Holding on to Everlasting Hope
“Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest: The soul, uneasy, and confin’d from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” – Alexander Pope, “An Essay on Man” I came in from
Love and Toothpaste Tubes
Our three stairstep girls were in the back of the minivan as we drove to a friends’ house for supper. Collectively, I had labored thirty-eight hours to bring them into the world. I said, “Tomorrow’s Mother’s Day.” My husband groaned. “I knew you forgot.” He
My Child’s Grief Gave Me Permission to Feel
My six-year-old daughter wouldn’t touch the food on her plate. I asked what was wrong, but she shook her head. After clearing the table, I asked her to follow me back to our bedroom. Kindergarten can really wear her out, and
The Resilience of Bees
Saturday night, my husband slept on the floor in the girls’ room because they were afraid of a storm. At 5:30, once the storm had abated, he came back to our bed and said the entire field below our house was under
Life Between Hurricanes
When we arrived on Monday, Orange Beach had just reopened after the intense cleanup following Hurricane Sally. On Tuesday, the Alabama governor declared a mandatory tourist evacuation due to Hurricane Delta churning toward the coast. I was too busy digging for
If We Are Going to Come Out of This Whole, We Have to Use This Season to Heal
We planted our garden two weeks ago. Since then, we have had two bouts of frost and a sudden, fleeting flurry of snow. Last evening, while supper baked in the oven, my eldest daughter and I went to check on
How the Light Gets In WINS in NYC!
I almost didn’t attend the 2020 Audie Awards Gala in New York City. The ticket to the event at Guastavino’s in Manhattan would cost as much as the trip itself. And we’re building a house and raising three daughters whose
How the Light Gets In 2020 Audie Award Finalist + Giveaway!
Hey, friends! We're having our first snow day here in Tennessee! We've played in the snow with cousins, had the obligatory hot chocolate, and now the toddler is taking a nap (praise hands), so I am popping in to tell you that
When Dreams Don’t Make Sense
A white-haired man walked into the coffee shop carrying a guitar case. A pretty woman in leather mule heels came in behind him. I couldn’t tell if she was his daughter or his wife. Unzipping the case, the musician exchanged
How the Light Gets In Deemed “Fresh Pick”!
Hey there, friends! It's Saturday morning here, so I'm popping in a moment before we head to a birthday party with a Slip 'N Slide (don't you just love summer?!). I have two good tidbits of news to share! This week, Fresh Fiction