Time Away
Dear friends,
I’ve remained active on this blog, so maybe most of you haven’t noticed, but I took a long hiatus from social media. At first, it wasn’t intentional. I found myself in the midst of a health storm that began at the start of the year and is only now slowing down, but unfortunately not ending.
So, it’s probably better if I start at the beginning. I have Lupus and before this year, two other autoimmune conditions. That has increased over the last handful of months. In addition, I received five new diagnoses and dealt with thyroid issues, erratic blood pressure, heart issues, and concerns about my liver and kidneys. I’m thankful to say that, as of now, my kidney and liver tests are trending more toward the normal range. However, the med visits, unfortunately, won’t yet. Not yet. I’ll be going to the Mayo Clinic to see a world-renowned specialist soon. Tests are still being run, the fatigue hasn’t abated, and I see my doctors far more often than I’d prefer, so I’d love prayers if you have a minute.
All that to say…It’s been a bit of a medical whirlwind, and my easing off social media wasn’t intentional. At least not at first, as I mentioned, but as the craziness of everything surrounding health issues swirled around me, I found little time to get the most important things done, let alone any extracurricular. To give a clear picture. Faith, family, health, and writing became the center of my life. And, for a time, my whole life. There just wasn’t time for more. And I don’t know about you, but when I get on social media, I get sucked in, and before I know it, an hour has passed, and I haven’t yet replied to messages. It’s a bottomless bowl to me. I know that, and so, after a time of just being completely overwhelmed, I made a conscious choice to take a social media hiatus, and this is what I learned.
- The world doesn’t end. Books still sell. Stories are still read, and no one shows up on your door admonishing you for your time off social media. In fact, a few dear friends checked in on me because of my lack of posting and commenting online. Friends concerned about me. Not my sales numbers. Or to let me know how I’m ruining my career, but out of genuine concern and for them and their friendship, I’m ever grateful. God helps the cream of the crop shine when the rain pours.
- I found a stillness in my world. A quiet hush. A gift that I needed at the time from God. I needed to sit in silence with Him. To sit on the porch swing with my hubby watching a show on his iPad as the moon hung overhead.
- To have phone calls. Actual phone calls with friends, leaving the rush and the hurry behind. I needed quiet in that moment, and God knew it well before I did.
- BUT, and here’s the big but, I missed my readers. Chatting with fellow writers, fellow readers… It’s my love language, and I felt the absence of it from my life. It was what God knew I needed but what I needed for a season. Not permanently. Not forever. The time of quiet is being superseded by my desire to connect with my reader friends again and see my writer friends’ posts and get glimpses into other lives of those I love.
So, as of today, I’m back on social media, back to reading all the thoughtful, heartfelt messages, back to commenting when my friends make me laugh or smile with their post, back to thanking podcast hosts and bookstagrammars for their tireless love in helping shine light on authors and the books they pour their heart into. It’s early in the morning when this posts, so it’ll probably beat my social media post for the day, but if you drop by in a bit, you can see my ever-so-recent post. I can’t wait to connect and reconnect with you all!
And…now is a super exciting time to jump back in. I still can’t believe it, but the third book in my Jeopardy Falls series, Three Steps Behind, releases in 34 days.
Oh my word! With everything going on, that snuck up on me, but I hope you’ll enjoy Deckard and Harper’s adventure.
Despite everything going on, there was joy in writing it. Now I’m penning book four, and the joy is abundant and clearly a gift and blessing from God.
Reader Question:
Now, I’d LOVE to hear about you. What’s one thing you’ve done this summer that was a blessing for you?
In Christ,
Dani
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Praying for accurate diagnoses, concrete and effective treatments.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the prayers.
I’m so thankful that your health storm is settling a bit, Dani. Such a hard road, and one I know you are still walking. You’ve always had such a heart for your readers, so I know you are anxious to reconnect with them. May God bless you with improved health and strength this year. Love you, my friend!
Aww.. Thank you so much, sweet friend. I so appreciate it1 Love you too. Can’t wait until we can see each other in person again.
I’ve been praying for you since your other post about your health issues and will continue to do so….especially that your trip to Mayo Clinic will be helpful. Your attitude and faithfulness despite not feeling well is encouraging to me.
One thing this summer that was a blessing to me was volunteering at VBS. Exhausting? Absolutely. But connecting with the kids (and adults) fed my soul. Also, I just go back from Cancun which was a blessing bonus 🙂
Hi Amy,
Thank you so much for your kind prayers. They are greatly appreciated.
VBS is so wonderful. I’m so glad you got the blessing of that this year, but it can definitely be exhausting. Phew! And, Cancun! How fun.
So glad that you had a needed break and are feeling well enough to get back to it. And just in time for your new book! Congratulations! I am excited to look into it.
I will pray for you as you deal with the autoimmune diseases. I have two myself, one of which is my thyroid, so I know how much can be affected by that small little gland that I never really knew about previously and how hard it can be to regulate. Thanks for sharing so we can pray for you.
Hi Amy,
Thanks so much. I really hope you’ll enjoy Three Steps Behind.
I feel for you as a fellow autoimmune sufferer. I’m so sorry. Two of mine are in my thyroid. You’re right. Such a little gland to cause so many problems.
Dani, as difficult as it might of been to do so, thank you so much for sharing your story. I’ve been going through a stressful health season as well, and there’s comfort in knowing I’m not alone in that. Sometimes, just showing up to write is difficult enough, but then maybe that means that that is what we’re supposed to ask God for the most help to accomplish for that day.
Hi Alyssa,
I’m so sorry you’re suffering with health problems. I’lll pray for you and healing.
I think you’re absolutely right.. Writing is utter dependence on God and asking Him for help each and every time we sit down, we come to Him. Thank you for the lovely reminder.
Dear Dani,
First of all, thank you for sharing your health situation with us. It prompted me to pray for you right as I read it. And I’m sure, because of your post, you have added a whole other prayer team of readers behind you! Please keep us posted on how we can continue in prayer for you! Thank you.
You asked what blessed us most this summer…
Our entire family of 26 (our 5 adult married kids, my husband and I, and our 14 grandkids) all stayed in a large AirBB in Branson, MO. We went to see the “Sight and Sound” production of King “David.” It was terrific.
After the show, we all gathered in the living room of our AirBB to share what we learned. My husband asked one of our daughters if she would lead that time. She did and one of the questions she asked us was: “What did you notice about God.” Hands quickly went up in the air! From the youngest to the oldest in the room kids and adults shared what had been meaningful to them about the Lord in “David.”
At the close of our sharing together, our daughter then passed around a bag of candy asking each of us to take one. She next reminded us how in the production, David had offered up many different kinds of prayers. There were some prayers of laments, some prayers for protection and many prayers of praising God. As we each took a piece of candy she explained that they were “War Heads” and that they would be very sour in our mouths, but after a while the candy would turn sweet. We were then instructed to pop it in our mouth and when it was sour to take a few moments and pray to Jesus to tell Him about anything that was hard or worrisome for us. “Next,” she said, “when the candy turns sweet use those few moments to begin to praise Him.”
It was a great illustration for our family and one we will long remember as a beautiful memory of our summer family trip of 2026.
Hi Marilyn,
Wow! That’s an amazing time of sharing and what a precious reminder. Thank you so much for taking time to share with me. I so appreciate it and how wonderful your entire family could be together for the sweet time. We just saw Joshua at the Sight and Sound in Pennsylvania. It was wonderful. I’d love to see David too..
Praying for Yahweh Rapha to touch you and heal you. May God grant supernatural knowledge and wisdom to the physicians and other health care professionals who meet and care for you.
Thank you so much, Robin. You are such a prayer warrior and an example of continuing on despite health issues.. Thank you!
34 days! So excited, I cannot wait! I was actually thinking today I needed to check when it was coming. Yay!
Thank you Dani for sharing such a difficult time. I prayed for you after reading your post. This summer has been busy with health issues for my husband. He has had numerous episodes where his heart stops for several seconds. He finally was evaluated to have sleep apnea. He is using a c-pack at night, so hopefully this will help regulate his heart. Beside all that he has had Mohs surgery for skin cancer. And more to come 😕
Praying the release of your latest book goes well. Blessings to you from our God and Father.
Praying for you, Dani, and continuing to ask God for healing, for answers, and for a fresh wind of encouragement as you faithfully follow his lead on this difficult road. CONGRATS on the upcoming release of Three Steps Behind! You’re amazing. Well done again, I’m sure!