| Tell us a little bit about yourself. |
| Author is just one of the many hats I wear. I’ve spent my life in education both in teaching and administration. I’m a mom to three adult sons, and have spent over three decades married to an amazing guy. My husband and I spent over 25 years in pastoral ministry. In all of these roles I find myself closely entwined with people and their stories. Walking through life with others this closely, having them share their stories, has shown me the tremendous importance of sharing the journey of life. |
| Give us a brief description of your book. |
| “Enough” started out as a memoir of my journey with stage four cancer. I wanted my family to understand my journey, especially if I wasn’t going to be around to tell it. As I wrote though, it became something so much more. I learned deep lessons through the battles, the uncertainties, and the fears. I found that Jesus was enough for each and every step of the journey. Scripture became a foundation that I could rely on. The book is written based on a scriptural prayer that I created from a set of bible verses that were key as I fought cancer. Each chapter focuses on one of the verses, and explores how Jesus used that verse to guide and strengthen me in the fight. The verses build on each other to form a prayer that readers can apply to their own lives. |
| What is your heartbeat for “Enough”? |
| I was forced to contend with cancer during the pandemic. It was a very lonely and isolating experience. Every appointment, test, procedure and surgery was faced alone. Being stripped of the physical comfort of those closest to me forced a solitude that was unfamiliar. The dire prognosis brought me to the end of my own strength very quickly. At that crossroad I was desperate to find hope. Life brings all kinds of circumstances that can leave us feeling isolated and alone. My heartbeat for this book is to bring hope and encouragement for any circumstance. Jesus can be the source of hope when we are overcome with fear and doubt. He can be a source of strength when every ounce of our own resources is gone. He can be a source of peace when waves of grief and pain wash over us. ‘Enough’ is a roadmap for people in any kind of circumstance to find hope in Jesus. |
| What was the most challenging part of writing this book? |
| Memoir can be a challenging genre to engage in, because it leaves you vulnerable in very unique ways. I thought I was prepared for that challenge but soon realized that this writing would take a greater depth of emotional resources. Each chapter I tackled brought me back to the moment, the emotions of what I was writing about. Many times my husband would check on me while I was writing and I would be a complete mess. A concerned look would come over him. I had to explain that nothing was wrong, I was just writing. There was a processing happening in the writing while I relived my experiences. As difficult as it was, I couldn’t give up. I knew that the story needed to be told, that there would be people who needed to hear the message that Jesus is enough. |
| What can readers hope to learn from this book? |
| I had been walking with Jesus since my twenties. I read my Bible on a regular basis, memorized verses, and led Bible studies. Scripture was an important part of my life. When cancer invaded my life, scripture took on a whole new level of meaning. It became as important as breathing in order to get through the day. My prayer for the readers is they experience the incredible power of God’s word. He is present in his words, and there are limitless resources there. |
| What is your favorite passage and why? |
| Towards the end of the book I write: Cancer was my storm. It had blown in, unexpected, harsh, and causing severe damage. Some of the loss was irreversible. I was forever altered physically, but the emotional damage was also evident. But when I raise my head and look around at the whole picture, I see the new growth. God is creating something out of the storm. That’s what he does. In Jesus, nothing is wasted. God is still writing my story. The imagery in this passage is very personal. Life is a journey, and as we wend our way through, Jesus wants to be our traveling companion. Allowing him to fulfill that role in my life is the greatest source of hope, encouragement, peace and joy I have ever found. |