There are several people I first want to thank for contributing to this project - Emily Pruett, who first was our babysitter, then my friend, and now my book designer. We have giggled throughout this whole thing that we got to do this, what a joy to do this with her.

Our daughter Sophie Aguilar, who sat with the book and was willing to dig in and do some necessary edits from a fresh perspective. That day on the deck was pivotal to me.

Will Echols, our son in law, who is a graphic designer here in NWA - he designed that beautiful wallpaper at Markham & Fitz, and lots of other cool stuff... he created our website, which is way above my pay grade.

Our community group, who has prayed over this book and me for the last two years and offered loving support.

Al, who I really thought would think I was crazy when I came to him with the idea, but instead has been in it and willing from the beginning. Thank you babe.

There have also been many friends who have encouraged me and continued to ask about the details. I am so grateful.

In 2007, as a family friend was nearing death, a story came to me while praying for their family.

I got a picture of a king, a king who was excitedly waiting for her to arrive. He was intimately involved in waiting for her. He was kind of pacing around his throne room asking his staff if she was there yet, basically was she here, on campus, in heaven. (Spoiler, our King wouldn't be pacing because He already knows every detail.)

The king keeps asking, is she here yet? A servant tells him, no Master, she's not here yet... more pacing, more excitement building ... is everything ready for her ... yes Master, all is ready. Well, is she here now? No Master, not yet, but "it won't be long now" ... meaning she was about to die... and be with Him.

One more time, "now? Is she here now?"
And the servant says, “Master! She's here!”

It was just such a sweet picture of a king who cares intimately about HER, about each one of us. He had been waiting for her, aware of her situation ... and if He's waiting for her, its personal, and He's waiting for all of us with that same excitement.

I think I shared the story with a handful of people verbally over the years, but that was it. Then, in February of 2023. I was at hospice when a dear friend and mentor passed away. I shared the story that day with some of her family, and a few people that day at hospice as it seemed so near, and in the car on the way home that day, I felt a nudge ... more like an instruction... "it's time to write the story as a book." Uh, ok that's funny, but I don't really want to do that, and, I don't have any idea how to do that. But, it left a mark. I came home and told Al, who strangely, did not think I was crazy, we prayed about it, and started down an unknown path, researching, writing it into words and shared with a few people, who were an encouragement to me.

One of the first steps was a meeting with a guy who lives in Mexico who runs a creative book agency. My friend had connected me with a friend of hers who had recently done a book through his agency and when I checked his website, there was a free consultation included. He said the story was good and gave me hope that I might be on the right path with this thing.

Then for months I researched illustrators, finally landing with Young Ju Kim, and to this day we've never met or spoken, except through email, but she also loved the story and I loved her style.

While chatting with my friend Emily, she gently reminded me that she actually does books for a living and if I wanted to, she could do my book! This has been one of the sweetest parts of this whole process, because her encouragement and enthusiasm has been a gift. Also this meant lots of meetings, coffees, marco polos and planning, with my friend. A gift inside of a gift.

There are so many other "moments" throughout this almost 2 year process, in counseling, where deep things became clear and layers were unfolded, coffees with friends, things people have said, that have led me to this point.

For people of faith in Jesus Christ, this book is a parable of the one true King who prepares a place for us in heaven. John 14:3 TLT: When everything is ready, I will come and get you so that you will always be with me where I am.

I want to honor the story, I want to honor the real King, who is waiting for each of us.