Restoring and owning an 1875 historic bank building…with its old boarding rooms…has stirred my imagination in ways I truly never expected. I often picture the men and women who once lived here. Their struggles, their faith, their perseverance. I imagine opening the old vault and finding their journals secretly tucked away—pages worn, ink faded, but their stories still alive.
From that imagining came Clara Whitmore.
Her journals are fictional, yes...but they are rooted in the very real faith, courage, and resilience of those who came before us. Through her eyes, I can step back into a time when life was simpler but not easier…a time when community mattered, families leaned on one another, church was central to all activities, and faith shaped daily decisions.
So far from where we are today.
Sometimes, to understand how to stand firm today, we need to look back and remember what anchored those who walked before us.
Clara’s journals invite us to do exactly that.
They remind us that God has always been faithful. That ordinary people have always faced extraordinary challenges. That hope has always had to be chosen. And that our own lives…for a time such as this…are part of a much bigger story God is still writing.
My prayer is that as you read these journals, you’ll feel a spark of encouragement. A renewed sense of purpose. A reminder that your faith matters in this moment of history just as much as theirs did in their time.
So settle into your favorite chair and visit Walnut, Iowa, in a way you’ve never experienced. Walk its dirt streets. Hear its quiet stories. Feel the steady presence of God woven through the ordinary lives of ordinary people. Because that’s where He often does His greatest work.
Small places. Simple moments. Willing hearts.
He is still drawing us near today. He is still writing our stories. And I believe these journals…though imagined…can awaken hope and strengthen faith for the days we are living in now.
If we lean in with hearts turned toward God, I believe Clara Whitmore’s words will uplift us…for such a time as this.
I don’t yet know exactly how these 1875 journals fit into the calling God has placed on my heart, but I know this…
I am meant to write them.
And perhaps…you are meant to read them.
For God’s glory,
Shelly
From that imagining came Clara Whitmore.
Her journals are fictional, yes...but they are rooted in the very real faith, courage, and resilience of those who came before us. Through her eyes, I can step back into a time when life was simpler but not easier…a time when community mattered, families leaned on one another, church was central to all activities, and faith shaped daily decisions.
So far from where we are today.
Sometimes, to understand how to stand firm today, we need to look back and remember what anchored those who walked before us.
Clara’s journals invite us to do exactly that.
They remind us that God has always been faithful. That ordinary people have always faced extraordinary challenges. That hope has always had to be chosen. And that our own lives…for a time such as this…are part of a much bigger story God is still writing.
My prayer is that as you read these journals, you’ll feel a spark of encouragement. A renewed sense of purpose. A reminder that your faith matters in this moment of history just as much as theirs did in their time.
So settle into your favorite chair and visit Walnut, Iowa, in a way you’ve never experienced. Walk its dirt streets. Hear its quiet stories. Feel the steady presence of God woven through the ordinary lives of ordinary people. Because that’s where He often does His greatest work.
Small places. Simple moments. Willing hearts.
He is still drawing us near today. He is still writing our stories. And I believe these journals…though imagined…can awaken hope and strengthen faith for the days we are living in now.
If we lean in with hearts turned toward God, I believe Clara Whitmore’s words will uplift us…for such a time as this.
I don’t yet know exactly how these 1875 journals fit into the calling God has placed on my heart, but I know this…
I am meant to write them.
And perhaps…you are meant to read them.
For God’s glory,
Shelly
Start Reading...or catch up where you left off
Shelly Thompson, Owner of an 1875 historic Bank Building in Walnut, Iowa, that housed the Boarding Rooms in the late 1800's.
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Shelly Thompson is the Publisher for The Notebook Cafe -- Inspired Words for the Journey, and owner of Millie McKeever's Vintage & Home Decor and Coffee Bar located in the quaint historic town of Walnut, Iowa. 'The Gathering Room' offers a place where women gather to share a time of fellowship, devotion, and a tour the circa 1875 historical bank building restored by Shelly and her husband. Shelly is the author of two books. Entwined; now in its fourth printing; and Heart of a Warrior - A Legacy of Faith; in its sixth printing. Her current writing project is 'The Boarding Room Journals'. Taking a giant leap of faith Shelly left the corporate world in 2015 to pursue a dream God gave her of developing a monthly inspirational faith based online reading café of words and encouragement. Today, The Notebook Café reaches over one million people each month. Shelly has also developed The Notebook Cafe Annual Woman's Conference and women's retreat. In addition to operating The Notebook Cafe shop, Millie McKeever's Vintage & Home Decor, Shelly and her husband, Dave, spend time with their family and many weekends working on home renovation projects…that thankfully never seem to end.
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