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 …
Welcome to My Website Redesign
Welcome to my website redesign! I’m thrilled you stopped by! Cyber coffee for everyone! (Yes—three exclamation points. Please don’t hold it against me.) I’m so excited to share my new online home with you today. You may remember I mentioned a website refresh some time ago. While I adored my previous site, after almost five years and 600+ blog posts …
My Six Favorite Heartfelt, Homespun Blog Posts
As you might guess after writing 600+ blog posts, I have more than a few favorite heartfelt, homespun thoughts. While encouragement is the heartbeat of this blog, hearth and home and small town life are near and dear to my heart. I love sharing bits and pieces of the Ozarks with you and inviting you into my world, if only …
The Truth of the Matter Is…
When I jumped back into writing after a five-year hiatus, I rarely took breaks. I convinced myself that success meant I had to plow forward no matter what. Well, the truth of the matter is… When we do this, we risk burnout. Writers should—must—take breaks or accept premature defeat. We weren’t created to work 24/7 without recharging our batteries for …
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? …
Winter Chill Have You Down? Relax! It’s Temporary.
After the holiday season, the next few months can seem like an endless dose of blah. There’s the Christmas high, then the post-Christmas afterglow. Around late January, though, many of us start counting the days until spring. Winter is just not our friend. Now, if you’re one of those folks who favors colder weather, fuzzy sweaters, and gray, cloudy days—my …
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 …
FOUR Inspirational Smiles for Your Day
We knew it had to happen sooner or later. Wintry weather’s finally arrived in the Ozarks. *sigh* Time to whip out our snuggies! (Snuggies are those delightful blankets with arms that were all the rage a few years ago. I still use mine.) Today I’ve battened down the hatches, fired up the coffeepot, and opened my chocolate stash. I’m prepared …
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 …