of the evacuation zones so it was closed Monday and Tuesday of this past week. But in the end we didn't have any damage at work either.  I'm so thankful for all the firefighters that worked so diligently to get a handle on the fires. And thanks again for all who checked on me.  Gives me the warm, fuzzies to know you're out there looking after me.  

On a different front, you will all be happy to know that I did finish the new chapter (Ch 23) and I have just posted it. I hope you like it and I'm hoping to have Chapter 24 ready by next weekend (even though I haven't started it yet - hee, hee). Anyway, I hope you are all well and that you have a great week.  Feedback is ALWAYS appreciated and each one is like my own personal gold nugget.  Take care....

Sunday, 10/21/07 Update: Hi Guys! I can't believe how unbelieveably patient you've been with me. It's been three weeks since I posted the last chapter. As most of you know, the delay was due to the fact that I've been sick and having a lot of stress at work and not because I was blocked or not planning to finish the story (I swear, as God as my witness I will finish this story). I'm already at work on Chapter 23 so hopefully you won't have to wait so long for another chapter (I'm going to shoot for next weekend).  Anyway, I've finally posted the new chapter (ch 22). It's a little long, about 25 pages, and it's a bit transitional so it's not the most exciting chapter but it does move things along. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who sent feedback, you guys are just amazing with your support and interest in this story.  I hope you enjoy chapter 22!  Have a good week.

Sunday, 10/14/07 Update: Hi everyone.  Well, my cold is better and as I suspected my writing has picked up again.  I'm hard at work on the next chapter (ch 22). I'm almost done with it. I'm just finishing up the last scene. It will still need to be betaed though so I think it will be ready to post on Tuesday. Thanks so much for your patience and to everyone who sent me get well wishes and encouragement. You guys are amazing!  So please check back on Tuesday evening to see if I I've posted a new chapter.  I'll also send out an e-mail to everyone on my distribution list so if you're already on that list, you'll be notified automatically. If you'd like to be added to that e-mail list, please send me an e-mail and let me know.  Have a great week!

Tuesday, 10/09/07 Update: Good morning everyone. Sorry a new chapter hasn't been forthcoming. I've been having a lot of stress at work that has conspired to rob me of my writing inspiration. To compound the problem, I've also caught a bad cold (also from someone at work - did I mention how much I loathe my job?) and although I've been home sick from work, I've spent most of that time in bed or on the couch. But rest assured, I have not given up on this story and I'm sure that as soon as I get over this cold, I'll be back at the writing.  My optimistic side wants to say that there may be a new chapter this on Sunday (Oct. 14th), but I can't make any promises. Thanks to all that sent me get well (and find a new job) wishes. You're all so sweet and supportive and I appreciate it more than I can say here.  I hope you all have a good week.

Sunday, 09/30/07 Update: Hey gang!  I hope you're all having a great weekend.  I've just posted Chapter 21 of Little Wonders. I'm going to keep this entry short, but I wanted to tell you that things between Josh and Donna should start moving a bit faster now (at least that's the plan).  Thank you all for the amazing feedback you've all continued to send me. Now I'll stop talking and let you go read the chapter.  Take care and have a great week! 

Saturday, 09/22/07 Update - Hi again all!  I'm sorry I left you all hanging out on a ledge with the last chapter. I know it was a little devilish of me.  Thanks for all the wonderful e-mails and comments you've sent me about it. I also want to take a moment to give a huge 'thank you' to my beta and friend, Joell, for all her help with this story. At times she's almost deserved a writing credit for all the rough patches she's helped me with and she definitely deserves a medal for all the whining and angst she's had to put up with from me. I also want to give a second shout out to my other friend and often times beta, Shan, for all her support and encouragement. Both of these amazing women make me a better writer and a more importantly, a better person and I can never thank them enough.

Now, to the important stuff, I've just posted a new chapter (Ch 20). I hope you like it.  I'm also already hard at work on the next chapter and hope to post it by next weekend. Please send feedback if you are so inclined. Have a good week!!

Sunday, 09/16/07 Update - Hi Everyone! Hope this finds you all well and having a nice weekend. Thanks to everyone who has been sending me feedback on this story.  You guys are the greatest!!!

The next two chapters of Little Wonders is up (Chapter 18 and 19). These chapters are a bit angsty, but I swear our dynamic duo will get their acts together here pretty soon. Just so you know, I'm hoping to have the next chapter done by next weekend (okay, so I haven't actually STARTED the next chapter yet, but I have a solid of idea of what's going to happen so it should go pretty fast).  Also I wanted to clarify something. I changed the name of the Senator that Amy is working for in the story. Originally, it was Senator Hayes but since I've also given Ainsley a small role in this story (and her last name is Hayes) I thought it might be confusing so I've changed it to Senator Hammond.  I've gone back and changed the name throughout the story so it should be all consistent.  

Enjoy the new chapters and have a great week!

Monday, 09/03/07 Update - Happy Labor Day all!

I hope you are all well. Chapters 16 and 17 are now up.  They're not horribly exciting but there is some angst and some nice moments.  I swear things will get a bit more exciting in the next couple chapters. Oh, and one more thing. These two chapters sort of reintroduce Amy Gardner into the mix, BUT she's not a threat and you have to know that I'd rather poke my own eyes out than write a scene with Josh and Amy getting romantic. And now on with the show....

Sunday, 08/19/07 Update - I just posted two new chapters of my fic that was titled "Family Ties" or "Family Tree" but will now permanently be called "Little Wonders." I'm sorry I've been playing musical titles, but I've finally found the one I like. Some might think the "wonders" refers to the kids in the story but it doesn't. It refers to those significant, though small moments in our lives that shape who we are and the lives we lead. This is no way meant to be a song fic, but the new fic title comes from the song "Little Wonders" sung by Rob Thomas. When I listened to the chorus, I knew it was right for the title.

“All lives are made in these small hours, these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate.”