I grew up hearing Daddy tell the stories of his life–stories about his time fighting in World War II under General MacArthur, stories about his childhood, and his time as a young convert.  I would see the spot where the bullet went into his neck and feel inspired by how God had worked.  I felt compelled to share his life as a visualized children’s story.

By 2006, I had spent over twenty years involved in children’s ministry.  I understood the need for materials.  The only thing I didn’t understand was how I was going to pay for this venture.  As I was wrestling with this, I talked to a friend.  She was in her fifties, looking back on her life.  She had dreams as a young woman, but she had never tried to step out on faith.  She had listened to her fears.  When I talked to her, I could hear regret in her voice.  If she had tried, what would she have been able to do?

I didn’t know if I would be able to pull off self-publishing stories, but I felt determined that I must try!  I didn’t want to be sitting around in my fifties, wondering if I could have shared what was in my heart.  Living with regrets.

So I sat down with Daddy and wrote the script.  I did not have the money I needed, so I did the only thing I could think of…borrow the money from Daddy! (Heehee)  I worried that I would never be able to pay Daddy back the $4,000 I borrowed for this project. 
I talked to my brother Joe, and instantly realized that his heart was beating with my heart!  I had worried that I was spending my brothers’ and sisters’ inheritance. 

Joe wasn’t worried.  He told me that once we split $4,000 eight ways, there wasn’t going to be much anyway.  He told me, “If you never are able to pay back the money, I can’t think of anything else better that Pap could have his money spent on.  This is spreading his testimony.”

We ordered 1,000 books.  I thought we would never get rid of them; I thought we would still have stories left when Jesus came back!  To my amazement, we sold enough books to pay our bills, and I even paid back Daddy.  We sold out and had to reprint!  Instead of feeling like I took my siblings’ inheritance, I think that God used this book to help preserve their inheritance!

That one story was just the beginning.  I have gone on to self-publish ten more visualized children’s stories and a couple of devotionals for adults. Together with Nomad Studios, we have starting producing biographical audio dramas. 

I’m in my fifties now, and my heart is glad!  So glad that I sat down with Daddy.  Today it would not be possible; he went to heaven in 2016.  So glad that God has allowed me to be a part of His big plan.