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| Photo Credit ~ Microsoft Office |
And it reminds me of the friend who sent the tea (and the three other packets waiting on my desk for that reminder of the gift of friendship and encouragement that arrived in the mail with it).
This friend? Also a debut author.
I'm sure you know my friend. Not many people in this industry don't know her, because I bet at some point, you have been blessed by the heart and spirit of this lovely lady.
I can't tell you how many times I have left a comment on Facebook or Twitter, such as: "I'm almost to 'The End'"...or "boy I could use another dose of chocolate because this day is kicking my hind end."
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| Releases July 2012! Cover used by permission |
She doesn't do it to be self-serving or draw attention to herself. She doesn't do it because she wants those of us, whose lives she has touched, to feel as though we need to turn around and give it back to her.
She does it because that is the person she is. And Jesus fills her up, spilling over until she glows the gift of His love everywhere she goes and in everything she does.
I bet you know my friend and if you do, I hope you might leave a message here for her. Each one will be carefully copied and sent to her, for her to pull up again and again (and again) for those days when she needs just that right dose of encouragement.
And the next time you meet...give Keli Gwyn a hug for me. You're hugging a piece of Jesus.
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| Casey and Keli at the 2011 ACFW convention |
Friday's Note:
The winner of Julie Lessman's A Passion Most Pure is...
Candy!
I hope you get hooked, Candy. ;-)
Oh, Keli is so sweet. I have been encouraged by her so many times. I'm so excited for her release!!
ReplyDeleteSo, so, so many times, Julia! Keli makes everyone around her feel so special. :)
DeleteThanks for your kind words, Julia, and for sharing in my excitement.
DeleteCasey, this is sooo cool!
ReplyDeleteKeli, I have loved getting to know you through your blog in the past couple months and I'm thrilled for you with your upcoming release. It's so easy to see you have a heart for readers and a love for Christ. I hope I get to meet you in person someday. :)
The next time you both end up at ACFW, you will want to meet! Keli is super special. :D
DeleteMelissa, I look forward to meeting you in person, too. I can tell you're tonz of fun and are sure to make me laugh.
Deleteoh, what a sweet post...i strive to be what Keli is to you... showing God's love in all i do and say. Than you too for being an encouragement
ReplyDeleteDitto Marianne!
DeleteThanks for your comment, Marianne. Isn't Casey encouragement personified?
DeleteKeli truly is a dear. So excited that her publishing dreams are unfolding!!
ReplyDeleteIt's exciting to watch her journey, isn't it Joanne?!! Can't wait for that book to hit my hands!
DeleteJoanne, I'm thrilled for YOU, an author with a three-book contract!!! So looking forward to your release. I just pre-ordered Be Still My Soul a few minutes ago. :-)
DeleteCasey- It really is! And Keli, You just blessed the socks off me :) Thank you!
DeleteAw, so sweet :)
ReplyDeleteKeli deserves it and so much more!
DeleteSheri, thanks for taking time to visit and leave a comment. I appreciate it.
DeleteI know I've been blessed by meeting this wonderful lady online! When I first met her through blogging yeaaars ago she sent me a wonderful bookmark that I still have sitting n my bookshelf. It's those little thoughtful things that make people special and Keli is definitely special! If I ever get to visit California I'm going to meet Keli @ Taco Bell for lunch! Hopefully that's okay with her LOL. :-)
ReplyDeleteXOXO~ Renee C.
Somehow I think it would be, Renee! ; D
DeleteI'm sooo looking forward to having you as my blog guest, Renee. I've enjoyed reading your reviews for years--right along with Casey's. Do I know cool people, or what? :-)
DeleteCasey, I just saw the link to this post in a comment on Rel's blog. Wow! What can I say? I was in tears well before I reached the end of your wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteYou, my dear, are an AMAZING person, one with a HUGE gift of encouragement. And you're oodles of fun. Meeting you at the ACFW conference last September was one of my highlights. You radiate God's love.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for this honor, and for being beautiful, enthusiastic, talented YOU!!!
I LOVED writing this post, Keli. It basically wrote itself. I'm so excited to encourage and support you on this journey and was so excited to see this post go up today. There is no one I'd rather do this for!
DeleteAwesome!!! Keli is most definitely one of the kindest, generous, encouraging women I know! So glad to be a sliver in her life! :)
ReplyDeleteEvery single one of those adjectives and sooo many more!!
DeleteJess, I'm glad you're in my life. What a blessing you are to me, my friend.
DeleteA piece of Jesus is right. I love Keli. Here's what I would like to know: How can such a tiny wee bit of a person have such a HUGE heart? She's made me smile and has encouraged me in more ways than she could possibly know.
ReplyDeleteAmen and Amen, Katie. Some things just can't be put into words.
DeleteKatie, when it comes to blessings, you have showered them on me. It's been a delightful deluge, let me tell you. I think you totally rock, girlfriend. (Please tell me I'm not too old to say that to lovely young you. =)
DeleteNow that I think about it....there's another wee bit of a person I know who has a great big heart too. Her name starts with a C and ends with asey. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! Good things come in small packages, right Keli?? ;-)
DeleteYes, Katie! I agree completely. Casey's heart is JUMBO-sized.
DeleteHi Casey & Keli,
ReplyDeleteYou both are shining examples of God's love to all of us - such an inspiration!
I was so happy to meet both of you in St Louis!
Best wishes as you countdown to your book's release, Keli!
Cheers,
Sue
Ah, thank you Susan! I know Keli is someone who inspires me so much...I know she does many others too!
DeleteSo exciting to meet you in St. Loo too!
Sue, I'd looked forward to meeting you ever since we met via the Golden Heart back in 2008. How cool it was that we ended up on the same shuttle in St. Louis as we headed to the ACFW conference. You're every bit as sweet as I expected you to be.
DeleteShe is an inspiration, a true example of someone who lets her light shine.
ReplyDeleteCASEY SAID: "Keli makes everyone around her feel so special. :)"
ReplyDeleteOh, AMEN TO THAT, Case -- I love, love, LOVE Keli Gwynn!!! One of the sweetest gals out there, and I just cannot WAIT to read her new book!!
You go, Kel!!
Hugs,
Julie