Blog
Advent: Waiting for Treasure
December 1 marked the beginning of Advent this year on the Christian Church calendar. Advent. The season of anticipation, of expectation. We take time to remember how Mary and Joseph awaited the birth of Jesus. This chosen couple knew their son was special, but they...
How to Deal With a Bully
Cyber bullying has made the headlines in recent years. As if bullies were a new phenomenon. But bullying is as old as the first family’s existence. The Bible only details the final showdown, but I imagine Cain and Abel had several go-rounds over the years. The boys...
Tell Your Children: History Made Poignant When It’s YOUR History
I woke up this morning to the voice of our local talk news radio DJ Tony Katz as he shared his experience and memories of 9/11. Oh, great, I thought. This entire day will be dominated by eighteen-year-old news. Depressing. Not my best moment. Tony's next words changed...
5 Avenues of God’s Love in Our Lives
I was supposed to be a Christian, growing up in a family who went to church. Mom, Dad, and four kids. I earned pins for Sunday School attendance. I believed in Jesus as the Savior of the world. And yet. Something was missing. An indefinable empty space. My rebellious...
GIVEAWAY! What’s Your Best Title?
A giveaway for readers who love fiction. I would love your help. Sparkles from Silence needs a new title. And if you can come up with a title that resonates with me and the message of the book, you can win a $10 Amazon gift card! Here's what's wrong with the original...
Our Power to Save
Whenever I pick up The Bronze Bow, a beautiful novel by Elizabeth George Speare, another vital life lesson strikes home. I used to read it every year to my fifth grade class. And every year, I couldn’t make it through the whole book without breaking down into tears...
Maybe Today
“I’ve prayed and prayed, and God doesn’t answer.” How many times have I heard that from frustrated people? I have voiced the same complaint. Faith and hope beckon to me with peaceful smiles on one side of an abyss while disappointment sighs and resentment scowls on...
Savor the Moments
My initiation into the world of sports began thirty-five years ago when my oldest son ventured into the world of t-ball. As each brother reached the grand old age of four, he joined the ranks of youth baseball teams. Sitting on uncomfortable bleachers was no...
Promises Kept
The granddaughters had walked their baby dolls in the stroller, put together some puzzles, played catch with the giant ball, cooked dinner in their miniature kitchen, and scanned groceries into their cash register. Nona (me) was exhausted. The girls showed no signs of...
Families Aren’t Like That Anymore
"Families aren't like that anymore." I've heard this comment repeatedly from my critique groups and beta readers of Sparkles from Silence as Debbie and her family pull together as a team. I understand what they mean, and their comment saddens me. What has changed?...
Interview with Chip Mattis
Earlier this week, I reviewed a picture book that has the potential to be loved for generations. Today, I interview the author of Under the Dancing Tree, Chip Mattis. What was the seed of this story? What got it started? In 2010 my family moved my dad into a nursing...
Under the Dancing Tree by Chip Mattis
Under the Dancing Tree is one of those rare picture books that caresses my heartstrings with the same tenderness of a harpist's fingers creating a gentle glissando. You may know that I contribute to a book review blog site called Scriblerians. Every once in a while, I...