Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Green Eggs and Ham with a side of Joy

Hello, friends and loved ones-
I trust you all had a very happy Easter. Mine was great, spent with family. I decided to make deviled eggs with blue food color added to the yolk mixture, so we had “Green Eggs and Ham” for dinner. My 8-year-old twin granddaughters looked at me like I was crazy and refused to try them, but the adults loved them!

I finally mustered the courage to send my manuscript to HigherLife Publishing for a manuscript review. That’s where my friend Hope Flinchbaugh is an agent and editor. Their team of editors will look at it and give me feedback. Then, if they decide it’s a book they can sell, maybe we’ll talk contract. I’m so excited and nervous all at the same time. God opened this door last year, and I finally got around to walking through it. If this isn’t a good fit, there’s another publisher in town interested. I’ll let you know how it works out.

My son Brian Harmon and his wife Sarah announced that they’re expecting their first child, due September 24th. They’re even more excited than I am, if that’s possible. I believe that when a couple is pregnant, instead of saying they’re expecting a baby they should say that they’re expecting a teenager. After all, kids are teenagers for seven years and babies for a much shorter time!

My younger son Tim Harmon will be graduating from college in June. I never would have imagined that, watching him struggle to get through high school. I guess God still works miracles!

At church this Sunday, our pastor John Martz was talking about joy, which is what I have chosen for my attitude. John said, “Joy is idealism that has been through the fire and got purified. Cynicism is idealism that has been through the fire and got burned.” That’s me. I’ve been burned and burned and worked my way past the cynicism. Finally got a lot of dross burned off, so I hope I’ve been purified. At least I feel the joy is real.

We’re coming up on 18 months since Bryan’s death, and I never dreamed I would make it this far. Now, I just need the courage to begin speaking to groups, so I can share with others how to maintain a positive attitude in spite of life. Let me know if you hear of a group that needs a speaker, especially in the Denver area.

Thank you for all your support, love, and prayers.
Love to all-
Debbie