Daddy always said, “Dream BIG girls!” His words gave life to many of the dreams my sisters, and I are living today. As a bossy adolescent, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. Daddy is the one who urged me to fill out the scholarship forms that lead to a Drama Scholarship to the junior college, on to JSU and finally to a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from The University of Alabama.
I watched mother and daddy pursue their dreams as entertainers. They have always been and continue to be such an inspiration. So of course, they are at the top of the list of people I want to thank for their part in making this-at-long-last-finally-it’s REAL-I-can’t-even-believe-it DREAM, a reality.
In May of 2012, after twelve years of loving and leading littles as a public school teacher I locked the door for the last time. I knew I had come home to teach my children, and yet I had so many questions for God: What will this next season of life look life? What about our bills? What does a homeschool mom do? What if I’ve messed up?
As the questions came, I jotted them down in my journal. Doubts. Fears. “What if’ scenarios, I wrote them down.
Scattered amidst all of the scary emotions were slivers of excitement. Hope. New ideas. Dreams. More questions. I wrote them down. Days and weeks passed. Funny thing, once I had written down the scary things they weren’t quite as scary and the new ideas began to grow.
With new ideas came new questions: What do other people do with their fear and anxiety? What about their dreams? Do they wonder if God hears them when they pray? Is their journal as precious to them? Do they have a journal?
Journaling and Jesus kept me sane through our years of infertility and loss.
If my journals were special then, they are beloved now. They are my evidence that God is real, and he is just to hear us when we pray.
People will argue and debate scripture. People, however, are not as likely to argue with our stories. I have lived the stories and events written out in my journals. They are real. They affirm me when I doubt or forget that God is real. When it feels like God’s not there or doesn’t care, I can go back and read and remember:
Sometimes God says yes, sometimes God says no, and sometimes God says wait.
I have been waiting just over TWO YEARS to share this little gem with you. And because I think you should know -even as I type these preliminary sentences: I have sweaty palms, my heart is racing, and I can’t keep my tapping feet still!!!!!! We want people to like us. We want people to approve of the things we say and do. We wonder how we will be perceived.
When others have come to me and asked what to do when they don’t know what to do, I say, “Do what you know.”
I don’t know how this is going to go. I don’t know what you will think. I don’t know how well received this project (that is so dear to me) will be. But I’m going to take my advice because this I know:
The idea was born in quiet times spent with the Lord. For two+ years, little glimpses of the end game would press up my heart, wake me up at night, and tug at me throughout the days.
The process: One idea +prayer+ time in God’s Word+another idea+one page+more time with God+prayer+an AMAZING, gifted, generous designer friend+ more prayer+a few more pages+lots of days+edits+proofing+more prayer+more edits+friends & family prayers=
IT’S DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AT LONG LAST…………
The product~designed with YOU in mind….
a JOURNAL!!!!
A journal, for which I have prayed and prayed and prayed will become as dear to you as this journal, and you are dear to me!! May it be the missing ingredient that will transform laundry lists of prayers into intimate conversations with our Savior!
A 6-week prayer journal designed with YOU in mind!
Pictures to inspire you to keep going!
Scriptures and quotes to challenge you to grow!
A place for you to talk with God.
Personal prayers from my journal from some of the best and worst days of my life.
I may pass out. I still can’t.even.believe. I can FINALLY TELL YOU! & SHOW you!
And because my palms are clammy, and I can barely breathe and need to go outside for a gulp of fresh air let me give you the skinny on how this is going to unfold:
- In one week, Monday, Dec. 7th, I’m going to GIVE AWAY 3 JOURNALS before they are available in store and online because you have been so kind and loyal to visit this place!! Here’s HOW TO ENTER the GIVEAWAY:
- sign up to receive post via EMAIL (enter your address–>top right)
- FOLLOW Blessings Beyond the Barnyard on Facebook
- SHARE this post on YOUR Facebook page
- STAY TUNED because there is going to be a VIDEO and we are going to journal TOGETHER!!! (because the Facebook family is loud and proud and had no trouble telling me most of them are not on Periscope) I promise to do my best to have my roots done and keep my clammy hands in my lap for the love of the VIDEO. The VIDEO and all of the places the journal will be available will be announced in a blog post later this week.
Whether you are an avid journaler, a wannabe journaler or a not sure what you are-THIS JOURNAL IS FOR YOU!!
I pray it will be so much more than a lovely book on your nightstand.
More than a gift off of your Christmas list.
I pray it is a game changer for you and your closest family and friends!!
Because prayer is powerful and, GOD IS REAL.
It’s with so much love for you and this journal and God how he weaves us all together that I invite you to SHARE the LOVE using hashtag #PrayBig as you share this post with your peeps!
So much LOVE!
Pat S. says
Can’t wait to get my hands on one!!
Dona Horton says
Same here, Can’t wait to get one!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it already!!!!!
Audrey humphreys says
Karmen, I have watched you grow up through the years from a teenage high schooler to a beautiful married woman and mother. I have seen you go through your struggles and give it all to God and you came out victorious. I just want you to know that I am so very proud of you, I’m praying for you and your family and I love you very, very much!
Karmen says
And I love you Audrey! Thank you for your graciousness! To God be the glory!
Brandi says
It’s simply beautiful!!
Tara Bethune says
This is awesome news and I am so excited!!!!!
Farley says
I know if your part of anything it’s greater than great. Everyone that reads your post will fell the love for God as you do. Your on top of everyone’s list for a rolemodel. Thanks for just Being YOU!!!!!!
Farley says
Your amazing!!
Angie Shankles says
So excited for you! God provides so much more abundantly than we can imagine when we are obedient. Thankful you life is a testimony of faithfulness and obedience! Well done!
Karmen says
Yes He does Angie! To Him be praised!
Angie says
Would so love to have this. Just saw and found you today!
Karmen says
So glad to have you join the Blessings Beyond the Barnyard family!
Gina Dorough says
So EXCITED!!!! Can’t wait to get my hands on this for myself & to give to others
Regena Dooley says
I’m so excited about this…..now I’ll have something to do in my bathroom that I can actually do other than cry,pay bills….all my thinkin & Theropy is done in there as well….because it’s ‘my space’ can’t wait to get a copy for me:)
Jason White says
Can’t wait to pick up a copy . So exited
Barbara Edgar says
Can’t Wait To Get My Hands On One Of These books!!!!
Karmen says
Thanks for your enthusiasm Barbara! Love you!
Jeanna Wolf says
Would love to get one if these journals when they are available. I believe I could use it in teaching my ladies’ Sunday School class.
Karmen says
YES! My prayer had been for this to be a tool in the hands of many seeking to know God or know Him better!
Crystal Bearden says
So excited for you!!! Can’t wait to get one!!!
Karmen says
Thank you, Crystal, for being such a loyal reader and friend! Love you!
Trina Painter says
So blessed and rein spired to journal how God has blessed and changed my life. I grew up in church, went to church a lot from a young age, accepted Jesus as my Savior. I grew up, got married, started my college journey then fell in love and got married and got a job. Sounds pretty normal, right?
Our first son was born on our tenth anniversary. We had given up on having children and my husband wasn’t keen on adoption. Then the next year our second son was born. Everything seemed normal. Then about 2 years old he didn’t develop speech. To mak a long story short he has Autism. Three years later God blessed us with a daughter. My children are now ages 19, 18 and 15. Our family has been thru some hurdles but we are so loved and blessed by God. I began journaling after encouragement from a friend. There’s skips and leaps between my entries but I hope to continue. God continues to give me gifts of hope for all my family. I hope one day I can have something wonderful published to share with my friends. Thank you for your offer. I can’t wait to read it and renew my journaling. There’s so much to catch up on.
Karmen says
Amen! And to God be the glory! He is ever-so-faithful and just to hear us when we pray. Thank you, Trina, for reading and taking the time to comment.
Kathy Barfield says
You are such a blessing! I can’t wait to get a copy. And I’m looking forward to seeing you at basketball games!
Erica says
I love this! I love you! I love my cheesy spiral bound notebook with a preteen gold heart but will gladly move my God written stories over to this journal!!! Holla!!! So excited!
Kristy Pridmore says
I am so excited!! I have to have one!! Congratulations!! I can’t wait!! You are an inspiration to me as well as a lot of others!! ❤️
Sandi says
Karmen, this is the most wonderful news! I am so excited for you and can’t wait to get a copy! And I think this is going to be a great gift for friends with upcoming birthdays. And, of course, Christmas. Love the cover!
Amanda Baldwin says
Can you please share where to get these and when they are available…Love you and my heart is smiling knowing that your dreams are coming true and I am near you to watch how God is working.