Echoes of Joy Blog

Winning at WriterCon 2020

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.” (1 Thess 2:4)

Over Labor Day weekend, I attended my first big in-person event in about a year. WriterCon 2020, a three-day writing conference, was held in Oklahoma with both in-person and streaming options. In addition to learning and networking, I represented my editing business, Prestige Prose, and the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI). Continue reading “Winning at WriterCon 2020” →

Stretching into the Future

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Josh 1:9)

When I look back over the last few years of my life, I see how far God has asked me to move out of my comfort zone. I started my own business, moved to a new city, joined a new church, and led a regional writing organization. But just when I think I’ve stretched as far as I can go, God asks me to do even more. Continue reading “Stretching into the Future” →

Am I Leaving a Godly Legacy?

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” (Ps 78:4)

We know that our time on earth is short, but we live in a culture that works hard to deny the aging process. But the fact remains that we don’t know when the end will come, and death is no respecter of persons.

This hit home for my family earlier this summer when my mom’s middle brother, David, passed away. She’s lost three of her five brothers in the last four years. Uncle David needed bypass surgery for a blockage in his heart. His body wasn’t strong enough to recover from the surgery, and he died at the hospital a week later. Continue reading “Am I Leaving a Godly Legacy?” →

Cooking with Grandma

Posted on by Staci Mauney

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children… (Prov 13:22)

Like everyone else, I cooked at home a lot during the quarantine. I cook a lot anyway, so things really didn’t change much in that regard. I enjoy cooking. Home cooking is healthier, and it saves money. In the past few months, I’ve perfected several recipes, tried new ones, and combined old recipes to create something new. Continue reading “Cooking with Grandma” →

A Birthday Memory

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess 5:11)

Some people don’t like celebrating or even acknowledging their birthdays, but I’ve never been that way. I view my birthday as an opportunity to connect with friends and family. It’s a time for introspection. It’s a time for fun. And in August 2020, during the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m reflecting on the birthday memory that stands out the most.

One of my most vivid birthday memories is from a couple of decades ago. (How did I get so old?!) My Chicken Soup for the Shopper’s Soul short story, “The Birthday Surprise,” is about my twentieth birthday, when I lived in Germany with my then-husband, who was in the US Army. I had been there about three months and hadn’t met many women yet. My husband was being sent on maneuvers for a few days, so I planned to spend the day alone, thousands of miles from family and friends, feeling sorry for myself. (I know, it wasn’t my finest moment.) Continue reading “A Birthday Memory” →