We bow our heads, and his voice carries with a gentleness that makes my eyes sting.
“Father, we thank You for Ivy. Thank You for the creativity You’ve placed in her, the eye for beauty, the heart for excellence, the desire to serve. We believe You don’t waste any gift, Lord, and tonight we set her apart for the work You’ve called her to do here. Use her talents to glorify Your name. Give her peace when deadlines feel heavy, fresh ideas when inspiration runs dry, and joy in the process. May every design she creates point people back to You, the true Artist. Surround her with encouragement and remind her she’s not doing this alone. We pray protection, provision, and blessing over this next season. In Jesus’s name, amen.”
By the time they lift their heads, I can hardly sit still. My chair scrapes back, and I promise to follow up soon, but my feet are already light as air.
I all but skip out of the meeting, folder hugged to my chest, giddy grin stretched wide.
I slip into the driver’s seat of my car, still clutching mytote bag against my chest. My hands are shaking a little, enough that I have to take a few deep breaths before I even think about turning the ignition.
I’m on the team.
The words replay in my mind, over and over, like they’re caught on a loop. I press my palms against my cheeks, feeling the warmth there. The adrenaline is still coursing through my veins, leaving me wide-eyed and practically buzzing.
“Did that really just happen?” I whisper to myself, staring out the windshield at the buildings in the distance. The sky is a pale, soft blue, dotted with clouds that look like they were painted there.
I pinch my arm, yelping a little when I do. But it’s real. This is real.
I sink back against the headrest, covering my mouth as a laugh slips out. How did I get here? Two months ago, I didn’t even know this church existed. Now, I’m designing their Christmas Eve service. Getting paid for it. Actually getting paid to do what I love.
I pull my phone from my bag and scroll to Gray’s contact. My fingers hover over the screen for a second, and then I type out a quick message:
Ivy
Are we still on for dinner tonight?
I stare at the screen, my heart doing a familiar flip as the three little dots pop up almost immediately.
Gray
Of course. How did your meeting go?
I bite my lip, a grin spreading across my face. My fingers hover for just a second before I decide to keephim guessing.
Ivy
You’ll see.
The dots pop up again, pausing, disappearing, and then finally:
Gray
So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh? Keeping secrets?
Ivy
Maybe just one See you at 7?
Gray
Wouldn’t miss it.
I drop my phone into the cup holder, my hands gripping the steering wheel as I take another deep breath. My whole body feels lighter, like I’m floating. Like maybe this is what it feels like when things start falling into place—not in some big, cinematic way, but in the quiet, ordinary steps that add up to something extraordinary.
I glance in the rearview mirror one last time, the church framed against the sky. The building looks the same as it did when I pulled in earlier—red brick, clean lines, nothing flashy. But it feels different now, like it’s part of my story instead of just a backdrop to someone else’s.
As I back out of the lot and ease onto the main road, the smile on my face softens into something steadier. I don’t know what this new path is going to look like. I don’t even know if I’m fully ready for it.
But maybe that’s the point.
