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Thanking God for Closed Doors
When my older brother’s children would stay at my parent’s home, my mom and dad would often close some doors so that my nieces and nephews wouldn’t get into things they shouldn’t. Naturally, their little hands would reach for those doorknobs. There’s something about closed doors that we inherently dislike. The mystery of what’s on the other side tempts us…
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Skiing Life Lesson: Enjoy Going Downhill
Well, friends, I wish I could say my second time skiing began flawlessly, but it actually started with me falling as soon as I left the lift chair. The good news is that after half a day of practice, skiing started to click. I transitioned from mental pep-talk that involved telling myself not to die to actually breathing and whispering,…
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Where Do You Find Inspiration?
A common question people ask writers is where we find our inspiration. Regardless of your trade or career, you find inspiration for your craft somewhere or from something. However, the source isn’t always remarkable and doesn’t have to be. Today, I’d like to share some places I find inspiration to help encourage you to seek out your own. From Creation…
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Theme for 2019: Choose What is Better
Hello, dear friends! Even though we’re a few days into 2019, I still want to wish you a happy New Year. In fact, these “extra days” I’ve taken to consider a theme for this year reflect the theme itself. The Kristen you know is a planner, an organizer, a deadline-driven achiever. The Kristen of 2018 would have made sure she…
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Kristen’s Christmas Letter 2018
Hello, dear friends! I’m an old-fashioned girl at heart who loves sending and receiving Christmas cards in the mail. But since I’m preparing the largest bulk mailing of my life (i.e. wedding invitations), I thought maybe an electronic letter this year might be more prudent and achievable. That said, I hope you enjoy my Christmas letter and year-in-review. Please comments…
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Making the Manger Personal
Last September, I had the opportunity to travel to Italy with a colleague, work remotely, and research my next novel. During one of our day-tripping adventures, we visited a place called Civita di Bagnoregio, a place sometimes called “the dying town.” This city rests atop a hill that is slowly eroding, and the place itself is breathtaking. As my friend…
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Medal in What Matters: A Bride-To-Be’s Perspective on “Stuff,” Living Generously, and Holiday Giving
My walk-in guest closet had become a black hole of catch-all, and the time had come to face it. The less “stuff” I have to move after my wedding, the better! Most of the boxes stacked there centered on my childhood, so maybe that’s why I had put off going through them. Don’t ask me why tossing childhood memorabilia is…
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4 Ways to Love God with Gusto (Part 2 of 2)
In September, my church hosted a 5K to raise money and awareness for foster care. For those not familiar with running terms, that’s a little over 3 miles. Running didn’t come naturally to me, but now, it’s a lifestyle I’ve learned to enjoy. My fiancé, though athletic, hates running. But to his credit, he ran the race with me, adopted…
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Cover Reveal & Black Friday Book Deals
Here’s some bookish news I’m so thankful for and excited to share with you! Together with my publisher Write Integrity Press, I’m proud to present the official cover for The Reactionary, the final book in The Rogues trilogy, scheduled to release February 19, 2019. Click here to learn more about this thrilling conclusion to Portia’s story. Rock star graphic artist…
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4 Ways to Love God with Gusto (Part 1 of 2)
One of my favorite books is called I Dare You by William Danforth, and in it, he challenges his readers to live what he calls “the four-square life.” Following Jesus’ example in Luke 2:52, he dares us to grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. And Jesus increased in wisdom (mentally) and stature (physically), and in favor with God (spiritually) and…
