Yep. It's been a while. A long while.

I've been busy. And tired. And lazy.
But, it is time to get this blog up and running again.
I've missed it.

And so, I shall begin anew.

And I shall start with my sign!
Never had a sign before.

With this new sign comes a new marketing campaign to introduce Bookman Graphics and YMLY Cards & Gifts to the folks living here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, our new home.

Like the Whos in Whoville, I need to shout out "I am here, I am here, I am here!"

I am not very good at this whole marketing myself thing.
It is a leap of faith that will help me get new customers.
And make new friends.
And, with hope, spread the love of the Lord through my work.

I have created an ad for the local Lititz Express newspaper.
I have completed my page for the Wedding Wire website.
I am preparing packets to give to local churches for brides.
I will pay to have Bookman Graphics listed with other wedding vendors in the Lancaster newspaper.
I will sign-up for a table at the January Wedding Show at the Lancaster Convention Center.
And, I suppose it is about time for me to finish the website I have been working on for several years now.

It's a while new world for me.
Literally.

And, while I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me, or Bookman Graphics, I trust Him.
And so, here goes ....

Not a "Regular Person"

This evening, as the trusty mutt Kilmer and I were taking our daily walk, we went by my friend Jean's house. Her car was in the driveway, so I headed up to the front door to ring the bell.

Two sweet neighbor kids of Jean's came around the corner from the house next door and greeted Kilmer and me ... patting the dog and telling me all about their cousins who were coming to visit for the next four days. As we talked, I rang the doorbell and got no answer ... Jean was not home.

I chatted with the little girl for a few more minutes and I was getting ready to leave, I said to her, "Next time you see Mrs. A, tell her Lisa and Kilmer came by to say hi!"

She said, "I know someone named Lisa." And then she thought for a minute and added, "Well, actually, she's on TV. But she's a regular person, not a grandma like you."

Really? Ah, c'mon. Really?!?

Who knew "Mom" was a swear word?

"____________, Mom."

Who knew that the sweet nickname for the woman who gave birth to you could become a swear word? Typically uttered by a teen or young adult at the end of a response, this particular usage of the name "Mom," when added with a certain tone of voice and great inflection thereby giving it more than one syllable, can be a replacement for a myriad of colorful phrases. Around here it most often replaces the phrase "I know already, shut up now." (Isn't it my responsibility to remind my kids to watch for crazy teenage drivers when they ride their bikes to school or to bring up their dirty dishes so they don't attract rats in the basement?) "Okay, Mom." "Gotta go now, Mom." "Yes, Mom." And off they go, pedaling away with their headphones on or taking a full meal down to the basement on my plates with my forks and cups. Really?

It is then that I close my eyes and fantasize about getting all new dishes that go into the dishwasher after they've been used, tweezers without bent ends, scissors in the kitchen drawer, laundry baskets with clothes in them, carpet that you can actually see, and everyone home safe and tucked in around me.

All too soon my fantasies will come true ... except for the last one. And then it will be quite lonely and I will miss hearing my name "Mom," no matter how it is used.

Yep, I'd much rather have the kids around. And their slang. And no clean dishes in the kitchen.

So, get over it, Mom.
You've got laundry to do.