Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

My Favorite Fourth of July

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When you read this, we will be on our way to spend the Fourth of July weekend with our granddaughter, Ivy. (And her parents, too, of course!) I bought her a darling little Fourth of July outfit, complete with a bow. In my anticipation of this very special Fourth of July, I got to thinking about other memories of the holiday, the most special of which was July 4, 1985. I had graduated … [Read more...]

Small vs Insignificant

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I feel like I lead such a small life these days. My small condo in a small city. A small group of friends. Working on small writing projects, small crochet projects. So much smallness that I often think I have nothing worthwhile to say to y’all. But is that true? Do we have to have a big life, do big things, in order to earn the right to speak? Our culture tends to tell us yes. We have to have … [Read more...]

Finding a Merry Heart

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My husband and I are both naturally serious people. Not that we don’t enjoy a good laugh. We do. But don’t tend to laugh together spontaneously. We usually need something to spark our laughter. This spring has proven to be a very stressful season in my husband’s job. He comes home at night needing to get his head out of his world of work. And so we’ve been looking for things that will bring … [Read more...]

Nature’s Changing Seasons

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The boats are coming out of storage for the season and filling the marina. The underbrush in the woods is starting to turn green. Wildflowers are in bloom! Farmers are plowing their fields. Fruit trees are blossoming. And this park along Lake Michigan is open again—one of our favorite spots for a (chilly) picnic lunch. All in all, these … [Read more...]

A Grand New Adventure . . .

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It all started nine months ago . . . Well, eight, to be technical. We got a package in the mail from one of our married couples, then video-called them while we opened it (per the instructions) and discovered our first grandchild would arrive in April of the following year! April seemed so very, very far away. By the beginning of last month, we were all anxious, every twinge and drop … [Read more...]

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