When I came home and pulled into my parking space I spied a package setting in the threshold of my door.  A surge of excitement filled me when I realized that that could be “the book.”   The shape and size were right.   I gathered my purse from the seat next to me and with keys jangling I made it for my door, scooped up the package and read the return address…sure enough it was “the book”, “Yes, the Red Book and Cotton / Journey to True Freedom, written by my friend and business partner, John Solomon Sandridge, is here.”  I squealed to myself.  I unlocked the door, swooshed it open, dropped my keys and purse onto my table,  swept the door closed with my foot and tore the cardboard lap open on the packaging open.  Then carefully slide it out from its darkness into the light of my waiting hand, dropped the cardboard after birth onto the table with the other and stood there  just gazing at it.   “It’s here.  Months of work and finally it’s here,” I said.  I ran my hand over its front cover and read it, turned it over and did the same absorbing every detail and font.

Then I gently opened it’s front cover and was instantly transported back to 4th grade when my teacher, Mrs. Hyer, taught us how to handle our brand new math text books…”First you set the book on its spine and open its front cover flat to the desk, now the back, now take a small section of the front pages and open them and run your finger along the inside…”  As carefully as that 4th grader I opened it’s cover and viewed the fresh new insides.  Flipped through the pages of text, without opening it fully keeping in mind its newness, and  absorbed the new layout and feel.  Ahhhh, perfect.  Better than it was.

I want to say that I’ve been especially honored to be a part of the birthing of this book from editing manuscript to final copy.  As I mentioned I was one involved with editing it many times over and was a part of getting it to its first print.  But to now be on this end, the “re-do” and movement into our company, comes with it’s own unique joy.

You may notice that their is now a sub-title.  I don’t remember if I mentioned this before, but since we were in the process of having to re-do the cover and inside layout we discussed everything.  The new title came into being because the book is about so much more than slavery, it’s also about finding True-Freedom in our life and how to create it.  Ergo the subtitle.

The other occurrence  yesterday was, one of my kids was sick and throwing up…  the one I’m diligently working on restoring a relationship with.  They ending up spending the night and after a good bit of vomiting, poor thing, they felt a lot better and we talked and talked.  Which explains why there was no post yesterday.  And I want to say right here that yesterday felt like it always used to, but better, because I’ve healed and changed (changes I’m still working to make automatic rather than paying attention to myself, but I’m getting there) and so have they and we’re finding sweet harmony again.  The transition is occurring with beauty and grace.  And I am tearfully thankful.

You know?  This transition from primary care taker/stay at home mom to … their adults and you’re hands are now off, has been a sticky wick and that’s been in spite of the fact that I thought I had done what I needed to do as they moved through their teens to reach this point.

So what about today?  Lot’s of things business, seeing my kids, and Caleb ran around with me doing business. 

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-who will be going to bed and it’s only 12:25, amazingly early for me