“Child of Mine, Know This” by Rebecca Gittrich Whitecotton, Peoria High School’s valedictorian of the class of 1982, who now lives in Leavenworth, Kan., is designed so people can tape their own family’s photographs over the photos that are already in the book.
The $15.95 hardcover book features Whitecotton’s reflections of a metaphysical bent originally written for her own children, Ethan, now 9, and Alison, 7. It leans heavily on such ideas as the pre-existence of souls and reincarnation, with such thoughts as “You are a wise and ancient soul who has come to this earth yet another time to shine your light on all humanity,” “You chose your life. You chose this family. You chose to be with me,” and “In other lifetimes you may have been my parent and I may have been your child . . . I am connected to you eternally.”
“I kind of wanted a way to tell them that I knew they were a lot bigger than their bodies were,” she said. “I wanted them to know that even though their bodies are small and they don’t really know everything about life, that I knew their spirits were big and I knew they were wise and full of light.”
She knows that, she said, “because you can feel it.”
Whitecotton, now 41, is a member of the Association of Unity Churches, which draws its beliefs from several religious traditions. Her book is being sold as a fundraiser by the youth group of Unity Church of Peoria starting today.
She attended the church at 3117 N. Avalon herself when she returned to Peoria in 2001-2002 while her husband, Randy, an Air Force officer, was on a remote assignment in Honduras. Her parents, Gene and Marcie Gittrich, still live in Peoria.
Whitecotton said she ahs found the book’s appeal is wider than she expected.
“Parents and especially grandparents have really just loved the book,” she said. “One of the reasons they love it is because it’s a message that really comes from the heart.”
Since serving a reporting internship at the Journal Star in 1985 and graduating from Northwestern University, Whitecotton has done free-lance writing and marketing as well as public relations work. The book is published by Bright Treasures, created by Whitecotton when she was able to find few companies publishing spirituality books for children.
“Child of Mine, Know This” is available through childofmineknowthis.net, Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, as well as Unity Church of Peoria at 682-8552. 
