Claiming victory: resting in His finished work on the cross
During Easter weekend, my husband and I watched An Easter Bloom, a sweet Hallmark movie about love and forgiveness. The hero, Pastor Derrick, had been unable to forgive himself for a mistake and to share his authentic self with his congregation. I realized how often I, too, hide behind my laptop screen, hesitant to be…
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Consistency counts: making a commitment to yourself
I believe one of the key factors in generating and sustaining movement—the energy that propels us forward and introduces us to a world of possibilities—is consistency; i.e., to be dedicated and focused on a goal, and to remain committed to a task or habit. For me, this means spending time in the Word each morning…
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Short-term discomfort: pushing through for long-term gain
During a recent hike, my husband, Bob and I hashed over an uncomfortable situation we’d found ourselves in due to several choices we’d made. And for weeks, we’d been grasping at ways to quickly bypass the unease to reach our end goal. But while we talked, we soon realized we’d fallen down the rabbit trail…
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No kidding: The Fire Chief’s Surprise releases in 3 months!
It may be All Fools’ Day, but it’s no joke my newest Love Inspired book—The Fire Chief’s Surprise—releases on July 1st! Readers will fall in love again with the small town of Sweetwater introduced in A Father’s Vow, my 2024 debut. He wasn’t looking for love… Until one little boy came into his life. Fire…
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Taking cues from nature: the pattern of our daily rhythms
On a recent Simply Write by Polly Campbell podcast, the host talked about patterning our schedules and daily rhythms to align with the seasons. I’ve always considered winter a dormant period—especially since my husband and I relocated from the Valley of the Sun to our little cabin in Northern Arizona where we get snowed in…
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Old dog, new tricks: putting a ‘pin’ on it
Fifteen years ago, I graduated summa cum laude in my late 40s and coined the phrase, “it’s always the write time to teach an old dog new tricks.” I’ve shared how this saying eventually morphed into my tagline—“always the write time for hope, humor & heart.” But I still believe in the importance of maintaining…
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Stop and drop: rolling with the punches
If you grew up in the 70s, then you’re probably familiar with the phrase “stop, drop, and roll, ” popularized as a fire safety technique to teach people what to do if their clothes catch on fire. While I’m not making light of the natural disasters experienced in the U.S. this past year, I have…
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A Father’s Vow: commemorating my book’s one-year anniversary
This month marks one year since the release of A FATHER’S VOW, my Harlequin Love Inspired debut. Because I’m all about celebrating life’s milestone moments, during the month of March I’ll be commemorating my book’s anniversary by sharing opportunities to take home print and digital copies, as well as behind-the-scenes fun facts, and more. To…
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Day in the life: what a leaky faucet taught me (or lessons from a drip)
Since my husband and I purchased our cabin in Northern Arizona nearly three years ago, the kitchen faucet had been a source of ongoing grief. And despite Bob’s valiant efforts to remove decade’s worth of built-up calcium and hardwater deposits, we battled regular leaks above and below the sink. Considering the myriad projects we assumed…
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A universal language: laughing is always the best medicine
Laughter is the language of the soul. ~ Pablo Neruda Today my story in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s most recent book—Laughter’s Always the Best Medicine—is available in stores and online! “Fall Risk” is about a funny prank my fodder-loving husband, Bob played on me during my inaugural trek on the trails post-wrist surgery, and…
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