I felt made
for more.
I found meaning in the life I was already living, and a deeper understanding of who God created me to be.
Let me share the journey ↓
A little more about me
I’m Andrea Vilar. You may know me as Andrea Jon, the pen name I use for my books. I live in Florida with my husband, Mike. We have two young adult daughters, Ana and Alisha, who both wrestle.
Alongside the books, ministry, and creative projects, there’s everyday life. I love health and wellness, I’m an endurance runner, and I’ve taken up CrossFit. Family time, movement, and meaningful conversations are all part of what I enjoy.
I’m learning and growing through ordinary days, too. The things I share here are rooted in a life I’m still living, with people I love and purpose I continue to discover.
The purpose I was overlooking
When my girls were younger, life involved a lot of driving. Between school and extracurricular activities, I sometimes felt like their personal Uber driver.
I was working, caring for my family, cooking, cleaning, and getting everyone where they needed to be. Meanwhile, invitations would come to attend conferences or speak on the radio, and I often had to turn them down. There simply wasn’t room.
I felt frustrated. Whether I was behind the wheel or doing something around the house, I was often rushed and irritated. I had this sense that life was passing me by. There was something I was meant to do, but I couldn’t get to it.
Then I began to recognize the purpose I was overlooking right inside my own home. My family needed my love, my presence, and the very things I wanted to share with others.
That realization changed how I approached my days.
The car rides became a highlight. We talked. We sang. We laughed. My girls shared their lives with me, and I had the opportunity to listen. I began noticing and capturing incredible moments I might otherwise have rushed through.
Those drives gave me a place to express my purpose through the way I loved and connected with my daughters. That same perspective began changing how I approached cooking, cleaning, and the other ordinary responsibilities of my life.
At night, I could lay my head on my pillow feeling fulfilled. I had lived my purpose that day, even in the simplest ways.
I began to love my life, as simple and ordinary as it was. The longing for more found expression in conversations, shared laughter, listening, and loving the people right in front of me.
I still had dreams and things I wanted to create. But I could recognize who God created me to be in the way I showed up each day. My everyday life gave me room to express it.
“At night, I could lay my head on my pillow feeling fulfilled. I had lived my purpose that day, even in the simplest ways.”
Knowing Him helped me understand myself
As I uncovered my purpose, I began to recognize a distinction between who I am and the roles I play.
Whether I worked full-time, stayed home with my children, or served in ministry, my identity remained. My roles and gifts offered different ways to express who I was, but they couldn’t fully define me.
That led me to a deeper question: Who am I at my core?
I knew I was made in God’s image and likeness. To understand myself, I needed to know Him more deeply.
I began exploring theology and reading the Bible with a growing curiosity about God’s nature. As I read, I looked for what His words, actions, and relationships revealed about who He is.
Over time, I noticed patterns. The characteristics I was studying gathered into five broader attributes. Each helped me understand something about the identity I was created to reflect:
- God is Love.I was created to embody love.
- God is Light.I was created to be light.
- God is Creator.I was created with the capacity to create.
- God is Father.I was created to protect, nurture, and guide another into maturity.
- God is Judge.I was created to exercise just judgment.
Exploring these attributes became the foundation of my book, In His Image. They also shaped the way I saw myself.
My attention began shifting from my shortcomings to who God created me to be. As I grew in that understanding, I became more intentional about nurturing and expressing those qualities in everyday life.
Love could take the form of listening in the car. Creativity could find expression in solving an everyday problem. Protecting, nurturing, and guiding could happen right inside my home.
Knowing Him helped me recognize who I had been created to be all along. Living from that identity gave greater meaning to the life already in front of me.
A place to explore together
These discoveries continue to shape my life and the work I create. Through my books, speaking, and initiatives like Ripple and In Her Image, I make room for conversations about who God created us to be and how we live from that identity.
If you feel made for more, I hope you find something here that helps you see your own life with greater clarity. Your story matters. There is purpose to uncover and room to express it in the season you’re living today.
I’d love to keep exploring with you.
Letters from Andrea
Personal reflections on faith, identity, and living with purpose—along with glimpses of what I’m creating.
And when something resonates, hit reply. I’d love to hear from you.
