My mom always called the period of time when people are becoming friends the “do you like peas” stage. This is when you are learning about each other’s likes, dislikes, and backgrounds. Spending time in the “do you like peas” stage helps move relationships from just an acquaintance to a friendship. 

When I said yes to Jesus at nine years old, my relationship with him was much like the “do you like peas” stage. I didn’t immediately know everything about Jesus the day we became friends. I attended church and learned simple things about him. My Sunday school teachers and parents read the Bible to me and taught me short Bible verses. And as our relationship grew, I wanted to know Him better. 

Just like a relationship with a girlfriend, a friendship with Jesus begins at the “do you like peas” stage and develops over time. 

I felt Do You Like Peas? was a perfect name for a children’s book because it’s a simple question any child can ask and understand the answer. Becoming a friend with Jesus is the same. He starts with His simple question to anyone who wants to answer, “Do you want to be my friend?” 

My hope is that children will read Do You Like Peas? and be inspired to ask Jesus to become their best friend!

 

“Have you considered adapting A Wild & Wonderful Life into a children’s book?” my friend, Linda, asked at the launch party of my first book written for grown-ups.

“Why no, I haven’t,” I replied.

And at that moment the Holy Spirit began to prick my heart at what would become an idea for a children’s book called Do You Like Peas? As an adult writer and teacher for twenty-plus years, I’ve never really been around children much. However, there is one topic in my first book that crosses all generational lines: Jesus wants to be your best friend.

For me personally, the greatest promise Jesus makes is when He says, “I have called you friend.” Through this promise, all the things that go along with friendship are what make my relationship with Him so wonderful. I think a friendship with Jesus is kind of like the relationship someone would have with her best friend.

Perhaps one of the most frequent struggles I hear from women is that they are lonely. In a world of activity, technology, and busyness, we still have a hard time making friends. I am learning this is not only true for women but for girls, too. I am grateful to my friend Linda who encouraged me to share the message of friendship —  with Jesus and others — to a young audience. It’s been so fun!

My prayer is that when a young girl reads Do You Like Peas? she will discover she is never alone. Jesus is truly her best friend and He goes with her on every journey life takes. Truly, in the midst of wild times — wildly good and wildly hard — Jesus is with her, and this makes life wonderful.

To learn more about or purchase a signed copy of Do You Like Peas? go to Buy Peas Book

On November 15, I launched my first book,
A Wild & Wonderful Life.

Since then, I have received countless support through emails, handwritten notes, phone calls, and words of encouragement. I’d like to share a quick story from Kameron, a friend of my son who lives in Birmingham, Alabama. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we were all tailgating before the Auburn/Alabama game when he told me this:
From Kameron:
“On Thanksgiving, I was telling my dad that you had written a new book and I was thinking about giving a copy to my grandmother for Christmas. As we were talking, my grandmother entered the room.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“My friend’s mom has a new book that I think you would enjoy.”

“What’s the name of the book?”

“A Wild and Wonderful Life.”

With that, my grandmother turned and left the room. A few minutes later she returned, with a copy of A Wild & Wonderful Life in her hand.

“How in the world did you know about the book?” I asked.

“My friend Laura wrote a blog about it and suggested to her readers that we should all get a copy, so I did.
This Laura, who Kameron’s grandmother was speaking about, is a dear friend of mine from Austin, Texas. Laura traveled to Kansas City to support me at the book launch party. As it turns out, Laura is also a dear friend of Kameron’s grandmother who lives in Birmingham, Alabama.
I love this story because it shows how word of mouth travels. From Kansas City, to Austin to Birmingham, in less than 10 days, my little book made an appearance because someone told someone else about it!

Life is wild for sure, but most definitely it is wonderful when your story includes Jesus. I pray that as you read my new book, you will experience the immeasurably more that a life with Him offers. And then, I hope you will share your Jesus story with someone else. If you do, who knows, I may just hear about it in Kansas City!

Will you help spread the word? If you’re a member of a group (church group, book club, women’s group, or any organization) I would love to share or discuss my book and my Jesus story. Please contact me and I would be glad to schedule a time.

Today is the day! I’m officially launching my book, A Wild & Wonderful Life: Say Yes To Your Immeasurably More Jesus Story.

To say woo hoo! or yippee! would be an understatement. I’m excited beyond measure.

Writing this book has certainly been an incredible journey. Now I am ready to share my Jesus story with you. My hope is that this book encourages you to pursue your immeasurably more story. My prayer is that when you read it, you will meet Jesus, either for the first time or in a fresh new way.

A friend asked me today, “If there was one thing you would want me to know about you, what would that be?”

That’s a great question.

Without a doubt, the answer is, “I love Jesus more than anything and He makes my life great. And I want you to know how great He is because knowing Him makes your life great too.”

What does A Wild & Wonderful Life look like? Most likely, not how you envisioned it. Even when life does not turn out the way you planned, Jesus promises to join you on the journey, especially when it’s wild: wildly good or wildly hard. That’s pretty wonderful.

And it’s pretty clear that Jesus wants you to pursue a Wild & Wonderful Life, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of” (John 10:10b).
So I promise you this: if you are ready to say “yes” to Jesus with your wild & wonderful life; you will have the ride of your life. Happy reading!
(My book is available on Amazon)