Who Are Your Influencers?
Several years ago, I was challenged to create a Wall of Influence - basically a list of people who influenced my life in a positive way. Who made me who I am? Who do I value and respect? Who do I want to emulate? Whose advice will I always treasure? Influence is defined – loosely – as the capacity of one person to produce effects in another;...
Live Today but Give Voice to the Past
Last week, I spoke to some awesome fellow writers at Heart of America Christian Writers Network in the Kansas City area, telling of my ghostwriting experiences and encouraging them to write what I call mini-memoirs. Two of the five books I've published in three years are ghostwritten memoirs: Harvest of Joy and Lost Child of Greece. Writing a...
50-Year Friendships
Some friendships are meant to last forever. Ours is one, and I'm so thankful! I am blessed with many such friends and love each one - even those I don't get to see very often - like Donna. But, what is it that makes a friendship lasting? Shared experiences? Mutual respect? Commonalities? Prayer support through decades of crises and...
Let it GO!
“Let minor differences and personal preferences, if there be such, go to the winds.” Abraham Lincoln 1 When Jim and I were young parents, we were advised to choose our battles wisely. In other words, don’t make a big deal out of something that isn’t a big deal. There will be REALLY big deals to tackle later. That was (and is) good advice....
Vietnam Revisited
In the wee hours of the morning many years ago, I found a website that would change my life! Thanks to my new home computer, the world wide web took me places I’d never been. Among many other things, I searched for records of my uncle, Jim, who was killed in Vietnam. I even left my name and email on an interactive site, asking any vet who...
Our Marathon Move
Life. It can be intense! When my 60-something husband and I (also 60-something) began planning for our next (unlikely) 60 years together, we had no idea how intense that journey would be, nor that it would involve a marathon move spanning nearly three years. It about did us in, but now that it's behind us, I can finally recap what seemed to go...
Simply Reiminiscing…
A year ago, I was inundated (in a wonderful way) with pictures that were being taken 470 miles away. Photographs of Class of 1971 classmates from West High School in Iowa City, Iowa. Fifty years - OMGoodness. How can that be? Time certainly flies. I had planned to attend our 50th Reunion. I counted down the days long before I had a printed...
A Motherless Daughter
“Surgery isn’t an option,” the surgeon said with as much compassion as he could muster. “I’m sorry but what we’re facing are end-of-life issues.” His words sucked the air right out of the room leaving only silence punctuated by unexpected emotions. After a few more kind words, heard by no one, the surgeon left us to process the news. Doctors...
Welcome, I’m Elaine. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, a choreographer of words, a challenger of the status quo, an admirer of all things colorful, and a lover of life who finds great comfort and joy in knowing I’m completely adequate to do whatever it is God calls me to do!
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