My intention to create a record of the top ten life experiences from the last decade and my goals for using those experiences as a springboard to live out the next decade in more positive, less draining ways has shifted a bit. After reading Chapter Nine – The Most Important List in Emily P. Freeman’s The Next Right Thing, I did not take the timing of this reading as a
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TOP 10 — #1 The Back and Forth of Finances
Starting New Rhythms… This morning I woke up late after having a bit of insomnia. In part, I blamed the two cupcakes (sugar, chocolate, gluten and all!) that were leftovers from my granddaughter’s 1st Birthday Party on Sunday. Second, my 17-year-old hadn’t sent me a Snapchat saying he was home from work (our agreement so I don’t wake up at 2am wondering if he made it home safe!) However, after
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The Hidden Fault of Comparing Myself to Myself
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt, and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. ~Psalms 19:12-14 As part of January 23rd’s
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Tapping into My Creative Brain a Different Way
In early fall of 2018, I decided to use the sewing machine I received as a Christmas gift in 2017 to make a wedding quilt for my daughter and her husband. It would be my first attempt at a quilt, and of course I picked a complicated pattern. It took me almost two months to complete. I worked on it in the evenings, when working with words is rarely something
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Will 2019 Be the Year I Finally Simplify and Enjoy Life?
As 2019 approached, I found myself melancholy as I reflected on all the major events and milestones in 2018. So many amazing things happened (so many I might forget one or two) — my older daughter’s second pregnancy announcement my other daughter getting engaged and getting married planning and executing a wedding in 6 months (with my daughters of course) hosting our grandson’s 2nd bday and the reveal that our
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When your child is sick — A faithfullness challenge
I wasn’t a new believer when my fourth child was diagnosed with a kidney issue (hydronephrosis) in my fifth month of pregnancy. I’d been a Christian for a while but I probably had never had my faith tested. Sure, my husband and I had our issues but those were obvious problems based on how we were raised and the fact we didn’t really have any strong marriages or Christians to
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When the Third One Left the Nest – The Differences Between Sons and Daughters
Maybe it’s because I’m the mom and he’s my son, but I had no idea it would be so hard to watch my boy leave home. After all, his sisters have been on their own for years and they are doing amazing. So, why did the smallest thought of him being on his own bring so many tears? I admit his dad and I haven’t done the best job allowing
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What are you afraid of? Walking through to the other side of fear — in fiction and real life
I use the question “what if” as a brainstorming tool for possible plot ideas for future novels. But another question it’s harder to answer, but can make for a great dramatic story is, “What am I afraid of?” For my WIP “A Desperate Housewife” the question I had asked was what is my greatest fear about my marriage, about my husband? During a very dark part of our marriage I
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Short-term Character Arc as Set Up for a Series
Depending on the type of story, the timeline of a character’s arc process varies. For my particular WIP based on three sisters overcoming the onset of major life changes, the present-day part of the story only takes place over a weekend where they all attend their grandmother’s 80th birthday party. Although I plan to incorporate certain elements of backstory in the form of triggered memories and dialogue, each woman will
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His Reckless Love is Greater Than – Wounds to Wins Sidenote
Accepting the gift of salvation and not bothering to know your Savior is like accepting a beautifully wrapped present and then placing it on a shelf and never discovering the wonderful things inside. A saved life should be a changed life. We either choose to work toward change or we choose to remain as we were. With God’s help our efforts will give us glimpses of Heaven here on Earth
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Exchanging Platitude for Gratitute – The real key to peace in a fallen world
Among debates on gun control and gun rights (after another school shooting this past week), continued hate for President Trump spewing across social media and news outlets that have long forgotten their role to provide us with unbiased and actual “news” — I desire more than anything to focus my mind, time, energy — and mostly my heart — on good things. A week’s reflection of gratitude Here’s my list
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He’s a Just God, but Never Just God
Have you ever thought of why in group prayers, we use the word “just” often? “God, …just work in the life of her, …just give me peace today, …just provide here, …just place your healing hands…” I think it’s mostly just a habit. But have you ever considered how that word automatically sets limits around our prayers and petitions? Did it start with us not wanting to ask too much