Reigning Men

 
By Beckie Carlson

For some reason, I’ve been noticing the passing of time more lately than usual. I feel myself growing older, I see my kids maturing before my eyes, and the past is stretching further and further behind me. I feel like I’m coming up on one of those hills you can see for miles and miles….but when you are at the top you can’t really tell how you got up there. How did I get here?

I’m a pretty capable person, always have been. My mom would tell you tales of me getting my wisdom teeth out or having jaw surgery and being a super hero. That’s her version. Mind over matter was my mantra and it worked. If I want something done, I usually just do it myself. Even when Brad was around, I would usually end up doing it. I would either get tired of waiting or just jump in feet first.

I decided to start my garden this week. It is spring break at my house, so it made sense. I have a wonderful garden area on the side of my house. The garden is actually one of the big selling points of this house. I wanted a bigger living room and  a garden spot. It has taken me almost two years from moving in, but I am finally attacking the garden. The area is a four foot raised bed, sprinkler fed, and almost completely full of dirt. It wasn’t quite full enough.
 
Step one, get more dirt, aka soil, to fill the garden. It kind of amazes me that we actually pay for dirt. Of course, we pay for water……Anyway. I was a good girl and measured the area before going to Home Depot to get soil. I needed approximately 80 cubic feet of soil. (I know this because I can do 5th grade math….) I got out my calculator and did a price check and even talked to a nice ‘gardener type guy’ before settling on the soil I needed.

26 bags of soil doesn’t seem like a whole lot until you lift the third bag. At that point, the, “what the h*** am I thinking” starts to set in and it becomes a real effort to not run at full (wimp) speed to the parking lot and drive straight to the craft store where things are WAY lighter. Having my son with me helped me be strong and stick to my guns. (He was inside on the lawn furniture playing games on his phone due to his allergies, but still…)

Quick thinking got me a rental truck and a forklift (and driver) to load up all those bags. Yay for me!
As I drove away triumphantly in my big hourly truck, I realized I still had to unload the truck. If I counted optimistically, I had me, a pregnant 25 year old, a two year old, 13 year old, 15 year old strapping young man, and a 20 year old…who may or may not be home. This was not looking good.
I admit that the thought went through my mind like this, “This is one of those days I wish I was married.” Yes, it’s true. I wish I had a man at home or even at the store doing this all for me. I was tired and I had just gotten started.

No sooner had I uttered these mental words, then the thought came into my mind clear as a bell. “Call the elders.” Of course! The missionaries are always looking for service projects. I don’t have home teachers that come so, I’m totally allowed to use them. I called them up and they came right over. Not only did our two elders come, but they brought two others they just happened to be giving a ride to. It took them all of five minutes to unload my truck. I gave them water and they were on their way.
I am so grateful for this tiny little miracle. Knowing me, I would have tried to get all those bags out the truck by myself and would most likely have thrown my back out. That would have ended my fun spring break and really messed up our plans.

The Lord has taken my main man, but he has not left me alone. I am so grateful for the men in my life that are there for me when I need heavy stuff moved, computers fixed, advice, hugs, priesthood blessings, protection, and even company on a given evening. I sometimes worry that I have taken too long, been single too long, left my kids without a father figure for too long, but I’m doing the best I can and I know my Father in Heaven is mindful of me.

Cause I said so.
Photo credit: http://www.ints-rep.com

I Sat Me Down To Write A Book

I sat me down to write a book,

For Kindle, Google, and the Nook.

My laptop propped between my jean-clad knees.

My spouse gave me the look,

My intentions she mistook.

I donned my grubby clothes for trimming trees.

The leaves and branches I did shook,

Knowing I’d not be off the hook.

My cuttings served to irritate some bees.

Thrice stung, I raced round yard and took,

Screaming words, all gobbledygook.

I’ll not mention them today, if you please.

My sweetie thought I was a crook,

Disrupting her while trying to cook.

Alas, she thought I attempted my best tease.

It would be a rare nor’ cold chinook,

Before she let me near my book.

She kept me outside like a rare disease.

Finally, her wrath forsook,

Mercy on her love she took.

Better writing than trimming, she agrees.

The Hubby Does a Guest Post!

Tonight's guest post is by my husband, Brice, who stole the computer from me because I was wailing about not wanting to write anything. (For this behavior, he tried to write down that I called him a “vile betrayer!” but I actually just called him a “dreamyacht.”)

Here's what he has to say:

I specialize in very short format stories for children.* The most important elements for children's verbal fiction are:

1. Include something they like, like dinosaur princesses or robot snails.

2. Either keep the plot moving smartly along or take as many detours as you can.

3. Unexpected is good. It keeps them interested way longer than familiar plot arcs and characters.

4. Dramatic gestures, interpretive dance, and crazy faces really help a story come alive.

What, dare I ask, does this have to do with you? Well, if you are a dinosaur princess, I would like to talk to you about starring in my next book. The role of robot snail is already taken, sorry. For the rest of you, I can tell you that three of my four suggestions will work for your writing as well (although I make no guarantees about which three). This list is handily parallel to my last list:

Looks like a dinosaur princess to me!

1. Know thy reader, what what?  If they're here for a nice PG rated romance, you can change the settings, characters, etc., but make sure at the end of the day that they get some tension about whether the girl gets the guy, plenty of longing, some exciting kissing, and a happy ending.

2. A nice fast pace with lots of plot developments can keep people interested even if there's not too much else going on. Terrible at plot? Try being literary, with atmosphere, alliteration, and apatosauruses. Ok, it turns out I'm bad at being literary.**

3. Totally stuck on your story? Add in the oddest thing you can think of for a scene or two, then once your characters react to it, take it back out again and rewrite the scene focused on the emotions and interplay they had.

4. Good cover art, illustrations, marginalia, or maps really appeal to some people. If you get published, post your victory interpretive dance on youtube with a link to buy your book. You might go viral.

And there you have it, folks! Until next time, when I might actually get around to writing my own MMW post!

* Jeanna interprets: AKA bedtime stories.

** It’s true, he is really bad at being literary. But he’s really good at being funny, random, and imaginative, all of which is waaaay better than being literary anyway.

To the Someone(s) Who Stand Behind Us

   We believe one of the most important aspects of our being a Mormon Mommy Writer is the Priesthood-Holder Daddy Supporters that stand with us. When I told my husband that I was going to write a book with my sister, he was supportive from the very beginning. I thanked him one day for being so supportive of this crazy idea. He basically said he felt that he would be stupid not to because if he didn't he would really regret it when we are successful and famous! It makes me happy to know that he believes in me, and it gives me courage to keep going when I have so many doubts about this whole process.

   For us our husbands play a significant role in our writing. Even though they have little to do with the actual writing process they are the silent courage that keeps us going, the constant encouragement when we feel we're no good. They have made our dream their dream, and by doing so they have brought it to life for us.

    We have learned how vital it is to have a support system in the writing world, someone who can do a final read-through, or offer suggestions, someone to give us the courage to put our thoughts out there. Sometimes it is just to have someone to understand that the reason the house is a disaster when he walks through the door is because we spent hours on the phone talking and writing together.

   There are so many days when we feel that we are like little kids among adults in the writing community, we wonder if we'll ever grow up to be like all of you! But our stalwart husbands stand by our side and say, "If you want it, go for it!" 

 

"I give council to husbands and wives. Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seems small. Pray for the love to make your companion's joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion." -Pres. Henry B. Eyring