One of the most fun things about being a writer is getting notes, messages and letters from readers. When I had my first book published a long time ago, any message I got from a reader came by mail since that was before internet days. So a reader had to take pen to paper, add a stamp and send the …
One Word Resolutions
“Approach the new year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.” ~Michael Josephson Choose a word. That’s the advice that’s been going around on the internet and with self help blogs and books. Don’t worry about making long lists of New Year’s Resolutions. Go short. Very short. Distill your resolutions down to one word. One word …
Reading Aloud
Have you ever shared a book with someone by reading it aloud to them? I’m sure you have to your children and your grandchildren. I know I did. I loved those storybook reading times at night when my children were little. I can still remember my oldest two sitting on the edge of the bed together listening as I read …
Turning the Calendar
Happy New Year! Turning the calendar from December to January is always a good time to think about the last year and consider what might be on the way in the coming year. Of course, we can’t know the future. Most years carry some good and some not so good. But when we’re at the beginning of the year, it’s …
My Dad
Today was my dad’s birthday. It’s been a while since I was able to tell him happy birthday in person. He died of pancreatic cancer in 1986. That’s one of those cancer diagnosis you don’t want to hear. Dad didn’t do treatments. The doctors said it wouldn’t help and Dad did not like doctors or their needles. He stayed away …
Joey’s Christmas Letter
I wrote this little story in 1997 for our local electric co-op magazine. I’ve shared it on here a few times, but since I still haven’t written that new one that I keep saying I’m going to write, here it is again. Hope you enjoy Joey’s letter to Santa even if you’ve already read it or if you haven’t. And …
Favorite Christmas Sweets
Christmas is coming. Speeding my way since we’re going to start celebrating this weekend. I’ve been working hard to get things ready. First I cleaned the floors. They needed it, but now it’s supposed to rain for three days. Those of you who have a dog know what that means. Pawprints coming. But at least I’ll know it’s clean under …
Angels and Shepherds
December 17, 1965 Jocie here reporting from Hollyhill. It’s almost Christmas time. Yay! I love Christmas. Don’t you? We get off school. For two weeks!! Yay, again. And while we’re out of school, we get to do some fun things like haul a tree in the house and decorate it with sparkling things. We did that this afternoon. We got …
Winning Ways
God wants you to be a winner, not a whiner. Joel Osteen Are you a winner? Well, maybe not when it comes to having your name drawn out of a pot to win a prize. I’m not that. I sometimes joke and say that if there are only two entries in a drawing and one of them is mine, the …
So Many Questions
“How do I create something out of nothing? I think it is by questioning.” ~Amy Tan Last post I shared about how I go about naming my characters. That includes animal characters too. I posted a picture of my sister’s cat and you all suggested some neat names for him. Most of you thought he was so pretty that he must …








