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4 Core Strengths in Marriage, Pt. 1
If you received my newsletter this month (if not, you can get next month’s by clicking here), you may be looking forward to my friend Tami’s post as much as I am. Tami blogs at Manna for Marriage where she encourages and equips couples in their marriages. As my husband and I near our one-year anniversary, I asked if she…
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Writer’s Block: The Basics of Plot Structure
A story doesn’t just happen. The writer intentionally crafts it from start to finish–from inciting incident to denouement. In this meeting, we talk about the ten basic plots, the components of plot structure, and an example that helps visualize the whole process. As always, there’s a writing activity at the end to help you practice what you’ve learned. Join us…
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When Was Your Last Spiritual Spring Cleaning?
In college, my dorm mates and I dreaded “white glove,” the once-a-semester deep cleaning that bordered on the ridiculous. You could get called back in for so much as a strand of hair in the shower. As a clean freak by nature, though, I appreciated the concept, and today, pride myself in keeping a clean house. Well, I thought I…
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Writer’s Block: Poetry in Everyday Life
It’s February, a month famous for sharing sweet sentiments, so what better time is there to talk about poetry? Whether you want to craft a ditty for that special someone–or not–everyone can learn to enjoy and even write poetry. Most teens groan when their teacher talks about poetry in English class, but the truth is, we use poetry all the…
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Author Chat with Morgan L. Busse on her Ravenwood Saga
Last year, I discovered Morgan as an author when both our novels were finalists in the 2019 Selah Awards for Speculative Fiction. Her Mark of the Raven later took first place (so well-deserved). The Ravenwood Saga has made her my new favorite fantasy author, and today, it is my absolute pleasure to welcome her as a guest to the blog!…
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Single Riders: An Opportunity, Not a Stigma
Recently, James and I visited my cousin on the East Coast of Florida and enjoyed a day at the South Florida Fair. When I was a child, my parents had steered my focus toward the animals and educational aspects at the fair, so James decided I needed an introduction to the midway rides. We enjoyed over half a dozen rides,…
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Writer’s Block: “Show. Don’t Tell.”
"Show. Don't Tell." It's a common writing critique we can overcome. Learn how in this month's meeting of Writer's Block, a creative writing club for young writers.
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Got Goals? Let the Elephant Live.
We’ve heard the saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” People use this expression to refer to tackling goals, a buzz topic this time of year. The idea is that you can’t possibly accomplish them all at once but rather through a series of small, manageable steps. I’m not saying I disagree. I’ve personally practiced…
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Theme for 2020: Love One Another
I remember when I was a little girl, there was a television show called 20/20. Of all the shows I watched, the one episode I remember is the one predicting we’d have flying cars by this year. To my young mind, the year 2020 seemed so far away that I wondered if they were right. Turns out, they were wrong…
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My 2019 Christmas Letter to You
Ah, my friends, how this year has flown! It has been perhaps the best year of my life, with so many happy moments. Below are some of the highlights and a personal reflection on celebrating what God has done. January James and I went on our class ski trip to Beech Mountain for the second year in a row. Last…
