Our Christmas card is late because I wanted to wait for our son, Ryan to check it over. He gave the thumbs up, so here we go. 😀
The book about my hysterical parents (Never Dull!) won two literary awards. The last page titled Coming Soon, gave a preview of my next book Grounded, a memoir about being a cowgirl, becoming a pilot, getting married to an oh-so-patient guy (those who know Jack well did an eye roll when you read that. I am not being sarcastic, I really mean it. He puts up with a lot and it illustrates what a colossal pain in the butt I am. ), experiencing two near death accidents, and finally parenting an alcoholic.
The end of the book describes how our son Grant, has zero control over where he will be stationed with the Air Force. When he graduated from the Air Force Academy, he ranked high enough to get a master’s in aeronautical engineering at Georgia Tech before going to Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB.
Ryan was living in Georgia and going to college after his third drug and alcohol treatment (it was a total God thing how he wound up in Georgia and I explained that in the book too). The two boys lived together, Ryan was sober; what a miracle.
The last chapter tied everything together and gave the reader a happy ending. The manuscript was about ready to be being sent off.
Well… not so fast. Ryan relapsed.
The story is not finished yet, so I delayed the release of that book. After talking with Ryan, we agreed that if we can help one person with our story, the pain we went through will be worth it.
Ryan lives forty minutes away in St. Paul and is pursuing recovery. He’s working an AA program, and even chairs one meeting out of the four he goes to per week. We are so proud of him. God is using his challenges to help others. He visits once a week and goes to church with us and my Aunt Sylvia. She is 88 and living in her own home, one mile from us in Cannon Falls, MN.
Both boys and Grant’s girlfriend were home at Thanksgiving. Grant spent Christmas with Kelly’s family in Virginia and will be here on New Year’s for five days, then returns to Texas for nine more months of pilot training.
Early next year, Jack is having hernia, rotator cuff and hammer toe surgery. As an older model with a few miles on him, he needs to be maintained. I threatened to trade him in, but he insists if I hang on to him long enough he will become a classic. After him being my nurse for several years and helping me recover, it is only fair I should wait on him hand and foot (literally😂). Laughter is the best medicine, and we are well stocked in that department. As long as he doesn't ring that bell too much, I will have plenty of time to work on my next fiction book about the healing power of horses.
Wishing you many blessings in the year ahead.
Jack and Heather
With Grant at Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training, Shepard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas
We got to go on the flight line and watch Grant preflight and take off.
Flying the T-6 simulator
Forth of July We are so thankful to our military, police and first responders
Late Fall in Northern Minnesota Jack, Ryan, me, and our two dogs heading out on a trail ride (Buddy is riding with Jack)
Jack and Ryan at the fire pit in our backyard
I can't remember what the story was, but it was funny. It is heartwarming to see them laughing.
With Ryan at Top Hand Cowgirl Challenge
What an honor for my book to win the Will Rogers Gold Medallion for Humor
I have spring fever! I want to report that I have been diligently working on my next book, but that would be a lie. The weather is too enticing. I want to be outside riding my horse instead of banging away on my computer. Hope to see you soon, Heather Future Events May 1st at 6:30 pm - Keynote Speaker at The National Day of Prayer in Cannon Falls, MN Click here for info May 4th at 8:30 am - Guest Speaker at Top Hand Cowgirl Challenge. In addition to telling my story during cowboy church, I am...
Merry Christmas 2024 Reader Our Christmas card is late because I wanted to wait for our son, Ryan to check it over. He gave the thumbs up, so here we go. 😀 The book about my hysterical parents (Never Dull!) won two literary awards. The last page titled Coming Soon gave a preview of my next book Grounded, a memoir about being a cowgirl, becoming a pilot, getting married to an oh-so-patient guy (those who know Jack well did an eye roll when you read that. I am not being sarcastic, I really mean...
I have been crying... every day... for a week. Don’t worry! They've been happy tears. Our horses, Drifter (19) and Rocket (25) have been part of our family since they were two years old and our kids learned to ride on them. I planned they would be part of our family forever and never dreamed they would leave our farm. When I said, “God bless our veterans”, I didn’t know He had a plan of how to make that happen. Two months ago. I advertised a three-year-old horse named Frank for sale...
