Another challenging day

The weekend was somewhat stressful with concerns about my mother, cousin, other family members, and my illustrator, Robert Sauber, and his family.  SANDY's rage up the eastern seaboard has definitely wreaked more havoc than I first imagined. Power outages and flooding are my major concern because I know they all have enough sense not to be out and about in the storm as if it were just another thunderstorm.  I have yet to hear from anyone and that can be either good or bad news.  The stress beat me down yesterday so I did not make it to work, but cannot afford another day in so I am preparing for work, ready or not.

My other stressor is the reaction or lack thereof when those I know read the manuscript.

SILENCE... DEAD SILENCE.  Neither yay nor nay, just nothing.

Since this is HIS book and not mine, I need to focus on leaving it all in His Hands, because this is one puzzle I cannot put together.  I will just need to rely on those who gave me positive feedback and loads of encouragement.  :-)

Tuesday, here I am!

Asking for Help

Although the work required to create this campaign is intense and tiresome, my greatest challenge is learning to ask for help.  So often in the past when I have asked someone to help me, there were strings attached or there were excuses, AKA "Nos." Therefore I learned not to ask but have stretched myself to do so recently and, as usual, I've been stung with the same.

But THIS project.

Certainly given to me by Him, which I first viewed as quite humorous; yet now I know this assignment was to stir me, to motivate me, because He knows better than anyone how I feel about every gift and talent bestowed upon me--that they are great responsibilities.

THE LAND OF BUTTONS AND BOWS is not just a children's picture book but it is my responsibility to bring it to light, to share it; and, if that means I must drown my fears of asking for help in the depths of this awesome responsibility, then so be it.  I will not, however, accept the strings but I will take on the excuses because I know there are thousands who will say yes in some form or other; and I know this to be true because this is His gift to our children and to those with the heart of a child.

At 4:00am on October 11, 2009, the third anniversary of my son's memorial service, I was struggling to sleep and heard words and phrases that sounded like proverbs, but none I had ever read.  Knowing I would not be permitted to sleep until I grabbed pen and paper, I surrendered.  This one came to mind while composing this today...

"I Win because I Can; and I Can because I was created Capable."

I will WIN because HE WINS, and this is His book. (I will not touch His Glory.)
I CAN because The Creator made be CAPABLE.

Therefore, I conclude that this is our Will-Can Do Moment, and we look forward to sharing this creative collaboration with those He intends to bless with fun, giggles/chuckles/laughter, lesson(s), or  encouragement to take on your own Will-Can Do Moments.

Here I am...I think

As part of my continual push to have The Land of Buttons and Bows funded and published, I am told I need a blog.  Sooooo, here it is and here I am...I think.

November 2012 marks the second Picture Book Month and I hope many are supporting this endeavor.