My sister sent me this old picture of my dad holding me as a baby.
Was I the original inspiration for 'The Elf on the Shelf?'
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First off, a huge Happy 73rd Birthday shoutout to my incredible dad! Your unwavering love and support have been amazing.
I'm excited to share that I’ve reached another milestone – 75% completion of the first draft of my book. The finish line for the first draft is now set for March 15th, ambitiously timed to coincide with the arrival of my daughter and her missions team to Scotland.
However, this goal does come amidst a whirlwind of commitments. This Sunday, I’ll be concluding my teaching series on Abraham at Re:Hope Church. It's been a powerful journey, and I'm gearing up for a seamless transition into a series of special teachings as we move closer to Easter.
Additionally, the calendar is marked for March 12th, when I’ll have the privilege of teaching the book of James at the Scotland Bible School. (Coincidentally, my sister’s birthday.)
With a bustling schedule ahead, I'm leaning into the challenge with gratitude for the support network surrounding me – from my family to my church community and everyone in between. Your encouragement fuels my determination to meet these goals head-on, balancing the demands of teaching, writing, and all the things.
I’m calling on your continued support and prayers as we venture through this packed season together. Every message of encouragement, every prayer, and every bit of support adds strength to my journey.
Pray for me that all will go well, and as I study, write, and speak that God will help me in the most obvious ways.
I've got some exciting news to share from the writing front, and I can't wait to dive into the details with you all. This past week has been a whirlwind of words, ideas, and, yes, a little bit of writer's math (more on that in a bit). I managed to write two more chapters! 🎉
Now, you might be thinking, "That's fantastic progress!" and it is, but here's the quirky part: in the process of wrapping up these chapters, I realised that what was initially intended to be one chapter naturally expanded into two. So, although I technically completed two chapters, it feels like I've just replaced them on my to-do list with two new ones. It's a bit like running on a scenic treadmill – lots of beautiful progress, but the finish line playfully hops a step away each time you get closer.
But hey, who's counting? (Well, I am, a bit.) The important thing is, the first draft is growing, and that's what truly matters.
In more thrilling news, the third section of the book, which I've been anticipating with a mix of excitement and uncertainty, is finally starting to take shape. This is the part I knew would challenge me the most – demanding a hefty dose of restructuring and a sprinkle of redesigning. And guess what? The plan that's emerging is clear, coherent, and, dare I say, pretty darn promising. It's like watching a puzzle you've been pondering over for ages suddenly start fitting together, piece by piece. (Shout out to my daughter and mother and our holiday puzzle building-- see picture above!)
Amidst these writing adventures, I've also been incredibly moved by the support and encouragement from all of you. Recently, I've received two very significant and uplifting prophetic words and visions concerning not just this book but future projects as well.
So, a massive thank you to each and every one of you for your excitement and encouragement. Your support means the world to me.
Hey everyone!
Hope you're all doing wonderfully. I just wanted to pop in and share a little bit of what's been happening in my world recently.
🌟 Special Guest Alert! 🌟
The past two weeks have been so fun and different because my mom's been in town! It's been a while since we last hung out here - Christmas 2018 to be exact. So, you can imagine, this visit felt extra special.
We've been having a blast doing all sorts of things. From playing endless rounds of Uno, exploring more of Scotland, to engaging in some serious puzzle-solving. Oh, and let's not forget the cribbage matches - intense but fun!
One of the highlights for me was taking her around to the different church locations we've started since her last visit. It’s amazing to see her reaction to all the growth and changes.
📚 Book Update: The Plot Thickens 📚
Now, I must confess, with all the fun and games, my book progress took a little bit of a backseat. But hey, some things are worth pausing for, right?
However, I'm buzzing with excitement to dive back into writing this week. My brain's been busy taking notes and pondering some revisions for the chapters I've already penned down. I'm about halfway through, and I'm feeling a fresh wave of clarity and inspiration.
I’m at this interesting transition point in my writing journey. The next few chapters are going to need a bit more TLC. They're sort of like puzzles themselves - needing a bit of rearranging and refining. Who knows, this might even speed things up? Maybe starting afresh on these parts will bring a new clarity to the narrative.
Writing this book is definitely a learning curve, but it's one I'm thoroughly enjoying. Can't wait to see where this journey takes us next!
As always, thank you for being part of this adventure with me. Your support means the world. Stay tuned for more updates - there's a lot more excitement on the way!