The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Today I welcome an author who has a tremendous gift for writing, teaching, mentoring, and friendship. She is  a Christ-like lady who can warm your heart: Beth Vogt Enter to win Beth's  new release, Catch a Falling Star .  Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I felt honored and blessed to meet Beth at ACFW. I'd seen her presence at My Book Therapy, spoke with her on FB, but really understood her tremendous gift as a writer, teacher, mentor, and friend when I met her at the conference.  I asked Beth to share how God has led her on her journey. This is what she answered: When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan: Things Change … And So Do I Every novel wrestles with a Story Question – the great “what if?” of the heart and mind. The Story Question for my second novel, Catch a Falling Star , crystallized quickly: What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan? There were many versions of this questi...

"For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do."  Romans 7:15 NKJV My dad and mom, 1978 This verse came to mind today. It is on my heart for a different reason than the Apostle Paul's context intended. There are time when we must do the things we don't want to do. I'm not talking about eating vegetables, doing chores, or taking medicines. This task is one that tugs at my heart strings. Today, my sister and I are taking our mom to a nursing home. My mom, a sweet Christian lady, has dementia and it is worsening at a marked rate. Only a week ago, Mom said, "I don't want to go to a nursing home." Yesterday she did not remember I came and spent the whole afternoon with her, taking her out on the patio to listen to the birds and watch the squirrels. My sister and I have been caring for Mom since last November, increasing the number of visits each day and the amount...

photo by Mary Vee Happy May to you. Whether you are tired, (I am), excited, hopeful, busy, or bored this is the day that the Lord has Made just for you. So what will this day bring? Hopefully something fun, happy, or good will happen. Perhaps there will be a glitch. Sometimes the same event can happen to two different people, yet the personal perception will have polar affects: good or bad. This has a lot to do with where we are on our Christian journey.  God knows our needs. He even knows what our hearts truly are hungry for.  I thought my heart was hungry, desperately hungry for a day off. Sure would be nice to catch up, walk out on the deck to listen to the birds, watch the animals, and feel the sunshine. But, I have an opportunity to help a person in need. The task will take the entire day. I have a feeling, lets call it a deep gut feeling, my sunshine will be Sonshine. What does your heart hunger for? This is a two day post. I'd love for...

Today I welcome an award winner author,  a Christ-like lady who has a gift for compassion, Sharon Dunn Enter to win Sharon's  new release,  Guard Duty .  Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I first met Sharon at a Montana ACFW monthly meeting. It was held at Tracie Peterson's house! During the refreshment time, Sharon listened to my questions abut writing. She patiently taught me the answers. Talk about a wealth of knowledge! This was the only time the two of us went to the same meeting. Montana is a wide state with some pretty interesting weather. Frequently only members from one side of the state could attend. Still, that one meeting showed me what a Christ-like lady Sharon is. I asked Sharon to share how God has led her on her journey. This is what she answered: God Knew Just What I Needed I first fell in love with mystery and suspense when I read Nancy Drew mysteries in the fif...

Not every city can afford to build much less spruce up their parks. Some can't afford the space. Last week, while spending time in a low income city, I asked a local person if there was a park. It was a sunny day and I wanted to go for a walk. The person directed me to a park nestled in the factory portion where the neighboring homes needed a lot of loving care. What a fantastic find. A true hidden treasure. God had planted a park site for the city using a beautiful lake. The circumference--just under a mile. I parked in the lot and walked in the scorching heat, wishing I had something cold to drink. Later that night I returned and walked in the cool air. I am so thankful God gave me that idea because at night is when the walkers can see a unique side of a city.  I had to walk real quiet to get close enough to captures these photos for you.  I missed my first photo op with this grey heron. He blended in so much with his environment. I walked slow and quite ...

Sometimes we allow ourselves to become bogged down with stuff. We run around trying to finish this and plan that. I opened the window this morning, heard the song of several birds, and thought of God.  My mind immediately leaped into the list of things I needed to do today. Really? That happened fast. And what were these terribly important things?  Some truly were necessary. Feeding the family. Going to work. Etc. Some are not.  Let's talk about how we spend our day. What do we really need to do today? If this was the one day you could remember when you turned 94 years old, what would go through you mind? God asks us to live each day to His glory. Each day, whether it seems good  or bad  needs to honor HIm. And when our choices honor Him, we can find peace even in the problems.  I am so glad you stopped by today to read this post. If possible, take a look outside. If the weather is good, step outside again. Listen to the sounds. Are the k...

Today I welcome an award winner author,  a lady who is both kind and friendly, Janelle Mowery Enter to win Janell's  new release,  Always Remembered .  Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I met Janell through ACFW. Seems I've met so many wonderful people there. What a kind, giving, and friendly person. She immediately responded to my message asking her to visit with us and spoke to me as if we'd known each other for a long time. How awesome is that? I asked Janell to share how God has led her writing journey. This is what she said: God Made Me with an Extra Dash of Adventure Spirit I believe our creator God makes every individual unique, each with our own dreams, desires, and bents. I think He made me with a slightly adventurous spirit. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved books. When I was six, I was given Alice in Wonderland , which I believe awakened in me that adventurous sp...