Labor Day Weekend

 A beautiful day, blue sky, no wind and 80+ degrees.Today I have been working on my private pre-launch event, purchasing a few items, checking RSVP's etc. As I am cruising through the day up on my screen pops my website design project manager who describes what Tate Publishing is doing and what is expected of me by Monday! Good thing I didn't go camping with my husband and his family. I took a deep breath, read the directions carefully, looked at a few websites and then decided to go for a walk. I was tired of being inside and wanted to enjoy these last days of summer. When I got back home I decided I better get to work. I figured out a rough plan and sent it on. My project manager will be in touch with me so I can breathe easily through the weekend. I have also been setting up speaking events as well as book signings. This next wek will be a busy one but if I stay focused and close to God I can do it. Then the events begin! I am so excited to finally get Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors out to the public. I'm ready to conquer the world and save a life!

Frustration

There is so much to do to get ready for my events for Matt's Last CAll: Surviving Our Protectors. I have been on top of everything gliding smoothly over every detail. Then things changed with a bang! We lost power last Thursday for several hours, which totally messed up our internet connection - laptop, IPAD and home computer all down. Just got them working today - just NOW! UPS lost some of my promotional items - well actually the delivery girl got turned around and delivered the packages on a total different street with a total different address. My husband went looking for the address - no such number?! When he got back home I saw a UPS driver - I YELLED at her to stop - of course she didn't hear me so my husband chased her down. In the meantime the Wenatchee UPS business called me and between the 3 of us we were able to get my packages back safely. One contained my eBook downloads! They are all there and safe. It is so frustrating trying to communicate with no computers. A couple more issues that hopefully are resolved. Later today I am going  to meet someone whom I hope can help me book a few more events. We are almost there - hang in there for the soon to be pre-launch event at Encouraging Words, September 15, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. 629 South Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, Washington. Always keep God in your heart. He's the only on who keeps me sane.

Looking Forward to Today

I have been looking forward to this day all month. My friend, who works way too many hours, and I are going to Leavenworth today for lunch, shopping and a little promotion for Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors.We have so much fun together and when I am down she is able to pick me right back up.

The weather has cooled down quite a bit so we might get blown away in my convertible. Fall appears to be fast approaching. Leavenworth is so beautiful any time of the year. People come from afar to visit this small little Bavarian Village.

Suicide

For those of you who have not been following my blog please start at the very beginning of my blogging. In those beginning blogs I talk a lot about Matt's Last Call. Actually at the time the books title was A Life Too Short: Matt's Story. That title has been changed to Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors. Follow along and learn a little about my son and suicide. With God's help I WILL save a life with Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors. I will share these posts on Facebook.

Matt's Last CAll: Surviving Our Protectors

After Matt's death June 1, 2005 I suffered in pain, darkness and grief so strong I didn't think I would make it. Four years and one and a half months later God gave a very special friend of mine the ability, without words, that I should write a book about Matt's life, death and the pain I live on a daily basis. I didn't want anyone else to go through the pain I have experienced. Matt's Last Call took about a year to write even though I have tweeked it ever since. One year into the process my friend, who was helping with the editing, and I found Tate Publishing. I signed my contract on September 26, 2011 after much prayer, talking with my attorney, and Dr. Tate's daughter, also part of Tate Publishing, calling and wanting to know specifically why I turned them down. After much discussion and prayer I decided I was in the right place and a great Chritian Organization. This part has been enlightening and a lot of hard work on all involved. Many panic attacks by me because I knew "I could not do this!" In the end I am thrilled. Pre-launch  Events are beginning to take place and my one and only goal is to SAVE A LIFE! I hope everyone will join with me, buy a book, learn from the book and help me save a life. NO one needs to die at there own hands. May God Bless each and everyone of you and I hope to see you all at one of my events.

Sunny Days

Today  was sunny, very warm and a bit windy but a great day for a drive to Leavenworth for a belated birthday lunch with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. We had a delicious lunch on the deck at Visconti's. Sipping ice tea and just enjoying the beautiful day. After lunch we walked around checking out a few stores  before heading back home. I love getting together for lunch with my family. It makes each day a little brighter and takes my mind off the dark days of pain and sadness. The Lord always knows when I am in need of friends and family.

Another Suicide

Yesterday at church a friend stopped me and told me about a 22 year old young man who took his life over the weekend. My heart sinks once again and all I can think about is that poor family and what they are about to go through for the rest of their lives. The pain is sheer agony. I do not know the family but recognize the young mans name. He sang with our high school hitones at the funeral of another former student just a few short months ago. Anyone reading this PLEASE help me get the word out - suicide is not the answer. There is help. Matt's Last Call: Surving Our Protectors will be out very soon. As soon as I get the first shipment (this month) I will have some prelaunch parties and I will sell to anyone who would like one. I am passionate about the subject of suicide and I WILL save a life with the help of God. My goal is to sell 2500 copies hopefully by October when the bookstores launch Matt's Last Call. I am hoping to sell at least that many myself so the money I earn can help some other organizations with the suicide issue. Pray for all the families who have lost a child to suicide.

Summer Fun

Last week I attended the 60th reunion of the Wenatchee Youth Circus. When I was a kid I was in the circus. We had so much fun performing, traveling and becoming a real circus family - 80+ kids and our parents were chaperones when they could attend. I think my favorite place we went was Alpenrose Dailry in Portland, Oregon. We stayed for two weeks. After the afternoon shows we sometimes got to go swimming, we were in the Rose Parade, watch calves being born and just had a ton of fun. After the evening shows we had hootenanies and nightly banana splits with Alpenrose Ice Cream. Wow! It was so good. One of our circus members who was at the reunion surprised us with Alpenrose ice cream and all the fixings for banana splits after the show. Such great memories we shared  and the banana splits was a big hightlight of the night.  It was so great seeing my friends from those days and talking how we taught each other "our" acts for the new kids coming in as we left for college.  We always had church service on Sunday mornings with Guppo the Clown as our leader. He started the circus and is still going strong. I thank God for those very special years and for all those involved in it.