Living Shoes Is Here!!!

Dear Friend,

It has been a dream of mine to write a book for my children and grandchildren for 30 years .  I am excited to announce that my book, Living Shoes, is now available.  It is written for "children" of all ages!  If you are interested in purchasing one, I would love to hear from you!

"BEHIND EVERY PAIR OF SHOES...

Behind every pair of shoes there is a story.  When I was a little girl, my father and I played a game when we went shopping.  We would run off to the shoe department and my father would pick out a pair of shoes.  He would ask me what family member the shoes were most like and I would try to guess the relative they portrayed.  Then it would be my turn to choose a pair of shoes and he would guess. We would try to choose the most outrageous shoes we could find.  Every selection seemed to trigger an old family story and we would get lost in reminiscing.  We had a great time and never seemed to tire of playing it.

This little game gave me the idea for the book, Living Shoes.  Since those early years of childhood, I have looked at shoes differently.  There is a story behind every pair!"

One dollar per book will go to “Joni and Friends” and their “Wheels for the World” program.  They refurbish wheelchairs and distribute them around the world to provide accessibility to people with physical disabilities.  This contribution is in honor of my precious students that sacrificed so much to raise over $3,000 for this wonderful ministry.

In addition, the proceeds from this book will fund the release of my next book, Living Grace.  This book encourages churches to provide ministry and support to the special needs community.  

You may contact me through the blog or e-mail me at theboggi@aim.com.  Thank you for your support!

Because of Christ,

Deana Boggess

Katie

Dear Katie,

     A little over 15 years ago the phone rang to let us know that you were on your way.  All four of us jumped in the car in Austin and drove to San Antonio to meet you.  We were all excited and anxious to meet the newest member of the family.  When we arrived at the hospital, we waited and waited to get an opportunity to see you.  The first moment I saw you you were in your momma's arms and her eyes were full of tears as she held you and kissed you.  Your dad was right by her side hugging both your mom and you.  I truly don't think there was a more special day to them, one other than their wedding day.  Your parents had waited for years to bring you into their lives.  They had prepared, prayed, and longed for a special little girl like you.

     Over the years, our love for you grew deeper and deeper.  You loved spending time with Pa and having him read stories to you and you loved shopping with Oma.  You loved being with all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and they treasured you.

     A lot has happened since then, dear Katie.  You have grown up to be a beautiful young lady.  You have had many beautiful things happen, but also some tough things.  You have lost your daddy at way too young of an age.  
     When your dad looked at you for the first time he had all kinds of dreams for you.  He wanted you to have the very best and for you to know that you were deeply loved.  He wanted you to have a promising and happy life and he wanted you to feel and know the love God has for you.  Even though you can't be with him, none of that has changed.
     Just as you long for your dad, your mom longs for her husband.  I am so glad you have each other, because no one understands more than each of you.
     Over the years we have had a lot of laughs together, Katie.  Of course one of the best ones was when I got ants in my pants at your house and I had to borrow a towel to go home.  I know you loved that one!
     In all the pains of live and all of the laughter, we always have each other.  We can share life together, pray together, and lift one another up when the other falls.  I love you with all my heart, but more importantly, God loves you with a love far deeper than any of ours.  God created you with a beautiful design and an incredible plan.  Keep your eyes on God.  Truly, He is there to walk with you every step of the way.

With all my love,
Aunt Deana

,

Momma

     These are the shoes of my momma.  They have worked hard all of her life.  They have walked in faith.  They have walked with strength and they have walked to extend grace.

     Mom stayed home while she was raising us.  She read every book Dad read while he was in seminary so that they wouldn't grow apart.  She started college after we were well on our own educational path.  In her 40's she felt called into the ministry and I watched her continually serve the hurting in society.

     In 1997 she started, "Woman At the Well."  Women were being released from prison at two or three in the morning without any money and without a place to go.  She had become friends with women in prison as she led a Bible study there.  They were real women that needed the opportunity to begin their second chance successfully.  Since she began the program, over 300 women have graduated from the program with the opportunity to receive an education and even start a career path.

     One of my favorite stories about Mom was when she was a serving a church in inner city San Antonio.  A gang of boys had broken some bottles and were about to attack a little boy with the broken glass.  She ran out of the church and stood between the gang and the little boy.  With her hands on her hips she said, "You will have to go through me first!"

      Mom has always had the faith to do whatever God asked.  She has always had the strength to do what was right and she has the grace to extend to those in need.  She has been a powerful example in my walk.

Angel Wings

Silently he entered,

Loudly the prison doors slammed,

He never thought it would happen

That he would take the life of a fellow man.

His days will soon be numbered,

Either many or very few,

Somehow he must face this tragedy,

A nightmare he never knew.

His cell was cold and empty

With no escape from the day's events

His anguish may last forever

From his few moments of pain and anger.

In the midst of his silence she enters,

With a Bible and a heart of mercy.

The compassion in her eyes brings hope

To a child in the cell and body of a man.

Behind the glass between them

She sees a mischievous boy whose mischief

Grew to sin, whose sin grew to hatred

Yet behind his is an angel,

Just waiting to give him wings.

The woman sees it differently-

A boy whose sin cannot be erased by man.

For all mankind is damaged,

By the movement of a trigger in hand.

Yet with faith and determination,

She reaches the souls of the lost.

For she never met  a boy too guilty,

For the forgiveness of the Lord's cross.

Deana Boggess

February 27, 1995

Kim, AKA Cinderella

For the last several years, I have been incredibly blessed to have what I affectionately call, "my handler."  I teach a "Bridge to Kindergarten" class and Kim is my aide.

I truly love being a teacher.  I love to daydream about new adventures to take the kids on.  I love to try new ways to help them learn to read.  I love to do the unexpected.  I long to leave a lasting impression on the kid's hearts.

When you are a dreamer, however, you often sacrifice the ability to look at the details.  That is where Kim comes in.  In the last three years she has always been there for me.  I often think about a surgeon and how he slightly turns and the nurse has the tool he needs right there and ready for him.  He doesn't even have to say a word.  That is what Kim does for me.  She is always ready and has already anticipated what I need.  She is always ready with the supplies and usually has everything ready for me 3 weeks ahead of time.  I am truly blessed to have her.

I think what matters the most to me though, is that she never criticizes or gets frustrated when I am a little flighty, she is just ready with such joy.  If she has to clean up one of my spontaneous messes, she just smiles and gives the kids a hug.

My co-worker and I lovingly call her, "Cindy" (short for Cinderella), because she is always doing chores for us.  In fact we had a Cinderella birthday celebration in her honor.  A handsome prince came and everything!

If I had to pick a pair of shoes for her it would definitely be the ones I have posted.  She is always comfortably stylish!  She does everything she can to do the best job possible, but always with a heart of humility and servanthood.  One of the many blessings of school starting back up is that I will have my beloved "handler," sister, and friend again.

Thank you, Kim.  See you soon!

The "Bucket List" Me

I have to say, I have more shoes now than I have ever had.  I have great tennis shoes, boots, snow boots, flip-flops, "Toms," and even some "Yellow Box" shoes.  I have tennis shoes to try to stay healthy by walking everyday.  I have boots to help me be taller once in awhile.  I have snow boots because I love to go home to Colorado as much as possible.  I have flip-flops, well because they are the closest thing to being barefoot, which is what I ALWAYS prefer.  I have a pair of "Toms" and some "Yellow Box" shoes because I wanted to move past one pair of black shoes and one pair of brown shoes and indulge a little bit!

For the most part, I am a very simple person.  I really could care less about fashion, but I try to look nice every once in awhile.  I am almost always practical and if you came to my house, no matter how prestigious you are, I would prefer to take off my shoes, fold my legs up under me, and listen to whatever is on your heart for hours and hours.  Shoes can be so unnecessary!

There is another side to me, however.  I took this picture of a dear friend and when I was looking at it tonight it reminded me of "The Bucket List Me."  This is the lady that believes the sky is the limit.  This is the lady that is willing to do whatever God asks her to do, wherever and whenever.  This is the lady that dreams.  This is the lady that is a little off her rocker!

Here is my "bucket list," shoes or no shoes:

• Write and publish a book
• Give special needs training in Colorado
• Give special needs training in another country that is out of my comfort zone
• Make a difference in the world and never know it
• Go to Alaska and Switzerland
• Teach more people how to read
• Lead children with special needs to Christ
• See my whole family love God 
• And my husband has instructions to put a big piece of cheesecake in my mouth and take me skydiving if I find out my time is running short :)

And that my friend, is the "Bucket List Me."

Steffani

Dear Steffani,

Of course you are on my list to talk about!  You have a lot of shoes to pick from, girl.  I always thought I would write about your black shoes with the bling on them.  You like those shoes and so do I.  We have had a lot of adventures together with those shoes!  We have gone to California and shopped, ate in all kinds of restaurants, raced for parking spots and had a lot of laughs.  They have gone to Starbucks numerous times and at all times of the day and night.  They are part of our history.

I will never forget your yellow shoes.  Every time you where them you say you love them and a little while later you say, "Oh yeah, these are the shoes that hurt my feet."  They remind me that as an employer you are always willing and ready to walk through the hard stuff.  You never ask anything of an employee that you are not willing to do yourself.  In fact, you usually do the hard stuff for us.  I have so much respect for you as an employer and leader, Steffani.  You always go before us and set the example.

I have seen you give so sacrificially of your time, your talents, your love and even your possessions.  You have given people the coat off your back, the purse off your arm, and the shoes off your feet.  You never think of anything as yours, only God's.

The shoes I love the most, however, are your tennis shoes.  They have been there for me during the hardest challenges of my life.  You have walked the road with me whenever I needed you.  You have
walked beside me as a mentor, as an accountability partner, as an employer, as a sister, and a friend.

I love you and consider you to be one of the great blessings in my life.

Deana

Sarah

     Sarah was born with a love for Minnie Mouse.  She had Minnie Mouse sheets and three years of Minnie Mouse birthday parties.  She was always happy and always smiling.

     During the teen years, Sarah had a love for Disney princesses.  She and her close friends all chose the princess they most resembled and gave one another appropriate gifts for their chosen identity.  We had princess birthdays and princess proms.
     I remember on her wedding day we had an argument over her shoes.  I wanted her to wear beautiful "glass slippers," but she wanted to be barefoot.  You see, Sarah has always had an image in her mind of what beautiful was.
     Now I look at Sarah's "glass slippers" at age 22.  I love them.  They are Sarah.  I have seen her wear them to work.  I have seen her wear them to the pool.  I have seen her wear them with a beautiful dress (but only for a few minutes!)  They are crazy, but they are Sarah, and that is why I love them!

     If I were to pick a word for Sarah, it would be "Endurance" and her shoes rightly represent it.  She bought her shoes because she loved them, but soon heard they would build up the muscles in her legs on her runs and build her endurance for the harder runs.
     Sarah has never been afraid of hard work or doing what it takes to be stronger.  This used to be true of only her physical condition, but now it is emotional as well.  Sarah has been through more trials than many of us experience in a life time and I am continually amazed by her endurance through a trial and overwhelmed by her ability to adapt to the challenges before her.

     Sarah has gained a lot of strength and understanding of who she is as a young woman.  She understands that she has gifts to offer the world.  She has a vision for what she wants to do and the confidence to reach her goals.  Her beauty has deepened because she now understands what beauty truly is.

     Sarah's motivation is based on her love for her daughter.  She has endured a number of changes, but her endurance to do what is right is inspiring.  She is a wonderful momma.
     Sarah is in the midst of a long race.  Sometimes she is in tennis shoes and sometimes she is in "Vibram Five Fingers."  Sometimes she is behind a stroller and sometimes she is taking a moment to herself.  One thing is for certain, she will endure and will endure with grace.