We published a children's book in honor of Julia!

Mike and I have been working on a children's book in honor of Julia and it is out now! Check out my "books" page here to see it and get your copy. Mike did all the beautiful illustrations based off pictures of Julia. It's called "Julia the Great Tries Again."

The idea for this book started when our pastor, Natalie Iguchi, gave a message at Julia's burial service. She called Julia, "Julia the Great" because, in God's upside-down kingdom, it is the children and the most vulnerable of society who are the greatest. She said it may feel strange thinking of Julia as a "saint" given she lived such a short life and didn't accomplish much and never even went to school. But in God's eyes, she's great. And she's a part of that "great cloud of witnesses," cheering us on.

I've imagined Julia's little voice saying to me, "try again!" often in this season. Given all we've been through, trying to live again feels counter-intuitive. I've come back from several failed visits to the fertility clinic and wondered if I am out of my mind to want to go through this process of constant disappointment and unknown...again. I've wondered how to do my work, study for school, and navigate relationships in this disorienting season.

Julia was so determined. I remember her trying to go up the down-side of a slide. Her friend Oliver looked at her, puzzled, as she attempted about a hundred times to get up there on her own. But she finally did it! I'm so proud of her and want to be like her. I want to keep trying.

One of my (brave) prayers is that I can read many "Julia the Great" books to my future kids someday. Would you pray for that with me?