The Storyteller | Mary Vee

While some celebrate an evening of candy, costumes, and trick or treating on October 31, others will be celebrating a change in history. Photo Courtesy  - Castle Church Door 500 years ago, Martin Luther delivered The 95 Theses.  Many of us believe he nailed these documents to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Some say he had them delivered on that day. Whichever is really so, Martin Luther took a stand for epic statements based on intensive research, prayer, meditation, and a very close walk with God. Some of the points Luther believed to be true were: 1. Every person should be able to read God's Word in their own language. 2. We cannot pay for our sins. There is absolutely nothing we can do to wash away our sins. Only the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God could pay for our sins. And much more, enough to fill the 95 theses. Four years later, Luther was called to appear before the Emperor on two  occasions. Bo...

Autumn is a fabulous season, right? Sure, we put up with a few days of rain, but the scent is breathtaking. Crisp leaves. Fall flowers. Cedar and pine trees radiating their scent. Even a walk on mushy leaves is refreshing. I love the fall. One day when driving to Belgrade, Montana I saw this tree. I pulled over and waited for semis and other traffic to pass, for the sun to be just right, etc. and snapped the photo.  Wow. Talk about a complete story of God's creation. Rocky mountains in the background, plump clouds overhead, and one tree, (on the east side of the Rockies this is considered a forest!). I printed this one out and hung it in my living room. We just never know when God will surprise us with a scent or view or sound that will stir the spark inside us. You know the one. It causes you to want to stay where you are. Take a deep breath. Cock your head to hear better. Brice Anders the main character of my October 2017 release debut book had a...

Nearly 500 people sat in the church A good 200 more in other rooms throughout the building. There were no windows in this modern facility, as is the custom for designs today. Not even stained glassed windows along the side. There was one fax stained glassed window with back lighting to appear like outside light shine through.  All was as it had been.  The people sang.  Scriptures read. Then during the prayer the power went out. It was a weird sensation, because although eyes remained closed, and the pastor continued to pray, a deep awareness enveloped the people.  After the amen, those who had their phone handy whipped them out and, like at a concerts, whipped on the flashlight, lighting the room. Two took their flashlight to the pianist and lit her music. The worship never stopped. No one except the mother with the crying baby left. The sound man appeared minutes later with a dusty, old battery-operated microphone and gave i...

In a galaxy far away, Princess Leia said, "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." And so began a series of films spanning decades. When writing my debut book, Anders' Redemption, I found only one character could tell this story, Brice Anders.  Brice is a prisoner of fate and one in desperate need of Hope. Brice finished an internationally recognized culinary arts program top in his class. He had a coveted job all lined up, until the terrible accident. On the steps of the famous Dattler Restaurant in Freiburg, Germany, cheering crowds pressed to congratulate the graduates.  The ice. Lost footing. Nothing to grab ahold. A memory Brice desperately tries to forget when back home. An injury that changed his life. One day a door to success opened for Brice, with it came an enemy he never suspected. Anders' Redemption is available in print or ebook on Amazon.  Click here for Link to Amazon I would be grateful if you would read...

Talk about a word for these last few months.  I know you feel it. So do I. The world. Our country. Our city. Our lives. Intense. Here on my front, I was invited to participate in a collaborative Christmas work. I had forgotten a story that I had loved so well. But someone of influence had not. She remembered the core. The inner workings of this story.  Now years later, when asked to present this work, I looked at the whole and saw the same thing I see one hour before a guest arrives at my home. Clutter. Dust. Dirt on the floor. Laundry. Dishes. Gasp. I asked for time to edit the story, wanting with all my heart to present the very best for this great opportunity. She gave me one week. 18-20 hour intense days. 7 days. 4 unique edits (grammar, content, format, final overall)). Intense. I poured over this story scrubbing, scouring, taking out the trash, cleansing, shining, then stood back and as I pressed the send button, I honestly felt I had done my best...

Photo by Mary Vee I am getting ready for another adventure. My suitcase is packed. I'm really hoping for no hassles from TSA, a flight with no issues, my car rental ready, and GPS in a good mood. So, while I am doing all of that, let's talk.  Anytime the norm is changed, upheaval happens. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Even a flat tire isn't necessarily horrible. Amazing how fast a crucial meeting could be rescheduled, eh?  For work at home folk leaving for a trip can create a mountain of work up front--and a cavern of work when we return. Sure the family can survive on pizza, dishes mounting in the sink, fruit flies in the air from the food left out, and dirty laundry.  We over planners like to know there is healthy food in the fridge, the kitchen is clean, all laundry folded and where it belongs, and the vacuuming done before we leave. Sticky note lists separating what needs to be purchased at the grocery store from what needs to go i...

As a nation we have witnessed a lifetime of surging, explosive power the past two weeks. Photo Courtesy The cautious have done their best to protect themselves and their loved ones, and while destruction may have followed in the wake, there are those who lived to tell their experience. Although we wish we could help those who are no longer with us, our nation rises to help those who have survived.  Photo Courtesy So, we built a reminder of those who lost their lives to terrorism in the 9/11 attack a means to honor the fallen, the heroes, the families, the co-workers, and neighbors.  Much more, we think about where we were at that time. I stood in a school with my class of third graders. How does one tell little ones a terrorist group attack our country? That was my first question after processing the information and wondering whether this was a War of the Worlds hoax or a vicious truth. Dollars, cards, food, water, medical, praye...