Category: What I Love

My Own Personal Weirdness, What I Love

Personal Creed

We’ve been talking about Personal Creeds in church lately, so I thought I’d share my own personal creed:


I believe that love can conquer hate, that kindness can break barriers and that we should try to leave the world better than we found it.

I believe that we should respect our fellow human beings, regardless of their race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and that we should reach out to help the poor and the powerless.

I believe in the power and the magic of the written word, the satisfaction that comes from hard work, and the comfort we derive from our family and friends.

I believe that pain is always going to find us in some form or fashion and that how we react to that pain determines our path in life. I choose not to wallow in it, to always try my hardest to accomplish what I say I am going to do, and to not just find the light in darkness, but persistently stumble towards it.

Every person owns a beautiful story; I learn best by listening, not judging. By learning about another, I learn about myself. I strive every moment of my life to make myself better to the best of my ability, to share all that I learn in that process that all may profit by it, to take what comes with a smile and without loss of courage, to be considerate of people and things in everything I say and do, to appreciate beauty everywhere I look, and to find the best in others.

Family Time, The Past Comes Back to Haunt Me, What I Love

What Reminds Me of My Grandmother?

Four Generations

What is one thing that reminds you of your grandmother?
I only had one official grandmother growing up, as my mom’s mom had died before she even got married. Something that reminds me of my dad’s mom is those little tiny rocking chairs for little kids. She had one on her porch that my sister and I weren’t allowed to use because she kept it around for the pastor’s daughter to sit in when she visited. Why? I don’t know. She never really liked us; I’ve always thought it was most likely because we were adopted and therefore not really related to her.

I always considered my cousins other grandmother my grandmother, too. She had a bajillion grandkids of her own, but she was always very nice to me and my sister. One year at Christmas she gave me a bell ornament, which I have out year round. When she passed away, my aunt gave me a scrapbook her mother made of photos of me from various events and a bunch of notes and cards I’d sent her over the years. I miss her.

Computers and Internet, Speaking, What I Love, Writing

First Speaking Engagement of 2021

I spoke today at the Tyler Public Library’s Writing Club Facebook Group on “Setting New Year Goals” for writing and writing life. It went really well! If you are a member of the group, you can see the replay of the live video here: {link}

Computers and Internet, Speaking, What I Love, Writing

First Scheduled Speaking Engagement of 2021!

I will speak at the Tyler Public Library’s Writing Club Facebook Group on January 6, 2021 about “New Year’s Goal Setting” geared towards making good writing goals. If you are a member of the group, you can see me speak and join in on the fun writing prompts here: {link} If you’re not a member, come join us anyway. We’re fun people and membership is free to anyone anywhere!

Computers and Internet, Speaking, What I Love, Writing

Today’s Speaking Engagement at TPLWC

I spoke today at the Tyler Public Library’s Writing Club Facebook Group about “New Adult versus Young Adult Literature.” It went really well! If you are a member of the group, you can see the replay of the live video here: {link}

Computers and Internet, Speaking, What I Love, Writing

Speaking Engagement at TPLWC on 12/09/20

On December 9th, 2020, I will be speaking at the Tyler Public Library’s Writing Club Facebook Group on “Differences Between New Adult and Young Adult Fiction.” Come join us!

Computers and Internet, Speaking, What I Love, Writing

Today’s Bonus Speaking Engagement at TPLWC

As I said before, another speaker could not show up today at the Tyler Public Library Writer’s Club Facebook Group, so I presented a very last minute lesson on poetry. You can watch the video here if you are a member of the group, but honestly, I was mostly just reading from a textbook, so don’t. I’ll do a better presentation on poetry another day and let you know when I’ve posted it. 🙂

Computers and Internet, Speaking, What I Love, Writing

Bonus Speaking Engagement today at TPLWC

Just found out that I’m substitute peaking later today at TPLWC at noon. I’ll probably talk about poetry, since that’s what I’ve been taking a class on lately.

Computers and Internet, Speaking, What I Love, Writing

Speaking Engagement at TPLWC

Like I said yesterday, another speaker couldn’t come at the last minute, so I made another presentation about NaNoWriMo, this time looking at bringing creativity into how you do NaNoWriMo. (It’s the second half of the longer presentation I am doing for another group – more about that tomorrow.) It went well and I was glad to get a chance to present this material for a group that hears me more often before doing it in front of a group where I am less well known. 🙂

Computers and Internet, Speaking, What I Love, Writing

Bonus Speaking Engagement at TPLWC on 10.28.20

One of our other speakers wasn’t able to make it, so I’m doing a bonus session on NaNoWriMo tomorrow at noon, this time talking about bringing creativity to your NaNoWriMo. Find the group here.