Cracking Up

Sep 25th, 2013 by

A fearlessly honest memoir….I laughed and cried, and found a kindred soul within these pages.

—Kris Camealy, author of Holey, Wholly, Holy

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If you’ve ever wondered where God is in the mess of your upended life, Cracking Up is the book for you.

The story of the year after I found out my unexpected third pregnancy was twins, in which I got hit with anxiety and depression unlike anything I have ever known, Cracking Up is my attempt to make sense of the darkness I experienced. I offer it to you in the hope that you will feel less alone in your own darkness—because we are never alone. No matter how deep the darkness gets, God is deeper still.

And God is holding you, just as God was holding me, though I could not see it at the time.

If you want to read a beautifully written, often painfully honest account of trying to pay attention to God through the rigors of motherhood, start here. Kimberlee holds nothing back—joy, depression, fatigue, faith crises, and holy moments. In the end, it feels less like a book about parenting children and more about God’s parenting of us. It will help you pay attention to your life.

~Dan Baumgartner, Senior Pastor,
First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood

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Kimberlee Conway Ireton’s writing is evocative and honest, modeling a deep prayer life and joyful obedience to God. I love the vivid contrasts as she describes her emotions: anxiety and trust, tears and laughter, contentment and longing for more. Kimberlee gives us the privilege of an intimate look into a year of her life. We hear her heartbeat, and we draw near to God with her.”

~Lynne M. Baab, author of Joy Together and Sabbath Keeping

Kimberlee Conway Ireton writes a boldly honest story that reads like a confession. Her book is a persistent digging to find the light…a story of God’s enduring faithfulness, and it is a revelation of the Father’s love for her, and for all of us.

~Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of Love Idol

If all that advance praise doesn’t convince you, you can read the first chapter.

Or you can cut to the chase and buy the book: at Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, at Indiebound, or at your local bookseller.

Please feel free to be in touch with me. I love hearing from readers, and I’ll happily respond to your message. Questions, comments, even snide remarks—all are welcome. Well, unless the snide remarks are just plain rude or mean-spirited. In which case, please keep them to yourself. But otherwise, I welcome all comers. And gladly.

  • Portland Mom

    Hi, I finished your book in a couple of days and have reread many parts of it. My own story is similar to yours, minus the twins, but I brought home my third when my first two were still one and three. So needless to say, I fell apart trying to keep it together and couldn’t care for myself. I began feeling terrified I was dying. I live in Portland, where “natural, holistic healing” is the way to be. Over the past year and a half, I’ve tried all of the natural ways to combat my terrifying anxiety, and its not working. Reading your book as well as talking to my doctor is finally giving me the courage to move forward to accepting help from western medicine. I pray for healing so that I can be a mom who is not shrouded in fear anymore and I can let my love be the first thing my kids feel. The way I used to be before this whole ppd mess started. Thank you for writing this amazing courageous book. I hope you’re doing ok coming off your meds, Im so scared to start them, but I want a break from the unrelenting anxiety. Thank you.

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