Wordful Wednesday

Experiencing God in Parenting As I’ve been Experiencing Christ Within, I’ve also been challenged in my parenting. A while ago God led me from my restrictive, by-the-book parenting to a more Grace based parenting. It wasn’t an easy switch, and I still struggle with doling out consequences as my first reaction to parenting. But I’ve…

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Time Management 101: Get a Puppy!

Before I get into the meat of “how I do it all” I just wanted to add this to the last tip… If you really, really want to get a lot of writing done, get a dog to lay on your feet. Last January, we got a new puppy–1/2 Scottie, 1/2 Pomeranian. He was tiny…

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Coming Up for Air!

Right now I’m over committed and I seem to be taking on new projects every moment. Like my willingness to be write some news articles for my kids’ school website and newly developed newsletter that I’m NOT in charge of, but I’m on the committee. Also on the agenda for this week is teaching writing…

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Violence Against Women

Okay, now that the title of this post has snagged your attention, here’s an issue I wrestle with in my own writing. How do you feel about portraying violence against women? A rape scene, a beating, a murder. I would imagine the answer will differ between the sexes and what end of the writing you’re…

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Kisses From Heaven

Some days are filled with kisses from heaven. Those times you can catch the heartbeat of God, feel the breath of His approval, sense the longing of His gentle correction. At our Catlett Christmas, I got a very vivid reminder that this dream of writing is a gift straight from His heart that He has…

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A Reason to Pray

Recently I was reading Nancy Stafford’s “Beauty by the Book.” She pointed out something I hadn’t thought of. Words associated with Christ often start with the prefix re- as in renew, refresh, restore, resurrection. Words associated with Satan, however, often start with either de- or dis- Destroy, discourage, disappoint, despair, depression. Re- means to bring…

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Is Lent a Dead Tradition?

I grew up observing the season of Lent, often giving up candy or chocolate. One year I remember giving up bread! The idea was to give up something I loved…for Jesus. Even after I left the church of my youth I carried on the tradition. For one thing, it was a way I could curb…

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Saturday Morning Review: Chill Out, Josey!

In the sequel to Everything’s Coming Up Josey, Josey’s just gotten married and is ready to launch into the adventure of a lifetime: figuring out how to make a marriage work by living up to the Proverbs 31 standard. Josey is in her classic state: I’ll-fix-the-world-and-surpass-them-all. Not because she wants to or is particularly equipped…

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Reflexive Pronouns Should Not Be Involuntary Reactions

This is the what the sound of fingernails (think long, acrylic) scraping against a chalkboard would look like: hisself theirself/theirselves themself STEP AWAY FROM THESE WANNA-BE PRONOUNS! If you’re using them as dialogue for a character who speaks non-standard English, fine. Otherwise no, no, and no. The STANDARD reflexives are: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself,…

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First Day, First Chapter

It is February FIRST, time for the FIRST Day Blog Tour! (Join our alliance! Click the button!) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and his/her latest book’s FIRST chapter! This month’s feature is: Rebeca Seitz and her book: SISTERS, INK B&H Books (February 1, 2008) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebeca Seitz…

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