Category: Stories & Fiction

  • Blessed Assurance: A Story of Hope (part two)

    Blessed Assurance: A Story of Hope (part two)

    Vivian put the SUV in park and sat quietly.  She didn’t have the strength nor the heart to open the door.  She’d dropped the two younger kids off at school and made her way to the hospital where she worked part time.  She understood their circumstances were no secret, but oh how she dreaded facing…

  • Blessed Assurance: A Story of Hope (part one)

    Blessed Assurance: A Story of Hope (part one)

    Vivian woke from a fitful sleep. The sun wasn’t up but she knew without looking at the clock it was near time for the alarm. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, the day hadn’t even begun and she was already tired. She sighed deeply as she turned to face the empty…

  • More Days Like This, Please…

    More Days Like This, Please…

    Ever have a day that seems like it came right out of a romance novel?  Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ve ever had one.  Well, maybe my wedding day although it was so long ago I don’t remember.  I do remember I was deliriously happy, and the pictures agree.   Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had…

  • In Heavenly Peace: The Gift (Part Three)

    In Heavenly Peace: The Gift (Part Three)

    Prissy woke up before the sun; too excited to sleep another moment.  The house felt extra cold this morning, so she pulled the covers up to her chin grinning widely at the bare walls of her small room.  It was Christmas day!  She’d waited patiently for weeks, and it was finally here.   She had taken…

  • In Heavenly Peace: Christmas Carols (Part Two)

    She made her way to the kitchen leaving Prissy chattering to Howard, the calico kitty.  He’d wandered up to the house in the spring and Jane hadn’t had the heart to send him away.  The two were nearly inseparable.  “How was your day, Thomas?”  Jane asked as she laid her coat on the back of…

  • In Heavenly Peace: Fresh Snow (Part One)

    In Heavenly Peace: Fresh Snow (Part One)

    It was snowing again.  Prissy sat by the window and watched as the flakes floated gracefully to the barren ground.  It looked magical; they shimmered with light, dancing in the setting sun.  It was a good one this time, thick and white, a blanket of glistening beauty.  She could hardly wait to play outside.  The…

  • Difficult Times (part two)

    Difficult Times (part two)

    2020 rolled in with great pomp and circumstance and I was ready for a fresh start; 2019 wasn’t my favorite and I had high hopes for a better year.   But, as we all know, this year hasn’t been anyone’s favorite.  Early on our shiatzu of sixteen years passed away and I cried my eyes out…

  • Difficult Times (Part One)

    Difficult Times (Part One)

    I hope you guys enjoyed reading the two fictional stories I’ve written over the last few months.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy writing a short story until now.  You will probably see more of them in the future so, be ready!  Sadie Henderson was dear to me as she struggled to…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Trusting (Part Twelve)

    Clara stood in front of the long mirror, mounted on the back of the bedroom door, and stared at her reflection.  She’d tried on so many outfits she’d given up trying to count them.  Her bed was covered in clothing as a testament of her inability to choose.  Now, she scrutinized her selections, wondering if…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Good News (Part Eleven)

    David was up early.  If it weren’t for the traffic noise outside his third floor apartment window, he might’ve heard the birds singing a Good Morning song.   He had to pinch himself to make sure this was all really happening.  He’d met a girl at the Dog Park, of all places, and had the courage…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Reconciliation (Part Ten)

    My Refuge and Fortress: Reconciliation (Part Ten)

    “Hello.”  Laura said it again.  She could hear faint sounds of whimpering on the other end of the line, it sounded like someone was trying to stifle tears.  Laura knew who it was, caller ID didn’t allow for secrets, but she couldn’t understand what was going on, why was Clara so upset?  “What’s the matter,…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Humbled (Part Nine)

    My Refuge and Fortress: Humbled (Part Nine)

    It was still dark out when Clara opened her eyes.  The small apartment felt dark and cramped in the face of her current situation.  She’d prayed thoughtfully about so many of her disappointments and fears a couple of nights ago.  But, she still had to remind her troubled spirit often that everything was going to…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Surrender (Part Eight)

    My Refuge and Fortress: Surrender (Part Eight)

    Clara felt the cool night air against her skin, it was 2:00 am and she hadn’t slept a wink.  She could hear Ringo breathing in his bed a few feet away.  It had been a long evening and she’d gone to bed reluctantly knowing it was more of an empty gesture than anything else.  She…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Dog Park Date (Part Seven)

    My Refuge and Fortress: Dog Park Date (Part Seven)

    Clara showed up at the dog park a few minutes early.  She’d been on her computer all morning filling out more job applications.  Time was running out and something near panic welled just beneath the surface of her emotions.  The fall air was crisp and it felt good to her skin as she made her…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Making Conversation (Part Six)

    My Refuge and Fortress: Making Conversation (Part Six)

    Laura hung up the phone and sighed deeply.  She’d called Clara several times in the last few days and each time her calls went to voice mail.  “Why won’t you answer?” She muttered to herself but it was really more of a cry toward heaven.  She and Clara had been fast friends; they’d shared a…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Well-Meaning (Part Five)

    My Refuge and Fortress: Well-Meaning (Part Five)

    The sun rose early in Clara’s apartment, not that it mattered, she’d been awake most of the night anyway.  How dare the sun rise as though nothing was wrong?  And, to add insult to injury, the alarm went off reminding her she had no reason to get out of bed, no reason for it to…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Emptiness (Part Four)

    My Refuge and Fortress: Emptiness (Part Four)

    Clara stared out the window of the fast moving train.  There was nothing but darkness to see minus the occasional flicker of light slightly illuminating the tunnel.  The ride on the train was long and the slightest whiff of something rank she couldn’t quite identify was bothersome.  Sitting next to her was an older gentlemen…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: These Days (Part Three)

    My Refuge and Fortress: These Days (Part Three)

    What hurt Clara most of all in this dismal situation was how she felt about God.  She’d trusted him and he’d let her down.  She’d stepped out in faith and he’d let her fall.  Where was he in all of this?  She was getting the axe and it felt like she’d been forgotten by the…

  • My Refuge and Fortress: Why, Lord? (Part Two)

    My Refuge and Fortress: Why, Lord? (Part Two)

    Clara moved quickly weaving in and out of the mass of humanity on the crowded sidewalk. Her thoughts were filled with memories of when she first moved to the “big city,” as she called it. Back then, she was brimming with anticipation and naive enough to think if she worked hard enough she’d earn promotions…

  • My Refuge and Fortress (Part One)

    My Refuge and Fortress (Part One)

    Clara was jarred from her sleep by the tinny ringing of her alarm.   The blue skies, ocean views and fruity drink disappeared in a flash.  “What in the?”  She fought hard in the darkness to find her glasses as the noise grew louder and louder.   “Where are they?”  She spoke frantically as her hand scrambled…

  • My Hope is Built: The Treasure of Friendship (Part Ten)

    My Hope is Built: The Treasure of Friendship (Part Ten)

    Sadie woke in the night with a piercing pain in her abdomen.  She sat straight up in bed and gripped the quilt given to her by her beloved late mother as she waited for the spasm to subside.  The night was beautiful; moonbeams spilled across the bed and she could feel the coolness of winter…

  • My Hope is Built: Facing the Truth (Part Nine)

    My Hope is Built: Facing the Truth (Part Nine)

    Sadie stood at the window and watched as the snowflakes fell gently to the ground.  It was the first snow of the season and she was mesmerized.  The long hot summer months were gone and her ever-growing belly was more uncomfortable by the day.  She rubbed her little one all nestled deep inside and hummed…

  • My Hope is Built: The Lesson (Part Eight)

    My Hope is Built: The Lesson (Part Eight)

    Sadie knocked on the door with polite precision.  She was so excited for today.  Abe was comfortable with her visits to Ms. Moses’s all alone since she’d invited them in for tea a while back.  Sadie had been as faithful as the rising and setting of the sun since.  Every week she’d show up, knock…

  • My Hope is Built: Visitation (Part Seven)

    My Hope is Built: Visitation (Part Seven)

    Sadie stood and wiped her brow.  The coolness of the morning was slowly being stifled by the rising sun, it had already begun its daily march across the pale blue sky.  Morning dew was evaporating causing a misty steam to rise from the earth.  Sadie could feel the temperature rising and realized she’d lost track…

  • My Hope is Built: Prayers of the Righteous (Part Six)

    My Hope is Built: Prayers of the Righteous (Part Six)

    Sadie stood stunned for a moment and then stepped to the right.  Still no words came to her mind.  Ms. Moses, feeling heat rise in her cheeks because of their previous encounter, also stepped to the right and again the two bumped into one another.  Could this get any more awkward? Sadie thought, this time…

  • My Hope is Built: Summerville (Part Five)

    My Hope is Built: Summerville (Part Five)

    Ms. Moses puttered around the house until the sun was up.   She didn’t sleep well these days and her shoulders slumped with the weight of it.  She stopped and leaned on the broom handle to wipe her face with the hankie hanging loosely from her pocket.  There was no task big or small that didn’t…

  • My Hope is Built: Rev. Abe Henderson (Part Four)

    My Hope is Built: Rev. Abe Henderson (Part Four)

    Reverend Abe Henderson pulled the old Chevrolet into the driveway of the small home he shared with his bride, Sadie.  He turned off the ignition and sat in silence.  This was his first official day of paying house calls to his parishioners and he felt utterly spent.  How did you do it, Lord?  How did…

  • My Hope is Built: Daisies (Part Three)

    My Hope is Built: Daisies (Part Three)

    They stood there, Sadie with flowers outstretched and Ms. Moses with the stock of her old gun nestled beneath her arm.   Neither one could tell you how long they stood that way, but slowly Ms. Moses began to lower the double barrel and Sadie felt herself exhale.   She couldn’t remember in all of her twenty…

  • My Hope is Built: Ms. Moses (Part Two)

    My Hope is Built: Ms. Moses (Part Two)

    It was mid-morning and the air was still cold even though the sun had melted the morning dew.  She’d cleaned up the modest kitchen, put away the cast iron skillet and washed out the coffee pot.  She made her way to the bedroom and pulled the cover up over the sheets.  She gently brushed her…

  • My Hope is Built (Part One)

    My Hope is Built (Part One)

    Welcome to my FIRST EVER work of fiction.  I am so happy you’ve chosen to read this story.  I was intentionally vague about a time period and exact location so you could use your imagination in deciding when and where the events might’ve happened.  I hope you enjoy it, and I would love for you…

  • Simple Musings

    Simple Musings

    She ran out the front door, the screen door slapping the frame behind her.  She didn’t have time to explain to Momma where she was going, but she could hear her holler from the porch, “where ya goin’? It’s almost time for supper.”  But that didn’t slow her pace, she was headed to her secret…

  • Easter, With a Side of Fish

    Easter, With a Side of Fish

    This is going to be the most unusual Easter I’ve ever experienced. I bet a lot of you would agree with me. Since I practically cut my teeth on church pews, I can’t remember an Easter I wasn’t in church with all of her Easter lily glory. Church was always the only option, until now.…

  • The Smoky Mountains

    The Smoky Mountains

    We just had the best week in Gatlinburg, TN.  I’ve never been there before so I didn’t know what to expect.  I kind of figured it would be a lazy mountain town, I was pretty shocked to find it’s anything but.   We gave it our best shot but I don’t think we scratched the surface…

  • Speaking in Code

    Speaking in Code

    I’m sitting in the cutest little coffee shop waiting for my Crepedillia.  That’s a crepe with a Mexican flare in case you’re wondering.  The day is glorious, the sky couldn’t be any bluer and there’s just the right amount of chill in the air.  It feels perfect, honestly.  Kacey Musgraves is singing Rainbow gently over…

  • I Always Thought

    I Always Thought

    I had something totally different to write about today, but I can’t shake the feeling that I need to be completely transparent with all of you. I’m feeling a bit forlorn as I stare out the window on this glorious sunny, chilly day.  I have no real reason to be.  Well, none that anyone passing…

  • School Shopping

    School Shopping

    Anybody else out there remember taking a once a year shopping trip for clothes when you were in elementary and/or middle school?  One and done.  The tennis shoes you bought better last you the whole school year or you’d be lining them with cardboard.  Sorry if your jeans got too short, better just try and…

  • It’s a New Year!

    It’s a New Year!

    Sitting in the living room staring at the Christmas tree, probably should’ve taken it down days ago.  Nevertheless, here it stands reminding me of great memories while simultaneously making me feel like a sloth.   At least I’m a happy sloth. I think I’m still a little Christmas cookie drunk. This holiday has been dreamy, all…

  • Childlike Christmas

    Childlike Christmas

    I’ve always wanted to ride in a horse drawn sleigh. I picture myself with a red and black plaid blanket draped across my lap while snowflakes tickle my nose and eyelashes.   In my mind’s eye, we ride past snowmen with carrots for noses and Christmas lights shining through frost filled dimly lit windows.  I, in…

  • Apple Pickin’

    Apple Pickin’

    I went to the apple orchard recently. It brought back so many memories. We used to go when the kids were little; such sweet times. We’d climb on a hay filled trailer pulled by an ancient tractor and hold on for dear life as it bounced and bumped us out to the fruit laden trees.…

  • A Hard Goodbye

    A Hard Goodbye

    Dear Tait, I remember when you came to us. It was Christmas. Well, you were too small to be there in flesh and blood so we pasted a picture inside of a book about dogs and gave it as a gift.  I wish you could’ve seen their faces, the kids, I mean, when they opened…

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina

    I’m sitting in my new home in my new town with boxes piled high around me watching my daughter and husband piece together a bookshelf for her room. I can’t believe I’m here. Can’t believe I live in a new state where I know exactly ten people, this number includes the lady at the local…

  • Country Living

    Country Living

    I am living the country life these days. Typing that sentence has me sitting here contemplating my life choices. How did I get here? Don’t get me wrong.  It’s really beautiful out here. I wake up to birds chirping and last week I saw a bunny hopping across the expanse of the yard.  I’ve seen…

  • What’s Next

    What’s Next

    It’s been a while since we’ve spoken.  So much has happened I find myself at a loss of where to start.  It’s like those moving sidewalks at the airport, you know the ones that help you to take two or three steps for every one unassisted by the moving belt. I feel like I’m walking…

  • Packing My Life Away

    Packing My Life Away

    Still in the middle of selling our house. The inspector has come. The appraiser has come. The termite guy comes next week. What I need now is a good psychiatrist. Maybe she’ll come next week too. I told my realtor selling a house is not for the faint of heart, she readily agreed. We’ve packed…

  • Twenty

    Twenty

    I’ve just recently passed an important milestone. I remember being a young woman with my life stretching out before me like an endless country road.  As the days went by I never really thought about what life would look life after my children were grown.  I just lived one day to the next taking care…

  • Cracker Barrel Conversations

    Cracker Barrel Conversations

    My husband and I had a meaningful conversation with one of our kids recently.  I still marvel that this human being, so big and handsome and full of life, started his journey inside of me.  There are times I look in the mirror and find I’m disappointed in the way I look.  Having babies, aging…

  • Growing Up, Up and Away

    Growing Up, Up and Away

    As a little girl I loved nothing more than being outdoors.  Trees beckoned to be climbed, rocks called out to be turned over, you never knew what treasure might lie beneath.  Most of the time it was an earth worm, but occasionally there’d be a penny and that was pure gold.  I loved to run,…

  • What a Year!

    What a Year!

    I still have a calendar on my fridge.   A real life paper one.  Yes, I’m still one of the last Mohicans who hasn’t recorded all of their lives on a cell phone.  Digital everything is the name of the game these days.  I’m sure it is very convenient to have your schedule right at your…

  • Silent Treatment

    Silent Treatment

    I never would have considered myself very competitive until recently.  I’m not sure if I’ve become more competitive or if I’ve just identified something that was always there.  Anybody else out there wonder if they’ve changed over time or if you just get to know yourself better as the years roll by? Being in a…

  • Holy Week

    Holy Week

    I love the week leading up to Easter.   In Christian circles it’s called “Holy Week.”  It’s become one of my favorite times of the year.  We have a unique tradition in our small town; I think it’s pretty isolated to this place as I’ve never heard of it anywhere else.  Each day at lunch hour…