Today

The talk at our house these days is mostly about weddings and marriage. Specifically, the upcoming May wedding and marriage of our only daughter, Rachel to her fiance, James. Together, Rachel and I bought her dress, ordered the flowers, and booked the reception site. Best I can tell, we're ready.

Yesterday, a bridal shower was given in Rachel's honor. Attending the shower gave me the chance to meet, for the first time, an assortment of her friends and former co-workers. Among the group was a pretty blond named Beth. The shower was at hosted her house. I loved Beth's home. It was warm and open. Had a great kitchen and a big back yard. It was full of color and light, decorated with photos of Beth and her husband.

I'm talking tons of photos. They hung over the mantle. Lined the hall. Sat on shelves and tables. Papered the walls. Everywhere you looked, there were photos of Beth and her smiling husband.

Towards the end of the shower, Beth's husband arrived home from where ever it is wise husbands go during showers. He was a good-looking guy and Beth greeted him warmly. From across the room I watched the two of them interact. What I saw was a tenderness that was almost palpable. In the smallest of their gestures and shared looks, I could see evidence that these two treasured each other. Their relationship struck me as special somehow.

Later, I learned why.

Beth's husband is in the Air Force. He leaves for Iraq in one month for a year-long tour of duty. With the days on the calendar flying past, I can only imagine that there's little time for pettiness, for irritation, for the isolating of oneselves that long married couples tend to do. For them, every day must feel like a gift, one not to be wasted.

Just before we left, I told Beth's husband that I appreciate him for his service. He brushed off my compliment, said it was just what he did.

What I didn't say, what I couldn't say, was thank you for something else. I wish I'd told him and his wife Beth thank you for reminding me that every day is precious. That those we love should be treated with tenderness, gentleness, and and warmth every single minute of every single day. That there's not enough time to take people for granted, to be irritated over small things, to withhold love, appreciation and affirmation.

These things I know. These things I've always known. Yet how easy it is for me to treat today like there will always be a thousand tomarrows. A thousand more chances to speak my love. A thousand more mornings and a thousand more nights.

Someday there won't be a tomarrow.

My hope and my prayer and my resolve, yet again, is to live today as if this was the day before that last tomarrow.

Charlotte Leaves the Light On

It's a day to celebrate when a case of new books arrives on my doorstep. This time it's the third and final volume in the Coming Home to Ruby Prairie trilogy. Charlotte Leaves the Light On will be available soon in bookstores. It can be pre-ordered now from amazon.com or christianbooks.com.

Here's a peak at what's on the back cover:

As usual, nothing is going quite the way Charlotte Carter planned. Several of her foster girls are moving on from Tanglewood, and Charlotte is puzzling over what to do next. Her budding midlife romance with Pastor Jock must endure twists crooked enough to discourage even the most dedicated of Ruby Prairie's matchmakers. Even her attempts at real home-cooking meet with disaster.

As Charlotte faces an uncertain future in Ruby Prairie, her decisions are complicated by the startling discover Jock makes one stormy night. In this bittersweet and touching conclusion to the Ruby Prairie series, Charlotte learns that love may break your heart... but that love is the only way to live.

So -- is your curiosity peaked? Hope so! If you'd care to read the first chapter before purchasing the book it's available for free on the books page at annettesmithbooks.com

Enjoy!

Out of the Writing Cave

I'm dancing the happy dance. The yippee-the-book-is-finished-boogie. Making Ends Meet, my just completed novel, is now out of my hands and in my capable editor's possession. I am DONE.

At least for now. Edits will come. There's more work ahead, but for tonight I'm reveling in a reprieve.

During the last month of writing a book, pretty much everything not necessary for sustaining life comes to a halt. I do little cooking or cleaning. Friends get neglected. Wally, my sweet hairy pooch doesn't get brushed. Every spare moment, my behind is parked in my computer chair. I work on finishing, correcting, and polishing the manuscript so as to make deadline.

But once that book baby is birthed? Woo-hoo. I am ready to play. Vacuum. And make dinner. Tonight it was celebratory chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, salad, and brownies. Can you say happy husband?

Happy dog?

Happy writer?

All is well inside our house on this warm spring night.