A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

I can't believe it! Both kids will be away from home this year. Joe's in Egypt and Dave's at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. No one's going to be hopping on a jet plane and gliding into Reagan National for Mom's Incredibly Fabulous Turkey Dinner.

I think I'm supposed to be sad about this. It's one of those parental milestones that come with an empty nest. But I've got to confess . . . I'm doing the happy dance. Yes, I'll miss the kids (young men now), but this means they've grown up. They've taken on adult responsibilities and are meeting them. I couldn't be happier or more proud that they're doing what young men are born to do. Somehow I'm hearing Buzz Lightyear shouting, "To infinity, and beyond....." That's what I want for my kids.

I'm also glad not to cleaning and cooking and baking right now :) My husband and I have four days off from our day jobs. FOUR WHOLE DAYS! I can't remember the last time we had that much time. I'm going to read, write, take a nap, maybe see a movie and walk the dog at a leisurely pace. I'm also going to give thanks for God's mighty blessings. He's Awesome!

That's My Son!

That handsome soldier is my youngest son. He just finished Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He's got some more training in store, then he'll be headed back to Lexington, KY where he's a student at UK and a member of the Kentucky National Guard.

Attending his graduation was more than a "proud parent" moment. It gave me a new appreciation for our men and women in uniform. They work hard. They follow orders. They have discipline and structure. Seeing his battery in formation, watching them march out of the auditorium to the cadence called by a drill sergeant, hearing all those deep male voices . . . I'll never forget it.

I couldn't help but flash back to his high school graduation, a fun and rowdy affair with people calling out names and whooping it up. This moment had so much more dignity, such a sense of honor, and respect for themselves, each other and their commanding officers. I miss that quality in everyday life. In the few short hours I was away from home today, I dealt with more bad attitudes than I saw in all four days in Oklahoma. Such is life, but I miss the days when courtesy could be expected.

A Typical Morning

It's 9 a.m. and I've been at the computer since about 7 o'clock. I've also walked the dog and had some coffee, thought about laundry and seen my husband off to work. It's an ordinary day, but something extraordinary happened to one of my characters. The hero in Kansas Courtship just crossed the bridge from bitterness to blessing.

I didn't see it coming. I love it when that happens! My synopsis is all messed up, but such is life. There's nothing better for me as a writer than a surprise twist in a story.

I Hope No One Was Listening

My husband and I generally stop for coffee at Starbuck's after church. Today we got the cozy chairs and talked about everything from the sermon, the music, the kids, his job, politics and my writing. I know I confuse him, but he listens. Today I was muddling through a turning point in Kansas Courtship. Bingo! I had a brainstorm and casually said, "I could cut off the guy's foot, maybe his hand." My wonderful husband didn't even blink. After all these years, he's used to me : ) Good news for the hero . . . I'm only in the brainstorming stage. For now, he's safe!

Fall Leaves

The fall leaves are gorgeous this year!I've been out with the dog, crunching along sidewalks covered with patterns of red, yellow and orange. I feel inspired, blessed.

I felt even more blessed when I came home to the sound of the blower. While I was out waxing artistic, my dear husband blew the dead leaves in a pile and bagged them. I truly have the best of both worlds . . . A beautiful fall day and a clean backyard. Thanks, sweetheart!

Picture is Autumn Fire by Mark Coldren

Plotting Along

I'm at 34,000 words on the current ms. That's in two months. I'm in shock. I've always considered myself a slow writer. I am a slow writer. For an LIH, I generally ask for 8 months at contract time because I know life can get hectic in a hurry. I don't like to be rushed at the end of a book. For me, that's the best part. I love to tinker and polish until I'm 100% confident the book is as good as I can make it. That takes time.

So what's the difference with this book? Why is it going so much faster? It's called Kansas Courtship, by the way. Since it's part of a continuity, the title won't change. That's part of the answer. I started with a set of characters, a setting and a basic plot. From Day One, I've been focused on the story. I've tweaked Zeb and Nora to my liking, but they had substance from the beginning. There's been a ton of research, but even that's been focused. Instead of shopping for an occupation for my hero, I knew in advance he owned a mill.

The other factor is simply discipline. The more I stay away from the internet, the more I write. It's not just a matter of wasting time. Online stuff drains my mind. Frankly, I like feeling drained! It's relaxing for me. I could dawdle here for days and days and days, but when I finally sign off, there's nothing left for the story.

Maybe it comes down to a simple Bible verse. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all things will be added unto you." When I keep Him first, everything's better. That doesn't mean no internet at all. It just means keeping it in its place.