Everyone Loves a Happy Ending…

Hello, Readers! I hope you all are doing well! I wanted to share a bit of good news that happened to me — I received a precious and touching letter from a reader.

I am just so grateful that she took the time to share her amazing story with me! I asked for her permission, and she responded that it would be “an honor” for me to anonymously share her story with all of you. (Grab some tissues; this is a good one!❤️)

“…I enjoyed reading this book, and what a blessing it was…! There were places that just made me cry.

I was born to an unwed mother, and almost aborted except for a grandmother whom I never met who intervened and said, "NO!" Despite a doctor who told the adoption agency that I was "unadoptable" because of my uncertain parentage, I was in a foster home for several months and then adopted by a wonderful Christian couple who were unable to have kids of their own. They encouraged my gifts, took me to church, introduced me to Jesus, and then sent me to a Christian college. They did everything they could to show an illegitimate child with no future that God could still use me, and I will be forever grateful. My parents discovered that I loved music, loved to read and write, and was artistic. I graduated with a BFA in art and music…”

Wow! What a story! Thank you, sweet lady, for sharing your heart with me! It moved me to tears! God is so good, and I am so happy to hear how your beautiful story unfolded. I appreciate you letting me share it to inspire and encourage others!

Everyone loves a happy ending ❤️

Blessings!

Elizabeth

Tomorrow’s the Big Day! :-)

Tomorrow is a big day for me! It’s the release date of my first published book, Sammy’s Journey Home.

A special thank you to those of you who reached out to tell me that you already pre-ordered your copy through Amazon or Barnes & Noble! Thank you! I truly appreciate your support.

Having Sammy’s Journey Home progress from an inspiration in my mind, to thoughtfully and prayerfully pouring it into a written manuscript, and to my publishing team crafting it into a printed book that I could actually hold in my hands, was an amazing experience. I am grateful for each person who helped make this possible!

I would appreciate it if any of you would join me in prayer for lives to be touched and for many to come to know God’s great love through this book. Thank you!

God bless!

~Elizabeth ❤️

Thank You, Rosie!

My friend Rosie is such a blessing.

She’s a sweet friend, a great mom, kind, talented, and a lot of fun. And she’s real. I appreciate that about her because her genuine compassion for people, her love for God, and her openness are all qualities about her that I really admire.

She took my pencil-sketch ideas for the cover of Sammy’s Journey Home and turned them into an amazing cover that I never would have been able to create! I appreciate her coming alongside me to use her talents and abilities to help tell Sammy’s story—the story that so many of us have, whether we’ve been in foster care or not… a story of longing for acceptance and belonging, no matter who we are or where we’ve come from.

Thank you, Rosie, for being a part of this process and making the cover of Sammy’s Journey Home look so beautiful, fun, and vibrant! You did a great job, and I’m glad you were part of my team! ❤️

Make sure you follow Rosie on social media: popup_easel on Instagram and Pop Up Easel on Facebook!

Dedication

Sammy’s Journey Home is dedicated to all children who are in or have ever been in foster care.

To the little ones I rocked to sleep at night, as they still trembled in my arms from the traumatic and dangerous situations they had just been removed from. To the little ones that I loved like my own, as I tried to show them the love of God through kindness, stability, and comfort. To the little ones that I had to let go of, as their journeys took them back to their families or to be adopted by other foster families.

To all of the children who are in foster care or have ever been through foster care or adoption, I want you to know you are valuable. You are seen. You are precious. You are important. God’s love for you is great, and I pray you will let it fill your heart with peace.

Love,

Elizabeth

My Journey to Become an Author

Blog Post #1 - August 29, 2024

When I was 6 years old, I drew pictures and asked my mom to write down the story to go with my pictures. She did, and my stick figure, crayon-colored pictures drawn on little scraps of paper were stapled together and became my first book: Manna and the Peach Bush and the Banana Tree.

Never mind that I had named the main character—a little girl with brown hair and a fruit tree in the backyard who had a striking resemblance to my six-year-old self—Manna, after hearing a Bible lesson at church about God providing manna for his people in the desert. Apparently I had listened in Sunday School, but somehow came home from church thinking manna was a little girl’s name, and not little honey wafers, as the Bible describes it. Never mind that you couldn’t grow bananas in our Midwestern back yard. And never mind that peaches grew on trees (we actually had one of those!) not bushes as my little book suggests.

In spite of all my six-year-old silliness, Manna and the Peach Bush and the Banana Tree became a favorite in my family.

Many more illustrations and stories scribbled on little scrap pieces of paper and then stapled together soon followed.

When I was about 8 years old, I decided I wanted to be an author one day. I even wrote a song about it. (I also wanted to be a singer 😊)

I enjoyed writing stories and poems all through grade school, junior high, and high school. My college English professor told me I should major in English, and my Children’s Literature professor in my education classes told me the book I had written (as an assignment for her class) should be published. I did briefly pursue publishing that book, but nothing came of it. But that was okay because at that time, I had other plans: marry my college sweetheart, live in the country, and have a family of our own. Fast forward several more years, and we began caring for children in foster care.

I wanted a way to reach even more children—hopefully all across the country—with a message of hope and healing. I prayerfully wrote Sammy’s Journey Home, and even though it wasn’t written on little scraps of paper and stapled together, it became a family favorite with my children in my own home.

I am thrilled and honored to present Sammy’s Journey Home to you, my dear readers. I hope it touches your hearts and inspires you to open your heart to the love of God, receive His grace, and unlock your potential. May you live your life, and truly enjoy each day.

Blessings!

~Elizabeth

Thanks, Mom, for always encouraging my creativity!