Messy Monday

I've made a mess of the weekend. Does that ever happen to you?

Good news: I did finish and submit the two book manuscripts that were due February 1st. Now I get to write at a more leisurely pace for the sheer joy of it.

Bad news: No quiet time for several days. I didn't make it to church. Is it any wonder I feel empty?

Good news: After several delays, Mom left the hospital yesterday and returned to rehab. They're promising a diet more conducive to "renal failure, congestive heart failure." (It seems like they would have realized that the first time around.) Also promising (or threatening, from Mom's point of view) 3 hours a day of therapy. They hope to release her in a week.

Bad news: I haven't stuck to the Weight Watcher plan at all for over the weekend.

Bad feelings: I saw the deck of playing cards I bought at the Oklahoma City zoo, and a sharp longing to have Mom whole again, and well, struck me. (We frequently play together.) I also miss Jolene. I feel alone and lonely. I am alone in the house. It's time for me to make changes, pull my head out of the pages of the book where I've buried it for the last few months, and get involved with people again.

New beginnings: A new book to start. A new definition of normal--whatever that turns out to be with Mom's health situation. A new day to spend time with the Lord, to eat right, to gather with friends at the new ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) starting up close enough for me to attend.

Thanks to those of you who have stuck with me while I've been hibernating. Thanks for your prayers.

And let me know I'm not the only one who makes a mess of things.

Oh, and really good news: I have booked a flight to Oklahoma City to see Jaran and Jordan (and Shelley and Savannah and Shannon) this weekend.