Update on Part 4 and True Tale to Come

Quick announcement: I just wanted to keep you informed on the upcoming true tale of single motherhood that I previously promised, the one about my great, great grandmother. Today I was on the phone with my Nana, who is getting together with her sister this week specifically to research her grandmother, Angelina, and her family. My original ETA for this post was way off. I don't know how I thought I could ever tell such a rich story based only on the tidbits of information I currently have. I need more, which means I also need more time. Give me a couple months at least to prepare for this memoir. All you single mothers will enjoy it, especially those of you who, like me, aren't receiving child support or any help from your enforcement agency.

In the meantime, get ready to be excited. I just completed Part 4 of my fictional story, Sins, Hims, and Whims, of a Single Mother. I'm thinking of entering what I've written up to now in a contest or two, mainly for the experience. I would love to have your comments and feedback right away. I hope to have Part 4.1 up by Monday, April 1st. If not, well...April Fool's...it'll be the following Monday. My friend and editor, Suzy, has it now. Either way, swing by this Monday and the next because each piece of the fourth segment will post subsequently on Mondays after Part 4.1 is released. 

Thank you, Readers. I know you are few, but I appreciate your attention. I love to share with you. 





JNP

Upcoming True Tale of Single Motherhood

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the Single Moms out there!

I haven’t posted in over a month. Sorry. I've been working with my Nana on piecing together an interesting story of my great, great grandmother who I mentioned in a previous blog post, Angelina Jacquez-Norsagaray. I’m eager to tell this new tale, which I believe illustrates the particularly difficult challenges my single-mother ancestor endured during the Great Depression Era. However, I want to make sure we have all the facts as correct as possible before posting the story. We have a little more research to do, so it may take me a few weeks to complete. Also, my time is stretched pretty thin. (I’m sure other single mothers can sympathize with me there.) Anyway, I just wanted to give you a sneak peek at another real life single-mother tale to come. Can’t wait to share. Hope you’ll keep an eye out for this future blog post. Thanks for reading. 


JNP

My Single Mom Thank-you’s

Thanksgiving Day

November 22, 2012


My Single Mom Thank-you’s

This year was tough...was briefly out of work like three times...but you know what...Heavenly Father always blesses us with precisely what we need in the exact moment we need it. Though often what we think we need isn't what He blesses us with...yet what He blesses us with always turns out to be sufficient and sustaining. This year I was compelled to rely a lot on faith, trusting in a promise that Heavenly Father gave me a long time ago. I saw that promise fulfilled. So, while I'm thankful for my daughter, my friends and family, my home, and my car that still runs, and my bag of chocolate candy...As I move into the Christmas Season I'm mostly grateful for my Heavenly Father who sent His Son to atone for me and the people I love—all people—so that when the storms of life are tumultuous we can still have calm amid the raging tempests.

Mark 4:41
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Matthew 8:27
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!


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The Storm Has to End

As a single mom I worry about what my daughter is eating for lunch, how her grades are, who she's hanging out with, what she's thinking when she looks in the mirror, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. This year, on top of all the usual, I've especially wondered, "How am I going to provide for her?"

Yesterday my daughter and I were driving along through a mad snow flurry. When we got within a couple blocks of our apartment there was a huge gap of sunshine ahead, hanging out in the skies directly above home. We were right on the tail end of the flurry, about to cruise into the sunshine, and I pointed out how weird it looked, noting the contrast between where we were and where we were headed. 

My daughter said, "Well, the storm has to end somewhere. It looks like we're right at the end of it," and then I got all teary-eyed as her phrase repeated in my mind, followed by a thought…

Like I mentioned before in an earlier post, for me it seems this year has been full of rampant, relentless storms. The kind of storms that are so loud in my mind that I can't rest easy at night. Seeing that sunshine, hearing those soft spoken words from my naively wise daughter, I recognized truth—my storm has to end somewhere. With that realization, came the sweet whisper that only a humble, pleading heart can hear. Words both prophetic and consoling to a single mother whose burden was approaching unbearable played through my mind like a hymn, “This is the end of the storm.”

It was a marvelous revelation, for today a huge burden has indeed been lifted. A persistent problem has finally been solved. Today, the storms in my mind are at ease. Though other storms are bound to arise, I know they too will have to end at some point.

I know that my daughter was speaking literally, but the parabolic wisdom of her words astounds me...

Truth is truth.

I love moments when we realize that we are being taken care of even when it seems like we’re weathering the storms alone. Our needs are met if we seek the light amid the darkness. While they do exist side by side, light and dark can’t occupy the same space at the same time. Sometimes we have to pass through a stretch of darkness before we reach the light.

Here I go, cruising into the sunshine—the light beyond the storm—after so many little dark moments. Thank God for small blessings. Thank God for kind people...particularly the ones who appreciate and respect single moms.

JNP

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Part 3 Status Update

I had momentum with the first two parts of this blog, but being a single mother limits my time and the current challenges in this single mom's life are taking priority. Gotta put food on the table...and in the lunchbox.

I have about half of Part 3 of Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother written. However, with every spare minute granted me I've been busy polishing a separate fiction manuscript that I've completed. I also started querying that, which requires a lot of time and research, so I haven't had the free time I would prefer to finish up Part 3 of this blog. Be patient with me and I'll have it up as soon as possible. Thanks to those who follow. I'll keep you posted. If you haven't started reading yet, get caught up now while I'm on hiatus.


JNP

It’s raining, it’s pouring...

…but I won’t be snoring. I’ll be lucky if I can sleep a wink. I’m somewhat of an insomniac, particularly when the sky is falling.

"When it rains it pours."

One of the most cliché sayings I've ever heard. One I’m tired of hearing. Yet, I believe truth is the crafty, cunning, illustrator of cliché.

Right now it's pouring. The second storm of the year has arrived in my life. I must look my child in the eyes and say, "Everything will be okay," even though I am less than certain. I must stare into the eye of this storm, throw my fists up, and shout, "I will not be moved!" While silently I’ll pray, hoping that my house is indeed built upon the rock.

A writer, even an artist, utilizes pain and fear—downright exploits those ne’er-do-wells. This is precisely what I plan to do with Part 3 of Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother. Pulling from life, my present challenges will be wrapped up in an imaginative and fanciful package. I'll do my best to keep my devout readers informed as to when they can expect Part 3. Meanwhile, I hope you'll stop by on Monday—I know it’s a holiday—for Part 2.4, the final segment of that chapter.

My saying, my song, and my scripture of the day: "Consider the lilies." (Google It)

JNP

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Part 2.1 Premiers Monday: Sneak Peeks Here

Sneak peeks at Part 2.1 of Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother, which premiers Monday, August 13th:

"Noley loves to gossip, and Ebony always has some crazy situation going on with her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a drug-slinging ex-con and addict who could give Nathan a run for his money—if he had any money."

In Part 2.1 you'll learn more about Noley, her two children, and her ex-husband ...husband?...definitely her ex. You'll also discover more about Cena and her feelings about dating. Finally, Diana is hiding something and Cena understands why.


JNP

Sneak Peek at Part 2 of Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother

I finished drafting Part 2 of Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother last night and then emailed it to my copy editor for a little proofing (thanks Editing By Suzy). As soon as the final draft is complete, which I expect to have ready in the next week or two, I'll be posting it the earliest Monday I possibly can. I'll keep you in the loop. For now, here's a sneak peek of what's to come.


Meet Ebony:

...Ebony always has some crazy situation going on with her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a drug-slinging ex-con and addict that could give Nathan a run for his money—if he had any money.



“So, did you confront Daevon, or what?” Noley delves into the thick of Ebony’s drama.

“Oh, you know I did,” Ebony replies, “I go over his grand mama’s and toldt her what he done—how he taking Latrell’s lunch money—and ooh!” A percussive laughter escapes Ebony’s lungs and she throws her head back, her mouth gaping open, unable to restrain her hysteria. “She go and get Daevon outta bed and start slappin’ him wit a spatula...” 


JNP

Part 2 FYI

I'll be taking a break for the next couple weeks or so, while I complete Part 2 of my blog. I stayed up all night the other day working on it, and it's almost ready to submit for copy editing. Part 2 will get heavier, more personal, and have some significant parallels to my own life, which I'm eager to share. I'm planning to add a little more dialogue and I'm inserting some humor to break up the heavy content. I hope you're enjoying things so far. Stay tuned for some sneak peeks to come.

JNP

Getting Ready to Launch

ANNOUNCEMENT: 

The first month of blog posts are written. Woo hoo! They're copy-edited and ready to go. Much thanks to Editing by Suzy.  

 

Here are a few brief quotes--a sneak preview--from the first post:

"I’m sure you’re acquainted with the statistics: In the United States, 45–50% of first marriages end in divorce. Twenty-seven percent of American women who marry under the age of 20 end up divorced. Today there are 14 million single parents, divorced or otherwise, residing in the States. Of the latter, the overwhelming majority—a whopping 83% (11.6 million)—are single mothers. I’m one of each of those; a percent, a number. I contribute to the 45–50%, the 27%, and the 83%."

"You may have seen me at church years ago sitting on a back row, just me and my baby girl. You might have wondered where my husband was—or if I ever had one."

"Maybe you’re that girl who talked about me behind my back. You told people that I have issues and that I don’t dress right, or act right, so I attract the wrong guys."

"Maybe you did more than see me or befriend me; you might have dated me."

"Whoever you are, were you curious as to how I ended up like this...?"


SO THERE YOU HAVE IT: A GLIMPSE. Hope you'll follow. Don't forget: July 2nd. Put it on your calendar.

JNP