Florida. Running. Writing.

Hello readers!  I just wanted to update you on the world of the Clarks. I am going to use this very “public” platform to thank my husband!!! He pretty much wins a major award. (“ who knows it could be a bowling alley” ) Last weekend he used his frequent flyer miles to fly me to Florida with him, WITHOUT THE KIDS!!! He was going to see one of my favorite bands in a tiny bar on the beach with his sister and wanted me to be able to come too... SO I did!  It was Amazing!  I can honestly say it was one of the best concerts I’ve seen. (only to be soon topped by a girls road trip I am taking this summer to see NYOTB and Boyz2Men, yes I am serious)  Here are a few pictures of the talented and always wonderful, G Love and the Special Sauce!  There was lots of floppy dancing, late into the night.  Thanks to Alison and Wes for introducing me to this music……SIXTEEN YEARS AGO.  Ugh.  So I am an UBER fan!

Much more excitement is happening in the Clark house and this is when I temporarily re-name the blog…running and writing.  I am running in this year’s mini Marathon with my dear friend and long distance running partner.  She is flying in from Arizona and we are keeping up on each other’s training via text and phone call.  So far I am a little behind where I need to be and need to pick up the pace.  Maybe blogging about it will guilt me into it.  Probably not.  

Now the next issue is a tough one. This is the writing part of the equation.  Now, let me start with I have had a few, what I like to call “Jerry McGuire moments” in my life. Where I write an e-mail or send a text that seems heartfelt, well intended and inspiring, only to realize later that it probably better if I had kept my mouth shut.  So this is where I spill my mission statement and run off with your goldfish in a bag. (If you haven’t seen Jerry McGuire, this blog can wait…go watch it)  Ugh.  I have put my art business on hold while we moved, and I have been meaning to get back to it once everything got settled.  One problem, I have had a nagging idea that won’t leave me alone.  I have had these ideas before but this one was VERY persistent. 

I got the idea from Libby’s former preschool teacher. I made her sister one of my cancer prints that says “You are so brave; you make cancer pee its pants.”   She was telling me how much her sister enjoyed it and wanted one for her friends.  It hit me like a brick, the words and the illustrations; this was a book for children with cancer.  I do not feel like I can claim my art talent, it is something God gave me.  I feel that way about this idea, it popped in my head in its entirety, illustrations and all.  Thank you God!  This idea was now in my hands and head for me to decide what to do with it. YIKES!!!   I wrote and drew and got a few pages how I saw it in my mind. I researched how this children’s  book thing is done.   It sounded like I needed to get an agent. I did A LOT of research on agents and sent my book idea to 4 agents.  I have heard back from  2 of them that they liked the book but was not in their area of children’s lit that they published.  From the research I have done, the agents have 2 months to respond to your proposal. If you do not hear from them, then assume the answer is no. 

 I have only told a SMALL handful of people about this project.  I kind of feel like a crazy person as I say it outloud to anyone.  I have said it is like saying to a friend….”Hey…. I have a squirrel in my purse!”   They have to smile and say …”.Ooooh that sounds neat”, but their face is reading…WHAT IN THE WHAT IS SHE DOING???   One of the small amount of people that I let in on my craziness is my dear friend Anne, who herself has written a book . Here is the link to her amazing Bible Study that she wrote!!   http://www.makingroomforgod.com   

She told me to start a blog.  OK CHECK.  Talk about this book on the blog. WHAT??? I could NOT do that. I told that was NOT an option. She must have lost her mind (maybe Anne has a squirrel in her purse too??)  I have done a lot of praying about this, and I have come to the conclusion that I am responsible for my talent and I need to act on this, in other words LET GO AND LET GOD.  I am not very good at this. For being a self-proclaimed suburban hippie, I have a hard time giving up control.  But here I am, and now it’s out there and I am standing here with a goldfish in a bag. (Again watch Jerry McGuire already)   So what now? I am still working on the rest of the book in case one of the two remaining agents agree.  If I do not hear from them, I am not sure what is next?   Are any of you a childrens literary agent specializing in the medical field?? J  Who knows how this will work?  God, me and the goldfish are going to have to figure it out together.  J

Crazy love to you!

Lindsay and her seven lemons....