I took the news of the passing of Rod McKuen with a lump of sadness. The hero poet of my coming-of-age years left a mark on my heart. His scratchy voice came through the stillness of a dorm room urging me to listen to the warm, to lean in to that wandering spirit, to dream of dandelion days. He spoke …
A Day for Remembering
Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you’re a mom, a daughter, a son, a grandmother, a grandchild or some variation therein, I hope you’ve taken time to remember the ones who’ve influenced your life. I wrote about the precious memories of my mom for BookReporter as a special Mother’s Day series. Take some time to browse the other author stories to see …
>Merry Christmas!
> “And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace.” Merry Christmas Everyone! May you have a joyous, safe Christmas as you celebrate the birth of Jesus.
>CAFE SPECIAL OF THE WEEK – Turkish Delight
>The special this week at the Cafe will satisfy the chocolate lovers in the group and was a family favorite when our boys were still at home. As a matter of fact, our son, Scott, named them. I called it Erma’s Yummy Brownies since I got the recipe from my good friend Erma. But as Scott ate one square, then …
>A Celebration Worth Noting
>Last spring, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer during routine mammography. To say we were shocked and devastated goes without saying. The latest technology, pinpoint accuracy in locating the nodes closest to the tumor, microcellular examination of tissue, and a bevy of amazing doctors became a part of Donna’s life in this most unexpected interruption. She had surgery, a …
>Welcome to the Family
>On August 2, 2008, Allison Janan Danielle Garner repeated her I Do’s and became Mrs. James Stewart, the lovely wife of our youngest son. It was a beautiful ceremony in the Rose Court Garden at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. There were so many tender, beautiful moments. Lovely music. The sacred vows sealed with holy communion. The gathering of family …
>My Review of LOVE STARTS WITH ELLE
>I love the title of this book. Catchy with a twist on the meaning. Very clever. In Rachel Hauck’s newest release, the South Carolina low country setting layers the story with the richness of family and small town values. Rachel does a great job of bringing these front and center as she weaves the characters’ stories together. Elle Garvey, a …
>Wedding Fever
> This past year has been a whirlwind of weddings for the friends of our youngest son, James. Over the weekend, we attended that of Tanessa and Braden, two sweet kids who attended our church when we lived in the Panhandle. What made this wedding unique is that Tanessa (the bride) and James (our son) have been good friends since …
>SPECIAL DAY
>Today is a special day all around. First of all, thank you to all who serve in our military to keep our world a safer place–Huge wave to my son, Brett, who serves in the US Coast Guard! We are very proud of you! To those who gave their lives for our freedom as well as loved ones who’ve gone …
>To My Valentine
> Today is the 38th anniversary of my first date with my incredible husband, Max. So, to you honey, I love you. You’re my best friend, the one who makes me laugh and love and cry, the one who believes in me, and who I choose to grow old with. Thank you for all the memories and mostly, for putting …