Getting Published

Have you ever known that something was going to happen, but you didn't want to share it until it actually happened for fear that it might not? That's what happened with this story. In October, I saw that one of my favorite magazines, Seeing The Everyday, posted a call for submissions. The subject was childhood family dinner time. Oh how I wished I had something to write for them. This magazine embodies things I feel deeply about--seeing the eternal perspective and importance in our day-to-day living and enjoying our families and relationships. Unfortunately, my childhood dinner table was not really the kind that one would read about in an uplifting, growth-promoting magazine like this. Kelly, on the other hand, had just the kind of family dinner time experiences that I thought were worth sharing, so I took a chance and wrote something to send in.

The first reply I got let me know that they were interested in my story, but they wanted to know more about my family dinner experiences. I had hinted a little about my experiences, but hadn't written much due to the positive and uplifting nature of the stories in their publication. I added a few things, told them why I hadn't written a lot about my family, and sent it off.

The second reply thanked me for my additions, thanked me for being cautious about subject matter, and asked me for more. How did my experiences differ from my husband's? How did our experiences effect each of us, and how did they shape what we're doing now. The magazine was very, very polite and understanding that what they were asking me to talk about may be too upsetting to delve into. It wasn't really, and since they wanted to know, I went there. My revision was sent off, with another that followed blending the two experiences together a little more cohesively.

The third reply came by telephone just before Thanksgiving. They thanked me for working on the story, for sharing a story that will benefit so many, and they told me they wanted to print my piece in the winter issue.

When the actual magazine arrived this week, it was unbelievable. I write a lot about my experiences in life, but usually I do it in my journal or in emails to my family or friends. I never thought my first attempt at writing for a magazine would be to share something like dinner time experiences. But what I have learned over the years, and what this magazine promotes, is that all of our experiences, no matter how small, are experiences that shape us. Until I was encouraged to dig a little, I hadn't seen the dinner table being as significant as it is.

I worry a little because my dad will no doubt read the story. He is one of my biggest supporters, but I worry that he will be sad knowing that I don't have great memories of our family meals together. He is also someone who always strived to do the best he could for his family, especially his daughters, even in the face of difficult circumstances. He and my mom both did the best that they knew how to do, and the positive in the mix is that I have been able to learn from both good and bad experiences in my childhood. Kelly's family life wasn't perfect either, and from both of our experiences we are trying to build a good foundation for our girls which is what really matters.

Thanks to everyone who has congratulated and/or jumped with joy alongside me. This was really fun, and I hope it will be the first of more published writing to come.