Our apologies for sending this several days late. We just forgot to hit “Publish.”
When The Editor-In-Chief’s Desire Overrules Everyone Else
April 1st on the internet is a day when people often present fictional “news” intended to fool as many people as possible into believing that the “news” is “fact” and not fiction. But this is NOT an “April Fool’s joke.” You see April 1 was the day that Blanche left us to be with Jesus back in 2018. Today is the day that we have her Day of Remembrance, a day to honor our memories of Blanche.
And so we are doing something to mark this day. We are announcing our work on our next book and sharing its temporary working cover with you, our friends and fans.
The design for this book cover follows the one that we like best using a Reporter’s Notebook like the one that Pearl and I use to record notes for stories and illustrations and layered patterns using a chicken feather design.
This is NOT an April Fool’s joke. We are fully committed to completing this project to honor Blanche, the first chicken who left our Backyard Garden Home to be with Jesus. And yes, Pearl is the last chicken who will leave our Backyard Garden Home to be with Jesus. This proves once again that bonds of love held by Jesus are strong, firm, and not easily broken.
With today being Blanche’s Day of Remembrance, we want to share a prayer that we know Pearl will want to include from that April 1st back in 2018, seven years ago. Even the illustration that goes with it will look as Pearl looked those many years ago.
Pearl’s Prayer for Blanche’s Day of Remembrance
Dear Jesus, today, my heart feels heavy with loss. My dear friend Blanche has left this world, her body still but her spirit now soaring where only You can hold her. I know You have taken her gently into Your care, but Lord, I cannot help but ache for her presence here beside me.
Pearl’s Prayer Before Hunting Worms
This afternoon, Pearl and I went hunting for worms. Before each new attempt, Pearl prayed her Worm-Hunting prayer:
O Great Provider of All Things, I step lightly upon this soil, rich with Your goodness.
Bless my beak to find its way to the hidden treasures below, the wriggling feast You have prepared.
Grant me sharp eyes and steady feet, that I may scratch and seek with joy, sustained by the gifts of the earth.
And should my search bear no fruit, let patience fill my feathers for I trust in your perfect timing.
Amen.
Thanks for Reading,
John and Pearl