Cover Reveal

So much going on.  Not enough time to do the things we want to do.  I've heard this a million times and have felt it a million more.  How the writer in me does not explode I have no idea.  I have all of these stories running around in my head - and the need to get them down on paper overwhelms me.  That is why I have snippets all over the place.
I finally put The End to Coming Home for Christmas...  It felt like forever but that also has a lot to do with timing.  I did not want to change the title.  I wanted a feel good Christmas story with that promise of a second chance.  If you love someone I believe they deserve a second chance.

And here it is...   Cover Reveal:

Tentative Publishing date:  October 2018

The Many Facets of Love

When I think of love I think of the many facets of love.  There is a love between a husband and a wife; a love between siblings; a love between a mother and a child.  All of these types of love are different yet they are unconditional.
The love of a husband and wife is the love that is always changing.  It evolves as does time.  What once began as a fairy tale love story soon becomes deeper and stronger as time steadily moves on.

The love between siblings is a strong bond as they share their parents.  They are first friends as well as first fighters.  They can love one minute and hate each other the next.  Yet they will stand up for each other no matter what the circumstance.  Whether they stay close or move away - whether they speak every day or every so often - they will always share that sibling love.

Then there is the love between a mother and a child.  That love is a special bond that no one can break.  A love that can sometimes be trying as a child begins to assert themselves.  That usually comes with a strong dose of tough love.  (Tough Love - a post for another day.)

 

The Power of an Unwavering Prayer

For two long years I had questions of a personal nature.  I couldn't understand what was going on and why.  I have never questioned God.  I had questioned myself but never God.  I had faith and knew that while I was only able to see a piece of the puzzle that God could see the entire puzzle.  
For two years I felt as though I was in a transitional phase in my life while I was in a constant state of flux.  But while I was in this state of flux there were so many great things happening all around me and some not so great!
Two grandbabies were born into our family just three months apart.  Aria Sandra, my little namesake, and Antonio Manuel, my little miracle.  Aria was born in Florida where my son and his family moved, two years ago.  I got to finally meet her when she was almost a year old.  We had a full house at Christmas Time!  (Aria Sandra)

Before Antonio was born we learned that my daughter had thyroid cancer.  Our family stood on the word of God, especially His promises.  I can't even begin to imagine how it was for my daughter.  That C word can strike fear into the strongest of people but she was more worried about her unborn child then she was concerned for herself.  She was strong! 

She followed all of the Dr.'s orders without hesitation.  They would give her six weeks from the birth before they would do surgery. 

(Antonio Manuel)

We formulated a plan of action covering the birth of Antonio to the surgery to the subsequent treatment after the surgery.  Since she would be treated and would be radioactive so to speak - Antonio had to be removed from the house for 2 to 3 weeks until she was given the all clear from the doctor.  There was no question about it - Antonio would come and stay with us and we would FaceTime so she could speak to him.

There was a lot involved to have this plan come to fruition but we pulled together as a family.  There were no other options - this is when I believe I really began to understand, at least a little bit, of how God makes things work together for our good.  All those times that I prayed.  I prayed for strength, for healing, and a lot of other things that couldn't be put into words.  That too is when I realized The Power of an Unwavering Prayer!

All About the Bass

A little more than I want to be - but hey - why deny the facts?  I am bringing booty back - front and center...https://youtu.be/7PCkvCPvDXk

Miracles are all around us!

Miracles are all around us!  We just have to hold them close to our hearts!  Praising God for one of the biggest miracles in my life!  My family!

Tribute to my Mom

Mother's Day 2017

Tribute to my Mom - Catherine Ann De Lorenzo

If I can say one thing to my mom on this Mother's day - aside from telling her how much I love and miss her - I would have to say how proud I am of her.  She's been gone for almost 25 years and I am only now just learning how strong my mom actually was.
Life comes full circle. It amazes me sometimes. Just when you think you know all there is to possibly know you are blindsided with something else. Something you had never known and no one had ever told you.  You discover it quite by accident and suddenly you're entrenched in the past.  There are things we learn about our parents as we age that suddenly make them more human than we thought possible.
My mom was a single mom and she took care of her three girls single handedly.  Being a single mom back in the 70's was a whole other ball game.  Especially doing this on your own. She was both mom and dad to us through our most impressionable years.  So, to learn something new, something that should have remained buried, makes me look at my mom with a new respect and a new understanding of how much she had actually sacrificed for me and my sisters.
If I could be 1/2 the mother my mom was that would be a great accomplishment.  Happy Mother's Day in Heaven Mom! Until we meet again... I love you!

Love Endures All

I don't remember the exact date...  But I remember the pain in my heart.  Sudden, swift, and stabbing.  My breath left my body and my mind could not comprehend what I had learned.  Love is a funny thing.  Love knows no age - knows no limits - knows nothing about time.  Love endures all!