A journey worth the wait!

I don't have photos to add this time, but I wanted to jot some of my thoughts anyway. The last few weeks have been amazing, just as the entire past year has been. I have been recently working on the edits for my book, and it's been surprising, enlightening, and all the while WORTH IT!

My book has been given a new title ~ rather than "Life, Don't Stop Me Now" my book will be seen on the bookstore shelves as "Make Me New" (with a subtitle of "One woman's fight to mend a broken past"). I had mixed feelings about changing the title, but from the suggestions of my editor, I decided to trust her professional opinion and go for it. I guess the marketability and such will work better with the new title, so we'll see how that goes. In addition to the new title, there were a couple other changes my editor suggested, and some were fabulous. Others were hard work, plain and simple. I had to do a lot of soul searching, reworking my thoughts, and rephrasing a few things to better set the course of the story and fill in gaps I'd left in my writing. It's a process, that's for sure. But it's so amazing how fresh, renewed, and great I feel about the journey this is taking me on. In re-reading my manuscript through editing it, I reminded myself how fortunate I am to be in the strong, loving, stable relationship and life I am in now! God is so good!!

I don't know the details and timelines for the rest of the publishing process, but the editing phase goes a few more weeks, prior to being handed off to the design and layout department for their creative touches. I'll continue to keep you posted on the progress, and as soon as I know a release date, you can be sure I'll let you know!!

May the peace and renewal of God's love and grace fill your life today, and send you into a restful and joyous weekend!

My boys in South Pacific

Check out that military stance... maybe Matt's time in the Sea Cadets paid off... he can stand with proper military form when needed. ha (I did have to help him shine his shoes though).

Noah is supposed to be helping his counterpart sing this song in French, but he does a good job of just sitting there on stage and looking cute.

His expression might look like he's hating every minute of this, but you should see him playing with the other cast members backstage... he's the star of their show.

He's doing what he does best... taking it all in, and melting hearts.

Matt's serious side really comes out in this role... Lt. Cable isn't a joker, and Matt's serious enough to pull it off. I'm so proud of my boys!!!

There was also a scene where they kiss, but I just couldn't bring myself to post that one... he's still my "baby" afterall, even though he's legally an adult now. ha. Handsome, great voice, this mother is so proud.

The big HAIR CUT!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

For Matt's upcoming musical "South Pacific", his role of Lt. Cable calls for an authentic military haircut. You can imagine that even back in the 1940's (the time of which that musical is set) there was little room for the shaggy locks that my son has fashioned for many years. So, with a handful of willing cast members, the barber was called in, and they set up the stage to be the traumatic setting for the makeovers. I think Matt was ready for the new look, and he doesn't seem to be too traumatized by it, but it sure was something for him to get used to (and the rest of us that know and love him). He's handsome no matter what his hair looks like, but it was quite a change. Ben called him a "freak", but I think that's just brotherly love in action.

He really didn't want to look in the mirror as his friend Scotty helped with the reveal! But, as Matt knows all too well, hair DOES grow back, and if he's so inclined, he can sport the long curls once again.

New Revelation...

I don't have any photos to share this time, but thought I'd jot a note anyway, since it's been over a month since my last post. Actually, saying I don't have photos isn't really the whole truth, but rather, I don't have TIME to upload them. I feel like I'm running ragged the last few days. Usually spring invigorates me, and I feel a sudden burst of energy. But this particular week is not that way at all.

Last Friday, I dropped Ed off at the airport, as he flew away to INDIA (not Indiana, but the country of India... just wanted to clarify that in case you thought I simply had a typo, ha), where he'll be working for two weeks. I thought I was a pretty independent person; self reliant, strong, able to do it all on my own... WRONG!! I need Ed back!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe how exhausting life is when your soul mate, your partner, your beloved husband is away. I have a new appreciation for the military families that have to endure long months without half of their support system from time to time.

ANYWAY... as I was saying, I dropped Ed off on Friday, and have since had to deal with our town having a surge of snow-melt and overland runoff, flooding the ditches and taxing the lift stations. Being at the helm of my community, I had to make some judgement calls and mobilize heavy equipment to get snow moved to allow the water to flow out of town (I mobilized, meaning I made the right phone calls... I didn't actually drive the backhoe) ha. In the middle of that fiasco, my oldest son started having asthma issues, so he needed to see the doctor; my youngest son has a horrible head cold, and he needed to see the doctor; my middle son has a new paper route that he does every morning (when I'd rather be sleeping); and the oldest and youngest have play practice for the upcoming performances of South Pacific, so I'm shuttling them around as well. I have to lead the support group tonight, while at the same time having Noah at play practice... I'll try to magically be in both places at once.

I certainly don't mean to whine or fuss about being busy, but it seems to be mounting in my thoughts today. Maybe yesterday would have been better spent by sleeping when Noah did, rather than doing the TV interview I did as the mayor, and fielding phone calls regarding the spring flood situations in our region. I think the overall message I'm facing, is that I'm not as strong, independent, or self-reliant as I thought I was. Instead, it is only with the love, support, and devotion of an amazing husband that I can do the things I do! Without Ed, I'm a mess!! He completes me, and I don't know how I'd ever live without him! Thank goodness his absence is only for a limited time.

Ed never reads this blog, but if he were to ever read it, I'd simply tell him that my love for him has been deepened and revealed by his recent travels. I have realized how much I depend on him, need him, and how VERY much I miss him every minute of every day while he's away. Whenever our mundane routine gets busy or frazzled, he picks up where I leave off, or vice versa. He makes the hectic pace in which we live, more manageable, and he is the the bright spot in my days. Ed, wherever you are on the other side of the globe this day, please feel my love in your heart, and know that you mean the world to me!!!!!

I hope that all who read this, also have a deep and rich love for someone in your life. Too often we take our loved ones for granted, and don't make the time to tell them how much they mean to us... tell your special someone TODAY, just how much they mean to you (regardless if they took out the trash or not this morning) ha. Blessings to you all... and happy spring!!!!!

Opposite end of the spectrum

Matt's schedule is SOOO busy, he's never home, so in order to plan a birthday party for him, I had to make it a SURPRISE, and he was a little ticked that none of his friends were able to hang out with him last night... but little did he know that they'd all gather at his place afterall.
He was surprised (so he says), and it was a fun time, with nearly 20 teenagers arriving to celebrate my "baby" boy's 18th birthday!! Ben helped decorate, and it was a really neat time.

There was cake.............................

and pizza...................................

And a lot of laughs! Noah fit in perfectly, and was the hit of the party (sorry Matt, he stole your spotlight).

It isn't a guarantee that a mom will be allowed to help her kid celebrate his 18th birthday, laughing and joining the gang of teenagers for the evening... so I was honored that I wasn't banished from the festivities. We even pulled out the baby albums and scrapbooks, and Matt was a great sport, laughing at the memories of his own childhood.

It seems like only yesterday that this handsome young man was born... 18 years ago today... my the joys life has brought in those 18 years! I love you endlessly, Matthew!!! Happy Birthday my son!!!

Pooped-Out Pair

Ed willingly offered to take Noah and rock him to sleep for his afternoon nap the next day, after his big Birthday party! I couldn't understand why it was taking Ed so long, and it seemed like more than a half hour had passed since he'd gone in the other room.................
little did I know it wasn't just Noah that was catching some ZZZZZZZ's. What an adorable photo op'. Daddy and Noah, fast asleep ~ what's more precious than that?!

MESSY CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!

Oh, Noah... where do I begin to express the LOVE and JOY in my heart for you?! I can only share a glimpse of what a thrill it is like to be your mommy!! This was an awesome day!!
Happy Birthday To You!!! First Birthdays are something special, and this was no exception! Of course, you needed help blowing out your candle, before you grabbed it. ha. I helped as you sat in awe while your friends and family sang to you!!

"Are you sure I can dig into this?" Noah was looking around the room, making sure nobody was going to stop him, before he stuck his fingers in. Then he grabbed a quick fistfull, and it was ON!

I wonder if there's ever been research done to estimate the time it takes a child to demolish an oversized piece of birthday cake, before ever getting any of it into his mouth. hee He sure loved the ooey, gooey feeling of the frosting and cake between his fingers.

"Here mommy, let me share!" He's actually really learning to be polite and share... I didn't think I needed this exact moment to be a learning opportunity, but hey, when the moment presents itself, why fight it?! ha. It really was delicious cake (Ed baked it, he's such a great daddy!).

I had to have a photo of the aftermath... it was just too great a mess to wash away without first snapping a few pictures. Good thing for garbage disposals though.