Let's get rolling

Here we are, October 2016. Is it just me or does it feel like yesterday was January? I can't believe I'm on fall break and that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. God has been doing so much since I got back to Liberty this fall...I can't even begin to put it all into words.

But let me back up...

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Bailey Elizabeth and this little blog you've stumbled upon is my way of sharing so much of my life with the world. I follow Jesus and love Him immensely. If you don't know Him or want to know more about Him, email me and let's chat.

I love Pride and Prejudice and listening to instrumental music when I study. I love tea and sweets. I love my family and my friends (both at home and at school).

I also love writing, which is the purpose of this blog. I'm so thrilled you stopped by today because, since this is my first post on my brand new, official author site, I thought I'd share something that not many people have seen yet.

As most of you know, I've published two books (you can find out more about those under the 'Books' page) and am in the process of editing and publishing the third (insert clapping hands emoji). My goal for publication is Christmas, but since I'm in college and have a lot going on, there's no guarantees there!

Anyway...to kick start this site, here's the first chapter of Rejoicing in Hope, also known as simply Book 3 to many of you. It's the third book in the Jeremiah 29 series and I'm equally nervous and thrilled to let you all get your hands on this book.

So here goes nothing - chapter one of Rejoicing in Hope!

One by one the graduates made their way across the stage. That’ll be me next year. Where had the last three years gone? Late nights had turned into early mornings that turned into weeks and months at Liberty…and there we were, Meg and James were graduating.

Those three years had been full of tests, exams, and plenty of stress. But they had also been full of friendships that would last a lifetime, football games bundled up in our sweatshirts and gloves, bonfires that left us smelling like campfire smoke, enough laughter to last a lifetime, and more joy than I had ever known.

It didn’t hurt that after doing the whole long distance thing for a year, James and I spent three years seeing each other nearly every day, going on adventures and experiencing Jesus’s love together. We had hiked to the Liberty monogram at sunset, gone to Mister Goodies for ice cream before tests, and spent time growing closer to each other and to our Savior more times than I could count. And it was on a perfectly sunny and breezy day that I sat in the crowd of thousands with his parents and sister, my heart pounding as I waited for his name to be called.

“James Moore,” they spoke his name and he walked the stage, smiling ear to ear. In that moment, it was just him on stage receiving his diploma. The page was turning from college to whatever this next chapter of life would hold. He did it! I thought, He graduated college. “I’ve never been so proud of anyone in my entire life,” I said, pulling him close to me after the ceremony had been dismissed.

“And I’ve never loved anyone more in my entire life. Thank you for being here.”

My heart soared at his words, “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

“Let’s go get some lunch,” he pressed a kiss to my cheek, smiling down at me, “My parents are waiting for us.” He took my hand in his, intertwining our fingers as we walked across the packed football field full of people to see his family eagerly waiting to meet their graduate. “My baby boy!” His mom said as we walked closer. She pulled him into a hug, tears filling her eyes. Ruthie got her hug next and I snapped a couple family pictures for them.

“So what are we doing for lunch?” He asked, once again taking his place beside me. I flipped through the pictures on the camera, looking at his smile in each one. Memorizing the way this moment felt.

“Oh, let me get a picture of you two!” My cheeks turned pink as his mom took the camera from me. James wrapped his arm around me and we stood together, smiling.

“One, two, three!”

And on three he dipped me and pressed a kiss on my lips. We came back up two seconds later, both of us laughing hysterically.

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one,” he laughed and we took our place again. Cheryl got a couple shots of us before we headed back to the car. Ruthie, James and I slid into the backseat of their car and drove to his favorite burger restaurant just ten minutes from campus.

We had gone there on countless dates but we never got tired of it. All of the wait staff knew us both by name and unless we changed our orders, they got our food before we could ask for a menu. Those were the nights I would remember forever, just the two of us at the little burger joint, eating the same poor college meal over and over and over again. Occasionally we would go see a movie afterwards or join Meg for coffee at the shop next door.

But most of the time we stayed late, talking of the future and making up plans and dreams for the months and years to come not knowing if any of it would ever happen. Now it was time for all of those countless conversations to be put into play and I still didn’t know exactly what was going to happen.

I knew we were returning to Uganda for three weeks before I finished my last year at school. But beyond that...neither of us knew what was ahead. And while I had hopes and dreams, I had learned better than to count on those things to happen.

“Here we are!” Stephen exclaimed as we got out of the backseat of the car. We sat down at our normal table and our favorite waitress greeted us cheerfully, like always.

“How was graduation?” She asked, handing out the menus. “You two getting the usual?” Her last question was directed and me and James. “Great and no,” he smiled, “My parents are paying!”

“Well then, what can I get ya’ll to drink?” She asked, her southern accent peeking out a little more than normal.

“I’ll have sweet tea,” Stephen requested.

“Water with lemon,” Cheryl kept it simple.

“Do you guys have Coke?” Ruthie asked. She was now twelve and quite the beautiful young lady. I had seen a few pictures of Elizabeth, their older sister who had passed away years ago, and Ruthie was beginning to look almost identical to her.

“Of course!”

“I’ll have that, please.”

“Diet Coke,” I ordered.

“Sweet tea, please” James scanned the menu although he already had it memorized.

“Be right back with those,” she walked off with a smile.

“You guys come here often?” Stephen looked up from his menu. “Yeah, the bacon burger is really good,” James commented.

“And so is the one with the caramelized onions,” I had that one a couple times before. “But we normally go for the cheap stuff, the stuff college kids can afford!”

Forty minutes later we already had our food and were devouring delicious French fries, contemplating salted-caramel milkshakes for dessert.

“Well, that was delicious,” Stephen said.

“Agreed,” Ruthie wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Dad, we should come to the States more often, this food is awesome!”

His family had just returned for a six month furlough and would be returning shortly after I began my Senior year at Liberty University. While James and I went to Uganda for a few weeks they would be going back around to several of their supporting churches to speak and give updates on things in Uganda.

“Will we be getting dessert this afternoon?” The waitress asked, taking all of our plates in one arm.

“Let’s just do three salted caramel milkshakes, please,” James said without hesitation.

“Coming right up!” She managed to pick up one more empty plate before walking off.

“So when do you two leave for Uganda?” Stephen asked, changing the subject abruptly.

“A week from Thursday, right?” James turned to me.

“Yep.” I had already made my packing list.

“What’s your mom making for dinner?” He asked.

“Really?” I laughed, “We literally just ate lunch and you’re already thinking about dinner?”

“Sorry! Your mom is a really great cook. I was kinda hoping for those buffalo chicken enchiladas she makes,” he looked at me with wide eyes. “I’ll put in your request,” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw two missed calls from Carly. I shot her a quick text.

Hey! At lunch. I’ll call you in a bit.

Our milkshakes were served seconds later, just as Carly replied.

It’s okay, we’ll just talk when you get home!

Wait- you’re at home?!

She and Nathan had moved to Lynchburg after they had gotten married. He had finished his Master’s Degree and had just gotten a new job teaching English and Literature at Liberty. Having your brother-in-law as your introductory English professor is only a little awkward.

I got to see them on a regular basis as James and I went over to their house almost every weekend. Together we played endless games of Hyjack, watched movies and ate too much ice cream to be accounted for.

Yes! We came for dinner...thought you and James would be back by now.

I quickly explained. No, we’re at our favorite burger spot.

The one Levi threw up in?

Of course she mentioned the most disgusting memory. That’s the one. About a year and a half ago, they had welcomed their first son, Levi, into the world. His chubby cheeks and sweet smile guaranteed that any money I ever made went to buying him bow-ties, dress shirts and baby Sperrys. It didn’t hurt that he loved his Aunt “Kissy.”

Well hurry home!

Currently enjoying a milkshake...and you know how I love my ice cream. No promises on the hurry part.

After twenty minutes we had slurped down all three milkshakes and went our separate ways. James and I drove back toward campus to load up the last few boxes left in my room.

I found Meg in our room, putting the last few picture frames into a box.

“Hey friend,” I said shutting the door behind me. It was a bittersweet day...the last day we would share a dorm together.

“Hey,” she stood up from the box she was loading and a tear fell down her cheek.

“We’ve talked about this!” I wrapped my arms around her. “No crying.”

“I know,” she quickly wiped the tear from her cheek, “I’m just going to miss all of this.”

“I’m going to miss you. It’s gonna be terrible having to room with someone else next year. I’m going to be so lonely without you,” I stopped to look around at our now bare dorm room.

Just days before it had been completely decorated, each of us taking a half of the room. My half was covered in pictures from the trips to Uganda I had taken each summer.

Beside the picture of Levi and me the day he was born hung pictures of Meg and me on various adventures we had taken together. In frames on my desk sat two of my all-time favorite pictures.

The first was from Carter and Paige’s wedding two and a half years earlier. Carly, Carter, Paige and I stood together taking family pictures- just the four of us. Paige wore her long, lace gown that fit her small frame like a glove. Carter had on his tan suit and purple tie. Carly and I were dressed in long, lavender dresses with our hair pulled into updos. Our smiles were genuine and I could distinctly remember the immense joy of that day.

The other was of James and me, standing at the Nile River with the sun setting in the background. He wore jeans and a blue dress shirt, cuffed up to his elbows. I was dressed in a colorful sundress that touched my knees, my hair quite lovely for a hot Ugandan night. We were in the place we both loved the most and it could be seen in our faces. In the shot he was leaning down to press a kiss to my cheek, the blue in his eyes seen just enough for me to catch a glimpse every time I glanced at the picture.

“Chrissy!” Meg said, clapping her hands together once.

“What?” I looked up at her, realizing I had been staring longingly out the window.

“You were in a trance again, weren’t you?” She laughed and zipped her suitcase.

“Yeah, I guess I was. Were you saying something?”

She nodded, “I talked to Graham and we want to have dinner with you and James before you guys leave for Uganda.”

“I’d love to do that,” I picked up a box and propped the door open for Megan to follow me.

She and Graham had been dating for over two years and they were precious. Meg had waited all of her life for the Lord to bring the perfect man into her life and she had found him in Graham. Freshman year James had roomed with a random guy he had never met before and it turned out that Graham was also a missionary kid from Brazil. He had come to the States for college with hopes to move back to Brazil and work alongside his parents at some point in the future. James and I finally got Graham to take Megan out after months of secret (or not-so-secret) crushing. That was halfway through my freshman year...they had clicked from the very beginning.

“Hello, fair ladies!” Graham and James pulled up just as we walked out of the building. They each took the boxes from our hands. Graham planted a kiss on Meg’s cheek.

“You guys are all leaving me and it’s going to be so sad!” James placed the box into my trunk and we headed back upstairs to get another load.

“You’ll be all right, we’ll be around often enough,” Graham said as we all picked up more bags and boxes.

“Besides, this year will fly by. Who knows where we’ll be this time next year!” Meg was already half way down the stairs and I didn’t have to ask what she was day dreaming about.

We could both be engaged and getting ready to start a whole new phase of life together. I was thinking about it, too.

~~~~~~~

“Chrissy!” Mom was the first out the front door when we pulled up almost three hours later. Pulling up outside my house never got old. There was nothing like driving up and seeing my front door, the familiar flowers and stepping out to the smell that only meant one thing: home. “Hey, Mom!” She engulfed me in a hug then stepped back, “You look beautiful today!”

“Thanks!”

“How was graduation?” Her face turned up into a smile when she saw James walking up the sidewalk with two of my bags in hand. “Put those down and give me a hug!”

He did what she asked and I couldn’t help but smile. “Graduation was great,” he picked the bags back up off of the ground and walked inside with me.

“Want me to take these upstairs?” he asked.

“That would be great, I’m going to go say hi to my Dad.”

Before I could take another step I heard, “Aunt Kissy!”

“Levi!” I turned to see him toddling towards me. I scooped him up in my arms and kissed his chubby cheeks. “Hey buddy!”

“I miss you,” he said wrapping his little arms around my neck.

“I missed you, too!” He squirmed to get down.

“Momma gave me new shirt!” he pulled it out for me to see. My heart beat faster as I read the words on the front, wondering how I didn’t notice it before. I could hear Carly and Nathan coming down the hallway.

"Surprise!” Carly exclaimed. His shirt read, Only child expiring in December!

“When did you find out?” I hugged her as my excitement grew, I hope it’s a girl!

“Six weeks ago? We waited until doctor’s appointments and stuff before telling people.”

“This is so exciting!” I hugged Nathan and then my dad. Stephen, Cheryl, and Ruthie had finally made it inside but James was still upstairs.

“I’ll be right back!” I ran upstairs and into my room where James was standing looking through a photo book of pictures from my first trip to Uganda.

“Looking at pictures?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Look at what babies we were!” He had flipped to a page with a picture of us at the orphanage one day. I was pushing Ava in a swing and he stood beside me. Amber had come up and taken a picture without me knowing.

“That seems like yesterday,” I turned the page.

“I had such a major crush on you,” he turned to look at me.

“Like I didn’t know!” I could only laugh, remembering all of our first conversations together in Uganda. What precious memories those were. “It’s not like you didn’t have a crush on me, too!” He shut the book and put it back on my desk.

I stood on my tip-toes and kissed his cheek, “Very true. Come on, let’s go back downstairs.”

Together we made our way back downstairs to finish unloading my stuff and begin the evening with my family.

Knowing mom, we’d be up late telling stories and sharing memories from the past couple of weeks, all of us in the living room eating a delicious new desert.

Some things had changed over the last three years, but mom’s hugs, her cooking and the love shared in our house hadn’t changed one bit…and I couldn’t have been more thankful that I was beginning my summer with the people I loved most.

--Chapter One, Rejoicing in Hope

To read the back of the book summary, click on 'Books' at the top of the page and scroll down to Rejoicing in Hope! You can also find out more about the previous two books if you're new to the Jeremiah 29 series.

Thanks for reading and I hope that you'll return again and again so that we can walk through life together.

Here's to Rejoicing in Hope, this new site, you reading what I've written, and all that God is going to do!