2017 Holiday Catch Up

I am looking back now to catch up this blog.  Paul left our home on July 14, 2017, so this was a year of firsts as a single (well ... separated) mom again.  Despite my tears and struggles, it was a lovely holiday time. We went all out to make it fun.

Ray came to visit in August.  It was the first time we had seen him since he left in 2012.  It was a little rough, but he seems changed and gentler.  It was a shock to see how his health has declined and how old he looks. He apologized to all of us for the way he treated us.  I think it was a good thing for the boys.

Uncle John and Aunt Marian visited for Halloween time.  Carson wore my clothes, fake lashes, a wig for school.  He even found size eleven pumps, which looked perfect with his hairy legs. Highlights of this costume included Micah, me, and Carson at Walmart around the bra rack, arguing about whether he needed a size 32 or 34A.  With three boys, I never thought I would be doing that!  Ha ha.  Also, I was a smurf at work, with my co-workers.

Double Birthday Celebration

This post is a catch up from Dec.20, 2017:

I took the day off for my birthday this year (Dec. 20).  My dear friend Katie was visiting from Kanab.  For the first time ever, we celebrated our birthdays together.  Hers is the 21st.  We ate an early lunch at Brick Oven with Dakota, Carson, and Micah.  Then we finished off with "A Christmas Carol" at the Hale Center Theater, which was fabulous!  All of this was topped off with cake and ice cream, of course.

Signs

I spent last night in tears and prayer, which I often do.  I was up for part of the night, slept a little, and woke up early.  I instantly noticed a pink tint through my curtain.  I smiled and ran to the window to this sunset.  I felt warmed and washed away in it.  What a demonstration of God's power and love for us.  Thank you, Father.  I got your message.

Words to live by

"Always remember, your focus determines your reality."

                                                     - George Lucas

Visiting Ghosts and Ground

My new chapbook "Visiting Ghosts and Ground" is now on pre-sale on the publisher's website.  I will post a pic of the cover when I receive it.  I am so grateful for this blessing.  Here is the link for purchase:

https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/visiting-ghosts-and-ground-by-stacy-dixon/

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.