my ruby girl summer

photo credit: Autumn Rose Photography

Let me back up for a moment and introduce you to Above Rubies. Above Rubies is a ministry that the Campbells started in 1977. Its main focus is a magazine that encourages wives and mothers. There's also a podcast, Facebook group, online bookstore, e-newsletter, retreats and family camps. They believe that couples should trust God with the number of kids they have. They also remind women that motherhood is a high calling and every child is a blessing. My family was introduced to Above Rubies back when we were a small family of six and people were telling my parents they couldn’t afford more kids. Now there’s eleven of us.

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell

Last year I was reading an article in an Above Rubies magazine and saw that it was written by a young woman named Eliza. It's not often that I see people with my name so I thought that was neat. I found her on Instagram and sent her a message saying that I enjoyed what she wrote. She messaged me back and we chatted for a bit. I soon found out that she was an Above Rubies Helper (or as we like to be called, Ruby Girl). I mentioned our conversation to my parents and they thought it’d be a great idea for me to go be a Ruby Girl. I loved the thought but was shocked that my parents (the ones who didn’t ever want to send me off to summer camp) were in favor of me moving across the country for several months.

I emailed Mrs. Campbell...and I didn’t get an answer. This happened a few times throughout the Fall. December came and the family I was working for asked if I was gonna be able to work for them during the Summer. I told them I didn’t know yet, but to go ahead and plan like I wasn’t. In January I called the Above Rubies office and talked to Mrs. Campbell. She told me to email her. So I did. Again. No answer. I called once or twice more and each time she told me to send her an email. By the time April came around, I knew I didn’t have a job for the Summer and I didn’t know if I’d get to be a Ruby Girl. I was stressing out. I so badly wanted to go somewhere new and out of my everyday routine, but most of all I wanted to be in control. I wanted to know for sure what was next.


Sometime mid-April I was praying and I felt like I was finally able to surrender my Summer into God’s hands. I stopped worrying and overall just had more peace even though I still didn’t know what I was doing during the Summer. Towards the end of April, I decided to call the Above Rubies office “just one more time”. I talked to Mrs. Campbell and she said, “Oh yes, we need someone right away. How soon can you come?” My reaction was a little panicked. I finally knew she wanted me to come, but I had to work for at least another month and I had a book signing to do. I told her it would be at least a month before I could come. She called me back a few days later saying that would work and I bought my plane ticket. When I got there and I was sorting her emails I discovered all my emails to her had gone to the junk folder! That’s why she never responded to any of them. As frustrating as the whole process was, I think God used it to teach me patience, that He’s in control, and to trust Him.

Last selfie in California before leaving.

The next morning Gabriella drove me to LAX. I made friends both in the airport and on the plane. When I landed Mr. Campbell picked me up. We had a nice chat on the drive from Nashville to Primm Springs. One thing I love about the Campbells is that they typically don’t know anything about the Ruby Girls when they first come, but they’re immediately accepting, loving and seem to assume the best about us. When we finally arrived in Primm Springs, or the ‘hilltop community’ as people fondly call it, I met Mrs. Campbell who welcomed me with a hug. I also met the other two ruby girls, Annah and Mary Beth, in the downstairs office. The Ruby Girls gave me a tour of the Ruby Girl apartment upstairs and chattily filled me in on many of the household rules I needed to know. At one point Annah said something like, “I feel like we’re only telling her rules and negative things. The people are amazing. You’re going to love it and God’s gonna move.” I remember thinking to myself something like, “Well ya, God’s always there, but I’m not expecting anything big.”

Annah, Mary Beth and I

That evening after a delicious homemade dinner many of the grandkids and neighbors, or ‘cousins’ as I often refer to them, came over to play volleyball and I got to meet them. Soon after arriving I was calling Mr. and Mrs. Campbell Grandad and Nana just like everyone else. It felt like I was instantly part of a huge family. Everyone there is so real. I felt comfortable and like I actually fit in with them. I don’t think I’ve ever met a group of people I felt so at home with. We all shared a common faith in Jesus, similar values and large family experiences.

A typical day as a Ruby Girl involved going on a walk with other ruby girls and sometimes granddaughters, having breakfast and washing dishes by eight, 'family' devotions with everyone who lived in the Campbell household (for most of my time there it was Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, their son Rock and his four kids), office work, lunch break, more office work, ‘family’ dinner and devotions, dishes then some free time that was usually filled with volleyball games.

Two days after I got there I learned what CNN was- Cousin News Network. Let’s just say a mischievous little girl started a rumor that made me a CNN headline. It was rather annoying at first, but honestly, the whole situation was pretty funny.

It should've been so much worse.

Three days after I got there, I was in my first car accident. Nana and Grandad were out of town speaking at a conference so the other two ruby girls, many of the ‘hilltop’ young people and I decided to drive several cars into Nashville to go to a rock climbing gym. It started raining and the car I was in hydroplaned, bounced off one side of the freeway, spun, and bounced off the other side. We came to a stop halfway on the lane and halfway on the shoulder then the driver pulled us out of the way right before two semi-trucks went by. I remember, as we were spinning, the situation being terrifying yet I felt at peace. It was like I honestly wasn’t afraid of dying because I knew if I did I would go to heaven. All five of us girls got out of the car and stood on the side of the freeway. While looking at the busy traffic I asked, “How did we even survive that?” One of the other girls replied, “Only by God’s grace.” I remember calling my dad and saying something like, “Don’t freak out, but I was just in a car accident. We’re all fine.” And thinking, “Also, please don’t come take me home. I’m having so much fun.”

Some crazy parts of that story, that we found out later, were that a few nights before the accident one of the ‘cousins’ had had a dream her friend died in a car accident. The dream had scared her so much that she prayed for that friend. That friend was in the accident with me. Also, even though Grandad was in a different state around the time of the accident he felt like he needed to pray for us, so he did. We were totally covered in prayer and God protected us all. There were several other prayers I saw answered. I definitely did see God move in big ways.

I have such a strong desire to one day be a stay at home mother, but often people make me feel like that’s wrong or that I should have a more career-focused life plan. It was so nice to be encouraged by Nancy Campbell. She told me that my desires are completely natural and God-given.

Mary Beth and I

Mary Beth, my roommate I had for the longest, became like a sister. We made so many memories together, went through some drama and had deep conversations late at night. We were both able to encourage each other to draw closer to Jesus. Her family only lived two and a half hours away so I spent two weekends there and got to know them well. Her parents are my "Southern parents". I also got the opportunity to share my testimony with a large group of her friends. That was great because it challenged me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit.



I'm so happy that God worked out all the details for me to go to Tennessee. I realized while I was there that even Him saying no to my desire for a relationship a year ago left me more free time to serve this ministry. I wouldn't trade my time with the Campbell family for anything.

Leaving all my new friends was sad, but I know we’ll keep in touch and that I’ll see them again. I’m so happy to be back with my family. I think the distance taught me to appreciate them all even more.

Aside from writing another book, working in childcare and typical large family life I’m not completely sure what this next season holds for me or what my next adventure is, but I know God’s in control.

Tell me some of your Summer highlights or funny moments! Did you read any good books? 

If you want even more pictures see my Facebook.