MOM: Trust Your Kids or Trust God?

#Alwaysbeforeme In honor of Mother’s Day, I’m sharing a page from my devotional book, Always Before Me. Enjoy! Shiny Shoes The man with the shiny black shoes sat down on our living room sofa and told us why the US Army was a great career choice for …

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What’s the Symbolism in Your life?

Comment to enter my #giveaway! When I was a young summer bride, newly arrived in Colorado with my cowboy, our first home was in Greely—feedlot capital of the world. Locals called the beefy fragrance permeating the shady streets and college campus “the smell of money.” But it …

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Is a Happy-ending Romance for Real?

Today I’m guest posting on Alexis Goring’s blog with a devotional about happy-ending romance. Seriously? In this world? Check it out: Is a Happy-ending Romance for Real?

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Are You Cynical About Love?

Saturday I drank coffee and sat at the feet of one of my favorite authors as she shared her expertise and experiences – all day! Rachel Hauk was the speaker for this year’s Write in the Springs conference hosted by the Colorado Springs chapter of American Christian …

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Now What?

He lives. Everybody thought it was over, but it wasn’t. Imagine yourself in Judea around A.D. 33. Would you have been surprised? Would you have been frightened? Relieved? Looking over your shoulder, wondering who was your enemy and who wasn’t? Would life ever again be the same …

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Who is the Lord of your tempest?

I am pleased this week to welcome guest blogger and debut author, Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, with her encouraging words about the storms we all face.           Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. …

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Forget New Year’s – We Have Spring!

Springtime in cow country means the babies are running and romping. I love watching them bound away from their mamas, squiggley tails straight up like a cat’s, then bound right back again. They exemplify the season’s name: Spring! These calves have convinced me that this is the …

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Ever Want to Just Ride Into the Sunset?

I’m working on a Cowboy Brides story for Barbour Publishing and loving every minute of it. I’ll be the first to admit, I like to escape into a good book, and trying to write a good book is just as much a form of escape as reading …

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Truth or Mercy?

My guest blogger today, author Amy Blake, spotlights an important balance point. Be sure to leave Amy a comment and check out her latest release, Whitewashed.   To me, the gospel is all about the intersection of mercy and truth. The truth is as sinners, we deserve …

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one thousand blessings

The shadow of His wings has become an important theme since a family member has fallen so ill. Two weeks ago I blogged about the juniper branches in our yard spreading like protective wings over the birds and rabbits and squirrels, providing shelter during winter storms. Yesterday …

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Have you tried the shadow of His wings?

This photograph captures three birds. The first two are obvious; the third one is entering their shelter. Can you spot it? The snow-blanketed juniper in our back yard is one of many spreading varieties around our Colorado home that offer dry haven to rabbits, birds, and squirrels. …

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Red versus Grey

Seriously? Women are supporting the book, Fifty Shades of Grey? They approve exploitation? Where are those who will stand up and say, “This is not a story of love”? If you want romance, read romance. Read uplifting, liberating stories of “love wins.” There are countless books by …

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What does doubt whisper in your ear?

Doubt crawls up my shoulder and whispers: “Writing make-believe stories is a worthless occupation. What good can fiction possibly do? And romantic fiction? Ha! What a joke.” And then I walk down the hospital hallway to the coffee room, past artwork and photographs of my genre – …

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Circling the Wagons

My heart stops when I see the hospital number displayed on my ringing cell phone, but it is only the nurse helping my loved one call me. Other callers I don’t have to answer, though I cherish their hearts and prayers, for they weave together into the …

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The $5 Bill

I spotted the bill on the carpeted hospital hallway as I rounded the corner from the rehab unit where I’d been sitting with a loved one. Folded twice, it looked like mine. Instinctively, I reached into my left pocket and felt the few ones and fives I …

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