June 2025
In Mary’s country, I met readers, shared stories, and felt the deep joy of connection. From cupcakes to courageous women, from salt air to signing books beside poet Dana Huneke-Stone, June was a celebration of resilience, reading, and community. Thank you for making the “select group” of readers a little smaller.
May 2025
A weathered chair, a curious child, and a shared book reminded me: stories invite us to pause, connect, and heal. In celebrating parents who read to their children, we honor the power of story to unveil mystery—inside pages, and within ourselves. May your next read reveal something beautiful.
April 2025
With her 41st book releasing soon, Jane Kirkpatrick shares the thrill—and vulnerability—of creation. A glowing Booklist review lets her exhale, while an earthquake reminds her of deeper tremors. Circling the wounded with love and prayer, she reminds us: even in uncertainty, we mend, tend, and spark hope together.
March 2025
When kids “made it” despite hardship, researchers found one common thread—they each had someone who truly saw them. A parent, teacher… sometimes even a bus driver. Our granddaughter Mariah just became one. She’ll not just drive, but notice and care. And that can change everything for a child.
February 2025
When the world feels out of control, we can still choose kindness. From tulips on a doorstep to affirming a stranger, these “gifts of confidence” remind us that small acts can spark resilience — in others and ourselves. What will you give today that might make someone feel seen?
January 2025
Meet Rupie—a spirited spaniel with a flair for storytelling, rock collecting, and dodging baths. While his mom writes novels, he navigates two-state living and life with an airtag. His adventures remind us to pause, play, and maybe—just maybe—see life’s noise and mess as part of the joy.
December 2024
I watch Rupie wait, knowing joy comes when I call him. Like Advent’s anticipation, waiting is guarding hope amid uncertainty. This season, I’ll guard my heart, resist despair, and cherish moments of rest and joy, trusting that waiting holds the promise of miracles yet to come.
September 2024
Be gentle with yourself. Draw alongside the silence of stone. Avoid those vexed in spirit. Find someone who feels they have all the time in the world. In exhaustion, small tasks challenge us, but blessings and kindness fill the spaces between. May your weariness be brief.
July 2024
A planned power outage led to unexpected neighborly connection—sharing garden bounty, stories, and laughter under fading light. Darkness sparked community, reminding us that friendship can bloom anytime, even in outages. Sometimes, all it takes is stepping outside to find the neighbors—and a little light in the dark.
May 2024
Four hummingbird families nested at our desert coach, symbols of joy and hope as we journey back north. Amid trials—from caregiving to lost dog sheets—small acts of kindness and perseverance remind me: aging brings vexing challenges, but also blessings and grace worth cherishing. Traveling mercies indeed.
