Update

Sadly, Micah Crimmins passed away this morning. We can take comfort in knowing he is with Jesus.

Here's a piece of the e-mail his family sent out this morning: Micah would always say as I was heading out the door, ”Daddy, wait for me.” Well now, Micah, your earthly father is saying “Micah, please wait for me” because I too want so much to hold hands together again in our heavenly kingdom.

I just can't understand

Many months ago, I posted an entry about friends whose little boy has cancer. After much treatment his cancer was in remission. In fact, last fall the entire family visited us in Charleston and it was wonderful to see Micah running around and playing.

Sadly his cancer returned earlier this year. His parents opted to try experimental drug treatments this summer, but they didn't work. This week Micah has taken a turn for the worse and his parents are opting to discontinue treatments and simply make his final days comfortable.

When I read the e-mail with this news, I couldn't help but cry. It's devastating and my heart breaks for this family. Please keep them in your prayers. We can never begin to understand why something like this would happen. We can simply take solice in the fact that Micah will have a glorious time running and playing in heaven.

Back from Atlanta

Last week I attended the Society of Professional Journalists national convention in Atlanta. It was a great conference and is always wonderful to catch up with all my SPJ pals.

I have to give a BIG thanks to my hubby for doing full-time baby care while I was gone. Having done that a few times when he's gone on business trips, I know it can get a little tiring.

I feel incredibly fortunate to live in a time when men do housework and take care of the children. Fifty years ago I would not have been jetting off to a conference leaving my baby with my husband. Heck, I wouldn't have had a career so there wouldn't have even been a conference to attend!

So, thanks, Clint!

And, more on the SPJ convention soon ...

The right to vote

Today is Women's Equality Day, established in 1971 to commemorate the passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the right to vote.

The founder of Women's Equality Day was Bella Abzug, a lawyer, TV news commentator and member of the U.S. House of Representatives (first Jewish Congresswoman).

I found these great quotes from Bella:
* Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.

* The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes.

* We are coming down from our pedestal and up from the laundry room. We want an equal share in government and we mean to get it.

You go, Bella!

Most adorable child ever

I wanted to share these terrific photos of Katherine I had taken last week. Chris Smith is the photographer. I use him quite a bit for work projects and knew he would do a great job with Katherine's 6-month portraits - and he did. Truly, she is precious - and that is my completely objective Mommy opinion! ;-)

Daddy's Little Hacker

Last year Clint went to Las Vegas for the annual DEFCON convention -- basically a hacker conference. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to attend this year but a co-worker brought him a T-shirt and Kate a onesie. So, here are some pictures of "Daddy's Little Hacker." :)

Skywriting

Ten years ago this month I embarked on a major life change. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University, a summer of experience at The Indianapolis Star and a serious sense of adventure, I packed up and moved to San Angelo, Texas. I worked as a reporter for the local newspaper and still count it as one of the best experiences of my life.

I find myself faced with a similar opportunity and can’t help but think, “That was then. This is now.”

I went to a job interview a couple of weeks ago in Fort Worth. I have the opportunity to be the editor of a new business publication in Denton County. It would be a sister publication of the Fort Worth Business Press. Long story short, the interview went well but I still felt conflicted and had a lingering question for the publisher about the kind of business publication they want to create. A follow-up e-mail seemed to confirm his commitment to a true business-to-business publication.

At this point, I’m about 90 percent ready to take it. I think that lingering 10 percent is fear. Fear outweighing any youthful sense of adventure. Oh, how the times have changed. Sure, 10 years ago I was afraid to move from Ohio to Texas. My grandparents helped me move and I’ll never forget that early Sunday morning when they pulled away from my apartment. I was struck by the thought that there went the only people in the city I knew and what if I had made a huge mistake moving here.

It wasn’t a mistake at all. And my sense of adventure took me on a wonderful ride. But I’m well past 22 years old when I could move across the country and had nothing to lose. I didn’t have a house to sell, a child, a husband. At that point, I didn’t even have a career. Life was fresh, new and full of potential.

I have lived in Charleston for eight years and have a comfortable life here. We have a nice home in a great location. We have good friends, a nice church and I have a good job. Why rock the boat?

Maybe for something even better.

This job sort of fell into my lap. And last week we found out that Clint’s company would like for him to stay on and just work from home in Fort Worth. How easy is that?

My friend Ronda and I always talk about how we wish God communicated in skywriting. Ronda says the way all this has fallen into place is skywriting. It could be I’ve been so wrapped up in the “what ifs” and “what might go wrong” that I haven’t looked up to see God’s skywriting.

I can’t help but think this is an awesome opportunity for me. I have the chance to build an entire business newspaper from scratch. Scary? Of course. An adventure? No doubt.

Could it be I’ve spent the last decade preparing for just this opportunity and now I’m going full circle back to the Lone Star state? The skywriting seems to say, “Yes.”