Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Two Ways to Cope With the Demands of the Holiday Season (and Life!)

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The holiday season is full of demands. We have our to-do lists that run longer than a novel: baking an old-fashioned fruit cake, mixing fresh snow into ice cream for the kids, and hand-embroidering a Christmas stocking for the pet hamster. Okay, so not really. :-) But most of us feel the increased pressure in one form or another. Even without the holiday, we already struggle to keep up with the … [Read more...]

A Christmas Recipe

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Christmas is a time of family, fun, and food. And by food, I mean all those wonderful baked goodies that are miraculously calorie-free during this one very special time of the year. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!) Growing up, one of the special treats I looked forward to every year was my grandmother's shortbread. We would go to my grandparents' house every year for Christmas, meet … [Read more...]

Christmas Giveaway from the Grove Girls

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I love being part of this community with women I respect so much. I'm also part of another community of writers with a heart for women. Have you joined us at The Grove? We're doing a massive giveaway and I'd love to have you join us! You can learn more about the giveaway here. Merry Christmas! … [Read more...]

Be still and know…..

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For some reason, this blog and I don't get along very well. I post twice per month and it's always a challenge for me to get to through the dashboard. But somehow, I always find my way here after several tries, trying different combinations and praying a lot. Because writers are committed to always Showing Up!!! We don't like missing deadlines or missing blog posts. Words are our business. This … [Read more...]

Christmas weddings . . . and baking!

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Today, Joe and I celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary. Yep, we had a Christmas wedding—and loved it! Poinsettias and all... That was then, this is now... Time has a way of catching up with you, and it's certainly caught up with us! And though our journey has hardly been perfect, and we've weathered some storms, I'm so grateful for Joe and for the love and laughter we share. I treasure … [Read more...]

The Heart of Your Holiday Home

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Since our kids grew up and left home, I haven’t quite had the same warm fuzzy feelings about decorating for Christmas. In fact, several years recently I’ve tried to get away with not putting up our Christmas tree at all. But every year, either my husband or one of our kids—or just the thought of the grandkids seeing Papa and Mimi’s house without a tree—always convinces me that it wouldn’t quite be … [Read more...]

The Plot Thickens|Kathleen Y’Barbo

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Each Sunday "Inspired by Life...and Fiction" shares a Christian novelist's newest book and the garden spots where they find inspiration. RITA and Carol award nominee Kathleen Y’Barbo is the author of more than forty novels, novellas, and young adult books. Her books are currently in print in the US and abroad, and have been translated into Dutch, German, and Spanish, to name a … [Read more...]

Best Children’s Books to Give as Gifts

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I've been reading books aloud to my kids for 15 years straight.  In that time, we've checked out approximately a million library books and added approximately half a million books to our home collection. I LOVE well-written children's books and I've often given books as gifts. Why give kids books? Imagine a friend gives you a gift certificate for two spa pedicures -- one for her and one … [Read more...]

Creating Meaningful Christmas Gifts with Your Family

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It’s that time of year. Christmas is zooming up on us, which often leaves us in a quandry. How can we involve our family in creating gifts with meaning? How can we get gifts that will be treasured without breaking the bank? And how on earth can we get something for those who already have everything they need and most of what they want? One of the things I love to do with my kids (though I'm a … [Read more...]

In the Image of the Creator

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Have you ever said something like, "I don't have a creative bone in my body"? Or maybe you've heard someone else say it. Well, I'm here to tell you that statement is simply not the truth. For anybody. How do I know this? Easy. We were made in the image of our Creator. God is a creator. The Creator. And He made us in His image. That means we were meant to be creators as well. Sure, we create on … [Read more...]

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