Michelle Heekin of Sacred Heart Online Homeschool has published her first book, “The Gift and Grace of Homeschooling: A Gift to Homeschooling Mothers.” Her daughter, Mary Grace, created the cover artwork.

When she first started her homeschooling journey, Heekin said she longed for a mentor. This book serves to guide other homeschooling parents, but will also be of interest to other readers hoping to strengthen family life with chapters on Love of the Cross, Love of the Eucharist, Love of the Family and others.

The mother of four children, Heekin has been involved with homeschooling for 22 years.

“I felt like God was giving me the words,” she said about the book. “It took a year to write.”

Heekin has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Alabama, and a bachelor’s from Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana.

The book is available through Amazon. Sacred Heart will host an online reflection hour, “Hope for Homeschoolers, Hope for the Church” on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. For details, email MichelleHeekin@gmail.com.