Mary Wade hates frogs. That character point stems directly from the author of Rescued Hearts. When I was in high school, the dreaded science fair project came around every year. I hated them. I never … [Read more...]
Do You Volunteer with Your Children?
This empty nesting phase of life has all kinds of changes. The house is quiet and boring. Yes. The laundry pile is smaller, and grocery bills are less. Yes. I expected all those changes, but one … [Read more...]
How to Paint Shoes for Children
When my daughters were very young, I’d buy white tennis shoes and then paint them to match their outfits. I saw shoes like this either in a boutique or in a catalog and decided I could make my … [Read more...]
Sewing for Children
The lead character in Rescued Hearts, Mary Wade is a children's clothing designer. When my children were young, I enjoyed sewing outfits for them. I always had fun sewing for my children, and I … [Read more...]
A Week at Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp
Every summer for 15 years, my family has spent a week at Deer Valley YMCA Camp in Fort Hill, Pennsylvania. It's a beautiful place, one of our favorites in the … [Read more...]
Christmas Cookies
Two things I like best about December are sending Christmas cards and baking cookies. We mail over two hundred cards, and I bake at least twelve different kinds of cookies. In a family of six, you … [Read more...]
Holiday Traditions and Irish Encounter
On Thanksgiving night, while they’re still full from the day’s feast, Ellen and her family relax in front of one of their favorite movies, It’s a Wonderful Life. I took this tradition straight from my … [Read more...]
Tribute to Teachers
I come from a long line of teachers--some professionals and some who simply know how to teach, and I'm happy that one of the characters in Irish Encounter is Miss Myrtle. She’s a fun-loving, retired … [Read more...]
Payne’s Journey Through Music
Music has long been important to believers. Think of Psalm 150: 3-6: “Praise [God] with the sounding of the trumpet, Praise Him with the harp and lyre, Praise Him with tambourine and dancing, Praise … [Read more...]
Storing Treasures
I’ve been studying Matthew 6 this week. Jesus speaks about the Christian’s focus by teaching about the two different kinds of treasure: earthly and heavenly. He reminds us not to treasure earthly … [Read more...]
