It's True...writing, writing, writing

So hi all! Sorry it's been a while since my last post. So what has been going on in the last month?

Just a warning...this is gonna be a long one. Snuggle in and be prepared... :)

This past month, I have been reminded again and again of not just Gods goodness, but His kindness. He is gentle and caring and genuinely delights in our happiness (in Him of course). I have just realized, after thinking about all the things that have gone on, the Lord has so blessed me. He has given me encouragement, hope, creativity, release, and so many other things.

I ended March with a great weekend getaway to Oregon. It was a great time to just hang out with my wonderful friend Katherine, whom I love. We drove for hours and hours and hours...about the 12th hour cabin fever set in, as we began to say all the stores and street signs we saw in different types of accents and laughing soooo hard we were crying. I'm gonna be posting some pictures (which can all be found on facebook...I think) for your viewing pleasure.

Following my return trip (alone mind you...so sad), came the day of my birth. My birthday was pretty low key and relaxed. Overall really good. I was blessed by all the happy birthday wishes and my good friends and family. I was a little worried about the day, seeing as it was the last day that my whole family (daddy included) had dinner together, since exactly one week later, he was gone. To be perfectly honest, for whatever reason, I totally didn't even realize that it was exactly a week until like a month before my birthday when I was actually looking at my calendar. I guess (April) 8 + 7 (days) = (April) 15 never really pushed its way into the smart side of my brain...so after that I spent like 3 weeks worrying about how sad it was going to be going to dinner without him, and even more then not going to dinner is not going to Shiki. Shiki is my most favorite restaurant and I have gone there on my birthday since we moved to Orange. Last year was the 14th birthday dinner we had at Shiki. I haven't been there since my birthday last year and our last family dinner. I have wanted to but the idea of having to tell Richard (our resident server and chef at Shiki) that my dad died kills me. I still don't know if he knows. So the whole idea was scary and stressful.

We ended up going to PF Changs...second favorite place! We also went to Disneyland! I love Disneyland and not only did we go to Disneyland but we went to Disneyland with Danna kids...Danna kids make everything instantly better (I'm semi-biased about the Danna kids cause I love them so much but the idea goes for any kids and babies...they make everything better). We had a great time taking the train and wandering around. All followed by a movie with my momma and 2 of the best friends ever. (AGAIN...the Lord has blessed me abundantly!!!)

Next came "the day"...the one year anniversary. This was another day that I noticed Gods amazing kindness. We were blessed by all the thoughts and love that were sent our way, they were all greatly appreciated. First of all, it was a completely amazingly beautiful day. We went to Peter's Canyon and were reminded again of the beauty that the Lord has created that is all around us. I felt a great sense of peace while I was there, just for the half hour we there. I felt like I was just resting in Him. I knew that same way I knew when I came home that day and my mom told me what happened, that no matter what I fall into His arms. I felt it when I fell down that day that He caught me and I knew at the park that He would always do that. I will ALWAYS be save, protected, loved, comforted, and gently nurtured in the arms of my Lord. It was good day! The icing on top was that I got to have my weekly Caden time at church later on too...again kids make everything better

And last but not least...the last update I have is a new project I am working on. I am working on a book. It's a kids book about loss (specifically of a parent/father)...seeing as that is what I have experienced. My dad was working on a book and that was one of the things we really had in common. We both loved to write and express ourselves that way. I was approached my a friend who asked about what my writing goals were. I said I would have to pray about it and get back to him.

So I was praying about it a couple days before the 15th and while I was praying I was reminded of something that Collette told Carol during the summer after my dad died. She looked at Carol and said, "Grandma, I bet Uncle Guy is swimming in heaven." After I remembered that, I just got to thinking that swimming forever was the greatest thing that Collie could thing of. I mean to be able to swim forever was incredible...

That birthed "Where did daddy go?" (tentative title of course)...the idea is putting daddy being there one and not the next into word pictures that kids would think, "that's the greatest thing ever." For example one of the lines includes riding a bike as fast as wants. All the things that kids wish they could do all the time put that into the concept of heaven and being with Jesus to help explain the "what happens after" someone isn't there anymore.

I am really excited about it and I'm really pleased with the words and writing that I really feel like the Lord has blessed, brought about, and really made happen. I am currently working on layout, illustrations, and publishing...so it's really exciting. If anyone knows of a good illustrator that needs some cheap work...let me know. I can draw a house like it's nobodies business but trying to draw something else...yeah not so much.

So that is what the Lord is doing and working and making happen. I promise it won't be another month til my next post...