In Others’ Words: Direction and Focus

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, quote about choices, quote about life, Quotes 12 Comments

I select a quote for various reasons. A quote may: make me laugh. make me pause and realize, “Now there’s a new way to think about (fill in the blank).” challenge my “I’ve got this all figured out” preconceived idea. give me some practical ways to approach life.   Today’s quote is a bit of practical wisdom that, if heeded, …

In Others’ Word: The Kindness of Truth

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life 10 Comments

I’ve come back to this quote time and time again. Read Harriet Beecher Stowe’s words so many times that I’ve lost count. And then I always close down the blog post without writing a single word. I’m conflicted about this idea of truth being kind. And I’m well aware of the admonition to speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15 NIV) …

In Others’ Words: Behave Yourself

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, quote about life, Quotes 7 Comments

I’m writing this blog post early. Come Friday — today — I’ll be in Wichita, Kansas, visiting my “safe harbor” friend, Fran. Technically, I’m going to meet with Fran’s book club to discuss Somebody Like You, my lastest novel. But after that, well, it’s all about time with Fran. I’ve known Fran for decades. Yes, decades. And I have so …

In Others’ Words: The Best Thing About the Future

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, Uncategorized 7 Comments

I’ve heard the “One day at a time” phrase until it’s so worn down it’s easily ignored. Abraham Lincoln’s take on the “One day” adage made me stop and think. All those days? They add up to the future. Yep, that’s true. But I can only take ’em — I can only live them — one at a time. The …

In Others’ Words: Brokenhearted

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes, Reality 11 Comments

  So my daughter, CJ, has been doing the graphics for my quotes the past six weeks or so. I find the photos, I find the quotes … and she puts the two together for me in a creative way. She enjoys being creative and she’s good at it. And letting her combine the quote and the graphic frees up my …

In Others’ Words: So This Is Love (and giveaway)

Beth VogtContemporary Romance, In Others' Words, Life, Romance 10 Comments

There’s so much I love about this quote from author Becky Wade’s novel, Undeniably Yours. (And yes, there is a cowboy in the story. His name is Bo.) But I digress. Back to the quote. At some point, we are all are knocked off kilter by love. Love for another person. Love for our country. Love for a family pet …

In Others’ Words: First Love

Beth VogtContemporary Romance, In Others' Words, Quotes 17 Comments

I’m having fun here this week — not that I don’t have fun every week. But I’m celebrating the upcoming ACFW Carol Awards with two of my author friends: Deb Raney and Becky Wade. It just so happens that the three of us are finalists in the contemporary romance category. And we’re launching a week-long I ♡ ROMANCE GIVEAWAY where three different …

In Others’ Words: Remember Me?

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life 10 Comments

What makes a person memorable? Is it what they do? Hey, look at me! For my next trick, I’ll become the rabbit pulled out of the magic hat … Or is it what they say? Talk … Talk … Talk … And does saying more actually add up to less and less? I’ll admit it: there were years in my life …

In Others’ Words: Just You Wait

Beth VogtIn Others' Words 7 Comments

Oh, the waiting games we play. The I’m-not-ready games. The let-me-practice-a-little-longer games. The let-me-read-one-more-book-or-attend-one-more-conference games. The you-go-ahead-of-me games. We can stall … and practice … and puff ourselves up with knowledge … and even be polite and let someone else proceed ahead of us to success … but we’re missing out on our lives. Our dreams. Correction: Our dreams coming …

In Others’ Words: The Choice Between Habit and Marvel

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, Quotes 10 Comments

Habits are highly effective — or so they say. But there’s something to be said about allowing life to surprise us. Remembering to be wide-eyed. Taking time to marvel at things around us. Or the people we meet during the day. I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In the midst of running my errands, living my oh-so-daily life — you …