Valiant Heroines: Simone Biles

All female Olympians certainly deserve the title of valiant heroines: young women who have faced and overcome nearly impossible odds. This year there are many who deserve great honor, including Simone Manuel, who was the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in swimming, which is quite a testament after the sad history of African-Americans and public swimming pools. And of course the entire U.S. female gymnastics team has been amazing this year.

But I especially enjoyed the story of the amazing Simone Biles. This three time world champion and now 2016 Rio Olympics all-around gold medalist started life in a difficult place. I love her spirit and her courage, and as you might have guessed from my book Dauntless, I love gymnastics too. Enjoy watching Simone's story.

Women and Children on Crusade???

   You might be wondering why I included women and children on crusades in my new Valiant Hearts book, Courageous. This story is set in the early 1200s, a period known as the Fifth Crusade in the Holy Land. Of course at this time, battle was primarily for men. It was the men’s responsibility to protect women, not the other way around. And yet, perhaps because of the religious fervor surrounding the crusades and the pilgrimage nature of them, there is ample record of women and children going along as well. Sometimes even whole families. 

Typical male crusaders

Generally women supplied water and provisions and tended the wounded. But it was also considered proper for them to man launching weapons and shoot bows and arrows from a distance. According to Islamic legends of the crusades, there might have been some women disguised as knights fighting on the front lines, although European records do not concur on this issue. Certainly in times of desperation, women throughout history have done what they must and fought for their lives. 

An actual, historical, "Children’s Crusade" had two waves in the early 1200s. Thousands of children followed visionary young teens and set off on crusade, but there is no record of any reaching the Holy Land. Many died along the way, others turned back, and it seems some might have been lost at sea. I wanted to complete that legend, while still presenting the vast complexities of the crusades.

Now to the toughest question you might be asking, should the crusades have been fought at all? In the beginning, the Christian countries of Europe were trying to turn the tide of hundreds of years of Muslim invasion and oppression. They wanted to kick the Muslims out of Europe and take back land lost by their Christian brothers and sisters in the Byzantine part of the world. I would contend that those reasons were as solid and justifiable as those fueling any war in history. But war is messy.

From the start motives were mixed. Some wanted power and money while others had altruistic motives. Sometimes crusaders from different European countries cooperated; sometimes they undermined each other and broke treaties that other groups had made. Some crusades were led by strong, chivalrous leaders, and others turned into riotous mobs. And almost always the new crusaders from Europe failed to understand their enemy and the complex social structure of the Middle East.

 I think you'll enjoy the way I handled the potentially tricky subject of the crusades in Courageous. I attempt to take an honest look at both sides, showing honor to the Muslim natives, while still examining some difficult aspects of their religion and culture. This is one fictional adventure you won't want to miss out on.

Strong is Beautiful!

A big shout out and thank you to Pantene for their "Strong is Beautiful" campaign. I love this!

Girls with Swords!!!

I recently discovered a new author, Lisa Bevere. Wow! Her books are the perfect complement to my Valiant Hearts Series. If you've felt inspired to become strong and courageous, to grow into a valiant heroine who is up for the fight, you might want to check out her books too. I just purchased Girls with Swords, Lioness Arising, and Fight Like a Girl. Pretty awesome titles, right? I'll share more after I've finished reading them. But for now, here's the video that encouraged me to order the books. I hope it will encourage you too.

Valiant in the Everyday

As you’re reading this, I’m not at home. I’m starting a new job, and boy did this whole job search put all I’ve learned writing my Valiant Hearts Series to the test. It can be scary to go and hunt for a new job, especially when you’ve never had a full-time job and you’ve been (for most intents and purposes) a stay at home mom for two decades.

But much like my heroines, I had to find my courage and prepare for this battle. Maybe my preparations were more along the lines of studying the job market, preparing a kick-butt resume, and taking online classes to fill in some missing skills. And instead of armor, I donned a new business suit, classy jewelry, makeup, and professional-looking nail polish.

All along a little voice in the back of my head wanted to tell me that I’d never find a decent job, that no one wanted to hire a middle-aged mom, that I was crazy to intentionally enter the “rat race,” that I’d have to give up writing novels because I’d be too wiped out after a forty hour work week. But with two kids in private college and the debts stacking up, my family needed this, and again much like my heroines who never make excuses and do what must be done, I took up my sword (okay, my resume) and prepared to fight.

As the battle waged on I realized a few things. First of all, I needed to prove to myself that I could do this. That I hadn’t given up my chance at a career by staying home, and that all of the accomplishments I’d had in life and writing weren’t for nothing. I also realized that this was really just a continuation of what I had always done, putting my family first, but that my family was in a new season and needed me to ward off financial stress and help my children pursue their dreams and passions rather than stay home and nurture little people. Finally, I realized that deep down…I was a huge weenie, and it was time to show that courage I’ve been writing about.

Sometimes when God calls us to a mission, like writing novels, we make that mission the goal. But the true goal is serving God. And when we get too focused on the mission, God often asks us to lay it down, at least for a while. I was ready to take my focus off writing novels and put my focus on God. I was willing to put novel writing on the shelf for a year or two until I adjusted to a more intensive schedule, and see if and when God asked me to take it back down.

As it turned out, all my weenie worrying was for nothing. In less than a month I was offered a dream job. I will be writing (yes, writing!) for a wonderful Christian humanitarian organization called Operation Blessing International.  I have no doubt this job will be enjoyable and fulfilling and that I won’t be entering the “rat race.” In fact, I’m really excited about it. Beyond that, it’s not actually a full-time job. It’s a solid twenty-five hour a week job that will still meet our financial needs. AND…the hours are flexible and I’m allowed to work remotely, so I can be there for my teenager who’s still at home when he needs me. Perhaps best of all, at twenty-five hours a week, I don’t think novel writing will have to stay on the shelf nearly as long as I imagined it might.

So being valiant, facing my fears, and fighting this battle turned out to be a great thing. I feel incredibly blessed that God has seen fit to allow me this new opportunity. But don’t worry, Courageous (Valiant Hearts book 3) is all finished and ready to release in July, and I’ll also have a novella in Austen in Austin Volume 2 releasing in September. After that, my writing career is in God’s very capable hands.

More Courageous Heroines

It will be about five more months until my third Valiant Hearts book, Courageous, releases. However, I think all of my books feature heroines who are courageous in their own ways. This weekend my contemporary novel, Dance from Deep Within, will be on sale for kindle for only $.99. What a great opportunity to meet Layla, Rain, and Allie, three young women from very different backgrounds who courageously search for love, truth, and meaning together, even in the face of serious danger. Well, let me tell you more about them (somewhat) in person...

I'll tell you a little secret. I love all of my books and all of my characters, but this book is probably my favorite. If you consider yourself a "Dina Sleiman fan" on any level, I highly encourage you to check it out, and this weekend, February 5-7, will be the perfect chance.

Click here to order on amazon

"This is not my kind of book. So when I say it went deep into my heart, you'll know it's a story that will impact you no matter what genre you typically read. This novel will open your eyes. You'll start seeing the people around you in a vastly different way than you do right now. And you can't help but be changed by the three young women who Sleiman portrays with authenticity, penetrating insight, and well-crafted prose." -Bestselling Author - James Rubart

"Dina Sleiman allows the reader to see the beauty hidden inside her characters, especially Layla the Muslim girl--the beauty hidden because of social and religious restrictions. The author captured this feeling in the book itself when she said through her college professor, 'This is the power of literature. It allows us to see the beauty in people around us. Gives us glimpses into their minds and their souls." -Host of DARING QUESTIONS - Brother Rasheed

"Deeply drawn characters take you on a journey that will change their lives . . . and yours. Women's fiction at its finest." -Award-winning Author - Nikki Arana

Courage in the Everyday

Yesterday my church went Christmas caroling, but not in the nicest neighborhood in town where we could revel in the professionally installed light displays, not even in the middle class area surrounding our building. We went caroling in a rather rundown trailer park where we deliver food for our food ministry. Okay, so we weren't quite roughing it in a third world country, but considering we're mostly a bunch of suburbanites, it got me thinking about the courage needed to reach out to others in our everyday lives.

One of our caroling groups

Going door to door, knocking on a stranger's trailer, in a neighborhood that's one of the rougher ones in town, takes a bit of courage, especially when you have a bevy of children in tow. By the end of the Christmas cookie fellowship following the caroling, our kids were all running around in the pitch dark. We didn't know if we'd face rejection, harassment, or drunken threats, but we went to spread Christmas joy and cheer nonetheless--to spread Christ's love. It would have been easy for someone to talk themselves out of going and facing all of those risks. But reaching out takes courage and inconvenience. Living life to its fullest involves taking risks.

These neighbors tagged along and joined in the fun.

And when God calls you to do something, those risks pay off! By the end of the caroling many neighbors had joined in with us to sing. We concluded the evening with a fellowship including a fire pit and Christmas cookies, and about 25 people from the neighborhood came to join us :)

The Christmas cookie fellowship was a big hit.

I'm sure it would have been safer and easier for the Good Samaritan to have left the beaten man on the side of the road, but God calls us to a higher standard. Will you dare to reach out and take risks? Will you find the courage to live life to the fullest?

Girl Power - Barbie Style

I love this girl power Barbie video. This is how to raise valiant young women who are willing to go after their dreams :)

Mrs. President???

Although I pretty much gave up hope in politics and especially our two-party monopoly system by college age, I have to admit, I've been a little excited about the upcoming 2016 elections. For the first time ever, we have viable female candidates in the major political parties, not only for vice-president (which, btw, has only happened twice), but for actual president. And thank goodness, we have one on both the Republican and Democratic sides, because I could never bring myself to vote for Hillary (who pretty much represents everything I don't like and don't trust about politics) despite my fervent support of female empowerment.

 On the other hand, I've been very impressed by Carly Fiorina. She's tough, sharp, and on target. She's clawed her way to the top, mostly through her excellent speech and debate skills. She's already conquered the corporate world, despite the so-called "glass ceilings" for women, and now she's ready to take on running our country. And I like that she while she has proven herself a competent leader, she has not spent her life mired in that political system I dislike so much. If indeed Hillary does win the Democratic nomination, I strongly believe that Carly would be the opponent with the greatest chance of beating her.

 I confessed recently on facebook, that despite the fact that I disagree with many of Obama's political stances, as someone who has long been interested in African-American history and issues, I smile every time I see him and his lovely wife and daughters representing our country as the first family. (And Michelle totally rocked on So You Think You Can Dance!) I'm glad that the obstacles to race and sex are being overcome in our country.

It makes me hopeful that someday we will hear the words "Mrs. President" or perhaps "Madam President" if she prefers.

Here's a funny little video that shows the types of obstacles Carly Fiorina has overcome. Hopefully we're getting beyond some of this thinking, but no doubt, Carly has been a valiant woman to get to the place she is now.

Valiant Heroine - Misty Copeland

This week among all the political yuck going on out there in the world, there was some truly inspirational news. Misty Copeland became the first African-American woman to chosen as a principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. She was also recently named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. That makes her a valiant heroine in my book. Not to mention the fact that ballerinas have to be incredibly strong, tough, and fearless--don't let the fluffy tutus fool you.

Check out this video which highlights the type of adversity Misty overcame as well as her amazing dance ability.

My #1 Goal for My Children

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting with an old college friend. As we talked at length, I shared with her my #1 goal for my children. It is not impeccable manners, academic perfection, athletic excellence, or financial success. It is not even morality, purity, great theology, or Biblical literacy, although all of those are certainly worthy goals.

My #1 goal for my children is that they have a strong personal relationship with Christ and know how to hear God's voice.

I have tailored all of my parenting toward this goal. Good manners are about showing kindness to others and treating them as reflections of their creator God. Academic success is about doing their best and making good use of the gifts God has given them. Athletics are about treating their body like the temple of the Holy Spirit. Morality and purity should be a natural outgrowth of that relationship with Christ. And while theology is important and Bible study is an essential way in which we learn to understand God's voice, without that life-giving spirit to guide us on the subtleties, logical study alone can be lifeless and brittle. If you know God and can hear His voice, everything else pretty much falls into place. 

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:6

Not often in life is a parent given the tangible gift of seeing their #1 goal for their children achieved. Yesterday, I received such a gift. So I'm going to keep this post short and encourage you to visit my daughter's missions blog. I think you'll be as blessed as I was. And take a minute to read some of her older posts. She is a true woman of God and an inspiration. Click here for Christi Sleiman's blogpost "Put Down the Headphones."

Quintessential Christi

Valiant Heroine - Rifqa Bary

Last week I shared about a valiant female warrior who gave her life for our country. This week I'd like to introduce you to an equally valiant heroine of the spirit. Rifqa Bary is a young Muslim woman who risked her life to follow Jesus. Rifqa and other women like her inspired my book Dance from Deep Within and even more so, the sequel I hope to publish someday, Dare from Deep Within. I hope you will be blessed, inspired, and emboldened by Rifqa's story. May God bless you with the same sort of courage to pursue the life that He has called you to.

A Valiant Heroine - Ashley's War

One of the things I want to use this blog for is to honor real life Valiant Heroines. Recently I heard the story of Ashley, a young soldier who was recruited for a top-secret all female unit who could get into a place no males could--namely the world of Afghani women. The petite, blonde Ashley gave her life serving her country, and I hope her legacy of bravery, excellence, and service will be long remembered!

 

If you would like to read Ashley's full story, you can purchase her biography here.

Body Image - It's All About that Health

Arguments over body image, body positivity, and even body shaming have been all over the media lately. Personally, I don't have a big problem with Megan Trainor's curvy girl cry of empowerment. Sure, it's a little out of balance, and it focuses on some of the wrong issues, but clearly it has struck a chord with our culture.

These girls all look pretty fit and healthy to me!

On the other hand, I must confess, I think sometimes people go too far, because let's face it, being overly fat is not healthy.

To me that's the real issue. Health. A certain body shape becomes the latest trend, and girls are willing to go to unhealthy lengths to try to achieve that supposed ideal, whether it means starvation or plastic surgery. And that is not okay. For that reason, we all need to learn body positivity and to love ourselves for who we are on the inside.

But if you constantly stuff your face with big macs, fries, sugary sodas, and hostess cakes, and end up falling into the obese weight category with unhealthy side effects like high cholesterol, high blood pressures, or diabetes--please don't try to tell me that God made you that way and it's beautiful. You know what I mean? It's no more beautiful than the girl who takes laxatives and starves herself to try to be a size 0.

Here's what I think. One, gluttony is a sin. Two, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Those issues should guide all we do concerning our bodies, and health should come first. 

If God made you with tiny bones and a high metabolism, then rock your skinny look and be happy. If He made you with big bones and curves, then rock that look and be happy. If He made you kind of squarish and athletic, then rock that too. It's when we try to look like someone else, or ignore basic health issues, that we get ourselves in trouble. For example, I had to accept that while I was basically tall and thin, I would never have model proportions without starving myself. So I gave up my modeling aspirations and learned to be happy with myself.

The truth is, you might be skinny and be perfectly healthy, but you might be destroying your body by starving it from nutrients, by overstrenuous exercise, or even by an eating disorder. Or you might be skinny but gorging on junk food and lazing on the couch. You might be on the heavy side but eat healthy and exercise regularly. Or you might be on the heavy side while eating horribly, being sedate, or even while having bulimia. In the meantime many athletes and performers, who we might assume to be in the ultimate health, are destroying their bodies in their quest for perfection.

No one really knows. And for that reason we do need to stop the body shaming and learn to love ourselves as well as a wide variety of others. But I think we can do that without accepting poor health habits. Here's what we should all be doing, no matter our body type.

1) Eat a balanced, moderate, mostly natural diet.

2) Exercise regularly, but not excessively or destructively.

3) Take good care of your body and put your health first.

4) Accept and love the person God has made you to be.

Let's be women of valor, even in how we think about our bodies. In the end, it shouldn't actually be about your body at all. Your body is just a temporary shell for the real you. It should be about pleasing God and living a holy lifestyle. You don't need for every guy to be lusting after your perfect shape. You just need for one right guy to find you beautiful in his eyes. And that right guy will care far more about your physical and emotional well-being than about the specifics of your form. Most of all remember, God loves you no matter what, even when you're unhealthy, even when you mess up. But He wants the best for you. He wants you to prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.

And so do I!

Take My Match Making Quiz

Do your reading interests match my writing specialties? Take my match making quiz and find out.

Every writer is unique. We all have our own strengths and focuses. And we have other areas that just aren't our specialties. Much like finding the right spouse, I think it's important for writers to find the right readers who appreciate their books and what they have to offer, rather than trying to please everyone, which is pretty much impossible. I've been paying a lot of attention to my reviews lately, and trying to pin down my precise audience. Or as some marketing experts call it, my tribe!

So who is the Dina Sleiman tribe and who should probably just stay away from my books? Let me try to explain with this match making quiz.

Do you like only one category of fiction or a broad variety? If you are very faithful to a specific category like romance or suspense, you might feel that certain elements are lacking from my books or that the pacing is not quite what you expected. But if you a have broad interests, you will be delighted to find many of your favorite ingredients mixed together in a lovely potpourri throughout my books. My Valiant Hearts novels include a heaping helping of romance, a good bit of action, dashes of suspense and humor, and even coming of age elements--all set against a historical backdrop. But don't necessarily expect my heroes and heroines to meet in chapter one, or the suspense to kick off from the very first scene. Be ready for a new adventure.

Are you looking for fantasy or historical fiction? While I enjoy fantasy books for the most part, they include way too much plot and action for me, and really, I don't quite understand the genre. My Valiant Hearts books are historical. They are set in real times and real countries, although often fictional towns. They have elements that might appeal to fantasy readers, like medieval settings and adventure, but if you're specifically looking for fantasy books, that's not what I write. On the other hand, I have a fanciful imagination and my books are more focused on the story and fictional elements than the historical account itself. While I try to be as historically accurate as possible, I use history as a backdrop, not as a primary subject.

Do you like romance and happy endings? If you hate romance and roll your eyes at it and find it gaggy, don't waste your time on my books. Or if you want to shield your kids from romance for some reason, then pick a different author. While I don't consider myself a classic romance writer, I love romance, and I include it in all of my books. My Love in Three Quarter Time is absolutely a romance novel. And I'll let you in on a little secret, Dauntless was originally written as a romance novel and then expanded to bring in a more epic adventure feel. There is a good bit of romance at the heart of everything I write. If you want a book that's dark and depressing and will leave you filled with angst, don't bother with my books. They are full of hope, light, and redemption. I'll be the first to admit, I'm a happy ending girl.

Do you read for plot alone or do you enjoy the more relational and artistic elements of fiction? If you read mostly for plot and tend to skip over lovely descriptions, long conversations, and inner monologues, you might not like my books very much. In fact, you might feel a little lost, because that's where a lot of the good stuff happens. If thoughts of characters, inner journeys, and beautiful language make you tingle, then I am the author for you. If you care as much about what is going on inside a character and appreciate a dash of psychology, philosophy, and deep spirituality, then prepare to be thrilled.

Are you looking for religion or spirituality? When it comes to spiritual threads, I like to go deep. My books will challenge you to experience Christ on a very personal level. They are not just clean books about good morals. They examine hard questions and real life problems, and explore how a very active and present God can make Himself known to you in those places. If you want a squeaky clean, goody-goody book that is G-rated and more sanitized than the Bible itself, please look elsewhere. If you think that God gave us Jesus and the Bible and then left us to our own devices for the next 2000 years, no longer speaking to us or moving in miraculous ways, don't waste your time on my books. Unless of course you are interested in learning and growing and being challenged with new ideas. Then by all means, I welcome you to try them.

Are you willing to read a book geared toward older teen girls and young adult women? My new Valiant Hearts books should appeal to ages 12 through adult, but my goal has always been to write to older teens and younger women. I think you will find that all of my books resonate with that group. And I intend to keep them as my primary audience and focus my books towards their needs and interests. These books are not for elementary kids, and as I've mentioned, they do include romance and some grittier topics. I certainly don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm not going to apologize for tailoring my books to my target audience. And while I'm sure many boys and men could enjoy the Valiant Hearts series, they are more geared toward females.

Do you like heroines who are both strong and feminine? If you are looking for wilting maidens and damsels in distress saved by shining knights who swoop in on their giant horses, look elsewhere. The personalities of these Valiant Hearts heroines will vary from book to book, but some of them are pretty tough, and all of them are courageous and able and willing to rise to whatever challenges they might face. The guys aren't weak--these girls deserve strong men of good character--but the girls are pretty much their equals in every way. The theme of the series is "Be Strong and Courageous," and I stand by that theme. If female empowerment bugs you, if you would rather read about women staying home and quilting and cooking and being demure, you have been fairly warned. On the other hand, if you are looking for women trying to act like men and deny their God-given feminine traits, you won't find them in my books either. I want to show young women that they can be both strong and feminine at the same time.

So that's me and my writing. What do you think? Are we a match made in heaven??? Why or why not?

What Does "Like a Girl" Mean?

In a morass of tacky, sleazy, and materialistic advertising, occasionally someone gets it right. My highest compliments and thanks to Always for this incredible message of female empowerment. If you haven't watched it, check it out now! What does "like a girl" mean to you?

The Woman of Valor

I learned something really cool last week! You might or might not be familiar with a poem from Proverbs 31 about a "Virtuous Woman." In church circles, this chapter is often used as an example of  perfect Biblical womanhood. Sometimes, it even becomes a checklist to bang over women's heads, which can lead to a lot of guilt, shame, and inferiority. But I think this poem was meant to do the opposite. A woman clothed with strength and dignity... A woman who laughs without fear of the future...

Years ago I figured out a few things about this passage. 1) The woman was rich and had servants, so not many of us these days can hope to accomplish as much as she did. 2) The woman clearly does not have small children, so those struggling through that exciting yet exhausting stage of life need not expect to live up to her esteemed standards. 3) She was a business woman who had her own mind and made her own decisions, so in many ways she is an example for a more liberated woman than some Christian denominations advocate. 

http://www.yontifications.com/Aishet_Chayel-Woman_of_Valor

But last week I learned the coolest thing ever. I was reading a book examining Biblical womanhood, and the author examined a variety of Biblical traditions including Jewish, Catholic, Amish, etc... Jews do not translate the Hebrew term "eshet chayil" in Proverbs 31 as "virtuous woman," they translate it as "woman of valor." I love that! Don't you? And they understand that it is a poem in praise of the type of woman who should be honored, not a to-do list. Jewish husband's quote this poem in praise of their wives, they don't use it to show them how they're falling short. Jewish women use the term eshet chayil to celebrate each other's accomplishments. 

The author decided to pick up that habit, and I think I will too. As I googled "woman of valor" to find an image for this post, I realized that this idea is more popular and wide-spread than I had realized. And, of course, eshet chayil, goes perfectly with my Valiant Hearts series. So I encourage you all to be strong and courageous women, worthy of the title eshet chayil, and to honor other valorous women in your lives as well.

Are you a woman of valor? What valorous things have you done? If not, how could you move toward becoming a woman of valor?

The Seed of an Idea

Years ago an editor suggested that I try writing a YA medieval romance series. I was certainly open to the idea, but I didn't have a strong idea. It wasn't until I was in the midst of watching the BBC Robin Hood series with my son that a concept finally sparked to life in my mind. This series features a lot of strong, feisty women. Maid Marian is a thief and defender of the poor in her own right, and the Saracen character, Djaq, in this version is also a woman. Not to mention plenty of tough female bad guys. One day as I was walking and praying specifically about a YA medieval series, this new Robin Hood came to mind, the ideas started flowing, and before long Dauntless was playing like a movie in my mind. Here's a peek at their Maid Marian who helped to inspire my Merry Ellison.

The Heroines of Reality TV

Lately I've mentioned both The Quest and The American Ninja Warrior as fun reality shows featuring strong real-life heroines. I remain a staunch Kacy Catanzaro fan despite the fact that her tiny 5' height kept her from being able to reach the wall in the spider jump in the national finals of Ninja Warrior. I say she was gypped, and I hope they will reconsider adjusting the course to give shorter competitors a fair shot in the future.

But in happier news, a feisty young woman did beat out a whole bunch of big strong men to take home the title of "The One True Hero" on The Quest. Tiny Lina Carollo managed to hold her own during the physical challenges on the show, but it was her fighting spirit, intelligence, and attention to detail that won her the opportunity to face and defeat the evil Verlox. The show proved fun, if a little bit cheesy. I'm certainly glad I watched it. Check out Lina in her initial interview, and also sneak a peek at some of the huge guys she beat for the title.

A Female Ninja Warrior?

So this is a new blog, and I am trying to establish a certain feel that will inspire teen girls and young women. A few posts back I mentioned Kacy Catanzaro, a very exceptional and inspirational young lady who was the first ever female to qualify for American Ninja Warrior. After her, two more women qualified in different cities, but only Kacy made it through the city finals.  She has become a viral sensation, and I'm happy to say, I was on the cutting edge of noticing her. My boys and I have been following the Ninja Warrior shows for years, and it is so exciting to see females finally rising to the occasion. Kacy's success has won her a strong fan base among men and women alike.

While I believe that God created males and females differently to represent varying sides of His image, I also firmly believe that he has called both his sons and his daughters to be strong and courageous. That he has given each young woman unique gifts and callings, and that women should feel as free as men to explore and use those gifts, whether they be in more traditional venues as stay at home mothers, teachers, and nurses, or less traditional ones like engineers, soldiers, or politicians.

Kacy's amazing combination of feminity and strength really captures the spirit of the Valiant Heart Series, and as I mentioned before, she would be a perfect candidate to play my tiny, tough, acrobatic Merry Ellison of the first book, Dauntless. Here is the video of her finals run.

Tonight begins the national finals. I do believe one more woman will be there on a wild card draw, but I think you all know who I will be cheering for. Go Kacy!