“Thanksgiving was never meant to be limited to one day.” So proclaims a plaque that hangs on my wall year-round. I learned the importance of giving thanks years ago when my husband’s job required a transfer that none of us wanted. When I learned we were moving, I sank to the floor and cried. …
Books for Dog Lovers
The Wonder of Lost Causes Author: Nick Trout There are two stories in this book. One is of a single mother doing her best to keep her son with cystic fibrosis healthy and alive. The other is the story of the love between a boy and a dog. More than love, it’s a mutual understanding. …
Book Review: If It Rains by Jennifer L. Wright
This novel is so depressing, I almost quit reading it several times. But the characters kept me engrossed. Set in Oklahoma of the 1930s Dust Bowl, it’s the tale of two sisters. The younger sister, Kathryn, was born with a club foot. After her mother died giving birth, the older sister, Melissa, raised Kathryn to …
Missing Mom
Though Mom's been gone for several years, I miss her more now than ever. Maybe because I'm the age she was when I was a young adult pursuing my dreams without much thought for anyone else. So many times, I stop and think of what she was going through at my current age.
Scribbling on The Face of Christ
If my dad were alive today, this would be his 103rd birthday. He was a wise and kind man, and I’m going to put this story out there because when it took place fifty years ago, we were in the middle of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and ’70s. with racial tensions much …
Book Review: The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard
We need to read stories like The Storm Breaks Forth for perspective. History repeats itself over and over and over, because human nature doesn’t change. Terri Wangard’s new novel shows us just how far we’ve traveled from WWI. Unfortunately, it’s a very short distance. Her portrayal of the treatment of German immigrants/German Americans could have …
The Water Keeper by Charles Martin
Author Charles Martin hooked me with his first book and I’ve been a fan ever since. His novels contain deep wisdom and turns of thought that make me pause, mouth open. I’ve often said I would read a grocery list if he wrote it. I put off reading his newest release. I’d heart it dealt …
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
If you’re new to this website, welcome. I’ve taken a break from blogging while I work on my next novel–which is taking much longer than I anticipated. If you’d like to receive more current news and information, sign up for my monthly newsletter. That’s where I chat with my readers and followers, sharing what’s happening …
Remembering Mom
Five years ago on my birthday, Mom entered the hospital for the last time. And five years ago today, she entered eternal life. Though I often think my dad had the greatest influence on my life, realistically that credit goes to my mother. She was the wife of a pastor and camp director raising a …