Ode to a Bygone Era
Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of extra money for vacations, so we would visit state parks, which were free. Our favorite was Lake Barkley in Cadiz, Kentucky. About four times a year we would rent a cabin for
How Do We Help Our Children Thrive During Covid?
On the eve of my thirty-fourth birthday, I lay on my daughter’s twin mattress in the living room, surrounded by my three daughters, my best friend, and the little girl she is fostering, and marveled at this world that is
Our Anniversary Trip to Tennessee’s First Luxury Treehouse™
My husband and I had our 11th anniversary on September 27th. Over the years, we have celebrated everywhere from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. We are at the stage of life, however, when we
Finding Treasure in the Depths of Parenting
My husband took a picture of me and our girls last night as we ate S’mores on a bench down by the creek. Afterward, I looked at it, then I looked at it again. Their long hair and legs, their
I Grew Up as a Caretaker’s Daughter
On Wednesday, my husband went to the doctor for an X-ray. When the results proved inconclusive, the doctor ordered a CAT scan. We texted back and forth while he waited. He told me it would be okay, but he had told
$1.99 Flash Sale For My Bestselling Novel, How the Light Gets In!
Happy June, friends! I'm having a little downtime after folding laundry and before the baby (who just turned two!) wakes up from her nap to tell you that my newest novel, How the Light Gets In, is currently having a major
The Day I Lost My Daughter
Two months ago, I lost my toddler-age daughter. Even now, sitting outside and staring out over the field where she disappeared, it’s difficult for me to process. It’s like I know if I begin peeling back layers, the emotion of that
It’s About Pursuit, Not About Perfection
"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12 A novel typically
“That’s My Daughter” – Knowing Our Identity Lies In Love
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13 It takes a lot to offend me, but it doesn’t take a lot to make me defensive of the ones I
How Many Petersheims Does it Take to Launch a Novel?
Five, to be exact. I became an author soon after I became a mother, and one of my goals was to make my writing part of my family’s life. This is why I write at the kitchen table instead of in