I have wondered why I am currently so emphatic with writing about my chickens. I am honestly desperate to relive those happier times when we were together, and it felt like we were a family.

At night, before I fall off to sleep, I say their names aloud. I recite their names aloud in pairs like how they were as friends. Gracie and Bessie. Emily and Amelia. Blanche and Pearl. Those are more than names, they are prayers in the Language of My Heart, the language that God hears.

Then this morning those thoughts before falling off to sleep generated ideas for illustrations in my mind of pairs of chickens being held by Jesus.

My stories and illustrations started with Gracie, but once she left us, I was unsure how to continue. Slowly Pearl began to inspire me in new ways because she became my last remaining hen. With her, I was able to move towards including Jesus into our stories. Gracie had wanted to do this, but I couldn’t figure out how to do it until only Pearl was able to make this happen. With her it felt natural.

My goal is now to become the most prolific Christian author and illustrator of Christ-centered stories.