As a mom when all of our family isn’t in our home we end up struggling or at least I have this week with Charlie being out of Town. Even though I’ve need to work I’ve found myself all over the place this week. The other night when I went to bed I asked the LORD to calm my mind and to show me what I should be doing with the blog.
A little bit later I picked up my phone and there was a email I needed to see which felt like the LORD was speaking to me. I believe the Lord was sending me a new friend just at the time I needed one through an email introducing me to a new Christian Author just as I had finished the book I had been reading.
I wanted to remind you that sometimes we go to bed at night never knowing what the Lord has planned for us the following day. Sometimes an email appears in our mailbox, and as you read through it, you get the feeling you’ve met a friend you’ve known forever. That’s exactly how I felt when I received an email from DeeDee Lake.
As I read her message, I found myself smiling. There was something so warm and genuine about the way she reached out. I appreciated that she had taken the time to explore Greatful Moments, learn about my family, and understand what we’re trying to build here. Then I learned about her books!
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m an avid reader and most of my girlfriends are as well. I love discovering new authors, finding stories I haven’t read before, and sharing books that I think other families might enjoy with my friends and family.
DeeDee is a Christian author, speaker, business coach for aspiring authors, and longtime Army wife. She lives in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and has quite a story of her own. Christian Author, Speaker & Business Coach+1. And someone I would like to meet.
When she introduced me to her books, I immediately started thinking about the possibilities for our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List and what I could share with Santa when I help him load the Sleigh this year. . I was especially excited to learn that she has books that bring together faith, family, military life, romance, and encouragement for young women. And that’s something I think our readers will appreciate.
There is another reason DeeDee’s introduction touched my heart. My daughter Suzzane had dreams of her own. Just two weeks before she passed away at only 16 years old, she told me what she wanted her future to look like. She wanted to join the Army and become a cook, just like her Uncle Chuck. After serving, she wanted to attend the University of Oklahoma (OU Sooners), become a Christian kindergarten teacher, and live in Oklahoma so she could take care of my dad.
She had plans. She had dreams. She had a whole life she was looking forward to living. Unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to see those dreams come true because the LORD called her home. I still miss her to this day and think about those dreams all the time. .
When I read DeeDee’s introduction and learned that she was a Christian author and a longtime Army wife, my thoughts naturally wandered back to Suzzane but also my mother in law Sherry who was a Military wife as well. David’s dad was stationed in Germany and my dad was in the Air Force and I was born at Carswell Air Force Base.
As I looked through her books I found myself wondering what my daughter would have thought of DeeDee and her books. I know Suzzane loved Christian authors. I remember the Christy Miller books we used to read together, and I wish she were here so we could discover these new stories together.
Life has a way of bringing people and memories together when we least expect it. Sometimes discovering a new author brings back the sweetest memories of the people we wish could still be sitting beside us, turning the pages. Or allowing us to share there books with our family who is still here.
DeeDee introduced us to three book selections that we’re excited to share with our readers in our upcoming Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List that will be a perfect fit for our 10 Minute Reading Challenge. If you’re shopping for a reader in your family, a daughter, granddaughter, friend, or someone who appreciates Christian books, I hope you’ll take a moment to learn more about these selections.
1. Operation: Camouflage Christmas– A Christmas romance filled with faith, family, military life, and unexpected love. This novella is part of the five-book Rules of Engagement series. It’s a lovely seasonal choice for readers who enjoy Christian fiction and military romance. By DeeDee Lake and Susan M. Baganz Explore the five-book series bundle
2. Mission: Matrimony — The Final Engagement– The fifth and final book in the Rules of Engagement Christian military romance series, co-authored with Susan M. Baganz. This newest release brings the series to its conclusion. Readers who have followed the earlier books will have an opportunity to see how the story finishes. By DeeDee Lake and Susan M. Baganz Explore Mission: Matrimony
3. Next Step: You’ve Accepted Jesus. Now What?- A Christian devotional for teen girls offering biblical encouragement as they navigate relationships, decisions, and growing in their faith.
I especially love the idea of sharing a book that encourages young women to build their relationship with the Lord. This could make a thoughtful gift for daughters, granddaughters, and young women. By DeeDee Lake Explore Next Step
A little note from Glenda: We have not received these books yet, so we haven’t had the opportunity to read or review them. We’re looking forward to receiving our copies and sharing our own reading experiences and photographs in individual book features. For now, we’re introducing DeeDee and helping our readers discover her books.
If you’d like to discover additional titles by DeeDee Lake, including her other Christian fiction, devotionals, and inspirational books, you can visit her website. Discover more books by DeeDee Lake. You can also explore the Rules of Engagement series and learn more about the stories DeeDee and Susan M. Baganz have written together.
There’s another connection that makes this introduction particularly exciting. In addition to her writing and speaking, DeeDee works with CrossRiver Media Group as an author relations coordinator. Wouldn’t that be a fun job to have? Although, I still think when I grow up I want to be a librarian. What about you?
CrossRiver Media is a Christian publishing company founded in 2010 by Tamara Clymer. Based in western Kansas, the company publishes Christian fiction, devotionals, Bible studies, and Christian living books designed to encourage readers and strengthen their faith.
Its mission is to empower women to embrace a bold, fearless faith through books and resources that make a difference in everyday life. DeeDee shared that CrossRiver Media works with approximately 21 authors, and she would love to introduce us to Tamara Clymer. I think that opens the door to some wonderful possibilities!
I’d love to introduce our readers to the company itself, learn more about the people behind the books, and perhaps share individual author stories and book discoveries along the way. If everything comes together, I would love to establish a dedicated place on Greatful Moments where readers can discover CrossRiver Media and the authors whose books we have the opportunity to share. You can learn more about the publisher here: Visit CrossRiver Media Group.
I’m looking forward to getting to know DeeDee better, learning more about her writing journey, and sharing her story through a future Meet the Author feature. I’m also looking forward to receiving the books so we can sit down, turn the pages, and share our own thoughts with you.
And who knows? Perhaps this one email will be the beginning of many wonderful conversations with authors and publishers. I can’t wait to share DeeDee’s story with Santa as I help him load up the sleigh this year! If you haven’t had a chance to check out DeeDee Lake and her books, I hope you’ll take a moment to visit her website. Sometimes the Lord has a way of introducing us to people we didn’t even know we needed to meet. And sometimes, all it takes is one email.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed!
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
Publisher, Greatful Moments
GreatfulMoments.com
