Thanks, friend, for extending grace last week as I took an unscheduled blog break. I’ll be blunt. I’m exhausted! I’m in cling mode. I’m clinging to those things that matter. Those things that have the highest priority just now. One of those things is my time. Now that our youngest has graduated from high school, there are new demands on …
Writing Life and the In-Betweens
As busy mom to a high school senior, the last few weeks have been a flurry of activity. Graduation countdown is officially on! Oh, my goodness. It seems surreal. I’ve shared some of this year’s poignant moments (like this one and this one) with you. And if you’re a newsletter subscriber, you’ve enjoyed a double dose of mama-isms. Recently, darling …
I Love YOU More… A little post about God, writing, and you.
The dilemma. Somewhere along your writing path, the trek will grow wearisome. Sun-starved. Never-ending. You may wonder why you started the journey. You may self-compare. You may even consider quitting. What made you think you could possibly juggle life, family, writing, and oh, yeah—God—when you can barely come up for air as you do yet one more thing? Sound familiar? …
Is it TIME to Refocus?
Sometimes I’m drawn to a familiar train of thought. It might be something I’m passionate about or it might be something I’m impressed to explore further. Maybe (probably) it’s God’s way of stirring my heart, prompting me to focus or refocus on what really matters. Lately, time seems to be the buzzword. Perhaps, it’s because I wish I had more …
10 Things You Should Know About the Writing Life
Recently, a friend mentioned that she was thinking about writing—as in pursuing it as a career. “I mean, how hard can it be, right? I like reading books, and I’ve always wanted to write one. I believe I can do it.” Should I tell her? Should I prick that golden bubble of innocence with a cold, hard dose of truth? …
Five Reasons I’m Glad I Started a Newsletter
Last March I decided to do something out of sheer frustration. I started a newsletter. You may remember I blogged about newsletters and additional reasons for starting my own, but the brief version is I grew tired of other mediums limiting (controlling) my visibility. Consider Facebook, for instance. Of my followers, only a very small fraction of people actually see …
Yes, I’m a Big Dreamer. Here’s Why.
Dream. Just the word spurs our imagination. And while we’re at it, if we’re going to dream, why not do it in a big way? Isn’t that the purpose—to envision something extraordinary? I’ve always said: Goals are something I try to realistically shoot for with God’s help. Dreams, however, are something beyond the tangible, but completely possible with the One …
Time to Ditch the “D Word”
Many years ago I sat in a meeting with “Jackie.” I’ll never forget the awkwardness of that day. (You can read more here.) Jackie rarely spoke well of others and often voiced her discontent with everything from A to Z. In short—she was no fun. I believe her attitude reflected deeper issues, specifically her own self-doubt. She was trapped in …
Welcome Back! I’m Delighted You’re Here.
Welcome back! Happy New Year! I’m delighted you’re here. If you’re like me, the end of the holiday season is met with mixed emotion. Additional time spent with loved ones is wonderful, and when it’s over I’m a little sad. It’s nice, though, to get back into the swing of things. While I enjoy a brief respite from social media, …
Oh, Happy Day! You’re a Writer! (…and so are a million others)
I know. But don’t let the blog title fool you. Today’s thoughts are all about the love. And who can’t use more of that? Great! Let’s go! (((HUG))) When I was a little girl I loved creating. I absolutely adored anything I could put my own creative stamp on. I liked to color, paint, and make things with my hands …