The Work of His Hands

Ring In The New

pclement — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:15:51 +0000

Okay, I admit it, I have been quite negligent in keeping this blog updated. Since my last post, I have had quite a few changes/events in my life, both personal and professional. Like everyone else, there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished. I am going to try harder to add new posts. Which brings me to my reason for writing a post today.

I awoke this morning thinking how happy I was that 2011 was ending. I have had some very stressful events happen in my life. But then I looked at the proverbial cup half full way of viewing life and realized despite all those things there were many good things happen in 2011. First and foremost, I lived to see it all. That’s a reason to celebrate in and of itself. I am truly thankful. My first grandchild was born this year. She has added so much joy to my heart. It’s true what they say about grandchildren. It’s a type of love that is just the best. My second book was published this year. This book was written by answering a call. It will always be special to me. The reviews are good and I am still selling copies of the first book as well so that makes me happy. I still have a job. Even though sometimes that doesn’t seem like a good thing (especially when I hear the alarm going off so early in the morning), I know there are so many people in this country who wish they had a job to set an alarm for. In this economy, it’s something we can’t take for granted anymore. Lastly, I still have many friends and an awesome support system. That means so much to me.

I don’t usually make resolutions. I stopped long ago because I never kept them anyway. But this year I am going to do something different. It’s going to be a fresh start for me. I am going to get out of the state of limbo I have been in for over two years now and begin a life as a single person. I think that is the first time I have admitted those two words to myself. That’s because being married was the best thing ever and if I had it my way, it would have continued for decades longer. But God needed him back and now I realize I must move on. The memories will never be forgotten and will always be cherished. I know Randy would want it that way.

So I am claiming 2012 as the year of new beginnings. Here are the promises I pledge to myself:

I am moving into a new place when my home sells. I don’t yet know where, but I’m not overly worried.
After my house sells, I am taking a getaway vacation by myself to rejuvenate. I haven’t done that in my life, but there isn’t a better time to do it.
I am going to start an adult romance Christian novel. I have had several people request that I write one, so I am going to give it a try.
I am going to attend at least one writer’s conference this year. Those always keep me motivated.
I am going to submit something to a publisher. I’m not sure yet what it will be, but I have the year to decide and write it.
I am going to continue to put God first in everything I do, and do more in the area of service.
I am going to be the best mother,”Gram”, and friend I can be.

Of course I should say I will lose weight, but those are the kinds of resolutions I never kept. I am going to work on my inner self this year and maybe, just maybe, the outer self will take shape(pun intended).

I plan to post a blog next year at this time ,checking off the plans I make today as completed.

Happy New Year everyone! May your 2012 be everything you hope it will be. God Bless!

Anthology Submission

pclement — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:55:13 +0000

I wrote a submission for an anthology today. The topic is falling in love. They want the best love stories, so I went for it. Through the tears,the smiles, and the memories, I am not sure I did our relationship justice. Are there really words in the English language that can describe a kind of love that was so solid and deeply rooted, so happy, and so painful in the end? I feel like the words I may have used just didn’t quite represent my feelings well enough. I have not submitted it yet. I may have to leave it a few hours and come back to it. That always seems to help me see a different perspective on things. If you are interested in writing about this yourself, let me know and I will send you the information.

I’m a New Club Member

pclement — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:51:29 +0000

I am ashamed to say that my blog posts have sort of taken a backseat to so many things going on in my life. In a nutshell, my daughter was put on bed rest in the last couple of months of her pregnancy, she had the baby, and things have been very busy at work.

A precious baby girl, Addison Renee, weighing 6 lbs 7 ozs was born in late February. This was my first grandchild. So now I am officially a member of the Grandparents’ Club. I don’t know if one actually exist or not, but I have been told by so many friends that becoming a grandparent was the greatest thing ever. They told me no words could describe the feeling. They were right! I love being a grandmother (Gram) and all the things that go with it.

My daughter, her husband, and baby are temporarily living with me. This allows me to see her often. I love bedtime the best. After she has had her bath, she is put in my arms so I could smell ”the fountain of youth”. Nothing compares to the smell of a freshly bathed, and lotioned baby don’t you agree? That’s what I call my time for “Gram Kisses”. It’s the perfect way to end my day.

I am still managing to write. I have a book proposal out for a devotional book for widows and two pictures books being sent to publishing companies. I am getting rejections but I have learned that is my proof that at least I continue to write. When the rejections come in the mail I say to myself, “Some will, some won’t, so what, next.” And on I go to finding a better fit for my books. Oh and did I mention last time that I have a contract on my second book? It’s a young adult novel, Shifting Sand, to be released later this year.

Until next time, God Bless!

“When a child is born, so are grandmothers.” – Judith Levy

: My sweet baby Addison!

Forever My Valentine

pclement — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 23:35:49 +0000

Everyone is spreading love with their significant other today and celebrating in so many ways. I am really happy for them and hope they never take what they have for granted. I hope they cherish every moment. For me, today only makes me realize what I had and what I have lost. I remember each year you used to call me “your little valentine” and you always did something sweet and memorable. Sometimes what you did cost nothing except your time but it was always special. It’s those things I hold close to my heart when I am missing you the way I am right now. I went to the cemetery earlier and brought you a red rose. Although you are not here to celebrate the occasion, I will always be “your little valentine”. And you will forever be mine. I love you, Baby.

The Wait Continues

pclement — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:45:09 +0000

Our family waits for the arrival of my first granddaughter. My daughter has been on bed rest for a month now when early labor began. Luckily, they were able to stop it, but now we are ready for her to make her debut. My daughter was given three different due dates in three different months so it seems as though it is taking so long to get here. She is scheduled for a c-section on the 21st if she doesn’t have her before then. So I know it won’t be too long now. Our lives are going to change forever. But I know it will be a good change. We have never had a baby around the house. I look forward to exciting holidays as seen through the eyes of a child again. And I look forward to holding her in my arms, kissing her and smelling the wonderful fragrance of a freshly bathed newborn infant once more. I am so ready Addison. Please hurry! Plenty of love awaits you.

2010 in review

pclement — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 21:38:53 +0000

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 4,100 times in 2010. That’s about 10 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 36 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 77 posts. There were 60 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 5mb. That’s about 1 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was May 26th with 83 views. The most popular post that day was Randy .

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were creditcrunchbride.wordpress.com, facebook.com, peggyclement.com, blogger.com, and mail.yahoo.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for children reading books, beauty of nature, reading book, child with book, and book reading.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Randy January 2010
3 comments

And The Greatest Of These Was Love February 2010
5 comments

Peggy’s Bio November 2009
8 comments

Something to Ponder November 2009
2 comments

Letter to Randy May 2010
7 comments

Reflections

pclement — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:45:45 +0000

Today is a day to reflect on this past year, to ring out the old, and bring in the new at midnight. It was a roller coaster of emotions for our family this year. Happy events occurred like my daughter getting married in early January, having my book come out and have some amazing book signings, seeing old friends at the signings I had not seen in twenty years or more, making contacts with loved ones through social networking, my younger daughter maintaining her 4.0 grade average in college, and finding out I would be a grandmother for the first time. We have also had our share of sadness. We lost people we love, some of our friends lost family members, good friends had health issues to deal with, financial strains were worrisome, and we continued to mourn and miss my dear husband on a daily basis. I know this is something you never get over. But God gets us through each day. What an awesome God he is!

2011 brings hope to my family. We have a new baby girl arriving in late February,my daughter graduates from college in May, I am going to get a contract on my second book, and something new will more than likely be happening with my job as well. For those things we are going to ring in the new year as a family and be thankful. Surely there will still be sorrow in the coming year. That is part of life. When the sorrow comes we are going to deal with it, pray about it, and give it to God. But just for tonight we are going to concentrate on the good things.

May you all have a Happy New Year. If you are out celebrating, please be careful and stay safe. Assign a designated driver if need be. Thank-you for following my blog posts this past year. I look forward to sharing more with you in the year ahead.

In Awe Of God’s Plans For Me

pclement — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:39:02 +0000

I am a mature adult who has loved God my whole life. I know about His greatness and His love for me, yet I continue to be in awe of His plans for me. One more time He shows me to “Let Go and Let God”.

I have been through all “the firsts” without my dear, loving husband. I thought things would get easier, but in fact, this Christmas season has been rough for me. It’s been even harder this year than last year. I think maybe it was because it was so new last year. I was still in the early stages of my grief. I didn’t know how to feel. My daughter was also getting married soon after Christmas so I was preoccupied with all that being a mother of the bride entails. I have felt the emptiness in my heart this season and the longing to wrap my arms around him one more time and tell him how much I love him. I know his presence is around me and for that I am grateful, but it just isn’t the same. So I have had my pity party on more than one occasion lately, concentrating on what I missed in my life. No one else was invited. It was a private party.

Monday morning I received an email from my editor telling me she finished reading the manuscript I submitted back in September. She loved it. In fact she said I owed her a box of Kleenex. She is going to be sending me a contract on it very soon. I checked my email daily since early October, hoping to hear word from her. Nothing came. Instead, during the week of Christmas, when I needed something to cheer me up, the email arrived. Once again, God knew exactly the time I needed to receive this. It has added joy to my heart because this book is very special to me. This is also the last manuscript Randy knew I was working on. He cried also when I read him parts of it. I know he would be doing the “happy dance” with me in celebration. In fact, maybe he is.

So my Christmas will be a little brighter than I anticipated this year. Although it will still be tough to go on, at least I know the book Randy wanted to see get published so badly is going to happen. I feel like it’s a Christmas gift to both of us.

Merry Christmas!

What We Can Learn From A Child

pclement — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 23:53:54 +0000

I received an email post from a friend a while back that had to do with running in the rain and feeling a spiritual cleansing. A few days ago it was raining and as I backed out of the driveway I noticed a young boy riding his bicycle. He didn’t seem the least bit bothered that he was in the rain and getting drenched.

It made me remember the email. I wondered why as a child being in the rain felt awesome but suddenly we grow up and are afraid to get one drop on us? We will use the mighty umbrella or protect ourselves from Mother Nature’s bath with any means possible. Is it for vanity reasons that suddenly rain droplets soaking our skin is taboo? I have to admit, I was in my car, dry and protected, but I felt kind of envious that day for not being the one enjoying droplets from Heaven. We become so uptight as adults about things that we enjoyed in our innocence as children.

There’s a case to be made about maturity and adulthood. I agree with that. But do we have to always be so dadgum grownup all the time? Can’t we take a break from adulthood just every now and again? I have decided to do that. The next time it rains I am going to feel the raindrops against my skin. I am going to allow myself to get a spiritual cleansing, and I am going to smile at the heavens pouring down on me. Just once I am going to be a kid again.

Deep Breaths- It’s Time To Declutter

pclement — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:13:43 +0000

Do you ever have those times in your life when you just have to stop, take deep breaths, and slow down a little? That’s the way it has been with me lately. I feel like things are just going a mile a minute. I have clutter in my life because I allowed things to build up and get pushed aside. So today is the day to take those deep breaths, grab the trash bags, and head to my closet. That’s my starting point. To many, my clutter would not seem bad, but to me it is.

It’s funny how allowing this clutter to build around me also clutters my inner being. I don’t feel like it’s God in control and then me, but rather God and then my clutter in control of my life. So off I go to get my life back on track. Deep breaths….It’s time to declutter.