I Will Love You Forever

Recently, my fourteen year old daughter asked me if I loved her as much as I did when she was a baby. I answered, “Of course I do”, wondering what had spurred this question. She explained that babies and toddlers are so cute that everyone makes a fuss over them. She worried that as she got older, she’d be loved less. I attempted to explain that love and care are different. As children grow, love for them grows as well, but the care lessens as they become more independent. Less time and activity does not equate to less love, but does have less obvious visibility. This conversation made me realize that children, no matter what age they are, need that reaffirmation of love from their parents. Outward displays of love, perhaps, become harder for a teenager to see. Cuddles and hugs, airplane rides, being toted around on the hip, and games with feeding spoons become things of the past and are often replaced with reminders to put away their clothes, do their homework, and turn down the music. Shortly after this conversation, my daughter woke me in the middle of the night with complications after a tonsillectomy. With minimal sleep, my maternal instincts kicked in, and we headed to the emergency room. As she lay on the hospital bed, I looked at her pale face and recalled that earlier discussion about love. There was no question in my mind – I loved my baby girl with every ounce of my being! Tears formed in my eyes as I held her hand and silently prayed that God would keep her safe. I reflected on her infancy and childhood. She had spunk right from the start. She was a determined and funny child and she had a way of attracting attention in any situation. I have endless cute stories to share with anyone who has a listening ear. I wanted more of those stories to tell. Not only stories of when she was little and cute, but tales of how she was growing into a lovely young lady. My heart’s desire was to enjoy watching this sweet caring girl mature into a Godly woman, wife, and mother. I continued to pray and trusted that God would honor my desire. Thankfully, she is recovering from her tonsillectomy. It has not been a smooth ride but she is healing. There will likely be more bumps along the road, but we can handle each one as they come with love and prayer. I will love you forever!

To Blog or not to Blog?

I had such high hopes when I started this blog. But I seldom seem to make the time to actually do with it what I envisioned. It seems that each time I finally finish something time consuming, I have replaced it with multiple others. Well, one more try won't hurt will it? The musical, ANNIE, that my daughter and I were in is over, soccer season is slowing down (it never seems to actually end!), Amethyst's tonsils are out and my new kitchen will be here in a few weeks! Perhaps I will finally be ready to get down to Blogger business. The next question will be if I have anything to say that isn't already written on the zillions of blogs already on the cyber highway of life? Well, I am sure I can talk even if nobody is listening. I seem to do that all the time here at home anyway! Sigh. If I do happen to have a reader out there, tell me what you want to hear. Thoughts on homeschooling a child with dyslexia, curriculum reviews and suggestions, how a disorganized mom attempts organization? Soccer mom tips, recipes for the uncreative cook, book and movie reviews, refreshing words to encourage? Until we meet again . . . and I hope it won't be a year this time!

Mid summer recount

I haven't blogged in over a month. The Blogathon ended and I immediately left for a 10 day whirlwind vacation in Wisconsin, came home to organize a Birthday party sleepover with 10 wild 11 year olds, and hosted 2 young Chinese exchange students for 10 days. Whew! Time to breathe. And in the midst of it all, I had my first article published! :-) I've now been busy preparing for a friend's wedding, ordering homeschool curriculum, and attempting all the summer projects that have been on the to do list since several winters ago! Ah, summer!

Future posts to include thoughts on the Exchange program - it really was a great experience. And thoughts on the Harry Potter hype (of which I a not part of).

For now check out July's issue at www.vancoubverfamilymagazine.com

Countdown Day 1 Finding Passion in the Finale

I have been described as passionate, focused, driven, and intense. I tend to pour everything into what I am doing.

For the past 31 days, it has been blogging! I did it - today is the last day of the blogathon!

For almost 20 years my passion has been social work. Problem is social work is a burn out field. I found that my passion kept changing. It was child welfare, then hospice, then medical social work, then elder care. As a mom, I was also passionate about parenting, educating, homeschooling, protecting. I began to question my own passion. Why was it waning, changing? Were those issues just moments of intensity, but not true passion? I discovered my true passion is research and writing. My passion encompasses all of those other things and more. With writing, I can explore all of my interests with intensity and not burn out; I can just put the project aside as I work on another.

I became a social worker because I was passionate about helping people. I am still passionate about this and know that I can pour this passion into my writing and continue to help people as I tackle the tough issues that plague our society.

What issues concern you? What do you want to see tackled?

(Note: I will not be blogging daily again until the next blogathon. But I hope to blog regularly about things that interest you, so please provide me with comments and feedback!)

Countdown Day 2: Self Promotion is hard work

I totally understand that as a writer, you have to self-promote to gain an audience for your writing and be successful. But it is hard to self-promote. It is not an issue of knowing I can write well and that I have a story to tell, but more of humility versus bragging. To toot my own horn seems like bragging. But yet to not toot my horn and expect someone else to toot it for me when I am an unknown is a little like thinking I am more important than I am.
I had visions of being the humble pseudonym that helped the world. I realize now though, that as a writer, you can't help the world if the world doesn't read your work, and the world won't read your work if they don't know you.
What are your impressions of writer’s self-promotion tactics and motives?

Countdown Day 3: Learning to Handle Critique

I am used to having my writing critiqued, especially after writing a 120 page thesis that was edited line by line by 3 professors for months! But that was a while ago. Now I am writing again and I just finished an article for the local newspaper. My friend said she would look it over for me. Great - or maybe not? My first reaction was panic. What if she didn't like it? What if she suggested I change it? I liked it. I thought it was good just the way it was. Wait, calm down - she will only make it better. Yes. And it was true - she gave me good, solid, sensible feedback that I could understand and agree with. My husband also found a few typos and grammatical errors. Don't want any of those! I quickly recovered from my initial panic and reassured myself that constructive critique is extremely valuable. I look forward to more feedback. I want my work to be readable and quality and the more eyes, the better.

How about you? Do you cringe at the thought of your work being critiqued or embrace it?

Countdown Day 4- Blogging Workout

Blogging everyday is a workout. It takes discipline, strength, determination, and will power. It is a lot like running. It is hard to get started. You spend a lot of time thinking about it, preparing, finding the right shoes (topic), comfortable clothing (or comfortable place to right), etc. Then you get going and it feels good for a while. Oh no, the difficulty breathing starts, you have to muster through the pain, the writer's block, or the leg or writer's cramp. You see the finish line, the end of the blogathon is near, you can do it! Only a little more and then you can relax. Once you are done with the run, you feel good, maybe even great. I can run more you think. I could continue to write daily, you have lots of new ideas, goals, Marathons maybe?

3 more days after today. I have almost crossed that finish line. I feel energized and inspired to create, to write, to reach my goals.

In January, I made 2 goals for the year - to launch my freelance writing career and to run 2 miles by the end of summer. It is nearing the end of May and I have run 2 1/2 miles (not without blistered toes, but I exceeded my goal). I have also sent off tow articles for likely publication. I am inspired to continue.