Join us for the Launch Party!
June 11, 2026 - 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Join Us for a Book Launch Party coming to Calvary Church; Rooms: 251--253
Let's meet at the Bagel Table!
707 E. Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Books will be available for purchase: $16 (includes tax) Cash or Check.
The 12th Mile
by Louise Ann Gibson
When life takes a hard turn and keeps getting harder, where do you find the endurance to keep going? The 12th Mile invites readers into one mother’s raw and hope-filled journey through her daughter’s relentless battle with mental illness—and how God used the unexpected gift of running to reveal His presence, resilience, and care in the middle of the “harder still".
Let's Run Together
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Embracing Hope in the Harder Still
Look up. Take your next step. Life is a marathon. The hardest miles can make us believe we are running alone. We are not. And seasons of deepest struggle can be ones of profound growth. It is in embracing these moments that we find a hard-won hope! My story — my family’s story — testifies to this truth. The 12th Mile: When Hard Becomes Harder Still is our journey…
About Louise Ann Gibson
Louise Ann Gibson is a passionate storyteller, caregiver, and runner who has spent nearly fifteen years walking alongside her daughter through chronic illness while navigating her own epilepsy diagnosis. With humor, honesty, and faith, she shares how God uses unexpected tools—like running shoes—to equip us for life’s hardest miles. Louise Ann has taught, spoken, and served in schools, churches, support groups, and military bases. She lives in Michigan and loves encouraging weary hearts to persevere.
Let's Run Together
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About The 12th Mile
When life takes a hard turn and keeps getting harder, how do you keep going? In The 12th Mile: When Hard Becomes Harder Still, I share my personal journey of parenting a child through chronic mental illness while navigating an unexpected health struggle of my own. Through the surprising lens of running, I uncover the power of thoughts, the beauty in resilience, and the hard work of perseverance. I pray that I have communicated our family’s story with humor, honesty, and hope. May the road we have traveled encourage weary parents, caregivers, and anyone facing relentless challenges to take the next step, trust God’s timing, and find strength to endure their own “12th mile.”
Devotions
Venturing into the Unknown
The Power of Encouragement
