Elaine TomskiI am delighted you want to know more about me.  I am the author of Behind My Belly Button.  That means I wrote the story.  But there is more to my own story than being a writer.  So let’s start at the beginning, as all good stories do.

I was growing in the safe warm place, behind my mama’s belly button and near to her heart clear back in 1956.  Born in Greenville, Ohio, my family of seven lived in the country.  There I played with my sisters, brother, cousins and neighbors.  We were good at laughing, running across stones with bare feet and digging in the dirt.  I loved making mud pies.  Do you?

Later in life I worked in the dirt.  That’s what farmers do.  I loved being outside with my dad. I helped feed the hogs, drive the tractor, and plant the tobacco fields. Many of my fond memories come from working with my family on the farm. We would often sing songs while we worked. We sang simple songs in rounds, favorite movie songs, and all the school fight songs we knew.

One funny thing about my childhood school years is that even though I lived in only two different houses, I went to five different schools! This was sometimes hard.  But it gave me the chance to know many people and make lots of friends.

My life sounds happy doesn’t it?  But just like everyone else, I have been sad, too.  At one time, my whole heart felt sad.  That’s because I did some bad things.  The Bible calls any bad thing we think, say, or do a sin.  Even worse, I kept my sins a secret. The happiest thing that ever happened to me was the day I realized Jesus wanted to hear my secrets and forgive me for all the bad things I could ever do. I prayed to say “I’m sorry, Jesus. Will you help me do things God’s way?” He did forgive me. It’s like he made my heart smile again!  Right then it felt like he wrapped me up in a warm, snuggly blanket and kissed me on the forehead. That’s when I knew Jesus could make everything right again.  Thank you Jesus!

When I was big enough, I studied at the Ohio State University. So did my handsome boyfriend Jeff. After college we were married and now have a family of our own. We have one boy who always wanted to be “big”.   We have one girl who liked to say she was “only little”. Our home was in the country where our children laughed, climbed stone piles and swam in the pond. Now our kids are all grown up and we have adorable grandchildren to love, hug and tickle. When they come to our house they love to explore the woods, race through the grass, and move pebbles to places near and far.

It wasn’t until I was in my fifties that I knew I was a writer. It’s the most fun for me to sit down and write stories that come to my heart.  When the words come, it almost feels like singing. Writing is God’s gift to me; I want to honor him with my stories.

I hope you enjoy reading Behind My Belly Button over and over again.  Let it remind you that God is growing you bigger every day.  And just like your mama–God holds you near to his heart.

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