Book Project

I’ve been writing a novel for a few months now. The process feels comfortable like a favorite pair of jeans or old sweatshirt. The ‘business’ end of the work involves goal-setting, milestones, timelines, and reader feedback loops. The surprise is how the book has come alive like a newborn crying in a crib longing for me to pick it up and nurture it. I find myself needing to write more and more each day, which tells me I must heading in the right direction.

The drawback of writing everyday means cleaning and yard work tasks are backing up as I postpone them as long as humanly possible. Most days, the dishes overflow the sink and laundry is spilling into the hallway. Mowing and garden chores are a joy of mine, but I’ve had to farm out those jobs to my husband and boys, abandoning my preference to have things done a ‘certain way.’

I find myself envious of those homes with clearly divided rooms with walls for private writing space. The evenings are especially busy evenings when dinner, homework, sports practices/games, and trips to the store for more milk abound. Now that we’re up to about three gallons a week, I’m wondering if I can work a deal with that dairy farmer down the road. Headphones and earplugs can only block out so much noise and our home’s open floor plan means the busy energy is everywhere. Remaining focused is challenging when you share office space with the ‘CounterStrike gang’ engaged in a boisterous round of a counter-terrorism game.

Not surprisingly, the main character of my book (Maggie Long) is also a writer who uses the family camper as her satellite office. The concept flowed easily as I was writing that part of the story and has me thinking Maggie is onto something. After all, our own camper has a kitchen for coffee and snacks, a bathroom, and a table for writing space. I so love how writing this book has become an amusement park ride with me laughing and hanging on for dear life. Stay tuned for more novel news to come!

Chasing Miracles

View from our suite at Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa

Admittedly, we’d had enough of the snow and dreary days when we booked our Phoenix vacation in early March. The warm, sunny weather invigorated our spirits just as we’d hoped. We stayed in a remote area outside Chandler, Arizona at the Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa where the breath-taking landscapes, babbling brooks, and endless blue skies made us feel like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. My husband and I hadn’t taken a vacation alone in over a decade. It’s sad how we let life and time get away from us before admitting we’re frazzled because we neglect our souls. Like most Americans, carving out time away from TVs, cell phones, and electronic gadgets is usually bumped from the schedule to squeeze one more 'To Do' item into our already overstressed daily itineraries.

Rawhide western town and steakhouse in Chandler, AZ

When we do make time for self-care by hitting the gym, pampering ourselves, or walking the dog after work, we still ‘guilt’ ourselves about tasks we had to skip or postpone. My sister and I often compare notes about fun, effective relaxation methods in much the same way we played together as kids. “You won’t believe what I did the other day,” is the best thing to hear and share with a friend. Sharing joyful energy is so powerful. The puritanical idea of serious, hard work is so ingrained in our society, but we are literally killing ourselves by adhering to these ancient standards. I challenge those who feel ‘serious’ work is somehow more valuable and business-like. Isn’t working with a positive, energetic person more likely to make you a repeat customer?

Camping at Backbone fall 2009

While in Arizona, we took the opportunity to cruise the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Parks website. We chose and reserved three weekend getaways at our favorite campground Backbone State Park. This wonderfully serene spot features a lake for swimming and boating as well as trails for hiking and biking. The location near Strawberry Point is a short 45-minute drive from our home and to our surprise, offers no cell phone signal with our wireless carrier (oh well… he, he). Chase a few miracles of your own today and do something for your soul that makes you smile all day!

Awakenings

(by Melissa Kane)

Warm air dissolves snow’s blanket
Sunshine awakens moist earth

Revealing sleeping ground beneath

Ice wanes as water creeps and rushes

Momentary pools well up

Feeding swollen streams and rivers

Buds pop on limbs and branches

Foundlings stretch arms skyward

Shaking off hibernation hangovers

Winter’s dark cast retreats

Fresh sprouts proclaim nature’s revival

Ushering in our beloved bride SPRING