Called to Create: Alexa Boehler on Unlocking Her Voice Through Words, Worship, and Wonder

In this inspiring episode of Hope Unlocked, Kristin Kurtz welcomes Alexa Boehler—wife, mom of four, singer-songwriter, and now author of the faith-based children’s book Emmanuel Emu: God Is With You. Alexa shares how God birthed the vision for her book during early motherhood, and how obedience, creativity, and community support brought it to life. From finding a Kingdom illustrator to writing songs for each story, her journey is a testimony of trusting God’s timing. This episode encourages every listener to reclaim their creative voice and step out in bold faith.

Alexa's Contact Info:

Website - www.alexaboehler.com 

Book - Emmanuel Emu: God is with You

Chapters

• 0:16 Welcome to Hope Unlocked
• 1:16 Meet Alexa Beeler: Girl Mom of Four
• 5:43 Finding Home and Family Support
• 9:53 The Birth of Emmanuel Emu
• 16:43 From Musician to Children's Author
• 27:41 Finding the Perfect Illustrator
• 41:20 Surrendering the Timeline to God
• 48:22 The Power of Creativity and Community

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:16

Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast. I'm your host, Kristen Kurtz, and I'm also the founder of New Wings Coaching. I help and empower wildhearted and adventurous women of faith feeling caged and stuck, unlock their true purpose and potential, break free from limitations and thrive with confidence, courage and hope. If you're curious to learn more about coaching with me, head to newwingscoachingnet and be sure to explore the show notes for ways to connect with me further. Get ready to dive in as we uncover empowering keys and insights in this episode. So tune in and let's unlock hope together. Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast. I'm Kristen Kurtz, your host. I pray this episode is like a holy IV of hope for your soul. Please help me. Welcome Alexa Beeler to the show. I'm excited to have her here with us today. We are a connection through several different means, partly because of social media and partly because of a ministry that we were both trained up in, but I'm just excited to have you here today. Alexa, Could you share a little bit about yourself before we get started?

Speaker 2: 1:16

Yeah, yeah, thank you, kristen, for this opportunity. I'm really excited to just talk and just lean into what God has to share. And yeah, I'd love to share a little bit about myself. So well, I guess, first of all, I am a wife to Max and he's a school teacher, so I get to mostly stay home with the kiddos.

Speaker 2: 1:43

I've sort of switched to the title to stay at home mom, to work from home mom, so, but, um, but yeah, I've got, uh, four little girls. I'm girl mom and my oldest will be, she will be six this summer, which is crazy. So I've got a six year or a five, almost six year old. I've got three year old twins and then our fourth was born in December, so she's about four months now. Yep, four months. So, yeah, I'm doing the mom thing, doing the doing the small town life. Now, we just recently moved back from um, from Missouri. We were, my husband was teaching in St Joe and we lived in a little town out there, but this we're in home, we're at home now. We both grew up in small town, nebraska, and just moved back. Well, it's about a year now, but it still feels pretty fresh.

Speaker 1: 2:41

But so, but what led you back to Nebraska?

Speaker 2: 2:47

Well, you know. So we, we were high school sweethearts and, um, after we went to, I guess, to college, um, in a little bit bigger of a city that we were in, but still not big at all, Really, we grew up in a town about a thousand people, both of us.

Speaker 2: 3:05

And um, yeah, and then we moved to uh what it would be what we would call our big city which isn't, um, but we moved to Kearney and we went to college there and then we decided, when we got married, we were going to go and explore a little bit more and we moved to Kansas city area and, um, we always knew that when we started having children and we're going to actually settle down, we both just kind of knew we would head back to where family was and that's what brought us back. You know, family is most important and, um, it's been a huge blessing to be able to be close to both my family and his family and, um, yeah, so I would say family brought us back. The Lord did all the work but, yes, um, we wanted to be close to them.

Speaker 2: 4:13

So when you were apart, was it challenging? Like, did you have a support network? Yeah, out of your family in Missouri, hours away? Um, so, not nothing that we, you know, couldn't make it back if we needed to, or they couldn't make it there if they needed to, but when we started to have the kiddos, that was very, very challenging. I, um, my heart goes out to, um, to parents who are either not able to or don't have family around. It is a huge blessing. It was hard, yes, I can only imagine.

Speaker 1: 4:47

I always tell people it takes a village, I'm sure that my mother-in-law does in-home daycare so she was helping take care of my boy. That's wonderful, because I was working a job when I was a young mom.

Speaker 2: 5:01

I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.

Speaker 1: 5:03

But I thought, gosh, I can't even imagine not having family you know to care, like just putting them in a child care center. No, no condemnation to anybody who's putting. No, I know, I know For me personally like I had a dream to be a stay-at-home mom and I just thought, okay, that's not God's plan at this point. The next best alternative is to have you know, family to you know, almost just be like that second home, right? Yes?

Speaker 2: 5:32

absolutely, I feel the same.

Speaker 1: 5:35

Yeah, Well, it's interesting. I have a friend who lives in it's Kearney right, Missouri.

Speaker 2: 5:41

Yeah Well, so we're in Kearney.

Speaker 1: 5:45

Nebraska is where we went to school, so oh okay, so there's a, there is a Kearney Missouri, but yes, All right, so that would be a completely different place. Um so, going back, um, you've gone back home and what? What have you been up to Like? What is, what is something that's been? You know we were talking before we got started and you know my heart. One of the reasons I had you on was to share what you've been up to and really, you know help, I don't know. It's almost like a birth announcement, maybe.

Speaker 2: 6:17

Yeah, yes, I think it is. That's how I feel and I love. I have to sidebar a little bit and say I absolutely love that you use that analogy, so so much, because I am super passionate about birth and and physiological birth and I my one of my best friends is a doula and I started attending births with her and just super passionate about actual birth and so just seeing this analogy is really special actual birth, and so just seeing this analogy is really special.

Speaker 1: 6:49

It's so interesting because I have, like you know, as a life coach, I've had several clients say you're like a spiritual midwife to help.

Speaker 1: 6:53

I love that birth, that which is within somebody, because I think there's too many people who self-abort, what it is that god's calling them to birth, right, and I for some reason just get all of these like birthing analogies and yet I'm not like in the birth space physically. I love it, essence, right, yeah, yeah. So that's kind of a behind the scenes of if anybody's wondering like, what is she talking about?

Speaker 2: 7:17

Yes, yes, I have some people that don't understand my language.

Speaker 2: 7:28

No, it's good, I love that, so, okay, well, so here's the birth announcement of the book that I am working on. So I actually just published a Christian children's book. It's called Emmanuel Emu God is with you and it has been a whole long process of bringing this to the world a whole long process of bringing this to the world. I guess I kind of got the idea after. Okay, I'm going to rewind again. I'm sorry, I'm kind of all over, but I I grew up as a singer, songwriter. That's kind of what I did all through. I mean, gosh, I started when I was 10-ish, around there and like actually singing for events and things like that. So that's kind of, I guess, a little bit of background of the art side of what I do, the artsy side. I was listening to one of your podcasts and somebody said that they were multi-passionate and I'm like thank you for that wording, I've been needing that.

Speaker 1: 8:27

So it's right in that. What was that there's so much freedom to? Because I think the world will tell you that, no, you can only do one thing.

Speaker 2: 9:15

Well, absolutely, and that's something I had have struggled with. It's like, well, if I'm doing this, then I can't do that, and you know I've always been very creative and I love the writing, music and and art and that sort of thing.

Speaker 2: 9:33

But if I'm focused on that, I actually that's kind of another story. But I had somebody very influential say that there was no way I could even do what I was doing, because I needed to make a distinction. If I was for sure going to be making music and that's all I was going to do, or you know. And it really like cut deep and I didn't understand why at the time, because I was like, but I also I ran track in college and I loved being well and helping people understand wellness and like why couldn't they both be? And just, you know that sort of thing. So, but yeah, so I started. I've always been into music and creative and that type of thing, but just it just never was like clicking. Really I don't know how to explain it other than it just really wasn't clicking. I have some really great music, but I don't know, I didn't always be quite as bold about my faith and sharing the gospel through what I was doing. So I know that had a factor for sure, but I think for sure, looking back now with the whole multi-passionate idea is like I really was just like putting my myself, I guess, into a box and when God was like, no, you are all these things, this is how I made you. So, um, yeah, that's been really very freeing, as you.

Speaker 2: 10:56

As you said, so, um, I guess, when I had my first, I was in Missouri at the time, so we weren't around family and I was working for a while before she was born, at a chiropractic clinic and I was doing the rehab with the clients there and I was called to stay home, even while I was throughout the pregnancy, which was interesting because I didn't have any other kids, so that was hard. But in that time I got plugged in with the other ministry that you and I have been involved with the Revelation, fitness or wellness and so I started doing that and um was really, really excited about it, um, and it just felt like very freeing at the time, cause I wasn't um, I guess I could be focused on not just one thing. I started I was doing a lot of more music and singing, and that's where some of income was coming from, and I was also doing this fitness thing and I loved that. That was one of the first moments where I was like, okay, these do fit together.

Speaker 2: 12:06

This can work and right after my first was born. Of course, you know it's a huge life change to have your first kiddo and I'm going all the time go, go, go, go go and just to sit down and learn how to nurse a baby and be resting with them. Um, my, I, I just feel like I was kind of given this little character, emmanuel Um, and he was an emu, and I, I, I, okay, we're just. This is so fun to talk with you about it, cause you now you've said you are into the birth analogies and you've also, um, I've heard you say that you love bird eagles and birds, and I'm a bird lady too, so this is so fun. My first is actually named Lark, so I love the birds.

Speaker 1: 13:03

Yes, we could have fun out in nature together. Let me just say oh, yes, we would.

Speaker 2: 13:10

But yeah, so I had this little character, emmanuel Emu. God gave me his little story and you know pretty much it sounds kind of silly, but really, as I was nursing my first and singing her little lullabies and telling her little stories, this, this was born with her kind of this little emu. And yeah, that that's how the story happened. I wanted I want nothing more than my kids and all the kids, to know that God is with us and with them, and so that is really what this story, this first story, is about.

Speaker 1: 13:49

So you said the first story Tell us more.

Speaker 2: 13:51

There's more, there's more coming. I have several books already written and I am so excited that that god connected me with um, the illustrator that we've been working with um because he is an amazing man of god. I've never met him in person, but he has been working with me on this project for well over two, two years or more now.

Speaker 1: 14:18

at this point, um, just kind of bringing this story to life and that is kind of a fun story in itself, because I had no idea where to start- Well, would you mind like kind of digging in with us on that, because one of my favorite things when I hear somebody say is like I didn't know what I was doing. Yes, yes, so I'm imagining that you didn't you're doing. Would you be able to kind of dig into that a little bit with our audience? Because, first of all, you're a mom of four under the age of five. Yes, so that could be. You know, we have a lot of things that try to keep us from stepping into our desk. That could definitely be something that you could say no, I got to wait till you know, and I'm just using that as an example.

Speaker 2: 15:06

Sure.

Speaker 1: 15:07

Yeah, Because there's lies right that I don't have. Yes, I always find, like some of the not if you agree with me, but with people I've worked with or people have come across my path I find them, to do this, detractors. I guess that's the best way to put it. I don't have time and I don't have money. Yes, Things can keep you from stepping into what he's calling you into. So would you be able to like kind of walk us through this process of like what did it look like? Did you feel? Like he's saying now, and then you're like what? Like tell us a little bit more about this process.

Speaker 2: 15:47

Yes, I would love to. Okay, so you were spot on with the time and money thing. That. That definitely comes up a lot in inside of me and I have to go no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, so, yes. So I'll take us back when I first got this, this little story in this little character, and I knew it was going to be a children's book. Actually, I'm going to go back a little bit even further.

Speaker 2: 16:17

So I had just I guess I had a couple of years before, but I had published, or not published, I had released an album, uh, songs that I had written and, um, it was kind of a stripped back version of what I had done before. And in my I was working with um kind of a home studio um guy and he was also a Christian and I was like this is, this is good. We're gonna try and focus on that, this being okay, how do I say it? I wanted it to the music to be. It could be Christian music, but also couldn't. That's where I was at in life, like you know. You could listen to it and if you were a Christian, well, this is special and it's not, you know, dirty or whatever you want to call it, but it's not overtly like I'm talking about God or my faith or anything like that. That's where I was kind of at.

Speaker 2: 17:20

And um, looking back, it's good music, but I, like I had already mentioned it, um, I can tell that it wasn't. I wasn't in the flow of what God wanted me to be doing. Now that I know, and um, so it didn't really do any. I mean, it was good and it didn't it. It wasn't like't just fulfilling, it wasn't what I knew I should be doing. I think, okay, and so that was. Did you feel that at the time? Did you feel?

Speaker 2: 17:49

I did not know that at the time. I think I and I think if I I don't know, I think I was convincing myself that this is what I could be doing and they're like, if this is good and it is good, I think there's people that that works and God calls them to that, but I I don't know. I knew that something was kind of off and it felt out of my comfort zone. But I thought I guess I've always thought that like we're called to be uncomfortable, so this is what that feels like. But I think I'm starting to realize now more that it's that that feeling was more of like you're maybe uncomfortable because it's not what you're supposed to be doing, versus what it feels like to be uncomfortable when you are doing what God's calling you to do, if that makes any sense at all.

Speaker 1: 18:37

Yeah, and I think we have to take a step back too and kind of have that eagle eyes view of, like you stepped into it, nothing is wasted, right, and that first step in you know, like I can imagine you know, if you have volumes of books, your first book maybe isn't going to be as like. Kind of like when we do something for the first time, we really kind of don't know what we're doing, but yeah, still with us and his hand is on it, so it's not like you were, you know, being obedient or whatever, but like that there's more for you in that realm as well. Yeah, yes, yes, that's exactly right.

Speaker 1: 19:14

So I'm going to stop on that point, just for anybody who's listening like nothing is wasted right absolutely nothing is wasted.

Speaker 2: 19:22

I've learned so much in all of those, in all of that, and I don't usually like promote that now, but, yeah, it was definitely, um, a learning experience for sure, and growing in in my faith too, so, absolutely so, I guess, bringing me to to the book now, that when I as as a mom, as a new mom I was, it felt, um, it felt like everything kind of came together and was like this was a way that, um, like this is what I was supposed to be doing, I guess. So, like I can make music. Now that goes with the books which I have, the each book has a little song that goes with it, and it's.

Speaker 1: 20:09

I see you having music with your books and I didn't have. I had no idea.

Speaker 2: 20:14

Oh yeah, that's wonderful. So, yes, that's what I, that's what I, I I did and I'm like this, this ties it together and like I'm going all out, like I for for my kids right, they got it. I'm not gonna not have a Christian book. A faith based book is something that I'm going to teach them through this, and in that, that's what happened, that's what. That's what happened. So, um, yeah, so that's where I was at when and it just all like came together and I was like, okay, so this is for God, this is for my kids, this is, this is who he created me to be is to to like confidently put him out first and not not like a second thought. And so so I, I kind of got I.

Speaker 2: 21:03

It was slow because, there you go, I was busy, I had a new baby and I was stay at home mom and my husband had, you know, just teaching job and we're not making a whole lot, and so I didn't really do much with it for, oh gosh, maybe a year or so, um, but in the meantime I had a couple other books that came to me as well. So I have those written and the songs that went with them, and that was kind of that. And then after my well, I can't remember, it was either before or after my twins were born, it was right around that time I was. I told my husband, max. I was like, I think I'm I'm just holding onto these adorable stories and I like tell them to my kids, so I should just do it already. And and he's very supportive and he said all right, figure out how to do it, just tell me how much it's going to cost. And I was like, okay, well, here we go.

Speaker 2: 22:03

And so I, um, I knew I needed an illustrator and I knew, uh, gosh, you, a Christian of faith driven illustrator artist to work with, because I know that little people can't read, so they're going to read the pictures first, and I know how powerful pictures can be. And so so I was like I gotta find this person and I started reaching out to. I have lots of our artist friends and I contacted them first and nobody was really like. Some. Some were like, well, I could maybe see what I can come up with and give you a sample, and sure, so I, they did that and I'll see. You know, they ended up actually saying no, they didn't think this was a good time to take on a project, and you know, that's, that's good. And I learned about the um, the like freelancer sites like, uh, upwork, upwork and Fiverr, and I was like, okay, I'm not having any luck finding any, any illustrators, so I'm just gonna post it there and see what happens, okay. And I, so I posted, I made a post, it was like at 10 pm and after, after the kiddos were sleeping, I, um, I explained very, very rudimentary this project that I was looking for an illustrator for, and I, I, you know, I was bold at that point because in the past I would maybe I I definitely mentioned and make it obvious that I was a Christian, but this following Jesus, but I wouldn't put it the very first thing.

Speaker 2: 23:53

Oh, I love that, yeah, and so this, uh, this time I did and and I was, like you know, I'm a new mom. I have, you know, been a singer, songwriter. I've got these little children's books and this it's about an emu and I love birds and nature and seeing God and that and this type of thing. That's how I explained it and I was like, oh, what the heck, let's see what happens. And like five minutes later I got a response and, um, he shared it. He's like, you know, I don't get on, I don't get on this like at all really, but I did happen to hop on and just check my account and I saw your post and, um, he explained that you know, he was, uh, actually at the time was a school teacher and he was a daughter, he had daughters, he was a girl dad and like all these things, and he actually had published just very loosely but he had done it a book about birds and he was a minister at his church and also an illustrator, and he thought this was a very, you know, interesting project. He'd like to learn more.

Speaker 2: 25:05

I was like well, goodness, that like matched everything In five minutes. I know, I mean seriously, it was like instant. And you know, I responded right away and I was like well, that's perfect. I think we like match really well, I responded right away, and I was like well, that's perfect.

Speaker 2: 25:19

I think we like match really well and um, but I did say you know, um, we're on an extremely tight budget, like I don't even know how this is going to work. I, I know that I'm supposed to be doing it, but you know, I I'm all about paying people what they're worth, and I certainly would not, you know, I don't I'm just not saying no right now, but just so you know I not got much to work with and he said that's just fine. Just, you know, I'll pray about it, you pray about it, which I was like okay, that's great so far, we're starting with that and um, but, but you know, go ahead and talk to the people that you need to talk to. And so I did. I got back a couple um samples from other people. Just you know that, saw the post and, uh, they were good, but there was, and I hadn't even seen a sample from this guy.

Speaker 2: 26:10

His name's Joel, by the way. Joel is the illustrator, joel, part part. You know what? I need to ask him actually how to pronounce his name. We were talking about that. It's either partner partain, um, so, poor guy, I need to. I've only been talking to him for working with him for two years now.

Speaker 1: 26:25

So well, we don't use all, each other by our last name Right, well, thanks for that.

Speaker 2: 26:34

So Joel, um, yeah, so anyways, he anyways, he hadn't, even we hadn't even gotten a sample yet from him. But you know, we just I just felt like very strong connection there and I got the other samples and they were good and all of that. But I tried to pursue, you know, like do we, do you just do this, you know over, like messenger, or do we talk? And you know, most of them didn't. It was just we just they develop the pictures and I use them, type of thing. And I ended up having a call with Joel and I was like you know, I felt very called to work with him and I told him that and he said you know, I feel the same, so let. I told him that and he said you know, I feel the same, so let's just make it work. And he said, okay, let's just make it work. And he was extremely gracious.

Speaker 2: 27:27

Um donated a ton of time to the project, a lot of his um experience and having done something similar before. And he was just upfront with you know, you're going to I believe in this project and you, you know we'll pay for what you use. So we did a lot of character development, which was so much fun working with him. Like we we tried all kinds. First he was a darker colored emu and because that's what emus are, that most of the time the standard color is dark, like a black colored feather, and it was not translating at all to the illustration. And so we're like, well, maybe he needs to be a blonde emu or a white one. And so we did all the development and he was just awesome development and um, he was just awesome.

Speaker 2: 28:20

It was just so fun to see God bring this to life through his talent and his, like, I guess, desire to hear the heart of the story and the message behind it. It was just super fun. You know I would say things like you know we need, I want to, I want to see Jesus through this little character's eyes. So how do we brighten his eyes up? And you know, like make it pop off of the page and speak to little people, little hearts, like that's what I wanted. I wanted this little cuddly guy that just has the joy of of of Jesus in his eyes, and so he would like draw up something and be like, how about this? And it was just so, and it was just so fun, it was just an awesome process. And, um, you know, he'd send over one and be like, oh yeah, I think that's close, but maybe his, maybe his hair looks a little spiky, he's not quite as lovable as we want. Okay, let's try this.

Speaker 2: 29:12

And I remember the morning that we got the one, because I was sitting at the table, we were having breakfast and one of the twins I think it was Blythe was sitting on my lap and I said, oh, we got another picture of Emmanuel. Come here, hurry. And they all came running over and we pulled it up and their reaction like I have a video of her, of her reaction, their reaction. But one of my girls in particular they make like the same face, really bright eyed, like it's a kind of goofy. But she's like, oh, and I was like that's the one, that's the reaction I wanted, that's the one, that's the reaction I wanted, that's what we were going for. And so that was him, that was I was him. So that was the process of developing Emmanuel Emu.

Speaker 1: 30:06

That you involved your girls in it and they got to be part of this process.

Speaker 2: 30:12

Yes, they've been. They've been very involved and it's been so, so special. I say it's it's kid tested already.

Speaker 1: 30:21

I love that, oh my gosh. So like an emu, like I don't know if we're seeing an emu before, like what is it about the emu? And like do you have emus where you live?

Speaker 2: 30:35

I'm so glad you asked, cause I love them so much but I don't have one yet. I need one I have. I have only met one in person one time and I've always been a bird person, always, always been a bird person and I like fun and humor and just lightheartedness. I love that and um, and to be different and unique, that's always been my thing too. So I I just I always have enjoyed different things and when I discovered the emu, it seems to kind of fit like me and all the things that I love, because emus can't fly and so I've always loved birds because they can fly. And I was like wait a minute, bird can't even fly.

Speaker 2: 31:25

And so I that intrigued me because they, they, um, are runners actually and they're, they're like fast and so, and so it's just funny how it all tied together, cause like, and so it's just funny how it all tied together because like it's kind of goofy, it's kind of cheesy actually, but they're runners. And so I ran track in high school. I got to go to state and ran and I loved doing that and went to college running track and like that's just been kind of my thing, like it seemed to fit the wellness piece into my love for, like nature and birds. Somehow, I don't know, it's so weird to say, but that is how I um became intrigued with the emu.

Speaker 1: 32:11

Wow, I love it. I mean, I've never, I have not known a lot about emus before. You just educate me today. And I love birds, um, yes, and I love eagles. They tend to like go up high and they don't, they just catch the wind I love them we have a lot of of eagles in our area.

Speaker 2: 32:32

like we, we were by a big reservoir. It's one of the biggest I guess you'd call it a lake here in Nebraska and we get tons of eagles right along the lake. It's so I love them.

Speaker 1: 32:47

They. Just yesterday I was on a walk and I literally it felt like the Lord was tipping my head up. And I look up and there's five swirling above my head. I feel like I'm not even in this world right now.

Speaker 2: 32:58

That's amazing.

Speaker 1: 33:00

You know, they just take you to a whole other place. But your book is Joel Like is this something that he does on the side? Then? Is this something that, like, we could share him with the world? Would that be helpful?

Speaker 2: 33:14

So he does do it on the side. He's a very you know busy dad and does this in his free time and you know, I don't know if he, if he does other projects, yeah. I'm not even sure. I for somebody as well, and you never know. So if he's open to it.

Speaker 1: 33:40

We'll definitely do that in the show notes and we can highlight Joel why not?

Speaker 2: 33:49

So he should be highlighted.

Speaker 1: 33:50

He's, he's a great guy, he does such good work and you said initially you were led to go out. Was out? Was it fiber that you went on to find?

Speaker 2: 33:58

him. I did go both, so I actually found him on up up work. It's either up work or up works, okay, I think. But that's where I, that's where he was at that's pretty amazing.

Speaker 1: 34:09

um, I know like back in the day I had somebody from fiber that helped with some a couple creative projects that were way beyond me, because we can't do everything. I just maybe I like that, let's go there.

Speaker 2: 34:22

We can't do everything. I think we should, because that's been a big thing that has been coming up for me just this year where I can't do it all and I don't have a lot of money and I don't have a lot of time but I can't do it all. So God's going to connect those dots and make it happen if it's supposed to be like, if it's from him. So yeah, that's a good, good, good point.

Speaker 1: 34:47

When I mean even you know there's. There's things that I've been kind of picking up on lately, even just in my own business, and seeing that you know there's things I could learn and I could probably do it good, I'm just going to say I could do it good but I may not be able to do it great.

Speaker 1: 35:05

And there's people who are good to do certain work that like for me. I would not be creating an album that just I can do it Like I can get behind a microphone, but that would go well. It would not be great, Might be a little good. I don do it Like I can get behind a microphone, but that would go well, it would not be, great, might be a little good, I don't know.

Speaker 1: 35:22

But like we're all given these callings and destinies and we have this purpose in us and we've been. We're all creative, right, I believe that created creatively, and I think that's another people get stagnated in and say, oh no, I'm not creative, I can't paint Cause I've noticed that that's another.

Speaker 1: 35:35

People get stagnated in and say, oh no, I'm not creative, I can't paint, because I've noticed that that's kind of the oh I can't paint. It's like that's not the only creative thing that you can write, right, right. But as far as you know this book, like, how did what else was the process to to birth the book? Because, um well, I'll let you share, because I feel like we're speaking to somebody today. That's like I have no resources, I can't do that.

Speaker 2: 36:06

I don't have a voice, I don't have money, I don't have time, right, right, and you're already decimating like disintegrating some of these lies, right, yeah, yes, and um, yeah, so okay, the next steps, I guess, were once we I mean and this, this was a long process um, one thing that, um, when Joel and I talked, he was like you know, I do this on the side and if you're wanting to pump this out, you know, if God says you need to get this out really quick, I'm probably not the guy, and and I, we prayed on that because I, in my head, I'm like, when I start, I'm going to finish and let's get it out and start telling people. And I really really felt like no, I'm supposed to work with with him and I'm supposed to work with with him and I'm supposed to work with with people and someone who sees this vision and is passionate about it and like this is how this is supposed to be. So there were times where it was slow and he was busy and wasn't able to get me anything, or I mean, I'm talking like months between contact. And then there were seasons where we were like holy smokes, we're back and forth and back and forth and we've got this now and and onto the next step, and so that's kind of how it went for quite a while. And then, let's see, we moved. So there was a lot happening, and a lot happening where we're actually in the middle of building a house as well.

Speaker 2: 37:39

So I was in the process of trying to coordinate all of the early stages of moving the home to the, to the land, and I, I just it was just a lot happening, and so we've always been really open and saying like, okay, we've got this going on and okay, I'll pray for you in that area and this is why I'm not responding quickly and that type of thing but after that kind of slowed. Well, it was right before and they knew that. We knew that that was going to happen. It was going to get really busy again. We talked and I was like, let's try and get this. We've had several like let's do it, let's do the launch over Christmas, and we're like, okay, we missed it, we missed the launch, let's move to the next, the next goal. Yes, exactly.

Speaker 2: 38:24

And so this has been one of the first projects where I have been, well, just, I guess, open to that happening, I guess into that happening, I guess, and kind of balancing or I guess, letting, letting the Lord guide it, um, and knowing like we're going to do all that we can to get to this date. Um, less of like the I'm going to get it, get it out, whether it looks good or not, or whether I wanted to change this or not, and more of like no, we're all in at this point, let's make it how we believe it's supposed to be, and that type of thing. So I guess that is just. Um, you know, don't obviously don't put things off and procrastinate, but when you're doing work for I mean the best quality that you can do, and you know that like you're being intentional about that, you're not procrastinating type of thing, like there's a difference. I guess is what I'm trying to say Um, and then that that didn't feel disappointing to miss that date. I guess, if that, if that makes sense.

Speaker 1: 39:42

So so do you think that maybe in, maybe in years past, and other projects you would have maybe been had some is the word that I'm hearing maybe like kind of disappointment and not reaching like the due date.

Speaker 2: 39:54

In essence, yeah, yeah, I think it would have been an either or thing either I would have um felt so much pressure that it had to be out on the time that we had planned, or that I had even told people it was going to be out, that I, like I don't know, stayed up till like all night, every night, for weeks trying to get it there, and then it just like wasn't as the quality that I would have liked or been disappointed.

Speaker 1: 40:23

Yeah, yes, exactly, there's like a striving. And now you're like okay, lord, like I surrender this.

Speaker 2: 40:29

Yes, yes, that's exactly right. The striving uh-huh from striving surrender like that it's and it's.

Speaker 1: 40:36

It's a challenge, like there's such a transformation that happens in that and it, but it can feel kind of uncomfortable because the world would say you need to have this done quickly, right yeah, especially we.

Speaker 2: 40:51

I did a whole year of pretty intense, I guess, fundraising for the project and so I was telling people about this and I couldn't give them a date. And they're giving to me. They were extremely generous of people.

Speaker 1: 41:07

And.

Speaker 2: 41:08

I was. I there was like a you know, I feel bad, I I don't, I can't tell you when it's going to happen, or I tell them a time that I'm like, uh-uh, we got pushed back again and I guess it was a stretch. But it was also good for me to be able to practice being staying in connection with the people who had donated and keeping them in the loop like authentically, not like I knew I had to do that. That in the past I'd be like I know I need to keep them in the loop like authentically, not like I knew I had to do that. That in the past I'd be like I know I need to keep them in the loop, but I don't know what to say, and so I would not. And this time it was like no, this is where we're at now, this is where, this is where we're at, this is where we're at. So you know, yeah.

Speaker 1: 41:53

Did you ever get? I mean, did you ever get any feedback from people like negative feedback because it was?

Speaker 2: 41:56

no, not even once not even one time. It was always oh my gosh, we're so excited you're getting closer, we can't wait. I mean, it's been amazing.

Speaker 1: 42:05

Yes, well, that's amazing and I'm sure that you had some chains broken in that realm of you know, we can kind of pick up the you know people pleasing essence and I think it's us right. Yes, so you know we have to walk through situations to be broken of you know, whatever it is that we're carrying at times, and I love that you have such a supportive community. I think that is brilliant to have fundraising. I imagine the lord gave you that idea to, yeah, accompany you on this journey.

Speaker 2: 42:40

Yes, he did, he did and, um, it was wonderful. We actually went. My sister and I do some singing together sometimes and um, so we kind of put together a little, I guess, service or program of songs and we went to little tiny churches and, yeah, we were pretty much the message for the day and I told him about the book and the message behind the book and we sang songs with people that and that and they just free will whatever they felt led to give oh it was it was wonderful, and then they got plugged into your community through that, yes, yeah, oh, my gosh, I love this.

Speaker 1: 43:25

And this is you are like this season's launching pioneers, right, you're, definitely're definitely a pioneer, doing things different and really, you know, being anchored to the Lord and releasing something that it maybe doesn't make sense on paper, um, especially when you know some of us are walking through more challenging financial situations and we're called to build something. It's like, right, you know you think of building an ark and, um, I always oh, just my silly um example, but I I'm a very visual person, so when I read no, I imagine his wife, like sitting down going no like seriously, we have no rain.

Speaker 1: 44:09

Yes, have you seen like this has been years? You're doing this thing, what are you doing? But I love that your husband is so supportive and you had all these people supporting you and you know that's not always the case for people.

Speaker 2: 44:22

Yeah, I know, I feel very, very, very fortunate.

Speaker 1: 44:26

It's beautiful. Well, as we're getting ready to close up today, I have this person, and maybe this person's kind of, in that situation where they're not um having as much support as they would love, or they're looking for more creative ideas um or they need to be unlocked in their creativity. Would you be open to just sharing to the one who's listening in today and um to share any words of encouragement or wisdom you might feel led to speak? Sharing to the one who's listening in today and um to share any words of encouragement or wisdom you might feel led to speak over to them?

Speaker 2: 44:57

Absolutely, um, and I I love that you were led to ask this, because one of the one of the things that came to me, um, as I was spending some time with the Lord and preparing to chat with you, um, was about that and um, way back when I just started actually like singing for events and we did um, traditional country music festivals we traveled around to when I was younger I was like 11, 12 at the time and one of my dear friends he's no longer with us. He was an older gentleman but his name was Michael Michael Jones. When I knew him, he was completely blind and he was amazing musician and songwriter and became a really good friend of mine, um, through, uh, through the music, and he um backed him and his group, which happens to be my um, husband's mom is also a musician, so they were in a group together and that's that's actually how I met Um, and but it's also how I met Michael too, so as as a musician. But anyways, when I could not play the guitar and do shows on my own, I would ask them to to back me up and um, that's, you know, we'd spend a lot of time with them and one of my things. So when I was gosh, between 12, 13, 14, one of my things when I would go, people would say, well, do you have your own music? Do you write? And you need to write If you're going to do this.

Speaker 2: 46:46

You got to write and and, um, my thing was, as I'm, I'm not a songwriter, I'm a singer. I like to sing, I um love to meet people, I love to play music, but I just don't write my own music like that's. I'm not creative like that. And I don't even know how that was placed into my mind because it's such a lie. But but that is where I was, I know now I was scared, it was, it felt vulnerable to write my feelings and my words, and I was young and what on earth could I possibly write about? And you know it's scary and all these things. But I decided I wasn't, I wasn't a songwriter, I was just going to, just going to sing, and that was fine, like can't that be OK and that's so. That's that's where I was at.

Speaker 2: 47:37

And one time, I don't know, I think I was probably talking with Michael about that, and he was, he was always sharing his, his new song and know he was blind, so he would, he had a little recorder and he would say come here, come here, listen to this, and I'd get close and he'd play this song, that it new song that he had written. And just, I mean, he's creative, the guy. He just had song after song and they were so good and and he, he said something. I don't even know how we got into the conversation really, but he said something about me being a know how we got into the conversation really, but he said something about me being a songwriter and and that I could do that.

Speaker 2: 48:16

And I was like no, there's no way. And, um, he said I'm not gonna do any justice like he did. But he said something along the lines of to be the best way to be creative is to be as close as you can to the creator. And I was that really stuck with me and that is what you said like we're all creative in our own way because we're made in the image of the create, the great creator, and it doesn't have to look like writing music or writing stories or painting or anything like. There are so many ways that we um can model this um creative spirit that we have through christ, and I mean it can be anything and building building houses is creative, like I mean, there's so much that, yeah, that we can create with God. So that would be what I would say to somebody who's struggling with feeling like they're not a creative person, or that they just you know, or even have accepted it, or didn't even know that they had accepted it. They're just not creative.

Speaker 1: 49:31

Yeah, no, that's yeah, that's what I would say there's such a war on creativity, and I remember back in I think it was like 2020 or so I remember hearing my spirit like when, in war, create, and I felt like there was this um word that I was to kind of to help. You know just even my who I work with some of the clients. I would just, you know, ask them, like, what is it that you would love to create that you maybe there was something that was hijacked in you when you're younger that you know, was it dancing? Was it singing? Was it? What was it?

Speaker 1: 50:07

Did somebody tell you that you sucked at drawing and then you stopped drawing? That like kind of go back to that memory and then get that unlocked and go do the thing. Right, I get excited about this. I'm like kind of dancing over here a little bit, but and it's so interesting because, um, you know one of the things and I won't go too deep into it, but I remember, you know, loved singing, like I loved singing. I had a record player with a tape, you know cassette recorder.

Speaker 1: 50:41

Next, to a microphone and then somebody had said you know you suck at singing, and that completely it literally chokeholded, chokeholded, chokeholded. Yes, my, voice you know, even in my 40s and it's been a breaking process all these years, but yeah, um, yeah. So thank you, I mean gosh to have. We just need. We need people who are going to speak life, you know, like your friend, yeah over you and move forward and and just really help, you know, cut off those lies.

Speaker 1: 51:16

Because, yeah, you ever listen to rita springer. I don't know if I have. Okay, she's a uh worship. You know music. Um, okay, she's in her. I don't know, she might be in her 50s or 60s I just love her. I want to check out one of her like.

Speaker 1: 51:34

More popular songs is defender, oh sure she has her own podcast and she interviews people and, um, one of the things she asked amanda cook and I think she asks everybody. But basically, like, what is the thing that you're like to like put out in the world? Basically in essence, or what is your essence that you put out in the world? I'm trying to I'm not using the words correctly, but it's courage. So it's to put courage in people and it's usually the very place that what you're called to it's usually going to get like attack the most right, uh-huh the attack of discouragement, right.

Speaker 1: 52:19

So if you're like, for me, hope is really like my thing, I just, yeah, unlocked, there might be some like the enemy coming in, like with hopelessness, right. Or if you're a creative, you're of course gonna have, like I mean, and I don't mean we're all creative, like I said, but sure, right, you know songwriter, you know ones who are out there really doing the thing. You know what I'm saying? Yes, yes. So how does that like resonate with you?

Speaker 2: 52:49

uh, it's awesome. So I guess my first thought was well, goodness, what in my life is that? Like, what's the? What is it that? I the essence, as you were saying, what is that that I'm putting out? And I was trying to think like what, what's the? Because it was kind of the opposite thing, like if you are putting out hope, then you might get attacked with hopelessness and, honestly, I need to think on that, because that's powerful.

Speaker 1: 53:21

It is a powerful question yeah, and it and also kind of that, whatever your you know destiny calling, you know purpose. There's usually kind of an attack in that area too, and I've pondered I'm like, what is it about the singing aspect? And I know that, like I'm not called to be a singer, I love singing. I know you know it breaks chains, all the things. But what is it through that? And I love words, I love sharing words, is it?

Speaker 1: 53:55

through that and I love, I love words, I love sharing words. Um, I, I see words for you as well, like being a wordsmith, because you, almost you have to be a wordsmith to be able to create a book or worship music or you know, speaking over people, right, yes, yeah, so that's what I was seeing over you is like the. The umbrella is words, words and writing, but then there's it's the multifacetedness that comes down and down of like the singing, the books, the you know there's.

Speaker 1: 54:22

There's so much here. I love it. There is, it's good, it's good. Well, you have been such a blessing to have on. I would love to have you back again when your next book comes out or when your next multi-faceted.

Speaker 2: 54:37

Yes, we have started. I was so excited because sorry, I was so excited because Joel messaged me even before this was. I mean, we were like done, I was just getting the finer details of like formatting and making sure it was looked good and getting the samples in the mail. And he was like, do you mind if I start book two?

Speaker 1: 54:58

I'm like, by all means so yes, and when was that Like really really recent, yeah, very recent.

Speaker 2: 55:06

So yeah, he's he's. He's rolling with book two now, and I don't think he's he's he's rolling with book two now and I don't think. You know, god has has his own timeline. I don't think it should take as long because we've got the, the backgrounds are and the colors are already picked and the the characters are already pretty much created. So I'm hoping it doesn't take quite as long, but we'll see well, where can everybody get your first book baby?

Speaker 2: 55:32

Yes, so, um my, I have a website that kind of has my life on there and it's just Alexa Beelercom. That's B O E H L E Rcom, so Alexa Beelercom, and you can find it all there, okay.

Speaker 1: 55:49

Sounds good, and I'll be sure to post your website in the show notes as well. And other than that, thank you for coming on today. Thank you for being here today and setting others free. I will close with Hope. Unlocked anchoring verse it is may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing, so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope, and that's Romans 15, 13.

Speaker 1: 56:16

So thank you again, alexa. Cannot wait for the many more, the multiples, to come. All right, thank you so much, kristen. We'll be back with another episode next week. Bye, bye, bye.