My book is here!!

So, last year, I wrote a book and today I got to hold a copy in my hands for the first time!  Its been such a special day.

It all started last January when I got asked to give my testimony at Bible Baptist Church about dealing with my depression.  (You can read that testimony here)  Right after the service, Pastor Stone approached me and told me I should write a book.  I laughed it off, but then he drew me aside and said he was serious and his printing ministry would publish it if I would write it.  The weird thing was that he wasn’t the first one to tell me that.  So I muttered something about thinking about it:)  The more I thought about it, I realized that God was practically dumping this opportunity in my lap!  I figured I better say yes:)  So some time in January, I started writing.  It took me until September, but 21,096 words later, I was done!  Then it was five months of editing, cover designing and printing.  This morning I got the email that the books were ready to pick up.  Pastor Stone said he would send them with my in-laws and I could get them at our family dinner on Sunday.  My response was that I couldn’t possibly wait that long and I would be there in an hour:)  May I also just say, its amazing having children old enough that you can decide to take off for a couple of hours and they can watch themselves and even practice piano while you’re gone:)  Anyways, off Michael and I went to pick them up.  I thought I might throw up or cry the whole 45 minutes there but once I had one in hand, I just couldn’t stop smiling:)

This whole process has been very special for me.  I love words, so it was a great opportunity, but more than that, spending several months of free time in God’s word and seeing Him guide me was amazing.  Even if no one else is blessed by this book, I was!  But my prayer is that God will take my feeble attempt at writing and use it to bless someone’s life.  Of course I have goals and sometimes I dream late at night about where this could lead, but mostly I just hope that people are helped.

Psalm 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

In the next few weeks, it should be available as an e-book on Amazon.  Assuming I can figure out all those instructions:)  For now I have a couple hundred in my mini-van and they will be available at my church and whatever conference I’m at over the year.  Most of the proceeds will go to BPS Canada.  They are an awesome ministry that sends out John and Romans to homes around the country.  Their upcoming project is to do the whole city of Ottawa and the province of New Brunswick.  I’m excited to partner with such an amazing ministry.

Thank you to those of you who supported me in this endeavour, those who encouraged me, read my manuscript, and sent me texts saying they were excited about my opportunity.  Thank you to my Pastor who wanted the very first copy:)  And thank you to my amazing husband to watched me sit at a computer a lot of nights instead of spending time with him.  No one believes in me like he does.

Its been a good day.  A very good day:)