Today I got this wonderful email from my editor — book cover ideas are in! And being the sweetheart that she is, she explained that once we decide on a concept we can tweak it. I was so thrilled to see these covers — thrilled and humbled. I can’t believe we’re to this point. God is so good! He’s taken me so far even when I continually stumble and fall. This project started years ago, but I’m not going to get all misty and weepy, I’m just praising God for His incredible grace.
Now, let’s take a look at the book cover choices for Girlfriends, God, and Grace: How to Have a Great Girlfriend Adventure.

Let me say that I’m absolutely blown away by all three of these book covers!  Kudos to the designer — I don’t know her / his name, but I believe this person has either been in my closet, my head, my book, or all three. 

Let’s just take a look at these three –

Number one (boxes and shoes) — I love the shoes!  The red ones look like the Sarah Palin kickin’ red heels that I blogged about a while back, the black slingbacks are just too cute, the black low heel Mary Jane’s are just what I’ve been looking for — and the green dotted flats, well, I just have to get a pair of those! 

The colors and prints on the boxes are just …. well, just me!  The slightly funky, slightly retro blues and browns are right on point!

Number two — I just love this one too!  The photo of the two women with their hands up remind me of me and oh so many different girlfriends! I love the attitude of this cover — it just shouts ”roadtrip!”  to me.  Also the fonts are cute, the blue and brown are great, love the splashes of pink and the wonderful curvy title box, but – please forgive me scrapbooking sisters – I’m not too jazzed over the scrapbooking scissors, since these funny cutting scissors just sort of freak me out.  If we end up with this cover, maybe  we can take out the scissors.  And scrapbook girls …. I love y’all and love what you do! Please don’t judge me because I’m scrapbooking challenged! 

And I also think if we chose this one as the book cover, it’s important for me to get a cute pink jacket, some gray fuzzy gloves, and a convertible  I think it makes perfect sense — don’t you?)

Ahh, book cover number three!  Too cute.  Me and all my shoes!  That’s what it feels like, except one thing…. it’s not me on the cover, but I’m okay with it.  In fact, let’s just let people believe it’s me! And for the record, I want her upper arms… oh, there’s more that I want, but I’m practicing contentment, so I’ll just settle for her upper arms.

Now — comes your part — vote for the one you like the best:
Book 1 — the shoes and the boxes
Book 2 - the photo of the women in the convertible
Book 3 –woman and her shoes

Vote for the one you like the best — and you don’t even have to declare a party affliation. Just pick the one you like the best.

And just think your vote will count! I am turning the votes over to the Book Cover powers of Thomas Nelson. Y’all really made a difference on the title and we were able to keep Girlfriends, God, and Grace — let’s see which cover gets the most votes.

I’ve started this post about ten different times and in ten different ways.  I know what I want to say but I just don’t know how to get it going.  I tried serious, but I just don’t do serious well.  I end up sounding like a cross between the SNL Church Lady and Whirlpool repair man. Weird, I know.   

So, I dropped serious and went to third person, but I just got confused and stopped.  I tried funny, but it sounded goofy.  So, I’m just going to pour my heart out on the page and let’s see what happens. 

 We started a new Bible study this week and I’m just thrilled and honored to be leading an incredible group of women.  They are funny, talented, and bright - and probably a whole bunch more adjectives.  Some I know well and others I’m looking forward to getting to know.  We have a blast both nights (we have a Sunday night group and a Wednesday night group) and I was cleaning up the room Wednesday night and the Lord just spoke a word straight to my heart  — “Remember.”  Oh, and did I.

 I remember walking into this room almost two years ago. My heart was so heavy it ached.  I didn’t want to be in the company of women.  I didn’t want to be in the company of anyone.  I wanted to hide somewhere lick my wounds and whine - a lot.  But I couldn’t, the Lord just wouldn’t let me so I sat down and made small talk.   

 Now, this is probably the place where you’re wondering “what happened to her?”  Did she lose a loved one?  Was someone sick?  No to all those. I won’t go into all the details, but I’d allowed someone to manipulate and deceive me.  I hope you noticed the word ALLOWED, because God warned me, but I ignored those warnings.  He did everything short of bopping me on the head with a hammer and I don’t think that would’ve gotten my attention either.  Bottom line  —  I learned that  people I thought loved me for me, just used me as a means to an end.  Not exactly what I’m looking for in friends.  And I was heartbroken over lies I bought in to and believed.  Oh, did I mention I was knee deep in writing a book about girlfriends at this time?  Talk about a wake up call.  The writing went on hold -  it’s really hard to write about fun, friendship stuff when you’re licking your wounds over a toxic friendship. 

God taught me some amazing truths during all of this.   I learned that I was at fault, too - I overlooked too much and turned away from warning signs.  I learned that red flags mean stop!  I learned that people are human and faulty and I am, too.  I learned that I can only live to please the Lord.  I can’t please people and I might as well not even try.

As I looked around that room I remembered the journey I’ve been on for the past two years.  I journey that I never wanted to take, but one that has brought me to a place of new dependence on the Lord;  a place that allows me to live a transparent life (to the point that I’m posting all of this online for everyone to read); and a place of a new freedom and joy in this life.  I doubt I would’ve ever learned all of this so quickly without the hurt of that broken friendship and the realization that people will fail me and that  God will not.

So this journey continues, but the pain is much less, but the memories remain.  The lessons are etched on my heart.  I struggle with trusting people but I do it (sometimes with clenched teeth, but I do it).   I’ve had a year of amazing blessings and God has poured his grace and favor all over me.  I’m humbled to serve Him and in awe of His goodness and His greatness. 

Hanging out with girlfriends is therapy for me (without the whole “make an appointment” thing). If I’m in really bad shape, a weekend with the girlfriends is better than a carton of Smoky Mountain Fudge ice cream (and if you knew my ice cream addiction, you’d really understand this reference).

As most of you know I’m writing a book about girlfriends. You’d think since I’m writing about girlfriends, I’m always hanging with girlfriends and doing girlfriend stuff, but, nope, not so much. I struggle to find girlfriend time between planning a wedding, taking care of the new puppy, raising a teenager, working a job (in addition to the one I have at home), loving my husband, and writing a book. Oh, then there’s my church stuff – co-leading Bible study, planning the fall retreat and the trip to the Smoky Mountains (and it’s just a coincidence that I happen to like the fudge ice cream…) Whew. I’m making myself tired.

There’s a lot going on in my world, but the Lord is gracious and allows me to the strength to handle all of it – but I don’t do it all at the same time. I’ve given up on housecleaning — I never loved housework, okay, I confess, I HATE housework. I don’t want to clean anything, ever. I only do it because I love a clean house; I just wish someone else would clean it for me. I’ve also given up striving for Mom of the Year….and yes, I know that this was probably the year I would at least get nominated. I’ve given up hobbies like reading for fun and sleeping – I really miss the reading, but I’ve always thought sleeping is a waste of time.

Giving up some things helps me get through the day – and the knowledge that in five weeks the wedding will be over and the puppy will be gone. (A puppy is a lot like a toddler, but without the benefit of diapers – use your imagination). Of course, in five weeks Charity will be married and moved out – so life will calm down enormously and I’ll be really sad that she’s gone, but happy that she’s happy (how’s that for playing both sides of the fence?)

I love being busy – and I really love writing this book. I love the time I spend in prayer getting ready to write. I love what the Lord is teaching me through these busy days –wedding, puppy training, and writing. I love that He is a gracious and forgiving God. I’m awestruck that He continues to bless me even when I make a mess of everything. I’m learning that He’s in control of this thing I call ‘My Life.’ I’m learning that I have to let go and He will take care of it all. I’m learning that I can only serve one God – and I’m choosing (it’s a continuous process) to serve the Lord, my God.

But back to girlfriend time….that’s where we started, right? I miss girlfriend time and I’m looking forward to spending time with girlfriends in the very near future! I know that the Lord is using this time to strengthen me to be a better friend. I just need your prayers – and I could probably use a little more sleep.