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Blogs by Rita P Hestand
Getting through the rough stuff 3/14/2009 7:23:39 PM
Everyone goes through hard times. Mine was a dousey that I want to share with you. This isn't a story, it's the truth. In January of 2006 I lost my husband. We'd been married 24 years. I was so looking forward to our Silver Anniversary. But it didn't happen. He died-of congential heart failure.
You might wonder what I'm doing talking about this with you, but I'm sure a lot of you noticed there's been a gap in my writing, and this is why. When he died, I just couldn't write romance any longer. I thought I was probably through writing it. But I had a series started and it wasn't finished. And I loved writing romance.
I wenet through all the motions but I wasn't really living my life. I was so sad that my soul mate was gone, I just couldn't write any longer.
I prayed to God that I could someday write again. I struggled with it. So finally, I just quit for a while.
I couldn't listen to music either, especially our favorites. It was just too painful.
My sorrow wasn't any worse than anyone else's. Only it felt like it was. I felt so alone, so hurt, and yes, just a little scared of facing old age without him. I wondered if these feelings would ever pass. I wondered if I would ever be able to do anything I used to enjoy.
For two years I've been pretty silent. I wrote just a little for children, not much.
I csried a lot, even at work. Do you know how hard that is to hide from others? It's humiliating to break down at your place of work. But I did, many times. No one saw me, because I hid it well.
I kept praying that my life would change for the better. I knew God had more plans, if he let me live.
I went to church, I went to eat out, alone, to the movies alone, shopping alone. I even lived alone for a while.
I relearned my independence. I learned how to look forward to each day, and give thanks.
Finally, I took a vacation, with my grandkids, to San Anotonio. I went to the Alamo again, a place I always wanted to revisit. And when I came home...I could write again.
And now, I'm back in full swing and it feels wonderful. I feel like I can't get enough done.
I wrote a book that I absolutely fell in love with, it isn't published yet, but it is at a publisher as we speak and I want you all to try it out. Not because I say so, not because I want you to spend the money but because I want to know if it touches your heart as much as it did to write it. I put everything in that book. I poured my heart out in the book and I think you'll agree with me it's got some pretty heavy stuff to be a Christian, historical, westsern, romance. It isn't preachy, but it has a presence I think you'll quickly recognize.
As soon as it comes out, I will announce it here at Author's Den. So be looking for it, because it has such a story...I can't wait to hear from YOU. I can't wait to know what you REALLY think of it.
