#Anthology #rivers #Angels —I am honored and excited to be a contributor to this compilation by James Stuart Bell and Bethany House Publishers. The release date is June 1, 2019. Pre-orders are available through Amazon. Two sisters living in a 1942 logging camp hike down to the river in August. Something unexpected and terrifying occurs….
Yours and Mine…
My birth order as Baby was definitely the best position—the youngest. We had a “yours, mine, and ours family.” Blended marriages weren’t common then—most kids shared the same parents and their family continued in tact. My friends and I had trouble following who was related to each other, and which grandparents belonged to who. When…
WCCWC My #1 Takeaway
@wccw WritingCommunity Not my first writer’s conference but a memorable one. Why? The setting? Yup, love the old dairy farm renovations and rural atmosphere. The workshops? Yup, I learned new skills, application, and goal planning. The round table discussions with agents and publishers? Yup, those hour long small group meetings are a new favorite of…
Monkey Falls
Mama removed the dishes from the breakfast table in her new kitchen. “Lizzie, go brush your teeth, and then you can play on our new patio, okay?” “Goodie, Mama. Can I play by the creek?” Lizzie turned on her tummy, slid off her chair, and when her toes hit the floor she ran to Mama….
Easter Morning
Starlight faded into the sunrise as it overtook the previous night. “Hurry, Joanna. Move faster.” Mary gripped the burial cloths tighter under her arm. Her feet padded silently on the packed earth pathway. “We must reach the tomb before sunrise, or someone may stop us.” Mary’s heart pounded. She pushed the other women close together….
Prayer Softens Reality
#friendship #prayer We sat at tables pushed together for our critique group meeting. The group welcomed me after a prolonged absence from my mother’s illness, and her recent passing. The group offered condolences and related their prayers for my heart. My friend, Susie, nodded, “And how are you holding up? We were concerned about you.”…
Illustrating Harper
Harper is awakened by a strange sound. She thinks there might be a band playing in the city park across the street, and decides to explore. Her kitty, Zoey, joins her strange adventure up a steep hill. The creatures and destiny are unexpected! This is a full bleed, acrylic watercolor, pen and ink line drawing…
Mourning
#loss #Cancer #sadness I thought of you the day before yesterday, when I opened my front door and heard the birds chirp, signaling Spring’s approach. You always delighted in birds of any size.I thought of you yesterday when the Robins returned and played in the plum tree. You enjoyed watching them flit among the branches….
Goodbye, Mama
#Alzheimers #lungcancer #goodbye Last night, my Mama passed into Heaven. We knew she lost her battle with cancer, and she was ready to go. She was my best friend, and confidante. Alzheimer’s Disease robbed her of many precious memories, but not her essence. Mama was a queen among women, dignified, gentle, strong—beautiful and gracious to…
Morphine or Milkshake?
#hospice #caregiver #Caregivers My left hand grasped the bottle of liquid morphine. It’s come down to this? The king of pain med. “Mom, I need to squirt this between your teeth and your cheek. It’s pretty bitter, but I’ll give you some Lime yogurt after, okay?” The dropper between my right-hand fingers shook, suspended with…
