“Jody” was a sweet girl. She had beautiful blue eyes, a kind smile, and a warm heart. She liked sugar cookies and the color green. We weren’t particularly close friends, though we often shared the same table at lunch. One day, just as I set my tray down, another classmate tapped me on the shoulder. “Hey, Cindy, none of us …
Like many teenage girls I kept a diary. It was a safe place I could record all my private thoughts. Even then, I treasured quiet time with paper and pen. I still do. “Journaling” is something I can do without judgment from the outside world. I can enter that comfort zone and lose myself in thoughts and words and sentences. Diaries and …
Greetings, everyone! I hope your week’s been productive and blessed! Are you enjoying the seasonal colors? I love the pumpkins, cornstalks, and mums! Every few days, I notice something new in my neck of the woods. I think the fire bush in our front yard will be especially pretty this year. Fall marches on… I’ve started some new writing projects while awaiting feedback …
I love to read! (Of course, I would. I’m a writer. Makes good sense.) And since I write contemporary Christian romance, that’s one of my favorite subgenres to read within the Christian fiction market. I like the “tone” and the spiritual message woven throughout these stories. I also like the sigh factor. The one that happens after a couple survives life’s hurdles, …
Do you find there are certain times of the year where you feel more productive? Seasons where you realize more of your goals than others? If you’re nodding your head “yes” you’re not alone! And because of that, I wanted to share a message of encouragement with you today. I think, for me, my productive times are the summer months. There are a lot …
Who doesn’t love a big, ol’ dose of encouragement when the doldrums strike? Let’s be honest. We all do! Since writing is a solitary career, I’ll use that as an example. Writers face unique challenges that others who work outside the home may not. Our vocation is a rather unconventional calling. We rarely keep regular hours. Our computers are our …
Recently, I lamented to a writer-friend about how tired I was. Perhaps, you’re there, too. Pressing on. Maybe you’re a writer. Or an artist. Or a creative who’s walked a similar path. The one marked Guts. The one opposite its counterpart, Glory. Though the two paths intersect, rarely do they meet–at least on the same day. And sometimes, not even …
Life is such an extraordinary gift. When everything’s going our way, Cloud Nine is our temporary address. What happens, though, when things go south? When heartache comes? When healing seems impossible? When hope is fleeting? In Cynthia Ruchti’s Ragged Hope: Surviving the Fallout of Other People’s Choices, it’s clear that this is not really a how to do this or that …
Fall is hands-down one of my favorite times of year! I adore the feast of color, and later, the scent of burning leaves. I’m also crazy about the mums, the gourds, and the pumpkins! (If you’d like to know more, you can check out My 20 Favorite Things about Fall post.) Now, onto the meat of this post. Fall means change, but …
When our children were little, they enjoyed coloring, painting, and crafting. Creating. We encouraged this. Ordinary mashed potatoes became volcanos. The “lava” was the gravy. We also made green eggs and ham (and yes, we ate them). Mealtime was always an adventure. During other creativity-bursts, we strung beads, built forts, fired pottery, wrote stories, and wove potholders. We colored, painted, and …
