Countdown to Forever

Hi friends,

I’m sitting here, praying for the right words to say. Sometimes they flow effortlessly, and other times they trickle out. I’m just days away from launching my first children’s book, and my heart is full.

I have this toxic trait of jumping from one project to another without pausing to truly appreciate the moment—to take a deep breath, soak it in, and just be. I’m a doer, a forward-thinker. Slowing down, when it happens, is almost always forced.

But here I am, in a coffee shop, surrounded by the hum of conversation, the clatter of keyboards, and the quiet buzz of creativity. And suddenly, I’m moved to tears.

This was God’s idea. My daughter Maggie and I poured nearly two years into this book, and in just a few days, it will be out in the world. That realization alone is worth the tears. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude, and so expectant to see what God will do with this offering.

This past weekend, my mom visited, and I asked her to read the book on video. When she got to the final prayer, I had to stifle my tears so they wouldn’t be heard on camera. It was a full-circle moment.

I still remember sitting at our kitchen table as a little girl when my mom told me about Jesus. We prayed together, and I immediately felt lighter. Even at six years old, I understood what sin was and what it meant to hand my burdens over to Jesus, my Savior. I got it. I remember running to the bathroom, crying, overwhelmed by the thought of angels rejoicing over me in heaven, of God writing my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I knew, without a doubt, that I was in a forever family and that heaven would be my home.

And now, as an adult, I’ve written a book about heaven. Seeing my mom read it—saying the same prayer she once prayed with me—was almost too much goodness to take in.

Today, I started printing labels, and tomorrow we ship out pre-orders. Tuesday, the book makes its official debut. Wednesday, I’ll read it to my first group of kids. And next Saturday, I’ll be signing books at Philanthropy in downtown Franklin, TN. If you’re in town, come see me!! I’d love to meet you.

I’m a behind-the-scenes kinda girl, so these front-and-center moments stretch me. Talking to strangers makes me a little nervous. And kids? They ask the real questions. But I know He goes before me. I don’t have to strive to sell this book. I don’t have to search for the right words. The Holy Spirit will fill my mouth.

My prayer is that this book will bring comfort where fear tries to creep in. That it will spark conversations—between kids and parents, between seekers and believers. What happens next? Who has the answers? How do I lay my burdens down? This sweet book offers those answers in the most gentle, honest way.

If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, you can grab one here. It’s so pretty! And it’s perfect for Easter baskets. I know you and your little ones will love it. 😊

My heart is always making art. I’ve been so busy lately with the book that I haven’t had time to work on anything, but Eunice Kerns journals came to the rescue last week. This is one entry I did make time for. It’s from our time in France in 2018. I took my Maggie on an amazing art retreat to Lamothe Goaz. An artist I admired, Emily Leonard, was hosting. It was the beginning of steps of faith for me. Would I do something scary? God would meet me.

Quote of the Week: “Your direction is more important than your speed.” - Richard L. Evans.

I love this quote. Find the direction you want to go and you’ll get there a lot faster. I have a major loss of focus many days. Just deciding on what I’m going to focus on and maybe limiting the number of things I’m trying to do will help.

Lectio 365: Two separate friends told me about this app this week, and I’d never heard of it before. That’s usually a sign that God is trying to get my attention.

It’s a daily devotional and prayer app with readings in the morning, midday, and night. The voices are soothing, the pace is peaceful, and it gives time for reflection. I love it.

Do you ever struggle to fit in devotion time? I do! I used to journal every morning, but my routine has shifted. Right now, this app is perfect for my time in the sauna later in the day. Whatever works, do that.

What Brave Thing Have You Done Today?

This week I contacted four large churches to see if they could work with me to get My Forever Home: The Hope of Heaven into their congregation’s hands/libraries/book stores. A friend also propositioned her large church, out in California, to see if they could make the book part of their book club. Baby steps! If ya’ll want to help me spread the word I’m here for it!

What else am I working on?