Frankie sells cookies for a good cause!

The Friends of the Library called me last year and asked if I would serve as Vice President of this worthy cause.  I was honored.  We raise money through various activities each year to be donated to the Elkhart Lake Public Library.  I personally love going to the library to expand my world through books, CD’s and DVD’s.  So, it is an honor to help raise money to keep new and fresh material coming into the library system for young and old alike.

One of the fundrasiers is the cookie sale.  Who dosen’t like a home baked cookie?!  Volunteers make the dough, bake the cookies, stuff them into wax paper envelopes and then sell them the day of the local 4th of July parade in Elkhart Lake.

This was my first year helping with the selling along the parade route.  So, I thought Frankie would be a great magnet to attract people to us to buy a cookie.  I decorated our bike with stars and ‘sparklers” and Frankie wore a patriotic bandana.  My husband Johnnie fastened a box to the back of my bike, so we could sell our ‘wares.’  He even joined me and helped with the selling- thanks honey!  You are a trooper!

Frankie did her thing, as usual, by just sitting in her basket on my bike and looking, well, looking cute as she likes to do!  We sold our cookies in about 15 minutes!  Not a crumb of any of the cookie selling volunteers was left behind.  It was a success and we were happy to help!

Can I Pet Frankie?

Frankie is building quite the fan base.

She is pictured here with one of her biggest fans, Morgan.  She is the sweet, adorable, loving little girl who lives next door to us.  Anytime Morgan is outside she says, “Can I pet Frankie?”  Or if we go out for a walk after dinner and Morgan is in the house, the front door flies open and out she runs yelling, “Can I pet Frankie?”  Her eyes light up and her smile reaches from ear to ear.  Ya think she loves Frankie?  The love between a little girl and a dog- it is priceless.

Frankie has been meeting many people as we visit the Farmer’s Market here in our little village each Saturday.  We are asked many questions about why she is in a wheelchair.  Kids are so drawn to her and are quite mesmerized by seeing a dog with wheels.  We hand out our promotional cards letting people know a book is coming out about Frankie this fall.  The response has been so incredibly humbling.  There are times the emotion is so strong it wells up inside me and the tears roll down my cheeks.  I feel incredibly blessed that God gave Frankie to me.

Frankie and I are looking forward to meeting lots of children once our book is out.  Frankie wants to make a difference one child at a time by showing them how well she gets on in life in her tires– by putting one paw in front of the other.

An afternoon by the lake

I was restless today and the lake was calling my name… sometimes a new view can help clear up the cobwebs in one’s mind.

When I began writing my children’s book in March 2008 I did not think about the editing process.  Quite frankly if I had, it would have made me stop writing my book.  Why does the editing process have to be so scary?  But, in my heart I know I want to tell my story of Frankie.  I also keep the words from my mom echoing in my mind, “Tell your story from your heart.”  I think that is the best advice ever.  By living from my heart and finding that place inside me when I feel stuck, it keeps me moving forward.  Thanks, Mom (I have a really smart Mom, don’t I?)

The task of doing yet another edit for my book was on my plate and I needed to tackle it, but I wanted a fresh new look at it, so to speak.  So, I packed up Frankie, my writing supplies and headed to Lake Michigan.

On the way there I listened to podcasts on writing, which always get my juices flowing and helps me feel not alone in the many feelings I go through.  When I arrived I found a perfect spot in the shade. The wind was gently out of the east, blowing through the open windows of my car… it felt peaceful and resourceful.

I started out with writing my quest to be read at my Women’s Writing Circle this Thursday evening.  Though it took a good 15 minutes staring at the lake to coax it out of me!  Frankie and I then went for a walk and soaked up the warm sun and relished in the free spirits of the seagulls and geese.  After that I took out my manuscript and read Frankie’s story once again.  I realized as I finished, that the editing process is not so bad afterall.  I have made it this far, through tough critique from my writing circle and continue to persevere.  Whew, that feels good!  What keeps me going I sometimes wonder?  As I tucked the manuscript into my black straw writing bag, I looked beside me at this sweet face…

She is the reason my heart continues to follow its path, to tell her story, to share her with others, to leave a positive impact on the world.