Waiting is hard, but it's not a punishment; it's a process. God is not delaying; He's developing. He is not leaving you; He's loving you.

When many of us hear the word theology, we conjure up visions of stuffy old guys in dark clothing, scratching a pen across paper (or maybe a quill across parchment!) and assume that it's not for us. But at its most basic, theology is just words (logos) about God (theos). Conversations, if you will, about the most important part of our lives—our good, loving, and grace-filled God.

In medieval times, uncharted waters were marked on maps as Here Be Dragons to signify that no one knew what dangers might lie ahead. Melanie Shankle quips that the years spent raising our teenage daughters could be labeled the same due to the uncertainties before us. Filled with personal stories and written in the same whimsical and honest style Melanie is known for, Here Be Dragons will have you both laughing out loud and crying—as you confront the challenges of raising your own strong, independent daughter while fighting dragons along the way.

Annie Jones always assumed adulthood would mean adventure: a high-powered career; life in a big, bustling city; and travels to far-flung places she’d longed to see. But her reality turned out differently. As the years passed, Annie was still in the same small town running an independent bookstore—the kind of life Nora Ephron dreamed.

The whirlwind of chaos and confusion barreling toward you has likely caught you completely off guard. Maybe you're navigating a season of transition—a career shift, a major life adjustment, or just an unshakable sense of disorientation. When the things that once brought fulfillment no longer seem to work, when the familiar feels foreign, and when life feels like it's slipped out of your control, you're actually in the perfect position for God to lead you to greater heights.