by jphilo | Apr 17, 2015 | Family
This post from 5 years ago caught my eye while searching the Gravel Road’s archives. Why? Because this April our family is celebrating the birth of a grandchild, I’m attending a conference in Virginia right now, and I’m looking forward to a book release on April 27. Events as momentous as the events of April 2010 which included…well, you’ll find out as you read this week’s Fantastic Friday post.
Yeah, that’s me in the back row with the oh-no-what-have-I-gotten-myself-into expression. The other two are my brother and a cousin. There’s another cousin kneeling in front, but I can’t get her to show up. (Sorry Nell!)
When the good people at Discovery House Publishers emailed on April 13 to say they accepted my proposal for Different Dream Parenting: Raising a Child with Special Needs, my response was similar to the one in the picture. It was the day after we returned from our son’s wedding so my energy level and brain functions were nil at the time.
Needless to say, it took awhile for the news to sink in. Once the old brain cells revived, my first response should have been of the whoop-and-holler-of-joy variety. But no. It was more of the what-have-I-gotten-myself-into and why-did-I-think-I-could-write-a-book-on-this-subject variety.
After a few calming breaths and some positive self-talk, the panic subsided, at least until I printed off the chapter summary that was part of the original proposal. After reading the plan written last December, panic returned, along with self-doubt. I felt as poorly trained and utterly inadequate for the task at hand as I had each August of my twenty-five year teaching career.
But over the next several days, God calmed me down, patted my head, and held my hand. Every Bible passage I read was about how God prepares his people for his work. Every book I opened contained valuable resources. Visions of experts and parents I’ve met in the past few years – many since Different Dream was released – came to mind.
“Write them down,” a voice whispered inside my head. “Make a plan.”
I started a list of people, books, websites, and organizations. In minutes, the list was two pages long. Their expertise matched many of the subjects to be addressed in my book, though a few holes remained. In the next few days, previously unknown experts appeared on my radar screen. The timing was uncanny.
The voice in my head was clear and insistent. “You’re not in this alone. I’ve spent my life preparing you to do this. You take the logical next step and leave the rest to me.”
Living by faith. Writing by faith. That’s what I’ve gotten myself into.
Let the adventure begin.
by jphilo | Oct 15, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
10. My bestie and I went shoe shopping at an outlet store where I scored a new pair of inexpensive winter boots. Now I’m praying they will languish in the closet for years.
9. My bestie and I found butter-flavor infused olive oil at a specialty store. It tastes buttery, but has no dairy. Heaven, I’m in heaven!
8. My baguette at Panera was a heel. And it was still warm.
7. The hotel candy jar was stocked with cherry Lifesavers. How did they know I was coming?
6. The second night in the hotel, I finally found the light blocking window shade and got a good night’s sleep. The shade was cleverly hidden behind the sheer curtain. Whodda’ thunk it?
5. So far, no Michigan U-turns. (See diagram above for details.)
4. Despite rivers running this way and that, the people who laid out streets in Grand Rapids share my learning style. Which makes driving much easier.
3. We drove by the Amway headquarters yesterday. I was expecting pyramid-themed buildings and was pleasantly surprised by lots of pretty flags instead.
2. The fall colors are breath-taking.
1. At a meeting with my publishers, they said one of their employees can handle the technical wizardry necessary for a marketing idea. Thank you, DHP!
by jphilo | Mar 28, 2011 | Book Updates
Yes, yes, yes!
Hip, hip, hooray!
Grin, grin, grin!
Jig, jig, jig!
The above celebration is for those of you who didn’t hear the first big yahoo on Friday afternoon when I sent the manuscript for Different Dream Parenting to my editor at Discovery House Publisher (DHP). Anyone who didn’t hear the second yahoo when the editor emailed back to say DHP plans to release both paper and electronic versions next October can lay claim to the celebration, too.
When parents of kids with special needs kids hear the titles, Different Dream Parenting and A DIfferent Dream for My Child, they almost always nod and say, “That’s exactly what this is. A different dream.” Some of them ask a follow up question. “It’s kind of like the story, Welcome to Holland. Have you read it?” I nod, and we launch into a discussion about how parenting a child with special needs is indeed like a delightful vacation in Holland – even though we thought our vacation would be in Italy.
Well, I almost let out a third yahoo on Friday while reading a favorite special needs blog by Ellen Seidman at www.LoveThatMax.com. Last Monday she posted an interview with Emily Perl Kingsley, the author of Welcome to Holland. Kingsley wrote the essay in 1987, after her son was born with Down Syndrome. At the time, she was a writer for Sesame Street and was instrumental in the inclusion of people with special needs on the show. The interview, which tells how Welcome to Holland became famous, is wonderful.
But don’t take my word for it. Go to www.LoveThatMax.com and read the interview. You’ll be amazed by how one person used her talents to influence and encourage countless families. Maybe Kinglsey’s efforts will give you some ideas about how to influence the world around you. She’s inspired me to get cracking on a proposal for another book to assist parents of kids with special needs.
So much for celebrating. It’s time to get to work again!
by jphilo | Apr 30, 2010 | Book Updates
Yeah, that’s me in the back row with the oh-no-what-have-I-gotten-myself-into expression. The other two are my brother and a cousin. There’s another cousin kneeling in front, but I can’t get her to show up. (Sorry Nell!)
When the good people at Discovery House Publishers emailed on April 13 to say they accepted my proposal for Different Dream Parenting: Raising a Child with Special Needs, my response was similar to the one in the picture. It was the day after we returned from our son’s wedding so my energy level and brain functions were nil at the time.
Needless to say, it took awhile for the news to sink in. Once the old brain cells revived, my first response should have been of the whoop-and-holler-of-joy variety. But no. It was more of the what-have-I-gotten-myself-into and why-did-I-think-I-could-write-a-book-on-this-subject variety.
After a few calming breaths and some positive self-talk, the panic subsided, at least until I printed off the chapter summary that was part of the original proposal. After reading the plan written last December, panic returned, along with self-doubt. I felt as poorly trained and utterly inadequate for the task at hand as I had each August of my twenty-five year teaching career.
But over the next several days, God calmed me down, patted my head, and held my hand. Every Bible passage I read was about how God prepares his people for his work. Every book I opened contained valuable resources. Visions of experts and parents I’ve met in the past few years – many since Different Dream was released – came to mind.
“Write them down,” a voice whispered inside my head. “Make a plan.”
I started a list of people, books, websites, and organizations. In minutes, the list was two pages long. Their expertise matched many of the subjects to be addressed in my book, though a few holes remained. In the next few days, previously unknown experts appeared on my radar screen. The timing was uncanny.
The voice in my head was clear and insistent. “You’re not in this alone. I’ve spent my life preparing you to do this. You take the logical next step and leave the rest to me.”
Living by faith. Writing by faith. That’s what I’ve gotten myself into.
Let the adventure begin.
