My Books

 

Beyond Bethlehem and Calvary: 12 Dramas for Christmas, Easter and More!

Flexibility, ease of production, and themes that meet us where we live make this drama collection suitable for large or small groups, whether in a church setting or on the most rugged mission trip.

 

Contributing Author

Find my stories or poems in the following books.

 

A Gift of Love

We usually think of a Christmas gift as a tangible item. But that is not always the case. Sometimes the gift is the thought and time we put into loving others the way they need it the most. In whatever form it is offered, a true gift of love is always a reflection of God’s abundant love and the best Christmas gift of all – the original gift of love – His Son, Jesus Christ. This book includes my poem, “Immanuel,” and my story, “Christmas Without Gifts.”

 

Treasured Moments

Throughout life, we experience treasured moments, although we might not realize their significance at the time. We revisit and enjoy them over and over. Whether they happen when we’re alone or with others, at home or elsewhere, during quiet times or noisy fun, on vacation, staycation, or an average day, those special moments are part of who we are. That’s probably why we love to tell others about them. This book includes two of my stories, “Is That Our Baby” and “Mom’s Never-Failing Gift” plus my poem, “Snapshots of a Childhood Summer.”

 

 

Lost… and Found: When What Happens Isn’t What We Expect

Lost. It happens to all of us. Sometimes more often than we care to admit. Something we value gets misplaced and we search for it until we either find it or finally decide it’s gone forever. Material possessions aren’t the only things we lose, are they? Have you ever lost a person? What about a relationship? A job? Your joy? Your sense of self? Your way? Your faith? These stories describe times when we’ve lost something important to us – whether physical, material, emotional, or spiritual. My stories include “Defying Defeat” and “Right Place, Wrong Time.”

 

 

Joy to the World

What did it mean when the angel told the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people”? For the Christian it means that when we put our faith and hope in Jesus Christ, we choose joy from God. And that means we no longer depend on material things or what is happening around us to make us happy or content. Discover what several authors have learned about how to experience joy at Christmas – and beyond – no matter what circumstances they found themselves in. This book includes my stories, “At Home” and “Welcome to Hope.”

 

 

Can, Sir! With God’s Help, I Can Do This

We love life. We love God’s beautiful creation. We seek perfect health, a perfect life. However, we do not live in a perfect world. Fear, anxiety, uncertainty. At some point everyone experiences them, and if we allow them, they will undermine our faith. Yet our failures, difficulties, and crises can bring us closer to God and teach us what is most important in life . . . our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Join several authors as we share how we know “with God’s help I can do this.” The book includes my story, “Riding a Roller Coaster in the Middle of a Storm,” and my poem, “Through It All.”

 

 

Grandma’s Cookie Jar

Grandmothers come in various shapes, sizes, and nationalities. They might go by Babci, Nonni, Grandma, or another name, but one thing they have in common is a special bond they create with their grandchildren. My story describes my granny’s front porch greeting to “Come Sit a Spell.”

 

 

Celebrating Christmas

Christmas! We observe it by serving others, sacrificial giving, family meals, baking, decorations, songs, movies, Christmas programs, candlelight Christmas Eve services, and reading the Christmas story in Luke to those gathered at home.

Celebrating Christmas includes personal experiences that have shaped Christmas celebrations, recent changes in Christmas celebrations , and stories just for fun. All contain the message that celebrating Christmas is more than traditions or gifts. It’s how we share God’s perfect gift. My story asks, “Were You Born in a Barn?”

 

 

Broken Moments: From Shattered to Masterpiece

Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and as a result sometimes we believe things – even we ourselves – have become broken beyond repair. Yet if we will turn that brokenness over to the Master Craftsman, He will transform it from chipped, cracked, shattered shards into a beautifully restored masterpiece. Instead of ruined, the very thing we grieve becomes a work of beauty, mended with veins of gold.

Included are my stories: “Choose Joy,” “A Hard-Learned Lesson,” “Healing Hurting Hearts,” and “Making Turtles.”

 

 

Christmas Stories

People celebrate Christ’s birth in many ways through their foods, traditions, and customs.

Whether it’s music, gift giving, family gatherings, special recipes, parties, programs, decorating, puzzles, books, movies, church services or a combination of these that make your holiday season special, we hope you will slow down and take time in your countdown to Christmas to enjoy the inspiring stories offered by these 27 authors.

Included are my poem, “An Unexpected Answer,” and my story, “He Took Care of That.”

 

 

Pandemic Moments: Stories of the 2020 COVID-19 Outbreak

No one expected things to change drastically with the beginning of a new decade. Yet that’s exactly what happened. Within a few weeks, the world shut down, life came to a halt, fear permeated the population, existence was threatened, churches closed, social distance and hiding faces behind masks became an everyday experience, and for many, their faith was challenged.

My story details disrupted plans for Mom’s ninetieth birthday celebration.

 

 

Romantic Moments: Stories of Those Special Feelings, Romantic Relationships, and True Love

These stories vary from humorous to serious, sad to happy, hope to disappointment, idealism to realism, and the myriad of emotions one experiences, human and divine. My story offers an example of “The Wealth of Words.”

 

 

Remembering Christmas 

Nostalgia. It’s our link to our personal history and identity. It’s that feeling that allows us to reconnect with our childhood, recall the joys of a simpler time, feel closer to those we have lost, experience once again the delight of a cherished moment, even strengthen our faith.  Perhaps these stories, including my “Paradoxical Peace” and “Significant Though Small,” will bring to mind your own treasured memories.

 

 

 

Personal Titanic Moments: When Personal Sink-or-Swim Decisions Result in Life-Changing Moments

Unexpected obstacles can loom before us at any moment. While from a distance they may appear to be the size of an ice cube, the impact they have on our lives is often the same as running straight into an iceberg at full speed. It includes my story of Dad “Going Home.”

 

 

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Miracle of Love

 Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Miracle of Love will warm the heart and lift the spirit of any reader who is looking for, or has found, the miracle of love. It includes stories of dating, romance, love and marriage, with all their ups and downs, including my “Programmed for Life.”

 

 

Cool-inary Moments

Whether you love to cook and bake, or stay as far away from a kitchen as possible, you’ll smile and remember your own stories when you join 46 authors as they recount cool-inary moments – good, bad, hilarious – and share some recipes behind the stories. I tell of our family’s experience with “International Ministry: No Passport Required.”

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Moments: 51 Stories about the Wonder of Christmas

If you love stories that express the wonder of Christmas, touch the heart, and stir the emotions, you will love Merry Christmas Moments. I contributed “Christmas Presence” and “Ever Present God.”

 

 

 

More Christmas Moments: 55 Stories of the True Meaning of Christmas

From happy childhood memories to the sadness of loss and grief, these stories reveal the wonder of Christmas when we open our hearts to Christ’s presence. Mine describes the treasure of family time together in “What a Gift.”

 

 

 

The Extraordinary Presence of God:
True Stories of Faith and Courage in Ordinary Lives

Need a lift for living? These stories about people from all walks of life will encourage and inspire those seeking a closer walk with God or those going through trials of their own. I shared “Christmas Presence” and “Ever Present God.”

 

 

Hope: It’s More Than Wishful Thinking

A collection of writings that reminds us how hope plays a role in our lives today, not just tomorrow, and that hope is more than false optimism to those who believe. It includes my “Always There Is God.”

 

 

Meditations for Advent and Christmas

Slow down and ponder the advent of the Christ with quotes, poetry, insights, and Scripture verses in this handy pocket-sized booklet. I contributed “The Gifts of Christmas,” “The Light of Christmas,” and “The Peace of Christmas.”