It truly began after watching a Sweet Magnolia's episode and thinking, 'Hey, that would be so fun to write a children's book with my daughter too..' However, the idea completely stopped there for me as nothing came to mind in regard to any plot line or characters- which apparently you needed for a story. ​

 

Several months later and into the pre-school years, I found myself in many moments talking with my daughter who was in tears (and basically myself too) as I was continuously reassuring her that I still loved her, despite the mistake that happened, or her not doing something right the first time, or any other accident a young 4-year-old could make. It broke my heart to see my daughter not understand and to be grappling with the idea of the unconditional love I had for her. It was then that I believed I found my storyline- I felt like the Lord was putting it on my heart to write something for my daughter to understand the love I had for her- which I knew had come from the perfect love of God. 

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​The book was filled with my stick figures and open drawing spaces to complete together, all on computer paper, while I stapled it together and presented it to my daughter on her fifth birthday. It was a special joy to create something I hoped would touch my daughter's heart and better explain just where my unconditional love came from. While, "remember..'I will still love you,'" quickly became the mantra at our house during those imperfect moments, it also reminded us of God's heart for us and the importance of showing that love to others as well. 

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On Mother's Day, my husband took our book and created AI generated images throughout it with the sweet and encouraging words to do something more with the book. It brought 'happy tears' to my eyes as I saw the love behind his actions and the new life that it brought the book. I knew I believed in the power and beauty of a book's message, however, the zero professional experience in children's book writing, publishing, or theology, left a lot of question marks in my own perfectionist mind. 

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Not long after, more opportunities for the message of our book presented itself with the start of kindergarten- All the previous experience in the public school setting as a teacher and counselor, could not have prepared me for the parent side of kindergarten. For our daughter, it started as such a fun and exciting adventure with 'big girl school' and the grand finale of riding the bus home each day was big time. However, my husband and I quickly saw new challenges our daughter was facing in not wanting to make a mistake at school or disappoint her teacher and, therefore, us. She was trying to achieve the impossible; to be perfect, and we are learning together that it just isn't possible- but God's love always is. 

 

The message of this little book was again, tugging at my heart.  “I will still love you” didn’t just apply at home, but also at school, outside of school, and will continue to follow her wherever she goes and however she grows- just as God’s perfect, unconditional love is with us at all times and in all places.

 

So here I am now, a year later surprising my daughter with the professionally illustrated book on her sixth birthday. I pray this message resonates with others who are also possibly raising little versions of themselves and helps remind them and those they love, how truly loved we are by our perfect Heavenly Father. 

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