by Kit Tosello
I’ve had practice surrendering my plans and dreams. It gets easier with time. But never was I so ready to do the surrendering as when my long-held dream of a comfortable family home with a welcoming front porch collided squarely with an economic downturn.
Hanging on to that dream—white knuckling it, really—cost me. It cost my husband. And we were no longer willing to pay the price.
I’d wanted a sweet nest, roomy enough to forever accommodate our kids—and, in time, their kids. You know: the American Dream.
Now all I wanted was God’s.
There’s little demand for kitchen designers when a building boom dries up. So with our two oldest off to college and both of our jobs stripped away, we sold the family-sized home we’d only had a chance to enjoy for two years and downsized—dramatically. Joyfully, even.
As my then-ten-year-old daughter said, “Now you can write your book!” Fifteen years later, she’s been proven right. Of course, the story played out on God’s timetable, not mine.
Part of that timetable included working for a nonprofit that awakened me to a gut-wrenching reality. Plenty of kids, even in my own community, have to navigate childhood while one of their parents is incarcerated. The impact incarceration has on family members wrecked me. I heard from one articulate young woman that, as a child, when she heard well-meaning people refer to her as “at risk,” she yearned for them to believe that she was “at risk of accomplishing great things.”
I moved on to work in book editing but never forgot the image of a sad young girl, alone in her pain.
Having sold the house and settled into a cramped but cozy little place on the outskirts of town, my new daily walk took me down quiet country roads. Every day I passed a blue-roofed farmhouse that had seen better days. Once an immaculate B&B painted a bright white, with crisp gingerbread trim, a gracious front porch, pond, and gazebo, it now sat unoccupied and in disrepair. The inn’s forlorn state, with worn paint, boarded-up windows, and overgrown weeds, fueled my imagination.
In my writer’s heart, a redemptive tale began forming. This would be a story about a dilapidated inn, yes—but more, about the young woman who believes her own hope is all tied up in its fate: Audrey.
Forced to surrender her carefully curated plans, Audrey would be given a fresh chance to invite God’s. She’d get an opportunity I wished I had, the chance as an adult to deepen her relationship with a beloved older female relative: Aunt Daisy. Not only would Audrey receive Aunt Daisy’s love and wisdom, but if she were simply willing to show up, she’d also be a tremendous encouragement in return.
Audrey would befriend a sad young girl, alone in her pain, inspired by the woman I once met at a prison ministry conference: Paige.
Oh, how I wanted these vivid scenes in my mind to morph into words on a page. Trouble was, I wasn’t yet the novelist I aspired to be. So while I continued to write nonfiction, I studied the craft and immersed myself in reading tons of fiction, especially in the contemporary genre.
Meanwhile I proposed an article idea to my editor at the small-town newspaper for which I freelanced. Given the green light to interview the current owner of the run-down inn, I posed the question burning on many local folks’ minds: Would we ever see the old B&B restored to its former glory? The answer disappointed: no time soon.
But time passed, and the story in which just such a derelict inn gets its moment in the sun finally stared back at me from a Word doc. And, miracle of miracles, The Color of Home has just been published by Revell. A story less about an old inn, but more about the woman whose heart is enmeshed in its past. Like me, Audrey faces a pivotal moment of decision. How much is she willing to lose in order to gain the life she’s meant to find?
Years ago, the Lord asked me to let go of something good in order to make room for something better. Little did I know when I surrendered career and home that the change of address would open a door to the meaningful work of sharing heartfelt stories with the power to inspire.
Trust me (and Audrey and Daisy) on this: Anything we surrender to God will be more than multiplied.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
(Proverbs 16:9 ESV)
About the Author
Kit Tosello is an award-winning writer of small-town, big-hearted contemporary women’s fiction and devotionals. Her debut novel, The Color of Home, released on September 24. You’ll often find Kit sipping matcha in the loose-tea shop she operates with her husband in Central Oregon, exploring the great PNW, or reading to her grandkids. Learn more at KitTosello.com.
About the Book
When Audrey Needham returns to Charity Falls, Oregon, to help her great-aunt and great-uncle get settled in assisted living, she’s resolved to get back to her demanding career as an interior designer. But the friendly community and the chance to learn the truth about a family tragedy tug at her heart—as does a handsome local do-gooder.
Did You Know?
In recent years, tuberculosis, or TB as it is better known, has been almost eradicated in the Western world. The disease is caused by a bacterium that can settle in the lungs and grow, eventually causing death if untreated.
Despite progress in modern medicine, however, the disease is still threatening the health of many, particularly the poor and those without access to good medical care. And with increased global travel, the next outbreak could be as near as your travel plans. For example, did you know that:
China, Brazil, and Kenya rank amongst the countries with the highest incidence of TB? Thankfully, Cambodia and the Russian Federation have dropped off this list.
Around 9,600 cases of TB were reported in the US in 2023? However, the number of deaths has rapidly dropped to around 200, down from over 5,000 in 1970.
The three best ways to avoid contracting the disease are good ventilation, natural light, and good hygiene. Tuberculosis can remain suspended in the air for several hours with no ventilation. UV light kills off TB bacteria. And good hygiene, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, reduces the spread of TB bacteria.
While we should always practice good hygiene and handwashing, get as much fresh air as possible, and make sure our living, work, and recreational spaces are well-ventilated, it is also encouraging to know that with medicine, particularly antibiotics, our risk of death is much lower than it was fifty years ago.
-Donna Schlachter, A Fresh Start for Elizabeth
In the Spotlight
A new season of the More to Life podcast has officially launched! Stay tuned for the latest episode with biblical fiction author Mesu Andrews as she shares the story behind her book Brave: The Story of Ahinoam, one of David’s lesser-known wives revealed in the Old Testament. And before you miss out, get caught up on all your favorite authors. Episode 1 is available now with a double header—best friends and bestselling authors Colleen Coble and Denise Hunter. Head over to our podcast today by clicking “Listen Now.”
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