I don’t remember ever saying “I hate you.” My parents discouraged those three words in our home and we tried to raise our children with the same mindset. Love the person. Hate the act. Now, there are things I dislike. Okay—hate, even. Things like… Processed cheese. Black licorice. Paisley prints. Cat puke. A dripping faucet. Price rollbacks that really aren’t. …
Merry Christmas 2016 and a Blog Break
As our week draws to a close, today I’d like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope your holiday is filled to the brim and overflowing with peace, love, and good cheer. May you experience God’s greatest blessing—the birth of Jesus—in a new and meaningful way. May you sense hope in …
Christmas… Ready to Make a Memory?
I’ve always loved the holidays. Christmas, especially, thrills me. Besides the obvious reason—the celebration of our Savior’s birth—I adore the beautiful Christmas carols and pretty Christmas lights, the heavenly scent of cookies baking in the oven, and all the wonderful old movies, however many times I’ve watched them. There’s something in the air, too, we don’t sense at other times. …
HOPE for Your Frost-Filled Season
There was a time when doctors, hospitals, and all things medicine defined my world. For years, I existed on tiny, fragmented seeds of hope. Out-of-touch nonsense according to some. A mama’s heart-wish according to others. If you’ve missed those blogs, start here: “Easy” is Fun, but It’s the Hard Things That Deliver Hope in the Hard Stuff Hope: 20 Reasons …
Where I Find Great Story Ideas (6 Examples)
As a writer, I’m fascinated by real-life stories. No surprise there. If you write, you probably agree. And if you don’t write, you probably agree. Often, truth is stranger than fiction, though every great story idea probably springs from a kernel of truth. After all—most fiction is fact fabricated. To what degree is the writer’s prerogative. Of course, writers breathe …
5 Reasons Why I Love My Newsletter Family
By now, if you’re a member of my newsletter family, you’ve received your latest issue of my monthly newsletter. Squeeee! Haven’t opened it yet? Well, hurry up! As always, there’s a TON of great content with a special goodie (just for subscribers) this month. If you’ve read my newsletter, please let me know what you think, what you loved about …
Bring It On! Kick Off the Christmas Season With These 7 Hope-Filled Thoughts
Ahh. December. Are you in prep mode yet? Is the tree up? Have you decked your halls? Started baking? Finished shopping? Oh, my goodness—if you’ve done all that, you get the gold star today. Well done, friend! Two out of four for me. Still… Over our way, the air hums with excitement as we create a new normal for the …
Social Media Etiquette: Let’s Review
In light of some new trends (and recycled old ones) we’re seeing in social media, today I thought a refresher might be in order. Kick back. Relax. Sip some joe. Ready? Let’s talk turkey. In today’s brave, new world where endless memes and selfies are the order of the day, we’re seeing unprecedented over-the-top marketing. For instance—recently, I received an e-mail …
Rise Above the Pettiness
A few years ago I told you about Jody.* 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 lunch table. One day, just as I set my tray down, another classmate tapped me …
10 Friday “Feel Goods” to Encourage You
Friday. Ahh. Just the word puts a smile on my face. In light of this week’s controversy, upheaval, and pot-stirring, I’ve pulled out all stops. I’ve combed my blog archives to bring you some of my favorite posts—splashes of sunshine to kick-start your day. Snag a donut (*passes you a chocolate, cream-filled treat*) and grab a cuppa (’cause what’s a …