The Printed Word

Today, I printed 215 pages of double spaced, Times Roman pt. 12 font. That's right, I printed my first novel. Granted it is not finished until all edits are complete and I know in my heart that I cannot add or subtract anything without changing the story. But it is at this moment all in one place with a new title, Peace, Love and Mashed Potatoes.


As I've worked side-by-side with God to complete this work of fiction, I've understood the meaning of submission on a much different level. I've been obedient and accepting of God's input and appreciative that he chose me to write this book. He has fed me ideas and guidance as I've typed along. I continue to be amazed at how God has placed the people I need into my life at just the right moment. This week one of my friends at work, an English Professor, offered to read and edit my story. I also have family members and another dear friend who are readers. I am blessed.


I pray that He uses Willow's story for whatever purpose he intends and that those who read it will be blessed.  And I pray that he continues to give me insight as I prepare this written work for market. Please pray with me that God's will is done in where this book ends up.

Fiction---Me?

Wow, I have not been on here for several months. Life gets so busy and I've been spending my writing time working on a novel. Yes, a novel. I have officially written more than 50,000 words and am working toward the end of the story. 


I never dreamed that God would call me to write fiction. I've written many poems and hundreds of devotions. I've even penned ideas for a nonfiction book. But, now I am working on a story about a young woman who chooses to return home to help her mother and in the process she learns to forgive her deceased father. But that's not all, she meets Reed and Claire and a mystery unfolds that surprises them all. 


My working title Unexpected Joy came to me at about 40,000 words. I plan to finish the writing in January and then the real work begins, editing and creating a sales pitch. I'm praying God leads me in every step.


I may share my woes and joy here as I travel this writing journey.


Happy New Year! 

Remembering

Ten years ago today I clearly remember the principal of the school I worked at coming in with a shocked look on his face. He sat down on one of the tables and told my coworker and me that an airplane had just attacked the World Trade Center. We sat shocked. Why would someone attack? As the day wore on, we learned of more devastation and innocent lives destroyed because of the evil that dwells in this world. I remember sitting in front of the television when I got home. I could not stop watching the footage and I could not stop wondering, why.

Today I think about the families and friends who lost loved ones that day. Yesterday I read about the babies who lost their fathers and how they have grown up without that important person in their lives. I think about the firefighters, policemen, citizens, and so many others who tried to help. Some of them lost their lives, too.

Sadness fills my heart for these people and for the enemy who must be filled with evil. I pray that God bless those left behind and those who have this memory seared into their minds. May God bring peace to us all.

What's Inside

Confined to my living room, for several days after surgery, left me too much opportunity to watch television. Since I work Monday through Friday I don’t usually view daytime television. I am happy to say that I have not missed one thing. Every show I turned on talked about improving how a person looks, mostly aimed at women. Hair color, weight loss, the right clothes, the right undergarments, the make-up, the nail polish, and on and on it went. No one spoke about how a person lives, what they think, how they feel, what they read, what they believe. The shows focused on what other people see who pass me on the street. How sad. I saw women who have anchored television talk shows for over twenty years, still trying to look twenty. My question is “What’s the point?”

God created me to grow and age gracefully. He wants me to seek is face and fill my heart with his word. Some of the most beautiful women I know wear very little to no make-up, but they have an internal glow that shines through because they are at peace with God and know his plans for their life. Some of us are overweight, but that doesn’t mean I’m not beautiful, it means I’m blessed with an abundance of food. I am really tired of the focus being on the outside and for our young women to only see what they view from the mirror. If you have influence over young women, encourage them to take care of themselves, but that the really important side of them is the inside. Fill them with love, a caring spirit, patience, peace, joy and all the attributes that create the person God wants them to be.

Rising in my Heart

The rolling hills and summer green trees welcomed my coworker, Natalie, and me to Ohio University’s campus. We traveled to Athens to attend the Ohio Library Support Staff Symposium. The trip reminded me of the many journeys I made with Tim to visit our two daughters who graduated from this wonderful institution. My memory drifted to many hugs, smiles and tears shared in both leaving them here and visiting on weekends. As I pulled on to campus I sensed a part of the past rising in my heart. We drove by Kati’s old apartment building and Maggie’s dorm. I remembered slipping into the back of Nelson Hall to visit Kati at work and lugging boxes and furniture into dorm rooms too small for occupants. In my mind I saw Maggie standing in front of her dorm waving good-bye, through tears, her first time away from home.

Years passed, the girls moved on with life and here I am missing those days when our children still belonged to us. Life changed the rules as the kids outgrew being children. What they may not know yet is that in our hearts they will always be the ones we tucked in and kissed good-night. I miss those days as much as I embrace their adulthood and love who they have become.

Good-night from Athens and God bless.

Good-bye Borders

When I heard that the baby giraffe at the Cincinnati zoo died, I almost cried. The pictures of that sweet little animal made me smile, so cute. But he was not long for this world. Yesterday, I visited the zoo with my co-workers for a staff retreat and I stopped by to see how momma and papa were doing. They looked sad and the zookeeper said they are in mourning. They miss their young one. The older I am the more death, closings, and endings weigh on me, maybe because I know I am closer to the end than the beginning now.

Yesterday, I received an email telling me that my favorite store is going out of business. Border books closes their doors after 40 years of bookselling.  A sad day for me, I did my first and only book signing at the store in Eastgate. The event manager helped me set up and allowed me, a first time author with just a segment in a Chicken Soup book to take center stage. My family surrounded me, my husband stood by me, my friends gathered and even a few people I did not know stopped by. What a great memory. So I am mourning the closing of this wonderful store where I met many kind and fun people, including the tall, young man who always gave excellent customer service and could sell an Eskimo ice. Best wishes to all the employees who provided excellent service, you will be missed.

Up, Up and Away

Since I’ve reached a certain age, the preciousness of time greets me when I wake up and reminds me to appreciate my days when I go to bed. Now that we live in a so-called empty nest, Tim and I have a bit more time to do some of the things we enjoy. And that includes pursuing activities that we’ve always wanted to do. I enjoy writing and until a few years ago, I have not taken the time to sit at my computer and peck away at the keys. What I write may never be published (except on my blogs) but I continue to pursue my dream of publishing a book someday. Along with that dream comes research for my writing.

Yesterday Tim and I drove to Middletown, Ohio where I hoped to go up in a hot air balloon. The balloon would have been tethered, meaning that it only rose a hundred or so feet in the air, but I would have experienced something new and so would Tim. The balloonists made a fine effort to accommodate us, but the wind won out. As we stood in line with hundreds of other people, we enjoyed the soft breeze blowing away the humid heat. Unfortunately, that same breeze caused safety issues with the balloons. We never did get to rise into the sky, but we did see how the balloonists prepare for flight, we watched forty or more balloons rise up to the challenge of a race and we sat amazed at the beauty of balloons lit up in the dark for the annual balloon glow. We may never get to ride in a balloon, but at least we tried. Turning fifty taught me one thing—put my fears aside and move toward my dreams.

Maybe we will even go back next year and try again.