Who knew?

Signing literary agent contract with Embolden Media Group.

Seriously, who knew?

When I started writing In Our Arms blog in February of 2021, I had no idea that a day like today would come. Yes, somewhere in the back of my brain and deep, so deep down in my heart, I secretly hid my desire to become an author and share the caregiving journey we had walked as a family with our precious Robert. But who would think that ten years after his passing and four years into the blog I would have that privilege!

Why in the world did I think I needed to use my voice? Why did I think that Embolden Media Group and Deidra Riggs needed to turn their heads and look my way? Because every time I encouraged a mom who was a caregiver for her child with a disability; was asked by a medical professional to start a support group for families caring for a child with disabilities; taught an adult voice lesson student with disabilities who had questions about God’s goodness in the midst of their pain; helped a family navigate the hard end-of-life decisions; or cried with another mom who had buried her child with a rare medical condition, I wondered where the book was for people like us. Where were the books telling the raw truths about how hard it is to carry the burdens of a child with special needs, and yet cherish the moments that were the result of such a calling? I wondered, and it made me mad that I had no resources for myself or ones to offer to others.

So, I had no choice but to write. I couldn’t walk away. I have no bragging rights because without the joy, pain, and suffering experienced on this path, I would know nothing about sacrificial caregiving, true suffering or the personal growth that is inevitable. It changed me.

I am an author with only one goal: to tell the stories of amazing human beings changed by unexpected pivots and roadblocks, and to support the strong individuals who serve them with open hands. Caregivers, it’s time to come out of the backrooms and be heard and seen.

If I can do this work in any measure, then I will have addressed some of what I believe is desperately needed. I know I am not the only voice out here speaking to these needs, but I will be writing for a lifetime until every mom, family member, caregiver, or medical professional within the sound of my voice has stories of real-life experiences that serve their disability communities.

I didn’t know. But now I do know that Robert’s life can help the next individual, and I don’t have a choice. I have to write. I hope you will keep following me on this new author journey and will want to read my book for yourself one day. You will be changed, too.

Listening Library: “When You Believe” from Prince of Egypt (Shoshana Bean, Cynthia Erivo, and Stephen Schwartz)

https://youtu.be/fsf6V2ciuqE?si=DSnn7Itpcwtj8YRG

When You Believe 

Many nights we prayed

With no proof, anyone could hear

In our hearts a hopeful song

We barely understood

Now, we are not afraid

Although we know there's much to fear

We were moving mountains long before we knew we could

There can be miracles

When you believe

Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill

Who knows what miracles you can achieve?

When you believe, somehow you will

You will when you believe

Mmm, yeah

In this time of fear

When prayer so often proves in vain

Hope seems like the summer birds too swiftly flown away

Yet now I'm standing here

My heart’s so full, I can't explain

Seeking faith and speaking words

I never thought I'd say

There can be miracles

When you believe (When you believe)

Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill (Mmm)

Who knows what miracles you can achieve? (You can achieve)

When you believe, somehow you will

You will when you believe

They don't always happen when you ask

And it's easy to give in to your fears

But when you're blinded by your pain

Can't see the way, get through the rain

A small but still, resilient voice

Says, help is very near, oh (Oh)

There can be miracles (Miracles)

When you believe (when you believe, yeah)

Though hope is frailIt's hard to kill (Hard to kill, oh, yeah)

Who knows what miracles

You can achieve (You can achieve, oh)

When you believe somehow you will (Somehow, somehow, somehow)

Somehow, somehow, somehow

You will when you (When you)

Believe

You will when you (When you)

Believe

Oh (Believe)

You will when you

Believe

Songwriters: Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds / Stephen Lawrence Schwartz

When You Believe lyrics © Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Sony/atv Songs LLC, ECAF Music, Songs Of Dwa, Dwa Songs