Well first, congratulations! I’m beyond thrilled for you and Shawn and your family for this opportunity of owning a book store. That it feels like a dream come true is encouraging my heart as I wait for God to unfold something like that for me who’s in a rather similar stage of life as you described here.
Second, I want to say that your words, these letters have provided some of my most delightful moments over the past 9 months, and tbh, I haven’t yet tried one of your recipes. 😬 I just thoroughly enjoyed reading your letters to us. It felt like getting to know a friend. And it inspired me to consider that I could write in a similar fashion to my readers.
So, thank you for sharing your stories with us here, and I can’t wait to read more of your adventures from NOOOOKS!
Congratulations!!! And thank you for sharing. I am in a God is laughing era myself. It could be a bit frustrating because I'm not laughing, however, I'm learning to.
I may be coming to PA soon to visit my mother-in-law. I hope to visit you as well. Again, Congratulations!!! Much love, blessings, and success!
Carlene, I've certainly had my "God laughing" moments that were anything but humorous to me, but it sounds like you're finding your sense of humor along the way. Good for you. And, yes, please stop by the store during your next PA visit; it would be so lovely to meet you in person!
Thank you for everything, Maile. Your words today are encouraging, gracious, and tender, and I must say I became a bit weepy as I read them. May you find deep joy in your work. I hold you, Shawn, and your family in my heart as you continue this new and exciting adventure! I know that my husband and I will stop by one day. The shop looks wonderful.
From one "God laughs" household to another! It's a wild ride, but I've very excited for this new venture and will be happy to see any of your stories pop in my inbox :)
Congratulations, Maile, you and Shawn are the perfect people to own a bookstore! I'm about an hour south of Lancaster and hope to make it up there soon. I've really enjoyed this space and look forward to your further creations!
Your words (written and spoken) have been such a wonderful addition to my life. Although I will miss seeing you in my inbox, I'm thrilled that our every day work worlds are now on the same block! Congratulations! Your Nook is going to be amazing!!
Dear Maile, this post made me smile so.... I picked up Robert Farrar Capon's book The Supper of the Lamb a bit ago to go looking for another quote and read this, which made me think of you and your decision to write about food along the way to accidentally writing about Life.
"I am an author who has always intended to write about cooking, but who has never gotten started in a way that didn't carry him out of the field in two paragraphs or less."
(I told Shawn I was living vicariously through you both--what a dream and a testimony to God's love and deep down knowning-ness.)
I came to substack to read someone's post, and it populated my feed with your post and Shawn's, and I'm so grateful! I miss reading your writing, so it's great to have the opportunity to read them again. I met you guys more than a dozen years ago, but it seems more recent than that because I still feel connected in the same way.
Cheering you and Shawn on! Wish I was closer but I can already see it as such a warm, magical place! (Your new kitchen lol)
Christina, I love the idea of this being my new kitchen--yes!
I am so excited about this!
Thank you, Suzanne!
Well first, congratulations! I’m beyond thrilled for you and Shawn and your family for this opportunity of owning a book store. That it feels like a dream come true is encouraging my heart as I wait for God to unfold something like that for me who’s in a rather similar stage of life as you described here.
Second, I want to say that your words, these letters have provided some of my most delightful moments over the past 9 months, and tbh, I haven’t yet tried one of your recipes. 😬 I just thoroughly enjoyed reading your letters to us. It felt like getting to know a friend. And it inspired me to consider that I could write in a similar fashion to my readers.
So, thank you for sharing your stories with us here, and I can’t wait to read more of your adventures from NOOOOKS!
Thank you for those kind words, Briana, and I will be praying for you own "God laughing" moment to spring up at just the right time!
Congratulations, Maile. I’ve been following along on IG. What an exciting time!
Thanks so much, Jody--so grateful for your constant support and encouragement.
Congratulations!!! And thank you for sharing. I am in a God is laughing era myself. It could be a bit frustrating because I'm not laughing, however, I'm learning to.
I may be coming to PA soon to visit my mother-in-law. I hope to visit you as well. Again, Congratulations!!! Much love, blessings, and success!
Carlene, I've certainly had my "God laughing" moments that were anything but humorous to me, but it sounds like you're finding your sense of humor along the way. Good for you. And, yes, please stop by the store during your next PA visit; it would be so lovely to meet you in person!
So excited for your new venture, Maile! And maybe God will laugh just a little harder by offering you a book deal in the midst of this.😉
Oh, Linda, we'd both be laughing then. I might be crying a bit, too. But, yes, that would be a delightful addition to this whole adventure!
Thank you for everything, Maile. Your words today are encouraging, gracious, and tender, and I must say I became a bit weepy as I read them. May you find deep joy in your work. I hold you, Shawn, and your family in my heart as you continue this new and exciting adventure! I know that my husband and I will stop by one day. The shop looks wonderful.
And thank you, Karen, for being such a faithful reader. I'm already looking forward to welcoming you and your hubby into the shop one day:)
This was such a fun read! I’m so happy for you and Shawn and if I ever get to Lancaster, Nooks will be my first stop!
I hope you will, Linda! It would be so lovely to actually meet in person!
From one "God laughs" household to another! It's a wild ride, but I've very excited for this new venture and will be happy to see any of your stories pop in my inbox :)
A wild ride indeed, Annelise. Thanks for being another kindred soul who "gets" it. And thanks for all your wonderful support.
Congratulations, Maile, you and Shawn are the perfect people to own a bookstore! I'm about an hour south of Lancaster and hope to make it up there soon. I've really enjoyed this space and look forward to your further creations!
Aw, Lisa, thank you for these kind words of encouragement. I hope to see you in the shop someday soon!
Your words (written and spoken) have been such a wonderful addition to my life. Although I will miss seeing you in my inbox, I'm thrilled that our every day work worlds are now on the same block! Congratulations! Your Nook is going to be amazing!!
Dear Maile, this post made me smile so.... I picked up Robert Farrar Capon's book The Supper of the Lamb a bit ago to go looking for another quote and read this, which made me think of you and your decision to write about food along the way to accidentally writing about Life.
"I am an author who has always intended to write about cooking, but who has never gotten started in a way that didn't carry him out of the field in two paragraphs or less."
(I told Shawn I was living vicariously through you both--what a dream and a testimony to God's love and deep down knowning-ness.)
All the best wishes to you and your family--yay!
I am so over the moon happy for you guys!!!!
I can’t even say how excited I am for you guys! What an amazing adventure.
Your new adventure is inspiring!
I came to substack to read someone's post, and it populated my feed with your post and Shawn's, and I'm so grateful! I miss reading your writing, so it's great to have the opportunity to read them again. I met you guys more than a dozen years ago, but it seems more recent than that because I still feel connected in the same way.
Best wishes as you open your bookstore!!
We are so excited for you guys and hope to make a trip to your book shop this year!