Married to Rusty for 18 years, four kids. Love Sci-fi, Lifetime movies, and Days of Our Lives (this is out of a 21 year habit of watching, rather than enjoyment of current storylines, I’m afraid). I attend an awesome church where the focus is on raising the standard and relevance without compromise. Lebanon Family Church. This is the most incredible church ever. Check out the web site. And if you’re ever in the area, come hear my favorite singer, Aimee Flanders, lead worship. Truly a rich experience. And my favorite preacher, Matt Flanders, will deliver a relevant word from the Lord that is guaranteed to speak to your heart. I have never ONCE left a service without knowing God was speaking through my pastor.

What I believe

Jesus, Him crucified for me, raised and seated at the right hand of God. I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues. I believe Jesus heals, delivers, prospers and that my best days are ahead of me. I also believe that the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike and sometimes bad things happen to good people. I believe that we walk the road we are called to walk even when there are potholes along the way. And even though God delights in the prosperity of His people, sometimes you have to walk through a valley to reach the mountaintop. I have lots of great days and lots of rotten days and Jesus never changes. Thank goodness, I am changing daily in His presence.

Background

I’m the youngest of seven kids which makes me very high maintenance and rather spoiled. Just ask my husband, children, mother, pastor, friends (old and new), my agent, Steve Laube, (who, incidentally, calls me Sybil—so that pretty much says it all, I think) editors….and well… pretty much anyone. But the important thing is that I’m self-aware. No denial going on in this warped little mind. Lots of voices, but no denial…

Education

My education isn’t impressive unless you look at the school of life. (gag). I dropped out of high school when I was 15, got my GED when I was 18—married Rusty when I was 19 and started having babies shortly thereafter. By the time we’d been married five years, we had three kids to support, and Rusty and I knew I needed more than a job to help the finances, I need a career. With that in mind, I went to college when I was 26 and I got through about 65 credit hours—high GPA, but I guess that’s beside the point--, got pregnant (it was a surprise—not an accident—and yes, I know what causes it and no, I obviously didn’t make use of that knowledge and I’m glad I didn’t!) with baby number four and dropped out of college because of rotten hormone-induced migraines that lasted for nine months. But you know, God had a plan for me going to college. I would never have believed I could be a writer if I hadn’t lifted my eyes for a glimpse of a better life. I will go back and get my degree in a few years because it’s important to me to finish what I start. But not for now.

The Rest….

So far, not a lot to admire about me according to society’s standards. But you know, I have always known that the only good in me is Jesus anyway, I have nothing to hide. So if you’re like me…one of those people destined to lose by life, but can’t help but succeed because of Jesus, then we speak the same language. I’ve come to understand that the plans and purposes of God supercede birth order, social class, educational background, age, race, sex. I latched on to the idea that God truly didn’t love the “beautiful, successful people” any more than he loves me. That his plan for their good according to Jeremiah 29:11 wasn’t a better “good” than the hope and future he had planned for me. I asked him to whisper His plan to my heart and give me the courage to follow through. And he asked me to be a writer. To work hard, to swallow disappointment and trust His promises even when rejection came and finances were tight and only my mom and my husband truly believed in me and it seemed like I was destined to fail.

I learned to write by writing. I improved by listening to critique partners and editors, and I have sold over 30 books in six years. To God be all the glory—I truly mean that. I know I am nothing without Him.

My journey is on-going. I’ll be finished when Jesus says “come home”. My God, my family, my career. These things matter to me and keep me going…

I’m glad you’ve decided to join me. Life is quite a ride…

'Tracey'