Brand New Sweetie-Smooshie-Pie!

I mentioned in my last post that a most amazing thing happened. Last month actually, but I'm a little behind the times.

I don't know if it's possible to find anything sweeter than a brand new baby. Or if there's anything better than being a grandma. Heaven's reward for being a mom. I mean, just look at that face!

But of course, as with all things connected to me, there was a complication. My Jen is a super human momma who popped the little one out in a few seconds and was ready to go home a few minutes after that. You know the kind that make the rest of us look bad? (It's okay, I love her anyway). But when our little Raegan (cute isn't it?) was two days old, Jen took her back to the hospital to get her bilirubum (I'm sure that's not the spelling) checked.

Well, Mike was at work and I was with Ethan, so Jen was on her own when the doc listened to Raegan's little heart and said "Your baby has a hole in her heart" and then walked out of the room.

My own heart ached for her when she got home and told me the story. One of the catches of this grandmother business is that the people you worry about just multiply.

It turns out little Raegan has two holes. One is likely to close on its own, but there's a good chance the other will need to be fixed with open-heart surgery sometime in the next few months.

Of all the things I hoped to pass on to my posterity, holes in their hearts was not one.

But her parents are strong, and she is unimaginably beautiful, and God is good, so I'm confident they'll make through.

Sad and Lonely Cyber Places

So I know with all my rash and rapid posting of the last week I probably gave you all a bit of whiplash. I know, it's like WHA--? She's had a wedding, she's had another surgery, and a grandbaby (oh wait, I don't think I even got that far. But she adorable. Trust me. Pictures coming, promise) AND she has a book coming out?!? But wait, is that her, or some other author?

I know, I'm confused myself.

So let me splain: my official author name is Suze Reese, and my official author blog is suzereese.com. I did this for a few reasons, mostly because there's already a fairly famous author out there by the name of Suzanne Reese. Also because I just like Suze Reese. It's how grew up and I like it. And then there's a small degree of privacy with using a name that's not my every day one. Not sure how much of that is possible these days, but it's a nice thought anyway.

So I've been working like a mad person getting all the social media set up. But it kind of stinks that I'm starting from scratch, so I've got all these lonely little pages waiting to be found. I'm confident they will with time. But for now, if any of you are visiting here, do you suppose you could go visit there and give me some cyber hugs? That's so sweet, thanks. And once again, that site is www.suzereese.com

I'm other places too: facebook, twitter, goodreads. If you're comfy in any of those places give me a shout out.

And I love you too!

Ding Dong The Bells Did Chime!

Those of you who follow this blog know all about my little son Brandon. But you may not have heard quite as much about my bigger boy Daniel. That is partly because so much of my day is full of Brandon. But the other is that where Brandon is full of showmanship, Daniel is every bit as full of reserve.

I love them both dearly. But they couldn't be more different.

And I may have been known to say a time or two that the day Daniel gets married will be the happiest day of my life. So here it official is:

The happiest day of my life.

The event was made especially wonderful by the fact that he married a wonderful girl.

Catching Up...First an Idol

Now that the first day of snow has arrived, and I can't find the energy to do anything but bundle up, I suppose it's high time I play a little catch up with my most fabulous summer.

First off we had a little Draper Idol competition. Odds are good you heard me hollering about it. But little Brandon totally won the youth division. He was just barely old enough to compete, and we gave him the old "it'll be a good experience" line. Which we totally believed. Even after they'd announced a tie for third place, then second...we're all just thinking, first place? No way.

But then they announced him and he walked totally cool to the podium to take the trophy. Reports are that I tackled him as he came down the hallway with the rest of the contestants. That might only be kind of true. I did try real hard to hug him. Which I think is when it hit him that he had won. He pulled away and ran up the hall in tears. Adorable. Just don't tell him I said so. So now that I've got you in complete suspence, here's the performance:



The next days were crazy and fun with a ride in a parade (singing along the way), and performing on the mainstage for Draper Nights. (Though it wasn't night and pretty much nobody was there. But it was STILL the main stage.) Thanks bishop for your support, btw.

So I guess it's official...I'm not the only one who thinks he's cute.

Introducing ExtraNormal! YA Paranormal Romance

I am soooo pleased to announce that ExtraNormal by Suze Reese is about to be released! You'll find it on GoodReads, Twitter, Facebook, and its very own blog (suzereese.com).

That's right, this Suze person has been busy, busy, busy. Here's the low-down if you want to know more:

Back Cover Blurb:
Mira Johns is pretty much like any other teenage girl. Except that she knows how to harness electro-magnetic energy to communicate without words. And she's really, really far from home. Her assignment as an emissary to Earth sounds fairly simple: blend in, observe, and stay away from the planet’s primitive males. But after she finds one mysterious boy too irresistible for stupid rules, she realizes the real reason she's supposed to keep her distance: mates from her world can die if separated. But a series of serious accidents make it clear that someone wants to force her return. Mira decides her only hope is to uncover the truth to why she, the most mediocre of candidates, was actually chosen for this assignment—before the agency discovers her secret and sends her back home.

And Beautiful Awesomeness in a Cover:

So here's the deal, all those places listed above are feeling very quiet and lonely about now. Granted they were all set up in the last couple of days, but still. It's awkward just sitting there as a blog or Facebook page with no visitors. You watch the clock and wiggle your toes and try not to look too anxious. Especially as a GoodReads book with no ratings. So if you're comfy in any of those places, feel free to look around and be friendly!