Christmas Season Priorities

This time of year can place many demands on us.  Let's keep things in perspective, but most of all let's keep them in the right order:

First, God.
Second, Family.
Third, Work.

The relationships are always more important than the to-do list.

Story Circle Network

SCN published my poem, "Year Twenty-Three" in September (2017).  Now they notified me that my memoir essay, "Freckles and Olives" will appear in the print and online versions of their 2017 anthology of "Real Women Write:  Sharing Our Stories, Sharing Our Lives."  Thank you, Story Circle Network!  Plus, a big thank-you to my critique group who provided valuable feedback, which improved my work.  Writers, always welcome constructive criticism.

Article

Here's a link to a wonderful article about John and his beautiful family:  http://www.focolare.org/usa/news/2013/05/23/john-joseph-zwartjes/

Celebrating 10 Years

as an author, and this book is my crowning achievement.  Thanking Everyone who has helped me along the way (You know who you are)!

A Movie and My Character

Is it surprising at all that "It's a Wonderful Life" is my favorite movie? Like George Bailey, I look mostly toward "my" ideas, "my" dreams, "my" desires for my life. I feel frustrated, and sometimes afraid, when "my" plans are thwarted. Often it's only through other people that I finally find the means and the grace to be truly unselfish, to see others' needs, to give at my own expense. I forget that God/Love has His ideas, His dreams, His desires for my life. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). His plan for me can be nothing but the highest, the best, the most life-giving and joyful, even though I might be unable to see or feel it. Emmanuel, please grant me the grace to always surrender with trust and hope to Your plan for me as You mold me into who You want me to be.  Amen.

Worth...

If God was willing to come to earth, suffer and die for me, then I must be a creature of unspeakable worth, and so is my neighbor.

A Writing Tip

Critiquing another writer's work always sparks my imagination, and reminds me of the essentials of a good story. For instance, on that first page, I, the reader need a clear picture of the main character, what he/she wants (more than anything in the world) and why he/she wants it. Not everything can be revealed immediately, of course, but there has to be enough information there to intrigue me and keep me reading...