The “Book” That Led Me Here
Some of you know that during the month of November, I post daily - from the first until Thanksgiving Day. I’ve done this for several years (took a pass in 2022), using stories and Scripture to brag on God and to thank Him for His goodness. I love to write, and I strive to honor Him with my written words because I know they’re a gift from Him.
After last November’s writing stopped, I felt a sadness that was new to me. It was unsettling, but I kept it to myself. Then December 6 came along, and I lost my sister-in-law Staci to a sudden illness. I spent some time scrolling through our old texts and ran across one in particular encouraging me to write a book. A couple of days later, something crazy sweet happened…
I came home from work one afternoon and found a large box on my porch. The return address let me know it was from my friend Kim. She’s always sending me something fun, but the size of this box had me really curious. Inside was one of the most meaningful gifts I could have ever imagined - my “book.” And it was titled “November Roses.”
Kim had purchased a photo album and named the project after one of my posts from November. She included a “Meet the Author” page, a “What Readers Are Saying” page, every post from November 2023, and scrapbook paper similar to the art of one of my favorite artists Ruth Chou Simons enhancing each post. She even concluded the book with an acknowledgment page, thanking a mixed bag of people for inspiring and supporting me.
The one person she left out was herself. If I had written that page, Kim’s name would’ve been second on the list - with only the Lord’s before it. I couldn’t even imagine the hours she put into fabricating that precious gift! And it lit a fire under me to do something - but what?!
Over the next couple of weeks, I prayed and shared my loosely knit vision with some trusted friends. To attempt to truly write a book seemed daunting. I mean - I’m pretty happy just churning out little devotionals. So I landed on sprucing up my sad little blog.
This will surprise you, but technology and I are not on good terms. I’ve been known to burst into tears after 15 minutes of fighting with my printer. (I know - who prints stuff anymore? Me. Okay? I do.)
So who could I ask to help me? I was willing to pay someone - just didn’t know who that would be. The name of a young man from our church kept coming to mind. In early January, I turned around on a Sunday morning, and there he was! I blurted out what I was wanting to do and that I’d had him in mind to bring my vision to reality. He and his sweet bride agreed to help - in exchange for the whopping price of black coffee and some used books he was collecting for a ministry. A couple of meetings, lots of random texts, and a few phone calls later - and the blog was born.
“November Roses” is a labor of love and collaboration among my best man Scott, (unknowingly) my sister-in-law Staci, Kim, Matt, Bailey, and the Lord. Soli Deo gloria. I hope the stories you’ll read in the days to come are a blessing to you.
“Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is in work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21
