When I got the 23-page contract for my next book, my (amazing) agent highlighted some areas for us to discuss.

Which is code for: I have no idea how to read a legal contract and needed a smart guy to explain it to me.

One of the sections he wanted to talk about was Movie Rights.

Yes, you read that right. You can laugh now. I did.

He said, “Now this would be a one in a million chance, but some books do get turned into real life movies, so we need to talk about it. I was folding laundry at the time. Riveting movie material, huh?

We went thru the legalese and I agreed that I wanted to add a clause that required my permission for any future plans to “sell my story for movie rights.” I got off the phone and cleaned the toilets. Clearly, I can handle TLC.

At dinner, we did highs and lows around the table, everyone sharing the high and low point of their days. When it was my turn, I told my family about the movie rights because that certainly doesn’t happen every day.

I was explaining how contracts cover everything and while there was no way a movie was in our future, it was fun to laugh about it.

My 13 year old had a dreamy look on her face and said, “Hmmn…I wonder who would play me in a movie about our family?” And then she started tossing out different teen actresses who were stunning and fashionable, of course.

I died laughing.

My son and little sister jumped into the conversation and before I knew it, they had cast our entire family, including the dog and cat. Let me tell you, it was quite a cast of characters.

We are all about reality down here in Texas.

It was hysterical and completely out of control.

Then my husband said, “I think Brad Pitt would play me.”

Obviously.

Because even I have dreams, people.

*Updated: I thought Angelina Jolie could play me, but my family picked Ginnifer Goodwin from Ramona and Beezus (she played Aunt Bea) and considering she’s at least 10 years younger and 20 pounds lighter, I’m not complaining. My 13 year old finally decided on Jennifer Lawrence from The Hunger Games (she played Katniss). My son will be played by Gabe from Disney’s Good Luck Charlie. My 6 year old is going to play herself, so will the dog. We didn’t argue with her on that. The cat will be played by the devil.

He turns it into something for His glory.

My life is a beautiful mess, mixed with muddy and majestic moments. This is my story, filled with failure and fortune and a lot of faith. It is the ultimate story of realization and restoration and the miraculous God-work of creating something beautiful from broken pieces.

This is a book for imperfect people who aren’t called to greatness, but rather, to smallness. This book is testimony to how He steps into our ordinary, often self-absorbed world and transforms small, day-to-day choices into something God-sized.

This book is about how God shattered my clean, comfortable Christian life on an unexpected journey when He used the abundant joy of the poor to rescue me from the poverty in my soul.

This book will encourage readers to make their lives about Jesus and say yes right where they are.

I’m writing a new book!

Coming 2014

If you know a mom who needs Him or needs a little encouragement, I’d like you to leave her first name in the comment section.

I’m going to randomly draw 5 names and giveaway FIVE copies of my book, Don’t Make Me Come Up There! for winners to pass along to a friend.

Maybe she’s just waiting on a sign.

And your the one that’s supposed to deliver it.

P.S. if you feel like you’re the mom in this email, please feel free to leave your own name!