A fellow author from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Kimberley Woodhouse is launching the story of her family’s journey to joy on September 1st, a partnership project with Tyndale and Focus on the Family. The book–Woodhouse Family WELCOME HOME!

I first connected by email with Kimberley shortly before her family was nominated to receive an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. We ACFW members watched and prayed as their story–that leg of it–unfolded. It’s a deep blessing to see their journey now in print through this gripping, heart-tugging, joy-producing book.

Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 600 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, and Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER. Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, releases from Tyndale House Publishers September first. In addition to her non-fiction, she also writes romantic suspense and children’s books. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and two children in their truly “extreme” home. www.kimberleywoodhouse.com

Overwhelming trials . . . met with overcoming joy.
Kayla Woodhouse is not your typical twelve-year-old. Due to a rare medical disorder, she feels no pain, doesn’t sweat, and needs protective cooling gear just to go outside. With her restrictive lifestyle; countless hospitalizations, including brain surgery; and the resulting mountain of hospital bills, what’s a family to do?

How the Woodhouse family has faced seemingly impossible challenges is a story that has captured the hearts of America. Millions of people have experienced glimpses of their lives on Discovery’s Mystery ER, The Montel Williams Show, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (recently voted one of the show’s all-time best episodes!).

Now Kayla’s mom, Kimberley, takes readers behind the cameras to reveal their family’s journey as never before told. From medical sleuthing to cross-country moves, from freak fires to battles with insurance companies, Welcome Home proves that truth really is stranger than fiction. This candid life story reveals both success and failure and demonstrates how, even during tough circumstances, to shift your life from heartbreak to extreme joy.
Cynthia asks: Kimberley, what was the most difficult moment to relive while writing your book? The most rewarding?

The most difficult – there were actually two: the period of time when Kayla wasn’t diagnosed, and many years later during her brain surgery. I cried buckets of tears writing both. The most rewarding was all the funny and joyful memories. I praised God for all the wonderful little moments He’s given us.

Many readers will no doubt be amazed at your careful attention to detail in Welcome Home! Tell us about the role your journals played in helping you recreate the details of your story.

I kept journals and medical journals through the years basically because I’m a detail person. The doctors needed us to keep track of everything, so I did. But I never would have guessed that I would one day write our story. I’m so thankful now that I have them.

In what ways did the many hours of interviews related to your family’s selection for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition set the stage for writing this book?

Over the years, we’ve done thousands of media interviews and appearances at Churches and groups sharing our story. Little did we know, people were nominating us from all over the world because they had seen us or the story somewhere. Then after the shows aired, more and more people asked for “the rest of the story.” It was fascinating to them, and they wanted to know more. That’s when I began to get asked by publishers to write our story. I prayed about it, and I realized that the Lord was definitely leading in this direction.

Did you find it easy or challenging to embrace the new house as your home? Why?

A little of both. The house is phenomenal, and every morning I still wake up amazed by it. But there was an extraordinary amount of hi-tech paraphernalia that I had to learn how to use. J I’m thankful for all of it though, because the house really has changed our lives—Kayla’s health has skyrocketed and Josh hasn’t had an asthma attack since we’ve been in the house. It is definitely our home, we love it, and are so blessed.

How did you and your husband safeguard your relationship during the vulnerable times of family crisis?

A lot of prayer, and spending time together in the Word.

During the media blitz related to your television appearance?

Again, a lot of prayer. All the TV stuff did get quite overwhelming, so we prayed more and more each day.

In the day-to-day, not that life is ever typical for the Woodhouse family?

This question made me smile and laugh – because no, our life is not typical at all. J But, the answer again is prayer. Spending time with the Lord each and every day and relying on Him for all our needs.

Some people write their story hoping readers will see themselves in the plot and identify with the events. Welcome Home! underscores how unique is the Woodhouse story and yet your readers do connect with the struggles of uncertainty, concern for children, answerless nights and constant threats to hope. When did you realize that recounting your family experiences could stir hope in others?

More and more people would thank me for sharing a particularly difficult time and say that it encouraged them immensely. I began to realize that a lot of times the best way to encourage others is to be willing to share the really tough stuff from our own lives. Even if it’s hard to re-live, or if it embarrasses us, or we have to swallow our pride to do so. We are not here to say “look at me! I have it all figured out!” we’re here to say, “Life is hard, but God is good.” People want to see real Christians living out their faith, not “perfect” people up on a pedestal.

How did the book move from that moment to publication?

Publishers began to ask for our story – and my original idea for the book was not that. J Isn’t God good though, to show us where and how we need to share.

How have your experiences  (both highs and lows) affected your fiction projects?

I think it has definitely given them more depth. My critique partners tell me that they are “gripping” – which thrills me as a writer to hear. It took many years though for me to really touch that depth, but part of it was also allowing myself to be vulnerable, and really letting the gut-wrenching stories flow.

Obviously your story isn’t done. The Lord is still working and developing your character and your family’s depth as you move forward. What key lesson have you learned since finishing the book?

The first thing that popped into my head was the old children’s song, He’s Still Working On Me. As a professional musician for so many years, I never would have guessed all those years ago that I would now be a published author.  I love how the Lord takes us as we are, how He uses us when we are willing vessels (and sometimes even when we’re not), to glorify Him. The further I get in this writing/publication process, the more I realize I need to learn. Just like the closer I get to the Lord, the more I see my imperfections, as I strive to be more and more like Him.

Thank you, Kimberley. We’ll look for your book in bookstores, through online booksellers, or through your website–www.kimberleywoodhouse.com