A few weeks ago I came across a book on Amazon that I had read when I was about 12 years old (that was about 25 years ago, by the way). It was called "Heaven" by VC Andrews.

I opened up the sample pages to read now as an adult, what I had read as a child. Reading the words, and remembering so vividly the time I first read this book ... it was such an emotional and scary and wonderful few minutes. As an adult, I got to look back at the girl that I had been and see how this book shaped my life, especially the way I loved my father, a man who struggled for so much of his life, but who was such an incredibly gifted and intelligent human being.

I have never forgotten this book. And when I read it, I told myself that if I ever had a daughter, I would name her Heaven. She is now 12 years old! :) When I showed her the book on Amazon, she was quite pleased to see her name - Heaven Leigh.

As a mother now and a wife, and a girl who lost her father not long ago to a life-long struggle with drug addiction, I am grateful for how books can change people. Rescue people, sometimes. And how books can help you make sense of the hard things in life.

Heaven