That was the advice given from my good friend and mentor Linda Eld after my quote of the year rang true, literally, in the form of a phone call.

"Plan to be surprised." 

- from "Dan in Real Life" movie. 

I was surprised. I may have mentioned before that I don't like surprises. In January, the editor at Taunton who worked with me on the Colorful Blessings coloring book called before my copies of the coloring book had arrived. She said they wanted to do another coloring book asap. The good news was that Colorful Blessings had gone into its second printing and the publisher wanted to keep going with the momentum and publish a second Colorful Blessings coloring book.

It was good news, but very unexpected. I was stunned. The possibility wasn't even on my radar, so to speak. In my mind and efforts, I had moved on to work on another project my heart has been yearning to do for over a year. I was just starting that project when the call for the first coloring book opportunity came last August. Now, a section of that project was nearly completed when I received the phone call about making a second coloring book. In my mind, I was thinking: "If I go ahead and work on another coloring book, I will be putting the project off again." Even more daunting was the question, "How was I going to come up with 47 new images so fast?" The proposed deadline: impossible. I said, "No." The editor asked what deadline would work, and asked me to take the weekend to think about it. That is when I called my friend Linda and asked for prayer and advice. She generously gave both.

As previously stated, Linda suggested I put a fleece out. (Like Gideon)

I laughed saying, "Like God giving me a list of 47 things to draw?"

"Yes," she said. "Like that."

"Okay then." I felt I was off the hook with that kind of request, but God had another idea.

Later that day I thought of my "loser" drawer. I have this drawer in my studio filled with projects, dreams and collaborations that have gone nowhere. In that drawer of dead dreams and disappointments, there is a book proposal I wrote exactly 16 years ago about how nature reflects and praises God. I had done quite a bit of research, which included a list of specific things in nature with accompanying Scripture verses. The outline was a list of 47 things I had written in February of 2000. Can you believe it? Well, that answered the fleece question. It was an unexpected resurrection of a dream I thought was dead. It would require me seeing its fulfillment in a whole new way, but God is in the redemption business and wastes nothing.

Now I found myself on the hook to make a new coloring book, moving ahead as an act of faith. I said, "Yes." The process required me to let go of my preconceived ideas, and place this new opportunity in God's hands, asking for His help as I choose to put my heart and hands to work. It has been a journey, hard fought on one hand, and full of miraculous grace and wonder on the other. Grace and wonder have won. I am grateful!

So today, before the deadline, the second Colorful Blessings coloring book is now off to the printer to be released in June. I will have ordering info soon. Here is sneak peak at the front & back cover:

Speaking of surprises, I have another SURPRISE I will be sharing with you very shortly. The one that has been on my heart and in my in-person teaching for a long time. I am excited about the message and beautiful possibilities for you to explore.... More about that coming soon!