If you love Israel, if you want to help support many small businesses and farmers who have been hard hit by the war in Israel (most of the men were called into service), then you should check out Lev Olam. For about $100 a month, you will receive a gift box of goods from these small businesses and farmers--each box is focused on a theme, and a typical box includes cosmetics made in Israel, olive … [Read more...]

Hi friends, and happy Wednesday. I hope your year is off to a great start! It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through January. The past year flew by. It was a year of wonderful things—moving back into our house post-flooding. A year of crazy things—my oldest grandson starting middle school. How did that happen? A year of heartache—we lost our pup of nine wonderful years.  Meet Griffin. He … [Read more...]

Many of Jane Austen’s book titles changed along the way. Sense and Sensibility started life as Elinor and Marianne. Pride and Prejudice was originally First Impressions, Persuasion was The Elliots, and Northanger Abbey was Susan.  Present day authors often change titles along the way, too. Either of their own accord or when a publisher suggests that an alternate title might better appeal to … [Read more...]

I'm in a season of writing, writing, writing, but when I was thinking about what I wanted to blog about this week, it seemed like I've shared SO much about my writing life here on the blog. What I maybe haven't shared as much is my ordinary, everyday life. So here are a few pictures from my phone's camera that tell the everyday stories pretty well. What is everyday life looking … [Read more...]

I recently returned home from a trip to California! When I go on vacation, I continue to check email and social media daily. I don't tend to post much, other than in my Instagram/Facebook stories, but I do stay stay abreast of things. During my time in California, I was taken by surprise by the increasingly amazing response to our 2026 Christian Fiction Reading Challenge. [If this is the … [Read more...]