The Tale of Honey-Water Farm || meet Doubtful Doreana the Duck

Today on our family farm, there're cool rainclouds filling the pastures with bright puddles. It's a good day to be a duck. ;)

I've always thought ducks were one of the cutest farm animals! We've grown up with them since I can remember, and they are constant splashers. Ducks are one of those animals that can literally laugh (I've woken early to their quacking laughter!), they may show up on a random day with a dozen, tiny ducklings trailing behind, and yet they're maybe the messiest of any farm animal.

(I found them this week swimming in my cow trough leaving feathers and mud everywhere. And yes, they're still my favorite) ;)

Thus, while writing The Tale of Honey-Water Farm, this duck character was one of my favorites, and I think you'll have fun exploring her story!

“Doreana almost squawked like a chicken. ‘A surprise? Then I must get ready!’”

Meet Doreana.

She lives on the Honey-Water Farm with her neighbor, Tuff Tobias the Toad of the Pond Patrol, and loves it! She has a constant smile, can't help but "accidentally" splash everyone, and has skill as an artist (which is quite impressive if you imagine drawing with feathers!).

But she has one huge problem:

Her webbed feet are much too big.

She can’t fly, and she thinks they’re ugly. So Doreana tries to hide her feet with toenail polish, but it makes it worse. (I mean, nail polish on a duck is never a good idea.)

But the Farmer still loves this silly duck, and he has an exciting plan for her. It includes trekking through the swamp, meeting unexpected strangers, getting to have a pond tea party, and eating a banana.

But what I love is her relationship with the Farmer.

In the darkest moment, when she has nowhere else to go, he changes her life. He loved her as a lost duckling unable to fly south for the winter with her family, and he continues to guide her and treasure her as part of his family out of his great kindness. Even with her big, funny feet.

And because of that, she invites everyone to the farm!

Jesus did the same thing for me. He changes everything. He forgave me when I was a sinner and loved me when I was undeserving, and this life with Him is the best! I could dance around like Doreana just to praise Him!

Sometimes I imagine God looking at us and not seeing the people we are today... not the mistakes or awkwardness or distractedness. If we're in Jesus, we have been forgiven! Clean. Those sins are washed away and removed as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:11-13). And He is a kind, gentle Father. I imagine Him seeing the wonderful person He has created us to be, that man or woman in His image on the day He returns and restores shalom to this broken world.

And like a child with her Daddy, may we listen, learn, lean into His arms, and even now become that person. He doesn't leave us in the mess--He is our Teacher, and conviction is a beautiful thing.

That's what I see in Doreana. The Helper gave her everything she needed. He didn't look at her silliness and disqualify her; he loved her. It drew her to see something more important than big feet, and it changed the lives of a raccoon, rattlesnake, and a fox. (who you'll get to meet soon!)

Thank you, Jesus. ♥

So for all you duck lovers (like me), I hope you laugh through Doreana’s story and enjoy her adventures on Honey-Water Farm! Meet the scary characters she encounters in the swamp and enjoy the tea party for yourself!

The Tale of Honey-Water Farm is now available for preorder for Kindle on Amazon! Click here to claim your own copy!

Therefore, as people chosen by God, set apart and dearly loved, put on your "new clothes"--a heart of mercy and compassion, kindness...

Colossians 3:12

 

~♥~

The Tale of Honey-Water Farm || how God started the story

"The Tale of Honey-Water Farm" releases in 16 days.

December 14.

It's right around the corner, and I'm excited to slip on here and share some behind the scenes!

Are you ready?

Get ready for the crazy story of how God started this tale (more than six years ago!), and come back later this week and the next for more fun sneak peeks—getting to know the characters, the Biblical truth this book rests on, and all the release fun!

Five years ago, God had my family move to a new city. As a mid-teen, it was hard. I missed our old home, there were already painful changes that year, and day #1 on the farm started horribly. I felt sick, afraid, lost.

But already, He was at work.

Next door, God was stirring dreams in a neighbor's heart. Deborah Greene was a hands-on lady who could turn wood into masterpieces, weld metal into any farm tool you'd need, paint masterpieces for fun, and she had a heart for Jesus.

For some reason, God was giving her animal characters. She wrote down their names and personalities and began drawing adorable farm animals, hoping one day He would use them. 

She dreamed they would encourage young people to love Jesus.

Years passed. We lived next door and got to know her and other neighbors. But it wasn't until last Christmas that we were in her backyard chatting, and Ms Debbie asked:

"I have characters, and I heard you're a writer. Would you ever consider looking at them and seeing if you can make them a story?"

I said sure.

But it wasn't Hosanna that made the characters come to life. How could I take someone else's dream and make it my own? I sat with her, saw the adorable drawings that would make my eyes light up, talked about it. But I set this project before Jesus and said, "I can't do this. If You want me to write this book, please give me excitement for it. Guide me. I leave it all in Your hands."

(needless to say, He did all that!)

I fell in love with Ms Debbie's characters, and God filled me with stories that had to be spilled out! He gave me the Honey-Water Farm title, and I worked with Ms Debbie—me writing and her illustrating—until today, I hold a real copy of the book in my hand, and all I can say is God. is. faithful.

It blows my mind.

He planned this story FIVE YEARS before I knew it. The crazy thing is I couldn't have written this book until just now. I hadn't learned the truths that went into the tale. I wasn't ready.

This is why I love this project, and I absolutely can't wait for you to hold a copy in your hands! It's the testimony that God did this book.

And I've loved getting to know Ms. Debbie through the process!

She is a beautiful woman with a simple heart of love for Jesus. She lives on her farm enjoying her dog, kitties, and family, gives the best hugs, and smiles all the time. You can find her working skillfully with a pencil or paintbrush, at welding or woodburning, and she'll labor for days over art for a friend just to serve them. It's not rare to find her driveway filled with cars as her entire extended family shows up for Easter parties, and, one of the first years we were there and barely knew her, she invited us over too! 

The book cover was drawn by her hand as well as more than a dozen illustrations inside the book! But one of my favorite drawings is that she caricatured me and her together, and I think we're adorable. *giggles*

So this is a little praise of how awesome God is and how I love living life with Him.

Come back in a few days for more behind the scenes fun (including some of Ms. Debbie's illustrations! You're gonna love them.)

Have you gotten to know your neighbors?

What's a hard thing God worked out for good in your life?

Let's chat below!

Fun Fact: As God gave Ms. Debbie characters, she based them off people she knew, mainly family members! You'll have to see if you can guess which character she is. *wink*

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth...

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalm 57: 5, 9-11

~♥~

The Tale of Honey-Water Farm || Cover Reveal + Giveaway

IT'S TIME FOR A NEW BOOK RELEASE!

Last December, the filaments of a story began to dance in my mind, and somehow God wove them into a heart-warming, funny story that I absolutely love.

They're tales of a big family sharing life on a farm. But the family is composed of animals, jokes are in every chapter, truth is interwoven in between, and there're illustrations!!

Introducing:

The Tale of Honey-Water Farm

to be released: December 14, 2022

Eep, are you excited?

And here's the book blurb: 

In a stinky, grumpy land, the Farmer makes a happy farm and invites everyone into his animal family! From a horse full of jokes to a toad in the Pond Patrol, the animals have all the fruit and Honey-Water they could dream of. But the Farmer leaves to prepare for a Huge Farm Party. The friends face danger and strange animals who try to steal them from the farm. Can the animals hold onto the promise in their Honey-Water home? Will the Huge Farm Party ever come true?

Meet twelve huggable animals full of laughter and adventures and read why a goat tries to hide on a ceiling fan, what happens when a duck’s feet are too big, and how a possum celebrates her birthday.

And discover the secret of how every heart—young and old—can be radically faithful to their Farmer and receive a forever treasure.

Are you ready for the official, beautiful cover?!

Scroll down to let your eyes feast on the colors (I wouldn't blame you!) or read on for some of my usual whimsical thoughts if you're not one of those "skip to the last page of the book" kinda person. *wink*

Okay, just do it. Go see the cover. Ahhh!!!

...

Are you back now? (don't you have all the farmish feelings?!)

I think often about the fun of a book release these days. *wink*

There are reveals. Giveaways. Behind the scenes. Quotes. Aesthetics.

They're all fun, beautiful, they make you giddy inside and want to throw your arms around the characters and dance around!

And they all point to one thing:

the release day (!)

 

I'm thrilled. All this release is fun and exciting, and I can't wait for my little stories to be savored by readers of all ages! I dream of little ones giggling at Nelly the Nanny Goat's fake teeth falling out and older readers feeling childhood wonder as they read of Handsome Hansel the Horse and remember what it felt like to ride a bike for the first time.

This book has been all God. He gave me the stories in such a cool way, answered prayer, leads me in every step, and I hand the book back to Him so blessed that it's His project, not mine. ♥

It all culminates on December 14, the day picked for the release.

And I think of Jesus.

He's promised that there's a Day coming that's beyond our wildest imagination. It's a day of judgment—where all that is wrong will be punished—and a day of rewards—where those who trust fully in Him will be rewarded according to their works.

It's the Day a Kingdom will come to this broken earth, all will be made new, and we'll get to be with God forever! It's a day when the dead will rise and be reunited with their loved ones in whole bodies with no sickness or pain. How can I picture this without wanting to dance around?!

For the soul longing for our King, it's the day our Lover will return for His Bride, and we'll celebrate at the wedding supper of the Lamb!

For now, we wait. Anticipate. Prepare.

And in the meantime, I'm celebrating. I'm dreaming of the New Earth and how wonderful it will be to be in Jesus' presence, wrapped in His arms. I soak in His beauty in this present age. I rejoice in snippets of His shalom I find all over the world and look forward in eager expectation.

But I also seek to be ready for when the Bridegroom returns (Matthew 25:1-13).

As I celebrate this book's release and prepare it to enter the world, I'm anticipating the release day eagerly (yay!) and how it reminds me of the Day He comes. May we be found ready and faithful.

So. Are you ready for the official book cover for The Tale of Honey-Water Farm?!

Presenting:

cover drawn by Deborah Greene and graphic designed by Josiah Chad

And now for a giveaway to celebrate! (this giveaway is also on my Instagram (@hosanna.emily); enter on either site!)

the Prize:

// a super cute, rustic, farm-house, wax-melt warmer 

// apple crisp scented melts 

 to Enter:

// leave a comment (what do you love about farms?)

 

Bonus Entries: 

send to a friend (say something like "here's a book release I'm excited for!")

share on social media, your blog, etc.

extra entry for anyone on my email newsletter team!

 

Comment below with each entry, and the winner will be announced next Tuesday! 

I can't wait to chat below and celebrate this book release with you! Keep your eyes peeled for more behind-the-scenes info and alllll the fun stuff!

 

And let us continually consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but continuing to give one another strength and encouragement, and this more and more as you see the Day drawing nearer and nearer.

- Hebrews 10:22 

~♥~