Words have power. Sometimes when we can't speak the words out loud, we can still harness their power by writing them. Sometimes just reading the words of Scripture can speak their power into our souls. Words reveal truth. My writer-daughter says she often doesn't know what her characters will say or do until the wordsContinue reading "The Power of the Journal"
They’re Just Things, Right?
Only they're not just things. They're a piece of my life. They're tied up with all sorts of happy family memories. As I sit here crying and packing up my grandmother's china for long-term storage, I can't help but remember all of the family dinners I attended and hosted. Dinners using fine china. Sometimes thisContinue reading "They’re Just Things, Right?"
Redecorating
Sometimes, reinventing means doing some redecorating because visuals are reminders. With some Christmas and birthday money, one of the first things I did was to buy a new comforter and make new curtains for my room. I wanted to make it feel like my retreat, not a place to reminisce. While I loved the lighter,Continue reading "Redecorating"
How Many Tears?
Does it take to fill an ocean? Does it take to forgive the unforgivable? To recover from cancer or a suicide scare? To grieve what will never be? To get over it? How many tears before friends run out of Kleenexes and platitudes? Actually, I'll take the tissues, but you can keep your platitudes. HowContinue reading "How Many Tears?"
I Graduated!
Where have I been? What have I been up to? Where am I going from here? Well, here are a few answers.The most exciting news of this past spring is that I finally finished my master's in English degree from East Carolina University! YAY!! It took three reeeaaaaallllyyyy lllllooooooooonnnngggg years, but it was worth itContinue reading "I Graduated!"
The BIG, UGLY Thing
Deep breath. I can do this. I have to get the BIG, UGLY Thing out of the way before we can go any further on this blog; otherwise, I'll be the same, old me. I want to be a new me, even though none of this year's yucky things are things that I have chosen.Continue reading "The BIG, UGLY Thing"
Reinventing Myself
This past year has been the year from you-know-where. Yes, I know everyone goes through hard times. In fact, a friend told me a some time ago that while her hard stuff was not like my hard stuff, hard times and still hard times. If it could go wrong this past year, it did. AndContinue reading "Reinventing Myself"
When Happily Ever After Shatters (book review)
The big white dress. The flowers. The church. The kids. The years. The breakup. Wait--what? What do you do when your (or your friend's) marriage disintegrates before your eyes? When you can stop crying long enough to read a chapter at a time, dig into Sue Birdsey's When Happily Ever After Shatters, published by FocusContinue reading "When Happily Ever After Shatters (book review)"
Top Uses for Post-it Flags and Tabs
I can’t believe that I have never written about one of my favorite organization tools. They’re little, but they’re so cute and so versatile. What are they: mini, sticky tabs and flags! A Post-it by any other name is just as sweet (no, this is not a commercial). It usually works just as well, too.Continue reading "Top Uses for Post-it Flags and Tabs"
Collecting for College
This coming fall (gulp!!), my older daughter heads away to a 4-year college. You'd think I'd be used to the idea because this is what we homeschoolers work towards for 12 years, right? Well, my heart is not ready for her to go away, but I've already started getting her stuff ready to leave theContinue reading "Collecting for College"
Bethany LaShell 