Lulu's Cafe: A Novel
Page 28
May 2013, Lulu’s Café was completed. I put the manuscript away for safekeeping and set out to help my mom get her affairs in order before the cancer robbed her ability of making decisions on her own. Yes, the selfish disease had rebelled against treatments and had spread.
Summer 2013, I felt devastating pain and anguish I never knew could exist. I had to say goodbye to my mom, and I selfishly was not ready. Watching her suffer and fade rendered me broken and defeated.
As I held her fragile body during the early evening of September 19, 2013, my mom took her last breath on earth, and I felt my own breath leave me in acute grief.
I fell into that grief for several months, not knowing how to resurface. Life kept going on without me. My prayers were now for my own healing, for my heart was broken. Those three years had become about fighting my mom’s cancer, and now that the battle was abruptly over, I felt lost. I begged God during that time to help me move on.
January 2014, God said it was time to share Lulu’s Café. I was scared and didn’t feel worthy to share it, but I had made my mom a promise. And I intended on keeping it. Through honoring the memory of my mom and through the strength from my Heavenly Father, my broken heart began to slowly heal. I know it will not completely heal while I’m still on this earth, but one day…
Since sharing Lulu’s Café, an abundance of stories have knocked on my heart’s door and asked to be shared also. They are not perfect stories, for I am not a perfect woman. But as long as God keeps giving me these stories, I promise to share them.
Thank you for reading and helping me keep my promise to my mom and God.
Lulu’s Café Playlist
“Fly Away” by Lenny Kravitz
“Better Man” by Pearl Jam
“Lightening Crashes” by Live
“The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
“Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf
“Say Hey (I Love You)” by Michael Franti & Spearhead
“Her Diamonds” by Rob Thomas
“Born Again” by Third Day
“Home” by Phillip Phillips
T.I. Lowe is a southern belle that resides on a small farm hidden in the boonies near coastal South Carolina. Most days you can easily find T.I. in her kitchen, whipping up homemade treats for her babies and neighbors or glued to her computer keyboard. She enjoys drifting away in the fictitious world of the latest novel while bathing in the warm southern sunshine with a glass of iced tea in hand.
She is currently working on the book series, Coming Home Again and several other projects.
She would love to hear from you!!
ti.lowe@yahoo.com
If you enjoyed Lulu’s Café, then check out these other books by T.I. Lowe:
http://www.amazon.com/Goodbyes-Second-Chances-T-I-Lowe-ebook/dp/B00P89GVBK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/Reversal-Christian-romantic-sporting-Sporting-ebook/dp/B011JXDADU/ref=pd_sim_351_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=17EW5DBYTH096W9C5T2X
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Home-Again-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B00XCVUBTY/ref=pd_sim_351_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=19G061GTK30M4YEM86SG
http://www.amazon.com/Julias-Journey-Coming-Again-Novel-ebook/dp/B00YT7AH7Q/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QH9TM8NR2R9F3WRWFPK
http://www.amazon.com/Bleu-Streak-Christmas-T-I-Lowe-ebook/dp/B0117VJM22/ref=pd_sim_351_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=04ZKC00J8M2H8KS0SQ52
Acknowledgements
To my friends and family for supporting me in this dream. Without you, it wouldn’t have come true. Thank you for believing in me.
My Lowe Bunch - Bernie, Nate, and Lydia Lu, I love you to the moon and back + one million!!
To Christy Gore for always having my back. You know I love you to the moon and back also.
A special thank you to my dear friend, Terri Capps. I owe you many more old fashion chocolate layer cakes.
Thanks Mike Kinlaw for always being my encourager and my prayer warrior.
To Renee Kinlaw for being my leading cheerleader. You are inspiring.
And to T Moise, Angie Hill, Sabrina Ray, Cristi Norris, and Shannon Cribb for being my entire cheering squad. Your enthusiasm towards my dream gave me the courage to take that first scary leap!!
To the Edge family – Kevin, Lynn, Gatlin, and Tori for having me on your prayer mirror. Love y’all more than I can say.
To my Strickland family – Jarrette, Jennifer, Jordyn, and Jencyn. Thank you for showing up and lending support through some tough times. Love ya more than peanut butter and chocolate big brother!
To Danny, Nichole, and Ashlyn Gore for just loving us for being us.
A special thank you to Frances Prince and the Loris Library for always making me feel at home.
Thank you to Brenda, Daddy, Kimber and Frank for loving me!!
Above all I want to thank my Heavenly Father for the opportunities He blesses to me. Just hope I honor Him in all I do.