May 15, 2025 • 56 mins
In this inspiring episode of Hope Unlocked, Kristin Kurtz welcomes Alexa Boehler—wife, mom of four, singer-songwriter, and now author of the faith-based children’s book Emmanuel Emu: God Is With You. Alexa shares how God birthed the vision for her book during early motherhood, and how obedience, creativity, and community support brought it to life. From finding a Kingdom illustrator to writing songs for each story, her journey is a testimony of trusting God’s timing. This episode encourages every listener to reclaim their creative voice and step out in bold faith.
Alexa's Contact Info:
Website - www.alexaboehler.comÂ
Book - Emmanuel Emu: God is with You
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast.
I'm your host, Kristen Kurtz,and I'm also the founder of New
Wings Coaching.
I help and empower wildheartedand adventurous women of faith
feeling caged and stuck, unlocktheir true purpose and potential
, break free from limitationsand thrive with confidence,
courage and hope.
If you're curious to learn moreabout coaching with me, head to
newwingscoachingnet and be sureto explore the show notes for
(00:38):
ways to connect with me further.
Get ready to dive in as weuncover empowering keys and
insights in this episode.
So tune in and let's unlockhope together.
Welcome to the Hope Unlockedpodcast.
I'm Kristen Kurtz, your host.
I pray this episode is like aholy IV of hope for your soul.
Please help me.
Welcome Alexa Beeler to theshow.
(00:58):
I'm excited to have her herewith us today.
We are a connection throughseveral different means, partly
because of social media andpartly because of a ministry
that we were both trained up in,but I'm just excited to have
you here today.
Alexa, Could you share a littlebit about yourself before we
get started?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah, yeah, thank you , kristen, for this opportunity.
I'm really excited to just talkand just lean into what God has
to share.
And yeah, I'd love to share alittle bit about myself.
So well, I guess, first of all,I am a wife to Max and he's a
(01:38):
school teacher, so I get tomostly stay home with the kiddos
.
I've sort of switched to thetitle to stay at home mom, to
work from home mom, so, but, um,but yeah, I've got, uh, four
little girls.
I'm girl mom and my oldest willbe, she will be six this summer
(02:00):
, which is crazy.
So I've got a six year or afive, almost six year old.
I've got three year old twinsand then our fourth was born in
December, so she's about fourmonths now.
Yep, four months.
So, yeah, I'm doing the momthing, doing the doing the small
(02:21):
town life.
Now, we just recently movedback from um, from Missouri.
We were, my husband wasteaching in St Joe and we lived
in a little town out there, butthis we're in home, we're at
home now.
We both grew up in small town,nebraska, and just moved back.
Well, it's about a year now,but it still feels pretty fresh.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
But so, but what led you back to Nebraska?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, you know.
So we, we were high schoolsweethearts and, um, after we
went to, I guess, to college, um, in a little bit bigger of a
city that we were in, but stillnot big at all, Really, we grew
up in a town about a thousandpeople, both of us.
And um, yeah, and then we movedto uh what it would be what we
(03:10):
would call our big city whichisn't, um, but we moved to
Kearney and we went to collegethere and then we decided, when
we got married, we were going togo and explore a little bit
more and we moved to Kansas cityarea and, um, we always knew
that when we started havingchildren and we're going to
actually settle down, we bothjust kind of knew we would head
(03:33):
back to where family was andthat's what brought us back.
You know, family is mostimportant and, um, it's been a
huge blessing to be able to beclose to both my family and his
family and, um, yeah, so I wouldsay family brought us back.
(03:53):
The Lord did all the work but,yes, um, we wanted to be close
to them.
So when you were apart, was itchallenging?
(04:15):
Like, did you have a supportnetwork?
Yeah, out of your family inMissouri, hours away?
Um, so, not nothing that we,you know, couldn't make it back
if we needed to, or theycouldn't make it there if they
needed to, but when we startedto have the kiddos, that was
(04:40):
very, very challenging.
I, um, my heart goes out to, um, to parents who are either not
able to or don't have familyaround.
It is a huge blessing.
It was hard, yes, I can onlyimagine.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I always tell people it takes a village, I'm sure
that my mother-in-law doesin-home daycare so she was
helping take care of my boy.
That's wonderful, because I wasworking a job when I was a
young mom.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
But I thought, gosh, I can't even imagine not having
family you know to care, likejust putting them in a child
care center.
No, no condemnation to anybodywho's putting.
No, I know, I know For mepersonally like I had a dream to
be a stay-at-home mom and Ijust thought, okay, that's not
God's plan at this point.
The next best alternative is tohave you know, family to you
(05:28):
know, almost just be like thatsecond home, right?
Yes?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
absolutely, I feel the same.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Yeah, Well, it's interesting.
I have a friend who lives init's Kearney right, Missouri.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah Well, so we're in Kearney.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Nebraska is where we went to school, so oh okay, so
there's a, there is a KearneyMissouri, but yes, All right, so
that would be a completelydifferent place.
Um so, going back, um, you'vegone back home and what?
What have you been up to Like?
What is, what is somethingthat's been?
You know we were talking beforewe got started and you know my
(06:06):
heart.
One of the reasons I had you onwas to share what you've been
up to and really, you know help,I don't know.
It's almost like a birthannouncement, maybe.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, yes, I think it is.
That's how I feel and I love.
I have to sidebar a little bitand say I absolutely love that
you use that analogy, so so much, because I am super passionate
about birth and andphysiological birth and I my one
of my best friends is a doulaand I started attending births
with her and just superpassionate about actual birth
(06:41):
and so just seeing this analogyis really special actual birth,
and so just seeing this analogyis really special.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's so interesting because I have, like you know,
as a life coach, I've hadseveral clients say you're like
a spiritual midwife to help.
I love that birth, that which iswithin somebody, because I
think there's too many peoplewho self-abort, what it is that
god's calling them to birth,right, and I for some reason
just get all of these likebirthing analogies and yet I'm
not like in the birth spacephysically.
I love it, essence, right, yeah, yeah.
(07:11):
So that's kind of a behind thescenes of if anybody's wondering
like, what is she talking about?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Yes, yes, I have some people that don't understand my
language.
No, it's good, I love that, so,okay, well, so here's the birth
announcement of the book that Iam working on.
So I actually just published aChristian children's book.
It's called Emmanuel Emu God iswith you and it has been a
(07:40):
whole long process of bringingthis to the world a whole long
process of bringing this to theworld.
I guess I kind of got the ideaafter.
Okay, I'm going to rewind again.
I'm sorry, I'm kind of all over, but I I grew up as a singer,
songwriter.
That's kind of what I did allthrough.
(08:02):
I mean, gosh, I started when Iwas 10-ish, around there and
like actually singing for eventsand things like that.
So that's kind of, I guess, alittle bit of background of the
art side of what I do, the artsyside.
I was listening to one of yourpodcasts and somebody said that
(08:22):
they were multi-passionate andI'm like thank you for that
wording, I've been needing that.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
So it's right in that .
What was that there's so muchfreedom to?
Because I think the world willtell you that, no, you can only
do one thing.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Well, absolutely, and that's something I had have
struggled with.
It's like, well, if I'm doingthis, then I can't do that, and
you know I've always been verycreative and I love the writing,
music and and art and that sortof thing.
But if I'm focused on that, Iactually that's kind of another
(08:58):
story.
But I had somebody veryinfluential say that there was
no way I could even do what Iwas doing, because I needed to
make a distinction.
If I was for sure going to bemaking music and that's all I
was going to do, or you know.
And it really like cut deep andI didn't understand why at the
time, because I was like, but Ialso I ran track in college and
(09:20):
I loved being well and helpingpeople understand wellness and
like why couldn't they both be?
And just, you know that sort ofthing.
So, but yeah, so I started.
I've always been into music andcreative and that type of thing
, but just it just never waslike clicking.
Really I don't know how toexplain it other than it just
(09:43):
really wasn't clicking.
I have some really great music,but I don't know, I didn't
always be quite as bold about myfaith and sharing the gospel
through what I was doing.
So I know that had a factor forsure, but I think for sure,
looking back now with the wholemulti-passionate idea is like I
(10:06):
really was just like putting mymyself, I guess, into a box and
when God was like, no, you areall these things, this is how I
made you.
So, um, yeah, that's beenreally very freeing, as you.
As you said, so, um, I guess,when I had my first, I was in
Missouri at the time, so weweren't around family and I was
(10:29):
working for a while before shewas born, at a chiropractic
clinic and I was doing the rehabwith the clients there and I
was called to stay home, evenwhile I was throughout the
pregnancy, which was interestingbecause I didn't have any other
(10:49):
kids, so that was hard.
But in that time I got pluggedin with the other ministry that
you and I have been involvedwith the Revelation, fitness or
wellness and so I started doingthat and um was really, really
excited about it, um, and itjust felt like very freeing at
(11:09):
the time, cause I wasn't um, Iguess I could be focused on not
just one thing.
I started I was doing a lot ofmore music and singing, and
that's where some of income wascoming from, and I was also
doing this fitness thing and Iloved that.
That was one of the firstmoments where I was like, okay,
these do fit together.
This can work and right after myfirst was born.
(11:35):
Of course, you know it's a hugelife change to have your first
kiddo and I'm going all the timego, go, go, go go and just to
sit down and learn how to nursea baby and be resting with them.
Um, my, I, I just feel like Iwas kind of given this little
(11:56):
character, emmanuel Um, and hewas an emu, and I, I, I, okay,
we're just.
This is so fun to talk with youabout it, cause you now you've
said you are into the birthanalogies and you've also, um,
I've heard you say that you lovebird eagles and birds, and I'm
(12:16):
a bird lady too, so this is sofun.
My first is actually named Lark, so I love the birds.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Yes, we could have fun out in nature together.
Let me just say oh, yes, wewould.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
But yeah, so I had this little character, emmanuel
Emu.
God gave me his little storyand you know pretty much it
(12:55):
sounds kind of silly, but really, as I was nursing my first and
singing her little lullabies andtelling her little stories,
this, this was born with herkind of this little emu.
And yeah, that that's how thestory happened.
I wanted I want nothing morethan my kids and all the kids,
to know that God is with us andwith them, and so that is really
what this story, this firststory, is about.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
So you said the first story Tell us more.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
There's more, there's more coming.
I have several books alreadywritten and I am so excited that
that god connected me with um,the illustrator that we've been
working with um because he is anamazing man of god.
I've never met him in person,but he has been working with me
(13:37):
on this project for well overtwo, two years or more now.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
at this point, um, just kind of bringing this story
to life and that is kind of afun story in itself, because I
had no idea where to start- Well, would you mind like kind of
digging in with us on that,because one of my favorite
things when I hear somebody sayis like I didn't know what I was
doing.
Yes, yes, so I'm imagining thatyou didn't you're doing.
(14:06):
Would you be able to kind ofdig into that a little bit with
our audience?
Because, first of all, you're amom of four under the age of
five.
Yes, so that could be.
You know, we have a lot ofthings that try to keep us from
stepping into our desk.
That could definitely besomething that you could say no,
I got to wait till you know,and I'm just using that as an
(14:29):
example.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Yeah, Because there's lies right that I don't have.
Yes, I always find, like someof the not if you agree with me,
but with people I've workedwith or people have come across
my path I find them, to do this,detractors.
I guess that's the best way toput it.
I don't have time and I don'thave money.
Yes, Things can keep you fromstepping into what he's calling
(14:54):
you into.
So would you be able to likekind of walk us through this
process of like what did it looklike?
Did you feel?
Like he's saying now, and thenyou're like what?
Like tell us a little bit moreabout this process.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yes, I would love to.
Okay, so you were spot on withthe time and money thing.
That.
That definitely comes up a lotin inside of me and I have to go
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no, so, yes.
(15:30):
So I'll take us back when Ifirst got this, this little
story in this little character,and I knew it was going to be a
children's book.
Actually, I'm going to go backa little bit even further.
So I had just I guess I had acouple of years before, but I
(15:54):
had published, or not published,I had released an album, uh,
songs that I had written and, um, it was kind of a stripped back
version of what I had donebefore.
And in my I was working with umkind of a home studio um guy
and he was also a Christian andI was like this is, this is good
.
We're gonna try and focus onthat, this being okay, how do I
say it?
I wanted it to the music to be.
(16:18):
It could be Christian music,but also couldn't.
That's where I was at in life,like you know.
You could listen to it and ifyou were a Christian, well, this
is special and it's not, youknow, dirty or whatever you want
to call it, but it's notovertly like I'm talking about
(16:39):
God or my faith or anything likethat.
That's where I was kind of at.
And um, looking back, it's goodmusic, but I, like I had already
mentioned it, um, I can tellthat it wasn't.
I wasn't in the flow of whatGod wanted me to be doing.
Now that I know, and um, so itdidn't really do any.
(17:01):
I mean, it was good and itdidn't it.
It wasn't like't justfulfilling, it wasn't what I
knew I should be doing.
I think, okay, and so that was.
Did you feel that at the time?
Did you feel?
I did not know that at the time.
I think I and I think if I Idon't know, I think I was
convincing myself that this iswhat I could be doing and
(17:26):
they're like, if this is goodand it is good, I think there's
people that that works and Godcalls them to that, but I I
don't know.
I knew that something was kindof off and it felt out of my
comfort zone.
But I thought I guess I'vealways thought that like we're
called to be uncomfortable, sothis is what that feels like.
But I think I'm starting torealize now more that it's that
(17:47):
that feeling was more of likeyou're maybe uncomfortable
because it's not what you'resupposed to be doing, versus
what it feels like to beuncomfortable when you are doing
what God's calling you to do,if that makes any sense at all.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Yeah, and I think we have to take a step back too and
kind of have that eagle eyesview of, like you stepped into
it, nothing is wasted, right,and that first step in you know,
like I can imagine you know, ifyou have volumes of books, your
first book maybe isn't going tobe as like.
Kind of like when we dosomething for the first time, we
(18:21):
really kind of don't know whatwe're doing, but yeah, still
with us and his hand is on it,so it's not like you were, you
know, being obedient or whatever, but like that there's more for
you in that realm as well.
Yeah, yes, yes, that's exactlyright.
So I'm going to stop on thatpoint, just for anybody who's
listening like nothing is wastedright absolutely nothing is
(18:44):
wasted.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I've learned so much in all of those, in all of that,
and I don't usually likepromote that now, but, yeah, it
was definitely, um, a learningexperience for sure, and growing
in in my faith too, so,absolutely so, I guess, bringing
me to to the book now, thatwhen I as as a mom, as a new mom
(19:09):
I was, it felt, um, it feltlike everything kind of came
together and was like this was away that, um, like this is what
I was supposed to be doing, Iguess.
So, like I can make music.
Now that goes with the bookswhich I have, the each book has
a little song that goes with it,and it's.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
I see you having music with your books and I
didn't have.
I had no idea.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Oh yeah, that's wonderful.
So, yes, that's what I, that'swhat I, I I did and I'm like
this, this ties it together andlike I'm going all out, like I
for for my kids right, they gotit.
I'm not gonna not have aChristian book.
A faith based book is somethingthat I'm going to teach them
(19:59):
through this, and in that,that's what happened, that's
what.
That's what happened.
So, um, yeah, so that's where Iwas at when and it just all
like came together and I waslike, okay, so this is for God,
this is for my kids, this is,this is who he created me to be
is to to like confidently puthim out first and not not like a
(20:22):
second thought.
And so so I, I kind of got I.
It was slow because, there yougo, I was busy, I had a new baby
and I was stay at home mom andmy husband had, you know, just
teaching job and we're notmaking a whole lot, and so I
didn't really do much with itfor, oh gosh, maybe a year or so
(20:46):
, um, but in the meantime I hada couple other books that came
to me as well.
So I have those written and thesongs that went with them, and
that was kind of that.
And then after my well, I can'tremember, it was either before
or after my twins were born, itwas right around that time I was
(21:07):
.
I told my husband, max.
I was like, I think I'm I'mjust holding onto these adorable
stories and I like tell them tomy kids, so I should just do it
already.
And and he's very supportiveand he said all right, figure
out how to do it, just tell mehow much it's going to cost.
And I was like, okay, well,here we go.
And so I, um, I knew I needed anillustrator and I knew, uh,
(21:40):
gosh, you, a Christian of faithdriven illustrator artist to
work with, because I know thatlittle people can't read, so
they're going to read thepictures first, and I know how
powerful pictures can be.
And so so I was like I gottafind this person and I started
(22:01):
reaching out to.
I have lots of our artistfriends and I contacted them
first and nobody was really like.
Some.
Some were like, well, I couldmaybe see what I can come up
with and give you a sample, andsure, so I, they did that and
I'll see.
You know, they ended upactually saying no, they didn't
(22:21):
think this was a good time totake on a project, and you know,
that's, that's good.
And I learned about the um, thelike freelancer sites like, uh,
upwork, upwork and Fiverr, andI was like, okay, I'm not having
any luck finding any, anyillustrators, so I'm just gonna
(22:42):
post it there and see whathappens, okay.
And I, so I posted, I made apost, it was like at 10 pm and
after, after the kiddos weresleeping, I, um, I explained
very, very rudimentary thisproject that I was looking for
an illustrator for, and I, I,you know, I was bold at that
(23:03):
point because in the past Iwould maybe I I definitely
mentioned and make it obviousthat I was a Christian, but this
following Jesus, but I wouldn'tput it the very first thing.
Oh, I love that, yeah, and sothis, uh, this time I did and
and I was, like you know, I'm anew mom.
I have, you know, been a singer, songwriter.
(23:26):
I've got these littlechildren's books and this it's
about an emu and I love birdsand nature and seeing God and
that and this type of thing.
That's how I explained it and Iwas like, oh, what the heck,
let's see what happens.
And like five minutes later Igot a response and, um, he
(23:46):
shared it.
He's like, you know, I don'tget on, I don't get on this like
at all really, but I did happento hop on and just check my
account and I saw your post and,um, he explained that you know,
he was, uh, actually at thetime was a school teacher and he
was a daughter, he haddaughters, he was a girl dad and
(24:08):
like all these things, and heactually had published just very
loosely but he had done it abook about birds and he was a
minister at his church and alsoan illustrator, and he thought
this was a very, you know,interesting project.
He'd like to learn more.
I was like well, goodness, thatlike matched everything In five
(24:31):
minutes.
I know, I mean seriously, itwas like instant.
And you know, I responded rightaway and I was like well,
that's perfect.
I think we like match reallywell, I responded right away,
and I was like well, that'sperfect.
I think we like match reallywell and um, but I did say you
know, um, we're on an extremelytight budget, like I don't even
know how this is going to work.
I, I know that I'm supposed tobe doing it, but you know, I I'm
(24:53):
all about paying people whatthey're worth, and I certainly
would not, you know, I don't I'mjust not saying no right now,
but just so you know I not gotmuch to work with and he said
that's just fine.
Just, you know, I'll pray aboutit, you pray about it, which I
was like okay, that's great sofar, we're starting with that
and um, but, but you know, goahead and talk to the people
(25:17):
that you need to talk to.
And so I did.
I got back a couple um samplesfrom other people.
Just you know that, saw thepost and, uh, they were good,
but there was, and I hadn't evenseen a sample from this guy.
His name's Joel, by the way.
Joel is the illustrator, joel,part part.
You know what?
(25:37):
I need to ask him actually howto pronounce his name.
We were talking about that.
It's either partner partain, um, so, poor guy, I need to.
I've only been talking to himfor working with him for two
years now.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
So well, we don't use all, each other by our last
name Right, well, thanks forthat.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
So Joel, um, yeah, so anyways, he anyways, he hadn't,
even we hadn't even gotten asample yet from him.
But you know, we just I justfelt like very strong connection
there and I got the othersamples and they were good and
all of that.
But I tried to pursue, you know, like do we, do you just do
(26:19):
this, you know over, likemessenger, or do we talk?
And you know, most of themdidn't.
It was just we just theydevelop the pictures and I use
them, type of thing.
And I ended up having a callwith Joel and I was like you
know, I felt very called to workwith him and I told him that
(26:39):
and he said you know, I feel thesame, so let.
I told him that and he said youknow, I feel the same, so let's
just make it work.
And he said, okay, let's justmake it work.
And he was extremely gracious.
Um donated a ton of time to theproject, a lot of his um
experience and having donesomething similar before.
(27:00):
And he was just upfront withyou know, you're going to I
believe in this project and you,you know we'll pay for what you
use.
So we did a lot of characterdevelopment, which was so much
fun working with him.
Like we we tried all kinds.
First he was a darker coloredemu and because that's what emus
(27:20):
are, that most of the time thestandard color is dark, like a
black colored feather, and itwas not translating at all to
the illustration.
And so we're like, well, maybehe needs to be a blonde emu or a
white one.
And so we did all thedevelopment and he was just
awesome development and um, hewas just awesome.
(27:43):
It was just so fun to see Godbring this to life through his
talent and his, like, I guess,desire to hear the heart of the
story and the message behind it.
It was just super fun.
You know I would say thingslike you know we need, I want to
, I want to see Jesus throughthis little character's eyes.
So how do we brighten his eyesup?
(28:08):
And you know, like make it popoff of the page and speak to
little people, little hearts,like that's what I wanted.
I wanted this little cuddly guythat just has the joy of of of
Jesus in his eyes, and so hewould like draw up something and
be like, how about this?
And it was just so, and it wasjust so fun, it was just an
awesome process.
And, um, you know, he'd sendover one and be like, oh yeah, I
(28:28):
think that's close, but maybehis, maybe his hair looks a
little spiky, he's not quite aslovable as we want.
Okay, let's try this.
And I remember the morning thatwe got the one, because I was
sitting at the table, we werehaving breakfast and one of the
twins I think it was Blythe wassitting on my lap and I said, oh
(28:51):
, we got another picture ofEmmanuel.
Come here, hurry.
And they all came running overand we pulled it up and their
reaction like I have a video ofher, of her reaction, their
reaction.
But one of my girls inparticular they make like the
same face, really bright eyed,like it's a kind of goofy.
(29:12):
But she's like, oh, and I waslike that's the one, that's the
reaction I wanted, that's theone, that's the reaction I
wanted, that's what we weregoing for.
And so that was him, that was Iwas him.
So that was the process ofdeveloping Emmanuel Emu.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
That you involved your girls in it and they got to
be part of this process.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Yes, they've been.
They've been very involved andit's been so, so special.
I say it's it's kid testedalready.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
I love that, oh my gosh.
So like an emu, like I don'tknow if we're seeing an emu
before, like what is it aboutthe emu?
And like do you have emus whereyou live?
Speaker 2 (29:58):
I'm so glad you asked , cause I love them so much but
I don't have one yet.
I need one I have.
I have only met one in personone time and I've always been a
bird person, always, always beena bird person and I like fun
and humor and justlightheartedness.
(30:19):
I love that and um, and to bedifferent and unique, that's
always been my thing too.
So I I just I always haveenjoyed different things and
when I discovered the emu, itseems to kind of fit like me and
all the things that I love,because emus can't fly and so
(30:41):
I've always loved birds becausethey can fly.
And I was like wait a minute,bird can't even fly.
And so I that intrigued mebecause they, they, um, are
runners actually and they're,they're like fast and so, and so
it's just funny how it all tiedtogether, cause like, and so
it's just funny how it all tiedtogether because like it's kind
(31:03):
of goofy, it's kind of cheesyactually, but they're runners.
And so I ran track in highschool.
I got to go to state and ranand I loved doing that and went
to college running track andlike that's just been kind of my
thing, like it seemed to fitthe wellness piece into my love
(31:24):
for, like nature and birds.
Somehow, I don't know, it's soweird to say, but that is how I
um became intrigued with the emu.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Wow, I love it.
I mean, I've never, I have notknown a lot about emus before.
You just educate me today.
And I love birds, um, yes, andI love eagles.
They tend to like go up highand they don't, they just catch
the wind I love them we have alot of of eagles in our area.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
like we, we were by a big reservoir.
It's one of the biggest I guessyou'd call it a lake here in
Nebraska and we get tons ofeagles right along the lake.
It's so I love them.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
They.
Just yesterday I was on a walkand I literally it felt like the
Lord was tipping my head up.
And I look up and there's fiveswirling above my head.
I feel like I'm not even inthis world right now.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
That's amazing.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
You know, they just take you to a whole other place.
But your book is Joel Like isthis something that he does on
the side?
Then?
Is this something that, like,we could share him with the
world?
Would that be helpful?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
So he does do it on the side.
He's a very you know busy dadand does this in his free time
and you know, I don't know if he, if he does other projects,
yeah.
I'm not even sure.
I for somebody as well, and younever know.
So if he's open to it.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
We'll definitely do that in the show notes and we
can highlight Joel why not?
Speaker 2 (33:12):
So he should be highlighted.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
He's, he's a great guy, he does such good work and
you said initially you were ledto go out.
Was out?
Was it fiber that you went onto find?
Speaker 2 (33:21):
him.
I did go both, so I actuallyfound him on up up work.
It's either up work or up works, okay, I think.
But that's where I, that'swhere he was at that's pretty
amazing.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
um, I know like back in the day I had somebody from
fiber that helped with some acouple creative projects that
were way beyond me, because wecan't do everything.
I just maybe I like that, let'sgo there.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
We can't do everything.
I think we should, becausethat's been a big thing that has
been coming up for me just thisyear where I can't do it all
and I don't have a lot of moneyand I don't have a lot of time
but I can't do it all.
So God's going to connect thosedots and make it happen if it's
supposed to be like, if it'sfrom him.
(34:07):
So yeah, that's a good, good,good point.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
When I mean even you know there's.
There's things that I've beenkind of picking up on lately,
even just in my own business,and seeing that you know there's
things I could learn and Icould probably do it good, I'm
just going to say I could do itgood but I may not be able to do
it great.
And there's people who are goodto do certain work that like for
(34:31):
me.
I would not be creating analbum that just I can do it Like
I can get behind a microphone,but that would go well.
It would not be great, Might bea little good.
I don do it Like I can getbehind a microphone, but that
would go well, it would not be,great, might be a little good, I
don't know.
But like we're all given thesecallings and destinies and we
have this purpose in us andwe've been.
(34:52):
We're all creative, right, Ibelieve that created creatively,
and I think that's anotherpeople get stagnated in and say,
oh no, I'm not creative, Ican't paint Cause I've noticed
that that's another.
People get stagnated in and say,oh no, I'm not creative, I
can't paint, because I'venoticed that that's kind of the
oh I can't paint.
It's like that's not the onlycreative thing that you can
write, right, right.
But as far as you know thisbook, like, how did what else
(35:14):
was the process to to birth thebook?
Because, um well, I'll let youshare, because I feel like we're
speaking to somebody today.
That's like I have no resources, I can't do that.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
I don't have a voice, I don't have money, I don't
have time, right, right, andyou're already decimating like
disintegrating some of theselies, right, yeah, yes, and um,
yeah, so okay, the next steps, Iguess, were once we I mean and
this, this was a long process um, one thing that, um, when Joel
(35:50):
and I talked, he was like youknow, I do this on the side and
if you're wanting to pump thisout, you know, if God says you
need to get this out reallyquick, I'm probably not the guy,
and and I, we prayed on thatbecause I, in my head, I'm like,
when I start, I'm going tofinish and let's get it out and
(36:10):
start telling people.
And I really really felt likeno, I'm supposed to work with
with him and I'm supposed towork with with him and I'm
supposed to work with withpeople and someone who sees this
vision and is passionate aboutit and like this is how this is
supposed to be.
So there were times where itwas slow and he was busy and
(36:33):
wasn't able to get me anything,or I mean, I'm talking like
months between contact.
And then there were seasonswhere we were like holy smokes,
we're back and forth and backand forth and we've got this now
and and onto the next step, andso that's kind of how it went
for quite a while.
And then, let's see, we moved.
(36:55):
So there was a lot happening,and a lot happening where we're
actually in the middle ofbuilding a house as well.
So I was in the process oftrying to coordinate all of the
early stages of moving the hometo the, to the land, and I, I
just it was just a lot happening, and so we've always been
really open and saying like,okay, we've got this going on
(37:17):
and okay, I'll pray for you inthat area and this is why I'm
not responding quickly and thattype of thing but after that
kind of slowed.
Well, it was right before andthey knew that.
We knew that that was going tohappen.
It was going to get really busyagain.
We talked and I was like, let'stry and get this.
We've had several like let's doit, let's do the launch over
(37:38):
Christmas, and we're like, okay,we missed it, we missed the
launch, let's move to the next,the next goal.
Yes, exactly.
And so this has been one of thefirst projects where I have been
, well, just, I guess, open tothat happening, I guess into
(38:06):
that happening, I guess, andkind of balancing or I guess,
letting, letting the Lord guideit, um, and knowing like we're
going to do all that we can toget to this date.
Um, less of like the I'm goingto get it, get it out, whether
it looks good or not, or whetherI wanted to change this or not,
and more of like no, we're allin at this point, let's make it
how we believe it's supposed tobe, and that type of thing.
(38:29):
So I guess that is just.
Um, you know, don't obviouslydon't put things off and
procrastinate, but when you'redoing work for I mean the best
quality that you can do, and youknow that like you're being
(38:51):
intentional about that, you'renot procrastinating type of
thing, like there's a difference.
I guess is what I'm trying tosay Um, and then that that
didn't feel disappointing tomiss that date.
I guess, if that, if that makessense.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
So so do you think that maybe in, maybe in years
past, and other projects youwould have maybe been had some
is the word that I'm hearingmaybe like kind of
disappointment and not reachinglike the due date.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
In essence, yeah, yeah, I think it would have been
an either or thing either Iwould have um felt so much
pressure that it had to be outon the time that we had planned,
or that I had even told peopleit was going to be out, that I,
like I don't know, stayed uptill like all night, every night
(39:38):
, for weeks trying to get itthere, and then it just like
wasn't as the quality that Iwould have liked or been
disappointed.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
Yeah, yes, exactly, there's like a striving.
And now you're like okay, lord,like I surrender this.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Yes, yes, that's exactly right.
The striving uh-huh fromstriving surrender like that
it's and it's.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
It's a challenge, like there's such a
transformation that happens inthat and it, but it can feel
kind of uncomfortable becausethe world would say you need to
have this done quickly, rightyeah, especially we.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
I did a whole year of pretty intense, I guess,
fundraising for the project andso I was telling people about
this and I couldn't give them adate.
And they're giving to me.
They were extremely generous ofpeople.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
And.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
I was.
I there was like a you know, Ifeel bad, I I don't, I can't
tell you when it's going tohappen, or I tell them a time
that I'm like, uh-uh, we gotpushed back again and I guess it
was a stretch.
But it was also good for me tobe able to practice being
staying in connection with thepeople who had donated and
keeping them in the loop likeauthentically, not like I knew I
(40:51):
had to do that.
That in the past I'd be like Iknow I need to keep them in the
loop like authentically, notlike I knew I had to do that.
That in the past I'd be like Iknow I need to keep them in the
loop, but I don't know what tosay, and so I would not.
And this time it was like no,this is where we're at now, this
is where, this is where we'reat, this is where we're at.
So you know, yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Did you ever get?
I mean, did you ever get anyfeedback from people like
negative feedback because it was?
Speaker 2 (41:19):
no, not even once not even one time.
It was always oh my gosh, we'reso excited you're getting
closer, we can't wait.
I mean, it's been amazing.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Yes, well, that's amazing and I'm sure that you
had some chains broken in thatrealm of you know, we can kind
of pick up the you know peoplepleasing essence and I think
it's us right.
Yes, so you know we have towalk through situations to be
broken of you know, whatever itis that we're carrying at times,
(41:50):
and I love that you have such asupportive community.
I think that is brilliant tohave fundraising.
I imagine the lord gave youthat idea to, yeah, accompany
you on this journey.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Yes, he did, he did and, um, it was wonderful.
We actually went.
My sister and I do some singingtogether sometimes and um, so
we kind of put together a little, I guess, service or program of
songs and we went to littletiny churches and, yeah, we were
(42:26):
pretty much the message for theday and I told him about the
book and the message behind thebook and we sang songs with
people that and that and theyjust free will whatever they
felt led to give oh it was itwas wonderful, and then they got
plugged into your communitythrough that, yes, yeah, oh, my
gosh, I love this.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
And this is you are like this season's launching
pioneers, right, you're,definitely're definitely a
pioneer, doing things differentand really, you know, being
anchored to the Lord andreleasing something that it
maybe doesn't make sense onpaper, um, especially when you
know some of us are walkingthrough more challenging
(43:09):
financial situations and we'recalled to build something.
It's like, right, you know youthink of building an ark and, um
, I always oh, just my silly umexample, but I I'm a very visual
person, so when I read no, Iimagine his wife, like sitting
down going no like seriously, wehave no rain.
(43:32):
Yes, have you seen like this hasbeen years?
You're doing this thing, whatare you doing?
But I love that your husband isso supportive and you had all
these people supporting you andyou know that's not always the
case for people.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Yeah, I know, I feel very, very, very fortunate.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
It's beautiful.
Well, as we're getting ready toclose up today, I have this
person, and maybe this person'skind of, in that situation where
they're not um having as muchsupport as they would love, or
they're looking for morecreative ideas um or they need
to be unlocked in theircreativity.
Would you be open to justsharing to the one who's
listening in today and um toshare any words of encouragement
(44:10):
or wisdom you might feel led tospeak?
Sharing to the one who'slistening in today and um to
share any words of encouragementor wisdom you might feel led to
speak over to them?
Speaker 2 (44:20):
Absolutely, um, and I I love that you were led to ask
this, because one of the one ofthe things that came to me, um,
as I was spending some timewith the Lord and preparing to
chat with you, um, was aboutthat and um, way back when I
(44:41):
just started actually likesinging for events and we did um
, traditional country musicfestivals we traveled around to
when I was younger I was like 11, 12 at the time and one of my
dear friends he's no longer withus.
(45:02):
He was an older gentleman buthis name was Michael Michael
Jones.
When I knew him, he wascompletely blind and he was
amazing musician and songwriterand became a really good friend
of mine, um, through, uh,through the music, and he um
(45:26):
backed him and his group, whichhappens to be my um, husband's
mom is also a musician, so theywere in a group together and
that's that's actually how I metUm, and but it's also how I met
Michael too, so as as amusician.
But anyways, when I could notplay the guitar and do shows on
my own, I would ask them to toback me up and um, that's, you
(45:51):
know, we'd spend a lot of timewith them and one of my things.
So when I was gosh, between 12,13, 14, one of my things when I
would go, people would say,well, do you have your own music
?
Do you write?
And you need to write If you'regoing to do this.
You got to write and and, um, mything was, as I'm, I'm not a
(46:16):
songwriter, I'm a singer.
I like to sing, I um love tomeet people, I love to play
music, but I just don't write myown music like that's.
I'm not creative like that.
And I don't even know how thatwas placed into my mind because
it's such a lie.
But but that is where I was, Iknow now I was scared, it was,
(46:38):
it felt vulnerable to write myfeelings and my words, and I was
young and what on earth could Ipossibly write about?
And you know it's scary and allthese things.
But I decided I wasn't, Iwasn't a songwriter, I was just
going to, just going to sing,and that was fine, like can't
that be OK and that's so.
(46:59):
That's that's where I was at.
And one time, I don't know, Ithink I was probably talking
with Michael about that, and hewas, he was always sharing his,
his new song and know he wasblind, so he would, he had a
little recorder and he would saycome here, come here, listen to
this, and I'd get close andhe'd play this song, that it new
(47:21):
song that he had written.
And just, I mean, he's creative, the guy.
He just had song after song andthey were so good and and he,
he said something.
I don't even know how we gotinto the conversation really,
but he said something about mebeing a know how we got into the
conversation really, but hesaid something about me being a
songwriter and and that I coulddo that.
And I was like no, there's noway.
(47:42):
And, um, he said I'm not gonnado any justice like he did.
But he said something along thelines of to be the best way to
be creative is to be as close asyou can to the creator.
And I was that really stuckwith me and that is what you
(48:04):
said like we're all creative inour own way because we're made
in the image of the create, thegreat creator, and it doesn't
have to look like writing musicor writing stories or painting
or anything like.
There are so many ways that weum can model this um creative
(48:26):
spirit that we have throughchrist, and I mean it can be
anything and building buildinghouses is creative, like I mean,
there's so much that, yeah,that we can create with God.
So that would be what I wouldsay to somebody who's struggling
with feeling like they're not acreative person, or that they
(48:47):
just you know, or even haveaccepted it, or didn't even know
that they had accepted it.
They're just not creative.
Speaker 1 (48:54):
Yeah, no, that's yeah , that's what I would say
there's such a war on creativity, and I remember back in I think
it was like 2020 or so Iremember hearing my spirit like
when, in war, create, and I feltlike there was this um word
that I was to kind of to help.
You know just even my who Iwork with some of the clients.
(49:16):
I would just, you know, askthem, like, what is it that you
would love to create that youmaybe there was something that
was hijacked in you when you'reyounger that you know, was it
dancing?
Was it singing?
Was it?
What was it?
Did somebody tell you that yousucked at drawing and then you
stopped drawing?
That like kind of go back tothat memory and then get that
(49:38):
unlocked and go do the thing.
Right, I get excited about this.
I'm like kind of dancing overhere a little bit, but and it's
so interesting because, um, youknow one of the things and I
won't go too deep into it, but Iremember, you know, loved
singing, like I loved singing.
(49:59):
I had a record player with atape, you know cassette recorder
.
Next, to a microphone and thensomebody had said you know you
suck at singing, and thatcompletely it literally
chokeholded, chokeholded,chokeholded.
Yes, my, voice you know, evenin my 40s and it's been a
(50:21):
breaking process all these years, but yeah, um, yeah.
So thank you, I mean gosh tohave.
We just need.
We need people who are going tospeak life, you know, like your
friend, yeah over you and moveforward and and just really help
, you know, cut off those lies.
Because, yeah, you ever listento rita springer.
(50:42):
I don't know if I have.
Okay, she's a uh worship.
You know music.
Um, okay, she's in her.
I don't know, she might be inher 50s or 60s I just love her.
I want to check out one of herlike.
More popular songs is defender,oh sure she has her own podcast
(51:02):
and she interviews people and,um, one of the things she asked
amanda cook and I think she askseverybody.
But basically, like, what isthe thing that you're like to
like put out in the world?
Basically in essence, or whatis your essence that you put out
in the world?
I'm trying to I'm not using thewords correctly, but it's
(51:25):
courage.
So it's to put courage inpeople and it's usually the very
place that what you're calledto it's usually going to get
like attack the most right,uh-huh the attack of
discouragement, right.
So if you're like, for me, hopeis really like my thing, I just,
(51:46):
yeah, unlocked, there might besome like the enemy coming in,
like with hopelessness, right.
Or if you're a creative, you'reof course gonna have, like I
mean, and I don't mean we're allcreative, like I said, but sure
, right, you know songwriter,you know ones who are out there
really doing the thing.
You know what I'm saying?
(52:06):
Yes, yes.
So how does that like resonatewith you?
Speaker 2 (52:12):
uh, it's awesome.
So I guess my first thought waswell, goodness, what in my life
is that?
Like, what's the?
What is it that?
I the essence, as you weresaying, what is that that I'm
putting out?
And I was trying to think likewhat, what's the?
Because it was kind of theopposite thing, like if you are
(52:34):
putting out hope, then you mightget attacked with hopelessness
and, honestly, I need to thinkon that, because that's powerful
.
Speaker 1 (52:44):
It is a powerful question yeah, and it and also
kind of that, whatever your youknow destiny calling, you know
purpose.
There's usually kind of anattack in that area too, and
I've pondered I'm like, what isit about the singing aspect?
And I know that, like I'm notcalled to be a singer, I love
(53:05):
singing.
I know you know it breakschains, all the things.
But what is it through that?
And I love words, I lovesharing words, is it?
through that and I love, I lovewords, I love sharing words.
Um, I, I see words for you aswell, like being a wordsmith,
because you, almost you have tobe a wordsmith to be able to
create a book or worship musicor you know, speaking over
(53:27):
people, right, yes, yeah, sothat's what I was seeing over
you is like the.
The umbrella is words, wordsand writing, but then there's
it's the multifacetedness thatcomes down and down of like the
singing, the books, the you knowthere's.
There's so much here.
I love it.
(53:47):
There is, it's good, it's good.
Well, you have been such ablessing to have on.
I would love to have you backagain when your next book comes
out or when your nextmulti-faceted.
Speaker 2 (54:00):
Yes, we have started.
I was so excited because sorry,I was so excited because Joel
messaged me even before this was.
I mean, we were like done, Iwas just getting the finer
details of like formatting andmaking sure it was looked good
and getting the samples in themail.
And he was like, do you mind ifI start book two?
Speaker 1 (54:21):
I'm like, by all means so yes, and when was that
Like really really recent, yeah,very recent.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
So yeah, he's he's.
He's rolling with book two now,and I don't think he's he's
he's rolling with book two nowand I don't think.
You know, god has has his owntimeline.
I don't think it should take aslong because we've got the, the
backgrounds are and the colorsare already picked and the the
characters are already prettymuch created.
So I'm hoping it doesn't takequite as long, but we'll see
(54:52):
well, where can everybody getyour first book baby?
Yes, so, um my, I have a websitethat kind of has my life on
there and it's just AlexaBeelercom.
That's B O E H L E Rcom, soAlexa Beelercom, and you can
find it all there, okay.
Speaker 1 (55:12):
Sounds good, and I'll be sure to post your website in
the show notes as well.
And other than that, thank youfor coming on today.
Thank you for being here todayand setting others free.
I will close with Hope.
Unlocked anchoring verse it ismay the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace andbelieving, so that, by the power
(55:34):
of the Holy Spirit, you mayabound in hope, and that's
Romans 15, 13.
So thank you again, alexa.
Cannot wait for the many more,the multiples, to come.
All right, thank you so much,kristen.
We'll be back with anotherepisode next week.
Bye, bye, bye.
Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast.
I'm your host, Kristen Kurtz,and I'm also the founder of New
Wings Coaching.
I help and empower wildheartedand adventurous women of faith
feeling caged and stuck, unlocktheir true purpose and potential
, break free from limitationsand thrive with confidence,
courage and hope.
If you're curious to learn moreabout coaching with me, head to
newwingscoachingnet and be sureto explore the show notes for
(00:38):
ways to connect with me further.
Get ready to dive in as weuncover empowering keys and
insights in this episode.
So tune in and let's unlockhope together.
Welcome to the Hope Unlockedpodcast.
I'm Kristen Kurtz, your host.
I pray this episode is like aholy IV of hope for your soul.
Please help me.
Welcome Alexa Beeler to theshow.
(00:58):
I'm excited to have her herewith us today.
We are a connection throughseveral different means, partly
because of social media andpartly because of a ministry
that we were both trained up in,but I'm just excited to have
you here today.
Alexa, Could you share a littlebit about yourself before we
get started?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah, yeah, thank you , kristen, for this opportunity.
I'm really excited to just talkand just lean into what God has
to share.
And yeah, I'd love to share alittle bit about myself.
So well, I guess, first of all,I am a wife to Max and he's a
(01:38):
school teacher, so I get tomostly stay home with the kiddos
.
I've sort of switched to thetitle to stay at home mom, to
work from home mom, so, but, um,but yeah, I've got, uh, four
little girls.
I'm girl mom and my oldest willbe, she will be six this summer
(02:00):
, which is crazy.
So I've got a six year or afive, almost six year old.
I've got three year old twinsand then our fourth was born in
December, so she's about fourmonths now.
Yep, four months.
So, yeah, I'm doing the momthing, doing the doing the small
(02:21):
town life.
Now, we just recently movedback from um, from Missouri.
We were, my husband wasteaching in St Joe and we lived
in a little town out there, butthis we're in home, we're at
home now.
We both grew up in small town,nebraska, and just moved back.
Well, it's about a year now,but it still feels pretty fresh.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
But so, but what led you back to Nebraska?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, you know.
So we, we were high schoolsweethearts and, um, after we
went to, I guess, to college, um, in a little bit bigger of a
city that we were in, but stillnot big at all, Really, we grew
up in a town about a thousandpeople, both of us.
And um, yeah, and then we movedto uh what it would be what we
(03:10):
would call our big city whichisn't, um, but we moved to
Kearney and we went to collegethere and then we decided, when
we got married, we were going togo and explore a little bit
more and we moved to Kansas cityarea and, um, we always knew
that when we started havingchildren and we're going to
actually settle down, we bothjust kind of knew we would head
(03:33):
back to where family was andthat's what brought us back.
You know, family is mostimportant and, um, it's been a
huge blessing to be able to beclose to both my family and his
family and, um, yeah, so I wouldsay family brought us back.
(03:53):
The Lord did all the work but,yes, um, we wanted to be close
to them.
So when you were apart, was itchallenging?
(04:15):
Like, did you have a supportnetwork?
Yeah, out of your family inMissouri, hours away?
Um, so, not nothing that we,you know, couldn't make it back
if we needed to, or theycouldn't make it there if they
needed to, but when we startedto have the kiddos, that was
(04:40):
very, very challenging.
I, um, my heart goes out to, um, to parents who are either not
able to or don't have familyaround.
It is a huge blessing.
It was hard, yes, I can onlyimagine.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I always tell people it takes a village, I'm sure
that my mother-in-law doesin-home daycare so she was
helping take care of my boy.
That's wonderful, because I wasworking a job when I was a
young mom.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
But I thought, gosh, I can't even imagine not having
family you know to care, likejust putting them in a child
care center.
No, no condemnation to anybodywho's putting.
No, I know, I know For mepersonally like I had a dream to
be a stay-at-home mom and Ijust thought, okay, that's not
God's plan at this point.
The next best alternative is tohave you know, family to you
(05:28):
know, almost just be like thatsecond home, right?
Yes?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
absolutely, I feel the same.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Yeah, Well, it's interesting.
I have a friend who lives init's Kearney right, Missouri.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah Well, so we're in Kearney.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Nebraska is where we went to school, so oh okay, so
there's a, there is a KearneyMissouri, but yes, All right, so
that would be a completelydifferent place.
Um so, going back, um, you'vegone back home and what?
What have you been up to Like?
What is, what is somethingthat's been?
You know we were talking beforewe got started and you know my
(06:06):
heart.
One of the reasons I had you onwas to share what you've been
up to and really, you know help,I don't know.
It's almost like a birthannouncement, maybe.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, yes, I think it is.
That's how I feel and I love.
I have to sidebar a little bitand say I absolutely love that
you use that analogy, so so much, because I am super passionate
about birth and andphysiological birth and I my one
of my best friends is a doulaand I started attending births
with her and just superpassionate about actual birth
(06:41):
and so just seeing this analogyis really special actual birth,
and so just seeing this analogyis really special.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's so interesting because I have, like you know,
as a life coach, I've hadseveral clients say you're like
a spiritual midwife to help.
I love that birth, that which iswithin somebody, because I
think there's too many peoplewho self-abort, what it is that
god's calling them to birth,right, and I for some reason
just get all of these likebirthing analogies and yet I'm
not like in the birth spacephysically.
I love it, essence, right, yeah, yeah.
(07:11):
So that's kind of a behind thescenes of if anybody's wondering
like, what is she talking about?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Yes, yes, I have some people that don't understand my
language.
No, it's good, I love that, so,okay, well, so here's the birth
announcement of the book that Iam working on.
So I actually just published aChristian children's book.
It's called Emmanuel Emu God iswith you and it has been a
(07:40):
whole long process of bringingthis to the world a whole long
process of bringing this to theworld.
I guess I kind of got the ideaafter.
Okay, I'm going to rewind again.
I'm sorry, I'm kind of all over, but I I grew up as a singer,
songwriter.
That's kind of what I did allthrough.
(08:02):
I mean, gosh, I started when Iwas 10-ish, around there and
like actually singing for eventsand things like that.
So that's kind of, I guess, alittle bit of background of the
art side of what I do, the artsyside.
I was listening to one of yourpodcasts and somebody said that
(08:22):
they were multi-passionate andI'm like thank you for that
wording, I've been needing that.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
So it's right in that .
What was that there's so muchfreedom to?
Because I think the world willtell you that, no, you can only
do one thing.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Well, absolutely, and that's something I had have
struggled with.
It's like, well, if I'm doingthis, then I can't do that, and
you know I've always been verycreative and I love the writing,
music and and art and that sortof thing.
But if I'm focused on that, Iactually that's kind of another
(08:58):
story.
But I had somebody veryinfluential say that there was
no way I could even do what Iwas doing, because I needed to
make a distinction.
If I was for sure going to bemaking music and that's all I
was going to do, or you know.
And it really like cut deep andI didn't understand why at the
time, because I was like, but Ialso I ran track in college and
(09:20):
I loved being well and helpingpeople understand wellness and
like why couldn't they both be?
And just, you know that sort ofthing.
So, but yeah, so I started.
I've always been into music andcreative and that type of thing
, but just it just never waslike clicking.
Really I don't know how toexplain it other than it just
(09:43):
really wasn't clicking.
I have some really great music,but I don't know, I didn't
always be quite as bold about myfaith and sharing the gospel
through what I was doing.
So I know that had a factor forsure, but I think for sure,
looking back now with the wholemulti-passionate idea is like I
(10:06):
really was just like putting mymyself, I guess, into a box and
when God was like, no, you areall these things, this is how I
made you.
So, um, yeah, that's beenreally very freeing, as you.
As you said, so, um, I guess,when I had my first, I was in
Missouri at the time, so weweren't around family and I was
(10:29):
working for a while before shewas born, at a chiropractic
clinic and I was doing the rehabwith the clients there and I
was called to stay home, evenwhile I was throughout the
pregnancy, which was interestingbecause I didn't have any other
(10:49):
kids, so that was hard.
But in that time I got pluggedin with the other ministry that
you and I have been involvedwith the Revelation, fitness or
wellness and so I started doingthat and um was really, really
excited about it, um, and itjust felt like very freeing at
(11:09):
the time, cause I wasn't um, Iguess I could be focused on not
just one thing.
I started I was doing a lot ofmore music and singing, and
that's where some of income wascoming from, and I was also
doing this fitness thing and Iloved that.
That was one of the firstmoments where I was like, okay,
these do fit together.
This can work and right after myfirst was born.
(11:35):
Of course, you know it's a hugelife change to have your first
kiddo and I'm going all the timego, go, go, go go and just to
sit down and learn how to nursea baby and be resting with them.
Um, my, I, I just feel like Iwas kind of given this little
(11:56):
character, emmanuel Um, and hewas an emu, and I, I, I, okay,
we're just.
This is so fun to talk with youabout it, cause you now you've
said you are into the birthanalogies and you've also, um,
I've heard you say that you lovebird eagles and birds, and I'm
(12:16):
a bird lady too, so this is sofun.
My first is actually named Lark, so I love the birds.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Yes, we could have fun out in nature together.
Let me just say oh, yes, wewould.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
But yeah, so I had this little character, emmanuel
Emu.
God gave me his little storyand you know pretty much it
(12:55):
sounds kind of silly, but really, as I was nursing my first and
singing her little lullabies andtelling her little stories,
this, this was born with herkind of this little emu.
And yeah, that that's how thestory happened.
I wanted I want nothing morethan my kids and all the kids,
to know that God is with us andwith them, and so that is really
what this story, this firststory, is about.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
So you said the first story Tell us more.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
There's more, there's more coming.
I have several books alreadywritten and I am so excited that
that god connected me with um,the illustrator that we've been
working with um because he is anamazing man of god.
I've never met him in person,but he has been working with me
(13:37):
on this project for well overtwo, two years or more now.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
at this point, um, just kind of bringing this story
to life and that is kind of afun story in itself, because I
had no idea where to start- Well, would you mind like kind of
digging in with us on that,because one of my favorite
things when I hear somebody sayis like I didn't know what I was
doing.
Yes, yes, so I'm imagining thatyou didn't you're doing.
(14:06):
Would you be able to kind ofdig into that a little bit with
our audience?
Because, first of all, you're amom of four under the age of
five.
Yes, so that could be.
You know, we have a lot ofthings that try to keep us from
stepping into our desk.
That could definitely besomething that you could say no,
I got to wait till you know,and I'm just using that as an
(14:29):
example.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Yeah, Because there's lies right that I don't have.
Yes, I always find, like someof the not if you agree with me,
but with people I've workedwith or people have come across
my path I find them, to do this,detractors.
I guess that's the best way toput it.
I don't have time and I don'thave money.
Yes, Things can keep you fromstepping into what he's calling
(14:54):
you into.
So would you be able to likekind of walk us through this
process of like what did it looklike?
Did you feel?
Like he's saying now, and thenyou're like what?
Like tell us a little bit moreabout this process.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yes, I would love to.
Okay, so you were spot on withthe time and money thing.
That.
That definitely comes up a lotin inside of me and I have to go
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no, so, yes.
(15:30):
So I'll take us back when Ifirst got this, this little
story in this little character,and I knew it was going to be a
children's book.
Actually, I'm going to go backa little bit even further.
So I had just I guess I had acouple of years before, but I
(15:54):
had published, or not published,I had released an album, uh,
songs that I had written and, um, it was kind of a stripped back
version of what I had donebefore.
And in my I was working with umkind of a home studio um guy
and he was also a Christian andI was like this is, this is good
.
We're gonna try and focus onthat, this being okay, how do I
say it?
I wanted it to the music to be.
(16:18):
It could be Christian music,but also couldn't.
That's where I was at in life,like you know.
You could listen to it and ifyou were a Christian, well, this
is special and it's not, youknow, dirty or whatever you want
to call it, but it's notovertly like I'm talking about
(16:39):
God or my faith or anything likethat.
That's where I was kind of at.
And um, looking back, it's goodmusic, but I, like I had already
mentioned it, um, I can tellthat it wasn't.
I wasn't in the flow of whatGod wanted me to be doing.
Now that I know, and um, so itdidn't really do any.
(17:01):
I mean, it was good and itdidn't it.
It wasn't like't justfulfilling, it wasn't what I
knew I should be doing.
I think, okay, and so that was.
Did you feel that at the time?
Did you feel?
I did not know that at the time.
I think I and I think if I Idon't know, I think I was
convincing myself that this iswhat I could be doing and
(17:26):
they're like, if this is goodand it is good, I think there's
people that that works and Godcalls them to that, but I I
don't know.
I knew that something was kindof off and it felt out of my
comfort zone.
But I thought I guess I'vealways thought that like we're
called to be uncomfortable, sothis is what that feels like.
But I think I'm starting torealize now more that it's that
(17:47):
that feeling was more of likeyou're maybe uncomfortable
because it's not what you'resupposed to be doing, versus
what it feels like to beuncomfortable when you are doing
what God's calling you to do,if that makes any sense at all.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Yeah, and I think we have to take a step back too and
kind of have that eagle eyesview of, like you stepped into
it, nothing is wasted, right,and that first step in you know,
like I can imagine you know, ifyou have volumes of books, your
first book maybe isn't going tobe as like.
Kind of like when we dosomething for the first time, we
(18:21):
really kind of don't know whatwe're doing, but yeah, still
with us and his hand is on it,so it's not like you were, you
know, being obedient or whatever, but like that there's more for
you in that realm as well.
Yeah, yes, yes, that's exactlyright.
So I'm going to stop on thatpoint, just for anybody who's
listening like nothing is wastedright absolutely nothing is
(18:44):
wasted.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I've learned so much in all of those, in all of that,
and I don't usually likepromote that now, but, yeah, it
was definitely, um, a learningexperience for sure, and growing
in in my faith too, so,absolutely so, I guess, bringing
me to to the book now, thatwhen I as as a mom, as a new mom
(19:09):
I was, it felt, um, it feltlike everything kind of came
together and was like this was away that, um, like this is what
I was supposed to be doing, Iguess.
So, like I can make music.
Now that goes with the bookswhich I have, the each book has
a little song that goes with it,and it's.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
I see you having music with your books and I
didn't have.
I had no idea.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Oh yeah, that's wonderful.
So, yes, that's what I, that'swhat I, I I did and I'm like
this, this ties it together andlike I'm going all out, like I
for for my kids right, they gotit.
I'm not gonna not have aChristian book.
A faith based book is somethingthat I'm going to teach them
(19:59):
through this, and in that,that's what happened, that's
what.
That's what happened.
So, um, yeah, so that's where Iwas at when and it just all
like came together and I waslike, okay, so this is for God,
this is for my kids, this is,this is who he created me to be
is to to like confidently puthim out first and not not like a
(20:22):
second thought.
And so so I, I kind of got I.
It was slow because, there yougo, I was busy, I had a new baby
and I was stay at home mom andmy husband had, you know, just
teaching job and we're notmaking a whole lot, and so I
didn't really do much with itfor, oh gosh, maybe a year or so
(20:46):
, um, but in the meantime I hada couple other books that came
to me as well.
So I have those written and thesongs that went with them, and
that was kind of that.
And then after my well, I can'tremember, it was either before
or after my twins were born, itwas right around that time I was
(21:07):
.
I told my husband, max.
I was like, I think I'm I'mjust holding onto these adorable
stories and I like tell them tomy kids, so I should just do it
already.
And and he's very supportiveand he said all right, figure
out how to do it, just tell mehow much it's going to cost.
And I was like, okay, well,here we go.
And so I, um, I knew I needed anillustrator and I knew, uh,
(21:40):
gosh, you, a Christian of faithdriven illustrator artist to
work with, because I know thatlittle people can't read, so
they're going to read thepictures first, and I know how
powerful pictures can be.
And so so I was like I gottafind this person and I started
(22:01):
reaching out to.
I have lots of our artistfriends and I contacted them
first and nobody was really like.
Some.
Some were like, well, I couldmaybe see what I can come up
with and give you a sample, andsure, so I, they did that and
I'll see.
You know, they ended upactually saying no, they didn't
(22:21):
think this was a good time totake on a project, and you know,
that's, that's good.
And I learned about the um, thelike freelancer sites like, uh,
upwork, upwork and Fiverr, andI was like, okay, I'm not having
any luck finding any, anyillustrators, so I'm just gonna
(22:42):
post it there and see whathappens, okay.
And I, so I posted, I made apost, it was like at 10 pm and
after, after the kiddos weresleeping, I, um, I explained
very, very rudimentary thisproject that I was looking for
an illustrator for, and I, I,you know, I was bold at that
(23:03):
point because in the past Iwould maybe I I definitely
mentioned and make it obviousthat I was a Christian, but this
following Jesus, but I wouldn'tput it the very first thing.
Oh, I love that, yeah, and sothis, uh, this time I did and
and I was, like you know, I'm anew mom.
I have, you know, been a singer, songwriter.
(23:26):
I've got these littlechildren's books and this it's
about an emu and I love birdsand nature and seeing God and
that and this type of thing.
That's how I explained it and Iwas like, oh, what the heck,
let's see what happens.
And like five minutes later Igot a response and, um, he
(23:46):
shared it.
He's like, you know, I don'tget on, I don't get on this like
at all really, but I did happento hop on and just check my
account and I saw your post and,um, he explained that you know,
he was, uh, actually at thetime was a school teacher and he
was a daughter, he haddaughters, he was a girl dad and
(24:08):
like all these things, and heactually had published just very
loosely but he had done it abook about birds and he was a
minister at his church and alsoan illustrator, and he thought
this was a very, you know,interesting project.
He'd like to learn more.
I was like well, goodness, thatlike matched everything In five
(24:31):
minutes.
I know, I mean seriously, itwas like instant.
And you know, I responded rightaway and I was like well,
that's perfect.
I think we like match reallywell, I responded right away,
and I was like well, that'sperfect.
I think we like match reallywell and um, but I did say you
know, um, we're on an extremelytight budget, like I don't even
know how this is going to work.
I, I know that I'm supposed tobe doing it, but you know, I I'm
(24:53):
all about paying people whatthey're worth, and I certainly
would not, you know, I don't I'mjust not saying no right now,
but just so you know I not gotmuch to work with and he said
that's just fine.
Just, you know, I'll pray aboutit, you pray about it, which I
was like okay, that's great sofar, we're starting with that
and um, but, but you know, goahead and talk to the people
(25:17):
that you need to talk to.
And so I did.
I got back a couple um samplesfrom other people.
Just you know that, saw thepost and, uh, they were good,
but there was, and I hadn't evenseen a sample from this guy.
His name's Joel, by the way.
Joel is the illustrator, joel,part part.
You know what?
(25:37):
I need to ask him actually howto pronounce his name.
We were talking about that.
It's either partner partain, um, so, poor guy, I need to.
I've only been talking to himfor working with him for two
years now.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
So well, we don't use all, each other by our last
name Right, well, thanks forthat.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
So Joel, um, yeah, so anyways, he anyways, he hadn't,
even we hadn't even gotten asample yet from him.
But you know, we just I justfelt like very strong connection
there and I got the othersamples and they were good and
all of that.
But I tried to pursue, you know, like do we, do you just do
(26:19):
this, you know over, likemessenger, or do we talk?
And you know, most of themdidn't.
It was just we just theydevelop the pictures and I use
them, type of thing.
And I ended up having a callwith Joel and I was like you
know, I felt very called to workwith him and I told him that
(26:39):
and he said you know, I feel thesame, so let.
I told him that and he said youknow, I feel the same, so let's
just make it work.
And he said, okay, let's justmake it work.
And he was extremely gracious.
Um donated a ton of time to theproject, a lot of his um
experience and having donesomething similar before.
(27:00):
And he was just upfront withyou know, you're going to I
believe in this project and you,you know we'll pay for what you
use.
So we did a lot of characterdevelopment, which was so much
fun working with him.
Like we we tried all kinds.
First he was a darker coloredemu and because that's what emus
(27:20):
are, that most of the time thestandard color is dark, like a
black colored feather, and itwas not translating at all to
the illustration.
And so we're like, well, maybehe needs to be a blonde emu or a
white one.
And so we did all thedevelopment and he was just
awesome development and um, hewas just awesome.
(27:43):
It was just so fun to see Godbring this to life through his
talent and his, like, I guess,desire to hear the heart of the
story and the message behind it.
It was just super fun.
You know I would say thingslike you know we need, I want to
, I want to see Jesus throughthis little character's eyes.
So how do we brighten his eyesup?
(28:08):
And you know, like make it popoff of the page and speak to
little people, little hearts,like that's what I wanted.
I wanted this little cuddly guythat just has the joy of of of
Jesus in his eyes, and so hewould like draw up something and
be like, how about this?
And it was just so, and it wasjust so fun, it was just an
awesome process.
And, um, you know, he'd sendover one and be like, oh yeah, I
(28:28):
think that's close, but maybehis, maybe his hair looks a
little spiky, he's not quite aslovable as we want.
Okay, let's try this.
And I remember the morning thatwe got the one, because I was
sitting at the table, we werehaving breakfast and one of the
twins I think it was Blythe wassitting on my lap and I said, oh
(28:51):
, we got another picture ofEmmanuel.
Come here, hurry.
And they all came running overand we pulled it up and their
reaction like I have a video ofher, of her reaction, their
reaction.
But one of my girls inparticular they make like the
same face, really bright eyed,like it's a kind of goofy.
(29:12):
But she's like, oh, and I waslike that's the one, that's the
reaction I wanted, that's theone, that's the reaction I
wanted, that's what we weregoing for.
And so that was him, that was Iwas him.
So that was the process ofdeveloping Emmanuel Emu.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
That you involved your girls in it and they got to
be part of this process.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Yes, they've been.
They've been very involved andit's been so, so special.
I say it's it's kid testedalready.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
I love that, oh my gosh.
So like an emu, like I don'tknow if we're seeing an emu
before, like what is it aboutthe emu?
And like do you have emus whereyou live?
Speaker 2 (29:58):
I'm so glad you asked , cause I love them so much but
I don't have one yet.
I need one I have.
I have only met one in personone time and I've always been a
bird person, always, always beena bird person and I like fun
and humor and justlightheartedness.
(30:19):
I love that and um, and to bedifferent and unique, that's
always been my thing too.
So I I just I always haveenjoyed different things and
when I discovered the emu, itseems to kind of fit like me and
all the things that I love,because emus can't fly and so
(30:41):
I've always loved birds becausethey can fly.
And I was like wait a minute,bird can't even fly.
And so I that intrigued mebecause they, they, um, are
runners actually and they're,they're like fast and so, and so
it's just funny how it all tiedtogether, cause like, and so
it's just funny how it all tiedtogether because like it's kind
(31:03):
of goofy, it's kind of cheesyactually, but they're runners.
And so I ran track in highschool.
I got to go to state and ranand I loved doing that and went
to college running track andlike that's just been kind of my
thing, like it seemed to fitthe wellness piece into my love
(31:24):
for, like nature and birds.
Somehow, I don't know, it's soweird to say, but that is how I
um became intrigued with the emu.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Wow, I love it.
I mean, I've never, I have notknown a lot about emus before.
You just educate me today.
And I love birds, um, yes, andI love eagles.
They tend to like go up highand they don't, they just catch
the wind I love them we have alot of of eagles in our area.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
like we, we were by a big reservoir.
It's one of the biggest I guessyou'd call it a lake here in
Nebraska and we get tons ofeagles right along the lake.
It's so I love them.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
They.
Just yesterday I was on a walkand I literally it felt like the
Lord was tipping my head up.
And I look up and there's fiveswirling above my head.
I feel like I'm not even inthis world right now.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
That's amazing.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
You know, they just take you to a whole other place.
But your book is Joel Like isthis something that he does on
the side?
Then?
Is this something that, like,we could share him with the
world?
Would that be helpful?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
So he does do it on the side.
He's a very you know busy dadand does this in his free time
and you know, I don't know if he, if he does other projects,
yeah.
I'm not even sure.
I for somebody as well, and younever know.
So if he's open to it.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
We'll definitely do that in the show notes and we
can highlight Joel why not?
Speaker 2 (33:12):
So he should be highlighted.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
He's, he's a great guy, he does such good work and
you said initially you were ledto go out.
Was out?
Was it fiber that you went onto find?
Speaker 2 (33:21):
him.
I did go both, so I actuallyfound him on up up work.
It's either up work or up works, okay, I think.
But that's where I, that'swhere he was at that's pretty
amazing.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
um, I know like back in the day I had somebody from
fiber that helped with some acouple creative projects that
were way beyond me, because wecan't do everything.
I just maybe I like that, let'sgo there.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
We can't do everything.
I think we should, becausethat's been a big thing that has
been coming up for me just thisyear where I can't do it all
and I don't have a lot of moneyand I don't have a lot of time
but I can't do it all.
So God's going to connect thosedots and make it happen if it's
supposed to be like, if it'sfrom him.
(34:07):
So yeah, that's a good, good,good point.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
When I mean even you know there's.
There's things that I've beenkind of picking up on lately,
even just in my own business,and seeing that you know there's
things I could learn and Icould probably do it good, I'm
just going to say I could do itgood but I may not be able to do
it great.
And there's people who are goodto do certain work that like for
(34:31):
me.
I would not be creating analbum that just I can do it Like
I can get behind a microphone,but that would go well.
It would not be great, Might bea little good.
I don do it Like I can getbehind a microphone, but that
would go well, it would not be,great, might be a little good, I
don't know.
But like we're all given thesecallings and destinies and we
have this purpose in us andwe've been.
(34:52):
We're all creative, right, Ibelieve that created creatively,
and I think that's anotherpeople get stagnated in and say,
oh no, I'm not creative, Ican't paint Cause I've noticed
that that's another.
People get stagnated in and say,oh no, I'm not creative, I
can't paint, because I'venoticed that that's kind of the
oh I can't paint.
It's like that's not the onlycreative thing that you can
write, right, right.
But as far as you know thisbook, like, how did what else
(35:14):
was the process to to birth thebook?
Because, um well, I'll let youshare, because I feel like we're
speaking to somebody today.
That's like I have no resources, I can't do that.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
I don't have a voice, I don't have money, I don't
have time, right, right, andyou're already decimating like
disintegrating some of theselies, right, yeah, yes, and um,
yeah, so okay, the next steps, Iguess, were once we I mean and
this, this was a long process um, one thing that, um, when Joel
(35:50):
and I talked, he was like youknow, I do this on the side and
if you're wanting to pump thisout, you know, if God says you
need to get this out reallyquick, I'm probably not the guy,
and and I, we prayed on thatbecause I, in my head, I'm like,
when I start, I'm going tofinish and let's get it out and
(36:10):
start telling people.
And I really really felt likeno, I'm supposed to work with
with him and I'm supposed towork with with him and I'm
supposed to work with withpeople and someone who sees this
vision and is passionate aboutit and like this is how this is
supposed to be.
So there were times where itwas slow and he was busy and
(36:33):
wasn't able to get me anything,or I mean, I'm talking like
months between contact.
And then there were seasonswhere we were like holy smokes,
we're back and forth and backand forth and we've got this now
and and onto the next step, andso that's kind of how it went
for quite a while.
And then, let's see, we moved.
(36:55):
So there was a lot happening,and a lot happening where we're
actually in the middle ofbuilding a house as well.
So I was in the process oftrying to coordinate all of the
early stages of moving the hometo the, to the land, and I, I
just it was just a lot happening, and so we've always been
really open and saying like,okay, we've got this going on
(37:17):
and okay, I'll pray for you inthat area and this is why I'm
not responding quickly and thattype of thing but after that
kind of slowed.
Well, it was right before andthey knew that.
We knew that that was going tohappen.
It was going to get really busyagain.
We talked and I was like, let'stry and get this.
We've had several like let's doit, let's do the launch over
(37:38):
Christmas, and we're like, okay,we missed it, we missed the
launch, let's move to the next,the next goal.
Yes, exactly.
And so this has been one of thefirst projects where I have been
, well, just, I guess, open tothat happening, I guess into
(38:06):
that happening, I guess, andkind of balancing or I guess,
letting, letting the Lord guideit, um, and knowing like we're
going to do all that we can toget to this date.
Um, less of like the I'm goingto get it, get it out, whether
it looks good or not, or whetherI wanted to change this or not,
and more of like no, we're allin at this point, let's make it
how we believe it's supposed tobe, and that type of thing.
(38:29):
So I guess that is just.
Um, you know, don't obviouslydon't put things off and
procrastinate, but when you'redoing work for I mean the best
quality that you can do, and youknow that like you're being
(38:51):
intentional about that, you'renot procrastinating type of
thing, like there's a difference.
I guess is what I'm trying tosay Um, and then that that
didn't feel disappointing tomiss that date.
I guess, if that, if that makessense.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
So so do you think that maybe in, maybe in years
past, and other projects youwould have maybe been had some
is the word that I'm hearingmaybe like kind of
disappointment and not reachinglike the due date.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
In essence, yeah, yeah, I think it would have been
an either or thing either Iwould have um felt so much
pressure that it had to be outon the time that we had planned,
or that I had even told peopleit was going to be out, that I,
like I don't know, stayed uptill like all night, every night
(39:38):
, for weeks trying to get itthere, and then it just like
wasn't as the quality that Iwould have liked or been
disappointed.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
Yeah, yes, exactly, there's like a striving.
And now you're like okay, lord,like I surrender this.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Yes, yes, that's exactly right.
The striving uh-huh fromstriving surrender like that
it's and it's.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
It's a challenge, like there's such a
transformation that happens inthat and it, but it can feel
kind of uncomfortable becausethe world would say you need to
have this done quickly, rightyeah, especially we.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
I did a whole year of pretty intense, I guess,
fundraising for the project andso I was telling people about
this and I couldn't give them adate.
And they're giving to me.
They were extremely generous ofpeople.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
And.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
I was.
I there was like a you know, Ifeel bad, I I don't, I can't
tell you when it's going tohappen, or I tell them a time
that I'm like, uh-uh, we gotpushed back again and I guess it
was a stretch.
But it was also good for me tobe able to practice being
staying in connection with thepeople who had donated and
keeping them in the loop likeauthentically, not like I knew I
(40:51):
had to do that.
That in the past I'd be like Iknow I need to keep them in the
loop like authentically, notlike I knew I had to do that.
That in the past I'd be like Iknow I need to keep them in the
loop, but I don't know what tosay, and so I would not.
And this time it was like no,this is where we're at now, this
is where, this is where we'reat, this is where we're at.
So you know, yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Did you ever get?
I mean, did you ever get anyfeedback from people like
negative feedback because it was?
Speaker 2 (41:19):
no, not even once not even one time.
It was always oh my gosh, we'reso excited you're getting
closer, we can't wait.
I mean, it's been amazing.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Yes, well, that's amazing and I'm sure that you
had some chains broken in thatrealm of you know, we can kind
of pick up the you know peoplepleasing essence and I think
it's us right.
Yes, so you know we have towalk through situations to be
broken of you know, whatever itis that we're carrying at times,
(41:50):
and I love that you have such asupportive community.
I think that is brilliant tohave fundraising.
I imagine the lord gave youthat idea to, yeah, accompany
you on this journey.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Yes, he did, he did and, um, it was wonderful.
We actually went.
My sister and I do some singingtogether sometimes and um, so
we kind of put together a little, I guess, service or program of
songs and we went to littletiny churches and, yeah, we were
(42:26):
pretty much the message for theday and I told him about the
book and the message behind thebook and we sang songs with
people that and that and theyjust free will whatever they
felt led to give oh it was itwas wonderful, and then they got
plugged into your communitythrough that, yes, yeah, oh, my
gosh, I love this.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
And this is you are like this season's launching
pioneers, right, you're,definitely're definitely a
pioneer, doing things differentand really, you know, being
anchored to the Lord andreleasing something that it
maybe doesn't make sense onpaper, um, especially when you
know some of us are walkingthrough more challenging
(43:09):
financial situations and we'recalled to build something.
It's like, right, you know youthink of building an ark and, um
, I always oh, just my silly umexample, but I I'm a very visual
person, so when I read no, Iimagine his wife, like sitting
down going no like seriously, wehave no rain.
(43:32):
Yes, have you seen like this hasbeen years?
You're doing this thing, whatare you doing?
But I love that your husband isso supportive and you had all
these people supporting you andyou know that's not always the
case for people.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Yeah, I know, I feel very, very, very fortunate.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
It's beautiful.
Well, as we're getting ready toclose up today, I have this
person, and maybe this person'skind of, in that situation where
they're not um having as muchsupport as they would love, or
they're looking for morecreative ideas um or they need
to be unlocked in theircreativity.
Would you be open to justsharing to the one who's
listening in today and um toshare any words of encouragement
(44:10):
or wisdom you might feel led tospeak?
Sharing to the one who'slistening in today and um to
share any words of encouragementor wisdom you might feel led to
speak over to them?
Speaker 2 (44:20):
Absolutely, um, and I I love that you were led to ask
this, because one of the one ofthe things that came to me, um,
as I was spending some timewith the Lord and preparing to
chat with you, um, was aboutthat and um, way back when I
(44:41):
just started actually likesinging for events and we did um
, traditional country musicfestivals we traveled around to
when I was younger I was like 11, 12 at the time and one of my
dear friends he's no longer withus.
(45:02):
He was an older gentleman buthis name was Michael Michael
Jones.
When I knew him, he wascompletely blind and he was
amazing musician and songwriterand became a really good friend
of mine, um, through, uh,through the music, and he um
(45:26):
backed him and his group, whichhappens to be my um, husband's
mom is also a musician, so theywere in a group together and
that's that's actually how I metUm, and but it's also how I met
Michael too, so as as amusician.
But anyways, when I could notplay the guitar and do shows on
my own, I would ask them to toback me up and um, that's, you
(45:51):
know, we'd spend a lot of timewith them and one of my things.
So when I was gosh, between 12,13, 14, one of my things when I
would go, people would say,well, do you have your own music
?
Do you write?
And you need to write If you'regoing to do this.
You got to write and and, um, mything was, as I'm, I'm not a
(46:16):
songwriter, I'm a singer.
I like to sing, I um love tomeet people, I love to play
music, but I just don't write myown music like that's.
I'm not creative like that.
And I don't even know how thatwas placed into my mind because
it's such a lie.
But but that is where I was, Iknow now I was scared, it was,
(46:38):
it felt vulnerable to write myfeelings and my words, and I was
young and what on earth could Ipossibly write about?
And you know it's scary and allthese things.
But I decided I wasn't, Iwasn't a songwriter, I was just
going to, just going to sing,and that was fine, like can't
that be OK and that's so.
(46:59):
That's that's where I was at.
And one time, I don't know, Ithink I was probably talking
with Michael about that, and hewas, he was always sharing his,
his new song and know he wasblind, so he would, he had a
little recorder and he would saycome here, come here, listen to
this, and I'd get close andhe'd play this song, that it new
(47:21):
song that he had written.
And just, I mean, he's creative, the guy.
He just had song after song andthey were so good and and he,
he said something.
I don't even know how we gotinto the conversation really,
but he said something about mebeing a know how we got into the
conversation really, but hesaid something about me being a
songwriter and and that I coulddo that.
And I was like no, there's noway.
(47:42):
And, um, he said I'm not gonnado any justice like he did.
But he said something along thelines of to be the best way to
be creative is to be as close asyou can to the creator.
And I was that really stuckwith me and that is what you
(48:04):
said like we're all creative inour own way because we're made
in the image of the create, thegreat creator, and it doesn't
have to look like writing musicor writing stories or painting
or anything like.
There are so many ways that weum can model this um creative
(48:26):
spirit that we have throughchrist, and I mean it can be
anything and building buildinghouses is creative, like I mean,
there's so much that, yeah,that we can create with God.
So that would be what I wouldsay to somebody who's struggling
with feeling like they're not acreative person, or that they
(48:47):
just you know, or even haveaccepted it, or didn't even know
that they had accepted it.
They're just not creative.
Speaker 1 (48:54):
Yeah, no, that's yeah , that's what I would say
there's such a war on creativity, and I remember back in I think
it was like 2020 or so Iremember hearing my spirit like
when, in war, create, and I feltlike there was this um word
that I was to kind of to help.
You know just even my who Iwork with some of the clients.
(49:16):
I would just, you know, askthem, like, what is it that you
would love to create that youmaybe there was something that
was hijacked in you when you'reyounger that you know, was it
dancing?
Was it singing?
Was it?
What was it?
Did somebody tell you that yousucked at drawing and then you
stopped drawing?
That like kind of go back tothat memory and then get that
(49:38):
unlocked and go do the thing.
Right, I get excited about this.
I'm like kind of dancing overhere a little bit, but and it's
so interesting because, um, youknow one of the things and I
won't go too deep into it, but Iremember, you know, loved
singing, like I loved singing.
(49:59):
I had a record player with atape, you know cassette recorder
.
Next, to a microphone and thensomebody had said you know you
suck at singing, and thatcompletely it literally
chokeholded, chokeholded,chokeholded.
Yes, my, voice you know, evenin my 40s and it's been a
(50:21):
breaking process all these years, but yeah, um, yeah.
So thank you, I mean gosh tohave.
We just need.
We need people who are going tospeak life, you know, like your
friend, yeah over you and moveforward and and just really help
, you know, cut off those lies.
Because, yeah, you ever listento rita springer.
(50:42):
I don't know if I have.
Okay, she's a uh worship.
You know music.
Um, okay, she's in her.
I don't know, she might be inher 50s or 60s I just love her.
I want to check out one of herlike.
More popular songs is defender,oh sure she has her own podcast
(51:02):
and she interviews people and,um, one of the things she asked
amanda cook and I think she askseverybody.
But basically, like, what isthe thing that you're like to
like put out in the world?
Basically in essence, or whatis your essence that you put out
in the world?
I'm trying to I'm not using thewords correctly, but it's
(51:25):
courage.
So it's to put courage inpeople and it's usually the very
place that what you're calledto it's usually going to get
like attack the most right,uh-huh the attack of
discouragement, right.
So if you're like, for me, hopeis really like my thing, I just,
(51:46):
yeah, unlocked, there might besome like the enemy coming in,
like with hopelessness, right.
Or if you're a creative, you'reof course gonna have, like I
mean, and I don't mean we're allcreative, like I said, but sure
, right, you know songwriter,you know ones who are out there
really doing the thing.
You know what I'm saying?
(52:06):
Yes, yes.
So how does that like resonatewith you?
Speaker 2 (52:12):
uh, it's awesome.
So I guess my first thought waswell, goodness, what in my life
is that?
Like, what's the?
What is it that?
I the essence, as you weresaying, what is that that I'm
putting out?
And I was trying to think likewhat, what's the?
Because it was kind of theopposite thing, like if you are
(52:34):
putting out hope, then you mightget attacked with hopelessness
and, honestly, I need to thinkon that, because that's powerful
.
Speaker 1 (52:44):
It is a powerful question yeah, and it and also
kind of that, whatever your youknow destiny calling, you know
purpose.
There's usually kind of anattack in that area too, and
I've pondered I'm like, what isit about the singing aspect?
And I know that, like I'm notcalled to be a singer, I love
(53:05):
singing.
I know you know it breakschains, all the things.
But what is it through that?
And I love words, I lovesharing words, is it?
through that and I love, I lovewords, I love sharing words.
Um, I, I see words for you aswell, like being a wordsmith,
because you, almost you have tobe a wordsmith to be able to
create a book or worship musicor you know, speaking over
(53:27):
people, right, yes, yeah, sothat's what I was seeing over
you is like the.
The umbrella is words, wordsand writing, but then there's
it's the multifacetedness thatcomes down and down of like the
singing, the books, the you knowthere's.
There's so much here.
I love it.
(53:47):
There is, it's good, it's good.
Well, you have been such ablessing to have on.
I would love to have you backagain when your next book comes
out or when your nextmulti-faceted.
Speaker 2 (54:00):
Yes, we have started.
I was so excited because sorry,I was so excited because Joel
messaged me even before this was.
I mean, we were like done, Iwas just getting the finer
details of like formatting andmaking sure it was looked good
and getting the samples in themail.
And he was like, do you mind ifI start book two?
Speaker 1 (54:21):
I'm like, by all means so yes, and when was that
Like really really recent, yeah,very recent.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
So yeah, he's he's.
He's rolling with book two now,and I don't think he's he's
he's rolling with book two nowand I don't think.
You know, god has has his owntimeline.
I don't think it should take aslong because we've got the, the
backgrounds are and the colorsare already picked and the the
characters are already prettymuch created.
So I'm hoping it doesn't takequite as long, but we'll see
(54:52):
well, where can everybody getyour first book baby?
Yes, so, um my, I have a websitethat kind of has my life on
there and it's just AlexaBeelercom.
That's B O E H L E Rcom, soAlexa Beelercom, and you can
find it all there, okay.
Speaker 1 (55:12):
Sounds good, and I'll be sure to post your website in
the show notes as well.
And other than that, thank youfor coming on today.
Thank you for being here todayand setting others free.
I will close with Hope.
Unlocked anchoring verse it ismay the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace andbelieving, so that, by the power
(55:34):
of the Holy Spirit, you mayabound in hope, and that's
Romans 15, 13.
So thank you again, alexa.
Cannot wait for the many more,the multiples, to come.
All right, thank you so much,kristen.
We'll be back with anotherepisode next week.
Bye, bye, bye.
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