All of us kids sat soberly on the couch, looking at our rather distraught parents. They took a breath, looked at each other, and then back at all. . . eightish?...of us. Then, "I'm so sorry, but we can't afford gifts this Christmas." It wasn't the first time, nor the last time, we were told… Continue reading A Season of Miracles
Tag: Hope
Dear Mr. Knightley
In August, I read the book Dear Mr. Knightley after a friend recommended it to me. I was skeptical at first because I knew it was based on Daddy Long-Legs, which I didn’t like much. But, well, God works in mysterious ways? Dear Mr. Knightley is about a girl (named Sam) who had a difficult… Continue reading Dear Mr. Knightley
The Dark of the Night
I cowered in the closet, clutching the baby in my arms. I could hear both men out there, searching, slow and dogged. I hugged the baby closer, silently begging it not to cry. The men had already killed everyone else in the house. Surely, I could save this one child. Click. Click. One came closer,… Continue reading The Dark of the Night
Hope and Storytelling
When I exited the house that night, I slipped into my car, and unfolded the check I had been handed for a night of babysitting. And then I leaned my head against the steering wheel, and I wept. Making it in college is rarely easy. I had moved across the country, to a state where… Continue reading Hope and Storytelling
A Writer’s Identity
Writing full-time makes you think. A lot. And not just about whether you are worthy, whether you are making the right decision, or whether you are a failure--it makes you think about what you should be doing versus what you are doing. Accordingly, I've been thinking a lot, especially the last couple days. If any… Continue reading A Writer’s Identity
Today’s Thought: Something New
As I sit at my kitchen table, in my little breakfast nook, watching cardinals eat from the birdfeeder outside my window (instead of squirrels, for once!), I'm struck once again by how idyllic all this is. Sitting at home, with as much time for writing and researching as I choose, pursuing something I've only ever… Continue reading Today’s Thought: Something New
Introducing Idyllwood
You may have seen a difference in my blog if you tried to access it yesterday - or you may not have. I am not sure how it works if you have it bookmarked or on your reader. **shrug**. Nonetheless, there HAVE been significant changes, which I am actually pretty excited about. It SHOULD be… Continue reading Introducing Idyllwood
A Little Progress
Today was lovely! I was just a LITTLE bit more useful - does that mean I am finally feeling rested? After sleeping in super late again (hey, in my defense, I was up until 3:30 - okay - I guess that isn't really a defense. More like. . .an admission), I made passion fruit iced… Continue reading A Little Progress
A Clover of Hope
I know - it has been forever since I have posted. It's just been one of those months. I have slowly been working on editing the sappy romance novel, for which I still do not have a title (this is new for me - I normally have pages of titles and not enough books!) and… Continue reading A Clover of Hope
Past, Present, and Future
I am home for Christmas this week. It is always fun to return home and get a taste of the chaotic, busy life that used to be mine. Not that it isn't chaotic or busy in my life anymore - well, at least it is busy - but they are very different types of busy.… Continue reading Past, Present, and Future