See the picture above? That's me with my real-life sister, about fifty years ago!
You know her as Krista.
 

Lisa wins an Amazon gift card. Thank you so much!
 

Reaching Into Silence
Dancing in the Silence
Speaking Through the Silence

What do you think?
 

When I first tried my hand at writing fiction, I knew NOTHING! Writing was fun, but if I wanted to sell books someday, I needed to learn the business side of the publishing industry. It has taken years, with me kicking and screaming into the technology of the twenty-first century!

To continue my learning curve, I've been taking workshops and courses on "building platform," meaning how to add numbers to my email list and blog subscribers. So many of you are faithful readers for every blog and every newsletter of mine. As I continue to learn a little more each month, I may be asking further help from you when it comes to doing my homework.

Right away, I would love to know what you like best about my blog posts and updates in the newsletter. Conversely, is there anything you wish I would change?
 

I hope you're looking forward to summer vacation and visiting friends and family.
 

Traveling to family is certainly back on my agenda.
Son #2 traveled to us for Easter, and I traveled to Son #3 for Grandbaby #8's first birthday! And this time, I didn't get sick! No colds, no covid, no nuthin'!

This month we're all getting together on the beach like we did last summer. With gas prices what they are, this may be the last hurrah for awhile.

For the rest of the summer, we'll see if we can make it to Son #1, and some of the relatives in other states. Again, we may opt out due to inflation. If you want to see my views on items of a more political nature, click here.
 

Have you ever realized a time when God put a blessing in front of you and it took a LOT of time for you to notice? That's what happened to me a couple of years ago. I'm still thanking God for it today.

I've lived in the same home for almost thirty years. I've had the same next-door neighbor for all of that time. She's quiet and kind. We'd spoken, if both of us were outside at the same time, but while she's a master gardener and always tending to her beloved flowers, I'm a bookworm, and I'm usually inside, lost in my story world. Over the years, each learned the other was a Christian. Good.
 

But the Lord wanted more from us.
 

A few months before the pandemic hit, "Mary" ventured to say she'd noticed several cars parked in front of my house every Monday morning.

"That's my ladies prayer group," I told her. "You're welcome to join us."

She smiled. "My church doesn't have a ladies prayer group. I'll think about it."

Weeks passed. She mentioned it again. "Would I really be welcome even though I don't go to your church?"

"Of course! You're a sister in Christ, right?"

She smiled.

More weeks passed, and she gathered her courage and joined us.
 

She blossomed!
 

 

a miracle happened!

As soon as the weather broke, we met on my back patio. Six feet apart. Wearing our coats, we prayed for local needs and our nation. As the sun grew warmer, we met on Mary's shady deck.

For seven months, it never rained on a Monday!

By November, the isolation measures in my state had settled down, and we felt comfortable meeting back inside.

Not only did God bring Mary and me together, He also made sure His people were in place when tragedy struck her family. The ladies prayer group was there, lifting her in prayer and checking on her in between our meetings.

If Mary hadn't noticed my Monday morning company, if she hadn't asked about it, if I hadn't invited her to join us, she wouldn't have the support group that she has today.

And I wouldn't have a precious friend.