three truths to remember when “happy new year” isn’t enough
All you need to do is take one glance at the news, and you’ll see it. This blurry film of despondency that seems to cast a haziness on all we see and hear. The world is chock full of threats and despair. Sadness abounds. Anxiety mounts. The political future of our country is uncertain. New fears pop up every day. Cancer rages on. Hardships press in on every side. We’ve just come off the holidays and we’re still lingering in the revelry of family gatherings and festive celebrations. But sometimes when we look around, the standard phrase, "Happy New Year!" just doesn't seem to be...
Stars Over Sunset Boulevard :: A Review, Plus an Interview with Author Susan Meissner
Have you ever pushed the limits of a friendship? Ever held onto a secret for a really long time? Decades, even? Have you ever deceived someone to get what you wanted? Ever held onto something too tightly, afraid to let it go? All of these aspects of life come into play in Susan Meissner's novel, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard. Disclosure: Affiliate links have been used in this post. Thank you in advance for your support! In her latest work of historical fiction, author Susan Meissner takes us back to Hollywood during the filming of Gone With the Wind. She weaves two story lines -- one...
books i read in 2015 {special edition link-up}
I read some fantastic books in 2015. Really, really good. So grateful for the brave, faithful writers out there who sit down and put in the work for our benefit. My goal was to read a book a month, and I rounded out the year with a grand total of 16 books. Not many compared to some, but I'm satisfied. Here are the books I read in 2015: Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves by Trillia Newbell {Review & Video Author Interview} Such a helpful, biblical resource for all who battle with various fears, anxieties, and insecurities. Until We All Come Home by...
most memorable blog posts of 2015 :: a special edition link-up
Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful, blessed Christmas. Thanks for joining us for this special edition link-up! Today we're sharing the most memorable blog posts we read in 2015. Which words stuck with you? Share in the comments, or by linking up your own list below! Last year I posted the Ten Most Memorable Posts I Read in 2014. Katie Reid reminded me about it and asked if I planned to do the same thing this year, so here we go! First, my two favorite podcasts: Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach by Ann Kroeker Reclaiming a Redeemed Life by Holly Barrett Let's Not...
a year in review :: highlights and top posts of 2015
It's been quite a year, hasn't it? In January, we realized that sometimes "Happy New Year" just isn't enough. In February, we grieved for someone we'd never met. In March, we lost dear Kara Tippetts, the brave fighter and mother, who found her sweet relief in Jesus. In April, we learned the secret to changing the world. In May, we remembered the beauty of friendship -- and agreed that nobody's cuter than you. In June, we got to chat with the delightful Trillia Newbell, author of Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves. In July, my girl turned ten, and I might've gotten a...
five minute friday :: choose your own word!
I know this will throw many of you for a loop. If it does, I apologize. For the final Five Minute Friday of 2015, I'm letting everyone choose their own, one word prompt! Keep it to one word, keep it to five minutes, and keep reading each other's work! [Tweet "It's Choose Your Own Prompt Week at Five Minute Friday! Pick a word, any word!"] It's a swing from routine, I know, but maybe we could all see it like a "choose your own adventure" -- an open opportunity to let your creativity run free. The real reason behind my lack of leadership this week is because I've been sick. As...
five minute friday :: reflect {plus a year-end survey}
As we wind up another year that will soon go down into the books, I thought it would be good to spend a bit of time reflecting on the past year as a Five Minute Friday community. Before we kick of our reflective free write, two quick announcements. Below is schedule for the rest of this month and the beginning of next year: As you can see, next week will be our final Five Minute Friday link-up of 2015 (sniff). We'll take a two-week break over Christmas and New Year's, and we'll be back -- refreshed, energized, and bursting to write -- on January 8th, 2016. However, since I...
three ways to love lavishly :: guest post by christina hubbard
It's my pleasure to welcome Christina Hubbard to the blog today. Christina is a member of the Five Minute Friday community, and she recently released a new e-book, called Five Ways to Love Like You Mean It. Today she's sharing three habits that have helped her to love more lavishly. You can find Christina at her blog, and on Twitter @Creatively_Free. *** There's a limit to my love. I always see it in the lack of gummy worms on my frozen yogurt at our local self-serve dessert dive. My kids, on the other hand, do their dishes up right with piles of waffle cone bits, whipped...
five minute friday :: season
Hello! Happy December to you! Can you believe we're in our final month of 2015?! If you're new to the Five Minute Friday scene, you can find the scoop right over here. As we transition from fall into winter and find ourselves smack dab between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I thought it would be fun to write on the prompt: [Tweet "Join us for a five minute free write on the prompt, SEASON!"] Ready? GO. I grew up in west Michigan, where we have four distinct seasons. We definitely get the long, harsh winters with more snow than most people really want to see or shovel, but then...
letters to grief celebrates one-year anniversary {special link-up}
Today marks one year since the e-book, Letters to Grief, was published. If you don't have a copy yet, you can grab one here for just $0.99. It's a super short read -- only twenty pages. If you've read the book, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon by clicking here? To celebrate the one-year anniversary, we're having a special edition link-up. You're invited to write your own letter to grief and share it with us right here. You could either type your letter into the comments section of this post, or publish it on your own blog and share the direct post to the Inlinkz link-up...
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