Jesus wasn’t kidding when He said “intentional” was my word for 2022! A lot has happened in the past three months.
So much so, I want to share it with you today instead of waiting for my end-of-the-year recap.
Why? Because I want you to witness - in “real time” - what happens when you’re aligned with Jesus’s calling and empowerment. Plus equip you with some helpful tools for balancing your dreams with all the other obligations of life.
Join me, sister, as I share how Jesus is resurrecting childhood dreams long forgotten, calling me to press even deeper into creativity, and taking me further than I ever thought possible!
P.S. If you’re curious about Horacio Printing’s amazing Christian planners, or Polly’s other resources such as her free workshops or annual Dreamer's Summit in December, you can check all that out here: https://bit.ly/HoracioPlanner Use promo code EMPOWEREDDREAMS to save 10% on planners and other products!
Show Notes:
Intro
Hi there, friend! Can you believe that we’re already at the end of March? One of my colleagues at my day job recently said that he has PTSD every March now because of COVID back in 2020. So he’s probably very glad to be moving into April tomorrow.
As for me, I’m just trying to process the fact that so much has happened in the past three months. And it’s motivated me to do this episode, and I imagine that I will continue to do quarterly updates throughout the rest of the year. Because I have a feeling that this entire year is going to be one that’s filled with amazing fruit. And I want you to be along for the ride.
So let me share exactly what’s been going on in my life since my personal update back at the end of December. That was episode #29, I believe. And in that episode I shared that the word Jesus had given to me for 2022 was “intentional.” As in, being intentional with my time, energy, focus, etc. And I’m starting to see the wisdom in that with some of the things that He’s calling me to - which I’ll share here in a minute.
Jesus had also called me to attend the virtual Dreamer’s Summit hosted by Polly Payne, the owner of Horacio Printing. If you’re not familiar with Polly or Horacio Printing, Polly founded the company to help people fulfill their God-given dreams and creativity through various tools and resources. One of those tools is her line of Christian Dream Planners - which are amazing! I ended up buying one in December after attending her Summit. And I’m not a planner person.
And another resource is the annual Dreamer’s Summit which is held in early December. Jesus specifically told me to attend and He used that as a major catalyst to set off this season of hardcore dreaming. Which is my first update.
Jesus has made it clear that He has big dreams for me; that He’s resurrecting childhood dreams; and that I need to dream bigger and bolder
This has been happening in various - and numerous - ways. It’s literally to the point where I’m tripping over these instances and the topic as a whole. Jesus could not make it any more obvious.
I’ve been getting words through people. People I know who are coming up to 1:1 and saying, “I felt God wanted me to tell you…”
Jesus is pressing this topic of dreaming big in Him, and removing blockers, at my church Heart City. So our pastors are speaking to it from the pulpit.
And then there’s the situations that are what I call God eerie. About a month ago, at a recent women’s dinner, we made encouraging artwork for each other. The woman who drew my name presented me with a piece of painted artwork that - unbeknownst to her at the time - was essentially a snapshot of something I created back in 4th grade and won 1st place in a contest with. I happened to have a photo of my 4th grade entry on my phone. So after she gave it to me, I brought up the photo and compared it to the artwork.
My entry was an outdoor scene and, when I compared it to my gift, I could easily correlate elements between the two. For example, in my entry, there was a sun, and there were the mountains, and the birds flying through the air…and there they were on this artwork she had made. It was literally as if Jesus had given her a snapshot of my 4th grade artwork to recreate.
And on top of the outdoor scene, she had glued the words “Seasoned Girl Dreams” - cut from magazines. Jesus was clearly saying: “I’m bringing back your creative childhood passions and dreams that have been buried for so long. Too long.”
Now, at the time, I thought Jesus was referring to my visual creativity. Especially since He had the women who created my gift essentially paint a snapshot of a drawn and colored artwork from 4th grade. But no - He’s going even further. Which brings me to my next piece of big news…
Jesus is calling me to write a book
Sister, I have to admit that I did not fully see this one coming. Now, I’ve said this a lot before, but I’m a highly creative person. I drew as a kid. I went back to college in my early 20s and got a B.S. in Graphic and Web Design. But guess what I also did as a kid? I wrote.
In fact, I actually had two legit fiction novel attempts that I used to carry around in those big three-ring binders. This was back in the days where we had word processors - those orange-lettered machines that were eventually replaced by computers. I wrote my novel attempts on the word processor and then printed out the pages, stuck them in my binder, and hauled it around with me to middle and high school.
I had a dream to become an author someday. In fact, when I entered college out of high school, my major was creative writing. But I ended up dropping out for personal reasons and I never picked creative writing back up again. No more novel attempts. No more fun story ideas. No more creating fictional lands and characters.
Being a good writer certainly came in handy in a professional sense. It always pays off to be a solid communicator when it comes to emails, reports, etc. But that desire to publish a book? Just never came back up.
Until recently, that is. Now, when I was doing my dream planning back in December for this year, including filling out my dream planner with my focuses, etc., something was telling me to include writing a book. But I kinda just scoffed at the idea.
It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs and podcasters to eventually take the transcripts of their episodes and compile them into a published book. And ever since Jesus gave me His vision for the version of my business, Relate Escape, that you currently see, the idea of doing a book was included in that. But there weren't any details around it. It was just the sense that eventually I would do one.
And then my focus was on recreating Relate Escape and starting the podcast and making sure I’m staying consistent and putting out two episodes every week. Even as of right now, I’m still building up an audience. So in my mind, even though I felt Spirit prompted to save all of my episode outlines to someday use as a basis of my book, I figured that was way down the road.
After all, if I’m still building my audience, I’m still learning what topics are the most important or the most needed by my audience. And I need to know that before writing a book, right?
Yeah. Apparently not. There’s been the plan I’ve had in my head…and the plan Jesus has made clear. And the plan is for me to start writing a book now. And that book will focus on my story and my journey. So it won’t be based on the podcast or using topics from specific episodes…the book He’s calling me to write is to share my story. So that women can see, in-depth, my journey from where I was a decade ago, which is where a lot of you are now (my ladies who are listening), and how I got to where I am now as an empowered Jesus maiden.
And this revelation has literally just happened a week or so ago. Not only did I not see it coming this soon, and with this focus, but I’m also processing that Jesus is reaching back 30+ years to resurrect a dream I had long since forgotten. And to add another layer of complexity to it, I think this is also a renewed dream. Because while I did enjoy writing, I also used it as a form of escape during my abusive childhood. And I think on the rare occasions when I’ve thought about writing back then, I’ve only associated it as a form of escape. That’s all I tend to see. I think I’ve just forgotten or maybe almost dismissed that love I had for writing.
But Jesus hasn’t forgotten. So I am working on processing all of this. Again, this is all very new. And I’m also working through the how because I have a full-time job; I write and release two podcast episodes a week; and I have the typical obligations of walking the dog, cooking, laundry, groceries, etc.
So there’s this question of time and energy. Where and how does writing a book fit in? Fortunately, Jesus is already helping me. I kid you not, lady, this past weekend I had a call with someone where I was talking about this very question. You know, how do I fit in writing a book. And literally an hour later, I picked up my phone to find that I had a text message from Horacio Printing. And it was Polly announcing that she was holding a free Balance It All workshop to help people find balance, and focus their schedule on their priorities, and if we were interested to text back the word “Balance” to get more information. I was like, “Yes, please!” So I’ll be gleaning all the wisdom that I can from Polly’s three day workshop to help set me up food success. And of course, I’m really glad I bought her dream planner and have that as a tool, too. That’s going to be super helpful.
And friend, I know I’m mentioning Polly and Horacio Printing a bit in this episode…but that’s because she is Jesus legit and she and her products and resources are amazing. And please know that I only ever talk up other businesses if I see Jesus at the forefront and their stuff is top-notch.
But anyway…so, yes, I am going to be writing a book! I think that’s probably my biggest news. At least it feels like it! But here are a couple other exciting updates.
Jesus made me buy a car
I’m kinda having fun with this one because I was already looking to buy a car. But Jesus did prompt me to buy one before I had planned. So in a way, He did make me.
I’ve mentioned this in other episodes, but I moved here to Columbus, OH in March of 2020. So just as things got real with COVID. Back in Pittsburgh, PA, where I had moved from, I was living and working downtown. And the job I had didn’t pay enough to cover a car payment ‘cause it was for a local government entity and they are still paying like it’s the 70s or 80s.
So when my 2000 CR-V basically bit the dust 3 or 4 years ago, I just sold it privately for a couple grand and planned on buying another car later on. This was a year before I decided to adopt Hobbs, my very large Greyhound. Otherwise I obviously would have kept my CR-V and put the money in to fix what was broken. But at the time, I didn’t need it. And it was also the last remaining item from my previous life when I was married. So I was ready to let it go.
Anyway, all that to say, because of various choices and life paths, I still didn’t have a car when I moved to Ohio in 2020. But unlike Pittsburgh, you absolutely need a car here to get around. The public transportation system is pretty non-existent. And of course, borrowing rides to get to the vet with your massive Greyhound gets old really quick.
I became a full-time contractor at my job last October. So the ability to get a car become a reality. But I had been aiming for around February. I figured I’ll get my tax refund, apply that to what I had saved for the down payment, and buy during a month where dealers want to negotiate more because it’s a low buying month.
And I knew what I wanted. I wanted a previous version RAV-4 that met my needs and is easy for Hobbs to get in and out of as it has the really low loading door. But I was like, I’ll look in February.
And then the night before New Year’s Eve, I suddenly had this prompting to get on all the dealership websites in the area and see what they had. And before I knew it, the next day, on New Year’s Eve, I was walking to a local dealer to look at a RAV-4. And…I walked out with it!
It was reduced price because it had been on their lot for more than 30 days. New tires. New battery. Only two owners who clearly had taken care of the car by the CarFax history. No accidents or damage. And it’s a sport so I have some fun things like a sunroof, baggage rails on the roof, etc.
So, yes, I now have a car for the first time in about 4 years! And it’s allowed me to finally attend church on a weekly basis, and plug into community more, which Jesus is using to transform and encourage me in a lot of areas. I can go run multiple errands and get out of the house to be refreshed and take in new creative scenes. So, as usual, He knew better and His timeline was better.
And last but not least…
I released my 50th podcast episode and launching the online community
50 episodes…I’m still processing this one too! This is episode 55 and it’s still sinking in, to be honest.
That’s a lot of content. A lot of episodes written. A lot of Pinterest pins. All the things.
And I have Jesus and all of you to thank for that. Even though my audience is still growing, it’s not about the size…it’s about serving the women He puts in my path. And I’m really, truly grateful for each and every one of you. And I want to hear from you! Ping me on Pinterest or email me via the form on my website - there are links to both in the show notes - and let me know what’s been resonating with you or what’d you love to have more of. I want the podcast to be just as helpful, and empowering, and inspiring at 100 episodes as it is at 50 episodes.
Wrap-up
Alright, friend, thank you so much for joining me today. Again, please reach out and let me know how I can continue to serve you well on the podcast! Stay tuned for updates on the book in the coming months. Oh, and if you’re interested in Horacio Printing’s Christian Dream Planners, free workshops, or the annual Dreamer’s Summit that’s held in December, I have the website link for you in the show notes. And I also have a promo code that you can use to get 10% off! So if you fall in love with Polly’s planners like I did, you can grab one for 10% off! Until next week, friend. Cheers!