Author: Emily Ley
Located in: Tampa, Florida
Submitted: August 24, 2016
Tell us a little about yourself. I'm a designer, wife, and mama to three beautiful kiddos (Brady, 5, and twins - Caroline and Tyler, 1).
What was your motivation behind this project? I know, firsthand, that life can be so totally beautiful and completely overwhelming at the same time. As women - no matter what season of life we're in - we are pulled in so many different directions. I wrote Grace, Not Perfection out of my own experience meeting total burn-out, accepting God's grace in my messy life, and learning ways to simplify and streamline the day to do so that I can truly find the joy in the journey.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? Whether shes single or married, a mom or child-free, in a career she loves or at home full-time, feeling pretty together or feeling like a total mess, I want everyone to have the same takeaway. I want her to think, I am good enough, just like I am right now, with what I have and as who God made me to be. I dont have to be anything more.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? Writing Grace, Not Perfection was an incredible experience. Reliving some of the moments in my life where I've felt God's Grace wrap around me so strongly did my heart so much good. It reminded me just how often God reminds us (firmly or gently) that He is in control, not us.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? As a former English major, I am a bookworm at heart. I love Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Maya Angelou, Bob Goff, Jen Hatmaker, and so many more. I adore the classics, of course, but love reading the raw, real humor and truth in today's books also.
