25 Years

25 Years

by | Jun 18, 2026 | Thoughtful Thursdays

Yesterday, my husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary. So naturally, for this week’s post, you get mushy-gushy musings. 😉

We got married young–we were both 18. There were plenty of people who told us we were making a mistake, that we were too young to know what we wanted, and why didn’t we just live together first to make sure we were compatible? Um, no. 

Were we young? Absolutely. Too young? Absolutely not. Because we both went into this marriage with an understanding of what marriage is supposed to be, fully dedicated, and also fully aware that it wasn’t about me but about each other, about us, and about being made one by the One who made us.

We were young…so we finished growing up together. We wove our dreams together. We did every stage of life together. We moved, we had two precious children who are both adults now, we fought for those dreams together. We weathered the storms together.

And now, twenty-five years after we said, “I do,” we look back and marvel at how deep the love has grown. Especially in these last two years as we’ve had the cancer battle.

David has always loved me in a way that boggles my mind. I’ve always known that he would do absolutely anything for me, that I and the kids come first (of things on earth–let’s not try to compete with God, LOL). He has told me every day of our life together that I’m beautiful, and I couldn’t begin to count the times in the day that he says he loves me. I know that all I have to do is draw near to him, and his arms will come around me.

But since my diagnosis, that’s deepened still more. And he has marveled so many times over these last two years at how this disease we obviously never wanted taught us both new things about love. “How is it possible,” he has wondered so many times, “that this has made me love you more?” We obviously don’t like cancer–but these new depths of love are something we’re both grateful for and amazed at. And I am so, so blessed.

As a romance writer, I’ve written many a hero. On the surface, they’re not usually like David. But their hearts, the way they love…they’re all David, at least in bits and pieces. He reads all my books for me, which I absolutely love. Not just because then the characters become part of our family, people we talk about in everyday life, but because as he’s reading them, he always says the most amazing things, about my writing and about how he sees me in them. I know not every writer has that support, and it means the world to me that I do.

For our 25th, we were planning a big trip. Probably the Azores in Portugal. We wanted a European adventure. But with my chemo infusions, my oncologist advised “no flight longer than 3 hours,” which eliminated any European destinations. And so, we looked up where on our continent we could find the most European feel, and we decided to go to Quebec City. That’s where we are today–I scheduled this post several weeks ago. Hopefully, we’re having a wonderful time sipping coffee from cafes, strolling the historic district, and just being together.

And praising God for 25 years. Praying for 25 more, and then more beyond that. Looking back over our quarter-of-a-century together with amazement, and looking ahead with anticipatory joy for whatever the Lord has in store for us next.

I’ve written a lot of love stories. And the inspiration for them just keeps on coming. Because I’m living my favorite one.

Word of the Week – Barbecue

Word of the Week – Barbecue

by | Jun 15, 2026 | Word of the Week

All right, ya’ll. It’s time to open up a can of etymology on the barbecue can of worms. I know some regions get VERY serious about this. 😉 So what is it? And where does it come from?

The word barbecue dates from the 1690s and is borrowed from the Haitian barbakoa, which came to us via the American Spanish barbacoa, literally meaning “framework of sticks set upon posts.” In Haitian culture, these frameworks were used for two things: to sleep on…or to cure meat.

Around 1690, English borrowed the word as the “framework for grilling meat, fish, etc.” So it first referred solely to the physical device used. However, by the 1730s, it had been adopted to refer to an “outdoor feast of roasted meat as a social entertainment.”

So first we have the grill…then we have the event. When did it come to refer to the meat made at such events? Not until 1894. Now, the real question…what kind of meat?

Well, until the 1930s, it would be large cuts of meat too big to cook indoors. But around 1931, the word began to be used for any outdoor cooking of meat, especially over an open fire; then when hamburgers gained popularity, the word began to be used for events serving those around 1935.

Barbecue sauce dates from around 1900.

And okay, dish. Where do you fall in the barbecue camp? Are you a purist, or do you use the word for any outdoor cooking?

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Gravity

Gravity

by | Jun 11, 2026 | Thoughtful Thursdays

This summer, my best friend, Stephanie Morrill, and I are reading Designing Your Life together. Given that it’s a very-much-bestselling book, you may have heard of it already. If not, it’s basically using design techniques (reframing, iteration, etc) to design a life that builds you joy, whatever season you’re in. All about intentionality, looking at things in new ways, and asking yourself the right questions. It also involves a lot of self-awareness, which is something my hubby and I think and talk about a lot.

Stephanie and I will be, in general, reading a chapter or section every week and doing the exercises, then talking about it during our Friday checkins. Of course, our Junes are a bit crazy, so we had our first chat at the end of May and then will have to take 3 weeks off while we’re both traveling, LOL.

I imagine as the summer progresses, I’ll have lots more thoughts and will likely share here what we’re working through. Today, I want to talk about just one thing that the authors bring up in the introduction.

Gravity.

They use this term to refer to things in life that we can’t change–things we can’t fight against. Things that might get us down (ha! punny…) but which we can do nothing about. And because we can do nothing about them, they do not, therefore, rate as “problems” in the design way of thinking, because they can’t be solved.

Gravity isn’t going anywhere. And neither are quite a few other things in life.

As I began the first activities in the book, filling out the gauges on a “dashboard” for different parts of life, this notion of “gravity” was immediately useful. See, one of the dashboard categories is “health.” In general, health is something we can change.

We can work out more.
We can eat better.
We can adjust our sleep patterns.
We can take (or stop taking) medications.
We can do stretches.
We can drink more water.
We can cut out caffeine or sugar or fill-in-the-blank.

And so on. 

But for me right now, that will only get me so far. Part of my health is gravity. I’m in a year-long chemo regimen, and the leading side effect is “tiredness.” I’m feeling that, guys. At first, I was just super tired for the first couple days after an infusion. Then it was the first week. Then the first two weeks. At this point, the tired never exactly goes away, though it isn’t as intense.

And with tiredness comes a lot of other things. I don’t have the energy to do much by way of exercising…or cooking. Sleep doesn’t actually help.

Right now, my health is a gravity issue. Which means that instead of fussing over it or getting hung up on it, I accept it and work on other problems that can actually have solutions. I focus on what to do with the energy I have, how best to make use of my time and resources.

It’s a great way to think about all sorts of things in life though, isn’t it? There are things we can change–and there are things we can’t. How often do we waste energy–and certainly emotional and mental space–on the things that just are?

What are your “gravity” issues in life right now?

Word of the Week – Mermaid

Word of the Week – Mermaid

by | Jun 8, 2026 | Word of the Week

I totally should have done this one during “mer-May,” but alas. I’m behind. 😉 Even so, this week we’ll be looking at the history of the word (and hence the myths) of mermaids, which were often equated with sirens. 

Mermaid dates as an English word from around the mid-1300s, when it was spelled meremayde, literally “maid of the sea.” These fabled creatures with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a fish have been around since the way-ancient days…and they weren’t exactly Ariel. Most mythology portrays mermaids as creatures who work harm against mortals, sometimes intentionally. They were malignant, generally speaking.

Old English had a word for the creatures too, but called them merewif, “water witch.” Interestingly, tales of the creatures from northern Europe have them without the fishy tale.

I readily admit I’ve always loved mermaid stories (what can I say–The Little Mermaid came out when I was 7, so…), hence the mer in Awakened. I have definitely noted that mermaids in many fantasy books are horrific creatures, which is certainly in keeping with that original lore…and mine certainly start out with a violent streak too.

Are you a fan of mermaid stories?

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Cover Reveal of The Christmas Courier

Cover Reveal of The Christmas Courier

by | Jun 4, 2026 | Announcements, Book News, Books, Cover Designs

It’s Time!

For Another Cover Reveal!!

Okay, so…this cover’s actually already out there, LOL. There was a bit of an issue nailing down the rights for the model image (it all turned out nicely!) that put everything behind a bit, and Tyndale had to then rush to get the final version submitted everywhere. But that’s okay. We’re going to pretend this is a reveal as usual, on the assumption that you weren’t haunting Amazon just waiting for it to show up, LOL. And it’s SUCH a great cover!!

This is, of course, for this year’s Christmas novella, set in Lyon, France of 1943. It’s inspired by a true story, which makes it extra fun. But for now, let’s get to know my fictional version.

You’re going to love the undaunted

Madeleine Perrin

Madeleine is a history teacher. She’s a courier for the Resistance. And she is going to make you laugh when she just says things that most people wouldn’t dare to say. And this woman isn’t about to let the Nazis take any more from her–they already killed her father in a raid-gone-wrong, and she hasn’t seen her best friend, Daniel, since. But when Daniel shows up injured, days before Christmas, ready to make things right…well.

Nothing is going to steal her chance of happily-ever-after. 

A Resistance agent with a secret…

Daniel Raymond

Daniel Raymond’s very existance in France is illegal, given that his mother is Jewish. But he’s been hiding in plain sight, careful to avoid the old neighborhood where people would recognize him and know that his mother was Jewish. He’s still working…and very much involved in Lyon’s flourishing Resistance. Which is how he came by an injury that’s gotten infected and needs attention. That’s what draws him back to the Perrin door a few days before Christmas. He doesn’t intend to see Madeleine while he’s there–there’s no way she could have forgiven him for the raid the took her father’s life, the raid surely looking for him.

But then, Mado has never done the expected thing.

An evocative setting

Lyon, 1943

Lyon was a hotbed of Resistance activity in large part because of its unique history and architecture. A silk city in centuries past, it has a fascinating system of interior corridors, walkways, and hidden staircases designed to help people transport bolts of silk from one part of the city to another without having to go out on dirty streets. Called traboules, these warrens are well known by natives but impossible for foreigners to navigate…which made them the PERFECT paths for Resistance agents. And of course, they play a key role in my story!

A festive

World War II Romance

With themes of Advent and Christmas and the Light coming into a world of darkness, The Christmas Courier will light a spark of hope and have you cheering for these indomitable heroes.

Ready? Here it is!
The cover of The Christmas Courier!

What do you think??

I absolutely love it! First, it’s got a small nativity, and the creche plays a vital thematic role in the story. Second, Madeleine is wearing a green sweater. Which I know they did solely because it was festive, but guys. She has hazel eyes, and she wears a green sweater in the book that Daniel always called her “magic” sweater because it makes her eyes look green. So when they showed me this, my first thought was, “She’s wearing her magic sweater!” LOL

I also ADORE this font! It’s so classic but also festive! And the hint of Lyon out the window?? Perfection. I also love the little bit of glitter they put over it.

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The Official Description

1943. Lyon, France. After bidding her students farewell for the holidays, Madeleine Perrin is looking forward to a quiet, simple Christmas at home with her mother. With the war raging on and rations tight, she knows it will be up to her to make the day festive and find special ways to remember the papa she lost and honor his love for Christmas. But first, Madeleine must smuggle secret messages hidden in her students’ essays to the Resistance network. She never expects the person waiting to receive them is her childhood best friend, the man who broke her heart.

Daniel Raymond has thrown himself into his work as courier for the Resistance, carefully concealing his Jewish ancestry that, if discovered by the Nazis, could put his life at risk. Haunted by regret about the day Madeleine professed her love and he turned her away, Daniel longs to make things right. When he sees her again, he dares to hope for reconciliation―and realizes the love he once denied has only grown deeper.

As Christmas nears and Daniel recovers from a wound sustained in a courier run, forgiveness and romance soon blossom between Daniel and Madeleine and the two begin planning a future together. But when a mission goes wrong and Daniel is captured by the Gestapo, Madeleine must turn to her Resistance allies―and a centuries-old law―to attempt a dangerous rescue before it’s too late.

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