Last week I talked about my reunion with a dear friend. I mentioned that we met at Mocha Jo’s Coffee Cafe, an eclectic gem in the Missouri Ozarks, and today I wanted to tell you more about it. I found Mocha Jo’s online as I researched possible places we could hook up for lunch. Since I hadn’t seen my friend …
You may remember a sweet friend recently contacted me through e-mail. We hadn’t connected in 25 years! (You can read more of our story here.) After our initial phone tag and texts, we made arrangements to get together this month. It’s been a wonderful rekindling of spirits, filled with much joy and happy tears. Well, this past Monday was the …
A few weeks ago, I realized I’d landed in a horrible rut. I was sleep-deprived. For months I’d put my well-being on hold and worked ’round the clock writing, revising, editing—you name it. Since I have a very strong drive, a diligent work ethic, and the desire to meet specific goals, I’ve sacrificed downtime—including sleep. Now, you know I’ve often …
When selecting a book to read or buy, like most folks, my eyes automatically scan the cover for telltale clues about the book’s content. Many times if the cover art is intriguing, I’ll give the book a second glance and I’ll at least peruse the book a little longer. I’ll probably read the back cover copy and get a feel for the …
Did you ever set out on a road trip or a vacation and somewhere along the way miss a turn and realize you were lost? Maybe that’s why I don’t drive in big cities. Turning around in the middle of a six lane freeway is a bit of a stretch when there’s traffic crisscrossing in front of me in all directions. Today we have GPS …
Good Monday morning, friends! Here’s to the bright start of a new week… *clink* (You may remember—that’s the sound of my coffee mug toasting yours.) I hope you had a delightful weekend. Over our way, we celebrated Father’s Day in a rather quiet fashion. I made a delicious Smithfield ham, mashed potatoes with creamy, country gravy, green bean casserole, and …
When buzz started to build about The Waiting, I must admit to a preliminary goosebump moment. I knew I had to have this book. As a reader, who wouldn’t love a true story like this? As a mom, how could my heartstrings not be tugged? And as a Christian… Well, as a Christian was I prepared for the gamut of …
I can. Don’t you just love those words? I do! I can is positive and leaves me with a sigh-worthy feeling. Those two words are the mindset of positive people and who doesn’t appreciate that quality? Happy, upbeat, good-humored folks make us feel good. Rarely, have I heard anyone say, “Gee, I wish Pleasant Polly would pack up her bag …
In life there are a few scenarios that will inevitably play out. We’ll meet with success. We’ll have a few stumbles. We’ll keep going even when common sense tells us to quit. We may even bend, but we will not break—at least not completely. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in brokenness. In fact, God’s word gives specific examples of …
I recently connected with a dear friend from high school. (If you missed that post, you can read about it here.) It’s been a joyful time. We’ve texted and played phone tag. We’ve reminisced and walked down Memory Lane, and we’ve made plans to spend time together toward the end of the month. I can’t wait! I’ve not seen *Beth …
