Wedding Day, writing routine, and banana stand

My sister is getting remarried today. A quiet affair on a mountaintop somewhere. As much as I wish I could be part of it, I understand their desire to do it their way. Getting married the way everyone else wants you to is not a good way to start the whole 'leave and cleave' thing, so I'm proud of them for setting those boundaries. You will never have a healthy marriage without such boundaries. I pray that they will have a long and happy life together.

I'm back in writing mode again after a 'strugglesome' week last week. But I'm starting to realize it's all part of the process. Last night, I finished a friend's manuscript (great stuff, btw) and I could see so much evolution in her writing over the years (she wrote this novel several years ago). It gave me hope and inspiration that my work must be evolving, too, even though it's hard to see it in your own projects. I'm editing a YA novel with the working title 'Missing Cat' which everyone hates except one person. Ha. My goal is to finish this editing process, formatting, everything, and have it ready to go by May 1st. It will be good to have that finished before summer craziness begins, and I can go back to picture book mode until the fall Nano. I feel like I'm starting to get a good routine down--not just an everyday routine but a seasonal/annual routine for my writing that works for me. I have four things in submission now and one more about to be, so perhaps something will click soon. I've come to the conclusion, though, that I'm called to write, not worry about what happens next. I'm blessed enough to have an agent to worry about that for me.

So my brother-in-law left for Afghanistan by way of training in Texas, so our family has been praying for him every day and his family. It's definitely been on all our minds. This morning my first grader said to me, "Today when you're writing, remember that 'banana stand' rhymes with Afghanistan. Okay, well, I'll keep that in mind!

Maybe something like this:

Uncle Allen is in Afghanistan
Looking for a banana stand
His potassium is running low
From fighting in the war, you know.

But nowhere in Afghanistan
Is a darn banana stand
He'll settle for Meals Ready to Eat
And dream of bananas when he sleeps.

When he comes home in a year
We'll plan a celebration
Complete with bananas in every form
At station after station.

Banana pudding, Banana pie
Nutty banana bread
Grilled bananas, banana soup
Fresh bunches by his bed.

We'll show our love banana-style
Until he says, "No more!"
Then relieved by the reprieve
Toasts we will pore.

To family, to safe returns
To apple, peach and pear
But for this hero, bananas at zero
He's had more than his share.


Best I could do. Strange but true. Now I can't stop the rhyming.
My crazy brain can't take the strain, so I will just STOP.


Have a great day and have a blessed Holy Week.