In the lead up to Advent, things have upended several friends’ worlds in the blink of an eye. The return of cancer. Death of a spouse. A horrific accident. Every single instance has changed what that family thought they were …
November Reads
I love that November reading is such a mix between Christmas books and regular books. So many good ones in each category! Let’s start with Christmas-set stories! A Very Barrie Christmas by Rachael …
Early Christmas Decorating
I did a thing this weekend—I decorated for Christmas! Now, mind you, I have never, ever decorated this early before, mostly because I usually wait until after Jeff’s birthday in early December. But since …
One story, three forms
We recently saw the musical The Outsiders. Of course, I knew it started as a book, then became a movie, but it had been decades since I’d read or seen it. So, a couple of weeks in advance of the play, I re-read the book. I’d …
Why I Read Widely
There are so many things in our Christian walk that are guided by the Holy Spirit and not by “commands” from scripture. And I’ve found over many years of walking with Christ, that those things don’t always align from …
October Reads
It’s been a really fun reading month! I’ve been racing through books I’ve been wanting to read because next month begins Christmas reading! Yay! So here we go. The Unbound Bookshop by Rachael Bloome Book 3 in …
The Travel Bug
Jeff and I travel a lot, but we don't usually travel for the sake of travel. It’s usually for his work. And mostly to the same places. And I’ve been okay with that. But recently I’ve found myself restless, ready to go …
My Local Barnes and Noble
When the rumor of a Barnes and Noble coming to our town first started circulating, I was hopeful but not confident it was true. Guess what? It was! Our local Barnes and Noble—just a five-minute drive from my …
Trusting My Maker
For many, many years, I struggled with feeling like a failure in the eyes of God and others. I didn’t feel “enough” for anyone. In my 30s, the Lord met me in a way that I came to believe He truly loved me, no matter …
The Reagan Ranch
Over the past thirty-five years, my husband's work positions have created opportunities for us to experience some amazing things. But this one might have topped them all. Last week, we were in Santa Barbara, where my …