Did I really just type 2025 up there in the title? Every year, I always ask, “How can that be?” This year, I’m asking, “SERIOUSLY, HOW CAN THAT BE?” I mean, It’s January 6, 2025! 2025! Time for a newsletter update!

January 6, 2025 Newsletter Update

Growing up, everyone always said, “Enjoy this season of life because time flies.” Or they would say, “Hang in there. Believe it or not, one day you will miss this.”

Well, time does fly, and I do miss time gone by – not all of it, but a lot of it. Wasn’t it just yesterday that my babies were newborns? They are turning 27, 30, and 32 in February (yes, they were all born in the same month), but it sure seems like yesterday. Our oldest, our son, is married and has a 2-year-old little girl. Our middle daughter moved out permanently back in October, and our youngest daughter is getting married in October of this year. If you have followed my other blog or social media channels, you already know we have another son already in Heaven. The Truelove family is growing and busy!

I’ve let this blog sit for a while for a couple of reasons. First, after writing Heatbeat, I was mentally tired. That was my first novel, which was more work than anticipated. I have a whole new appreciation for novelists! Second, I ended Heartbeat with the intention of writing a few sequels, but I haven’t yet started those. However, I hope to share Cole’s story with you later this year. Look for more information in upcoming newsletter updates.

There’s another story I’ve wanted to write for a very long time. I know there are many mothers out there, like me, who have a child in Heaven. Many have shared their stories in books, magazine articles, and social media pages. The truth is, I haven’t been that brave.

Losing that baby was one of the hardest losses my husband and I have ever suffered. It has been 28 years, and although I have comforted others who have suffered similar losses, I haven’t been able to write anything of real substance to share publicly. Even after all these years, the pain is sometimes still raw, but I know God is with us in the hard stuff. He always is, always was, and always will be.

What the enemy intends for evil, God uses for our good. When God shows up, carries us through the hard stuff, and heals our hearts, our stories must be told so that our pain is used for His glory. We aren’t supposed to keep quiet about it. As believers, our pain has a purpose, and our healing is our testimony. A Baby Named Gabriel will be my public testimony when I finish it.

I recently discovered that I like writing short stories. I get prompts sent to me from Reedsy Prompts. I choose a topic, write the story, and sometimes submit them to the weekly contest. I’ve entered three. No wins yet, but a girl can hope, right?

So, to summarize today’s newsletter update:

I’m writing again!

I’m writing A Baby Named Gabriel.

I’m writing Cole’s story (no title yet), my first sequel after Heartbeat.

I’m writing short stories from Reedsy Prompts. I’ll let you know if I ever win a contest!😀

I’ll also write posts here on the blog, so stay tuned. It’s going to be an amazing year. Time does fly, so let’s enjoy all the good stuff and build one another up in the hard stuff as we are commanded to do.