July News
Book #5 turned in, care package options, and a meaningful trip to North Carolina.
Hi Friends,
THE MANUSCRIPT FOR MY 5th BOOK IS TURNED IN!
Will you collectively exhale with me?
(Ryan and I celebrating the completion of book #5)
What a labor of love this book has been, and I’m so excited. This next book isn’t just for caregivers, it’s for everyone! As an author it’s easy to get categorized as only being able to speak or write to a specific audience (example, caregivers) and I started to feel this categorization, and most publishers only wanted material that spoke to caregivers. However, this time, my dear friends at Broadstreet Publishing graciously allowed me to expand my horizons and write to a broader audience (ALL THE PEOPLE!) and for that I’m grateful.
Here’s a sneak peek of the next book. I hope it encourages your heart today.
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34 NLT).
For a long time, my treasure was in being needed: in my writing, the nonprofit world, the advocacy world, and with my family. The recognition and affirmation that resulted from being seen as helpful and faithful filled my love tank. I believed it was about serving others, and much of it was, but beneath the work was a desire too; to be known and to matter.
Experiencing burnout had a gentle way of exposing these motives. Burnout also provided the space to grieve aspects of my life; including expectations that had been placed upon me from a young age. When I allowed silence, I noticed a shift occurring. The joy I once felt in constant busyness was no longer there, and now my heart longed for quiet, authentic, and smaller circles of trust with family and friends. I turned inward and towards those who knew my shortcomings and still loved me in spite of my failures. I yearned for more time with the Lord and for less proving and way less performance. Burnout became a gift that allowed me to examine my life, motives, and actions and provided space to contemplate a different way of operating.
I’ve taken some drastic steps to guard my heart in this new season of life. I often clean houses with my daughter, not because it’s glamorous but because it aligns my heart with what matters and keeps me grounded. Cleaning reminds me that my worth is not tied to platitudes or praise and provides the time needed to cultivate a relationship with my college aged daughter. I seek out humility building experiences, ones that might inconvenience me and sometimes make me feel uncomfortable because I know myself well enough to understand that if I’m not careful, my heart drifts towards ego and pride.
Perhaps you need to ask as I have, where is my treasure today? Is it where I want it to be? With the Lord and those I love? And if it’s not, what changes do I have to make because I want my treasure to rest where faithfulness quietly grows.
Father, show me where my treasure currently lies, and if it needs to shift. Show me how to make these changes.
XOXO
Jess
In other news, I had an incredible time at the Mowat-Wilson Foundation’s conference a few weeks ago at Great Wolf Lodge in North Carolina. The kids played and mom worked ;-) By the way, I am booking speaking gigs for 2027 and 2028! If you think I might be a good fit for your event, please fill out the form below.
Also, a reminder that our live webinar Creating a Safe and Loving Home for Your Loved One is now a course.
If you’ve ever wondered:
• What options are truly available for your loved one
• How to confidently evaluate those options without overwhelm
• What red flags to watch for (before it’s too late)
…this course was created for you.
We walk you through the real-life decisions families face—and how to make them with clarity and confidence. We also share our personal journey of creating Hope Farm for Lucas… including what worked, what didn’t, and what we would do differently today.
This isn’t just information—it’s guidance we wish we had when we started.
One-time introductory price: $29.99
Lifetime access so you can revisit anytime
Practical, honest, and deeply personal
If you’re navigating this path, you don’t have to do it alone.
Finally, I wanted to share about a book that I purchased in January called The Words of Christ. I have committed to reading this book every morning for a year. The concept of discipleship and being crucified with Christ has come alive in a very real way as I meditate on the words of Jesus day after day.
You asked for variety, and we listened! The Lucas Project now offers a care package for anyone and everyone! Head to our website and check them out and then send one to your favorite caregiver.
Thank you for supporting our mission.
Want to explore future residential options for your disabled loved one? Or perhaps how to write that book you’ve been putting off for years? I’d love to help. Learn more about coaching services here.
All of my books are available on Amazon. If you would like to hear how the story began, I encourage you to check them out! These would make a wonderful gift for the caregiver in your life!