Two months before his death my husband said, “Honey, you can live without me, but I can’t live without you. You’ve got to rest more.” His words were true. I have a nursing background which helped me know early on that I would have to make hard choices and pace myself in order to walk well through what lay before us. I cut out or limited anything and anyone who drained me excessively. I stopped all in home entertaining except for a couple of very close friends and relatives who were supportive without adding to our stress. I encouraged my…
Caregiving Straight Talk Series
Welcome to my new blog series Caregiving Straight Talk. For the next several Fridays, you will hear from multiple people who have served or are presently serving in the position of Caregiver. Caregiving is necessary at some point in our lives. It comes our way in many forms and for multiple reasons. Sometimes it is voluntary, but many times it falls on our laps whether we’re ready or not. Caregivers rarely express their personal feelings when caring for others, especially a loved one. Meeting the needs of those we love is rewarding, knowing we’ve helped them find some comfort, but…
New Releases for February 2023
American Christian Fiction (ACW) shares a list of February 2023 authors’ novel releases. Check this out. Amish Romance: Every Good Gift by Kelly S. Irvin — Maisy never expected that a Plain girl like her could have her heart stolen by an Englisch boy. But when her rumspringa ends and Maisy realizes she’s pregnant, the reality of their choices—and their differences—sets in. Maisy knows she will never leave her faith to marry her baby’s father. But she also knows the road to acceptance as an unwed mother in an Amish community will be long and hard. To protect her family…
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS . . . Ken and I wish you a Merry Christmas . . . and a New Year filled with love, health, and happiness! May you . . . May you always see the good in others . . . May you love your neighbor as yourself . . . May you forgive even when it’s not your fault . . . May you give without expecting anything in return . . . May you find the peace that passes all understanding . . . May you do to others as you would have…
ACFW New December 2022 Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance: A Christmas Bargain by Mindy Obenhaus — When single mom Annalise Grant inherits a fledgling Christmas tree farm in Texas, she vows to do whatever it takes to make it a success. But when neighbor Hawkins Prescott claims some of her trees are on his property, the only option is a partnership. As Christmas draws closer, Annalise and Hawkins find themselves growing closer as well. Could a family by Christmas become part of the deal? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin)) Roadtrip for Two by Amy R. Anguish —…
Life Lesson: Courage to Walk Through Self-Forgiveness by DiAnn Mills
Put on your rhino skin and lace up your courageous boots. The time has come to walk through self-forgiveness and enter the world of peace of mind. The journey may be rough. Tears may fall. A few scrapes and bruises might draw a gasp. But if we refuse to step into the mire, we’ll never experience the elation of broken chains. We’ve all said and done inexcusable things that seep with regret and ooze with self-loathing. Embarrassment, humiliation, and disappointing actions seize us whenever the situation enters our mind. Depression can set in, like a dark shadow. We physically hurt….
ACFW August 2022 New Releases
August 2022 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Action/Adventure/Biblical: The Wanderer Scorned by Natasha Woodcraft — The Wanderer is a man shrouded in legend. Moving from place to place in the land of Nod, he is known primarily for the curse that hangs over his life. When that curse is invoked during the celebration of a murderous rampage, The Wanderer is summoned to tell his story. Few know the truth of the tale encompassing life, death, love, hate, faith and doubt, for it has been obscured by centuries of…
Life Lesson: Mistaken Identity by Marilyn Turk
When I was invited to speak at a library in another town, I was happy to accept. The librarian in charge of marketing made a lovely advertisement with my picture and covers of two of my books. The library’s summer theme, “Oceans of Possibilities” fit perfectly with my lighthouse brand and my topic was about how lighthouses inspire my writing. One of the attendees arrived early, bustling with excitement about my presentation. However, as I proceeded through my talk, I noticed her enthusiasm sagged, and when I was finished, she hurried out instead of coming up for the book signing….
ACFW July New Releases
Here’s a glance at all the great novels available this month. More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance: Leaving the Past Behind by Sandra Ardoin — The joy Danni Barnett found in her job as a travel writer and photographer faded around the same time her husband walked out on her. When her late sister-in-law’s will brings the couple together to care for her children, Danni must face her fear of motherhood or lose a second chance with Brooks. Brooks Barnett’s life has spun out of his control. A crumbled…
Lesson Learned: Protection in the Storm by Melissa Heiland
Our son, Josh, was stationed in Minot, North Dakota and so we packed up the younger children and left our home in sunny Florida and flew north for a visit. When we landed in North Dakota, we were met with ice and snow and temperatures colder than we had ever experienced. Josh met us at the airport and we all piled into his truck and set out for a 3 hour trip to his home. The roads were treacherous, but Josh seemed confident as he braved the storm. Suddenly, Josh lost control of the vehicle and we began to spin…
