I WONDER HOW MANY of you started here, reading this section first. I always do. I like to know who and what gave energy and hope and relationship to an author in the middle of an incredibly challenging journey from start to finish of a book project. My list is always long. I am so very aware of how I am unable to do any good thing in my life without incredible people around me.
Downs Books Inc., That Sounds Fun podcast, and That Sounds Fun Network teams—Kelli, Emma, Jenna, Craig, Ashley, Heather, Cait, Chad. I love my job mostly because y’all are around. You each make these companies, and our office, so much better. Thank you.
To every guest on the That Sounds Fun podcast—you have taught me so much and brought joy to me and so many listeners. Thank you.
Baker Publishing Group—from dreaming around a dinner table in New York City, to the editing, designing, editing again, and marketing, this team is a dream to work with, and I’m so glad we’re just getting started.
Lisa Jackson, I trust you with so many of my dreams, and you repeatedly make me glad I do. To many more. Thank you.
Matt Lehman, you have again designed a book cover that brings my stories to life in the most beautiful ways. I hope everyone judges this book by the cover. Thank you.
Shannan and Faitth, thank you for putting your wiser eyes on my work and teaching me what I didn’t know. Very grateful for you both.
Pastor Kevin, Pastor Drew, Pastor Chris, the Cross Point Creative Team, and the whole Cross Point Church staff, I benefit so greatly from your teaching and leadership and how you serve our church and serve and love Jesus. Thank you.
Tony and Brooke and Lost Valley Ranch, you have become such a safe place for me. What you have built, and the friendship you offer, is sacred. Oooo-aaaah! Thank you.
David, you were very right when you said you’ve helped shape this book in a lot of ways. Fast isn’t the kingdom. Thank you.
Helen, I mean this in the truest way—thanks so, so much. I miss you. And to Ashley and Betsy for your help that first weekend with the pup. It was no accident you were in town. Thank you.
Jenn and Rhett, I love you so. Your fingerprints and prayers are all over this one. Thank you.
Amber, you made our Dollywood dreams come true! Thank you.
My family and dearest friends, y’all are always better to me than I deserve, particularly when I’m neck deep in writing words for hours a day. Thank you for how you have learned me in this process and learned this process with me. I feel so safe on the hardest days of my work because my people understand. Thank you.
I ALSO FIND myself deeply missing my grandmothers lately, but I feel like they are close to me as I send my mind back to memories of the front porch and green beans and cathedral cookies. I’m thankful for how they both shaped my life and continue to do so.
In a strange way that has never happened before, having sports on the television while I’ve been writing has been incredibly helpful for this book in particular. So I’d like to thank the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Falcons, the Tennessee Titans, any and all college football teams (particularly the University of Georgia—Go, dawgs, sic ’em), European soccer clubs, Major League Soccer in the USA, and the Major League Baseball World Series for being the cadence to the rhythms of these pages.
I’ve also spent much time with the Gilmore Girls and on the Food Network channel and Hallmark Christmas movies as they played in the background of this book writing. It is such a strange grouping compared to my previous books that had very fancy music and a very bougie soundtrack. This has been baseball and Lorelai and Guy Fieri. That’s what sounded fun to me. ☺
Finally, to Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. You have taught me the most, seen me at my worst, and loved me the hardest. I really love this life we’ve built. You saved me once, but You rescue me all the time. Every thank you is a thank you to You.