So excited for the day, and week, to begin. Can’t wait to hear from my publisher and answered prayer, one way or another. That God would be glorified, that’s all. It’ll be exciting. I’ll just sit tight at the moment. May call the gal soon.

I did call, she wasn’t in the office yet.  They were going to have her call me. No news is good news? We’ll see.

I cannot begin to say what a lovely day this has been. I can only summarize. After Dana and the boys got back from their trip this afternoon, Alyssa and I went to our church’s beach baptism. We had a great time. The awe-inspiring beauty of the waves lapping against the beach while the work of God was being coordinated was a gorgeous sight. Twenty some folks were immersed to testify of their new life. A few of those happened to accept Jesus moments prior to the service. Anyway, this week I’m hoping to experience God’s blessings. It shouldn’t be overly busy and we’ll get to practice golf several times, in preparation for Saturday.

Such a tremendous day! We had a great church service. The boys and my wife are going to Punta Rassa today, something to do with school. I am overflowing with gratefulness to be a part of God’s will and God’s plan. I am doing my best to stay in the center of His will and focused on what He has planned for the outcome, or His will, for my life. As long as I choose and follow Him, it will be okay.

As much as I am enjoying the inherent pleasures of the present, I am anticipating the future, come what may. What opportunities may await? Again, I am not going to force God’s will into mine but will strive to let Him have control of my life. He already knows what’s up. He has been there. He has planned and authorized it.

Other writing opportunities are on the horizon for me. I contacted someone yesterday, though, with a powerful testimony. I think the biography of his life would impact generations and be very inspirational. So we’ll see what happens with that. Thy will be done, Lord.

Tick tock goes the clock.  Still waiting to hear from my contact.  Hoping that no news means good news, but who knows?  My check-in lady has always replied promptly, so I do not know what is up. The good news is that today my friend (the manager) at Staples showed me how to be able to work, and enable editing, with future emails, or documents, that my publisher may send as we are ironing things out.  It’s fun to await and anticipate the next stages: their editorial evaluation or assessment (though I will not need one), front and back book cover design (thinkstock image), interior formatting and design, including chapter setup, spacing, font selection.  So again, very stoked.  Hoping and praying they allow me to use the manuscript I resent Thursday, reformatted and touched up.  I changed just enough words in it to make me desire to use that draft.

Great day with our children but had ample time to work. As always, not enough, but God is good. He gives us strength. Anyway, I am on step 7 of 7 in this writing process. I never thought this moment would arrive. This seventh step may take awhile – submitting the manuscript to the publisher and book design and promo opportunities through another outlet – but thankful to get going on it.

Blessed assurance….no matter the outcome, it’s going to be alright. God is on the throne and in control, as omniscient or all-knowing as ever. He knows what’s up. No word yet from my contact, Miss Erica, at Westbow. Hopefully they’re working on things and able to accept the revisions I sent the way they are: a few minor edits and the conversion of footnotes and endnotes to numbers rather than Roman numerals. However, my buddy at Staples today is fixing to show me how to ‘enable edits’ on future documents they send me to work on. That is, after Aaron’s soccer game this morning. Jumping with joy. It is an understatement again, God is so good.

A huge shout out to Mr. Marc, my website designer. I am so happy and blessed to have found him (from Purdue, I think) via a friend at church.

“Be anxious for nothing.” Often easier said than done, for me. Haven’t connected yet with my lady at Westbow yet to see what’s up. I’ve tried to reach her all day. I’ve been trying to leaf through the manuscript I sent them a few days ago to compare with the one with my most recent recommended changes. There are a few words and phrases in the meantime I altered, but cannot easily locate them on my latest hard copy. So that’s the crux of the problem. They had asked that my alterations be made on the copy they sent or returned (i.e., dealing with footnotes and endnotes). Since I was unable to open and edit that version, I sent them a new, separate email with the revisions therein. God is good. I believe I’ll simply be able to print my latest copy to check it side-by-side if they do not accept the copy I emailed, worst-case scenario – and want the other draft returned to them, instead. II have an appointment tomorrow with my buddy at Staples to show me how to get around this dilemma next time. Onward and upward.

Yesterday I ran into some troubles. I have hopefully corrected them and am awaiting word from my publishing consultant to see if what has been resubmitted will fly. Just to glance things over and see if there would be additional index words I might want to use, if given the chance. God is in control.

Well, things are rolling along and picking up speed. Tonight I heard from my contact at Westbow and have been making a few minor revisions, primarily among them altering the footnote/endnote symbol system I had used. All went well in that regard. My lady removed two sections from the title page, which go on the back cover. I could not open or edit the copy she sent, so I am planning to resend my copy of the document tomorrow so their “review team” can get to work. For whatever that’s worth.

Wonderful, wonderful day. Word is that I should have the book in my hands soon from my editor. Then excited to put the finishing touches on it. To have the book out by Christmas, my publisher needs it by 9/30 and the final proofs to be completed by mid-November. Hopeful I can do this and that all would go well. His plan, not mine. His agenda. His time-frame. Glad the book cover is all ready to go.

So happy for the progress being made. Things are happening slowly but in God’s timing. Spoke to my contact yesterday at the publishing company, Westbow Press. Verified tonight with my editor I’m all set for his final proofing of a few sections. Also, I had some good contacts yesterday and today about what is going on. Since I sent my book cover option yesterday to the publisher and title page, they may get underway. Still awaiting word whether one item can be used on the front cover. When the cover is completed, it will be put on the website instead or along with this blog. Yay, God!