What made you smile recently? Do you have a smile to share with someone today? Ever stop to think how your smile — yes, your smile — could accomplish good in someone else’s life?
In Others’ Words: Alive
I am astounded by people who can take a massive block of packed snow and turn it into an “I gotta take a picture of this!” work of art. Me and snow? The relationship is limited to enjoying watching it fall from the warmth of my home or being the photographer when my husband and youngest daughter build a snowman. …
In Others’ Words: Writers’ Rules
I was a rule follower long before I realized I was a writer. “Which way do we go — and how do we act while we get there?” was my mantra. And while I like life to be heavily flavored with grace and passion and laughter these days, there is still a time and a place for rules. …
In Others’ Words: Running
My husband Rob often says that you should never run from something, but rather you should always be running to something. There’s wisdom in that exhortation. And yet, the reality is, there are times that the best thing I could do was run as fast as I could away from something. Like the time I ran from the temptation of …
In Others’ Words: No Shortcuts
I’ve wanted to be a writer all my life. Really. I was one of those kids in school who didn’t moan about writing papers for English class and who thought spelling bees were fun. When it came time to choose my major for college, I asked myself, “What do I love enough that I wouldn’t mind doing it every day …
In Others’ Word: Being You
I’m not a woodworker — too afraid of a table saw for that kind of endeavor. Even so, I know that wood has a grain to it. Go against a piece of wood’s natural grain and guess what happens … The wood tears. There have been seasons in my life when I lived against the grain. Circumstances pressured me to act a …
In Others’ Words: Direction
Seems everyone’s talking resolutions and words . . . hopes and dreams for the new year. I relish hearing about other people’s desires for the next 12 months. Meanwhile, I hung up my “Confidence” quote near my desk and positioned the “Confidence” ornament my friend Shari gave me from the rear view mirror of my Subaru Forester. Yes, that’s one …
In Others’ Words: On a Hummingbird’s Wing and a Prayer
After eight years living in Niceville, FL (yes, Niceville), my roots ran deep into Florida’s sandy soil. My kids were happy. My husband was happy with his job at Eglin Air Force Base. And me? I was happy too. I treasured a wonderful circle of friends, taught women’s Bible studies and helped lead the women’s ministry at my church. My …
In Others’ Words: Direction
Where are you headed? There are 28 days left in December and then it’s time for a new calendar and a new year. Where are you headed in 2013? If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know I abandoned New Year’s Resolutions years ago — way back in 2006, to be exact. Instead, I focus on one …
In Others’ Words: Perseverance
It has been an interesting week. I could share all the details, but trust on me on this: It has been an interesting week. Now “interesting” is a vague word, I know. Do I mean interesting-bad or interesting-good? Well, yes. Yes, I do. One of the interesting events of the week was getting this blog up and running again. For …