The biggest surprise, which is also the best, is that I didn't know I would love motherhood as much as I do.

It is important for women to know who they are, and to know what makes their hearts sing.

I actually love that song, the whole story about Francis Scott Key looking out over the water to see if we had won or lost the battle, but it's a tough song. I was nervous, but the lady playing the big organ told me about all the people who had messed up, so I figured if I made a mistake, I'd be OK.

I now find magic in the mundane. I'm also more creative - better able to look beyond the obvious and come up with new story angles.

I sensed that my life was better when I focused on things that were working as opposed to focusing on the long list that goes wrong, but I wanted to know if there was any validity to that.

So for years I kept mum about my passion for needle arts.