A new chapter

It's been a while blog... and a lot of life has happened in the year since I wrote that last post: welcome back!

Since then, I have promoted and seen my first-ever novel sell over 500 copies, and many of your hearts have been touched by Harper and Charlie's story. My heart has been touched by your support for their story!

I completed the challenge of writing my second novel over the course of a year, and I am excited to share it with you in August.

I survived my first year of "adulthood" after graduating from college and stepping into FCA full-time.

I started serving as a youth leader in my church (shout-out to my 9th-grade girls).

There have been health twists and the journey of recovery.

I've seen heartbreak and happiness and hope restored.

So much that has softened my heart and shaped my view on the world.

So much about myself that I am learning; that the Lord is revealing, and refining.

So much that has changed, and grown, and expanded; and with that, so has my writing.

This blog started as a platform for me to do a hard thing: consistently share my writing in a public-facing capacity - it was about finding joy in the little things, and passion in the God-things, and constantly chasing after purpose, and somewhere along the journey, I found mine: loving the Lord and people deeper. Using my passions (in most cases, passions around the written word) to glorify the Lord and make Him known. And oh, what beauty this journey has brought to my life. How grateful I am for what I see as Chapter 1 to an ever-expanding story.

I'm a better writer now, at almost 23, than I was at 18 when this all started.

But a few constants remain: life is made up of the little joys; life is made up of passion; and your passion has a purpose - even if that purpose is as simple as loving God and loving people.

The passion of blogging gave way to novels (which there will be many more to come), and these novels served the purpose of giving me a world and a way to grow up; to process who the Lord was making me into, with the safety and protection of fictional characters. There was a vulnerability in these worlds that I wasn't sure I had the courage to face all on my own. But since then, I have realized something: how deeply I am loved; by the people in my life and by the Lord - and with that love has come courage.

Love makes us brave.

Starting in February, I will be beginning a new "hard thing": a series for the first time in the history of my blog. This series will hopefully give way to what will be my next book: I Accept... a journey in Christian living, relationships, and what it can look like to be a whole-person, fully in love with life, the Lord, and those around them.

In some ways, the idea of writing this still terrifies me.

In others, I have nothing but peace in knowing that it's time: I don't have to hide anymore.

I can be brave.

So, are you ready to begin a new chapter?

Still passionate. Still on purpose. Still every ounce of joy in each gift, big and small, from the Lord.

Let's get to writing...

-Emma

"I accept the great adventure of being me."