As we begin to enter a new year with expectant hearts eagerly anticipating what 2023 will bring us, I am thankful that 2022 is concluding with new and exciting projects in the works for me! For the last nine years or so, I have wanted to write a book telling our family’s story. At the time when that dream first began, our family was much smaller and though we had walked through many struggles and challenges, we had yet to see all the ways God was going to move mightily in our hearts and in our home. 

As 2021 was winding down, I knew that 2022 would be the year my dreamed-of-book would happen! I was turning forty at the end of 2022 and I had a life goal to complete my book by the time I was forty! In January, I began to clear space in my [overly crowded] schedule to sit in the quiet and begin the writing process. I canceled my yoga membership, which had been my lifeline for the two years prior, and bought a standing desk and treadmill. I traded hot yoga mornings for writing-while-walking mornings. In February, I attended a Christian Writers Conference and a few short weeks later I booked a weekend away (by myself!) to immerse myself in book’s outline and overall layout. In April, I invested in a writing coach and began to hone in on this intricate story I was telling of our life, and of God’s character and His goodness. 

Oftentimes, when we’re on the path God has set for us and we’re doing His work, the enemy tries to throw a wrench into the progress we are making. And that was no different in this case. In April, the flu hit our house, by June, Hayden was having a surprise shunt surgery in Houston, we survived summer by the skin of our teeth and by the time September rolled around I had been through three of my own illnesses, and gotten to know my local Home IV Therapy friend real well. With the deadline of my October birthday on the horizon, I hunkered down and even started logging writing minutes in a spreadsheet – that’s how desperate I became, guys. A spreadsheet! Through the power of prayer and strict deadlines, I’m happy to report I submitted my completed manuscript to my publisher the night before my 40^th birthday! 

The process isn’t over yet as we have a few rounds of editing and proofreading to get through, cover and layout design and preparing for a successful book launch; but the content is created and each day we are one day closer to this book release! I am so excited to share my story and use its unique elements to point people back to Jesus and the hope of the restoration to come in eternity. 

This is where I need your help! I am forming a Book Launch Team to help this busy mom of six get the word out about the book release. I’m not sure of all the fun adventures me and my Book Launch Team will take together, but I’m sure it’ll be fun! I would love to have you be a part of the team! You’ll get exclusive book release info (including the title which should be finalized soon!), cool freebies I’m working on and most of all, by helping share and support this project, you’ll be helping spread the gospel in the world and encourage people to live for eternity. If this is something you would like to be a part of, click here and sign up today. 

Along with the exciting news of the impending book launch, how about this new website?! This has been a dream of mine for quite a while as well and I hope you love the look and feel of my site as much as I do! I wanted a safe place to land that is calm and peaceful and feels like a walk through the woods and I feel that when I come to this site. I’m so thankful for the team of professionals who have worked for many months getting to know me and my style and then perfecting this site so we could launch it today! 

Thank you for your support and encouragement as I get to chase this wild writing dream God gave me while simultaneously sharing the love and hope of Jesus with the world. I encourage you to chase your dream too! That interest, that spark, that desire – God placed it there for His purpose. If you’ve been on the fence about pursuing it, get after it! Buy a treadmill, build a spread sheet, set an alarm – do whatever you have to do, because walking in your divine purpose is worth it!