As the calendar flips to November, I find myself thinking about the people who first stirred up the gifts God placed inside me. Long before I ever held a book contract or typed “Chapter One,” two folks believed in me with a wholehearted, no-looking-back kind of faith: my mom, Shirley (Moseley), and my dad, Billy (Hanna).
When I was a girl, our home was always humming with creativity and encouragement. You could usually hear me plunking away at the piano (sometimes on key, sometimes… well, let’s call it “joyful noise”). And if the piano wasn’t singing, the sound of pages turning surely was. My mama had a little room that felt like our very own library—shelves lined with books she loved and wanted to share. I’m convinced that room is where my writing roots first took hold.
Looking back, I realize now what I didn’t then: they saw the gift before I did. They poured into it with music lessons, theater lessons, dance lessons, and a whole lot of “You can do this! Just try it!”
Did they know anything about publishing? Not even a little. Did that stop them from cheering? Not for a second.
I interrupt this post to share a picture of my high school graduation photo. Ah, the gold old days! (Memorial High School, Class of ’77!)
My family’s belief in me reminds me of Paul’s words to Timothy:
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…”
—2 Timothy 1:6
Stir up the Gifts
Isn’t it something how God uses the people in our lives to help stir up those gifts He planted in us? Parents, teachers, pastors, friends—some for a season, some for a lifetime. My parents are both in heaven now, but I still feel them urging me onward, reminding me to keep writing, keep sharing, keep stirring up that gift.
Speaking of gifts being stirred up, it probably won’t surprise you that my Weddings by Bella series was born from this very blend of family, love, culture, and joyful chaos. If you’ve read Fools Rush In, you know a big part of the story centers around family—heritage, identity, the blending of cultures, and embracing who God created you to be (even if you sometimes trip over your own feet on the way there).
If you haven’t met Bella and her big, lovable clan yet, you can peek at the first book here:
Fools Rush In
And since we’re talking about Fools Rush In, we can’t ignore the one thing Bella’s Aunt Rosa is most famous for: her Sunday Gravy. Thick, rich, full of love, simmered low and slow—much like the families who inspired my storytelling. It’s the kind of dish that brings everybody to the table. If you’d like to give it a try, I’ve shared the recipe here:
Get the Recipe
Before I close, I’d love to leave you with a little heart-prompt for the week:
Gratitude to Stir Up This Week:
Think of one person who saw a gift in you before you could see it in yourself.
Whisper a prayer of thanks for them. If they’re still here, maybe tell them.
Thank you for being a part of my journey. I’m grateful we get to share stories, faith, and a little kitchen comfort together this month. I pray this November brings warmth to your heart, encouragement to your spirit, and reminders of the gifts God placed within you.
