The Day I Almost Lost My Marbles

I started writing this post on the 31st. I was still so upset that I quit and just picked this post back up to finish it now that there is a happily ever after to it. Take this emotional journey with me:

​I was changing the font size on my first book, Fun Thoughts on Life so that it was ready to publish. In two keystrokes, something that took me 10 years to complete was gone. To say that I was devastated is an understatement. I have the most precious husband. He gets me. Women need validation. He said to me, “I understand. It’s like losing the billion dollar account.” As a career sales account executive, he could not have validated my mortification any better. He is my Perfect North.

I spent about two days wearing sackcloth and lamenting my loss. Even called Apple and had a tech invade my computer to attempt retrieval. But because of the fact that this was not a “delete”, but actually a “highlight then backspace”, the tech said there was nothing we could do to get my book back. Lesson learned. Back it up. Don’t edit the original. Copy then edit.

I think that many times we fail to acknowledge that Satan is alive and well and is actively stepping on sandcastles that we spent our whole lives building. I firmly believe that Satan had my book on his radar because he knew that as soon as I released the book, a lot of people were going to learn to feel good about their flawed, awesome selves and he needed to step on that sandcastle. You see, earthly things like books and million dollar accounts are built in the sand. Satan can step on them and destroy them in one footprint, two keystrokes and your life’s work is gone. Eternal things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control are built on the rock. They can not be destroyed by keystrokes or a footprint. Satan may have erased my book but he didn’t erase my fruits of the spirit because they were built on the solid rock that is Jesus Christ.

if you have followed me for any length of time at all, I know you are devastated with me at this news. However, God always turns a mess into a message and this is no different. Thankfully, much of my work was written by hand in journals over the years so I had to retype it and also God answered my prayer and made my thoughts come flowing back like Paula Deen and her butter. I finished retyping the book last night and it is being edited, still on track to be released at the end of the month. The second edition of the first edition of my very first book is finished. Like me, it has flaws but still shines light into a dark world. It will be flaunting it’s awesome self soon on your shelf or on your iPad or kindle.

We will be having a release party and book signing. Date to be determined. I’m so happy that the first edition got destroyed now because just like our lives, my book sentiments became broken glass. Broken glass reflects much more gorgeous rays of sunlight and rainbows than a solid sheet of perfect glass. It becomes a kaleidoscope. The second edition rewrite is better than the original. I’m a better writer now than when I wrote a lot of that book.

Although the manuscript was built on sandy ground called a computer, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. And like the sunflower, we always keep our face toward the light.

You can help me by sharing my videos, blogs, and musings. Help me grow my audience before this book release. I give all glory to God for penning this second edition.