Family Blessings?


This past Sunday the family gathered at our house for the annual Easter fest. There was laughter, way too much food, more than a few adult beverages consumed and the fierce competition of our annual tournaments. People, there were trophies at stake :)

This was our fifth year for the The Craftsman and I to host the Easter family gathering. In preparation, on Saturday, we ran errands in the cold damp weather and then, again in the cold damp weather, tried to ready to outside for the projected sunny, warmer temperatures. Let me say that whatever we did to prepare was relatively minor when compared to the number of people who were coming....including children the count totaled 24. In the family into which I married, everyone contributes, thus the way too much food.

We laughed, often at each other. The longer we talk, the louder we get. There were some serious discussions, some quiet moments and yes even a few disagreements. We pry into one another's personal business with unrepentant audacity. We are, after all, a family of individuals, all raised to be strong and independent.

I'll be the first to admit there are times, for various reasons and an assortment of those strong individuals annoy or distress me. As I'm sure I do to and for them. In the end, however, I'm so blessed and grateful with the sure knowledge that at any time, for any reason, if I need one of them they will do everything within their power to help.

And that, in this every-changing world, is a blessing beyond words.

August has always been a busy month in this household. 

In our immediate family we have 4 birthdays and The Craftsman and I celebrate our anniversary.  Add in all the back to school busy-ness and there's little time to slack off.  This year we've also had one wedding shower, a baby shower, and good friends coming to visit for a couple of days. And all of that is on top of housecleaning, cooking and summer yard work.

I've had the added pleasure of celebrating good news, in the guise of several friends learning they are a Maggie finalist.

In the meantime, I've come down -- sort of -- from the high of having sold my first book and have faced the dark tunnel of producing another book.

This should not be a problem.  After all, I didn't sell the first book I wrote. I've written many others so this should be a simple matter of coming up with new characters and ways to make their lives conflicted and difficult before they enjoy that happily-ever-after moment.

However it feels different this time.

I admit the fear kept me paralyzed for a few days. But like most fears, if voiced aloud, it loses much of the power it held over you. I won't go so far as to say I've conquered the fear. I can even rationalize and say I believe the fear will help me stay on task. In my opinion, the fear rarely, if ever, goes away in the life of a writer.

I have also, this month at least, given myself permission to enjoy the blessings of my life and family.  I work on the new manuscript, or try to, every day. Granted some of that work is not putting actual words on the screen but could be little more than mulling. Eventually that mulling will pay off.

For now, however, the laundry awaits.