Mae - Longing for Paris: one womans search for joy, beauty, and adventure--right where she is

This book is a must-read for moms. It stirred a great big YES within me as I turned its pages. This message of embracing our hunger for beauty and depth and an exquisite life in God right in the midst of raising children, young and old is unique. It will invite any reader to consider extravagant motherhood, where God is big and beauty can be felt even among the dishes and diapers and laundry.

SARA HAGERTY

Author of Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet

I suppose I have always struggled with the gap between my wildest longings for life and the often mundane details of what my days actually look like. Many times Ive found myself dreaming instead of experiencing; hoping instead of embracing. Exquisite and vulnerable, Sarah Maes writing will inspire you to bridge the gap once and for all finding exactly what you hoped you would in a place you may have given up looking. As you read her stories, you will find yourself nodding along, grateful for a voice that understands and ultimately leads you to the peace youve been chasing.

ANGIE SMITH

Bestselling author of Mended, I Will Carry You, What Women Fear, and the Bible study Seamless

Sarah Mae has a rare gift to unearth the longings each of us feels for the more in life that God created us to have. Compassionate, sympathetic, and inspiring are the ways she understands our personal needs and gently leads us to the One who satisfies. This book is a gift to all who have dreamed of places beyond our present reality and want to know the hope we can cling to each day. I was deeply touched by her words.

SALLY CLARKSON

Author of Own Your Life and cofounder of Whole Heart Ministries

Are you struggling to figure out how to love the life you have right here and now? Longing for Paris shares Sarah Maes journey to find joy and adventure in her own home and backyard. Youll be inspired to slow down, savor life, and embrace the everyday.

CRYSTAL PAINE

Founder of MoneySavingMom.com and New York Times bestselling author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode

I love how Sarah Mae has spoken up for womens longings. Shes penned the truth about how we dream and feel helpless about it when our lives demand attention to the daily. I feel seen in the pages of this book. I feel connected to my sisters. Most of all, I feel encouraged to love the space in which I live and find adventure in what already surrounds me. The things I read in Longing for Paris tell me I dont have to wait to really live, and thats some of the best news I have ever heard.

LISA WHITTLE

Author of {W}hole and I Want God

This book will speak to the heart of any woman who has wondered how she can fit her life-sized dreams into the tiny minutes of her every day. Through the lens of her own personal adventures, Sarah Mae frames truth with practicality and faith with tips for everyday application. In a word real Sarah Mae keeps it real. As she shares her pilgrimage to living a beautiful life, Sarah Maes honesty is refreshing, and her message offers freedom and hope to those who read her words.

CHRYSTAL EVANS HURST

Coauthor of Kingdom Woman

Sarah Mae is an author who knows the deep longings of women and isnt afraid to go there. She did it with Desperate, and shes done it again with Longing for Paris. She inspires us with her relatable tales of adventure and leaves us feeling hopeful. Many of us know to bloom where we are planted, but few of us have the courage to do it.

COURTNEY DEFEO

Author of In This House, We Will Giggle and founder of Lil Light O Mine

Travel the world and change your life, or stay at home and do the same. Sarah Mae shows you the way. In Longing for Paris, youll be entertained and inspired to lead a life youll love.

CLAIRE DIAZ-ORTIZ

Author and Silicon Valley innovator

God made us to live with longing, but how do we reconcile that in our daily lives? In these pages, we get to walk with Sarah Mae to figure it out for ourselves. We find a safe place alongside this friend in searching to understand our souls and a kindred spirit who shares our sense of longing and adventuring and trying to find exactly what weve been looking for all along.

LOGAN WOLFRAM

Author, speaker, and host of the Allume conference

Our hearts and souls have become weary living in such a fast-paced world. Longing for Paris speaks into the desire to slow down... and live well right where we are. Though most of us wont be able to visit Paris, that doesnt mean we cant cultivate Paris in our lives. Sarah Mae shares powerful reminders to live with intentionality, savor the precious time we have with loved ones, and embrace life... living like the French and savoring life right down to the very last morsel!

ANGELA PERRITT

Coauthor of You Are Loved Bible Study, founder of LoveGodGreatly.com

Longing for Paris is one of those game-changing books. Sarah Mae leads you to a place that she herself has been... a place of embracing the season that youre in while holding on with hope and expectation for what is to come. Every page is filled with great truth, a depth of insight, and personal stories that will encourage and strengthen you in your own journey.

KARINA ALLEN

Blogger at (in)courage and For His Name and His Renown

Through tangles, adventures, stories, and faith, Sarah Maes wisdom and insight is life-breath for your journey. Profound yet practical, Longing for Paris inspires the heart, encourages the soul, and unveils the very essence of the spirit: beauty that lies within.

LORI CORBY WOLFE

Rise Up event coordinator

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Longing for Paris: One Womans Search for Joy, Beauty, and Adventure Right Where She Is

Copyright 2015 by Sarah Mae. All rights reserved.

Author Photo by Jeremy Hess Photographers, copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

Cover illustration of Eiffel Tower copyright Gstudio Group/Dollar Photo Club. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of crayons and drawing copyright Kenishirotie/Dollar Photo Club. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of cereal copyright mayakova/Dollar Photo Club. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of croissant copyright Marc Wuchner/Corbis. All rights reserved.

Cover font by Laura Worthington/Creative Market. All rights reserved.

Cover postcards Portrait of Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France, Portrait of Helene Fourment, second wife of Rubens, and her children, and The Water Mill from Muse du Louvre and are part of the authors personal collection.

Designed by Jennifer Ghionzoli

Published in association with the literary agency of The Fedd Agency, doing business at P.O. Box 341973, Austin, TX, 78734.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.