Day Four: Palm Springs

Somewhere in the writing process before Cheryl came into our story, some friends and my husband & I took a trip to Palm Springs.  This may seem slightly inconsequential, but by tomorrow I hope you see how very providential this trip was. Our friend, Skylar, is fortunate to have a lovely family with an equally lovely bungalow in Palm Springs.  He initiated a little weekend getaway for the handful of us, a getaway that would serve as a pseudo writing retreat for me as well.  I had most of what I thought was my section of the book already, but there were a few more thoughts to write and a few tweaks to make.

It was also the perfect time to try it on some people who would be honest.

I handed the manuscript to Masi and Skylar as we started our road trip to Palm Springs.  Later I learned that Masi was reading it aloud from the passenger's seat while Skylar listened (and drove) from the driver's seat.

When we finally arrived, Masi had a red face from obvious tears, and she gave me a big hug and expressed her excitement about what God was going to do with the story.  Skylar, an actor and writer with a gift for coming up with the most ridiculous analogies, gave me his best analyzation of the manuscript and told me he expected great things.

Jonathan got a chance to read it the next afternoon, after which he walked through the door and gave me a big hug and kiss in front of everyone, telling me how proud he was of me.

We all spent the next two days enjoying the Palm Springs beauty and each other's company. And we had our share of conversations about the "what ifs" for this book.

I think this trip sparked the first considerations in me that this book might be for more than just family and friends.  I just didn't know how.

God, may I never grow weary of watching Your perfect orchestration, even when I get frustrated that things aren't going the way I would plan.  Remind me of the tapestry You are weaving.  I pray this over the book.  I pray this over Rick's story.  I pray this over my family and friend's.  Amen.

Tomorrow, Palm Springs Part 2.  This is where it gets fun.  :)

- C