MY FIRST BOOK SIGNING!!

Here I am the 2nd day of the SHINE Conference in front of the bookstore where they had a wonderful display of my book set up for me. I have to be honest, signing books and standing there was honestly a bit awkward for me. The entire staff was incredibly kind and helpful. I had a lovely time though! God is SO good!

Here I am the last night of the SHINE Conference in in front of the HUGE SHINE sign on the stage of Shoreline Christian Center in Austin, Texas!

I have really been excited about the last few days! That's me, with my books and poster inside the bookstore at Shoreline Christian Center! The above photo is the stage, and the name of the women's conference is SHINE. This was my very first place to do a book signing! My heart felt thanks to my friend Pastor Laura Koke who gave me the wonderful opportunity, and a special thanks to her entire staff who loved on me completely. Laura and her husband Rob pastor the church together. It's a large church with about 5000 in attendance. They had there SHINE conference for 3 days Wednesday - Friday.

I was blessed with the opportunity to meet and have lunch with Michelle McKinney-Hammond. (check out her website: http://www.michellehammond.com/) She was one of the speakers there, she was able to pour so much into me during the two hours at lunch! What a great gift from God to me. She has authored THIRTY books and is under contract for two more. She shared with me that before she ever became a published author that she sent out HUNDREDS of proposals to HUNDREDS of publishing houses and receive HUNDREDS of rejection letters before she became published. She asked me how many publishing houses did I send my proposals out to before I got picked up. I shared with her that I sent SIX proposals and and got a contract in the mail before I got ONE rejection letter. She looked at me and said "Girl! That never happens!" She told me to be sure and recognize the blessing in this, not to take it for granted. I know that this is most unusual to happen, and I honestly am ever thankful to our Lord. I am still in a bit of shock that I am now a published author... I SO enjoyed my visit with her, her wisdom, hilarious since of humor, grace and realness. She truly moved me in our talking. I pray the Lord continues to bless her ministry, as she has so much to offer! She truly loves the Lord, and wants everyone on the planet to "get it" so that they might live as we are intended to!

I also had the privilege of dining with Wendy Treat (check out her website: http://www.wendytreat.com/) who was another speaker there. She like me is also a pastor's wife. She was wonderful to visit with, very passionate and full of wisdom and confidence in her God-given abilities.

I am praising our Lord Jesus for every bit of this book, and all of the fun that comes along with it. I also met and visited with several pastor's wives who I know will be able to relate to it. Several pastor's wives purchased copies. We exchanged phone numbers and information, I believe that the Lord has connected us! I have newly found Sister's in Christ.

I also had a younger gal come up to me explaining that she had her baby in last November, she was still in high school. I believe that the Lord will speak to her through the reading of it as well. She felt like because I had a teenage pregnancy (19 and delivered at 20) that she would find hope and healing and a place of relating. I pray that she will seek after the Lord always as she raises her child. I give thanks that her own mother was there with her and was very supportive of her. I pray that the Lord would use this for a ministry for her later on... oh the wonderful hope and security we have in Him!

This is a FIVE book series entitled "Confessions of a Pastor's Wife" and the first book that is "HE Speaks, Can You Hear Him" Go to my website at http://www.kathrynbonner.com/ to purchase it NOW before it goes out on the market in December 18th.

Forever Praising Him,
Kathryn

Our Daughter Kellie Ann Is Married!

It has been a while since I have posted on my blog! Not because I haven't wanted to, but because I have been so busy with work, church, my book, and ALL of the MANY details of our daughter Kellie Ann's wedding. Above is a picture of where she was married. You may find this rather comical, but the people in the photo are not my daughter and son-in-law! However, the photo is where she was married. At this point I do not have any photo's of them yet. The photographer won't have photo's to us for several weeks. I am ready for them NOW :) There fore I simply went to the website where they were married and borrowed a photo :) When I have actual photos I will upload them and share them.

It was a beautiful wedding, and we truly do love our son-in-law. What a blessing that is for us. We know that Chase will take such great care of Kellie Ann, that gives parents such peace. Chase and Kellie Ann have committed their marriage to Christ and that is HUGE! It's the best way to begin the biggest commitment of your life. We are proud of both of them, in so many ways. I give thanks unto our Lord God for uniting them in Holy Matrimony!

My husband (Kellie Ann's dad) married them and said so many profound things during the ceremony as he spoke to them and to the congregation. One of the things that struck me that he said was that "He watched Chase from the window as he opened up the car door for her, and picked up the tree branches from the front yard (we'd had a heavy storm that broke some of the branches from the trees). He said that when I saw him do those two things, not knowing that Bruce was watching him from the upstairs window, that he knew Chase would be a good provider, and that he was a hard worker, and that he took pride in things.

All of that is very true of Chase. He also talked about the patience that he exhibited with Kellie Ann, and how he taught her more about finances, and how he had bought her a puppy for Christmas several years back. We are blessed!

We have turned a corner of sorts, now that both of our daughters are married to wonderful guys. We are now through "raising" them, and will be in prayer for them until the day of our death, and until then, we can now be "friends" together. There is something truly glorious about this! Something to celebrate! They made it, they are full fledged adults! Wow, it's truly amazing, truly wonderful!

I pray that the Lord blesses both of you with abundance, joy, laughter, love, grace, forgiveness!

Kathryn