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What it Feels Like to Publish a Book

In one word? Amazing! In a second word... exhausting! On the best TWOsday of the year,…

by Josie Siler March 3, 2022

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Flower Fridays are back! This gorgeous tulip is re

Flower Fridays are back! This gorgeous tulip is really special. It’s the first bloomer of the 40ish giant tulips my mom planted in her garden. It’s the first year and they’re already bigger than regular tulips. In another couple of years they’re supposed to be 3 feet tall and the tulip bloom will be 7 inches tall - that’s the size of my hand from wrist to fingertip! It was so exciting to see them start to bloom today. Have you ever seen a giant tulip?

#flowerfriday #flower #flowers #tulip #gianttulips #flowerstagram #photooftheday #floral #pretty #botanical #floweroftheday #flowersofinstagram #beauty #bloom #flowerslovers #flowermagic #nature #naturephotography #cellphonephotography #naturelovers #happy #petals #joy #garden #josiesjoyfuljourney #joyforthejourney #discoverwisconsin #exploremenom

My monthly newsletter drops on Thursday! It will b

My monthly newsletter drops on Thursday! It will be filled with new trip news, encouragement, book recommendations, and a free tulip phone screen. If you want to join the fun, you can sign up via the link in my bio that says Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw Activity Sheets (FREE).

#readingcommunity #readersofinstagram #travelnews #bookresources #writingcommunity #amwriting #writersofinstagram #writing #writerslife #lifeofawriter #mywritinglife #christianwriter #christianwriters #christianwritersofinstagram #christianwriting #christianwriterscommunity #kidlit #kidlitwriter #newslettersignup #encouragement #encourage #bookrecommendations #hope #howiesbrokenheehaw #donkey #donkeylove #joy #joyforthejourney #josiesjoyfuljourney

Our magnolia tree is blooming and it’s beautiful

Our magnolia tree is blooming and it’s beautiful!

#magnolia #magnoliatree #flowers #flower #magnoliaflower

Update: We have a winner! Congratulations to Cindy

Update: We have a winner! Congratulations to Cindy H.

The Scruffy Princess wanted to make sure you know that today is the last day of Children’s Book Week AND it’s World Donkey Day! 🥳

To celebrate I’m giving away a signed copy of Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw to one lucky winner. You’ll find all the details on my Facebook page (Link in bio.) Winner chosen tomorrow night from Facebook entries.

@endgamepress #donkey #worlddonkeyday #worlddonkeyday2022 #donkeyday #childrensbooks #childrensbookweek #picturebook #kidlit #DonkeyLove #EndGamePress #HowiesBrokenHeeHaw

Our first tulips are blooming! It finally feels li

Our first tulips are blooming! It finally feels like spring in my corner of Wisconsin. It’s going to hit 70 degrees today and I’m a happy girl! How’s your weekend going?

#tulips #flowers #discoverwisconsin

Howie is blushing at this sweet Amazon review! Tha

Howie is blushing at this sweet Amazon review! Thank you so much to Deanna Beaver and all the other wonderful people who have reviewed “Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw.” A recurring theme is that Howie’s book isn’t just for Easter, it’s a book that kids will love all year long!

#EndGamePress #howiesbrokenheehaw #kidlit #kidlitauthor #newbook #childrensbooks #childrensbook #childrensbookstagram #kidlitbooks #kidlitbookstagram #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebooksofinstagram #picturebookwriter #lovebooks #nevergrowup #joy #joyforthejourney #josiesjoyfuljourney #dreamcometrue #lifeofawriter #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #mywritinglife #writerscorner #review #bookreview #homeschoolresources

I haven’t felt well the past month. The past two

I haven’t felt well the past month. The past two weeks I’ve been sick on top of chronic illness stuff. It’s been cold, cloudy, and rainy here in Wisconsin and I hadn’t left the house in about two weeks. Today is gorgeous! It’s in the 50s and the sun came out to play. I went for a walk around our little town and then sat in the sun for a while with my shoes off. The look on Ruby’s face pretty much sums up how we both feel. We’re so happy it’s finally sun-soaking, porch-sitting, dandilion-growing, weather. If this doesn’t help me feel better, I don’t know what will! What refreshes your soul when you haven’t been feeling well?

#chronicillness #spoonie #spoonielife #thescruffyprincess #spring

Soon we’ll have tulips and that makes me so happ

Soon we’ll have tulips and that makes me so happy! It’s been a long winter. Are things already blooming where you live?

The spring issue of "Broken but Priceless: The Mag

The spring issue of "Broken but Priceless: The Magazine" has arrived! You’ll find it linked in my bio. Feel free to share the magazine with others, it’s completely free. We pray God uses this issue of the magazine to bless you and encourage your heart! ~Josie & @erinelizabethaustin

#brokenbutpriceless #brokenbutpricelessministries #magazine #freemagazine #illness #chronicillness #chroniclife #spoonie #spoonielife #darkness #light #life #health #fight #strength #weakness #trust #trustinGod #trustGod #inspire #motivate #inspirational #motivational #hope #faith #sunset #coverphoto #beautiful #nature #waterfall

Instagram post 17938601530937800

Instagram post 17938601530937800

Howie and I heard it’s World Book Day and we jus

Howie and I heard it’s World Book Day and we just had to celebrate. What a fantastic day! How are you celebrating?

#worldbookday #EndGamePress #howiesbrokenheehaw #kidlit #kidlitauthor #newbook #childrensbooks #childrensbook #childrensbookstagram #kidlitbooks #kidlitbookstagram #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebooksofinstagram #picturebookwriter #lovebooks #nevergrowup #joy #joyforthejourney #josiesjoyfuljourney #dreamcometrue #lifeofawriter #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #mywritinglife #writerscorner #homeschoolresources

This is such a powerful quote. Life, abundant and

This is such a powerful quote. Life, abundant and eternal, is ours. We just have to choose it. We just have to choose Jesus!

#GoodFriday #brokenbutpricelessministries #quote #quotes #quoteoftheday #inspirational #inspirationalquotes #motivational #believe #inspiration #motivation #qotd #photooftheday #truth #picoftheday #wisconsin #wisconsinphotographer #nature #naturephotography #silhouette #trees #treesofinstagram #sunset #sunsetphotography #skylovers #faith #hope #joy #joyforthejourney #josiesjoyfuljourney

Happy National Pet Day to The Scruffy Princess! Sh

Happy National Pet Day to The Scruffy Princess! She loves playing with her new fish taco toy, taking naps in the sunshine, and sitting on her Sissy. I don’t know what I would do without this little one!

#NationalPetDay #TheScruffyPrincess #TeddyBearDog #dog #furbaby #cute #dogstagram #pet #dogoftheday #doglover #ilovemydog #animal #petstagram #pets #photooftheday #animals #adorable #puppylove #happy #pup #doggy #lovedogs #friends #instagramdogs #perro #picoftheday #doglife ##joy #joyforthejourney josiesjoyfuljourney

Happy Howie Day… I mean, Happy Palm Sunday! Have

Happy Howie Day… I mean, Happy Palm Sunday! Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose a donkey to ride into Jerusalem? Like everything Jesus did, He had a good reason. Check out my most recent article (link in bio).

#PalmSunday #NationalFarmAnimalsDay #donkey #donkeysofinstagram #donkeylife #donkeyoftheday #donkeylove #ilovedonkeys #donkeylover #donkeys #farmanimals #homesteadlife #homestead #homesteading #hobbyfarm #hobbyfarmlife #smallfarm #donkeyears #donkeysanctuary #donkeyfunfriday #howiesbrokenheehaw #joyforthejourney #josiesjoyfuljourney

It’s been a couple of months since I put out a f

Yesterday morning I finished packing an overnight

Yesterday morning I finished packing an overnight bag, got dressed up, and jumped in the Jeep for a road trip with Mom. We never made it to our final destination.

I haven’t been feeling very well, but I had a place to be. I talked myself into getting ready and told myself that if I could just get out of the house and get going I would feel better. That pep talk got us as far as our first stop, Cabin Coffee Company just into Minnesota a few miles.

That’s when I gave myself another internal pep talk. If I could just have some lunch and a cup of coffee I would perk up and be able to keep going. By the time we finished, I knew I couldn’t keep going. I was in so much pain I was near tears. I texted my friend the bad news and we drove home.

It was a good decision, but a hard one. One I probably should have made before I left home for the day, but I’m ever optimistic and hate letting people down. You see, I was going to read my book to three classrooms of kids today. I wasn’t just canceling on my friend, I was canceling on a bunch of sweet kids and that just breaks my heart.

I’ve lived with chronic illness all my life and I’m used to canceling plans, but I still hate it. I hate missing things and I really hate being unreliable. It’s a struggle, friends, and one I want to share because I know I’m not alone. Maybe you’ve also wondered why God gives you supernatural strength for some events and sidelines you for others. I don’t have the answer to this, but I trust God.

I trust that His plans are better than mine. Am I sad and frustrated? Yes. But I give those feelings to the Lord. I’m honest with Him and ask Him to help me accept grace and unconditional love from Him and from my friend I keep canceling on. They both offer it freely and the only way I will feel peace is if I accept those gifts.

God gives us joy for the journey, even when the journey takes us right back home instead of where we wanted to go. My joy from yesterday? I got out of the house, I got to have a delicious lunch with Mom, and I was offered grace and understanding - priceless gifts.

Have you experienced something similar? How does God encourage you when you’re discouraged?

So we don’t actually have flowers blooming in my

So we don’t actually have flowers blooming in my corner of Wisconsin yet, but I got this beautiful bouquet from my dad. I thought I’d sneak in a little Flower Friday fun because they’re too gorgeous not to share! Do you have flowers blooming where you live?

#flowerfriday #flower #flowers #instagood #flowerstagram #photooftheday #blossom #floral #pretty #botanical #floweroftheday #amazing #flowersofinstagram #beauty #bloom #flowerslovers #awesome #flowermagic #naturelovers #blooms #happy #petals #joy #bouquet #bouquets #josiesjoyfuljourney

What are we doing with the time God has given us?

What are we doing with the time God has given us? He has intentionally placed each of us here, at this time in history, for a purpose. What does God want to do in and through you as you love Him and walk with Him today?

#quote #quotes #quoteoftheday #inspirational #inspirationalquotes #motivational #believe #inspiration #motivation #qotd #tozer #awtozer #tozerquotes #ChristianLiving #photooftheday #time #truth #picoftheday #nature #landscapephotography #barn #rural #bluesky #honorGod #peace #faith #joy #joyforthejourney #josiesjoyfuljourney

This week I got my taxes done and got the best sur

This week I got my taxes done and got the best surprise. Since last year, my accountant has set up a habitat for frogs. And not just any frogs, frogs that I’ve been fascinated with for years, frogs I never thought I would get to see in person.

Meet the poison dart frog. If you’re a fan of murder mysteries, you may have read a book or watched a show where the secretions from a poison dart frog were used as a murder weapon. It was so fascinating to watch these colorful frogs. They’re incredibly beautiful. I learned they’re only poisonous in the wild because of what they eat. When they’re raised in captivity, they are not poisonous. Also, if you catch one in the wild, it will eventually lose its toxicity. God’s creation is so incredible!

My accountant raises flightless fruit flies and feeds them every other day. The fruit flies bounce around and the frogs eat them. He also has two lizards in the enclosure because once the fruit flies stop bouncing around, the frogs won’t eat them. They need to be able to see the movement to catch them. The lizards eat the leftover fruitflies and the ones that make it to parts of the enclosure the frogs can’t get to.

It was our lucky day because it was feeding day. After my appointment, my accountant came out and fed his frogs and I got to watch. It was so interesting. I still can’t get over how bright and beautiful these frogs are! Who knew I would learn so much on a trip to the accountant and that getting taxes done could be so much fun! Oh, and I also learned how to pay taxes on books I sell, got my proper tax numbers, got all my questions answered, AND sold a book to my accountant for his office. Happy tax season to me!

#taxseason #taxday #coolestaccountant #frogs #frogsofinstagram #poisondartfrog #poisondartfrogs #murdermystery #writingcommunity #amwriting #writersofinstagram #writing #writerslife #christianwriter #christianwriters #christianwritersofinstagram #christianwriting #christianwriterscommunity #lifeofawriter #writerscommunity #mywritinglife #writerscorner #joy #joyforthejourney #josiesjoyfuljourney

A powerful quote from Tozer. As followers of Jesus

A powerful quote from Tozer. As followers of Jesus Christ, we can share the hope and peace we find in Jesus with a world that desperately needs what we have. Who we have. Each and every one of us needs Jesus, not just as a Savior, but as a friend who loves us dearly and offers peace in the midst of the chaos of this world. Will you choose Jesus today? Will you share the hope found in Him with others?

#quote #quotes #quoteoftheday #inspirational #inspirationalquotes #motivational #believe #inspiration #motivation #qotd #tozer #awtozer #tozerquotes #church #ChristianLiving #photooftheday #truth #picoftheday #nature #naturephotography #trees #bloomingtree #spring #Jesus #hope #peace #naturephotography #faith #joy #joyforthejourney #josiesjoyfuljourney

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