two hundred fifty

Today marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of this great nation we live in. Along with another personal, creative milestone...

While we were in, and out, of the hospital in Austin and had quite a bit of time on our hands, I read the new George Washington biography American Patriarch.

Growing up, and as a young adult, I wasn’t much interested in history, but by the early 2000’s, when I was in my late-thirties, living in the 150 year old farmhouse we’d recently bought, I began to see the past much differently, and became fascinated by it.

I started reading and learning all I could about those who came before us. Biographies, historical accounts, documentaries, whatever I could get my hands on… and over time, it has changed me. They have changed me.

Our history highly influences most every decision I make these days… whether it’s our choices to live simpler, and more off the land, to limit the influence of technology, journaling with a fountain pen, or moving towards true community when most of the culture is seeking a simulated one… the past continues to be present.

And so as you can imagine, I’ve been thinking about today - this particular July 4th - knowing it’s coming, for a long time now. And I have been, and am highly aware that this Independence Day is a monumental one. I shared with Rebecca and Indy last night about how both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams passed away on this same day - July 4, 1826 - exactly 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence. And how special it is for us to be here, in America where we are, 250 years after its founding, even with the struggles and difficulties the nation continues to go through.

Today in particular, can’t help but think about all people who lived, worked, dreamed, raised families and died before us, who made today and the farmers market and the freedom and the life we have possible at all.

We don’t have any particular big plans to celebrate the 250th, other than to make sure that the past is present. We will spend some time at the monthly farmer’s market our community puts on at the Heritage Center and will probably grill burgers with friends this evening. And though I am here with my family this special day… they and their families are on my heart.

Another two hundred fifty

Strangely, while we were in Austin and I was reading that book, and thinking about today, I found out there was also another 250 milestone reached. One connected to a completely different book that I wrote for Indiana many years ago.

The idea for the book originated with me thinking about Indy’s pretty little almond eyes. And how God had made her, and each one us, all a little different…

"The shape of your eyes, the color of your hair,
The way that you laugh, and the size shoes you wear.
The sound of your voice, and the tears you cry, too—
God knew all these things, the day He made you…"

And how He ultimately knew everything about her, and all of us, long before we were even born.

The Day God Made You was released in the early Spring of 2020, right around the time that Indy turned 4 years old, and one afternoon on our farmhouse porch, she and I, along with her kitty, read my new book together…

Over time, I have been told that the book has done very well.

The first year or so it was in bookstores, it had sold 100,000 copies. And soon after, I began getting texts from friends saying that they were seeing it in Target and Sam’s Club stores all around the country, which was amazing.

Fast forward to now, and while we were at the hospital in Austin this past week, MacKenzie from Harper Collins, the publisher of the book…reached out and said they were mailing me something that would be waiting when we got home.

And so as Indiana opened cards and letters and gifts yesterday that folks from all over sent, I opened a gift sent to me that said The Day God Made You has now sold over 250,000 copies. Which I am told is an incredible number, especially for a children’s book!

And they sent a beautiful glass award commemorating the milestone.

As we found a spot on the bookshelf for it to sit, I couldn’t help but be reminded again of how blessed I am to be in a country where this is even possible. Where a man on a farm can write a story about God for children to read, and it find its way to hundreds of thousands of people everywhere.

If you’re not familiar with the book, the pictures were done by a wonderful illustrator with a unique style named Malgosia Piatkowska. If you’d like to get your own copy of The Day God Made You, my neice Magen, who runs our little merch store back in Tennessee, would love to mail one out to you…

THIS LIFE I LIVE © 2026 Red King Creative, LLC

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