Rather than backtrack a whole year, I'm going to jump in and shout, God is good!!! A few years ago, the thought of writing a book to give Frankie a voice entered my jumbled mind. So often, I would hear Frankie's peers ask questions about her condition and I struggled with how to answer them...with an appropriate delivery of course. How much should I tell them? What should I NOT tell them. This is when I knew I had to do this.
Fast forward to 6 months ago. A friend told me there was a publisher coming into town and was having a workshop for people that wanted to write a book. It was on a Saturday, so I could swing it with Mark's help to watch Frankie.
After the workshop, I spoke to the publisher and told him what my manuscript was about.....at this point, I wasn't ready to show it to him or anyone else for that matter. After a few weeks of completing it, it was time. I realized I had found the perfect publisher. Thomas Freiling was HIRED and I was FIRED up!!! Was this really happening?? Could this happen?? I SO badly wanted to get Frankie's story out there and this was my chance to do just that.
Rewind:A few years ago Frankie was gifted a beautiful painting on her birthday by a dear friend. The painting was of Frankie's favorite things...Corduroy, Moana, Candyland. It was placed in a shadow box and gifted to her--it has been one of our most cherished keepsakes. I would often stare at it in awe thinking about all the detail in it. The artist is obviously over-the-top talented....she happens to be my dear friend's sister. All of a sudden, something clicked. I knew SHE would be the one I would ask to illustrate my book. The passion she had for Frankie was so apparent in her artwork and it was a no-brainer that she would be AMAZING. The next step would be to ask her if she would take on this project. It would definitely be a time-consuming job but one that I knew she could do.
So, I asked my dear friend if she would mention it to her sister before I picked up the phone to call her. Yup. I feared rejection....I was pleasantly surprised she would be interested. After a few conversations with her, it was a sealed deal---she would be the one to create masterpieces for Frankie's story.
Here we are...the bones of the book are done and the sketching is in progress! I'm really not sure what to expect in terms of book sales. The main reason I'm doing this is to help educate other children, even adults to recognize and accept children that are uniquely different. According to Dr. Phil (yes, I watch his show!) we all strive for acceptance above everything else in life...including love. I will admit I have re-occurring dreams about being excluded from outings with my friends that took place in junior high and high school. YES! That ugly feeling STICKS with ya. Exclusion and rejection will happen tho- it's inevitable; although people with challenges, whether mental or physical tend to struggle more, I think.
Oh, I how I wish we could bubble wrap all of our children and protect them from the pain that rejection will bring. We can certainly help educate them at home, and in our schools to help build their confidence so that they too can have GRIT and be over-the-top proud of who they are.
I close with this!
PSALM 139:13–14
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
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