A New Year starts with a NEW BOOK!

No More Pain...I Can Fly!

On Christmas morning I gifted my parents with a new book written by me. They had no idea I was working on anything and this made the writing, editing, and pressure of meeting self-determined deadlines all the more fun. To look back at the writing, rewriting, editing, formatting, and starting this process all over again for Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey ~ half the joy came from doing each step along side my parents, Ed, and Mary. There feedback is valuable and the time spent, priceless memories.

No More Pain: I Can Fly was completed in the sense that the book was written with basic edits complete but the final editing and formatting still needed to be done. Last week I spent time at my parent's house with a print proof in our hands and the digital proof on the screen. We all made comments and suggestions. All of which were great ideas and one of the reasons I love doing this process with my family.

This morning I put the finishing touches and changes into place and await one final proof. If all is formatted and looks good, this new book will be available within the week. This book is different that others I've written in the past because usually I've had different people read it for their feedback but in an attempt to keep this one a secret from my parents, only a couple saw the design, more or less read the book.

It was total joy to know Mom and Dad were really the first to see it formatted and read it yet there is the inner-author wondering "Will this relate and help anyone else?"  Last week while at the dentist office I decided to share the proof book with a couple of the women in the office after a conversation we had. Their response, humbled me and encouraged my heart. Both were moved by the words written within the covers and asked, "When and where can I get a copy?"

So what is this little book about? The back cover reads "No More Pain: I Can Fly" is a short story to remind us there is hope. Death, although sad to those left behind, is only the beginning for our loved ones wearing angel's wings." In today's society I think most people have experienced the loss of a loved one. Sometimes though, it feels like they've left us too soon and well before their time yet the Bible reminds us that God knows are days from the moment we were created.

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139:16

On one level, it is comforting to know God knows our days before they come to be yet at the same time, it doesn't make it easier to say good bye to that friend who passes from cancer before her daughter graduates from high school, or to hold the grieving friend after the loss of their child, or when someone close to us is taken from us in a tragic way.

The comfort comes in the knowledge that heaven is real and God does exist and His house (heaven) has many rooms. Just ask Audio Adrenalin - they'll remind you.

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The book opens with God looking down at one of His children suffering and transitions through her calling out to Him and then His angels carrying her home where she is free from pain. Our prayers often want to keep our loved one near us until we think it is time but God's plan is not ours but when we have a relationship with Him, death is only the beginning. To know my friends and family that left us too soon are wearing angel's wings and looking down on us gives me hope...hope to see them again one day.

The book is really a poem of love, hope, and encouragement for those grieving a loss before you thought it was time. It ends with a note from heaven, one God gave me in the wee hours of the night. My prayer is this book will ease the loss and uplift those missing their friends and family - through and with God, there isn't an end...only a beginning.

Angels are throughout the book, along with some pictures of Heidi and I as little ones, but why angels?

The angel on the cover was made by Deb Allen, an awareness angel I purchased in December when Deb was at the New Haven Town Craft Show. I chose an orange ribbon in remembrance of my sister, Heidi but Deb can make the angels with any color ribbon. I love the idea of having something that connects me to a story, and this is one of the reasons these angels caught my attention.

Prior to finalizing the book and the preparations for publication I contacted Criswell Embroidery & Design company for permission to use the photographs I took of the ornaments I purchased. Not only did they respond promptly, it was one of the owners, Janet and Kae. I was amazed. They sent condolences for our loss of Heidi and said there wasn't a need for permission to use the photo yet appreciated being asked and thanked me for using photos of their design and linking people back to their patterns. 

In addition to mentioning their patterns, I included a thank you to Deb who made these beautiful ornaments and sells them at craft shows. You can't purchase the embroidered ornaments from the company because they only sell the pattern but if someone wanted to purchase the book and an angel so they could gift it to another, they would either need to purchase the pattern and make their own or contact Deb or someone else who has the capabilities to make them.

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Have you lost someone "before it was their time"?
What helps you get through the tough days?