The Thanksgiving List

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Ps 100:4)

This month, the theme of my blog posts revolves around having an attitude of thanksgiving. Over on prestigeprose.com, I’ve written a series of writing prompts to inspire a grateful attitude. This week’s prompt is to write a list of 25 things for which I’m thankful. Family and friends are a given, as is Lilly, so I didn’t include people unless I’m referring to them as a group. My goal is to dive deeper, below the surface, to discover everyday things for which I’m thankful. Continue reading “The Thanksgiving List”

My Personal Top 40

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa 41:10)

Today is my 40th birthday, so happy birthday to me! I wanted to share with you 40 lessons I’ve learned over the course of my life. Some of them are obvious, but I think they bear repeating. Some, like the lessons I’ve learned about putting myself out there and talking to strangers, may not apply to you if you’re an extrovert. Some are humorous because “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Prov 17:22a). Hopefully, you’ll find some of them to be eye-opening and helpful in your own life. Continue reading “My Personal Top 40”

Finding Community

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2)

By the time I moved to the big city last fall, I had several good friends who already lived here. To make new friends, I joined book clubs and a church. I attended writing meetings and got involved as a board member of the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. (OWFI). I even briefly tried online dating. Continue reading “Finding Community”

Car Repairs and People Who Care

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ…” Gal 6:2

I put my bag of groceries in the passenger seat and walked around the car. I placed the key in the ignition, turned it, and…nothing. I turned the key off, but it didn’t want to come out. I turned it to the on position again, and still nothing. I took the key out this time, and the radio came on, startling me. On the verge of panic, I took a deep breath and called my dad, who was over 100 miles away. Continue reading “Car Repairs and People Who Care”