Celebrating Joy as a necessary element

That writing a novel about miracles feels to defy the heartless and predatory natures currently wreaking havoc on our planet, which must be deterred as best we are able.

I was going to write this post in the morning, Saturday morning. It's still Friday evening in California, Pacific Standard Time, lol. The time change occurs this weekend, we'll lose an hour. I've whinged about it already, far better things for me to blather on about tonight.

Like how I wrote a pretty nice chapter this morning, hehehe! My novel about miracles is about a third-ish of the way there, or here, or somewhere. It's in a place virtually, existing on hard drives and flash drives, yet firmly wedged in my heart, giving me strength at a time when so much feels uncertain.

Ironically, I ended today's chapter with a bit of a cliffhanger, HAH! My poor characters, put through various wringers with only 32K words accumulated. But as I said a post or three ago, writing about miracles means a fair amount of gloom must exist to make the marvelous SHINE!

Meanwhile I snapped pictures of the quilt WIP in a brisk wind, hence the first shot looking like what you see above. After a bit the breeze relented, and I managed the shot below....

The next side is already pinned, and I've gathered my wideback fabrics as I think this is going to expand further, lol.

The lighting wasn't ideal, but you get the sense of what I'm on about. And prior to taking those photos, as I came outside to hang the sewing, Owl was on the back steps like she was hoping to sneak inside the house. Absolutely NOT, my beloved hen, LOLOL!

After a mild scolding, Owl scurried off the concrete and into the grass. Look at all that amazing sunshine!

We enjoyed a very sunny day, albeit it cool-ish when those winds grew blustery. Tomorrow I'll scoop poo from the coop, ahem. Hopefully get more writing accomplished. And perhaps a wee bit more editing on Can't Be Done Alone. My evening revisions on that fifth installment of The Hawk are going well, and tonight's ended with a rather meaningful dialogue between Lynne and Marek that feels extremely apropos with all the violence, greed, avarice, and cruelty wishing to strangle from us all our liberties, joys, and fundamental rights as human beings. I feel like I'm straddling a line of being aware of one atrocity after another while grasping as tightly as I can to the pleasures that make life worth living. And I am distinctly fortunate not to be residing in a war zone, though how subtle are the machinations of those wishing to override The Constitution....

After the photo session, I auditioned fabrics for the next rounds. I can't wait to further this project with glorious, healing COLOUR!

Yet, I still have the freedom to create, and to share with others how VITAL it is to not give in to anyone wishing to tear down your dreams, to obliterate your happiness. Defy those doom-mongers and their ilk. Stand firm in the assurance that regardless of how selfish and cold this world might seem, you matter deeply, and the darkness will NOT prevail. Darkness has never overcome the light, nor will it.

Meanwhile again, here's a little excerpt from Can't Be Done Alone. Have a beautiful, joyous, and peace-filled weekend!

 

 

Marek carried Jane to Lynne’s car, but Lynne didn’t put Jane right into the baby seat. While no more was said about Marek’s family, Lynne did have one question to ask. “Have you written to her yet?”

Lynne didn’t need to mention the woman’s name as Marek nodded his head. “Just last week actually.” He tickled Jane’s chin, then kissed her cheek. “Took me longer than I thought. Every time I sat down there was an interruption. At first I wondered if God wanted to keep me from that task. But I felt too much relief.” Marek smiled, switching Jane to his other side. “Finally I sat when I knew nothing would distract me. It still took a while but….” He grinned again. “We’ll see if she responds. Have you heard any more from the New Yorkers?”

His tone was light, which made Lynne smile, as well as how he used that term. “I got letters from Queens and Manhattan. Agatha wants to know if I’m having a girl and Stanford pretty much asked the same.” Lynne chuckled, setting her hand on the baby. “If nothing else, I can reply to Agatha this creature is indeed moving around now.”

“And what will you tell Stanford?”

“Probably no more than I’m fine and….” She sighed. “He knows Eric’s gone, he addressed the letter to me, which he never does. Laurie does, but….” Lynne stared at Marek, who nodded his head. Did he understand the men’s connection? So many secrets remained, making Lynne dizzy. She leaned against the hood of the car, closing her eyes. She prayed, wondering what Marek would think if he knew about Stanford and Laurie. It probably wouldn’t be that hard to comprehend, or at least much easier than if those men were told of Eric’s whereabouts. How could she keep that secret, she wondered, opening her eyes. Marek was still looking her way, but his gaze was gentle. Did he know, she wondered, had Eric told him before he left? She nearly asked, but Jane began to fuss. Lynne stood straight, relieving Marek of his charge.

As that phrase rumbled through Lynne’s mind, she inhaled sharply. “I hope you hear back from her.” Then Lynne sighed. “So many loose ends these days.”

“It does seem there are more questions than answers right now. At times like this, I feel God is asking for our trust. He knows all the outcomes, but simply wants us to place our hand in his, allowing him to lead us to solid ground. Sometimes the journey might seem lonely, but….” Marek set his palm against Jane’s face. She stopped fussing, gazing right at her pastor. “All is well, regardless of how it may seem.”

Lynne wanted to nod, but she was surprised by the slight wariness of Marek’s tone. Then their eyes met; the depth of his brown irises bore into Lynne’s soul, and she found herself nodding without reservation. Jane too seemed calmer, as she rested her head against Lynne’s shoulder. Marek released her face, then placed his hand upon Lynne’s other shoulder. He started to speak, then shook his head. Instead he said something in Polish which made Jane laugh. Lynne smiled as Marek then wished them both a good afternoon. He opened the car’s back door, then took Jane from her mother, placing her in the baby seat. Marek closed the door, again squeezing Lynne’s shoulder. Without words she got behind the wheel, but she glanced at Marek before pulling away. His brown eyes conveyed far more than words would have, and Lynne felt his prayers within her heart. As she drove home, she hoped Eric, Seth, and the rest knew the strength of that peace, about which she shared with Jane, who gabbed like she understood.