At the end 2015, I packed up a dream. We had two toddlers, I was pregnant, we were living in my parent’s basement in Knoxville, TN, and I had spent the last two years building a blog that was just starting to support us financially. Zach was working a couple different jobs and we were trying to “make it” outside of full time ministry. It wasn’t working. We came to a crossroads where we had to decide if I was going to go full time into the writing thing and put our kids in daycare, or if I’d quit and keep being a stay at home mom. The writing was getting too demanding to do both. I had to choose. At the time, I had this inkling that we were supposed to do some more time in full time ministry. Zach didn’t agree. He was going through a spiritual desert and even mentioning being on staff at a church again made him angry. But I was sure that that was what God was going to bring us to again. I didn’t like it, but somehow, I just knew. I didn’t push it, didn’t bring it up again, just waited. But I knew that the next right thing for me to do was to shut down my blog.
I started following you just around that time in 2015. Found your blog and one of those viral posts. It has been very insightful seeing you discuss different topics through the years and seeing you grow through your seasons. Definitely excited this dream is coming true for you! I have my own that seems to keep getting put on hold and who knows if I will ever be able to pursue it again.
Gut wrenching and beautiful. I’m so excited for this new book, Kristen! I cannot wait to read and share it as I know how important and valuable your words are. I hope you feel abundant joy as you release this book into the world 🤍🎉
This is lovely. Wanted you to know you've inspired me to start pursuing a dream that was crushed by a 3rd grade teacher (from a 3rd grader's perspective, anyway). Learning to write well as an adult is not easy, but your stories make it seem possible. ❤
Your book looks amazing and I'm excited to check it out. But right now what is resonating with me is this post. My book is close but not close to being done and I'm trying to build a network but it's so hard and I look at other aspects of me life--mostly youth ministry/teaching--and think how dare I put so much time into something like marketing instead of souls. But I BELIEVE in books, and that they are soul work--maybe not MY book, depending on the day, but books in general--and this is what it takes to get them in front of someone. I've been thinking so much about this tension in the last few days. At any rate, I've never had a following to give up like you've had, but I've put the dream aside many times, yet still can't seem to stop writing. Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank you for taking us through this part of your story. What a wild process it has been. And all along, you’ve been faithful to return to your craft and calling, putting words to the laptop, sharing with the world. I can’t wait for more folks to read what you’ve written and to learn from/alongside you. 🥳
So, SO proud of and for you, Kristen! Your writing has been a light in the darkness to many people, a single candle, burning fiercely. The way you write about writing touches those places in my heart where questions about my own work have lived for years. I published my first major book in 2020 (OMG pandemic book releases 🙃) and finally got to see it on shelves after more than a decade of writing, writing, writing. It was beautiful, and it also didn’t change a thing. As you said, writing is who we are. I sure hope you get that moment (I suspect you will!) but, no what what, please don’t ever forget how much your words have mattered. And still matter.
You're not simply a writer, you're a superb writer with a beautiful heart. So, so thrilled for you.
I started following you just around that time in 2015. Found your blog and one of those viral posts. It has been very insightful seeing you discuss different topics through the years and seeing you grow through your seasons. Definitely excited this dream is coming true for you! I have my own that seems to keep getting put on hold and who knows if I will ever be able to pursue it again.
So good! So great! So excited! So proud of you.
Gut wrenching and beautiful. I’m so excited for this new book, Kristen! I cannot wait to read and share it as I know how important and valuable your words are. I hope you feel abundant joy as you release this book into the world 🤍🎉
Cheering for you! I've really appreciated your voice ever since I found you on IG several years ago :)
Wow. You've captured the whirlwind of it all. 'And I kept writing.'
This is lovely. Wanted you to know you've inspired me to start pursuing a dream that was crushed by a 3rd grade teacher (from a 3rd grader's perspective, anyway). Learning to write well as an adult is not easy, but your stories make it seem possible. ❤
Just a shout out that you're doing great. You really are! From one former pumping momma to another. Looking forward to reading your book!
This was beautiful. Thanks for your honesty. Cannot wait to read your book. Cheering for you, Kristen!
Your book looks amazing and I'm excited to check it out. But right now what is resonating with me is this post. My book is close but not close to being done and I'm trying to build a network but it's so hard and I look at other aspects of me life--mostly youth ministry/teaching--and think how dare I put so much time into something like marketing instead of souls. But I BELIEVE in books, and that they are soul work--maybe not MY book, depending on the day, but books in general--and this is what it takes to get them in front of someone. I've been thinking so much about this tension in the last few days. At any rate, I've never had a following to give up like you've had, but I've put the dream aside many times, yet still can't seem to stop writing. Thanks for sharing your story!
Just read something you wrote for the first time. And just ordered your book. Blessings on your writing journey.
Congrats!! Yes to writing and telling our stories.
YES YES YES.
Congratulations friend. Slow growth is the best growth. The book is beautiful.
Thank you for taking us through this part of your story. What a wild process it has been. And all along, you’ve been faithful to return to your craft and calling, putting words to the laptop, sharing with the world. I can’t wait for more folks to read what you’ve written and to learn from/alongside you. 🥳
So, SO proud of and for you, Kristen! Your writing has been a light in the darkness to many people, a single candle, burning fiercely. The way you write about writing touches those places in my heart where questions about my own work have lived for years. I published my first major book in 2020 (OMG pandemic book releases 🙃) and finally got to see it on shelves after more than a decade of writing, writing, writing. It was beautiful, and it also didn’t change a thing. As you said, writing is who we are. I sure hope you get that moment (I suspect you will!) but, no what what, please don’t ever forget how much your words have mattered. And still matter.