Celebrating Him

Tomorrow is the big day! The one I have been waiting all summer for. 

Tomorrow I celebrate the publishing of my book. 

I celebrate these three years of hard work. 

I celebrate these months and months of editing. 

I celebrate this story that has already reached many people in many different ways. 

But more than any of these, I celebrate the way that the Lord has moved in my life within the last two and three years to bring me to this point. 

On Wednesday as we stood in church singing "Great I Am," I proclaimed the words of this song, knowing what a great and powerful God that I serve. This song was my Paige's favorite worship song and normally it brings tears to my eyes. 

Wednesday was different. I was able to stand and worship, truly worship my God who has brought me SO far and done SO much for me. And I was beyond grateful. 

I texted a friend that night, "Can we just talk about how awesome our God is?"

And we did, because we've both seen Him move in the craziest, most amazing ways and we know that His plans are beyond perfect. 

Just ask me and I'll tell you that the journey to this book proves that the God I serve has the perfect plan. 

On Sunday mornings I help teach the 5th grade Sunday school class with some good friends, Brent and Ashlee Moore. Ashlee was telling the kids about my book last week in class and they started asking all of these questions (Will you be on the red carpet? Probably not. Is your book going to be made into a movie? Probably not. Are the characters based off of people in your life? Yes, a few of them.).

Anyway, we ended up spending the last twenty five minutes of Sunday school hour doing a Q&A about my book. I told them if I ever became famous I would give them credit for my first official interview. Haha!! 

At the end of class, sweet Gwen was closing us in prayer and she said, "And I pray that people would know You, God, through Bailey's book." And I smiled because that's what I've been praying all along. 

After Sunday school I walked a couple of the girls back to their parents who were working nursery and we were carrying on conversation when the book came up again. They asked if I wanted it made into a movie. 

My response, "Well, my goal wasn't to write a book that would be made into a movie or become wildly popular, I mean, that would be fantastic. Anyway, my goal was to write a book that would point people to the Lord, to write a book that would show people what it means to live for Him. I pray that He would be glorified in what I write and what I do with the abilities He has given me."

I pray that is what I have done. I pray that I have written to glorify my Savior. 

I pray that this weekend we celebrate the things the Lord has done, that we celebrate the fact that He does know the plans for each of our lives!

As my youth pastor said Wednesday night, I don't want to trade in my love for the Creator for the love of the created. I want to stay focused on my Creator and His will, His glory, His honor and not be distracted by the created. 

I know that God has big things in store for me, for my writing, for this story and the ones to come (yes, there are more). But I want Him to get the credit! 

Because HE has done great things and I am so very thankful! 

Let that be what we celebrate this weekend.

~Bailey Elizabeth 

Psalm 98:1

"Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!"

Redeemer.

You've probably seen it on Facebook or Instagram by now...

Yes, it's true.

I'm officially published!

For I Know the Plans is available on Amazon in paperback form and Kindle edition.

It was a bittersweet day, July 24th, 2014.

As I approved my very last proof copy online, my dad was sitting beside me entering all of the technical information so that it could be sold and I would receive royalties.

"It seems very appropriate that your book is being published on July 24th."

Tears brimmed and I clicked, Okay. My book was published. Just like that. I was a published author. A smile quickly spread across my face.

For those of you who don't know, two years ago on July 24th, 2012 we lost a dear friend completely unexpectedly. She didn't wake up and we didn't get to say goodbye.

She was my closest spiritual mentor, and though she was five years older than me, she was one of my very best friends.

This book is dedicated to her. It is dedicated to not only the impact she made on my life, but to the impact she made on the lives of the other children at our church as well. Because our Paige Elizabeth will never be forgotten.

So on Amazon it says, "Paperback, July 24, 2014."

And I am still in awe of how my Jesus has redeemed this date.

As we approached the 24th of July this year, the knot of dread in my stomach only grew. I dreaded the grief that I knew would come. I dreaded the memories and the fact that I would have to acknowledge another year's passing without her. I talked about all of this with my mom and my friend, Courtney.

But it didn't take away the raw hurt.

I woke up on the 24th, tired as usual (still recovering from mono) and pushed through a headache that was slowly coming on. I had to get to Summer With the Arts. I needed to love on those kids.

I got to church and I was filled with this joy that only the Lord could bring. All day I played with the kids. When I returned home that night I was quite exhausted but could think about only one thing: I've got to get the books ordered for my party. 

So my dad sat down with me and made it happen.

That's when it clicked, "Today's the 24th."

And I sat in awe of what God had done.

He had it planned to redeem the 24th for me all this time.

I used my gift in order to glorify my God. I dedicated this book to her long before I even started this crazy publishing process, long before this summer got crazy. I believed my God had big things in store.

Little did I know He had the 24th in mind.

But I am so thankful that He did.

While it still won't be an easy day, it won't be as hard anymore either. Because my God is full of redemption even on the darkest of days. 


Obviously, I'd love for you to read my book. You can find it here: For I Know the Plans

If you live in the area and will be in town, I'd love for you to join me in celebrating this occasion.

August 9th, 2014 from 2:00pm-5:00pm at Rich Fork Baptist Church(MPB lobby).

Books will be available and I will be signing them there($10 a copy).

There will be cupcakes and other snacks along with a shoe cutting party for Sole Hope.

Buy the book and spread the word on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (I'm on all three!).

Thanks again for reading, can't wait to see what you think about the book!

~Bailey

Happy Waiting.

Oh my friends! I could cry happy tears.

This last month, especially these past couple of weeks have been really hard. I've had to lean on the Lord more than ever. He has taught me how to rest. And He has shown me that I always need Him.

Anyway...onto today's events! My God is SO good!

On Friday I ordered the very last proof of my very first book (friends, I'm SO excited)! This happened today and I just have to share it with you.

Earlier this afternoon I was visiting with my bestie, catching up on life because we hadn't seen each other in FOREVER. I was sitting on her couch and I said, "If the proof of my book isn't there when I get home I might hurt someone."

*While I made this threat, this would most likely not happen.*

I got in the van with my mom and sister ten minutes later and we drove home. As we approached the house, I scanned the front porch for the box from CreateSpace. It wasn't there.

Guys. I paid TWELVE DOLLARS for shipping so it would be here today. And it wasn't on the porch.

"Mom, seriously? This is ridiculous." I slammed the car door and walked inside, trying to ignore the headache that was coming back.

"Maybe the boys brought it inside for you," my mom said hopefully.

I turned the corner into the kitchen and there on the kitchen counter was the little brown box I had been patiently anticipating since Friday.

"IT CAME!!!" I shouted, and then continued, "Mom, please don't video me this time."

She laughed and consented.

I grabbed a pair of scissors from the pencil drawer and carefully cut open the box.

My insides were a mix of nerves and excitement.

As I tore away the packing I saw the new and improved cover and my heart swelled.

It's perfect. No. It's beyond perfect. It's better than anything I could have ever wanted for my own book. And I love it. 

I had a goofy grin on my face as I flipped through the beautiful cream pages and smelled them(because what else do you do with your own book?).

I looked at the words I have spent three years writing and rewriting and editing and I was like a proud mama.

And my friends, I cannot wait for you to read it and hopefully fall in love with these characters just like I have.

Now I know you're probably dying to see the new cover.

But. Good things come to those who wait.

So you'll have to wait until August 9th to see the official cover of "For I Know the Plans."

Yes, it's a secret. It's one I'm very excited to keep.

For now I'll leave you with this.

Isn't it lovely?

God has given me so much to be thankful for.

Happy waiting!

~Bailey

Ephesians 3:20-21

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

I look to You.

I wake up with that sharp pain in my head. Right there in my temple, slowly making it's way all over my head.

After taking some medicine, I crawl back in bed, waiting for relief.

This has been going on for a couple of weeks now.

This reoccurring pain comes throughout the day, knocking me out with each blow.

And yes, I'm discouraged.

Discouraged that I had to miss a birthday party on Saturday.

Discouraged that I had to miss church on Sunday because I slept right through it.

Discouraged that I had to cancel babysitting some of my favorite kiddos twice this week because I simply didn't feel up to it.

Discouraged that I missed a meeting to design the cover for my book with my youth pastor.

I'm discouraged. And I'm frustrated. And right now, I'm not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I wish I knew when this season would be over...when the pain would come to a halt.

I want to stand at the top of this mountain and look down into the valley and say, "Thank you Lord for being faithful and bringing me through."

Because the valley is never a fun place to be.

But in all of the cancelled plans and days of rest at home...I've had time to do just that.

To rest. To be.

And as frustrating as it is, I think He's trying to show me something.

I think He wants me to take some time every once and a while...or every day...to be still and know that He is God.

I think He wants me to use this summer to be refreshed and renewed in His Presence, no matter what's going on around me.

Today I got another one of Ann Voskamp's daily e-mail encouragements. The title caught me off guard: What you have to do to come to peace with this season in life. It's written by Emily Freeman.

"In long light, in deep darkness, and in all the layers of shadow in between, Christ came first and holds us together even when change comes rolling through.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And so we welcome this new season, whatever it may bring, because we must, because to press on as we have been doing hurts too much.

Instead of fighting the changes and the transitions —

what if we leaned into them instead?"

What if I stopped trying to fight this pain and tried to learn from it instead?

What if I stopped asking God "why?" and leaned into His grace instead?

What if on these days of being at home I stopped moping around and spent time in His Presence instead?

I know it would make a difference.

I also know that my God is good and He is Healer.

And while I wait for the pain to pass, while I wait to be on top of this mountain, I will continue to trust and hope in my Great God who will help me lean into His grace day by day.

My God, I will look to You. And I will know that You alone are God.

~Bailey

“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10

*The headaches are hereditary migraines passed down from both my mom and dad. While being a Bowers is fantastic- the migraines are not!*