In 2016, I began volunteering in my daughter's 4th grade writing class.  There were 36 students and I was the only parent volunteer who showed up to encourage them in their writing.  "It's writing time.  It's writing time", was the chant the teacher used to get the students ready for the assignment.

     On Dr. Suess day, I was asked to read a book of my choosing and share what I did in my spare time.  I explained that I was a stay-at-home mom and a writer.  Their questions grew more and more eager as they began asking what I wrote about.  I reluctantly shared about a book I had just started working on, but because I was speaking to a public school audience, I was limited to sharing details about the faith-based genre of the book.  

     I told them it was about a man named Joshua, who fought some battles. They began to unapologetically ask for the title of the book, which did not exist yet. They also wanted to know when I was going to be done because they couldn't wait to read it.  

     I left that day like a deer in headlights.  I rarely share with anyone the writing assignments God has laid on my heart, but for some reason, I felt safe sharing. Maybe, I did it because it was a room full of 9 year-olds? Now, it had me wondering, how was I going to finish before school let out.

     The incomplete book idea came from a series of weeks where I began recording our family's prayer requests. Now, because a room full of 9-year-olds were excited to read a book that I didn't even have a title for, I was actually considering ways I could finish this book in two months. I thought, I have got to finish this book! 

     It took me two months to write and self publish the book through Lulu.com on my smart phone and a borrowed laptop from my son. Some friends donated money so that I could purchase enough copies for each student in class. Since the book was a faith-based book they required that I receive a signed permission slip for each child that was going to take one of my books home. During the last week of school, I was able to deliver ten of the books to the children who returned their permission slips. The other 25 books have been signed and stored away, awaiting God's timing for me to reconnect with each of these children one day.