Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Denise C Herndon Harvey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Denise C thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

The story behind my business name is from my favorite scripture is Psalm 37:4. This scripture says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

Delighting in the Word of God is trusting and allowing God’s word to speak to you, and to line your faith up with God’s Word says, As a believer, and when your thoughts and desires are lined up with The Word, your desire, and the things you hope to achieve will not be separate or different from what God has called and created you to do. As a child of the Most High God, you will not desire to have, to do to accomplish anything separate from the Word and Will of God for your life, and that is where the business name comes from Delightfully Designed.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a published author of the children’s book called, “Growing up Sassafras -Where is my daddy?” “Emergence of Me – Discovering My Identity and Courage Within.” Along with the newly released bestselling multi-author book, “Unlock Your Voice.”

When she writes, she incorporates many factors, such as faith and hope in God and family restoration. Her goal is to help demonstrate God’s love for the family and that the family can experience transformation, deliverance, and healing when God is invited to operate and live in our hearts.
I spent almost 35 years with the Federal Government and the Department of Defense before retiring Feb 2022 from the Federal Aviation Administration as a Management and Program Analyst. I’m thankful for it, and even though I looked at it as just a job like any other job for so long, it helped me understand who I was and what I really desired to do and be happy doing.

More than anything, I want to continue writing about transformation and the Word of God operating in our lives, and just how important it is to have a foundation. Being able to do now what I most desire to do in life is where I find myself, and I’m thankful for it. I’m also grateful for my life experiences as a military spouse. Traveling with my husband and our children and having been blessed to live overseas and learn about different cultures can be game-changing for so many people. I remember living our first overseas assignment living in Turkey and having only to have hot water during the daytime because it was solar, so when the sun wasn’t shining, you would have to endure a cold shower. The little things in life made such a difference that when we were blessed to move to base housing, my heart was so grateful for the things that many would take for granted and do here in the United States.

I have been a guest on a variety of TV, and radio shows such as The Kingdom View broadcast, Conversations that Make a Difference Podcast, Disney New York Times Square Digital Billboard display, Tucson Arizona Festival of Books, LA Times Book fair, The Morning Show with the Bishop, Unlocking Your Voice Podcast, and overseas book fairs in Seoul Korea and London. She has also been featured in a variety of publications as well as one of the authors featured in the Readers Magnet’s Festival of Storytellers, the New York Library Association Annual Conference, and Trade Show. I have also been blessed to be a guest on several Podcast this past year.

Finishing my education was very important to me. I am a Liberty University graduate with a Master of Arts Degree in Human Service Counseling – Family Advocacy & Public Policy. In addition, she also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology – Christian Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology – Crisis Counseling, with a minor in Biblical Studies, and Certification in Mental Health Coaching – First Responders. She has also earned a Certificate of Completion for Voice Coaching. Denise and her retired Air Force husband have been married for 39 years, and they have two adult children and five grandchildren. I have written in my book about why obtaining my education was so very important to me, and it took me a long time to accomplish.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve actually written a chapter called Pivot in the Pause, and in this chapter, I wanted to explain how life does not always turn out how we thought it would or should be. A pivot can be a necessary change that a person must decide to make, and make for the good.

My pivot came because I wasn’t happy with where I found my life to be. I knew there was more for me to do and accomplish in my heart, yet I didn’t understand the how or even the why. This is where I found myself. I was stuck, stuck, and scared! I was at a place in my life when I eventually realized that a life change was necessary for me, but how? I needed a hard pivot in my life, and regardless of how scary and uncertain it would be, something had to change for me.

I was in need of a major life makeover, starting with my mindset and what I believed about myself. To have these dreams inside, wanting to escape, but not understanding how or if it will ever happen, not to mention believing that I had no one to share them with that would understand where I was in my life and what was on the inside trying to burst it’s way out of me.

Many people can’t wait out their years to retire. Fortunately for me, I was able to do that. I was blessed to know that I had enough time where I could actually leave my job and now really begin to live the life I desired. When we were all locked away at home, and most of us were working from home, I knew then I would never go back. I could not, no matter what. I could not see it, I did not want it, and I absolutely did not desire to stay but to step out and do what was really on my heart. To know that I’m not even required to go to work, but just the thought of having to say one more year, one more month, even one more day, was more than I was willing to give. It was time to go and more than anything, it gave me peace to know I made the right decision for myself.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me as an author is the fact that I am doing what is in my heart to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deniseharvey.com
• Other: www.emergeandrestore.com

Image Credits
Shereena J. Harvey a.k.a Renna-Jay Photography Phillip W. Grant, a.k.a PWGLens Ravann A. Guyton a.k.a RGuyton photography