News from the poetry life

I am absolutely doing what I love to do.  I am raising three wonderful young men, and I am writing.  The same writing I have been doing since long before anyone ever read it.  It is good for my soul.  

Since I last wrote about this topic, I have been published in an online journal called Sweet Tree Review.  It is a poem called Night Muse.

Also, Word Fountain published an Ekphrastic poem of mine called Superimposed in their print journal.  On their website (with permission from the artist) they posted my poem along with the photograph I wrote it about.  That was very fun, and the editor David Bauman and I really enjoyed corresponding and discussing our work.

A brand new online journal Oyster River Pages published my poem Inheritance in their inaugural issue. They were fabulous to deal with, and will also publish an interview with me sometime in the next few months.

AND... best of all... Finishing Line Press accepted my new manuscript for publication!!!  The title will be "Visiting Ghosts and Ground."  It will be available for pre-order next month and will be published in March.  I am very happy and gearing up for promoting this second collection.  Thanks be to my Maker!

Grief and faith faith faith

I am very grateful for a God who loves me, who is carrying me once again.  I am thankful for the loving friends and family who continue to mop up my tears and shine a light on my path, even when it seems so dark. Five years ago, at this time, I was in an sadly similar situation.  As it was then, my personal life is rough but my writing career is on the rise. I always heard about artists suffering for their work.  It certainly has been weirdly true in my life, even though I've always put my family first.

Blooming

My grandmother lived a wonderful life.  When I knew her, she was sparkly with enthusiasm, a great piano player, painter, writer, etc.  However, she had a sad personal life, two divorces, and a myriad of other issues to deal with.  I remember that she had a beautiful violet in her living room.  I don't think I ever saw it without blooms.  She knew how to care for it.

This photo is of my violet on my desk at work.  When I came to this job, it was sick and almost dying.  I wanted to make it beautiful and did everything I could think of to help it.  The more I tried, the sicker it became.  Finally, Meredith (Horticulture Assistant) took it home, cut off it's roots, put it in water, and re-grew new roots.  She planted it and brought it back, hoping it would survive.  I followed all of her instructions carefully.  Now, almost a year later, this pretty little violet blooms almost constantly.  I pay attention to it.  If the blooms begin to die, I know something is wrong and needs to be changed.  I have learned a lot from it.

I think I am like my violet.  I understand her.

New Editor

Tiger's Eye posted this on their website today.  Whew... a new adventure!

http://www.tigerseyejournal.com/

My 23rd Mother's day

This blog is mostly for my children.  When I print it out, they will keep it.  So, for those few of you who read it, I hope you don't mind how personal it is.  This is one of those posts.  Happy Mother's Day!
Dakota, Carson, and Micah,

I once thought I would be a perfect mom, I'm not.  I also thought I would marry a wonderful man and stay married for the rest of my life.  That didn't happen either.  When I first started submitting the poetry that I had been writing all my life, I hoped for immortality.  That one day, my voice would be remembered by people, like Emily Dickinson's.  On my 23rd year as a mother, I am not sorry about any of those losses.  When I am put in the ground, I know that you will be all that is left of me.  You and your children will carry on my story and my memories.  As I look at my own mother's photo today, I hope that you will see me and remember me with lots of laughter and good times, as well as a few tears.  That you will remember all the silly things I do and the fun we have together.  All of the days at work, I really wish I could be home with you.  As for my writing and the words I leave for others, I hope it will remind you that I never gave up.  No matter how many times, I was met with rejection, I kept submitting until I achieved a level of success.  The best part of all of this is knowing that you are proud of me.  Maybe my years of trials and recovery have taught you to be resilient.  Life will push you down over and over again, but even when the rains pours on you, you can always get back up.  The sun will be out tomorrow, and your Heavenly Father will come to your aid.  I love you all so very much.

Love always,

Mom

My 2nd life

The news hasn't been announced publicly yet, but it's not a secret either.  I have been asked to join the staff of Tiger's Eye Press as a assistant editor.  This will not replace my day job, but will be more a labor of love in my spare time at home.  However, I am very very excited for this opportunity to learn, and to contribute to the wider world of poetry in new ways.  I love poets!

Primary visit

Today was Carson's annual Primary visit.  He received a great report, and my heart is very happy.  This is his last appointment with Dr. Williams as an underage child.  Next year, he will be 18, and Dr. Williams will still see him, but will be introducing him to the adult transition team.  Guaranteed, there will be tears then.  But today, I am just very grateful.  Always and always ... very grateful for my son and his good health.

I was looking through some of my photos of Primary.  Of course, there are baby ones because he spent his two first weeks of life there.  However, I thought it would be fun to post some of just the last few years.  My, how he has grown!

2010 - Right after heart catheter procedure (just to look inside with a camera).  Brave guy.

2012 - Appointment with Dr. Williams

Today (2017) - Heart Echo and appointment with Dr. Williams