My sixteen-year-old daughter leaves for Ghana, West Africa today. (She’s on the end of the front row, in the green shorts.) This will be her second trip. She is traveling with a group mostly from her school—four students (all …
Rain, Rain Go Away
It’s almost sacrilegious to say this in Texas after the past two years of horrendous drought conditions, but I’m going to say it anyway:I’m sick of rain!Almost 11 inches in the month of July. Yesterday alone we had 3 inches …
Miss Potter
I’ve been wanting to see the movie Miss Potter. When it came out in the theater, it was in limited places for a short time and I didn’t make it. Now the DVD is out. We rented it tonight. And I wasn’t disappointed.This …
Twenty Years and Counting
Twenty years ago tonight I walked down the aisle a gangly twenty-year-old. I walked up the aisle a married woman. Back then, our prospects included three years of him in law school, me finishing my final two years of college. …
My Writing Verse
I’ve always envied writers who have a verse that identifies them as a writer. I’ve even tried on some of the more popular “writing” verses for my own, but they never quite fit me. For awhile it really bothered me, as if I …
Preparation for the Race
The Snowflake Method for designing novels by Randy Ingermanson. I’ve tried to use it for years. It never worked for me. Until now.A couple of weeks ago I bought A Snowflake Analysis of the Novel: Gone with the Wind by Randy …
A Contest on Mary’s Blog
Does anyone out there want a copy of Watching the Tree Limbs and its sequel Wishing on Dandelions? Both are by my friend Mary DeMuth. Both are excellent. One is a Christy Award Finalist this year. Here's the catch: she signed …
Ruth Bell Graham
Ruth Bell Graham is rejoicing with Jesus today. It made me cry to read it. When I was a young mother, struggling with a headstrong child and a husband working long hours, I discovered Mrs. Graham’s book of poetry. I pulled …
Cleaning Up the Messes
Ah, summertime. It should conjure up thoughts of lazy days by the pool or watching movies in the heat of the day. Instead, it brings . . . Dishes and laundry. Dishes and laundry. How many times a day can I run the dishwasher …
The Hassles of Modernity
Nothing is easy anymore. Last week, I spent time on the phone and in the car trying to get my husband’s cell phone (w/pda) fixed or replaced. Since we pay for the full insurance every month, you’d think this would have been a …