I peeked into my attic the other day, just far enough to find the Advent wreath.The rest of the Christmas decorations loomed nearby in the dusty shadows. I grabbed the wreath and slammed the door shut. I don’t know why, but I’m just not ready to decorate yet. All of our neighbors have their lights … Read More
Have you tried shopping for a tween-aged girl lately? It makes me cringe nearly every time I go out with my daughter. She’s only eight (so not quite a tween), but the clothes that are being offered right now are scaled-down versions of teen fashion. Skin-tight jeans, tops with rude sayings, high heels… Oh, goodness–don’t … Read More
So, my husband called me from work today. This is how the conversation went… Him: “So, how are you doing?” Me: “Oh, fine. The weather’s pretty dreary though.” He works in a basement office with no windows, so I always feel compelled to give him a weather report. Him: “Oh, yeah?” Me: “Yep. Pretty typical February … Read More
For those budding writers out there, here is a deal you absolutely should NOT miss. I’ve been letting you know about freebies offered on Amazon for Kindle readers, and this is one of the best. Writing coach Randy Ingermanson (a.k.a. the “Snowflake Guy”) has put together some of his best writing tips in the book Writing … Read More
How many of you have made the leap into the digital world with your reading? I still haven’t decided whether to buy a Kindle, iPad or Nook, but I have discovered that I enjoy reading books on my Droid smartphone. With a free downloadable app, you can read Kindle e-books on your computer, iPad, iPhone, Droid, Blackberry … Read More
We often use colors to describe ourselves: red with anger, feeling blue, a golden glow, green with envy. Aren’t you glad that we don’t actually turn colors with our moods? We wouldn’t even have to ask, “How are you?” And we couldn’t get away with a simple, “fine, thanks.” Everyone would know if you were lying. I wonder … Read More
Friday is here again and this week I have a very special Friday Book Pick recommendation, Cheryl Ricker’s A Friend in the Storm. If you have you ever had a friend who is suffering so badly that you struggle to find any words to say, this is the book for you. When author Cheryl Ricker discovered that her … Read More
I spent last week at an amazing writers retreat (hosted by Books&Such Literary Agency) in beautiful Monterey, California. It was exciting to sit around with other authors and discuss publishing, publicity, social networking and how to connect with your readers. As a still-yet-unpublished writer, I found this a bit overwhelming, but also a fantastic glimpse of what is … Read More
The tiny wooden mallets (or “hammers”) trembled, slipping around in my grasp. I adjusted the dulcimer on its wooden stand and glanced around the room. People were filing out, talking and laughing together at the end of the first Christmas service. Another service would begin soon. “It’s only fifteen minutes,” I murmured to myself. “Fifteen minutes of music between services and then you’re … Read More
After receiving a good-night hug from my daughter last night, I noticed a tiny fleck of glitter on my arm. I couldn’t bring myself to brush it away. My husband and I used to laugh whenever we found loose bits of glitter on ourselves. “You’ve been fairy-dusted!” There’s something about having a little girl that suddenly your house becomes a … Read More