When we were little girls, the absolute worst punishment our parents could give us was to take away reading time. For us, words were never just letters on a page. They weren’t even just fodder for our imaginations. No, for one blonde hair, blue eyed girl and one brown hair, brown eyed girl those words were practically akin to breathing. So to have them removed from us, even briefly, felt like the end of the world.
It seems like for most of our lives we’ve been telling stories and we like to think that among our extended family are some of the greatest storytellers of all time. You see, we can’t ever just simply relay the facts. What fun would that be? No, in our family, stories are an opportunity. It’s the chance to weave a bit of magic into the everyday. To find the humor in the most commonplace situations and to be willing to confess our most humiliating moments for the sake of seeing the shoulders of those sitting around the table shaking with laughter.
We believe that our stories are what unite us. They can make us feel more connected, more normal, more aware, more sure of what we believe, more sure of how much more we have to learn and most importantly, they are how we know we aren’t alone.
A few weeks ago we talked to you about dreams. About those dreams that start as whispers. Dreams that seem so out of reach that you dare not speak of them for fear that others will confirm that yes, you are indeed crazy for ever dreaming them up.
And we talked about what happens when your dreams and God’s will collide.
We talked about what happens when you start trusting God. When you believe that ‘He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.’
And we hinted that we had some news coming.
Well, sweet friends, it’s time for us to come clean. We’ve been keeping a secret for awhile now.
A little over a year ago, we were approached with an opportunity. It was an offer to do something we had always dreamed of doing. It was a chance to write a book.
We couldn’t believe it when that email came through!! It wasn’t going to happen the way we had imagined in our heads but it still seemed like such a great opportunity at the time. We called each other and read the email together and talked and talked about it. And then, we spent some time praying about it. And, well, then we both felt a check in our spirits. A gut feeling that this particular path was not to be part of our journey. Call it what you will, we know that it was God clearly telling us that we were to say ‘no’.
Oh friends, that no was the hardest no we’ve ever uttered. Because we said no not knowing if there was going to be another opportunity like it. We said no simply believing it was the right thing for us to do. And while it was so hard, it was also so easy because we had such a peace about it.
Fast forward a few months and through a crazy series of events we found ourself connected to an amazing woman. A woman who heard about our dream. A woman who has become a treasured friend. And not only did she hear about our dream, she was somebody who could actually help us make it a reality. She came alongside us, cheered us on, challenged us, helped us focus and represented us well.
After months and months of work, our little dream was sent off. Sent off to be judged and critiqued and poked and prodded. It was put under a microscope, inspected and some deemed it to be a dream they just couldn’t quite get behind. One that wasn’t the right ‘fit’.
But then, one day, our dream came across the desk of someone who really got it. Someone who not only saw the value and the potential in our dream but this person wanted to take our dream and make it a reality.
There was a great deal of conversation back and forth. And there was even more prayer. Because we wanted to be sure, once again, that THIS was the door God was opening for us.
And after almost an entire YEAR of work and prayer and doubts and questions and conversations, well, we can now tell you that our little/big dream is coming true!
We’ve just signed with an amazing (incredible, awesome, fantastic, pinch us we can’t believe we get to work with them!) Christian Publishing House for a multi-book publishing deal!!!
Never could we have imagined years ago when we thought it would be fun to start a blog together that we would actually utter those words. Never did we think that our hope of providing a place for women to come and get encouragement for their hearts along with inspiration for their homes would ever reach a place where God would see fit to open the doors for us to embark on this new adventure.
Which just goes to show what can happen with those dreams of YOURS.
Because if these two sisters living on opposite sides of the country, spending our days as stay-at-home moms can now have a publishing contract, anything can happen, sweet friends, anything!
The other day we asked you to share your dreams with us and we were just so humbled and so honored that you would open up your hearts and allow us the privilege of sharing in your own journey.
We want you to know that we believe in you. We want you to know that we think you are amazing and talented and gifted. We want our dream coming true to give you encouragement and hope that your dream can come true too.
And we want to invite you along on this journey with us. That anyone would believe in us, cheer us on, be excited for us and pray for us is a feeling we can’t quite put into words. Which is saying a lot for these girls who love words! 😉
So now, we come before you and humbly ask for you to walk with us.
And we would like to ask you to pray for us.
Pray for us as we deal with a new kind of self-doubt and fear about whether or not we can actually do this. We have had some serious quaking in our boots moments as we stare up at this new mountain before us.
Pray for us as we encounter writer’s block while also encountering deadlines.
Pray for us as we try to balance being wives and mothers and bloggers and writers.
We humbly ask that you extend us grace and patience when there are times that this blog is a bit quiet while we pour our hearts into something that we cannot wait to share with you.
Most of all, we just want you to know that without all of you this would not be happening.
YOU are why we are doing this. 🙂
And we are so incredibly, overwhelming grateful to you!
With all of our love (and then some) from the girls At the Picket Fence,
Congratulations! It is so wonderful to have a dream come true and the both of you are so worthy! Can’t wait to read your books? And looking forward to travelling with you along this journey.
Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you both. No worries….you can do it…. you have each other, your families, your readers, and your faith! You can’t go wrong! Now, don’t get swelled heads when your are rich and famous eh? LOL Rock on ladies!
Congratulations! Happy for you both!
Congratulations! I’m so, so happy for you two very deserving ladies!
Congratulations!!! So very happy for you!
love and blessings~
Lynda @ Gates of Crystal
This is such wonderful news!! Congratulations and I know God will watch over you and guide you. Success isn’t necessarily a solitary event — I am glad you are achieving your dream. I am looking forward to following you both.
What wonderful news! Isn’t it amazing what God can do thru us when we invite Him to be part of our plans. You will be in my prayers.
Congrats!!!!!
Prayers for your journey. I found your blog maybe a year ago, and feel refreshed when I read your story. In our times of trouble as a country your Christian faith is a breath of fresh air.
What I enjoy about the Blogs I do follow is watching the people grow. Watching the two of you has been a joy and seeing you grow in your faith has been wonderful. You will do very well. I look forward to seeing you grow even more through this journey. God’s Blessings on you both ! Hugs from a Kansas friend.
God has called you to be the voice of all the earnest, obedient, self doubting Jesus girls out there trying The heart out to do this momma/wife/sister-in-Christ life that your generation has inherited. I watch my own beautiful and amazing daughter struggle behind the scenes and have often sent your blogging messages along to her to encourage her and her friends. I am honored the join your journey through prayer because me heart is burdened for the young Christian wife/mother in this complicated age. Of course it will hard and impossible! That is how you know for sure it is a God-sized job. He plants the seed for the dream and nurtures it to grow into ripe fruit for His glory and His kingdom.
God is not only good, he is the absolute BEST father a girl can have!
You both have been blessed in a way that most only dream of. It is faith, unwavering, blind, honest faith that has brought you to where you are! Congratulations to you both!
Prayers will be prayed, and God will make this opportunity exactly what he has intended. Your voice with grace giving all the glory to him! Because it truly is one of those God given blessings and you acknowledge it openly. Praise be to God above for his two girls here and for all they have done to keep his light within shining brightly for all of us to see!
Be blessed and Be a Blessing, Hope
Congrats Vanessa and Heather….I am so very happy and excited for the two of you that you are have realized one of your biggest dreams!
Woo Hoo! I am so proud of you ladies! And SO EXCITED for you! Life to the full! Melissa
So amazing and so well deserved!!! Looking forward to seeing what the Lord does through you!!!
Congratulations!!!! This is totally awesome.
This makes my heart so happy. I am proud of you both and wish you happiness on this journey. Enjoy every step and turn in the road. <3
Wow, what awesome news and incredible opportunity! Congratulations, Vanessa and Heather … well deserved, sweet friends!
Congratulations to you both on achieving the reality of your dream!
How exciting!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!! xox
Praying for ya’ll, can’t wait to read it!
WOW! A huge congrats and Blessings to both you gals. That is so special and so amazing. I am thrilled for you. xo Best of luck on your new journey.
So happy about your BIG news! Let those lights shine, girls!
Congratulations to two of my favorite girlfriends! I can’t wait to see where this journey leads! Hugs to both of you!
This is exciting news! Congratulations! Wishing you much inspiration in your writings! 😉
So excited for you both! Congratulations Vanessa and Heather! I have no doubt that He will equip you to fulfill what he’s called you to do. Hebrews 13:21 and Ephesians 3:20 come to mind.
CONGRATS! So very happy for you both:)
Congratulations, gals!! So awesome!
So happy for you girls! What a fantastic opportunity, I know you’ll do well! xoxo
Congratulations! I just know you made the perfect decision and am behind your endeavor 100%. You won’t be sorry you chose this path. You are both so talented.
That is wonderful, wonderful news!
Congratulations! The two of you are
extremely talented and deserving! : )
That is fantastic news! I can hardly wait to see what you come up with! As of late wherever I go I hear the Lord talking about dreaming! Have you read the book “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkinson. This is an amazing book about following God’s dream for your life! It is also nice to hear how you were patient and listened and discerned. Congratulations!
I just couldn’t be more excited for you girls!! It couldn’t have happened to anyone more deserving– and nice. How exiting to see your dream come true and be such an encouragement to others at the same time. But then that is how God works and it’s so amazing to see His hand on something. I can’t wait to see it and I’ll be the first in line to get one:-)
So excited for you both! it has been a joy to read your blog all of these years, and I’m sure the book will be amazing! xoxo, Andrea
I am SO SO excited for you ladies! You are going to rock this part of your journey! Lots of prayers for you and I can’t wait to read every single word! : )
Praise God in whom all blessings flow.Thank You Lord for Your works through these two young women.Continue to guide them and guard them through Your plans for their life. Aman
Congratulations! I cannot wait to read your books!
I am so excited and beyond thrilled and happy for you both! Yes, I will be praying for you both, but think you have both got this ;-). What inspiration! Just continue following God’s path, he is leading you and guiding you <3
xx
Anne
Congratulations!!! Been following you both for quite a while now and am so glad you are doing this!!!
So thrilled for you both! Your talent with the written word knows no bounds. The publishing world & the world at large will be a better place when you are able to share in the form of your book. Can’t wait to read it! Congratulations!! Well deserved…. So wonderful when great things happen to special people. xx
This is amazing news! Praise be to the Heavenly Father as you two begin this new journey towards your dream! I can’t wait to read your book. Congratulations!
Congratulations to you both! God is so good and I am so happy for you. xoxo
Congratulations! May God continue to bless your work, your families, and your lives.
Prayers and congrats coming your way! Whooohooo!
SOOO happy for you girls!! God can do mighty things, as I am learning myself, and I’m so encouraged by your faith, your trust in Him, and that you LISTENED!! Isn’t that the hardest thing? Of course, I will be praying for you in all areas of this new endeavor. May God grant you courage, strength, and peace for the journey before you.
Much love and many blessings,
Heidi
Congrats ladies! It is so wonderful seeing so many amazing things happening for my long time blog friends.
Congratulations!!! So very happy for you! LET GO AND LET GOD TAKE CONTROL he will bring you too it and through it. Can’t wait to read your book. Hugs and Prayers, Vicky
Congrats, you lovely girls! I will be the very first one shouting this book from the rooftops!! So happy for you both. You are such beautiful writers and I know the book is going to be fantastic!! Much love! Kristy
Great news and I am sure it will be well received. Congratulation and thanks to the Lord for bringing this opportunity
to you.
Congratulations , and praying for sweet success .
I follow you on FB and have been enjoying your posts. Your dream became a reality because you followed through, you took a risk, congratulations on this exciting journey. Your words here struck a cord with me as I also have dreams but have never been a risk taker. It’s easy to sit back and have ideas swirling in your head but what good are they left there. Thank you so much for encouraging me to take my dreams more seriously and not being fearful to take a step forward and seeing what God has planned for me. With God on our side, anything is possible. Bless you both.
Congratulations, sisters! So happy that this opportunity has come your way. Praying God will continue to bless you richly as you write new chapters for yourselves and for your blog friends to enjoy at some point in the future. So glad I stumbled upon your website.
It couldn’t have happened to two nicer people! Congrats! Wishing you all the best for success!
Such happy news! I’m betting that your Families are so proud of you! God Bless this wonderful new endeavor. Now…give yourselves permission to enjoy this.. It didn’t happen by itself. You both worked toward this, and you have, with God’s help, earned it!
Sonja and I are so happy for you both. Happy to see the joy you are spreading in this world, happy to see the good works you are creating, and happy to call you family. We look forward to your next chapter! God Bless!
Oh thank you so much Kevin!! We are so blessed to be able to call you family and we appreciate all of the support!
Congratulations and good luck on this wonderful journey, you two will certainly shine.
Wow, what exciting news, and I am so happy for both of you. You were so brave to say no to the first opportunity and now your time has come. I am waiting and praying for a job at a Christian Academy that I don’t think is going to materialize much to my disappointment. And if it doesn’t, then I know God has another plan for me. Can’t wait to read your book.
CONGRATS girls…I’m so happy for you both!! You girls deserve this amazing opportunity… your writing is always an inspiration and joy to read!!
Congratulations and may God continue to Bless you both!
Just couldn’t be happier for you girls!!!!!
Yay you! So excited for you and so anxious for God to work through your lives. I have no doubt that your faith has brought you to this point. Thanks for sharing with us, and allowing us to be a part of your dreams!
So exciting! Congratulations!
Shelley
Congratulations! Praying for you both and walking with you all the way. Looking forward to your first book! God is so good!
Boy do you two have a lot of excitement headed your way – could not be more thrilled for you and it’s certainly well deserved!! Can’t wait to read and follow along on this journey with you!!
Congratulations! What great news!!!
HOW FANTASTIC!!! Congratulations! You have and will continue to inspire many more women. Best Wishes on your journey. Never alone, with God at your side, you WILL succeed.