My Thoughts

There is Hope, Bloom Where You are Planted by author Carla Huelsmann is a combination devotional, journal, and memoir. The author has written it to encourage and inspire those struggling with illness, severe illness. She has penned these 52 life lessons from her experience and wants to share hope with others.

Each lesson begins with about two pages explaining happened to Carla. The lesson is followed by a relevant scripture. Closing the lesson is a question about the reader with space to journal an answer. Everything ties together into a nice, new t lesson or devotional on hope.

The writing is personal and warm. Author Huelsmann is open and writes as if talking to a friend over coffee. I loved her writing style and found myself invested in her story. She inspired me with her faith in God.

Everything is covered within the pages of this book. The highs and lows, hope and misgivings, along with heart warming memories. Some of the days were emotional as I began to feel closer to the author through her writing. I wish it went a little deeper, but it is still very good.

I highly recommend this book. It will provide hope, faith, and encouragement. This would make a lovely group read for people going through illness. Church libraries would benefit from a copy. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: There is Hope

Author: Carla Huelsmann

Genre: Journal, devotional, memoir

Release Date: August, 2018

52 life lessons for those struggling with major illness will inspire hope and encourage those suffering to take back control of their lives.

Carla Huelsmann dealt with the daily impact of seizures since age two. Her life-long battle with epilepsy impacted all parts of her life, family, career, self-confidence, and independence until corrective brain surgery ended the seizures. Free from the debilitating seizures and their accompanying residues of doubt and fear, Carla Huelsmann lives independently and shares her story to help others along their own journeys.

Part journal, part devotional, and part memoir, this is a book of hope, faith, and inspiration. The book addresses the fears, challenges, and questions about the future those going through a major illness, debilitating injury, or life crisis may have. Designed as a traveling companion for those facing challenging circumstances, each one-page entry is accompanied by blank space for the reader to journal his or her own thoughts and prayers.

My goal is to give hope, help, healing, and resources. I want to walk alongside others and assure them they are not alone; there is hope. -Carla Huelsmann

About the Author

Carla Huelsmann earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Illinois University, subsequently taught grades five through eight, and now works for the US Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Louis, MO. The alumnus of a fiction-writing course at Southern Illinois University, and the CLASS Seminar with Marita and Florence Littauer, she is also the author of articles on her experiences, and is available to speak.

More from Carla

I want to inspire and equip others struggling with epilepsy or other major illnesses to take back control of their lives. Eighteen years after corrective surgery, I live a seizure-free life that I feel in control of. And, I want to share my story and lessons learned with others facing serious challenges. My goal is to give hope, help and healing and resources of helpful information in one book. I want to walk alongside them and assure them that they are not alone and there is hope!

I’ve dealt with seizures, epilepsy and their daily impact since the age of two. It has impacted my family, career, self-confidence, independence and much more. Through it all, family, friends and faith have provided bedrock sources of strength. In addition, timely interventions by doctors, new contacts, new techniques and self-discipline came at opportune times through perseverance.

Now free from the tunnel of doubt, fear and debilitating seizures, I’ve gathered up my collection of personal journals and thoughts in order to help others along their journey. “There Is Hope: Bloom Where You are Planted” is a devotional for someone going through major illness, major injury, or life crisis.