My husband went into emergency surgery on the night of April 11th β¦ publishing day. After the first day in the hospital, I was able to get my laptop and work some from the room during the times Larry was knocked out. And for me, that was good. It helped keep my mind from focusing on the overall circumstances. But as we all know, the emotions and exhaustion will catch up with you, and there is no avoiding it. I would run out to my car now and then to cry and pray.
In the process of publishing, I always read the same book multiple times. With π»ππππ πΏππππ, I read the chapters after each editor, author change, and formatting. Then, of course, I read through a proof copy. The stories all resonated with me in one way or another. It was amazing that each person who had a hand in the process of this book had something that touched them also. I always use Larryβs words about my first release, ππ ππ πππππππ πππ ππππππ ππππ ππ πππ ππππ πππ πππ and it had already reached many in the process of making it. In the end, the overall numbers wonβt matter. Still, the kindle version of the book has stayed on the bestseller list since the preorder went up and the contributing authors were elated.
Larry and I are blessed to have wonderful family and friends. Our house is surrounded by family, and some of our best friends live directly behind us. Alexis, our daughter, and their cat, Frankie, uprooted from their home and stayed at the house to care for the dogs, and our friends made sure they had food every day. That meant I didnβt have the added stress of having to worry over the home front. I made a post about Larry being in the hospital and it was incredible to find how many offered help and prayed for us. Still, it all gets overwhelming. During one of my break-down-in-the-car visits, I stuffed my tote bag with several of the womenβs books from my trunk and brought them back with me into the hospital. I knew God would put women in my path that needed them; it was a hospital after all. I intentionally took the long way around so I could pass the surgery waiting area, through the cafeteria to grab a coffee, then back around to the elevators, and by the time I made it back to the room on that first day, I only had one book left.
I sat and held it. I was so proud of these women for sharing their stories. I flipped through it, grazing over each chapter title. I got to We Are Equipped by Vickie Hall and stopped. Her story came rushing back to me, so I began reading the chapter Iβd read many times before. By the end of that chapter, I felt it was written just for me. In that moment where I felt defeated and ill-equipped, her chapter encouraged me.
Iβd read it numerous times before publishing day, but I really needed it only one time.
I closed my eyes and envisioned a bright, golden yellow cape floating in the air behind me. Iβve had a different color every day since.
Today β¦ the color is My Labor Pains Were Worse Than Yours PINK!
God bless you all!