I’m a native Floridian, transplanted to the great state of Texas 20 years ago. You know I love Texas, but a big part of my heart will always live in Florida. Nearly all of my family are scattered around the state; most of them, and...

October is my favorite month of the year. But this year, October has begun with tragedy and heartache on so many levels. Hurricane Helene has been a life-wrecker of epic proportions. The war in the Middle East is at a boiling point. Our country is...

Hurricane Helene plowed into the gulf side of my beloved home-state of Florida Thursday night. She was angry. Cruel. Relentless. Spewing violent winds that yanked up 200 year old oak trees as easily as you yank up a weed in your garden, sending surges of...

The lovely young woman behind the counter said she was obsessed. I asked, “You’re what…possessed?” She said, “Oh, no, you know, obsessed, like, it’s just a totally awesome eye cream. Here, feel it…it’s like amaaaaazing! I’m obsessed! You’ve got to try it! You’ll be obsessed! I think...

Well, it’s been a week. Last Friday I read the most beautiful prayer in one of my favorite books, A Diary of Private Prayer. Here’s a portion of it: O, God, you have proved your love for all people by sending us Jesus Christ our Lord… Help me,...

I woke up especially tired on Thursday. Really wanted to reset my alarm, but I pressed through and headed downstairs with the Queen (aka Gigi) tucked under my arm. Yes, she’s spoiled. And after her playful shenanigans and potty break, I was wide awake. Too...

August 25, 2001—that’s the day I married my man—my best friend, and he married me. Twenty-three years ago tomorrow, on a beautiful, steamy hot afternoon in Orlando, Florida—complete with a little liquid sunshine—John and I made a covenant before God, in front of our loving...

A couple of weeks ago, I told y’all that I was a “wordy” (or is it wordie?)—one who loves and uses lots of words. Alas, every writer comes to a point when they are at a loss for words. Call it writer’s block or whatever....

Some of our dear friends had to put their dog down this week. She was old, and more than ready to go. They had loved her dearly for 15+ years, and she had loved them. If you’re not a dog or cat owner, or pet-of-any-kind...