I remember the first thing he said to me. The Fourth of July had dawned and as a member of the staff at the church where I worked I was expected to attend the annual barbecue and family picnic at the church’s campgrounds. I found members of my singles college and career Sunday School class […]
Faith Matters
Without a Goodbye
I’ll miss her sense of humor. This past week I lost my younger sister. Her death was not expected—in fact it probably shouldn’t have happened. She’d been to her physician for treatment of an acute case of bronchitis and had come home with prescriptions to help her heal. She never got to take them. Her […]
To All Men
In honor of this weekend and the celebration of Father’s Day, I want to wish all men a happy and successful day. Every man has as part to play in God’s design, whether or not he has a family. He is an important part of the fabric of our society. The role of father is […]
Like Writers, Snails Exist
When I was a leader for my church’s Awana club, I had the privilege of teaching during their evening closing time. One year the director chose to use a compilation of stories that compared the attributes of various creatures with the role they played in God’s kingdom. When my turn came to share, I drew […]
Reflections on a Contract
Today I completed the contract with my publisher, Mountain Brook Ink. The third book in the Mended Hearts series, A Kite on the Wind, is on its way to the proofreader. The graphic designer will produce the cover mid-June. The book will release October 1. It’s an odd feeling to be […]
When You Offend Another
This week I made a terrible mistake. The days had been crowded with critiques for my writing group, copy edits that were due to my publisher, a one-day writing conference, and in the midst of it, a reminder that I needed to send out a newsletter to my readers to comply with the new GDPR […]
Mothers and Others
Not everyone looks forward to Mother’s Day. For the woman who never married, or never conceived, or who lost one of her children, Mother’s Day can be a painful twenty-four hours—hours in which she simply tries to journey through. She feels de-valued, unappreciated for who she is, as if she is an “also ran” in a […]
From Photo to Novel
This week Facebook sent me a memory from five years ago that I had forgotten. The picture was one I’d obtained with permission from the Bureau of Land Management. It featured a lone stallion standing on a grassy knoll looking out at the camera. His caramel color, long black mane and tail, and the spidery […]
When Communication Fails
Earlier this week I experienced a phenomena unknown to me. I lost my voice. I’d been fighting a virus for about a week and thought I was on the mend when I awoke and tried to speak. I squawked like a chicken awaiting the axe. Nothing but air and wheeze. Surprised my husband, too. I […]
I Can Only Imagine–A reaction
I remember the tears. I was driving home several years ago when a new song by a group known as Mercy Me aired on the radio. The disc jockey said it was getting good reviews and making waves. As I listened to the words, emotion overwhelmed me. The songwriter asked questions I’d only pondered before. […]